St. Philip Neri Parish The Northwest Paulist Center

For Evangelization & Reconciliation

2408 SE 16th Avenue Portland, OR 97214

www.stphilipneripdx.org

Parish Office 503-231-4955 Fax 503-736-1383

Guided since our founding in 1912 by the missionary vision of the

Paulists’, committed to the mission of Jesus, and dedicated to be

welcoming to all, we, the community of St. Philip Neri, strive to

reach out, to reconcile and to promote unity for all God’s

creations through worship, education, and service toward the

common good.

Palm Sunday March 20, 2016

WE’RE GLAD YOU ARE HERE If you are new to the parish, visiting from across town, across the country, or other parts of the world, welcome & thank

you for worshiping with us! Fill out one of the Welcome Cards in the pew racks and drop it in the collection basket or give it to one of the priests. Stop by after Mass and introduce yourself.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call the office, 503-231-4955.

HOLY WEEK – TRIDUUM SERVICES Mar. 24, 7pm Holy Thursday Mass, Church

Mar. 25, 7pm, Good Friday Service, Church

Mar. 26, 8:30pm, Easter Vigil, Church

Mar. 27, 9:30am, Easter, Church

OPERATION BLESSING BAG Thank you for the wonderful response to our collection for

Operation Blessing Bag. Items still needed: socks – men’s

& women’s, gum & mints, small one serving foods,

sandwich bags, combs & brushes, wash cloths, small

towels, candy, single serve crackers, peanut butter, P-38

can openers, feminine products, trail mix, large trash bags,

water bottles, nail clippers, hats, gloves, Sisters of the Road

coupons, flip flops, Band-Aids, etc. For those who would

rather not shop, cash donations are also accepted to buy

items. Next weekend, Easter, March 26/27, is the last

weekend for contributions. Thank you again for proving

what a generous parish community we are.

GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION Mar. 25, Good Friday: Popes annual collection in support

of Christians in the Holy Land.

PAULIST ST. PHILIP NERI

FAREWELL WEEKEND EVENTS The weekend of June 25/26 will be the date for the

Paulist Farewell to St Philip Neri Parish.

Archbishop Alexander Sample will preside and

preach at the Saturday afternoon 4PM Mass on June

25. Mass will be followed by a reception and cookout

from 6PM to 9PM on the lawn by Carvlin Hall. It is hoped

that priests and parish staffs and Pastoral Center people

who are otherwise at work on Sunday mornings will be

able to attend this part of the celebrations.

Paulist President, Fr. Eric Andrews, CSP, will preside

and preach at the Sunday morning 9:30AM Mass on

June 26. Mass will be followed by the Parish Picnic from

11AM to 2PM on the lawn by Carvlin Hall. Parishioners

and friends of the Paulists are welcomed at either or both

events.

Palm Sunday March 20, 2016

Pastoral Corner A few years ago I was sharing with our young people in the religious education program about experiencing God in daily life. Specifically, how do we see God and how do we hear God? We went back to the very beginning of time, and the Book of Genesis, and I asked them what happened? One said that God exploded a big rock, and I guess that will do for the big bang theory. Obviously I was trying to get them to think about God's very first Word through which all that we hear, see, taste and touch came into being. Then I suggested that after God's great big Word God began speaking billions and trillions of little Words, a Word for every person, for every flower and rain drop, a Word for every sound we hear and every sight we see. Well, they kinda got into all that and then I opened up for any question at all they might have.

One of the parents asked, how do we see and hear God in the bad stuff that goes on in our lives? I said, children's questions only please. It is however an important question, a very important question. Oh, it is easy to say we see God in a sunset, or a full moon, in the beauty of new life or in generous and selfless acts of compassion; but to see God in the really bad stuff, that is both difficult and very necessary.

I have come to believe that God is closer to us in the bad stuff than in the good stuff. Our deepest insights into God, and our deepest spiritual conversions happen in the difficult times we find ourselves in. Trouble is, we spend so much effort fighting against the bad stuff, moaning and groaning that life isn't fair or supposed to be this way. We constantly focus on what's happening to me, or why is this happening to me; so caught up in ourselves that we have no room left for God or anyone else for that matter. This is where my favorite mantra comes into play: "acceptance is the key to happiness." We can't take, or accept, the next right step unless we have some calm, and have made some room for God and the compassion and love of others in our lives. Acceptance doesn’t mean that we like something, just that we have stopped fighting with what is before us. When we stop fighting we can see and hear more clearly both the voice of God and the possible solutions others might share with us.

At West Virginia University I spent a lot of time with teenagers with terminal cancer diagnoses, some came out alright, others didn't, but most of them developed a depth of spiritual union with other teens in the same situation, and with God that takes most of us more than a lifetime to achieve. Acceptance was always key, then of course the next best steps in terms of treatment, loaded with lots of hope.

I have been doing a lot of reading lately in and around the spirituality of St. Francis. St. Francis always brings one back to the crucified Christ, which tells him and us, in the image of the crucifixion that God is most certainly with us in the very worst of times. I don't like being taken there, but unless we see God there we will never appreciate God in the best of times. Unless we can see God in the poor, the outcast, the castoff, the alien and stranger, we will find it all more difficult to see God in the person sitting next to us. When we, like Francis, can freely kiss the leper, then we can freely embrace all of God's beautiful creation. Fr. Michael Evernden, CSP

HUNGERING TO BUILD COMMUNITY

We follow Jesus this week on our Lenten journey as he enters Jerusalem, a community he knew well. CRS Rice Bowl asks us to prayerfully enter in to our own communities, to find those who are hungry and thirsty, those who need our help. How does our Lenten journey motivate us to serve those we encounter in our daily lives? Visit www.crsricebowl.org for more information and recipes.

RICE BOWLS WILL BE COLLECTED APRIL 2/3. Donations can also be made using the Rice Bowl

envelopes in the church foyer.

Next Sunday’s Readings Easter Sunday March 27, 2016

Reading 1: Acts 10:34a-43 Responsorial: Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23, (24) Reading 2: Colossians 3:1-4 Gospel, Passion: John 20:1-9

FUNERAL MASS - Funeral Mass for Cecilia Crater will be Friday, April 1 at 2pm with a reception to follow in Carvlin Hall.

EASTER FLOWERS – Donations can be made for our Easter Memorial Garden. Envelopes are available in the foyer. Be sure to write Easter flowers in the memo line of checks.

Palm Sunday March 20, 2016 Saturday, March 19th: 8:00am Mass Jim & Sarah Amato Chapel 4:00pm Mass Wally Mace Church Sunday, March 20th: Palm Sunday

9:30am Mass People of St. Philip Neri Church 10:30am Mass Deaf Community Chapel Monday, March 21st: 8:00am Mass Christopher Chang-Han Oh Chapel Tuesday, March 22nd: 8:00am Mass Therese Donna Oh Chapel Wednesday, March 23rd: 8:00am Mass All brothers and sisters Church Thursday, March 24th: Holy Thursday

7:00pm Mass Bona & Bonaventure Family Church Friday, March 25th: 7:00pm Service Good Friday Church Saturday, March 26th: Holy Saturday Vigil 8:30pm Mass Patricia Myung-Ryeon Yum Church Sunday, March 27th: Easter Sunday

9:30am Mass Fred & Jo Spada Church 10:30am Mass Deaf Community Chapel

If you would like a Mass celebrated for you, for an anniversary of death, birthday, marriage, or other special event, please fill out a Mass Intention form (located in foyer of the Church) or call the office.

Parish Office Hours Monday 9am – Noon

Tuesday – Friday 9am – 4pm 503 231-4955

Parish Staff

Pastor & Director of NW Paulist Center Fr. Charlie Brunick, CSP ………….x118 frcharlie@stphilipneripdx.org Parochial Vicar Fr. Michael Evernden, CSP ……….x114 mecsp@mac.com Parochial Vicar Fr. Bill Edens, CSP ………………..x113 frbill.csp@gmail.com Director of Faith Formation Barbara Harrison ………………….x107 barbarah@stphilipneripdx.org Business Manager Jeanne McPherson ………………..x103 jeannem@stphilipneripdx.org Office Manager Rose Wolfe ……………………….x101 rosew@stphilipneripdx.org Maintenance & Grounds Ed Danila edwardd@stphilipneripdx.org

Church Cleaning, March 21-27, Anita Donahue & Glenda McCall

Please pray for:

Cecilia Crater Fr. Charlie Mary Ellen Doshas Meucci John Henkel Virginia O’Connor Sr. Eileen Brown

The people of Yemen For refugees & those in the midst of war Chris Helvey & his mom, Carol Paulist Seminarians Vocations

Paulist Fathers Our parish community in transition [Know someone we should pray for? Contact Rose in the office.]

A WORD FROM SERVANT OF GOD ISAAC HECKER, FOUNDER OF THE PAULIST FATHERS

“It is a fresh infusion of this spirit which must inform these new institutions and breathe in all the actions of their members. It was this new inspiration that in former days gave the reason for the founding of new Religious Orders. The same reason hold good in our day. There is none other.” [On the Mission of New Religious Communities, 1876] If you have asked Father Hecker to pray for you or another person who is ill, and you believe something miraculous has happened, please phone Fr. Paul Robichaud, CSP at 202-269-2519 and tell him your story.

PENTECOST RETREAT – April 8-10 Registrations are now open for the Pentecost Retreat, April 8, 6pm – April 10, 1pm. We will gather at Oral Hull Retreat Center outside Sandy for a weekend of prayerful reflection on mercy in our lives and how we sense the world around us. Prices: overnight $200, commuter $125 – for those who don’t want overnight accommodations, and RV/trailer $150 for limited spaces available on the grounds. Registrations must be in by April 5. Registration forms are available in the foyer of the church or call the office. For more information, contact Rose 503-231-4955 or rosew@stphilipneripdpx.org. Let us know if you are interested in carpooling. [Overnight lodging: each room has 2 twin beds & you can choose who to share a room with, just let us know at time of registration.]

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Mar. 22: 7pm, Discipleship Training, Church Mar, 24: Holy Thursday 7pm, Mass, Church Mar. 25: Good Friday 7pm. Good Friday Service, Church Mar. 26: Holy Saturday 8:30pm, Easter Vigil, Church Mar. 27: Easter Sunday 9:30am, Mass, Church