Schedule of Masses Vigil: 5:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. Spanish Sunday: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. Weekday: 8:00 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. Communion Service: Thursday and Friday Devotion: Novena to St. Anthony, Tuesday after Mass Adoration: 3rd Friday of each month in the children’s worship room 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Anointing of the Sick: 2nd Saturday of each month at 4:00 p.m.

Sacrament of Reconciliation– Confession

English on 1st, 3rd, and 4th Saturday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the Church.

CatholicChurch3774JacksonStreet•Riverside,CA92503-4359

Phone:(951) 689-1131•FAX:(951) 354-7402•www.st-thomas-riverside.com

Palm Sunday

March 25, 2018

We the Parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle strive to live like Pastor Fr. Frank T. Dicristina

Deacon Couples Deacon Paul and Elsie Ann Myers

Deacon Mike and Pat Cruz

Parish Office Hours Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Closed during lunch 11:30 - 12:30 Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Closed during lunch 11:30 - 12:30

(951) 689-1131

Facebook.com/stthomasriversideCA

Maria Cordeiro ………………………Ext. 221 Secretary Rebecca Barragan…………………… Ext. 225 Communications Coordinator / Bulletin Valerie Doran ………………………...Ext. 224 Funeral Coordinator

Arcelia Maldonado-López ………….Ext. 239 Office Manager

Maureen Schultz ……………………..Ext. 236 Bookkeeper

Gary Owens …………………………..Ext. 221 Music Director Maricela Michel………………………Ext. 232 Wedding Coordinator Deanna Rice………………………...…Ext. 236 Liturgical Assistant

Catechesis Staff

Dana Robles …………………………..Ext. 240 Catechetical Coordinator

Marisol Aceves ………………………..Ext. 227

Spanish Ministry / Spanish Catechesis Coordinator

Lisa Upattiya ………………………….Ext. 240

Youth Ministry Office Geraldine Delafosse ………………….Ext. 232 and Grace Fernandez

RCIA Coordinators

St. Thomas the Apostle School

9136 Magnolia Avenue • Riverside, CA 92503

(951) 689-1981 • www.stasriverside.com

Facebook.com /stthomastheapostleschool

Dr. Dian Pizurie Martha Sepúlveda Ochoa Principal Secretary

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Domingo de Ramos La Pasión del Señor

Fr. Frank T. Dicristina Pastor

Holy Week This weekend begins the holiest week of the year for us. We begin it by celebrating Passion/

Palm Sunday. This celebration focuses on Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the crowds waving palm and olive branches and laying them and their cloaks on the road before him. This was the way a king entering his city would be greeted in triumph when he returned from war as the victor. The cheers of triumph soon turn into jeers of “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Our focus this day is on his passion which leads Him to the cross. We are to reflect upon the pain and suffering He endured for the salvation of all hu-manity. This holy week is an opportunity for each of us to take some extra time for prayer and reflection. It is part of our Lenten journey that enables us to allow the love of God that is revealed to us this week, to touch our lives in a way that leaves an impact on us. We have been preparing for these holy days since we began Lent on Ash Wednesday. Don’t let these days slip by without them touching you. The cross is a very important part of our life as a Christian, a follower of Christ. It teaches us about the deep care and compassion God has for His people. It can transform us and enable us to enter more deeply into that transform-ing love of the Lord. We are challenged to die and rise with Christ and experience a new and holy life in God. Please take time to allow yourself to spend time with God in prayer, reflection and thanksgiving. Make this Holy Week an experience of the holiness of God touching your life. It will turn our sorrow into joy, our pain into healing, our negative outlook into one of seeing life through what is positive and our hopes and dreams into the reality of God in our midst. It is very important that we acknowledge God’s mercy and love during this Holy Week. The graces we receive by coming and celebrating the Sacred Triduum, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday reveal that mercy and love of God for all humanity. Filled with this grace and love of God we can then continue to grow in our faith and be messengers of His mercy to others. At home, work, in our neighborhood, at the shopping mall or grocery store we become the presence of Christ to those we are with. This is how the Gospel becomes a real-ity in the world and a force for goodness, love and compassion to others. We must avail ourselves to the mercy of God first and experience His love for us if we are to then bring it to others. We cannot give what we do not possess ourselves. Make Holy Week a priority for you and your family and loved ones to attend the various celebrations. Bring some-one with you who you know and who needs the touch of the love of God. Let the holiness of God who is all Holy, Holy, Holy, to renew the holiness you received in Baptism and fill you with the Joy of the Holy Spirit. Keep those who lost loved ones this year to death from illness or from violence in your prayers this week. Ask the Lord who suffered and died to kindle in their hearts the love of God and the hope we all are to have in the eternal life he won for us. May Easter bring you and your family great joy and peace and fill you with blessings of the Risen Lord. Happy Easter.

The Parish Office will be closed on Good Friday, March 30th and

Easter Monday, April 2nd.

Page 3 March 25, 2018

Mass Intentions Readings for the week Lecturas de la Semana

Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3, 13-14; Jn 12:1-11

Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-6, 15, 17; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34; Mt 26:14-25

Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15

Is 52:13 - 53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1 - 19:42

Gn 1:1 - 2:2 [1:1, 26-31a]; Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35; or Ps 33:4-7, 12-13, 20-22;

Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9

Monday: Lunes:

Tuesday: Martes:

Wedesday: Miercoles:

Thursday: Jueves:

Friday: Viernes:

Saturday: Sabado:

Sunday: Domingo:

Saturday-Sabado March 24th

5:00 p.m. † Jenny Cola

6:30 p.m. (Spanish) † Juan Marquez

Sunday-Domingo March 25th

7:00 a.m. † Mary McCarthy

9:00 a.m. † Dorothy Cowan

11:00 a.m. † Ruth Gove

5:00 p.m. † Sally Quesada & Deceased Members of Herrera Family

Monday-Lunes March 26th

8:00 a.m. † Daric Francis Debevec

Tuesday-Martes March 27th

8:00 a.m. † Jessica Laszlo

Wednesday-Miercoles March 28th

8:00 a.m. † Miguel Angel Negron

Thursday-Jueves March 29th

8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer

7:00 p.m. Mass of our Lord’s Supper

Friday-Viernes March 30th

8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer

5:00 p.m. Stations (Spanish)

7:00 p.m. Solemn Liturgy Ints. Families, Friends, & Benefactors of St. Thomas

Saturday-Sabado March 31st

8:00 a.m. Prayer

7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Ints. Families, Friends, & Benefactors of St. Thomas

Sunday-Domingo April 1st

7:00 a.m. Ints. Families, Friends, & Benefactors of St. Thomas

9:00 a.m. Ints. Families, Friends, & Benefactors of St. Thomas

11:00 a.m. Ints. Families, Friends, & Benefactors of St. Thomas

1:00 p.m. Ints. Families, Friends, & Benefactors of St. Thomas

12:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross

Ints. Families, Friends, & Benefactors of St. Thomas

Prayers for the Deceased We pray for all the faithful departed, especially

John Vaughn, Shirley Janclaes, Paul Rich, Bina Cruz, Jose Felix, Mario Gallo, Ramon Navarro, Carlos Montano,

Anthony Scimia, Stephen Hernandez, Alvaro Carazo, Margaret Olvera Madera,

Ruth Gove, Ruben Lozano, Mary McCarthy, and Henrietta Robinson.

May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Prayers for the sick

We pray for

Luz Maldonado, Maria Gonzalez Granada, Jim Reed, Jack Croul, Martha Enriquez,

Cecilia Perches, Benjamin Mandiola, Barbara Molchan, George Molchan,

Pamela Brown, Margie Donahue, Gary Owens, Odette Balajadia, Chris Bectel, Nancy Corbit, Alex Tenango, Sandy Davis, Dcn. Mike Cruz,

and Ed Clark.

May they feel the healing power of prayer. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm: “God, my God, why have you

abandoned me?”

Sanctuary Candle: Ints. Linda Barilla

Page 4 March 25, 2018

Prayer Group

Join us at 3:00 p.m. every Thursday in the KDC. Please contact: Lorraine (951) 687-3619.

Soup Supper - Good Friday, March 30th 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Let us break our fast together in the Parish Hall before joining in the Solemn Liturgy at 7:00 p.m. Soup and bread will be provid-ed by the Parish Community.

Eucharistic Adoration

Next Adoration is Friday, April 20th, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Children’s Worship Area.

Catholic Charities is offering Anger Management courses and Parenting courses in English and Spanish. Courses are free for qualifying participants. If you are interested in more information or would like to register for a course, please call (909)763-4970 Ext. 405

Representatives will be available after each Mass on the weekend of April 14-15th with more information.

Kitchen Table Theology is coming soon. What are top-ics you are interested in learning more about? Symbols in the Mass? Christian Family issues? Certain teachings of the Church? Write down what you would like to learn more about below and return this portion in the collec-tion basket or to the Parish Office.

**Pontifical Good Friday Collection

Pope Francis has asked our parish to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land provide Catholic schools, religious education, preserve sacred shrines, and assist refugees.

PLEASE BE GENEROUS. For more information about Christians in the Holy Land, visit www.myfranciscan.org/good-Friday.

The Annual Men’s Retreat will be held at Mater Dolo-rosa Retreat Center on the weekend of April 20th - 22nd. Join your fellow parishioners this weekend of spiritual enrichment and growth. The Passionist Retreat team offers inspirational talks, as well as time for quiet pray-er, Mass, Confession, and Stations of the Cross. The center provides a private room and bath, delicious meals, and beautiful landscape grounds.

The retreat begins Friday evening and concludes Sunday afternoon. Please leave a message for Mi-chael McVeigh at (951)689-1131 for more information or to make your reservation.

Holy Thursday (March 29th): *Collection for the Poor 8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer *7:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper (bilingual)

Good Friday (March 30th): **Pontifical Good Friday Collection 8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer, **12:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross **5:00 p.m. Spanish Stations of the Cross **7:00 p.m. Solemn Liturgy

Holy Week Schedule Holy Saturday (March 31st):

8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer, *7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil (bilingual)

*There will be a 2nd Collection

Easter Sunday (April 1st): *7:00 a.m. Mass

*9:00 a.m. Mass, *11:00 a.m. Mass.

*1:00 p.m. Spanish Mass (There will be no Mass at 5:00 p.m.)

Join us for Contemplative Taize Prayer Monday, April 9th at 7:00 p.m. Madison St. Church, 3991 Madison St. We meet the 2nd Monday of every month.

There will be no breakfast or hospi-tality on Easter Sunday, April 1st. Knights will host hospitality on Sunday, April 8th, 22nd, and 29th.

Page 5 March 25, 2018

Donations for The Father Joe Felker Fund for the School have totaled $9,065 as of March 14th. Thank you to all who have contributed to this fund that allows us to help our parents with tuition assistance to send their children to Catholic school.

Your donations greatly help the School.

If you would like to contribute to this fund in memory of Fr. Joseph Felker, please contact the School Office at (951)689-1981.

We are looking for a new Parish Bookkeeper.

Maureen is retiring after 25+ years of ser-vice to our diocese, so we will need a new person to plan, prepare, and manage the parish budget.

Position: Hourly 20 hours per week / 52 weeks per year.

Qualifications:

1. College degree in Business Administration or at least two years training in business management, accounting or equivalent knowledge and experience.

2.Knowledgeable of the accounting system of the diocese — Hold Bookkeeper Certificate from the Diocese.

3.Knowledgeable in the areas of financial management, office management, and plant management.

4.Above average computer knowledge and skills, and open to continued computer training.

5.Skilled in communication, organization, and administration. 6.Knowledgeable of the theology and mission of the Church,

diocesan policies and regulations, and the goals and priorities of the parish.

7.Able to work harmoniously with member of the parish staff and other personnel.

8.High level of confidentiality required.

If you would like more detailed information, or would like to apply for this position, please email your resume to alopez@sbdiocese.org

GOLD CANYON CANDLES FUNDRAISER

We have 15 wonderful Summer scents, stylish Lumie designs. Each candle costs $21.60 after tax. The School receive 40% of all sales. Sale starts on March 22nd and ends April 11th

Contact St. Thomas School for more infor-mation: (951) 689-1981 Thank you, for all your support to the school.

Sunday, April 15th - St. Thomas School Pancake Breakfast after the 7:00, 9:00, and 11:00 Masses. This is also the date for our Scholastic Book Fair. Come in after Mass, eat break-fast, and buy a book for a child you love or for our school Library!

Present this flyer at: Olivia’s

Mexican Restaurant 9447 Magnolia Ave.

(951) 689-2131

TUESDAY- MARCH 27, 2018 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

St. Thomas School will receive 20% of proceeds. This is a great and delicious way to help support St. Thomas the Apostle School!

The children of St. Thomas thank you!

Diocesan Development Fund Progress Report

I want to thank those who have already made a commit-ment to contribute to the DDF this year. I want to remind the rest of the community that we have 1,600 families in the parish and only 175 have contributed. All of us to-gether are the Body of Christ, the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle and all of us should be contributing to the DDF. If you can only contribute $50 as a one-time dona-tion then please do. It is your responsibility to assist us to raise the money for the DDF. I remind you that whatever money goes above the goal is placed in the parish Funds on Deposit which is our savings account. This money we can use to enhance the programs for our children, teens and all parishioners. So please contribute something. Fast from something you enjoy and contribute the money you would have spent on it to the DDF. Lenten fasting is part of what we are called to do as a preparation for Easter. You still have a couple of weeks to do this for the good of the whole community and for yourself and your family.

God Bless, Fr. Frank

Goal of $94,900

Pledges : $93,289

Collected: $36,446

Participants: 176 Participation: 11%

Active Families: 1,600

School News

Calling All Alumni of St. Thomas School

Did you graduate from St. Thomas the Apostle School? Do you know someone who did? We think it would be fun to gather our Alumni to see what’s new or what is the same about your beloved Alma Mater! Like our Facebook page or send us your name and contact infor-mation so we can find a way to get together. Looking forward to seeing you! (St. Thomas School Office; 9136 Magnolia Ave.; Riverside, CA 92503. (951) 689-1981.

Page 6 March 25, 2018

Youth Ministry - 7th thru 12th Grade

Confirmation News

Holy Week Handprints

Make a book that tells the story of Holy Week for your children. The story is adapted from the book of Matthew, it is illustrated by your child and his or her handprints. Even the youngest of children can participate in a handprint craft, and the craft also becomes a keepsake to be treasured. Imagine pulling this book out for years to come to read it to your children and grandchildren. Faith in the home helps to keep them Catholic! http://www.catholicicing.com/holy-week-in-handprints/

Contact Dana Robles, Coordinator of Catechesis at (951) 689-1131, ext. 240 drobles@sbdiocese.org

Get regular Youth Ministry updates Text @99k9gf to 81010 For more information, contact Lisa Upattiya: lupattiya@sbdiocese.org

Please pray for our Confirmation Youth. Confirmation is on Sunday, April 8, 2018

Hannah Abad Isabel Ayala Savannah Baca Andrea Barajas Lucas Bates Arianna Bedolla Caden Cabrera Faith Campbell Julian Castaneda Justin Couture Bryan Cruz Jordon Domingo Joseph Erdodi

Cal Fernandez Alex Fernando Jessica Franco

Felix Garcia Monica Garcia Joyce Guevara

Lynette Hernaez Eric Hernandez

Cesar Hernandez Deborah Horowitz

Angel Izguerra Killian Kelly

Christian Lowrey

Jude Lowrey Samuel McMaster Amanda Mejia Victoria Mejia Bianca Montuori Adam Navarro Ashley Pedroza Joseph Perez Maritrini Ramirez Pedro Ramirez Jesus Rangel Athena Raya Shelly Renteria

Audia Romero Krystal Roque

Bryana Ruiz Arely Salas

Tiana Salazar Leslie Salcedo Rose Sanchez Briana Santos

Tatyanna Shanklin Faith Spolar

Valeria Tapia Austin Williams

Maleah Williams

Youth Ministry Wants You! 7th thru 12th graders, join us at upcoming Youth Ministry events.

Faith Formation News: Kindergarten - 8th Grade