I want to start this homily with the Psalm 118: 22-24, that says: “The stone the builders re-

jected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our

eyes. This is the day has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad”.

Why shall we rejoice? Why shall we be glad? To these questions, there is only one answer:

God has done something extraordinary by raising Jesus from dead. He has given us hope

and assurance that, whatever might happen to us and how bad we might have it with hu-

man suffering, our destiny is tied to that of Jesus Christ. Our life will never simply end up in

the grave forever, but rather it will continue beyond our physical death in order to find its

rest in the heavenly kingdom.

Jesus Christ is the first that God the Father has raised from the dead. Like him, the Father

will raise us with him so that where he is we too might be. We who were baptized into Je-

sus Christ were baptized into his death. We were, indeed, buried with him through baptism

into death, so that, just, as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we

too might live in newness of life.

That is why the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith. Tonight we celebrate

the founding event of our faith. Tonight we witness to the truth that those who put Jesus to

death were wrong to think that he was an impostor who pretended to talk in the name of

God. No, Jesus was right. He is really the son of God, the savior of the world.

It is really true that the Father sent him into the world in order to bear our sins on the

cross.

His resurrection changes our fate. We are not doomed to perdition, but rather we are des-

tined to life. Whatever might be our pains and sufferings, our hardships and difficulties,

there is always a hope. Beyond the dark tunnel of our crises and diseases, there is a light.

The light of Christ is bigger than our darkness.

The Gospel of tonight bears witness to the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrec-

tion, indeed, has to be approached with courage and firm faith. When Mary Magdalene

and the other Mary went to the tomb that Sabbath, they were taken by surprise: “the stone

was removed from the tomb”. The angel reassured them: the crucified you are looking for

has been raised just as he said. When Jesus appeared to them later on, it was in order to

confirm what they already knew: He is Risen.

When tonight we receive our brothers and sisters of RCIA for the reception of different sac-

raments, we bring them to the light of the risen Lord. Pray for them as we all pray for one

another. May the light of Christ dispel the darkness of our life so that we live as mew crea-

tures, all given to God through Jesus Christ. Amen

Ezekiel 36: 16-17a, 18-28; Romans 6: 3-11; Matthew 28: 1-10

Homily Date: April 11, 2020

© 2020 – Fr Felicien I. Mbala, PhD, STD

Contact: www.mbala.org

Document Name: 20200411homily.pdf

CCD: Sunday at 11:30AM-12:50PM

Pre-Communion: During CCD time

Pre-Confirmation: During CCD time

Youth Group: 1st and 3rd Wednesday

of the Month at 7:00PM

Knights of Columbus: 1st Sunday of the Month

9:00AM

Altar & Rosary: 3rd Wednesday of the month

Yuma Sunday Mass:

English 10:30 am

Spanish 1:00 pm

Saturday Anticipated Mass:

2nd & 4th Saturday 5:00pm

Weekday Mass:

Tuesday 5:30 pm

Confessions:

2nd & 4th Saturday 3:30-4:30pm

Tuesday 4:30-5:00pm or by appointment

Wray

Sunday Mass 8:00 am

1st, 3rd, & 5th Saturday Mass 5:00pm

Weekday Masses: Thur 5:30 pm & Fri 8:00 am

Confessions: 1st & 3rd Saturday 3:30-4:30 pm

Yuma

Misa de Domingo:

Inglés 10:30 am

Español 1:00 pm

Misa Anticipada de Sábado:

2do & 4to Sábado 5:00pm

Misa Entre Semana:

Martes 5:30 pm

Confesiones:

2do & 4to sábado 3:30-4:30pm

Martes 4:30-5:00pm o con cita

Wray

Misa de Domingo 8:00 am

1er, 3er, & 5to Sábado Misa 5:00pm Misas entre semana: Jue 5:30 pm &Vie 8:00 am

Confesiones: 1er & 3er Sábado 3:30-4:30 pm

508 S Ash

Yuma CO 80759

Phone: 970-848-5973

Fax: 970-848-2817

Email: stjohnyuma@gmail.com

Yumacountycatholic.org

Parish Council Members:

Miembros del Consejo parroquial:

Jeremy Blach, Mark Oestman, Jared Woodside

Maria Ramirez, Kindra Brandner,

Silvia Castillo & Glenda Escobar.

Welcome new parishioners!

Please register in the parish office and receive

the archdiocesan newspaper

St. John the

Evangelist

The Catholic family of Yuma since 1888

La familia Católica de Yuma desde 1888

April 12th, 2020

EASTER SUNDAY OF

THE RESURRECTION

OF THE LORD

Catecismo: Domingos a las 11:30AM-12:50 PM

Pre-Comunión: Durante el tiempo de CCD.

Pre-Confirmación: Durante CCD.

Estudios Bíblicos: 2° y 4° Martes del mes

de 6:20-8:30

Grupo de Jóvenes: 1er y 3er Miércoles del mes

7:00PM

2XSiempre - preparación matrimonial

Inicia en Enero.

¡Bienvenidos Nuevos Feligreses!

Favor de registrarse en la oficina parroquial y

recibirán El Pueblo Católico.

Parish Finance Council

Consejo Financiero Parroquial

Ronald Blach, Joe Harper,

David Ledet, Mary Kay Robertson

Horas de Oficina:

Martes 12:00pm-2:00pm (Lety Cortes)

Miércoles 12:00pm-2:00pm (Lety Cortes)

Jueves 12:00pm-2:00pm (Lety Cortes)

Office hours:

Tuesday 12:00pm-2:00pm (Lety Cortes)

Wednesday 12:00pm-2:00pm (Lety Cortes)

Thursday 12:00pm-2:00pm (Lety Cortes)

Fr. Felicien Mbala

mbalafe@gmail.com

www.mbala.org

(970)458-1045

WHEN we do something we dislike, let us say to God: “My God, I offer you this in honor of the moment when you died for me.

- On the Sanctification of Daily Life -THOUGHTS of the CURÉ D’ARS

Liturgy and Activities Schedule

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Prayer for vocations: Samuel Munson

No English Mass

NO CCD / NO HABRA CATECISMO

No habrá Misa en Español

MONDAY, APRIL 13 Prayer for vocations: Ryan Kent

TUESDAY, APRIL 14 Prayer Vocations: Tommy Croghan

No Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

No Sacrament of Reconciliation

No Mass

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 Prayer for vocations: Daniel Ciucci

No Adoration of Blessed Sacrament

THURSDAY, APRIL 16 Prayer for Vocations: Vocation Ministry

No Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

FRIDAY, APRIL 17 Prayer for vocations: Applicants and Prospective Seminarian

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 Holy Saturday

Prayer for vocation: Hernaldo Arrieta

No Anticipated Mass

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)

Prayer for vocations: Samuel Munson

No English Mass

NO CCD / NO HABRA CATECISMO

No habrá Misa en Español

Lecturas para Semana del 12 de Abril Domingo: Hechos 10:34a, 37-43 / Colosenses 3:1-4 / Juan 20:1-9 Lunes: Hechos 2:14, 22-33 / Mateo 28:8-15 Martes: Hechos 2:36-41 / Juan 20:11-18 Miércoles: Hechos 3:1-10 / Lucas 24: 13:35 Jueves: Hechos 3:11-26 / Lucas 24:35-48 Viernes: Hechos 4:1-12 / Juan 21:1-14 Sábado: Hechos 4:13-21 / Marcos 16:9-15 Domingo: Hechos 4:23-31 / 1 Pedro 3:1-9 /Juan 20:19-31

Readings for the Week of April 12th Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 / Col 3:1-4 / Jn 20:1-9 Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33 / Mt 28:8-15 Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41 / Jn 20:11-18 Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10 / Lk 24: 13:35 Thursday: Act 3:11-26 / Lk 24:35-48 Friday: Acts 4:1-12 / Jn 21:1-14 Saturday: Acts 4:13-21 / Mk 16:9-15 Sunday: Acts 4:23-31 / 1 Pt 3:1- /Jn 20:19-31

My Jesus, I believe that

You are present in the

Most Holy Sacrament. I

love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You

into my soul.

Since I cannot at this mo-

ment receive You sacra-

mentally, come at least

spiritually into my heart. I

embrace You as if You

were already there and

unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be

separated from You.

Amen.

EASTER IN THE MIDST OF CORONAVIRUS

When parishioners, relatives and friends, send me electronic messages or

when people talk to me on the phone, one sentence comes very often out of

their mouths, which summarizes the deep feeling of their hearts at the mo-

ment: “How sad it is to live this way…”.

The coronavirus, indeed, has changed our social life style, our religious prac-

tices and spiritual habits, our relationships with one another and our way of

being. We have been ordered to temporary confinement in our own homes,

like prisoners who have no right to do what they want, but rather to follow

the guidelines given them by their guardians.

It feels like being exiled in the midst of our own homes and our own country.

Such a moment reminds us of the situation of the Israelites exiled in Baby-

lon. The more they were thinking about their fate, the more they were longing

for the day they would be free again: “By the rivers of Babylon we sat mourn-

ing and weeping when we remembered Zion” (Psalm 137: 1).

These days of coronavirus can put us in the same situation of sadness and

tears. Of course, it is legitimate to mourn the good of past days and yearn to

relive better days again. But, one thing we cannot do is to dwell in our frus-

tration or bitterness. We have to pray for our brothers and sisters suffering

and dying from the very contagious coronavirus. We have to pray for their

families bearing such a burden. We have to pray for the medical personnel

who are at the frontline of the fight against this virus. Without losing our

hope and trust in God, we have to listen to the priest Ezra talking to the Isra-

elites: “Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad, and do not

weep” (Nehemiah 8: 9).

Easter reminds us that, whatever might be the length of a night, a dawn will

come, whatever might be the intensity of our suffering, the liberating power

of God will show up. Is not that why Easter comes always after the Passion

and Victory after the Battle? With God’s help, we will get through it. It might

get worse before it gets better, but it will not be endless.

Easter reminds us that, as Christ has triumphed over death, the power of

God can triumph over the power of darkness and suffering, even if it is a vi-

rus. The Risen Christ teaches us to hope in the midst of our human exiles,

be it of suffering, sickness or hardships.

This Easter will be without Mass and without Eucharist. As we come out of

Lent to enter Easter, we have to remember that our fast is not yet over. May

the fast from the Eucharist lead us to a deep appreciation of the body and

blood of Christ.

The virtue we need to have in these difficult days is that of Spiritual Com-

munion: Yearning for Jesus in the deepest of our heart, making ourselves the

Receptacle of the presence of God.

Happy Easter to All of you! Fr Felicien Mbala, PhD, STD

March 26, 2020

Father Felicien’s Announcements~Anuncios del Padre Felicien

SUNDAY BIBLE REFLECTION They Saw and Believed

Jesus is nowhere visible. Yet today's Gospel tells us that Peter and John "saw and believed."

What did they see? Burial shrouds lying on the floor of an empty tomb. Maybe that convinced them that He hadn't

been carted off by grave robbers, who usually stole the expensive burial linens and left the corpses behind.

But notice the repetition of the word "tomb"—seven times in nine verses. They saw the empty tomb and they be-

lieved what He had promised: that God would raise Him on the third day.

Chosen to be His "witnesses," today's First Reading tells us, the Apostles were "commissioned...to preach...and tes-

tify" to all that they had seen—from His anointing with the Holy Spirit at the Jordan to the empty tomb.

More than their own experience, they were instructed in the mysteries of the divine economy, God's saving plan—to know how "all the

prophets bear witness" to Him (see Luke 24:27,44). Now they could "understand the Scripture," could teach us what He had told

them—that He was "the Stone which the builders rejected," whose Resurrection and exaltation today's Psalm prophesies (see Luke

20:17; Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11). We are the children of the apostolic witnesses. That is why we still gather early in the morning on

the first day of every week to celebrate this feast of the empty tomb, give thanks for "Christ our life," as today's Epistle calls Him.

Baptized into His death and Resurrection, we live the heavenly life of the risen Christ, our lives "hidden with Christ in God." We are

now His witnesses, too. But we testify to things we cannot see but only believe; we seek in earthly things what is above.

We live in memory of the Apostles' witness, like them eating and drinking with the risen Lord at the altar. And we wait in hope for

what the Apostles told us would come—the day when we too "will appear with Him in glory."

Like and follow our Facebook page to stay involved in our

parish activities! Search:

St. John the Evangelist-Yuma, CO

English: Text INDIANS to 4576

Español: Text INDIANS to 202-765-441

REFLEXION A LAS LECTURAS DE ESTE DOMINGO Pascua de la Resurrección del Señor

La historia de la salvación comprende todo lo que Dios ha hecho en su trato con la humanidad. Cada año, la Iglesia pro-

clama nuevamente varios capítulos de este extenso relato. Por ejemplo, el Adviento es la historia que precede al

nacimiento de Jesús, y la Cuaresma sigue los pasos de Cristo hasta la cruz. Ahora bien, hoy comenzamos un nuevo

capítulo: Los 50 días de la temporada de Pascua. Ayer, Jesús yacía muerto y sepultado. Pero hoy no. ¡Jesús ha resucitado! ¡Aleluya! Y

con él comienza una nueva historia. No es secreto que las grandes historias tienen personajes interesantes, y las lecturas de hoy no

son la excepción. Pídele al Espíritu Santo que les haga cobrar vida. En la primera lectura puedes escuchar cómo Pedro da testimonio

de la Resurrección. En la segunda, imagínate a Cristo como Pablo lo describe a los colosenses: majestuoso y sentado junto a su Pa-

dre en el tribunal del cielo. Luego lee el Evangelio y corre junto a Pedro y Juan hacia el sepulcro y recobra el aliento apoyándote en la

gran piedra que ha sido quitada. Lo maravilloso acerca de este capítulo de la historia de la salvación dedicado a la Pascua es que

aún no se ha terminado de escribir y tú eres un personaje clave en ella. Jesús ha resucitado y el Espíritu Santo se ha derramado so-

bre todo el mundo y sobre ti también. Y así la historia, de hecho todo el Reino de Dios, sigue avanzando a través de ti. ¡Jesús es

maravilloso! No solo te perdonó todos tus pecados y te salvó de la muerte, sino que también te invita a ser parte de su historia, ¡la

historia más magnífica jamás contada! Y el Señor te está colocando a la vanguardia de la historia de la salvación y te pide que es-

cribas otra página en este capítulo glorioso. ¡Ojalá todos aceptemos esta invitación! Entreguémonos a Jesús sin reservas, démosle la

bienvenida para que nuestra vida llegue a ser una conmovedora historia del amor y la gracia de Jesús. “Gracias, amado Jesús, por

hacerme parte de tu historia. Señor, ¡que la buena noticia de la salvación resuene en toda tu Iglesia!”

<meta con-

Try it! You’ll like it!

GIVE PLUS ONLINE

The church still needs your offering!

1.Visit www.yumacountycatholic.org

2. Locate the Give button 3.Donate!

***************************

During this unprecedented time of no

Masses or activities in the Catholic Church in Colorado, your

parish still has normal operating needs. You can mail in your

offering, save it for when we return to Church,

or try out GIVE PLUS ONLINE.

Please be aware that all dates, times, practices, retreats, & events are tenta-

tive and subject to change at the last minute. We will try to keep you informed.

REGISTER WITH FORMED -click "Enter Code" -Enter St. Andrew/St.John case-sensitive code:T2XZ4 D

-Enter your name, email, password, etc. to register with our parish.

-Freely access all content!

Visit our web site at / Visite el sitio web: yumacountycatholic.org

There will be no Adoration of the

Blessed Sacrament this week