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St. James Parish
During this period of the COVID-19 pandemic I request prayers for all who are suffering and that the financial needs of our parish and parishioners are met.
Pope Francis recently reminded us we will survive this coronavirus situation by sticking together. He invites us to live this moment with humility, penance, compassion and hope, and to demonstrate our solidarity with others; especially those who suffer.
Yes, these are dark times for many of us. Yet our faith commends us to not be consumed by fear, insecurity, and anxiety. As followers of Jesus, we put our trust in God who, in the power of the Holy Spirit, sends us to be about God’s mission of restoration, reconciliation and wholeness in the face of brokenness, alienation, and illness.
Now is the time for us to be the Church that God wants us and needs us to be.
Here at St. James our vibrant ministries, faith formation and Catholic education have been severely disrupted by the pandemic. Limitations on weekend Mass participation have impacted our sense of community with a concurrent reduction of 25% in parish income.
Understandably, this has placed a tremendous strain on our ability to operate and maintain our parish facilities.
So, my friends today I humbly ask for your generous financial support. For those having reduced or suspended contributions to our parish please resume your ongoing support. For those having not been impacted by COVID-19 and are in a position to do so, I ask your consideration of increasing your support. And, for those presently unable to contribute, please pray for all of us and a future of vibrant liturgy, ministry and service to our Community of Faith.
May God grant us a reprieve from this terrible illness through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
~YOUR generosity is appreciated~
PARISH OFFICE NEWS
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If you would like to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) please call the office for an appointment 530-756-3636.
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The Pastoral Offices are currently closed for visitors. However, we are in the office for drop-offs, phone calls and available to help you however we can during the current pandemic. During this time we are in the office from 8am to 3pm only. Calls after 3pm will be answered the next day. Sign ups for the weekend Masses can fill quickly, however you are welcome to call the office to sign up.
The office is closed on the weekends.
Deacon Joe
Pope Francis Proclaims
The Year of St. Joseph
Joseph was raised by family and community steeped in the Worship and Word of God to trust that God loved him. When visited by the angel of the Lord, Joseph tacitly listened. He acted in accord with his faith even as that faith would be sorely tested by recurring visits from this angel.
The Incarnation starts with unconventional formation of a family. Mary’s spoken Fiat (“let it be according to your will”) led to the pregnancy but created a bewildering problem for her betrothed, Joseph. By all accounts, Joseph was a good and faithful Jew and therefore knowledgeable in the Scripture including the prophecies of a Messiah, the One Anointed by God, who would come to God’s Chosen people through the line of King David of which Joseph descended. Joseph listens to the angel of God telling him that Mary’s pregnancy comes through the power of the Holy Spirit and that Joseph should take Mary into his house, which Joseph does and I would suspect, he does so not with understanding but joyful in serving the Lord. Joseph has the examples of all of Jewish history to show him the wisdom of his decision to do what God tells you no matter how mystifying.
Two people living as one in a covenantal relationship (marriage) mirrored, then as now, the everlasting covenantal relationship between God and mankind – distinctly different roles but one in being. When Joseph and Mary had to trek to Bethlehem (near Jerusalem) for the census, Joseph did the best he could to find a place where Mary, now in labor, could fulfill her part in bringing Salvation to the world. Joseph resourcefully found food, water and whatever else they needed on this journey. Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Joseph followed Jewish tradition and brought Mary and Jesus to the Temple with an offering of two turtle doves as the parents presented their first born to the Lord. Here the righteous and devout man, Simeon, proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. The elderly prophetess, Anna, likewise recognized Jesus as the Redeemer of Israel. Imagine the tumult going on in Joseph’s head. From the start, Joseph trusted God and then gradually learned his part in the unfolding theodrama as he met the challenges of his obedience to God in the life of his family. Sometime after another mind-expanding visit by the Magi, Joseph was visited yet again by the angel of the Lord when a fearful Herod responded violently to the news of a rival king being born not far from his palace. Promptly following this latest angelic visit, Joseph gathered up Mary and Jesus to set out for a foreign land, Egypt, just as his ancestor, Jacob, had done centuries earlier seeking security. Consider that Joseph had not only to protect his family but also to see to their sustenance throughout this period. Finally, Joseph listened again when the angel of God beckoned him to return to Nazareth after Herod had died.
Jewish tradition and spiritual community prepared Joseph for this role. One annual trip to Jerusalem for Passover became especially notable when 12 yr old Jesus stayed back conversing with and impressing the teachers in Jerusalem without advising his parents. Jesus’ response, “Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?” settled on the hearts of Joseph and Mary who again trusted God more than needing to understand God’s ways.
Observe this covenantal relationship where each person fulfills a complementary role trusting that the other also works out of love. Note how anxiety fades while peace of mind settles in under such a relationship. Then, remember the numerous biblical comparisons of marriage on earth with marriage of the Church and Jesus, all with distinct identities but one in being in eternity.
At different times, Joseph and Mary were each visited by an angel of the Lord for different but related purposes. This husband and wife trusted each other to fulfill their respective parts in this mystery. They didn’t understand or imagine God’s plan but they both trusted God and worked as one in obedience to the Lord doing whatever he told them. Joseph never spoke a word in the Gospels but he and Mary were two living as one in the covenant of marriage and very much in accord with Mary’s last spoken words in the Gospels. Referring to Jesus, Mary said to the servers at the wedding at Cana, “Do whatever He tells you”.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19
RANDOM THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS BY DEACON SAM
--“Walk by faith, not by sight.”
Are we brushing up against Jesus, or, are we really touching Him with our hearts, our faith, our hopes? Are we living discouraged, disappointed regretful, or, are we determined to love and know God better by our faith? Can our faith be seen? Can we stir up the gifts and talents God has put in each of us? Can we praise God for His goodness? We have all experienced countless miracles in our lives which we may not always recognize – or appreciate. A secret to happiness is to live each moment thanking God for all He has given to us and done for us from each beat of our hearts and breath we take, the joy of a sunrise, the caress of a gentle breeze and the people who share our life. Our faith makes us whole. Be persistent in prayer, thanksgiving and the certainty that God loves each of us very much.
--Believe in Jesus.
Receive the gift of salvation that He offers us.
Walk in the light of the Lord.
--We want to get back to “normal” –to meet with our families, socialize with friends, go to restaurants, etc., but we are cautioned to keep social distance, wear masks, get vaccinated, take care of ourselves and respect others. Some self-centered people choose not to listen to the words of caution – their minds are like concrete – firmly set and not moveable. May we keep our minds and hearts open to the care and respect of others during this time of pandemic, trust in God to help us patiently manage the tension in our lives which we may be experiencing, and not forget to daily thank God for His goodness.
--There are people who assume that if they have wealth, status and power they can ignore the needs of others. Some people think that if they have money, God is on their side. Those who have privilege were given this by God to help those in need. Sadly, we can be enslaved by self importance, materialism, addictions, etc… Enslavement, however, is not what God wants for us – He wants people to live in freedom. He doesn’t want arrogance to be used to destroy people. We are all sons and daughters of God given the opportunity each day to grace the world with Christ – like humility, mercy, love, graciousness, tenderness and compassion. May Christ be our priority, our light and our guide.
--It is easy to lose our passion for life when we are tired, or hurt or when we have lost our perspective. Perhaps, then, it is time to open up the windows in our being and let the light shine in – exercising, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, praying and thanking God for His goodness are all excellent. This day – and every day – is a gift from God. Celebrate the small successes in your life and stay determined to keep moving forward. Let God work in the silence of our hearts – and listen to Him.
--The desire for God is a fundamental appetite for us humans. We may at times feel abandoned by God – but God is always with us, always loving us, always inviting us to choose Him above all else, always helping us find joy and peace in His grace and mercy. God works in mysterious ways – all of us have certainly heard this at one time or another. With faith in God, difficult times, such as this ongoing time of pandemic, can form us. God uses events and adversities to bring us closer to Him. True faith is trusting in God when it makes no sense to do so – to really believe that God is there for us and really knows what He is doing. Keep faith that God knows what is best for us.
--Pause.
Listen to the voice of God in our hearts and in our heads. Pray that we may experience the presence of God more fully in our lives and that our thoughts and actions may be more pleasing to Him. God listens when we pray – may God ignite in us an abiding confidence in a future with hope.
--“Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen – Glory Hallelujah” This is a magnificent African-American spiritual song sung over the years by such vocal greats as Marion Anderson, Paul Robeson, Lena Horne and Louis Armstrong. It reminds us that Jesus underwent the sufferings we go through – only deeper. I think that self sufficiency (thinking that we can do it all) can be a sin. The opposite of self sufficiency is despair. I believe that we have the ability to solve great problems on this planet by submitting to God and working with each other. The reality of our life with Jesus is His Spirit, His greatness and His grace. Working together we can become “merciful warriors” and make a profound difference with our lives. We can choose to glorify ourselves – or to glorify God. God is calling us to glorify Him by our making a difference in this world.
--“When you do the right thing, you are never wrong.” Mark Twain Integrity is the foundation on which a successful life is built. If we were standing next to God, what might we be thinking? Perhaps, it wouldn’t be to think about how much I could get away with. Rather, we might choose to be a person excellence and integrity – kind, considerate, honest, trustworthy and respectful of everyone. Let our actions flow from our hearts. “Lord, give us grateful hearts so that we can be loving, merciful and compassionate to everyone around us.”
--The Resurrection of Christ gives us hope, gives us strength. Christ is with us and with Him we have life. God controls the universe – He has the solution to our problems long before we are even aware of having a problem. May we all live in faith. Dinner at the table of the Lord is not complete without any of us there. There is a seat waiting for each of us. Praise God!
May the blessings of our Risen Christ be with all of our St. James Parish family – now and always.
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Diocesan News:
November 21, 2020
Dispensation from the Bishop
Bishop Soto has granted a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday for those members of the Faithful who are sixty years of age and older as well as those suffering vulnerable health conditions.
Due to new instructions provided by State and local public health officials, this decree is now extended to include all members of the Catholic Faithful from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. This dispensation will continue until further notice.
Decree of Dispensation English
November 21, 2020
ICP Registration
The Diocese of Sacramento is joining those in Los Angeles, Fresno, Orange, San Bernadino and San Diego in a program that brings compensation and justice to those who were sexually abused as minors by diocesan priests. All claims, regardless of how long ago they may have occurred, will be considered by the program. The ICP is independent, outside the control of any diocese. For more information, including how to submit a claim, please visit www.CaliforniaDiocesesICP.com. Let us always remember to pray for the victims of priest sexual abuse. As their pain is ongoing, so must our prayers for them be.
