Father Richard J. Rego, Chaplain
Fr. Isaac Fynn, Weekend Associate
PO Box 14257 Tucson, AZ 85732-4257
Office Hours 10:00-12:00 Mon-Fri
Phone: (520) 205-4096 * Fax: (520) 205-4097
Email: frrichardrego@comcast.net
Website:  www.saintgianna.net

“Put on then, as God’s holy and beloved people, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience.  Forgive one another; and if one has a complaint against another, as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also forgive.  And above all these things put on charity, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And always be thankful - - - And whatever you do in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3: 12-15,17).

Latin Mass Schedule                        MASS INTENTIONS        
Daily Mass 12:15 pm                        Sun 6:30 Intention of Lanny Stropko
Saturday 8:30 am                            Sun 1:45 Pro Populo
Sunday Masses                            
6:30 am, 1:45 pm                                    Mon 12:15 Todd Howard Pearson
Rosary                                Tues Ashley Hart-Pearson
Sundays 1:30 pm, 4:40 pm                        Wed Michael Joseph Pearson
                                     Thurs Jay Andrew Glaser, RIP
Confessions Schedule                        Friday: Fr. Lio Ermanegildo, RIP
Mon-Fri 11:00am to 12:00 Noon                    Saturday: As in St. Ambrose Bulletin
Saturday 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm                    
Sunday 4:15 pm to 4:45 pm                     Readings for Dominica in Albis
Devotions Schedule                        Introit - - - 1 Peter 2: 2; Ps 80: 2
Fatima Devotions every                     Epistle - - 1John 5: 4-10
1st Monday of Month 7:00 pm            Paschal - - Alleluia Mt 28: 7; Jn 20:26
Saint Joseph Devotions                 Gospel - - Jn 20: 19-31
Wednesday after 12:15 Mass                            
                                    

Sancta Gianna!  Ora Pro Nobis!


Masses for Eastertide  
Mon – Fri - - - Ferial in Paschal tide
Saturday, April 21- - - - Saint Anselm, Bishop & Doctor

Gospel Words of Jesus Christ Our Divine Savior
31 And again going out of the coasts of Tyre, he came by Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him. 33 And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue: 34 And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened. 35 And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right. (Mark 7: 31-35)

From the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans
 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us? 32 He that spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things? 33 Who shall accuse against the elect of God? God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that shall condemn? Christ Jesus that died, yea that is risen also again; who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword? (Rom 8: 31-35)

Spiritual Thought Of The Week
From the Introduction to the Devout Life, by Saint Francis De Sales Part Two, CHAPTER II: The fourth way (of placing ourselves in the Presence of God) is simply to exercise your ordinary imagination, picturing the Savior to yourself in His Sacred Humanity as if He were beside you just as we are wont to think of our friends, and fancy that we see or hear them at our side. But when the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar is there, then this Presence is no longer imaginary, but most real; and the sacred species are but as a veil from behind which the Present Savior beholds and considers us, although we cannot see Him as He is.

From The Imitation Of Christ By Thomas A Kempis
Book Three The Thirty-Fourth Chapter: BEHOLD, my God and my all! What more do I wish for; what greater happiness can I desire? O sweet and delicious word! But sweet only to him who loves it, and not to the world or the things that are in the world.  My God and my all! These words are enough for him who understands, and for him who loves it is a joy to repeat them often. For when You are present, all things are delightful; when You are absent, all things become loathsome. It is You Who give a heart tranquillity, great peace and festive joy. It is You Who make us think well of all things, and praise You in all things. Without You nothing can give pleasure for very long, for if it is to be pleasing and tasteful, Your grace and the seasoning of Your wisdom must be in it. What is there that can displease him whose happiness is in You? And, on the contrary, what can satisfy him whose delight is not in You?

From The Teachings Of The Second Vatican Council
Dei Verbum (On the Word of God): #20 Besides the four Gospels, the canon of the New Testament also contains the epistles of St. Paul and other apostolic writings, composed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by which, according to the wise plan of God, those matters which concern Christ the Lord are confirmed, His true teaching is more and more fully stated, the saving power of the divine work of Christ is preached, the story is told of the beginnings of the Church and its marvelous growth, and its glorious fulfillment is foretold.  For the Lord Jesus was with His apostles as He had promised (see Matt. 28:20) and sent them the advocate Spirit who would lead them into the fullness of truth (see John 16:13).

From The Code Of Canon Law Canon 330 Just as by the Lord’s decision Saint Peter and the other Apostles constitute one college, so in a like manner the Roman Pontiff, the successor of Peter, and the bishops, the successors of the Apostles, are united among themselves.
Catechism Of The Catholic Church  #2325 Suicide is seriously contrary to justice, hope, and charity. It is forbidden by the fifth commandment.

SPECIAL NOTICE
Please be advised that donations to Saint Gianna’s can be made through our website: www.saintgianna.net.  By so doing, one can contribute using their credit card.  We appreciate your financial support and also ask your prayers for our continued success.  Also, please note that we are now set up with PayPal so that our parishioners and friends can automatically contribute a designated amount each month toward your support of Saint Gianna’s.  Check our website for details: www.saintgianna.net.

Classes
We will be conducting classes on the Documents of Vatican II at the Desert Springs Academy, 3833 E 2nd St., Tucson.  The phone number is 321-1709.  The next class is Wednesday, April 18th at 3:00 PM.

Pope Benedict XVI Prayer Intention For April
General - - - - That every Christian, letting themselves be enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit, respond with enthusiasm and fidelity to the universal call to holiness.
Mission - - - - That the number of priestly and religious vocations grow in North America and in the countries of the Pacific Ocean so as to adequately respond to the pastoral and missionary needs of their populations.

 
  In the Church’s ancient liturgy today is know as Dominica in Albis or White Sunday.  Those who had received the Sacrament of Baptism on Easter Sunday wore their white garment to Mass the following Sunday because the rebirth of baptism is a life long commitment.
    By the decree of Pope John Paul II, the first Sunday after Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday.  Actually these two ideas do not conflict but rather are complimentary.  Although we have been washed clean in baptism, we are sinners still.  The Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ is our hope.   Divine Mercy Sunday is the ideal time for us to reflect once again on the Sacrament of Confession.
    The Sacrament of Penance is the ordinary means for the forgiveness of sins committed after baptism.  This is the clear teaching of the Roman, Catholic Church.  The Universal Catechism confirms the same doctrine taught in the old Baltimore Catechism.  Indeed, it is even more emphatic and precise.  On the Second Sunday of Easter, Holy Mother Church recalls Our Lord’s institution of the Sacrament of Penance.  Our Lord said to the Apostles: "Receive the Holy Spirit; if you forgive a man's sins they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound."
    On March 12, 1994, the Pope, in an address to the confessors of Rome's Basilicas, said: "It is really God who is offended by sin and it is God who forgives sin.  It is He who scrutinizes `what is in man,’ that is the individual conscience. God has graciously associated the human Priest with this healing, sanctifying conversion, raising him to the ineffable privilege of acting In Persona Christi."      
    With these words, the Pope is teaching the Church that the Priest forgives sins acting In the Very Person of Jesus Christ.  He acts neither as the representative of Jesus Christ nor in the place of Jesus Christ, but rather, in the very person of Jesus Christ.  In confession, the Priest, as it were, becomes one with Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest.   Like Our Blessed Lord, he becomes the mediator between God and man.  He intercedes for us, prays for us, and advises us.  
    Yes, at times, he must admonish, but if he does, he must do so with the "aroma of Christ" (2Cor 2:15).  Like Jesus, the Priest prays, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."  Acting in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Priest of Jesus Christ forgives our sins with the words of absolution: "I absolve you from your sins, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  What a consolation to a spirit that has been broken by sin and restored by God’s mercy.
    The Priest of Jesus Christ has the power to forgive every sin, no matter how vile or frequent they may be.  This power is a living witness to God's infinite mercy.  When the priest lifts his hand in absolution, the Precious Blood of Christ drips from his hands washing our sins clean.  Moreover, in confession, we are alone with God in the inviolable sanctuary of the confessional with the priest at our side.   Under no circumstances, may the Priest reveal a penitent’s sins.  This is known as the Sacramental Seal.  The Holy Father also said: "Church law binds the priest to total silence usque ad sanguinis effusionem {even to the shedding of his last drop of blood}."  To this rule of silence, there is absolutely no dispensation or exception of any kind.  The sacredness of the sacramental seal is the Church’s guarantee to penitents that their sins will never be revealed under any circumstances.
    As penitents, we must have sorrow for our sins and make a firm purpose never to commit them again.  Then we must confess our mortal sins in number and kind, what we did and how many times that we did it.  If there are no mortal sins, we can either confess some or all of our venial sins or some sin of the past.  Finally, we must do the penance that the priest imposes on us.   It is just that simple: sorrow, confession and satisfaction.  
    During this Easter Season, if we have not been to Confession, let us do so now.  Even if we have committed no mortal sins, the frequent confession of venial sins is vitally important.  Many graces flow from frequent confession.  In confession, we encounter Our Lord Jesus in His Priesthood, in His mercy, in His forgiveness and in His love.  As we have read so often in the Gospels, we too hear those wonderful words of Our Savior: "Go and sin no more!  Your sins are forgiven."  Praised be Jesus Christ on this wonderful feast of Divine Mercy Sunday!  Amen!
                                                                     
                Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.