Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V. F.

Pastor
626.355.1292 x. 228 revkrek@st-rita.org Dcn. Manuel & Chela ValenciaDeacon Couple deaconmanuelvalencia@gmail.com 626.355.1292 Dcn. John Hulljohnhull65@gmail.com 626.355.1292 Weekend Presiders: Fr. Chris Thiel, OFM Cap. Rev. Msgr. John Morales Parish Operations Manager: Tim Lopez 626.355.1292 Office Email: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org

Parish Office/Mailing Address: 50 East Alegria Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am to 7:00pm; Sat. 9am-2pm Office Phone: 626.355.1292
Pastoral Council Vice Chair Mr. George Landis: 626.355.1292 Finance Council Chair Mr. Bill Sullivan: 626.355.3707 Director of Liturgy & Music Mr. Paul Puccinelli: mm@st-rita.org Director of Religious Education Mrs. Cristina Cullen: 355.3841, dre@st-rita.org Director of Youth Ministry/Confirmation Mrs. Theresa Bui Costanzo: 355.1852, ym@st-rita.org RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Team: Deacon Manuel and Chela Valencia; Susan Blakeslee: rcia@st-rita.org St. Rita SchoolOffice: 626.355.6114 Principal: Mrs. Joanne Harabedian: jharabedian@st-rita.org SAINT RITA MINISTRIES & ORGANIZATIONS
(See Inside Flap, page four)

SUNDAYS: Sat. 5:30 pm; Sunday 7:30 am; 10 am; & 12 N WEEKDAYS: Mon., Tues., Fri., and Sat. 8:00 am (Wed. & Thurs. 8 am Communion Services) HOLY DAYS: (eve of) 5:30 pm; (day of) 8 am & 6:30 pm. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Confessions) Saturdays 4-5 pm or by appointment DEVOTIONS Our Lady of Perpetual Help Devotions: Saturdays 7:50 am Adoration: First Fridays 8:30 am 6:30 pm, Rectory Oratory. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Baptismal Preparation for parents and godparents: 7 8:30 pm the last Monday of the month. Call for Reservations. Baptisms are usually the first Sunday of the month. SACRAMENTS OF RECONCILIATION & FIRST EUCHARIST Preparation for children who have attained the age of reason (usually during 2nd grade) is arranged either through the Office of Religious Education or St. Rita Elementary School. SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY Contact the parish office upon engagement; at least six months is needed for preparation of this joyous sacrament!

Mass Times

Sunday, January 15, 2012

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION A two-year program for freshman/sophomore age teens. Apply through the Office of Religious Education.

NOTE: Adult applicants for the above sacraments should inquire at the
Parish Office: 50 E. Alegria Ave. or call 626.355.1292. SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK (See Inside Flap, page four)

SAINT RITA CHURCH

2ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMEJANUARY 15, 2012

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PASTORS CORNER
Dear Parishioners, This Sunday the gospel reading is taken from St. John and is really preparatory for next Sundays reading taken from St. Mark. This Sunday John has The Baptist telling his disciples to turn their allegiance to Jesus (which they do); next Sunday in Mark the same disciples will be called by name. To borrow from the realtors world, one might say its all about VOCATION, VOCATION, VOCATION. Once at a Pastoral Council meeting I asked those attending, Do people see their lives as vocations? I got a resounding NO in response. I must say I was a bit taken aback, a bit startled by the response. Naively I thought that by now, since the call for the emergence of the laity in the documents of the Second Vatican Council, people had moved on from thinking that vocations only had to do with ordination, vows, or marriage. As we ponder once again the call by Jesus of the apostles and first disciples, let us seize the opportunity to consider our own call by nameour own baptismal call. First of all it is the Creator, who knew us before we were knit in our mothers womb, who calls us. It is Jesus who calls each and every one of us by name to come and follow him. It is the Spirit that dwells in us that helps us to hear the call and to make our response. This is VOCATION. This is to say that it is not our career or profession that constitutes our vocation; it is who we are with our personality and giftsit is nothing less than our own unique journey to the Father and to the Kingdom. Neither Spouse of Joseph nor Mother of God sums up Marys vocation. Think about it. Baptist does not sum up the vocation of John the Baptist any more than apostle sums up the vocation of Simon Peter or his brother Andrew. Just so, while your career, profession, or any other particular state in life that you claim might tell a lot about you, they do not even come close to telling all about your callyour vocation. Your whole life is your vocation. All of who you were, are, and will be is your vocation. Another way of putting it: when someone only knows Fr. Richard as priest (I guarantee), they know precious little about him. To the extent that we relegate the word vocation to the result of vows and ordination, we do ourselves a disservice in bracketing out or minimizing the whole rest of our baptismal call. After all, anyone baptized may lay claim to the words and prayers of that sacrament: As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may YOU live always as a member of his Body So whats the point? The point is: As we renew our sense of STEWARDSHIP at Saint Rita, dont sell yourself short in the vocation department! We are counting on all of us to realize that at any moment in life the Father may call us in his Son anew. We are counting on all of the baptized at St. Rita to be generous andperhaps more importantlyimaginative in their response to formation and participation in the ministry and life of our parish. Count on hearing more about this. -Msgr. Richard

TODAYS READINGS First ReadingSpeak, for your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19). PsalmHere am I, Lord; I come to do your will (Psalm 40). Second ReadingDo you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you? (1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20). Gospel Andrew found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus (John 1:35-42). SATURDAY 8:00 AM 5:30 PM SUNDAY 7:30 AM 10:00 AM 12 NOON MONDAY 8:00 AM TUESDAY 8:00 AM WEDNESDAY 8:00 AM THURSDAY 8:00 AM FRIDAY 8:00 AM SATURDAY 8:00 AM 5:30 PM SUNDAY 7:30 AM 10:00 AM 12 NOON JANUARY 14 William J. Sulllivan RIP Rev. John A. Morgan RIP JANUARY 15 For All Parishioners Pat Jewitt RIP John Viola INT JANUARY 16 Ed Hagerott RIP JANUARY 17 ST. ANTHONY William J. Sullivan RIP JANUARY 18 Communion Service JANUARY 12 Communion Service J ANUARY 20 ST. FABIAN, ST. SEBASTIAN Rev. Robert P. Byrne RIP JANUARY 21 ST. AGNES Joseph Cincotta RIP Ed Hagerott RIP JANUARY 22 Andres Ramos RIP For All Parishioners David N. Greeley RIP

Stewardship and todays scriptures

In todays first reading, we hear Samuel respond eagerly, Here I am! each time the Lord calls him. May we, too, be listening for the call of God in our lives and be ready to say like the psalmist, Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

PASTORS NEWS NOTES

Thank you to all who made a gift to our Annual Year End Appeal. Your participation and generosity will help us continue to meet the current needsand to plan for future needsas we strive to be good stewards of our parish faith community. -Msgr. Richard

SPEAK, LORD, WE ARE LISTENING

Gods voice is always with us, awake or asleep. It swirls around us like a fog on the waterfront, enveloping us, gently urging us to wake up, to listen. Awareness of the voice comes first; then willingness to listen; then, in time, the decision to act, to live according to Gods word. Lets ask today for the ability to keep our ears open so we dont miss Gods voice.

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2ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME JANUARY 15, 2012

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ADOPT-A-FAMILY
This Christmas we adopted 4 St. Rita families and 26 St. Anthony families. A huge thank you to those groups who adopted a familyeach grade at St. Rita School; the St. Rita Guild; the Mens Club; the Christian Family group; Youth Ministry; and Religious Education. These group efforts required careful coordination and the results were timely and spectacular. A special thank-you to Sara Landis who oversaw the Schools effort, from organizing Room Mothers participation to finding drivers to deliver the gifts to St. Anthony. Thank you to the 16 individuals/families who either adopted a family or gave a generous donation. Thank you to those women who attended a wrap party and beautifully wrapped over 100 gifts for 6 of the adopted families. May God Bless each of you as generously as you blessed others!

Catholic Community & Local Events

Holy Spirit Retreat Center in EncinoFebruary 3-5. Beginning Experience workshop for those whove experienced the loss of a spouse through death or divorce/separation. Info: Brenda Mikhail 818/352-5265 or bela2011-30@hotmail.com. Carmelite Sisters in ConcertSunday, February 19, at 7 pm. San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel. Info: 626/289-1353 x. 246 or to order tickets online, www.carmelitesistersocd.com/events.

SAFEGUARD THE CHILDREN

Articles from the Archdiocese are on our website: st-rita.org; select Publications, then Safeguard the Children.

Rosemary Hagerott, Coordinator, St. Rita Giving Tree 2011

Gather your friends and join us at our annual Card & Game Party on Friday, January 26 at 10 am in OMalley Hall. Lunch will be served. The cost is $20. Reservations may be made by contacting: Betty Mackie 355-9858 or Patty Sullivan 355-3707 Maintenance and RepairsThis collection is for ongoing costs and repairs required to keep our facilities in good condition. All monies from this collection stay at St. Rita. Support of our Parish SchoolThis annual collection augments the yearly subsidy the parish provides to the school.

ST. RITA GUILD ANNUAL CARD & GAME PARTY

HOW TO CONTACT US
Bulletin Articlesmust be submitted 10 days before the Sunday of publication. Email: bulletin@st-rita.org or drop off information at the Parish Office. Parish OfficeParishAdmin@st-rita.org Ministry to the Sick or HomeboundPlease contact the Parish Office if you, or someone you know, would like to receive Communion at home or would like to be added to the Prayer List.
PARISHIONERS WHO REQUEST OUR PRAYERS FOR HEALING AND RETURN TO GOOD HEALTH

JANUARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

ON-CALL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are seeking men or women who are willing to respond to our occasional need for extra help in the Parish Office between the weekday hours of 10-4. You may be asked to stuff envelopes or Bulletins, fold letters, sort offering envelopes, fill pews with special envelopes, etc. When we call we hope you will be available but if the timing is not correct, we will try you another time. Either send an email to rc@st-rita.org or call the Parish Office 355-1292 to leave your name for a call-back. We will be happy to speak with you to determine your days/hours of availability.

Cliff Hancuff, Lucile Flanders, Aksel Pedersen, Katherine Lass, Wendy Wolf Fadel, Gil Lazo, Dorothy Van Gordon, John McCoy, Rosanne Kenny, Lisa Levesque, Hal Finney, Mary Elizabeth Nealey, Brent McGinley, Lois Patt, Sadaaki Matsutani, Kathleen Ramsey, Louise Bigley, Winnie McQuiggan, Christa Owen, Ailey Gardner-Ybarra, Cathy Hundshamer, Eva Bernejo, Laurie Larkin Masella, Rudy Wunderlin, Edith Olah, Matteo Begnoche, Lancelot Loera, Fred Mycroft, Clare Marquardt, Brian Eck, Alex Arranaga, Anna Mary Hession, Mildred Vocelka, Ann Twedell, Joseph Moore, Effie DeGroot, Ned Vento.

James Donahoe Marilyn Kuhn (mother of Francis Kuhn) Mark Peters Loretta Rausin (sister-of-law of Marilyn McKernan) Michael Zubia (son of parishioner Ruben Zubia)

YOUTH MINISTRY
Youth NitesWednesday at 8:30 pm in Gara. Youth Massfirst and third Saturday, 5:30 pm. EDGE NightJanuary 21, 4-5:15 pm in OMalley. EDGE SessionJanuary 30, 4-5:15 pm in Gara.

2011 TAX DONATION ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

If you are a registered parishioner you may request a letter to acknowledge your total 2011 donations to St. Rita for tax purposes. PLEASE NOTE: Registered parishioners are those who have filled out a Registration Form and have been assigned an ID number. You may request a letter by sending your full name, address, and parish ID number (if known) to rc@st-rita.orgor fill out the form below and drop it in the Sunday Offering or mail to the Parish Office, Attn: RC. NO Requests will be taken over the telephone. Request for 2011 Donations for Tax Purposes ID# Full Name Address

CANNED FOOD DRIVEWEEK-END OF JANUARY 21-22

The holidays are over but the need continues. The St. Rita Guild is sponsoring this months food drive to benefit St. Anthony Center. Please donate canned goodscooking oil, tomato sauce, beans, vegetables, fruits, tuna, peanut butteror small sacks of flour, sugar, beans, etc. Please NO EXPIRED items and no fresh produce or opened containers. You may also want to purchase scripavailable outside of Church after the Masses or at the School Office during the weekto donate to the drive. Thank you once again for your generosity in helping the poor.

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SAINT RITA CHURCH

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Directory of Ministries and Organizations

Liturgy & Worship
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers: David & Jill Muhs 626.355.9810 em@st-rita.org Altar Servers, Youth: Mrs. Kathy Ganino: 626.398.9302 Altar Servers, Adult: Mr. Bill Cosso Eucharistic Adoration: Mrs. Marylyn Barnes Rosary Prayer Group: Mrs. Marylyn Barnes Sacristans: Sat. Vigil: Gary Fidone/Bill & Patti Huber Sunday Masses: 7:30-Bill Cosso/David Banis; 10:00-David Muhs; 12N-Bernie Grace Weekdays: John Bigley, Margaret Duran Porter: (Evening Church Lockup) Sheila Palazzolo Environment: Mrs. Barbara LeVeque /Mr. Gil Lazo 626.355.1292 Bereavement Ministry: Call Parish Office: 626.355.1292 Christian Family: Terri Cummings 626.355.8895 Greeters & Ushers: Mr. Erny Henry: 626.289.3504; 626.446.6715 Mens Club: Tim OConnor: 355.5053 the4oconnors@yahoo.com New Members/Welcome: Dick & Chris Bertrand pr@st-rita.org St. Rita Guild: Ms. Kathy Coyne: 355.4873, kdcoyne@aol.com Senior Ministry: Marilyn McKernan, marilyn@st-rita.org Shawl Ministry: Mary Taillac 355.3179 or Marilyn Delgatto 355.8717

Parish Ministries & Organizations

Other Contacts
Archivist: Mrs. Marilyn McKernan, marilyn@st-rita.org Bulletin Submissions: bulletin@st-rita.org or drop off at Office Public Relations: Mrs. Chris Bertrand: pr@st-rita.org Registration Information: rc@st-rita.org; 626.355.1292 Webmaster: Ralph Seymour: seymour@seymourmedia.com

Communion for Sick and Homebound Parishioners

St. Rita ministers provide Communion home visits. Contact the Parish office or Jill Muhs, 626.355.9810, em@st-rita.org.

Let Saint Rita Be There For You . . .

If Someone In Your Family Becomes Seriously Ill

Please notify us (626.355.1292) as early as possible for the Anointing of the Sick, the sacrament intended for the seriously ill or dying. It is Our Lords special presence and companionship in serious time of need. Anointing may take place in the home, at the hospital or elsewhere and as often as once a month. If someone should die without anointing, remember that the desire to receive is sufficient and the Lord cares!

If You Should Experience the Loss of a Loved One

Please call us at 626.355.1292 If you feel you will be in need, or your loved one has passed, we will assist in making arrangements with your chosen funeral directors; refer you to our liturgy and music directors; and offer you helpful guidelines and a book that will aid in the selection of readings for the Mass or Memorial Service. Areas we can help you with prior to the passing may help in the planning of funeral services. We know that this can be a tough time and we want you to know that your parish is there for you. PLEASE UNDERSTAND we only have one resident priest, sometimes arrangements for another priest may be needed.

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SAINT RITA CHURCH

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Meetings, Ministry & Special Events

This Week at St. Rita

This Sunday, January 15
After all the Masses Sponsored by Christian Family

Wednesday, January 18 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Begins

7 pm in the Parish Office. All are welcome!

Thursday, January 19Bible Study

Thursday, January 19Liturgy of the Hours

5:30, Music and silent meditation. 6 pmPrayers

Save the Date

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Week-end of January 21 & 22 Canned Food Drive Please see page 3 for information. Friday, January 27St. Rita Guild Annual Card & Game Party
See page 3 for information.

Week-end of January 28-29 Special Collection for St. Rita School

Monday, January 30Baptism Preparation Class

Rectory Meeting Room, 7 pm For Baptisms on February 5

Sunday, February 12Bundle Sunday

Start cleaning your closets now! St. Vincent de Paul Society will be here to collect your donations.