Saturday, Feb. 3 – All Souls Saturday
5:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy
Sunday, Feb. 4 – Meat-fare Sunday
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Tuesday, Feb. 6 – Bucolus, Bishop
5:30 PM Akathist* for those suffering Addictions & Mental Illness
Wednesday, Feb. 7 – Parthenius, Bishop
6:30 PM Evening Prayer
7:30 PM Firepit Social
Saturday, Feb. 10 – All Ascetical Fathers & Mothers
5:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy
Sunday, Feb. 11 – Cheesefare Sunday
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
*Add first names to this prayer service by emailing niemirick@gmail.com
St. Mary’s: Sundays 8:45 AM or by appointment
Santa Paula: Saturdays 4:15 PM or by appointment
(Please resubmit or submit names to admin@ByzantineLA.com)
The Carlin Family, Michael Hefferon, Shirley Kunze, Michael Mina, Peter Mina, Fr. John Mina, Mila Mina, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Shannon O’Neill, Fern Bonowicz, Carolina Chirdon, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s
Collection: $1,681.00; Santa Paula: $608.00; Online: $155.00; Candles: $45.31; Initial Offering: $5.00; Parish Socials: $21.00; SPO Improvements: $50.00; Church Improvements: $100.00; Holydays: $30.00; All Souls: $160.00; Reimbursement: $27.93
Total: $2,883.24 / Attendance – PSM: 71 SPO: 73
All statements were sent to the email address on file with the parish office. Please let Anne Seabright know if you did not receive it or would like a paper copy. You can reach Anne by email at: admin@byzantineLA.com
What is the meaning of this rite? Why is it that the Church wants us to begin the Lenten season with forgiveness and reconciliation? These questions are in order because for too many people Lent means primarily, and almost exclusively, a change of diet, the compliance with ecclesiastical regulations concerning fasting. They understand fasting as an end in itself, as a “good deed” required by God and carrying in itself its merit and its reward. But, the church spares no effort in revealing to us that fasting is but a means, one among many, towards a higher goal: the spiritual renewal of man, his return to God, true repentance and, therefore, true reconciliation. The Church spares no effort in warning us against a hypocritical and pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere external obligations. As a Lenten hymn says:
In vain do you rejoice in no eating, O soul!
For you abstain from food,
But from passions you are not purified.
If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast.
-Fr. Alexander Schmemann (www.schmemann.org)
“Whatever you did for the least of my brethren, you did it for me.” Our vocation is about being Christ to others and seeing Christ in others with as much faith, hope and love as possible. God may be calling you to this life through an increase in prayer as a monk, nun, or member of the clergy. To find out more, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
Saturday, February 3 –
