Easter

Sunday April 8, 2012

This Weeks Calendar and Mass Intentions
Monday April 9 Tuesday April 10 Wednesday April 11 Thursday April 12 Friday April 13 Saturday April 14 Sunday April 15 8:00am Mass (Eulalia Rossetto) 8:00am Mass (Brian McPherson) 8:00am Mass (Dominic o Hai Do) 8:00am Mass (Tammy McPherson) 12:10pm Mass (Palermini & Navarra family) 8:00am Mass (Jesse Esqueda) 4:00pm Mass (Eulalia Rossetto) 8:30am Mass (People of the Parish) 10:30am Mass (Parishoners Special Intentions) 10:30am Deaf Community Mass Chapel Chapel Chapel Chapel Chapel Chapel Church Church Church Chapel

Call the office if you would like a Mass celebrated for you, for an anniversary of death or marriage, birthday, etc. Church cleaning, April 915: Mary Schleich

Catholic Charities:
Catholic Charities Pregnancy Support & Adoption Services is seeking loving families who are interested in learning more about our Open Adoption Program. Interested families are invited to attend an Adoption Orientation Weekend beginning Friday, April 20, with an evening class from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The orientation continues on Saturday, April 21, with a session from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All classes take place at Catholic Charities Clark Family Center, located at 2740 SE Powell Blvd. in Portland. The orientation cost is $500 and includes lunch on Saturday. Topics include Mission, Oregon Law, open adoption families, fees, home study process, raising adopted children, and more. To register for the orientation, or request additional information, please contact Pregnancy Support & Adoption Services at 503-238-5196 or visit www.CatholicCharitiesOregon.org

Univ. of Portland Reading Fair

Sunday, April 15 from 11am3pm in the Chiles Center on the UP campus. The event is free to attend, and every child will receive a free, new book of their choice. Kid-friendly events throughout the day include live readings from childrens authors; arts, crafts and games that focus on reading; and an obstacle course. Call the School of Education at 503-943-7135 for more info.

Easter Flowers
If you are interested in contributing to the Easter Memorial Flowers, please feel free to put your money-offering in an envelope, mark it Easter Flowers, write to whom it is dedicated and who it is from. The envelope can be placed in the regular Offertory basket, taken to the office, sent to the office, or given to Rose Wolfe or Barbara Harrison.

Health & Nutrition

In partnership with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregons Interfaith Food and Farms Partnership project, this week we are focusing on Whole Meals. Finding healthier alternatives to prepackaged meals can be tricky as they are often high in fat, sodium, & have many hidden preservatives & additives. When possible, cook with whole, fresh foods. Look for reduced/ low-fat and low/ no added sodium options. Read the label. The fewer and more identifiable ingredients, the better. Look for BPA-free lined cans.

Come Home for Easter

A parishioner has come up with the idea and will be sending personal cards inviting dormant Catholic family members and friends, as well as former parishioners to "Come Home for Easter" at St. Philip Neri Parish. If anyone else would like some cards to send to family or friends on your own, please contact Fr. Charlie, letting him know how many cards you would like.

Food Pantry

Bulletin Submissions

If you wish to submit something for the bulletin, please Thank you to everyone who has brought food for the food send to secretary@stphilipneripdx.org. by 12pm Tues. pantry. This is a need that has grown and your generosity before target weekend. Thank you. is greatly appreciated by those who receive the food and the staff.

Easter Sunday April 8, 2012

Pastoral Corner
Death! Where Is Your Victory?
Easter 2012 Fr. Charlie Brunick, CSP

(Pastoral Corner continued)

death, comes to everyone. So does Holy Saturday, that day of emptiness and sorrow. On such days it's hard to believe. But Easter Sunday, day of life and joy, will come as surely as the dawn. Death, the last enemy, has been overcome. Today, may the Lord in his goodness open our minds and hearts so that we may believe the good news of his victory over death. In his love for us, God draws us outwards into the unknown, the beyond, the infinite, the eternal. We go forward more confidently and hopefully because Jesus our Brother has gone ahead of us. Happy Easter everyone!!! Fr. Charlie Brunick, CSP (Some themes and ideas drawn from the writings of Flor McCarthy, SBD)

Death is perhaps the most feared word in the English language for many contemporary Americans. People go to great lengths to avoid even using it. Even Christians seem to have gotten caught up in the phenomenon. Friends and relatives rarely die anymore. They 'pass', or we 'lose' them. The awesome greatness of Jesus' resurrection lies in the fact that he truly died. As we used to proclaim in the liturgy: Christ has died! Christ has risen! and, Christ will come again! We didn't say Christ has passed or Christ got lost. And, we can't fully grasp the great fact of the resurrection, and it's meaning in our own lives, unless and until we proclaim that Jesus really did die. Jesus died in darkness. Jesus entered fully, even willingly into the darkness of the unknown, with all the human fear and trepidation most of us associate with death. But Jesus' faith was a living faith. His faith was a dynamic faith. Like Abraham, his ancestor in faith, and like his mother, Mary, in the story of the Annunciation, Jesus believed even when he did not fully understand. "Father, let this cup pass from mebut, not my will but thy will be done." He really believed and trusted God enough to face the darkness of the unknown and trust in God's love. He willingly let go of life. "Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit." And he willing embraced the darkness of the unknown. Trusting God enough to accept death, even death on a Cross, Jesus embraced the darkness of the tomb and waited for God to raise him up. Jesus entered the dark kingdom of death, and emerged victorious. He has won his victory - he has conquered death. Fully human, through faith in God, Jesus has show the way for the rest of us human beings to achieve the same victory. On one level, the resurrection itself was never in doubt. God cannot die. But Jesus, known by an experienced as fully human by the Apostles, disciples and his followers, now opens the way and shows the way for all human beings to defeat death as well. The early Christians proclaimed in many different ways: 'If we live in the Lord and die in the Lord, we shall truly rise in the Lord.' Death constitutes a huge challenge to every human's faith, because as Paul says, we see now only as through a glass, darkly.' The forces of darkness may seem overwhelming, but the victory is already won. We must trust that victory, and not live as if death still dominates us. To be a Christian is to be a person of hope because of what happened on the third day. But Christian hope is not a superficial, an optimism based on a refusal to look at the facts. Rather, it is a deep trust in God. Good Friday, day of darkness and

De La Salle North Volunteers Program

De La Salle North, a high school in north Portland serving low-income students with a high-quality college prep education and a Corporate Internship Program, is looking for individuals who wish to serve urban young people with limited financial resources in an innovative, Catholic educational model. Our DLSN Volunteers serve for 10.5 months and live in community in a residence near the school. Volunteers are energetic college graduates who are motivated to serve and committed to living simply and in community, while growing spiritually and personally. They are spiritually-motivated, empathetic, and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of urban youth. Volunteers receive room and board, a small monthly stipend, spiritual direction and help with transportation. Program begins in mid-August; applications are currently being accepted. Please see http://www.delasallenorth.org/about-us/full- time-volunteer-program/ for more information about the program and for an application.

Friday, April 20 Earth Day Evening of Music and Song Celebrate Earth Day with an evening of music and song on April 20, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm, at the First Unitarian Church., SW 12th and Salmon St., Portland, in Eliot Chapel. Pianist Michael Allan Harrison will be featured as well as other instrumentalists and vocal ensembles. The format draws on Taiz, an ecumenical tradition from France that involves meditative singing, candle lighting, and time for reflection. Donations requested for rental of space. RSVPs appreciated. Center for Earth Leadership, 503-227-2315 or Jeanne@earthleaders.org.