St. Juliana Falconieri Parish

From the Pastor ~

We have a number of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in this area. The few that come to mind immediately are Fullerton Gardens, Acacia Villa, Gordon Lane, Park Vista and Morningside. There are others but it seems that calls for a priest come regularly from these facilities. I know that our communion ministers Cathy Stadel, Jean Knudson, Paula Van Wonterghem, Jerry Safarik and Judy Tong are active in their ministry to residents in these communities.

 

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Fullerton Gardens and Gordon Lane four times. In most cases family members ask a staff person to call for a priest. You never know when a call will come in. Many families wait until the last moment to call and when I arrive, the Catholic patient is unconscious and unable to participate in the rite of anointing. I only wish families would call earlier so that I could spend some time with their loved one and the family members who are present. 

 

It is hard to come in cold not knowing the person or family. At times I feel at a loss for words. The Catholic ritual has some beautiful prayers but it is the connection between me and the family that usually means the most. 

 

I’ll never know what happened to the residents I ministered to last week, or their families since no one was a parishioner of St. Juliana, but I was glad to be with them and to bring not only comfort to the patient and family, but to also bring the prayers of St. Juliana parishioners. Everyday at Mass we pray for the sick, bereaved, the dying and the dead.

 

Last Saturday I also received a call from a social worker in Anaheim who asked for a priest for an elderly Mexican American woman living with her daughter. I traveled to her home and found all the family members surrounding her with love. She was 85 years old and frail. It was almost by the grace of God that I found her because the address I had was incomplete and my GPS took me out of the way. And in my hurry I forgot my cell phone to call for directions. Somehow I made it and with only 45 minutes until the 5pm Mass back at St. Juliana.  I managed to spend enough time with the family to give them the comfort and consolation they needed. It was a close call, time wise, but I am glad I was home when the call came in.

 

Victor and Dolly Church, are parishioners of St. Juliana. Dolly is a Eucharistic Minister and active in leadership with our ICF. I’ve visited with them a number of times during Victor’s ongoing battle with cancer. After one visit about a year ago, Victor rallied and was able to come to Mass and to participate in some parish events. It was a short reprieve from a bedridden illness. Last week I had a chance to visit with Victor. Even though he was weak and bedridden, he reached out and grabbed my hand and we sat and talked. Like so many who have lingering illnesses, the thought of leaving behind all that is important and meaningful brings a certain dread. As we talked and I anointed him, I expressed my admiration for his courage, faith, and devotion to his wife and his Catholic faith. Dolly has been his strength and mainstay all these months.

 

Fr. Paul has his stories to tell also. Sometimes over dinner we talk about how much our ministry to the sick and to families who have lost a loved one defines our ministry as parish priests. Sometimes it is tiring but never routine. Every person and every family has their story. Listening is a big part of healing and compassion. It takes years of experience to put aside your own feelings and let the hurting or fearful person share his or her story. Please pray for all the ill of our parish, and their families

 

This weekend we begin Catholic Schools Week. Last week some of our school children, dressed in their St. Juliana uniforms, passed out invitations to the 2012 St. Juliana Falcon Gala Auction and Derby Dinner Dance. It is my hope that many parishioners will participate in the Gala by either buying a ticket or making a donation. The second collection this weekend will help with tuition costs and the on-going financial commitments of the school. As I have in the past, I will donate a Dinner For Six at the rectory, comprised of various dishes I love to cook. An apron that I have says:  “What Recipe! I’m Italian.”  The school parents are in the process of compiling recipes for a cook book. I’m scratching my head trying to come up with a coherent, readable recipe for a contribution to the book.  We’ll see. 

 

The St. Juliana Men’s retreat is just around the corner the weekend of February 17, 18, and 19, 2012 at Mater Dolorosa Retreat House in Sierra Madre. That weekend is also our parish celebration of the Feast of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. I had hoped to attend the retreat as I did last year, but the annual Servite Provincial Chapter will also be held at Mater Dolorosa opening on Monday, February 13th until Friday, February 17th.  It will be hard for me to be away from the parish that long. The week we are gone Fr. Seamus Glynn will come to celebrate some daily Masses. Other days there will be a Communion Service. This Chapter is our Chapter of Elections. All Servites will vote on a new Provincial Council. I will be ending my term as a councilor.  If you would like more information about the retreat call Terry Reinbold ~714-772-6234.

 

Our 2nd year High School Youth Ministry students will meet this Sunday evening following the 5pm Mass. I want to thank our directors Kerry and Maura Condon for their hard work and dedication to this youth ministry program. Kerry and Maura are assisted by HSYM teachers Chuck Pesci, Howard Saner, and Jo-Anne Matsuba; fellowship assistants Celia Gerish, Katherine Saner; and last but not least, Louisa Pesci who prepares meals for 160+ high school students on fellowship nights.  I extend my thanks also to all the young adult leaders, the students and their parents.  Through your hard work, we have created and are maintaining a successful High School Youth Ministry religious education program. 

 

I always enjoy reading about the various activities of our Junior High Ministry, under the guidance of Scott Kambak. On Wednesday, February 8th from 7:30 to 9:00pm our Junior High Youth Ministry students will here a guest speaker on the topic: “Personal Responsibility: Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention.”  

 

Have you heard our new organ? I ask that question of those who regularly attend the Sunday 11am and 5pm Masses.  Why not take a break from your routine and attend one of the other Masses (5pm (Sat.), 7:30am and 9am Sunday) and come hear our new organ. Our music ministers at all the Masses, and our splendid Choir, continue to enhance our Liturgies. We are working tirelessly to grow more proficient and to enlarge our musical abilities at all worship services.  

 

Friedrich Nietzsche said: “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.”  Wow! Food for thought.

 

In the Joy of Our Faith, 

Fr. Frank Falco, O.S.M.