Saint John Paul II Parish

09/11/2021

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement on the eve of the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The full text of Archbishop Gomez’s statement follows:

"As we remember the twentieth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, our hearts are with all those who lost loved ones on that day. We pray for the innocent lives that were lost, and we pray for those who grieve, and for the many who still bear the wounds from these attacks, physical, emotional and spiritual.

"It was a dark day of destruction and death, but we remember also the heroes — first-responders, firefighters, police, emergency medical and rescue teams. Many gave their lives in the service of their neighbors. This violence, borne of the worst evil in the human heart, also brought out the best in our humanity. We think today of the courage and generosity of countless ordinary people and the spirit of unity and authentic patriotism we saw in the days after these attacks.

"We honor the dead by the way we live. And today we pray for a new spirit of national pride and unity. May God inspire in all of us to seek fellowship, reconciliation, and common purpose.

"We ask God to bring comfort to those who mourn and peace to every heart that is consumed by hatred, and may he bring peace to our troubled world.

"We entrust our prayers and our nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and the mother of each one of us."

08/30/2021

For the Safety of Soldiers
Almighty and eternal God,
those who take refuge in you will be glad
and forever will shout for joy.
Protect these soldiers as they discharge their duties.
Protect them with the shield of your strength
and keep them safe from all evil and harm.
May the power of your love enable them to return home
in safety, that with all who love them,
they may ever praise you for your loving care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

08/30/2021

We pray for the safety of refugees and American citizens who remain stranded in in the wake of the explosion at this morning.

We also pray for those who have died because of the explosions, including several U.S. citizens. "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen."

Please visit http://justiceforimmigrants.org/afghanistan on the Justice for Immigrants Campaign website for resources on ways you can help!

08/30/2021

The Justice for Immigrants Campaign website has a new page with many different resources for the ongoing Evacuation Operation in . Look today to find out how you can help, see our statements on the operation, and more. Visit www.justiceforimmigrants.org/afghanistan for more info.

08/24/2021

Facial Coverings:
 Vaccinated Persons: Those who are fully vaccinated are temporarily encouraged to wear face-coverings while attending Mass or any parish function. Although not mandated, it is strongly recommended for the time being.
 Unvaccinated Persons: Those who are unvaccinated are required to continue to wear facial coverings while attending Mass or any parish function.

Excerpt from the recent Diocese of Youngstown insert.

08/24/2021

A Mother’s Advice on Being Ready for the Wedding Feast
Nachito, my dear son: I have not forgotten you. Can one forget the person she loves? I have prayed a lot for you. And do you know what I am asking for you? Humility, a meekness of judgment for the sake of your own happiness. Sometimes you are by character stubborn in your judgments and opinions; remember, my son, only fools never change and you are not one of them. Remove that small defect, which is a tiny blemish on your soul which has so many other virtues and qualities. You must acquire the virtues you are lacking and develop the ones you have to make Chabela happy, so as to create a blessed and holy home for her. Reflect, “Without leaving aside what we are, we are able to be what we are not with the Lord’s help.” I want to help you in your marriage because I believe Chabela is going to make you happy, as far as one can be on earth. I so want you to take to the altar, if not a material fortune, virtues which she will appreciate, for she is also virtuous. So now amend your ways. Understand? Be more pious, because only God can overcome your difficulties and help you to reach your goal. He loves you very much. Your life now must revolve around God and your fiancée, being faithful to her. And what about your mother? She will be satisfied staying on the sidelines as long as you are happy. Cling fast to the Blessed Virgin, love her a lot for she is your Mother and she will bless your marriage with her purity and her affection. Goodbye my son. What joyous days I have spent in solitude praying for Chabela and you and for my poor soul. I really needed it. Also, another recommendation I give to you is that you learn about your religion. It is so beautiful! Every day a little, and you will make much progress. Your mother embraces you and blesses you with all her soul.
-Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida
Blessed Concepción († 1937), also known as “Conchita,” was a wife, mother, widow, and mystical writer. She was the first Mexican laywoman to be beatified.

08/24/2021

Known and Loved
O God, we should all hymn the praises of your mercies—we, who were all created for everlasting glory and redeemed by the blood of Jesus. But if we all have cause to do so, then how much the more have I? From my childhood I have been surrounded by so many graces: the son of a saintly mother, who learned from her to know you, to love you, and, as soon as I could speak at all, to pray to you. And the true piety of my upbringing! I see myself going to church with my father and with my grandfather. I see grandmother and my cousins going to Mass every day. And my first Holy Communion, after a long and careful preparation, surrounded by the blessings and encouragement of a family wholly Christian, in the presence of those I loved best in all the world, so that on a single day there came together everything necessary to let me taste pure joy. And then, when alas, despite so many blessings, I began to drift away from you, how gently you used my grandfather’s voice to call me back to you. With what mercy you restrained me from falling into the ultimate excesses by keeping tenderness toward him alive in my heart. But alas, in spite of everything, I withdrew even further from you, my Lord and my Life, and my life began to be a death, or rather, had already become a death in your eyes. Yet in that state of death, you preserved me still, keeping the memories of past times alive in my soul, together with esteem for what was good, and an attachment, dormant yet still alive like the glow of fire under the ashes, to certain beautiful and devout souls, and respect for the Catholic faith. And while you were thus protecting me, time passed until the moment came when you judged it right to bring me back into the fold. In spite of me, you dissolved all the evil relationships that would have kept me away from you. Little by little the place was swept clean; the flood still covered the earth, but the waters were continually falling, and it had stopped raining. You had broken down the barriers, softened my soul, prepared the ground by burning off the thorns and bushes…. I can only fall far short of such mercies, O God, I can only beseech the Blessed Virgin and all devout souls to give thanks for me, for I am overwhelmed by blessings. O beloved Bridegroom, what have you not done for me? What do you want from me? What do you expect from me, that you have so overwhelmed me? O God, give yourself thanks through me, create remembrance, gratitude, fidelity, and love in me; I am overcome, I fail, O God; create my thoughts, words, and deeds so that they may all give you thanks and glorify you in me. -Blessed Charles de Foucauld
Blessed Charles de Foucauld († 1916), contemplative and mystic, lived among the Tuareg people of Algeria.

08/19/2021

Pope Francis and six Cardinals and Archbishops from the US and Latin America have come together for a message of unity in support of COVID-19 vaccines and ac...

08/16/2021

How to Inherit Eternal Life
My adorable Redeemer, I give and consecrate myself to your Sacred Heart in the fullest and most complete way of which I am capable. I have, as it were, nailed myself to your cross. I acknowledge that the yoke of your holy service is neither heavy nor burdensome and that I am not weighed down by my bonds. So far am I from wishing to be released from them that I would wish to multiply them and fasten the knots more closely. Therefore I embrace the beloved cross of my vocation and will bear it till my death. It shall be all my joy, my glory, my delight. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal 6:14). God forbid that I should ever have any other treasure than his poverty, any other joys than his sufferings, any other love than himself! My dearest Savior, I will never abandon you; I will cling to none except you. The narrowest paths of the perfect life to which I am called have no terrors for me, since you are my light and my strength. I hope, therefore, O my Lord, that you will make me firm to resist all temptations and victorious over the at tacks of my enemies, and that you will stretch out over me your hand which has already bestowed so many favors upon me, so that I may be yet further enriched. By your blood, by your wounds, and by your Sacred Heart I implore you, O adorable Jesus, to grant that by consecrating to you all that I am, I may this day become a new work of your love. Amen. -Saint Claude La Colombière
Saint Claude La Colombière († 1682) was a French Jesuit priest and the spiritual director of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.

07/30/2021

AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT INCREASE IN COVID-19 CASES, & NEW CDC GUIDELINES ST. JOHN PAUL II PARISH & ST. MARY'S CHURCH STRONGLY ENCOURAGES THAT ALL PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS WEAR A FACE COVERING WHILE VISITING ST. JOHN PAUL II PARISH. & ST MARY'S CHURCH
IF YOU ARE FEELING UNWELL PLEASE RETURN HOME.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US SAFE!
(UPDATED 8/16/2021)

07/02/2021

06/29/2021

Happy 70th Priesthood Anniv, to Pope Emeritus Benedict 16th!
TE DEUM!