Father Richard J. Rego, Chaplain
Fr. Isaac Fynn, Weekend Associate
PO Box 14257 Tucson, AZ 85732-4257
Office Hours 10:00-12:00 Mon-Fri
Phone: (520) 205-4096 * Fax: (520) 205-4097
Email: frrichardrego@comcast.net
Website:  www.saintgianna.net

“Put on then, as God’s holy and beloved people, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience.  Forgive one another; and if one has a complaint against another, as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also forgive.  And above all these things put on charity, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And always be thankful - - - And whatever you do in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3: 12-15,17).




Saints of the Week
Mon, April 2 thru Saturday is Holy  Week

Gospel Words of Jesus Christ Our Divine Savior
 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, asking him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12 And sighing deeply in spirit, he said: Why doth this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, a sign shall not be given to this generation. 13 And leaving them, he went up again into the ship, and passed to the other side of the water. 14 And they forgot to take bread; and they had but one loaf with them in the ship. 15 And he charged them, saying: Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. (Mark 8: 11-15)

From the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who is against us? 32 He that spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things? 33 Who shall accuse against the elect of God? God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that shall condemn? Christ Jesus that died, yea that is risen also again; who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword? (Rom 8: 31-35 )

Spiritual Thought Of The Week
From the Introduction to the Devout Life, by Saint Francis De Sales Part Two, CHAPTER I: 5. Begin all prayer, whether mental or vocal, by an act of the Presence of God. If you observe this rule strictly, you will soon see how useful it is. 6. It may help you to say the Creed, Lord’s Prayer, etc., in Latin, but you should also study them diligently in your own language, so as thoroughly to gather up the meaning of these holy words, which must be used fixing your thoughts steadily on their purport, not striving to say many words so much as seeking to say a few with your whole heart. One Our Father said devoutly is worth more than many prayers hurried over.

From The Imitation Of Christ By Thomas A Kempis
Book Three The Thirty-Second Chapter: OPEN my heart, O Lord, to Your law and teach me to walk in the way of Your commandments. Let me understand Your will. Let me remember Your blessings -- all of them and each single one of them -- with great reverence and care so that henceforth I may return worthy thanks for them. I know that I am unable to give due thanks for even the least of Your gifts. I am unworthy of the benefits You have given me, and when I consider Your generosity my spirit faints away before its greatness. All that we have of soul and body, whatever we possess interiorly or exteriorly, by nature or by grace, are Your gifts and they proclaim Your goodness and mercy from which we have received all good things.

From The Teachings Of The Second Vatican Council  
Dei Verbum (On the Word of God): #18  It is common knowledge that among all the Scriptures, even those of the New Testament, the Gospels have a special preeminence, and rightly so, for they are the principal witness for the life and teaching of the incarnate Word, our savior.  The Church has always and everywhere held and continues to hold that the four Gospels are of apostolic origin. For what the Apostles preached in fulfillment of the commission of Christ, afterwards they themselves and apostolic men, under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, handed on to us in writing: the foundation of faith, namely, the fourfold Gospel, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

From The Code Of Canon Law
Canon 284 Clerics are to wear suitable ecclesiastical garb according to the norms issued by the conference of bishops and according to legitimate local customs.

Catechism Of The Catholic Church
2325 Suicide is seriously contrary to justice, hope, and charity. It is forbidden by the fifth commandment.

SPECIAL NOTICE
Please be advised that donations to Saint Gianna’s can be made through our website: www.saintgianna.net.  By so doing, one can contribute using their credit card.  We appreciate your financial support and also ask your prayers for our continued success.  Also, please note that we are now set up with PayPal so that our parishioners and friends can automatically contribute a designated amount each month toward your support of Saint Gianna’s.  Check our website for details: www.saintgianna.net.

Classes
We will be conducting classes on the Documents of Vatican II at the Desert Springs Academy, 3833 E 2nd St., Tucson.  The phone number is 321-1709.  The next class is Wednesday, April 4th at 3:00 PM.

Pope Benedict XVI Prayer Intention For April
General - - - - That every Christian, letting themselves be enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit, respond with enthusiasm and fidelity to the universal call to holiness.
Mission - - - - That the number of priestly and religious vocations grow in North America and in the countries of the Pacific Ocean so as to adequately respond to the pastoral and missionary needs of their populations.
    On Palm Sunday, the Priest, vested in a red cope, blesses the palms at the start of Mass.  It is the red of royal triumph.  Triumph, indeed!  We claim triumph because Holy Week is not a week of mourning for the Cross of Calvary and the Resurrection are inseparable.  We must not separate the Passion of Our Savior from His glorious Resurrection.  By His Cross, Jesus has overcome death! In medieval times, this week was viewed in a strict sense of sorrow and tearful sympathy with the Suffering Jesus.  Now, through the whole week, there runs a note of victory and joy, a realization that Our Lord’s sacred passion was a prerequisite to the glory of Easter.
     The Palm Sunday liturgy begins with: “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.  O King of Israel: Hosanna in the highest!”   After the Procession of the Palms, we pray in the Introit: “O Lord, keep not thy face far from me; look to my defense, deliver me from the lion’s mouth - - - O God, my God, look upon me - - - Far from my salvation are the words of my sins!”
    It is a humble prayer for without the, “King of Israel,” we are helpless.  The weight of our sins overwhelms us!  Only in the triumph of Our Redeemer can we find victory.  Like Daniel in the lion’s den, the lions of the pagan world seek to devour us in sin.  Just as the One, True God delivered Daniel, so too will Our Divine Savior rescue us
     The Key to the Palm Sunday liturgy is the reading from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Philippians.  Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is the Suffering Messiah.  True to His mission, the Redemption, He was obedient to the Heavenly Father.  He was obedient, “even unto death, death on the Cross.”  Obedience!  The “obedience of faith!”  As the second Vatican Council teaches, it is the hallmark of the true follower of Jesus Christ!
    Thus, in Christ’s Victory Procession, we too cry out: “HOSANNA, FILIO DAVID!”
                        
Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.