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).

Latin Mass Schedule                        MASS INTENTIONS        
Daily Mass 12:15 pm                        Sun 6:30 Heidi Kaplain
Saturday 8:30 am                            Sun 1:45 Pro Populo
Sunday Masses                            
6:30 am, 1:45 pm                                    Mon 12:15 Margaret Davis
Rosary                                Tues Margaret Allcorme
Sundays 1:30 pm, 4:40 pm                        Wed  Special Int
                                     Thurs Monica Burnham
Confessions Schedule                        Friday: John Gauger
Mon-Fri 11:00am to 12:00 Noon                    Saturday: As in St. Ambrose Bulletin
Saturday 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm                    
Sunday 4:15 pm to 4:45 pm                     Reading External Sol. Of Ascension  

Devotions Schedule                        Introit - - - Acts 1: 11; Ps 46:2
Fatima Devotions every                     Epistle - -  Acts 1: 11
1st Monday of Month 7:00 pm                                 Paschal Alleluia Ps 46: 6; 67: 18,19
Saint Joseph Devotions                 Gospel - - Mk 16: 14-20
Wednesday after 12:15 Mass                            
                                    

Sancta Gianna!  Ora Pro Nobis!

May 20, 2007  - - - External Solemnity of Ascension
Mon, May 21- - - Feria after Ascension
Tues, May 22 - - -Feria after Ascension
Wed, May 23- - - -Feria after Ascension
Thurs, May 24- - -Feria after Ascension
Fri, May 25 - - - - Saint Gregory VII, Pope & Confessor
Sat, May 19 - - - - Vigil of Pentecost

Gospel Words of Jesus Christ Our Divine Savior
 34 And sitting down, he called the twelve, and saith to them: If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all, and the minister of all. 35 And taking a child, he set him in the midst of them. Whom when he had embraced, he saith to them. 36 Whosoever shall receive one such child as this in my name, receiveth me. And whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9: 34-36)

From the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans
1 I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.  (Rom 12: 1-2)
Spiritual Thought Of The Week

From Blessed Are The Pure In Heart by Bishop Robert W. Finn: “The original unity of Adam and Eve was fractured by Original Sin. As important and fundamental as our human sexuality is, it also provides the means whereby our fallen human nature expresses itself in deep and sometimes horrific ways. Adultery, fornication, prostitution, rape, sexual abuse and exploitation, much of modern day slavery, crimes of passion and pornography all illustrate this fallen aspect of our human nature. The dignity of the human person has been wounded and scarred by sin. When we sin we become less the person we are called to be in Christ. Sin dehumanizes us. The fact that Jesus was sinless does not make him less human but more human. Sin makes us less human. The grace of Christ restores us.”

From The Imitation Of Christ By Thomas A Kempis
Book Three The Thirty-Sixth Chapter - - - THE VAIN JUDGMENTS OF MEN THE VOICE OF CHRIST: MY CHILD, trust firmly in the Lord, and do not fear the judgment of men when conscience tells you that you are upright and innocent.  Indeed, it is good and blessed to suffer such things, and they will not weigh heavily on the humble heart that trusts in God rather than in itself. Many men say many things, and therefore little faith is to be put in them. Likewise, it is impossible to satisfy all men. Although Paul tried to please all in the Lord, and became all things to all men, yet he made little of their opinions. He labored abundantly for the edification and salvation of others, as much as lay in him and as much as he could, but he could not escape being sometimes judged and despised by others. Therefore, he committed all to God Who knows all things, and defended himself by his patience and humility against the tongues of those who spoke unjustly or thought foolish things and lies, or made accusations against him. Sometimes, indeed, he did answer them, but only lest his silence scandalize the weak.

From The Teachings Of The Second Vatican Council
SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM  (On the Sacred Liturgy) - - -  #1 This sacred Council has several aims in view: it desires to impart an ever increasing vigor to the Christian life of the faithful; to adapt more suitably to the needs of our own times those institutions which are subject to change; to foster whatever can promote union among all who believe in Christ; to strengthen whatever can help to call the whole of mankind into the household of the Church. The Council therefore sees particularly cogent reasons for undertaking the reform and promotion of the liturgy.

From The Code Of Canon Law Canon 331 The bishop of the Roman Church, in whom continues the office given by the Lord uniquely to Peter, the first of the Apostles, and to be transmitted to his successors, is the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ, and the pastor of the universal Church on earth. By virtue of his office he possesses supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in the Church, which he is always able to exercise freely.
Catechism Of The Catholic  Church  2327 Because of the evils and injustices that all war brings with it, we must do everything reasonably possible to avoid it. The Church prays: "From famine, pestilence, and war, O Lord, deliver us."  2328 The Church and human reason assert the permanent validity of the moral law during armed conflicts. Practices deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal principles are crimes. 2329 "The arms race is one of the greatest curses on the human race and the harm it inflicts on the poor is more than can be endured" (Second Vatican Council, GS 81 # 3).

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.

Pope Benedict XVI Prayer Intention For May
General - - - - That every Christian, following the example of the Virgin Mary, always heed the signs of the Lord in their lives and let themselves be guided by the Word of God.
Mission - - - - That the lands of Mission never be found lacking in good and enlightened teachers in the major seminaries and institutes of consecrated life.

    
    “Men of Galilee,” we read in the Introit, “why do you stand looking in the sky?  The Lord will return, just as you have seen Him ascend, alleluia.”  The liturgy for the Solemnity of the Ascension reverberates with the exultation expressed in the 42nd Psalm:     “Oh! Clap your hands all you nations: shout unto God with the voice of exultation.”
    
    Nothing saddens the human heart more than the death of a loved one.  Our pain becomes especially intense at the end of the cemetery prayers.  We leave our love ones never to see them again with human eyes.  These sentiments, however, are not the ones expressed by the liturgy on the Feast of Our Lord’s Ascension.  Rather, the Church rejoices!   Why do we rejoice?  The Epistle reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us clearly in the words of the “two men dressed in white.”  They were undoubtedly angels and said: “This Jesus, Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall return just as you have seen Him going into heaven.”

    Christ lives with us in His Mystical Body, the Holy, Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church.  The Church, as the Second Vatican Council teaches, is the Sacrament of our Salvation.  Through the saving mystery of the Church, everyone has all of the means necessary to attain eternal life - - - the Priesthood, the Mass, the Sacraments, and the truths of Catholic faith and morality.
    
    At the last Supper, Our Blessed Lord said: “Do not be troubled.  Have faith in God and have faith in me.  In my Father’s house there are many mansions; otherwise, how could I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” Yes! There is a “Mansion” prepared for each of us in heaven!
    
    Saint Augustine expresses the Church’s joy at Our Lord’s Ascension along with an admonition: “Our Savior has ascended into heaven, beloved brethren, but let us not on that account be troubled here on earth.  If our minds are there, we still have peace here.  So let us ascend spiritually with Christ that when His promised day will come, we will follow Him also with our bodies.  We must not forget, brethren, that neither pride, nor avarice, nor impurity ascends with Christ; none of our vices will ascend with our Healer.  Therefore, if we desire to follow Him, we must necessarily part with our sins and vices.  For all such things hold us bound to earth as with fetters.”
    
    We must always maintain a healthy longing for heaven.  This is not a morbid death wish!  Rather, it is a lively desire to be with Our Lord in heaven.  Heaven is our final destination and, as Vatican II teaches, we are on our pilgrim journey to be with Christ, Our Lord, for all eternity.  Again we recall the words of Saint Augustine in his Confessions: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord.  Thus, our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”
    
    Jesus said: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you and your hearts will rejoice.”  No!  We are not orphans.  Think of what God has done for us!  Jesus, the Son of God, is our divine Brother.  Our Lord has given us His own dear mother to be our own.  Every Catholic can point to Mary and say: “There is my Mother!  My Blessed Mother in heaven!   Our good mother, with Saint Joseph at her side, waits to greet us in the kingdom of Heaven.  It is in heaven that Jesus, her divine Son, has prepared a “Mansion” for us!
                                         
                    Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.