Liturgical Calendar

January 2023

• The Christmas Season concludes after this feast. 
• The Christmas decorations in the church are removed.

• https://www.usccb.org/events/2023/week-prayer-christian-unity
• Monday, January 18 through Monday, January 25, is the week of prayer for Christian Unity and calls for petitions in the Prayer of the Faithful for this intention. Also, when possible the Mass for the Unity of Christians may be used with the readings of the day and green vestments.
• Our theme for 2023 is “Do Good, Seek Justice.” The theme is inspired by Isaiah 1:12-18, which laments a lack of justice among the People of God. Yet it also promises redemption by encouraging acts of justice. Like Isaiah, we hope to inspire a renewed desire and effort for justice among the Christian peoples around the world.  

• Something more is required beyond the words and rubrics of the Mass. Father Paul Turner will help you explore nuances of the celebration you know very well, he will explain the history and meaning of the parts of the Mass, and he will help you engage the people in a meaningful celebration.
  
• This workshop is FREE and only for priests.
• To register, please click below:  
• Ars Celebrandi with Fr. Paul Turner | Flocknote 
  

February 2023

• On February 2, 40 days after Christmas, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated, because according to the Law of Moses, the woman who gave birth to a man had to purify herself for forty days, after what they should present to the child (Lev 12, 2-6). When Saint Mary and her husband arrived at the temple with Jesus, Simeon took the child in his arms and said that he was the light that enlightens the nations (Lk 2, 32).
  
• That is why this party commemorates the entry of Light into the temple. This commemoration is done by giving prominence to the candles in the liturgy.
  
• That day the mass begins in the atrium or in another place other than the church. There the faithful gather with extinguished candles in their hands. The priest arrives at that place dressed in a chasuble or with a cope. When he arrives, the candles are lit while singing: “Behold, our Lord will come with power, to enlighten the eyes of his servants, alleluia."
  
• The priest then greets the people as usual, makes an announcement, and blesses the candles with a formula found in the Roman Missal. After saying those words, he sprinkles the candles with holy water, saying nothing. When the sprinkling is finished, the priest receives his own candle and begins the procession to the church.
  
• Arriving at the church, the priest venerates the altar, goes to his seat, takes off the cope (if he has used it in the procession), and puts on the chasuble. Then Gloria is sung. When the hymn is finished, he says the collect, and the mass continues as usual.

• El 2 de febrero, en que se cumplen 40 días de la Navidad, se celebra la fiesta de la Presentación del Señor, pues de acuerdo a la Ley de Moisés, la mujer que daba a luz a un varón debía purificarse por cuarenta días, tras lo que debían presentar al niño (Lev 12, 2-6). Cuando Santa María y su esposo llegaron al templo con Jesús, Simeón tomó en brazos al niño y dijo que era la luz que alumbra las naciones (Lc 2, 32).
  
• Es por ello que en esta fiesta se conmemora la entrada de la Luz en el templo. Esa conmemoración se hace dándole protagonismo a las velas o candelas en la liturgia.
  
• Ese día la misa comienza en el atrio o en otro lugar distinto a la iglesia. Ahí se reúnen los fieles con candelas apagadas en sus manos. El sacerdote llega a ese lugar revestido con casulla o con capa pluvial. Cuando arriba, se encienden las velas mientras se canta: “Nuestro Señor viene con gran poder, para iluminar los ojos de sus siervos. Aleluya.”
  
• Después, el sacerdote saluda al pueblo como de costumbre, hace una monición y bendice las candelas con una fórmula que se encuentra en el misal. Tras decir esas palabras, rocía las candelas con agua bendita, sin decir nada. Acabada la aspersión, el sacerdote recibe su propia candela y comienza la procesión hacia la iglesia.
  
• Al llegar a la iglesia, el sacerdote venera el altar, va a la sede, se quita el pluvial (si es que lo ha usado en la procesión), y se pone la casulla. Después se canta Gloria. Acabado el himno dice la colecta, y la misa prosigue como de costumbre.

• San Fernando and San Gabriel Regions at 3 PM
• San Pedro and Our Lady of the Angels Regions at 6 PM
• Santa Barbara Region celebrating at Our Lady of the Assumption, Ventura @ 2:00 pm & Mission Santa Inés @ 4:30 pm. For more details, please call the Regional Office. 

• San Fernando and San Gabriel Regions at 3 PM
• San Pedro and Our Lady of the Angels Regions at 6 PM
• Santa Barbara Region will celebrate in their respective parishes. 

Attention all Priests

Forthcoming Order of Penance 

Deacons & Priests, did you know?

UPCOMING REGIONAL CONGRESSES

Santa Barbara Pastoral Region 

Eucharistic Congress

Register HERE

San Fernando Pastoral Region 

Eucharistic Congress

Register HERE

Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region Eucharistic Congress

Register HERE