ANNUAL DIOCESAN APPEAL
Secure the Vision
HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!!! We urge those who have not yet responded to do so this week. Your parish priests and fellow parishioners are DEEPLY GRATEFUL to those who have already pledged support to this year's ADA campaign. With only 486 of our 3,100 registered families participating, we have already reached 81.25% of our Diocesan goal. Watch our progress on the ADA chart in the vestibule of the Church. [For those who have already pledged, please wait for your statements to arrive from the Diocese and mail your payments directly to them, as the bookkeeping is done there.] 

R.C.I.A. SCRUTINIES
During the six weeks of Lent, the whole Church is trying to move closer to God by taking a look at the areas of life that need improvement. In R.C.I.A., we do this in a simple ceremony at the 9:15 A.M. Mass on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent (beginning next weekend). We ask to be healed of anything weak, defective or sinful and strengthened in all that is good, strong and holy in our lives. Please pray that our candidates may be protected from evil and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, so that they will be worthy to receive the Easter sacraments.

Come Back To Me With All Your Heart
Lent is a special time. We take time to look more closely at God and God looks at us. How can we take even minor steps to get closer to God during these forty days? There are three traditional practices that the Church puts before us to help us forget self and follow Christ more closely. These practices are: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
The most perfect prayer we have is the Mass. Join with others at the 6:30 or 8:00 A.M. Mass during the weekdays (Monday-Friday) of Lent. Join us on Friday evenings for Stations of the Cross at 7:30 P.M. in the Church.
Fasting asks us to let go of habits that get in the way of our ability to love God and others. The Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence for everyone 14 years or older. That means NO MEAT. GOOD FRIDAY will be a day of fast and abstinence. That means ONLY ONE FULL MEAL for those 18-59 and NO MEAT for anyone 14 years or older. The faithful should not excuse themselves lightly from these observances.
Through almsgiving (ADA Appeal, Special Collections, Operation Rice Bowl - Catholic Relief Services, EASTSIDE F.I.S.H., St. Vincent de Paul) we come to see others as God sees them, worthy of our love and sharing. 

SCRIPTURE READINGS
FEBRUARY 23-24, 2008
EXODUS 17:3-7
ROMANS 5:1-2, 5-8
JOHN 4:5-42

PRESIDENT'S DAY
In observance of President's Day this Monday, February 18th,
all Parish Offices will be closed. Masses will be celebrated at 6:30 and 8:00 A.M.

PLANNED GIVING NOTES
Your Will or the States
If you don't have a will or living trust, the State has one for you! The State will tell you where your savings, home and possessions (your estate) will go. If you do have a will or trust, you direct where your estate will go.
If you want to know more about this, the Diocese can provide free assistance. Call the Development Office @ 983-0243, or write to them at: 900 Lafayette St., Suite 301, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

LADIES RETREAT
St. Victor's Altar Society is sponsoring the ANNUAL LADIES RETREAT during Lent from March 7th-9th at St. Clare's Retreat House in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. This retreat is open to ALL LADIES who are interested. (Bring a friend!) What a wonderful opportunity this is to renew our spiritual life. For reservations or more information, please call Elsie Ignacio @ 263-1456. {A bus will be available for a nominal fee. It will leave St. Victor's @ 3:00 P.M. sharp on March 7th. Please advise Elsie if you plan on using the bus for transportation.}


ADULT CONFIRMATION
Sign-ups are being taken for the ADULT Confirmation classes (age 18 and older, who have already been baptized and have had First Eucharist). Please register for the classes through the Rectory Office @ 251-7055. The classes will be held March 24th-April 28th. The sacrament of Confirmation will take place on May 11th at St. Joseph's Cathedral. Registration deadline is Monday, March 17th.

Spaghetti Dinner and Entertainment This Sunday
Please join us TODAY, Sunday, February 17th, from 4:30-6:30 P.M. in the parish hall. This event is being hosted by St. Victor's U.n.I. Lord Teens. Entertainment will be provided by: Rey Trevino (guitarist for the 9:15 A.M. Mass) and Mike Tatarakis and West Coast Martial Arts. Ticket prices are: $8.00 - Adult, $4.00 - Child (12 years old and younger), and $25.00 - Family (immediate family only). Tickets will be available at the door on a first come first served basis.                             PLEASE NOTE: Take Out dinners are also available. 

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND 
FEBRUARY 29TH- MARCH 2ND
Celebrate St. Valentine's Day with a get-away weekend at the Sheraton in Milpitas. During this season of Lent, get closer to God and your spouse. Please contact parishioners, Sam & Cita Milan, @ 954-2352 or visit the website: www.wwme12.org .

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday             February           18         6:30 A.M.          Caroline Orozco

                                                            8:00 A.M.          John Manfredo

Tuesday            February           19         6:30 A.M.          Madelyn Nguyen

                                                            8:00 A.M.          Theresa Goulart

Wednesday       February           20         6:30 A.M.          Madelyn Nguyen

                                                            8:00 A.M.          Tessie Castro

Thursday           February           21         6:30 A.M.          Mervyn Alcoy

                                                            8:00 A.M.          Theresa Vang Nguyen

Friday               February           22         6:30 A.M.          Madelyn Nguyen

                                                            8:00 A.M.          Adolfo Cabebe

Saturday           February           23         8:00 A.M.          Segia Cabebe

                                                            5:00 P.M.          Evelyn DeBem

Sunday             February           24         9:15 A.M.          Angelina Gaitan

                                                           10:45 A.M.         Edward & Olive Olivera

Rest In Peace

St. Victor's Parish Community extends their sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Lucia Richie, who recently passed away.

                                                                                Flowers for the Altar
THANK YOU to the families who donated monies that will go toward our EASTER FLOWERS - This weekend we celebrate the birthday of Zenaida N. Bailon's (HAPPY BIRTHDAY) and Manny Fernandez lovingly remembers his wife, Debbie Fernandez.

                                                                                    $CRIP UPDATE
$CRIP gift certificates will be available after Masses next weekend (except Sunday 7:00 and 8:00 A.M.) for all of your Easter holiday shopping, dining and gift-giving needs. Please call the School Office @ 251-1740 for more information.

The School also collects Campbell's Products Labels, Box Tops for Education and empty computer printer cartridges. If you are not saving them for another school/program, St. Victor's Students would appreciate your help! Please drop them off during regular school hours or mail them to the School Office @ 3150 Sierra Rd., San Jose, CA 95132. Thank you!

                                            SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND FOR ST. VINCENT de PAUL
There will be a second collection next weekend for St. Victor's St. Vincent de Paul Society. Please help our volunteers help our neighbors in need.

                                                                             SOCIAL JUSTICE NOTES...
EASTSIDE F.I.S.H. food collection is this weekend. Please place your non-perishable food donations in the box in the vestibule of the Church. (No Clothing, please!) Thanks!
ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY PROGRAMS need your help! St. Joseph the Worker Center has a variety of skilled day workers for jobs inside and outside your house. Please contact Mary @ 993-0837 or visit www.svdp.org/santaclara for more information. The Easter Bonnets and Baskets Program provides new outfits, Easter baskets, small toys and food vouchers to needy families. (Items needed are: any size, packaged children's socks and underwear, outfits suitable of Easter services - size 14 and under - dresses, slacks, sweaters for boys or girls, babies and toddlers also - Easter basket fillers such as candy, small toys, stickers and, toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo and soap.) To donate, please call Mindy Harada @ 993-9901 or contact Anna via email @ [email protected] . 
A FREE Drive-in and Drop-off Electronic Waste Collection will be held at St. Elizabeth's Church (750 Sequoia Dr., Milpitas) on February 16th from 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. Please call St. Elizabeth's with any questions that you may have @ 262-8100. All proceeds benefit Miguel Pro House of Formation.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES PROGRAM - Shared Housing - Affordable housing is one of the most urgent needs of the poor in our county. If you have a room to rent, call our housing specialists who provide screening of all candidates. If renting a room means that you can stay in your home longer, everyone wins. Contact - Housing Services @ 325-5277 or [email protected] for details.

                                                                                   NEWS BRIEFS...
ANNUAL DIVINE MERCY & YOUTH CONGRESS 2008 - will be held from March 14th-16th, at the Oakland Convention Center (1001 Broadway, Oakland). To register or for more information, please call (888) 238-6560 or visit www.DivineMercyWestCoast.org .
COME AND SEE - The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus Mary will have a Day of Retreat for women inquiring about the religious life on March 15th. For the schedule, location or more information, please phone Sister Rosemary Everett, SNJM, @ 656-1331 or email her @ [email protected] .

"Behold My beloved Son...Listen to Him..."

 
BULLETIN ARCHIVE