24252 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637 (949) 837-1090; FAX (949) 837-9510; www.st-nicholaschurch.org

School of Religious Education: (949) 837-7676

Our Parish Mission Statement St. Nicholas Parish is a Catholic community, celebrating our faith

through the Sacraments, Liturgy, Prayer and Service. We strive to nurture family life and to create one body out of many in the Lord.

We share the Good News with people of all ages, cultures and faith backgrounds.

BAPTISM English: Fourth Sunday of the month at 2:00PM. Spanish: Third Saturday of the month at 11AM Vietnamese: Second Sunday of the month at at 2PM.

MARRIAGE Arrangements must begin at least six months in advance with a priest of the parish.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK Call Parish Office in an emergency. Special Service celebrated in fall/spring as announced.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS At the death of a family member, please call the Parish Office at your earliest convenience to plan for the Mass of Christian Burial.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION DAY 24-hour adoration begins the second Wednesday of the month at the 9:00AM Mass.

DEVOTIONS & BENEDICTION Wednesday evenings at 7:00PM; Vietnamese—2nd Wednesday of the month at 8PM. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Benediction.

CLERGY

Pastor Rev. George P. Blais Parochial Vicar Rev. Quyen Truong Visiting Priest Rev. Msgr. John Campbell Visiting Priest Rev. Gerald Walker Visiting Priest Rev. Brendan Hankins Visiting Priest Rev. Jack Sewell Visiting Priest Rev. Chin Dang Deacon Wayne Thompson Deacon Chau Tran Deacon Gerardo De Santos

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 4:00PM, 7:00PM in Spanish Sunday: 7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:45AM, 12:30PM, and 5:00PM in Vietnamese. Monday through Friday: 7:00AM and 9:00AM Saturday: 9AM

Filipino Mass: 5:30PM, First Saturdays, October-June. Holy Days: 4PM Vigil, 7AM, 9AM, 12PM, 6PM and 7:30PM in Vietnamese

RECONCILIATION (Confession) Saturday: 9:45AM to 10:15AM and 3:00PM to 3:45PM or by appointment.

Parish Office Hours: Sunday: 8:30 AM—1:30 PM Monday through Friday: 9 AM—12 Noon; 1 PM — 7:00 PM;

Saturday: 9 AM—12 Noon

St. Nicholas Parish

March 11, 2018 Fourth Sunday Of Lent

Stewardship of Treasure

2018 2017 52-Weekly Required Budget

March 4 $29,158.01 $30,849.54 $25,856.00

Catholic Home Missions Appeal—THIS WEKEND

This weekend, we will take up the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. Right now, over 40 percent of

dioceses in the United States are considered home mission territory because they are unable to fund the essential pastoral work needed in their communities. Your support of this appeal helps ease the struggle of these dioceses. Please prayerfully consider how you can support this appeal. More information can be

found at www.usccb.org/home-missions.

Dear Parishioners,

Today I begin by thanking all who have responded to this year’s PSA and submitted your pledge. Your generosity and gifts are signs that you recognize that your gifts are from God and that you are willing to support not only our parish community, but also the larger Catholic community within the Diocese of Orange. If you have not yet submitted a pledge, I humbly ask that you prayerfully consider making a pledge as soon as possible. Remember that not only are we helping the whole diocese, we are looking to add to our parking lot improvement fund. In the Gospel today, we hear the parable of the prodigal son and it calls us to ask ourselves who we most identify ourselves with in the story. Are we like the loving father who runs out to meet the son on his return, or are we like one of the two sons in the story? If we are like the younger son who comes to his senses and realizes that he has wronged his father and does not deserve to be called his son, then we are ready to acknowledge our sins and repent for them so that we can be reinstated into the life of the Church. This season of lent gives us the opportunity to experience conversion in our lives as we recognize our need to repent for our wrong doing. Some may identify with the older son who does not want to accept his brother’s return and conversion. Like this older son, we need to reflect on why we are faithful to God, the Church, and our fellow human beings and ask ourselves if we need to be more humble, loving, and non-judgmental of others around us. I pray that during this season of lent, we may strive to be better people and Catholics as we share the good news of God’s love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness with all that we encounter. The gospel in Cycle A that is read at the 9:00A.M. Mass today for our elect is the story of the blind man. The questions that are asked as part of this week’s scrutiny for purification are; “What am I blind to in my life, especially concerning my relationships with God, myself, my family, the Church, and strangers? Where do I need conversion? And what do I need to seek forgiveness for in my life?” Fr. George

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“Living” Stations of the Cross

“A Journey You’ll Never Forget”

Praying the Way of the Cross is important because it is a journey that each of us walks

throughout our life. As you participate in this “Living” Way of the Cross”, listen to what the voice of God is saying to you as you take this

journey you’ll never forget.

FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2018 7:00 PM in CHURCH

Presented by Youth Group Members & Confirmation Students

Pastoral Services Appeal 2018

# of Families: 98 $ of pledges: $34,100

$ of payments: $13,815.00

Thank you to all who have already participated in this year’s PSA. If you did not receive information about the PSA in the mail, there are brochures and pledge envelopes available in

the Church or in the Parish Office. Once we reach our diocesan goal of $111,000, all monies over that amount

will be returned to St. Nicholas to help pay for the parking lot project.

Baptism Preparation Team

I am looking to enhance our Baptism preparation procedures. Currently, we have one dedicated parishioner who has been preparing our parents and God-parents to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism. I would like to have a larger team; therefore, I am requesting for any interested parishioners to contact me if you would be interested in assisting in developing a Baptismal preparation procedure, or being part of this important team to prepare our parents and God-parents on the meaning and gift of this sacrament which welcomes new members to our Catholic family. If you have been part of a Baptism preparation team either at St. Nicholas or at another parish, I would like to hear from you. Please contact me so that we can begin our discussion and planning to expand this very important ministry in the life of the Church. Fr. George P. Blais

March 11, 2018 Fourth Sunday Of Lent

Monday: 7AM Danielle Buisan Blaney (d) 9AM Nicholas Rusnov (d) Tuesday: 7AM Sr. Brigid Carey (d) 9AM Paul Nguyen Tan (d) Wednesday: 7AM Eleanor Winkleman (d) 9AM Lawrence Chavez (d) Thursday: 7AM Peter Thuy Vu (d) 9AM Thomas Rose Friday: 7AM Elisa Reyes 9AM John Scheuler (d) Saturday: 9AM Fr. Patrick Hughes (d) 4PM For the Parish 7PM Hector Tenorio (d) Sunday: 7:30AM Joseph John Fiorenza 9:00AM Patricia Griffin (d) 10:45AM Concetta Marchetta (d) 12:30PM Teresco Family & Gary Stevens (d)

Parish Calendar This Week

MONDAY Sewing Group, Small Hall, 8AM Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM Spanish Rosary, Church, 6:30PM Adult Bible Study, Parish Center-Rooms 201-204, 7PM TUESDAY Spanish Book Study-“Perfectly You”, Room 201, 9:45AM Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM SRE Confirmation II, Parish Center—upstairs, 7PM 7 & 8 Grade SRE, Parish Center—downstairs, 7PM St. Nicholas Chorale, Small Hall, 7:15PM WEDNESDAY Eucharistic Adoration, Church, beginning at 9AM Mass Charismatic Prayer Group, Room A, 9:45AM Bereavement Ministry, Room B, 10AM Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM Devotions and Benediction, Church, 7PM Hispanic Choir, Room C, 7PM Filipino Choir, Small Hall, 8PM THURSDAY Faith Alive-Faith Sharing, Room A, 10AM CCW Executive Committee, Small Hall, 10AM Adult Bible Study, Parish Center-Rooms 201-204, 10AM Spanish RCIA, Room C, 5:30PM Alpha Program, Parish Center, 6:15PM Hispanic Council, Room C, 6:30PM RCIA, Parish Center-Room 201, 7PM St. Nicholas Choir, Small Hall, 7:15PM FRIDAY Stations of the Cross, Church, 9:45AM Book Study-“In His Spirit”, Room 201-Parish Center, 9:45AM Lenten Friday Fish Dinner, Parish Center, 5PM Choral Stations of the Cross, Church, 7PM Hispanic Bible Study, Small Hall, 7PM SATURDAY Adult Confirmation Preparation, Room C, 10AM Hispanic Choir, Room C, 4PM SUNDAY Library is open.

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 The wrath and the mercy of the LORD are revealed in the exile and liberation of the Chosen.

Psalm 137: Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!

Second Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10 God, who is rich in mercy, brought us to life with Christ.

Gospel: John 3:14-21 The Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

We Remember

Jonas Matulaigis, Fred Scherz, Murphy Hudson, Mike Fedorsin,

and Maria Espinsoa who entered their new and eternal lives in Christ.

Grant to all our dearly departed, eternal rest, O Lord, and may your light shine on them forever.

Our Monthly Day of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

begins this Wednesday, March 14, at the 9AM Mass and continues until just prior to the

9AM Mass on Thursday, March 15. We invite and encourage you to spend some time with Our Lord in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Easter Lily Donations… will gladly be accepted to help decorate the Church for Easter. Please bring the plants to the Parish Office starting Tuesday, March 27th.

March 11, 2018 Fourth Sunday Of Lent

School of Religious Education

Check us out on Facebook!

Bible Study on Tuesdays, March 13 and 20 at 6pm in the Youth Ministry room. There is no Bible Study during Holy Week & Easter Week, March 27 and April 3.

Sessions will resume on April 10th.

Teen Choir Rehearsal: Thursday, March 22. Teen/Family Mass: Saturday, March 24 at the 4pm Mass.

All students who are attending Youth Day on Thursday, March 15, please meet at Santiago de Compostela Church, in Lake Forest (southeast corner of Trabuco and Lake Forest).

Confirmation and Youth Ministry Students will be presenting the “Living Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 23 at 7pm

in the Church.

Youth Ministry Leaders: Check in time for CONFIRMATION I /II Lenten Retreat on March 24 is 9:30am. Please meet in Rooms 201-204. See you there!

SRE Elementary: Meet Monday—Wednesday, March 12-14 at 4:15pm to 5:30pm.

Junior High & Confirmation II: Meet Tuesday, March 13 at 7PM in assigned classrooms.

PLEASE NOTE: Confessions for SRE Elementary Students will take place this week March 12, 13 and 14.

Students will meet in classrooms at 4:15pm, and then go to the Church.

ATTENTION Confirmation I and II Students Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 24 from 11am to 5pm. Meet upstairs in Rooms 201-204. The Rite of Acceptance

for Confirmation II Students will take place within the 4pm Mass. It is a requirement for all

Confirmation Students to attend.

COME JOIN THE FUN ON SATURDAY!

Our St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration will be on

Saturday, March 10th, from 2pm to 7pm in the Parish Center.

Music by the “Whooligans,” Irish Band from 2:30pm —7pm. Aniar Academy of Irish Dancers perform at 3:15pm and 4:30pm.

Irish Food and Drink, singalongs and dancing, too! Pot o’ Gold Raffle drawing at 7pm.

Bring your family and friends. Everybody’s welcome!

CRS Rice Bowl

During Lent, our students and parishioners are participating in “CRS Rice Bowl,” a faith-in-action

program that invites us to encounter our neighbor, as companions on the journey, through

prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Rice Bowls can be found around the Church and are

also available in the SRE Office.

PARISHIONERS ARE INVITED TO THE Victoria School of the Arts Concert Choir

Concert to be held on Monday, March 26th at 10:30am, here in St. Nicholas Church.

This award-winning Concert Choir from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has offered to present our community with a FREE Concert while they are on their Southern California

tour. The Concert will include sacred as well as secular music, and will last about an hour.

The Concert is FREE so please come and bring your friends and support this wonderful group with your attendance.

SRE ANNOUNCEMENT: The School of Religion Office will be closed on Thursday, March 15 because the Staff will be attending Youth Day at the Anaheim Convention Center and again on Wednesday, March 21 from 9am to 3pm when Staff will

be attending a Safe Environment Workshop at Christ Cathedral. There will be Elementary classes on Wednesday, March 21 as scheduled.

The Spanish Prayer Group Invites parishioners to join them at St. Nicholas Church on the third Wednesday of every month at 7pm in Room C.

For additional information, please call Jose or Norma Garibay at 949-613-3030.

The St. Nicholas Library... The Library is open the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month, 8:45am—12:45pm.

We are located in Room C, behind the Parish Office. We have a cart of free items: rosaries, prayer cards, etc.

March 11, 2018 Fourth Sunday Of Lent

Royal Afternoon Tea RSVP by March 28!

St. Nicholas Council of Catholic Women Fundraiser, “Royal Afternoon Tea,” on

Saturday, April 7th, 12pm to 3pm in the Parish Center. Catering by Del Moses.

Tea Sandwiches, sweets/savories, cash drawings, prizes! Featuring Fashions by South County Outreach

Upscale/Resale Thrift Store —inspired by a Royal Wedding. Tickets: $35/person; Reserved Table Seats 8: $280.

RSVP by March 28 —Tickets will NOT be sold at the door. Reservations—Connie: 949-395-2261 or cruz949@cox.net

Bulletin Date Articles Due By

Mar 25, (Palm Sunday) March 6th—Past due

Apr 1, (Easter) March 12th

Please note early Bulletin Deadlines! With holidays and Publisher requirements, articles for our

bulletin have EARLY DEADLINES! Articles submitted after the required “DUE DATE” will not

be published in the bulletin.

The Knights of Columbus is again sponsoring a “40 Cans for Lent” Food Drive.

Parishioners are invited to contribute one can of non-perishable food each day during Lent, or 40 cans sometime

during the Lenten season. Barrels will be placed outside the entrances to the Church at weekend Masses.

Monetary donations are always welcome!

The Sacrament of Confirmation, in which we receive the

fullness of the Holy Spirit into our lives, will be offered to adults who have not been confirmed on

Saturday, May 5th within the 10am Mass. If you are 18 years of age or older, baptized, if married -married in the Catholic Church, and regularly attend Mass and receive the Eucharist, we invite you to come to five Saturday sessions

in preparation for the Sacrament. They will be held from 10am to 11:30am, beginning Saturday, March 24 in Room C. Registration forms are available in the Parish Office.

For more information, call Gloria at 768-7228.

FOR ADULTS

St. Nicholas Senior Singles

will be gathering for lunch on Friday, March 16th at 12:30pm at Patsy’s Pub located at 25571 Jeronimo Rd., Mission Viejo.

Reservations a must! RSVP: Joan at 949-855-8755. New members are invited and welcome!

Friendship with the love of God in our hearts!

The St. Nicholas Sewing Group/CCW recently presented Fr. George with a check for $1,000 representing one-third of the proceeds from their Holiday Boutique. Checks were also

sent to Micah’s Way and Caterina’s Club.

A New Dawn in Mental & Behavioral Health Care! On Thursday, March 15th, starting at 5:30pm at

Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 2046 Mar Vista Dr., Newport Beach.

RSVP: 949-644-0200 5:30pm—Mass for Hope & Wellness

6:30pm—Forum in Parish Center Keynote Speaker: Kay Warren, of Saddleback Church

Come hear some of America’s greatest mental health advocates/professionals speak on the amazing changes

happening in Orange County in mental health care. More treatment options, a new philosophy and continuum of care, and real, concrete cooperation between faith communities,

our first responders, our hospitals, our healers, our advocacy groups, our education system and our citizens.

THE PRAISE AND WORSHIP PRAYER GROUP Come join us in praise, worship and for healing prayers, on Friday, March 23rd, at 7:30pm in Room B. All are welcome! Questions: Phoebe—949-855-9263

Country Prayer for Lent Dear Lord, we are now in the holy season of Lent. We begin to realize anew that these are the days of salvation, these are the acceptable days. We know that we are all sinners. We know that in many things we have all offended Your infinite majesty. We know that sin destroys Your life in us as a drought withers the leaves and chokes the life from the land, leaving an arid, dusty desert. Help us now, Lord, in our feeble attempts to make up for past sin. Bless our efforts with the rich blessing of Your grace. Make us realize ever more our need of penance and of mortification. Help us to see, in our ordinary difficulties and duties, in the trials and temptations of every day, the best opportunity of making up for past infidelities. Every day we are so often reminded in field and wood, in sky and stream, of Your own boundless generosity to us. Help us to realize that You are never outdone in generosity, and that the least thing we do for You will be rewarded, full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and flowing over. Then we shall see, in our own souls, how the desert can blossom, and the dry and wasted land can bring forth the rich, useful fruit that was expected of it from the beginning. Amen.

March 11, 2018 Fourth Sunday Of Lent

Lenten Fish Dinner—Every Friday On Friday evenings during Lent through March 23rd, there will be a “Fish Dinner” served at 5pm in the Parish Center. Note: No Fish Dinner on Good Friday.

Join fellow parishioners on Lenten Fridays for a Fish Dinner prepared by the Knights of Columbus. Dinner includes baked salmon or battered cod, mac n’ cheese,

zucchini, coleslaw, fries, dessert, punch and coffee. Dine-in only; NO take-outs! Donation: $11.00 Adults;

special pricing for children and large families.

We begin serving at 5pm and end at 6:45pm so parishioners can attend the 7pm Stations of the Cross

during Lenten Fridays. Come join us for a delicious fish dinner!

Our Lenten Journey To assist you on your Lenten Journey, we offer:

PRAYER Daily Mass: Monday through Friday at 7AM & 9AM; Saturdays at 9AM. Morning Prayer: Monday through Saturday at 8:45AM. (This is open to all who desire to join in.) Monthly Day of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Second Wednesday of the Month beginning at the 9AM Mass and concluding prior to the 9AM Mass on the Second Thursday. Stations of the Cross: on Fridays during Lent at 9:45AM and 7PM, 7PM Spanish in Small Hall, 8PM in Vietnamese. Divine Mercy Prayer Group: Prays in the Church weekdays at 3PM. Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Saturdays 9:45AM to 10:15AM and 3PM to 3:45PM. Parish Lenten Penance Service: Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00PM.

ALMSGIVING St. Vincent de Paul: helping those in need in our community. Knights of Columbus: 40 Cans for Lent (donation barrels available at all weekend Masses). Operation Rice Bowl: Benefitting Catholic Relief Services (bowls available in the Church).

Community Events 40 Days for Life: Prayer vigil, Monday-Saturday, 8am-8pm, in front of Planned Parenthood, Mission Viejo.

Note: All Catholics in the US are encouraged to enter into sacrificial penance, during the 40 days of Lent. Specifically, to refrain from the eating of meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent, with the added penance of fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This discipline of penance and fasting is serious, however, it no longer binds you under pain of grave sin. For a sufficiently good reason (family celebration, an ethnic festival, Lunar New Year, etc.), you may substitute another day of the week to fulfill this penance. There is no need for a specific ‘dispensation’ from the Bishop to lift the penance for these days.

LOCAL PENANCE SERVICE DATES

Monday, March 19th at 7pm —Santiago de Compostela Wednesday, March 21st at 7pm—St. Nicholas

Tuesday, March 27th at 7pm—San Francisco Solano

Choral Stations of the Cross will be presented by our 9am St. Nicholas Parish Choir on Friday, March 16th, at 7pm in the Church. The traditional Stations of the Cross, composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori, will be prayed with musical presentations by our Choir throughout the service. All are invited to this special Lenten prayer service.

A communal celebration of the Anointing of the Sick

will be TODAY Sunday, March 11th at 2pm in the Church.

We invite all who are ill, elderly, or who are expecting to undergo major surgery, to come and receive this

Sacrament of Healing. All parishioners are invited to join us.

Your prayers are important and your presence a source of consolation to those who are ill.

A reception will be held afterwards in the Small Hall.