MASS SCHEDULE Sunday: 8 am (Carmelite Nuns) 8 am, 10 am (Español), 12 pm, 2 pm, 6 pm (Español) Monday-Friday: 7 am (Carmelite Nuns) 12 pm, 6 pm Saturday: 7 am (Carmelite Nuns) 8:00 am, 5:30 pm (Vigil)

EVENING PRAYER (VESPERS) Saturday: 5 pm Thursday: 6 pm

SPECIAL MASSES Tuesday: 6 pm Carmelite Community Mass Thursday: 8:15 am Little Flower School Mass 1st Friday: 6 pm Mass for the Sick 1st Sunday: 12 pm Little Flower School 2nd Sunday: 12 pm OCDS Mass

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Thursday: 6:30-7:30 pm Holy Hour Monday-Sunday: St. Elias Chapel is open for Adoration 8 am-6 pm

CONFESSIONS ~ CONFESIONES Tuesdays: 6:30-7:30 pm Saturdays: 4-5 pm and 7-8 pm By appointment, call the parish office. For spiritual direction, call the parish office.

BAPTISMS ~ BAUTISMOS English: 2nd Sunday of the month Spanish: 3rd Sunday of the month For more information call the office.

WEDDINGS ~ BODAS At least six months prior to wedding date. Call office for requirements before your appointment with the pastor.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS Fridays during Lent at 6:30 pm VISITING THE SICK Call the parish office.

LITTLE FLOWER PARISH Tel. (210) 735-9126 - Fax (210) 735-1389 www.littleflowerbasilica.org

STAFF Executive Director: Susana Cantu Business Manager: Laura Cole Secretary: Cheyenne Cisneros Book Keeper: Consuelo Salazar Records: Sylvia DeHoyos Development Director: Anna Migeon CCD Director: Rita Beltran Little Flower English Choir Director: Elaine Bir Little Flower Children Choir & Organist: Thelma Montez Spanish Choir: Itza Zentella Maintenance: Tony Dominguez, Jorge Martinez

LITTLE FLOWER SCHOOL Principal: Jackie Castro 905 Kentucky Ave., San Antonio, TX 78201 Tel. (210) 732-9207 - Fax (210) 732-3214 www.littleflowercatholicschool.org

LITTLE FLOWER ORGANIZATIONS Brown Scapular: Elia Cintron Altar Society: Annette Vallejo Holy Name Society: Ralph de la Rosa St. Vincent de Paul: Homer Cadena Lectio Divina: Lilia Baroccio EMHE & Lectors: Brenda Villarreal MESC & Lectores: Carmen Leija Stewardship: Colleen Ortegon RCIA: Eloise Moran RICA: Maria Luisa Villalon

Pastor & Rector

Rev. Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte-Luna, O.C.D.

Community

Fr. Marion Bui, O.C.D. ~ Fr. Henry Bordeaux, O.C.D.

Fr. Luis Joaquin Castaneda, O.C.D.

Fr. Bonaventure Sauer, O.C.D. ~ Fr. Emmanuel Nnadozie, O.C.D.

BASILICA of the NATIONAL SHRINE

of the LITTLE FLOWER Our Lady of Mount Carmel

and Saint Thérèse Parish Discalced Carmelite Fathers of San Antonio

Administration Office 824 Kentucky Ave

Phone (210)735-9126 - Fax (210)735-1389

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR LENT

“Because of the increase of inquity, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24:12)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Once again, the Pasch of the Lord draws near! In our preparation for Easter, God in his providence offers us each year the season of Lent as a “sacramental sign of our conversion.” Lent summons us, and ena-bles us, to come back to the Lord wholeheartedly and in every aspect of our life. With this message, I would like again this year to help the entire Church experience this time of grace anew, with joy and in truth. I

will take my cue from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mat-thew: “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (24:12). These words appear in Christ’s preaching about the end of time. They were spoken in Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives, where the Lord’s passion would begin. In reply to a question of the disciples, Jesus foretells a great tribulation and describes a situation in which the community of believers might well find itself: amid great trials, false prophets would lead people astray and the love that is the core of the Gospel would grow cold in the hearts of many.

False prophets Let us listen to the Gospel passage and try to understand the guise such false prophets can assume. They can appear as “snake charmers,” who manipulate human emotions in order to enslave others and lead them where they would have them go. How many of God’s children are mes-merized by momentary pleasures, mistaking them for true happi-ness! How many men and women live entranced by the dream of wealth, which only makes them slaves to profit and petty inter-ests! How many go through life believing that they are sufficient unto themselves, and end up entrapped by loneliness! False prophets can also be “charlatans” who offer easy and immediate solutions to suffering that soon prove utterly use-less. How many young people are taken in by the panacea of drugs, of disposable relationships, of easy but dishonest gains! How many more are ensnared in a thoroughly “virtual” existence, in which relationships appear quick and straightforward, only to prove meaningless! These swindlers, in peddling things that have no real value, rob people of all that is most precious: dignity, freedom, and the ability to love. They appeal to our vanity, our trust in appearances, but in the end they only make fools of us.

Nor should we be surprised. In order to confound the hu-man heart, the devil, who is “a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44), has always presented evil as good, falsehood as truth. That is why each of us is called to peer into our heart to see if we are falling prey to the lies of these false prophets. We must learn to look closely, beneath the surface, and to recognize what leaves a good and lasting mark on our hearts, because it comes from God and is truly for our benefit.

A cold heart In his description of hell, Dante Alighieri pictures the devil seated on a throne of ice, in frozen and loveless isolation. We might well ask ourselves how it happens that charity can turn cold within us. What are the signs that indicate that our love is begin-ning to cool?

MENSAJE DEL SANTO PADRE FRANCISCO PARA LA CUARESMA

«Al crecer la maldad, se enfriará el amor en la mayoría» (Mt 24,12) Queridos hermanos y hermanas: Una vez más nos sale al encuentro la Pascua del Señor. Para prepararnos a recibirla, la Providencia de Dios nos ofrece cada año la Cuaresma, «signo sacramental de nuestra conver-sión», que anuncia y realiza la posibilidad de volver al Señor con todo el corazón y con toda la vida. Como todos los años, con este mensaje deseo ayudar a toda la Iglesia a vivir con gozo y con verdad este tiempo de gracia; y lo hago inspirándome en una expresión de Jesús en el Evangelio de Mateo: «Al crecer la maldad, se enfriará el amor en la mayoría» (24,12). Esta frase se encuentra en el discurso que habla del fin de los tiempos y que está ambientado en Jerusalén, en el Monte de los Olivos, precisamente allí donde tendrá comienzo la pasión del Señor. Jesús, respondiendo a una pregunta de sus discípulos, anuncia una gran tribulación y describe la situación en la que podría encontrarse la comunidad de los fieles: frente a aconteci-mientos dolorosos, algunos falsos profetas engañarán a mucha gente hasta amenazar con apagar la caridad en los corazones, que es el centro de todo el Evangelio.

Los falsos profetas Escuchemos este pasaje y preguntémonos: ¿qué formas asumen los falsos profetas? Son como «encantadores de serpientes», o sea, se apro-vechan de las emociones humanas para esclavizar a las personas y llevarlas adonde ellos quieren. Cuántos hijos de Dios se dejan fascinar por las lisonjas de un placer momentáneo, al que se le confunde con la felicidad. Cuántos hombres y mujeres viven como encantados por la ilusión del dinero, que los hace en realidad esclavos del lucro o de intereses mezquinos. Cuántos viven pen-sando que se bastan a sí mismos y caen presa de la soledad. Otros falsos profetas son esos «charlatanes» que ofrecen soluciones sencillas e inmediatas para los sufrimientos, remedios que sin embargo resultan ser completamente inútiles: cuántos son los jóvenes a los que se les ofrece el falso remedio de la droga, de unas relaciones de «usar y tirar», de ganancias fáciles pero deshonestas. Cuántos se dejan cautivar por una vida completa-mente virtual, en que las relaciones parecen más sencillas y rápi-das pero que después resultan dramáticamente sin sentido. Estos estafadores no sólo ofrecen cosas sin valor sino que quitan lo más valioso, como la dignidad, la libertad y la capacidad de amar. Es el engaño de la vanidad, que nos lleva a pavonear-nos… haciéndonos caer en el ridículo; y el ridículo no tiene vuel-ta atrás.

No es una sorpresa: desde siempre el demonio, que es «mentiroso y padre de la mentira» (Jn 8,44), presenta el mal como bien y lo falso como verdadero, para confundir el corazón del hombre. Cada uno de nosotros, por tanto, está llamado a discernir y a examinar en su corazón si se siente amenazado por las mentiras de estos falsos profetas. Tenemos que aprender a no quedarnos en un nivel inmediato, superficial, sino a reconocer qué cosas son las que dejan en nuestro interior una huella buena y más duradera, porque vienen de Dios y ciertamente sirven para nuestro bien.

Un corazón frío Dante Alighieri, en su descripción del infierno, se imagina

al diablo sentado en un trono de hielo; su morada es el hielo del amor extinguido. Preguntémonos entonces: ¿cómo se...

18 de Febrero de 2018 Primer Domingo de Cuaresma

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower

More than anything else, what destroys charity is greed for money, “the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10). The rejection of God and his peace soon follows; we prefer our own desolation rather than the comfort found in his word and the sacraments. All this leads to violence against anyone we think is a threat to our own “certainties”: the unborn child, the elderly and infirm, the migrant, the alien among us, or our neighbor who does not live up to our expectations.

Creation itself becomes a silent witness to this cooling of charity. The earth is poisoned by refuse, discarded out of care-lessness or for self-interest. The seas, themselves polluted, engulf the remains of countless shipwrecked victims of forced migration. The heavens, which in God’s plan, were created to sing his prais-es, are rent by engines raining down implements of death.

Love can also grow cold in our own communities. In the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, I sought to describe the most evident signs of this lack of love: selfishness and spiritual sloth, sterile pessimism, the temptation to self-absorption, constant warring among ourselves, and the worldly mentality that makes us concerned only for appearances, and thus lessens our mission-ary zeal.

What are we to do? Perhaps we see, deep within ourselves and all about us, the signs I have just described. But the Church, our Mother and Teacher, along with the often bitter medicine of the truth, offers us in the Lenten season the soothing remedy of prayer, almsgiv-ing and fasting.

By devoting more time to prayer, we enable our hearts to root out our secret lies and forms of self-deception, and then to find the consolation God offers. He is our Father and he wants us to live life well.

Almsgiving sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbor as a brother or sister. What I possess is never mine alone.

How I would like almsgiving to become a genuine style of life for each of us! How I would like us, as Christians, to follow the example of the Apostles and see in the sharing of our possessions a tangible witness of the communion that is ours in the Church! For this reason, I echo Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians to take up a collection for the community of Jerusalem as something from which they themselves would benefit (cf. 2 Cor 8:10). This is all the more fitting during the Lenten season, when many groups take up collections to assist Churches and peoples in need. Yet I would also hope that, even in our daily encounters with those who beg for our assistance, we would see such requests as coming

from God himself. When we give alms, we share in God’s provi-dential care for each of his children. If through me God helps someone today, will he not tomorrow provide for my own needs? For no one is more generous than God.

Fasting weakens our tendency to violence; it disarms us and becomes an important opportunity for growth. On the one hand, it allows us to experience what the destitute and the starv-ing have to endure. On the other hand, it expresses our own spir-itual hunger and thirst for life in God. Fasting wakes us up. It makes us more attentive to God and our neighbor. It revives our desire to obey God, who alone is capable of satisfying our hun-ger.

enfría en nosotros la caridad? ¿Cuáles son las señales que nos indican que el amor corre el riesgo de apagarse en nosotros? Lo que apaga la caridad es ante todo la avidez por el dinero, «raíz de todos los males» (1 Tm 6,10); a esta le sigue el rechazo de Dios y, por tanto, el no querer buscar consuelo en él, prefiriendo quedarnos con nuestra desolación antes que sentirnos confortados por su Palabra y sus Sacramentos. Todo esto se transforma en violencia que se dirige contra aquellos que consi-deramos una amenaza para nuestras «certezas»: el niño por nacer, el anciano enfermo, el huésped de paso, el extranjero, así como el prójimo que no corresponde a nuestras expectativas. También la creación es un testigo silencioso de este en-friamiento de la caridad: la tierra está envenenada a causa de los desechos arrojados por negligencia e interés; los mares, tam-bién contaminados, tienen que recubrir por desgracia los restos de tantos náufragos de las migraciones forzadas; los cielos —que en el designio de Dios cantan su gloria— se ven surcados por máquinas que hacen llover instrumentos de muerte. El amor se enfría también en nuestras comunidades: en la Exhortación apostólica Evangelii Gaudium traté de describir las señales más evidentes de esta falta de amor. estas son: la ace-dia egoísta, el pesimismo estéril, la tentación de aislarse y de entablar continuas guerras fratricidas, la mentalidad mundana que induce a ocuparse sólo de lo aparente, disminuyendo de este modo el entusiasmo misionero.

¿Qué podemos hacer? Si vemos dentro de nosotros y a nuestro alrededor los signos que antes he descrito, la Iglesia, nuestra madre y maestra, además de la medicina a veces amarga de la verdad, nos ofre-ce en este tiempo de Cuaresma el dulce remedio de la oración, la limosna y el ayuno. El hecho de dedicar más tiempo a la oración hace que nuestro corazón descubra las mentiras secretas con las cuales nos engañamos a nosotros mismos, para buscar finalmente el consue-lo en Dios. Él es nuestro Padre y desea para nosotros la vida. El ejercicio de la limosna nos libera de la avidez y nos ayuda a descubrir que el otro es mi hermano: nunca lo que tengo es sólo mío. Cuánto desearía que la limosna se convirtiera para todos en un auténtico estilo de vida. Al igual que, como cristianos, me gustaría que siguiésemos el ejemplo de los Apóstoles y viése-mos en la posibilidad de compartir nuestros bienes con los demás un testimonio concreto de la comunión que vivimos en la Iglesia. A este propósito hago mía la exhortación de san Pablo, cuando invitaba a los corintios a participar en la colecta para la comuni-dad de Jerusalén: «Os conviene» (2 Co 8,10). Esto vale espe-cialmente en Cuaresma, un tiempo en el que muchos organismos realizan colectas en favor de iglesias y poblaciones que pasan por dificultades. Y cuánto querría que también en nuestras rela-

ciones cotidianas, ante cada hermano que nos pide ayuda, pen-sáramos que se trata de una llamada de la divina Providencia: cada limosna es una ocasión para participar en la Providencia de Dios hacia sus hijos; y si él hoy se sirve de mí para ayudar a un hermano, ¿no va a proveer también mañana a mis necesida-des, él, que no se deja ganar por nadie en generosidad? El ayuno, por último, debilita nuestra violencia, nos desar-ma, y constituye una importante ocasión para crecer. Por una parte, nos permite experimentar lo que sienten aquellos que ca-recen de lo indispensable y conocen el aguijón del hambre; por otra, expresa la condición de nuestro espíritu, hambriento de bondad y sediento de la vida de Dios.

“If, at times, the flame of chari-ty seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew.” With these words at the end of his Message for Lent, the Pope

exhorts us to participate in the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, which invites us to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation in the context of Eucharistic adoration. This year, it will be held on Friday and Saturday. March 9-10, and will be inspired by the words of the Psalm 130:4 “With you is forgiveness.” “In each diocese,” Pope Francis declared, “at least one church will remain open for twenty-four consecutive hours, offering an opportunity for both Eucharistic adoration and sacramental confession.”

Little Flower Basilica Mar. 9–10

24 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions

I would also like my invitation to extend beyond the bounds of the Catholic Church, and to reach all of you, men and women of good will, who are open to hearing God’s voice. Per-haps, like ourselves, you are disturbed by the spread of iniquity in the world, you are concerned about the chill that paralyzes hearts and actions, and you see a weakening in our sense of be-ing members of the one human family. Join us, then, in raising our plea to God, in fasting, and in offering whatever you can to our brothers and sisters in need!

The fire of Easter Above all, I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fast-ing and prayer. If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew.

One such moment of grace will be, again this year, the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, which invites the entire Church community to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation in the context of Eucharistic adoration. In 2018, inspired by the words of Ps 130:4, “With you is forgiveness”, this will take place from Friday, Mar. 9 to Saturday, Mar 10. In each diocese, at least one church will remain open for 24 consecutive hours, offering an op-portunity for both Eucharistic adoration and sacramental confes-sion.

During the Easter Vigil, we will celebrate once more the moving rite of the lighting of the Easter candle. Drawn from the “new fire”, this light will slowly overcome the darkness and illumi-nate the liturgical assembly. “May the light of Christ rising in glo-ry dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds” and enable all of us to relive the experience of the disciples on the way to Emmaus. By listening to God’s word and drawing nourishment from the table of the Eucharist, may our hearts be ever more ardent in faith, hope and love.

With affection and the promise of my prayers for all of you, I send you my blessing. Please do not forget to pray for me. From the Vatican, Nov. 1, 2017 Solemnity of All Saints Francis

El ayuno nos despierta, nos hace estar más atentos a Dios y al prójimo inflama nuestra voluntad de obedecer a Dios, que es el único que sacia nuestra hambre. Querría que mi voz traspasara las fronteras de la Iglesia Católica, para que llegara a todos ustedes, hombres y mujeres de buena voluntad, dispuestos a escuchar a Dios. Si se sienten afligidos como nosotros, porque en el mundo se extiende la iniquidad, si les preocupa la frialdad que paraliza el corazón y las obras, si ven que se debilita el sentido de una misma humani-dad, únanse a nosotros para invocar juntos a Dios, para ayunar juntos y entregar juntos lo que podamos como ayuda para nues-tros hermanos.

El fuego de la Pascua Invito especialmente a los miembros de la Iglesia a em-prender con celo el camino de la Cuaresma, sostenidos por la limosna, el ayuno y la oración. Si en muchos corazones a veces da la impresión de que la caridad se ha apagado, en el corazón de Dios no se apaga. Él siempre nos da una nueva oportunidad para que podamos empezar a amar de nuevo. Una ocasión propicia será la iniciativa «24 horas para el Señor», que este año nos invita nuevamente a celebrar el Sacra-mento de la Reconciliación en un contexto de adoración eucarísti-ca. En el 2018 tendrá lugar el viernes 9 y el sábado 10 de mar-zo, inspirándose en las palabras del Salmo 130,4: «De ti proce-de el perdón». En cada diócesis, al menos una iglesia permane-cerá abierta durante 24 horas seguidas, para permitir la oración de adoración y la confesión sacramental. En la noche de Pascua reviviremos el sugestivo rito de encender el cirio pascual: la luz que proviene del «fuego nuevo» poco a poco disipará la oscuridad e iluminará la asamblea litúr-gica. «Que la luz de Cristo, resucitado y glorioso, disipe las tinie-blas de nuestro corazón y de nuestro espíritu», para que todos podamos vivir la misma experiencia de los discípulos de Emaús: después de escuchar la Palabra del Señor y de alimentarnos con el Pan eucarístico nuestro corazón volverá a arder de fe, espe-ranza y caridad. Los bendigo de todo corazón y rezo por ustedes. No se olviden de rezar por mí. Vaticano, 1 de noviembre de 2017 Solemnidad de Todos los Santos Francisco

February 18, 2018 First Sunday of Lent

2nd Annual Paella Plate

Lent Fundraiser Spanish Sea Food Dish

by our Pastor: Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte

Friday, Mar. 23, 2 pm-5 pm Little Flower School Cafeteria

Pre-sale Tickets ONLY

Available on

Friday, Feb. 23 at the Parish Office

Donation $12 per plate.

LENT 2018 WHY 40 DAYS

On the first Sunday of Lent, in first reading, we hear about God's covenant with Noah, and in the Gospel, we hear about Jesus's journey into the de-sert. Both the universal flood in the story of Noah and Jesus's journey into the desert lasted 40 days. These are just two examples of the biblical roots that explain why Lent lasts for 40 days. Other references to 40 days in Scripture include: - the number of days spent by Israel in the desert - the number of days spent by Moses on Mount Sinai - the number of days spent by the prophet Elijah in the de-sert before going to encounter God on Mount Herob - the number of days of penance of the inhabitants of Nine-veh.

PRAYER, FASTING AND ALMSGIVING During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture, to service by giving alms, and to sacrifice self-control through fasting. Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fri-days during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Con-template the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradi-tion in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).

FASTING AND ABSTINENCE Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days Of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays dur-

ing Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permit-ted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS Every Friday of Lent at 6:30 pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Tuesdays: 6:30 pm–7:30 pm

Saturdays: 4 pm–5 pm & 7 pm–8 pm

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel & St. Thérèse

Photo from the 1931 dedication of the statue of St. Therese that stands atop the smaller, 72-foot tower of the Basilica facing down-town San Antonio. The 1,000-pound statue was cast in bronze in Italy. It was designed by San Antonio craftsman Louis Rodriguez (1893-1984), who carved all the marble in the sanctuary including the altar rail, the Infant Jesus of Prague and Lady of Guadalupe altars (in the 1940s) and etched the hundreds of names of donors on the name tiles covering the walls of the Shrine.

Join our Team for the Basilica Renovations Are you interested in taking a leadership or helping role in the capital campaign to raise the funds to renovate the Basilica? Are you inspired by the thought of helping to plan, organize, and implement this major campaign? Do you have ideas about who else we could get on board that could help drive this effort or thoughts on how we can

reach major donors and the greatest numbers of donors? Do you have connections with folks who could also help lead and contribute? We need your help in Identifying and engaging leaders and team members for the campaign.

We are looking for volunteer leadership and others interested in contributing their wisdom, influence and wealth from among our parish community and beyond, to join forces with us for this exciting project. If you are interested in being included on our committees, please email Anna Migeon at amigeon@littleflowerbasilica.org.

ALTAR SERVERS NEEDED Serving is a privilege. We invite your sons that have re-ceived their First Communion to serve at the Altar of the Lord. Please see the priest after Mass or con-tact the Parish Office for more infor-mation at (210) 735-9126 ext. 116.

NECESITAMOS MONAGUILLOS Servir es un privilegio. Invitamos a jóve-nes que hayan recibido su Primera Co-munión para servir el Altar del Señor. Para mas información con el Padre des-pués de la Misa o llamar a la Oficina Parroquial al (210) 735-9126 ext. 116.

ANNUAL BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER Members of the Brown Scapular are having the annual breakfast fundraiser on March 4, in the school cafeteria from 8 am–1pm. The menu will consist of menudo, a variety of tacos, coffee, sodas, juice and baked goods. We appre-ciate your support, thank you very much!

Miembras de la Cofradía de la Virgen del Carmen tendrá su venta anual de tacos y menudo. Sera el 4 de marzo de las 8 am–1pm en la cafetería de la escuela. Se les pide su apoyo por favor.

VESTIDO ROJO Feb. 24, 8 am-1 pm at San Antonio Event Center 8111 Meadow Leaf, 78227. The Vestido Rojo conference is held in conjunction with Go Red Por Tu Corazón, the America Heart Association’s

nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion and power of Hispanic women to band together and wipe out heart disease.

Join us for this FREE event just for women: - Blood Pressure Checks - Heart healthy cooking/ nutrition workshop - Physical activity workshop, and more! For more information and to register call Mary Helen Valle-jo at (210) 262-6942.

PARADE TICKETS Dear Little Flower friends, this year our parade tickets will be sold by our Little Flower School as a fundraiser. Tickets will be available on Saturday, Feb. 17 , 8 am–12 pm at the Parish Hall. The school is the only place where we will be selling the Little Flower parade tick-ets. Contact (210) 732-9207 for more information.

LITTLE FLOWER GIFT SHOP 20% off all items, excluding books and candles. Shop Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 am-4 pm; Sat. 10 am-3 pm; Sun. 9 am-3 pm. Phone: (210) 736-3889

RCIA/RICA Last Sunday, Feb. 11, Little Flower Parish celebrated the Rite of Sending of Catechumens and Candidates.

Our parish community acknowledged the spiritual progress the catechumens and candidates have made, expressed approval of their election or recognition, and sent them forth to Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, on Saturday, Feb. 17, with the assurance of the parish's care and support.

In this process of formation we have 15 children and six adults who will receive all three sacraments of Initiation and seven adults completing the sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation and Holy Eucharist). Please continue to keep them all in your prayers!

Thank you, Gloria Acosta, Maria Luisa Villalon, Eloise S. Moran

ALTAR SOCIETY NEWS A Loteria! Come join the fun as the Altar Society hosts this Spring fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 18, 3-5 pm at the Parish Hall, 907 Kentucky Ave. Donation is $10 for 20 games. Refreshments available and prizes awarded!

Our regular business meeting is planned for Sunday, Feb. 25 at 9 am at the Parish Administration Center, 824 Ken-tucky Ave. New members are always welcome!

To be a visible sign of our service and commitment to the Parish, members are encouraged to attend Holy Hour on Thursday, Feb. 22, 6-7 pm and Holy Mass on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 5:30 pm. Thank you and God bless you, Annette Vallejo, President Delores Cox, Vice-President

ANNULMENT SEEKERS WORKSHOP When: Mar. 7, 6:30 pm-9 pm Where: St. Matthew Catholic Church This FREE workshop is for people who wish to explore be-ginning the annulment process. What we will cover: - Marriage/Divorce: what is my status as a divorced person in the Church? - What are the effects of an "annulment" on children, my marriage, etc.? - Do I need an "annulment?" - The "Annulment" Process - Forms

The Tribunal staff will have the forms available to begin the process and will be on-hand to answer any individual ques-tions as well. Light refreshments will be provided.

You do NOT have to be a parishioner of St. Matthew's to attend this workshop. Visit https://www.archsa.org/tribunal/en/training for more information.

February 18, 2018 18 de Febrero de 2018

Second Collection:

For the Catholic Missions among Black & Native Americans

Feb. 25: For the Catholic Missions among Black & Native Americans

Weekly Collection Feb. 11, 2018

First Collection: $ 5,342.88 Church Maintenance Fund: $ 1,550.65 Online Giving: $ 838.00 Candles: $ 122.40 Other: $ 196.00

Total $ 8,049.93 Total online givers: 91

Thank you for your support!

Lord, hear our prayers… The following friends and members of the

Parish need your prayers. Please add these names to your prayer list. Contact the Parish Office 735-9126 x 116 to

have names added to the prayer list.

Lectors/ Commentators SATURDAY, FEB. 24 5:30 pm Rosemary Saucedo, Yvonne Gunderman/ Ann Guajardo SUNDAY, FEB. 25 8 am Luis Rodriguez, Anna Peterson/ Dolores Cox 10 am (S) Martha Martinez, Ma. Teresa Casas/ Lucy Torres 12 pm Gerard Migeon, Dolores Noriega/ Francis Muzquiz 2 pm Children’s Mass/ Douglas Dionne 6 pm (S) Maria Medina, Maria Rojas/ Anita Parral

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion SATURDAY, FEB. 24 5:30 pm Brenda Villarreal, Sylvia Montoya SUNDAY, FEB. 25 8 am Santos Ipina, Rick Brooks 10 am (S) Gloria Acosta, Alma Rosa Reyes, Mary Berumen

12 pm Annie Cadena, Richard Cantu, Lucy Cantu 2 pm Cynthia Reyes, Michelle Diaz, Marlowe Romero 6 pm (S) Hortencia Ortega

MASS INTENTIONS

SUNDAY, FEB. 18, FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 8 am For Our Parishioners 10 am Confradia del Escapulario de la Virgen del Carmen 12 pm Little Flower Mass Association 2 pm Louis, Joseph & Gabriel Solano 6 pm For the Living & Deceased Members of the Secular Order

MONDAY, FEB. 19, LENTEN WEEKDAY [1] 12 pm + George & + Thelma Menne & Family 6 pm + Jose Angel & + Ignacio Valdez

TUESDAY, FEB. 20, LENTEN WEEKDAY [1] 12 pm + George & + Thelma Menne & Family 6 pm + George & + Thelma Menne & Family

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21, LENTEN WEEKDAY [1] 12 pm Juan Belmonte: Happy Birthday! 6 pm Anna T. Guerrero

THURSDAY, FEB. 22, THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER THE APOSTLE

12 pm + George & + Thelma Menne & Family 6 pm Maggie Kanakri, OCDS

FRIDAY, FEB. 23, LENTEN WEEKDAY [1] 12 pm + Jose Angel & + Ignacio Valdez 6 pm + Luis Belmonte, Sr.

SATURDAY, FEB. 24 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY/ SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT [VIGIL] 8 am + Carlos Guerra

5:30 pm Darcy Richardson: For Health

Dora Castro, Rosa Maria Garcia, Louis De Luna, Sylvia Gutierrez, Candy Reyna, Henry Posos, Christine Hammes, Mary Giles, CDS, Hector Vallejo, Imelda Tamez, Jenessa Cruz & Family, Ana Zavala, Mateo & Annie Casillas, Esteban Velazquez, Jane Bernal, OCDS, Dorothy Vasquez, Anna Maria Martinez, Deacon James Garza, Julie Vasquez, The Ramirez Family, Clara Ondarza, Arturo Rodri-

guez, Mary Curiel, Richard Jesse Ortegon, Rodolfo Ruiz, Alice Forehand, Carroll & Alicia Hendrix, Fernando Martinez Sr., Kay Shaw, Gloria Shaw, Manuela Hernandez, Kenneth Narendorf, Michael Narendorf, Homer & Maria Idalia Gaytan, Zachary Cas-arez, Soledad Contreras, James E. Gillette, Gim & Elizabeth Ng, Hermelinda & Raymond Guadiano, Leticia Guadiano, Sue Ruiz, Evangelina Gamboa, George Zentella, Jr., Lucy Phalen, Kim Nest-er-Atiee, Anne Marie, OCD, Sr. Teresa, OCD, Mary Bustos, Richard Joseph Corbett, Cielo Salinas Sanchez, Deborah Vara, Maria Gamez, Rosamaria Garcia, Michelle Guillen, Nadia Guillen, Re-nato, Pat Gallaher, Patrick Goldbach, Renato dePiccoli, Austin Atiee, Miguel Silva Castillo, Michael Daratt, Virginia Casas, Homer & Annie Cadena, Janie Quintero, Noe Casas, Joab Casas, James Ramos, Julia Posos, Bruce Miller, Carlos Garcia & Family, Antonio Zepeda, Sr. Stephanie Morales, Belle, Henrietta Vara, Nancy & Felix Hernandez, Ronnie, Isaac Perez, Mary Solis, Victor Hernan-dez, Mary Perez, Janet, Chuck, Joann & Family, Jovanni, Rosa, Jeffrey Hernandez, Maria T. Casas, Richard Tietz, Ellen Spengler, Elisa Casanova, Rosa Maria Castilla, Darcy Richardson, Aiden

Keller & Family, Darcy Richardson, Carlos Ortiz, Jr., Betty Kelley, James Pina, Linda Felan, Sylvia Tovar, Rosa Garcia, Dora Castro, Juan Pablo Valle, Roger & Larissa Acosta, Belen & John Olguin, Fr. Cris Janson's family, the Valague Family, Joseph Nguyen, Rosa Maria Garcia, Dora Castro, Nancy Hernandez, Felix Hernandez, Ida Hernandez, Hector Hernandez, Mary Solis, Ronnie Hernandez, Isaac Perez, Melanie Hernandez, Miranda Hernandez, Jeffrey Hernandez, Rosie Cisneros, Rosa Cisneros, Mary Cisneros, Laura Smith, Evangelina Arismendez, Michaela Gonzalez, Esperanza Sonnen, Carolina Casas, Jose Casas, Christopher Casas, Seth Ramirez, Angela Gonzales, Maria Luisa Barreiero, Jose Angel Alfaro, Jr., Rosa Garcia, Evangelina Arismendez, George Abrego, Amber Hernandez, Rudy Monita, Ibeth Muza, Edward Gonzales, Elizabeth Robalin, Mauro C. Martinez, Diana & Marcos Serda, Sandra Hage, Ellen Garcia, Consuelo Salazar, Mrs. Lupe Elizondo, Phillip Campos, Jamie Guerrero, Annette Scott

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Our Lady of Mt. Carmel & St. Thérèse