W ! P , F V BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH

DIOCESE OF LAREDO 2219 Galveston St., Laredo, TX 78043‐3002 • Phone: (956) 722‐1231 • FAX: (956) 722‐2823

Website: www.blessedsacramentlaredo.org Bulle n announcements e‐mail: bulle n@blessedsacramentlaredo.org 

Reverend Fr. Wojciech Przystasz, Administrator Deacon Roger Mar nez, Jr., Permanent Deacon Reverend Msgr. Stanley A. Sliwiak, Ph.D., Re red Deacon Dennis R. Garza, Permanent Deacon

PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M to 12:00 N.N.

and 1:00 P.M.- 5:00 P.M.

SUNDAY MASSES

Saturday: 6:00 P.M. Sunday: 8:00 A.M. (Español) 10:00 A.M. 12:00 N.N. 5:00 P.M.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Parents MUST be registered parishioners (considered registered parishioners if have actively been attending Sunday Masses prior to baptism). Baptisms are administered on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Baptismal instruction is offered on the preceding Thursday.

PARISH STAFF Mrs. Josie R. Arellano, Bookkeeper

Ms. Gloria B. Sandoval, Parish Secretary Mrs. Consuelo M. Perez, Bulletin Editor

Mr. Manuel Ponce, Director of Music

DAILY MASS Mon., Tue., Thu. and Fri. 7:00 A.M. Wednesday 7:00 A.M. & 6:00 P.M.

FIRST FRIDAY: 5:30 P.M. FIRST SATURDAY ONLY: 9:00 A.M.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY

Couples should inquire about premarital prepa-ration and available church dates at least six (6) months prior to planned wedding date. Do not make any arrangements before contact-ing the parish office.

BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL Mrs. Selma J. Santos, Principal

1501 North Bartlett Avenue Laredo, TX 78043

Phone: (956) 722-1222 Fax: (956) 712-2002

NOVENA TO

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP Wednesday after the 6:00 P.M. Mass.

ADORATION OFTHE BLESSED SACRAMENT First Friday 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

Third Thursday of each month 7:00 A.M . - 6:00 P.M.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday, 4:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.

Wednesdays, 30 min. before the evening Mass OR

by appointment (Please call the Parish Office)

ACTS CORE Blas A. Martinez 722-1231 ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Miss Hope Gonzalez 722-1231 ALTAR SERVERS (Training on Saturday mornings at 9:30AM in the church) Miss Suzie Schafer 722-1231 ALTAR SOCIETY (Meet 2nd Monday at 3:30PM in the parish hall) Mrs. Rosie Cavazos, President 722-1231 ADULT & CHILDREN’S CHOIR Mr. Manuel Ponce 722-1231 CUBMASTER FOR PACK 192 Mr. George Valdez 645-0675 COMMUNION FOR HOMEBOUND Call the Parish Office 722-1231 EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION Mr. David Treviño, Scheduling 712-6294 GIRL SCOUT TROOP 9150 Mrs. Naomi C. Arredondo 236-8672 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #10939 (Meet 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 P.M.) G.K. Mr. Blas A. Martinez (956) 744-0867

FOURTH DEGREE K.C. ASSEMBLY (Meet 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:30 P.M. in the parish hall) Mr. Javier Martinez (956) 251-3720 LECTORS Mr. David Treviño, Scheduling 712-6294 PARISH COUNCIL Mr. George P. Kazen, President MEN’S FAITH SHARING Meet every Mon. at 7:00PM in the p. h. LADIES’ FAITH SHARING Meet every 1st & 3rd Tue. at 6:30PM in the p. h. QUINCEAÑERA COORDINATOR Mrs. Patsy Salinas 722-1231 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (CCD) Mrs. Maria Teresa Hinojosa, Coordinator 286-2842 ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY Miss Yolanda Valdez 722-1231 YOUTH GROUP “LIFE IN CHRIST” (Meet every Wed. @ 7PM in the P.H.) Mr. & Mrs. Felipe & Lali Martinez 722-1231 YOUTH LECTORS Deacon Dennis R. Garza 722-1231

Saturday, February 17, 2018 - Saturday after Ash Wednesday 6:00PM †Pedro H. Villarreal (A) By Daughters Sunday, February 18, 2018 – FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT 8:00AM For Parishioners 10:00AM †Francisco Ramirez (B) By Perez Hinojosa Fam. †Francisca Morales By Narcissa Valdez †Pascuala Morales By Narcissa Valdez †Mr. & Mrs. Carlos V. Cruz By Family †Manuel G. Escamilla By Manuel G. Escamilla, Jr. 12:00PM †Beatriz Perez (B) By Alicia Garcia & Fam. 5:00PM †Isabel Alvarez Del Castillo Ramon By Luis Ramon Monday, February 19, 2018 - Lenten Weekday [1] 7:00AM †Dr. Sigifredo Perez By Wife & Family Tuesday, February 20, 2018 - Lenten Weekday [1] 7:00AM †Caridad Ajero (A) By Family Wednesday, February 21, 2018 - Lenten Weekday [1]; St. Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 7:00AM All The Souls in Purgatory By E. C. Juarez 6:00PM †Arturo Gutierrez (A) By Patsy & Melissa Gutierrez & Gutierrez Family †Arturo & Tana Martinez (A) By Gonzalez & Donovan Families †Salvador T. Garcia (A) By Amparo A. Garcia & Fam. †Dinorah E. Fuentes (A) By Mother & Family †Maria Iliana Sanchez By Sanchez Family Thursday, February 22, 2018 – The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle 7:00AM †Olivia Cavazos By M. T. Garza Friday, February 23, 2018 - Lenten Weekday [1]; St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr; ABSTINENCE 7:00AM †Mrs. Assunta Lanese By Lanese Family 9:00AM †Alfonso Vasquez, Jr. By Adriana & Hector Vasquez 5:30PM In Thanksgiving By Rolando & Consuelo Perez Saturday, February 24, 2018 - Lenten Weekday [1] 6:00PM †Lucila “Chila” Treviño (A) By Family Sunday, February 25, 2018 – SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT 8:00AM †Jose Julio Cuellar (B) By Martha Cuellar Segovia & Andres F. Segovia 10:00AM For Parishioners 12:00PM †E. James Kazen (A) By George P. Kazen & Fam. †Eva Cecilia Flores By Family †Josefina C. Walker By Maria Teresa P. Hinojosa †Maria Iliana Sanchez By Sanchez Family †Ramiro C. Martinez By Sylvia Bird 5:00PM †Manuel Arredondo (B) By Family

Our Mother of Perpetual Help Candles

will be burning this week in Loving Memory of: Lucila “Chila” Treviño

Mass Intentions for the Week

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

FOR LENT 2018 (excerpts) “Because of the increase of evildoing, 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 enables 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 expe-rience this time of grace anew, with joy and in truth. I will take my cue from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: “Because of the increase of evildo-ing, 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. [..] False prophets They can appear as “snake charmers”, who manipulate human emotions in order to enslave others and lead them where they would have them go. […] False prophets can also be “charlatans”, who offer easy and immediate solu-tions to suffering that soon prove utterly useless. 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” exist-ence, 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. […] What are we to do? […] 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, almsgiving 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 of-fers. 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 alms-giving to become a genuine style of life for each of us! […] 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 starving have to endure. On the other hand, it ex-presses our own spiritual 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 hunger. […] The fire of Easter Above all, I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer. […] 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 sacra-ment of Reconciliation in the context of Eucharistic adoration. In 2018, inspired by the words of Psalm 130:4, “With you is forgiveness”, this will take place from Friday, 9 March to Saturday, 10 March. In each diocese, at least one church will remain open for twenty-four consecutive hours, offering an oppor-tunity for both Eucharistic adoration and sacramental confession. 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 illuminate the liturgical assembly. “May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds”,[…] and enable all of us to relive the experience of the disciples on the way to Em-maus. 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. Francis

First Sunday of Lent ● February 18, 2018 Your ways, O L , make known to me; teach me your paths.

— Psalm 25:4

Our Lady of Guadalupe Candles

will be burning this week in Loving Memory of: Amalia Martinez

The Sanctuary Lamp will be burning this week

in Loving Memory of: Pedro Requejo

BIRTHDAY WISHES . . . and God’s many blessings to all those celebrating a birthday or anniversary this week.

Alyson Morales 18-Feb Beverly Nicole Martinez 19-Feb Ilsalinda P. Barreda 19-Feb Austin Hill 20-Feb Manuel Ponce 21-Feb Alonzo Martinez, III 22-Feb

Christopher Craddock 23-Feb Jacqueline Marin Perez 23-Feb Elizabeth Rodriguez 23-Feb Efrain Valle 23-Feb Connie Guerra 24-Feb Laura G. Jacaman 24-Feb

Collection for the Weekend of: February 10 & 11, 2018 Envelopes $7,317.52 Loose 1,173.61 School 194.85

CCD 91.52 TOTAL $8,777.50

Thank you for your continued support & generosity!

Teodoro Aguero, Sr. Lupita Benavides Magdalena Benavides Berry Family Amelia Y. Cantu Pedro Cantu, Jr. Wayo Cavazos Alicia M. Charles Pamela M. Cortez Patsy Dees Lillian Dickinson William Dickinson

Manuel E. Escamilla Christian Flores Adolfo Garcia Elida Garcia Florencio “Wayne” Garcia Gilberto Garcia Ma. Dalia Garcia Lydia Garza Jesus Gonzalez Maria Yolanda Gonzalez Reagan Goodman Megan Gribble Yvonne Gribble Baby Emiliano Ibarra Anthony Leija, Jr. Gilberto Maldonado

Nora McCain Maria Przystasz Baby Gabriel E. Rodriguez Laura V. Rodriguez Victoria Rodriguez Maria R. Santa Cruz Eduardo Alfonso Santos Baby Jose Alberto Serna Jim Switzer Adriana Valdéz Ana Laura Valdéz Francisco H. Valdéz Luz Maria Valdéz Marcelo Villescas Raymond S. York Zulie York

P ray For. . .

Lenten Season Here At Blessed Sacrament . . . . . . Stations of the Cross Vía Crucis

You are invited to join us every Friday during LENT for the “Stations of the Cross” after the 5:30 p.m. Mass.

. . . 2018 Catholic Relief Services Operation Rice Bowl Every Friday during Lent, donations will be accepted in exchange for a simple meal of ONLY rice, beans, cornbread and capirotada for dessert that will be served in the Parish Hall from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. “Thank you” on behalf of the Altar Society, hosts for the first Friday Lenten meal. The proceeds of these donations will be used to help victims of famine, war and natural disaster around the world. Date Hosted By Feb. 23 Adult Choir Mar. 02 Parish Staff/School Staff Mar. 09 Ladies’/Men’s Faith Sharing (ACTS) Mar. 16 Altar Servers Mar. 23 Knights of Columbus

SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND FEBRUARY 17 & 18, 2018 BLACK & INDIAN MISSIONS

SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND FEBRUARY 24 & 25, 2018 BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL

We thank you for your continued support & generosity!

Altar Servers “Bake Sale” A Great Success Dear Parishioners,

T hank you for your overwhelming support of the Altar Servers “Bake Sale”. This year we raised over $3,163.00.

An extra special “thank you” to those who gave a monetary donation especially Mrs. Luisa Benavides, Richard Gentry, Javier Moctezuma, Alicia Sanchez & Gloria Tellez. In addition Memo Lopez for the beauti-ful posters and baked goods & Deacon Roger for his generous donation of 3 beautiful flan cakes. God bless all of you for your prayerful and generous support of the Altar Servers.

Suzie Schafer and all Altar Servers & Parents

Diocese of Laredo 2018 Catholic Sharing Appeal

The annual diocesan Catholic Sharing Appeal will be conducted in our parish next weekend. Each year, our bishop asks each one of us to make a commitment to support the work of our diocesan programs and ministries. By sharing the gifts God has granted us, we can work together as one family, a caring family, to serve the needs of brothers and sisters in seven counties. Please prayerfully consider your family’s pledge in support of this im-portant campaign.

Diócesis de Laredo  Apelación Católica de Compartir 2018 

El próximo fin de semana se realizará la Apelación Católica de Com-partir Diocesana aquí en nuestra parroquia. Cada año, nuestro obispo le pide a cada uno de nosotros para hacer un compromiso para apoyar el trabajo de nuestros programas diocesanos y ministerios. Al compartir los dones que Dios nos ha concedido, podemos trabajar juntos como una familia, para atender las necesidades de hermanos y hermanas en siete condados. Por favor considere la promesa de la familia en apoyo a esta importante campaña.

UPCOMING VOCATION DAYS FOR MEN AGES: 16-35

Saturday, February 24 @10 a.m. Saturday, March 24, @10 a.m.

2302 Corpus Christi St. ● Laredo, TX 78043 Registration: (956) 727-2140

frfquiroz@dioceseoflaredo.org

PALABRA DE VIDA: FEBRERO DE 2018 Intercesiones por la Vida 18 de febrero : Primer Domingo de Cuaresma

En este tiempo de Cuaresma, para que Dios nos muestre el camino del respeto compasivo por toda vida humana; roguemos al Señor

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MILESTONE IN YOUR CATHOLIC MARRIAGE!

We congratulate all of the couples from our parish who celebrat-ed their 25th or 50th Catholic Wedding Anniversary at the special Mass on Saturday, February 10th at the Cathedral. We thank the Lord for the grace and blessings that you have received and may He grant you many more years of happiness together.