Faith Community of M i s s i o n S a n L u i s R e y

Dec. 2014-

Jan. 2015

La Comunidad de San Luis Rey

In the distance I can hear the sound of church bells echoing throughout town. This was our sign to start the short walk down the street to St. Charles for Sunday Mass. At times I can still hear my Grandfather's voice, "Come on, let's get going." It was a short walk that would have a lasting and profound effect on my life.

On our Sunday morning walks to gather with the Apache Catholic community, my grandfather always asked me one question: "How are you doing?" He said it with real concern, and not as a way to make small talk. I shared my struggles and some of the joys I was experiencing in my young chaotic life. He shared his stories of hardships he experienced growing up in a similar situation. No matter what, he always reminded me how much he loved me, and I always knew it, not by his words, but by his concern and care.

This short journey I shared with my grandfather shaped me into the person I am today. It was on this journey I experienced the meaning of God and what God's love is really about. Now I wish to journey with others, as my grandfather journeyed with me, so they too might have an encounter with the love of God.

I recently graduated from Holy Names University with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies and I'm currently studying at the Franciscan School of Theology in Oceanside, California as part of my formation and education in preparation for the priesthood.

Br. Phillip grew up on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona. He is the first American Indian to join the Franciscan friars of the Province of Saint Barbara. The friars have ministered on the San Carlos reservation for over 100 years. This past August he made solemn vows.

OMSLR Retreat Center (760)757-3659 www.sanluisrey.org

OMSLR Cemetery (760)231-8445, ext. 133 www.sanluisrey.org

Franciscan School of Theology (760)547-1800 www.fst.edu

Old Mission Montessori School (760)757-3232 www.omms.org

Franciscan Friars of Old Mission San Luis Rey (760)721-6542 www.sanluisrey.org

Mission San Luis Rey Parish (760)757-3250 www.sanluisreyparish.org

The Six Communities of Mission San Luis Rey

The Faith Story of Br. Phillip Polk, OFM

A Festival of Lessons and Carols The Third Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 21at 2:30 p.m. in the Historic Church.

This festival is a beautiful preparation for Christmas. It will follow the traditional format of scripture readings, alternating with Christmas songs sung both by the choirs and the whole congregation.

Participating choirs will be the choir from St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish, the Parish Shepherd’s Choir, which sings at the 5pm Saturday Mass, and the Parish Children’s Choir.

The first festival of this nature was held in 1880 in Cornwall, but the modern version first began at Kings College in Cambridge in 1918 and has been presented there every year since. The annual presentation from Cambridge is televised each year. Many other Christian churches worldwide adopted this festival and its popularity has grown through the years, especially in the Catholic and Episcopalian denominations.

We cordially invite you to join us in this joyful preparation for Christmas! For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact, David Coe at 760-547-4313

C h r i s t m a s C r e c h e - C h i l d r e n ’ s M a s s This all started, oh, 790 years ago … as in just about eight centuries. But soon, there will be the recreation of that long-ago event, the Christmas Creche. A crèche or manger scene depicts the birth of Jesus in three dimensions with statues or live actors.

A cast of about a dozen Parish Youth will stage a recreation of the original play about 30 minutes prior to the 4pm Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve. The story that the cast will reenact will be that of St. Francis of Assisi who wanted to reenergize the citizens of Grecio, Italy, during celebrations to commemorate the nativity of the infant Jesus.

For the rest of the story, …join us for the presentation on Dec. 24th at 3:30pm in the Serra Center.

Old Mission Montessori School Every school year brings both new and familiar faces to our Old Mission Montessori School. We are excited to welcome families from our Parish community into OMMS, as we continue to grow and flourish as the MSLR Parish School.

September flew by as we formed a new school board, organized our after school volleyball and flag football teams, reintegrated optional art, chess, choir and dance activities and planned for our annual St. Francis Day Celebration.

As a community, we were thrilled to contribute over $1,400 to the Parish Community as money raised from our St. Francis opportunity drawing baskets - the largest amount raised to date!

A first for the OMMS community, was participating in the Dia de los Muertos Celebration on Oct. 26th by building an altar to remember those from our school family who have gone on to the next phase of life.

Our classrooms are preparing for the holidays, and in doing so, each year contribute to one adopted family per class, so that we may brighten the holiday for one of our MSLR families in need. In addition, many of our classrooms elect to support families from nearby Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Each adopted family receives a beautifully decorated box with food supplies for the holiday dinner, gifts for Christmas for each family member and household items.

The holidays will bring many celebrations, and we invite you to join us for our yearly Holiday Music Program in the Serra Center (Dec. 4), our yearly 6th grade performance of “A Christmas Carol” in St. Francis Hall (Dec. 15), or our inaugural “Breakfast with Santa” event in St. Francis Hall after Mass (Dec. 14).

Blessing of the Animals 2014

OMMS Altar for Dia de los Muertos 2014

A Christmas Carol 2013

Upcoming Events:

Catholic Schools Week: Jan. 25 - Jan. 31. School Fair, Service Projects and Family Night Spaghetti Dinner.

Night at the Mission. Friday, May 22nd. Annual tasting event inside the Mission’s private gardens.

Visit www.OMMS.org for updates!

Calendar of Events, Liturgies, Programs & Retreats

Men’s Prayer & Discernment Group. 1st Thurs. of every month from 7-9pm in the Francis Rm, Retreat Center. Men 21+ are welcome to join for Faith Sharing and prayer with fellowship. Info. email Fr. Adrian: fradrian@sanluisreyparish.org

For Parish updates visit www.sanluisreyparish.org

Cooking Classes with Executive Chef, Kaitlin Bandy Dec. 4: Worldwide Christmas Traditions: Dinner. 6:30-9pm

Dec. 11: Worldwide Christmas Traditions: Baking. 6:30-9pm

Thursdays. Retreat Dining Room. 6:30 - 8pm. Fee $40pp. Generous sample of each dish included.

Call (760)757-3659 for more info.

Detailed class descriptions on www.sanluisrey.org

Christmas in the Old Mission Cemetery. Families are invited to decorate their cemetery spaces starting two weeks before Christmas. Decorations stay up until the Feast of the Epiphany. Decorations are not secure, so do not bring any valuable items. Please pick up decorations before January 9th.

Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 , 29. Quiet Monday. Come and remember the sound of silence. Optional Spiritual Direction available with Pat Julian. 9am-4pm. Fee $30, lunch and private room included. Call (760)757-3659 for more info.

Advent Communal Reconciliation Services. Bilingual in Serra Center: Dec. 4 at 7pm; Dec. 6 at10am.

December

Dec. 6. Advent Discipleship: Journeys of Anticipation. With Bill Bischoff. 9am-2:30pm. We will be journeying with Zachariah, Mary & Joseph, the Magi and Elizabeth, the mother of John. Fee: $45; lunch included. Call (760)757-3659 to register.

Dec. 8. Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Holy Day. 7:30am in Parish Chapel; 12pm in Historic Church; 5:30pm Old Mission; 7pm Español in Serra Ctr.

Concert followed by a dessert reception in the Sacred Garden.

Tickets $40 - $60

Purchase tickets online at www.sanluisrey.org or call (760)757-3651, ext. 161

4TH ANNUAL

CHRISTMAS CONCERT FEATURING NEW PERFORMERS!

Friday, December 5th 7 - 8:30pm

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, is celebrated on December 12. This feast, especially beloved by the Mexican People, remembers the apparition of the Blessed Mother at Tepeyac to Juan Diego.

Dec. 9. Feast of San Juan Diego: 7pm Historic Church.

Dec. 10. Mass 7pm Historic Church.

Dec. 11. Misa de Gallo: 9pm Serra Ctr.

Dec. 12. Mañanitas: 5-7am, Serra Ctr; Mass, 7pm Serra Ctr.

OMMS Fun Events! Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 14th, 9am-1:30pm in the St. Francis Hall.

“A Chrismtas Carol” performed by 6th grade in the St. Francis Hall, Dec. 15, 6:30pm.

Mission Kitchen Tamales!

Handmade by our Kitchen team, these tamales are delicious! Order by Dec. 17th; Pick up on Sat. Dec. 20th. Prices: 6 for $9; 24 for $30; 48 for $50. For a list of flavors & to order visit www.sanluisrey.org or call (760)757-3659.

and for Old Mission updates visit www.sanluisrey.org

Calendar of Events, Liturgies, Programs & Retreats

January

Jan. 5, 12, 19. Quiet Monday. Come and remember the sound of silence. Optional Spiritual Direction available with Pat Julian. 9am-4pm. Fee $30, lunch and private room included. Call (760)757-3659 for more info.

Jan. 23-25. Serenity Retreat for all 12-step Folks. With Fr. Tom Weston, SJ. Spend a weekend with women and men in recovery from

alcoholism and addiction. Our retreat is open to all 12-step folks. Alcoholics, addicts, friends and family members are all most welcome to attend! Fees: Commuter $135pp; Shared Occupancy $190pp; Private Room $240pp. Call (760)757-3659 or register online www.sanluisrey.org

Joins us for behind-the-scenes tours on Saturdays and Sundays, 1-2pm. Fees: $12pp; $10pp for students, active military & seniors. For tickets call (760) 757-3651, ext. 115 or visit www.sanluisrey.org

Simbang Gabi. Dec.16-23.

∗ Dec. 16-19, 6:30pm Mass Parish Chapel

∗ Dec. 20 & 21, 5pm Mass Serra Ctr.

∗ Dec. 22 & 23, 6:30pm Parish Chapel

This is a Filipino devotional nine-day series of Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary in anticipation of Christmas. Everyone is welcome; fellowship to follow each Mass.

Posadas. Dec. 16-23.

∗ Dec. 16-19, 6:30pm St. Francis Hall

∗ Dec. 20, 7pm Mass Serra Center

∗ Dec. 21, 7pm Mass Historic Church

∗ Dec. 22 & 23, St. Francis Hall

Celebrated each evening. The posadas re-enact Mary and Joseph’s difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of shelter. Fellowship to follow each event.

Dec. 19. Christmas Concert. Directed by Lupe Rios, 8pm in the Serra Center after Simbang Gabi.

Dec. 21. A Festival of Lessons and Carols in the Historic Church. 2pm in Historic Church; story page 2.

Christmas Liturgies

Dec. 24. Christmas Eve. all in the Serra Center: ∗ Children’s Mass 4pm ∗ Family Mass English 7pm ∗ Family Mass Spanish 9:30pm ∗ Midnight Mass in English

Dec. 25. Christmas Day. ∗ 7am in Historic Church Masses in the Serra Center: ∗ 9am English ∗ 11am bilingual (English/Spanish)

Jan. 1. Mary, Mother of God. Holy Day of Obligation. Mass at 10am in the Serra Center

Dec. 31. New Year’s Evening Celebration. Celebrate a peace-filled New Year’s Eve. Start the New Year with a spiritual gathering, enjoy a home-cooked meal and spend the night if you wish. Private 11pm Mass. Fees: $50 per person; dinner

no lodging. Shared Rm $65pp; Private Rm $80pp; overnight includes continental breakfast. Call (760)757-3659 for info.

Shop for your presents at the Mission Gift Shop!

Our unique inventory constantly changes, you are sure to find the perfect gift. Stop by and select a hand-crafted nativity or ornament. The Mission Gift Shop is open 7 days a week, 10am - 4:30pm. (760)757-3651, ext. 117

In an interview published in part in the Argentine weekly "Viva" July 27, the pope listed his Top 10 tips for bringing greater joy to one's life:

1. "Live and let live." Everyone should be guided by this principle, he said, which has a similar expression in Rome with the saying, "Move forward and let others do the same."

2. "Be giving of yourself to others." People need to be open and generous toward others, he said, because "if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid."

3. "Proceed calmly" in life. The pope, who used to teach high school literature, used an image from an Argentine novel by Ricardo Guiraldes, in which the protagonist -- gaucho Don Segundo Sombra -- looks back on how he lived his life. "He says that in his youth he was a stream full of rocks that he carried with him; as an adult, a rushing river; and in old age, he was still moving, but slowly, like a pool" of water, the pope said. He said he likes this latter image of a pool of water -- to have "the ability to move with kindness and humility, a calmness in life."

4. "A healthy sense of leisure." The pleasures of art, literature and playing together with children have been lost, he said. "Consumerism has brought us anxiety" and stress, causing people to lose a "healthy culture of leisure." Their time is "swallowed up" so people can't share it with anyone. Even though many parents work long hours, they must set aside time to play with their children; work schedules make it "complicated, but you must do it," he said. Families must also turn off the TV when they sit down to eat because, even though television is useful for keeping up with the news, having it on during mealtime "doesn't let you communicate" with each other, the pope said.

5. Sundays should be holidays. Workers should have Sundays off because "Sunday is for family," he said.

6. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people. "We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs" and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said. "It's not enough to give them food," he said. "Dignity is given to you when you can bring food home" from one's own labor.

7. Respect and take care of nature. Environmental degradation "is one of the biggest challenges we have," he said. "I think a question that we're not asking ourselves is: 'Isn't humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?'"

8. Stop being negative. "Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, 'I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,'" the pope said. "Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy."

9. Don't proselytize; respect others' beliefs. "We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: 'I am talking with you in order to persuade you,' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytizing," the pope said.

10. Work for peace. "We are living in a time of many wars," he said, and "the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive" and dynamic.

Pope Francis’ Top10 Secrets to Happiness

A Transformed Heart and Mind Can Change the World

My name is Ariana Quintero. I am a Masters of Divinity student at the Franciscan School of Theology. I grew up here in Oceanside and have been an involved member of the Mission San Luis Rey Parish.

Currently I work in the Old Mission San Luis Rey Retreat Center. I also serve on the parish’s Liturgical Committee and am a member of FST’s Student Leadership team.

In my first year at FST, I gained a lot of knowledge. In the future, this education will make a difference in how I minister in the world, in the sense that I will be able to integrate my personal faith and dedication to the teachings of Jesus Christ with all those around me.

FST makes a difference in the way I see the world today. I am exposed to a variety of vocational interests in academic and ministerial settings. FST faculty and staff make sure that students have a general knowledge in religion, history of religious thought, scriptural study, systematic and contemporary theology, ethics and other topics that are relevant for today. My experience at FST combines relational practice, experiential learning, personal reflection, and academic rigor in order to explore the tensions of Christian faith engaged in our world’s rapidly changing social environment.

Learning at FST has helped me to discover who I am, and has shaped me to become a better minister in my community.

After I graduate from FST, I plan to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. I want to be able to use my degree from FST as a resource in therapeutic work with my clients. I would also like to use my knowledge from FST at my current job setting, and be trained in spiritual direction. This would permit me to offer the service at no cost for retreat guests. I would also like to teach in a theological environment - maybe at FST sometime in the future! Only God knows, and he will guide me through this faith journey of mine.

For information about graduate programs at the Franciscan School, please visit www.fst.edu.

Ariana Quintero, FST Student

The Fraternity generally meets on the first Sunday of the month. You can look for us at the 10am Mass in the Serra Center and later for communal prayer in the St. Clare Chapel. Other events and ongoing religious formation occur at various times throughout the month.

If you are like the many people who have been inspired by the Christian vitality of Pope Francis, we invite you to contact our Formation Director, Sandy Baden, at 760-305-8984.

Secular Franciscans - Update

The First Christmas Creche Excerpt from http://www.catholictradition.org/Children/creche.htm

The history of the Christmas crèche in art and literature is a story in and of itself, but the real turning point was St. Francis of Assisi's inspiration. For the Saint, Christmas had always been the Feast of Feasts, yet he did not think it had been celebrated as it could have been. The poverty of Christ had become lost in the extravagance of the Christmas festivities. An idea occurred to him and while on a visit to Rome, he received permission from the Pontiff to put his idea to work.

The story of how St. Francis of Assisi "invented" the crib is so delightful and inspiring that it might be told or read to the children every year. We give here the account in the very words of Brother Thomas de Celano, who was there when it happened and who wrote it down:

Blessed Francis called a friend about two weeks before Christmas and said to him:

“If you desire that we should celebrate this year's Christmas together at Greccio, go quickly and prepare what I tell you; for I want to enact the memory of the Infant Who was born at Bethlehem, and how He was deprived of all the comforts babies enjoy; how He was bedded in a manger on hay, between an ass and an ox. For once I want to see all this with my own eyes.'”

When the good and faithful man had heard this, he departed quickly and prepared in the above-mentioned place everything that the Saint had told him.

The joyful day approached. The crib was made ready, hay was brought, the ox and ass were led to the spot and Greccio became a new Bethlehem. The night was radiant with joy. The crowds drew near and rejoiced in the novelty of the celebration. Their voices resounded from the woods, and the rocky cliff echoed the jubilant outburst. As they sang in the praise of God, the whole night rang with exultation. The Saint of God stood before the crib, overcome with devotion and wondrous joy. A solemn Mass was sung at the crib.

The parishioners and pilgrims who came to Greccio for Midnight Mass and witnessed the Christmas manger scene were much impressed with the simplicity of St. Francis' crèche and it was from there that the tradition as practiced today took hold and spread around the Catholic world.

Quotation from Thomas De Celano was taken by Fr. Weiser from his Christmas Book, with permission of the Publishers.