St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 2414 Seventeenth Street, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501

Telephone (228) 864-2272 Fax (228) 864-2273 Email: stjohnthee@cableone.net

Staff: Rev. Joseph Uko, Pastor Deacon David Allen, Pastoral Associate Sr. Mary Kealy, PBVM, Pastoral Associate Teri Patton, Parish Secretary Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. First Saturday Devotion: 9:00 a.m. Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. Daily Mass: Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. Spanish Mass: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Holy Days: 6:00 p.m., Vigil, 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. Confession: Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. and anytime on request

March 29, 2015 ~ Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

BECOMING OBEDIENT . . . The words of the prophet Isaiah ring out with great clarity about the suffering of God’s anointed One: “Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled” (Isaiah 50:4, 5). To “obey” means to listen and to heed. Jesus, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, sets his face “like flint, knowing that [he] shall not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7b). Relying on God, attentive and obedient to what he has heard, he submits to the worst that human beings can endure.

TO THE POINT OF DEATH Jesus’ obedience, his listening to God’s voice in his life, led to prophetic deeds and finally to his death. His hu-mility consisted not in grasping at equality with God, but embracing human life in all its fullness, including death. There is nothing human that Jesus did not share with us except sin. Pain, suffering, joy, laughter, humiliation, and sorrow: he willingly accepted all of these in order to be one with us and to make us one with God, as he was one with God. He lis-tened to the voice of God and followed its lead, no matter what. In his total abandonment of his life to God, he became for us Savior and Redeemer. He showed us how to live and how to die, one with the God who loves us. This is not “blind faith,” but it’s not always clear, either, in its particu-lars. We don’t always see clearly the way in which we are to walk, but nevertheless trust God’s fidelity to lead us for-ward. We are invited to follow, and to acknowledge “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Fa-ther” (Philippians 2:11). Copyright © 2005, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

March 29, 2015

[Christ Jesus] humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

— Philippians 2:8

.PROPHETIC ANOINTING The solemnity of today’s readings invites us into si-lent contemplation of the mystery of our redemption. There are so many levels on which to understand the events of the Passion. The woman who anoints Jesus acts prophetically in a way that the other disciples do not yet grasp. Anointing is for priests, prophets, and kings, and also for the preparation of the dead. It is for healing and for holiness. Her action acknowledges the imminent events of the passion and death of the Lord, and points toward his resurrection and triumph over evil and death. He is priest and victim, prophet and God, King and Lord. All these things are acknowledged in her prophetic anointing. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Welcome to St. John the Evangelist Church!

If you are new to the parish and have not yet registered, please call 864-2272.

C.C.D. (Grades K-12) ................ Sundays, 9:00-10:15 A.M. Knights of Columbus...... 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 P.M. K C Ladies Auxiliary..................... 3rd Tuesday, 6:30 P.M. R.C.I.A. .................................................Tuesdays, 6:30 P.M. St. Vincent de Paul................... 2nd Wednesday, 9:00 A.M. Young At Heart............................... 4th Thursday, 12 Noon

Happy birthday wishes to: Callie Sauro celebrates Mar. 28; Patrick Holley celebrates Mar. 29; Jennifer DiRaimo celebrates Mar. 31; Nancy Orr celebrates Apr. 1; Gaytona Bradley celebrates Apr. 3.

May God Bless them with many more Happy Birthdays!

Just a reminder, Our prayer group meets every Thursday afternoon from 5:15-6:15pm. Everyone is invited to join us. For more information call the Parish office, 864-2272.

The second collection at all Masses this weekend is for our St. Vincent De Paul Society food pantry. The second collection next weekend is for Operation Rice Bowl. Operation Rice Bowl provides funding for Catholic Relief Services’ food security projects which support agriculture, nutrition, education, and self-sufficiency in communities around the world.

Live Stations of the Cross Parents who would like their children (6th thru 12th grade) to participate in the Live Stations of the Cross, this is the rehearsal schedule. Sunday, March 29 @ 7:00 in the CYO room. Thursday, April 2 after mass in the CYO room. Friday, April 3 @ 12:00 until 3:00, the Station’s will be presented in Presentation Hall. For more information call Mike or Dean Craft @ 896-4253.

Holy Week Schedule Monday: Mass 7:00am, 12 Noon Tuesday: Mass 7:00am, No Noon Mass Wednesday: Mass 7:00am, 12 Noon

NO MORNING OR NOON MASSES THURSDAY OR FRIDAY

Holy Thursday: Mass of the Last Supper, 7:00 pm Good Friday: Live Stations of the Cross, 3:00pm The Passion of the Lord,7:00pm Easter Vigil: Saturday 7:00pm Easter Sunday: 8:-00am, 10:30am, 6:00pm

Holy Thursday–

Adoration in Chapel of Repose

Following the celebration of the Lord’s Supper at 7pm, we will have three hours of Adoration in the Chapel of Repose. We invite the following Parish Ministry Groups to participate in Adoration. 8-9pm: Young at Heart, Altar Society, Women’s Prayer Group, SVDP Society, Alter Servers 9-10pm: Greeters/Ushers, Ladies Auxiliary, Knights of Columbus, Hospitality Committee 10-11pm: Music Ministers, Lectors, RCIA, CCD, Eucharistic Ministers, CYO

Congratulations to Doug & Kim LeMere on the anniversary of their wedding! Doug & Kim celebrate their 31st anniversary on Apr. 3. May God bless them with many more happy years together!

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Is today “Palm Sunday” or “Passion Sunday”? Though now known officially as Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, confusion is understandable, since before the 1969 reform of the calendar two separate Sundays bore these titles. Passion Sunday was a week before Palm Sunday. To add to the confusion, the Gos-pel accounts of the Passion of the Lord were not read on Passion Sunday, but on Palm Sunday! On Passion Sunday, the cross and statues were veiled in full purple drapes. The organ had fallen silent at the beginning of Lent, and now the sanctuary bells were replaced by wooden clappers. The introit (opening chant) for the old Mass of Passion Sunday hints at a reason for re-form: “Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight against a faithless people” (Psalm 42). This liturgy was laden with references to the “infidelity” of the Jews, a theme that gave rise to inflammatory preaching and, in some places, attacks against the persons and property of the Jewish people. This does not stand as a “treasure” of any sort in our tradition. Our authentic tradition, rather, is the ability to reflect and repent and to seek reconciliation with the Jews, our brothers and sisters in the love and service of God. —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

GOD’S WORD TODAY Our Lenten journey of conversion today reaches the holy city of Jerusalem. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Throughout Lent we have been journeying with the Lord to Jerusalem. Today he en-ters the holy city amid cries of joy and gladness. Those cries of joy turn quickly to cries of pain and anguish, which culminate in the words of abandonment that Je-sus utters from the cross. Imagine the despair the Lord experienced when he felt abandoned by all, especially his own Father. As we prepare to listen to God’s word, let us remember the pain and anguish that the Lord Je-sus suffered on our behalf. From Saint Margaret Sunday Missal, copyright © J. S. Paluch Company

The Catholic Sharing Appeal- We can be raised to new life by giving some of our blessings to the ministries of our Church. Be suppor-tive and generous, by pledging to the Catholic Sharing Appeal. Help us meet our goal of $30,465, this year. There are envelopes on the back tables.

I want to say again a big thank you to everyone that helped with the Seder Meal. Men's Group (Cliff D'Angelo, David Scaia, Louis Borzik, Ed Martin, Terry Chapin), Sr. Mary, Nancy Alfonso, Nancy Beede, Henrietta Caranna, Kathy

Pitre, Kim Graves, Leslie North, Florence Keppner, Marla Ellis, Estelle Papania and Mimi Salloum who prepared the haroset, Cecile and Curt Arleth who pre-pare the lamb every year, and Pauline and Mike Mensi (L&M Liquor) who provide the wine. A special thanks to Frank Hammock who purchased a beautiful Hebrew shawl for Fr. Uko to wear...and to all who bring deli-cious food, it is truly a wonderful evening shared by all. This was our 12th year to host the Seder And a special thank you to Vickie Tiner who organizes everything for this event every year….I don’t know what we would do without her!!!

The Altar Society would like to thank everyone for their generous contributions for Easter Flowers last weekend. We would also like to ask again for your help-

We will be cleaning and preparing the church for Easter on Saturday morning, April 4 at 8:30am. We invite and encourage the young and the young at heart, to come and help. We will be cleaning and decorating the church indoors and outdoors. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come and lend a helping hand!

Divine Mercy Sunday is on April 12- We will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet-30 minutes before each Mass-this weekend. We invite you to lead this prayer. There is a sign up sheet on the center table.

NO First Friday Adoration or First Saturday Devotion this month.

The Parish office will be closed Good Friday, April 3 & Easter Monday, April 6.

The Chrism Mass will be celebrated at Nativity BVM Cathedral on Tuesday, March 31 at 10:30 am. The Chrism Mass emphasizes the unity of the diocesan priesthood with its Bishop. The renewal of the priestly promise to serve the Church faithfully and to minister to the needs of God’s people takes place during the Mass. All are invited and encouraged to attend.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Saturday: +Mary & Ludovic Lee Sunday: 8:00am– People of the Parish 10:30am–+Fr. Gerard Cleary 6:00pm– +Gloria White Monday: +Ben Nortn Tuesday: +Matthew & Thelma Serpa Wednesday: +Mackie Fayard Thursday: +Yvonne Williams Friday: +Irene Shifalo

Collections: March 21-22 Identifiable: $4651 Unidentifiable: $574 ACH: $200 Easter Flowers: $815 Maintenance: $245 Thank you for your generosity!

William Allen Theresa Barlow Lisa Bass David Bell Mary Anne Bishop Ruby Bouchard Harriett Bowles Pablo Cabasa Carol Campbell Danny Carlisle Buddy Cospelich Rhonda Cospelich Kevin Crane Gerald Cuevas Linda Eschler Deanne Fasold Lynn Foster Felecia Galle Nicole Gilbert Jal Giuffria Peter Giuffria Betty Godo Tom Goode Anna Grice

Jessi Hebert Hazel Herrington Klaus Jeschke Mary Kealy Kemberly Lacap Gary Lacy Elton Ladner Diane Lefkowitz Herman Lefkowitz Churck Lepowsky Joann Liner Patty Loftin Walter Lolley Celeste McInnis S. J. Marengo Dot Miller Rhonda Mires Luz Monzon Karen Nelson Tillie Nettles Melvin Olive Kent Olsen Trey Patterson Jane Pendergrass

Mike Price Gary Reeves Chris Richards Randy Richardson Glenda Rockwell Sharon Rogers Ken Saxon Joseph Schultz Don Seymour Gary Seymour Marie Stanbro Norman Stanbro Wanda Stephens Emerson Stringer Tracy Taylor Lisa Thompson Bennye Turner Becky Truxillo Felecia Vann Kathleen Walker Jim Wetzel, III Rosemary White Addie Wittmann Ginger Worth

Please Remember in Your Prayers

Prayer is the door through which all God’s Graces comes to us -St. Theresa of Avila

TODAY’S READINGS Gospel at the Procession with Palms — Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-10 or John 12:12-16). First Reading — In spite of my sufferings I am not dis-graced. I am not put to shame (Isaiah 50:4-7). Psalm — My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Psalm 22). Second Reading — Christ emptied himself, and God filled this emptiness with exaltation (Philippians 2:6-11). Gospel — The account of Christ’s passion according to Mark (Mark 14:1 — 15:47 [15:1-39]). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, Inter-national Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3, 13-14; Jn 12:1-11 Tuesday: Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-6, 15, 17; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Wednesday: Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34; Mt 26:14-25 Thursday: Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Ps 89:21-22, 25, 27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21 Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15 Friday: Is 52:13 — 53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1 — 19:42 Saturday: a) Gn 1:1 — 2:2 [1:1, 26-31a]; Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35; or Ps 33:4-7, 12-13, 20-22; b) Gn 22:1-18 [1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18]; Ps 16: 5, 8-11; c) Ex 14:15 — 15:1; Ex 15:1-6, 17-18; d) Is 54:5-14; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; e) Is 55:1-11; Is 12:2-6; f) Bar 3:9-15, 32 — 4:4; Ps 19:8-11; g) Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28; Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3-4 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 or Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; h) Rom 6:3-11; i) Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Mk 16:1-7 Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7 or (at an afternoon or evening Mass) Lk 24:13-35

The Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus (GCMC) announces their Spring, 2015 season with matinee concerts - March 29th , 3:00pm Crossroads Church of the Nazarene 6150 Firestone St., Ocean Springs, MS April 12th, 3:00 p.m., St. Augustine Seminary Chapel, 199 Seminary Dr., Bay St. Louis, MS These concerts are free and open to the public! The Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus is honored to be supported in part by The Bacot-McCarty Foundation and The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. For more details please contact Ed Cake at 228 324 9292 or ed.cake@yahoo.com.

Please support our Bulletin Advertisers! Take a bulletin home with you and look at all our advertisers. We appreci-ate their generosity and support of our parish. When you patronize them, thank them for their support of our parish.

Reminder, if you or anyone in your family is ill at home or in the hospital and would like us to visit you-please call the parish office at 864-2272.

Calendar of Events Apr 2 Holy Thursday-Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7pm Apr 3 Good Friday - Live Stations of the Cross at 3pm Good Friday Services at 7pm Apr 4 Easter Vigil at 7pm Apr 23 Young at Heart, Presentation Hall-Noon May 3 First Holy Communion, 10:30 Mass May 9 Confirmation at 5:00pm Mass May 10 Mothers Day May 13 Pastoral Council Meeting May 17 Recognition of Seniors at 10:30 Mass May 24 International Festival & Raffle, After 10:30 Mass

We really appreciate those who donate toward the flowers for our church. Some-times donations are made in honor of an event (anniversary, birthday, etc.) or in memory of a loved one. If you would like to have

flowers placed in church, please contact the parish office at 228 864-2272. We do not have flowers on the altar during Lent, but if you would like to schedule flowers for a weekend after Lent please call the office.**

Choir practice is every Friday at 6:00pm in the Church. New voices are always welcome to help elevate our praises to God. Please consider being a part of this very important and beautiful ministry.

BAY ST. LOUIS – Our Lady of the Gulf Parish, 228 South Beach Blvd, will host a Divine Mercy Sunday cele-bration on April 12 with confessions from 2 to 3pm, fol-lowed by Mass and blessing of the Divine Mercy image at 3 pm. Father Michael O'Connor will be the celebrant and homilist BILOXI – Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 2090 Pass Rd, will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on April 12 with confessions at 2 pm and Mass at 3 pm.