In This Issue: Changes SJV Mission Statement Spiritual Growth Happenings Lent Lenten Liturgical Schedule Announcements and Calendar Readings and Prayer Resources

"Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of
God is yours.  Blessed are you who are now hungry
for you will be satisfied."  Luke 6:20-21a

February 11 - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Changes

Greetings Brother's and Sisters,

We trust your Christmas was blessed. The St. John Vianney Communication Team wishes a Happy New Year to you and your family. 

During December of 2006, there have been some changes to the St. John Vianney Newsletter Communication Team. We have had a reorganization. This month is the first month of the new team. We apologize for disruption of the Newsletter but we hope to get back on track soon.

One of the problems we have been experiencing is that of obtaining news articles from the community. Our hopes are to resolve this by asking you to help. To have a "one-sided" Newsletter is not a worthy Newsletter. So, if you have good news, accomplishments, concerns, or just good words, please send them to us. Use the link below for submittal.

Again, we sincerely apologize for the disruption in service and hope that you will contribute stories/articles to continue to make the Newsletter the best it can be. 

SJV Communications Team.

St. John Vianney Parish Mission Statement

We, the people of St. John Vianney Parish, seek to promote the Gospel through evangelization, worship and community outreach to a diverse community in the San Jose eastern foothills. We recognize the community to be ethnically, economically, intergenerationally and domestically mixed, and therefore resolve to strive for a broad vision of this parish&39;s needs in light of the Gospel.

We are committed to fulfill the above goals by working together, offering supportive presence to one another, and arriving at decision through prayer, active listening and consensus.

Spiritual Growth
Bible Study Groups at St. John Vianney

Learn the Bible ... from one of the Most inspiring Teachers in the Catholic Church Today.  An 24-week video course that will transform your knowledge of the bible!  The "Great Adventure Bible Timeline" will give you the tools for a lifetime of enriching bible study and devotional reading.  Developed and presented by Catholic theologian and author Jeff Cavins, this video Bible Timeline seminar will give you "the big picture" of salvation history by showing you how people, places, events and themes of the bible fit together.

On Thursday evenings, beginning February 1, we will start a 24-week Bible Timeline course that is an overview of the entire bible.  Registration is required for the course.  If you are interested, pick up a registration flyer in the front of the church or call the parish office at (408) 258-7832.

Happenings

St John Vianney Parish has some important dates coming up. These events are aimed at involving the entire community, so mark your calendars now and plan to join other parishioners, enjoying each other and working to make a better community. The following events are ways we can come together for fellowship and good stewardship.

Lent

Lent is a time of preparation for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Easter, and it is our holiest season. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon "Lengten", which refers to the lengthening of days during spring.

Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days, excluding Sundays, until Holy Thursday, which is the start of Triduum, and is based on the date of Easter Sunday. As you no doubt noticed Easter comes early this year, and therefore so does Lent. The date for Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon immediately following the Vernal (Spring) equinox. 

40 days is very important throughout the bible, but during Lent, they specifically remind us of the 40 days Christ spent in the wilderness, in preparation for the fulfillment of scripture. During this time, Christ was tempted by Satan three times, and though he was hungry and worn down, he never faltered and refused the temptations.

The focus of Lent is almsgiving (charity and tithing), prayer and fasting. We are also called to pray together as families, attend daily mass whenever possible, and to remember and relive our baptism. The color of the season is purple, which reminds us of the other theme of Lent, penance and forgiveness. For it is through Christ&39;s eternal sacrifice that we are freed from sin and can enter into His everlasting life.

There are 2 days of fasting during Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is required of all healthy adults 18-59. During our fast we are to have only one full meal, though we are permitted 2 small meals, provided that combined, they do not equal a full meal. We are also permitted only fluids between meals.

We are also called to abstinence during Lent. All Catholics 14 and over are specifically called to abstain from meat, except fish, on Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent. We should also choose something else in our lives from which we will abstain, but consider giving up a behavior as well as your favorite food. 

You may also notice that we do not say or sing the Alleluia or Gloria during Lent. In fact during Lent, the Gloria is only sung once, during Holy Thursday. After that musical instruments fall silent in church until the Alleluia during the Easter Vigil.

Though Lent seems solemn, its quietness is that of Grace, which reminds, focuses and prepares us for the fulfillment of scripture that is the Resurrection and for the time when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will come again, in Glory.

Lenten Liturgical Schedule 

Announcements and Calendar

Parish Announcements:   Visit this web site to read the   SJV Parish Announcements:   sjvannouncements.blogspot.com   Parish Events Calendar:   Visit this web site to see the   SJV Parish Events Calendar:   my.calendars.net/sjvnews

Readings and Prayer Resources

Praying the Scriptures:   Visit this web site for ideas   on praying the Scriptures:   www.liturgy.slu.edu   Take a Moment to Pray:   Visit this web site for ideas   on the Ignatius way to pray:   www.sacredspace.ie

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Visit our parish web site at: www.sjvnews.net.