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

"I give you a new commandment, says the Lord:  love one another as I have loved you." 

February 18 - Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Language of Apologies
By Richard and Veronica Wildanger

On Wednesday, January 30, the Marriage Community gathered for an insightful and practical presentation of the different ways of apologizing.  In our Catholic Faith, contrition is a key concept and a prerequisite for Divine Forgiveness.  For example, after going to confession you say the Act of Contrition.  Although most of us are comfortable expressing our remorse to God and asking His forgiveness, many of us are uncomfortable with expressing remorse "apologizing" to others.

A healthy marriage, like all close relationships, will require apologies at some point.  An apology is an expression of complete and sincere remorse or contrition for something done wrong.  But it goes far beyond just saying "I'm sorry." Each of us has a particular "apology language", meaning that we consider an apology sincere only if it contains one or more of five key elements.  If the apology lacks the element we consider the most crucial, the relationship will not be fully restored and can lead to an increase in domestic turmoil, hurt, anger, failure, and even a declaration of war between husband and wife. 

The five elements of an apology to be used either alone or in combination per the offended parties own apology language include:

1. A sincere expression of regret ("I am sorry"),
2. An acceptance of responsibility & admission of wrongdoing ("I was wrong"),
3. Making restitution ("What can I do to make it right?"),
4. Genuine repentance and an acknowledgement of mindfulness in the future
    ("I will try not to do that again") and
5. Asking forgiveness ("Will you please forgive me?").

Requesting forgiveness can be very difficult because it shows that you are willing to put the future of the relationship in the hands of the offended person.  It becomes their choice to bestow forgiveness and reconcile the relationship.  It is costly for the offended too because they must give up their hurt and anger.  And even then trust may take awhile to be reestablished in the relationship.

The next meeting of SJV's Marriage Community will be Wednesday, February 28 at   7:30 PM in the St. Francis Hall (behind the Rectory at the back of the parking lot).  All married and engaged couples are invited!

For more information about the St. John Vianney's Marriage Community, or to be added to the announcement list, contact Richard and Veronica Wildanger at  rpwildanger@earthlink.net or call (408) 937-1483.

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'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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