A Catholic Faith Community Since 1908 A Catholic Faith Community Since 1908 A Catholic Faith Community Since 1908

MASS TIMES
SUNDAYS: Sat. 5:30 pm (Vigil), 7:30 am, 10 am & 12 N
WEEKDAYS: Mon., Tues., Fri, and Sat. 8 am
(Wed. & Thurs. 8 am Communion Service)
HOLY DAYS: (eve of) 5:30 pm; (day of) 8 am & 6:30 pm
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
(Confession) Saturdays 4 - 5 pm or by appointment
DEVOTIONS
Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Saturday 7:50 am
ADORATION
First Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm, Rectory Oratory
Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V.F.Pastor
Deacon Manuel Valencia Deacon John Hull
318 North Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre
Mailing Address: 50 East Alegria Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Phone: 626/355-1292 FAX: 626/355-2290 www.st-rita.org

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him.
Psalm 145
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMEAUGUST 24, 2014 2



Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V. F.Pastor
626.355.1292 x. 228 revkrek@st-rita.org
Dcn. Manuel & Chela Valencia
deaconmanuelvalencia@gmail.com 355.1292
Dcn. John Hulljohnhull65@gmail.com 355.1292

Weekend Presider:
10 am MassFr. Chris Thiel, OFM Capuchin

Parish Office/Mailing Address
50 East Alegria Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am to 6pm; Sat. 9 am to 1 pm.
Office Email: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org

Director of Administration
Mary Lou Butler: mlbutler@st-rita.org 355.1292
Pastoral Council
Parish Office: 355.1292
Finance Council Chair
Bill Sullivan: 355.3707

St. Rita SchoolOffice: 626.355.6114
Principal: Joanne Harabedian jharabedian@st-rita.org

Director of Liturgy & Music
Paul Puccinelli: mm@st-rita.org
Director of Religious Education
Cristina Cullen: 355.1292 dre@st-rita.org
Director of Youth Ministry/Confirmation
Theresa Bui Costanzo: 626.590.8828 ym@st-rita.org
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)
Team: Deacon Manuel and Chela Valencia; and
Susan Blakeslee: rcia@st-rita.org

How to Contact Us
Parish Ministries and Organizations

Liturgy & Worship
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers: David & Jill Muhs
355.9810 em@st-rita.org
Altar Servers, Youth: Kathy Ganino 626.398.9302
katganino@charter.net
Altar Servers, Adult: Bill Cosso 355.5656
Eucharistic Adoration: Kathy Ganino 626.398.9302
katganino@charter.net
Rosary Prayer Group: Susan Day 355-3835
Sacristans: Sat. Vigil: Gary Fidone/Bill & Patti Huber
Sunday Masses: 7:30-Bill Cosso/David Banis;
10:00-David Muhs; 12N-Bernie Grace
Weekdays: John Bigley, Margaret Duran
Porter: (Evening Church Lockup) Sheila Palazzolo
Environment: Denise Villalovos/Gil Lazo gil@st-rita.org 355.1292

Ministries & Organizations
Bereavement Ministry: 355.1292 bereave@st-rita.org
Christian Family: Ana Ptasinski 355.3146
Greeters & Ushers: Erny Henry 626.289.3504 626.446.6715
Mens Club: Dave Loera d.loera@verizon.net
New Members/Welcome: Contact the Parish Office
St. Rita Guild: Patty Sullivan 355.3707 psullivan514@gmail.com
Senior Ministry: Marilyn McKernan marilyn@st-rita.org
Shawl Ministry: Mary Taillac 355.3179 Marilyn Delgatto 355.8717

Other Contacts
Archivist: Marilyn McKernan marilyn@st-rita.org
Bulletin Submissions: bulletin@st-rita.org or drop off at Office
Public Relations: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org
Registration Information: rc@st-rita.org 355.1292
Webmaster: Ralph Seymour: seymour@seymourmedia.com

Let Saint Rita Be There For You . . .
Communion for Sick and Homebound Parishioners
St. Rita ministers provide Communion home visits. Contact the Parish Office 355.1292 or Jill Muhs 355.9810 em@st-rita.org.

Anointing of the Sick
Please notify us (355.1292) for the Anointing of the Sick, the sacrament intended for the seriously ill or dying and Our Lords special presence
and companionship in serious time of need. Anointing may take place in the home, at the hospital or elsewhere and as often as once a month.
If someone should die without anointing, remember that the desire to receive is sufficient.

If You Should Experience the Loss of a Loved One Please call us at 355.1292
If you feel you will be in need, or your loved one has passed, we will assist in making arrangements with your chosen funeral director; refer you
to our Bereavement Ministry and Music Ministry; and offer you helpful guidelines that will aid in the selection of readings for a Mass or
Memorial Service. We know this can be a tough time and we want you to know that your parish is there for you. PLEASE UNDERSTAND we
only have one resident priest; sometimes arrangements for another priest may be needed.

For Information about the Sacraments
BaptismPlease contact the Parish Office for further information on the Baptism process and requirements.

Reconciliation and First EucharistPreparation for children who have attained the age of reason (usually during 2
nd
grade) is
arranged either through the Office of Religious Education or St. Rita Elementary School.

MatrimonyContact the Parish Office upon engagement; at least six months is needed for preparation of this joyous sacrament!

ConfirmationA two-year program for freshman/sophomore age teens. Apply through the Office of Youth Ministry.

SAINT RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH 3

REV. MSGR. RICHARD KREKELBERG
PASTORS CORNER
The keys to the car
The keys to the house
How about, Dad, may I have the
keys to the Kingdom of Heaven?

We have before us in the Gospel
today bold and famous words of
confession and faith from Simon bar-
Jonah, renamed PETER; and amazing
words from Jesus that bestow
position and authoritythe giving to
Peter of the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven. Well, there you have it!
There is hardly anything in all of
scripture that screams ROMAN
CATHOLIC more loudly than these
words. Faith and assent to Peters
keys along with the Churchs power
to bind and loose continues both to
be our remaining major specific
difference from most Christian
denominations and, what is more, a
persistent stumbling block to the
ecumenical process.

If we were to think of the keys and
the authority to bind and loose as
items of clothing, how would you
describe the differences, if any,
between popes St. John Paul,
Benedict, and Francis as to how they
looked in them or wore them? Now
consider there have been 265 popes
since St. Peter. All have accepted
The Fishermans Ring in their own
time and their own place (not
necessarily Rome). All have expected
the faithful to place their trust in the
authority given them.

Over 41 years I have heard people
(Roman Catholics) talk about the
reigning pope and I have distinctly
recognized a variance in level of
trustusually falling along lines of
conservative/liberal, with not much
room in between. But isnt there
something less given to interpretation
about the authority of the pope? Isnt
there more to it than the mood or the
personality of the reigning Bishop of
Rome? Right now, of course, we have
a pope and a pope emeritus. Whats a
Catholic to think? What are we telling
our children?

No bragging here, but actually the
whole authority of the pope and even
the whole infallibility thing have not
been problems for me my entire
priesthood. That is because I figured
out a long time ago (and was taught
very well) that the popes authority and
his infallibility are not about him, but
about Jesus Way, Truth, and Life
abiding in His Church. Of what good
would our Church be, or of what
worth, if Jesus truth was not in it?
For any pope, for any ecumenical
council, or for all the faithful in
communion of belief, only Divine
Assistance renders Divine Truth
accessible and only in matters of faith
and morals (that is, in matters of what
we believe and what we hold sacred and
how we conduct ourselves according to
what we believe). So whats the
problem? No problem.

Anyway, for us mere mortals (including
the one who is currently holding The
Keys in Rome), it is important to note
that next Sundays gospel passage
same chapter of Matthew (16)follows
the giving of the keys with one of the
worst tongue lashings ever to be
uttered from Jesus mouth, and it is
aimed at Mr. Keys of the Kingdom
himselfPETER. For crying out loud,
Jesus calls him Satan! I guess were
just never too old or too important
enough not to get spanked, if needed.
Has Msgr. Richard ever been spanked
(figuratively of course) by his superiors?
Mind your own business.
The Keys to the Kingdom
Dear Parishioners,
Msgr. Richard
During this time of acute persecution of Christians, Archbishop Jos H. Gomez asks us to consider this prayer,
composed by His Beatitude Louis Rafael Sako, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Iraq

Lord, The plight of our country is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening.
Therefore, we ask you Lord to spare our lives, and to grant us patience, and courage to continue our
witness of Christian values with trust and hope.
Lord, peace is the foundation of life; Grant us the peace and stability that will enable us to live with
each other without fear and anxiety, and with dignity and joy.
Glory be to you forever.
Louis Rafael Sako, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Iraq
Gertrude Tobin
Mother of parishioner
Margaret Fullinwider

MASS INTENTIONS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
8:00 AM Arthur Velling INT
5:30 PM Theresa Coppi RIP
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
7:30 AM For All Parishioners
10:00 AM Stanley & Helen Dobosh RIP
12 NOON David Duran RIP
MONDAY, AUGUST 25
8:00 AM Michael & Amber Lynch INT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26
8:00 AM Stanley & Helen Dobosh RIP
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27
8:00 AM Communion Service
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
8:00 AM Communion Service
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
8:00 AM Padrig Boyle RIP
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
8:00 AM Elaine Sorich RIP
5:30 PM Cowles Family INT
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
7:30 AM Eduardo Perez RIP
10:00 AM For All Parishioners
12 NOON Florence Smith RIP

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK

MondaySt. Louis; St. Joseph
Calasanz
WednesdaySt. Monica
ThursdaySt. Augustine
FridayThe Passion of
St. John the Baptist

TODAYS READINGS

First ReadingEliakim is destined by
God to be a father to those who live in
Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:19-23).
PsalmLord, your love is eternal; do
not forsake the work of your hands
(Psalm 138).
Second ReadingHow deep are the
riches and the wisdom and the
knowledge of God! (Romans 11:33-36).
GospelJesus asked the disciples,
Who do you say that I am? Peter
replied, You are the Christ
(Matthew 16:13-20).




(


TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMEAUGUST 24, 2014 4

PLEASE PRAY FOR
THOSE WHO
HAVE REQUESTED
OUR PRAYERS

Randy Graff, Toni Navarro, Susan
Watson, Molly Lynch, Juanito & Marilou
Pe, Willard Bochte, Joann Ruggles,
Margaret Duran, Eric Gilmore, Lori Ann
Little, Guia Canizales, Anne Frealy, Eva
Shammon, Margie Schubert, Mary
Zuckerburg, Emily Young, JoAnn
Douglass, Mary McColl, Evelyn Tres,
Barbara Hester, Phil Huddleston, Gerald
Drean, Charlotte Bollman Fuchs, Gerry
Krekelberg, Leah Greteman, Raymond
Payne, Peter Delgatto, Jr., Montserrat
Marti, Jordan Alabart, Linda Milligan,
Susan Skousen, Brooke Manning, Arthur
Contreras, Jr., Robert Quinonez, Richard
Krier, Patsy Starkey, Jean Mansour, Jacob
Bigley, Maria Carmen Marti, Clare
Marquardt, Kathleen Ramsey, Tonyja
Blakeslee, Addie Marshall, Jackie
Bagnuolo, Mary Ellen Isoard, Rose Mary
Taquino, Paul Viger, Hal Finney, Ailey
Gardner-Ybarra, Eva Bernejo, Edith Olah,
Lancelot Loera, Fred Mycroft, Brian Eck,
Alex Arranaga, Joseph Moore.


This Weeks
Featured Saint
St. Monica

Although Monica was
a Christian, her
parents gave her in
marriage to a pagan,
Patricius, who lived in her hometown
of Tagaste in North Africa. Patricius
had some redeeming features but he
also had a violent temper. Monica also
had to bear with a cantankerous
mother-in-law who lived in her home.
Monicas prayers and example finally
won her husband and mother-in-law to
Christianity. Her husband died in 371,
one year after his baptism.

Monica oldest son, Augustine, is the
most famous of her three children. At
the time of his fathers death,
Augustine was 17 and a rhetoric
student in Carthage. Monica was
distressed to learn that her son had
accepted the Manichean heresy (all
flesh is evil) and was living an immoral
life. For a while, she refused to let him
eat or sleep in her house. Then one
night she had a vision that assured her
Augustine would return to the faith.
From that time on, she stayed close to
her son, praying and fasting for him.

When he was 29, Augustine decided to
go to Rome to teach rhetoric. Monica
followed him. She arrived in Rome
only to find that he had left for Milan.
Although travel was difficult, Monica
pursued him to Milan. In Milan,
Augustine came under the influence of
the bishop, St. Ambrose, who also
became Monicas spiritual director.

She continued her prayers for
Augustine for over 17 years and at
Easter, 387, St. Ambrose baptized
Augustine. Although no one else was
aware of it, Monica knew her life was
near the end. Almost all we know
about St. Monica is in the writings of
St. Augustine, especially his Confessions.

AmericanCatholic.org




Catholic Youth Rally
Cool 2b Catholic
Monday, September 15
4 - 6 pm On the Plaza
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

800/838-1356 lacatholicpb.org
or
Theresa Costanzo ym@st-rita.org
Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Tuesday, September 16
6:30 - 9:00 am
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
Rosary, Mass,
Breakfast, & Guest Speaker

Father Richard will provide a
chartered bus for those who wish to
attend the Prayer Breakfast. Please
contact Paula in the Parish Office for
more information.
355-1292 x 223
SAINT RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH 5

Youth Ministry

Youth Nites, 7- 8:30 pm, OMalley
Next Youth NiteWed., August 27
Meets year-round, on the second and
fourth Wednesdays of each month.
Youth Nites are for all teens and we
encourage our teens to invite their
friends to join in the fellowship.

EDGE Middle School Ministry
Monday, September 15, 4 - 5:15 pm
All 6th to 8th grade youth, including
St. Rita School students, are invited to
the monthly EDGE Fellowship
Meetings in Gara Hall.

Confirmation ProgramYear 1
Saturday, September 20, 3:30 - 5:30
Year 1 parents and teens are invited to
attend an important Orientation
Meeting in OMalley Hall with Youth
Mass following at 5:30. To register for
Year 1, please download the
Registration Packet form at
st-rita.org/category/sacraments.

Theresa Costanzo ym@st-rita.org

Mark your calendar

August 29-31Southern California
Renewal Communities (SCRC) at
the Anaheim Convention Center. For
information and registration: scrc.org

October 31-November 2Annual
Womens Retreat at Mater
Dolorosa. If you are interested, please
make your reservation now. (Last year
we were not able to accommodate all
who wanted to attend.) A $50 deposit
will hold your spot. The theme this
year is Holy Waitingin a world that
cant wait!

Joan Crow 355-3621

Articles for the Bulletin

Please submit to bulletin@st-rita.org
or to the Parish Office. Ask for or
leave a message for Rosemary,
355-1292 x226. Deadline is 10 days
before the desired weekend.

An Evening of Song & Prayer
With Bob Hurd & Anawin
Friday, September 12 7:30 pm In the Church

Donations accepted at the door to benefit the Saint Camillus Center for
Spiritual Care. This ministry provides chaplains who serve at LAC+USC
Medical Center and Keck Medical Center of USC.

For more information about the concert:
Paul Puccinelli mm@st-rita.org
For more information about the Ministry:
Fr. Chris Ponnet 323/225-4461 x211
St. Rita Guild Meeting
Friday, September 5 9 am
Parish Office Meeting Room

Soon it starts all over againschool,
schedules, appointments, andAH!
the Womens Guild! If you have been
thinking of becoming active, this is a
perfect time to start. New people with
new ideas are needed to help make
plans for the coming year. Come see
what were all about!

Patty Sullivan 355-3707
psullivan514@gmail.com
Interested in becoming
Catholic, or simply want
to learn more about the
Faith?

Begins September 9 and continues
weekly each Tuesday evening.

RCIAthe Rita of Christian
Initiation for Adultsbegins
Tuesday, September 9, at 7:30 pm in
the Parish Office (50 E. Alegria,
Sierra Madre) Meeting Room. RCIA
is the formal way in which anyone
interested in becoming Catholic can
learn about the faith, its teachings,
Mass and the sacraments. The classes
are also open to those Catholics who
want to enrich their understanding of
Catholicism.

All you need is a Bible, a notebook
and a pen! We provide the rest,
including refreshments. Classes are
held generally from September
through the Easter Vigil (April 4,
2015) with holiday breaks. If youre
not sure if this is for you, come to
find outyou may be surprised by
what you discover!

For more information:
Deacon Manuel Valencia
deaconmanuelvalencia@gmail.com
The Results are In! Thank You!

We have forwarded your donations
to Dr. Geethas Foundation for
Children in Need. Your generous
support totaled
$7,232.
St. Rita Ministry Fair
Weekend of September 27 & 28

Have you thought about becoming
more involved in your Parish? What
interests you and where can you use
your talents?

Dont miss this once-each-year
opportunity to learn about all of our
active ministries at St. Rita. You will
see displays, meet members of each
Ministryand maybe even win a door
prize.

Please reserve time to visit OMalley
Hall after any of the weekend Masses.



This Sunday at St. Rita This Sunday at St. Rita This Sunday at St. Rita

Save the Date Save the Date Save the Date

Friday, September 5Adoration
After the 8 am Mass until 5 pm Oratory in the Parish Office

Friday, September 5St. Rita Guild Meeting
9 am Parish Office Meeting Room
See page 5 for more information.

Saturday, September 6Rock the Night Away
See page 7 for more information.

Tuesday, September 9RCIA Begins
See page 5 for information

Thursday, September 11Liturgy of the Hours resumes
See next weeks Bulletin for more information.

Friday, September 12An Evening of Song and Prayer
With Bob Hurd and Anawim
See page 5 for more information.

Monday, September 15Cool 2b Catholic
Tuesday, September 16Prayer Breakfast
See page 5 for more information.

September 27-28St. Rita Annual Ministry Fair
See page 5 for more information.

October 31-November 2St. Rita Womens Retreat
Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center
See page 5 for more information.
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMEAUGUST 24, 2014 6
August 29-31San Gabriel Mission Fiesta. Friday
from 6 pm to midnight; Saturday and Sunday, noon to
midnight. Entertainment, rides, food and games booths,
bingo. Blessing of the Animals at 10:30 am on Saturday.
Free admission. Free parking. San Gabriel Mission, 427 S.
Junipero Serra Drive, San Gabriel 91776
Information: 626/457-3035 sangabrielmission.org

Catholic Community
& Local Events

Introducing a new regular Bulletin article: We are introducing
this question and answer section to respond to questions about our
parish Capital Campaign. Questions may be dropped off at the
Parish Office or submitted by email to: parishadmin@st-rita.org.
Please include contact information for a personal response if we are
unable to publish your question.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Q & A
Has a Master Plan Design already been
decided?

No. As the First Phase Goalsrepairing and
renovating the church; purchasing a priests residence;
restoring Gara Hall as the Jewel of our parish; and
possibly requiring new construction to improve the
schoolwere presented to the parish it soon became
clear that a Master Plan for the entire property needed
to be completed. As a result of Parish studies and
surveys over the past seven years, its inevitable a
Master Plan would emerge, enabling us to make the
decisions for Phase One that are in the best interests of
the parish and school, short and long term.
In late May, Msgr. Richard put in place a Design
Commission, made up of representatives of the
parish and school, architects and other professionals.
The charge given to them was to review the research
and studies and come up with a Master Plan Design
for our facilities. These dedicated and gifted
volunteers have been meeting 3 to 4 hours each
week over the summer. Their hard work and
dedication have now brought us the prospect of
adopting a Master Plan that will honor all the
research that has been done, and will allow us, in the
coming months, to present this Plan to the parish,
the City of Sierra Madre and the Archdiocese.

In a few weeks, their finished work will be
introduced to the parish. You will be amazed at the
creativity and thoroughness of their efforts.
Watch for an insert in next weeks bulletin introducing
the members of the Design Commission.





Religious EducationRegistration
After all the Masses

All parents are invited to stay after Sunday Mass to register
children for our 1st-5th grade program, 6th-8th grade
EDGE program, or Confirmation. Hear more about our
religious formation programs and all they have to offer.

Cristina Cullen dre@st-rita.org
Theresa Costanzo ym@st-rita.org

ST. RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH 7


Not just for Seniors!

Join the fun!

Anyone who attended the First Senior Prom last year
knows how much fun it was! The attendance from the
parish and the community make this a very special time.

Dennis Kaye promises to play a little more rock n roll for
the young at heart. Wear your dancing shoes!

Get your reservations in; tickets are limited.
$25/per person, includes light refreshments.

Want more info?

Marilyn McKernan

marilyn@st-rita.org
355-1292 x 233