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


Feast of

The Exaltation

of the

Holy Cross
THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSSSEPTEMBER 14, 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
In todays Gospel, Jesus reminds
Nicodemus how Moses had lifted up
the serpent in the desert. Then Jesus
says, So must the Son of Man be
lifted up, that all who believe may have
eternal life in him. Lifted up on the
cross, Jesus was despised and seemed
the most abject of people. But it was in
embracing this disgrace and painful
death that he became the bearer of
eternal life for all of us. His lifting up
in shame was also his lifting up in
glory and triumph.

Paul, in his letter to the Philippians,
tells us what this means. God, the same
God who led the Israelites in the
desert, emptied himself and became
human, humbled himself and was
obedient even to death on the cross.
He was raised high to protect us, to
heal the wound of sin, and connect us
to the healing protection of God.
When we look at the cross, when we
keep our eyes on how God emptied
himself to become flesh, we recognize
the truth of the world and our place in
it. Each week we carry the cross
through the church and raise it before
us. The cross domi nates our
celebration, even as we read the Word
and prepare the Eucharistic meal, even
as we sing praise to God and join
together in a meal remembering his
death and resurrection.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross is a most glorious feast: the
cross is a non-negotiable in following
the path Christ has set for us.
Christians rarely do anything of
substance without making the sign of
the cross. Making the sign of the cross
is an ancient symbol of blessing and
one which clearly identifies to Whom
we belong.

This is why the world needs the cross.
The Cross is not just a private symbol
of devotionit speaks of hope, it
speaks of love, it speaks of God raising
up the lowly, and overcoming hatred
with love.

We adore you, O Christ, and praise
you. Because by your holy cross you
have redeemed the world.
Dear Parishioners,
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Historical Background of this Feast

On this date in 335, two churches and a shrine erected by Constantine over the empty grave of Jesus and over
the place of the crucifixion were dedicated. After these were destroyed by the Persians in 614, the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher, which still stands, was erected by the Crusaders in 1149. Today also commemorates the
event that led to the building of the churches dedicated in 335the discovery of the true cross by St.
Helena, Constantines mother, in 326. According to one legend, St. Helena traveled to Jerusalem on pilgrimage
in search of the true cross. Workers she hired dug through a pagan temple that had been erected on the site of
the Crucifixion by Hadrian and found three crosses. A dying woman was brought in, and touched by each
cross in succession, the last of which healed her. Helena ordered that this cross be divided in three parts: one
to be kept in Jerusalem and the other two to be sent to Constantinople and Rome. The pieces in Jerusalem and
Constantinople were ultimately lost. Slivers were taken from the portion that went to Rome until eventually it
was scattered around the world.
Msgr. Richard
As St. John Paul II instructed, when major solemnities and feast days fall on a Sunday the local Bishops conferences may
allow for the solemnity or feast day to be celebrated in place of the Sunday in Ordinary Time. This Sunday, as we
celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, I present a Reflection for you based on the writings of Benedictine
Susan Sink and Rev. James Field, writing for J.S. Paluch Co.
Rev. James Field, J.S. Paluch Co.
Eugene (Bud) Beggs
(Long-time Parishioner)


MASS INTENTIONS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
8:00 AM Rosemary Hagerott INT
5:30 PM For All Parishioners
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
7:30 AM Maxima Limtiaco RIP
10:00 AM Chris Olsen RIP
12 NOON Stanley Ptasinski RIP
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
8:00 AM Rev. Paul Manzano DS RIP
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
No Mass (Catholic Prayer Breakfast)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
8:00 AM Communion Service
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
8:00 AM Communion Service
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
8:00 AM Genevieve Collins RIP
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
8:00 AM Rev. David Tobin, CSSR RIP
5:30 PM Rafela Barela Gephart RIP
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
7:30 AM For All Parishioners
10:00 AM Eleanor Carnighan RIP
12 NOON Hazel Deresma INT

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK

MondayOur Lady of Sorrows
TuesdaySs. Cornelius & Cyprian
WednesdaySt. Robert Bellarmine
FridaySt. Januarius
SaturdaySs. Andrew Kim Tae-gn,
Paul Chng Ha-sang & Companions

TODAYS READINGS

First ReadingWhenever anyone
who had been bitten by a serpent
looked at the bronze serpent, they lived
(Numbers 21:4b-9).
PsalmDo not forget the works of the
Lord! (Psalm 78).
Second ReadingChrist Jesus,
though he was in the form of God, did
not regard equality with God something
to be grasped (Philippians 2:6-11).
GospelGod so loved the world that
he gave his only Son so that those who
believe might have eternal life
(John 3:13-17).



THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSSSEPTEMBER 14, 2014 4

PLEASE PRAY FOR
THOSE WHO
HAVE REQUESTED
OUR PRAYERS

Madeleine Loera, 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 Saints
Ss. Andrew Kim Tae-gn,
Paul Chng Ha-sang & Companions

Christianity came to Korea during the
Japanese invasion in 1592 when some
Koreans were baptized, probably by
Christian Japanese soldiers.
Evangelization was difficult because
Korea refused all contact with the outside
world. Around 1777, Christian literature
obtained from Jesuits in China led
educated Korean Christians to study. A
home Church began. When a Chinese
priest managed to enter secretly a dozen
years later, he found 4,000 Catholics,
none of whom had ever seen a priest.
Seven years later there were 10,000
Catholics.

Andrew Kim, the first native Korean
priest, was the son of Korean converts.
His father, Ignatius Kim, was martyred
during the persecution of 1839 and was
beatified in 1925. After Baptism at the
age of 15, Andrew traveled 1,300 miles
to the seminary in Macao, China. Six
years later he returned to his country
through Manchuria. That same year he
crossed the Yellow Sea to Shanghai and
was ordained a priest. Back home again,
he was assigned to arrange for more
missionaries to enter by a water route
that would elude the border patrol. He
was arrested, tortured and finally
beheaded at the Han River near Seoul,
the capital. Paul Chong Ha-sang was a
lay apostle and married man, aged 45.

Pope John Paul II visited Korea in 1984
and canonized, besides Andrew and
Paul, 98 Koreans and three French
missionaries who had been martyred
between 1839-1867. Among them were
bishops and priests, but for the most
part they were lay persons: 47 women,
45 men.

Pope Francis recently visited South
Korea, and received an enthusiastic
reception. He offered prayers and hope
for reunification of South Korea with
North Korea. Today, there are almost
5.1 million Catholics in Korea.
AmericanCatholic.org






RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation
for Adults) is the formal way in
which anyone interested in becoming
Catholic can learn about the faith.

For more information:
Deacon Manuel Valencia
deaconmanuelvalencia@gmail.com
RCIA
Tuesday, September 16 7:30 pm
Parish Office Meeting Room
Liturgy of the Hours &
Evening Prayer
Thursday, September 18
Oratory in the Parish Office
5 pm Meditation 5:30 pm Prayer
SAINT RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH 5

Youth Ministry

Youth Nites, 7- 8:30 pm, OMalley
Next Youth NiteWed., Sept. 24
Join us at this kick-off for the year!
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
EDGE Fellowship Meetings, the first
Monday of each month in Gara Hall.
If you havent registered, you can
register at the first meeting.

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.

Confirmation ProgramYear 2
Session with Sponsors
Saturday, Oct. 4, 4 pm, OMalley

Theresa Costanzo ym@st-rita.org

Religious Education

Classes for 1st-8th Graders
Begin Tomorrow, September 15
Classes meet from 4 5:15 pm. If you
havent registered your child yet, come
meet with us at 4 pm in OMalley Hall.
You can meet our Team, register, and
find out about our year to come!

Preschool Sunday School
Begins September 21
Are you a parent of a 3-5 year old?
Your children are invited to join us for
Preschool Sunday School every Sunday
during the 10 am Mass. Attend Mass
while your child is learning the Sunday
Gospel in a fun, age-appropriate way.
No registration requiredjust show
up. We meet above Gara Hall in the
TK Classroom.


Cristina Cullen dre@st-rita.org


Support St. Rita School
Annual Magazine Drive
Ends September 30

Purchase a magazine and the school
receives 50% of the sale! If you dont
have a St. Rita student to order from,
come to the School Office or
visit our school website to order online:
st-ritaschool.org
Harvest Festival
Beer Brats & BingoFriday, Oct. 17
from 6 - 9 pm in OMalley Hall.

Harvest FestivalSaturday, Oct. 18
from 12:30 - 9:30 pm, West Campus.
Games, Rides, Food, Sports, Games
and More!

St. Rita School 355-6114
Knit for Kids Program
Wed., Sept. 17, 1-3 pm

This Program sponsored by World
Vision provides handmade sweaters,
using a very simple pattern, to
children in our country and around
the world.

If you havent worked on this
project before and are interested in
learning more, join our group in the
Parish Office Meeting Room.

Ana Ptasinski 355-3146
Help the Suffering
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
CRS offers humanitarian aid to people
in 93 countries. They are currently
providing assistance and emergency
relief to help alleviate the suffering of
our Christian brothers and sisters and
other innocent victims of violence in
the Middle East, South Sudan, and
West Africa. Please help & thank you.
crs.org


Youth Ministry Team Commissioning
Saturday, September 20, 5:30 pm Mass
Catechetical Sunday
September 21, 10 am Mass


St. Rita will commission the St. Rita School teachers, St. Rita Religious
Education teachers, and St. Rita Youth Ministry leaders next weekend, a
wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of
Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel.

We also recognize parents and guardians as the primary catechists of their
children, and encourage you to take seriously your role of making your
households a place where faith is passed on to the next generation.



Bulletin Submissions

Deadline for the Bulletin is Thursday,
10 days before the requested
publication date.

Please email: bulletin@st-rita.org
Or bring the written information to
the Parish Office, ATTN: Rosemary
Womens Retreat
Oct. 31-Nov. 2
At Mater Dolorosa

Its not too early to make your
reservation. A $50 deposit will hold
your spot. The theme this year is
Holy Waitingin a world that cant
wait!
Joan Crow 355-3621

This Week at St. Rita This Week at St. Rita This Week at St. Rita


Monday, September 15Religious Education Begins
See page 5 for more information.

Tuesday, September 16No 8 am Mass at St. Rita
(Catholic Prayer Breakfast)

Tuesday, September 16RCIA
See page 4 for information.

Wednesday, September 17Knit for Kids
See page 4 for more information.

Thursday, September 18Liturgy of the Hours resumes
See page 4 for more information.


Save the Date Save the Date Save the Date


Saturday, September 20Commissioning of
Youth Ministry Team Leaders
Sunday, September 21Catechetical Sunday
See page 5 for more information.

September 27-28Ministry Fair
After all the Masses

Monday, September 29Baptism Preparation Class
7 pm Parish Office Meeting Room
For October 5 Baptisms

Sunday, October 5St. Vincent De Paul Bundle Sunday
Start cleaning your closets! More information in future Bulletins.

October 17 & 18St. Rita School Harvest Festival
See page 5 for more information.

October 31-November 2St. Rita Womens Retreat
Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center
See page 5 for more information.

The Exaltation of the Cross
The significance of the true cross
lies not in the wood itself but in the
burden it bore. As a faithful
Christian, what crosses do you
accept in your life today?
Rev. James Field, J.S. Paluch Co.
THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSSSEPTEMBER 14, 2014 6

St. Rita
Capital Campaign
Questions & Answers




Q: Now that the Campaign has reached 50% of the
Phase One goal of $5,250,000, what will the Capital
Campaign Cabinet do to obtain the other 50%?

A: First, it is important to remember that this first 50%
is from less than 100 parish familiesthat is 100 out of
over 1,200 families registered in the parish. Msgr.
Richard and the Cabinet are continuing to reach out to
those others who are capable of making a major gift and
to all parishioners. The best chance for success is to
have 100% participation of the parish and school. In
the coming months and weeks, we will increase efforts
to achieve this.
Secondly, we are now in the process of researching and
reaching out to foundations to see how we can qualify
for various grants and gifts from these foundations.

Thirdly, and most importantly, Msgr. and the Cabinet
continue to pray for the success of our Campaign and to
urge all parishioners to join in this prayer.
Fingerprinting for VIRTUS
Tuesday, September 16th, 12-3:40 pm & 5:00-7:20 pm.
All Souls Parish, 1500 W Main St. Alhambra.
Must call for appointment: 626/281-0466
Saturday, September 20, 9 am - 4pmBack to
Basics: Apologetics Conference. Speaker: Trent Horn
Cost: $35/ person or whatever you can pay; includes
breakfast and lunch. St. Joseph Campus, Sacred Heart
Retreat House, 507 N. Granada Avenue, Alhambra.
RSVP/Info: 626/289-1353 x200
Monday, September 22, 7-8:30 pmSt. Francis High
School Annual College Fair. Parents and students are
invited to meet with representatives from colleges,
universities, community college and military academies. St.
Francis High School Courtyard., 200 Foothill Blvd.,
LaCaada 91011 Info: 818/790-0325
Sunday, September 28, 9 am - 3pmMarriage &
Family Life Conference. $50/family or whatever you can
pay. Includes breakfast and lunch. Activities for youth
&children. St. Joseph Campus, Sacred Heart Retreat House,
507 N. Granada Avenue, Alhambra.
RSVP/Info: 626/289-1353 x200

Catholic Community

ST. RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH 7

August Maintenance & Repairs

Income (blue envelopes & directed donations)
$ 8,718
Expenses (utilities, minor repairs, etc.) $13,197
Shortage of funds < $ 4,479 >
Number of parishioners donating 159
Number of parish families 1276
Percentage of families contributing 12%

In August, once again there an increase in Edison costs
for keeping the Church and Halls cool. Additionally
some repairs were finished that incurred special costs.
We appreciate your donations to this Special Collection
each month. If you have not contributed in the past,
please consider helping us meet our monthly expenses.

To contribute to our Maintenance & Repairs Collection,
use the blue envelope in your packetor any envelope
or a checkand just write For Maintenance Only. All
funds stay at St. Rita.


Thank you for your support!



Thank You for your Service!

Before Father Roberto Ike returned home, some members
of the St. Rita Immaculate Heart of Mary Prayer Group
took him to lunch at Zen Buffet Restaurant, one of his
favorite places. Additionally we were joined by Father
Bruno, of Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, and also Father
Arthur, former Director of Mater Dolorosa. We thank each
of these priests for the
services they provide
to our St. Rita Faith
Community!


Fr. Bruno Fr. Roberto
Fr. Arthur