Young Adult Ministry Wednesdays at 7:00PM at the Community Center
The Young Adult Ministry (YAM) is growing! We are back to meeting in the Community Center every Wednesday at 7pm for prayer, formation, and fellowship including dinner. There are also plenty of weekend activities to join.
Young adults, ages 18-39 are invited, including students, couples, singles, and young families. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @abvmyam
Message from Fr. Mike
Report on the Five-Day Holy Hour and Eucharistic Witness
This was truly a grace-filled and unforgettable time for our parish community as we journeyed through a five-day Holy Hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The event began on Monday, June 16, and concluded on Friday, June 20. From the outset, there was some concern that there might be periods when the Blessed Sacrament would be left unattended. However, that fear was quickly dispelled. In a beautiful testament to the deep faith and devotion of our community, parishioners came forward with great enthusiasm to pray and meditate before the Blessed Sacrament, ensuring that every minute from Monday through Friday was faithfully accompanied.
Throughout the five days, suggested Scripture passages guided participants in their meditation: three passages from Monday to Wednesday, two on Thursday, and one on Friday. Providentially, the reading chosen for Friday—Luke 10:1-37—proved to be especially meaningful. It recounts the moment when Jesus sends out the seventy-two disciples in pairs to proclaim the Good News, which is our reading this weekend. This passage became a fitting conclusion to our Adoration, as it emphasized the natural next step: to go forth and share the fruit of our prayer and time spent with the Lord.
Indeed, that is what many of us did. Immediately following the conclusion of our Holy Hour, we joined the parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Altadena for their Corpus Christi procession. The event was profoundly moving and deeply connected to the themes of solidarity and mission. It began with dinner alongside those who had lost their homes in the devastating Eaton Canyon wildfire. We listened to their testimonies, bore witness to their resilience, and stood with them in prayer and support.
Following the meal, we celebrated Mass with and for the victims, then proceeded to walk in a Eucharistic procession that covered more than a mile through the surrounding neighborhoods. As we processed, we saw the ruins—burnt homes, trees, cars, and many personal belongings reduced to ashes. Step by step, we lifted up prayers to the Lord, present in the Blessed Sacrament, asking His blessing upon these empty lots, the families who once lived there, and all those who are now faced with the task of rebuilding their lives. We prayed for wisdom, courage, and patience for each of them.
The procession was a remarkable moment of Church unity and compassion. People came from all over the country—New York, Minnesota, and various parts of the East Coast—to walk with us. Seven bishops, including Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, and Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, joined the procession. Many priests and religious, including two priests from China, also participated. Together, we formed a living sign of the universal Church standing in solidarity with the victims.
Reflecting on the entire week, one key theme shines through: the power of community and the grace of solidarity. The Holy Spirit moved us not only to adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament but also to become His witnesses in the world. What began as a week of prayer quietly unfolded into a mission of accompaniment and hope. This was not our plan—it was the Lord’s. We simply said yes to His invitation.
We are deeply grateful to Ms. Frances Inafuku and her dedicated team for their excellent coordination of the five-day Holy Hour. Their effort and commitment were instrumental in the success of this beautiful spiritual experience.
To God be the glory and honor, now andforever.
Fr. Mike
Although our church doors remain closed, Assumption has been very active. We have expanded our online presence, continued with outdoor Masses and a Communion Distribution, and our ministries continue to meet virtually. We continue to ensure that our parish remains operationally viable, especially while Mass attendance is still limited.
Your parish is dependent on your generosity which helps us to continue to reach out to those most in need. We need to keep the parish in solid working order and pay our bills that continue during this extended uncertain period. As a reminder, we introduced online giving via Faith Direct which provides a great benefit to our parish. Information is available on our website and there is no charge to you to give. We are most grateful for your continued giving and we look forward to serving you as we prayerfully move forward. Thank you to our 57 parishioners who have already signed up for Faith Direct.
The Coronavirus Relief Act Law expanded the charitable giving deduction to taxpayers who do not itemize and lifted the cap on annual contributions for those who itemize for the 2020 tax year. Please consult with your tax preparer for further details.
Maintenance & Repairs Report – Month of September
Donations through the green envelopes found in your monthly envelope packet, Maintenance & Repairs designated on the memo line of your check, and in Faith Direct, are restricted for use towards our Church Maintenance & Repairs. These donations remain 100% in our parish and are not subject to an Archdiocese assessment fee. These funds go directly toward paying for our church facility upkeep, maintenance and improvements, and the utility bills.
We had 3 fewer families participating this month versus August 2020. Previously, we had delayed some projects while donations were down due to Covid 19: however, we need to proceed on some much-needed repairs and maintenance. This past month, we repainted Msgr. Crean Hall which had not been painted in over 10 years. The pictures were in a previous bulletin.
Please consider donating to this much needed fund via online banking, Faith Direct, mailing, or dropping your donation through the mail slot of the rectory office.
Here is a look at the month of September 2020 Maintenance & Repairs collections versus our actual expenditures:
Funds collected from green envelopes $ 7,897
Repairs, routine maintenance, utility expenses $(19,056)
Shortfall for the month $(11,159)
Families Participating 118
(green envelopes, Faith Direct, or indicated on check)
Thank you for your continued donation!
Let’s go paperless!
Faith Direct enables parishioners to make church contributions through either a direct debit from your checking/savings account, or through your credit/debit card. It is very simple to do. Through the Assumption website and Constant Contact you can access the Faith Direct secure website. Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for this month is “Respect for the Planet’s Resources.” Let’s follow his direction and go paperless!
Many of you are aware and take advantage of the convenience of electronic giving to our parish, and we are most grateful for your choosing this option. However, it is NOT paperless. Your bank mails us a check instead of you. So please reconsider and switch to Faith Direct. Let’s implement a positive action during this pandemic and save some trees in accordance with the Pope’s prayer.
Also, if you no longer need your monthly envelopes mailed to you, please notify the rectory office so we can reduce unnecessary related costs.
Thank you!
Attention EMs, Lectors, Altar Servers and Sacristans
Please do not forget to update your information and preferences on the scheduler program. The live schedule is on our website. Please feel free to contact Anne Au at annekpau@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Please be flexible! If you see that we don’t have enough Lectors(2), EM’s (2), or Altar Servers (2), please step up!