Confessions are Saturday 4-5:00 P.M. in Garden of School of Religious Education
Weekend Masses: SA 5:30 P.M., SU 8:00 A.M., SU 10 A.M.
Daily Mass: 8 A.M. (M, Tu, W)
Greetings OLR,
On Labor Day I decided to prune three large hibiscus shrubs at the Stearns Street entrance because I noticed mildew on their leaves. Have you ever noticed that many gardeners shape shrubs in squares, rectangles, or circles? I prefer shrubs to grow naturally. This work reminded me of all the times I worked in my mother’s garden in Ireland, happy memories. Many thanks to Steve Flint and Diego Gallegos for removing all the cuttings.
Tuesday was the Feast Day of the Nativity of Mary. Thanks to our parishioners who provided flowers for our shrine to the Mother of our Lord.
Today the new carpet is being laid in the rectory offices and, in the next few days, tiles for the kitchen will be installed.
This coming Saturday we welcome Cardinal Mahony for our two outdoor sessions of the Sacrament of Confirmation for our teens and adults. Please remember them all in your prayers.
We are in our second week of digital learning in the school and all is going well. Please pray for our students who are being tested these days. Thanks to our great teachers and our Principal for a job well done.
Thank you, parishioners, for attending Mass last Sunday in the extreme heat. I was so impressed by your presence.
Finally, let us pray for all those who lost their innocent lives on that dreadful day in the history of the USA. I can distinctly recall where I was when I saw the news in Ireland with friends having a meal. How tragic! What suffering! So much loss of lives! Let us be with all those families who will miss their loved ones on Friday, September 11.
Thinking and praying for you all.
Love,
Fr. Gerard
Confirmation for the class of 2019-2020 will be held in the outdoor Our Lady of Refuge Chapel on Saturday, September 12. Please pray for our high school and adult confirmandi’s as they take this big step in professing their faith.
RCIA: This process for discovering more about the Catholic Faith and Adult Confirmation is for those who did not complete their sacraments and begins in the fall. Please send folks our way who are interested in learning more about Catholicism. For questions, call Shirl Giacomi, DRE (562-597-3102).
- Doug Alford now leaves the inquiry stage of the RCIA and continues his on-going formation through reflection, prayer, instruction, and discernment. He is expected to attend weekly Mass (in person or online during Covid restrictions). Doug is already active at OLR with his sponsor, Rosiemarie. He is a part of the 8 A.M. Mass set-up team. If you see Doug, welcome him! We are blessed to have him in our community.
- Michael Polasky, part of OLR adult Confirmation process, receives his First Communion. Michael will be confirmed on Saturday with 32 teens and 5 adults.
Baptisms: Please welcome the newest members of our parish community, Sadie Cortez and Aiden Delgado, who were baptized last Saturday. Baptisms have resumed monthly. They are held outdoors in Our Lady of Refuge Chapel. We follow safety procedures with social distancing and all who attend must wear a mask. Contact the Church Office (562-498-6641) to make arrangements.
Religious Education classes begin the second week of October: M, Oct. 12 for Grades 1-5; TU, Oct. 13 for Jr High and Confirmation. We meet the second and fourth weeks of the month. Due to Covid-19, we will begin online. Our catechists are eager to meet with your children on Zoom. If you haven’t registered, do so this week. https://forms.gle/r56XV1ovxruQy9CL8 For questions, call Shirl Giacomi, DRE (562-597-3102).
Notable election dates:
Sample ballots will be mailed out between Sept. 24 and Oct. 13
Vote-by-Mail ballots will be mailed out starting Oct. 5
The deadline to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 19. To check your voter registration status, select https://www.lavote.net/vrstatus
Early voting period runs from Oct. 5 to Nov. 2
Election Day is Nov. 3
OLR Church Office (562) 498-6641 9:30 A.M. -- 2 P.M. (M-F)
5195 Stearns Street, Long Beach, CA 90815-2901
OLR website -- https://www.ourladyofrefuge.org
Betty Guevara, Parish Secretary -- [email protected]
Shirl Giacomi, Director of Religious Education -- [email protected]
(562) 597-3102 9 A.M. -- 3 P.M. (M-F)
Donnie Green, OLRS Interim Principal -- [email protected]
OLR Catholic School -- (562) 597-0819 7:30 A.M. -- 3 P.M. (M-F)
5210 E. Los Coyotes Diagonal, Long Beach, CA 90815
Team Refuge -- Tony McKeon, Coordinator (949) 874-6097
Faith Direct -- https://membership.faithdirect.net/enroll/CA966 or the app Faith Direct – eGiving for Churches
Realm -- https://onrealm.org (to access to your account) or the app Connect – our Church Community, ACS Technology Group (Realm Connect)