Fourth Week of Lent

Boundless Love and Forgiveness

In the Gospel for this Sunday First Scrutiny Mass, we hear the very familiar parable of the Prodigal Son. The father celebrating the son “who was dead and has come to life again, was lost and has been found” (Lk 15:24) is only but a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father is always ready to forgive the truly repentant.

The Lenten reconciliation Service at St. Joseph the Worker this year is on Thursday, April 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the church.

The first practice of Lent is PRAYER and, at St. Joseph the Worker, we make all Fridays of Lent special days of prayer.

Lenten Via Crucis - Stations of the Cross

During Lent, the Friday afternoon-evening schedule is as follows:

Personal Stations of the Cross: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exposition: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Benediction: 7:00 p.m. followed by Group Stations

The schedule for the Group Stations is the following:

March 28: Vietnamese
April 4: Spanish after mass
April 11: English

Books in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese will be available for your use to follow the group stations in your own language.

Those who prefer to pray the Personal Stations can use the booklet (method of St. Francis of Assisi) that can be downloaded below in different formats
         pdf      epub      kindle

LENTEN RECONCILIATION SERVICE

This year, the Lenten Reconciliation Service for Deanery 5 will be as follows.

St. John Baptist De La Salle: Wednesday, March 26, 7:00 p.m.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Monday, March 31, 7:00 p.m.
St. Mel: Tuesday, April 1, 7:00 p.m.
St John Eudes: Wednesday, April 2, 7:00 p.m.

St Joseph the Worker: Thursday, April 3, 7:00 p.m.

Our Lady of the Valley: Monday, April 7, 7:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes: Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 p.m.
St. Bernardine of Siena: Wednesday, April 9, 7:00 p.m.

2025 HOLY WEEK

Palms for the Palm Sunday celebration (all kinds and sizes are acceptable) are to be taken to the northeast end of the schoolyard (closest to the Parish Center back yard) on Saturday, April 12 by 8:00 a.m. Palms preparation will start at 9:00 a.m.

You can help us decorate the church for Easter by providing an Easter lily or other flowering plant. Please bring them to the church any time during Holy Week.

The schedule for Holy Week is as follows.

HOLY THURSDAY (April 17)
   8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer
   7:30 p.m. Multi-Lingual Mass of the Lord’s Supper
GOOD FRIDAY (April 18)
   8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
   1:00 p.m. English Service
   3:00 p.m. Spanish Service
   6:00 p.m. Vietnamese Service
HOLY SATURDAY (April 19)
   8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
   7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass
EASTER SUNDAY (April 20)
   7:30 a.m. Vietnamese Mass
   9:00 a.m. English Mass
   10:30 a.m. English Mass
   12:00 p.m. Spanish Mass

Thank You for Your Generosity

We are deeply grateful for your generosity in supporting those affected by the recent wildfires. Your kindness is bringing hope and assistance to families in need, helping them recover and rebuild. Thank you for being a light in our community and reflecting Christ’s love through your compassion. See below for message from Archbishop José H. Gomez:

Dear Father Villalobos,

The recent fires in Los Angeles have profoundly affected our schools, parishes, and so many individuals and families in our community. In these challenging times, our faith calls us to come together in solidarity to provide hope and healing for those who are struggling.

We are grateful to you and your parish community for answering that call, On behalf of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and all those who need our help, thank you for your generous gift in support of the Wildfire Victims Emergency Relief Fund.

Your kind donation will directly assist the individuals and families in our community who need help to recover and rebuild by providing them with emergency financial assistance.

We are blessed by your commitment to offering light and hope for our brothers and sisters in need. May our lives always reflect the generosity and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Jesus and Mother of all the peoples, keep us close to her Son.

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles

Together in Mission 2025

This year, as we celebrate the Jubilee Year of the Catholic Church, we are all invited to make a special gift to Together in Mission 2025. “Gifts of the Heart,” the Annual Appeal, launches soon.

In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, one in every five parishes and one in every four Catholic schools rely on financial assistance to continue their vital ministries. Our generosity directly impacts these communities, providing the resources they need to thrive.
Let us come together to make a difference and bring the love of Christ to those in need.

Confirmation Year 1

Sunday, March 30th, 9:00am to 10:15am (YM Room): “The Church is Holy and Catholic” (pages 109+)

Tuesday, April 8th, 7:00pm to 8:15pm (Hall>
Or
Sunday, April 13th, 9:00am to 10:15am YM Room): “The Church is Apostolic”

Tuesday, May 6th, 7:00pm to 8:15pm (Hall)
OR
Sunday, May 11th, 9:00am to 10:15am (YM Room): “Mary, the Mother of Christ and the Church”.

Confirmation Year 2

Tuesday, April 1st, 7:00pm to 8:15pm (Hall)
OR
Sunday, April 6th, 9:00am to 10:15am (YM Room): “The Ten Commandments”.

Tuesday, May 13th, 7:00pm to 8:15pm (Hall)
OR
Sunday, May 18th, 9:00am to 10:15am (YM Room): Candidate and Sponsor Interviews.

Friday, May 30th, After 7pm (Church): Confirmation Rehearsal.

Youth Ministry Projects/Events

Every Friday of Lent. Stations of the Cross in the Church (after the7pm Benediction inside the Church or the First Friday Mass).

Saturday, April 5th. “Pilgrims of Hope” walk from All Souls Church in Alhambra to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The pilgrimage will begin at 8am and conclude with Mass at the cathedral with Archbishop Gomez. St. Joseph the Worker Parish will be one of the Parishes assigned to carry a relic of a Saint during this walk.

Friday, April 11th, 7pm. The youth and their families will lead the Stations of the Cross in the Church.

Thursday, April 17th, 7:30pm to 9:30pm Holy Thursday Mass. The youth will lead the procession from the Church to the Garden of Repose in the Hall.

Friday, June 13th, 7pm. Church. Sacrament of Confirmation Mass.

Saturday, April 26, 2025 – Archdiocesan Youth Ministry Retreat (Anointed For Mission)

Youth Ministry Global Events

July 28, 2025 to Aug. 3, 2025: Jubilee of Young People (ages 13 – 35). Rome, Italy.

2027 (pending actual dates): World Youth Day (ages 13-35). Seoul, South Korea

For more information regarding youth ministry and the Confirmation Teen process, email JP Fernandez

Adult Confirmation Schedule

All meetings are in the Youth Ministry Room, Starting at 7pm.

April 3, 2025 – Orientation
April 10, 2025 – Images of God
April 17, 2025 – Holy Week. No Session, attend mass this evening.
April 24 2025 - Jesus the Christ, The Church
May 1, 2025 – Morality
May 8, 2025 – Sacraments & Symbols
May 15, 2025 – Water & Baptism
May 22, 2025 – Bread, Wine and the Eucharist
May 29, 2025 – Immediate Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation (Oil, Laying on Hands, Confirmation)
June 19, 2025 – Mystagogical Reflection on the Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation

For any questions regarding the Adult Confirmation Process, email: Bill Spaks or JP Fernandez

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RCIA INQUIRY CLASSES

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process that helps people prepare to enter the Catholic Church. It's a journey of conversion that includes study, prayer, and rites at Mass.

At St. Joseph the Worker we offer classes in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese to those who wish to learn more about Catholicism and are interested in becoming a Catholic.

The schedule of Inquiry Classes is the following:

• Adults (English)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton meeting room
Sundays 12:00 p.m. (Noon)

• Adults and Youth or Teens (Spanish)
Our Lady of Guadalupe meeting room
Fridays 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Adults (Vietnamese)
St. Therese of Lisieux/St. Martin de Porres meeting rooms
Mondays 7:00 p.m. – 9:00p.m.

• Youth or Teen 12-18 years (English)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton meeing room
Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Children 7-12 years (English)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton meeing room
Tuesdays 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• Children 7-12 years (Spanish)
St. Therese of Lisieux/St. Martin de Porres meeting rooms
Fridays 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

For a detailed description of the RCIA process see Becoming Catholic.

For more information: email Bill Sparks, Faith Formation Director or call him at 818.341.6634, ext. 1012.

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USCCB and War in the Holy Land

October 8, 2023
WASHINGTON – In response to the continued tensions and violence that erupted into warfare between Gaza and Israel on October 7, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, calls for prayers for peace in the Holy Land:

“On October 7, the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, the world watched the operation launched from Gaza and the rapid call to arms from Israel that ensued. Almost 50 years to the day of the launch of the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, once again war is spilling out in the Holy Land. With it brings the mounting casualties and hostilities unfolding on all sides, and increased threats to the Status Quo of the Holy Places among Jews, Muslims, and Christians further dimming any hope for peace.

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Join us for Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction Every Friday

St. Joseph the Worker Church has Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction every Friday of the month. 

We invite you to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the church.

Los invitamos a estar en la presencia del Santísimo Sacramento todos los viernes de 5:00 p.m. a 7:00 p.m. en la iglesia, seguido del Santo Rosario a las 7:00 p.m. y la misa en español los Primeros Viernes a las 7:30 p.m.

All are welcome. Todos son bienvenidos.

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Exciting School News!

Tuition Assistance for New Families

Through a generous donation to the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), tuition assistance is available to NEW families to our Catholic school system. The amount can be nearly 50% off the tuition amount. Please share this great news with families you know who hesitate to apply to St. Joseph the Worker School because of the cost of tuition.

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COVID-19 Update

We are happy that we have continued to celebrate mass in our church building.

We ask that you continue to sanitize your hands upon entering the church for the sake of safety for everyone.

We will continue to follow the State, County and Archdiocesan public health guidelines These are the Guidelines:

Masks are still RECOMMENDED but not required in:

• Airplanes
• Indoor public setting and businesses such as retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, cardrooms, meetings, state and local government offices that serve the public.
• Indoors at K-12 schools and daycare
• Churches and Houses of Worship

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Supporting Your Parish

Now is the time to give online!

Electronic Giving (e-giving) is an easy, convenient way to support your parish. Click on "e-giving" at the top right corner of this page and follow the instructions. You have the option to set up your contributions on an ongoing basis or as a one-time donation.

The chart below compares the most recent week’s collection with the same week last year.

Mail: If you prefer, you may mail your offering envelope with check to the parish: St. Joseph the Worker Church, 19808 Cantlay Street, Winnetka, CA 91306.