Good Friday is a most solemn day for all Christians.  Catholics have a powerful liturgical service that takes us deep into the mystery of the passion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In silence the clergy process in and lie prostrate around the altar as we begin.  A beautiful and moving sung rendition of St. John’s Gospel account of the crucifixion is proclaimed followed by a solemn presentation of a wooden cross “on which hung the Savior of the world.” 

​The assembly then processes to the cross to kiss or touch it in an act of veneration. The service continues with the distribution of Holy Communion.  All depart in silence.  The cross is displayed in the church throughout the afternoon for those who wish to visit and pray.

Also visit: Triduum, Living Stations of the Cross

The Easter Vigil is celebrated at the center of the Sacred Triduum and is called the “night of nights.”  It is the heart of Christianity and of our Church. It is Easter!

​The Vigil begins in the courtyard around a bonfire representing the light of Christ from which the new Paschal Candle is lit.  Those assembled light tapers from the candle and process behind it into the darkened church where scripture selections are proclaimed to remind us of God’s great love poured out through the ages for our salvation, culminating in the Gospel account of Jesus’ rising from the dead. New members are initiated through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and first reception of Eucharist (Communion).

All this contributes to a mass you won’t soon forget. A joyful reception is held after the mass to congratulate the newly initiated and to celebrate the great feast of Easter. All are welcome and parking is plentiful!

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper begins with the Presentation of the Holy Oils consecrated by our archbishop, Jose Gomez, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels at the Chrism Mass the previous Monday. The Oil of the Sick will be used to anoint those who suffer illness. The Oil of the Catechumens will be used to anoint those preparing for baptism. The Sacred Chrism, oil mixed with sweet perfume, will be used to anoint the baptized who are to be sealed with the Holy Spirit in Confirmation.
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The Scripture readings at this mass take us from the Exodus story of Israel’s preparations for the flight from Egypt to the Last Supper with Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, and telling us to do the same. In obedience we wash one another’s feet (the “Mandatum”), we celebrate the Eucharist, and we process with the Body of Christ from the church to the Altar of Repose in the Serra Center where we can spend time in prayerful reflection and in adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Also visit: Triduum

The liturgies of Palm Sunday begin with the celebration of the Lord’s triumphal messianic entry into Jerusalem to the acclaim of crowds shouting “Hosanna!” We gather in the courtyard to hear the proclamation of the Gospel account of this event.  Palms are blessed and distributed, followed by a procession into the church.

​Palms are an ancient symbol of victory and Catholics often display the palms, received this Sunday, on a crucifix in their homes.  The Hebrew word Hosanna means “(O Lord) grant salvation” but it has become an acclamation of jubilation and welcome.
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Once inside the church, the focus shifts to Jesus’ suffering and death as we hear the proclamation of his Passion from the Gospel of Mark this year.  We celebrate the Eucharist with Jesus’ words and actions at the Last Supper still echoing in our minds and hearts.

Also visit: Lent, Triduum

Alleluia! Dying, Christ destroyed our death; rising, he restored our life. He will come again in glory! Alleluia!
​We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the promise of our own eternal life.
Come to Easter Sunday Mass ready to be renewed!
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Also visit: Triduum

​Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.
According to the ancient tradition, we mark ourselves with
ashes to remind ourselves that we are mortal,
and that we stand in need of God’s tender mercies.

Also visit: Catholic Lenten Practices

Attention all new high school and college graduates! You are invited to celebrate your accomplishment with a special blessing. Please bring your mortarboard.
Parents and grandparents, please invite all of the new grads in your life.

On Sunday, February 23, James Burgoyne, Rachel Naumann, and Jim Shields were received into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church. Already one with us as baptized Christians, they made a Profession of Faith, were confirmed and received Holy Communion for the first time during a beautiful ceremony at the 11:00 am Mass.

We are grateful to God for them and the gifts they bring to our parish community!

For more information about the process of becoming Catholic, please contact Catherine Shadduck at (805) 482·6417 x331 or catherine@padreserra.org

Also visit: Becoming Catholic

All boys and girls involved in scouting are invited to be recognized during Mass.
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Cookie time! ​Girl Scouts will be in the courtyard after all masses on February 1 and 2. Still $5/box and 8 delicious varieties.

Find out about joining a troop!
Boy Scout Troop #257 for boys in grades 6-12. Contact: Terry Tong 
​terrytong76@gmail.com
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Girl Scouts are kindergarten through 12th grade.
​Contact: Karen Fraser
fraserclan5@verizon.net

​Also visit: Scouts

Take Communion to the sick, hospitalized and homebound, thereby taking Christ through faith and charity, on behalf of the whole community.

​Celebrating the Eucharist is central to our faith. However, due to illness or injury, many Catholics in our parish and community cannot join in the celebration.

Our desire is to stay connected with them so we have a team of volunteers, Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick, who bring Communion to convalescent, nursing, and individual homes as well as local hospitals.
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If you or a loved one are sick, hospitalized and/or homebound and would like Communion brought to you, please contact the parish office or Deacon Luc Papillon.
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Coordinator:
Deacon Luc Papillon
(805) 482 · 6417 x412
deaconlucp@gmail.com

Linda Lowe and Deacon Luc Papillon.
Photo by Julius Acero

​Contact: Teresa Runyon

Ushers welcome us as we arrive to worship, helping us find our way around the worship space and into comfortable seats, facilitating our processions (especially at Communion), and handing out worship aids and bulletins. They also help all of us be responsible stewards by taking up the collection at the liturgy. Contact: Paul Collier

Eucharistic Ministers serve the Body and Blood of Jesus to the community at liturgy. ​Coordinated by Wendy Grasso, this ministry is open to additional volunteers.

Begin the New Year celebrating Mass. It is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, the World Day of Peace, and the first day of New Year's resolutions!

Why do Catholics call Mary “the Mother of God”?
The Catholic Church dedicates the first day of our secular year, January 1, to Mary under her title “Mother of God.” This title was officially affirmed by the Council of Ephesus in 431 C.E. although Mary had been called “Theotokos” (The Bearer of God) since the very early days of the Church.

​As with all Marian dogmas, “Mother of God” says more about Jesus than about Mary. It reinforces our belief that Jesus is, truly and fully, both human and divine. Mary always points us to her Son and our relationship with him.

What does this mean for us? We hold Mary as our model. She is the first person who received Jesus into herself and birthed him into the world. She encourages us also to be bearers of Jesus to our world…to our families, neighborhoods, workplaces and beyond. As disciples of Mary’s Son we are called to bring God’s love, compassion, mercy and healing to others. We ask Mary to pray for us that we may be given the grace to do this each and every day.

All are invited to this celebration of preparing our hearts, minds and lives to welcome and receive Jesus at Christmas.

Simbang Gabi signifies nine days of Christmas Novena Masses traditionally held at dawn in the Philippines. During these celebrations, churches in the Philippines are filled out the doors, and many Filipinos believe that petitions brought to the baby Jesus during these masses are likely to be answered.

After mass, people partake of traditional sweets and snacks at the town or church plaza and enjoy a sense of camaraderie and festiveness with fellow mass goers.

At Padre Serra, we celebrate this beloved tradition with a cultural Mass during Advent, after which we serve a sumptuous meal to the parish community.

This year, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is not a holy day of obligation.

​Celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary who, by the grace of God, was born free of original sin, and kept free from sin her whole life. She was the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus, and is a model for all of us! Ora pro nobis, Maria!

The Church highly reveres Mary and we honor her throughout the year with several feast days, among them the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  This holy day celebrates our belief that Mary was preserved by God from "original sin" from the moment of her conception.  This privilege was given to her in anticipation of her role as the mother of Jesus, the bearer of God.

What does this mean for her and for us?

We must remember that Mary was fully human, vulnerable to human weakness, but from the first moment of her existence, God filled her with grace so that she could live her life completely open to the Holy Spirit and to God's will.

This teaching gives us hope that we too, are destined to be free from sin and bearers of the divine. It is at our baptism that we are made new creations filled with God's grace. Everything that was possible for Mary is possible for us!

Visit also: Prayer