The faith community of San Buenaventura Mission welcomes all who visit our historic Mission and who join us in our liturgical celebrations. Visitors are welcomed in a special way at Sunday Mass and receive a remembrance prayer card.  All are welcome at the Mission.

Pope Francis is calling upon the Church and the world with encouragement to begin a new chapter in evangelization. The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium) is our gift from Pope Francis on the proclamation of the Gospel. This dynamic document is written in the plain, everyday language for which the pope has become famous.

Since it publication in November, Evangelii Gaudium has shot to the number one position in the Amazon categories Christian Leadership, Christian Faith, and Catholicism. It has also received over 50 five-star ratings, making it one of the most popular religious books available.

Quotes include "thought provoking," and "I am an evangelical protestant but it is my fervent hope that this 'exhortation' will be widely read across the community of Christ throughout the world."

"Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is nothing else than the culmination of the way he lived his entire life. Moved by his example, we want to enter fully into the fabric of society, sharing the lives of all, listening to their concerns, helping them materially and spiritually in their needs, rejoicing with those who rejoice, weeping with those who weep; arm in arm with others, we are committed to building a new world. But we do so not from a sense of obligation, not as a burdensome duty, but as the result of a personal decision which brings us joy and gives meaning to our lives." — Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 269, November, 2013.

I encourage all people of good will to read this compelling work by Pope Francis that underscores who we are as God's holy creation and find the true meaning of joy in our lives.

Together In Mission Campaign 2014, our annual Catholic Appeal to help sustain our poorest parishes and schools in the Archdiocese, begins February 15/16.  Unlike any other (arch)diocesan annual campaign in the United States, all of the funds collected are solely distributed to the designated recepient parishes and schools.  No funds are channeled to any other Archdiocese of Los Angeles budget need.  To learn more about this wonderful campaign to foster Gospel ministires in our archdiocese and to make an onlne gift, visit the Together In Mission website, click here. 

Follow Together In Mission on Facebook, click here.

Coming next is The University Series this Lent (March and April)...a first for our Mission parish.  To learn more about The University Series see the article below.

To learn more about our parish ministries please review our Ministry Opportunities Booklet.

"Siempre Adelante: United in the love of God as a Mission Family."

Shalom.

During the season of Lent, The University Series™ offers more than 100 seminars connecting faith with real life in areas such as current events, contemporary moral issues, evangelization, faith and science, marriage and family, church history, scripture, prayer, and other priorities set by the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Synod. Sessions include multi-media presentations and always allow time for your questions. Some Spanish presentations are available.

The 2014 season will run March 6 to April 10 at 12 parishes that span the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Our faculty have extensive knowledge in their fields and love to teach. They include international authorities, priests, religious, professors, authors, lay people, and local favorites who are all passionate about helping students grow in knowledge and faith.

An affordable tuition per class ($5 during pre-registration or $8 at the door) allows each student/participant to bring a guest for free.

A Season Pass for all classes is available only during pre-registration for $85 (a $190 value!) and includes your guest. Remember: these special discounts end when pre-registration closes.  Pre-registration will be held after Sunday Masses in late Janaury and early February.

The University Series strives for excellence because our Catholic faith deserves our very best efforts.

Visit The University Series website for further information:  click here. 

Pre-registration Deadline: February 17.  Click here to register online.

Specific Programt at the Mission site on Monday evenings from 7:30 - 9:00 PM:

March 10:  Junipero Serra's Legacy, Dr. Stephen Hackel & Fr. Tom Elewaut in the Mission Church

March 17:  La Transformacion de la Iglesia, School, Deacon Leonel Yoque in O'Brien Hall

March 24:  Evolution of the Universe, School, Fr. Dave Heney in O'Brien Hall

 March 31:  Why We Do What We Do at Mass, Fr. Tom Elewaut in the Mission Church

 April 7:       The Passionate Marriage, Fr Dave Heney and Joe Sikorra in O'Brien Hall

Dear families,

With this letter, I wish, as it were, to come into your homes to speak about an event which will take place at the Vatican this coming October. It is the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which is being convened to discuss the theme of "pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization". Indeed, in our day the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel by confronting the new and urgent pastoral needs facing the family.

This important meeting will involve all the People of God – bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful of the particular Churches of the entire world – all of whom are actively participating in preparations for the meeting through practical suggestions and the crucial support of prayer. Such support on your part, dear families, is especially significant and more necessary than ever. This Synodal Assembly is dedicated in a special way to you, to your vocation and mission in the Church and in society; to the challenges of marriage, of family life, of the education of children; and the role of the family in the life of the Church. I ask you, therefore, to pray intensely to the Holy Spirit, so that the Spirit may illumine the Synodal Fathers and guide them in their important task. As you know, this Extraordinary Synodal Assembly will be followed a year later by the Ordinary Assembly, which will also have the family as its theme. In that context, there will also be the World Meeting of Families due to take place in Philadelphia in September 2015. May we all, then, pray together so that through these events the Church will undertake a true journey of discernment and adopt the necessary pastoral means to help families face their present challenges with the light and strength that comes from the Gospel.

I am writing this letter to you on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. The evangelist Luke tells us that the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, in keeping with the Law of Moses, took the Baby Jesus to the temple to offer him to the Lord, and that an elderly man and woman, Simeon and Anna, moved by the Holy Spirit, went to meet them and acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah (cf. Lk 2:22-38). Simeon took him in his arms and thanked God that he had finally "seen" salvation. Anna, despite her advanced age, found new vigour and began to speak to everyone about the Baby. It is a beautiful image: two young parents and two elderly people, brought together by Jesus. He is the one who brings together and unites generations! He is the inexhaustible font of that love which overcomes every occasion of self-absorption, solitude, and sadness. In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest, housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support... Nevertheless, if there is no love then there is no joy, and authentic love comes to us from Jesus. He offers us his word, which illuminates our path; he gives us the Bread of life which sustains us on our journey.

Dear families, your prayer for the Synod of Bishops will be a precious treasure which enriches the Church. I thank you, and I ask you to pray also for me, so that I may serve the People of God in truth and in love. May the protection of the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph always accompany all of you and help you to walk united in love and in caring for one another. I willingly invoke on every family the blessing of the Lord.

From the Vatican, 2 February 2014
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

FRANCISCUS