The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord celebrates the day when Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus to God at the Temple, where they met Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-40).
We will celebrate this feast on Thursday, February 2 with two Masses: an 8:00 a.m. Mass and a 6:30 p.m. Mass. The 8:00 a.m. Mass also will be livestreamed to our YouTube channel and Facebook page.
At these Masses, the priest will bless the candles that St. Denis will use throughout the year; and he will bless any candles that parishioners bring to these Masses.
In addition, the priest will bless pairs of 10.25-inch devotional candles in attractive boxes, which can be purchased for $5 per box at the Pastoral Office after February 2.
Our Scripture Reading and Sharing Group, which is led by Fr. John, has met every week via Zoom for almost two years to read through and discuss the Book of Psalms in sequence. The Group has been on hiatus since December because of St. Denis’s busy December schedule; and the hiatus will continue until July because Fr. John has to devote a substantial amount of time in the coming months to other ministries. We look forward to resuming the weekly meetings in July.
In the meantime, St. Denis will start an in-person Bible study group in February; and we encourage you to participate in this new group. Further details will be announced soon on our website and in the bulletin.
For this civil holiday, we will have our usual Masses at 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The 8:00 a.m. Mass also will be livestreamed via our YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Please note that the Pastoral Office will be closed on Monday, January 16.
To read his “I Have a Dream” Speech, please click here.
Everyone at St. Denis wishes you and your family a very merry Christmas and a very blessed and happy New Year!
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you his peace!
(Numbers 6:24-26)
Here is a video Christmas card by parishioners who participated in our Christmas Carol Sing-Along on December 20, 2022.
We have had a wonderful Advent/Christmas season; and we have many people to thank.
Thank you to our wonderful Environment Ministry (led by Chit Tarozza, Edith Reginaldo, and Marie Therese Levan) for decorating the church and the courtyard so beautifully for Advent and Christmas. And thanks to the Knights of Columbus (led by Mike Gonzalez) and others, who set up the Nativity scenes inside the church and in the courtyard.
Thank you to Roxana Polio and her team for organizing the celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe, including the dinner afterward.
Thank you to the Queen of Peace Rosary Group (led by Naty Farquer) for organizing the Simbang Gabi celebration and the dinner afterward.
Thanks to our Religious Education team (led by Celia Flores) for organizing the Children’s Christmas Mass and Las Posadas.
Thank you to all of the liturgical ministers who helped make our Christmas Masses so beautiful, including:
● our Adult Choir, our Young Adult/Youth Choir, and our Children’s Choir (led by Patrick Zubiate, our Music Director);
● our sacristans (Roxana Polio, Marie Therese Levan, and Tony Shatola);
● our lectors (led by Michael Kellogg);
● our Eucharistic ministers (led by Mary Ann Berntsen);
● our altar servers (led by Pat Dempsey);
● our ushers (led by Juan and Linda Peña);
● our livestreaming team (led by Jay Duller);
● and Fr. Dennis, Deacon Al, and Deacon Dennis.
Thanks to all of the staff (led by our former business manager, Petita Virata, and our new business manager, Amy Siacunco), who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that everything went smoothly.
And thank you to all of our parishioners, who participated in all of the events and liturgies, and who support St. Denis throughout the year.
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you his peace!
(Numbers 6:24-26)
And may you have a blessed and happy new year!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. John
Pastor
Every Tuesday from 7:30-9:00 p.m. via Zoom, Fr. John (and sometimes Deacon Dennis) leads our Scripture Reading and Sharing Group, which is reading through the Book of Psalms in sequence. At each meeting, the participants take turns reading one or two Psalms; they discuss the Psalms and how the Psalms speak to us in the 21st century; and they pray with the Psalms.
To join a meeting, please click on the following Zoom link shortly before 7:30 p.m. on one of the above-listed Tuesdays:
https://zoom.us/j/93717806023?pwd=QjkzNDFtRGcyc0E2U3dFQm1LVzl6Zz09.
(The same link is used for every Tuesday night Zoom meeting.)
All are welcome to join the Scripture Reading and Sharing Group, including those who have never studied the Bible.
Saturday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)
8:00 a.m. | Advent weekday Mass (also livestreamed) |
3:30 p.m. | Christmas music |
4:00 p.m. |
Children’s Christmas Mass (also livestreamed) (with children acting out the Nativity story, Christmas Children’s Choir, cantor, organ, trumpet) |
6:30 p.m. | Christmas music |
7:00 p.m. |
Community Christmas Mass (vocal quartet, piano, violin) |
9:30 p.m. | Christmas music |
10:00 p.m. |
“Midnight-style” Christmas Mass at 10:00 p.m. (also livestreamed) (Adult Choir, organ, trumpet) |
Sunday, December 25 (Christmas)
7:00 a.m. |
Christmas Mass (cantor, piano) |
8:45 a.m. | Christmas music |
9:00 a.m. |
Christmas Mass (cantor, organ, trumpet) |
10:45 a.m. | Christmas music |
11:00 a.m. |
Christmas Mass (also livestreamed) (Adult Choir, organ, trumpet) |
12:45 p.m. | Christmas music |
1:00 p.m. |
Christmas Mass (cantor, piano, organ, trumpet) |
5:15 p.m. | Christmas music |
5:30 p.m. |
Christmas Mass (also livestreamed) (vocal quartet, piano) |
Christmas: The Nativity of the Lord/Christmas Day Worship Aid (12/24-25/2022)
Livestreamed Masses are livestreamed simultaneously to St. Denis’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/stdenisdb) and Facebook page (facebook.com/stdenischurch).
GriefShare Support Group
for those mourning a loved one's death
Sundays from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
(in the Hall in Room A)
If you’ve lost a spouse, a child, a family member, or a friend, you probably have found that there are not many people who understand the deep hurt that you feel. This can be a confusing time, when you feel isolated and have many questions about things that you have never faced before. St. Denis GriefShare may help you face the challenges of grief.
To find out more click on the link below:
St. Denis GriefShare
On Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24) at 4:00 p.m., we will have a special Christmas Mass for children and their families. At this Christmas Eve Mass, children will act out the Nativity story in a Children’s Christmas Play, and will sing together in the Children’s Christmas Choir.
All children through grade 8 (even those not enrolled in Religious Education) are invited to act in the Children’s Christmas Play by playing an angel or a shepherd; and they are invited to sing in the Children’s Choir. To participate in these ways, the children must attend a rehearsal on Friday afternoon, December 23. For children who will act in the Children’s Christmas Play, the rehearsal will be from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the church; and for children who will sing in the Children’s Christmas Choir, the rehearsal will be from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the church. Children can both act and sing at the Christmas Eve Mass if they attend both rehearsals on Friday, December 23.
For more information about the Children’s Christmas Play, please contact Celia Flores via E-mail at [email protected] or by calling the Pastoral Office at (909) 861-7106, extension 242.
For more information about the Children’s Christmas Choir, please contact Patrick Zubiate via E-mail at [email protected] or by calling the Pastoral Office at (909) 861-7106.
During the holy season of Advent, we actively recall the arrival of Jesus as the Word made flesh; and we joyfully await his final return at the end of the age. But as we remember the past and anticipate the future, we also are attentive to our divine encounters in the present, the ways that God "arrives" in our everyday lives.
Manny De La Cruz, one of our catechists (and a candidate for an M.A. in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville), will help us to look closely at three key Scripture passages as we recall, recognize, and anticipate the ways that God comes into our lives and into our world.
We will use Amy Ekeh’s book Advent, Season of Divine Encounter, which is published by Liturgical Press. Copies of the book are available for $5 from the Pastoral Office and at the Wednesday meetings.
Join us for a Christmas Carol Sing-Along in the church on Tueday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. This Sing-Along will be a fun, family event for the entire parish (adults, youths, and children), and will be led by our music director, Patrick Zubiate, with organ accompaniment by Dr. Pat Rogers. It also will be livestreamed.
Christmas Carol Sing-Along Music Sheet (12/20/2022)
Patrick will stand in the middle on a podium to lead and conduct us; and we will sit in the pews and use handouts with the lyrics. We will sing familiar Christmas songs (both religious and nonreligious); and Patrick will teach us some new music and easy harmony. In addition, we will have a special performance by St. Denis’s Children’s Choir. Afterward, we will have refreshments and fellowship.
Please bring your family and friends, and join in the fun!
6:30 p.m. |
Outdoor procession followed by a celebration in the courtyard and refreshments in the Hall (with a piñata for the kids) |
After the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, December 18, we will celebrate Las Posadas with an outdoor procession reenacting how Mary and Joseph looked for room in the inn. The procession will end at our Nativity scene in the courtyard, where we will sing Christmas carols and will light all of the outdoor Christmas decorations. (We may even have snow in Diamond Bar!) Afterward, we will have refreshments in the Hall with a piñata for the kids.
5:00 p.m. Procession in the courtyard
5:30 p.m. Mass in the church (also livestreamed)
Simbang Gabi Worship Aid
6:30 p.m. Dinner in the Hall, with entertainment
Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Advent tradition in preparation for Christmas, but people from all cultural backgrounds are invited to join in the celebration.
Our Simbang Gabi celebration will begin with a procession in the courtyard at 5:00 p.m.; Mass in the church at 5:30 p.m. (also livestreamed); and dinner (with entertainment) in the Hall at 6:30 p.m.
All are welcome!
Bring your kids to St. Denis for our annual Advent/Christmas celebration for children (recommended ages 12 and under). The theme is: “A Walk Through Bethlehem.”
In the Hall, we will have 14 different stations, where the children will learn about Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.
Advent/Christmas music will be playing; and the children will participate in various fun activities, such as making Christmas ornaments, placing them on a Christmas tree in the courtyard, and decorating Christmas cookies. In addition, children will meet and learn about St. Nicholas, who was the real-life inspiration for Santa Claus.
For more information or to donate to support this event, please contact Celia Flores, our Director of Religious Education, at (909) 861-7106, ext. 242 or at [email protected] (E-mail).
Join us on Friday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. for St. Denis’s Advent Reconciliation Service, which will include music and will be livestreamed. At the end Service, we will have individual Confessions in the church with about 10-15 priests.
Advent Reconciliation Service Worship Aid (12/16/2022)
Other Advent Reconciliation Services (with 10+ priests) include:
● Wednesday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Lorenzo Ruiz (747 Meadow Pass Rd., Walnut)
● Monday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1835 Larkvane Rd., Rowland Heights)
8:00 a.m. | Mass (also livestreamed) |
8:30 a.m. | Confessions in the courtyard |
8:30-9:30 a.m. | Exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the church |
5:00-6:00 p.m. | No Confessions |
6:30 p.m. | Mass (also livestreamed) |
7:00-9:00 p.m. | Exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel |
7:30 p.m. |
Advent Reconciliation Service (also livestreamed) (with 10+ priests hearing individual Confessions) |
St. Denis’s Christian Service Ministry is collecting new (not used) Christmas toys and gifts for poor and needy children from infancy through age 17. The requested donations include: toys, books, games, sporting equipment, school supplies, and gift cards. All donations should be unwrapped, and should be dropped off at the Pastoral Office by Friday, December 16. (The Pastoral Office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day except Tuesdays, when it is closed.)
Monetary donations also are welcomed and appreciated. These donations will be used to supplement the toys and gifts for the children and also to provide grocery gift cards for poor and needy families. Please write “Christian Service Christmas” on your check or envelope. Then drop the check or envelope in a collection box or basket; drop it in one of the purple boxes on the steps leading to the altar; drop it off at the Pastoral Office; or mail your donation to the Pastoral Office at 2151 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., Diamond Bar, CA 91765. You also may donate via Online Giving (click on “Christian Service Offering” and mention Christmas) or via PayPal (mention “Christian Service Christmas”).
For more information, please E-mail Liz Fan at [email protected]
For the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Monday, December 12, we will have our usual 8:00 a.m. Mass. Then, at 6:30 p.m. on December 12, we will have a special bilingual Mass (English and Spanish) with mariachi music and Aztec dancers. Afterward, in the Hall, we will have a traditional dinner of tamales, rice, and beans plus a performance by the Aztec dancers. All are welcome.
Both Masses will be livestreamed simultaneously to our YouTube channel and our Facebook page.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Worship Aid (12/12/2022)
If you would like to donate to defray the expenses for the mariachi music, the Aztec dancers, and the dinner in the Hall, please put your donation in an envelope, write “Our Lady of Guadalupe” on the envelope or in the notation section of your check, and drop off the envelope in one of the collection baskets or boxes, or in the mail slot for the Pastoral Office. You also can mail in your donation to: St. Denis Church, 2151 S. Diamond Bar Boulevard, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal (mention “Our Lady of Guadalupe) or through online giving on the following webpage:
https://www.osvhub.com/stdenis/giving/funds/our-lady-of-guadalupe.
This solemnity celebrates how Mary, through God's grace, was conceived free from the stain of original sin.
This is a Holy Day of Obligation; and we will celebrate the following four Masses:
● Wednesday, December 7: Vigil Mass at 6:30 p.m.
● Thursday, December 8: Mass at 8:00 a.m. (also livestreamed)
Mass at 12:10 p.m.
Mass at 7:00 p.m. (with music and livestreamed)
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Worship Aid (12/8/2022)
The 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Masses on December 8 will be livestreamed simultaneously to our YouTube channel and our Facebook page.
Our Cursillo group will host “Breakfast with Santa” in the Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 4. The breakfast will include waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruits, orange juice, and coffee. The cost will be only $8 (and $5 for children 12 and under), with proceeds benefitting St. Denis and other charitable causes.
Santa Claus will attend the breakfast in his sleigh and will pose for pictures with the children.
Please join us for a good breakfast and good fellowship!
Our All Souls’ Day Novena begins on November 2 (All Souls’ Day) and continues through November 30. Each day, we will pray at least one Mass for the dearly departed who are enrolled in the novena.
To enroll deceased relatives or friends in our All Souls’ Day Novena, please fill out and return one of the envelopes that are available in the pews and the vestibule; call the Pastoral Office at (909) 861-7106; or stop by the Pastoral Office, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day, except Tuesday.
Every child deserves a loving family. We are all adopted sons and daughters of God; and we know that family is the basic building block of society. Los Angeles County has more than 38,000 children in foster care. These foster children and youth need the love of a family to support and nurture them to their full potential.
Is your family called to be an adoptive family to children in need? Do you want to say “Yes” to adoption, but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you have questions: How long is the process? Is there financial support? Do you need to own a house?
There are a variety of resources available to answer your questions. Visit lacatholics.org/foster to learn more about adoption and foster care, and to access a list of various organizations.
Different Parenting Topics will be presented for group sharing and discussion.
All parents are welcome, even if you have not attended the Parenting Program.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/96494715018?pwd=a2ZMcVkwY1p6bG94UGZBdTZXMEFjUT09
On Sunday, November 27, at all of the Masses (including the 5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass), we will thank and have a special blessing for healthcare workers and caregivers (including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers), who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 and other diseases.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 24), please join us for a special Thanksgiving Mass at 9:00 a.m. The Mass, which also will be livestreamed, will include: music; a chance to share with each other who and what we are thankful for; a blessing of food that we will eat later that day; and an opportunity to donate nonperishable food for the poor.
Therefore, please bring to the Mass some food (such as rolls, a pie, or something else) that you will eat later in the day and some nonperishable food (such as food in cans or jars) that you will donate to the poor.
The Greek word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving” in English; and so, Mass with Holy Communion is a great way to start the Thanksgiving celebration.
Thanksgiving Day Worship Aid (11/24/2022)
Since 2005, St. Denis has thanked our local first responders (firefighters, sheriff deputies, EMS personnel, and support staff) for their service by inviting them to come to St. Denis for a special lunch during the week of Thanksgiving.
This year, the First Responders’ Lunch will be on Tuesday, November 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Hall. The lunch will be a professionally catered and will include:
● roasted beef brisket with gravy, roasted turkey with gravy, and jellied cranberry;
● mashed potatoes and blanched spinach topped with roasted candied yams; and
● pie with whipped cream or cheesecake topped with strawberry compote.
If you would like to contribute financially to our First Responders’ Lunch, please put your donation in an envelope, write “First Responders’ Lunch” on the envelope or in the notation section of your check, and drop off the envelope in a collection basket or box, or at the Pastoral Office. Alternatively, you can support the First Responders’ Lunch through Online Giving (just click on the fund called “First Responders’ Lunch/Christmas Outreach Program for the Poor”) or PayPal (mention “First Responders’ Lunch” in the comments section). Please note that any excess money raised for the First Responders’ Lunch will be used by our Christian Service Ministry for our Christmas Outreach Program for poor families and children.
The easiest, shortest, and most perfect means to becoming a saint is Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary (Marian consecration), according to Fr. Michael Gaitley in his best-selling book 33 Days to Morning Glory.
In his book, Fr. Michael presents an extraordinary 33-day journey to Marian consecration with four giants of Marian spirituality: St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. John Paul II. Fr. Michael summarizes their teaching, making it easy to grasp and simple enough to put into practice for even the busiest of people.
Using Fr. Michael’s book, Deacon Al and Jasmine Blackburn (St. Denis’s Director of Teen Confirmation and Youth Ministry) are leading parishioners in 33 days of prayer and preparation, leading to their Marian consecration on Monday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. During the 33 days of preparation, Jasmine and Deacon Al are meeting with parishioners from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 10 and Thursday, November 17. Each week, parishioners pray together, watch a 30-minute by Fr. Michael, and discuss how they are preparing for their consecration.
All are welcome, even if you missed the previous Thursday meetings.
You need Fr. Michael’s book, 33 Days to Morning Glory, to participate fully in the 33 days of preparation. The book is widely available—e.g., on Amazon.com (for $8.99), on Kindle (for $6.89), and elsewhere. The Pastoral Office has about 5 copies of the book; and they are available for $10.00. For more information, or to find out if we have the book in stock, please contact the Pastoral Office at (909) 861-7106. (The Office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day, except Tuesdays, when it is closed).
For an introduction to Marian consecration, please watch the following three-minute video by Fr. Michael.
We are collecting thank-you cards and notes for our local first responders (firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, EMS personnel, and support staff). If you would like to thank them personally with a card or note, please put “First Responders” on the envelope and drop it off at the Pastoral Office (e.g., at the front desk or in the mail slot), or drop it off in one of the white boxes that are on the steps leading to the altar by Sunday, November 20.
In addition, the children in our Religious Education Program and the teens in our Teen Confirmation Program are writing thank-you notes and cards to our local first responders.
We will then bring all of the thank-you notes and cards to the workplaces of our local first responders during the week of Thanksgiving.
On Sunday, November 20, at all of the Masses (including the 5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass), we will thank and have a special blessing for those who work in the public safety field (i.e., police officers, sheriff deputies, firefighters, correctional officers, 911 operators, and EMS personnel).
We will celebrate a special Memorial Mass (with music) for all those who have died, including those who have died in the past year. We invite you to bring a photo of your deceased loved one, place the photo on a table near the altar before the Mass, and retrieve it after the Mass. After Communion, there will be a time for reflections, during which you may share some thoughts and memories about your deceased loved one. In addition, we will play the Memorial Tribute Video, which is described here.
Please note that the Mass will have music; it will be livestreamed simultaneously to our YouTube channel and Facebook page; and we will have refreshments and fellowship afterward.
Memorial Mass for Deceased Relatives & Friends Worship Aid (11/19/2022)
All are welcome.
St. Denis’s Christian Service Ministry is collecting food items that will be used to assemble Thanksgiving gift baskets for poor families in our local area (i.e., in and around Diamond Bar). The food items are needed by Sunday, November 13; and the gift baskets will be distributed on Saturday, November 19.
Suggested food items are listed below:
Whole turkey (frozen) Aluminum pans (turkey size) Corn (can) Green beans (can) Green peas (can) Cranberry sauce (can or jar) Yams (can) |
Mashed potatoes (box) Stuffing mix (box) Chicken broth (can) Fruit (can) Turkey gravy (can, jar, or packet) Soups (can) Jello/pudding (box) |
Monetary donations also are welcomed and appreciated. These donations will help to cover the cost of items that we need to purchase or that have not been donated. Please write “Christian Service Thanksgiving” on your check or envelope. Then drop the envelope in a collection box or basket; or mail your donation to the Pastoral Office at 2151 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., Diamond Bar, CA 91765. You also may donate via Online Giving (click on “Christian Service Offering” and mention Thanksgiving) or via PayPal (mention “Christian Service Ministry Thanksgiving”).
For more information, please E-mail Liz Fan at [email protected].
Proposition 1 is an extreme constitutional amendment that would enshrine a permanent right to abortion without limits at taxpayer expense, for any reason, even for women from other states and up to moments before birth!
The California Catholic Bishops are calling us to unite in prayer and action to defeat Proposition 1, which is misleading, expensive, and unnecessary.
Specifically, the Bishops urge us to:
● Vote “No” on Proposition 1 in the November 8th election; and
● Pray a Novena to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. The Novena prayers are here.
Defeating Proposition 1 will maintain the status quo, including maintaining the current limits on late-term abortions.
If you are U.S. citizen and not registered to vote, you can register online at: covr.sos.ca.gov.
For more information about Proposition 1, please visit www.CACatholic.org/Prop1.
We will create a Memorial Tribute Video for our deceased loved ones. The video will include the photos and names of those who have died, plus their year of birth and year of death. If you would like to include a deceased relative or friend in this video tribute, please E-mail to us the following:
● a high-quality digital photograph of the deceased person;
● the name of the deceased person;
● the person’s year of birth and year of death; and
● your name and telephone number (in case we need to contact you).
The E-mail should be sent by Monday, November 7 to: [email protected].
If you have a printed photograph, please create a high-quality scan using a high-quality digital scanner; and E-mail the high-quality scan to us, as indicated above. Alternatively, please bring the printed photograph to the Pastoral Office; and ask the receptionist to scan it for you. The Office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day, except Tuesday, when it is closed.
Please do not use your mobile phone to take a digital photo of a printed photograph. The quality of such digital photos is too low for them to be used in the tribute video.
Starting on Saturday, November 19, the Memorial Tribute Video will be featured on our website, on our YouTube channel, on our Facebook page, and during our livestreamed Memorial Mass, which is described on this page.
Wednesday, November 2
On All Souls’ Day, we remember and pray for all of the faithful departed. On Wednesday, November 2, we will have two Masses:
8:00 a.m. Mass (also livestreamed)
6:30 p.m. Mass
The 8:00 a.m. Mass will be livestreamed simultaneously to our YouTube channel and our Facebook page.
On All Saints’ Day, we remember and thank God for all of the saints who have preceded us and who have shown us the way to heaven. The Solemnity of All Saints is a holy day of obligation; and we will celebrate four Masses.
Monday, October 31: 6:30 p.m. Vigil Mass
Tuesday, November 1: 8:00 a.m. Mass (also livestreamed)
12:10 p.m. Mass
7:00 p.m. Mass (with music and also livestreamed)
All Saints’ Day Worship Aid
The indicated Masses will be livestreamed simultaneously to our YouTube channel and our Facebook page.
Parents, bring your children (recommended ages 12 and under) dressed in costumes to St. Denis for “Trunk or Treat.” You can park in an upper parking lot, bring the children to the lower parking lot, and accompany them as they trick or treat. In the lower parking lot, about 20 parishioners with their vehicles will have their trunks open and decorated for Halloween; and they will distribute to the children wrapped candy and other treats in plastic bags. Also, Halloween-themed music will be playing in the lower parking lot.
We recommend having the children dress as saints in anticipation of All Saints’ Day, which is Tuesday, November 1. For ideas about how to dress your child as a saint, please see the above photo with children dressed as various saints, or search on Google for images of “Halloween saints costumes.” This is a great way to teach your child about the saints in general and about a particular saint. Your child also could dress in a standard Halloween costume—such as a ghost, a superhero, an alien, a princess, a monster, etc.
Finally, parents please screen the candy and other treats before the children eat them (e.g., to ensure that the children are not allergic to the ingredients, such as peanuts or other nuts).
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Did you know that Halloween has Catholic origins? Click here for more information.
About Our Lady of Fatima
In 1917, at the height of World War I, Pope Benedict XV appealed to the Blessed Mother to intercede for peace. Just over a week later, Our Lady began appearing to three young shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. During these appearances, Mary revealed her suffering heart and said that God wished to establish devotion to her Immaculate Heart. She asked the children to pray the Rosary daily for world peace, and to offer their daily sufferings and sacrifices in reparation for sins and the conversion of sinners.
Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima
The world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima is the primary way in which the message of Fatima has spread throughout the world. Sculpted by Jose Thedim—“the Michelangelo of Portugal”—the statue has been traveling internationally since 1947, and has travelled to over 100 countries, carrying Fatima’s blessings and urgent message to people worldwide.
In 2017, to mark the 100th anniversary of the first Fatima apparition, Archbishop José Gomez blessed a replica of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima. This regional statue was created by Boaventura Pereira de Matos, an apprentice of José Ferreira Thedim, the creator of the original statue of Our Lady of Fátima that is venerated at the Shrine of Fátima.
Regional Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima at St. Denis
Please join us as we welcome the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima to St. Denis on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22. The regional Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima will be in the church and the hall as follows:
Friday, October 21
Statue in the church from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Daily Mass at 8:00 a.m. (also livestreamed)
Exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Rosary at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. (led by different ministries)
Daily Mass at 7:00 p.m. (also livestreamed)
Our Lady of Fatima Holy Hour from 7:45-8:45 p.m. (also livestreamed)
Saturday, October 22
Statue in the church from 7:30-11:45 a.m.
Votive Mass of Our Lady of Fatima at 8:00 a.m. (also livestreamed)
Rosary at 10:00 a.m. (led by a ministry)
Statue in the hall from 11:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Rosary at 12:00 p.m. (led by a ministry)
“Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima” movie (1952) from 12:15-3:00 p.m.
Rosary at 4:00 p.m. (led by a ministry)
Statue in the church from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass (also livestreamed) with Msgr. Timothy O’Connell,
the spiritual advisor of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima in L.A.
For more information about Our Lady of Fatima, please go to bluearmy.com and bluearmyla.org. To watch the “Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima” movie on YouTube, please click here.
St. Lorenzo Ruiz (1594-1637) is the patron saint of the Philippines and the Filipino people. He was a martyr, and was the first Filipino saint to be canonized (on October 18, 1987 by St. Pope John Paul II).
St. Pedro Calungsod (ca. 1654-1672) was a missionary catechist who suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam at age 17. He is the patron saint of Filipino youth, and is the second Filipino saint to be canonized (on October 21, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI).
12:45 p.m. Pre-liturgy with a parade of banners from parishes throughout the region
1:00 p.m. Mass with our Filipino Choir and liturgical dancing
Worship Aid
2:15 p.m. Refreshments, music, and fellowship in the Hall
Principal Celebrant: Most Reverend David O’Connell
Auxiliary Bishop, San Gabriel Pastoral Region
Date: Saturday, October 8 (the eve of the Feast of St. Denis)
Mass: 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass with Bishop David O’Connell (also livestreamed)
Celebration: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
St. Denis’s courtyard (2151 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., Diamond Bar)
Italian food: Pasta (with meat or tomato sauce), salad, garlic bread
Mexican food: Tamale, rice, beans, tortilla chips
Filipino food: Pancit, lumpia, dinner rolls
Chinese food: Orange chicken, beef with broccoli, fried rice
American food: Hamburger, hot dog, chili, chips
All meals include: Bottled water, cake, coffee, and hot chocolate
Beer, wine, and soda ($1) also are available
$10 per person; $7 for children 12 and under
In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is on Tuesday, October 4, the priests and deacons will bless your animals (such as pets) on Saturday, October 1 at 8:30 a.m. in our lower parking lot. Please note that all animals must be on a leash or in a cage, crate, bowl, or other container.
St. Lorenzo Ruiz is the patron saint of the Philippines and the Filipino people. He was a martyr, and was the first Filipino saint to be canonized.
Although St. Lorenzo’s official feast day is on Wednesday, September 28, we also will celebrate his feast day on Sunday, September 25 at the 1:00 p.m. Mass. The Mass, which also will be livestreamed, will include a procession and will be followed by refreshments provided by the Queen of Peace Rosary Group.
All parishioners are welcome to join in the celebration.
As of August 1, 2022, the Confession schedule at St. Denis will be as follows:
Monday-Friday: | After the 8:00 a.m. Mass in the courtyard | |
Friday: | 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the church* | |
7:45-8:45 p.m. in the church* (third Friday of the month starting 9-16-22) | ||
Saturday: | After the 8:00 a.m. Mass in the courtyard (except the second Saturday)** | |
4:00-5:00 p.m. in the church* |
* In the church, Fr. John hears confessions in his confessional; and Fr. Dennis hears confessions in the back pew of the church near the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
** On the second Saturday of every month (starting on 8-13-22), the priests will offer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick in the church after the 8:00 a.m. Mass. Afterward, if there is time, they will hear confessions in the courtyard.
Our Teen Confirmation Program (for teens in high school) and our Religious Education Program (for pre-K through grade 8) will resume in September. Both programs need catechists and aides to help pass the faith on to the next generation.
Teen Confirmation will meet on Monday and Tuesday nights from 7:00-9:00 p.m.; and Religious Education will meet weekday afternoons and on Saturdays. You may choose whether to serve our teens or younger children and which day to serve.
No experience is necessary. All you need is a heart to serve and compassion for the challenges that our teens, younger children, and their families face. Training will be provided.
For more information or to sign up to assist our Teen Confirmation Program, please contact Jasmine Blackburn (our Teen Confirmation Director) at [email protected] (E-mail) or 909-861-7106, ext. 243.
For more information or to sign up to assist our Religious Education Program, please contact Celia Flores (our Religious Education Director) at [email protected] (E-mail) or 909-861-7106, ext. 242.
During the summer, our Christian Services Ministry will make lunches in the Hall and will give them to 150-200 homeless people in Pomona on the following Saturdays (the third Saturday of each month):
Saturday, June 18 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the Hall;
Saturday, July 16 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the Hall; and
Saturday, August 20 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the Hall.
To enable us to plan for each Saturday session, please sign up in advance using this online form. If possible, please sign up by 5:00 p.m. on the preceding Thursday (i.e., by Thursday, June 16; Thursday, July 14; or Thursday, August 18).
If you would like to donate food, please drop it off at the Pastoral Office by 5:00 p.m. on the preceding Thursday (i.e., by Thursday, June 16; Thursday, July 14; or Thursday, August 18).
The following food is needed:
Bread (whole-wheat preferred)
Peanut butter
Jelly
Chips (individually wrapped)
Cookies (individually wrapped)
Granola bars (individually wrapped)
Apples
Bottles of water
Ziploc sandwich bags
Brown lunch bags
Monetary donations also are welcomed and appreciated. These donations will help to cover the cost of items that we need to purchase or that have not been donated. Please make the check payable to St. Denis Church; and write “Christian Service Homeless Lunch” in the notation section of your check or on the envelope. Then drop the envelope in a collection box or basket; or mail your donation to St. Denis at 2151 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., Diamond Bar, CA 91765.
You also may donate via Online Giving (click on “Christian Service Offering” and mention “Homeless Lunch”) or via PayPal (click the "Donate" button and mention “Christian Service Homeless Lunch”).
Monday, August 15
For the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we will celebrate two Masses on Monday, August 15:
Mass at 8:00 a.m. (also livestreamed)
Mass at 7:00 p.m. (with music, and also livestreamed)
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Worship Aid (8/15/22)
Both Masses will be livestreamed simultaneously to our YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Please note that this Solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year because it falls on a Monday.
Christian Service at St. Denis is once again calling all parishioners and friends to particpate in a Back-to-School Supplies Drive for families in need. Please consider donating:
• backpacks | • scissors | |
• crayons | • gluesticks | |
• pencils | • color pencils | |
• pens | • markers | |
• notebooks | • highliters | |
• paper | • other school necessities |
Please DROP OFF your donations at the Pastoral Office during normal business hours. We will collect supplies from July 11 through August 12.
For more information please contact Liz Fan at christianservice@stdenis.org
GriefShare Support Group
for those mourning a loved one's death
Sundays from 1:00-3:00 p.m.
(in the Hall in Room A)
If you’ve lost a spouse, a child, a family member, or a friend, you probably have found that there are not many people who understand the deep hurt that you feel. This can be a confusing time, when you feel isolated and have many questions about things that you have never faced before. St. Denis GriefShare may help you face the challenges of grief.
To find out more click on the link below:
St. Denis GriefShare
Pope Francis has established the fourth Sunday of July (i.e., Sunday, July 24), as the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Therefore, at all of the Masses for July 24, we will have a special blessing for grandparents and the elderly.
The pope also is offering a plenary indulgence to the faithful who devote adequate time on July 24 to visit, in person or virtually via technology, their elderly brothers and sisters in need or in difficulty (such as the sick, the abandoned, and the disabled). An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.
To gain a plenary indulgence, the faithful must:
● be in the state of grace when the indulgenced work is completed;
● have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
● have sacramentally confessed their sins;
● receive the Holy Eucharist; and
● pray for the intentions of Pope Francis.
It is sufficient that all of these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary” are suggested.
For more information about the plenary indulgence for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, please click here. For more information about indulgences in general, please click here.
Monday, July 4th (Independence Day) is a national holiday. Therefore, the Pastoral Office will be closed; and we will have only one Mass at 9:00 a.m. At this Mass, we will pray for the United States; and we will have music. We also will sing some patriotic songs such as “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.” This will be a great way to kick off the Fourth of July holiday.
Please note that the 9:00 a.m. Mass will be livestreamed simultaneously to our our YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Our Christian Parenting Course to help parents raise their children in this challenging, secularized world. The Christian Parenting Course is led by our deacon couple, Dennis and Christina Shin, and a team of parent-facilitators. Parents are meeting via Zoom every Wednesday from 7:30-9:00 p.m. through June 29, with a final wrap-up meeting on Wednesday, July 6.
The Course is based on FamilyLife’s “Art of Parenting,” which teaches parents:
(1) how to deal with the real-world challenges of raising children today; and
(2) how to make faith the core of their parenting.
Each participant receives a free workbook; and each meeting includes prayer, an entertaining video (20-30 minutes) on various parenting topics, short workbook exercises, and small-group discussions.
The topics include: the goal of parenting; forming character, applying discipline, building relationships, understanding and nurturing identity, preparing for mission, and the power of family.
To sign up for the next cycle of the Christian Parenting Course, please contact Deacon Dennis at parenting@stdenis.org or (909) 274-0065.