“The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21:8-9) Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, which begins the Holy Week, the most sacred time of Christian faith. It commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. Jesus fulfills the prophesy, rides a donkey, which symbolizes an animal of peace, instead of a horse, which is an animal of war, and enters the holy city Jerusalem as a Prince of Peace, not as a war-waging king, while people wave palm branches, cover Jesus’ path to express the highest honor to welcome him. Palm is a symbol of triumph and victory in the Greco-Roman world. Later it is used as a symbol of Christian martyrs and their spiritual victory over death. As we continue to reflect on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus in the Holy Week, which relate to our own dying and rising, let us ponder Christ’s crucifixion, which demonstrates His immense passion and suffering for our salvation that leads us to the ultimate triumph and glory of the resurrection. Crucifixion is a form of slow, shameful, and painful execution that the Romans apply only to pagans, but not to their own citizens. It becomes the symbol of human salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In its crossbeams, an ambivalent symbol, meet death and life, sin and salvation, setback and victory, immanence and transcendence of God, the basest aspects of the human sinful condition and the most sublime reflection of divinity’s selfless outpouring love. In the crucifixion of Jesus, we see the truth of a loving God who is willing to embrace and endure suffering for our sake. We are invited to accept our Christian faith, to follow Jesus, to pass through our own death, to obtain the endless joy of Eternal Life. God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to .... [click to continue]

"La gente, muy numerosa, extendía sus mantos por el camino; algunos cortaban ramas de los árboles y las tendían a su paso. Los que iban delante de él y los que lo seguían gritaban: “¡Hosanna! ¡Viva el Hijo de David! ¡Bendito el que viene en nombre del Señor! ¡Hosanna en el cielo!” (Mateo 21:8-9) Hoy celebramos el Domingo de Ramos, que da comienzo a la Semana Santa, el tiempo más sagrado de la fe cristiana. Conmemora la entrada triunfal de Jesús en Jerusalén, un evento mencionado en los cuatro Evangelios canónicos. Jesús cumple la profecía, monta un burro, que simboliza un animal de paz, en lugar de un caballo, que es un animal de guerra, y entra en la ciudad santa de Jerusalén como Príncipe de paz, no como rey guerrero, mientras la gente agitaba las ramas de palma, cubría el camino de Jesús para expresar el mayor honor de acogerlo. La palma es un símbolo de triunfo y victoria en el mundo grecorromano. Posteriormente se utiliza como símbolo de los mártires cristianos y su victoria espiritual sobre la muerte. Mientras continuamos reflexionando sobre la pasión, muerte y resurrección de Jesús en la Semana Santa, que se relacionan con nuestra propia muerte y resurrección, meditemos en la crucifixión de Cristo, que demuestra Su inmensa pasión y sufrimiento por nuestra salvación que nos lleva al último triunfo y gloria de la resurrección. La crucifixión es una forma de ejecución lenta, vergonzosa y dolorosa que los romanos aplican solo a los paganos, pero no a sus propios ciudadanos. Se convierte en el símbolo de la salvación humana a través de la muerte y resurrección de Jesucristo. En sus travesaños, símbolo ambivalente, se encuentran la muerte y la vida, el pecado y la salvación, el revés y la victoria, la inmanencia y la trascendencia de Dios, los aspectos más bajos de la condición pecaminosa humana y el reflejo más sublime del amor desinteresado de la divinidad. En la crucifixión de Jesús, vemos la verdad de un Dios amoroso que está dispuesto a abrazar y soportar el sufrimiento por nuestro bien. Estamos invitados a acoger nuestra fe cristiana, a seguir a Jesús, a pasar por nuestra propia muerte, a obtener el gozo infinito de la Vida Eterna. Dios no quiere que tengamos una relación de Transacción sino de Transformación. Por lo tanto, los discípulos cristianos dinámicos son aquellos que (1) CREEN, (2) CRECEN, (3) SIRVEN, (4) AMAN y (5) GUIAN a otros a Jesús. El tema de hoy nos invita a trabajar con .... [Haz click para continuar]

If you got your order in for the St. Clement Fish Fry today, pick up your meal between noon and 7 p.m. Father Joseph THANKS everyone for participating in the Fish Fry Combo meal on Friday, 3-31-23, and reminds us to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent (no chicken or beef, but fish is OK!).... 1 - Every Friday during Lent please join us in prayer at the Stations of the Cross in English after the morning Mass and in Spanish before the evening Mass. .... 2 -  Join us in the parish hall after Sunday Masses for delicious freshly-made Mexican food for sale!  .... 3 - Everyone, especially children and teenagers, are invited to use the Rice Bowl box during this Lenten season as a way to participate in the works of mercy, sharing our resources with those in need. .... 4 - Fr. Joseph invites everyone to bring non-perishable groceries (rice, bean, oil, salt, can foods, etc.) to donate to needy families to celebrate Easter. .... 5 - The Parish office will be closed on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, April 6-7. La oficina parroquial estará cerrada el Jueves Santo y el Viernes Santo, 6 y 7 de abril. .... 6 - Palm Sunday and Holy Week, Triduum Schedules have been published in the bulletin and on this Church website (under "Mass Times" in menu bar or "Worship" section of the homepage). .... 7 - Paschal candles are available for purchase at St. Clement Church and the parish office. Cirios: large size 3"x8", costs $30 each and small (2"x10") costs $20 each. Bring your Paschal candles to be blessed on Holy Saturday (April 8, 2023). .... 8 - Please use the Back to Mass Campaign gift package to invite anyone who has not been back physically to celebrate Mass with us. .... 9 - Fr. Joseph THANKS everyone for attending the meeting in Spanish on Mental Health issues promoted by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health on March 15 in our parish hall. Our next meeting is on April 19, and every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m. .... [click to continue]