Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Parish * Santa Clarita, CA

We are a diverse community unified through our Catholic Christian values.
As a people of God, we recognize that fellowship is fundamental to building a community of faith.
Through fellowship, we will create a place of worship as a source of spiritual enrichment for all.

“You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own to proclaim the glorious works of the One who called you from darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God’s people. Once there was no mercy but now you have found mercy.” [1 Peter 2:9]

Please join us in building “His kingdom” and a beautiful church in honor of our first Native American-born future Saint, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks.

Sincerely,

Msgr. Michael J. Slattery       Fr. Blaise N. Brockman
Pastor                                 Associate

Edward Littleton
Deacon
 

Mass Schedule:

Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 a.m. & 12 p.m.


Weekdays
Mass: Monday, Tuesday &
Friday 7:30 a.m. (First Friday, 7:00 p.m.)
Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Eucharistic Service: Thursday 7:30 a.m.

Reconciliation: (Confession)
Saturdays: 4:00 to 5:15 p.m.

Parish Office: (661) 296-3180
Parish FAX: (661) 296-7854
Parish Manager: Renee Fields
Religious Education Office:
(661) 296-6945
Director, Religious Education:
Bobby Vidal
Confirmation Office:
(661) 296-8349
Youth Ministry:
(661) 296-6249

ABOUT BLESSED KATERI TEKAKWITHA

Tekakwitha (tay-ka-qui-tha) was born at Osernenon, New York in 1656. After her family perished during a smallpox epidemic that decimated her village she went to live with her father's brother and wife. Smallpox left Tekakwitha with poor vision and a scarred face.

On Easter Sunday, 1676, Tekakwitha was baptized in Fonda, New York and was given the Christian name, Kateri (Catherine). In 1677, Kateri fled to St. Francis Xavier Mission at Sault, St. Louis and on Christmas Day, she received her first Holy Communion. In 1678, Kateri became a member of the Confraternity of the Holy Family. Throughout her life, Kateri taught the children of the village and cared for the elders.

On Wednesday, April 17, 1680, of Holy Week, Kateri died. Upon her death, witnessed by two Jesuit priests, the scars on her face disappeared. Her remains are entombed at St. Francis Xavier Mission at Kahnawake, Canada (near Montreal).

On January 3, 1943, Pope Pius XII declared Kateri Venerable. On June 22, 1980, Pope John Paul II beatified Kateri. At present, Kateri is being considered for Sainthood according to the Canon Law of the Church and is supported in the United States and Canada by the National Tekakwitha Conference.

WORSHIP
Altar Servers
The Altar Server Ministry welcomes any boy or girl who desires to serve at God’s altar by assisting the priest during the Mass. You must be a fourth grader or above and be committed and willing to give of your time and talents to serve your parish community when needed. The parish provides the training.

Decorating Ministry
The Environment Ministry follows the lead of the Liturgy Planning Ministry and ministers to the community. Our ministry uses the artistic talents of the group to enhance sacramental worship, within the worship space, by creating a welcoming atmosphere using symbols, shapes, colors and textures to communicate liturgical themes for the various liturgical seasons.
Eucharistic Ministers
Serving communion to the Parish community during Mass is a spiritual experience for each of us who have been called to this ministry. We share in our belief that the bread and wine we serve truly is the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eucharistic ministers are dedicated, instructed assistants to the celebrant for the distribution of communion and have completed a series of study programs about the liturgy and the Eucharist and we enjoy continued enrichment through faith formation.

Hispanic Ministry
El Grupo de habla Hispana se reune cada Sequndo Lunes del Mes, en el cuarto #1 a las 7:30 p.m. para preparar las misas en espanol y otros eventos in espanol. Nuestra espiritualidad se centra en la Misa y Eucristia (Liturgia) Proclamacion del Evangelio (Kerigma) Un derroche de regalos del Espiritu Santo (Karisma) y el desarrollo la construccion de la comunidad Cristiana (Kononia).

Hispanic Ministry group meets the second Monday of the month in Room #1 at 7:30 p.m. We prepare for the Spanish Masses and other spiritual events in Spanish.
Our spirituality is centered on the Mass and Eucharist (Liturgy), proclamation or evangelization (Kerigma), development of gifts of the Holy Spirit in training leaders (Karisma) and the development of a Christian community.

Lector Ministry
Lectors proclaim the Word of the Lord. This ministry involves effective preparation through practice and prayer to proclaim the Word before the celebration of the Mass or Liturgy. Responsibilities during the celebration may include introducing the celebration, proclaiming the Word through the first and second readings, announcing songs and reading the Prayers of the Faithful with clarity and reverence.
Women and men who serve in this ministry are presumed to be of good faith, eager to serve their fellow Christians and willing to participate in ongoing formation for effective service.

Liturgy Planning Ministry
The Liturgy Planning Ministry gathers to reflect on and prepare liturgical celebrations as to its rites, pastoral aspects and music.

Ushers
Ushers assist in a variety of ways to help people feel welcome and comfortable at Liturgy, as well as the more traditional roles of taking up the collection and distributing bulletins.

Ministry of Music
"Whoever sings prays twice". This old proverb, sometimes attributed to St. Augustine and often quoted by Msgr. Mike, sums up our music ministry. All ages, skill levels and many diverse musical styles are brought together with one goal in mind: to engage God's people in worship. Come and make a joyful noise!

Fellowship and Prayer Ministry
Adoration & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is a devotion that recognizes and honors the special and Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Our Lord is present, exposed in the monstrance, manifesting His care and great love for us.
To adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is to spend time before Him experiencing spiritual, emotional, and even physical healings. Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament offers an opportunity to speak to the Lord directly in your own words and in the quiet of your heart.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament hours: Every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday Evenings from 6:00p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Blessed Kateri Prayer Chain
There is no need for you to feel lonely and isolated in your suffering any longer. Whether you seek physical, emotional or spiritual healing from God, we are here to pray with you and for you. Simply e-mail your prayer request to the e-mail address below, or call the church office for the Prayer Chain contact phone number. Your prayer request will be passed on to a team of prayer intercessors who pray daily for God's healing grace in your life. Prayer requests are held in confidence and are known only to the prayer intercessors. We are here to lift your needs to the Lord! email: janmcguire4@aol.com

Catholic Men’s Fellowship
The purpose of Catholic Men’s Fellowship is to develop a closer relationship with Jesus and to encourage fellowship with other Catholic men.  As a parish-based men’s ministry, we are a community of men striving to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ and celebrate our Catholic identity through a commitment to God’s word and offering praise and thanks in worship. We meet regularly to encourage mutual support and accountability for one another in our personal transformation in Christ and in our efforts to become Christ-like influences in our homes, communities and the world that God has called us to transform.

Our Seven Promises: Man of God, Man for Others, Man of Integrity, Man of Discipline, Man of Responsibility, Man of Heroic Love, Man on a Mission for Christ.

Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary is a group of men and women who are devoted to Mary’s call for evangelization, Christian service and praying the rosary. Active members meet weekly and dedicate two hours of service in the community, such as RCIA, religious education, visits to the sick, taking Eucharist to the sick, visiting those in prison, or promoting the rosary through the Pilgrim Virgin.

Marian Movement of Priests
"Marian Movement of Priests Prayer Cenacle meets every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel. With the Blessed Sacrament exposed, members pray the Holy Rosary, recite the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and pray for all priests throughout the world. We join together to pray for the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in all hearts and in the whole world. Everyone is welcome.

Parish Quarterly Potluck and Newcomers Welcoming
Each quarter the parish hosts a potluck gathering at Blessed Kateri, a local park or a parishioner’s home to enrich fellowship, build community and welcome our new members. Potlucks are advertised in the weekly bulletin. All are welcomed.

Shine, Jesus, Shine Charismatic Prayer Group
Shine, Jesus, Shine Charismatic Prayer Group gathers together weekly to give praise, honor and love to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Using the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that builds up the Body of Christ, we minister to each other and those in our community who need healing of mind, soul, body, and spirit. Each meeting is an encounter with God and an occasion of mutual support through prayer, teachings, study and reflection, personal sharing, evangelization, lectures and prayer seminars. We join as one people to experience the joys of fruitful service in the Body of Christ.

Spanish Prayer Group – Amigos de Jesus
The Spanish Prayer group gathers together in praise and worship to share the Sunday readings and develop a personal meaning and understanding of God’s Word. We end our time together praying for each other and our community.
Sunday Hospitality Ministry
After the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Masses, the Sunday Hospitality Ministry provides coffee, donuts and assorted baked goods for the parish community.

FORMATION & EVANGELIZATION
Adult Faith Formation
Do you have questions about your Faith? Do you seek to foster your relationship with Jesus Christ and your Church? Are the changes in your personal life happening so fast that you are spinning? Are there doubts and fears? Do you feel a sense of being drawn toward a greater faith commitment? Do you want to grow more in your spiritual life without the “fluff” and challenged as an adult in the faith? Do you want the real meat and substance of our Catholic Faith? Then join us at the following…

Parish Retreats
In the Gospels, we read of Jesus being led to different mountain tops, deserts, or deserted plains. There He was absorbed in His Father’s presence in a time of prayer, solitude, silence, and penance. Each of us needs time to seriously reflect on our faith journey; its paths, peaks and valleys. These special times of reflection allow us to grow inwardly in our relationship with a community and personally with God. A Parish Retreat is a peaceful moment in time to foster a deeper conversion experience with Jesus Christ. This is a moment that can be shared with family members, co-workers, friends and neighbors who may cherish these few moments of spiritual peace, or who are in search of experiencing “more” in the Catholic Tradition. We offer four Parish-based Retreats.

Adult Formation Sessions
Adult Formation sessions provide us with greater knowledge and understanding of the Church’s teachings and wisdom. They help us to utilize our Catholic traditions as part of our daily lives. To provide a rich Catholic experience to our Adult Formation sessions, we will be dedicating each year to a pillar in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Catechism has been traditionally divided into four sections. These sections are: the Creed, the Sacraments (Liturgy), Morality (10 Commandments & Beatitudes), and Prayer (the Our Father). They are called pillars to illustrate the reality that they uphold our Catholic identity. They are the foundation of our Catholic Faith that is unique and universal.

Confirmation Preparation Process
The Confirmation preparation process consists of various elements that provide a framework for supporting our high school youth and our parish as we grow into a community of faith. This is achieved by the gifts and time of generous volunteers who are called to share our faith and life experiences with our youth in preparing them for this sacrament. These individuals seek to impart a sense of hopefulness and enthusiasm amongst our teens.

Couples for Christ
Couples for Christ is a worldwide Catholic Family Life Renewal Ministry that addresses the inherent truth by answering the urgent call to evangelize married couples along with their families. CFC focuses on three objectives: Individual renewal, Family Life renewal, and Church renewal. CFC is not only open to married couples, but also to single, widowed and divorced men and women.

Crown Financial Ministries, Inc
“Teaching people God’s financial principles in order to know Christ more intimately and to be free to serve Him.”
Crown Financial Ministries is a small group of 12 people who study the Bible together. The class meets once a week for 10 weeks to study God’s Word. We learn the Biblical principles of: Giving, spending, saving, debt, budgeting, training our children and stewardship through scripture. The Bible is the “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Groups form 3 times a year, January, May and September. Classes are available for children, teens, and adults.

The Edge
This is a comprehensive program designed to minister to 6th, 7th & 8th graders of all faiths from a unique Catholic base. Reaching them on spiritual, emotional, and social levels, THE EDGE responds to the need to be loved, offering meaning and direction and hope in a world plagued with indifference, aimlessness, and shallow materialism during this difficult time of major changes in their lives. THE EDGE nights will immediately follow the 5:30 p.m. LifeTeen Mass every other week. We ask for a $3.00 donation from teens so we can provide them dinner. For more information, please contact the LifeTeen office.

Filipino Ministry
Its goal is to organize Blessed Kateri’s Filipino community by strengthening its common bonds of Faith and Culture and by involving them to a greater participation in the community at large. Our objectives include:
1. Train potential Filipino leaders to eventually assume leadership roles.
2. Encourage Filipino leaders to take more active participation in the parish liturgical celebrations.
3. Prepare calendar of activities for meaningful Filipino liturgical and religious events and celebrations that could be shared by the Parish Filipino community and the entire Parish.

First Communion Committee
We meet 4-6 times during the school year to plan and coordinate First Communion activities. We help with the Reconciliation services that usually takes place the end of January and the beginning of February. We then help with the “Retreat Day” which is for students and their family, usually in mid-April. Of course, the big event we work on is the First Communion Masses that take place in May. We offer both the traditional Communion Mass as well as a family Communion Mass.

Infant Baptism Classes
The baptism of new baby is a joyous and momentous occasion for the entire family. The Blessed Kateri Parish family celebrates this with you and wants to help our youngest members and their families to feel welcomed and very much at home. A preparation process, therefore, is offered for parents and young children to be baptized.

Life Teen
LIFE TEEN is an international Catholic ministry that serves the Church and its young people. LIFE TEEN leads high school teens closer to Christ through participation in vibrant Eucharistic celebrations and providing opportunities for teens to grow in their faith. At LIFE TEEN the teens are affirmed, educated, and challenged to live the Gospel. We begin every Saturday with the 5:30p.m. LIFE TEEN Mass featuring contemporary Christian music by Rejoice! After Mass teens gather for food and fellowship before entering into the LIFE Night experience which may relate to our Catholic faith, issues today's teens are facing or may be purely social and fun (like beach trips, BBQ's, Extreme Dodgeball, ice skating, movie nights and more!) LIFE TEEN also offers two youth retreats per year. We ask for a voluntary $3.00 donation to cover meal costs but no one is ever turned away from LIFE TEEN due to lack of funds. For more information please contact us at bklifeteen@comcast.net or visit us at www.bklifeteen.org. A schedule of upcoming events may also be found in the Youth Ministry Corner of the parish bulletin.

Little Church
Little Church is available for children 3, 4, and 5 years of age. It takes place on Sundays during the 9:00 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. Masses. Little Church is an introduction to the Gospel message using an experiential approach to encourage sharing, exploring and the discovering of our faith.

Little Rock Bible Study
The Bible Study program provides personal Bible reading and study, small group faith sharing, lecture, and prayer in an informal setting. Each session lasts about twenty weeks. The group meets on Mondays in Room 4 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.

New Evangelization
New Evangelization ministry reaches out to brothers and sisters who, for whatever reason, have been away from or disconnected with the Catholic Church. The “Welcome Home” series has social events and formation where Catholics become more aware of their Catholic identity and opportunities to gently re-connect them to their Catholic faith.

Parents for Life
Parents for Life ministry provides continuing Catholic education for adults of our parish. Through retreats, prayer services and parish family nights, we give adults an opportunity to renew their understanding of our Catholic faith, deepen their relationship with the Lord and answer questions about various teachings of the church, rituals and practices. Our annual retreat is the 2nd weekend of October at St. Andrew's Abbey in Valyermo.

Wednesday Bible Study
Explore the mystery and the meaning of the Bible message as it relates to our lives. The Wednesday evening Bible Study gives participants an opportunity to share their own experience of how God’s word and message are active in their lives. In discussing the readings for the upcoming Sunday, the meaning of those readings becomes richer and gives each person several days to contemplate God’s Word as they prepare to attend the weekend Liturgies.
Come and join a group of parishioners of all ages who are hungry to experience God’s word and make the Sunday readings come alive.

ALL ARE WELCOME in Room 1 immediately following the 7:00 P.M. Mass on Wednesday evening. No individual preparation is required. Simply come by and be willing to discuss what the scriptures are saying to you.

Religious Education
The Religious Education Program for Elementary and Junior High is set up into three distinct programs - traditional classroom, home study and F.I.R.E. The three programs are designed to assist families of the parish, with children 1st through 8th grades who desire to guide them in knowledge of our Catholic faith in a communal experience of Christ. These programs offer sessions arranged to assist parents in their role as primary educators of the faith.

Traditional Classroom
Classes meet once a week at the parish. They include lecture, crafts, discussion and interactive activities. The lessons include a “with my family” take home section to encourage family participation throughout the week.
Home Study This is a home-based version of the classroom which is designed for those families that are not able to attend weekly classes at the parish. It includes required attendance at 3 adult formation classes and 1 parish adult formation series by at least one parent.

F.I.R.E.
This is a “Family-centered, Intergenerational, Religious Education” structure designed to help families in a small faith community setting to encounter Christ by different activities, prayers, rituals, and faith sharing sessions.
Participants meet once a week at a Facilitator’s home at the best appointed time for all families.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)-
Are you interested, or do you know of someone who is interested in the Catholic Church? It is our greatest joy, as well as our mission as a Catholic community, to welcome new members. The RCIA is an open-ended process of formation and education for those interested in learning about and experiencing the Catholic faith. The process is designed for individuals who are seven years and older who are not baptized, those baptized in other Christian traditions, and baptized Catholics who never received the sacrament of Eucharist or Confirmation. It is a faith journey that encourages individuals to broaden and deepen their prayer life, to know God through the scriptures, to come to know themselves more fully and to participate more actively in parish and community activities.

Young Adult Life (YAL)
Young Adult Life (YAL) is a progressive ministry geared towards young adults of all faiths; ages 18-39, single, divorced and married. Our gatherings are focused on “Lifenights” which occur on the second Saturday of the month, after the Saturday evening vigil mass. During these “Lifenights”, topics will focus on spirituality and theology and are presented and discussed in an interactive way. Additionally, YAL also features various social events on the last weekend of every month. Come join us!

SERVICE
Babysitting Co-op
Children ages 1-3 are eligible for the baby-sitting co-op. Space is limited to 20 children and availability is on a first come, first serve basis. There is a waiting list, so if you are interested, please contact the co-op organizer for the 9:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Masses. Parents rotate baby-sitting about once every four to five weeks. Two parents are scheduled to baby sit each week with a ratio of about one adult to four kids. The co-op provides children with an opportunity to interact with their peers, share toys and get ready for the parish “Little Church” program.

Boy Scouts – Troop 228
The Boy Scout Troop at Blessed Kateri provides opportunities for boys to become confident young men through camping, service and fellowship. Besides the benefits of the Boy Scout of America program, Troop 228 provides service to the parish. Boy Scouts meet Thursday nights at
7:00 p.m.
Website: www.bsa228.org

Business Referral Network
The Business Referral Network is a group made up of members of the parish who own their own businesses. The group meets once every quarter for an hour and a half to network with each other. These Businesses will have their companies advertised in our church bulletin once every quarter. A list of these companies will be given to all new families in their newcomer’s packet and the businesses will be advertised on our Blessed Kateri website. In return a minimum of 5% of proceeds from each referral will be donated to the Building Fund.

Detention Ministry
Detention Ministry is recognized as a catalyst that sparks the radical transformation of society’s treatment of the incarcerated from retribution and punishment to restoration and reconciliation. Ministers work with the youth at Camps Scott and Scudder and the adults at Pitchess Detention Center.

Because of their present environment and related emotional psychological pressures, it is essential that they experience our support and understanding of their struggle. Our affirmation of their person, not necessarily their behavior, will invite them to grow toward a more positive self-awareness and acceptance of their personal potential. We must be their experience of the unconditional love of God
Health Ministry
We are a group of Health Professionals and lay volunteers who meet regularly to plan programs that will foster the health of the Blessed Kateri Community. It is our goal to plan a variety of activities and programs that will help promote health in a new light and better understand how we might better promote our own health.

Our mission is to promote physical, spiritual and emotional well-being by linking health and faith with God as the center influence of our Faith Community.

The Health Ministry Team
has instituted the following programs:
 Health Education
 Health Monitoring and Screening
 Personal Health Counseling
 Health Resources and Referrals
 Coordinating Volunteers
 Semi-annual Blood Drives

Knights of Columbus
This is a group within our parish community that has taken on Columbus’ inspiration to call forth one’s own fortitude to follow one’s dreams for a better community and see how to contribute to the people within it. Through various fundraising efforts, the Knights help to support the vocations of seminarians, the hungry and the homeless, and several other projects in the area.

Newcomers Welcoming Committee
The Newcomers Welcoming Committee seeks to reach out to new parishioners and creates an immediate sense of belonging and helps families and individuals feel at home at Blessed Kateri.

Safe Environment Program (SEP)
At Blessed Kateri, we are concerned for the safety of all of God’s Children. This committee reviews the parish’s SEP program (part of the Archdiocese’s Safeguarding the Children initiative). In addition to coordinating the VIRTUS Awareness program for all adults who come into contact with children through parish activities, this quarterly committee also recommends to the Pastor other additional procedures to ensure that the Parish is a safe haven for the children of our community.

Scrip Sales
The Scrip Ministry originated as a stewardship program that purchased supermarket gift certificates at a discount and resold them to parishioners at face value. The profit from these sales have supported various parish needs. The program has since evolved into electronic rebate programs for non-profit organizations. These programs rebate a percentage of the retail purchases of the members directly to the parish. Examples of these programs are the eScrip program used by Vons and Pavilions Markets, the Community Partners program administered by Albertson’s and the Community Contribution program administered by Ralph’s and Food 4 Less.
Our church benefits when parishioners register with rebate programs that automatically send our parish money based upon the parishioner's purchases.

The scrip ministry raises approximately $20,000 per year that has been used in the past for purchasing items such as the chairs in the worship area, computers for the offices, and a parish car. It has also been used to support the youth groups, music ministries, and to mortgage payments on our current building.

The Scrip ministry has aided this important program by helping to promote the various consumer rebate programs available to our parishioners.