Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42.  In their fear and need, the Israelites grumble against Moses and the Lord. God responds by meeting those needs with water flowing from the rock. Saint Paul writes to the Romans that we have been justified by faith through Jesus—his death gives us life. In the Gospel, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the well and tells her he is the Messiah.

Domenica 3A Di Quaresima 

Al centro della liturgia odierno sta l’acqua come punto d’incontro di due interlocutori: l’uomo e Dio. L’acqua diventa il simbolo che compendia ed esprime la richiesta dell’uomo e la risposta di Dio. L’esistenza umana rivela aspirazioni sconfinate: sete di amore, ricerca della verità, sete di giustizia, di libertà, di pace... Sono desideri spesso inappagati. Nella tradizione biblica Dio stesso è la fonte dell’acqua viva.

 封齋期第三主日（四旬期第三主日） 

本主日和下主日我們不讀瑪竇福而讀若望福音。今天，若望福音記載耶穌和撒瑪黎雅婦人的對話，耶穌告訴她祂有活水，人喝了不會再渴。這段福音是耶穌最長的一段談話，內容十分豐富，包含許多層次： 

第一：個人的方面的 — 耶穌對撒瑪黎雅婦人逐步開導，先以活水啟發她，向她說明祂所賜的活水是天主的恩寵，人藉這恩寵而得永生；其次以揭露她的秘密，使她認識耶穌自己是先知，繼續教導她應以心神以真理朝拜天主。婦人接受耶穌的教導痛改前非。（節錄聖經若望福音四章註一） 

第二：社會方面的：婦人悔改後做門徒的工作，宣傳耶穌的教導。 

第三：讓門徒們知道天主的慈悲是沒有邊際的，不限國界，不分種族，對人人平等。 

From the Pastor’s Desk  

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, 

Today is the Third Sunday of Lent. At the 8:45am Mass, we celebrate the First Scrutiny of our Catechumens and candidates. On the next two Sundays, we will celebrate the second and third scrutinies. This year we have 26 who will be baptized and received other sacraments at the Easter Vigil. They say “Yes” to the gift of faith. They study and learn that Jesus is the only one who can give us the water of life as we heard in today’s Gospel of John. 

Faith Catholic has a wonderful reflection. “As much as we may be tempted to look back on the Israelites and wonder at their doubt in our first reading, if any of us have ever been truly thirsty, we will be moved to greater empathy for their plight. There are few things more troubling than not having enough water. We can go some amount of time without food, but water is a very urgent human need. And so, confronted with the horrific reality of being in a desert with no water, wondering if God has abandoned them no longer feels so surprising.  

Our readings today invite us to grapple with moments we feel spiritually dry and begin to question God’s providence. Especially in our modern context, we, too, are in a desert – not a physical but a spiritual one. We live in a world where sources connecting us to that deeper, richer inner life can feel hard to notice, hard to get to, hard to find. Sometimes it can seem as though the number of people in our midst who are plagued by spiritual thirst is very high. And in these moments of suffering and longing and need, we may find ourselves asking the same question as the Israelites in our first reading: Is the Lord in our midst or not?  

In this season of Lent, we are invited to bring our spiritual thirst to the Lord. We see in the Gospel that Jesus himself is the source of the living water that satisfies the spiritual thirsts in our lives. Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst, Jesus says.  Just as God provided for the Israelites in the desert, so, too, he provides for us through his Son, Jesus, from whom blood and water poured as a fountain of grace. Here in this Mass, Jesus’ self-offering on the cross becomes real and present to us. In the Eucharist, he continues to pour out his abundant life to refresh our souls.  

But Jesus doesn’t only give us himself. He also gives us the gift of his Spirit. Saint Paul reminds us that we will find our peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the love of God [that] has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. When we receive the love of God through the Spirit, we are, to borrow a phrase from Pope Francis, “set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness” (Evangelii Gaudium, 1). Through the gift of the Spirit, we receive life-giving water in abundance.

Here in this sacred place, in this sacred time, let us acknowledge our thirst and our need for God. Let us not mask it or hide it with distractions or goods which cannot ultimately satisfy. We are invited today to bring our thirst to God and, like the Samaritan woman, simply ask: Lord, give me this water.  

Just as the Lord was waiting for the woman at the well, Jesus will meet us here in our need and provide life-giving water for all our spiritual thirsts.” 

As we continue our Lenten journey, please pray for our parish and all of our catechumens, candidates, and their sponsors. 

Fr. Tho Bui, SDB
Pastor

Mass Intentions For The Week 

Sunday              March 8, 2026
8:45     Luigi Marciano & Giuliana Marciano +
10:15  Yee Fong Lam 林綺芳  +
12:00  Anniversary of the Death of Giambattista De Martini & GB De Martini +
5:00     For the People of Saints Peter and Paul –  In Memory of Emma A. Marquez + 

Monday             March 9, 2026
7:00     Louis DeNicolai +
9:00     Pietro, Adele, & Elena Domenici + – Michael Czuprynski + 

Tuesday            March 10, 2026
7:00     Birthday of Victoria & Jennifer Bugayong
9:00     Anniversary of the Death of Fr. Jerry Bonjean, SDB + 

Wednesday    March 11, 2026
7:00     Edward & Ernest Sabini +
9:00     Vincenzo & Mariannina Torrano + ‑ Arrigo Sturla +                

Thursday          March 12, 2026
7:00     Joseph Leo Torre & Family +
9:00     Frank Sanguinetti + – David Poggetti +

Friday                 March 13, 2026
7:00     Ettorina Cardella & Family +
9:00     Louis, Eugenia, & Raymond Raggio +                            

Saturday          March 14, 2026
7:30     Birthday of Giuseppe D’Ascoli +
9:00     Lucy Pang Chan (Death Anniversary) +
5:00     For the People of Saints Peter and Paul                       

Rest in Peace
Johnny Joseph Nguyen – Andrea Asciutto
Diana Aliano – Yee Fong Lam 林綺芳

Particular Items

Second Collection: Today we will have a second collection for our Archdiocesan Annual Appeal. 

Lenten Opportunities: 

Lenten Disciplines: Abstinence: Everyone 14 years and older is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, all the Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday. Mass attendance: During Lent, the Church encourages attendance at daily Mass and reception of the Eucharist. Almsgiving: During Lent, the Church encourages generosity to local, national, and worldwide programs of sharing. 

Bible Study! Deacon Khoa leads Bible Study every Thursday at 7:00 PM. Come join us in exploring the word of God! 

Fridays of Lent: On all the Fridays of Lent we will have Eucharistic Adoration, confession, and the Rosary following the 7:00 AM Mass . We will also have the Stations of the Cross and Soup Supper at these times: 

March 13 at 6:00 PM, led by Salesian Boys' and Girls' Club
March 20 at 6:30 PM. led by the Salesian Young Adults
March 27 at 6:00 PM, led by the Salesian Cooperators.

40 Days for Life” is a peaceful prayer vigil that takes place from Ash Wednesday (February 18) through Palm Sunday (March 29) at the Planned Parenthood abortion business at 1522 Bush Street. 40 Days for Life prayer vigils are held in 622 cities in 64 countries. (Our former Archbishop George Niederauer called abortion businesses “the Golgotha of our time”). To learn more or schedule a vigil time, go to: 40daysforlife.com/sanfrancisco/ 

Salesian Community Bingo: The next Bingo is on Thursday, March 19. Doors open at 6:00 PM, play starts at 6:30. Tickets my be purchased here.

Want to go Deeper in Philosophy & Theology? Our friends over at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley are hosting an Open House on Thursday, March 19. Whether you are interested in academic or ministerial formation or personal enrichment, this is a great opportunity. For all details, go to dspt.edu/visit-us.

Saints Peter and Paul Salesian School & Pre-K Accepting Applications: Our K-8 Salesian school is accepting applications for this year and next. Please email Dr. Lisa Harris at the school at mailto:lharris@sspeterpaulsf.org, or Jessyca Ng at the Pre-K at mailto:jng@sspeterpaulsf.orgto learn more. 

Sponsor a Student! The Salesians started by educating the children of the poor and we are not about to stop now—but like Don Bosco before us we need your help! We invite financially able parishioners to help with this ministry. Please call Fr. Tho at 415-421-0809 or Dr. Lisa Harris at 415-421-5219. 

玫瑰經 Chinese Apostolate First Sunday Rosary: The Apostolate meets every first Sunday of the month, following the 10:15 AM Mass, to pray the Rosary in the Don Bosco Room. 

Archdiocesan Annual Appeal: This year, our Archdiocesan Annual Assessment is $74,903. So far 17 families/parishioners have given or pledged $11,343, leaving us with a balance of $63,560. If you are able, consider joining the 1% club—give $749. If you do that monthly over the next 10 months, it’s $75 a month—just $2.50 a day—less than a cup of coffee!

Want to go deeper in Salesian Spirituality? Founded by Don Bosco himself, the Salesian Cooperators are an association of Christians living in the world according to the Chrism of Don Bosco. There are monthly formation meeting for those interested. For the Zoom link,  contact Frank Lavin at (415.310.8551, or email franklavin@comcast.net).

Icon Painting Workshop: From August 3-8, Master Icon painter and teacher Theodoros Papadopoulos will host a six-day class on icon painting at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland. During this intensive course participants will learn the art of the Byzantium painting technique. During the course participants will write (paint) the icon of Christ Pantocrator (which happens to be the image above the sanctuary in our church!) For all details and cost, please visit: https://theodoreicons.com/oakland

Catholic Medical Care right in our Parish! Bella Primary Care offers primary & pediatric healthcare in accordance with Catholic principles. They are located at 2000 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 304, in San Francisco. Now scheduling appointments for:
PEDIATRICS: Wellness visits for ages 6 months to 18 years with our pro-life pediatrician Dr. Tammy Mahaney.
WOMEN and MEN: Comprehensive annual exam.
EXPECTANT MOMS: Pregnancy verification, initial ultrasound and blood work.
FERTILITY: Initial and follow-up appointments using natural fertility assessment methods. 

For appointments, call 415-775-1500 or email our office at mailto:info@bellaprimarycare.org.  We look forward to caring for your families in a Christ-centered way!

Liturgical Calendar
Sunday             08          The Third Sunday of Lent
Monday            09          Lenten Weekday.  Frances of Rome; Religious
Tuesday            10          Lenten Weekday
Wednesday     11          Lenten Weekday
Thursday          12          Lenten Weekday
Friday                13          Lenten Weekday
Saturday           14          Lenten Weekday
Sunday              15          The Fourth Sunday of Lent; Laetare Sunday 

Your gifts of February 28/March 1:   $3,072.
Weekly Goal:  $8,670.
Shortfall:           $5,598.
School Scholarship Fund:     $793. 

We are always in shortfall. Fr. Tho asks for your help Please consider donating an amount equal to a breakfast or lunch or movie ticket. Your parish needs & appreciates your support!