Acts 1:1–11: Psalm 47 : Ephesians 1:17–23 or Hebrews 9:24–28; Luke 24:46–53 Since Saint Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles as well as his Gospel, and today’s readings include the last two paragraphs of his Gospel and the first two paragraphs of Acts, we get to hear consecutive passages from scripture. In both, Jesus calls upon his disciples to be witnesses on his behalf all over the earth. But he does not leave them orphans. He will remain with them through the power of the Holy Spirit, who will come upon them before they depart from Jerusalem. Let us listen to the word of God, conscious of the fact that we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and are called to be witnesses as well.

Ascensione del Signore

Gesù è presente in modi nuovi nella communità di quanti credono nel suo nome: nella Chiesa, nell’Eucaristia e nei Sacramenti. La Chiesa è chiamata a prolungare nel tempo la sua presenza e la sua azione. Cristo asceso in cielo siede alla destra di Dio e nel suo nome sono predicati e testimoniati il perdono dei peccati e la conversione.

From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We celebrated Easter Sunday 40 days ago and today we celebrate Jesus ascending into heaven. This is not a moment of abandonment, but one of empowerment. Think about when someone who is close to us has died, we feel that this person is still with us and keeps inspiring and guiding us. This is the same feeling that Jesus’ disciples have. Jesus leaves his disciples and returns to the glory of heaven. Although Jesus is no longer physically present with them, he becomes more to his disciples than just a memory of the great person who has died. The Ascension, rather than leaving them helpless, points directly to the coming of the Holy Spirit, the very source of their future strength and guidance.

In today’s readings we heard that Jesus’ disciples witnessed his final moments on earth, when his blessed them and departed into the heavens. Imagine the disciples’ reaction! They had walked with Jesus, seen his miracles, heard his teachings, witnessed his crucifixion, and rejoiced in his resurrection. Now, he stands before them, speaks of the coming Holy Spirit, and then, before their very eyes, he is lifted up and a cloud takes him from their sight. It is not an ending; it is a new beginning, a profound reorientation of God’s saving work in the world. Jesus is gone but he stays with his disciples and us by his Spirit of strength and wisdom and love, and in this way he is our companion in life. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus still speaks his word to us as we listen to the scriptures, he still gives himself to us as our food and drink, and he is alive in each of us and our church community when we receive the Holy Communion.

Jesus tells his disciples in Luke, “You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Luke 24: 46-49. The disciples are no longer merely followers; they are now witnesses. Their mission is clear: to proclaim the good news, beginning in Jerusalem and extending to the ends of the earth. Jesus’ disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy because they understood that Jesus' departure was not an absence, but a new presence through the Holy Spirit. Just as the disciples were commissioned, so are we. Our lives, our words, our actions, not with our strength, but by the power of the Spirit.

We are called to witness the good news in our daily acts of love, justice, forgiveness, and perseverance. Through the resurrection of Jesus, it is the power to overcome sin. We are actively living out our mission, empowered by the Spirit, to love our enemies, to serve the marginalized, and to witness the Gospel until Christ comes again.

Fr. Tho Bui, SDB Pastor

Mass Intentions For The Week

Sunday June 1, 2025 8:45 In Thanksgiving for the service of Sr. Antoinette Pollini as she celebrates 70 Years of Religious Profession 10:15 For the People of Saints Peter and Paul 12:00 GB De Martini, a wonderful father + – Candida Arias + 5:00 Tommaso Sanfilippo & Gaetana Sanfilippo +

Monday June 2, 2025 7:00 Wedding Anniversary of Andrea & Rose Marenzi + 9:00 Francesco & Antoinette Germano +

Tuesday June 3, 2025 7:00 Danial Lombardo + 9:00 Edward & Ernest Sabini + – The Birthday of Rosa Crivello + – Joseph Machi +

Wednesday June 4, 2025 7:00 Virginia Sanguinetti + 9:00 Edward DeNicolai +

Thursday June 5, 2025 7:00 Joseph Leo Torre & Family + 9:00 Franco, Pia, & Lodovico Ortesi +

Friday June 6, 2025 7:00 Intention of Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone 9:00 Louis DeNicolai +

Saturday June 7, 2025 7:30 Nicola Sanguinetti + 9:00 Anthony & Pauline Cresci + 5:00 For the People of Saints Peter and Paul – Emma Marquez +

Rest in Peace Shirley Shipanoff — Judith Starrett

Particular Items

Thank you, Sr. Antoinette! This weekend is one of both joy and sadness. Joy, because our beloved Sr. Antoinette Pollini is celebrating 70 years of religious profession, and sadness because she will be moving to the Salesian Sisters Provincial House in San Antonio, TX. How many of us grew up under the watchful and kindly eye of this Daughter of Mary Help of Christians! And she kept watching out for us even after we grew up. We thank Sr. Antoinette for all she has given to us and to the Church of God. We will honor Sister at today’s 8:45AM Mass, and a reception will follow in the auditorium. Dear Sister, wherever you go, we will keep you in our prayers, and we know that as you always have, you will be praying for us!

Second Collection: Today we have a second collection for the Catholic Communications Campaign. Please be generous.

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

Novena to the Holy Spirit: The Church’s first and most important novena, the Novena to the Holy Spirit, began on Friday and concludes on the Vigil of Pentecost. Our Lord told the apostles to “Stay in Jerusalem and wait [that is, “pray for”] the Father’s promised gift.” You can find two choices of the Novena on the tables.

Bible Study with Fr. Vien! Every Thursday Fr. Vien will host weekly Bible Study at 7:00 PM. Come join with others and deepen your understanding of the Word of God!

Eucharistic Adoration & Confession/ Anointing of the Sick: We have Adoration & Confession every Friday, following the 7:00 AM Mass. And on the first Friday of the month (this Friday) we have the Anointing following the 7:00 AM Mass.

Salesian Summer Camps: Summertime at The Club is packed with exciting activities, fun field trips, learning opportunities, and other adventures for rising 4th graders up through high schoolers. Summer hours are Monday through Friday, 9am until 6pm beginning June 6, 2025. AND Camp Grigio:Camp Grigio is the summer day camp option for children who are not yet Club age (so, for ages 3 – 8), and runs from June 9 – August 8. Visit salesianclub.org/club-programs/summer/ to learn more.

Class for Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers: Deacon Edward will conduct a class for those wishing to become Lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist on Saturday, June 14, at 9:30 AM, in the Don Bosco Room.

Don Bosco Study Group: On June 17 the Study Group will meet via Zoom at 4PM. They will read (or view) “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, and will discuss Chapter 8 of our parables book on The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. For zoom link email franklavin@comcast.net

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: CORPUS CHRISTI Mass & PROCESSION! Join us on June 22 as we process with Jesus through the streets of North Beach at our annual Corpus Christi procession! We will process from Saints Peter and Paul to the Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, where there will be Adoration and confession. This year we will be joined by Clergy and faithful from the Churches of our downtown Deanery!The procession begins following the 12:00 PM Mass.

Archbishops Annual Appeal 2025! This year’s assessment is $65,600. So far, 46 parishioners/families have given $34,501, leaving us with a balance of $31,099. If you can, join the 1% club—give 656! But all amounts are greatly needed and appreciated.

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 lharris@sspeterpaulsf.org, or Jessyca Ng at the Pre-K at jng@sspeterpaulsf.org to 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.

Planned Giving: One Charitable Gift, A Legacy of Faith. Consider listing Saints Peter and Paul as beneficiary in your Will (it’s advisable to have one). It preserves the mission and values of the church in its ministry. Call for information: Fr. Tho Bui,415-421-0809 or pastor@salesiansspp.org

OUR JUBILEE YEAR! Our Centennial Celebration and Jubilee Year continues! On November 9-10, 2024 we began the 100 Year Anniversary of Saints Peter and Paul Church. Remember, though, the Jubilee Celebration is for the whole year— including the indulgence granted to us by the Vatican! Let us take this year to gratefully reflect on the gifts given to us by God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; to honor those who have come before us, and to preserve our faith and our Church for our posterity!

Jubilee Plenary Indulgence: The Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome, charged with the granting of indulgences, has designated Saints Peter and Paul Church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, California as a Vatican recognized site for Plenary Indulgence and has granted a Plenary Indulgence to the faithful who truly repent and are driven by charity under these certain conditions from November 1, 2024 until November 1, 2025. A Plenary Indulgence may also apply, through the faithful’s own sufferings, to the Souls in Purgatory. Please pick up a flyer from the tables for all information on how to obtain this wonderful spiritual gift!

Liturgical Calendar Sunday 01 The Ascension of the Lord Monday 02 Easter Weekday, Marcellinus and Peter; Martyrs Tuesday 03 Charles Lwanga & Companions; Martyrs Wednesday 04 Easter Weekday Thursday 05 Boniface; Bishop & Martyr Friday 06 Easter Weekday, Norbert; Bishop Saturday 07 Easter Weekday Sunday 08 Pentecost Sunday

Your gifts of May 24 and 25 will be published in next week’s bulletin. Weekly Goal: $8,670. 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!