Transcript
Page 1: Lent Communal Penance Services · Money was no object. He had loads of friends. Then the story takes a sudden downturn. The young man ran out of money… and friends. Even worse,

4th Sunday of Lent March 31, 2019

Parish Office (863) 453-4757 Fax (863) 453-2620

Parish Office Hours Monday through Friday

9 AM to 2:30 PM

Pastor Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin

Assisting Clergy Fr. Leo Frechette

Fr. Gerald Grogan Retired

Deacon Dan Hoppe

Schedule of Masses

Saturday Confession

3:30 PM English 6:30 PM Spanish

Vigil Mass 4 PM English 7 PM Spanish

Sunday 8 AM and 10:30 AM

Holy Days

Vigil Mass 5:30 PM 8 & 10:30 AM Daily Mass

Monday-Friday 8 AM First Friday

Mass and Holy Hour 8 AM

Visit us on the web! www.ologap.org

Lent Communal Penance Services Wednesday, April 3, Our Lady of Grace, Avon Park, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 10, St. James, Lake Placid, 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 11, St. Catherine, Sebring, 6 p.m.

Page 2: Lent Communal Penance Services · Money was no object. He had loads of friends. Then the story takes a sudden downturn. The young man ran out of money… and friends. Even worse,

Page 2 Our Lady of Grace

What Gift? Confession - The treasure of God’s friendship.

Most of you have read a book or seen a Disney movie about “Aladdin and his

wonderful lamp.” Aladdin worked in a shop that exchanged new lamps for old ones.

Aladdin’s job was to polish the lamps and make them look new. One day as he was

polishing a lamp, a genie came out of the lamp and promised to grant Aladdin

anything he wished. With the help of the genie, Aladdin gained great wealth and

won the love of a beautiful princess.

If an Aladdin like lamp was brought into church today, what three wishes would you ask for? Our

Gospel story today (Luke 15: 13 – 35) tells us about a young man who made three wishes.

What were his three wishes?

➢ He wanted his inheritance - a lot of money – now.

➢ He wanted to travel to foreign countries and see the world.

➢ He wanted to do his own thing and be his own boss.

The young man got his three wishes, but they were not granted to him by a genie out of a lamp. The

young man went to his Father, whom he knew loved him, and asked him, a very wealthy man, for

his inheritance. His request was somewhat unusual. He wanted it now. Even though the Father was

sad that his young son wanted to leave home, he gave him his share of the family fortune.

The young stud left home and travelled around the world – In the U.S. it would be to Disney world,

Universal, Magic Kingdom, Busch Gardens, etc.… And, on a spending spree on the latest style

clothes and sneakers – Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale; Nike, Adidas, Converse, etc.… He ate at

the best restaurants and drank with his friends at popular ‘hangouts.’. Money was no object. He had

loads of friends.

Then the story takes a sudden downturn. The young man ran out of money… and friends. Even

worse, there were no jobs available. Things got so bad, he took a job with a pig farmer. He had to

live in the pig pen. The only food available was the food he was feeding the pigs.

Hard knocks have a way of bringing dreamers to their senses. The pig pen reminded him of the

mess he had made of his life. He also reminded him of his father and the comfortable home he had

left behind. He said to himself, “Even a servant in my father’s house lives better than this.” The

young man continued, “I will return to my father and tell him that I am sorry for the way I treated

him and ask him to take me back, not as his son, but as one of his hired servants.”

In the interim, the Father was pining for his son’s return. He accepted him back, not as a servant,

but as his son. He called his servants and told them to get ready for a big feast and celebrate,

“because this son of mine was lost and now is found.”

Who are these people in the story?

The Father is God – such a loving merciful Father. The young son is anyone one of us who sin –

man or woman, young or old. Then, there is the self-righteous, dutiful older son who refuses to

forgive. There is something of both sons in all of us. In the Sacrament of Penance, God is the

welcoming, forgiving, merciful Father. The younger and older sons both need to be forgiven for

different reasons.

If I was Aladdin today, I would ask for one wish, the treasure of God’s friendship. We can have

that treasure by going to Confession – Wednesday, April 3, 6 p.m. OLG Lent Penance Service.

Page 3: Lent Communal Penance Services · Money was no object. He had loads of friends. Then the story takes a sudden downturn. The young man ran out of money… and friends. Even worse,

4th Sunday of Lent Page 3

Three Lenten Practices (Matthew 6: 1 – 18)

Prayer – Mt. 6: 1- 4

Fasting – Mt. 6: 5 - 15

Almsgiving – Mt. 6: 16 – 18

Prayer (Mt. 6: 5 – 15))

Daily morning Mass – 8 a.m.

Stations of the Cross – Friday, 5:00 p.m.

Personal & Family Prayer in Home

Read the Gospels, especially Luke’s Gospel

Fasting (Mt 6: 1 – 4)

Abstain from meat on Friday

(those 14 and older)

Modest Rice Bowl Meal once-a-week

(Place savings from meal in Rice Bowl)

Place daily limits on use of technology and

Television

Almsgiving (Mt 6: 16 – 18)

Support the Church Service Center

Support Meals on Wheels for elderly home

bound people.

Support the 2019 Catholic Faith Appeal

Support Operation Rice Bowl

(place Savings from meal in Rice Bowl)

Stations of the Cross, Friday, 5:00 p.m.

The Stations of the Cross is a uniquely

Lent Prayer devotion. It begins with the

trial and condemnation of Jesus by

Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, and

continues Jesus’ sorrowful journey to

Calvary and to his Crucifixion.

K of C Fish Bake – Friday, 5:30 p.m.

The Knights of Columbus provides a 3

course Fish Bake, consisting of Salad,

entre, desert and drinks, in the Grogan

Center on Friday at 5: 30 – 7:00 p.m. All

are welcome.

OLG High school Graduates Scholarship

applications available in parish office & online

2019 High School Graduates Scholarship

applications are available online and in the

Parish Office. They must be returned with

IRS Returns, High School Grade transcript &

completed application form before April 1.

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Page 4 Our Lady of Grace

Parish Scholarship golf tournament a success –

‘Thank you” Dennis Kellner, Terry O’Leary

and team of volunteers.

OLG High school Graduates Scholarship

applications available in parish office & online 2019 High School Graduates Scholarship

applications are available online and in the

Parish Office. They must be returned with

IRS Returns, High School Grade transcript &

completed application form before April 1.

Warming up’ with friends before playing in

the Parish Scholarship Golf Tournament at

Pinecrest Golf Course on March 2, 2019.

Tim & Matt Devlin, Cruiser & Terry Hancock

Good turn-out for OLG Scholarship Tournament

A good turn-out of ladies at Parish Tournament

Participants enjoying lunch after tournament

Page 5: Lent Communal Penance Services · Money was no object. He had loads of friends. Then the story takes a sudden downturn. The young man ran out of money… and friends. Even worse,

4th Sunday of Lent Page 5

First Friday Mass & Exposition – April 5th, 2019

Friday of this week, April 5th, is the

first Friday of the month. The 8 a.m.

Mass will be followed by Exposition of

the Blessed Sacrament, which will

conclude with Benediction at 9 a.m.

For those who make the First Fridays,

Jesus made what St. Margaret Mary

Alocoque (1649 – 1690) referred to as

the “Great Promise” which was the last

and greatest of the Twelve Promises of

the Sacred Heart of Jesus .

“I promise you in the unfath­omable

mercy of my heart that my omnipotent

love will procure the grace of final

penitence for all those who receive

communion on nine successive first

Fridays of the month; they will not die

in my disfavor [the grace of final

repentance], or without having received

the sacraments, since my divine heart

will be their sure refuge in the last

moments of their life.”

1st Saturday Mass & Confession – April 6, 2019 Saturday of this week, April 6, is the

first Saturday of the month. The 8 a.m.

Mass will be followed by Confessions at

8:30 a.m.

The intention at the First Saturday 8

a.m. Mass is for deceased benefactors

of Our Lady of Grace Parish . They

include: Sarah McDonald, Frances &

Audrey Peffer, Orlando Nardone, Maria

Guerrero, Mary Litwinski, Norma

George, Fred Bruno, Loumella Faust,

Paul Brazinski, Donald McCormack,

Lester Reinbolt, John Lacenski, Mary

Ann Bland, William & MaryAnn

Patterson, Mrs. Lane.

The practice of the First Saturday

devotion was requested by Our Lady of

Fatima, who appeared to three shepherd

children in Fatima, Portugal, multiple

times starting in 1917. She said to

times starting in 1917. She said to Lucia,

the oldest of the three children:

“I shall come to ask . . . that on the First

Saturday of every month, Communions

of reparation be made in atonement for

the sins of the world.”

Years later she repeated her request to

Sr. Lucia, the only one still living of the

three young Fatima seers, while she was

a postulant sister living in a convent in

Spain:

“Look, my daughter, at my Heart,

surrounded with thorns with which

ungrateful men pierce me at very

moment by their blasphemies and

ingratitude. You at least try to console

me, and say that I promise to assist at the

hour of death, with the graces necessary

for salvation, all those who, on the first

Saturday of five consecutive months,

shall confess, receive Holy

Communion, recite five decades of the

rosary, and keep me company for 15

minutes while meditating on the 15

mysteries of the rosary, with the

intention of making reparation to me.”

Church Service Center collection next weekend We invite you to bring non-perishable food

to Church at all masses next weekend, April

6/7.

The Church Service Center (CSC) is an

interchurch collaborative effort which cares

for 500 families every month, representing

approximately 1,200 poor people in Avon

Park. We will also take a 2nd collection

after communion to assist those who come

to the CSC for help with rent & mortgage

payments and with water and electric bills.

Thank you.

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Page 6 Our Lady of Grace

MASS INTENTIONS

SATURDAY MARCH 30

4:00 pm + Bertha Peritoti by Bob & Phyllis Miller.

7:00 PM Family Garcia & Madrigal by Maria

Ramirez.

SUNDAY MARCH 31 8:00 am + George Tomek by Ann Hartsfield.

10:30 am + Carrie Colangelo by Paul & Justine

Devlin.

+ Pierre Seguin by His Sister Margo.

MONDAY April 1 8:00 am Special Intention for Macky Boone by

Kissane Family.

TUESDAY April 2

8:00 am + Sam Viviano by Paul & Justine Devlin.

WED April 3

8:00 am + Betty Minielli by Linda Beman.

THURSDAY April 4

8:00 am + Joan & Tim Roche by Neal Roche.

FRIDAY APRIL 5

8:00 am + Nancy Wiley by Merritt Wiley.

+ Glen & Florence Kegler by Glen Kegler.

SATURDAY APRIL 6

8:00 am Benefactors of the Parish

Sarah McDonald, Frances & Audrey

Peffer, Orlando Nardone, Maria Guerrero,

Mary Litwinski, Norma George, Fred

Bruno, Loumella Faust, Paul Brazinski,

Donald McCormack, Lester Reinbolt,

John Lacenski, William & MaryAnn

Patterson, Mary Ann Bland, Mrs Lane.

4:00 pm + Glen Hartsfield by Ann Hartsfield.

+ Sister Johanna Monticello by Mary

Powell.

SUNDAY APRIL 7

8:00 am + George Halkyer by Ron Smith.

10:30 am + Joan & +Timothy Roche by Neal Roche.

FOR THE SICK OF THE PARISH Claudette Laverriere John Minadeo Jade Jackson Rosa Arosemena Gregory Syfert J.R. Lejeune

Zulmira DaSilva Bruno Litwinski Gerald Martin Jean Simmons Ray Stebbins Andres Clavijo

Debra Kemmett Liza Roy And for those who care for the sick, for the deceased member’s and benefactors of the parish, and for our loved ones.

Te Invitamos

Retiro Cuaresmal

“ Crecmiento en el Espiritu”

Sabado Abril 6, 2019

10:00 am – 6:00 pm.

7:00 pm Eucaristia

Para mas Informacion – Teresa Torres 863-449-1584

Or Hermelinda Perez 863-449-1584

Cursillo Ministry Our Faith Based Movement Ministry (English)

Expression would like to call those who have

made the weekend “CURSILLISTA’S” interested

in forming an “ULTREA” to please call Leah

Grecko – Chairperson. For Cursillo Movement

(863) 314-9754. Make a friend, be a friend, bring

a friend to Christ.

De Colores.

Thank You Knights of Columbus Council #14717 would like to thank all parishioners who contributed to this Tootsie Roll Drive. $801.00 was donated to Ridge-ARC.

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Staff

& Ministries

Administrative Assistant Betty Heiring

[email protected]

Religious Education Judy Nugent Angie Heiring

[email protected] (863) 453-7537

Music Gene Ryan

[email protected]

Associate Youth Director

Angie Heiring (863) 453-7537

Prayer Group Kevin Murphy

Women’s Guild Debbie Augusta -

President (863) 385-8872

Respect Life Dick & Marie Carlson

(863) 471-2134

Parish Council

President Judy Pounds

Vice President Piedad Sarmiento-Noriega

Secretary Judy Nugent

Members Debbie Augusta Maureen Cool

Darlyne Devany Jim McGann Karen Hecker Tina Starling

Teresa Torres

(Saint) Pope John Paul II with Bono of U-2, wearing Bono’s shades .

Pope John Paul II liked contemporary music and met with some of

the kings of Rock music in the Vatican, singers like Bono of U -2.

Some of the kings of heavy metal, reggae, hip-hop, Rap and Rock

have used Gospel themes such as Lloyd Webber in Jesus Christ

Superstar, which is loosely based on the four Gospels; Stephen

Swartz in Godspell (an archaic name for Gospel), which is based on

the parables in Matthew’s Gospel.

There is a fascination in all genres of popular contemporary music

with the parable in today’s Gospel, the parable of the Prodigal Son.

The rock group Rolling Stones has a hit song Prodigal Son in its

1968 album entitled Beggar’s Meal.

Prodigal Blues is a song by Billy Idol in the 1980’s that compares

the singer’s struggle with drug addiction to the parable, and the

popular rock musical Godspel re-enacts the parable of the Prodigal

Son.

Bono, the vocalist for U-2 band, wrote the song The First Time

based on the parable. The parable is about a young person,

experimenting, searching… and, ultimately, homecoming.

Here is the final verse of the Irish folk song “Wild Rover” which

gives voice to the sentiments of the young Prodigal Son as he

returned home to a warm welcome to his Father’s House:

“I'll go home to me parents, confess what I've done,

and I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.

And if they forgive me as oft times before,

I never will play the wild rover no more.”

Lent Communal Penance Service Wednesday, April 3, 6 p.m. in Church

10 – 12 priests available for Confessions in English, Spanish & French.


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