Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy:
Happy New Year!
My prayer for each of you is that this year may you be filled with every good and holy gift. And from the bottom of my hearts and in the name of the whole community, I thank you for your generosity during Christmas season. Your Christmas gift to the parish is greatly appreciated. I really cannot thank you enough. God, who sees everything and everyone, stretch out His hands upon you and bless you always.
As this year begins, may you move on with enthusiasm and joy in building up God’s kingdom here on earth with the talents you have been gifted with. I look around (at each and every one of you) and I see so many different gifts in you that you can surely offer to the service of God’s Church. Let me encourage you: use it! Do not hold back. Give back to God what you have been blessed with and you will see how wonderful it is to be able to help others and especially those who are in need. God is calling you once again to ponder on what the Scripture is saying. Christ is revealed to the whole human race as God’s Only Begotten Son and (myself included) we are asked to adore Him, pay homage to Him as the magi did. And like the magi, what gift do we want to bring to Jesus, Our Lord? Or better yet, what is that gift we posses that we can use to further God’s kingdom here on earth?
I would like to leave you with that question. And if you have the answer, please step up.
Thank you and God bless you all!
Love,
+Father Marty
Please pray for the sick:
aul Calefati, Elaine Staltari, Othelia G. Laurena, Jean Karycinski, Dorothy Darcy, Erlinda Jacinto, Leonora Loyola, Eric Bautista, Lilian Kryczkowski, Ellen Iorio, Jessica Pavone, Ian Malesiewski, Ruben Catipon, Angela Salvador, Clarita Salvador, Teresita Cordon , Vincent Mastria, Maria Svaligma, Bill Macchi, Craig Rutkowski, James Seaman, Makenzie Cadmus, Manuel J.Juson, MD, Gina Marquez, Daniel Tamayo Santos, Marie Ronzitti, Lucia Vanderburg, Betty Scerbo, Philip Scerbo, Alejandra Ancheta, Cindy Popolo, Mario Banaag, Oscar Alladin, Antonio Roldan, Esperanza Galarza, Carmen Tuazon, Susan Ranola Rivera, Conrado “Boy” Tanada, John Broderick, Joanne Diaz, Ligaya Tan, Leonarda DeCarlo, Dolores Steinhauser, Eugenio Cacananta, Austin Macalintal, Eduviges Ledesma, Carolyn Taliaferro, Nonong Dava, John Gaito, Elsa Concepcion, Ricardo Vales, Virginia T. Mercurio, James Leung, Tran Phouc, Sophia Gonzalez, Jocelyn Tuazon, Florentino Chanco, Edgardo Cruz, Luchie Vivas, Deacon Nick Fargo, Mark Dudek, Eugene Manlongat, Sandra M. Escoto
Is Your Marriage Valid?
If you were married civilly, that is, not in the Catholic Church before a priest or deacon, it might not be a valid marriage. Some couples believe that a marriage before a Justice of the Peace or a non-Catholic minister is valid. For a marriage to be valid in the Catholic Church, the marriage must be in a Catholic Church or Chapel and officiated by an authorized Catholic priest or deacon along with 2 witnesses. (There are limited interfaith exceptions with proper permission.)
We invite you to speak with one of our priests if there are any questions or if indeed you wish to validate your marriage. The process can be very simple and your marriage will now be blessed by the Church.