Stations of The Cross at Our Lady of Mercy
Let us journey with Jesus Christ this Lenten season. The Stations of the Cross bring us closer to Jesus as we meditate on the great love He showed us in His most sorrowful Passion!
7:00 p.m. on the following Fridays:
March 9, 2018
March 16, 2018
March 23, 2018
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy:
Greetings in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
We are on the Third Sunday of Lent and our Scripture passages remind us of our obligations toward God and our brothers and sisters. The passage from Exodus gives the Ten Commandments given to Moses for the people to observe, of which Jesus summed them up in two greatest commandments: loving God above all things and our neighbors as ourselves. Perhaps we do well, once again, to take a look at our inner selves and do a spiritual evaluation or introspection. How are we doing with regards to our love of God and neighbors? To love is a universal call. God loves us first. Besides God’s creation, which is proof enough of His love, He also sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for us. Jesus’ love is a perfect model for us to imitate. It is a selfless kind of love. Jesus loves even those who have done evil deeds to Him. He did not condemn the Samaritan woman, He told the man hanging on the cross next to him: “today you will be with me in paradise.” And there are many other moments in the Scriptures where we see Jesus forgiving people in so many different ways. We, too, have experienced God’s love. Should we not exert extra effort to love Him more? Let us do that brothers and sisters. And let us do that now. You will see and experience how closer we become with God if we act on it.
Thank you and God bless you all!
Love,
+Father Marty
Please pray for the sick:
Paul 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, Marcelita S. Fusco, Clement Rodriguez, Genedina B. Mohan, Luke Dee, Rosario Bernabe, Renato Caguioa, Raquel Yapp, Roberto Yapp, Armando Gloria, Mary Kelly, Terry Neubauer.
2018 Lenten Regulations
Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and charity as we prepare to renew our baptismal promises at Easter. The practice of penance forms a necessary part of this preparation. The Church gives us the following regulations to help us make the season of Lent a particular time of penance and preparation for Easter.
1. Ash Wednesday (February 14) and Good Friday (March 30) are days of Fast and Abstinence.
2. All the Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence.
3. A Day of Fast means that only one full meal is permitted. Two smaller meals may be eaten. There is no food taken between meals. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast, though others are encouraged to fast. The days of fast are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
4. On a Day of Abstinence no meat may be eaten. Those 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from meat. For a serious reason, the Code of Canon Law allows the pastor to dispense an individual from refraining from meat on a Friday during the Lenten Season.
5. The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence “substantially” or as a whole, is a serious obligation.
6. Catholics should go to Holy Communion at least once between the First Sunday of Lent (February 18) and Trinity Sunday (May 27). If necessary, they should celebrate the Sacrament of Penance.
Holy Land Pilgrimage
There will be a trip to the Holy Land in November 4-15, 2018 with Father Marty. Father Marty is thrilled to go back for another spirit-filled experience by walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. For those interested please see flyers at the vestibule of the church for details. Payment schedule: $ 500.00 due immediately (for Reservation); $ 1,445.00 due in May and $ 1,445.00 due in July. For those who want to pay by Credit Card please take a form at the parish office and give it to Father Marty.