Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy:
Another Liturgical Year is over!
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe marks the end of the Church’s Liturgical Year. Next week we start the Advent Season. As we celebrate this Solemnity of Christ The King, the Liturgy and readings speak to us of the end time. It is kind of scary if we stop and think about it. What if we are found unworthy to enter God’s kingdom and will suffer for the rest of our lives in that eternal punishment because we did not do what this weekend’s gospel is telling us we should do? Well, we need to be reminded of this from time to time because if we think we are in that situation, we still have a chance to change.
Let us start right now and right here changing ourselves into the persons God wants us to be. Don’t wait for tomorrow. God gives us chances to repent. Talk to God right now and ask His help and guidance towards the path of righteousness. Taking the gospel passage this weekend as a guideline, we may do well coming into our senses and re-examine how far have we progressed in our spiritual journey. Have we really invested ourselves wisely of our gifts to contribute in building up the kingdom of God? Have we been taking care of ourselves and other people? Are we really listening to God who speaks to us in so many ways?
These are some of the key questions to ask ourselves to determine whether or not we are on the right track with God.
The Church offers us what we need. Please come and take part of it. One of the Advent practices we have is the Penance Service. We will have it here at OLM on the 4th of December, Monday, at 7:30pm. Take this opportunity to come back to God, be reconciled with Him and start living a good Christian life. And once forgiven you have to forgive those who have wronged you. Do not carry around those grudges against others inside of you. Let go of those ill feelings and of being judgmental of other people. Once you do that, you will feel how it is be truly spiritually free or liberated! You will experience real joy in your heart.
Another chance for taking care of your soul is to attend the Advent Parish Mission in the next few weeks. It is a very good opportunity to come to OLM and just sit down and listen to God’s voice through the missionary Friar Johnpaul Cafiero as he leads you into prayer and reflection on what is the right way to prepare yourselves for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Prince of Peace. It is a great time to make a little retreat from your daily routine and be immersed in God’s realm, allowing God to speak.
Please make extra effort to attend. This is all for you. This is provided for you so that you can celebrate Christmas with the knowledge of the real meaning of it and the experience real joy!
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, Presentacion Sorio, Leonora Loyola, Eric Bautista, Lilian Kryczkowski, Ellen Iorio, Jessica Pavone, Ian Malesiewski, Ruben Catipon, Angela Salvador, Clarita Salvador, Teresita Cordon, Vincent Mastria, Maria Svaligmac, Bill Macchi, Craig Rutkowski, James Seaman, Makenzie Cadmus, Manuel J.Juson, MD, Gina Marquez, Rose Maschucci, 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, Nick DeBello, Susan Ranola Rivera, John Broderick, John Hnath, Joanne Diaz, Ligaya Tan, Leonarda DeCarlo, Dolores Steinhauser, Eugenio Cacananta, Austin Macalintal, Carolyn Taliaferro, Nonong Dava, John Gaito, Elsa Concepcion, Anthony B. Cashman, Ricardo Vales, Virginia T. Mercurio, James Leung, Tran Phouc, Sophia Gonzalez, Father Tom Roberts, Jocelyn Tuazon, Florentino Chanco
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.