Click here for THE MOST IMPORTANT LITURGIES AT OLM THIS HOLY WEEK
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy:
Holy Week is here!
Before anything else, I would like to put right here on my column the schedule of this week, hoping that EVERYBODY will read this and post it at home so that you will not be calling the parish office.
The daily morning Masses on March 26, 27 and 28 (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) are at the usual time: 7 am and 8:30 am.
March 29, Holy Thursday: 9 am – Morning Prayer; 7:30 pm – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper; Midnight – Night Prayer and the closing of the Repository.
March 30, Good Friday: 9 am – Morning Prayer; 10 am – Outdoor Journey of the Cross; 3 pm –Solemn Liturgy of the Passion and Death of the Lord; 7:30 pm – Solemn Liturgy of the Passion and Death of the Lord.
March 31, Holy Saturday: 9 am – Morning Prayer; 12 noon – Midday Prayer with the Blessing of Food; 8 pm – The Great Easter Vigil.
April 1, Easter Sunday Masses: 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon. Please note that due to the overflowing crowd, we added two more masses at 10 am and 12 noon that will be held in the Maria Room. There will be no 7 pm Mass on Easter Sunday.
I urge you to please come and participate at all of the services we have to give Thanks to God for giving us His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to save us and for everything He has bestowed on us.
The other thing I would like to remind you of is your Easter gift to the parish. You have heard us, your priests, this past weekend appealing to you to be generous in your gift of $150. You may ask, why this particular amount? Well, you know better than I do, everything went up. Also, you are aware already of what we do with our worship place, the painting among many others. We rely on your generosity, with God’s help, to bring to fulfillment God’s plan for you, His holy people. We cannot go on with our programs without your cooperation. Please know that every penny we receive from you is highly appreciated. It is one of the many ways you can do to give back to what God has blessed you with. Let us not be stingy with our giving. You will see how our Good Lord pours down His blessings on you and your loved ones.
I would like to end this letter by congratulating our newly wed couple: Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and Danielle Minyetti! May your life be blessed and fruitful as you continue your journey on as husband and wife.
Folks, please check out the bulletin for other information, especially the column on “The Services of Holy Week.”
Thank you so much and God bless you all!
Happy Palm Sunday!
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, 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, Walter Wasinewski, Luke Dee, Rosario Bernabe, Renato Caguioa, Raquel Yapp, Roberto Yapp, Armando Gloria, Terry Neurbauer, Grace Arceo, Ivan Jesus Romero, Joycelyn Basa-Gill
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.