31st sunday in ordinary time november 3, 2019 · 31st sunday in ordinary time page 5 vocations...
TRANSCRIPT
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time November 3, 2019
Parish Office (863) 453-4757 Fax (863) 453-2620
Parish Office Hours Monday through Friday
9 AM to 2:30 PM
Administrator Fr. Ronnie Sison
Assisting Clergy
Fr. Leo Frechette Fr. Gerald Grogan
Retired
Deacon Dan Hoppe
Schedule of Masses Saturday
Confession 3:15 to 3:45 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
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house” (Lk 19: 5).
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Zacchaeus had to ‘Rise above the Crowd’ to “See” Jesus
Jesus was passing through the city of Jericho. Luke tells us that there was a man named Zacchaeus, “who was the chief tax collector, and also a wealthy man,” and surprisingly, Luke tells us, that “he was seeking to see Jesus who was about to pass that way.” It appears, he was aware of Jesus. Now, he wants “to see Jesus.” What is significant about this phrase, “to see Jesus?”
To understand the phrase “To see Jesus” you need to go to the first chapter of John’s Gospel. John had just pointed Jesus out to two of his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God.” They immediately began to follow Jesus. Jesus, hearing footsteps behind him turned around and asked the two disciples following him, “What are you looking for?” One of the two disciples
responded, “Where do you live?” To which Jesus replied, “Come and you will see.” Jesus was saying “Come and you will see who I am”- Come to know me.
Zacchaeus was aware of Jesus. As Jesus was passing through Jericho, Zacchaeus wanted “to see Jesus,” that is, he wanted to come to know Jesus. Luke tells us there was an obstacle. Zacchaeus was short in stature, so he was unable to see Jesus “because of the crowd.” He had to “rise above the crowd” if he wanted “to see” – that is, “to come to know Jesus.”
Frequently today, “the crowd” can prevent us from “seeing Jesus” – that is, “coming to know Jesus.” And we have to do what Zacchaeus did, “Rise above the crowd.” Those in public life want Jesus “out of the public square” so that they can dictate, what they “see” as our developing, evolving ‘values’” – such as same sex marriages, abortion, euthanasia, etc.… The same is true in our Universities, where professors want Jesus out of the classroom so that the sciences can take over the place of God. The recent movie, “God is not dead – part two” highlights this situation in a wonderful courtroom scene. Even among young people, there is a subtle, and oftentimes, not so subtle, peer pressure to keep Jesus out of the conversation – it might impinge upon one’s lifestyle.
So, what can we do? We can do what Zacchaeus did in today’s Gospel. We can “Rise above the “crowd.” A recent 2019 Pew Research Survey illustrates what happens in the U.S.A. when “the crowd” impedes us from “seeing Jesus” by keeping him out of the public market place in a major drop in Christian affiliation over last decade, 2009 – 2019. The study’s numbers suggest that the overall number of Christians has dropped in the US over the past decade, from 178 million in 2009 to about 167 million today, while the number of Americans who are religiously unaffiliated grew by close to 30 million. “Nones” have jumped from 17% of the adult population in 2009 to 26% in 2019. Catholics have slipped from 23% in 2009 to 20% today. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church can no longer claim a majority of the nation’s Hispanic population. The figure dropped from 57% in 2009 to 47% in 2019.
Zacchaeus did not allow the “crowd” to impede him “seeing Jesus.” Do we allow the “crowd” to impede us from “coming to see Jesus,” – that is, coming to know him? Are we willing to “Rise above the Crowd?”
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Thank you for support of Baby Bottle Campaign
The Knights of Columbus Respect Life Committee thank you for your support of the Baby Bottle Campaign during the month of October, Respect Life Month Nationally. The Proceeds from the Baby Bottle Drive are given to “Choices,” a local interchurch Pregnancy Care Center, off Lake Avenue. It uses these funds to assist and support any young lady experiencing a stress related pregnancy. It is in situations like that that a young pregnant woman/girl sees abortion as the only option. Choices can provide whatever care the young woman/girl needs. If you have not turned in the proceeds from your baby Bottle, we ask you to do so this week, or, drop the proceeds in an envelope marked for that purpose in the offertory basket at any mass next weekend. Thank you.
Thank you for Box Tops for St. Catherine School
Thank you for bringing Box Tops to Church this weekend for St. Catherine Catholic Grade School in Sebring. The School uses the Box Tops to purchase items for the oms for the School. General Mills gives 10 cents for every Box Top in support of Education.
Thank you for support of Church Service Center
Approximately 500 families, representing 1,200 poor people in Avon Park, come to the Church Service Center for food, clothing and financial assistance every month. The Church Service Center is an interchurch response to the basic needs of poor people in Avon Park, many of whom live “within a stone’s throw of OLG.” We will also take a 2nd collection after Communion to assist those seeking financial aid for water and electric bills, and with rent and mortgage payments.
K of C Breakfast, Sun, Nov 3, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
The K of C will serve breakfast, Sunday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m. to 12 Noon. The cost is $7 for adults: children under 12 eat free.
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Come, Celebrate OLG International Food Festival Sunday, November 10th, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Experience delightful taste of cuisines
from many countries Adults, $8 – Kids under 12, $4
Sponsored by Hispanic Ministry
Contact Piedad – 451-1828; Zoraida – 754- 244-1241; Maria – 273-2697
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Vocations Awareness Week
October 27th to November 3
John Henry Newman, who was declared a Saint by Pope Francis on October 13th, was born into a prominent family in London, England, in 1801. His family did not practice any faith or religion. At the age of 15, when a high school student in Ealing, he experienced for the first time in his life a “Call” – Vocation – to follow Christ in an Evangelical Church. He later transferred to an Anglican Church and, finally ended up becoming a Roman Catholic at the age of forty in 1841. He felt called to the Catholic Priesthood and was ordained a priest in Rome in the late 1840’s. He has written a prayer for young people who are searching for their vocation. You have an excerpt from that prayer below. Cardinal Newman died in 1891. He was declared a saint October 13, 2019.
Page 6 Our Lady of Grace MASS INTENTIONS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2 4:00 pm + Marie Carlson by Dick Carlson. + Humberto Ramirez by Ofelia
Ramirez. 7:00 pm + Esteban Cruz by Wife. SUNDAY NOVEMBER 3 8:00 am + Carol Jacob by Richard Jacob. 10:30 am + Fred Kroon by Wife Katy. + Margaret Fuisz by Mary Lee
Cipriano. MONDAY NOVEMBER 4 8:00 am + Eugene Paolozzi by Joan & Bob
Flower. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 8:00 am For our Parish Family. WED NOVEMBER 6 8:00 am Jose & Zulmira DaSalva by Family THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7 8:00 am + Bruce Lillpop by Mary Lee Lillpop. FRIDAY NOVEMBER 8 8:00 am + George Reisert by Wife Kathy. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 9 4:00 pm + Mary, Thomas & John Casey by
Maureen Castine 7:00 pm + Esteban Cruz by Wife. Special Intention for Marcelo Cardona
by Rosa Diaz. SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10 8:00 am Special for Karen & Howard Hecker. 10:30 am + Clotilde Diaz by Jose & Luz
Rodriguez. + Jacqueline Kaiser by Mary Lee
Cipriano. SUNDAY MISSALS The 2020 St Joseph Missals have arrived at the Parish Office. The cost will be $5.00.
FOR THE SICK OF THE PARISH Claudette Laverriere Gregory Syfert Barry Intorre Rosa Arosemena Wayne Davidson Andres Clavijo Liliana Morales Bruno Litwinski J.R. Lejeune Debra Kemmett John Minadeo Jade Jackson And for those who care for the sick, for the deceased member’s and benefactors of the parish, Judy McNulty and for our loved ones. BIBLE STUDY Weekly Bible Class, conducted by Dale O’Leary, Tuesdays from 10 to 11 am in the conference room of the Grogan Center. Everyone is welcome. This winter we will be studying the Old Testament LADIES GUILD MEETING The Ladies Guild will hold their regular meeting on Wednesday, November 13th at 1 pm. A social hour will be held from 12:00 to 1:00 pm
SPAGHETTTI DINNER Our Lady of Grace Women’s Guild will host the annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, November 16th from 5 to 6:30 pm. Tickets cost $10.00 each or $72.00 for a table of 8. Please call Penny at 863-304-8711 to order tickets or to reserve a table.
Staff
& Ministries
Administrative Assistant Betty Heiring
Religious Education
Angie Heiring, DRE [email protected]
(863) 453-7537
Music Gene Ryan
Associate Youth Dir. Angie Heiring
(863) 453-7537
Knights of Columbus Joe Hamilton (260) 418-8043
Women’s Guild Debbie Augusta -
President (863) 991-1020
Respect Life
John & Doris Harrison (863) 314-9202
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