OUR MOTHER OF MERCY ASCENSION OF THE LORD The death of a member of his family or of a loved friend, must be the saddest event imagi-nable in the life of an athe-ist. He is one who really is convinced that there is no God, no future life and therefore that the relative or friend is to turn into dust in the grave, never to be met with again. The thought that every day that passes is bringing him too nearer to that same sad fate, death, which will be the end of all his ambitions, all his enjoy-ments, the end of everything he thought he was or had, must be something hard to live with. Thank God, we have the good fortune to know, and reason and faith convince us of this truth, that death is not the end of man. It is rather the real beginning. To-day's feast—the Ascension of our Lord in his human nature—to his Father's and our Father's home, is the confirmation and the guarantee of this doctrine of our faith. We shall all rise from the grave with new, glorified bodies and ascend to heaven, as Christ did. There we'll begin our true life of eternal happiness. While it is true that even for good Chris-tians the death of a beloved one is a cause of sorrow and tears, this is natural as we still are of the earth earthly. Yet the certitude that our beloved one has gone to his true life and will be there to meet us when our turn comes, is always at the back of our minds to console and comfort us. What all human beings want is to live on forever with our dear ones. Death breaks that continuity but only for a little while. That break is necessary for the
new life to begin. It is only in heaven that this natural de-sire of an unending life with all those we love can be realized and death on earth is the door to that eternal life. Look up to heaven today. See Christ as-cending to his Father and our Father. Say : Thank you, God, for creating me, and for giving me, through the Incarna-tion of your beloved Son, the possibility and the assurance that if I do my part here, when death comes it will not be an enemy but a friend, to speed me on my way to the true, supernatural life which you have, in your love, planned and pre-pared for me. It was written, and foretold, that Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory. The servant is not above the Master. I too must suffer. I too must accept the hard-ships and the trials of this life, if I want, and I do, to enter into the life of glory. Christ, who was sinless, suffered hard-ship and pain. I have earned many, if not all of my hardships, by my own sins. I should be glad of the opportunity to make some atonement for my past offen-se's, by willingly accepting the crosses he sends me. These crosses are signs of God's interest in my true welfare. Through him he is giving me a chance to prepare myself for the day of reckoning, for the moment of my death which will decide my eternal future. For every pray-er I say for success in life, I should say three for a successful death, a death free from sin and at peace with God. Excepted from The Sunday Readings, Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M. Things to Do: We continue the novena to the Holy Spir-it which is said between the feast of the Ascension and Pentecost Sunday.
Our Mother of Mercy Page 4
Mass Schedule:
Monday-Friday — 7 a.m.
Saturday—8 a.m.
Saturday—5 p.m.
Sunday—10 a.m.
Holy Day--see bulletin
Reconciliation (Confession):
Friday & Saturday Confessions
9:00 a.m. noon
Office Hours:
Mon, Wed, & Fri
10 a.m.—3 p.m.
Ascension of the Lord "Make disciples of all nations, bap-tizing them in the name of the Fa-ther and of the Son and of the Ho-
ly Spirit,. "
Bulletin printed in-house at:
Our Mother of Mercy
Catholic Church
1001 E Terrell Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817-335-1695
Pastor: Fr. Bartlomiej “Bart” Jasilek, SVD
Parish Secretary: Lydia Salas
Bookkeeper: Jennifer Rattliff
Musician: Zenobia Collins
Society of St. Vincent
de Paul Hotline: 817-768-1950
Sick/Shut-In Outreach Ministry:
Beverly Carter
817-551-1449/[email protected]
Lector Coordinator:
Lanette Martinez Vidaurri
817-228-3338/[email protected]
Eucharistic Coordinator:
Lana Wilborn
817-980-0138/[email protected]
Pastoral Council:
Mrs. Linda Zamora
Mr. Peter Roehl
Mr. Bob Fred
Financial Council:
Mr. Arthur Vidaurri
Mr. Elliot Guidry
Ms. Romel Clayton
Maintenance/Custodial: Michael Ussin
THE CLAVER FAMILY
Knights of Peter Claver—Our Mother of Mercy Council #89
Ladies Auxiliary—St. Veronica Count #89
Junior Daughters: Our Lady of Snow Court #89
Junior Knights: Our Mother of Mercy Branch #89
BON VOYAGE TRAVELS
Mary Pichon Battle
Travel Agent/Owner
985-774-3141 [email protected]
PRAYER LIST
Mike Adams
Blanca & Anthony Ayala
Diane Banta
Marie Barks
Diana Benoit
Christopher Briseno
Juanita Brown
Arvilda Byner
Martha Byrd
Janiyah Campbell
Ed Carroll
Mary Jane Carroll
Jesse Ray Castillo
Catherine Cheeks
Clara DeCuir
The Drake Family
Betty Dixon
Rose Flores
Delia Gamboa
Ramona Gonzalez
Joe Gonzalez
Faustina & Johnny Gorman
Manuel & Ray Govea
Dominga Guzman
Julio Helmstetter
John Hernandez
Robin Hevert
Andres Hicks
Meagan & Stephen Holt
Blake Hovacek
Vicki Hunter
Juliet James
Evelyn Joseph
Valerie Kalea
Father Darrell Kelly, S.V.D.
Dee Lee
Alan Lynch
Arnetta Mack
Blanche, John & Lisa Malachi
Ezikiel Maldonado
Eleanor Martinez
Robert Martinez
Brittany Masters
Ellen McMillan
Evelyn McNeill
Mark McSweeny
Rose Ellen Mesker
Jordan Moses
Charles Kabera Mukandanga
Father Brandon Murphy
Mary Najera
Kay Norvel
Mary & Sonja Ozuna
Tony Perez
Karen Pichon
Mark Porter
Edward Quintanilla
Iris Reedom
Jose & Rosa Reyes
Charles Rose
Aaliyah & Ellen Salas
Isaiah, Stephen & Kairi Salas
Amparo Betty Smarz
Josephine Smith
Matthew Stiefer
Rosa Suasnovar
Jarod Sweetland
Deborah Taylor
Sheila Taylor
Kevin Thornton
Beatriz, Paul Tijerina & Fam.
John Torres
Valentina Trujillo
Addie Uranga
Madalyne Vargas
Arthur Vidaurri
Malinda Walker
Lizzy Wampler
Michelle Church White
Father Tom Wigginton
LaVette Williams
Charlene Winblood
Douglas Paul Wonson
Addie Uranga
Valerie Zamarripa
& all who are ill
and/or home-bound.
May 17 Collection
Regular:
Youth:
Parish Maintenance
Faith Formation:
Bulletin:
Ascension:
St. Vincent de Paul:
Mass Intentions:
Seminary Form. Fund:
Online 5/13-5/17:
$2,344.00
$0.00
$120.00
$0.00
$0.00
$45.00
$185.00
$215.00
$0.00
$140.00
Jack Pais
Sales Consultant
Mobile 817-988-6344
Interactive Security and Video Surveillance Free Doorbell Camera
Military Cash ACR-1751000 & FAL-8070; TX Burg#B17968; ACR-1874519
Zenobia H Collins Pianist
[email protected] 682.365.4156 PO Box 200162, Arlington, Texas 76006
In Loving Memory of Larry & Olga Martinez, One Day at a Time.
Bulletin Sponsors—Thank You for Supporting our Parish Family!
Your advertise-ment can go here
YOUR MESSAGE COULD BE HERE!
Contact the OMM office at 817-335-1695 or [email protected]
Historically African-American Catholic Church—all are welcome! May 24, 2020
FATHER BART’S CORNER
My sisters and brothers:
COVID-19 has brought onto society as a whole and the impact on our OMM Parish community.
Yes, changes are needed to accommo-date and facilitate Confessions in a comfortable setting, the garage in its current state is not a conducive envi-ronment just in the physical tempera-ture setting alone. Meetings for larger groups that would also allow at least two group sessions at the same time but in separate rooms is a great idea and could be easily done. At our Church we need to upgrade the sounds system and broadcasting to have a better quality of live stream including Mass and live music at the same time. The staff of OMM has started to work on it.
Lastly, this coming Saturday, Vigil Mass of Pentecost, at 5:00 pm, 4 our candidates who have completed the RCIA and CCE preparation will receive the Holy Sacraments of Initiation. Please join me in congratulating them and wish them well as they continue to move ever closer to Christ. With prayers and love,
Fr. Bart, S.V.D
Our Mother of Mercy Page Our Mother of Mercy Page 2
Weekly Readings
05/25—ACT 19:1-8; JOH 16:29-33
05/26—ACT 20:17:-27; JOH 17:1-11
05/27—ACT 20:28-38; JOH 17:11-19
05/28—ACT 22:30,23:6-11; JOH 17:20-
26
05/29 —ACT 25:13-21; JOH 21:15-19
05/30— ACT 28:16-20, 30-31; JOH
21::20-25
05/31 — ACT 2:1-11; 1 COR 12:3-7-12-
13; JOH 20:19-23
World Day Of Social Com-munication As we are celebrating this Sunday the World Day of Social Communication I would like to recall the message of Pope Francis.. Our own story becomes a part of eve-ry great story. As we read the Scrip-tures, the stories of the saints, those texts that have shed light on the hu-man heart and its beauty, the Holy Spirit is free to write in our hearts, reviving our memory of what we are in God’s eyes. Remember the love that created and saved us, make love be a part of our daily stories, when we weave the tapestry of our days with mercy, we are turning another page. We no longer remain tied to regrets and sadness, bound to an un-healthy memory that burdens our hearts; by opening ourselves to oth-ers, we open ourselves to the same vision of the great storyteller. Telling God our story is never useless: To tell our story to the Lord is to enter into his gaze of compassionate love for us and for others. Recount to him the stories we live, bring him the people and situations that fill our lives. With him we can reweave the fabric of life, darning its rips and tears. We need to do this! With the gaze of the great storyteller – the only one who has the ultimate point of view – we can approach the other char-acters, our brothers and sisters, who are with us as actors in today’s story. For no one is an extra on the world stage, everyone’s story is open to possible change. Even when we tell of evil, we can learn to leave room for redemption; in the midst of evil, we can also recognize the working of goodness and give it space. It’s not a matter of just telling stories or advertising ourselves, but rather remembering who and what we are in God’s eyes, bearing witness to what the Spirit writes in our hearts and revealing to everyone that his or her story contains marvelous things. Let us entrust ourselves to a woman who knit together in her womb the humanity of God and, the Gospel tells us, wove together the events of her life. For the Virgin Mary “treasured
all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2: 19). Let’s ask her for her help, who knew how to untie the knots of life with the gentle strength of love: O Mary, woman and mother, you wove the divine Word in your womb, you re-counted by your life the magnificent works of God. Listen to our stories, hold them in your heart and make your own the stories that no one wants to hear. Teach us to recognize the good thread that runs through history. Look at the tangled knots in our life that paralyze our memory. By your gentle hands, every knot can be untied. Woman of the Spirit, mother of trust, inspire us too. Help us build stories of peace, stories that point to the future. And show us the way to live them together.
Fort Worth ISD Registration Greetings, Faith-Based partners - Our faith centers are providing so much support to families and the community right now. We value your leadership and commitment to our schools, students and the community. On April 1, the Fort Worth Inde-pendent School District began regis-tration for Pre-K and Kindergarten and we need your support to spread the word to your congregation. The District's Pre-K program is free of charge, and there's enough room for every child. Attached you will find: a letter from Superintendent Kent Scribner; ways families can stay connected with us; and fliers about Pre-K and Kinder-gartner registration. Please feel free to share the fliers with your congrega-tion via email, website or social media platforms. We cannot thank you enough for your support during these times. Grace and peace,
LaTonya Copeland-Berry
Specialist |Family Communications Dept. Faith-Based and Social Services
Ft. Independent School District 817.814.2974 www.fwisd.org
100 N. University Dr. NW259B | Fort Worth, TX 76107
Preparing all students for success in college, career and community leadership.
Sacraments & Confirmation
Next , Saturday the 5:00 p.m. mass
will only be for RCIA and our High
School students receiving their Sacra-
ments along with their families.
Please keep them in your prayers.
Safety updates—Corona Virus
The church office will be closed until
further notice. All activities are can-
celed until further notice. Please
check the Diocese website or our web-
site for Spiritual direction as far as the
sacraments, masses and confessions.
All masses will continue to be cele-
brated by Father Bart at regular
scheduled times. All masses are Live-
Streamed except for Saturday at 5:00
p.m. 60 people will be allowed per
each mass. Please log on to Our
Mother of Mercy Catholic Church
website and view it Livestream or lis-
ten to EWTN. You can pray with Fa-
ther Bart the Act of Spiritual Com-
munion while he’s praying.
The Act of Spiritual Communion
(USCCB):
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen catholic-link.org/spiritual-communion-can/
Have an announcement
for the OMM Bulletin? Please submit to the
parish office, allowing
at least two weeks notice.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Monday, May 25
Live Stream on our church Web-site
Mass: 7 a.m.
Tuesday, May 26
Live Stream on our church Web-site
Mass: 7 a.m.
Wednesday, May 27
Live Stream on our church Web-site
Mass: 7 a.m.
Thursday, May 28
Live Stream on our church Web-site
Mass: 7 a.m.
Friday, May 29
Live Stream on our church Web-site
Mass: 7 a.m.
Saturday, May 30
Live Stream on our church Web-site
Mass: 8 a.m.
Mass: 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
Live Stream on our church Web-site
Mass: 10 a.m.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Vocation View
“Go and make disciples of
all nation!” Our lives must
proclaim the Truth that
comes to from Christ, em-
brace the call to be a wit-
ness of Christ to the ends
of the world!
Divine Word Vocation Office
1-800-553-3321
www.svdvocations.org