fourth Sunday of lent

March 31, 2019 Volume 3, Issue #14

Celebrant:

Father Victor Ray

The rose vestments today remind us that already we have reached Laetare Sunday in Lent, just over half way through

Lent. Laetare, rejoice. The Scripture readings today also give us great reason to rejoice. In the readings today we are

really feasting on God’s mercy. The prodigal son is welcomed back by his father (Luke 15:11-32), Paul tells us that

Christ has reconciled us to the Father (2 Cor 5:18-19) and in the first reading the Hebrews celebrate their first Passover

in the Promised Land (Josh 5:9-12). The readings indeed give us many reasons to rejoice.

However the readings also give us challenging food for thought appropriate for this season of Lent. The prodigal son

lived a life of debauchery in a distant country. While that is bad enough, he only came to his senses when there was a

famine in that country. We might ask ourselves how much longer would he have continued in his profligate lifestyle

had famine not struck the country. A worrying issue is that the prodigal son did not seem to know there was something

amiss in his life, and only became aware of it when everything he had was taken away from him. I say that is worrying

because if the prodigal son only figured it out when a natural disaster overcame him we might begin to wonder if we

may have closed ourselves to God in any way without even knowing it like the prodigal son. Lent is to see where we are

before God so that we do not end up like the prodigal son with the pigs. The joy of the first celebration of the Passover

in the Promised Land in the first reading (Josh 5:9-12) is surely tempered by the fact that all the parents of that

generation had perished on the way up to Canaan from Egypt because they had turned against God. They did not

appreciate what God was offering them and like the prodigal they lived their life in a distant country instead of enjoying

what God was offering them. Sin slowed their journey and ultimately prevented them from attaining God’s gifts. Is sin

slowing us from attaining the gifts God offers to us? Lent is a time to see where we are before God so that we do not

wind up like the prodigal son with the pigs or get stuck on our journey instead of attaining the gifts God offers us.

We could also regard Paul’s teaching in the second reading as the summation of God’s message of mercy and

forgiveness to us today, “whoever is in Christ is a new creation…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,

not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation…” (2 Cor 5:17,19)

This is what Lent is all about; becoming a new creation in Christ because the Father does not count our trespasses

against us. This truly is a reason to rejoice. Laetare.

Father Victor Ray

Wisdom From

Father Victor Ray

Let’s Pray For:

Abrams, Al

Dawn and Morgan

Hartwig, Bill

Hickman, Bp. Peter

Judi and Larry

Kovar, Lyn

Little, Ron

Marx, D.A.

For all of our Parishioners

that follow us through

Electronic Media. Prayers

for your specific request that

you have sent us.

For all those that need a

Prayer, Raise, your Right

Hand Toward Heaven and

know that the Parish of Saint

Teresa of Calcutta Catholic

Community is beside you in

your Prayer.

The Daily Prayer of Saint Teresa

Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with your

spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only

be a radiance of You. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in

contact with may feel Your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me

but only Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as

to be a light to others. Amen.

Questions of the Week:

Where do you feel shame or guilt over past

transgressions? How might you give these emotions

to the Lord? Which figure in the parable of the Prodigal

Son do you identify with the most at this point in your

faith journey: the prodigal, the older son or the forgiving

father? Why? How does your parish carry out the

ministry of reconciliation within the wider community?

Meeks, James

Obuchowski, Essy

Ray, Father Victor

Retke, Wayne

Spano, Dee

Talboom, Mark

Villafana, Ivy

Warner, Bill

Please follow along with the Mass

by viewing the Blue Booklet

found in the Pew Pocket

in front of you.

Upcoming Celebrations

MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENT 3/24/19 - 25 COLLECTIONS: $330.00 FLOWER. $173.00

ACTUAL MONTHLY EXPENSE: $1,562.61 MONTHLY INCOME (PLUS/MINUS) (-$29.61)

For all those Celebrations that I have missed, Forgive Me and I sincerely hope they were all Wonderful. Wishing you all the Happiness and Repeat of your Special Day!

For more detailed Church information, read the

STOCCC Gazette which is found on the Website:

www.stoccc.org or the

APP: Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Community

BIRTHDAYS

Caleb Stout 3/3

Maria – Elena Whitlock 3/8

Patrick Ellingham 3/16

Jim Villafana 3/24

ANNIVERSARY Jon Laubscher and Bill Schwartz 3/6

Jennifer and Dan Stout 3/13

Ivy and Jim Villafana 4/8

GATHERING

VIDEO

MUSICAL INTERLUE

An Examination of Conscience (A short silence will be observed after each segment below).

Presider: Do I have an open heart?

All:

• Can I embrace new people, experiences, and new ways of looking at God?

• Does my heart reach out to strangers, but bristles when people I know make requests?

• Am I hospitable to others, especially to the poor, the ones I disagree with, to those who are different from

me?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a prayerful heart?

All:

• Do I seek a time of quiet for reflection, meditation, contemplation, and the study of sacred scripture?

• Do I honor the sacredness of the earth, every human being, and every creature made by God?

• Do I regularly offer worship and praise to God both privately and corporately with my church family?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a peaceful heart?

All:

• Does my heart waste itself on small stuff, losing sight of God’s far-reaching vision?

• Do I need to rid myself of grumbling and complaining about everyday frustrations?

• Am I frequently impatient, irritable, and angry at myself and others?

• Do I worry about my future and that of my loved ones?

• Do I frequently focus my attention on the weakness of others and the negative things of life?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a quiet heart?

All:

• Do I fill my days with constant activity without any time for listening to God and others?

• Do I waste too much time in unnecessary activities such as watching TV, listening to talk radio, and surfing

the internet?

• Is my life a series of virtual communication that fails to share God’s truth?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a hopeful heart?

All:

• Do I recognize all the positive influences in our world?

• Am I able to let go of outcomes I disagree with?

• Do I live in expectant hope of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to create a new heaven and new

earth?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a thankful heart?

All:

• Am I aware that all that I have been given is truly a gift from God?

• Do I appreciate the gifts and talents God has bestowed on those around me?

• Do I show others appropriate gratitude for the good things that are freely given to me?

• Do I gratefully affirm the efforts of others?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a loving heart?

All:

• Do others recognize that I am a follower of Jesus by how I treat people and the earth?

• Is inner goodness shown in my outward action?

• Do I love others even when they are unwilling or unable to do so in return?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a forgiving heart?

All:

• Am I ready to give up grudges, resentments and old hurts?

• Can I look pat being shunned and mistreated by others in my community?

• Do I pray for my enemies and freely forgive those who harm me?

• Do I accept the forgiveness of God and others?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a serving heart?

All:

• Am I reluctant to share my spiritual and material gifts with others?

• Am I willing to do what needs to be done regardless of reward?

• Do I spend more time on treating myself with unnecessary rewards than giving to my church family and

other charitable endeavors?

• Do I give of my time to my spouse, my children, my parents, my friends and my church family?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a kind heart?

All:

• Do I build up others through words of affirmation and encouragement?

• Do I contribute to the destruction of the reputation of others by participating in gossip and malicious talk?

• Do I criticize and complain about others behind their backs?

• Do I selfishly exploit others to gratify my own desires and needs?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a faithful heart?

All:

• Am I trustworthy and dependable?

• Do I fulfill my promises to others?

• Do I keep my agreements?

• Do I freely offer to volunteer myself for the ministry of my church family?

• Do I speak the truth in love?

Short silence

Presider: Do I have a humble heart?

All:

• Do I regard others as more important than myself?

• Do I brag and gloat to others?

• Do excessively talk about myself to others?

• Do I seek to be the center of attention?

• Do I honor and uphold others?

Short Silence

Presider : Do I have an obedient heart?

All:

• Do I accept God’s call upon my life and recognize the gifts and abilities that God has given me?

• Do I regularly worship and praise God?

• Am I willing to follow the will of God for my life?

Short Silence

THE BLESSING OF THE SALT AND SPRINKLING WITH HOLY WATER

Presider: Almighty God,

We ask you to bless+ this salt

As once you blessed the salt scattered over the water

By the Prophet Elisha.

Wherever this salt and water are sprinkled,

Drive away the power of evil,

And protect us always

By the presence of your Holy Spirit.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen!

(The presider then sprinkles the water with the salt)

Presider: God our Father,

Your gift of water

Brings life and refreshment to the earth;

Through it You wash away our sins in baptism

And give us eternal life.

We ask you now

To bless+ this water,

And to give us your protection on this day

Which you have made your own.

Renew the living spring of your life within us

And protect us in spirit and body,

That we may be free from sin and death,

And come into your presence

To receive your gift of salvation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Song LORD, HAVE MERCY Michael W. Smith

Jesus, I’ve forgotten the words that You have spoken

Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim

With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom

Forgive me for my unbelief

Renew the fire again

Chorus

Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy

Lord have mercy on me

Repeat

I have built an altar where I worship things of men

I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You

Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing

Pardon my transgressions

Help me love You again

Repeat Chorus

I have longed to know You & Your tender mercies

Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end

I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence

Your grace forever shining

Like a beacon in the night

Repeat Chorus 2x

VIDEO

THE SACRAMETAL PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION

Invitation by deacon or Celebrant:

The Risen Christ returned to his disciples and proclaimed peace. Breathing on them the Holy Spirit, he sent them

into the world for the ministry of reconciliation and forgiveness.

Absolution

Celebrant: Jesus gave his life for the life of the world. Through his great offering, may your sins be forgiven, and all

wounds and divisions be healed in+ the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

OFFERTORY

VIDEO

COMMUNION

COMMUNION SONG

IF NEEDED TO STRETCH

SANCTUARY

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary. Pure and holy, tried and true

With thanksgiving, I'll be a living. Sanctuary for You

It is you, Lord. Who came to save

The heart and soul. Of every man

It is you Lord. Who knows my weakness

Who gives me strength. With thine own hand

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary. Pure and Holy, tried and true

With thanksgiving I'll be a living. Sanctuary for you

Lead Me on Lord. From temptation

And Purify me. From within

Fill my heart Lord. With Your holy spirit

And Take away, Take away all my sin

Lord prepare me to be sanctuary. Pure and holy, tried and true

With thanksgiving, I'll be a living. Sanctuary for You

Lord prepare me to be sanctuary. Pure and holy, tried and true

With thanksgiving, I'll be a living. Sanctuary for You

SENDING

VIDEO

Please join us for Fellowship.

Have a Blessed Week!

Bulletin Submissions due by Thursday at Midnight.

Email to: media.stoccc@gmail.com or by calling Bill Schwartz at PH: 727-350-3778