From the Pastor
This is the Fourth Sunday in Lent. Traditionally, this day is known as Laetare Sunday, from the Latin word for the command “rejoice,” the first word in the introductory antiphon for today’s Liturgy, (based on the words of Isaiah 66:10). The antiphon and the readings both express the Church’s joy in anticipation of Jesus’ Resurrection. Today’s readings both remind us that it is God who gives us proper vision in body as well as in soul and instruct us that we should be constantly on our guard against spiritual blindness.
Peter Marshall, the former chaplain to the United States Congress used to pray, “Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for
anything.” Today’s Gospel challenges our ability to see clearly. Do we see a terrorist in every member of a particular religion? Do we see people who are addicted to drugs as outcasts and sinners? Do we fail to see God at work in our lives because He has shown us no miracles? Jonathan Swift said, “Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.” Let us remember that this gift belongs to those who can see the good hidden in the kernels of suffering and of failure. It resides in those who never give up hope. Let us pray for the grace to see and experience the presence of a loving and forgiving God.
What Kind of God do people see? “I believe he overdid it this time.” A country preacher was visiting his
parishioners after a local flood. He called on a farmer whose crop had washed away and whose cows had all drowned. “Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth,” quoted the preacher, trying to offer some comfort. The farmer looked at him and said dryly, “Well, I believe He overdid it this time.” The farmer was right. What kind of God do some people have? Many people were startled to hear TV evangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell blame the bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on God’s unhappiness with gays, feminists and People for the American Way. Did these two influential clergymen really mean that God killed thousands of innocent people because God was unhappy with the lifestyles of other people in our land? Is God the ultimate terrorist? What kind of God do some people have? Jesus and his disciples passed a man blind from birth. “Who sinned,” asked Jesus’ disciples, “this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” What kind of God did these disciples have? STAY safe in this moment of
crisis....God is with us!!
Father Victor Ray
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.
4
thSunday of lent
March 22, 2020 Volume 4, Issue # 12
a CACINA Parish
Celebrants: Our Pastor
Father Victor Ray
s
Dear Sisters, Brothers!
As you know, we are receiving daily updates from federal health officials regarding the spread of
the coronavirus disease 2019, also known as COVID-19. I am writing to provide you with
information and sensible practices, in hopes of limiting the spread of this virus.
During this time, the following adaptations in our worship should be implemented. These adaptations
are based on advice from a variety of sources the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
World Health Organization, Florida Department of Health. Among the most important:
•
Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, including after coughing, sneezing,
handling diapers, preparing food or using the bathroom.
•
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
•
Stay home when you feel sick.
So that we can play our part in limiting the spread of an outbreak if it occurs in our region, I
suggest that our faith communities consider the following temporary amendments to our liturgical and
community practices:
•
Clergy and Eucharistic ministers can use hand sanitizer visibly when celebrating the Eucharist
or distributing the elements and have it available for worshippers to use.
•
Ask worshippers to avoid intinction (the dipping of the host or bread into the chalice) or
receiving from the cup.
•
Remember that the Eucharist is complete when only one element (in this case, the bread) is
received.
•
Replace hugs and handshakes at the peace with waves, elbow bumps, bows, or peace signs.
•
Pray for those who are ill and encourage them to stay home.
•
Remind coffee hour and feeding program volunteers to wash their hands and handle food with
utensils or food safety gloves.
Our role as Christians, and particularly for those of us called to leadership in the church, is to help
alleviate fear and anxiety with accurate information and support. I also want to thank you for your
good work in attending to these suggestions and to commend to your prayer all those directly
addressing the consequences of this virus.
Blessings these Lenten days,
Fr. Victor Ray
Pastor, St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Community
A CACINA Parish
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
Reflections of the Week:
Psalm 23 proclaims the beloved words, “The
Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want”.
How have you experienced the abundance of
God in your own life?
All of us at Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Community want to
take a moment to extend a Very Warm Welcome to everyone who is
visiting us for the first time this morning. Whether you are just having
a look, or are searching for a place to worship, we are delighted to have
you here. Enjoy the rest of your worship time with us, and
May God Bless You!
HYMNS
SUNDAY, March 22, 2020
GATHERING
# 137
Verses 1,3,5Lord Who Throughout These 40 Days
OFFERTORY
# 393
Open My Eyes
COMMUNION
# 355
I Am The Living Bread
SENDING
# 432
Amazing Grace
readings
Page 87 - 90
1
stReading
1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13aResponsorial Psalm Shepherd Me O God,
beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into
life
2
ndReading Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel Acclamation Praise to you, glory and
praise, Lord Jesus Christ
Upcoming Celebrations
Let’s Pray For:
Abrams, Al
Ellingham, Patrick Harper, Richard and Family
Hartwig, Bill Hickman, Bp. Peter Howard, Mary 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.
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!
Meeks, James Obuchowski, Essy Patton, Kelsi and Ben Ray, Father Victor Retke, Wayne Rodrigues, Betty Spano, Dee Talboom, Mark Warner, Bill Beverly
BIRTHDAYS
Caleb Stout 3/3
Sunny Griner 3/6
Maria-Elena Whitlock 3/8
Patrick Ellingham 3/16
Jim Villafana 3/24
ANNIVERSARY
Jon and Bill 3/6
Jennifer and Dan Stout 3/13
PRAYER BASKET
Prayers received by the air waves
Fernanda, Bruno Husband, Annette, Don Fabien, Jack, Susan, Billy BeverlyWesley Victor Adolfo Javier Mike Ifeanyi
AnnMarie Tequila, Daughter, Sister Shahana Ann
Eugene Aditya Eoghan Amanda Nelson
DEVOTIONAL CANDLE LIGHTED FOR
Geraldine Colbert Omar Meraz Ivy Villafana
Ellie Ospina Cherry Garcia and Casper Donna Knuckles Ellie Ospina Sam Kawola
Please join us for
Fellowship.
Have a Blessed
Week!
MONTHLY FINANCIAL
STATEMENT
03/15/20 – 24 COLLECTIONS: $285.00ACTUAL MONTHLY EXPENSE: $1,562.61 MONTHLY INCOME (PLUS/MINUS)
-
$467.61
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