Easter Sunday April 01, Parish Office Hours Monday through Friday 9 AM to 2:30 PM. Pastor Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin

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1 Parish Office (863) Fax (863) Easter Sunday April 01, 2018 Parish Office Hours Monday through Friday 9 AM to 2:30 PM Pastor Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin Assisting Clergy Fr. Gerald Grogan Pastor Emeritus Fr. Leo Frechette Deacon Fred Simon Schedule of Masses Saturday Confession 3:30 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! This is the night, when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld. (Easter Proclamation the Exultet)

2 Page 2 Our Lady of Grace What Is Resurrection? An Easter Reflection? Christopher O Donnell O. Carm. Why are eggs associated with Easter? Why are they such a powerful symbol of resurrection? The word needs some care. It is not resuscitation, as if Jesus were simply brought back to life, like Lazarus or the widow s son at Nam (see John 9 and Luke 7:11-15). Resurrection is transformation. The symbols of resurrection are many. So then, why eggs and Easter? An egg is totally changed. What is yellow and white liquid becomes alive with feathers and a chirp. If you look at the liquid of eggs alone, you would never tell what they would become. A liquid goo becomes a chicken a sea gull, crow or magpie. Another Easter symbol is the seed, or acorn. You can look at a seed and never imagine what color it may turn out to have. Similarly with a caterpillar and butterfly. These are resurrection symbols because they become something else, totally unforeseen and beautiful. Yet there is continuity: the egg becomes a chicken; an acorn an oak-tree; a caterpillar a butterfly. There are also human resurrection symbols: persons recovering from drug addiction or alcoholism become what they have despaired of happening. They are the same persons, but now transformed; they have new life, new hopes, and new possibilities. Another resurrection symbol might be a teenager becoming an adult: he or she is the same, but different with the new beauties of maturity. The resurrection is an invitation to look around to see transformation, to see what is evil being changed, what is immature becoming adult; what appears inert like an egg or seed sprouting life. But for the Christian the resurrection has a still richer meaning. St. Paul states it clearly: I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures (1Corinthians 15:3-4). We can tease out this text by looking at accounts of the resurrection. They are quite subtle. The first thing we can see is that Jesus was raised on the third day. Who raised him? The Father by the power of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 1:3-4; 8:11). When we look at the resurrection appearances we notice that Jesus is not at first recognized by those who loved him and who were his close associates or disciples. The exception seems to be the Beloved Disciple John who had special insight (see John 20:8; 21:7). The others come to faith; indeed faith was necessary to identify Jesus. The Risen Jesus is then the same but different. This can be put in another way by saying that Jesus is not resuscitated, but is resurrected. Christ is risen, and has promised to take us with him. This life is not the end; we too will be transformed in endless life and beauty. Human life is good, but it will end. The resurrection gives hope and meaning to our existence here. In our weakness we will after death be raised in glory. Again there is continuity: it is I (not just my body) that I hope will be raised. As Paul writes: So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body (1Corinthians 15:42-44).

3 Easter Sunday Page 3 8 a.m. Memorial Mass, 1st Saturday, April 7 The 8 a.m. Mass on the First Saturday of every month is offered as a memorial mass for deceased benefactors of Our Lady of Grace Parish. They include: Sarah McDonald, Fred Bruno, Francis & Audrey Peffer, Michael Brazinski, Loumella Faust, Donald McCormack, John Lacenski, Peggy Lindlau, Lester Reinbolt, Maria Gurrero, Orlando Nardone, Mary Litwinski, Patricia Borst, Mrs. Lane, Bill & Mary Ann Patterson, William LaPeer. Confessions after mass. Food Collection for Church Service Center Because of Easter Sunday, the Church Service Center food collection was postponed for one week, until the second Sunday of Easter, the weekend of April 7/8. We invite you to bring non-perishable food to Church next weekend, April 7/8 to all masses. We will also take a second collection after communion to assist those who come to the Church Service Center seeking assistance for basic things like electric and water bills and with rent and mortgage payments. 1st Friday Mass & Exposition April 6 The 8 a.m. mass will be followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Friday, April 6, and will conclude with Benediction at 9 a.m. Bring Box Tops for St. Catherine s School St. Catherine Catholic Grade School is collecting General Mills Box tops. It receives a dime for each one. It uses the proceeds to purchase items for the school. Bring Box Tops to Church at all masses next weekend & drop them off at Church entrance. Bon Voyage K of C Breakfast/ Brunch for winter residents, Sunday, April 8 The K of C will host its breakfast/brunch, Sunday, April 8th, 8 a.m. until 12 noon, in the Grogan Center. The cost is $7 per person; children under 12 eat free. Winter residents Bon Voyage breakfast.

4 Page 4 Our Lady of Grace Divine Mercy Sunday, April 8th OLG Parish, under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus and its Respect Life Committee, will observe Divine Mercy Sunday on Sunday, April 8th at 2: 00 p.m. in Church. We encourage you to observe this devotion which received the strong support of Saint Pope John Paul II. He was canonized on the Eve of Mercy Sunday last year. We will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. offertory basket. We thank you for your participation in this Lenten program which combined the three Lenten practices of Fast, Almsgiving and Prayer. The proceeds will be sent to Catholic Relief Services. 75% of the proceeds will be used to feed hungry people around the world. 25% will be retained in the Diocese to help feed the hungry people here. OLG College Scholarship Application Thanks to OLG Parish Golf Tournament Fund, there will be OLG Parish scholarships available to area High Schools graduating seniors. Applications must be in by April 9. Scholarship applications - pick up in the parish office. Call Parish Office Operation Rice Bowl Collection, weekend of April 7/8 If you have not turned in the proceeds from the CRS Lenten Program, Operation Rice Bowl, we ask you to bring the proceeds from the 2018 Lenten Program, Operation Rice Bowl, to Church next weekend. You can drop the proceeds in the Big Rice Bowl at the altar in front of the Church or place the proceeds in an envelope and drop it in the Scholarship applications can also be downloaded from OLG Parish website Completed Applications should include a high school transcript and parents last year s income return, or, their annual income. The application must be completed in full when it is submitted for consideration. OLG Scholarship application Committee, under the chairmanship of Kevin Murphy, will meet this coming week, to review and make OLG Scholarship awards. The awards will be presented at Avon Park & Sebring H.S. Awards nights in the near future.

5 Easter Sunday Page 5 Thank you Dennis Kellner, owner of Warren s Auto Sales, for welcoming OLG Hispanic Ministry group for its car wash on his premises to raise money toward 2 $1,000 scholarships for OLG High School Seniors. The scholarships will be named Humberto Ramirez Our Lady of Guadalupe Scholarships. Piedad Sarmiento, chair, was assisted by adults Bart and Maria Bouza and Beatriz Ramirez and OLG High School Youth group members. Thank you parishioners for your support.

6 Page 6 MASS INTENTIONS SATURDAY MARCH 31 8:30 pm Priests Intentions SUNDAY APRIL 1 6:30 am Priests Intentions 8:00 am Priests Intentions 10:30 am Priests Intentions 12:00 Priests Intentions MONDAY APRIL 2 8:00 am Special Intention for Bill & Athalie Wiley (70 th wedding anniversary). TUESDAY APRIL 3 8:00 am + Charles Thomas Kahle by Judith Kale Heiden. WEDNESDAY APRIL 4 8:00 am + Pauline Hutchins by the Parkers. THURSDAY APRIL 5 8:00 am + Theresa Gies by Her Daughter. FRIDAY APRIL 6 8:00 am + Joan Roche by Neal Roche. + Edward Castine by Maureen Castine. SATURDAY APRIL 7 8:00 am Benefactors of the Parish, Sarah McDonald, Francis & Audrey Peffer, Orlando Nardone, Maria Guerrero, Mary Litwinski, Norma George, Fred Bruno, Loumella Faust, Paul Brazenski, Donald McCormack, Lester Reinbolt, and John Lacenski, Patricia Borst. Mrs. Lane. Bill & Mary Ann Patterson, William LaPeer. 4:00 pm Special Intention for Bill & Athalie Wiley (70 th wedding anniversary). + Nancy Galida by a Friend 7:00 pm + Anastacio Pagan by Teresa Torres. SUNDAY APRIL 8 8:00 am + Pamela Gies by Her Sister. 10:30 am + Joan & Timothy Roche by Neal Roche. Our Lady of Grace FOR THE SICK OF THE PARISH Claudette Laverriere Jade Jackson J.R. Lejeune Glenna Thompson Andres Clavijo Lise Sevigny Gregory Syfert Patty Meegan Ray Stebbins Bob Laufersky Patricia Martin And for those who care for the sick, for the deceased member s and benefactors of the parish, especially Joseph DeGroot and for our loved ones. HAPPILY MARRIED COUPLES Ever wonder why the Church makes such a big deal about Marriage? Jesus performed His 1 st miracle at the wedding at Cana. Maybe the Church cares so much about marriage because Jesus does. Come find out more about God s plan for Joy, Romance and Love in YOUR marriage. You ll be glad you did! The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend in this area is at the OLPH Retreat Center in Venice May 4th - 6th. Space is limited, so please apply early! For more information about taking a private time away, check out wwme.org or call SPANISH PRAYER MEETING The Adult Spanish Prayer meeting is held in the Youth Center on Friday at 7:00 pm. ADULT BIBLE STUDY Adult Bible Study, facilitated by Dale O Leary will continue meeting on Tuesday morning at 9:00 am in the Conference room.

7 Staff & Ministries Administrative Assistant Betty Heiring Religious Education Judy Nugent Angie Heiring (863) Music Gene Ryan Associate Youth Director Angie Heiring (863) Prayer Group Kevin Murphy Women s Guild Debbie Augusta - President (863) Respect Life Dick & Marie Carlson (863) Parish Council President Judy Pounds Vice President Piedad Sarmiento- Noriega Secretary Judy Nugent Members Debbie Augusta Maureen Cool Darlyne Devany John Paul Heston Jim McGann Karen Hecker Tina Starling Teresa Torres John Wolbert Peter and John enter the tomb On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don t know where they put him. So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead (John 20: 19-31).