Parish Office (863) 453-4757 Fax (863) 453-2620 7th Sunday of Easter May 13, 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! www.ologap.org The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus said to his disciples: Go into the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:15).
Page 2 Our Lady of Grace Dear Graduates: While I was on sabbatical some years ago in Italy, I visited the home of Giacomo Puccini in Lucca. He was one of the most popular composers of Italian Opera. His best known Operas include: La bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madame Butterfly (1904), and Turandot (1924). While he was composing what he hoped would be his masterpiece, namely Turandot, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He had just finished two acts of the opera when he heard that there was a new treatment for throat cancer in Brussels in Belgium. He decided to seek out the treatment. But before he did, he called a number of his students together under the leadership of Maestro Arturo Toscanini. They promised to complete the Opera in the event that Puccini died before he completed the work. Puccini went to Brussels for the treatment where he died suddenly in 1924. His students came together under the leadership of Franco Alfano and Arturo Toscanini and reviewed many of his sketches. In 1926, it was decided to premiere the Opera La Scala in Milan. The musical director was Maestro Arturo Toscanini. When he got to that point in the composition where Puccini had stopped composing, Toscanini was overcome with emotion. He put down his baton; the lights and the curtains were lowered; the music came to an eerie halt; Toscanini put his face into his hands and wept uncontrollably. When he regained his composure, he took the baton back into his hand; the curtains and lights were raised. Toscanini turned to the audience to explain the rupture. That was where the maestro finished composing, he explained to the audience, and this is where his students completed his work, and the opera concluded to thunderous applause. In today s first reading for the transferred Feast of the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven, Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles (1: 1 11), that Jesus directed his disciples to not to depart from Jerusalem and promised You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and, like the students of Puccini, they will complete the work of Jesus. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Jesus reiterates this commission before he ascended into heaven in today s reading from Mark s Gospel: Jesus said to his disciples: Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believe and is baptized will be saved After Jesus said this, he was taken up to heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. Mark says, the disciples went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. They began the process of completing his work. What an appropriate day to celebrate the Graduates Mass. The Ascension of Jesus into heaven was an end and a beginning for his disciples. His work had transitioned from Jesus to his disciples who would now continue his work. Discipleship had given way to apostleship; they went from being followers to being sent to continue and to complete the mission of Jesus. The word graduation comes from the Latin word meaning step. Our graduates have completed a step in their right-of- passage. May the Holy Spirit continue to enlighten and guide them as they begin to make important life decisions? Congratulations and, may God go with you. Father Nick.
7th Sunday of Easter Page 3 Teacher Jackie Jackson & 1 st Communion Class 1 st Communion mass was also the Family Mass 1 st Communion children process into Church Father Nick engages 1 st communion class Tina Starling serves as reader at 1 st Communion Gift Bearers bring gifts to the altar at the First Communion mass
Page 4 Our Lady of Grace Father Nick addressing the National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 3, in front of Sebring Court House 4 th & 6 th graders from St. Catherine Grade School sing God Bless America at National Day of Prayer There was a very good turn-out for the National Day of Prayer on May 3 at Sebring Court House
7th Sunday of Easter Page 5 Collection for the Catholic Communications Campaign Congratulation to 2018 Our Lady of Grace Parish area High School Graduates Christine Reyes Bauza Kadie Crosson Timothy Ferreira Guadalupe Guzman-Gomez Rosalinda Jaramillo Denise Limdimas Briza Luevano Jennifer Martin Jasmine Martinez Marcos Mendoza Ricardo Montenegro Andrew Seymour Yair Vegas Eight $1,000 Scholarship awards To date, OLG Scholarship Foundation has awarded 8 $1,000 scholarships; 7 to graduates of Avon Park H.S. and 1 to a graduate from Frostproof H.S. We thank Dennis Kellner, chair, of OLG Scholarship Golf Tournament for raising $9,500. The Ladies Guild and the Knights of Columbus donated $1,000 scholarships. In addition, there were 3 anonymous scholarships received, in the amount of $8,000. Kevin Andrew Seymour II Denise Limdimas Kadie Crosson Cristina Reyes Bauza Brisa Luevano Rosalinda Jaramillo Guadalupe Guzman-Gomez Jasmine Martinez Collection for Catholic Communications May 13 Digital media has become a part of our daily experience. Our lives are constantly shaped by communication through the Internet, radio, and print. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI described the internet as a new missionary continent. The 2 nd collection today is for 2018 Catholic Communications Campaign. OLG Ladies Guild prepare lunch for 1 st communion class in the Grogan Center Doreen, Angie, Diana, Jade and Jackie Jackson all members of the First Communion Class team who prepare children for 1 st communion
Page 6 MASS INTENTIONS SATURDAY MAY 12 4:00 pm + Joseph Lopykinski by M/M Raymond Mundy. +Brian Buckmaster by Judy Nugent 7:00 pm Special Intention by Lydia Garcia. SUNDAY MAY 13 8:00 am + Elizabeth Kross by Karen & Howard Hecker. 10:30 am For Repose of Souls that have no one to pray for them by Sullivan & Cox Family. MONDAY MAY 14 8:00 am + George Voelker by Diann Voelker. TUESDAY MAY 15 8:00 am + Joan Roche by Neal Roche. WEDNESDAY MAY 16 8:00 am + Joe Fedora by Ralph & Judy Todino. THURSDAY MAY 17 8:00 am Special Intention for Peter Simon by Grandpa & Grandma. FRIDAY MAY 18 8:00 am + Livia Smith by Fred & Millie Simon. SATURDAY MAY 19 4:00 pm + Glen Hartsfield by Ann Hartsfield. + Arthur Picard by Family. 7:00 pm Special Intention by Lydia Garcia. SUNDAY MAY 20 8:00 am +Gabrielle Felton Gonzalez by Her Daughter. 10:30 am + Joseph & Else Degroot by Family. For emergency prayer chain requests, you can email kmurphy@timacusa.com or text Kevin at 863-443-1852 Our Lady of Grace FOR THE SICK OF THE PARISH Claudette Laverriere Andres Clavijo Gerald Martin Glenna Thompson Patricia Martin Lise Sevigny Thomas GIldea Jade Jackson J.R. Lejeune Gregory Syfert Patty Meegan Gerald Ott John Minadeo Ray Stebbins David Getz And for those who care for the sick, for the deceased member s and benefactors of the parish, and for our loved ones. SPANISH PRAYER MEETING The Adult Spanish Prayer meeting is held in the Youth Center on Friday at 7:00 pm. PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA & LOURDES A pilgrimage is scheduled for 10 days, October 14-23, 2018. Trip arranged by Collette Travel. Bus Transportation included to and from Avon Park to Orlando. Cost: Double 2,999. Single 3,349, Triple 2,969 includes 10 days 16 Meals: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners. Time is running out to reserve a space on this trip. For More Information call Bob or Joan Mack at 863-453-2638 THANKS TO THE LADIES GUILD We want to thank the Ladies Guild for furnishing and preparing the reception for the First Communion Class. You made a special occasion for the families.
Staff & Ministries Administrative Assistant Betty Heiring betty.heiring@ologap.org Religious Education Judy Nugent Angie Heiring angie.heiring@ologap.org (863) 453-7537 Music Gene Ryan mee@generyan.com Associate Youth Director Angie Heiring (863) 453-7537 Prayer Group Kevin Murphy Women s Guild Debbie Augusta - President (863) 385-8872 Respect Life Dick & Marie Carlson (863) 471-2134 Parish Council President Judy Pounds Vice President Piedad Sarmiento- Noriega Secretary Judy Nugent Congratulations 2018 First Communion Class Members Debbie Augusta Maureen Cool Darlyne Devany John Paul Heston Jim McGann Karen Hecker Tina Starling Teresa Torres John Wolbert