: St. Jude Maronite Catholic Church FATHER ELIE ABI CHEDID, PASTOR DEACON JACK MANHIRE, PH.D. Parish Council President - Amine Harb Women s League President - Paula Harb Music Director - Sharon Luhrs Office Manager/Secretary - Barbara Fidler Bulletin Editor - Diane Manhire MASS TIMES Saturday Vigil - 5:30 pm Sunday: 9:15 am & 11:15 am Daily Mass Tuesday - 6 pm Friday - 12:15 pm HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION 6 p.m. Parish Council & Finance Committee Members Khalil Abou-Jaoude Gail Bell Stanley Chlastawa Myrla Cromer Telma Domingues Barbara Fidler Ann Geagea Amine Harb Bill Hinshaw Sheila Love Elias Maroun John Shaheen Dr. Sam Wakim Parable of the Prodigal Son ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT & VENERATION OF ST. CHARBEL S RELIC Every 22 nd of the month 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Mass at 12:15 pm PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Thursdays & Weekends - Closed BAPTISM Call the Parish Office for information. MATRIMONY Arrangements with the Pastor must be made at least six months in advance. One of the parties must be registered in the Parish & attending mass for at least 3 months. MARONITE CHRISTIAN FORMATION (Religious Education) Communion - Saturdays 4-5 pm Confirmation - Saturdays 2:30-3:30 pm RECONCILIATION Saturdays before the 5:30 pm mass COMMUNION FOR THE SICK Please call the Parish Office. March 23-24, 2019 5555 Dr. Phillips Blvd. Orlando, FL 32819 407-363-7405 phone 407-363-7793 fax stjudemaronitecatholicchurch@gmail.com www.saintjudechurch.org facebook.com/stjudemaronitecatholicchurch
FROM THE DEACON S DESK Today we have the beautiful parable of the Prodigal Son which is unique to Luke. I am sure we are all aware of the interpretation which sees the father as representing God, the younger son, gentiles and the elder son the Jewish people. In this interpretation it is not just the misbehavior and then penitence of the younger son and the forgiving nature of the father which is important but also the grudging attitude of the elder son. The parable ends without indicating whether or not the elder son joined the party. A great spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen, sees these three characters as representing attitudes in all of us. To some extent we all sin and seek forgiveness, like the younger son, we all forgive and reconcile, like the father and sometimes we are self-righteous, hold a grudge and are unforgiving and resentful like the elder son. Only when we understand and accept this can we make progress in our vocation to become more like the father in whose image and likeness we were created. Serious though the misconduct of the older son was the bearing of a grudge, in the parable not just against the younger son but the father also, is much more serious. In the Our Father we say forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Our Lord warns us on a number of occasions that if we do not forgive we will not be forgiven. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews warns against nursing A root of bitterness. It is important to distinguish between nursing a grudge and still feeling the hurt of a past wrong. On occasion people come to me and say they want to forgive someone but they simply can t let go of the hurt. This is not nursing a grudge or refusing to forgive, it is simply being hurt and we have no control over our feelings. We do, however, have control of what we do about those feelings. If we do our best to forgive, we have forgiven. If we hold onto the hurt and allow resentment and bitterness to grow we are nursing a grudge. This often results in our becoming bitter individuals, and also places in doubt our eternal salvation just as the elder son s resentment was preventing him from joining the party. To forgive is not just a divine command, it makes good sense. If we hold onto a past hurt we are unable to move on. Gradually that hurt will appear as more and more important and we may see it, rather than our inability to forgive, as the source of the unhappiness we feel. If, on the other hand, we try to forgive and be reconciled the wound can heal and we can move on with our lives. You may object that the person is not penitent so why should you let them off. In fact when you forgive, whether the person is sorry or not, you let yourself off and can start anew. Doesn t that make sense? God Bless You, Deacon Jack DeaconJack@SaintJudeChurch.org Sat 3/23 5:30 p.m. Sun 3/24 9:15 a.m. Sun 3/24 11:15 a.m. Tues 3/26 6 p.m. Fri 3/29 12:15 p.m. Sat 3/30 5:30 p.m. Sun 3/31 9:15 a.m. Sun 3/31 11:15 a.m. Mass Intentions + Edward Beaton RIP by Dorothy Beaton + + SI by St. Jude Parishioners + Fr. Elie's Special Intentions + Special Intentions by St. Jude Parishioners + Special Intentions by Buck & Clara Hall + + World Peace + Leo Winterling Happy Birthday RIP by Barbara Fidler + + For all the Victims of Violence in the World WEEKLY COLLECTION for the weekend of March 16-17, 2019 Sunday Collection/Donations $1,861. Second Collection/Easter Flowers 220. Candles & Gifts 134. Coffee & Sweets 115. Total Collections/Donations $2,330. # of envelopes: 44 # of attendees: 432 2nd Collection: Operational Maintenance Next week: Religious Ed From Bishop Gregory + UNPLANNED is the inspiring true story of one woman s journey of transformation. All Abby Johnson ever wanted to do was help women. As one of the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic directors in the nation, she was involved in thousands of abortions. Her passion surrounding a woman s right to choose even led her to become a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, fighting to enact legislation for the cause she so deeply believed in until the day she saw something that changed everything, leading her to join her former enemies at 40 Days For Life, and become one of the most ardent pro-life speakers in America. The movie can change the hearts and minds. Please encourage your parishioners to see the movie. For more information and tickets, you can check https://www.unplannedfilm.com/ In Theaters March 29.
MEMORIALS To sponsor a religious gift in memory or honor of your loved one, or for a special intention, please call the parish office Memorials & Special Intentions - $50 each/month) CURRENT SPONSORS ALTAR CANDLES SPONSORS + + March - Joseph G. Hanna RIP by Joseph M Hanna + + April - SI Hajjar Families by Dr. Fouad & Rosalind Hajjar + + May - Joseph G. Hanna RIP by Joseph M. Hanna SANCTUARY LAMP SPONSORS + + March - SI Hajjar Families by Dr. Fouad & Rosalind Hajjar + + April - Sylvia Criswell RIP by John & Gloria Smith ALTAR BREAD & WINE SPONSORS + + March - Eiserle Families RIP by Barbara Torten + + April - Edward Beaton RIP by Dorothy Beaton CHARCOAL & INCENSE SPONSORS + + March - SI Hajjar Families by Dr. Fouad & Rosalind Hajjar + + April - Joseph G. Hanna RIP by Joseph M Hanna SPECIAL INTENTIONS + + March -Eva & Harold Betts Happy Anniversary RIP by John & Gloria Smith + + April - SI Hajjar Families by Dr.Fouad & Rosalind Hajjar YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED If you can donate toward these repairs, please call the Parish Office at 407-363-7405. Fundraising activities are planned for the following repairs. Details to follow. Roof repair $39,700 $1,500.00 for the warranty $41,200. AC repair $43,128. Sound System repair $5,000, Total $89,328. BISHOP'S APPEAL St. Jude's Annual Assessment for this year's Bishop's Appeal is $8,000, which is a small reduction for the parish from last year. Please prayerfully consider your donation to this appeal. Please place your donation in an envelope marked Bishop's Appeal. You can place the envelope in the offertory, bring it to the parish office, place it in the mail, or donate through PayPal on our church's website SaintJude.org Thank you. To date, donations to the Bishop's Appeal total $2,334. This leaves a shortfall of $5,666, to meet our assessment goal of $8,000. Thank you to all who have already contributed to this Annual Appeal. TV MASS for the Homebound WRBW My 65 AT&T U-Verse My65 Ch. 1005 Sunday 8:00 am Spectrum (Bright House) Orlando My65 Ch. 1065 Sunday 8:00 am LECTOR-USHER SCHEDULE MARCH 2019 3/23-3/24 Parable of the Prodigal Son 2 Cor 13:5-13 & Lk 15:11-32 5:30 p.m. Lector Mike Mangan (E) Ushers: Donna Harrison & Stan Chlastawa 9:15 a.m. Lector: Jezabelle Kinealy (E&S) Ushers: Carlos Fernandez & Ted Khoury 11:15 a.m. Lectors: Jesse Enriguez (E) & Lillian Faran (A) Ushers: Tony Rouhana & Amine Harb 3/30-3/31 Healing of the Paralytic 1 Tim 5:24-6:5 & Mk 2:1-12 5:30 p.m. Lector: Bob Rodgers (E) Ushers: Myrna Calderon & Kathy Morrell 9:15 a.m. Lector: Maria Clark (E&S) Ushers: Stan Chlastawa & Hank Dressel 11:15 a.m. Lector: Nour Zikra (E) & Nader Zikra (A) Ushers: Tony Rouhana & Amine Harb When You Care Enough... to love the very best in your marriage, treat yourselves to a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend in the Central Florida area will be May 3-5 in Orlando. To get more information or to register call Bob/Sheila Baker 407-647-4289 or go to WWME.ORG. News from St. Vincent de Paul Orlando Our new resupply app allows you to schedule a FREE pick up of large appliances or furniture directly from your smart phone. Or, call our Donation Hotline at 888.986.4483 or schedule via svdporlando.org. Thank you for helping us help others! If you know of anyone in our St. Jude parish community who is in the hospital, please notify the parish office at 407-363-7405.
PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON 2 Corinthians 13:5-13 Final Warnings & Appeals Brothers & Sisters: Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong - not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect. So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Praise be to God always! Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Lost Son The Lord Jesus says: There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me. So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, How many of my father s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands. So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, Quickly, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound. Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him! Then the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found. This is the truth. Peace be with you. Next Week s Readings: Sunday of the Paralytic 1 Timothy 5:24-6:5 & Mark 2:1-12 DAILY READINGS Monday: 1 Tim 4:9-16 & Jn 8:21-27 Tuesday: 2 Cor 8:1-9 & Mt. 23: 1-12 Wednesday : Gal 2:107 & Mt. 17:10-13 Thursday: Gal 1:1-10 & Lk 17:20-37 Friday: 2 Cor 4:11-18 & Lk 6:20-23 Saturday 39: 2 Tim 3:1-9 & Mt. 12:1-14 ST. JUDE PRAYER CHAIN Please send your request to songbird728@gmail.com. Please list the details of the request Want to be added to the "Warrior" List, those who pray for others? email us. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20 POPE FRANCIS INTENTIONS MARCH 2019 Evangelization Christian Communities That Christian communities, especially those who are persecuted, feel that they are close to Christ and have their rights respected.
Parish News + St. Jude s Family Religious Group - Contact Nahi Bassil 703.347.5317 nbassil@ncua.gov or Simon Obeid a704.907.6942 simonobeid@yahoo.com. + St. Charbel Family Prayer Group - Contact: Dr. Maha Zikra at 407 748-7941. + St. Jude Youth Group - Youth age 13-18 are encouraged to join for religious/ social activities. Contact Randa Awad 407.341.9490. + St. Jude Children Choir - Contact Dina Sleem 813.701.7067 or Margo Bassil 407.990.4125. + St. Jude Choir New Members - St. Jude Choir is in need of more members for all Masses. Contact Sharon, our choir director, at.850.510.9697. CALENDAR OF EVENTS St. Jude Annual Golf Outing Saturday May 11, 2019 MetroWest Golf Curse Please consider participating in this major fundraising event. More information to follow with Registration Forms Thank you to all who participated in FRIDAY'S MEATLESS MEAL. A special thank you to the Rahhal family for sponsoring the meal. Donations totaled $474. zzconfirmation Class Saturdays 2:30-3:30 p.m. zzcommunion Class Saturdays 4-5 p.m. zzadoration/veneration - 22 nd of each month Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Veneration of the St. Charbel Relic 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Next Adoration/Veneration April 22 Mass at 12:15 p.m. zzst. Jude Women Group meeting every 3 rd Tuesday of each month - 7 p.m. Next meeting - Tuesday, March 19 zzparish Council Meeting 1 st Tuesday of each month. 7 p.m. Next meeting - Tuesday April 2 zzst. Charbel Family Meeting 1 st Friday of each month - 7:30 p.m.. Next meeting - Friday, April 5 Every Friday during Lent "Way of the Cross" 6:30 pm followed by the "Service of the Benediction with the Holy Cross". Lenten Pot Luck Dinner to follow on March 29. No charge for dinner - donations accepted. St. Jude has a PayPal Account so now you can make donations through PayPal. You don't have to have a PayPal account to donate. You can use any credit card. Simply go to the church's website, saintjudechurch.org. You will see a donate button (like above), click on it and choose your amount; then choose PayPal or Debit/Credit Card. There is also a box to check for a recurring monthly donation. Fill out the form & press "Donate Now". Thank you for your generosity.