,
LENT IV SUNDAY
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Phone: 251-865-6902P. O. Box 417, Grand Bay, AL 3641 Fax: 251-865-1412
Email: Parish website:
Pastor:
Fr. Anthony Kadavil ()
Secretary:
Rev.Deacon Billy Graham
Parish Council President:
Mr. Steve Sema Jr. ()
Finance Council President:
Mrs. Paula Rials
CCD Coordinator: Mrs. Tiffany Teofilo
Youth Director:Mrs. Karen Day
CCD classes & Youth programat 8-45 a.m. & 11 a. m. on Sundays. Christian doctrines are taught to our youth using the big TV & DVD player in the church lobby immediately after the 10 am. Mass
Fish fry & Stations of the Cross: Knights of Columbuswill be serving fish fry dinner every Friday of the Lent. You are invited for the Stations of the Cross at 5-30 on all Fridays of the Lent.
Second Collection this Sunday, March 15th, will be for Catholic Relief Services.
Big thanks to St. JohnGrandBay parishioners for their sacrificial offering to Catholic Charities this year.We reached our goal although the pledged amount is $ 5000 less than last year’s.
Televised Holy Masson Monday March 16th at 5:00 pmfor the weeks of the 5th Sunday of Lent and Palm Sunday will be filmed at St. Johns’ on Monday March 16th at 5:00 pm. We request that all who are able to attend to please do so to help make the Mass for the Home-bound special.
The Golden Groupwill meet on Thursday, March 19th, at 11:30. Make plans to attend the covered dish dinner and meeting. The parish offers “Special Thanks” to the Golden Group for organizing the pantry in the parish hall as a spring cleaning service.
Father Andrew J. Stauter went home to the Lord on Monday morning, March 9th at ProvidenceHospital. Father Stauter was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Mobile and a resident of Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Mobile. Please pray for the eternal repose of his soul.
“Light is on for you”is the arrangement in our parish for the parishioners to receive the sacrament of reconciliation during the Wednesdays of the Lent. Fr. Tony will be present in the confessional on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm to hear confessions.
The Holy Week Schedule for Ministers of the Massis on the glass table. Please sign up to assist at Mass on nights you plan to attend during Holy Week and for the Mass you plan to attend on Easter weekend.
Living Stations of the Cross procession: The Office of Youth Ministry presents the Living Stations of the Cross procession through downtown Mobile on Good Friday, April 3 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at SpanishPlaza. Teen volunteers from the parishes are needed for readers and carriers of the Cross. The Stations will be led by the youth of the Archdiocese. This is a rain or shine event! We will end our Stations at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Please join us for this powerful, public witness of our faith. For more information, please contact the Office of Youth Ministry at or 251-433-4138.
66th Annual Blessing of the Fleet Court Signup:Any 6th or 7th graders who are interested and wish to sign up to participate, please contact Missy Perry @ 251-605-7339
To schedule a meeting or event using parish facilitiesyou must check the calendar or contact the office to be sure the date and room is available. You must have approval from the office for any scheduled events.
Confirmation Preparation classes:All students entering into the 9th, 10th or 11th grade and who have not received confirmation are requested to be present for the Confirmation Preparation class by Deacon Graham at 8-45 am every third Sunday in the Education Building.
Pilgrimage to Italy in June of 2015:Join Fr David Tokarz for a guided pilgrimage to holy places in Italy: Assisi, Siena, the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, the Holy House of Loreto, the burial face-cloth of Jesus in Manoppello, the shrine of Padre Pio at San Giovanni Rotondo, Rome, and more. For further information and to make reservations, contact .
The Catholic Youth Organization of the Archdiocese of Mobileinvites any of our CCD students who are interested in participating in sports to join the CYO. They offer many sports for students in grades 2 through 8. In the fall they offer football, soccer, volleyball, cheer leading, & tennis. Students will be placed on teams that are convenient to the GrandBay area. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Paul Knapstein, Director for the CYO for our area.
Birthdays of this Week:14th; Mary Jane Martin: 15th; Theresa Bridges, Destry Murray, Michael Stringfellow: 16th; John Brannan: 18th; Katelynn Oliver, Mickey Poirier.Known Wedding Anniversaries18th: Elsa & John McBride
Mass Intentions of this week: March 14-20
Sat. the 14th: ------For the eternal repose of the souls of deceased parishioners
Sun. the 15th: ------For the Parish Community
16th, 17th, 18th & 19th ---- For the eternal repose of the souls of Maurice & Mary Poiroux by Eugene Poiroux
20th: ------For the eternal repose of the souls of deceased relatives/friends of Doris Sema
Our Food Bank is really running low on food. The Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a year round food drive to help feed those in need. Catholic Charities requests your generous food contributions. Besides, Fr Tony always has request from people in need for food. We request everyone to bring in food items that can be turned into a meal for up to 4 people. If you prefer to give money you can just leave it in an envelope in the collection basket with “For Food Bank” written on it and we will know that it is meant for our parish food bank.
Items for Soldier’s Needs: Please don’t forget to bring items for soldiers’ needs: Shaving cream, disposable razors, solid deodorant, bars of soap/body wash, anti-bacteria cleaner, shampoo, tooth paste, dental floss, personal handy-wipes, personal hygiene items for women, foot powder, insect repellent, flea collars (they put them around their ankles), chopstick, athlete’s foot powder/spray, sun block lotion, sun shades, protective safety dust masks, socks, sweat headbands, batteries (AAA, AA, C), DVD movies, cards, writing tablets, paper, pens, envelopes, reading materials, snacks: cookies, gum, crest, life-savers, mints, pudding, crackers, sardines, chicken, tuna, salmon, jerky, peppermints, kool-aid, gatorade, tea/coffee. Put items in the designated box in the Parish Hall.
Help us keep flowers at the altar
The slotted wooden box on the glass table in the Parish Hall will receive donations for flowers. If you wish to give flowers for a specific remembrance or thanksgiving there is a sign-up flower chart on the wall to the left of the front doors.
New CDs
There are new CDs in the CD stack. Each CD costs $ 3. You can have 9 CDs for $ 25. CD on the revised Mass is now available.
Regular $3,914.00 / Building Fund $531.00
Volunteers
Altar Care- March
Martha Delmas & Ruth Pigorsch
Church Cleaning:March 21, 22
Wissey Dixon & Ann Jackson
Saturday –March 21, 2015, 5:00PM
Altar Server EMHC Lector Usher / Greeter
Greg Keffer, Sam Clark Wesey Dixon Jay Graham Jay Graham, Kevin Cauley
James Graham Billy Dixon Steve Sema, Jr Wayne Jackson, Paul Pigorsch
Sunday –March 22, 2015, 10:00AM
Trey Roberts, Kyle Veronica Stewart Michelle Cook Avis Garrett, Reggie Stewart
McBride, Bryce Baggett Reggie Stewart Autumn Bowden Mike Courtney, Jimmy Marchand
If you are scheduled to serve at Mass and find that you cannot serve, it is NECESSARY that you arrange for a substitute.Please take your responsibility seriously. If you are interested in serving as an Altar Server, Eucharistic Minister, Lector or as an Usher, please let Fr. Tony or the Office know of your willingness to serve. We especially need Usher/Greeters for the Saturday Mass.
Remember the sick in your Prayers our sick brothers and sisters:Father James Havens, Kenny Kirchoff, Raymond Lyons, Paul DelmasMila Vaughn, Eugenia Cruz, Deacon Ross,Frances Bosarge, Rev. Msg. Joseph Jennings, Father Matthew Venuti, Jerry Wayne Davis, Amanda, Ida Clark, Joyce Rudberg, Jennifer Patronas, Connie Stringfellow, Josh Ellis, Beth Gibson, Father Russell Biven, Cheryl Humphrey Thompson, Jay Stallone, Emma Barber, Ali Ray, Caryn Sutoff, Gerald Brannan, Hanner Gassaway, Rylyn Kuntz, Addie Thompson, Voncille Hulcher, Joe Ecker, Cody Driskell, B. J. Broussard, Clair Waite, Avery Collier, Julia Raleigh, Evelyn Robison, Father Andrew Stauter, Steven Butler, Sarah Butler, Chris Sassano, Tammy Asch, Mary Rambo, Delaine Pigorsch, Joel Rivera, Alice Bedwell, Susan Taylor, Wayne Seymour, James Cauley, Miss Pink Pridgen, Kim Pridgen, Clyde Shores, Glen Haab, Haley Holder, Lakeshia Johnson, Gary Sherman, Elizabeth Schmidt, John Atchison, Johnny Hill, Jared Hoken, Diana Abrams, Hinleigh Hall, Ryan Keith Malone, Linda Graham, Dave Matern, Virginia Gable, Andrew Taylor, Diane Watts, Daniel Dorriety, Tiffany Fontenot, Harrand Broussard, Katie Nielsen, Richard Arnold, Louis Poiroux, Homer Campbell, Jimmy Marchand, Arlene Wissman, Becky Thompson, Sally Thompson, Peggie Huber, Dale Thompson, Jane Thompson, Andy Thompson, Callie Massey, Angela Heardon, Rita George, Edgar Broussard, Lillian Broussard, Robert Broussard, Jerry Blair, Michael Stairs, Amanda Illingsworth, Ray Bribsey, Dorothy Barnes, Jared Horn and for all those serving in the Armed Forces.
Pray for the deceased of the parish:Jean Mitchell, Veretta Tulos, Jim Kimble, Lynn Poirier, Phillip Marchand, Sue Kirchoff, Mary Sanders, Margaret Jackson, Catherine Schnadelbach, Darlene Alexander, Patrick Marchand, Steve Sema, Sr., Mary Marchand and Sis Marchand. Also pray for the eternal repose of the souls of Rev. Monsignor Hugh Maguire, Rev. Monsignor Francis Cusack and Rev. Monsignor Robert Fulton, Fr. Gorman, and Sister Maria Bernarda Kadavil, Rev. Walter Menig
Pray for the special intentions of other sick and deceased relatives and friends.
Pray for those serving in the Armed Forces: Travis Wilson, SPC Jackson Triston, Jr., Captain Will Hurd, Bryant Bailey & Zachery Bailey.
Pray for the Deceased dear ones of the Parish: Jean Mitchell,Jim Kimble,Veretta Tulos,Barbara Werneath,Lynn Poriere, Philip Marchand, Dolores Miller, Sue Kirchoff, Mary Sanders, Margaret Jackson, Darlene Alexander, Lewis Wright Carroll, Catherine Schnadelback, Mary Marchand, Steve Sema, Rick Marchand and Ciss Marchand. & Rev. Msgr. Cusack former Vicar for priests and Rev. Msgr. Robert Fulton, Fr. Gorman, Fr, Andrew Stauter.
Pray for the special intentionsof other sick and deceased relatives and friends.
Pray for our former parishioners who are now serving in the Armed ForcesTravis Wilson, SPC Jackson Triston, Jr., and Captain Will Hurd.
Synopsis of Homily for Lent IVJohn 3: 14-21
Video homily by Fr. Bill Grimm:
Introduction:The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Lætare (Rejoice) Sunday, from the first words of today’s liturgy. As on Gaudete Sunday in Advent, rose-colored vestments may replace violet, with flowers on the altar symbolizing the Church's joy in anticipation of the Resurrection of Our Lord. The central theme of today’s readings is that our salvation is the free gift of a merciful God, given to us throughJesus His Son. The readings stress God’s mercy and compassion, the great love, kindness and grace extended to us in Christ.
The Scripture lessons: In the first reading, taken from the Second Book of Chronicles, we learn the compassion and patience of God. God allowed Cyrus the Great, a pagan conqueror, to become the instrument of His mercy and salvation to His chosen people who were in exile in Babylon. In the second reading, Paul tells us that God is so richin mercy that He has granted us eternal salvation and eternal life as a free gift through Christ Jesus.Today’s Gospel has a parallel theme, but on a much higher level. Jesus, the Son of God, became the agent of God's salvation, not just for one sinfulnation but for the sinfulness of the whole world. Through John 3:16, the Gospel teaches us that God expressed His love, mercy and compassion for us by giving His only Son for our salvation. Nicodemus, the wealthy Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, meets Jesus by night and begins a long religious discussion. Jesus explains to him that he must believe Jesus’ words because Jesus is the Son of God. He further explains to Nicodemus God’s plan of salvation by referring to the story of Moses and the brazen serpent. Just as God saved the victims of serpent bite through the brazen serpent, He is going to save mankind from its sins by permitting the crucifixion and death of His Son Jesus because the love of God for mankind is that great.
Life messages: 1) We need to love the cross, the symbol of God’s forgiving and merciful love: As a forceful reminder not only of God's love and mercy, but also of the price of our salvation, the crucifix invites us to more than generosity and compassion. It inspires us to remove the suffering ofother people’s misery. It encourages us not only to feel deep sorrow for another’s suffering but also to try our best to remove that suffering. Hence, let us love the cross, wear its image and carry our own daily cross with joy, while helping other to carry their heavier crosses. 2) We need to reciprocate God’s love by loving others. God’s love is unconditional, universal, forgiving and merciful. Let us try to make an earnest attempt to include these qualities in sharing our love with others during Lent. 3) Our rebirth by water and the Spirit must be an ongoing process. That is, we must lead a life of repentance and conversion bringing us to renewal of life, with the help of the Holy Spirit living within us, through prayer, Bible reading, frequenting the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist and doing corporal and spiritual deeds of mercy.
Why should we confess sins to a priest?Since Jesus is the one and only mediator between God and us (1 Tim. 2:5) shouldn’t Christians confess their sins directly to Jesus? Just as God empowered his priests to be instruments of forgiveness in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:20–22), Christ delegated authority to his New Testament ministers to act as mediators of reconciliation as well. Catholics do confess their sins directly to God both within and outside the confessional because Jesus advocated praying directly to the Father and to ask forgiveness for our sins (Matt. 6:12), and Catholics do this communally at every Mass and in prayer groups, and individually during private prayers. But Catholics also believe that Jesus gave the Church a unique role in his ministry of reconciliation by entrusting it with his power to forgive and retain sins. By administering the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), the priest perpetuates this ministry by acting in persona Christi, "in the person of Christ." In other words, when Catholics receive absolution from the priest for sins confessed, it is Jesus’ forgiveness that is granted, not the priest’s. Jesus made this clear in John 20:21–23: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Here Jesus emphasizes this essential part of the priestly ministry of the apostles—to forgive men’s sins in the person of Christ. Hence Catholic Church teaches that Jesus, who alone has the power to forgive or retain sins (Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24), transmitted that power to the apostles and the apostles to their successors. How can a priest forgive sins in the name Jesus using the authority given by the Church unless people confess their sins? That is why confessing sins to a priest has been practiced in the Catholic Church from the early Christian period. In the fourth century, St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan (IV century), wrote: Sins are forgiven through the Holy Ghost. Certainly, but men lend him their ministry. . . . They forgive sin, not in their own name, but in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” (De Spiritu Sancto iii, 137).Additional sources:
Visit our website: forSunday Homilies, 159 - Questions & Answers and 56 - Faith Formation Lessons, introduction to Bible books.
All are welcome to St. John’swith open hearts, open minds and open doors.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Grand Bay celebrates God’s presence,grows in God’s grace,welcomes all people andreachesout with God’s love.We try to be to be a vibrant community of faithwhere all people feel they belong.No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church, No matter what your current family or marital situation, No matter what your past or present religious situation, No matter your personal history, age, background, race, etc., No matter what your own self-image or esteem, you are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved and respected at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Grand Bay!
We come together as a parish family to draw our life from the Eucharist and other sacraments.
As believers we participate fully, consciously and actively in the liturgy of the Church and seek to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and action.