Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church

   Today we celebrate Pentecost. Pentecost celebrates the beginning of the church. The Scripture readings all speak of the Holy Spirit. You might take note that readings for the vigil of Pentecost differ from those read during the day of Pentecost. The readings read at Mass during the day are: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; and John 20:19-23. The readings for the vigil of Pentecost include five selections from the Old Testament as well as Romans 8:22-27 and John 7:37-39.
   In the story of Pentecost, the Spirit of God is experienced in images of breath and fire. The Hebrew word for “Spirit” is ruah, meaning breath or air. Pentecost is the “breath” of God blowing through our community, re-creating us and forming us into the church of the Risen Christ.
   In our first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, Luke describes “tongues” of fire appearing to “rest” on each of the Apostles. Such “fire” impels them to articulate what they had seen and heard and experienced in their encounter with Jesus.
   In this feast of Pentecost we celebrate the Spirit of God within our own hearts and dwelling within our Church Community: the breath of God giving life to us and animating us in his grace to live lives of compassion and mercy; the fire of God forming us into his people of humble service and selfless generosity, reflecting that of Christ.
                  
                                                                              God Bless,
                                                                  Father Ray                       

Here is the Kids' Bulletin for the celebration of Palm Sunday. Please print it and share with Kids' BulleKids' Bulletintinyour children and grandchildren.  
 

Find out how much Jesus loves us when we go to Mass and receive the Eucharist in this inspiring video!         

We, the people of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Plainville, Connecticut are committed to journey together as a community of faith, hope, and love within the Catholic tradition.  We are called to witness to the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives through sharing and celebration of faith and a life of Christian Service.

Dear Padre,

My neighbor is a fundamentalist Christian. He said I won't be "saved" unless I accept Jesus as my personal savior.  Didn't Jesus become my savior when I was baptized?

Your neighbor is probably referring to John 3:7, when Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born anew."  Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth; we must have a spiritual birth in order to be saved.

As you have correctly noted, Catholics believe this happens at baptism. In John 3:5, Jesus says, "No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."

We are saved by the waters of baptism. But for Catholics, it's not merely a one-time event.  We continue to accept or reject the salvation offered us by the decisions we make every day.

Your neighbor used the words "personal savior."  Catholic Christians go even deeper through the sacraments.  We develop and nurture a very personal relationship with Jesus by regularly receiving the Eucharist.  In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we admit we have sinned and ask Jesus to forgive us.  And in the Sacrament of Confirmation, our relationship is "sealed" with the gifts of the Spirit.  

Many Catholics also celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. The couple's personal relationship with Jesus is deepened through the love the couple shares.

So tell your neighbor you are indeed saved by Jesus.  And because you are saved, you deepen that relationship with Jesus by living a sacramental life.

Fr. Patrick Keyes, CSSR

Weekend Masses
Saturday Vigil  - 4:00 p.m. 
Sunday -  8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m., Liturgy of the Word for Children is celebrated at the 10:30 a.m. Mass

Week Masses
Monday - Saturday 8:00 a.m.
No Mass Celebrated on Wednesdays
       
Confession are celebrated this week at 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays
For an Examination of Conscience go here. 

The Office is Located at:
19 South Canal Street,
Plainville, CT 06062
Office Hours are 
Monday - Thursday:
     9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., afternoons by appointment only

Phone:  860-747-6825
Fax:  860-747-5407
Email: olmct@sbcglobal.net