Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church

A Thought for the First Sunday of Advent - Year C

The Christian New Year begins on the First Sunday of Advent.  Advent is about hope.  Hope is always about the future.

I would like to share with you a story about a pastor recalling his seminary days.  It seems there was no gymnasium on the seminary campus, so in warm weather the seminarians played basketball on an outdoor court on the seminary grounds.  In the winter and in bad weather, they used the gym of a nearby public school.

The janitor at the school, an old man with white hair, would wait patiently until the seminarians had finished playing.  Very often the janitor would read the Bible while he waited.

One day one of the seminarians went up to him and asked, "What are you reading?"

The old janitor replied, "The Book of Revelation."

Surprised, the seminarian asked, "The Book of Revelation?  Do you understand it?"

"Oh yes," the old man replied.  "I understand it."

"You understand the Book of Revelation!" the seminarian replied, quite surprised.  "What does it mean?"

Very quietly the old janitor answered, "It means that Jesus is going to win."

That's all that matters to those who love Jesus.  Ultimately, love is going to prevail, not hate.  Forgiveness will heal.  Mercy is going to reign!

God Bless, Fr. Ray
 

Here is the Kids' Bulletin for the First Sunday in Advent.   Please print it and share with your children and grandchildren.

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

Welcome!

If you are new in the parish, please introduce yourself after Liturgy.  If you'd like to join our community of faith, please fill out a parish registration form and return it in the collection box at Mass, to the Parish Office or via mail to 19 South Canal St., Plainville, 06062.  Or give us a call and we will fill it out with you on the phone!

You can see our Bulletin by clicking here.

A mask is required to attend Mass if you have not been vaccinated.  

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

Weekday Masses                                  M, T,Th, F & S - 8:00AM
The Rosary is prayed at 7:30 AM before Mass.
                 
Confession is held on Saturday, at Noon, in the church.                  
For an Examination of Conscience go here.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is celebrated every Friday morning after the 8am Mass.

The Office is Located at:
19 South Canal St., Plainville, CT 06062
9:00AM - 4:00PM,                    Monday - Friday
Phone:  860.747.6825
Fax:  860.747.5407
Email: olmct@sbcglobal.net

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