Ash Wednesday

 

"Change your heart and return to God this Lent."

Psalm 51: 12-13

Daily Meditation: (taken from Creighton University's Online Ministries )
A very special day.
The ashes we use are the burnt palms from last year's celebration of Passion Sunday.
We begin our Lenten journey aware of where we are going.
We want to enter into the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus for us more fully.
That is the purpose of our journey.  It is why we mark our heads with his cross.
It is why we fast today and abstain from meat.
Our Lenten program is not an effort to save ourselves.
We have been saved by his sacrifice.
Our self-denial helps us, in the darkness that surrounds us,
to prepare ourselves to receive his light.
For this is a journey to the Easter font,
where we will renew the promises of our Baptism,
remembering that in dying with him in the waters of Baptism,
we are re-born with him to everlasting life.
This year's journey begins today.
Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
-  Joel 2:12-13

Closing Prayer:
Lord,
it feels like we are embarking on a Lenten journey together, you and I.
The beautiful words in the today's prayer talk about
the "quiet remembrance of our need for redemption."
That feels like what I am looking for -
or what you are looking for in me.
I want to remember how much I need you in my life
and how much my life needs redemption.
I want to remember it clearly and
in the background of my day today and all through Lent.

On this special day, Ash Wednesday,
may my small sacrifices in fasting be a way to clear away
the clutter in my life to see you more clearly.
May my longing for meat and other food,
help me to focus my life today more outside myself.
Let me be aware of those who are in so much more suffering than I am
and may I be aware of them as the brothers and sisters you have placed in my life.

Lord, I know there is darkness within me and around me.
Bless these days with your Word.
Let your Light shine in the darkness.
Help me long for that Light
until we celebrate it at the Vigil six weeks from now.

And most of all Lord,
help me to honor this day with the ashes on my forehead.
They help me remember where I have come from and where I am going.
May I acknowledge to you my sins
and my deep need for your loving forgiveness and grace.
I pray that this Lenten season will make me so much more aware
of how much I need your healing in my life.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Prayer For February Birthdays!!

 Let us pray:

 For our adult parishioners  God of all creation, we offer you grateful praise for the gift of life. Hear the prayers of your sons and daughters, your servants, who recall today the day of their birth and rejoice in your gifts of life and love, family and friends. Bless them with your presence and surround them with your love that they may enjoy many happy years, all of them pleasing to you. Let us not forget our youth born in this month. Loving God, you created all the people of the world and you know each of us by name. We thank you for our children, who in the month of February celebrate their birthday. Bless them with your love and friendship that they may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and grace. May they love their family always and be faithful to their friends. Continue to restore their faith and their destiny. Grant this through Christ our Lord. 
R. Amen. 

 

Happy Birthday Sister Jada!

Happy Birthday Sister Robyn!

Happy Birthday Father Charles Udokang!

Please feel free to add the names of your family, friends, and loved ones who celebrate their birthdays in the month of February.

If  you'd like your birthday added for March, please e-mail olgnsgbronx@gmail.com with the name of the birthday celebrant (and photo) by March 21st.



Prayer for January Birthdays!!

 Let us pray:

Happy Birthday Sister Eltee Pierre!

 For our adult parishioners  God of all creation, we offer you grateful praise for the gift of life. Hear the prayers of your sons and daughters, your servants, who recall today the day of their birth and rejoice in your gifts of life and love, family and friends. Bless them with your presence and surround them with your love that they may enjoy many happy years, all of them pleasing to you. Let us not forget our youth born in this month. Loving God, you created all the people of the world and you know each of us by name. We thank you for our children, who this month celebrate their birthday. Bless them with your love and friendship that they may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and grace. May they love their family always and be faithful to their friends. Continue to restore their faith and their destiny. Grant this through Christ our Lord. 

R. Amen. 

• Happy Birthday Pastor Rudy Gonzalez.

• Happy Birthday Wilfred Anigekwu.

Happy Birthday Brother Juan Javier

Happy Birthday Sister Danielle Charlton

Happy Birthday Sister Charlene Vincent

Happy Birthday Brother John Franco Schirripa

  

Happy Birthday Brother Dominic Pinnock

Please feel free to add the names of your family, friends, and loved ones who celebrate their birthdays in the month of January.

Our Lady of Grace's December Calendar of Spiritual Events, Fundraisers, and other Gatherings 2013

Father Rudy's Corner: Dec. 1, 2013 (1st Sunday of Advent)

Dearest friends:

Happy New Year!!! Yes, for our Catholic Church this is a new year, for it is the beginning of Advent. It is a time when we begin to recall that Jesus promised to return again, and to recall his first coming as a little baby that first Christmas. Advent thus is a time of Joyful Expectation...

Expectation of what, you ask?

His second coming, of course. We don't like to think about this because we are fearful of not being ready to encounter the Lord suddenly. We like to be in control and plan everything in our lives, and yet he tells us that His return will be unexpected. But if we are living according to His law of love already, why be afraid? Advent is a time to reflect on our relationship with God and those He has put in our lives; and if we really want to have control of everything in our lives, then we need to take control of our spiritual readiness to see Jesus whenever He should return. This ought to be an exciting endeavor. During this Advent we are invited to attend daily Mass,

go to confession, make time for prayer during our day, and plan our spiritual strategy to encounter the Lord.

Please plan ahead and mark your calendars: on Thursday December 19th at 7pm, Brother John

Malich will be offering an evening of recollection to help us in our Advent journey. And for those who can not attend the evening session, he will offer it again on Saturday December 21 at 3pm. This will be held in ourchurch hall. Here is an opportunity for ALL to participate and it is yet another spiritual event to celebrate our 89-90 parish jubilee celebration. Please plan to join us.

Have a blessed week!!!

Father Rudy

N O T I C E

STARTING JANUARY 2014, ALL MASS INTENTIONS

MUST BE PAID ON THE SAME DAY REQUESTED

+THANK YOU+

Monday, December 9th - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is NOT a day of obligation.

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November 13, 2013

+Year of Faith

Dear Friends in the Lord:

This past August, I had the joy and privilege of traveling to Drogheda (Ireland) with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal of our archdiocese to re-open a convent once staffed by a community of women religious who taught me in elementary school in Ballwin, Missouri. They will continue the exemplary work of caring for the elderly and poor of that region since the sisters who taught me are no longer able to do so inasmuch as most of them are now retired -- well, from their active apostolates, not from their love of and commitment to the Lord and His

Church.

The same is true herein New York. All of us are able to recall and give thanks to the Lord for the thousands of retired Catholic sisters and brothers whose hard work, prayer, and personal sacrifices helped build and sustain our schools, hospitals, and charitable agencies. I shudder to think where we would have been and where we would be without these dedicated women and men who gave and give tirelessly of their lives in extraordinary service to our archdiocese.

On December 7 and 8, our parishes will take up the annual archdiocesan collection for those sisters and brothers who are now in their senior years. This special collection affords us an opportunity to offer them, in return for all they have done for us, our love and support by helping to provide for their needs. When Sister Bosco, who taught me in the third grade and is now retired, beamed as we re-opened her convent, I could not have been happier. Please help us in helping our retired sisters and brothers here in the archdiocese by making as generous a contribution to their collection as you can.

With prayerful best wishes for a blessed Advent,

I am, Faithfully in Christ,

Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan

Archbishop of New York

Queridísimos amigos:

Feliz Ano Nuevo!!! Si, para la Iglesia Católica este es un nuevo ano, esto es el comienzo del Adviento. Esto es un tiempo cuando nosotros comenzamos a recordar que Jesús prometió de venir otra vez, y de recordar su primera venida como un pequeño niño aquella primera Navidad. Por tanto Aviento es un tiempo de una espera alegre... Espera de que?, usted se pregunta; de su segunda venida por supuesto. Nosotros no nos gusta pensar acerca de esto porque tememos de no estar listos para el encuentro con el Señor repentinamente. Nosotros nos gusta estar control y planificar cada cosa en nuestras vidas, y todavía El nos dice que Su regreso será inesperado. Pero si nosotros estamos viviendo ya de acuerdo a Su ley del amor, por que tener miedo?

Adviento es un tiempo para reflexionar sobre nuestra relación con Dios y aquellos que El ha puesto en nuestras vidas y si nosotros realmente queremos tener control de toda cosa en nuestras vidas, entonces necesitamos tomar control de nuestra preparación para ver a Jesús cuando El regrese. Esto debe ser un esfuerzo excitante.

Durante este Adviento nosotros estamos invitados a participar en la misa diaria, venir a confesarse, buscar tiempo para la oración durante el día, y planificar estrategias espirituales para el encuentro con el Señor.

Por favor planifique con tiempo y marque en su calendarios el Jueves 19 de Diciembre, a las 7:00pm, el Hermano John Malich estará ofreciendo una tarde de reflexión para ayudarnos en

nuestro itinerario de Adviento. Y para aquellos que no pueden asistir a esta sesión, el la ofrecerá otra vez el Sábado 21 de Diciembre, a las 3:00pm. Esta será en el salón de nuestra parroquia. Esta es una oportunidad para TODOS de participar y esto es otro evento espiritual para celebrar nuestro 89-90 Jubileo parroquial. Por favor únase a nosotros.

Que tengan un semana bendecida!!

El Padre Rudy

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Queridos amigos en el Señor:

Los días 7 y 8 de diciembre nuestras parroquias llevarán a cabo la colecta annual Arquidiocesana para nuestros hermanos y hermanas que ahora se encuentran jubilados(as). Esta colecta especial nos da la oportunidad de ofrecerles y devolverles a ellos un poco de nuestro amor, apoyándoles y proveyéndoles y provéndoles en sus necesidades por todo lo que han hecho por nosotros.

Por favor, ayúdenos a ayudar nuestros hermanos y hermanas jubilados aquí en la arquidiócesis con una generosa contribución a su colecta, según sus medios se los permitan.

Con mis mejores deseos de oración, por un Adviento bendecido, me suscribo,

Fielmente en Cristo,

Timothy Michael Cardenal Dolan

Arzobispo de Nueva York

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N O T A R

COMENZANDO EN ENERO DE 2014, LAS INTENCIONES DE

MISAS DEBEN SER PAGADOS CUANDO SE LE SOLICITE.

¡GRACIAS!

Father Rudy's Corner: Nov. 24, 2013

Dearest friends:

What a glorious weekend this is. Why, you ask? Because this is CHRIST THE KING weekend,

the last week of the liturgical year. Next week we begin the Advent Season. How do YOU honor the KING? No I don't mean, Elvis, or MLK...I mean Jesus THE King. Does He have a throne in your heart? Do you serve Him as king? ALL the time, not just when you need him. Do you follow His precepts? Are you faithful to him, as His subject? Do you appreciate the humility of our King? Are you a good representative of the King? Very often we take these questions for

granted and because we do, we do not act as we should....as loyal children of a wonderful king...Jesus. Sing to Him today, worship Him today, Honor Him today, love Him today, for he IS your king....benevolent, just, and totally in love with YOU!

Have a blessed week!

Father Rudy

Our Lady of Providencia

Many thanks to all who worked so hard to make this celebration special. May Our Lady bless our Puerto Rican Community and all of our parish always.

Thanksgiving Eve Mass

Come and give THANKS to the Lord for all His blessings to you. Mass will be on Wednesday,

November 27th at 7pm. Before the rush, the shopping, the family dinner, and the turkey....come and say Thank You to the one who makes this holiday possible.

Our Lady of Grace Rectory

Will Be Closed

Thursday, November 28th

Have A Blessed Holiday!

Queridísimos amigos:

Que maravilloso fin de semana es este. Usted, se pregunta por que? Porque este es fin de semana es CRISTO REY, la ultima semana del ano litúrgico. La próxima semana comenzamos el Tiempo del Adviento. Como USTED honra el REY? No, yo no quiero decir , Elvis, o DLK ... yo quiero decir Jesús EL Rey. Tiene usted un trono en su corazón? Usted le sirve a El como su Rey? TODO el tiempo, no solo cuando lo necesitamos a El. Sigue usted Sus preceptos? Es usted fiel a El como Su súbdito? Aprecia usted la humildad de nuestro Rey? Es usted un buen embajador del rey? Muy amenudeo nosotros tomamos esas preguntas sin darle la importancia porque nosotros no actuamos como deberíamos... como niños fieles de un maravilloso Rey... Jesús. Cántale hoy a El, adórele hoy a El, Hónralo hoy a El, amalo hoy a El, por que El ES tu Rey... benevolente, justo y totalmente ENAMORADO de TI! Que tengan un semana bendecida!!

El Padre Rudy

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16 de noviembre, 2013 — Año de la Fe

Queridos amigos en el Señor, El Día de Accíon de Gracias es un tiempo del año en la que

Ustedes y Yo esperamos, como nación, comunidad de fe, como personas, para expresar nuestra gratitude a Dios por Sus muchas bendiciones.

Al mismo tiempo, la celebración del Día de Acción de Gracias, nos da la oportunidad de “devolver un poco” a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en el Señor que son menos afortunados

que otras personas. Es por eso, que cada año, yo recurro a ustedes para esta colecta especial del Día de Acción de Gracias que permite a la arquidiócesis proveerle servicio pastoral a los

que tienen hambre, se encuentran desalojados y afligidos de manera mental y físicamente, en nuestras comunidades por todo el mundo especialmente en Nueva York.

Su contribución es distribuida por Caridades Católicas a personas que buscan vivienda adecuada, trbajos, despensas de alimentos, y otros numerosos programas que Caridades Católicas

hace para que sus vidas sean más llevaderas. Lo primero y más importante es que les pido que mantengan en sus oraciones a los menos afortunados. Nunca le olvidemos a ellos y sus necesidades diarias– necesidades que usted y yo muchas veces dejamos pasar por alto. Tembién les pido por su contribución financier para apoyarles a ellos. Por favor, sean tan generosos como Ustedes puedan a esta colecta especial, para que Caridades Católicas pueda continuar su buen trabajo, y aún más, extender su trabajo por ellos en nombre del Señor.

Les deseo a Ustedes y a sus familias un Día de Acción de Gracias muy bendecido. Con mis mejores deseos de oración, me suscribo,

+Timothy Michael Cardenal Dolan+

Arzobispo de Nueva York

Nuestra Señora de la Providencia

Muchas gracias a todos los que trabajaron mucho para hacer esta celebración especial. Que Nuestra Señora bendiga siempre a nuestra Comunidad Puerta Riquiña y a nuestra parroquia.

Misa la Vispera de Accion de Gracias

Ven y da GRACIAS al Señor por todas las bendiciones que El te ha dado. La Misa será el Miércoles, 27 de Noviembre, a las 7:00 pm. Antes de las compras agitadas, la cena familiar, y el pavo... ven y dice Gracia al único que hace este día posible.