Bulletin Board (Our Lady of Mercy Academy) http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/index.jsp Bulletin Board en-us SchoolSitePro <![CDATA[The Church: Universal Sacrament of Salvation]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=58164 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=58164 May 13th, 2012

The famous encounter of Peter and Cornelius in the first reading allow us to reflect on the universal call of salvation.

Cornelius was a non- believer, a pagan, one who did not subscribe to the Jewish creed at the time of the Apostles. Peter, the first among the apostles, upon encountering the faith of this unbeliever, states,

"When Peter entered, Cornelius met him
and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
Peter, however, raised him up, saying,
"Get up. I myself am also a human being."

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,
"In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him."

The remarkable happens, the first baptism of a gentile, non jew, is performed by Peter. This extends salvation from the Jewish people to all people. This one act of Peter sets Christianity in motion. For many this is the beginning sign of the Church recognized in her work as the universal sacrament of salvation.

Christ has come for all! In the end our salvation hinders on one fact, "let us love one another,
because love is of God;"

Indeed as the Psalmist tells us, "The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power." In Christ we see love made visible.

A blessed mother's day to all mothers!
]]> <![CDATA[FAITH IN ACTION]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=58114 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=58114 Sunday Reflection

Faith and Love or Faith in action is the Christian motif or reason for existence.
The letter of Saint John reminds us all:
“And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.”

Love is the unifying force which animates the church and every believer for we are told, “the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us.”

St. Paul enlightens us as to the motivating growth of the early church, “the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.” Indeed, the Spirit spurs the church to be a palpable visible sign of love in action.

May we continue to allow the Spirit of faith and charity, lived out in the lives of St. Paul and the early church, to enkindle in us a life of faith in action.

A Blessed Sunday to all!
]]> <![CDATA[The Life of Service To Christ ]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=58041 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=58041 Good Shepherd Sunday
Vocation Sunday

This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday. Traditionally, we celebrate the vocation of every Priest and Religious Sister committed to Christ and His cause. Therefore, let us be thankful for their commitment of love.

Every Religious Sister and Brother and every Priest enter a marriage bond with Christ and His Church in the service of love.

May Christ who has begun His work in you bring it to fulfillment. Thank you Sisters for your life commitment.

What motivates the heart of the priest and religious sister if not love....
We recall a popular church song that tells us,

"The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack when I am his
And he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
To rest my soul he leads me,
Where fresh and fertile pastures grow,
With heav’nly food he feeds me.
And so though all my length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house forever..."

AD MULTOS ANNOS!]]> <![CDATA[The realism of the resurrection]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57993 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57993

THE REALISM OF THE RESURRECTION: NO JOKE!

Jesus appears to the apostles and invites them to eat with him. Why? Well after his resurrection the apostles thought they were seeing a ghost. Jesus' invitation to eat speaks of realism. Ghosts do not eat. People do. Doubting Thomas is invited to place his hands in the wounds of Jesus and the disciples are invited to eat. Christ is the embodiment of mercy.

As we continue to rejoice in the joy of Easter, all fifty days, let us remember that the Eucharist is the embodiment of mercy! Christ's body each Sunday is an invitation to eat and be transformed by the Easter message.

Happy Easter!]]> <![CDATA[Easter Message from the Co-Principals]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57863 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57863 Easter Message from the Co-Principals
Christ is Risen Alleluia!
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes
in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives
and believes in me will never die.
John 11:25-26
Easter brings thoughts of rebirth. This year flowers and trees
are blooming earlier than ever --- nature is working
its magic transforming the grayness
of winter into an artist's
pallet of color.
Spiritually, the 40 days of Lent,with its attendant sacrifice
and introspection, have given rise to the
miracle of Christ's Resurrection.
Christ has died, Christ
has Risen!
Alleluia!
Easter encompasses many traditions, thoughts,and emotions
as we attend Mass, share a meal with family and
friends, remember loved ones separated by
illness or distance, celebrate with
those less fortunate, place a
flower on the grave of a
loved one or engage
in an Easter
egg hunt.
In the mix of all these experiences, one thought and word is paramount:
GRATITUDE!
With a thankful heart we celebrate the gift of Christ's sacrifice.
His gift makes it possible for all of us to live a
faith based life and the opportunity to
share His gift with
others.
May the gift of Christ's Resurrection inspire you to
share your gratitude with your family,
friends, and community.
We are grateful for God's ultimate sacrifice of His
Son so we, individually and as a
community, can
experience
Peace, Joy and Salvation.
Sr. Helen Lyons RSM
Mrs. Joan Gordon

]]> <![CDATA[HOLY WEEK]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57830 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57830
Christ will meet with His disciples over passover. This is the Holy Thursday event. In which we hear the first words of Christ "Take and eat this is my body given up for you.... and take and drink this is my blood..." Words which symbolize a meal but also a sacrifice. Christ the unblemished lamb becomes the victim offered for all humanity. Words become action, love becomes alive, unconditional love is shown to us figuratively when Christ washes the feet of his disciples and literally when he hangs on the cross. Every Eucharist we celebrate demonstrates how Jesus has "loved us until the end." The call for every Christian to do the same.

Good friday is good because of what Jesus does for us. The healing balm of salvation is "salus", healthy for us because it saves us. "this is the wood of the cross upon which hung the savior of the world."

The Easter Vigil is the first Mass of the resurrection. Christ breaks through the darkness of sin and vice. "Christ our light" has risen. The paschal candle takes center stage and The Exultet is sung, "the resurrection song."

These are sacred days indeed. Let us come to Christ and let Him change our lives from vice to virtue, from sin to grace. "Come let us worship!"

A blessed Holy Week and A Joyous Easter to all!

Image: Mosaic, Apse of "The Basilica of San Clemente", Rome, Italy. 3rd cent church,
12 cent. image. ]]> <![CDATA[Solemn Days In Lent]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57772 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57772
The two dates during the season of Lent remind us of the mystery of the incarnation: in short, Christmas! Yes, Christmas is just nine months away!

Joseph is celebrated as the foster father or guardian of the redeemer - Jesus and the universal guardian of the Church! Mary receives from the angel Gabriel the proclamation that changes the world: you are with Son - the SON OF GOD!!!

Pope Benedict is in Mexico and Cuba this week. He stated in Cuba,

"In Christ, God has truly come into the world, he has entered into our history, he has set his dwelling among us, thus fulfilling the deepest desire of human beings that the world may truly become a home worthy of humanity. On the other hand, when God is put aside, the world becomes an inhospitable place for man, and frustrates creation’s true vocation to be a space for the covenant, for the “Yes” to the love between God and humanity who responds to him. Mary did so as the first fruit of believers with her unreserved “Yes” to the Lord." (Pope Benedict in Cuba, March 26th)

Let us rejoice and be glad!

A Blessed Lent!

Image: Our Lady of Charity (400th anniversary of image - celebrated in Cuba by Pope Benedict)]]> <![CDATA[Laetare Sunday: Rejoice!]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57712 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57712 Sunday Reflection

As the Spring Equinox sets to eclipse this early Tuesday morning, and winter washes away, another spring time emerges very soon.... EASTER.
This Fourth Sunday of Lent we are reminded of the reason for the fasting, and penance and concentration on conversion, as St. Paul tells the Ephesians and us today:

God, who is rich in mercy,
because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
brought us to life with Christ -by grace you have been saved-,
raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,


Let us renew our efforts of prayer with the knowledge that Yes God's mercy is everlasting in His Son Jesus. In Him we receive grace upon grace.

Be filled with joy for soon it will be Easter morning.

]]> <![CDATA[Jesus' humanity]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57642 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57642 Sunday Reflection

"But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,
and did not need anyone to testify about human nature.
He himself understood it well."

Jesus understood that the plot against him had begun. His confrontation with the Jewish leadership as he drove out of the temple the moneychangers and those who had made God's house a place of profanity. And yet, we hear that Jesus undersood our human nature too well. A definitive statement about our faith. Jesus is truly God but He is also truly Human.

Let us not be afraid to come near to Him. He knows us and understands us. Be not afraid.

A Blessed Lent.


]]> <![CDATA[The Transfiguration: Christ's Yes!]]> http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57571 http://www.olma.org/apps/bbmessages/show_bbm.jsp?REC_ID=57571 Reflection- Sunday

The Transfiguration of Christ:

Christ’s transfiguration is about the fulfillment of the Covenant. In Christ, the beloved son, God finds the “Yes” of man to God’s commandments and laws.

This lent we must re-evaluate our lives before the “Yes” of Christ. Sin is the radical no to God’s love in the world.

This Lent our effort must be to allow Christ to transform us on His mountain. The good news of Lent, in the midst of sacrifice and penance, is that we share in Christ’s passion and celebrate Christ’s victory over sin.

Let us walk up the mountain… in the midst of our desert…. And allow the Spring of Easter to change us!

A blessed Lent to all!
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