Weekly Reflections

The past few weeks have been very busy as we prepared the three buildings for the termite fumigation. It was finally completed on the 17th of November! See below the pictures of our church, rectory and hall. Las últimas semanas han estado muy ocupadas mientras preparamos los tres edificios. para la fumigación de termitas. ¡Finalmente […]

From today’s gospel reading“Amen, I say to you, what you did not to for one of these least ones, you did not for me. These will go off eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life”. ReflectionChrist the King looks for followers who will labor with him to complete his Father’s kingdom. So, we ask […]

From today’s gospel reading“A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability”. ReflectionThe first and the second servants did well, the third did poorly. What’s the deeper meaning behind […]

Dear parishioners, I have some good news that will help easing a little bit our troubled financial situation. The Diocese of St. Petersburg has what it is called the “Mission-Coop Plan”, by which the bishop allows pastors of poor parishes to go to parishes better well off, preach and raise a second collection for their […]

From today’s Gospel readingWhen he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today | must stay at your house”. And he came down quickly and received him with joy. Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, […]

From today’s gospel readingYou shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. ReflectionJesus exhorts us to strive more and more to love as he […]

From today’s 1 Thessalonians readingFor our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. ReflectionPaul reminds the Thessalonians that they not only heard the word of the gospel but saw its effects on their lives. If we are going through a […]

From today’s Gospel readingThe king said to his servants… “Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find. The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. ReflectionLike those from the main roads invited to […]

From the Gospel reading“Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people… therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit”. ReflectionDid Jesus intend this parable to have meaning only for the chief priests and the […]

From today’s Gospel readingA man had two sons. He came to the first and said, “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” He said in reply, “I will not”, but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, “Yes, […]

From today’s gospel reading“Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous? Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last”. ReflectionToday’s gospel invites us to stop comparing ourselves to other people. It invites us to accept ourselves as we are. […]

From today’s Gospel readingPeter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times”. ReflectionJesus’ disciples are to forgive their brothers and sisters and so be a sing of forgiveness to […]

Dear parishioners, September 1 marked the 37th anniversary of Marist presence at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, regretfully, that will cease next year. I will have the opportunity to go more into detail later. What I can tell you now is that our Marist superiors have decided to pull out the Marists from this […]

From Psalm 63:2“O God, you are my God whom I seek, for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water”. ReflectionIn his encyclical “Laudato Si: On care for our Common Home” Pope Francis quoted Pope Benedict XVI who stated in his homily at his Inaugural Mass, 2005, […]

From today’s gospel reading“But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so, I […]

From today’s Gospel(Jesus) said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs”. She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters”. Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! […]

FATHER COLIN AND THE SYNODAL CHURCH The synodal process presented by Pope Francis resonates with the teachings of Jean-Claude Colin (Founder of the Marist Fathers and Brothers). The documents emphasize the importance of ecclesial participation, inclusion, and the opportunity for people at the margins to contribute to the building of the People of God. This […]

From today’s gospel readingThis is my beloved Son, with whom I am pleased; listen to him – When the disciples heard this, they fell, prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid”. And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else […]

From today’s Gospel readingThe kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he must buy that field. ReflectionIt may seem that we happen upon the kingdom of heaven, mere birth, or by chance – like the […]

From today’s Gospel reading“If you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until the harvest … “ ReflectionWe do well to listen to the advice of the owner, who introduces a note of caution and a plea for patience. In effect, he is advising, “You do […]

From today’s Gospel reading“This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand … But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because thy hear”. ReflectionToday’s parable of the “Sower” belongs to that group of parables in the […]

From today’s Gospel reading“Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” ReflectionJesus is the perfect […]