Our Lady of the Lakes

ATTENTION:  Effective immediately, all Masses in the Archdiocese of Hartford are cancelled until April 30.  All Church activities are cancelled.  Check back for updates.

CLICK HERE for Archdiocese of Hartford Holy Week Resources

 Susie Carlone and Margaret Fitzgerald went into Church  and produced this:

Click to access 

   Our Local Food Bank is in need of many items.

 Due to the COVID 19 virus outbreak, there are many who are struggling to feed their families. Therefore, the Knights of Columbus is extending their

40 Cans for Lent food drive

 Beginning on Sunday, April 12th - Easter Sunday

There will be an un-manned table in front of the Church. Please, drop off non-perishable food supplies, paper products or household cleaning supplies. These items will be picked up by the Knights of Columbus and delivered to the New Milford Food bank.

 These collection tables will be in place until Masses resume and we can start to fill Mother Mary’s Cupboard and continue our Love in Action.

From the Pastor’s Desk

This Thursday   April 9, 2020  Holy Thursday.

Our Readings:  Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116; St. Paul to the Corinthians 11: 23-26 John 13: 1-15

 Scientists tell us today there are certain foods that nourish us and certain foods that are of little value or that can even be harmful to us.  The foods that truly nourish us do so, not because they look or taste wonderful, but because of certain invisible nutrients in the food. So when Jesus said, “the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world,” if we believe him to be trustworthy, then we will trust that there is something in this food that will give us eternal life – we don’t know how. Paul tells us that tonight in the second reading which is the oldest written account of the Eucharist. As I said in the beginning, I could contemplate this for the rest of my life and still probably not understand.   But as Jesus said: “you will understand later.”

       The second main idea this evening’s liturgy focuses on love and service. The Church wants us to know that love and service is as important as the Eucharist, for without love ,as Paul said: I am nothing.” Lest we forget this act of love and service(the washing of the feet)he asked us to “do this in remembrance of me.”  Notice in the reading from Paul Jesus says this twice because it’s so important – so important that we not forget. When we gather we are given, through the liturgy, a sense of our identity as God’s people, followers of Jesus Christ who gather here in faith to celebrate his memory, to receive him as our food and drink and to love one another.

                                                 Fr.Gerry 

This Friday  April 10^th   Good Friday

Our readings:   Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, Psalm 31; Hebrews 4:14- 16 ; 5:7-9  Gospel John 18: 1 -19:42

One of the most radical and difficult things Jesus asks of his followers is to love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.  Anyone can love the person who loves them.  The perfection of love lies in the love of one’s enemies.  Jesus not only told us to do this but he gave us an example.  We read in Luke’s gospel how Jesus

prayed for those who were putting him to death: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do,” (Lk.23, 34) Think of this, people spat on him, blindfolded him, scourged him, crowned him with thorns, mocked and made fun of him and in the end nailed him to the cross and while remaining gentle and full of peace he prayed “Father, forgive them.”   Is any gentleness, any love lacking in this prayer? Yet it was not enough for him to pray for them, he wanted also to make excuses for them: “for they know not what they do.” They are great sinners, yes but they do not see what they are doing; therefore “Father forgive them.”  They are nailing me to the cross, but they do not know whom they are persecuting and killing: “if they had known they would never have crucified the Lord of glory;” (1Cor. 2,8)

therefore, “Father forgive them.”  They think it is a lawbreaker, an imposter claiming to be God, a seducer of the people.  I have hidden my face from them, and they do not recognize my glory; therefore, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  How can we love with a heart like Jesus?  We must keep the eyes of our inner self always fixed on the serene patience and love of our divine Lord and Savior. In God’s plan this was the time for Jesus to give in, the time to lay down his life so that he could take it up again (Jn. 10,17) And in taking it up again, he would draw all people to himself (Jn.12,32) and make us sharers in his victory and in his new life. That hope of overcoming the power of death and sharing in Christ’s glory is one of the reasons why we celebrate Easter and why we call today GOOD Friday.  Amen

                       Fr. Gerry

CLICK HERE form Homily from March 29, 2020

CLICK HERE form Homily from March 22, 2020

A Stewardship Parish