Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday :
9:00 am in the Chapel
Wednesday :
6:30 pm in the Church
Saturday: 4:30 pm
Sunday: 8:30 am
11:00 am
Confessions: Saturday
3:30 pm to 4:00 pm
or by appointment
Call us at 440-926-2364
Email us at info@olqpgrafton.org
We are a Roman Catholic family centered in the Eucharist, rooted in our immigrant traditions since the 1800’s and devoted to our Blessed Mother. Humbly guided by the Holy Spirit, and with the warmth and hospitality that springs from a small community, we seek to share our faith in Jesus Christ through prayer, devotion, education, stewardship, and service to others.
This Sunday, May 28th we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. I was ordained on May 28th but the year I was ordained the 28th fell on Trinity Sunday. If only it had been Pentecost! It would have been so appropriate! Instead, it fell on what I consider the hardest Sunday of the year to preach on the readings. How do you explain the Trinity? As I have come to see through much reflection, life is not to be easy. Rather, we are stretched by the experiences and tasks of our lives. Right from the beginning, having to preach on Trinity Sunday as newly ordained, I realized that God was stretching me!
However, God provides for all that we need to do the tasks that he has called us to do. Yes, he is always stretching us to become more but he is giving us His Spirit to help. This weekend we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:2-11, we hear “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire…” In trying to explain the mystery of the Holy Spirit, the author used images that highlight the power of the Holy Spirit. And in the gospel, (John 20:19-23), Jesus stood in the midst of the disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” The power of peace transforms hearts. It softens divisions and tensions. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God that Jesus breathes on them. The power of peace.
It is not always comfortable to be stretched. And yet if we are not stretching and thus growing, we are stagnating and lifeless. On this Pentecost Sunday pray “Come Holy Spirit Come!” transform us daily into the image of Jesus. Daily strengthen us to grow through the testing and stretching of life.
Next weekend the children who made their First Communion during the Easter Season will be at the 4:30 Mass to celebrate together and with the community the Eucharist. And at the 11:00 Mass we will be honoring those who have graduated from High School and College. Please keep our youth in prayer as they continue to grow in God’s love and service.
--Fr John
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