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.
I was working on this bulletin last Sunday night and was enjoying the extra sunlight from the time change. However, I sure do not like the dark mornings and was wishing that it was light both in the morning and evening like it is in June/July all year round. But that’s not going to happen. Of course, there are a lot of things that I would like to happen which will not happen as I want them to happen. And that is when I have to die to myself and my agenda in order to respond to God’s will. It is dying to what I want in order to follow what God wants. And that is difficult. In the gospel this weekend we hear of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-45). Jesus will call Lazarus out from the tomb that was keeping him bound, and he calls us from the tombs that are holding us bound from life. Unless we die to our agenda, our greed, our selfishness, our ego, we stay bound from living life. As difficult as it is to let go of what we want, Jesus gives us the grace to step out of our tomb and to live God’s will which is lifegiving. What is holding you back that is keeping you bound? In these final days of Lent be attentive to Jesus calling you forth from your grave to new life.
We are now only a week away from Holy Week and within Holy Week are the Holiest days of the year, the Sacred Triduum. Beginning on Holy Thursday at sundown until sundown on Easter Sunday, these three days (Triduum) are the most sacred days because they celebrate the core of our Christian life. I had said earlier in Lent that these Lenten days should be different than our regular routine. For the Triduum, it is even more important to make these days different from any other day. Our participation in these sacred days reveal our priorities in life and that is where I challenge you in these final days of Lent to evaluate your priorities. Make plans now to participate in these Holy liturgies and to make the days themselves a time of prayer in your homes.
Next weekend, Palm Sunday, we will be anointing the Elect with the Oil of Catechumens in preparation for their baptism at the Easter Vigil. There are 6 Elect who will receive the Initiation Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. We have one Catechumen, who being baptized Christian and wishing to become Roman Catholic, will make a Profession of Faith in the Catholic Church and will then receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil as well. Please keep these seven new members of the Church in your prayers. Their picture and biography are in this week’s bulletin.
And speaking of Palm Sunday, next weekend we will begin the 11am Mass outdoors by the water feature for the blessing of palms and then process into the church. Please meet outside at the 11am Mass only.
Be assured of my prayers as we enter the final stretch of Lent to Easter. May the Sprit of God transform our hearts as we continue our Lenten disciplines.
--Fr. John
Top of page