PARISH NEWS

Gallery: Father Jim’s first East Utica Italian Spelling Bee

The first East Utica Italian Spelling Bee, conceived by Father Jim, took place Friday evening, March 24, in the church auditorium. About 60 people attended and watched contestants try to spell so-called Italian words and use them in a sentence. Contestants were Anthony Laria, Scott Perritano and Vito Valenzi. The judges were Mario Scalzo and […]

LITURGY IN FOCUS

CALL TO WORSHIP & CENTERING PRAYERS

Call to worship In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls his friend Lazarus back to life after he has been dead for three days. This beautiful story highlights for us the places on our lives where we need to be brought to fuller life. To the point: Martha and Mary express great conviction in Jesus’ healing power: […]

LITURGY IN FOCUS

THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK

Fifth Sunday of Lent Reflection: Does God allow bad things to happen? By SISTER MARY McGLONE As John the Evangelist shows us how he understood Jesus, we run into some disconcerting ideas. Last week, we heard that the blind man’s disability was not a result of anyone’s sin, but the occasion for seeing the glory […]

LITURGY IN FOCUS

PREPARING FOR NEXT WEEK

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion Reflection: Jesus’ suffering and death not accidental By SISTER MARY McGLONE Palm Sunday is not a liturgy for the faint-hearted. We start with a Gospel reading and procession, followed by the full eucharistic celebration. Selections from Isaiah and Paul place Jesus’ last hours in Jewish and Christian theological contexts […]

PARISH NEWS

Gallery, video: Parish children celebrate ‘Rose Sunday’ during procession

The Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, helps us finish the Lenten journey with Christ’s resurrection in mind. On this “Rose Sunday,” popes have walked from the Church of St. John Lateran to the Basilica of the Holy Cross with a golden rose — perhaps a symbol of the harshness of winter turning to spring. […]

LITURGY IN FOCUS

CALL TO WORSHIP & CENTERING PRAYERS

Call to worship This is the day of our rejoicing, The halfway point during our Lenten journey. We hear the story of Jesus who healed a man who was blind from birth. In our rejoicing, we reflect on the parts of our lives that need clearer vision and better direction. To the point: In making […]

LITURGY IN FOCUS

THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK

Fourth Sunday of Lent Reflection: Scrutinize your life this week By SISTER MARY McGLONE On the Fourth Sunday of Lent parishes preparing people for baptism will celebrate the second of three “scrutinies.” The word “scrutiny” comes from Latin and French and refers to what we might call dumpster diving, the work of folks who look […]