Our Lady of

Maronite Catholic February 6-7, 2021 Sunday of the Faithful Departed reflected that love. They are never hearts. Hope that even in the face of gone; they still live in us. Whether the “sting” of death, we may confess one month, six months, a year, 10 or in St. Paul’s immortal phrase: even 50 years… they live on in our “Thanks be to God, who gives us the minds and hearts. They have touched victory through our Lord us, formed us and changed us. “The Christ!” life and death of each of us has its What does our Catholic faith teach us? influence upon others”. Those words That death is not the final answer. It is of St Paul are so true for me not the end, but a time of transition: a personally. movement from time into eternity, Some of you are here carrying the from finite existence to infinite love memory of a deceased spouse, parent, and mercy. As Christians, we trust, we child, or best friend deep in your believe that Jesus is faithful to his hearts. Whatever the situation, you promises. That his Paschal Mystery know the pain of loss. You are keenly traces the pattern of our own lives as aware of the grief we experience at well. That no one of us is immortal or the death of a loved one. You know how hard it is to say goodbye, to re- QUOTE OF THE WEEK engage with life when there is a gnawing emptiness within, a gaping “You will be consoled wound which awaits healing. Sadness, REFLECTION OF THE according to the greatness sorrow, grief may fill us today; but we of your sorrow and FAITHFUL DEPARTED know that the bonds of humanity are Today, we remember those who have not broken by death. affliction; the greater the passed from this life with faith, hope All created things change with time; suffering, the greater will be and trust in the promise of eternal life. all that lives sooner or later must die. the reward.” Yesterday we remembered all the Death is the ultimate change, the final name , but today, reflect upon transition. In John’s Gospel, Jesus St. Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi those who we know, those who have tells us how this works: “Unless a been part of our lives. Life is a gift grain of wheat falls into the earth and from God and nothing that God gives dies, it remains just a single grain; but or does is ever wasted. Whether our if it dies, it bears much fruit.” In this lives did not make it out of the womb Jesus taught us that we must be or we live to be 100, we are important prepared for the final “letting go”, the in God’s eyes. It’s not quantity and is realization we can take nothing with not even quality; it’s about being – us. being a child of God. We enter this world vulnerable and Our lives are a reflection of God and dependent; we return to our Creator in his love. The faithful departed, the same way. So, the Lord urges us to especially our deceased loved ones stay the course even in the darkness, whom we remember today somehow keeping the flame of hope alive in our

Fr. Vincent Farhat, Pastor | Rev. Mr. Jean Mattar, Deacon | Joseph Abraham, Sub-deacon Address: 11 Franklin Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 Office: 508-996-8934| Fax: 774-202-0758| Evening Emergency Number: 561-371-5316 | Website: www.ourladyofpurgatory.org Email: [email protected] | Facebook Page: Our Lady of Purgatory - Maronite Rite OFFICE HOURS: The Church office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.

invulnerable. The threshold over the on the same day as the of the temporal punishment a person is which our loved ones have passed is indulgenced work. A plenary due for sins that have been forgiven.” one we must all go through, sooner or can be gained only once a The granting of an indulgence by the later. day. church is “the expression of the Our faith assures us that love is https://www.catholicculture.org/cult church’s full confidence of being eternal, that the bonds of love can ure/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id= heard by the Father when, in view of never be severed. We continue to be 35607 Christ’s merits and, by his gift, those united to our loved ones who have of Our Lady and the saints, she asks died. This is the insight behind what The Catholic News Service has tried him to mitigate or cancel the painful we confess each week as our belief in to outline what a plenary indulgence aspect of punishment by fostering its the “communion of saints”. Without is. I have taken points from this medicinal aspect through other denying the reality of physical death, document for further clarification. channels of grace,” the late pope said. we affirm our eternal connection with You have heard that , as An indulgence, then, is the result of our loved ones. other have done, has offered a the abundance of God’s mercy, which https://parracatholic.org/homily-for-the- plenary indulgence during the of he offers to humanity through Jesus solemn-mass-for-the-commemoration-of- Joseph. This has also been offered by Christ and through the church, he said. all-the-faithful-departed-all-souls-day-at- our Gregory Mansour. So, The faithful can claim the indulgence st-patricks-cathedral-parramatta/ what is this all about? Saint John Paul for themselves or offer it on behalf of II said that “An indulgence is not a someone who has died. PLENARY INDULGENCE quick ticket to heaven; rather it is an DEFINITION aid for the real conversion that leads to Prayer for Spiritual Many people are confused about the eternal happiness.” When we go to Communion idea of a plenary indulgence according confession, our sins are forgiven; O Divine Ocean of Mercy and to the Catholic Church. This is not an however, there still remains the Compassion, be with us in our easy concept to figure out but I hope residue of sin. What this means is that the following explanation will help even though our sins are forgiven by time of trial and difficulties. with a better understanding what God through the graces he gives to His Today I make an act of spiritual plenary do for us. Here is priests, there are still the scars that communion with you, the Life- a Catholic definition of plenary need to be healed because of the sins Giving , Father, Son and indulgence: we may have committed. Holy Spirit. At this time, I am not An indulgence that can remove all the Fr. Russell Smith, a priest and able to receive the sacred body temporal punishment due to forgiven theologian for the Catholic Diocese of and blood of my Lord, God and sin. No one but God knows for certain Richmond, uses a medical example to Savior Jesus Christ, but I choose when a plenary indulgence is actually explain the effects of sin. He says: to live in union with him and in gained, because only he knows “When someone has appendicitis, his the unity of the Holy Spirit. I whether a person's dispositions are "hot" appendix needs to be removed. offer my day, my daily life, my adequate. One norm for such This sickness is like the guilt of sin, dispositions is that "all attachment to Smith says. And Confession is like the joys and sorrows to you, for those sin, even , be absent." If surgery that removes the appendix. around me, and for the whole these dispositions are in any way less But even after surgery, the patient world. Be with us O life-giving than complete, the indulgence will continues to suffer some pain. Such Triune God, for we know that only be partial. The same provision residual effects are like the nothing in this world has power applies to the three external "punishment" that lingers after sin. over us. O Lover of all people, conditions necessary to gain a plenary Plenary indulgences get rid of such have mercy on us and on the indulgence: sacramental confession, punishment.” whole world. Eucharistic Communion, and prayer Saint Pope John Paul II said, “By for the intentions of the Pope. If these God’s grace, participation in a prayer TAX CONTRIBUTION conditions are not satisfied, an or action that has an indulgence otherwise plenary indulgence attached to it brings about the LETTERS becomes only partial. These necessary restoration and reparation For anyone who may need a letter conditions may be satisfied several without the suffering that would from OLOP for your tax returns with days before or after the performance normally accompany it. It frees a your contributions, please contact the of the prescribed work, though person from the punishment their office and I will send you those preferably Communion should be sinfulness warrants as it is a remission records. Please email the office or call received and the prayers offered for the office at 508-996-8934.

LITURGY INTENTIONS SAINT JUDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL LENTEN DRIVE Saturday, February 6, @ 4:30 PM, Saint Jude’s Hospital for Children is (Feast of Saint Proclus) is no stranger to our community as well being offered for the soul of David as the Lebanese community around David requested by his family (FM). the world. The incredible work that May his soul rest in peace. Danny Thomas and his daughter Sunday, February 7, @ 10:30 PM, Marlo Thomas has made it possible (Feast of Saint Maron) liturgy is EUCHARISTIC ADORATION for hundreds of thousands of children being offered for the soul of Louise Tuesday, February 16, we will gather and they families to receive treatment Dupre requested by her family. May for Eucharistic Adoration at 6:00 PM. for cancer as well as housing for the her soul rest in peace. Liturgy is being This is an opportunity to spend some parents. For those families who offered as a 40 Day memorial for the time with Jesus and ask for His help. cannot afford treatments for their soul of Nan Farhat requested by her Mark your calendars and please join children, they are given these family. May her soul rest in peace. us for this beautiful service treatments and lodging free of charge. All this made possible by the millions Monday, February 8, @ 7:00 PM, February Lector Schedule: of people who appreciate and believe (Feast of Saint Maron) in the work they do. Tuesday, February 9, @ 9:00 AM, Saturday, February 6, Carol Ann Maslanka At the beginning of Lent, OLOP asks (Feast of Saint Maron) for donations for the Saint Jude fund Sunday, February 7, Wednesday, February 10, @ 6:00 so that we can participate in helping Joan Mello/Jano Baroody PM, Remember Me in Your this cause. This year, our goal is set at Kingdom, liturgy is being offered for $1,200.00. I am appealing to you once the soul of Nan Farhat requested by Saturday, February 13, again this year, to consider making a Jacques and Amal Barbour and Rose David donation to this worthy cause. family. May her soul rest in peace. Sunday, February 14, George Saba will be taking on this Thursday, February 11, @ 9:00 Jean Barbour/ Gaby Baroody fundraiser this year with the help of AM, NO LITURGY Mae Dickinson who has led these Ash Monday, February 15, efforts for the past 10 years. We thank Saturday, January 13, @ 4:30 PM, Carol Ann Maslanka/Jano Baroody Mae for her dedication and we thank (Feast of Saint Catherine de Ricci) George for taking the lead this year. If liturgy is being offered for the soul of Saturday, February 20, you have any questions please contact Rev. Kevin Harrington requested by Mae Dickinson George Saba at 508-993-7229. the Coury Family. May his soul rest Sunday, February 21, Donations can also be made online by in peace. Liturgy is being offered for Ann Dupre/Hiba Chedid visiting our website at the souls of George and Rose David www.ourladyofprugatory.org by their family (FM). May their souls Saturday, February 27, There will be a category for St. Jude rest in peace. Smitty Cabral Hospital Donations. Thank you in Sunday, January 14, @ 10:30 AM, Sunday, February 28, advance for your help and generosity. (Feast of Saint John Bosco) Liturgy Mae Dickinson/Jano Baroody And may God bless all of the children is being offered for the soul of Victor and their parents seeking help at Saint Belaire requested by Philip Baroody Jude Hospital for Children. and family. May his soul rest in peace. IN OUR PRAYERS Jacob Rego, Amal Assaf, Peter WEEKLY COLLECTION FOR WINE AND HOST Helmer, Denise Magaletta, Fernanda Thomas, Hiam Cheiab, Leo and Ida January 30-31, 2021 OFFERINGS Roderick, Theresa John, Laurette Anyone who would like to give an BouRamia, Annie Peter, Jeannie Sunday Collection $ 780.00 offering in memory of a loved one or Francis, Mariam David, Norma 2nd Collection USCCB $ 65.00 for a special intention for the month of Thomas, Zita Drouin, Lucienne Memorials $ 900.00 August 2021, please see Fr. Vincent. Rodrigues, Ed Da Rocha, Edmond Candles $ 40.00 The cost for the month is $75.00, Salameh, and Alice Daher. If anyone Total: $ 1,785.00 which covers the cost of the is missing from this list, please contact communion bread and wine. Thank the Church office. you and God bless.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY BY SENDING IN YOUR WEELY COLLECTIONS VIA MAIL. THIS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR THE CHURCH. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

How empty life is without you. Your Love and Patience has made us into who we are today. Your Guidance has set our path in life. We Miss seeing your face, hearing your voice, seeing your smile and hearing your laugh. We Love you and miss you even more with each passing day Your Loving Children Joseph & Marie Kenyon