We Always Find Our Way Back Home
This Sunday, May 3, 2020, was to be a joyous celebration - First Holy Communion for our students. On a personal note, it was to be an especially joyous day for our family, as my grandson is a student in the First Communion group. I tend to relate songs that are special to the ones I love to correlate a message, so I asked my grandson what his favorite song was and he, without much hesitation, said
Back Home
by Andy Grammer. I hadn’t listened to the song recently, so I played it to refresh it in my mind. The song title and the message are certainly relevant to our current events and also in the Gospel message for Good Shepherd Sunday.
No, we won't forget where we came from
The city can't change us
We beat to the same drum, the same drum
And no matter where we go
We always find our way back home
Good Shepherd Sunday reminds us of the need to have our Lord guide us in every move we make. We are blessed to have Him as our shepherd, who came among us in order to lead us to heaven. We know His voice, we know what He asks of us, but do we always listen to that voice, do we always do what He asks of us?
Let us not forget where we came from.
Let us not be straying sheep; let the Shepherd lead us home.
There are many who think they need no shepherd and think they know all about life while they are in total ignorance of the most basic fact of all - the very purpose of life. We have a few short years, but, short though they are, we can earn for ourselves an eternity of happiness during this life. We know that if we follow the Shepherd, we are on the way to the true life, the perfect life, the unending life which will have no sorrow, regret or pain.
No matter where we go
, where Christ is, there perfect happiness is, and there with God's grace we hope to be.
As I’ve watched Mass at home, I am impacted by the spiritual communion that is given– a beautiful offering of our faith. Let us pray for our students and for all families as we continue to protect ourselves from the pandemic and get closer to the day when we make
our way back home
to celebrate First Communion for our students, return to Communion with our families, and jubilantly greet each other to gather together again.
Submitted by Donna Hurn, Blessed Sacrament
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Inspirational Individuals
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Are you a front line worker - first responder, nurse, doctor, hospital employee, truck driver, grocery store worker, pharmacist, postal worker, etc.? We would like to acknowledge your dedication and hard work during these tough times. Send your name and essential work occupation to blessedsacramentbulletin@gmail.com and we will add you to our Recognition Tree. Thank you for taking care of all of us!
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Readings and Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
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First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Responsorial Psalm: 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:20b - 25; Gospel Reading: John 10: 1 - 10
This is the Good Shepherd Sunday and the church has designated it as the World Day for Vocations. As the church community, we join in prayer that God will bless us with abundance of many and holy bishops, priests, deacons, and religious men and women to work in His vineyard. In today’s Gospel reading Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.” In the Responsorial Psalm we recited famous Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” And both in the First and Second readings apostle Peter is taking the lead after Pentecost to witness the Gospel of Christ to all people and invites them to conversion. Peter follows the shoes of Good Shepherd to feed God’s flock with words of eternal life. Jesus came into the world to redeem us from sin. He loved us to the full. He taught us words of eternal life that we too may be nourished and possess divine life. Jesus died on the cross for our salvation. It is our prayer that God of all glory will send us abundant of holy bishops, priests, deacons, and religious who are ready to carry the Gospel to the ends of earth. We are Easter people and our song is Alleluia!
Fr. Severine
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Celebrating the Liturgy at Home
52 Sundays
: Sunday Scripture Family Activities, Prayer, Food and More
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Upcoming Live stream events with Bishop Lucia:
All will appear on the diocesan youtube channel:
Daily Mass at noon - weekdays (continues)
May 3 - Holy Hour for Vocations ( Good Shepherd Sunday) 2pm
Thursdays of May: 7, 14, 21, 28 - 7pm recitation and brief catechesis on the Rosary
Holy Spirit Novena - TBD
Pentecost - Time to be determined
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We pray for Rosalie Sorbello, Lynne Recore, John Fortino, Elizabeth Walrath, Jean Suits, Patrick Brewer, Yang Juan, Terri Close, Jill Danial, Mary Griffin, Cole Malone, Elizabeth Gilbert, John Laura, Susan Moro Campbell, Missy DiPaulo Angotti, George Taddeo, Carolyn Armstrong, Mary Linehan, Mary Extale, Mary Gersbacher, Mary Ingalls, Rita Bross, Marlene Brush, Roslyn Antonacci, Harold Thompson, John Gersbacher, and Grace McNamara.
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Intentions
All Mass intentions will be offered by the priest privately and are not open to the public.
Saturday, May 2
Thomas McNamara - Sisters Johanna McNamara and Mary Griffin
Sunday, May 3
Marie Greco - Family
Joseph Mazella - Jay and Girls
People of the Parish
Monday, May 4
Catherine Percia - Family
Tuesday, May 5
Joseph Nodecker - Ann M. Roach
Wednesday, May 6
Jeanine Kane - John and Pam Dooling
Thursday, May 7
Ann Yanchuck - Ralph Dobson
Friday, May 8
Janet Barry - Judy and Ron Cottet
Saturday, May 9
John McNamara - Sister, Johanna McNamara
Sunday, May 10
People of the Parish
Patricia Lawson - Friends
Barbara Basile - Family
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Get Ready for Mother's Day
This year may be tougher to celebrate our mothers in the traditional way. Get creative this week in preparation for Mother's Day next Sunday. For those whose mothers and grandmothers who are still alive - cherish, honor and thank them in some way during time at home. For those whose mothers have gone home to the Lord, remember them. Plan to honor the Mother of the Lord on Mother's Day. Her maternal care for Jesus still embraces all those who are joined to Him, as members of His Body, by that great new birth of Baptism. Let us us ask the Lord to open our eyes and our hearts to come to more fully understand the great mystery and gift of the Church as our Mother.
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Nazareth Farm Wish List
Nazareth Farm is a Catholic community in rural West Virginia that transforms lives through a service-retreat experience. This year is especially tough without volunteers to assist. Can you help with supplies needed to serve others? Check their website at
nazarethfarm@gmail.com
to find their greatest needs so that they can continue to support their community. We appreciate all of your generous contributions and support!
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No Faith Formation, First Communion and Confirmation classes until further notice.
On behalf of the catechists in our programs, we keep you in our prayers and wish you health and safety. We miss you!
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From Office of Evangelization
The Upper Room
is a daily encouragement that includes practical tips, success stories, and what's happening around the diocese. Sign up to receive this in your email inbox every day throughout the Easter season. Subscribe at
bit.ly/TheUpperRoomSyr
.
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World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be observed on Sunday, May 3, 2020
, also known as "Good Shepherd Sunday." The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord's call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes. You can find many resources to promote a culture of vocations in your parish on the USCCB vocations webpage (
www.usccb.org/vocations
), Vianney Vocations webpage (
www.worlddayofprayerforvocations.com
), and our own Vocations Syracuse webpage (
https://vocations-syracuse.org
).
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Mass for the weekend of May 2/3 will be available for viewing beginning at 4PM on Saturday, May 2 through Sunday, May 3.
Click to view Mass for May 2/3:
At the end of the Mass, the priest or deacon sends us out to "love and serve the Lord." Strengthened by our Spiritual Communion, we go forth to BE the Body of Christ in the world.
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Ways to celebrate the Month of Mary
May, when the earth blooms in springtime beauty, is an ideal time for our thoughts and sentiments to be directed towards this supremely lovely Queen of Heaven and Earth, who busily labors from her heavenly throne to conquer hearts, minds, and souls for the greater glory of her Son.
1. Make a Crown of Flowers for your Mary statue. If you don't have a Mary statue, now would be a good time to get one. Even if it's just a small statue for your desk or nightstand, no Catholic should be without it!
2. Pray a novena to the Blessed Mother for a particular intention that you want to entrust to her Immaculate Heart, for yourself or for someone else.
3. Make an effort to pray the rosary daily.
4. Read the stories associated with miracles, apparitions, saints, and holy images. Will one of them touch you in a special way?
5. When Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure and gave her the vision of the Miraculous Medal in 1830, she promised great graces to those who would wear the medal. Mary changes lives through the power of her sacramentals!
How will you celebrate the month of Mary?
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As you know, the bills for the maintenance and upkeep of the church continues while there are no services. Please continue to send your offerings either by mail, dropping them off at the rectory, or via online giving (
https://blessedsacramentsyracuse.com/give-online). Thank you for your support and generosity to the church in these trying times.
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WE ASK YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE SPIRITUAL COMFORT AND RESTORATION OF HEALTH FOR: Kim Harrington (granddaughter of John and Joanne Harrington), Sandra Betts, Desiree Landers, Nate Wagner, Madeline Duda, Marilynn Bause, sister of Lauren Brooks, John Ferguson, (brother of Linda James and Sue Overton) Judy D’Amore, Martin Griffin, Anne Marie Drury, Fred Sniper, Carm Fitzgerald, Tony Liparulo and Tony Caruso. (These prayer requests will remain for one month on the list and for them to continue or to be removed, or to add a new name, please contact the rectory.)
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Daily Mass in the Chapel this week will be held on Monday through Wednesday:
Saturday - People of St. Vincent’s
Sunday - Marie Snyder, req. by Pauline Russell
Monday - Janet Zory, req. by Nowodorski family
Tuesday - Nicholas Repasky, req. by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph E Doyle
Wednesday - John Sherlock, req. by Sue & Brian Smacher
Saturday - Susan Loos, req. by Diane Luber & St. Joe’s Exercise Class
Sunday - People of St. Vincent’s
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NOTE: Our parish priests will be saying private holy masses to honor all scheduled mass intentions and offering the mass for the ending of this pandemic.
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The 50/50 tickets may be mailed to the Rectory. Congratulations to Mary McCarthy who won the April 50/50 in the amount of $315.00. Mary is the wife of a St. Vincent's alumni and lives in Berwyn, PA. Thanks to all who continue to support our Youth Programs.
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Golf Tournament - Due to the Covit-19 this year's tournament scheduled for May 31st has been changed to August 23rd. Watch for further details. Thanks!
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We would appreciate that you use the Fuel and Heating envelopes in the pews to assist the increased bills. ANY AMOUNT WOULD BE HELPFUL. Our NATIONAL GRID BILLS were: January, $1,696.16, February, $1,559.58, and March, $1,163.85 for the church buildings. Thank you!
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“Share the Wealth” is a raffle for Blessed Sacrament School and Church Capital Improvement Parish Operations. New Date: June 13, 2020. Tickets are $75.00 each and only 750 tickets will be sold! Tickets can be purchased online at
https://blessedsacramentsyracuse.com
or call the Blessed Sacrament rectory at 315-437-3394
.
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Many of you may know that Msgr. J. Robert Yeazel has tested positive for the coronavirus and has been undergoing treatment for over a month. He has been the recipient of plasma from the generous donations of blood from those who have recovered from the virus. The hope is that the antibodies from the plasma will fight off the virus.
The Yeazel family would like
our help
to spread the word that more plasma is needed for all those battling the virus. The American Red Cross states the following:
Plasma Donations from Recovered COVID-19 Patients
In coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Red Cross is seeking people who are fully recovered from the new coronavirus to
sign up to donate plasma
to help current COVID-19 patients.
People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their plasma that can attack the virus. This convalescent plasma is being evaluated as treatment for patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections, or those judged by a healthcare provider to be at high risk of progression to severe or life-threatening disease
For more information go to:
https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-pa
Please help us spread the word to have people donate
now
for all those in treatment and for those who may be infected in the future.
Lastly, please keep Msgr. Yeazel and all those infected with the coronavirus in your fervent prayer. May we join together to pray for their healing and pray for all those in the medical profession who are doing all they can to return their patients to good health.
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