19th Sunday in Ordinary Time August 9, 2020

‌

Making it real in Ordinary Time This past weekend Ordinary Time kicked into overtime at St. Lucy Parish. As many of you know we had an electrical fire in the Upstairs Rectory. Father Horgan escaped unharmed but the Rectory building was greatly damaged. How does this connect to Ordinary Time you ask? Well this weekend’s Gospel Reading of course. This Sunday, the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the gospel reading Matthew 14:22-33, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” leads perfectly into our Ordinary Time experience here at St. Lucy Parish. Over the past week the hand of Jesus has been extended in so many ways to Father Horgan and the staff. “How can I help?”, “What do you need?”, “Does Father have a place to stay?”, and “You are in my prayers.” Such a simple act of kindness, extending the hand of Jesus. It’s something we all do daily, I like to believe, and don’t even realize we do it. However, to the person in which the hand is outstretched it means so very much. During the start of Covid 19 and social distancing its been a bit trickier to extend that hand but now is the time. I’ve witnessed this hand of help throughout the pandemic numerous times. A phone call to a loved one, a Zoom call to stay connected, a letter, card or note to just say hello, making a meal or dropping off a meal to a friend, an email, sending flowers, picking up someone’s mail, picking up groceries, a simple hello to a stranger, a prayer all ways we too can stretch out a hand in turbulent times. All of these acts are just ordinary gestures. Just as Jesus reached for Peter was an ordinary gesture. Are you making this time of Ordinary Time more special? You know with a simple gesture our ordinary day can become Extraordinary.

Church will be Open St. Lucy Church will be OPEN Saturday Vigil, August 8 @ 4:00 pm Sunday, August 9 @ 8:00 am & 10:00 am  DAILY MASS RESUMES MONDAY, AUGUST 10

Getting Ready for Sunday Gospel Reading Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus walks on water, and the disciples acknowledge him as the Son of God. Background on the Gospel Reading Today’s Gospel directly follows last week’s account of Jesus feeding a crowd of more than 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. For the sake of the crowds, Jesus had postponed his time of solitude. Now, at last, Jesus finds some time for quiet and prayer. He sends his disciples ahead of him by boat, dismisses the crowds, and then withdraws to the mountain to pray. The disciples do not fare well. They struggle to weather the wind and waves, making little progress in their journey. We are reminded of a previous story in Chapter 8 of Matthew’s Gospel, when Jesus calms the seas. This time, however, Jesus does not calm the seas, and the disciples do not express fear until they see Jesus walking toward them on the water. In this story it is not the storm that is feared but the sight of Jesus before them, whom they mistake for a ghost. Clues like these suggest that this story is about the disciples’ growing understanding of the identity of Jesus. In continuity with last week’s Gospel about the feeding of the multitude, today’s Gospel is also about what the disciples’ faith in Jesus will enable them to do. In last week’s Gospel, when the disciples see the crowds, they ask Jesus to send the crowds away. Jesus turns the situation around, telling the disciples to feed the crowd with the provisions that they have. Both of these Gospels tell us much about ministry. Jesus calls to the disciples and calms their fears. He is not a ghost. The impulsive Peter seeks proof that the person is indeed Jesus. He asks Jesus to call him out onto the water, and Jesus grants this request. Peter’s fear and doubt overtake him, however, once he is walking on the water. Jesus reaches out to Peter and saves him. When Jesus and Peter enter the boat, Matthew reports that the wind ceases, and the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God.  Faith in Jesus will enable the disciples to do the work that Jesus has done. Peter walks on water. The five loaves and two fish feed a multitude of people. The disciples can and will participate in the work of the kingdom of heaven. When Peter fears and doubts the person of Jesus, however, he falters. Peter’s example teaches us that true Christian ministry emerges from the faith that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s only Son.

"Getting to Know" Anne Dunn Anne Dunn was married 57 years to George Dunn. George passed away January 23, 2019. They have 3 children:  Mary Sue Curry married to Gerry Curry, Michael Dunn married to Christine, and daughter Kara Dunn. 6 grandchildren: Andrew, Michael, Timothy & Jack Curry, and Caitlin & Cameron Dunn.   Anne has one brother- Bob Bracken   Anne is a retired elementary school teacher taught in Valley Stream, NY. Graduated from Molloy college in Rockville Centre, NY. Most especially love being a mom and now a grandma (nanny)   Few interesting items about Anne. She loves the outdoors! Starts every day she can with a four-mile walk. She loves to watch the sun rise looking out over the ocean. If you come to daily Mass you will be sure to see Anne. Anne likes to begin her day with daily mass and leads the rosary when Alice Marie is up North. (thanks Anne) She enjoys playing mahjong with her friends, swimming in the pool and reading the latest novels. Anne is a novice canasta player. St. Lucy is blessed to have Anne as a registered parishioner who gives of her time so freely for the Glory of God. Anne volunteers in the Rectory and for the CCW and any other opportunities that may come along. She is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion which she considers a great privilege. Also, Anne is a member of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. Favorite Saint? There are many special Saints I pray to, but I would say St. Theresa, the little flower, gives me strength to get through the day.   Favorite Prayer? Praying the rosary is my favorite prayer throughout the day. Mary is our closest link to Jesus. She will never forget us. She will always intercede for us.   Favorite Bible Verse? My favorite bible verse is This is the day the lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 This gives me happiness to know that I have another day to be grateful for God’s gifts and beauty around us.   A little more about Anne...  I had many wonderful years with my husband, George.  We were blessed with three wonderful children and six fabulous grandchildren. Our lives were packed with many blessings and as many of us do, we planned for many more years of fun and happiness together. God had other plans. George, unfortunately, had a CVA and life changed instantly.  No more work, (he had his own accounting firm), no more golf, no more volunteering for the local hospitals, volunteering For St. Agnes Cathedral, our parish in Rockville Centre, volunteering for his Alma Mater, St. John’s University, etc.  Yet God gave us 14 more years together, something the doctors never thought would happen. In those 14 years we appreciated every moment that might not have seemed so special or important in the past. We saw beauty that we were too busy to notice. It gave George time to get to know his grandchildren and for them to get to know the special man he was to so many. I became a caregiver, one of the most special callings one can ever receive. The appreciation you receive from your loved one is so special. We became full time residents here in Highland Beach and St. Lucy’s became our parish that we grew to love more and more each day. Many of you would see us at 4:00 Mass with George in his wheelchair. George loved to be there with everyone and especially God. Tears would come to his eyes when he received the Eucharist. Everyday is a gift. We have to make the most of it.   For me my one word to describe St. Lucy parish is: COMFORT Thank you Anne for sharing your story with your St. Lucy Parish Family. Thank you also for giving so freely of your time and talents here.

If you would like to be part of our "Getting to Know You" feature please contact Jeanette @ jcfschmitz@aol.com we are always looking to getting to know more Parishioners.

Just a Click Away! Visit our website@ www.stlucycommunity.com View this week's bulletin St. Lucy Facebook St. Lucy Instagram

Pope's August prayer intention: people in the maritime world In his prayer intention for this month of August, Pope Francis urges prayers for seafarers and those working in the maritime world. By Robin Gomes Pope Francis on Tuesday released a video message containing his prayer intention for the month of August. He invites prayers for those “who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families”.  The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, formerly known as the Apostleship of Prayer, organizes and disseminates “The Pope Video”. The network is a pontifical initiative, whose mission is to pray and encounter the challenges facing humanity and the mission of the Church that concern the Holy Father, expressed in his monthly intentions. Without seafarers, we would starve “The life of sailors or fishermen and their families is very difficult,” Pope Francis notes in the video message in his native Spanish language. “Sometimes they are victims of forced labor or are left behind in distant ports.” “The competition of industrial fishing and the problem of pollution make their work even more complicated.” However, the Pope admits, “without the people of the sea, many parts of the world would starve”. “Let us pray for all those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families,” the Pope urges. Apostleship of the Sea This is the third time in less than two months that the Holy Father has addressed the issue of maritime workers. On June 12, he sent a video message to the Catholic Church’s Apostleship of the Sea (AOS), in which he thanked the maritime workers and fisherfolk for their important contribution to feeding the people of the world. Remembering the hardship they face, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pope encouraged seafarers in their work, assuring they are not alone or forgotten.  Pope encourages seafarers amid Covid-19 difficulties Sea Sunday highlights the vital work of Seafarers during pandemic On Sea Sunday, July 12, Pope Francis also greeted "to all those who work at sea, especially those who are far from their loved ones and their country."  Several Christian Church agencies and secular groups mark Sea Sunday each year. They remember and pray for seafarers and their families, drawing attention to their indispensable work and contribution.    Stella Maris Centres One of the sponsors of Sea Sunday, marked on the second Sunday of July, is the Apostleship of the Sea, that provides hospitality and pastoral care to seafarers, fishers and their families regardless of their nationality, creed, race or culture. The Apostleship of the Sea has established many seafarer’s centres and hostels around the world, especially in port areas, called Stella Maris Centres, in honour of its patron, Stella Maris, the Latin for the Star of the Sea, one of the many titles honouring Our Lady. Many seafarers have come to know the Apostleship of the Sea as Stella Maris. The Apostleship of the Sea uses temporary buildings, caravans, even disused containers in the docks to provide 20-hour information and access to telephones or the internet. These facilities enable seafarers to communicate with their families, despite their extremely limited time in port. In many ports around the world, Stella Maris Centres work in collaboration with seafarers’ centres in partnership with other Christian Churches. Ministering to seafarers since 1920, the Apostleship of the Sea says it is the largest ship-visiting network in the world. It provides counsel and support to people of the sea in 334 ports with 227 port chaplains in 59 countries. Upon hearing about Pope Francis dedicating his August prayer intention to seafarers, the Apostleship of the Sea expressed its gratitude to the Holy Father. “Thank you Papa for remembering seafarers, fishers and all those who make a living from the sea”, it wrote in a post on Facebook. The maritime world Along with “The Pope Video” of the August prayer intention, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network also issued an infographic on seafarers, noting that the ocean is one of the most dangerous workplaces on the planet.  Between 2011 and 2020, 745 seafarers have died and 8,611 were injured. In some areas, ships have been the targets of sea pirates.  Among the hazards that maritime workers face are abandonment in distant ports, forced labour, death, injury and the pollution of the sea. Some 3 billion people in the world depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihood. Around 200 million people are directly or indirectly employed by the fishing industry.  The market value of marine and coastal biodiversity accounts for some 5 per cent of the world’s GDP.   Sunday, August 9, 2020 Mass at St. Bernadette, Port St. Lucie. Celebrant, Reverend Antony Lopez, OCD, Parochial Vicar at Holy Name of Jesus. Music Director, Nathan Shrake. Lector, Alice Sennott. Visit our websiteDiocese of Palm Beach

St. Dominic, Priest, Religious Founder- Feast Day August 8 SAINTS BY OUR SIDE Saint Lawrence Saint of the Day for August 10 (c. 225 – August 10, 258) Saint Lawrence’s Story The esteem in which the Church holds Lawrence is seen in the fact that today’s celebration ranks as a feast. We know very little about his life. He is one of those whose martyrdom made a deep and lasting impression on the early Church. Celebration of his feast day spread rapidly. He was a Roman deacon under Pope Saint Sixtus II. Four days after this pope was put to death, Lawrence and four clerics suffered martyrdom, probably during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian. Legendary details of Lawrence’s death were known to Damasus, Prudentius, Ambrose, and Augustine. The church built over his tomb became one of the seven principal churches in Rome and a favorite place for Roman pilgrimages. A well-known legend has persisted from earliest times. As deacon in Rome, Lawrence was charged with the responsibility for the material goods of the Church, and the distribution of alms to the poor. When Lawrence knew he would be arrested like the pope, he sought out the poor, widows, and orphans of Rome and gave them all the money he had on hand, selling even the sacred vessels of the altar to increase the sum. When the prefect of Rome heard of this, he imagined that the Christians must have considerable treasure. He sent for Lawrence and said, “You Christians say we are cruel to you, but that is not what I have in mind. I am told that your priests offer in gold, that the sacred blood is received in silver cups, that you have golden candlesticks at your evening services. Now, your doctrine says you must render to Caesar what is his. Bring these treasures—the emperor needs them to maintain his forces. God does not cause money to be counted: He brought none of it into the world with him—only words. Give me the money, therefore, and be rich in words.” Lawrence replied that the Church was indeed rich. “I will show you a valuable part. But give me time to set everything in order and make an inventory.” After three days he gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned, and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, “These are the treasure of the Church.” The prefect was so angry he told Lawrence that he would indeed have his wish to die—but it would be by inches. He had a great gridiron prepared with coals beneath it, and had Lawrence’s body placed on it. After the martyr had suffered the pain for a long time, the legend concludes, he made his famous cheerful remark, “It is well done. Turn me over!”  Reflection Once again we have a saint about whom almost nothing is known, yet one who has received extraordinary honor in the Church since the fourth century. Almost nothing—yet the greatest fact of his life is certain: He died for Christ. We who are hungry for details about the lives of the saints are again reminded that their holiness was after all, a total response to Christ, expressed perfectly by a death like this. Saint Lawrence is the Patron Saint of: Cooks Poor Pray for us St. Clare. Feast Day August 11

After Beirut explosion, Lebanon turns to St. Charbel The Lebanese capital of Beirut was rocked by at least one explosion Tuesday afternoon. August 4, 2020 Catholic News Agency At least one massive explosion rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut Tuesday afternoon, which ignited fires and destroyed buildings in the city’s port area, caused damage across the city, and has reportedly flooded hospitals with casualties. Some local news sources are reporting that at least 10 people are dead, and videos have emerged online showing cars overturned in city streets and buildings with shattered windows and crumbled balconies. The cause of the explosion is not yet clear, but Christian leaders in Lebanon and around the world have called for prayer, and Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced that Wednesday will be a day of mourning across the country. Sixty percent of Lebanon’s people are Muslim, evenly split among Sunni and Shia, and nearly 35% of the country’s population is Christian, most of whom are Maronite Catholic Christians. In the wake of the explosion, Christians will likely turn to St. Charbel, Lebanon’s patron saint, who is also revered by many of Lebanon’s Muslims. St. Charbel Makhlouf lived from 1828 to 1898, spending much of his life as a monk and hermit. He is known in Lebanon for the miraculous healings of those who visit his tomb to seek his intercession – both Christians and Muslims. “St. Charbel has no geographic or confessional limits. Nothing is impossible for [his intercession] and when people ask [for something], he answers,” Fr. Louis Matar, coordinator of the Shrine of St. Charbel in Annaya, Lebanon, told CNA in 2018. Speaking in Arabic with the help of an interpreter, Matar said the shrine, which encompasses the monastery where the Maronite Catholic priest, monk, and hermit lived for nearly 20 years, receives around 4 million visitors a year, including both Christians and Muslims. Matar, who is responsible for archiving the thousands of medically-verified healings attributed to the intercession of the Maronite priest-monk, said that many miraculous cures have been obtained by Muslims. Since 1950, the year the monastery began to formally record the miraculous healings, they have archived more than 29,000 miracles, Matar said. Prior to 1950, miracles were verified only through the witness of a priest. Now, with more advanced medical technology available, alleged miracles require medical documents demonstrating the person’s initial illness and later, their unexplainable good health. One of the miracles documented by Matar in December 2018, when he spoke to CNA, was that of a 45-year-old Italian woman. Suffering from a neurological disease, she was hospitalized after it was discovered she had tried to commit suicide by consuming acid. In the hospital, the doctors discovered that the damage to her esophagus and intestines was so extensive, “the last way possible to cure her was believing in God and praying,” Matar commented. The woman’s parents began to pray, inviting others to pray with them. A religious sister of the Maronite Catholic Church heard about the prayer request and gave them holy oil from St. Charbel’s shrine. After her parents spread the oil on the suffering woman’s stomach, chest, and head, the woman was cured. This was just one of seven miracles archived in December, Matar said, calling each one “a phenomenon.” “St. Charbel is a tool to reach God,” he said. The Shrine of St. Charbel consists of the Monastery of St. Maron, where the saint lived for 19 years with great devotion to prayer, manual labor, and contemplative silence; and the nearby hermitage where he lived a rigorous asceticism and profound union with God for the last 23 years of his life. At the monastery, pilgrims can visit a church built in 1840, a small museum with artifacts and relics from the saint, and the site of his first grave. St. Charbel’s tomb, since 1952, is located inside a special cave-like chapel built into the property. Even while he was alive, Charbel’s superiors observed God’s “supernatural power” at work in his life, and even some Muslims knew him as a wonder-worker. Deeply devoted to God’s Eucharistic presence, he suffered a stroke while celebrating the Divine Liturgy of the Maronite Catholic Church on December 16, 1898, dying on Christmas Eve of that year. He was canonized in 1977 by St. Pope Paul VI.

Thank You We can never express how much this time together means to our St. Lucy Family. We hope connecting on Fridays with us brings you closer to our Parish Community. Thank you for all the prayers and "extended hands"this week in offer of help, support and understanding. We hope to get our office back to normal soon. If you need us please contact Maureen @ 561-289-0548, Jeanette @ 561-400-7789, Father Horgan @ 561-306-8042. Peace be with You. Father Horgan, Pastor

Catholic Chuckle