Embracing Dementia

From the Pastor’s Desk My Dear People: Is there any one of us who is ready to stand before Jesus and state he or she does not NEED His mercy? Without exception, all of us need His mercy. We pray for mercy frequently at Mass. Yet, we tend to overlook the reality of our absolute need for His mercy! It is similar the way we overlook or ignore the great love Jesus has for each of us. When Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary in the 17th century and told her to spread devotion of His love for us (devotion to the Sacred Heart), He pointed to His heart and said, “Behold this heart that has so loved men and is so little loved in return.” In the 20th century, in the Lord’s goodness, He found it necessary to appear to another nun, the recently canonized St. Faustina, to remind people of the need to beg for His mercy. He longs to give us this mercy, if we ask. Part of this devotion to Divine Mercy is that we show mercy to other people. Also, in teaching us a devotion to Divine Mercy through St. Faustina, Jesus admonishes us to exercise more trust in His goodness, His wisdom, mercy, and love for us. So, on the picture of Divine Mercy which He described to St. Faustina, there are the words, JESUS I TRUST IN YOU. We are privileged to have this most beautifully painted image in our church. Look at the face of Jesus in this image and see Him in the Tabernacle. The pope has declared the first Sunday after Easter DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY for the UNIVERSAL CHURCH. The hour Christ died, 3:00 p.m., is a sacred hour. According to St. Faustina, a short prayer to heaven is recommended daily at this 3 o’clock hour professing trust and asking for mercy. Many parishes all over the world are sponsoring an hour’s devotion to Divine Mercy at 3:00 p.m. this Sunday. We at OUR LADY OF SORROWS, FOR THE TWELFTH

YEAR, will have the holy hour celebrating Divine Mercy from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Why is this Sunday Divine Mercy Sunday? The answer is that the Gospel for this Sunday tells that Jesus left His Church His power to forgive sins. Divine Mercy devotion is not just another private devotion. Nothing so corresponds to the Mass, as does this devotion. How often during the Mass we bow humbly before God asking for mercy! We start Mass with: “Lord, have mercy…” Before Communion, “Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.” In the Chaplet, on the large beads of the rosary, we say: “Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and for that of the whole world.” That’s about the same prayer we all say after the consecration at Mass: “We offer you this life giving bread, this saving cup.” If you can’t come to the Hour of Divine Mercy, know this is Divine Mercy Sunday and be sure to say the chaplet of Divine Mercy today. With prayers and blessings, Father Muller

MASS INTENTIONS Monday, April 20

Special Intention Anna LaDart Tuesday, April 21 Julia Scheinler Special Int. of Dominic Rumore Wednesday, April 22 Frank Dominick Celeste O’Donnell Thursday, April 23 Frank Dominick Special Int of Lillie Rumore Friday, April 24 Donors of the OLS School Foundation Charles Woods Saturday, April 25 Celeste O’Donnell Frank Dominick Sunday, April 26 People of the Parish Celeste O’Donnell

COLUMBARIUM UPDATE A contractor friend said NEVER predict and announce a completion date. But, the weather was so good and progress was right on schedule, nothing can go wrong! So, I announced the imminent completion of our project, for last week. Then, the rains came and the cold weather followed, then more rain and more cold weather... We are now behind schedule. Oh well, the contractors are working feverishly, the water wall is installed, the granite work is complete and the pavers are almost all in place. A beautiful solid marble statue of Christ is here and should be uncrated and in place this week. (There I go again, predicting and announcing!) Let's just say, "We are close!”

Our Lady of Sorrows Taste of Tailgating-The Our Lady of Sorrows PTO would like to invite you to their spring fundraiser event, “Taste of Tailgating.” The event will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.00 per person and can be purchased at the OLS School office (879-3237). The event includes tailgating food, a cash bar, a live band and both live and silent auctions. Anyone interested in donating items for the auction or for more information please call Kristine Williams at 482-4550.

High School Youth Group will meet this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and this Wednesday night from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. We meet in the 3rd floor Youth Room in the Family Life Center. Come to meet friends, eat, and learn about the faith!

Junior High Youth Group-All 6th - 8th graders are invited to attend the youth group meeting this Sunday, April 19. We meet from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Please join in the fun and fellowship. New members are encouraged to contact Julie

Meadows at [email protected] to be put on the email list.

PRAY FOR VOCATIONS Through the gift of the Holy Spirit we are sent to share the peace of Christ. Do you believe in Jesus’ call to you? Act on it! (John 20:19-31) Please pray for those who are contemplating a vocation to priesthood or the consecrated life. This ad is sponsored by the Serra Club.

Please join us for “The Prayer behind Art and the Art behind Prayer,” by parishioner Frances Smith, Sunday April 19, in the Parish Hall at 10:00 a.m. On Sunday, April 26th, Jeannette Bell will be our speaker and her topic will be “The Story of the First Light Ministry and How We all Can Help.”

PSR First Communion practice will be on Wednesday night, April 22nd, at 6:00 p.m. in the Church. First Communion individual pictures will be on Thursday, April 23, in the Church from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. PSR First Communion will be next Sunday, April 26, at 2:00 p.m. POT LUCK DINNER Trash & Treasure is having their spring pot luck dinner for all volunteers on April 29th at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. New volunteers are needed during the month of June so bring a dish and your family and sign up with this great July 4th festival team. To R.S.V.P. call Melanie Falconer at 945-8341. See you there! As part of the Birmingham Diocesan Cursillo Movement the daytime Ultreya will meet the fourth Friday of this month, April 24, 2009. It will take place at St. Peter the Apostle Church, Room 203, after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Patti Champion will give the witness talk. For additional information, please contact Susan Ragsdale at (205) 668-7419.

The OLS Children’s Choir would like to thank the Agena, Angels, Bamford, Gagnon, Gerety, Handia, Hardin, Harika, McComiskey, Montenegro, Naylor, Reyes, Rumore, StephensKeenen, Vicinanzo and Webb families for dedicating their time, energy and love. Your children did an excellent job. We hope to see you next year. ADDITIONAL EASTER FLOWER DONATIONS IN MEMORY OF: Joe Noto Domenic Bruzzese Anthony Corsentino Charles & Annie Carpri Margaret & Nick Graffeo, Sr. George Boour Sam & Marie Giambrone Nick Graffeo, Jr. Celeste O’Donnell Mary & Charles Purdy Mary Frances Graffeo Joseph Corry Gladis Corry Anthony Caprez Carl Wolfram Christina Wolfram Deceased Members of the Morris & Carroll Families Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Children’s Learning Center will host a book signing fundraiser on Tuesday, April 21, from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the school’s main lobby. Local author Ellen Marie Edmonds will be signing her newly released book, Embracing Dementia: A Call to Love. Accompanying her will be her 5-year-old granddaughter, Brantley, the cover artist, a student at OLS CCLC. The book, which includes an “in a nutshell” practical guide for caregivers with limited time, tells the author’s personal story of caring for her husband Frank during his journey of vascular dementia, providing hope and practical help for families struggling to care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases. Everyone is invited to come and support the school in this fundraising and dementia awareness event. Attention Seniors: St. Francis Xavier Parish will hold its monthly activity for Catholic Senior Adults on Thursday, April 23. Mass will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will be followed by a luncheon and bingo concluding at 2:00 p.m. April Bridge Winners: 1st Place-Bernie Grundhoefer 2nd Place-Beverly Gurley Special Prize-Mike Millican

The Chapel of Our Savior needs permanent Committed Adorers for: Monday at 11:00 AM (To Share Hour) Monday at 11:00 PM (To Share Hour) Thursday at 5:00 PM (To Share Hour) Friday at 1:00 PM (To Share Hour) Saturday Morning at 3:00 AM Saturday at 4:00 PM Sunday at 11:00 AM (To Share Hour) Sunday at 9:00 PM Our goal is to have at least 2 people on each hour. These are the hours needed, but do select an hour that best fits your schedule. Please call Ida Wilker at 933-2281 or Mary Claire Brouillette at 871-2909. "Can you feel the fragrance of Paradise which diffuses itself from the Tabernacle?" St. Philip Golfers, please join us for a benefit for Her Choice on Monday, May 11, at Highland Golf Club. The morning tournament goes from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. and the afternoon tournament goes from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Call 252-0706 for more information or to sign up.