Thursday 31 October 2013

Parish Forecast

Today is the final day of October which was dedicated to the Holy Rosary.
Tomorrow, we celebrate the ancient feast of All Saints and on Saturday, we celebrate All Souls. Holy Mass is celebrated at the following times in honour of these special occasions:
Friday (All Saints): 6AM and 6PM
Saturday (All Souls): 7AM with a procession to the church cemetery afterwards.
You can also visit here on the Parish Blog Spot on these days to learn and appreciate what is being celebrated in our church. 
November (in the parish), we celebrate the lives of our dearly departed. As such, there are some special Mass Intention evnelopes that are available at the church entrance. 


Rosary Reflection Day 20


Tuesday 29 October 2013

Parish Parang Bingo!


St. Jude Triduum Recap!


Ever year, the St. Jude Triduum takes places on the 3 consecutive days leading up to the feast day (including the feast day) and various speakers from the clergy grace us with their presence to preach on the specific topic or theme for that year. This year the Triduum began on Saturday October 26th and ended on the feast day, Monday October 28th where Holy Mass was celebrated each evening of the 3-day event. The Speakers included three dynamic deacons; Deacon Patrick Lawrence, Deacon Malcom Joab and Deacon Sheldon Narine (a.k.a. Crazy Catholic) respectively all with a unique message.

Deacon Patrick opened the festivities by preaching on a very precious person, The Blessed Mother Mary. He opened his homily by referring to the recent consecration which took place some weeks ago that our Holy Father Pope Francis mandated where he later re-iterated that "Mary is the Greatest Intercessor".  "The World is under attack and this consecration is the church's way of combating this war and turning back to prayer through divine intercession", said Deacon Lawrence. As he culminated his sharing he urged us to allow the visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth be our visitation, which was Spirit-filled.
The Second day featured Deacon Malcom Joab where his theme was based on Prayer. "We must be rooted in the Scriptures", said Deacon Joab as he opened his sharing. He later substantiated on the popular prayer acronym A.C.T.S. which stands for
A- Adoration to Jesus
C- Contrition (Confessing our Sins)
T- Thanksgiving (Thanking God for all that he has done and will do for us)
S- Supplication (Praying for Ourselves)
He ended with a very thought-provoking point, "Prayer rooted in Pride is not in rights with God. Humility is the foundation of Prayer and we must pray as humble servants. Humility is thinking of yourself less and not thinking less of yourself".

The final talk was done by the always joyful, Deacon Narine and his topic, which was quite appropriate, was  based on Evangelizing in Mt. D'or. His opening words reminded us that "We belong to Jesus and Jesus belongs to us, God wants this entire community!" He used a very simple formula for us to  adhere to in order to mirror the life and words of Jesus Christ- Prayer, Care, Share and Dare. In the words of Deacon Narine: 
Prayer: We must spend sufficient time getting intimate with Jesus and this can be done through the Rosary, Holy Mass and reading Sacred Scriptures. How are we supposed to evangelize Mt. D'or? We must pray and cover ourselves in the blood of Jesus and step out in faith because evangelizing only occurs without faith and when one moves in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Care (for Others): Many people look for a sense of belonging, even the marginalized in society. As such, we must be sign of hope for others in need. When we encounter people in grief and trials and we extend that sign of comfort and care, they will never forget you, because you cared for them at the right moment. We, as Catholics, must love the unlovable.
Share (our Gifts): Many people from the community are blessed with special talents from God and one way to return that love to him is by building up the kingdom of God on earth through the sharing of your talents. In addition to sharing your talents, one can also give their time to visit the sick and praying for others.
Dare (to be different): What makes us stand out from the rest? The "Jesus" in each one of us. How can we be different in Mt.D'or, by being C.O.O.L. which stands for Christ Our Only Love.

So the St. Jude celebrations have ended but remember to continue to intercede to this powerful saint for hopeless and difficult cases and continue to make others known about him. HERE you can view the pictures that were taken throughout the weekend. St. Jude, pray for us!


Rosary Reflection Day 18


Monday 28 October 2013

Rosary Reflection Day 17


Feast of St. Jude

Today is our Parish's Feast Day of St. Jude. We honour this great saint who is known for intervening in hopeless cases. Today marks the end of the 9-day novena and the Triduum which begun on Saturday. Holy Mass begins at 6PM with the Novena beginning at 5.30PM. Featuring Deacon Sheldon Narine (Crazy Catholic). Below is the St. Jude Novena Reflection for Day 9:


Saturday 26 October 2013

Parish Notices for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

  1. Tomorrow and on Monday we continue our celebration of the Triduum to St. Jude in Mt D’or chapel. On Sunday, the novena will be said at 4.30 followed by the mass with a conference at 5 pm. On Monday, on the feast of St. Jude, the solemn mass will be celebrated at 6 pm. Before the mass, the novena will be concluded. We would like to encourage you to participate in this joyful celebration.
  2. Remembering our loved ones! A reminder about our November tradition of Masses for deceased our brothers and sisters. Envelopes for the November masses for Dead can be collected on the ‘catholic news’ stand. Completed envelopes can be placed in the collection basket, given to Father, Catherine or Smithy.
  3. Important notice! If you are going to repaint any grave on our cemeteries please, save or paint back the number, which is on the structure. Please, share this message with others.
  4. During the coming week we will celebrate two important feasts. On Friday, the 1st of November we are going to celebrate the ancient and important solemnity of All Saints, which in many countries is the day of obligation. The masses will be celebrated at 6 am and 6 pm. Before the evening mass the will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and special prayers from 5 pm.
  5. On Saturday, the 2nd of November, we will celebrate the All Souls, the day of prayer for our departed brothers and sisters. The mass will be at 7 am followed by the short procession to the Cemetery. Please join us in honoring our ancestors and praying for the mercy for them. There is a possibility of obtaining the plenary indulgence under the normal conditions by visiting the cemetery on this day, as well of the all-day of the Octave of All Souls.
  6. On the 2nd of November, Vital Corner Boys will have the Annual Cake Sale in aid of Children Christmas Party on the Corner from 8.30 am.
  7. St. Joseph Cub Club Scout Pack from our Boys School will be having a cake sale on the next Sunday, 3rd of November after 8.30 am mass. Please support our little warriors.
  8. After a very successful Independence Barbeque, Our next fund raising and family event is just around the corner: PARANG BINGO – on Sunday 10th November on the Church grounds. If you would like to support or assist by sponsoring a prize, please contact Deacon Jeffrey. We need 25 prizes and right now  we have 7 prizes so far.
Blessings to ALL our parishioners this week!

St. Jude Novena Reflection Day 7



ST. JUDE TRIDUUM BEGINS TODAY!!!!
NOVENA BEGINS AT 4.30PM

Sunday 20 October 2013

St. Joseph/Mt.D'or at Laventille Devotions (Photos)

On October 13th, 2013, Our Holy Father Pope Francis designated that day (the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) to be consecrated to Mary. It was also the closing of the Laventille Devotions for 2013 (which will resume in May '14). The Parish of St. Joseph/Mt. D'or went as a pilgrimage to the special devotions and the turn out was remarkable. HERE are the photos that were taken from last weekend's special devotions.


St. Jude Novena Reflection Day 1


Parish Notices for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

  1. Our sisters and brothers at St. Jude’s Chapel are having a Cake Sale after the morning Masses next Sunday, October 27th to raise funds for the Air Conditioning of the Chapel. Lots of items will be on sale – bread, cake, sweet bread, bake and smoke herring and much more. Please support. 
  2. The Feast of St. Jude is on October 28th. The Triduum of Masses starts on Saturday 26th October at 5PM, Sunday 27th at 5PM and the feast day on Monday 28th at 6PM. The dynamic team of preachers include Deacons Patrick Laurence, Sheldon ‘Crazy Catholic’ Narine and Malcom Joab.  Novena to St. Jude begins on Sunday 20th October at 5.30PM. 
  3. After a very successful Independence Barbeque. Our next fund raising and family  event is just around the corner. PARANG BINGO – on Sunday 10th November on the Church grounds. If you would like to support or assist by sponsoring a prize, please contact Deacon Jeffrey. More details in the coming weeks. 
Blessings to ALL our parishioners this week!



Friday 18 October 2013

Prayer to St. Luke - Patron Saint of Doctors and Physicians


Most charming and saintly Physician, you were animated by the heavenly Spirit of love. In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, you also showed his divinity and his genuine compassion for all human beings. Inspire our physicians with your professionalism and with the divine compassion for their patients. Enable them to cure the ills of both body and spirit that afflict so many in our day. Amen.

Rosary Reflection Day 11


Thursday 17 October 2013

Celebrating St. Ignatius of Antioch


Ignatius of Antioch, also called “Theophoros”, meaning “God-bearer”, was an early martyr, who is known from the seven letters he wrote to various churches in Asia Minor on his way to martyrdom in Rome. The text of these letters has come down to us. He is especially noted for his strong theology of the humanity of Jesus and his presence in the Eucharist. He also promoted the role of the bishop as a figure of unity in the Church.

St. Ignatius coined a Prayer for Martyrdom which is listed below. 

I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God.... I long after the Lord, the Son of the true God and Father, Jesus Christ. Him I seek, who died for us and rose again.... I am eager to die for the sake of Christ. My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me that loves anything. But there is living water springing up in me, and it says to me inwardly: Come to the Father.

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Rosary Reflection Day 10


Tuesday 15 October 2013

Laventille Devotions Recap!

It was a glorious day for the Catholic Church on Sunday October 13th because not only did she celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary but it was also a day that was designated by the Holy Father Pope Francis to consecrate the world to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This special consecration was done during the closing of the Laventille Devotions for the year.




St. Joseph/Mt. D’or parishioners came out in impressive numbers to participate in the pilgrimage with maxis being provided as the primary mean of transportation. The afternoon started with the recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3PM followed by the Glorious Mysteries with Benediction closing the hour of Marian Devotions. During the devotions hour, a heavy down-pour of rain came but being as awesome as our God always is, the weather was transformed from unpleasant rains to a cool and sunny evening and by the start of Holy Mass at 4PM, the crowd was intensified.  




St. Joseph/ Mt. D’or parishioners played active roles during the rosary, the choir and as lectors. The Chief Celebrant was His Grace, Archbishop Joseph Harris with the homilist, Auxiliary Bishop Robert Llanos, concelebrating Priests were Frs. Derek Anton and Karol Wielgosz, O.P. and Deacon Walcott and Michael Smith. In his powerful homily Bishop Llanos paid made reference to the Gospel story of that weekend, urging us Catholics to ‘embrace the pains in our own lives so that we can see what needs to be healed’.  Following the homily, the Consecration (that was coined by Pope John Paul II, now Blessed John Paul) was recited by Archbishop Harris which he made applicable to our beloved country of Trinidad & Tobago.




Another Laventille Devotions in the bag but the annual devotions will return in May of 2014. We also invoke the maternal intercession of the blessed mother upon our lives, the church and the world. 



Rosary Reflection Day 8


Sunday 13 October 2013

Commissioning of the New Altar Boy Photos

This morning at the 8.30AM Mass, Fr. Karol commissioned a new member to the Altar Servers- Christopher Williams. HERE are some photos that were taken throughout the morning's celebration.

Saturday 12 October 2013

Parish Notices for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

  1. Remembering our loved ones. A reminder about our November tradition of Masses for deceased our brothers and sisters. Longing for the day once again when we will be together.  We can and shall pray for them and with them for the mercy of God for all of us. The best thing we can do is to offer the mass. Envelopes for the November masses for Dead can be collected on the ‘catholic news’ stand. 
  2. Our sisters and brothers at St. Jude’s Chapel are having a Cake Sale after the morning Masses on Sunday 27th October to raise funds for the Air Conditioning of the Chapel. Lots of items will be on sale. 
  3. All members and interested persons are invited to the monthly meeting of the CCSJ St. Joseph Mt. D’or group to be held immediately after the 8:30 am Mass on Sunday 13th October, downstairs in the presbytery. 
  4. The Feast of St. Jude is on October 28th. The Triduum begins Saturday 26th October and continues until the feast day. The preachers – Deacons Patrick Laurence and Sheldon ‘Crazy Catholic’ Narine. 
  5. After a very successful Independence Barbeque. Our next fund raising and family  event is just around the corner. PARANG BINGO – on Sunday 10th November on the Church grounds. If you would like to support or assist by sponsoring a prize, please contact Deacon Jeffrey. More details in the coming weeks
Blessings to ALL our parishioners this week!

St. Jude Triduum


Monday 7 October 2013

Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
On April 30th, 1573, Pope Pius V dedicated this day in remembrance to our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
The purpose was to thank God for the victory of Christians over the Turks at Lepanto, a victory that came about through the recitation of the rosary and in 1716, this feast was extended to the larger church for everyone else to celebrate it. 




“The rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christ-centered prayer. It has all the depth of the gospel message in its entirety. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb.... It can be said that the rosary is, in some sense, a prayer-commentary on the final chapter of the Vatican II Constitution Lumen Gentium, a chapter that discusses the wondrous presence of the Mother of God in the mystery of Christ and the Church" (Pope John Paul II, apostolic letter The Rosary of the Virgin Mary).

Rosary Reflection Day 2


Saturday 5 October 2013

Marian Devotions


Parish Notices for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

  1. Remembering our loved ones. A reminder about our November tradition of Masses for our deceased brothers and sisters. Longing for the day once again when we will be together. We can and shall pray for them and with them for the mercy of God for all of us. The best thing we can do is to offer the mass. Envelopes for the November masses for Dead can be collected on the ‘catholic news’ stand.
  2. We are trying to make our church more beautiful, by firstly restoring the interior of our church. If you have any old photographs, particularly the interior of the church, we would like to borrow it, so that we may put everything back in its original place.
  3. Sunday 13th October is the last of the Laventille Devotions for this year. It is important that we go together as a parish. Persons desirous of going are to pay by October 7th. Place money and names in an envelope.  These you can leave at the Office, or give to Deacon Jeffrey, Isidora Mitchell or Lynette Taitt AFTER the Masses. Cost is $25 per person. No late persons will be entertained.
  4. There will be a General Meeting of All ALTAR SERVERS on Sunday 6th October @ 3pm. This is a very important meeting, so please make an effort to attend.
Blessings to ALL our parishioners this week!

Friday 4 October 2013

Happy Birthday!



Look who's celebrating his Birthday today!!!!!
On behalf of the entire parish community, we would like to wish our very own, the mega-awesome Deacon Jeffrey Supersad a Happy Birthday!!!!!
May God's blessings come in abundance for you today and for this upcoming year!!!!!


Rosary Reflection Day 1


Wednesday 2 October 2013

Celebrating our Guardian Angels

Guardian Angels are precious gifts given to each of from God. When we were born, we were each assigned a Guardian Angel to look after and accompany us in our lives.

GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER
Angel of God,
My Guardian dear,
to whom God's love, commits me here,
ever this day/night,
be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide,
AMEN