RESP. PSALM: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
TODAY’S MASS INTENTION: Eleanor Rusnacik, by the Harmat Family
MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:
| May | 6 | Saturday | No Traditional Latin Mass | |
| May | 7 | Sunday | 9:15 AM | John Kacsala, by Mary Spisak |
FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: The moniker for today’s Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday. The reason is that on every Fourth Sunday of Easter we read the gospel passage in which Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. Very early on, this allegory was adapted by Christians for their artistic depictions of Christ in the catacombs (when Christianity was not legalized and no public depictions of Christian art were allowed). Perhaps the earliest existing image of the Good Shepherd is in Domitilla’s catacomb and dates back to the 2nd century.
This day is also a Day of Prayer for Vocations to priesthood (as instituted by Pope Paul VI in 1964). The need is always there; as Jesus said: “the harvest is great but the laborers are few.” Let us beseech our Good Shepherd not just for abundance of vocations, but also for their quality. As Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604) remarked: “We can speak only with a heavy heart of so few laborers for such a great harvest, for although there are many to hear the good news there are only a few to preach it. Look about you and see how full the world is of priests, yet in God’s harvest a laborer is rarely to be found; for although we have accepted the priestly office, we do not fulfill its demands.”
Speaking of great pastors, on May 6 we will have the 48th anniversary of the death of Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty. Many of you may still remember his visit to Cleveland in 1974. He was persecuted for the Catholic faith and suffered under both Nazis and Communists. In 2019, he was declared venerable. It means that his life has been thoroughly examined and it was found that he had lived a life that was “heroic in virtue” (the theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity and the cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance). The next step is beatification (if God permits), which requires a verification from Heaven, a miracle. Let us ask Venerable Mindszenty for his intercession; who knows, God may grant a miracle through him to some of us here in Cleveland.
PRAYER FOR OUR PRIESTS:
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests. Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation. Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel. Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS: O God, Father of all Mercies, Provider of a bountiful Harvest, send Your Graces upon those You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor; preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.
Open the hearts of Your children that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.
Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers and grant Your Church’s needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY in supporting our parish. Apr. 23: Sunday collection: $415; special donation: $150. Thank you for sending in your offertory donation through the mail, or through the PayPal option found on the website: https://www.stelizabethcleveland.org/donations/
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially, Kathy Szabó, Kamilla Szabó, Anna Melega, Dorothy Fromhercz, Alex Szaday, and Virginia Kachmar.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen
THIS SUNDAY the 11:15 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/ and on the website, https://stemeric.com/
LET US PRAY THREE HAIL MARYS FOR OUR PARISH EVERY DAY!
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