St Lucy Bulletin
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 28, 2024
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – THERE WILL BE A MEETING FOR ALL CATECHISTS AND HELPERS IN THE PAC BUILDING TODAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE 11:00 AM MASS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH OUR PROGRAM IN ANY CAPACITY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING. REGISTRATION FOR CCD FOR 2024-2025 WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 11TH. IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES ARE ON HAND, STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 12 SHOULD BE ENROLLED IN OUR PARISH CCD PROGRAM AT THIS TIME. REGISTRATION FORMS CAN BE FOUND AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH. FOR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, LUCILLE D’ELIA AT LUCILLEDELIA23@GMAIL.COM OR SPEAK WITH HER AFTER MASS.
RACHEL’S VINYARD – The next Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat weekend for the Diocese of Biloxi will be held August 23-25, 2024 Rachel’s Vineyard is an international retreat that provides an opportunity for women and men to find forgiveness and healing from abortion. The retreat begins on Friday evening and ends on Sunday afternoon and will be held at the William J Kelly Retreat Center in Bay St. Louis, MS. If you or someone you know would like to attend, please contact Deacon Johnny Williams at 228-702-2169 or email at rachelsvineyard@biloxidiocese.org. You may also go online through the Diocese of Biloxi website.
DID YOU KNOW? – There is an exhibit at the George County Museum on churches in George County. It is located on the first floor of the Courthouse and is open Tuesday – Thursday from 10 – 4. Check it out!
PRAYER FOR PROTECTION AGAINST STORMS AND HURRICANES – “Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us during this Hurricane season from all harm. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
FRIDAYS – Every Friday, we will meet at 3:00PM in the church for Holy Hour, Divine Mercy and the Rosary. This is open to whoever wishes to come. If you have any questions or just want to know more, please see JoAnne Bowie or Barbara Robicheaux.
SCHEDULE CHANGE THIS WEEK – Sunday night and weekday activities/Masses are canceled for this coming week.
ADULT ED – Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm.
MONDAY – Adoration at 8:30 am followed by Mass at 9:30
TUESDAY – Mass at 8:30 am followed by Bible Study
PRAY FOR PRIESTS – Visit the “Pray For Priests” page to remember our Diocesan Priests, Deacons, and Seminarians in your daily prayers. The website features a calendar with a daily schedule of priests to pray for. There are also a few hard copies in the back of the church. Please consider taking one home as a reminder of the support and prayers our priests require.
ANNIVERSARY MASS – Married couples who are celebrating significant wedding anniversaries during the year 2024 any day are invited to celebrate with the Diocese and the Bishop at the Cathedral on September 15. If you are celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 or any anniversary above 60 from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, you are eligible. There is a form to fill out if you are interested. Please see Father Marascalco for more information.
CURSILLO – Do you want to experience your faith more deeply and live it in your daily life? To enrich your relationship with God, no matter how strong it may be right now? Are you looking for a community with which to share your faith journey? Do you want to become more confident in and enthusiastic about your faith and in sharing it in the secular world? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Cursillo is for you. The next Men’s Cursillo (#297) will be held September 19th – 22nd at Dedeaux with Don McCloskey serving as Rector and Dan Rodenberg serving as Co-Rector. The Spiritual Advisor will be Fr. Mark Ropel. Applications for the weekend are now being accepted. Applications are available online at www.biloxicursillo.org or in the church office.
PLEASE PRAY – for our sick and homebound friends, family, and parishioners who are unable to celebrate the liturgy with us.
CHURCH CLEANING MINISTRY – Thank you to all who have been participating. You are all greatly appreciated.
JOIN OUR GROWING CHOIR – If you would like to be a part of helping us make a joyful noise unto the Lord, please see Fr. Marascalco or Ken and Alecia Rolling (they are the ones that currently lead the singing).
Upcoming Readers – subject to change as needed
July 28 – Teresa
August 4 – Barbara
St. Lucy Biography
St. Lucy was a Christian martyr who lived in the Roman Empire in the third century AD. She was born in Syracuse, Sicily, to a wealthy and noble family. Her father died when she was young, and she devoted her life to God and vowed to remain a virgin.
St. Lucy dedicated her life to Christ and she loved the poor. She frequently delivered wheat and bread to the needy, homebound, and Christians hiding in the catacombs, often in the darkness of night to avoid detection.
As Lucy reached the age of marriage, her mother arranged a marriage between Lucy and a pagan suitor. However, Lucy had already consecrated her life to God and vowed to remain a virgin.
Lucy’s refusal to marry angered her rejected suitor, who reported her Christian beliefs to the Roman authorities during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. Lucy was subsequently arrested and faced brutal persecution.
According to legend, her eyes were gouged out, and she gave them to her suitor. Miraculously, God restored her sight. For this reason, St. Lucy is often depicted holding a small plate with two eyes on it. The authorities’ attempts to execute her by fire failed, leading to her eventual martyrdom by the sword in 304 AD.
Today, St. Lucy is regarded as the patron saint of the blind and those with eye disorders. Her feast day is celebrated on December 13th, and she remains an inspiration and role model for Catholics.
Learn More: To learn more about St. Lucy, visit https://christianapostles.com/St-Lucy
If any parish organizations have news to be included in the bulletin, please contact Cathy Tindall (CaTTyT46@gmail.com or call/text 601-530-6151). Parish information can be found on our website (www.stfxstl.org). Our website now has language options. If you would like your native language included, please see Fr. Marascalco or Cathy Tindall