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Saint Louis Catholic Community
7270 SW 120th Street•Pinecrest, FL 33156•Church/School: 305-238-7562•FAX: 305-238-6844
www.stlcatholic.org
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[email protected]
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[email protected]
L
ent draws us into the mystery of our dying and rising with Christ, the fundamental experience of
Christian faith. Plan ahead to take advantage of the special programs that will be offer throughout this holy
season.
Share Your Story. Share Your Power. Save Lives.
BLOOD
Ash Wednesday Mass Schedule, February 10
Miércoles de Ceniza: 10 de febrero
6:30 AM
8:30 AM
10:00 AM
12:00 Noon
5:00 PM
6:30 PM
DRIVE
8:00 PM (Español)
Daily Mass Schedule/ Misa Diaria:
6:30 AM English
8:30 AM English
7:00 PM Monday, Tuesday, Friday– English
“I7:00
needed
units ofjueves–
bloodEspañol
after being
PM 22
miércoles,
Stations of the Cross/ Via Crucis:
Español, miércoles, 7:30 PM
English, Friday, 7:30 PM
Lenten Parish Mission/
Misión Parroquial de Cuaresma:
Español: 15, 16, 17 de febrero
con Padre Fernando Orejuela
English: February 22, 23, 24
with Fr. Bill Mason
in a bad car accident. I am alive today
Plan your own spiritual Lenten journey to Easter.
thanksYour
to blood donors.”
Share
Story. Share Your Power. Save
– Steven K.
Lives.
BLOOD
DRIVE
watch Steven’s story or to share
ur story visit IamOneBlood.org.
T H E R E I S “INneeded
O S 22
U units
B S of
T blood
I T Uafter
T Ebeing
FOR BLOOD.
in a bad car accident. I am alive today
thanks to blood donors.”
– Steven K.
St. Louis Catholic Church
Sunday, February 7, 2016
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
All donors will receive a FREE OneBlood Fleece Blanket
To watch Steven’s story or to share
PASTORAL STAFF
Pastor
Rev. Fr. Paul Vuturo
Parochial Vicars
Rev. Fr. Michael Garcia
Rev. Fr. Fredy Yara
Vicar Emeritus (Retired)
Rev. Fr. Michael Kish
Administrator of the Mission of
St. Augusitine of Hippo
Rev. Fr. Pedro Toledo
Deacons
Rev. Dr. James Dugard
Rev. Mr. John Green
Rev. Mr. Thomas Hanlon
Rev. Mr. George Labelle
Rev. Mr. Alex Lam
Rev. Mr. Vincent McInerney
Rev. Mr. John Peremenis
Rev. Mr. Jeff Reyes
Rev. Mr. José Villena
Rev. Mr. Bob Yglesias School Principal
Mr. Edward Garcia
Director of Religious Education
Mrs. Jeannie Modroño
HOLY EUCHARIST (MASS)
Sunday:(English)
5:30 PM (Sat. Vigil)
7:00, 9:30, 11:00 AM
12:30, 5:30 PM
(Español)
8:15 AM, 7:15 PM
6:30 AM Monday - Friday English
8:30 AM Monday - Saturday English
7:30 PM Miércoles – Español
RECONCILIATION
(Confessions)
Saturday:3:30 - 4:30 PM
7:30 - 8:30 PM
Anytime by appointment
Misa en Español
Los domingos - 8:15 AM, 7:15 PM
Los miercoles - 7:30 PM
Bautismos - En Español el último
domingo del mes. Favor de llamar a la
oficina con DOS meses de anticipación.
Matrimonio - Favor de llamar a la
Oficina con SEIS meses de anticipación.
Hora Santa -Tercer jueves de cada
mes en la Capilla a las 7:30 PM.
Baptisms
MATRIMONY
Please contact the parish office at least
six months prior to the proposed date.
BAPTISMS (Infants - 5 yrs. old)
In English the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Sunday
when there is a 5th Sunday. Please call
the Office TWO months in advance.
Director of Youth Ministry
Mr. Mark Witkowski
LUNA REYES
daughter of David & Ana Reyes
PARISH OFFICE HOURS
Director of Music
Mr. Juan Salazar
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Coordinator of Ministries & Music
Ms. Cecelia Columbro
Pray for the Sick
Conchita Acosta
Aloma Ahkin
Pablo Arevalo
Mary Arnold
Alejandro Baldelomar
Marcio Baltodano
Nora Bendheim
Verónica Bermúdez
Jeannette Bernard
Giana Brendeke
Joyce Bryan
Robert Bryan
Jerry Byrne
Joanne Calfo
Marion Camacho
Margaret Caruso
Keith Chin
Sandra Chung
Michael Connor
Cici Culverhouse
Mary Frances Degen
PASTORAL HISPANA
Luis DeVarona
Xioriliz Diaz
Lorraine Ditzel
Iris Echevarria
Eddie Fung
Bertina Garcia
Hilda Garcia
Ralphy Garcia
Bill Gerrard
Mary Glynn
Michelle P. Green
Daisy Guerrero
Jim Hand
Alyse Hernández
Floriana Hernández
Giselle Hernández
Salvador Hernández
Andrés Hidalgo
Isabel Hinton
Norman Hinton
Lidia Hoadleg
Saturday
James Houck
Carole Howard
Aida Jackson
Irene Johnson
Matthew Joseph
Mary Kilcoyne
Gerry Knowlan
Robert Kopp
Steven Kowallis
Pat Krupczak
Joseph Kuethe
Helen Labime
Gene LaNeve
Karla Lloyd
Evelyn López
Manolito López
Isabel Luperón
Kelly Lyden-Flores
Luis Magallanes
Vivian Malave
Harrison Margulies
Matthew Martin
William Martinez
William Mayer
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Jane McKeon
Wendy McLendon
Reinaldo Meléndez
Angela Mitchell
Isabella Morales
Francisco Morejon
Leonardo Moreno
James Morris
Michael Mulsford
Luis Munilla
Dana Munsey
Adelina Muzaurieta
Tomas Noto
Raquel Ortiz
Rodney Oziemski
Val Peremenis
Jim Petee
Sebastian PierJeamot
Javier Piñeda
David Pritchard
Ronald Puhl
Shawn Rice
Bryce Richardson
Remember the Departed
Richard Russell
Remberto Rodríguez
Rolando Rodríguez
Clara Romero
Graciela Rosas
Armando Otero
Josephine Sánchez
Joseph Santella
Jimmy Sarandis
Maria Cristina Sedan
Douglas Sharpe
Sylvia Sharpe
John Shubeck
Eleanor Simons
Colin Smith Pita
James Smith
Ernest Steinhilber,III
Sebastian Tomala
Isah Marie Tomas
Aurora Van de Water
Pedro Verastegui
Concepción Villaborres
Aisha Wade
Peter White
Jose Alberto Rodriguez Nick Zwatney
Please remember to
contact the Parish Office
when it is appropriate to
remove a name from this
list or they will be removed
after two months. To provide the Eucharist
at home for ill parish
members or family,
call Pedro Valentin at
305-251-7335 or the
parish office at
305-238-7562.
Si estas enfermo o
impedido de asistir a la
Misa y deseas recibir la
Comunión en tu casa,
puedes comunicarte con
Adriana Morales,
786-478-1854.
Ministry to
The Sick
February 10th to March 20th 7 AM -7 PM
10 febrero al 20 marzo 7 AM -7 PM
40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a
vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting,
and peaceful vigil to end abortion.
40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that
draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use
of a three-point program:
Prayer & fasting, Peaceful Vigil, Community Outreach
40 Días por la Vida es una campaña enfocada pro-vida
con una visión para acceder al poder de Dios mediante
la oración, el ayuno y vigilia pacífica para acabar con
el aborto.
40 Días por la Vida es una campaña basada en la
comunidad que llama la atención sobre el mal del
aborto mediante el uso de un programa de tres puntos:
Make 40 Days for Life your Lenten Devotional!
Please join us on, Friday, March 4th the day St
Louis Church any time you can from 7 AM to 7
PM.
The vigil will be front of Choice for Women on 6660
SW 117 Avenue. There is ample parking for BJ on
Sunset Drive in 117 Ave.
For more details or sign up please contact:
Maria Wadsworth, [email protected]
Or 305-299-8840
La oración y el ayuno, Vigilia Pacífica, Ayuda a la Comunidad
¡Haga 40 Días por la Vida su devoción en cuaresma!
Por favor acompáñenos el viernes, 4 de marzo, el
día reservado para los miembros de San Luis, por
cualquier rato que Ud. pueda de 7 AM a 7 PM.
La vigilia será en frente de “Choice for Women” en
6660 SW 117 Avenue. Hay amplio parqueo por BJ’s,
en Sunset Drive en 117 Ave.
Para más información o inscribirse, por favor
comuníquese con Maria Wadsworth,
[email protected] (305)-299-8840
Ash Wednesday Retreat
Wednesday, February 10th, 2015 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
“Repent Means ‘Turn Around”
Ash Wednesday opens up a special time of retreat in the life of the Church. Begin your Lent this year with
time set aside for a personal day of retreat — a sacred time of prayer and time with the Lord. During the
distribution of ashes, we hear the words “repent” which means “turn around!” Take this day of retreat to “turn
around” and see the One who love you and calls you to more of the life that only He has to offer. The retreat
will include presentations, time for personal prayer and reflection, communion with distribution of ashes, and
simple lunch.
Register today. MorningStar Renewal Center
Wednesday, February 10th
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
(registration will open at 9:00 am)
Presenter: Deacon Vince McInerney
Presider: Fr. Mike Kish
Fee: $30.— Simple lunch included
Registration required to attend.
Please call or register online.
Ph: 305-238-4367
web: www.morningstarrenewal.org
Disciples In Motion
is looking for more members. If you have a love for
the Lord, and wonder about expressing that love
through movement and gesture, consider joining
Disciples in Motion. Dance experience strongly
suggested, but do not let that hold you back from
praising the Lord in movement. Must be at least 12
years of age, and available on Monday nights from
6:30-8:00 PM.
Collecting Candy
The Humanities Ministry will be providing 1,950
Interested in finding out more?
Contact:
[email protected]
Easter Baskets for a number of needy organizations,
nursing homes and migrant camps.
We need your help! We are asking for donations of
individually wrapped Easter Candy. There will be a
collection box just past the Chapel by the “pamphlet
rack” for your donations.
This year the baskets will be assembled and
distributed on Sunday, March
20 at the Family Center. You
and your family are welcome
to join us and be a part of this
project.
https://stlouisphotofeast.
smugmug.com/YEAR2015/LENTAND-EASTER-2015/Easter-Vigil442015-Nancy-Kay/i-fVdQPK6/A
If you have any questions,
please contact Ann McCormick
at 305/969-0956 or Julie
Kauffman at 305/251-9990.
One Church One Family
5
Covenant Weekend
Music Ministry Needs Musicians!
Bass player and drummer for the Saturday
5:30 PM and Sunday 9:30 AM Masses
Mark your calendars for the weekend
of Feb. 12, 13 and 14, 2016.
Bass player for Sunday 12:30 PM mass.
String and guitar players always welcome!!!!
Chart chord reading required for guitars
and bass players.
Contact Juan Salazar:
[email protected]
Phone: 305-496-6840
A Covenant Experience
For Valentine’s Day
Today is your last opportunity to sign up for the
Covenant Weekend to be held next weekend, Feb.
12, 13, 14, 2016. This is a chance to enrich your
marriage while enjoying the company of other
couples who love the lord and each other. For more
information call Irene Tomonto at 305-253-2036
Confirmation Adult Classes
For adults wishing to be confirmed in the Catholic faith, we will
be holding classes on March 9, 16, 23, 30 & April 6 from 7
PM - 8:30 PM. These classes are for adults who have been
baptized and received First Communion. Confirmation will be
Saturday, April 9th here at St. Louis. Please contact Laurie
Labelle at 954-270-3537 or [email protected] to sign up
or for more information.
Confirmación
De Adultos
Para los adultos que deseen celebrar el Sacramento de la
Confirmación, estaremos facilitando la formación sacramental
inmediata los días 25 de Febrero, 3 de Marzo, 10 de Marzo, 17
de Marzo, 31 de Marzo, 7 de Abril y 14 de Abril. Horario de
7 a 8.30 PM. Dicha formación incluye además la participación
en las celebraciones litúrgicas de la Semana Santa (24-26 de
marzo). Esta formación es para adultos bautizados y que han
celebrado el sacramento da la Eucaristía. La confirmación se
celebrará el día sábado, 9 de Abril aquí en St. Louis. Para
registrarse u obtener información favor comunicarse con Ana
Stanham 786 423 4701- [email protected].
One Church One Family
FESTIVAL 5K
March 5, 2016
Festival for the Poor
March 11, 12, 13, 2016
“Live Humbly, Serve Generously” Pope Francis
Date- Saturday March 5th- begins at 8 am
Cost- adult $30 and $35 day of race
youth/child $20 and $25 day of race. t-shirts for all runners/walker, medals in all age categories; both male
and female ( trophies for 1st, 2nd & 3rd overall winners; both male and female.
https://runsignup.com/Race/Fl/Miami/Festival5k
This is the kick-off event for Festival for the Poor 2016. All are encouraged to participate. What a great way
to have healthy fun while raising money to aid our brothers and sisters in need! 100% of the profits from the 5k as
well as the entire Festival are donated to various facilities in Miami Dade County that house, clothe, counsel and feed
those in need. For information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Betty Quinn, (305)281-3014.
Wow! Here we are, the first week of February and our annual Festival for the Poor is “just around the
corner”. This year’s Festival is spread over 2 weekends so everyone will have the opportunity to participate
in all of the events! This year’s theme comes from Pope Francis who recently said we are to “Live Humbly, Serve
Generously”. The Festival 5K Walk/Run will be held on Saturday March 5th (7 am registration and 8 am start).
The Festival Dinner Dance will be on Saturday March 5th, 7:30 pm in the Family Center. This catered event will
be a gourmet plated dinner with a cash wine and beer bar. A fantastic DJ will be providing dancing music for the
event. On March 11th, 12th and 13th we will have our main event with Rides, International Food Booths,
Games, Silent Auctions, Raffles, Live Entertainment, Dinners and MORE!!!As a stewardship parish we have
the opportunity to make this the greatest Festival ever! We need everyone’s participation and assistancetime, talent and treasure and preferably all of these! We will start distributing raffle tickets this weekend. Prizes will
be $2000, $1500, $1000, $750 and $500! Seller of the $2000 winning ticket will get $100; a great incentive to
sell, sell, sell those raffle tickets. In the next few weeks we will also start the sale of Festival t-shirts, tickets for the
Friday Dinner under the Big Top as well as tickets for Saturday night’s Dinner Dance. You will be able to pre-order
ride bracelets at a discount. You can register for the 5k or get the 5K Run/Walk online registrationinstructions
in the Rotunda. Our rides and games for this year are bigger and better than ever. We have new additions to our
International Food Booths as well. Definitely something for everyone!! Our Arts and Crafts Section promises to offer
a great variety of beautiful jewelry, plants and crafts. The Bake Sale will have tasty treats for all. There will again be
Breakfast Under the Big Top Sunday morning between 7- 11 a.m. The jail will be up and ready for “customers” to
be incarcerated until their bail is met! We will have our wonderful Silent Auction on Saturday and there will be an
Auction at the Saturday March 5th Dinner Dance as well. We will have guest MC’s, DJ’s, bands, singers, magicians,
dancers cheerleaders and lots of entertainment for all to enjoy throughout the entire Festival.
All rides will open Friday, March 11th at 4 pm and remain open until 10 pm. Individual ride tickets will be sold as
well as individual day ride bracelets or a weekend bracelet allowing for unlimited use of all rides Friday, Saturday
and Sunday. There will be NO increase in the price of ride bracelets and t-shirts from last year’s prices.
We are in need of sponsors: event, major, booth, facility and corporate. Sponsorships range from $150 to $5,000
Platinum Sponsorship. We are seeking sponsorships for 40 booths ($150 each) and rides ($250 each) as well as
Big Top Tent sponsorship ($2000). Recognition signage will be displayed throughout the event as well as on the
Sponsorship Board in the Church, the Event Stage and all publicity. Please call for details or stop by the Rotunda
Festival Table and pick up a sponsorship form for yourself and anyone you think might like to participate- your
“boss”, businesses you patronize and your friends. Consider a sponsorship from your family or in honor of someone
or a cause close to your heart. At the Ministry Head Meeting, Father Paul asked and challenged all Ministries to
STEP UP and sponsor a booth or ride and to take a few hour shift volunteering as a group. WE NEED YOUR HELP.
The most important thing to remember is that 100% of the profits from the Festival are given away to the needy,
sick, homeless and vulnerable in our community. ALL donations, big or small, are greatly appreciated. Together we
can make this the greatest Festival ever; Serving God while serving others. Betty or Ken Quinn; (305)281-3014,
(305)766-3268 [email protected] For Volunteer opportunities please call: Volunteer Chair: Ann Mc
Cormick- email her at [email protected].
Lector Auditions Coming!
Teen Life in the Spirit
Do you feel the call to Proclaim the Word of the
Lord?
Set your soul on fire!!!
Lector auditions will take place on Friday,
February 12, 2016, from 7:00 PM to 9:00
PM in the Church.
Who: All Highschoolers
When: February 26-28
Where: Assembly Hall St. Louis
Cost: $30
Contact: Natalie Bauta at 305-987-9800 or email
[email protected]
Finance Meeting
Habitat For Humanity
We will have a working session with the group leaders
on Feb 15, and the workshop will start on Feb 22.
St Louis is sponsoring the Faith House during Habitat
for Humanity’s Blitz Build. We will be working on the
house on Sat. Feb. 27; 8am-3pm
Parishioners who feel the call to Proclaim the Word
on Sunday’s English Mass, please contact Mildred
Ratcliffe at [email protected]
For registration information contact
Betty Quinn 305-281-3014
Stay Connected With Us!
www.facebook.com/STLCatholic
twitter.com/STLCatholic1
stlcatholic.org/homilies-from-the-pastor/
stlcatholic.org/live-feed/
Mass Intentions, Saints and Readings for the Week
Intenciones de la Misa, Santos y Lecturas para la Semana
Sunday/domingo Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Thursday/jueves
Our Lady of Lourdes
Feb. 7th
Is 6: 1-2, 3-8; 1 Cor 15: 1-11; Lk 5: 1-11
Feb. 11th Dt 30: 15-20; Lk 9: 22-25
7:00 am
Mass for Life/Respect Life Ministry
6:30 am
+ Giselle Thevenot/Loving Sister
8:15 am
Nora Olivera - Special Intention
8:30 am
Beena Vells - Happy Birthday
+ Benita Chacon/Loving Family
+ Iain S. Carson/Loving Family
9:30 am
+ Luis & Isaura Vallejo/Lourdes Alan & Ana Schnells 7:00 pm
+ Alicia Apaza/Loving Granddaughter
Barbara Glassgow - Happy ‘80’ Birthday
Friday/viernes
11:00 am
St. Louis Parish Family/Parish Priests
Feb. 12th Is 58: 1-9; Mt 9: 14-15
Fritz Goldman
6:30 am
+ Doris Green/Loving Daughter
12:30 pm
+ Francisca Rodriguez/Steinhilber Family
+ Giselle Thevenot/Loving Sister
+ Winston Proulx/Loving Family
8:30 am
Special Intention
5:30 pm
Joseph Family - In Thanksgiving
7:00 pm
+ Souls in Purgatory
Asis López & Family - In Thanksgiving
7:30 pm
STATION OF THE CROSS
7:15 pm
+ José Antonio Villareal/Ana Villareal
Saturday/sábado
+ Eddie Flores/Loving Family
Feb. 13th Is 58: 9-14; Lk 5: 27-32
Monday/lunes St. Jerome Emiliani; St. Josephine Bakhita, virgin 8:30 am
+ Fred Hafner/Frances Tomcavage
Feb. 8th
1 Kgs 8: 1-7, 9-13; Mk 6: 53-56
+ Giselle Thevenot/Loving Sister
6:30 am
Jeff Harris & Family - Special Intention
5:30 pm
+ Lorenzo Lacayo/Loving Family
8:30 am
Emily & Taylor Ralph - Special Intention
+ Isabel Avila/Elizabeth Prada
+ Carlos Estrada/Loving Family
Sunday/domingo
First Sunday of Lent
Tuesday/martes
Feb. 14th Dt 26: 8-13; Rom 10: 8-13; Lk 4: 1-13
Feb. 9th
1 Kgs 8: 22-23, 27-30; Mk 7: 1-13
7:00 am
+ Recently Deceased/Bereavement Ministry
6:30 am
40 Days for Life/Respect Life Ministry
+ Giselle Thevenot/Loving Sister
8:30 am
Erin & Aurora Connell - Special Intention
8:15 am
Steffen - Special Intention
+ Carmen Aguilera/Modroño Family
+ Isabel & Alberto Baca/Loving Family
Wednesday/miércoles Ash Wednesday
9:30 am
+ Mariano Rodriguez/Elizabeth Prada
Feb. 10th Jl 2: 12-18; 2 Cor 5: 20 6: 2;Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18 11:00 am
St. Louis Parish Family/Parish Priests
6:30 am
+ GiselleThevenot/Maria Moore Wesler
+ Steven Velez/Loving Mother
8:30 am
In Thanksgiving
12:30 pm
+ Francisca Rodriguez/Steinhilber
10:00 am
St. Louis Covenant School Family
Consuegra-Cano Family - In Thanksgiving
12:00 pm
St. Louis Parish Family/Parish Priests
5:30 pm
+ Isabel Avila/Modroño Family
5:00 pm
+ Souls in Purgatory
+ John Wright/Loving Family
6:00 pm
In Thanksgiving
7:15 pm
+ Gonzalo Giraldo/Marcela Giraldo
8:00 pm + Souls in Purgatory
+ Ana Bustamante/Marcela Giraldo
Next Week’s Schedule
MASS
5:30 pm
7:00 am
8:15 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
12:30 pm
5:30 pm
7:15 pm
ALTAR SERVERS
Simons
Muñiz
Arias/Leite
Green/Otruba
Vilomars
Hernandos
Modroño/Palacios
Ordoñez/Tinoco
LECTORS
VOCATION CHALICE*
Loffredo/Carlton
Stephen Porter (786-837-4117)
Sicking/Pino
Lourdes Manning (305-245-4423)
Jiménez/Baca
-Wiggins/Giroux
Bob & Pat Desbiens (305-251-8988)
Schaefer/López
Lauren Chue-Sang (305-233-9494)
Palcynski/Hart
Milagros Marrou (305-234-2729)
Youth
Miriam Columbro (786-430-0302)
Herreras
Oriele Joya-Lobaton (786-488-4298)
*These are the persons in charge of the scheduling of the Vocation Chalice for the respective Mass. Please call them.
Midnight Musings / Pensamientos de Media Noche
“The Name of God Is Mercy”
“El nombre de Dios es Misericordioso”
In July 2015 Andrea Tornielli, an
Italian journalist and coordinator of the
Vatican Insider News website, conducted
an extensive interview with Pope Francis.
He wanted to get the pope’s perspective
on the meaning of mercy in this Jubilee
Year of Mercy. Pope Francis explains—
through memories from his youth and
moving anecdotes from his experiences as a pastor—why
“mercy is the first attribute of God.” God “does not want
anyone to be lost. His mercy is infinitely greater than our
sins,” he explains. This interview became the recently
published book, “The Name of God Is Mercy.”
Pope Francis the sees mission of the Church reaching out
to suffering lives: “We need to enter the darkness, the night
in which so many of our brothers live. We need to be able
to make contact with them and let them feel our closeness,
without letting ourselves be wrapped up in that darkness
and influenced by it.”
The Pope knows he is often criticized by some in the
Church for placing too much emphasis on the boundless
nature of God’s mercy. The pope explains two types of logic
of thought and faith that the gospels demonstrate: “One the
one hand, there is the fear of losing the just and saved, the
sheep that are already safely inside the pen… On the other
hand there is the desire to save the sinners, the lost, those
on the other side of the fence. The first is the logic of the
scholars of the law.” (He often uses the phrase “scholars of
the law” to describe those who believe in a strict adherence
to church teaching and laws over the practice of mercy.)
He goes on about the opposite attitude: “The second is the
logic of God, who welcomes, embraces and transfigures evil
into good, transforming and redeeming my sin, transmuting
condemnation into salvation.”
The Pope compares criticisms of his focus on
boundless mercy to “angry mutterings” that Jesus also
heard “from those who are only ever used to having things
fit into their preconceived notion and ritual purity instead of
letting themselves be surprised by reality, by a greater love
or a higher standard.” Talking about the so-called “scholars
of the law,” the Pope pulls no punches: “I will say that there is
often a kind of hypocrisy in them, a formal adherence to the
law that hides very deep wounds. Jesus uses tough words;
he defines them as ‘whited sepulchers” who appear devout
from the outside but inside, on the inside… hypocrites.
These are men who live attached to the letter of the law but
who neglect love; men who only know how to close doors
and draw boundaries. Chapter 23 of the Gospel of Matthew
is very clear on this; we need to return there to understand
what the Church is and what it should never be… We must
go back to the Gospel.”
Yours in Christ,
En julio del 2015, Andrea Tornielli, un italiano
periodista y coordinador de Noticias del Vaticano en la Web,
condujo una extensiva entrevista con el Papa Francisco. El
quería saber la perspectiva del Papa en el significado de la
misericordia en el Año Jubilar de la Misericordia. El Papa
Francisco le explicó - a través de memorias de su juventud y
anécdotas conmovedoras de su experiencia como párroco
- por qué “misericordia es el primer atributo de Dios.” Dios
“no quiere que nadie esté perdido. Su misericordia es
infinitamente más grande que nuestros pecados,” explica.
La entrevista fue recientemente publicada en un libro, “El
Nombre de Dios es Misericordioso.”
El Papa Franciso dice, la misión sede de la Iglesia
es acercarse a los que sufren: “Necesitamos entrar en
la oscuridad, la noche en la que muchos de nuestros
hermanos vivien. Debemos ser capaces de hacer contacto
con ellos y dejar que sientan nuestro acercamiento, sin
envolvernos en esa oscuridad y dejarnos influenciar por
ella.”
El Papa sabe que a menudo es criticado por alguien
en la Iglesia por dar mucho énfasis a la ilimitada naturaleza
de la misericordia de Dios. El Papa explica dos tipos lógicos
de pensamiento y fe que demuestran los evangelios: “Por
un lado, está el miedo a perder lo justo y lo seguro, las
ovejas que ya están salvadas dentro del corral... Por otro
lado está el deseo de salvar a los pecadores, los perdidos,
aquellos que están al otro lado de la cerca. El primero
es la lógica de los letrados de la ley.” (El a menudo usa
esta frase “letrados de la ley” para describir a aquellos que
creen en la estricta adhesión a las enseñazas y leyes sobre
la práctica de la misericordia.) El continúa sobre la actitud
opositora: “La segunda es la lógica de Dios, que nos da
la bienvenida, nos abraza y transfigura el mal en el bien,
transformando y redimiendo mis pecados, transmutando
la condenación en salvación.”
El Papa compara las críticas de su enfoque en la
ilimitada misericordia a “enojados gruñones” que Jesús
también escuchó “de aquellos que están acostumbrados a
tener cosas que caben en su preconcebida noción y rituales
puros, en lugar de dejarse sorprender por la realidad, por
un amor más grande o por criterio mayor.” Hablando de
los llamados “letrados de la ley,” el Papa no duda en decir:
“Yo diría que a menudo hay cierta hipocresía en ellos, una
adhesión a la ley que oculta heridas profundas. Jesús
usaba palabras fuertes; él los definía como “sepulcros
blanqueados” que aparentan devoción por fuera pero por
dentro, en el interior... hipocresía. Estos son hombres
que viven apegados a las letras de ley pero que niegan el
amor; el hombre que sólo sabe cerrar puertas y marcar
limitaciones. El capítulo 23 del Evangelio de Mateo es muy
claro en esto; necesitamos volver allí para comprender
lo que es la Iglesia y lo que nunca debe ser... Debemos
retornar al Evangelio..”