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PRAYERS FOR THE DECEASED Robert Stanley Sr.

Russell J. Governale Sr. John Raymond McGann

Ann McKay Jacob Brodbeck

January 17th

January 18th

January 19th

January 20th

January 21st

January 22nd

January 23rd

TABERNACLE LIGHT Many thanks for this week’s donation of the

Tabernacle Light given in loving memory of: William H. Bedson (Birthday

Remembrance) by

Carolyn Cariello

BREAD AND WINE Many thanks for this week’s donation of

Bread & Wine given in loving memory of: Douglas Smith (Living Intention)

by Robin Carlson

MEMORIAL WORSHIP FUND Many thanks for donations to the Parish Memorial Worship

fund given in memory of: Sr. Noemi Kreppein, O.P. (First Anniversary)

MASS INTENTIONS Saturday January 16th 8:30 AM Natividad Barbin Guinto 5:00 PM Serafina P. Sauro Sunday January 17th 8:30 AM Jack Nawrath 10:00 AM Parish Mass 12:00 PM Trofima Sandaga 5:00 PM Maria Monteleone Monday January 18th 8:30 AM Jorge Makayan 12:00 PM Anna Tinnirello Tuesday January 19th 8:30 AM Isabella Minischetti (34th Anniversary) 12:00 PM John Cavanna Wednesday January 20th 8:30 AM Sr. Noemi Kreppein (1st Anniversary) 12:00 PM Carolyn Ryan Thursday January 21st 8:30 AM Mary P. Sileo 4:30 PM Anthony Massone Friday January 22nd 8:30 AM Ignatius Sevcik 12:00 PM Robert M. Sitler Jr. Saturday January 23rd 8:30 AM Norma Varsos 5:00 PM Louis A. Sauro Sunday January 24th 8:30 AM Resi Kump 10:00 AM Parish Mass 12:00 PM Zaida Alvarez 5:00 PM Giuseppe Agnotti

PRAY FOR THE SICK Cecilia Koluch, Vincent Lucanie, Michael & Sasha Epter, Kimberly Salotti, Roberta Papagni, Alice Coleman, Henry Foertsch, Jannah Luppino, Elaine Tavolacci, Marie Harte, Margaret Bender, Angelo Guiliani, Patricia Hili, Arthur Savarese, Concetta Alesi, Lilla Falconieri, Martin Agbayani, Stephanie Nicole Perez, Remedios L. Montesa, Corrine Wyllins, Msgr. John F. Mahoney, James Pfohl, Jadwiga Daniec, Amy Kanengiser, Corrine McCann, Marie Peiliker, Anne Gugerich, Margaret Finnerty, Thomas McHugh, Susan VanRemmen, Dennise Murray, Robert Tardona, Marilyn Jagiello, Anne Wiener, Joseph Sheehan, Carl Foster Sr., Joseph Criscuola, Yevgenia Volfman, Tom May, Mary Tardona, Barbara Whittaker, Baby Jackson Timothy Walsh, Daniel Cahill, Baby Gabriella Marie Bekker, Richard Stuchinski, Bernadette Boyle, Marie-Therese Ntumba, Margie D’Auria, Kenneth Medearis, and for all of our parishioners who are currently hospitalized or homebound.

PRAY FOR THE ARMED SERVICES

Capt. Peter Sulewski, U.S. Army; Major Patrick Davis, U.S. Army (JAG); Chief Ajay James, U.S. Navy NSW; Sgt. Beau Parham, U.S. Army; Capt. Paul Lentz, USAF; Sgt. Larry Saume, U.S. Army; Capt. Travis Swiatocha, USMC, and all

parishioners currently in the Military Pray for all of our police, fire, and corrections officers, who risk their lives daily to insure our safety.

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Dear Parishioners An anonymous parishioner provides the parish with "The Little Book" for Advent and Christmas seasons and again at Lent and Easter. Her purpose is to make available a short series of reflections for those seasons. Last weekend the Advent/Christmas Book concluded with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. As part of the reflection for that day, the editor, Catherine Haven, included a prayerful reflection entitled "Prophets of A Future Not Our Own". This reflection, as many of the others in the series, was originally composed by the late auxiliary Bishop of Saginaw, Kenneth Untener (1937-2004). I include this prayer in today's column because it speaks very clearly about our role in the ongoing mystery of redemption. It is particularly relevant to parish organizations, societies and movements. We have used it to begin recent staff and Parish Council Meetings.

"Prophets of a Future Not our Own"

It helps now and then to step back and take a long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts.

it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.

Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the Church's mission. No set of goals and objectives include everything.

This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing

that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense

of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and do it very well.

It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way,

an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference

between the Master Builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders, ministers not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.

My thanks to the late Bishop Untener and the good folks who publish Little Books. They may be contacted at Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw, Inc., P.O. Box 6009, Saginaw, Michigan, 48608-6009 or at (989) 797-6653, There website is: www.littlebooks.org ************************************************************************************************

A Gentle Reminder

Father Ralph Munday-Kukuna will leave us, on January 31st, in order to assume his new ministry as Director of Catholic Charities Services for the Handicapped. Father will work out of the Catholic Charities Building at 191 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn 11201. He will reside at the rectory of St. James Cathedral/Basilica at 250 Cathedral Place, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 To honor Father for his four and half years of service to the people of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, we will have a parish reception after the 12:00 P.M. Mass on January 24th. Father Ralph will celebrate that Mass and we invite all parishioners to join him in prayer for his new ministry and then to join him after Mass in order to personally wish him well.

In Christ, Monsignor John A. McGuirl

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MEMORIAL TREE PICK-UP Those of you who memorialized a tree for Christmas, may pick up you tree anytime after Monday, January 18, 2016. We ask that you call the Rectory before you come, so that we can have it ready for you. Thank you.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT NOTICE The Bereavement Support Group will meet on Wednesday, January 20th in the Rectory Meeting Room at 7:30 P.M. Please call ahead to make certain there will be a meeting. If there is inclement weather (snow, ice, frigid temperatures) the group will more than likely not meet. The number to call is 718-268-6143.

REFRESHING OUR PRAYER LISTS Since our list of the sick and Armed Forces that we pray for have not been updated for quite some time, we are asking for your assistance. Beginning with the bulletin of February 7th, both lists will be revised. Please notify us at the rectory, 718-268-6143, of any names that you would like included. It is important for us, as a community to join in prayer for those who are ill as well as those who serve our country. Thank you for your assistance.

SAVE THE DATE FOR

A SPECIAL LENTEN PRESENTATION OLM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL SPONSOR A SPECIAL LENTEN PERFORMANCE BY CREATIVE MINISTRIES ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2016. The production will begin at 8:00p.m. Church doors will open at 7:30p.m. ALL are invited to attend! “The Journey, Cross and Crucifixion” is a live, dramatic presentation of the Stations of the Cross. There will be no charge to attend. The theater group, however, will take up a free will offering at the end of the performance if you would like to make an optional donation.

OUR LADY OF MERCY

DOO WOP NIGHT

The Tribunes Doo Wop Group April 23, 2016

6:30 pm -9:30 pm Dinner, Dance, Fun, Doo Wop Music

MEMORIALIZE A LOVED ONE

Consider the possibility of a donation of the Bread & Wine, Flowers for the Altar, Tabernacle Light, or the Memorial Worship Fund in memory of a special person. Names of all those memorialized will be published in the bulletin. Call or stop by the Rectory for more info. Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope,

Helping the Needy The Our Lady of Mercy Food Pantry is a part of our Ministry that seeks to create a hunger free community by sharing our abundant blessings with God’s people that are in need. Your donations help us keep the shelves stocked so we can provide nutritious food for our needy neighbors in and around our community. We are asking for your help in dropping off food, monetary donations or gift cards. Please make all checks payable to Our Lady of Mercy Church ( in the memo section please state Food Pantry or Human Services and forward all cash or checks to the rectory, 70 01 Kessel Street.) Food Pantry Hours 10:00 am – 11:00 am every Saturday of the month May God bless you always to all the people that support and volunteer at our food pantry

Deacon Dean Dobbins But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. (Luke 14:13-14)

DIVINE MERCY SCHEDULE

January 20, 2016 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 7:00pm Divine Mercy Chaplet & Benediction 8:00pm January 27,2016 Divine Mercy Cenacle 7:00pm

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Consider joining the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants at the All Women’s Pavilion, 120-34 Queens Blvd., on Saturdays between 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM in a peaceful, prayerful witness to life. Lives are saved and the way to conversion is opened. Join us for any amount of time.

Caregiver Support Services is a program of the Queens Community House and open to everyone. Services include: information & referrals to community based services, individual counseling, support groups, & assistance in sorting through the options. Call for a confidential conversation at 718-268-5960 ext.226.

Full time Human Resource Director position open for a small Long Term Care Facility (100 employees) in Queens Village. Must have experience. Payroll experience a plus. Excellent benefits. Please fax resume to 718-464-4308 or e-mail to qphumanresources@littlesistersofthepoor.org

PIYO LIVE HAS COMING TO FOREST HILLS

Unleash your power with Pilates + yoga + nonstop movement! You’ll sweat, stretch, and strengthen—all in one workout. Define exactly how you want to look—and feel. No weights. No bulk. Just hardcore results! All are welcome! The class will be appropriate for beginners as well as experienced fitness enthusiasts. Please bring your yoga mat and a bottle of water. Each class will last 60 minutes. Where: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy (OLMCA) Gym on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE WITH BISHOP DIMARZIO

The Holy Doors of

Rome, Assisi and the Holy Land In The

Jubilee Year of Mercy —————

Italy Portion September 23-29, 2016

————— For a Brochure call

Susan 1-800-842-4842

FEEL GREAT & LOOK GREAT

Feel and look great at our new exercise class every Wednesday, from 9:00 to 9:45 AM, in the Parish Hall. The class will focus on gentle movements for your muscles and joints. Please come and enjoy the Fitness Fun.

WE HAVE A NEW FACEBOOK PAGE!!!!!

Yes, we have a new Facebook Page! Our Parish Pastoral Council and other interested friends have long suggested this improvement in our parish outreach. Deacon Dean devised our new Facebook page. It can be accessed through: https://www.facebook.com/OLMFHS.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL GIVES BACK

Our Lady of Mercy will share in the profits. For each donated car, truck or van, running or not, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will give back to our parish $50/$100 per vehicle. Maybe you don’t have a vehicle, but a family member, friend or neighbor has an old or neglected vehicle in their driveway that they would like to dispose of. Our Lady of Mercy Parish received several hundred dollars last year because of the kind-ness of those who contributed their old car to the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Thank you for your participation, and please continue to spread the word. Call St. Vincent de Paul at (718)491-2525.

POOR BOX

We continue to receive requests for assistance so we ask you to please remember the poor and make a donation to the Poor Boxes at the entries of the Church. Your continued generosity is greatly appreciated

WEEKLY OFFERING ENVELOPES

Please remember to mark the amount of your offering on the front of the envelope. Since the envelopes are used to rec-ord your offering after the donation is removed, it is neces-sary that the amount be written on the front Thank you.