CONTINUALLYPRAISING GOD

In both thefirst reading and theGospel we are toldabout Christ’sglorious ascensioninto heaven. Paul’sletter to theEphesians remindsus that Christ hasbeen seated atGod’s right hand inheaven, above everychoir of angels.There might be atemptation to stay atan awed distance

from Jesus Christ. However, the tone of today’s readings isfar from that temptation. The tone is exultant and the messageis urgent. We are to be his witnesses, and the Gospeldescribes the first witnesses this way: “[W]ith great joy . . .they were continually in the temple praising God” (Luke24:53).

How can we continually praise God? The answer canbe found in the second reading, in which Paul prays that Godwill give us a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” in order toknow Christ clearly (Ephesians 1:17). We cannot stand at adistance. We are to be enlightened and empowered.Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Acts 19:1-8; Ps 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab; Jn 16:29-33

Tuesday: Acts 20:17-27; Ps 68:10-11, 20-21; Jn 17:1-11a

Wednesday: Acts 20:28-38; Ps 68:29-30, 33-36ab; Jn 17:11b-19

Thursday: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Ps 16:1-2a, 5, 7-11; Jn 17:20-26

Friday: Acts 25:13b-21; Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab; Jn 21:15-19

Saturday: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Ps 113:1-8; Jn 15:9-17Sunday: Vigil: Gn 11:1-9 or Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b or

Ez 37:1-14 or Jl 3:1-5; Ps 104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-30; Rom 8:22-27; Jn 7:37-39Day: Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Rom 8:8-17; Jn 20:19-23 or Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES

Sunday: The Ascension of the Lord; Mother’s DayTuesday: St. Damien de VeusterThursday: Ss. Nereus and Achilleus; St. PancrasFriday: Our Lady of FatimaSaturday: St. Matthias

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION

Raffle Fundraiser for Daniel Cazedessus:

Tickets will be available following Masses for a chance towin your choice of a Two-Day Father/Son Hunting Trip, aRTIC 65-quart Cooler or a $200 gift certificate at Head toToe in Clinton. $5.00 per Chance.

Funds will be used to help pay medical and livingexpenses as Daniel continues his long recovery from adouble lung transplant.

SANCTUARY LIGHT

MAY 7TH - MAY13TH

The Sanctuary Light at St. John will burn in memory of Betty & Fred Litchliter.The Adoration Chapel Light will burnin memory of Joey Vince.The Sanctuary Light at Our Lady will burn in memory of Katie Worley.

IN SYMPATHY

Our Communities of Faith extend our sympathy andprayerful support for the families of:Jay Duhon, parishioner of OLA and husband of Lou; andBuddy Michael, brother of Cam Lusco.May the Lord grant comfort and peace to these families andmay they and all who sleep in Christ, find in His presencelight, happiness, and peace.

Pictorials have Arrived !!!

If you took a picture for the directory, your free copy is available in both Churches.Please look for the book with your name onthe front of it!

FATHER CHUCK’S 50TH Anniversary

Father Chuck’s family is planning aSURPRISE card shower for his 50th jubileecelebration of priesthood which is May 21st. The family is contacting all the parisheswhere he has ministered as a priest and askedthat those who wish to submit a card to: 2504 So. 47 St., Omaha, NC 68106-3329We will have a celebration here later inOctober when Fr. Chuck returns for anextended time.

Pray for our Military and their families

Marvin Ashford, Jr., Army James A. Benning, USMCMatthew Boyd, Army Cody Castello, USMCEugene Cazedessus, USMC LeLand Crochet, III, USMCMatthew Charlet Dart, USN Chandler Derouen, ArmyPatrick Deslatte, USN Jacqueline Deslatte, USNStephen DiLorenzo, Army Adam Foster, USNThomas Foster, USN Brad Gautreaux, USMCJ. Michael Head, USMC Joseph N. Jones, Jr., ArmySabrina Jones, LaNG Markus Kippers, USNDustin Knight, USN Joseph L. LeBlanc Jr., ArmyStanley Mays, USAF Andrew Metcalf, ArmyBen Gordon Morseth, USCG Gordon Newman, ArmyRobert Brett Parker, LaNG Brian Plauche, USAFAndrea Byrd Prosser, USCG Mike Prosser, USCGJesse B. Richard, Army Nicholas Richards, USNMichael Roberts, USCG James Rouchon, USMCJarrod Mason Sealey, USAF David Welch, LaNGGordon M. White, USAF Tyler Wigger, USNChristopher Williston USAF

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

The loveliest materpiece of the heart of God is the loveof a Mother. -St. Therese of Lisieux

Special Collections in May

May 8: Second Collection for Capital Campaign

Special envelope for Catholic Communication

WEEKLY COLLECTION 05/02/2016

St. John the BaptistIdentified Contributions (169Families) $ 7,867.50Unidentified Contributions $ 766.36Building Maintenance (20) $ 1,147.00Youth Ministry (9) $ 315.00Catholic Commentator (20) $ 294.00Legacy of Faith / Capital Camp (60) $ 8,750.00Legacy of Faith / OLA Parishioner (1) $ 100.00ONLINE GIVINGRegular Contributions (30) $ 1,345.00Building Maintenance Fund (5) $ 155.00Legacy of Faith Capital Camp. (31) $ 2,737.00CAMPAIGN TOTAL $ 5,872,384.52

Our Lady of AssumptionIdentified Contributions (34 Families) $ 2,166.20Unidentified Contributions $ 359.00Building Maintenance (2) $ 60.00Catholic Commentator (3) $ 38.00ONLINE GIVINGRegular Contributions (4) $ 350.00Building Maintenance (1) $ 10.00Catholic Commentator (1) $ 25.00

✞ ~ ✞ NEXT WEEK AT A GLANCE ✞ ~ ✞

Sunday, May 8th The Ascension of the LordMother’s Day-7 am: Mass / Coffee & Pastries-10 am: Chaplet of Divine Mercy / Rosary-11 am: Mass / Children’s Liturgy / May Crowning-OLA -9 am: Mass Monday, May 9th -6:30 pm: Charismatic Prayer Group-6:30 pm: Scouts-7 pm: N.A. MeetingTuesday, May 10th -4 pm: Homeless Shelter-5 pm: Children’s Choir-5:30 pm: Youth Choir-6 pm: Adult Choir- OLA-6:15 pm: Confession-6:30 pm: Mass-7 pm: Altar SocietyWednesday, May 11th - 7 am: MassThursday, May 12th -7:30 am: Mass-6:30 pm: Men’s ClubFriday, May 13th -7:30 am: Mass / Divine Mercy / Coffee & Biscuits-8 am: St. Vincent dePaul SocietySaturday, May 14th -4 pm: Confession-5 pm: MassSunday, May 15th Pentecost Sunday-7 am: Mass / Coffee & Pastries-10 am: Divine Mercy/Rosary-11 am: Mass -OLA-9 am: Mass

Jubilee Year of Mercy May 1, 2016

As the liturgical year—and this Jubilee Year ofMercy—unfold, we reflect on what Jesus’ ascension meant for thefirst disciples and means now for us. Stay in Jerusalem, Jesus hadinstructed, awaiting “the promise of the Father. In a few days youwill be baptized with the Holy Spirit. You will be my witnesses inJerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of theearth” (Acts 1:4–5, 8). Despite Jesus’ absence, they wait “withgreat joy . . . continually in the temple praising God” (Luke24:52–53). But as we join them, waiting and worshiping, theenduring challenge—theirs and ours—is delivered by “two men inwhite” (Acts 1:10). In every age, disciples must stop looking at thesky, head down the mountain, and go back into the world,“commissioned,” says Pope Francis, “to announce the mercy ofGod, the beating heart of the Gospel,” inviting everyone to find “inour parishes, communities, associations and movements . . .wherever there are Christians . . . an oasis of mercy”(Misericordiae Vultus, 12). —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Congratulations and Welcome

to our newest memberBaptized in the LordSunday, May 1, 2016

Georgia James Kitchendaughter of James and Lauri Kitchen

Blood Drive

St. John the Baptist will host a BloodDrive to benefit Daniel Cazedessus on Saturday, June 4th in the OchsnerBloodmobile in the parking lot of the SJB church at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. All donors will receive a blood bank T-shirt. All blood types needed and individuals takingmedication for high blood pressure or cholesterol candonate. Please bring a picture ID and eat a healthy mealbefore donating. Give the Gift of Life!

SJB CHILD DAYCARE

Our new Child Day Care Center still has some spotsavailable. Please let your family and friends know aboutour NEW center that will lovingly care for the childrenin a Christian atmosphere.More information and forms available on our website orcall 301.0410.

After the Ascension

Before His death, Jesus began to collect a groupof followers. Some got to know Him more deeply andbecame disciples. The rest of the followers were merelycurious or attracted by stories of miracles He hadperformed. They did not have the faith and courage tobring others to Jesus; some only stayed with Him a shorttime. But after His ascension the disciples began toexperience Jesus in each other. They could not helpbut be excited about that and spread that excitement toothers. From the time of Jesus’ ascension to our owntime, people have boldly proclaimed the gospel. SoJesus’ ascension actually makes Him present to morepeople, not fewer. May we all experience that presencein the Spirit, seeing Jesus in ourselves and others.

Tom Schmidt, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

24 HOUR ADORATION -every third Monday

The Religious Education team has decided to institute a 24 hour Adoration once a month, on the third Monday ofevery month. We will begin on Monday, May 23rd at 8:00 am andend on Tuesday, May 24th at 8:00 am. There was a trial run in April with great success. Slots will be available every hour and you can notify theReligious Ed office which hour is best for you.Please call 654.5885 or email spayne@sjb-ola.org orsblackwell@sjb-ola.org. Once you have signed up, theywill send you an email reminder and also give you anumber to call in the event you cannot make your time.We do not haveMass on Mondayor Tuesday at St. John, so we canuse thisopportunity tohonor and adoreChrist.

Fathers of Mercy Mission

St. Isidore in Baker invites everyone to their upcomingFathers of Mercy Mission with Fr. Tom Sullivan.Sunday, May15th -Thursday, May 19th at 7:00 pmConfessions on Sunday - Thursday at 6:00-6:45 pmMass and a Movie on Monday-Thursday at 8:00 am

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat

For healing after an abortion, a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreatwill be held May 13-15 in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The retreat is open to all those who have been touched byabortion. The weekend combines living scripturemeditations, spiritual exercises, and discussions in aguided process that leads to the heart of God’s love andcompassion. If you would like to learn more about thisretreat you can contact Tara atrachelsvineyardbrcoor@yahoo.com or visit:www.rachelsvineyard.org.Inquires, registration and participation are completelyconfidential.

Sponsored by Marriage & Family Life Dept of DBR.

St. Matthias

Feast Day: May 14th

St. Matthias was one of the seventy-two whom Christ sent out, two by two, during his ministry to preach and to

heal the sick (from St. Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius and St. Jerome say that according to tradition). From the

Acts of the Apostles we know that St. Matthias was with Christ from the time of His Baptism until the time of His

Ascension. When St. Peter announced that they must choose a successor for Judas (Acts I; 15-21), two were

selected, Matthias and Barnabas. After the Apostles prayed, they cast lots and Matthias was chosen. After this

time he was always numbered among the twelve. He received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost with the other eleven.

St. Matthias preached the Gospel in Judea. Then he is believed to have established the Faith in Cappodocia and on

the coast of the Caspian Sea. (Cappodocia is in Asia Minor. Greece and Turkey are now the countries or territory

today in which he preached.) He was martyred at Colchis. His body for a long time was in Jerusalem. It is

believed to have been brought to Rome by St. Helena.

St. Matthias is invoked against the temptations of the flesh. He is also an example of a newcomer to an exclusive

group.

Have you ever felt excluded from a group? Rejection is painful.

We are NOT called to reject people, but rather to welcome them, even outsiders. This is following the example of

Christ who invited tax collectors and prostitutes to sit with him. In Roman society, there were no people more

hated and despised than these. However, by inviting these people and welcoming them with mercy, Christ won

the conversion of their hearts to God.

St. Matthias was already a loyal follower of Christ, yet he was an outsider to the 11 remaining apostles. However,

he was welcomed and immediately given the mantle of apostleship.

ACT:

We are called to follow these examples. We must welcome all those around us, especially those who are least

likely to find welcome. This is how we really show ourselves worthy of the sacrifice of Christ, by following in his

footsteps.

Source: www.catholic.org