PRECIOUS BLOOD CATHOLIC CHURCH

Our Mission

We are a Catholic Community of Faith, called to be Jesus to all people, striving to live the Gospel message through the Eucharist and the sharing of our time, talent and treasure

Roll away the stone:  Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face  was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”  John 11: 43-44. Today’s Gospel, the raising of Lazarus is one of the greatest  sign of Jesus, the Deliverer, a symbolic narrative of his Final Victory over death at the cost of his human life and a sign anticipating his Resurrection.  Describing this great miracle, the Church assures us that we, too, will be raised into eternal life after our battle with sin and death in this world. Thus,  resurrection hope is the central theme of the Scripture readings for the Fifth  Sunday of Lent. The readings assure us that our Faith in Jesus, who is “the  Resurrection and the Life,” promises our participation in his resurrection and  new life. Once a pastor was visiting a terminally sick parishioner in the  hospital. As he started consoling the patient the sick man said: “Don’t worry about where I am heading to, Father. I have friends in both places.”We  sometimes bind ourselves with chains of addiction to alcohol, drugs, sexual  deviations, slander, gossip, envy, prejudices, hatred, and uncontrollable anger,  and bury ourselves in the tombs of despair. Sometimes we are in the tomb of  selfishness, filled with negative feelings such as worry, fear, resentment,  hatred, and guilt. If we want Jesus to visit our dark dungeons of sin, despair  and unhappiness, let us ask Jesus to bring the light and the power of the Holy  Spirit into our private lives and liberate us from our tombs. When we receive  the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus will call our name and command, “Come out, Mary”, “Come out, Joe”! This is Good news for all of us: “Lazarus, come  out!” This can be the beginning of a new life.

All are equal:  Alexander the Great once found his philosopher friend  Diogenes standing in a field, looking intently at a large pile of bones. Asked  what he was doing, the old man turned to Alexander and replied, “I am searching for the bones of your father Philip, but I cannot distinguish them  from the bones of the slaves.” Alexander got the point: everyone is equal in  death. From the greatest to the least, from the most beautiful to the most  ordinary, death is the universal equalizer. As we go through this sad time in  each our our life let us pay our attention to those in need of our care and  concern. I know we won’t be able to visit people in person. I encourage you to  take the precious blood directory and call 2 people in our parish this week and  ask how they are doing and assure them of your prayers. It may be people  that you don’t know but introduce yourselves as member of Precious Blood  parish.

Live Streaming of Mass:  Until we can have our regular Mass in the Church  we will be live streaming our weekend Mass on every Sunday at 9 am in our  Precious Blood Face book page. Also we will be live streaming rosary with  Eucharistic adoration on every Wednesday at 6 pm. Let us stay connected  through our prayers. If there is a death or anything important in the parish I  will be sending a one call to every parishioner. Thanks to all of you for your  continuous generosity to our parish. Thanks to all of you for your donation via  mail or bringing to the office. Our printed Sunday bulletin is placed in the  vestibule of the Church which you can take from 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays as the front doors to the church will be opened.

Greatest wish:  Three friends were discussing death and one of them asked:  “What would you like people to say about you at your wake service while your  dead body in the coffin is visible to everyone?” The first of the friends said: “I  would like them to say, he was a great humanitarian who cared about his  community.” The second said: “He was a great husband and father who was an example for many to follow.” The third friend said, “I would like them to say,  "Look, he’s moving in the coffin!!"

Corona Virus:  It has been a very challenging time for me with this corona  virus.  To celebrate the Mass without people is heart breaking.  Also not able to visit our people who are sick in the hospital or at home is sad.  I remember the quote of my first Bishop in India who said a Priest without his people is zero and a Priest with his people is a hero.   Please know that I am available for anyone who like to go to confession.  Let us continue to pray for one another. 

God’s many blessings
Fr. Suneesh Mathew

"Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.  Living for others is a rule of nature.  We are all born to help each other.  No matter how difficult it is ...Life is good when others are happy because of you."

Let us all remember then that every changing colour of a leaf is beautiful and every changing situation of life is meaningful, both need very clear vision. 

So do not grumble or complain, let us instead remember that Pain is a sign that we are alive.  Problems are a sign that we are strong and Prayer is a sign we are not alone!!

If we can acknowledge these truths and condition our hearts and minds, our lives will be more meaningful, different and worthwhile!

Wishing you a blessed day in these times of crisis