FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT – March 15, 2026 – Laetare Sunday

Please, check out the Hungarian section (link at the bottom) as well, as some Hungarian related news or information may be found only there.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTIONS:

9:00 AM Parishioners of St. Emeric Parish

11:00 AM Klára Thurner, by the Coffee Klatch

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407), known as the “Golden-Mouthed” for his eloquent preaching, served as Patriarch of Constantinople from 398 until his exile in 403. In one of his homilies, he wrote about the soul’s need for spiritual clarity, comparing it to a window that must be kept clean so that light—symbolizing God’s presence—can enter. He emphasized that when the soul is defiled by sin, it becomes darkened, blocking the divine light.

Through this metaphor we are reminded that just as the sunlight hits the panes of a window, God is always there giving His grace to the soul. Same way as we do not worry about the sun not rising in the morning or the need to make it shine, we do not have to worry about God not being present or the need to somehow get His attention and to force Him to love us. We need not worry about God at all. Our task is rather modest; to worry about our souls and the need to keep them clean. We just have to make sure that nothing hinders the light of God entering into our hearts.

Perhaps you have seen the stained-glass windows come alive with all their colors when the sunrays hit them. Without the light, it is very hard to see the image and the colors, but with the sun’s brightness hitting the panes, even the smallest of details become visible and the true beauty of that window becomes apparent. For this to happen, all that is needed is that nothing stands in the way of the sun.

The season of Lent calls us to repentance, in other words to remove the obstacle of sin so that the grace of the Son of God and His presence can come into our hearts. Only when we let Him in, we can say that we are truly alive. Precisely, this is what makes us holy: Jesus’ presence shines in and through us. This is also the true joy of life: being filled with Christ. So let us continually renew our soul through repentance (confession) and strengthen it with the practice of the virtues so it remains open to God’s grace and thus shine like a stained-glass window in the bright sun.

CONFESSIONS: In preparation for Easter, before the Sunday Mass, even during the Stations of the Cross, I will be hearing confessions 10:20–10:50AM in the Infant Jesus of Prague classroom (to the left of the sanctuary, that is, the side of the Market parking lot).

THE MUSIC FOR NEXT SUNDAY’S MASS is provided by our Youth choir.

ST. EMERIC ALTAR GUILD will hold its annual meeting next week on Sunday March 22, after the 11AM Mass. All the ladies of the parish are invited to consider membership in this organization.

STREAMING ISSUES: As many of you are aware, we have been having difficulties livestreaming our Hungarian Mass. We have been trying to find the reason for the interruptions. We have changed the Internet provider, the streaming software and platforms and even the device used. So far, we have not been able to find and eliminate the source of the problem. It is as frustrating for us as it is for you. The next step is rewiring the Internet connection. Thank you for your patience.

A Review of Lenten Regulations for Latin Catholics: 1. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence from meat and also days of fast, that is, only one full meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. 2. All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence from meat. 3. The obligation to abstain from meat commences at 14 years old. 4. The obligation to fast commences at 18 years of age and ends at 59 years of age.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION: Sunday Collection: $1,762; Maintenance: $675; Boiler cost offset: $50. May God reward your generosity in supporting the church. Thank you for sending in your donations by mail or using our website https://stemeric.com/donations/.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially for Bev Kimar, Teréz Kalász, Lajos Boday, Márta Takács, Kathy Szabó, Alex Szaday, Virginia Kachmar, Margaret Falk, Mária Hokky, and Balázs Bedy.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

THIS SUNDAY the 11:00 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/

LET US PRAY THREE HAIL MARYS FOR OUR PARISH EVERY DAY!

Ez a bejegyzés olvasható Magyar (Hungarian) nyelven is.