Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church Welcomes You
Serving West Pasco for 100 Years
Parish Mission Statement
Formed by the Word of God, and nourished by the Sacraments, we the servant community of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, blessed by our diversities, are bound in the Spirit by love, to reach out, respect, and embrace all people.
Workshop on Human Trafficking at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church
Msgr. Foynes Hall
Come, listen and learn about modern day slavery
Thursday Feb. 7 th , at 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm OR
Friday Feb. 8 th , at 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Come and hear presentations prepared by the Diocese of St. Petersburg and the
Pasco County Sheriff’s Department.
Human Trafficking is modern day slavery. Vulnerable persons are exploited for
commercial sex, forced labor or involuntary labor. Human Trafficking occurs in
every state in the United States.
It exists in our schools, hotels, restaurants and on farms.
After the workshop, there will be time for questions and comments.
Free resources will be provided.
To help us in planning, an RSVP is appreciated, but not required.
You may RSVP
to Linda Aston at linnyaston@gmail.com
For more information on the content of the workshop, contact Mary Palamar at
mpalamar@tampabay.rr.com
“You will open the eyes of the blind. You will set free the captives from prison
releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.” Isaiah 42:7
Pledge Envelopes mailed to Parishioners
Pledge Envelopes available in church on Commitment Sunday, February 16,17
Thank you!
Message from our Pastor
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
As I sat down reflecting on these words of John, I just looked out through my windows to get some
inspiration. Today I couldn’t spot my blue sky there above the pinnacle of the church. It was all cloudy. I could only see some patches of dark clouds floating around on wings of winds. Maybe that was what God wanted me to share with you today.
Darkness scares us all. I recall how my parents were taking care of their first grandchild, the little baby girl when she was born to my brother. My parents instructed us all, “there should always be light in her room when she sleeps; otherwise she would be scared when she wakes up and doesn’t see us near.” They would never let us carry her outdoors for a walk at twilight, telling the child would get frightened seeing the shadows. Whether you are child or not, light is an important aspect of our life. We all love our ‘Sunshine State’; don’t we?
Light is an essential prerequisite, it is the medium that helps us to see. Light connects us to other people and to Nature. Visible light affects our whole being. A sunny day brings more warmth into our life. Think, how do architects design our houses? Light plays a central role in designing. I believe, light tells us what to look at; helps us what to organize.
Darkness hides lot of things. Darkness covers your tracks. It covers your face. So you feel you wouldn’t be identified. People who commit crimes prefer darkness. Honest people love light. I believe, yours and my parents brought us up in light and not in darkness, in the same way God brought up our first parents Adam and Eve. Once they disobeyed God, they preferred darkness to light. Adam and Eve taught us to hide behind the bushes. Jesus has come as light to rescue us from this hiding spot. It is the time to get up and move out to light.
Only God can design a perfect space for our dwelling. God is the right architect of our life. A well designed life transmits joy. The darkness that encircles us might vary; it could be anything, depression or hatred; it could be a value less culture. Whatever it is, let God redesign our life into a lovely one. God is going to say it again, a new creation, a new home where ‘The Light’ plays a central role: “Let there be light.” Let there be light in us. If there is no light, there is no life, no growth.
The pathway from the pit of darkness to the world of light is never a long one; one bold step, that is all it takes. The true distance is in you, the time you take to travel from indecisiveness to resolution. Whether you are married or religious or whoever you are, glow from there as light to the world. That is your vocation; God has called you to be there, as he called Peter, Andrew and others. God wants you and me to be a light to someone who sits in the dark; it’s our turn.
God’s blessings,
Father Sebastian
Queridas hermanas y hermanos en Jesucristo,
“La gente sentada en la oscuridad han visto una gran luz, aquellos que viven, en una tierra ensombrecida por la muerte, la luz ha surgido.”
Según estaba sentado reflexionando sobre estas palabras del Profeta, yo solo miraba a través de mis ventanas para obtener alguna inspiración. Hoy no podía ver mi cielo azul, allí sobre el pináculo de la Iglesia. Estaba muy nublado. Solo podía ver algunas manchas de nubes oscuras flotando en las alas de los vientos. Tal vez eso era lo que Dios quería que compartiera con ustedes hoy.
La oscuridad nos da miedo a todos nosotros. Me recuerdo cuando mis padres cuidaban a su primera nieta, una niña pequeña, cuando nació de mi hermano. Mis padres nos instruyeron a todos, “debe haber siempre luz en su cuarto cuando duerme; de lo contrario le dará miedo cuando ella se despierte y no nos ve a nosotros cerca. “ Nunca nos dejaban llevarla al aire libre para un paseo en el crepúsculo, diciéndonos que la niña tendría miedo viendo las sombras. Si eres niño o no, la luz es un aspecto importante de nuestra vida. Todos amamos nuestro ‘Estado de Sol’; ¿no es así?
La luz es un requisito esencial, es el medio que nos ayuda a ver. La luz nos conecta a otras personas y a la naturaleza. La luz visible afecta nuestro ser completo. Un día soleado nos trae más calidez a nuestra vida. Piensen, ¿cómo los arquitectos diseñan nuestras casas? La luz juega un papel central en el diseño. Yo creo que la luz nos indica a que mirar; nos ayuda a lo que debemos organizar.
La oscuridad esconde muchas cosas. La oscuridad cubre sus pistas. Cubre su rostro. Así se siente que no será identificado. Personas que cometen algún crimen prefieren la oscuridad. La gente honesta ama a la luz. Yo creo, que sus padres y los míos nos criaron en la luz y no en la oscuridad, en la misma manera que Dios trajo a nuestros primeros padres, Adán y Eva. Una vez que desobedecieron a Dios, prefirieron la oscuridad en vez de la luz. Adán y Eva nos enseñaron a escondernos detrás de los arbustos. Jesús ha venido como luz para rescatarnos de ese sitio donde nos escondemos. Es el momento de levantarnos y mudarnos hacia la luz.
Solo Dios puede diseñar un espacio perfecto para nuestra morada. Dios es el arquitecto correcto en nuestra vida. Una vida bien diseñada transmite alegría. La oscuridad que nos rodea puede variar; puede ser cualquier cosa, depresión u odio; puede ser un valor de menos cultura. Lo que sea, deje que Dios rediseñe su vida a una vida hermosa. Dios lo ha decir otra vez, una nueva creación, una nueva casa donde ‘La Luz’ juega un papel central: “Que haya luz”. Que haya luz en nosotros. Si no hay luz, no hay vida, no hay crecimiento.
El camino de hoyo oscuro al mundo de la luz nunca es un camino largo; solo un paso audaz, eso es todo lo que es necesario. La distancia verdadera está en ustedes, el tiempo que coge en viajar de indecisiones a resolución. Si usted es casado o religioso o quien sea, resplandezca de ahí como una luz al mundo. Esa es su vocación; Dios lo ha llamado para que esté allí, como Él llamó a Pedro, a Andrés y a otros. Dios quiere que usted y yo seamos la luz para alguien que está sentado en la oscuridad; es nuestro turno.
Que Dios los bendiga,
Padre Sebastián
Masses
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 a.m.,
12:15 p.m.(Spanish),
Holy Day Vigil: 4:00 p.m. and
7:00 p.m. Spanish
Holy Day: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 11:00AM to Noon and 3:00 -4:00 pm. You may schedule an appointment.
We are on Facebook !
A Welcome Message from our Pastor, Father Sebastian
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
We warmly welcome all of you to the first Catholic church in West Pasco County. Together with “Our Blessed Mother” we gather at the Table of her Son, Jesus to get nourished and to proclaim His message of love in words and deeds.
We invite you to be a part of our loving Community being present at our Eucharistic celebrations and other events. Every First Friday at 5.00 p.m. is our Family Dinner Time in the Parish Hall. We gather to know one another and to build up new friendships. This year we started the St. Lorenzo 5 Star Breakfast Buffet. Dates are published in the bulletin. You must try it as it is the "best in town".
Please visit this magnificent Church adorned with colorful stained glass entrance doors, windows, Carillon Tower, Stations of the Cross and the Doves of Peace; stay here in solitude to get blessings upon you and your family through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.
We look forward to seeing you! May God bless you.
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Fax: 727-849-4814
