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.

Our 5th annual Halos on High Street Fundraiser Dinner Dance, which we are calling the Winter Luau, is fast approaching.  This event will be held on Saturday,
January 26th from 5-9 PM in the Monsignor Foynes Parish Hall.   The evening will start with a cocktail hour, followed by a sit down dinner of Spiral Sliced Ham, and all the fixings; served by our amazing teens from ITEG. 
                                                               Doors open at 4:30 PM

We are happy to present a Hula show, featuring the Waikiki Dancers, followed by dance music.  Once again there will be a full cash bar of beer, wine, pina coladas, and basic mixed drinks. Tickets are now on sale! Committee members will be selling tickets after all the masses the next few weekends, and they will also be available in the Parish office (727-849-7521) for the bargain price of $25.00.  Reserved seating is also available for prepaid tables of 10 Tickets.  

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

One of the ways to make your donation to the Annual Pastoral Appeal 2018 is through online giving. 
Select the link above for information. Click here to make your online APA Donation.

Message from our Pastor

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

And a voice came from heaven, 
"You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased."

When I sat down in my chair looking through my ‘window’, I saw Jesus walking on the bank of the river Jordan towards John.  I was curious to see what the son of God had to do where John was baptizing the sinners. I saw both of them talking; a kind of arguing. Then I heard Jesus saying John his time had come to get immersed in the waters of Jordan. I watched him stepping into the flowing waters of Jordan with other sinners. As soon as he entered into the waters, to my surprise, I saw the color of river Jordan all of a sudden changing into red. Did anyone else in the crowd notice the change of the color? I don’t think so; everyone walked around normal. Then why I alone saw the red color? I knew it; because he was bearing the weight of my sin. I saw him fully immersing into my sinfulness and absorbing all my stains. I saw him wriggle on a piece of wood and blood dripping down from all over making the Jordan River red. I couldn’t stand it further. I just closed my ‘window’ and said, ‘it’s enough my Lord, it’s enough’.

I sat down immobile, burying my sore face into my hands. It pained me to think; every time I sin, I cause him bleeding wounds. I am the one who cause those waters to change red. I shouldn’t be doing that. I can make a promise. But it worried me; how long am I to keep it? Do I not make that promise every time I go for the Sacrament of Confession? Then what happens?

The Baptism of Jesus reminds me how sinful I am; how weak I am. I have to live a holy life. Is it possible, I asked myself? Then once again, in fear and anxiety, slowly I opened the ‘window’ to see the rest of the scene. What a surprise! I saw Jesus coming out of waters with all his power and glory and the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending upon him. And God the Father said, “This is my beloved son…” It was nice that I opened the window again. There is hope for every sinner. There is life again; there is joy again.  I can be holy again.

The Baptism in which we are being baptized has the power to tear open the strong doors of Heaven. Jesus did it for us through his Baptism; through his death, burial and resurrection. His descending into the Jordan was his descending into his tomb and his coming out of the waters was his resurrection.

I paused for a while to see my own life. Where am I now? I am still there, laying myself immersed in deep waters of Jordan; haven’t yet come up. I am still struggling to keep my promise to my Lord. But I know my Lord will again and again step into ‘my’ Jordan River, whenever I fall into it and would save me. I wait for that moment when my Lord would say to me, “You are my beloved son…”

God’s blessings,

Father Sebastian Earthedath MST

Queridas hermanas y hermanos en Jesucristo,
Y del cielo llego una voz que decía,
“Tú eres mi Hijo amado,
En ti me complazco”.
Cuando me senté en mi silla mirando a través de mi ‘ventana’, vi a Jesús caminando en la orilla
del Río Jordán hacia Juan. Estaba curioso a ver lo que el hijo de Dios tenía que hacer donde
Juan estaba bautizando a los pecadores. Los vi a los dos hablando; un tipo de argumento.
Entonces, escuche a Jesús diciéndole a Juan, que había llegado el momento de que el fuera
sumergido en las aguas del Jordán. Lo vi al entrar en las aguas corrientes del Jordán con otros
pecadores. Tan pronto que entró en las aguas, a mi sorpresa, vi el color del Río Jordán, de
repente, cambiar al color rojo. ¿Alguien más en la multitud notaria el cambio del color? No lo
creo, todos caminaban normalmente. ¿Entones porque solo yo vi el color rojo? Yo lo sabía,
porque él estaba soportando el peso de mi pecado. Lo vi a él sumergiéndose en mi
pecaminosidad y absorbiendo todas mis manchas. Lo vi retorcerse en un pedazo de madera y
sangre goteando hacia abajo por todas partes haciendo el Río Jordán rojo. No podía soportarlo
más. Cerré mi ventana, y dije, ‘es suficiente mi Señor, es suficiente’.
Me senté inmóvil, enterrando mi cara dolorida en mis manos. Me dolía pensar; cada vez que
yo pequé, le causé que sus heridas sangraran. Yo fui el que causé que esas aguas cambiaran a
rojo. No debo de hacer eso. Puedo hacer una promesa. Pero me preocupaba; ¿por cuánto
tiempo voy a mantenerla? ¿No hago yo esa promesa cada vez que yo voy al Sacramento de
Confesión? ¿Entonces qué pasa?
El Bautismo de Jesús me recuerda como de pecador soy; lo débil que soy. Tengo que vivir una
vida santa. ¿Sera posible, me pregunto yo mismo? Entonces una vez más, en miedo y
ansiedad, lentamente abro la ‘ventana’ para ver el resto de la escena. ¡Qué sorpresa! Vi a Jesús
saliendo de las aguas, con todo su poder y gloria y los cielos abriéndose y el Espíritu
descendiendo sobre El. Y Dios, el Padre dijo, “Este es mi hijo amado…” Fue agradable que abrí
la ventana otra vez. Hay esperanza para todo pecador. Hay vida nuevamente. Puedo ser santo
otra vez.
En el Bautismo en el cual nosotros somos bautizados tiene el poder de rasgar abierto las
puertas fuertes del Cielo. Jesús lo hizo para nosotros a través de su Bautismo; a través de su
muerte y resurrección. Su descenso al Jordán fue su descenso a su tumba y su salida de las
aguas fue su resurrección.
Me detuve por un rato para ver mi propia vida. ¿Dónde estoy yo ahora? Todavía estoy allí,
tendido sumergido en las aguas profundas del Jordán; todavía no he salido. Todavía estoy
luchando de mantener mi promesa a mi Señor. Pero yo sé que mi Señor una y otra vez más se
sumergirá a ‘mi’ Rio Jordán cada vez que me caiga en el, él me salvará. Espero por ese
momento cuando mi Señor me diga a mí, “Eres mi hijo amado...”
Que Dios los bendiga,
Padre Sebastián Earthedath MST

Masses

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday 11:00AM to Noon and 3:00 -4:00 pm.  You may schedule an appointment. 

 

Slide Show of Images of Mary

 

LPMI Year of Discernment Overview
 

 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