Our Parish Mission — ‘Nuestra Senora de La Luz’ (Our Lady of the Light) is a community that comes together to model Jesus to all peoples by addressing physical concerns and spiritual matters, and to do as Jesus did, giving everything to bring people into a closer relationship with God, in celebration.

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A Readings: Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17. 1 Peter 3:15-18. John 14: 15-21 Theme: He will not leave us orphans because he promised to be with us. The Gospel today presents a further extract from Jesus’ long discourse at the Last Supper. As we noted last week, the discourse oscillates back and forth between two understandings of Jesus’ ‘going away’ and ‘return’. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14, 15) We hear these words in the middle of the great departing speech of Jesus, meant to comfort his disciples before he leaves them. But here we could almost doubt whether this speech is actually a speech of comfort, or rather an exhortation. Christ says "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14, 15) and he will ask for the gift of the spirit, and again he says, "he who loves me will be loved by my Father." (John 14, 21) It sounds as though the gift of the spirit, and God's love for us, depends on our love for him, depends on our keeping the commandments. But what about when we make mistakes, if we at some point don't keep Jesus' commandments, if we fail in love? Will we then be no longer loved by the Father? And this is supposed to be a joyful message? What is up with this? Friendship means meeting each other, sharing experiences with each other, spending time together. If I were to never chat with my friends, never do anything with them, never communicate with them, our friendship would gradually dissolve. Here Jesus makes a truly great promise. He promises that this meeting with him and his Father is possible, even after he has gone from us. "He who loves me… I will manifest myself to him." (Cf. John 14:21(He will remain with us, and we shall even see him. (“The world will see me no more, but you will see me." (John 14:19). This meeting with Christ occurs in different ways. We meet him in the daily contact with one another. We will all, everyone of us, be surprised and astonished how truly, how literally Christ meant, "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." (Mat 25, 40). We meet Christ through faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit, who "remains with us and will be in us" (Cf. John 14, 17), as we have heard today in the Gospel. We also meet him in prayer. In a special way we encounter Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist. There is fulfilled in a special manner Jesus’ word of comfort: "You will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." (John 14, 20). In this celebration we anticipate the future, actually unimaginable meeting that "God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor 2:9). In this life we will never wholly reach the peace and happiness that we really desire, but when we receive Jesus lovingly in the Eucharist, we already participate in a mysterious fashion in this infinite happiness. We can have an inkling what it means to be embraced by an infinite love that never abandons us and that also unites us most closely to one another. Let us pray for the grace to ever more realize and appreciate this gift of the Eucharist, this veiled encounter with Jesus Christ, and thereby to grow in friendship with him. Jesus loves you, and so do I. Rev. Marcel Okonkwo.

Altar Servers (Carol Garcia 446-2129)

Church Cleaners: . If you can’t make your

assigned date, please trade with someone else.

If the Church is not open, please call Carol

Garcia at 446-2129.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Nuestra Señora de La Luz

Our Lady of the Light Catholic Church

P.O. Box 236 La Luz, New Mexico 88337

(www.ourladyofthelight.org) Office: (575) 434 - 9460

Mon. – Thurs. (10:00 - 4:00pm) Pastor - Fr. Marcel Okonkwo

Deacon: Andy Weiss DRE: Alicia McAninch

Ministry to the Home Bound: Janice Gillen

Food Bank: 434-9460

6th Sunday of Easter May 17th, 2020

Sacrament of Reconciliation:

Saturdays: 3:00 – 3:30 pm

Weekend Masses:

Saturday Evening: 4:00 pm

Sunday: 10:00 am (Rosary recited before

Mass)

Weekday Masses:

Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday - 8:30 am

Communion Service - Monday & Wednesday

Eucharistic Adoration - Thursdays after

Mass.

Anointing of the Sick - 1st Friday of the

Month

Mass Intentions Sat: : † Sarah West by her parents. Sun: † Bessie Sanchez by K. Sanchez Mon: For the Sick of the Parish

Tues: † Richard Venters by the choir

Wed: Sp. Int. for all Graudatng Seniors Thurs: For the Parishioners of Our Lady of the Light

Fri: † Bessie Sanchez & Family Healing by K. Sanchez Sat: † Fred Cadena & Charlie Cadena by John & Alicia McAninch

Readers (Carol Garcia)

May 16 - B. Shoaf & L. Valle

May 17 - K. Burnett

May 30 - T. & C. McGinn

May 31 - F. Pacheco & D. Chelgren

Please pray for those serving in our military

Major Paul Weaver (USAF) Jeremiah Williams (USAF) Eric Gayso - (Army) SSgt. Eliza Granados (USAF) Tec. Sgt. Robert Seaburgh (USAF) Markie Campbell Raul Martinez Jr. (USAF) Capt. Amanda Armijo Katherine Agnew (Army) John Gill - USAF Andrew McLaughlin Clinton Caleb Muncy (Marines) Victor Baray (Marines)

Sick of the Parish John Herrera David Kellar Martha Kellar Bob Kellar Danny Lucero Clara Silva John Clute Marie Black Lane Dokken Lucas Gaukler Tilly Telles Stacy Miller Lisa Gutierrez Sandra Wilder Margaret Brabson Tommy Garcia Bill Gayso Frank Borunda Erlinda Garcia Larry McEntire Sr. Edward Strumpf Sandra Carrillo Amanda Rose John Wilson Bobby Granados Roma Duncan Michelle Robinson

Parish Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00am - 4:00 pm - Or by appointment.

Closed on all major holidays. (575) 434-9460(www.ourladyof thelight.org)

** If you need to add or remove a name from the Prayer List, please call the Parish Office at 434-9460. This will help ensure an updated Prayer List. **

Offering Envelopes If you would like to continue supporting our parish by using your Offering envelopes, or making monetary donations. you can mail your envelopes & donations to: Our Lady of the Light Catholic Church, - P.O. Box 236 La Luz, NM 88337. Thank you for your continued support of our parish.

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

If you would like to receive the sacrament of reconciliation or confession, please call the parish office and leave your name and telephone number. Fr. Marcel will contact you to set up an appointment for a time for confession. Fr. Marcel will also be available on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 in the church parking lot. Please remain in your cars and Father will come to you.

You’re invited to Join Us for Weekend Mass!

4:00pm Saturday/10:00am Sunday

Presidio Park (across from the Parish Hall)

Parking Spaces Limited You may remain in your vehicle for the

duration of Mass or sit outside in the park (bring your own chairs). Please practice safe Social

Distancing.

Feast of the Ascension of the Lord The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord is on May 21st. In the United States this feast will be celebrated

on the weekend of May 23rd and May 24th.

Please pray for those serving in our military

Major Paul Weaver (USAF) Jeremiah Williams (USAF)

SSgt. Eliza Granados (USAF) Tec. Sgt. Robert Seaburgh

Visit Our Website for Parish News, Events, & Photos! http://www.ourladyofthelight.org

Our Lady of the Light Food Pantry Our Lady of the Light Food Pantry

The Food Pantry is in need of the following items: Boxed mac

and cheese, Pasta sauce and noodles, Ramen noodles, canned

soups, cold cereal Small sugar and flour, small vegetable oil,

canned beans & dried rice, canned fruit, and potted meat and tuna. In

April the Food Pantry served 482 families. The pantry will be open

Tuesday, May 26th. The pantry will open from 9:30am until 3:00pm

and will distribute pre-packed food boxes. We would like to sincerely

thank all of our Pantry Volunteers, parishioners and everyone who

have contributed food items and given monetary donations to the food

pantry. God bless you all.

How to Make an Act of Spiritual Communion

1. Make the Sign of the Cross

2. If possible, read the Mass Readings

3. Recite the Prayer of Spiritual Communion:

“My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Most Blessed

Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to possess You

within my soul. Since I am unable at this moment to receive You

sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as

being already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be

separated from You. Amen”

Principal/Administrator Position

The All Saints Catholic School in Roswell, NM is looking for a

Principal/Administrator. If you are interested please send your

resume via email to secretary@allsaintsroswell.us or allsaintscatholicschool.board@

gmail.com.

Diocesan Virtual Youth Night The Diocese of Las Cruces is going to host a Virtual Diocesan Youth Night on May 21st at 6pm. They are going to have Catholic Speaker Paul J Kim as the keynote. The event will take place over ZOOM for two hours on that Thursday Evening. To participate, please register at: www.rdclc.org/resourceym