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PARISH STAFF P Rev. Fr. Christopher Chike Amadi, S.S.J. P A A Mrs. Martha S. Creecy (985) 536-2613 Ms. Valencia Dunn (985) 536-2613 ****************************************** P P C Mrs. Charlotte Hooker (504) 559-4573 P F C Mr. Edward Phillips (985) 536-2613 D R E Mrs. Myrtle Lucas (985) 536-2028 D Y M (CYO) Mrs. Tracy Watson (504) 296-7852 E M H C Mrs. Vanessa Noble (504) 220-7674 P W Mrs. Precious A. Joseph (985) 536-3115

RCIA CLASSES Any adult interested in joining the Catholic Faith or knowing more about the Catholic Religion should contact the parish Office to sign up for RCIA faith classes. ******************************************Announcements for the bulletin can be brought to the parish office, faxed or sent via email to olgchurch@arch-no.org The deadline to submit announcements to be placed in the bulletin is on Mondays by 12 noon.

MASS SCHEDULE SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

FEBRUARY 19, 2017

VIGIL MASSES

Saturday 4:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM

WEEKDAY MASSES

Monday NO MASS Tuesday 6:00 PM Wednesday 5:00 PM Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 6:00 PM Sick of the Parish Thursday 8:30 AM Special Intentions Friday 8:30 AM Parish Mass Saturday 8:00 AM (1ST SATURDAY ONLY)

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Begins 1 Hour before each Mass and ends 15 minutes before Mass or by appointment anytime.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Parents and god-parents preparation is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month after the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Baptism will take place on the 4th Sunday of each month. Baptismal registration takes place ONLY at the Parish Office prior to baptism preparation class.

MARRIAGES Please notify the Priest at least eight months prior to planning the wedding.

PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK Please call the rectory if someone is sick or hospitalized.

FUNERALS Please call the rectory before making arrangements with the Funeral Director.

780 Hwy. 44 • P.O. Box 464 Reserve, Louisiana 70084

Rectory: 985-536-2613

Fax: 985-536-1819 Email: olgchurch@arch-no.org

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Parish Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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PARISH MISSION STATEMENT Our purpose, at Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church, is to provide a place of spiritual worship and growth for our members, our children, and all visitors. We wish to instill a spirit of prayer, integrity and generosity in each other, with a special concern for the poor, sick, elderly, disabled, the unborn and the weak. We especially encourage our parish members and organizat ions in their practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy with the poor and infirmed.

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME FEBRUARY 19, 2017

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2017 4:00 PM Willi Hall, Cecile Ogretta Wilson - Hall, Lenda Wilson-Dunn (L) & Willie Dunn, Joseph Bert Hall, Percy Duhe, Melvin Charles Hall, Cecilia & Alexander White, Mathilda & John Wilson, Sr., Mary & John Wilson, Sr., Wilmont Hall, Victoria Hennison, Special Intentions, Agnes Hall (L), Mary Ann Parquet, Paul Vampran (L), Anthony & Alma Vampran, Paul Perrilloux, Mary Perrilloux, Rodney Perrilloux SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2017 8:00 AM Our Lady of Grace Parishioners 11:00 AM Kantrell Collins TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2017 6:00 PM Fr. Christopher C. Amadi, SSJ, Charlotte Hooker, Leah Valdez WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 5:00 PM HOLY HOUR 6:00 PM More Vocations to the Josephites THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2017 8:30 AM Sick & Shut-In FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2017 8:30 AM Our Lady of Grace Parishioners & Families

Agnes Hall, Joshua J. Morgan, Allen Wheeler, Joseph Dupas, Olga Leblanc, Alethea Bardell, Anita Perrilloux, Carolyn Cole, Kenisha Anderson, Leroy Houston, Joann Gray, Christine Gagnier, Victoria Dominique, Margie Collins, Lucille Adams, Brianna Nicholas, Paul Vampran, Hilton Francois, Michael Lipps, Ernest Morgan Jr., Catherine Twine Simon, Trellious Wilkes, Craig Watson, Michelle Marcadel, Cornel Jones, Montrelle Dennis, Romond Taylor, Shirley Johnson, Devon Walker, Rosalee Sylvas, Rosemary Pidgeon, Donald Lipps, Donna C. Jackson, Sandra Simoneaux, Elizabeth Hebert, Sr. John Mary Jackson, Tierney Smith, Torriel Charde Smith, Karen Duhe-Wilson, James Jackson, Travis Thomas, Ceola Gerard, Albert French, Gary Sylve, Arthur D. Parquet, Felton Parquet, Lorita Savoie, Shelia P. Melancon, Gloria Ferrygood, Lois Clement, Chandra Johnson, Lindsay Marts, Dianne Sylve Lewis, John Sylve, Sr., Sharon Parquet, Jeniffer Sylve Banks, Hilton Farlough, Monique Joseph, Theresa Fleming, Beverly Harris, Ruby Porter, Lois Gray, Ann Means, Susan Montufar, Carol Lennix, Daisy Roussel, Anthony Isom, Jr., Wilhelmina Armour, Emile Rousseve

I wonder how many people read today’s Gospel and said, “You expect me to do that?” Aren’t we supposed to resist evil? Yes, we are; but Jesus makes an important distinction between evil acts and the person who commits them. Why? Because God does just that. As Jesus says, God sends sunshine and rain on both good and bad people. So how do we resist evil? We do as Jesus did—we conquer it with love.

When Jesus died on the cross, this was the victory over sin and death because he gave his life for us out of love. This love was for everyone, especially those sinners who need it. You might say he loves sinners most of all. Why? Because they need his love the most. All he asks of us is to show love to everyone, even our enemies.

Now when we read the examples in the Gospel (Matthew 5:39–42), we may be tempted to say that they just encourage people to be bad, that the way to stop evil is to make people suffer for doing evil. But Jesus didn’t say to let people run over you. Instead of a weak passivism, we actively offer the other cheek, hand over the cloak, or go the extra mile. And that’s just for the ones who occasionally annoy us. Later in the same Gospel, Jesus tells us to love and pray for our enemies—those who hate us and continually try to harm us.

But notice what he doesn’t say. He never promises that we will change these people, that our actions will eventually cause them to repent or become our friends. No, he only asks his disciples to change, to become “perfect” as the Father is perfect. Of course, we can never be infinitely good, all-knowing, and all-powerful like God. But Jesus calls us not to perfectionism but to holiness. That kind of holiness comes only from God, just as changing evil-doers or enemies is up to God. God can work through us to change the hearts of others, but God always respects their freedom. Perhaps the love we show to our enemies will at least open their hearts to the possibility of receiving the love of God, who can help them to become holy, too.

SCRIPTURE VERSE: Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.— Leviticus 19:2b

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING (FEBRUARY 19, 2017 TO FEBRUARY 25, 2017)

Sunday: Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48 Monday: Sir 1:1-10; Ps 93:1-2, 5; Mk 9:14-29 Tuesday: Sir 2:1-11; Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Mk 9:30-37 Wednesday: 1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16:13-19 Thursday: Sir 5:1-8; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mk 9:41-50 Friday: Sir 6:5-17; Ps 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35; Mk 10:1-12 Saturday: Sir 17:1-15; Ps 103:13-18; Mk 10:13-16

OUR LADY OF GRACE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH RESERVE, LA

SANCTUARY LIGHT IN THE CHURCH The Sanctuary Light will be lit for:

Walter Gerard, Jr. Requested By: Sandra Smith

From: February 16, 2017 to February 28, 2017

SANCTUARY LIGHT IN THE CHAPEL The Sanctuary Light will be lit for:

The Linton Family Requested By: Jennifer Brooks

From: February 1, 2017 to February 28, 2017

BIBLE STUDY: Tuesday’s at 6:30 PM in the former rectory. All are invited and welcome to attend.

FEBRUARY 11-12, 2017 SUNDAY COLLECTION $ 3909.00

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

The Archdiocesan Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration will take place on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 3:00 PM, in St. Philip Neri Church in Metairie. Please note that this year’s celebration will not be a Mass, but a prayer service. All participants must register through their Parish. To register, please call the parish office prior to February 24, 2017. For more information, please call the parish office at 985-536-2613.

PASTORAL SOLIDARITY FUND IN AFRICA This week our second collection is for the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa. The people of Africa are joyous and faith-filled, but they also often face challenges due to poverty, the high incidence of disease, food shortages, and migration. This collection is an opportunity to stand with the people of Africa and support pastoral projects that are so needed on this continent. Please be generous today. To learn more, visit www.usccg.org/africa.

FIRST LENTEN FISH FRY DINNER FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

OLG SCHOOL CAFETERIA 11:00 AM TO 4:00 PM—DONATION $8.00

Please see the list of items needed for donations toward our Lenten Dinners in the foyer of the Church. Cash donations and volunteers are also needed. SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

Our Lady of Grace Church Parish continues to partner with Second Harvest Food Bank to distribute food to those in need. Food will be distributed from Our Lady of Grace Parish Hall (Former Rectory) on Thursday, February 23, 2017 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Please see the flier on the bulletin board in the foyer of the church.

PERMANENT DIACONATE CLASS 2017-2022

Archbishop Gregory Aymond is opening a Permanent Diaconate class to begin in 2017 - 2022. Please note that no one is unworthy of the call. We become worthy by the grace of God. Any male parishioner interested in this ministry should contact Fr. Amadi in the parish office at 985-536-2613 for more information.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH We will be celebrating Black History Month during the month of February. Everyone is encouraged to wear their African attire at all Masses during the month. Please see the flier on the bulletin board in the foyer of the church for more information.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE Our Lady of Grace Lenten Revival will be held on March 18-19, 2017. More information will be provided at a later date.

OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH 80TH ANNVERSARY RAFFLE/BANQUET

TICKETS Our Lady of Grace 80th Anniversary raffle/banquet tickets will be on sale beginning this week-end. The drawing will be held during the banquet on Sunday, June 4, 2017. For a donation of $100.00, you will get 8 chances to win. The prizes are:

1st Prize ……………… $3000.00 2nd Prize ……………… $2000.00 3rd Prize ……………... $1500.00 4th Prize (2) ………….. $1000.00 5th Prize (3) ……………$ 500.00

The total prize giveaway will be $10,000.00 (Winner need not be present) Only 300 tickets will be printed, which will include 200 $100.00 raffle tickets and 100 $25.00 banquet tickets. Purchase of a $100.00 raffle ticket entitles you to attend the banquet. Once you have purchased a $100.00 raffle ticket, you are eligible to purchase one $25.00 ticket for attendance to the banquet. You MUST purchase a $100.00 raffle ticket to be eligible to purchase only ONE $25.00 banquet ticket. Tickets may be purchased from Sterling Simon, Willie Wallace, Carey Gauff, Robin Fleming and Valencia Dunn. NOTE: RAFFLE TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED IN INSTALLMENTS.