Verse Before the Gospel -- Luke 15:18

I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Gospel - Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.'”

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent (Year C)

  • The parable is always about the Kingdom of God; this parable of The Prodigal Son, just proclaimed, is a very moving and emotional parable when the Father takes back His wasted, young son.
  • The Father forgave whole-heartedly the younger of His sons. God is like that. He even forgives this wasted, young son.
  • It goes without saying, that if our Heavenly Father forgives us, we too should forgive one another.
  • Let us review, in this Lenten Season, those Seven Capital Sins, that get in the way of our relationship with our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
    • Sloth – lazy, lazy, lazy!
    • Gluttony – too much food! Too much drink!
    • Greed – It’s all mine! And I want more, more, more!
    • Lust – to satisfy our sexual drive at the cost of the virtues of purity and chastity.
    • Envy – I wish that I had the status, had the things, that that woman has … poor me!
    • Anger – I hate everything about that person! I even want to lash out …
    • Pride – No one is better than me! No one!
  • I say to you, that the Capital Sins get in our way of really receiving and being touched by God, reaching out to forgive us, and also get in the way of forgiving all those other people that you need to forgive … even if they have been unfair to you.
  • Today, on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, we are to be touched in our lives by a feeling of joyful spirit because our sacrifices during Lent have been many. And we should be joyful that Lent is half-over, coming to that Mystery of Easter Sunday, when we will see Christ breaking from the tomb after His suffering and death. And the Church Universal, saying in response, Alleluia, He is Risen!
Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Rector

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Saint Anthony Parish

First Reading - Joshua 5:9a, 10-12

The LORD said to Joshua,
“Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”

While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,
they celebrated the Passover
on the evening of the fourteenth of the month.
On the day after the Passover,
they ate of the produce of the land
in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain.
On that same day after the Passover,
on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.
No longer was there manna for the Israelites,
who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (9a)  Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Second Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Brothers and sisters:
Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
And all this is from God,
who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Spiritual Communion

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.

Catholic Resources for the Homebound Parishioner

Free Resource

Youngstown Diocese resource for at-home catechesis.

Videos

Catholic Bible Study | A Friendly Approach

Introduction to Bible Study

Song of Songs

The Book of Proverbs

Italian Culture Online

Bocce Basics & Strategy

Cooking: Pizza Margerhita

Cooking: Pizza Fritta

How To Live-Stream The Holy Mass

The Basilica of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is grateful for the participation and involvement of the faithful within our live-streamed Masses throughout the Stay At Home Order and the Responsible Restart Ohio Order. We are excited and thankful to continue to have the opportunity and capability to deliver the Sacred Liturgy to all those still at home. You can access the links to the Mass live-streams through our website, OLMCSTA.com and Facebook, as well.
Thank you all again for your participation from home in the Holy Mass, and we look forward to seeing you all soon. May the risen Christ bless you all with His perfect peace as we continue to move forward through these challenging times.

Light of Faith And Family Formation Program for Families | for students K-12 and Parents

Goals and Mission

  • The program supports parents and guardians as the first teachers of their children in the ways of the Catholic Faith.
  • Explore and learn through Sacred Scripture how to connect and live our Faith in today’s world.
  • Learn more about the teachings of the Catholic Church.
  • Explore the Catholic Tradition and Sacraments.

Sacraments

  • Baptism
  • Communion
  • Confirmation
  • Marriage

Rite of Christain Initiation (RCIA)

  • A program for adults seeking to learn, understand and enter the Catholic Faith.
  • Adults who for one reason or another have not begun or completed their full Sacramental Initiation into the Catholic Church.

Contact The Religious Education Offices
Ph. 330-743-3508

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Donations made to the general collection are used to offset the costs associated with day-to-day operations of our parish and its programs. Additionally, your contribution will benefit our sacramental preparation services, liturgical programs, and Religious Education programs. Parish members are encouraged to set up an account and manage their contributions. You will have complete control over your contribution amount and frequency of payments. Thank you for your investment and continued support of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Church.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica 343 Via Mount Carmel, Youngstown, OH 44505 Ph. 330-743-4144 | Office of Religious Education: 330-743-3508

Saint Anthony of Padua Church 1125 Turin Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44510 PO Box 1256, Youngstown, OH 44501 Ph. 744-5091