Alleluia - Jn 15:4a, 5b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord.
Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel - Jn 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

5th Sunday of Easter - Bulletin Link

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

If you ever visited a winery vineyard it often happens that the owner will show you the vines that are 100 years old or more with the story of how the vines have been pruned carefully all those years yielding new branches that produce awesome grapes for new wine.   

I experienced the same thing right here with the St. Anthony Shrine.  The Shrine’s trees were becoming out of control with excessive growth.  The landscaper pruned the branches.  Then many said he pruned them so closely the branches would never come back.  But in less that a year from what appeared not much more than mere tree trunks, branches grew back stronger than before.

Therefore our Lord’s image of the Church with Him as the Vine and with us as the branches is very real.  Let us be careful like a vine grower that the branch not separate from the vine. Obsessive desire for everything that is not God cuts the branch:  property, pleasure, prestige, power, money, pride, addictions, dissension.

One prayer that the priest says at every Mass in quiet goes like this: “ I now am about to eat Your Body and drink Your Blood. Forgive my sins, and never let me be separated from You.”

May you live your life in such a way that you are never separated from Christ who is the Vine. That’s it.  As a branch that is to yield awesome grapes, never be separated from Christ the Vine.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Rector

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

First Reading - Acts 9:26-31

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples,
but they were all afraid of him,
not believing that he was a disciple.
Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles,
and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord,
and that he had spoken to him,
and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem,
and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.
He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,
but they tried to kill him.
And when the brothers learned of this,
they took him down to Caesarea
and sent him on his way to Tarsus.

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.
It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32

R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the LORD.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts live forever!”
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Second Reading - 1 Jn 3:18-24

Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.

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

NEW: Give Online with WeShare

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