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As members of the Body of Christ, the parish of St. James, Lake Placid, Florida proclaims our belief in the message and mission of Jesus Christ.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20)With God's Grace, the example of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we seek to live out that belief as a community of worship, of shared faith and of service where each member shares with others the gifts and talents received from God.
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Pastor, Fr. Vincent Clemente
Father Vincent came to the United States from Italy at the age of 15, where his family settled in the Cleveland, OH area. He has one sister. Father was ordained to the priesthood on May 8, 1976 and has previously served at St. Martha’s in Sarasota, FL and as pastor of St. Michael in Wauchula and St. Paul in Arcadia.
WELCOME, FATHER! We look forward to continued spiritual growth with you here at St. James!
Parochial vicar Fr. Felix Gonzalez
Fr. Felix Gonzalez, our newest parochial vicar, was born in Venezuela on September 18, 1953. He studied philosophy in Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies and theology at the Seminary “Santa Rosa de Lima,” Caracas, Venezuela. He was ordained on July 18th, 1981 at the .Archdiocese of Barquisimeto. He came to the United States 20 years ago and studied monastic spirituality in Worcester, MA and worked in different parishes in the Archdiocese of New York— Manhattan and the Bronx. During those years he studied in IONA College and graduated with a Masters in Science, majoring in pastoral counseling. After serving St. Leo for almost two and a half years, he is happy to embark on this new part of his spiritual journey.
Our commitment to a Safe Environment
As Christian adults, we have a moral and legal responsibility and are entrusted by God with the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of minors and vulnerable adults. St. James adheres to the Diocese of Venice's Safe Environment program. To learn more, visit: https://dioceseofvenice.org/offices/programs/safeenvironment/
Pope Francis' Letter to the People of God, regarding sexual abuse in light of the outcome of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury.
My Dear People,
In the First Book of Kings, Elijah travels to Zarephath because God sent him. Upon arriving in the city, Elijah meets a widow gathering firewood. He asks her for a cupful of water and a piece of bread. She tells him that she has only a little flour and oil for her and her son. She expects that after she bakes the cake, she and her son will die because it has not rained for a long time, and they have no way to get more food.
Even so, the widow bakes the cake and shares it with Elijah. Responding to her generosity, Elijah tells her ‘to be not afraid’; that the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.”
Ahab, the King of northern Israel provoked God by building a temple worshiping the pagan god, Baal. Because of Ahab’s sins, Elijah said there would be no rain for three years. It was during the drought that Elijah visited the widow in Zarephath and remained with her until the rains came. Because she trusted Elijah and believed what Elijah said, her flour jar never ran out nor did the jug of oil run dry.
When Christ was with His Apostles near the Temple treasury, they observed the people donating large sums. He noted that a widow only gave a few coins. Christ told His Apostles: “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
Jesus praises the widow for sacrificing all she had. When we sacrifice and share out of our meager needs rather than our surplus (as we normally do) then, like the widows, we are giving more to God. The value of the offering lies more in the upright intention and generosity of spirit than in the quantity one gives.
St. Francis de Sales comments: “Now as among the treasures of the temple, the poor widow’s mite was much esteemed, so the least little good works, even though performed somewhat coldly and not according to the whole extent of the charity which is in us, are agreeable to God, and esteemed by Him; so, though of themselves they cannot cause any increase in the existing love… yet divine providence, counting on them and, out of His goodness, valuing them, forthwith rewards them with increase of charity for the present and assigns to them a greater heavenly glory for the future.” (Treatise of love of God, book 3, chap 2)
Sincerely yours,
Fr. Vincent Clemente
NOVEMBER 4th— Monday. SVdP Meeting, 3PM, Social Hall. RCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 5th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Prayer Group, 7PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 6th— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will Study, 4PM, Social Hall. Confirmation Class, 7PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 7th— Thursday. Blood Drive, 9AM-2PM, Parking Lot. CCW Meeting, 10AM, Social Hall. Bible Study, 7PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 10th— Sunday. Faith Formation, 11AM, Social Hall. Women’s Emmaus, 2PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 11th — Monday. RCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 12th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Knights of Columbus, 7PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 13th— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will Study, 4PM, Social Hall. Confirmation Class, 7PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 14th— Thursday. Divine Mercy, 10:30AM, Social Hall. Grief Support, 2PM, Social Hall. Bible Study, 7PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 15th — Friday. Kraft Korner, 10AM-12PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 17th— Sunday. Faith Formation, 11AM, Social Hall. Men’s Emmaus, 2PM, Social Hall.
NOVEMBER 18th — Monday. RCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
