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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,
2025 is a Jubilee year. What does the Jubilee year mean? A Jubilee year was celebrated every 50 years. It had its roots with the Hebrews. In a Jubilee year all debts were forgiven, all slaves were set free, and there was restoration of families. A Jubilee Year is fifty years because after seven sets of seven years, which equals forty-nine, the following year would be the jubilee year. Canceling debts and setting slaves free was an important event. The Hebrews did many calculations in regards to the approximability of a jubilee year. After the first Jubilee of 1300, Pope Boniface VIII fixed the frequency of Jubilee celebrations to every 100 years. Following a plea from the people of Rome to Pope Clement VI (1342), the frequency was reduced again to every 50 years. Today we celebrate a Jubilee year every 25 years.
For the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors on Christmas Eve. We go through designated Holy Doors, during the Jubilee Year to receive special graces, and indulgences from God.
Locations of Holy Doors in this Jubilee year in our Diocese by Bishop F. Dewane are:
St John XXIII Parish – 13060 Palomino Lane, Ft. Myers, FL. 33912
St. John the Evangelist- 625 111th Avenue N. Naples. FL. 34108
St. Paul Parish - 1330 East Oak Street. Arcadia Florida 34266
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center-3989 S. Moon Dr. Venice Florida 34292
The requirement when one passes through a Holy Door in order to gain a plenary indulgence involves a pilgrimage through the Holy Doors. A person upon entering the Holy Door must be detached from sin and repentant, must receive the Sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion, and prays for the Holy Father.
In the gospel today, Jesus, after being baptized by John, received the Holy Spirit and began His ministry, performing miracles and curing the sick.
From Isaiah, Chapter 61 we read.
The prophet is indeed predicting that at some time in the future, a mysterious “servant of the Lord” will arrive, bearing the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and will proclaim the “year of the Lord’s favor.” It is A Great Jubilee Year involving debt forgiveness, freedom for the slaves, and restoration of families.
Also, we read in Isaiah: Jesus talked of freedom from the slavery of sin. Jesus was the only one who was qualified to forgive sins. Later on, He gave the power to forgive sins to the Apostles. The beginning of Jesus’ sermon is sensational: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” This is acclaimed to be the “servant of the Lord” of whom Isaiah spoke; to be the “Melchizedek” that the Essenes were anticipating—the savior figure who would announce the Great Jubilee.
But how did Jesus inaugurate this “Jubilee Year”? He did so through His ministry, which involved freeing people from the worst kind of slavery—disease and the devil. His healings and exorcisms are powerful testimonies to the Jubilee he has come to actualize. It is not accidental that immediately following this sermon in Nazareth, Jesus performed His first exorcism as recorded in Luke (4:31-37). Furthermore, His bold declarations of forgiveness of sins—for example, to the paralytic in the very next chapter (5:20-24; see also 7:48)—are a release from the debt of sin, just as the Essenes had expected.
The word forgiveness is clearly emphasized in the Gospel of today. This illustrates the mercy of God. The Church emphasizes God’s mercy. Often it is misrepresented by many. There are Christians who limit themselves to the first step, which is condemning evil, and they do not go to the second step, which allows forgiveness. The mercy part is either omitted or it becomes obfuscated. This aspect is what gives the Church the “just negative”. Many do not see or hear the second part, the part of forgiveness.
The church is the instrument of Christ through which individuals are reconciled with God. The Church is the best vehicle in which one can be forgiven of their sins even though some say they can go directly to God. The Church uses Jesus’ authority given to the Apostles on the evening of His resurrection. It is written that Jesus breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven.” The Apostles and His successors have fulfilled this command by Jesus. This very important role of the Church is the vehicle through which people are forgiven of their sins. This indicates that the Jubilee, originating with Jesus, still continues today. Through the Church there is forgiveness of sins. We are freed from the slavery of sin.
The whole idea that God offers us mercy implies we often deserve something worse, but He refrains from administering it. Instead, He offers us undeserved forgiveness and reconciliation.
In a very real sense, as we participate in Mass this weekend, the Scriptures are “fulfilled in our hearing.” The same Jesus who fulfills all the prophecies comes to us and is truly present to us in the Eucharist, (the Word made Flesh) and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. His healing power, and specifically His offer of forgiveness of sin, and freedom for those held captive by evil, is still available to us if we will have faith in Him and in His promises.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Vincent Clemente
JANUARY 20th— Monday. RCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
JANUARY 21st— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall. THE BLOOD DRIVE HAS BEEN CANCELED.
JANUARY 22nd— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will, 4PM, Social Hall. Confirmation Prep, 7PM, Social Hall.
JANUARY 23rd— Thursday. Prayer Group, 6:30PM, Social Hall.
JANUARY 26th— Sunday. Faith Formation, 11AM, Social Hall.
JANUARY 27th— Monday. RCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
JANUARY 28th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall. Knights of Columbus, 7PM, Social Hall.
JANUARY 29th— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will, 4PM, Social Hall. Confirmation Prep, 7PM, Social Hall.
JANUARY 30th— Thursday. Prayer Group, 6:30PM, Social Hall.
FEBRUARY 2nd— Sunday. Faith Formation, 11AM, Social Hall.
FEBRUARY 3rd— Monday. SVdP, 2PM, Social Hall. RCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
FEBRUARY 4th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall.
FEBRUARY 5th— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will, 4PM, Social Hall. Confirmation Prep, 7PM, Social Hall.
