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Welcome
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.
Mass Times
MASS TIMES:
Weekends
Summer Mass Schedule (June - September)
Saturday Vigil 4 PM
Sunday 9 AM
Winter Mass Schedule (October - May)
Saturday Vigil 4 PM
Sunday 8 AM and 10 AM
Weekdays (M - F) - 9:00 AM
First Saturday of Every Month
9:00 AM (with Anointing of the Sick)
Holy Days
7:00 PM Vigil, 9:00 AM Morning
Weekends
Summer Mass Schedule (June - September)
Saturday Vigil 4 PM
Sunday 9 AM
Winter Mass Schedule (October - May)
Saturday Vigil 4 PM
Sunday 8 AM and 10 AM
Weekdays (M - F) - 9:00 AM
First Saturday of Every Month
9:00 AM (with Anointing of the Sick)
Holy Days
7:00 PM Vigil, 9:00 AM Morning
Office Hours - For emergencies call 863-465-3215
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
9:00 am to 12 noon
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Wednesday
9:00 am to 12:00 noon
3380 Placid View Dr.
Lake Placid, FL 33852
9:00 am to 12 noon
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Wednesday
9:00 am to 12:00 noon
3380 Placid View Dr.
Lake Placid, FL 33852
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.
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,
This Sunday, known as Mercy Sunday, is tied with the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The first thing Jesus did when He appeared to His Apostles in the upper room, was to empower them with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would then enable them to forgive sins.
Next, Jesus showed great mercy to Thomas, the doubter. Instead of being indignant about Thomas’ lack of faith, Jesus consents to show Himself to Thomas in ways that will only satisfy Thomas’s doubts. Significantly, Thomas is invited to thrust his hand into the side of Christ—the very wound from which the mercy (flow of blood and water) came forth. We don’t actually know if Thomas took the Lord up on His offer, despite the many depictions that show him doing so. We do know, however, that Thomas responded to the Lord’s mercy by recognizing His true nature: “My Lord and My God!” In many ways, this is the climactic statement of the entire Gospel of John. The Apostle is leading us to the point where we, too, can make this whole-hearted confession like Thomas.
Let’s not fall into the trap of thinking, “Faith was easy then, but now it’s hard.” It was definitely hard for the first disciples to believe that Jesus of Nazareth, a man they knew and ate with, was also the God who revealed Himself to Moses. After all, for the most part, Jesus, Our Lord, looked normal. Aside from a few revelations which only a few witnessed (The Transfiguration), His body looked similar to other men’s bodies. No halo followed Him around. He did all the things other people did. He performed miracles—but so had other prophets who were not divine. So we should not underestimate the demands on the faith of the first Apostles.
Likewise, we should not exaggerate the demands on our faith today. In many ways we are blessed with a long tradition and a great deal of truth and insight that the Church has been given for over two thousand years. We have categories and a language to speak accurately about how Jesus can be both God and man (one “person,” two “natures”) and how the Eucharist can be his Body (“substance”) and the bread and wine (“accidents”). The host is transformed into the Body of Christ even though it may look, taste, and feel like bread and wine. This intellectual framework is a help to faith as is the clarity and coherence of teaching that is readily available to us, for example, the Catechism.
Embracing Christ and His claims always has required an act of faith, both for Thomas and us. Christ helped Thomas secure his faith—but He gives us help, too. Let’s not make excuses; let’s resolve to make a good confession.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Vincent Clemente
Upcoming Events
APRIL 12th— Sunday. Faith Formation, 11AM, Social Hall. Sunday Brunch, 11AM, Social Hall. Divine Mercy Service, 3PM, Church.
APRIL 13th— Monday. OCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 14th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall. Knights of Columbus, 7PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 15th— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will Group, 4PM, Social Hall. Confirmation Class, 6:30PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 16th— Thursday. Charismatic Prayer, 6:30PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 17th— Friday. Kraft Korner, 10AM-12PM, Social HallYouth Group, 6PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 19th— Sunday. Faith Formation, 11AM, Social Hall. Women’s & Men’s Emmaus, 2PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 20th— Monday. OCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 21st— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 22nd— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will Group, 4PM, Social Hall. Confirmation Class, 6:30PM, Soc. Hall. Hour of Adoration, 7PM, Church.
APRIL 23rd— Thursday. Blood Drive, 9AM-1PM, Social Hall. Divine Mercy, 10:30AM, Social Hall. Charismatic Prayer, 6:30PM, Soc. Hall.
APRIL 24th— Friday. Youth Group, 6PM, Social Hall.
APRIL 26th— Sunday. Faith Formation, 11AM, Social Hall.
APRIL 27th— Monday. OCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
