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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.

 

Welcome, Pope Leo!
 
 
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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

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

 Fr. Vincent Clemente

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!    

 Fr. Felix Gonzalez

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,

Jesus continues focusing on His coming: “I have come to set the earth on fire.” This fire, different from what Elijah called down from heaven (9:54-55); 2 Kings 1:10), is associated with the Baptism that Jesus still has to receive. The words “fire” and “baptism” are emphasized in the Greek text as the first words in the two parallel sentences. John the Baptist prophesied regarding the one who was “coming,” who would “baptize with the holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). The combination here of fire and baptism therefore foreshadows Jesus sending (24:49) the tongues of fire at Pentecost (Acts 2:3-4), when  the disciples will be baptized—that is, filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). The Father’s plan is that the fire (which Jesus longs to see) will come blazing down from heaven (see Luke 9:54). Before the Spirit can be given in this way, however, Jesus must suffer the “baptism” of his passion and death (see Mark 10:38-39) in order to fulfill the Scriptures (see Luke 18:31). Having set his sights toward Jerusalem, Jesus is hard-pressed with this mission until it is accomplished.

John the Baptist, however, had also warned of a punishment by “fire” (3:9, 17). This image signifies, as well, the judgment that will occur at the Son of Man’s coming (see 17:29-30).

These two different aspects—the giving of the Spirit and judgment—are not surprising since Jesus has come as a sign of contradiction (2:34). He comes offering peace to those who accept it, but since some reject that offer, he brings division. This division will even affect household relationships (see 14:26; 18:29): father and son, mother and daughter, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Such was foretold by the prophet Micah: 

  For the son belittles his father, the daughter rises up against her mother, 

The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and your enemies are members of your household.  (Micah 7:6).

However, after this description of family strife, the prophet goes on to describe Israel’s regathering and restoration (Mic 7:12-15).  Jesus thus foretells that there will be a time of tribulation at his second coming (see Acts 1:6, 3:18-21; Rom 11:7, 25-26). Jesus’ words also apply to people of every nation. In choosing to follow Jesus, Disciples must be willing to bear with divisions resulting  among family and friends who do not share their commitment.

Turning now to the crowds, Jesus notes that they are able to interpret the appearance of external weather-related phenomena—rain coming from the Mediterranean in the west or heat waves from the desert in the south—but not the inner meaning of the present time, which is an opportune time for repenting (see 13:3,5) and recognizing the Messiah. Because of this disparity between the outside and the inside, Jesus calls them hypocrites. When Jesus reaches Jerusalem, he will lament that it, likewise, “did not recognize the time” of  His “visitation” (19:44).

Jesus urges the crowd to judge for themselves what is right in the looming crisis of which they are hardly aware. As He travels on the way to Jerusalem, the city that is coming under judgment, Jesus uses a courtroom image involving a case of debt in order to exhort them to waste no time, but to settle the matter while still on the way to court. Otherwise, they will face the judge, who represents God, and be thrown into debtor’s prison, from which one is not released until they’ve paid the last penny.

 Debt represents sin, and Jesus’ mission is precisely proclaiming the jubilee year of remission of such debts (4:18-19). However, these debts will not be forgiven without repentance—the sooner, the better, Jesus will now take up this message by issuing an urgent summons to repentance. (13:3,5).

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente

Upcoming Events

AUGUST 12th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall. Knights of Columbus, 7PM, Social Hall.

AUGUST 13th—Wednesday. NO Bible Study. Divine Will, 4PM, Social Hall. 

AUGUST 14th— Thursday. Blood Drive, 9AM-12PM, Parking Lot. Divine Mercy, 10:30AM, Social Hall.Grief Support, 2PM, Social Hall. Charismatic Prayer Group, 6:30PM, Social Hall.

AUGUST 15th—Friday. OFFICE CLOSED for THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY (Vigil Mass 8/14 at 7PM, Mass 8/15 at 9AM). Kraft Korner, 10AM-12PM, Social Hall.

AUGUST 17th— Sunday. Men’s Emmaus, 2PM, Social Hall.

AUGUST 19th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall.

AUGUST 20th—Wednesday. NO Bible Study. Divine Will, 4PM, Social Hall. 

AUGUST 21st— Thursday. Charismatic Prayer Group, 6:30PM, Social Hall.

AUGUST 26th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall. Knights of Columbus, 7PM, Social Hall.

 

prayer for Hurricane Season