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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
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
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.
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,
Today Jesus speaks of the parable of the rich man. This is the parable to which all Christians should pay close attention. This parable can make a difference in one’s soul and where the individual will spend eternity.
To better impress in all hearts just how opposed earthly wealth and pleasures are to what is valued in the sight of God and to describe more effectively how the riches must be used, Jesus tells a most beautiful parable, which is a true revelation of the mystery of the afterlife in reference to the life we live on earth.
There was an Egyptian man so rich that he dressed like a king in purple and fine linen called byssus. He was a bon vivant, and every day he gave splendid banquets. At the door of his sumptuous palace there was a poor, wounded man named Lazarus (an abbreviation for Eleazar). He was sick, exhausted, starving, but he could smell the rich man’s food and hoped to get at least some of the leftovers. But no one gave him anything. Dogs came to lick his wounds, but Lazarus did not even have the strength to shoo them away.
So, from an earthly standpoint we have a splendid life on one hand and a most sorrowful one on the other. But, for God, things are completely different. The poor man, in fact, died and was brought by angels to the bosom of Abraham, that is, to Limbo, where the righteous, in the company of Abraham waited for the Redeemer to open the doors of Heaven. It was a place of happiness and natural peace, far superior to any condition of earthly happiness. Shortly afterwards, the rich man also died, and he was buried in hell. His dissolute life had produced its fruits of death, and in the fire of hell he suffered horrible torments.
From that place of torment, God allowed him to see Abraham and Lazarus in His bosom, far off, together, and in happiness. What a contrast! Hoping to have at least some relief from the pain he was suffering, he turned to Abraham, (the head of the people to which he belonged), begging him to send Lazarus to him so he could dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue, as he was being scorched by the flames. Abraham answered with peace and the love of God that the situation had changed irrevocably. In eternity, the state is immutable, and it was impossible for Lazarus to do anything to change it.
The tormented rich man, seeing that he could not change his situation, worried about his five brothers and begged Abraham to send Lazarus to alert them to the danger they faced. Abraham did not say that Lazarus could not go to them but answered that they already had Moses and the Prophets, and that they could save themselves with the light of the Prophets’ words. The unfortunate man insisted that if they had an appropriate warning from a dead man, they would repent. It seemed to him that the appearance of a happy soul like Lazarus warning them of their own perdition would be enough to convert them. However, Abraham said flatly that if they did not believe Moses and the Prophets they would not believe even the words of a deceased man returning from the dead.
This parable should be a warning to all Christians. The reason the rich man did not go to Heaven wasn’t necessarily because he feasted and dressed splendidly but that he ignored the needs of Lazarus. For this reason, he was destined for a place of torment.
Jesus’ words are very clear! We should not ignore our neighbor when he is in need.
[Source: I Quattro Evangeli (the Four Gospels) by Don Dolindo Ruotolo]
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Vincent Clemente
Upcoming Events
SEPTEMBER 21st—Sunday. Women’s & Men’s Emmaus, 2AM, Social Hall.
SEPTEMBER 22nd— Monday. OCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
SEPTEMBER 23rd— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall. Knights of Columbus, 7PM, Social Hall.
SEPTEMBER 24th— Wednesday. No Bible Study. Divine Will, 4PM, Social Hall.
SEPTEMBER 25th— Thursday. Divine Mercy, 10:30AM, Social Hall. Charismatic Prayer Group, 6:30PM, Social Hall.
SEPTEMBER 29th— Monday. OCIA, 6PM, Social Hall.
SEPTEMBER 30th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall.
OCTOBER 1st— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will, 4PM, Social Hall.
OCTOBER 2nd— Thursday. CCW Meeting, 10:00AM, Social Hall. Charismatic Prayer Group, 6:30PM, Social Hall.
OCTOBER 3rd— Friday. Kraft Korner, 10:00AM, Social Hall.
OCTOBER 6th— Monday. SVdP, 2:00PM, Social Hall. OCIA, 6:00PM, Social Hall.
OCTOBER 7th— Tuesday. Child. of Our Lady, 10AM, Social Hall. Grupo de Juan 23, 7PM, Social Hall.
OCTOBER 8th— Wednesday. Bible Study, 10AM, Social Hall. Divine Will, 4PM, Social Hall.