SECOND SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME

JANUARY 14, 2007

(M - Memorial, A - Anniversary)

 

MONDAY, JANUARY 15

                  9:00          SPECIAL INTENTION for the LIVING:

                                   IRENE M. NICK

                                        req. by Arleen M. Nick Clingerman

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16

                  6:45         JOHN MC WEENEY--M

                                     req. by Fr. Brian

                  9:00         CARMELA MANGIERI--M

                                     req. by Rita & Ed Clarke

                        

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17

ANTHONY, abbot

                  6:45         WILLIAM GRAY--M

                                     req. by Ralph Santoliquido

                  9:00         JOSEPHINE and CORNELIUS SHIELDS, PAUL V. SHIELDS and AILEEN SHIELDS BRYAN--M

                                     reg. by the Shields Family

                                                            

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18

                  6:45         AGNES DORAN--M

                  9:00         ROSE SAPORITO--A

                                     req. by the Family

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19

                 6:45         JEAN PIERRE LIAIGRE--A

                                      req. by his children

                 9:00         REV. RICHARD THOMSON--A

                                    req. by the Parish

                                 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20

FABIAN, pope, martyr

SEBASTIAN, martyr

             9:00         CATHERINE SHERIDAN--A

                                 req. by the McPeak Family

                  5:30           THE SAPORITO and LOIACONI FAMILIES

                                 req. by the Saporito Family

 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21

                  7:30         WILLIAM J. NEALON--M

                                     req. by Lois Juan

                  9:00         HELEN MARA NUGENT and JOSEPH NUGENT--M

                                     req. by Maura & Richard Concannon

                10:30         FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH

                12:00         DONALD VAN COOK--M

                                     req. by Lorraine Stratis

     5:00         CELESTE DORIA--M

                        req. by Dotty Doherty

                                  

PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCES

Your prayers are requested for the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Debra Abrahamsen, Patricia Kuhr, Loni Aitchison, Theresa Astorino,  Joseph Mileti, Dotty Doherty, Caroline Weldon, Brenda McWeeney, Lenny Cavalieri, Jenna Mussolini, Teresa Civetta, Frank Maiola, Aileen O’Brien,  Sister Margaret Coakley, Pat Bonner, Ed Lenard, Pam Hissey, Tricia Eigo,  Frank Diaz-Balart, Alice Nasta, Mildred Traub, Catherine Ann Brennan, Mary & Tony Fraioli, Hank Lawlor, Sarah Butler, Mimi Cosgrove, Kristen Long, Patrick Lamont, Elizabeth Kim, Eloise Selby, Thomas M. Lamb, for our service men and women at home and abroad; for the faithful departed, MARIE TERRANOVA, JULIE GIBLIN, JOSEPHINE PACE and ANTHONY MAIO,  and those who have no one to pray for them; and for the honored dead of the Armed Services.

 

 

10:30 AM MASS MUSIC NOTES

Tomorrow the nation will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In his honor and memory, the Anthem is “Deep River”, an old beloved Negro Spiritual.

 

 

BAPTISM PREPARATION for PARENTS of INFANTS

To arrange for a Baptism, please call the rectory and you will be given an appointment with one of the parish priests.

Water in the Word

Baptismal Preparation Session Schedule

All sessions are offered on the following Saturday mornings from 10 AM – 11:30 AM. Please call the rectory to attend. We will begin new sessions in 2007. The date for the upcoming class is as follows:  February 3^rd, 2007

 

ALTAR SERVER INFORMATION

Anyone beyond the 5^th grade interested in becoming an Altar Server should contact Fr. Joseph A. Nahas as soon as possible at 834-5458. New Altar Servers can also join by coming to Altar Server practices, which take place every Thursday at 3:30 PM in the Church.

 

 

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

The next meeting of the Youth Group will take place in the rectory meeting room on Sunday, January 20^th, after the 5:00 PM Mass.

 

 

SPIRITUAL NEWS…

The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ Novena will be held at 7:30 PM every Friday.

 

The weekly recitation of the Holy Rosary takes place in the Church each Thursday at 5:15 PM. The church community continues to pray the Rosary every Wednesday following the 9:00 AM Mass. Every one is encouraged to pray the Rosary.

 

 

LECTORS’ PRACTICE

Lectors’ and Youth Ministry Lectors’ practice will simultaneously continue to take place in the Church on Thursdays at 7:30 PM, unless otherwise notified. New members are still welcome!

 

 

FR. BRIAN’S BIBLE CLASS

Father Brian’s class on the new Catechism for Adults will be held on Monday evening, January 15th, at 7:30.  Come one and all even if you have not been previously attending. This program takes place in the rectory meeting room.

 

 

RCIA

The RCIA class will be held n Tuesday, January 16^th, at 7:30 PM in the rectory.

 

 

 

KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS FREE THROW CONTEST

The Larchmont Council of the Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a “Free Throw” contest in the gym on Monday, January 15, 2007. It will begin at 9:00 AM and is opened to both boys and girls ages 9 - 14. Come join in the fun and you might just be a winner.

 

 

 

ADOPTION

Baby girls in China need homes. Infants and toddlers are available. Older parents and singles are welcome. For further information, please call Barbara Salvesen (an adoptive parent) at 1-845-632-5277.

 

 

 

 

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

   Because of the eccentricities of the liturgical year, we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord last Monday. With this feast, we commence the observance of Ordinary Time. Though non-festive, its existence reminds us that our religious experience is significant each and every moment. As Jesus came forth from the Jordan to begin His public ministry, so we who entered the community of faith through the water and the Spirit began our journey to eternal bliss. The promises made for us and by us committed us to a life in which evil is overcome by grace and good is affirmed by faith, hope, and love. Sad to say, we spend too little time reflecting on this reality.

   Modern philosophical stances and some theological formulations heave denied a place in religious thought for the reality of a supernatural power which seeks the destruction of the human soul. The language of psychological dysfunction has replaced the knowledge that “the devil prowls the world…” The programs of religious persecution, the slaughter of serial killers, and the explosions of self-righteous terrorists are diminished in their vile presence by those who label them as misguided or inappropriate reactions to harmful stimuli. Too often rather than be involved in collaborating with others in building up society and creating an environment of peace and justice, we become susceptible to the temptations of self-interest and advancement. The works to which we apply our efforts empty our hearts and fill our cupboards. The light of wisdom we have been given is blocked by dark motives we have permitted to enter our consciousness. We have accepted the façade of appearance in lieu of the reality of substance. Lives of so many of the rich and famous we have envied are often perceived as ones of historical insignificance and moral emptiness.

   The surety of our younger days is perhaps replaced by confusion of contemporary relativism and factual ignorance.

The world has changed. The Church has changes. We have changed. Our desire to do that which is in union with our relationship with God and neighbor is strong but perhaps we lack the necessary direction for an informed decision. The Church is sensitive to that situation. More than twenty years ago, a synod of bishops met with His Holiness Pope John Paul II. Many, including the Vicar of Christ, expressed concern about the dearth of knowledge possessed by their co-religionists concerning faith and moral responses to modern crises. Many were found asking in view of scientific and technological breakthroughs, how are we making clear the necessity of remaining consistent with the deposit of the faith. While we can applaud many positive developments in our grasp of the human adventure, certain changes can be seen as antithetical to the dignity of the human being. Some understandings of our condition are malformed by concepts that divorce themselves from traditional bases and speak more of contemporary hubris. In common parlance: “If it feels good, do it.” “If we can do it, why not”; and “No one has a right to tell me what to do, my situation is unique.”

   From the episcopal endeavors of the 1980’s came the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Its purpose which was fulfilled was to create a compendium of the teachings of the Church as they are understood in light of the Second Vatican Council. The intended audience was in the main, to those charged with the mission of catechizing the larger community, especially bishops and publishers. The Holy Father when he authorized its publication stated that he looked forward to various nations and cultural groups adapting this international document to their unique circumstances. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops took up this challenge for the American people. After various consultations with clergy, religious, and laity, they developed the “Catholic Catechism for Adults.” This text was approved by the Holy See.

   In following the “four pillars” of creed, worship, moral life, and prayer, this catechism has sought in a unique way to express that which unites us to Christ and His Mystical Body. Seven elements are present in each chapter. A story or lesson of faith is given. As a people we can look back at a history filled with men and women who bore many sufferings that the faith might endure. It is recognized as well that our nation has been the recipient of many positive contributions of Catholics many of whom came here to prosper.  A presentation of a particular teaching is then produced. Various themes highlight, for example, the role of the Magisterium, the Sacraments, the Call to Conversion, and the Types of Prayer. The Bishops then included what they called “Sidebars” which link their efforts with those of the authors of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. They might be question from the primary text; explanations of traditional terms such as “lectio divina”; or statements of significant individuals or groups. The text then “returns to the theme of relating Church teaching for a diverse U. S. society. There are many issues to address such as human dignity, fairness, respect, solidarity, and justice….Sometimes there are pristine elements; at other times, challenges are to be met. Issues such as disbelief, relativism, subjectivism, and differences about morality highlight conflicts between Church teachings and the culture. The purpose of this section in each chapter is to point to the way in which the Church proclaims salvation to the cultures, based on confidence in the validity and relevance of Catholic theology.” (XXii-iii) Discussion questions are then presented which the reader can use to apply their understanding or participate in a dialogue which can assist in understanding options and opportunities in drawing closer to the Savior and being of service to others. Towards the end of the chapter, there is a doctrinal summary which assists in clarifying the teaching. We all realize that to be a person of faith requires grace and so the chapter always concludes with prayer.

   Last week we began to study this catechetical text for adults. May I invite you to join us on Monday evening at 7:30 P.M. in the Rectory Meeting Room. Since this is not a credit course or one that demands homework, it is a wonderful opportunity to drop in and learn more about our faith.

   As we are beginning this liturgical time, let us share our experiences and grow in our knowledge. May God bless us all.

Jesus vivat

Fr. Brian