FIRST
SUNDAY of LENT
FEBRUARY
10, 2007
(M -
Memorial, A - Anniversary)
OUR LADY of LOURDES
6:45 BARBARA NICOLINI--M
req. by the Clergy & the
People of Sts. John & Paul Parish
9:00 THOMAS
CAMPANELLI--M
req. by Ed & Rita
Clarke
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
6:45 THE FONTANA FAMILY
9:00 SPECIAL INTENTION for the LIVING: JOEY MILETI
req. by Maria D. Markey
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13
6:45 AGNES DORAN--M
9:00 JOSEPHINE
and CORNELIUS SHIELDS, PAUL V. SHIELDS, and AILEEN SHIELDS BRYAN--M
reg. by the Shields Family
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
CYRIL,
monk, and METHODIUS, bishop
6:45 JOHN and ANNE
MARIE MC WEENEY--M
req.
by Fr. Brian
9:00 J.
ADDISON YOUNG, JR.--M
req.
by Jim & Mary McGee
6:45 SILVIA CURRY---M
req. by the Clergy &
the People of Sts. John & Paul Parish
9:00 CHRISTINA MARIA HOLNESS--M
req. by Mrs. D. Fazio
9:00 JACK CONNOLLY--M
req. by Don & Maris
Vidler
5:30 FOR THE PEOPLE
OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY
17
7:30 MARY
A. and EDWARD LADIN and ROSE DUDEK--M
req. by the Ladin Family
9:00 EUGENE
GRIFFIN--M
req. by Jeanne Francavilla
10:30 RONALD
MIRABELLA--M
req. by Sandy & Ernest
Lemmo
12:00 ROSEANNE
WARD--M
req. by her son
5:00 JOHN BARBERIO--M
req. by Pat Barberio
PRAYERFUL
REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for
the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Ann Marsilia, Ralph
Giamprietro, Ray Galinski, Alice Malgrande, Joan Genaro, Gabriel Fay, Barbara
Santorsola, John O’Keefe, Jean Harder,
Bill Sabia, Bruno Mazzari, Robert O. Walcovy, Rev. Robert Gannon, Beth Hersh, Charles Donovan, Msgr. Joseph Boyd, Joey Mileti, Theresa Astorino,
Dotty Doherty, Joan Porrazzo, Lenny
Cavalieri, Jenna Mussolini, Teresa Civetta, Frank Maiola, Aileen O’Brien, Ed
Lenard, Pam Hissey, Tricia Eigo, Skylar Bahrenburg, Mary & Tony Fraioli, Hank Lawlor, Sarah Butler, Mimi Cosgrove,
Kristen Long, Patrick Lamont, Elizabeth Kim,
for our service men and women at home and abroad; for the faithful
departed, REV. RALPH A. VILLANI and GUILIANO COMMISSO, , and for those who have
no one to pray for them; and for the honored dead of the Armed Services.
SUNDAY COLLECTION
Last week’s collection: (02 – 03 – 08):
$10,252
Maintenance: $ 3,063
Attendance: 876
The parish of Saints John and Paul thanks you for
your support. We are grateful to our parishioners who use the envelope system.
If you wish to receive Church support envelopes, please call the Rectory at
834-5458.
STATIONS
of the CROSS
There will be Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent at 8:00
PM.
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 Saturday mornings from 10 AM – 11:30 AM. Please call the rectory to attend.
Classes in 2008 will be: March 1st, April 5th, May 3rd
and June 7th.
10:30 AM
MASS MUSIC NOTES
In the Gospel story
today, the devil tried to tempt Jesus by offering Him “all the kingdoms of the
world in their magnificence” if He would worship him. Jesus, of course, refused
saying “Get away, Satan!” We are reminded of this wonderful story as the Choir
sings “You can have all this world, but give me Jesus” from the beloved
spiritual “Give me Jesus”.
FR.
BRIAN’S CLASS
Fr. Brian’s class will
be held on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11th, at 7:30 PM in the rectory.
DEVOTION
of the MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD
There is devotion of
the Most Precious Blood every Friday evening at 7:30 in the church.
YOUTH
GROUP NEWS…
The Youth Group will
meet this Sunday, February 10th, at 6:00 PM in the RMR. There will
be a speaker from Habitat for Humanity.
CALENDAR
of EVENTS for the WEEK
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10th: 3rd:
St. Valentine’s Bake Sale after all the morning Masses (Rel. Ed.)
10:10 AM SCH: Religious Education classes
12 Noon GYM: Basketball
6:00 PM RMR: Youth Group Meeting
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11th:
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
7:30 PM RMR: Fr. Brian’s class
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12th:
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
6:00 PM AUD: Cub Scout Pack Meeting
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th:
10:30 AM SARAH NEUMAN: Service followed by Mass
12:45 PM RMR: 4th grade Girl Scouts
2:50 & 7:15 PM SCH: Religious Education classes
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14th:
4:00 PM GYM Basketball
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15th:
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th:
9:00 AM GYM: Basketball
LENTEN
REGULATIONS
Fridays during Lent
are days of abstinence. That means that any one over the age of 14 should not
eat meat. Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence.
CHANCE
BOOK SALES
Students from our
parish school will be selling chances after the 5:30 PM Mass on Saturday and on
Sunday after the 9:00, and 10:30 AM Masses and after the 12 Noon Mass. This
effort is part of the PSPA’s upcoming fundraiser that will be held on Friday,
March 7th. Please stop by and purchase a chance or book of chances from
a student. Thank you in advance for your support.
BABY
SHOWER
The Women’s Guild is
sponsoring a BABY SHOWER to benefit the Daystar Program at St. Vincent’s
Hospital in Harrison on Sunday, March 2nd, after the 9:00 AM Family
Mass. The event will be in the auditorium. The Guild will be collecting newborn
and small size disposable diapers and Enfamil with Iron Powdered Formula. There
will be a collection box in the vestibule between the school and the church
where items can be left. Cash donations are accepted and checks should be made
out to GOOD COUNSEL HOMES.
Thank you!
CONGRATULATIONS
to the YOUTH GROUP!!!
This past Friday and
Saturday evenings the parish was treated to a delightful performance of
“Arsenic and Old Lace” that was presented by members of our Youth Group. The
teens put on an exceptional show that all who attend thoroughly enjoyed. A
thank you has to be given to all the adults who gave of their time and talents
to help the teens with this production.
ATTENTION:
ALL PRESENTLY SERVING SERVING ALTAR SERVERS
There will be an important meeting with Fr. Brian for all Altar Servers
this Monday, February 11th, at 3:15 PM in the Church.
NEWS from
the KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS
“The Knights of
Columbus are looking for new members to help continue and expand their service
to our parish and community. All men over the age of 18 who value faith, family
and community (and fun), please consider joining our council, one of the
largest lay Catholic organizations in the world. Please visit our website at
http://home.catholicweb.com/larchmontknights/
LISA
Tune into Channel 75
on Thursday, February 14th, at 8:00 PM or Friday, February 15th,
at 2:00 and 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM to hear our pastor, Fr. Brian McWeeney, discuss
with our own parishioner, Lisa Manning, the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI
to the archdiocese.
ANNUAL
WOMEN’S RETREAT
The annual Sts. John
& Paul Women’s Retreat weekend, at the Passionist Spiritual Center in
Riverdale, will be held from Friday, April 11th, until Sunday, April
13th. This year’s retreat theme is “Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled
-- Come To Me – And Let us Live Life With Passion.”
The weekend retreat
donation is $175, of which $75 reservation deposit is included. There are also
reduced fees for partial attendance. If you have not received your reservation
form or are interested in attending for the first time, please contact Karen,
reservation secretary (718-549-6500) or Lorraine Stratis (834-6012).
LENTEN
MORNING of RECOLLECTION
St. Augustine’s
Auxiliary invites you all to a Lenten Morning of Recollection on Saturday, March
1, 2008, at St. Augustine’s Church. The program starts with a 9:00 AM Mass and
continues after Mass in the cafeteria with a 10:00 AM lecture by Father Richard
J. Dillon, S.T.L., S.S.D. titled: “The Christian Gospel as the Word of the
Cross (1 Cor.1:18)”. Please RSVP to Ann Meehan at 834-1230 or Anne-Mike Smeets
at 834-0194 if you would like to attend.
BASKETBALL
CAMP
The Frank Conroy
Basketball Camp will be held from February 18 -22 at Holy Trinity Greek
Orthodox Church in New Rochelle. It is for boys and girls ages 7 to 15. For
more information, please call 576-9826.
HAVE YOU
SEEN or MAYBE BORROWED?
There are three set of
orange electrical extension cords with dimmer switches in the middle of each
that have been taken from the choir loft. If you have seen them or know where
they are, please contact the rectory (834-5458), ask for Charlotte, and let her
where they are. Thank you!
URSULINE
OUTREACH
Ursuline Outreach is
having its annual dinner dance in support of The Adult Learning Center on
Thursday, March 6th, at Beckwith Point Club in New Rochelle. The
cost of a ticket is $100.00. Checks should be made out to The Adult Learning
Center or Ursuline Outreach and mailed to The Adult Learning Center, 138 Center
Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801. For more information, please call 633-7298 or
email usoalc@aol.com.
THE PASTOR’S
COLUMN
Fittingly in a week in which St.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated, the Church acknowledges the sacrament of
Marriage by designating this Sunday as World Marriage Day. In Saint Patrick’s
Cathedral, the couples with the longest unions will be honored by His Eminence
and the Family Life Office. They certainly serve our faith community and the
larger society as an example of how the grace of God and the efforts of human
beings can cause relationships to mature and endure as long as they both shall live.
What a blessing to have among us such people who have embodied the wisdom of
Scripture and Church teaching! Genesis tells us that “it is not good for man to
be alone” and again “this is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins
himself to his wife.” Jesus commands: “What God has placed together let no man
put asunder.” Church Fathers promoted marriage in their writings for they saw
it as St. Paul did: an analogy for the relationship between Christ and His
Church. Popes have issued various instructions down through the centuries for
the fruitful realization of the purposes of marriage: the expression of mutual
love and pro-creation. One must note the great contributions of His Holiness
John Paul II in “Love and Responsibility” and his Wednesday audiences which
comprise his “Theology of the Body.” For the balance of this column, I would
like to recall the statements of Paul VI which focused on what he saw as
natural characteristics of any marriage.
He first pointed to permanency. Let us
define that term carefully. It does not mean a life term with no chance of
parole. It does mean a point of stability around which every other element of
life travels. No matter what happens: illness, business reversals, misbehavior
of children, the committed partners will see it through. In 1972, I recall
speaking to an IBM employee who lauded the company because it had never laid
off one employee. In 1994, when I returned to the Hudson Valley, the work force
of 45,000 for that large employer was in the process of being reduced to
12,000. Nothing lasts forever, save our promise before God to the love of our
lives. I often tell the story of my parents’ first meeting and ultimate union.
They met in a dance hall on the upper eastside of Manhattan. They danced around
for five years until John McWeeney finally “popped the question” in his brogue
which he never lost: “Annie, dear, tell me would you like to be buried with my
people.” Unfortunately, that was as romantic as my father would get. But know
the meaning behind the words. He could never imagine any person or circumstance
that could ever separate him from this woman save death. He was true to his word
until he returned to God whereupon my mother never danced again until their
fiftieth anniversary in heaven.
When we speak of “exclusivity” in a
sacramental marriage, we are not excluding merely the obvious infidelity with
another man or woman. In too many situations, the unique position of one’s
spouse is violated by considering other people or things more important. Some
examples might be in order. When one forms a true partnership under God, it
must be realized that it is one’s first priority. An obsessive work ethic can
violate this. By spending hours on the computer or accepting a position which
requires physical absence, one is not building a real future bur divining a
larger divorce settlement. Even as adults, we are called to respect our parents
and care for their needs. However, this is not to be to the determent of the
marital parties. The spouse is to be the first consideration when serving
others. From my experience, when we were part of the formation team for the
Permanent Diaconate, we stressed with the aspirants and candidates the primacy
of family. Finally, it might seem very laudatory to be very conscientious
parents but everything must have proper parameters. I have had a number of
couples in marriage counseling considering separation and divorce. Their unions
might have lasted twenty-five years or more. After some discussions, it becomes
obvious that there is stress in the relationship because the couple’s last
child has just left the house. For all the years, they had been together they
concentrated their efforts on having children, nurturing them, and educating
them. Now having breakfast together, they look across the table at each other
and realize they have little in common. They have failed to enrich their
relationship with private times for each other.
Using Genesis once again, we are advised
that in the martial relationship the “two become one.” This is not just a pious
statement, this is a moral mandate. All major decisions must be participatory.
One partner should not get into the custom of speaking for the other without
consultation. Times for dialogue must be set aside. Communication skills must
be honed. Even arguments should be played by the rules. To ensure that we are
making judgments which are in union with Church teaching, it is important not
only to research the position she has taken, it is necessary as well to pray to
God for divine grace and wisdom. I might add as well that when there is a
difference of opinion between husband and wife, the objective party who is a
priest, religious, or professional lay person might contribute a previously
unexplored alternative. All of us come from different family origins. We have different educational back grounds.
We have different cultural expectations. Therefore, disagreements are only
natural. But they should not be seen as necessarily negative. Through them we
can learn and appreciate more about each other and how we can grow as one.
It might seem obvious but the final
characteristic of catholic marriage is that it is human. When we say “yes” to
each other before the priest or deacon and the faith community, we are
accepting each other’s warts as well as values, our vices as well as virtues.
Therefore, forgiveness must be ever present as we live together. No one person
is always right or always wrong. We must appreciate our partner and humbly ask
for forgiveness when we were stupid for placing a relationship is jeopardy just
to be in control of a situation. It is amazing how quickly the “silent
treatment” can build up walls between people and how quickly they disappear
when “I’m sorry” is uttered.
On this special Sunday or perhaps on
Thursday take the time to say “I say glad you said that you would love me for
as long as both of us shall live. How empty my existence would be without you.”
And maybe these sentiments should be expressed much more frequently.
May Jesus who was present at Cana be with
you always.
Jesus vivat,
Fr. Brian