SEVENTH SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME

FEBRUARY 18, 2007

(M - Memorial, A - Anniversary)

 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19

                 9:00          CATHERINE WYLIE--M                                                                                                                req. by Mary Jane & Paul Krebbs

 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20

                  6:45         AGNES DORAN--M

                  9:00         HELEN STUART--M

                                     req. by Pat Struab

                        

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21

ASH WEDNESDAY

                  6:45         BERNARD BROOKS--M

                                     req. by the Family

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

                                     reg. by Maura & Richard Concannon

                  3:30         LITURGY of the WORD (Prayer Service)

                  7:30         KATHRYN BRICKER--M

                                     req. by Ann Lyons

                                                            

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22

CHAIR of ST. PETER, apostle

                  6:45         JOHN DESMOND—M

                                     req. by Peter & Mary Pinkowish

                  9:00         CARLO VENTIMIGLIA--M

                                     req. by Rita & Ed Clarke

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23

                 6:45         MARY A. and EDWARD S. LADIN and ROSE DUDEK--M

                                      req. by the Ladin Family

                 9:00         MARGARET MAGUIRE--M

                                    req. by Grace Cosgrove

                                 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24

             9:00         CHARLOTTE and MALACHY CONCANNON--M

                                 req. by Maura & Richard Concannon

             5:30         MARGARET MAGUIRE--M

                                 req. by the King Family

 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2518

                  7:30         FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH

                  9:00         MARGARET MAGUIRE--M

                                     req. by Mary & Lex Greason

                10:30         CHRIS CHRISTIE--M

                                     req. by Anne & Peter Murphy

                12:00         ENZA SANTOLI--M

                                     req. by Dolores Ramos

     5:00         MARGARET and MARTIN HEAVEY--M

                        req. by the FitzGerald Family

                                  

PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCES

Your prayers are requested for the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially:  Michael Francella, Msgr. Joseph J. Boyd,  J.  Kevin Dymes, Jr. Winnie Mullin, Ramona Murill, Debra Abrahamsen, Patricia  Kuhr, Theresa Astorino, Joseph Mileti, Dotty Doherty, Caroline Weldon, Brenda McWeeney, Lenny Cavalieri, Jenna Mussolini, Teresa Civetta, Frank Maiola, Aileen O’Brien,  Sister Margaret Coakley, 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, ROBERT J. KREBBS, DEACON FRANK CARLINO, GLORIA NICASTRI, and those who have no one to pray for them; and for the honored dead of the Armed Services.

 

 

PRESIDENTS’ DAY

Monday, February 19^th, is Presidents’ Day, a national holiday. There will be NO 6:45 AM Mass. The Parish Office, the Religious Education Office and the school will be closed. Enjoy holiday!

 

10:30 AM MASS MUSIC NOTES

The Anthem selected for this Sunday is a beautiful polyphonic piece by Thomas Tallis entitled “If Ye Love Me”. It begins “If ye love me, keep my commandments”, simply yet elegantly paraphrasing today’s Gospel Acclamation: “I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.”

 

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:  March 3^rd, April 14^th, FRIDAY, MAY 4^th at 7:30 pm, and June 2^nd.

 

 

LENTEN REGULATIONS!!!

Wednesday, February 21^st, is Ash Wednesday. In addition to our regularly scheduled masses, we will have a 3:30 PM Liturgy of the Word Service and a 7:30 PM Mass.

Lenten Fast and Abstinence – During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the faithful to reflect a spirit of penance in their daily life through performing acts of fast and abstinence.

FASTING requires that only one full meal be taken per day. Two smaller meals may be taken during the day to maintain physical strength, but these two meals together should not equal a full meal in quantity. Fasting obliges all those who have reached the age of 18 and continues to oblige until age 59. Those not specifically obliged to fast are encouraged to join the discipline of fasting to the extent they are able.

ABSTINENCE prohibits individuals from eating meat on a particular day. Abstinence obliges all those who have reached the age of 14 and continues to oblige throughout their entire life. Those not specifically obliged to abstain from eating meat are encouraged to join in this discipline to the extent that they are able.

ASH WEDNESDAY and GOOD FRIDAY are days of fast and abstinence. FRIDAYS in Lent are days of abstinence.

 

 

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.

 

FR. BRIAN’S BIBLE CLASS

Father Brian’s class on the new Catechism for Adults will be held on Monday evening, February 19th, 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 on Tuesday, February 20th, at 7:30 PM in the rectory.

 

CYO BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

All boys and girls, 5^th through 8^th grade, are invited to play on Saints John and Paul CYO baseball and softball teams. We will have two teams in teach sport – JV (5^th and 6^th graders) and Varsity (7^th and 8^th graders). Season runs from April to early June.

If interested, please contact John Hannaway at 914-948-2540 or hannawayjj@aol.com.

 

 

MANY THANKS!!!

Dear Fr. McWeeney,

Through the kindness of Roberta Ronan, I send this note of gratitude to you and your parishioners for the generous contribution which has benefited our Sacred Heart Food Pantry.

Your thoughtfulness has touched the lives of many in our community as we are sure they have enjoyed a bountiful Holiday.

Please be assured of our sincere thanks and promised prayers.

Sincerely,

Msgr. Howard W. Calkins, Pastor

 

RETREAT NEWS for MEN

There will be a retreat for men the weekend of March 2 – 4^th at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Riverdale. Retreatants will have the opportunity to meet in private sessions with members of the Passionist retreat team, attend conferences, prayer sessions, workshops, Reconciliation, and enjoy quiet time.

The suggested offering for the two nights lodging, five meals and staff costs is $175 which includes a $75 deposit.

For additional information, please contact Joe Gryzlo at 630-4929.

ANNUAL WOMEN’S RETREAT

The annual Sts. John & Paul women’s retreat weekend, at the Passionist Spiritual Center will be held from Friday, April 13^th, until Sunday, April 15^th. This year’s retreat theme is:” For God So Loved The World…”

The weekend retreat donation is $175, of which a $75 reservation deposit is included. 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 Linda Heine (698-7664).

 

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

   This Wednesday we are once again invited to contemplate the Paschal Mystery. As the ashes are placed on our forehead, we are called to adopt the penitential practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. As Jesus himself began his public ministry with forty days of preparation so we realize that the Easter experience requires a time in which we focus on our relationship with the Savior.

   Under the dictum of the Lord to pray, it is most appropriate that we show our appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist by participating daily in its celebration. St. John the Evangelist speaks of the necessity to eat of the Body and to drink of the Blood in order that we might have eternal life. Because of the availability of Sacrament of salvation too often we fail to be awed by the fact that we have the opportunity to experience an intimacy with the divine that Abraham, Moses, and David could not imagine. So much of our material well being centers around what we consume. We seek to strengthen ourselves by eliminating those foods which might cause us to be lethargic and “bulk up” with those that supply energy and assist the senses. Our spirituality with its life changing goals should receive at least the same amount if not more attention. We must not fail to take seriously the wisdom of the Council Fathers when they trumpeted the Eucharist as the source and summit of our Christian life. In this holy season, the excuse of lack of time should be summarily dismissed. We can and should search out Mass times which coordinate with our schedules. We should be willing to prioritize this unique encounter with the Lamb of God. Secondarily, especially, if we have not attended the Holy Sacrifice on a particular day, we should spend some moments in Eucharistic adoration. Mother Teresa would admonish clergy, religious, and laity that they could accomplish more good in their lives if they would place themselves in the Lord’s presence for an hour. (Henri Nouwen’s writings would be most appropriate readings at such a time.) In the quiet of that occasion the wisp of divine wisdom will enter in.

   The whole area of lectio divina is a valuable form of prayer. A methodic examination of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, or one of the other prophets enables us to benefit from the struggle of a fellow believer as well as place in context the mission of the Messiah. Biographies of our spiritual ancestors give us insights into Christian living today. Many of them were parents, some widowed; some had to overcome addictions; while others were converts. They come from among the lay community while others were priests or religious. Noteworthy as well are the works on theology which can deepen our knowledge as well as nourish our relationship with God and his people. As a teacher, few have the credentials of our present chief shepherd. He is the author of tours de force on the subject of liturgical renewal and dogmatic truth. One of my favorite books is a meditation on the seven last words of Christ by John Neuhaus: ”Death on a Friday Afternoon.”

   When observed decades ago fasting was strictly delineated by Church regulation. In addition to Lent, there were collections of Ember and Rogation days as well as eves of great feasts to heed. Following the Second Vatican Council, there were determinations made by Pope Paul VI as well as various conferences of bishops to invite the faith community to revere the ancient tradition in an individual way. Rules of abstinence were altered, as well, to stress personal responsibility. Unfortunately, some Catholics misinterpreted the intentions of the Church. They thought that the signal from Church administrators was one which was putting aside fasting as a valued practice. At this time, more than any other, we must acknowledge that this perspective is a gross error. Our society can often be accurately described as addictive. Too many lose their souls to destructive habits. Overeating and drinking, becoming overwhelmed by computer gaming, shopping beyond one’s means are all forms of passionate dysfunction. To control one’s food intake is a sign that we recognize the presence of free will in our lives and the dignity of humankind over individual passions. Intellect and will must be able to trump the irrational parts of our existence. The surrendering of other activities which give us pleasure is also apt as part of our Lenten observance. For instance, TV viewing, athletic participation, eating dessert, or smoking are all elements which could be limited or totally eliminated during this time. I recall my mother gave up sugar in her tea as a sacrifice one penitential season. She never went back on that practice for fifty years.

   While sacrifice helps us to change our behavior by interior exploration, the final part of the triad aids us in looking outward. Almsgiving or charity opens our minds and hearts to the degree that we begin to appreciate the Lord’s blessings in our lives as well as the needs of others. It would be a mistake, however, to restrict our consideration to merely financial considerations. The first degree of the theological virtue is justice. During this time in which we reflect on our justification by means of human injustice, we should seek out those situations in which we perceive that human rights are being ignored. Concrete actions are called for when we see people are homeless or in substandard housing, when we become aware of employment practices of low wages and poor working conditions, and when we are confronted by religious bigotry and racial discrimination. Not far from our homes are men and women who require assistance in various aspects of their education and culture. Volunteers are always needed by literacy programs. Because of the nature of the activity, many are required. The Mamaroneck-Larchmont area can boast of a fine branch of Habitat for Humanity. Mothers and their children have very unique requirements. The Daystar program on the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Harrison is always receptive to offers of help. Our Sound Shore Hospital servers a community of people who are frequently without familial support who could benefit from some interaction with a concerned person. Our schools and the area programs which care for our youth desire mature example of academic success and social development. The media is constantly reminding us of the need for blood. Of course, as part of our penance, monetary support is helpful to non-profit agencies or church organizations. Charity comes in many forms.

   This week we are once again distributing a Lenten devotional. Please utilize it in whatever way you see fit. Attend the Stations of the Cross every Friday. Let us pray for one another that a fruitful Lent will give way to a joy filled Easter.

  Jesus vivat

Fr. Brian