RESURRECTION
of the LORD
MARCH
23, 2008
(M -
Memorial, A - Anniversary)
6:45 ERNEST WILDNER FOX--M
req. by Angelo & Jo
Bruno
9:00 NICHOLAS DANIELLO--M
req.
by Nancy & Bill Winnis
TUESDAY, MARCH 25
6:45 TIMOTHY J. REGAN--M
req. by Ro & Jack
Regan
9:00 MIGNON BAILEY--M
req. by Ralph
Santoliquirdo
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
6:45 THE FONTANA
FAMILY
9:00 CHARLOTTE
and MALACHY CONCANNON--M
reg. by Maura &
Richard Concannon
THURSDAY, MARCH
27
6:45 FRANCES DICKSON--M
req.
by Sara Orgel
9:00 THE
MONHAN FAMILY
req. by Pat Barberio
6:45 MARY PERRONE--M
req. by the Clergy &
the People of Sts. John & Paul Parish
9:00 KATHLEEN and TIM VALECHE--M
req. by Pat Sweeney
9:00
PAUL and JOYCE CARROLL--M
req. by the Nealon Family
5:30
FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE
PARISH
SUNDAY, MARCH
30
7:30 MARGARET
KEELAN--M
req. by Jane & Paul Kuhn
9:00 DONNA
SMITH--M
req. by Sheila & Ken Nixon
10:30 CHARLES
ROSENBERG--M
req. by Katie FitzGerald
12:00 RONALD
MIRABELLA--M
req. by Maria & Jeff
Phillips
5:00 EILEEN WEIT--M
Req. by Alice & Henry
Malgrande
PRAYERFUL
REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for
the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Justin Striegold, Pat
O”Rourke, Peggy McDermott, Fran Lawlor, Pam Blaney, Susan Wynkcoop, Winnie
Mullin, Caroline Weldon, Ralph Giampietro, Ray Galinski, Alice Malgrande, Joan
Genaro, Gabriel Fay, Barbara Santorsola, John O’Keefe, Jean Harder, Bill Sabia, Robert O. Walcovy, Rev. Robert Gannon, Beth Hersh, Charles Donovan, Msgr. Joseph Boyd, Joey
Mileti, 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. VINCENT D’AURIOL, REV. MANUEL ROJAS, and WAYNE BLEDINER, 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: (03 – 16 – 08):
$12,597
Attendance:
1,152
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.
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: April 5th, May 3rd and June 7th.
10:30 AM
MASS MUSIC NOTES
“Alleluia” by Randall
Thompson was written at the request of Dr. Serge Koussevitsky, Director of the
Berkshire Music Center. It was the first performance by the student body on
July 8, 1940 for the opening exercises of the music center. Since that time,
its popularity has grown immensely and is performed by choirs throughout the
world.
SAINTS
JOHN and PAUL SCHOOL NEWS…
Due to an increased demand, Sts John and Paul School has opened up an
additional Kindergarten class. As a result, we are accepting applicants for the
2008-2009 school year. Please contact the school at 834-6332 for more
information, tours, and applications.
*Please note the school will is closed for Easter recess and will open
again on Monday, March 31st. Thank you!
CALENDAR
of EVENTS for the WEEK
TUESDAY, MARCH 25th:
6:00 PM RMR: Cub Scouts
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26th:
10:30 AM SARAH NEUMAN: Service followed by Mass
2:50 & 7:15 PM SCH: Religious Education classes
THURSDAY, MARCH 27th:
8:00 PM RMR: K of C Social Night
FRIDAY, MARCH 28th:
5:00 PM GYM: Baseball
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS…
There will be NO
Religious Education classes on Sunday, March 23rd. Have a blessed
Easter!
Wednesday classes will
resume on March 26th and Sunday classes will be held on March 30th.
WITH
GRATEFUL APPRECIATION…
Thank you again for
your overwhelming response to our food collection for Easter. Everyone is
always amazed by your generosity. Your financial help also allowed us to buy
chickens and hams for the poor. Those being: Sacred Heart in Mt. Vernon (our
adopted parish for over 25 years), Fr. Groeschel for the South Bronx and
Abraham House also in the South Bronx. Keep the food coming every week if you
can remember. There is always a need for it. Just yesterday, Sr. Bridget from
the Sisters of Life called us for help. Have a wonderful Easter!
THE
CATHOLIC WIDOWS and WIDOWERS GROUP
The Catholic Widows and
Widowers group cordially invites all widows and widowers to attend the monthly
Mass at 7:00 PM for deceased spouses followed by the monthly meeting on Monday,
March 24th, at St. Pius X Parish Hall in Scarsdale. For more
information, please call Ann Collins at 946-1379.
ATTENTION
ALL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
There will be a dance
on Friday, April 4th, beginning at 7:00 PM in the auditorium for all
students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Permission slips for this event can be picked
up at the Religious Education office, school office or rectory. So mark your
calendars and plan on attending this fun filled night.
FROM the
KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS…
All men of the parish
are cordially invited to an open social night this Thursday, March 27th,
at 8:00 PM in the rectory meeting room. The Knights are look forward to meeting
you and sharing some good conversation, food, drink, and “March madness”. We
will also be able to answer any questions you may have about membership.
Our First Degree
Ceremony, initiating new members, will take place in the RMR on Thursday, April
10th, at 7:30 PM. In order to participate, you must fill-in a “Form
100 J”, which will be available at the social night. Please e-mail John Latona,
Membership chairman at larchmontknightsmembership@catholicweb.com
to RSVP, or for more details.
EASTER EGG
HUNT
Our annual Easter Egg Hunt for 3 – 8 year olds will be held on the
Second Sunday of Easter, March 30th. Please join us in the
auditorium after the 10:30 Mass!
VEGAS
NIGHT – A SOCIAL EVENING at IONA PREP
On Saturday, April 12,
the Fathers’ Council of Iona Prep presents “Vegas Night – A social evening at
Iona Prep”. Vegas Night will be held from 7:00pm to 12:00pm at the Prep with
casino games, food, drink and fun. Admission of $35 per person included
appetizers, dinner buffet, drinks from 7 to 9 PM (cash bar after 9:00 PM) and $10
of complimentary casino chips. Sponsorships are also available. For more
information and tickets, please call Matthew O’Malley at 963-2969. You must be 21 years or older to attend.
CAMP ECHO
BAY
Camp Echo Bay run by
the Salesians will hold an Open House on Saturday, April 5th, and
Sunday, April 6th, from 1 to 4 PM. The camp is located at Salesian
High School on Main Street in New Rochelle.
EASTER
FLOWER MEMORIALS
IN MEMORY OF DONOR
Marie D. Ruggiero & Dominick
D. Ruggiero
Angelina & Henry Ruggiero &
Anna & Thomas D’Ambrosio
James Savastano & The
Davidson Family
Joan Savastano
The Fiorito Family & Annita
Fiorito
Vincenzo Cirillo
Saporito & Loiaconi Families Joanne
& Jake Saporito
Charles & Gladys Corbett William
R. Corbette
Elizabeth Kealy Ruth
Regan
Dominick Forti, Jr. & Alby
Wassell
Larry Edwards &
Salvatore Vetro &
Peter Conlan
Helen & Thomas Tierney Carolyn
Tierney
Earl & Rose Travers Deacon
James & Louise
Brown
Antonette, Louis & Carmie Rosetta Mangieri
Mangieri
M/M Anthony Mazzari & M/M Bruno Mazzari
M/M Joseph Spagna &
M/M Louis Russo
Marietta & Dominic Pacione & Mrs.
Nathan Shaw
Nathan Shaw
THE
PASTOR’S COLUMN
“Bad news sells.” This credo seems to be
especially operative in recent weeks. The government of our state was shaken by
revelations of improper conduct. The construction industry has witnessed a
number of tragic accidents depriving workers of their lives. Well established
financial institutions have experienced such losses that their very existence
is threatened and thousands are in danger of losing their homes and/or
financial security. News from around the globe is no better. In Iraq not only
did we hear of the continuing injury and death of our young service people but
also of the kidnapping and death of a Catholic archbishop. Weather extremes
have cost thousands their homes as the winds blew and the rains fell. Others
have been dislocated as civil wars drag on causing famine and disease in
refugee camps. These crisises which draw our attention in the media are only the
tips of the iceberg of the human condition. Families are dealing with
disruptions as addictions take control of its members. Spouses experience hurt
as they become aware of the straying of their partners. Long-term employees
lose their means of supporting their families. Many are the reasons for modern
man to despair. Despite scientific advancement and technological progress, a
sea of unhappiness and hopelessness threatens to drown this millennial
generation. Even those who are prospering, experiencing success in business,
and seemingly living the American dream testify to a void in their existences.
Those in the helping professions are seeing more and more people with complex
issues which threaten their mental stability and emotional security.
How blessed are those who celebrate with
heart and mind the hope of Easter. For this is a response to the limitations of
the present moment. No matter how burdened the believer is now, he knows there
is an eternal tomorrow. Pope John Paul II wrote in one of his final works:
“Crossing the Threshold of Hope”, a reflection on the ending of a century and
its successor. He put time in
perspective for the Christian and his destiny: “The Creator, from the
beginning, saw a multitude of good in creation. He saw it especially in man,
made in His image and likeness. He saw this good in His incarnate Son. He saw
it as a duty for His Son and for all rational creatures. Pushing the divine
limit to the limits, we can say that God saw this good specifically in the
Passion and in the Death of His Son. This good would be confirmed at the
Resurrection, which is the beginning of a new final destiny of all creatures.
And this destiny is expressed in the fact that God will be ‘all in all’ (I Cor
15:28). (44)
Unfortunately, at times, we lose this
perspective when overwhelmed by the toils and tribulations of everyday life. We
must become aware that as much as the Lord’s rising is a cosmological and
universally salrufic event, it is one which has personal significance for each
believer. In the Lord’s triumph, is our victory. This does not refer merely to
the future, but is a present reality. As John Paul II wrote: “Eschatology
(teachings concerning the last things and man’s ultimate destiny) is not what
will take place in the future, something happening only after earthly life is
finished. Eschatology has already begun with the coming of Christ. The ultimate
eschatological event was His redemptive Death and His Resurrection. This is the
beginning of a ‘new heaven and a new earth’ (cf. Rev 21:1).” (184-85) The Risen
Christ is our companion as we encounter life’s joys and sorrows. Because of His
obedience to the will of the Father, we have received the gift of the Advocate.
At no moment are we alone. Though we might feel, at times, isolated from human
companionship because of family discord or death, He is present. Though we
might be deprived of a position of employment and think that we are no longer
valued, He assures us that it was for our sake that He gave His life. Though we
might have been struck down by a serious illness and indeed, might be facing
death, He is touching us with divine healing preparing us for true fullness.
Though we might not be aware of His presence, we are never forgotten by Him who
knitted us in our mother’s womb, called us by name, and will be with us all
days.
The Easter promise of new life is a lived experience
as we witness His love in the service of others. The parish of Saints John and
Paul has been blessed by the priestly service of Father Bernie of Graymoor,
Father Jim of the Salesian community, Father Tom of Archbishop Stepinac High
School, and Father Emmanuel of Fordham. Each has shared their ministerial
skills with us despite the burdens they bear in their canonical assignments.
How blessed we are in the diaconal service of James Brown. Deacon Jim has been
a constant support in carrying out many diverse sacred celebrations and his
wise counsel is always appreciated. In this regard as well, I must acknowledge
the assistance of Jack Shea. He leads our skilled lectors and Eucharistic
ministers who not only serve in the sanctuary but visit our homebound and those
in Sarah Neumann Nursing Home. They are truly representative of a generosity of
time and talent which we see throughout the people of God here at SJP. We must
not forget our ushers or altar servers who enhance the liturgical experience.
Saint Augustine reminded us that “to sing is to pray twice”. We are gifted with
a music ministry populated by both members of the senior choir and young people
in the children’s choir. Their volunteer efforts lift the minds and hearts of
all. Our parish is constantly a vortex of activity. We rejoice in the number of
parishioners who serve as religious education instructors, school volunteers,
sports coaches, leaders in the youth program, volunteers for the various social
programs in which the parish is involved. We cannot forget the contributions of
the P.S.P.A., the S.R.A., the Women’s Guild, or the Knights of Columbus. Each
of these persons has built our church community into what it has become. I must
close, finally with a note of gratitude to all who have graciously provided the
spiritual foundation and the fiscal support for our parish’s continued witness
to the Sound Shore communities of Larchmont, Mamaroneck, and New Rochelle. May
the Lord reward you all for what you have so generously shared.
I will remember each of you in my Easter
Masses. As we say each week but more so at this sacred moment.
Jesus vivat,
Fr. Brian