FIFTH
SUNDAY of EASTER
APRIL
20, 2008
(M -
Memorial, A - Anniversary)
MONDAY, APRIL 21
ANSELM, bishop, doctor
6:45 ANNA BOUCHARD--M
req. by the Clergy &
the People
of Sts. John & Paul
Parish
9:00 HELEN MARA NUGENT and JOSEPH
NUGENT--M
req. by Maura &
Richard Concannon
TUESDAY, APRIL 22
6:45 GIOVANNI
D’ANDREA--A
req. By Anthony D’Andrea
9:00 ANNE TASSARA--M
req. by Diane
Rende
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
GEORGE,
martyr
ADALBERT,
bishop, martyr
6:45 THE FONTANA
FAMILY
9:00 MARGE
KEELAN--M
reg. by Ann Lyons
THURSDAY, APRIL
24
FIDELIS of
SIGMARINGEN, priest, martyr
6:45 SPECIAL
INTENTION for the LIVING: LARS SCHONANDER
req.
by the Family
9:00 CHARLOTTE
and MALACHY CONCANNON--M
req. by Maura & Richard Concannon
MARK, evangelist
6:45 ANNE BOUCHARD--M
req. by Angelo & Jo
Bruno
9:00 ROBERT
MULDERRIG--M
req. by Alice H. Mulderrig
9:00
ALFRED LIVERZANI--M
req. by Diane & Ted Haley
5:30 LAWRENCE
FLINK--M
req. by the Family
SUNDAY, APRIL
27
7:30 DONALD
J. WHITE--M
req. by Rita McCloy Stephanz & Family
9:00 GRACE
M. FEENEY--M
req. by Matthew F. Feeney
10:30 25th
and 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
12:00 FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
5:00 DOROTHY O’KEEFE--M
req. by the Johanson
Family
PRAYERFUL
REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for
the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Justin Striegold, Nancy
Richy, Juana Tejeda, Richard Anderson, 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, Beth Hersh, Charles Donovan, Msgr. Joseph Boyd, Joey
Mileti, Dotty Doherty, Joan Porrazzo, Jenna
Mussolini, Teresa Civetta, Frank Maiola, Aileen O’Brien, Ed Lenard, Pam Hissey,
Tricia Eigo, Skylar Bahrenburg, Mary
& Tony Fraioli, Hank Lawlor, Mimi
Cosgrove, Kristen Long, Patrick Lamont, Elizabeth Kim, for our service men and women at home and
abroad; for the faithful departed, WILLIAM CLARKE, JACOB and DEBORAH RUBENSTEIN
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: (04/13/08) $10,112
Attendance: 939
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.
BANNS of
MARRIAGE
III – John Infelice – Christina Brewer
BAPTISM
PREPARATION for PARENTS of INFANTS
To arrange for a
Baptism, please call the rectory and speak with Charlotte regarding what is
necessary to do to have your child baptized in our parish.
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: May 3rd
and June 7th.
FR. CURLEY
CELEBRATES HIS FIRST MASS
On Sunday, May 11th,
our parish will be honored to have newly ordained Father Patrick Curley say his
first Mass. Fr. Curley’s family have been members of Sts. John and Paul Parish
for many years. Father will celebrate the 12 Noon Mass on that Sunday and a
reception for all parishioners will follow immediately in the auditorium.
STS. 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 up to grade 7. Please
contact the school at 834-6332 for more information, tours, and applications.
CALENDAR
of EVENTS for the WEEK
SUNDAY, APRIL 20th:
MONDAY, APRIL 21st:
7:30 PM RMR: Fr. Brian’s class
TUESDAY, APRIL 22nd:
3:00 PM GYM: PSPA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23rd:
10:30 AM SARAH NEUMAN: Service followed by Mass
12:45 PM RMR: Brownies
12:45 PM O.S.AUD: PSPA
THURSDAY, APRIL 24th:
7:30 PM RMR: K of C Social Night
FRIDAY, APRIL 25th:
5:00 PM GYM: Baseball
SATURDAY, APRIL 26th:
25th and 50th WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATTION
The parish will honor
all couples celebrating their 25th and 50th wedding
anniversaries during 2008 at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, April 27th, with
a reception to follow. If you are celebrating either of these anniversaries and
would like to participate in this special event, please call the Rectory and
ask for Charlotte. It is important to let the Rectory know by Monday, April 21st,
so that proper preparations can be made for both the Mass and the luncheon.
COUPLES
CELBRATING 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Couples celebrating
their 50th Wedding Anniversaries anytime during 2008 are invited to
attend the Annual Golden Wedding Jubilee Mass with Cardinal Egan at the
Cathedral of Saint Patrick on Sunday, May 18th at 2:00 pm.
Pre-registration is required Please contact the rectory and ask for Charlotte.
If you are interested in attending this special event, you need to let us know
no later than Friday, May 2nd. Thank you.
THE
WOMEN’S GUILD ANNUAL SPRING LUNCHEON
Join the Women’s Guild at its annual luncheon and hear guest speaker
Rev. James Martin, SJ, prolific author and acting publisher of the weekly
Jesuit magazine, America, explain how you too can become a saint in less than
an hour! The luncheon takes place on Thursday, May 15th, at the
Larchmont Yacht Club. Watch next week’s bulletin for ticket-ordering
information. Father Martin will also be signing two of his book, “A Jesuit
Off-Broadway,” and “My Life with the Saints,” which will be available for
purchase at the luncheon. Bring a friend! Bring a few!
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS…
Since the public schools will be closed the week of April 20th,
there will be NO Religious Education classes on Sundays, April 20th
or 27th, and Wednesday, April 23rd.
KNIGHTS of
COLUMBUS NEWS…
The Msgr. Stanley Mathews Council No. 3536 comprised of members of Sts.
John and Paul Church and the Church of St. Augustine would like to congratulate
the following men on their Exemplification of the Fourth Degree: Deacon James
Brown, Richard McCauley, Dominick Curatola, Edward Lynch, James Onorato, Martin
Goehringer and Robert C. Santariello. The following Knights took the First
Degree: Albert Wassell, Ralph Berardi, Jr., Chris Pace, Vitaliano Gallardo and
Kenneth M. Padgett.
PLEASE
NOTE…
Fr. Dominic Tran, SDB, will return to our parish next weekend, April 26th
and 27th. He will have the opportunity to share with the parish
community his current ministry and appeal for help with scholarship for the
young men in training to become Salesian priests and brothers. The scholarship
will be named “The Saints John and Paul Scholarship.”
If you plan to write a check, please make it payable to “Salesians of
Don Bosco” Memo: Sts. John & Paul Scholarship.
Fr. Dominic Tran’s address is Don Bosco Residence, 518-B Valley Street,
Orange, NJ 07050.
LEARN
ABOUT OLDER CHILD ADOPTION
Join us on Saturday, May 3rd,
between 12 – 4 pm at Our Lady of the Assumption Church Hall, 1634 Mahan Avenue,
Bronx, NY 10461 to learn what’s entailed in the process of child adoption. Meet adoptive parents; learn about the paperwork and
procedures and sign up for upcoming Exploring Adoption classes, a mandatory NYS
16 hour course for anyone interested in adoption. Experienced social works will
answer all your questions. Refreshments will be served. For more information,
please call Downey Side at 1-718-822-2343 and speak with Anna or Jeanne.
SUMMER
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Charity in the City is a new summer program that offers young women 18
-21 years of age, a chance to live and work with the Sisters of Charity of New
York in their ministries to the poor. (Think of it as a short-term Peace
Corps.) Plenty of chances to visit NYC’s tourist sites, too. Program runs June
6 – 20. The application is online at hhtp://www.scny.org/CharityinCity.html
Apply by May 7th. Questions? Contact Sr. Donna Dodge,
SC@718-549-9200x220 or ddodge@scny.org
FAMILY DAY
WALK & CARNIVAL for AUTISM
The Westchester Foundation for Autism will have its Annual Family Day
Walk & Carnival for Autism on Sunday, April 27th. The Walk
begins at 11 am followed by the Carnival from 12 to 5 pm at the Immaculate
Conception School and Church in Tuckahoe. There will be lots of Carnival Rides
and refreshments available along with D.J. Music and Entertainment. Please come
join us and have some fun as we raise funds to benefit children with Autism.
THE
PASTOR’S COLUMN
Our present vantage point on human history
depends very much on our personal experiences. We are the final result of our
education, social, and psychological development. The truth of this reality can
be seen in minor and major ways. For example, in my diaconate year, I served
under a pastor who was somewhat gruff. He had served in the military for many
years and rose to the rank of a full colonel. It did not take me long to notice
that when he gave out the Holy Eucharist, he would always bless the children. I
had never seen this but it seemed very appreciated by all as well as a
wonderful incarnation of the Lord’s interaction with children. Having received
this lesson, I have for thirty-six years done the same and would find it
strange not to share God’s love in this way with His little ones. On a deeper
level, my professors at Iona College advised that the older a person is the
more difficult a prognosis for change. Though we allow for the moral tenet of
free will, it is a far greater challenge for an older person to alter his way
of thinking or his mode of operating. Habits are deeply ingrained and are hard
to eliminate. Ask the constant dieter. As a result, when we talk or listen to
someone in their maturity state, a deep-seated belief then we can predict how
they will respond at some future date. In terms of our Holy Father, I believe
this to be true. At the writing of this column, we have no idea of what he will
express to our civil and religious leaders, what he will espouse before our
youth or what he will call upon us to do in response to his homily at Yankee
Stadium. But we have a true treasure throne of his writings which give us a
strong indication. I commend to your attention a book of his: “Pilgrim
Fellowship of Faith” written in 2002. In a closing section: “The Church on
the Threshold of the Third Millennium”, he gives us great insight into his
hopes for the future. I am sure when he penned the words which we will quote
that he did not realize the part that the Lord would ask him to play in
bringing forth the Kingdom to a new generation. In fact, he was quoted many
times that at the conclusion of his service to John Paul II and the Congregation
of the Doctrine of the Faith that he would be allowed to return to teaching and
theological reflection in his native land. He was ready to put a coda on his
life, but the Christ desired that the rhythm of his priestly existence not only
continue but become an even more resounding crescendo.
To our nation and to the world, the once
prefect wrote: ”the Church is there so that God, the living God, may be made
known – so that man may learn to live with God, live in his sight and in
fellowship with him. The Church is there to prevent the advance of hell upon
earth and to make the earth fit to live in through the light of God.” (286)
This successor of Peter has seen in his lifetime the collapse of the ill-fated
League of Nations as well as the Great Depression. These events did much to
spawn the maniacal nationalism of Hitler. Vacant of moral integrity, it caused
untold misery and ultimately imploded as did its leader. Its failure, however,
was not the good news it should have been for in its place came the atheistic
communion. At the United Nations, Pope Benedict XVI as did his predecessors
will remind his listeners: “The Church is there not for her own sake, but for mankind…
She cannot be an association that, in difficult times, is simply trying to keep
its head above water. She has a task to perform for the world, for her
disappearance would drag humanity into the whirlpool of the eclipse of God and,
thus, into the eclipse, indeed the destruction, of all that is human. We are
not fighting for our own survival; we know that we have been entrusted with a
mission that lays upon us a responsibility for everyone. That is why the Church
has to measure herself, and be measured by others, by the extent to which the
presence of God, the knowledge of him, and the acceptance of his will are alive
within her.” (287) Certainly, these statements have been expressed in the
interventions of the papal nuncio, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Permanent
Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations for the last five and one half
years. They take on, however, a greater immediacy when expressed in person by
the Supreme Pontiff.
To the clergy and religious in the
Cathedral of Saint Patrick, the youth gathered at Saint Joseph’s Seminary, and
the faithful attending the Mass at Yankee Stadium will certainly receive an
allied message: “The great and certain task of the Church today is, as it ever
was, to show people this path and to offer a pilgrim fellowship in walking it. I said just now that we know God,
not simply with our understanding, but also with our will and with our heart.
Therefore the knowledge of God, the knowledge of Christ, is a path that demands
the involvement of the whole of our being. The most beautiful portrayal of the
way we are traveling is offered by Luke in the story of the disciples going to
Emmaus. This is traveling with Christ
the living Word, who interprets for us the written word, the Bible, and turns
that into the path, the path along which our heart starts to burn and thus our
eyes are finally opened: Scripture, the true tree of knowledge, opens our
eyes for us if at the same time we are eating of Christ, the tree of life. Then
we become truly able to see, and then we are truly alive. Three things belong
together on this path: the fellowship of the disciples, the Scriptures, and the
living presence of Christ. Thus, this journey of the disciples to Emmaus is at
the same time a description of the Church – a description of how knowledge that
touches on God grows and deepens. This knowledge becomes a fellowship with one
another; it ends up with the Breaking of Bread, in which man becomes God’s
guest and God becomes man’s host. Christ – that becomes clear here – is not someone
we can have for ourselves alone. He leads us, not just to God, but to each
other.” (293)
Let us hope that all will take the time to
reflect on these themes and their variations on which the Pope will preach and
seek ways to actualize them in their individual lives, families, and
communities. Viva il Papa!
Jesus vivat,
Fr. Brian