SECOND SUNDAY of EASTER
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
APRIL 23, 2006
(M - Memorial, A - Anniversary)
6:45 GRACE C. POSTERARO--M
req. by Dr. Anthony Posteraro
9:00 ROBERT MULDERRIG--M
req. by Alice Mulderrig
TUESDAY,
APRIL 25
MARK,
EVANGELIST
6:45 KATHLEEN FAY--M
req. by the Clergy & the People of Sts. John & Paul Parish
9:00 ANTOINETTE and LOUIS
MANGIERI--M
req. by Carmela R. Mangieri
6:45 LAWRENCE FLINK--M
req. by the Flink Family
9:00 ELLEN MC GOVERN--M
reg. by Valerie & Nicholas
Mastronardi
THURSDAY,
APRIL 27
6:45 DAMIANO FAZIO--M
req.
by the Clergy & the People of
Sts.
John & Paul Parish
9:00 CATHERINE PETRUZZI--M
req. by Valerie & Nicholas
Mastronardi
PETER CHANEL, priest, martyr
6:45 JOHN EMERICH--M
req. by the Clemens Family
9:00 JOAN MARIE FUGAZY—M
req. by the Robinson Family
9:00 J. WOODS SWEENEY--M
req. by Robert J. Sweeney
5:30 FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
7:30 MR. and MRS. JOSEPH RIGANO--M
req. by Jane Rigano
9:00 TIMOTHY J. MARA--M
req. by Maura & Richard
Concannon
10:30 MURIEL BOYD--M
req. by the King Family
12:00 GEORGE DI FIORI--M
req. by Mr. & Mrs. Antonio
Labriola
5:00 CHRISTOPHER MURRAY--M
req. by Phyllis & Sy Reiner
PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for the sick at home,
and in the hospitals, especially: Francis “Charlie” Abrahamsen, Dorothy Blaney,
Jimmy Bairaktaris, Lisa Scholl, Christian Ossa, Frank Diaz-Balart, Alice Nasta, Mildred Traub, Catherine Ann
Brennan, Mary & Tony Fraioli, Hank Lawlor, William Matthews, 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 for
the faithful departed, REV. MSGR. ROBERT D. SACCOMAN, and 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 -- 16 -- 06): $9,584
Easter: $26,376
Holy Land: $1,122
Attendance: 2,225
The parish of Sts. John and Paul thanks you for your support. We are grateful to our parishioners who use our envelope system. If you wish to receive Church support envelopes, please call the Rectory at 834-5458.
SECOND
SUNDAY of EASTER
APRIL
23, 2006
Easter! Resurrection and new life; a new life shared from an earthen tomb. This has been the meaning of life for Christian people for two thousand years. There is nothing more secure, nothing more lasting. Come and share the thrill of proclaiming this truth through your life as a priest or religious, please call Fr. Charles Szivos at 9688-1340 (priesthood), Sr. Deanna Sabetta at 1-212-371-1000 Ext. 2803 (Religious) and Deacon Anthony Cassaneto at 968-6200 Ext. 8269 (Diaconate).
BANNS
of MARRIAGE
I I – Thomas Rende – Megan Crotty
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 2006. The dates for the class are as follows: May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st, Aug. 5th, Sept. 2nd, Oct 7th, Nov. 4th and Dec. 2nd.
10:30 AM MASS MUSIC NOTES
The message in today’s Anthem by Gordon Young is perfect for all Sundays in the Easter season: “Alleluia! Christ Is Risen!”
DIVINE MERCY
SUNDAY
On Sunday, April 23rd, at 3:00 PM, we will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Benediction and the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
CALENDAR of EVENTS for the WEEK of APRIL 23rd:
SUNDAY, APRIL 23rd:
10:10 AM SCH: Religious Ed. Classes
1:00 PM CH PARKING LOT: Easter Egg Hunt
MONDAY, APRIL 24th:
3:00 PM GYM & AUD: PSPA
7:30 PM AUD: Introduction to Italy Pilgrimage 2007
TUESDAY, APRIL 25th:
3:00 PM GYM & AUD: PSPA
6:00 PM AUD: Pack Meeting
7:00 PM RMR: PSPA Meeting
7:30 PM SCH CONF. RM: Fr. Brian’s class
8:00 PM AUD: K of C
8:00 PM GYM: Basketball
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26th:
11:00 AM SARAH NEUMANN:
Mass
12:45 PM RMR: 2nd
grade Brownies
12:45 PM GYM & AUD:
PSPA
2:50 PM SCH: Religious Ed.
Classes
3:30 PM CH: First
Communion rehearsal
7:30 PM SCH: Religious Ed.
Classess
THURSDAY, APRIL 27th:
3:30 PM CH: First
Communion Rehearsal
7:30 PM RMR: K of C Social
Night
FRIDAY, APRIL 28th:
7:00 PM GYM: Middle School
Night
SATURDAY, APRIL 29th:
11:00 AM & 1:30 PM
CHURCH: First Communion
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS…
FIRST
COMMUNION REHEARSALS
The 2nd grade Religious Ed. Classes will be rehearsing for their First Communion on Thursday, April 27th, from 3:30 – 4:30 pm.
The Wednesday Religious Ed. Classes will be rehearsing at the following times:
2 - Callahan & 2 - Campbell
Wednesdays: April 26th, 4:00 – 5:00 pm and May 3rd, 3:00 – 4:00 pm.
2 - Morris & 2 - Schlegel:
Wednesdays: April 26th, 3:00 – 4:00 pm and May 3rd, 4:00 – 5:00 pm.
The Parish school classes will rehearse during class time.
STS.
JOHN and PAUL PARISH PILGRIMAGE
Sts. John and Paul will have a parish pilgrimage to Italy in June of 2007.
Please come to an information meeting on Monday, April 24th, at 7:30 PM in the auditorium to learn more about this very special event.
WOMEN’S GUILD
ANNUAL SPRING LUNCHEON
Please join us on Thursday, May 4th, for our annual spring luncheon at the Larchmont Shore Club. Our speaker will be Susie Case, author of “The Genesis Plan” 7 Proven Principles for spending your time wisely.
The premise is if God could create the entire universe in seven days with not do-overs nor wasted effort, nor last-minute-all-nighters, what is stopping us from getting done what we need and want to do?
The cost is $35.00 per person.
Please mail your response to:
Lorraine Henry, 305 Rockingstone Avenue, Larchmont, New York 10538.
We will sit you at a table or you can create your own.
Thank you.
MANY MANY
THANKS!!!
To all who helped make our Holy Week reverent and prayerful – altar servers, choir, lectors, extraordinary ministers – may we say thank you so very much for all your work. The efforts and time you put in certainly reflect your love of the parish. We would especially like to thank Mr. Vincent Graziano of Coxe and Graziano Funeral Home for all the flowers he donated that beautifully decorated our Church. Also, a bouquet of thank yous to Katie FitzGerald for her lovely singing at Morning Prayers on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday mornings.
EARLY
BIRD CAR RAFFLE SPECIAL
Raffle tickets are going on pre-sale Monday, May 1st, for the ticket holder’s choice of a Brand New 2007 automobile or $30,000 CA$H that will be won at this year’s Halloweekend Family Festival. Do you have a favorite number or numbers that you like? How about your birthday, your anniversary, or the month and day your child was born? If so, send a $100.00 check made out to Sts. John & Paul, with your lucky numbers that you want on your raffle ticket(s) on the memo line of your check and return it to the rectory. Don’t wait too long or your numbers may be gone. Number requests will not be honored after June 23, 2006. Only numbers from 0001-1000 please.
CATHOLIC
FAMILY NETWORK of ST. AUGUSTINE and STS. JOHN and PAUL
The Catholic Family Network invites parents and young children to a May Crowning Ceremony on May 4th at 1:00 PM at St. Augustine. We will share light refreshments immediately following the ceremony with the Seniors in the auditorium. Please bring baked items to share. Please call 833-2310 if you plan on attending.
SUNDAY’S
EASTER EGG HUNT!
Please join us in the lower parking lot at 1pm for our first Annual Easter Egg Hunt! Special area for very small children (K and up) in “wooded area” near the crèche. Petting zoo with lambs and bunnies! Refreshments for all… If it rains, the event will take place in the auditorium.
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED…
Beginning in May, the priests of our parish will say Mass each week at Sarah Neumann. We have a dedicated group of volunteers that help each Wednesday. Now that an additional Wednesday has been added, we are in need of more volunteers to help bring the patients to the Mass. If you are interested in helping, please contact Amy Lionheart, Coordinator of Volunteers, at 777-6140. If you would like more information about this very important ministry, please speak to one of our priest. Thank you.
PASTOR’S
COLUMN
When commenting on his recent efforts to prepare a homily for the annual Chrism Mass, His Eminence stated that it was difficult for him to give an insight which might inform his hearers and give them a deeper understanding. For eighteen years as an Ordinary it had fallen to him to inspire the priests he served as bishops and it was becoming somewhat difficult to find and explore the concept, which would be both scripturally faithful and homiletically original. Many times, over the years, I have identified with my bishop’s dilemma. On this Sunday dedicated to Divine mercy, it was a challenge to prepare this column and share in a new way that oldest and yet most comforting reality of God’s forgiveness. Our shepherd was most successful in espousing “kindness as the essential factor in ministry” and thereby assisting his clergy to recommit themselves to the promises they first made when ordained as presbyters. As the Scripture says he brought out of the treasure house both the old and the new.
Having spoken and written much on the topic of the Lord’s merciful love, particularly as elucidated by Saint Faustina, I sought assistance from the Holy Spirit that my efforts might contribute to a deeper appreciation by all of this aspect of our relationship with the Trinity of Persons as well as our brothers and sisters. On Holy Thursday we processed with Blessed Sacrament to the Repository in the Gym. As we reached the end of the long hallway, I looked up and saw a poster, one of many which decorate the walls of the school. It proclaimed: ”Learn well. Live well. Serve Well.” I knew that was the message for all of us to realize, in our words and actions, divine mercy.
Today’s gospel is certainly a most natural beginning for our reflection. The apostles are taught a lesson that is also directed at us. Despite the fact they deserted Jesus and his way, he calls them back. He chooses to ignore their pact failure and invites them to be one with Him again. All too often when someone offends us we pledge to ourselves that we will never forget no matter whether or not the perpetrator has sought forgiveness or has been responsible for much good in our existences. Further, the company of disciples is instructed that as they have been reconciled so they must reach out beyond the safety of their fellow believers with whom they have a relationship and be ambassadors who fulfill the task of creating peaceful communities built upon the foundations of justice and charity. One cannot miss the manner in which God forgives humankind. Soon after the sin of our first generation He resolves to challenge Satan’s lies and restore the possibility of eternal glory to creation. Though individuals and the tribes of Israel frequently go back on their words and the fulfillment of the Covenant, God remains faithful. Unfortunately men and women throughout history have failed to mirror divine methodologies. Revenge is too often a byword. History reveals too often self-serving and self-righteous behaviors defining human responses to crises in politics, economics and social formations.
In order for mercy to be understood, it must be experienced. In order for it to be experienced, it must be practiced by each of us. To those who fail to take Jesus at His word, it might seam unreasonable to call for mercy in the face of radical injustice or inhumane destruction. Though it might appear that the believer is going against reason he or she is going beyond that which is bound by natural judgments and expectations. When we view the potential for future generations especially embodied in our children, we quickly recognize our responsibility to be merciful is not only personal but also paternal. Our progeny must see that in our daily existence, we are willing to forgive our enemies at hand as well as those who are perceived as dangers to our life style. For example, how do we speak of others before our young people? Do we curse them? Do we vocalize the ways in which we might get even? When discussing current events are we satisfied with making vague generalities and dehumanizing remarks about those who hold different viewpoints and which threaten our way of life? It goes without saying that sacramental absolution assists us not only in closing chapters of our life which feature the failure to avoid evil as well as the failure to do good but also in understanding how we should react to the circumstances which surround us. (It is most gratifying to acknowledge the increase in the numbers of adults who confess during Lent and Holy Week. Our parochial school students as well as those in our religious education program attended the sacrament as well. This was able to take place because of Father Pomposello’s enlisting the support of several young priests who are in neighboring parishes.)
All of us are aware of how we feel when we tell our priests the ways in which we have sinned in the face of weakness and temptation. Relief comes over us and we will be firm purpose of amendment, desire to turn toward the God who loves us. Present also, however, is the awareness that the failures of the past will be revisited. Hopefully, it was to a lesser extent. But old habits diehard and conversion is a life-long process. As in everything else about our God, His patience is infinite. This aspect of divinity must imitated. The One who forgives us calls upon us to serve others by extending to them the same latitude that has been shared with us. Let us not misunderstand our role in being “ambassadors of reconciliation.” The Lord does not intend that we should not call ourselves and others to responsibility for thoughts, words, and actions that are less than worthy. The spiritual works of mercy demand that we instruct the ignorant and admonish the sinner. Recognizing our own proclivities, however, we are slow to judge and refrain from condemning one another. When we feel that someone has offended us we must be merciful even if it is the Scriptural “seventy times seven” which we know means an infinite number.
On this Mercy Sunday, let us hold up this divine disposition as a way of life for us and a goal of life to be pursued. Let us say with true devotion: “Jesus, I trust in You.” May we be forgiven as we forgive.
Jesus vivat
Fr. Brian
EASTER FLOWER
MEMORIALS
IN MEMORY OF DONOR
Antonio & Carmela Cardone & the Paul family
Henry J. Paul
Frank Lyons & Ann Lyons
Frederick Bricker &
Kathryn Bricker
John Gaffney Anne Belleshein, daughter
Chuck Wielgus Irene Wielgus
Charles & Gladys Corbett William R. Corbett
Mary & Julies Anger & Liz & Willam Zand
Kathryn & Otto Scheuble
Thompson Flint & Family
George Straub
Cosgrove & McDermott Families Peggy C. McDermott
Dan Benerofe Dr/M Joe Ferry
IN HONOR OF DONOR
Anne Gaffney Anne Belleshein, daughter