THIRD SUNDAY of EASTER
APRIL 30, 2006
(M - Memorial, A - Anniversary)
6:45 MSGR. ROBERT DELANEY--M
req. by Sts. John & Paul Parish
9:00 FRANK EHRHARDT, JR.--M
req. by Ralph Santoliquido
TUESDAY,
MAY 2
ATHANASIUS,
bishop, doctor
6:45 CONNIE and VINCENT
POSTERARO--M
req. by Dr. Anthony Posteraro
9:00 MARY KANE MAHON--M
req. by the Shields Family
6:45 FRED
CHAMBERLIN--M
req. by Dr. Anthony Posteraro
9:00 CARMELA GAGLIARDI--M
reg. by the Gagliardi Family
THURSDAY,
MAY 4
6:45 LAURA RUSSO--M
req. by Ralph Santoliquido
9:00 JOSEPH P. SWIFT--M
req. by the Swift Family
6:45 MARY A. and EDWARD LADIN and
ROSE DUDEK--M
req. by the Ladin Family
9:00 PHIL CAMPANELLA--M
req. by Nancy & Bill Winnis
9:00 JOHN
SIGNORELLI--M
req.
by Mrs. Signorelli
5:30 BARBARA HORNIG--M
req. by Susan & Pete Williamson
7:30 FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
9:00 GUIDO GULLA--M
req.
by the Gulla Family
10:30 EDWARD GARBA--M
req. by Martha Garba
12:00 EARL FILKINS, JR.--M
req. by Cassandra Liaigre
5:00 MARIE
CHEBAT--M
req. by Robert, Michelle &
Matthew
Kryger
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, 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, MARY WILSON, 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 -- 23 -- 06): $11,580
Easter: $8,047
Attendance: 1,158
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.
THIRD
SUNDAY of EASTER
APRIL
30, 2006
What could convince someone to turn to God? The story that God became human? The story that Jesus cured the sick? The story that Jesus forgave sin? The story that Jesus rose from the dead? Or, perhaps, the story of the witness of your own life! If you have the continuing inclination that God is calling you to be 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
II 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
Luke’s Gospel reading tells how Jesus was made known to the disciples in the breaking of the bread. Today’s Anthem is a beautiful contemporary piece by Michael Ward – “In The Breaking Of The Bread”.
SAVE THE DATE
For the Annual CYO Sports Awards Dinner in the gym on Tuesday, May 30th, at 7:00 pm. Highlights of the evening will include: CYO Cheerleading Squad performance, honoring of the 8th grade basketball teams, and the unveiling of many championship banners.
CALENDAR of EVENTS for the WEEK of APRIL 30th:
SUNDAY, APRIL 30th:
10:10 AM SCH: Religious Ed. Classes
6:00 PM RMR: Youth Group Officers’ Meeting
MONDAY, MAY 1st:
3:00 PM GYM & AUD: PSPA
TUESDAY, MAY 2nd:
3:00 PM GYM & AUD: PSPA
6:00 PM RMR: Cub Scouts
7:30 PM RMR: K of C Meeting
7:30 PM SCH CONF. RM: Fr. Brian’s class
8:00 PM GYM: Basketball
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3rd:
11:00 AM SARAH NEUMANN:
Mass
12:45 PM RMR: 5th
grade Girl Scouts
12:45 PM GYM & AUD:
PSPA
2:50 PM SCH: Religious Ed.
Classes
3:30 PM CH: First
Communion rehearsal
4:30 PM CH: First
Communion rehearsal
7:30 PM SCH: Religious Ed.
Classess
THURSDAY, MAY 4th:
9:30 AM RMR: Interfaith
11:30 AM LARCHMONT SHORE
CLUB: Women’s Guild Spring Luncheon
FRIDAY, MAY 5th:
SATURDAY, MAY 6th:
11:00 AM & 1:30 PM
CHURCH: First Communion
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS…
FIRST
COMMUNION REHEARSALS
The Wednesday Religious Ed. Classes will be rehearsing at the following times:
2 - Callahan & 2 - Campbell
Wednesday: May 3rd, 3:00 – 4:00 pm.
2 - Morris & 2 - Schlegel:
Wednesday: May 3rd, 4:00 – 5:00 pm.
The Parish school classes will rehearse during class time.
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.
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.
Please send these requests to Fr. Pomposello’s attention. Thank you.
PASTOR’S
DINNER
The invitation to the Pastor’s dinner was sent out this week to men of the parish. If you did not receive one, please call the rectory (834-5458). As usual, the dinner will be held at the Larchmont Shore Club. The date is Thursday, June 1st, at 7:00 PM.
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.
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.
EASTER FLOWER
MEMORIALS
IN MEMORY OF DONOR
Sharon Cavanagh & The Sensi Family
Chip Cavanagh
PASTOR’S
COLUMN
Next Sunday, because of the set of readings from the Lectionary, is sometimes designated by churches as Good Shepherd Sunday. Therefore, it is apropos to reflect upon the role of one who is called to function and to be such in our times. For those of us who grew up in the “concrete jungle” of a city it might be hard to identify with the concept. For a generation that bristles with any hint that human autonomy might have its limit, there is the temptation to reject it out of hand. Those human beings who preceded Christ’s era and those who were of his time in fields had spotty reputations. Many of them were drifters. Many of them were petty thieves. Their existence was tolerated for they performed necessary tasks which few would take on themselves. They bore the heat of the day and the cold of the desert night. They were anti-social which contributed to their ability to keep rustlers at bay. They possessed, however, a talent to know which sheep were their responsibility as they grazed on the town common. Their chargers, in turn, responded to only the person who brought them there and then lead them on to their next place. (It should be noted, as I have been informed not being a herder, that the only time a sheep would not respond to any voice rather than the proper one is when sickness has taken over.)
In declaring
his leadership of the People of god, it is interesting that he does not do so
by assuming a political or governmental title. He chooses the shepherd as His
model of service. In the Scripture, He acknowledgers that like him (though we
know of shepherdesses in history, they were in the main, male.) “the Son of Man
has no place to lay His Head.” He has no refuge to which to run. He told those
who would be sent out in His name to have spare provisions and stay in one
place while they work and then move to the next town. Jesus told us that He
would call His sheep and they would follow Him. He declared that like one
faithful to the vocation of shepherd He would protect His flock at all cost.
And so He did when He stretched out His Hands against the wood of the cross and
accepted the bolts hammered into His wrists. At that final Passover meal, He
invited the company of His redoubtable disciples to imitate His example of
becoming the servant of all. They, in turn, from the earliest days of the
Church duplicated Christ’s challenge to others. Because of their success, you
and I came to know the Lord in the Word, Sacrament, and the Community. As
before, so now, the gathering of God’s people need believers who are willing to
assume the mantle of being an Alter Christus.
During Easter week, thanks to the generosity of World Wide Marriage Encounter, I flew to San Diego and participated in a Priest Experience: Earthen Vessels. It was a humbling experience to be in the presence of representatives of the laity of the area who care for the church and the clergy so much. The local bishop was the main celebrant of mass in which sixty-five of us from all over the country participated. Though I am fifty-eight years old and a priest for almost thirty-three years, it was troubling to reflect on the fact that I was part of the junior clergy, the third youngest. Some present were truly inspirations. One priest, ordained at the age of twenty five, is still active in parish work, assisting veterans, and giving weekends for couples at the age of eighty-nine. Some of the other shepherds had served in the missions of the Pacific Rim, administered the sacraments to our military men and women in harm’s way and were tireless in parochial ministry. Many of them reminded me of our own heroic priests who live in the John Cardinal O’Connor Residence, including our own beloved Monsignors Bardes and Boyd. How many of them in retirement still extend themselves, despite any personal discomfort, to our parishes, institutions, and people.
It is though a somewhat disconcerting experience to go to another clerical place where there are fewer souls present: Saint Joseph’s Seminary. Already in this calendar year, more priests have passed into everlasting life than will be ordained in May. This situation has endured for more than twenty years. Therefore, we should not be surprised that parishes, schools, and other ecclesial organizations have been required to downsize their structure as well as decrease their programs. Remember our centers of spiritual, social, educational and athletic growth which nourished our Catholic lives over fifty years ago had four or five priests working there. Today, many hospitals and prisons have no priests in their chaplaincy programs. Pastors find themselves administering three or four parishes which were formerly independent. Through our permanent deacons have been selfless in their giving of time to the Church and through our laity have provided great assistance in rectories, classrooms, and sanctuaries, neither can provide the Church with its essential raison d’etre: the Eucharist. Parts of our country see priest less Sundays. That cannot help but be a concern to us when we look to the future. The number of Catholics in the United States has increased. But will they be able to hear God’s Word on a regular basis, receive Him as Eucharistic Presence, be strengthened by the sacraments of healing: Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick, and will families feel the blessings of Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage in a timely way?
Pray this week in a special way to Christ, the Good Shepherd for our young people that they might answer the promptings of the Holy Spirit generously. Suggest to your children, grandchildren, and other members of your extended family to consider the priesthood and religious life as a life-long commitment. (Continue the practice I have proposed at other times: the recitation of three Hail Marys daily.)
Finally, pray for your priests, brothers, sisters and permanent deacons presently in ministering. Your shepherds need you to pray for them and support them in their assumption of burdens. They need you that they might be there for you.
May the Good Shepherd guide us to the everlasting home of His flock.
Jesus vivat
Fr. Brian