SIXTH SUNDAY of EASTER
MAY 21, 2006
(M - Memorial, A - Anniversary)
6:45 MOTHER’S DAY NOVENA
9:00 HELEN MARA NUGENT and JOSEPH NUGENT--M
req. by Maura & Richard Concannon
TUESDAY,
MAY 23
6:45 LYGIA POSTERARO--M
req. by Dr. Anthony Posteraro
9:00 CATHERINE LEONE--M
req. by Antoinette Leone
6:45 PAULA FITZGIBBON MC IVOR--M
req. by John McIvor
9:00 MARION HONAN--M
reg. by Alice Mulderrig
7:30 JAMES LYNCH--M
req. by the Pace Family
THURSDAY,
MAY 25
ASCENSION of the LORD
6:45 CATHERINE B. DONAHUE--M
req. by Anne & John Donovan
9:00 CHARLOTTE and MALACHY CONCANNON--M
req. by Maura & Richard Concannon
12:00 MARY ELLEN NOYER--M
req. by Dan & Nora Harris
7:30 JOSEPH SPIEZIO, JR.--M
req. by the Zink Family
6:45 CAROL ACOCELLA--M
req. by the Clergy & the People of Sts. John and Paul Parish
9:00 BROTHER MARIO HANCOCK, S.A.--M
req. by Valerie & Nicholas Mastronardi
9:00 FRANK VACCARI--M
req. by the Adelfio Family
5:30 LOIS GRANATA--M
req. by Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Chiodo
7:30 SPECIAL INTENTION
for the LIVING: THE D’ANDREA FAMILY
req. by Anthony D’Andrea
9:00 DONALD JAMES
PLUNKETT--M
10:30 RAE WINNIS--M
12:00 FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
5:00 JOSEPH SPIEZIO, JR.--M
req. by Anne Menno & Family
PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for the sick at home,
and in the hospitals, especially: Madison Tamagna, Ann Whelan, Patrice
McAuliffe, 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, REV. HENRY G. d’ANJOU, 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 (05 --14 -- 06): $12,880
Bishops’ Overseas Collection: $ 2,663
Attendance: 962
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.
SIXTH
SUNDAY of EASTER
MAY
21, 2006
The greatest love story that ever happened: God’s continuing love for His people. All God asks is “Love one another as I have loved you.” The world really needs to see people who are trying to love others with all their hearts. Priests and religious can be excellent examples of this love. If you are willing to answer God’s call, please call Fr. Charles Szivos at 968-1340 (priesthood), Sr. Deanna Sabetta at 212-371-1000 ext. 2803 (religious) , and Deacon Anthony Cassaneto at 968-6200 ext. 8269 (deaconate).
BANNS
of MARRIAGE
II – Anthony Fiore – Nicole Mattina
ASCENSION
THURSDAY – MAY 25th
May 25th is the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, a holy day of obligation. There will be a Vigil Mass on Wednesday, May 24th, at 7:30 PM. The masses on the holy day are as follows: 6:45, 9:00, 12 Noon and 7:30 PM.
THANK YOU and FAREWELL
We will have an opportunity to say “Thank You and Farewell” to our parochial vicar, Father Peter A. Pomposello, on Saturday evening, June the 3rd. Father will say the 5:30 Mass which will be concelebrated. A reception will follow in the auditorium. We hope that you will be able to join us.
THANKS
FOR THE MEMORIES
In an effort to celebrate and commemorate Fr. Pomposello’s time with us, a Keepsake Box and Personalized Photo Album are being assembled. If you would like to write a personalized note or submit a picture of a special occasion, please drop them off at the rectory.
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: June 3rd, July 1st, Aug. 5th, Sept. 2nd, Oct 7th, Nov. 4th and Dec. 2nd.
10:30 AM MASS MUSIC NOTES
In today’s Anthem, “If Ye Love Me” by Thomas Tallis, the choir sings “If ye love, keep my commandments.” We are reminded of Jesus’ words in the Gospel Reading: “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”
SAVE THE DATE
The Annual CYO Sports Awards Dinner will be held in the gym on Tuesday, May 30th, at 7:00 pm. Highlights of the evening will include: honoring of the 8th grade basketball teams and the unveiling of many championship banners.
CALENDAR of EVENTS for the WEEK of MAY 21st:
SUNDAY, MAY 21ST:
10:00 AM GYM: Youth Group Pancake Breakfast
10:10 AM SCH: Religious Ed. Classes
MONDAY, MAY 22nd:
3:00 PM GYM & AUD: PSPA
TUESDAY, MAY 23rd:
3:00 PM GYM & AUD: PSPA
7:30 PM RMR: Fr. Brian’s class
8:00 PM GYM: Basketball
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24th:
11:00 AM SARAH NEUMANN:
Mass
12:45 PM RMR: 2nd
grade Brownies
12:45 PM GYM & AUD:
PSPA
THURSDAY, MAY 25th:
7:30 PM RMR: K of C Social
Night
BICENTENNIAL
CAMPAIGN at STS. JOHN and PAUL
We are off to a great start with the campaign at Sts. John and Paul! There has been amazing response thus far and we have some great news to announce. To date we have raised $580,000 or 43% of our $1,348,506 goal! Within the next week, every parish family will be receiving more information.
In order to reach this goal, we will need the help of every family. We ask that you prayerfully consider your pledge.
EARLY
BIRD CAR RAFFLE SPECIAL
Raffle tickets went 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 ATTN: Car Raffle. Thank you.
PASTOR’S
DINNER
The invitation to the Pastor’s Dinner has been sent out to the 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.
Fathers: Why not consider inviting your young adult sons to this very special evening and begin a wonderful tradition of introducing them to the men of our parish in a setting of great food, special entertainment and comradery
25th
and 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
On Sunday, June 4th at the 10:30 AM Mass, the parish will honor all those couples celebrating their 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries. A reception will follow in the rectory meeting room. Please contract Charlotte King at 834-5458 by Tuesday, May 30th, and let her know if you would like to attend.
PASTOR’S
COLUMN
This Thursday, the faith community commemorates the watershed event of the Lord’s ascension. His earthly ministry has come to an end as He returns to the Father and the Church awaits the Paraclete. For three years Jesus went about the tasks of mediating the relationship between God and man. Through His words and deeds He sought to remind Israel of its historical primacy as the Chosen People. He expanded our understanding of the Kingdom. The gift of mercy and the promise of eternal life was to be granted to all who were willing to take up their cross and follow Him. Having prepared the Apostles through the parables and their explanation, the description of the lifestyle of a disciple, and the performance of miraculous deeds, the Risen Christ mandated that they “Go forth and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” It took a gentle prodding from the angels for them to stop looking up, end their inertia, and move towards the fulfillment of the mission to which they had been called. Because they were faithful, the gift of the Spirit bore fruit from the beginning of the time of the Church until now.
In the era of the early Fathers such as Clement of Rome, Justin the Martyr, and Ignatius of Antioch, we witness many men and women rejecting the values of their age and opening their hearts to an experience far more satisfying than anything the world could offer. They accepted the reality that the bearing of one’s burdens lovingly and patiently will result ultimately in the eternal bliss of the Beatific Vision. The Roman Martyrology recalls the willingness of individuals to become the source of entertainment to the rabble who crowded into the Coliseum and the circus Maximus for the sake of testifying to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The work shows that the oppressors of the faith did not lack imagination when it came to causing the suffering and death of its adherents.
Bishop – theologians such as Augustine, Ambrose, and Athanasius were constant in their proclamation of the Good News. They defended the revealed truths of faith concerning the Trinity and the Incarnation even to the point of enduring rejection by their associates, exile from their sees, and deprivation of the necessities of life. Because of their constancy the heresies they fought are but a distant memory while each Sunday we confess our belief in what they courageously taught and lived.
Though the civil order of the once proud Roman Empire fell under the internal pressures of governmental corruption and personal immorality and the external pressures of invasion by hordes from the south and east, the Catholic Church continued to offer hope that the virtues of a civilized society would not be lost. The Dark Ages were less so because of the preservation of ancient wisdom by monks who were dedicated to the old and yet new revelation of God’s plan for His creation. Additionally, they formed communities, which at once recalled the apostolic tradition of common life while challenging their contemporaries to form societies respecting the rights of all: rich and poor. The mendicant tradition of Francis and Dominic called upon all to look beyond the reach of wealth and the intoxication of power to the necessity of pursuing that treasure not subject to rust or rot. Too many did not understand the call to act upon the evangelical counsels and thus created an environment which spawned the Reformation era and its overcompensations.
The Church founded on the Rock who was Peter was endangered by excesses both within Catholicism and without in the various expressions of Protestantism. Legions of holy men and women would be required to respond to error and to teach the truth. The council of Trent set doctrinal and moral requirements, which concretized theological tenets, which, in turn, formed the basis of a catechism formulated by St. Charles Bireme. In the decades of the following centuries, many spiritual giants inspired their generation as well as those following. They reformed many contemplative communities. They gave the Church a deeper appreciation of the Eucharist as well as encouraging the use of the Sacrament of Penance. Many courageous men and women were not solely content with bringing the faith to the society in which they were born and grew up; they went to the newly discovered land of the Western Hemisphere and planted the seeds for our future.
Far from the Upper Room of Jerusalem, disciples of the Messiah continued their proclamation to the brave new world. Junipero Serra was followed to California by countless Franciscans, Dominicans, and other religious orders. John Neumann traveled the length and breathe of New York State to catechize the faithful and enrich their understanding of the Real presence of the Christ in the Eucharist. Frances Xavier Cabrini reached out to her fellow immigrants and responded to all their needs: spiritual and material. She took in orphans; looked after the medicare of the sick and aged; and taught lessons of life in this nation as well as the eternal verities. In our own times, we have seen discipleship exemplified by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta as she walked among the poor of the world and faced down the foes of life. John Paul II took up his cross daily, forgave others and humbly sought it for himself and the Church.
The torch has been passed to each of us. We are the ones to whom the question is now addressed “Why are you standing here?” This is the time when we are to evangelize our word. We must witness to our faith by entering the classrooms of our religious education programs. We must minister to our sick who are home bound or institutionalized in hospitals and long-term facilities. We must become better informed and more deeply involved in transforming ourselves into that servant who mirrors the obedience of the Son to the Father’s command under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There are no shortages of critics of the world’s conditions. If we are truly respecting of the dignity of humankind, we must sue for justice for all and peace among the peoples of the world. We cannot continue to permit children to go to bed hungry, lack proper shelter, or be inadequately clothed. It is truly to be regretted that individuals and groups are inordinately critical of the Church. We must listen to each other, dialogue about our differences, and humbly accept the guidance of the teaching authority of the Church.
May we, the People of God, exhibit the unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolic faith of those who first walked with Jesus and witnessed to His promise of salvation.
Jesus vivat
Fr. Brian
CONFIRMATION
Eighty five young Catholics from our parish will receive the Sacrament of confirmation on Saturday, June 10th, at 11am (Wednesday Religious Ed. Classes) and at 2:00pm (both Sunday Religious Ed. Classes, parish school, and private school students).
- The rehearsal for the 11:00am ceremony will be on THURSDAY, JUNE 8th, from 7:30 – 8:45pm
- The 2:00pm ceremony will rehearse on MONDAY, JUNE 5th, at the same time.
Please meet in the gym with your sponsor. (If your sponsor cannot attend, a parent should come to the rehearsal.)
UPCOMING
FAMILY MASSES
Sunday, June 4th, the theme for the Family Mass will be “The Spirit comes to Us…But Differently.” The final Family Mass of the year will be on Sunday, June 18th, and the theme will be “Son’s day Mass”. The 12 Noon Mass that day which Corpus Christi will conclude with a procession.
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS…
Our last Religious Education class will be:
Sunday, May 21st
We wish your family a summer blessed with God’s abundance. Be sure and pray always! We’ll see each other on those summer Sundays giving thanks together at the Eucharist.
REGISTER
NOW!!!
On Sunday, June 4th, after the morning masses we will be accepting reregistrations and new registrations for the 2006/07 year. Please enroll NOW to ensure placement for your child in September.
SAVE
THE DATE
On Saturday, June 24th, our parish will celebrate the patronal feast of Saints John and Paul. We’ll have a picnic at Flint Park from 12 Noon to 4:00 PM, a Mass of Thanksgiving at 5:30 PM, and at 6:30, there will be a movie in the auditorium. So mark your calendar and plan on participating in all the events.
CALLING
ALL JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS….
On Friday evening, June 2nd, there is going to be a dance featuring the Big Wave Dance Club – all your favorite recording artists, music videos on multiple screens, and an awesome light show with fog. Admission includes: pizza, soda and snacks. Each student must have a signed permission slip to purchase tickets. Advanced ticket sale $15.00 per student at the rectory; $20.00 at the door. Checks should be made payable to Sts. John and Paul.
CATHOLIC
FAMILY NETWORK
All couples who are expecting a child are invited to attend our Blessing of Expectant Mothers which will occur at the 12:00pm Mass on Sunday, May 28th, here at Sts. John and Paul Church.
The Catholic Family Network is a group co-sponsored by Sts. John & Paul and St. Augustine’s Parishes that provides programs for parents and families with younger families.
MASS BOOK for
2007 to OPEN
The 2007 Mass Book will open on Thursday, June 1st. The request for masses MUST be submitted in writing to the rectory.
Send in or drop off in the rectory, your list of masses with the dates and times you would like and also include a check made out to Sts. John and Paul. Each announced mass is $15.00. We will then fulfill your requests and return a receipt to you. If the date and time you requested is not available, we will give you a date and time as close as possible. The requests will be fulfilled in the order in which they were received.
THE CATHOLIC
WIDOWS and WIDOWERS
The Catholic Widows and Widowers cordially invite all windows and widowers to attend the monthly Mass at 7:00 PM for deceased spouses followed by the monthly meeting on Monday, May 22 at St. Pius in Scarsdale. For more information please call 921-2168 or 793-4868.