TWENTY-THIRD
SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME
SEPTEMBER
9, 2007
(M -
Memorial, A - Anniversary)
6:45 SPECIAL INTENTION for the LIVING: JOEY MILETI
req. by Maria D. Markey
9:00 LOUIS MENNO--M
req. by Mary Lu Murray
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
6:45 JANICE TUMLIN—M
req. by a friend
9:00 BERTHE and LOUIS BREUIL--M
req. by the Shields Family
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
HOLY NAME
of MARY
6:45 THE FONTANA
FAMILY
9:00 LOUIS MENNO--M
reg. by the Flood Family
(Tim, Sheila & Jack)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
JOHN
CHRYSOSTOM, bishop, doctor
6:45 AGNES
DORAN--M
9:00 ANGIOLINA MOLITERNO--M
req. by her sister, Rose
Ferraro
EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS
6:45 MARIE RUGGIERO--M
req.
by Dominic Ruggiero
9:00 THE SAPORITO and LOIACONI FAMILIES
req.
by the Saporito Family
OUR LADY of SORROWS
9:00 ELLEN CREAN--M
req. by Betty Swift & Family
5:30 MICHAEL FRANCELLA--M
req. by Bill Marcon & Karen Reynolds
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER
16
7:30 FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
9:00 RICHARD
PACE, SR.--M
req.
by Ted & Jean Haley
10:30 EDWARD
GARBA--M
req. by Martha Garba
12:00 DAMIANO
FAZIO--M
req. by Bianca Fazio
5:00 MATTHEW OSONITSCH--M
req. by Nancy & Bill Winnis
PRAYERFUL
REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for
the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Judy Kelly, Tom Miller,
Maria Leal, Charles Donovan, Msgr. Joseph Boyd, Joey Mileti, Patricia Kuhr, Theresa Astorino, Joseph
Mileti, Dotty Doherty, Joan Porrazzo, Lenny
Cavalieri, Jenna Mussolini, Teresa Civetta, Frank Maiola, Aileen O’Brien, Ed
Lenard, Pam Hissey, Tricia Eigo, Skylar
Bahrenburg, F. Peter O’Hara, Alice
Nasta, Mildred Traub, 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, SYLVIA CURRY, 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 (09—02—07)
$8,547
Maintenance: $2,304
Attendance: 700
The parish of Saints 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.
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. The dates for the upcoming classes are as follows: October 6th, November 3rd,
and December 1st.
CALENDAR
of EVENTS for the WEEK
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th:
7:00 AM: Breakfast Run
TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 11th:
3:00 PM & 8:00 PM AUD: Choir practice
6:00 PM RMR: Cub Scouts
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th:
10:30 AM SARAH NEUMAN: Service followed by Mass
7:00 PM AUD: Back-to-School Night – Religious Education
10:30 AM
MASS MUSIC NOTES
Today
we celebrate the return of our Choir with the wonderful Anthem “”Cantate
Domino” (Sing To The Lord) by Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni (1657-1743), a prolific
composer of sacred music who, by the age of 17, was Choirmaster at the
cathedral of Assisi.
RELGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS…
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION REGISTRATION
Classes are currently being formed for the 2007/08 school year. Please
register NOW to ensure prompt placement.
CATECHETICAL
MINISTRY
Have you ever considered teaching or assisting in a religious education
class? We have sessions on Sunday morning as well as Wednesday afternoon and
evening. This is a wonderful opportunity to help pass on the faith to the next
generation of Catholics. Please call Lu Doyle at 834-4597 for more information
so that we can part of your discernment process.
NEW
FAMILIES
Welcome to the Religious Education
Program at your new parish of Sts. John and Paul. Please stop by and visit our office (upper parking
lot door to the school, first door to your left). We would love to meet you and
your children. We can provide you with registration forms, or you may go online
at catholic-church.org/sjp (link at bottom to Religious Education) and bring the
completed forms with you. Please don’t
forget a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate if s/he was not baptized in
this parish.
FIRST
GRADE REGISTRATION
Important information for parents of first graders: Due to fewer
classrooms and increasing class size, we are asking that any further
registrations for the first grade be for our Sunday morning program (not
Wednesday afternoon program).
If you have any questions, please call our office.
CATECHETICAL
SUNDAY
Our first day of classes is always on Catechetical Sunday, the day that
the Church has set aside to honor the special ministry of the catechist. We
invite everyone to the 9:00 AM Mass on September 16th to honor your
children’s religion teacher. Catechists will receive a special invitation to
this Mass and the reception to follow.
BACK TO
SCHOOL NIGHT
On Wednesday, September 12th, all of the parents of the
Religious Education Program will meet in the auditorium at 7:30pm. (Parents of
Kindergarteners and first graders should arrive at 7pm for an orientation.)
CATHOLIC
HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM
The registration forms for this test (now called “TACHS”) are available
for public school students in the office of the Religious Education Program.
These forms must be sent in no later than October 10th. The exam
will be given on Friday, November 9, 2007. (We also have info about a prep
course at Mark Murphy Schools – 718-229-9292.
*LATE REGISTRATION*
Forms for registering your children are available online at
catholic-church.org/sjp. If you are wondering if your children are already
registered that information will be available at Back-to-School Night.
ATTENTION
ALL ALTAR SERVERS!!!
Please send Mrs. Ronan
your email address so that she can more easily reach you. Her email is: rsronan@earthlink.net.
Also parents, if your child
no longer wishes to serve, please let Mrs. Ronan know so that she can make
plans accordingly.
Thank you!
CYO
CHEERLEADING
CYO has reorganized its cheerleading program to provide for more age
level and experienced level competitions. This is an ideal time for Saints John
& Paul to revive its cheerleading program and return it to its long time
championship level. Anyone able to assist with our cheerleading program as
coach, assistant coach or moderator is asked to contact John Hannaway at
948-2540 or hannawayjj@aol.com.
BASKETBALL
Registration for the coming season for all players grades three through
high school (boys and girls) will be held in the gym on
SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 22 from 5:00 to 5:30 and after Mass
SUNDAY – SEPTEMBER 23 from 4:30 to 5:00 and after the 9:00 AM and 5:00
PM Masses
Questions? – Please contact John Hannaway at 948-2540 or hannawayjj@aol.com
CATHOLIC
FAMILY NETWORK
Came
and learn about the Catholic Family Network on Sunday, September 30th,
after all of the masses at St. Augustine’s and Sts. John and Paul. Take a
moment to fill out our survey. Information will be available about all types of
programs and events we offer!
KNIGHTS of
COLUMBUS
Reserve
your foursome. Our Annual Golf outing will be held on Monday, September 24th,
at then Pelham Bay Golf Club, check-in & lunch 11:00 – 12:00, shot gun
start 12:30pm, dinner at the Davenport Club, 6:30pm. Golf cart, lunch,
beverages, prizes, cocktail hour, buffet dinner w/open bar, all for only $175.
Bring a foursome if you can or come alone or with a friend and we will make a
foursome. Call Craig Skolnick to reserve your spot 212-319-0871 or
914-235-2264.
We
need you support so we can continue the good work of our Council; sponsor a
golf hole at out golf outing for only $`125.00. You can also show your support
by sponsoring the golf carts, cocktail hour, or golf prize. This is a great way
to give to our council or to advertise your business; contact Craig Skolnick to
reserve you hole sponsorship or for more information; 212-319-0871 or
914-235-2264.
TWENTY-THIRD
SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME
St.
Paul received a slave, Onesiumus, and sent him back to his master as a brother
in Jesus Christ. What a transformation! Priests see it over and over again and
effect that change through the Word and Sacraments by taking slaves to this
world and making them brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ the Lord! If you are
a young man interested in the priesthood, please contact Father Luke Sweeny or
Father Luis Saldana at the Vocation Office in the Archdiocese of New York at
968-1340, vocations@archny.org, or visit
our website at www.archnyvocations.org.
THE
PASTOR’S COLUMN
We rejoice in the continuing work to create
a beautiful environment in which we can worship. As we return to the Church for
Masses celebrating the Lord’s Day, we will note the progress made each week
until completion. The school building alterations are much further along. We
hope to have a open house in the near future for all our parishioners.
As we witness the growth in the physical capabilities
of our parish plant, we must not lose sight of the fact that our faith
community’s strength lies in its people. When each of us were brought to Church
to be baptized, a divine mandate called us to be part of the common priesthood
which sanctifies the world, brings forth the kingdom, and presents prophetic
truth. The means by which this is done is as varied as the talents of each
believer.
The Second Vatican Council reminds us that
parents are the primary educators of their children in the ways of faith. The
obligation to pass on the faith is not limited to the bringing them to the
Eucharist each week. As mothers and fathers provide for the material needs of
their offspring so daily they should create circumstances in which they pray in
gratitude for the food they share, in which they hear stories of God’s heroic
followers from ancient times til now, and in which they participate in acts of
charity. It is no exaggeration to say that since the family is the basic cell
in the formation of a healthy society if our parents fail in their
responsibilities, the future would indeed be bleak. From what I have observed
that is not the situation here at Saints John and Paul. Our young people have
received many examples of Christian living in various venues. However, I would
truly rejoice if more mothers and fathers would bring their children to the
Sacrament of Reconciliation. We all deserve the comfort of forgiveness.
We are very fortunate in our parish to have
a good religious education program for those youngsters who attend public or
private non-religious schools. In classroom after classroom on Wednesdays and
Sundays, we witness dedicated men and women creatively imparting knowledge of
Catholicity. Most of them are not teachers by profession and yet, they inspire
their students through their weekly sharing of their spirituality journey. Some
have been teaching for decades while others are neophytes. This year we have
expanded, at the behest of our Cardinal Archbishop, the length of time for each
class. This will enable the young people to interact with their instructors and
concretize the values shared and the tenets believed. Next Sunday on
Catechetical Sunday, our fellow parishioners will be commissioned as part of
the magisterium or teaching authority of the Church. Like me, they represent
the Way, the Truth, and the Life who is Jesus. Juridically, they represent the
bishop and are his collaborators in building up the community. Lu Doyle, our
Director of Religious Education, is always on the look out for generous and
faithful people to act as teachers, substitutes, aides, or office volunteers.
Interested?
The scouting program here at Saints John
and Paul is a great encouragement to our young people. Its leaders assist them
in appreciating the world of nature, in learning various skills, and providing
insight into qualities of leadership. In a society that too often forgets
principles of service, this organization provides an antidote that expands the
visions of children and enhances their idealism. Though many of those adults
who are part of the program were once daises, brownies, girl scouts or weblos,
cubs, and boy scouts, this is not a pre-requisite. We urge those who have an
interest to contact the rectory and they will be directed to the right person.
As we grew up, most of us who lived in the
Metropolitan area were familiar with CYO. Its programs were very diversified.
They covered five areas of development for the maturing adolescent. At this
time, our parochial participation is essentially in the area of sports. We are
grateful to so many who direct and coach others. Selflessly they spend hours
teaching not only the rudiments of a particular pastime but devote themselves
to inculcating the values of good sportsmanship in each of their players. Our
teen program has prospered over the years because of the guidance of many and
the generosity of our high school population. Together they have provided plays
and religious pageants, participated in Catholic social action, and sponsored
dances and other activities such as ski weekends and city excursions. There is
no lack of imagination when it comes to planning for each year.
But not all our efforts are directed into
one area or segment of our population. Because the liturgy is “the source and
summit” of our existence as a faith community, those who minister at it perform
a great service. The effective proclamation of God’s Word and reverent
distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ is a tremendous privilege and
responsibility. Of particular consequence are the efforts of those who bring
the sacrament to the homebound and the residents of Sarah Neuman Nursing Home.
Not only do they perform a religious function but also demonstrate human
concerns for those who might in some cases have no other contacts. On September
30th, we will commission these generous people. Additionally, we have been
gifted with generous adults and youngsters who have comprised our music
ministry. Saint Augustine has been quoted many times as saying: “To sing is to
pray twice.” I would hope that many would consider becoming part of these
voluntary efforts. One cannot forget our wonderful servers and their parents
who assist them in performing their assigned tasks.
We have just scratched the surface
recognizing the reasons for the strength of our faith community. The Women’s
Guild, Knights of Columbus, Adult Education and other groups are just a few
examples of how we experience community outreach. Parishioners also involve
themselves in extra-parochial inter-faith and civic organizations. If you are
not already a part of these efforts, may I suggest that you consider doing so.
May this fall witness not only the glorious
palette of color but the unfailing gift of divine grace.
Jesus vivat,
Fr. Brian