THIRTY-FIRST
SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME
NOVEMBER
5, 2006
(M -
Memorial, A - Anniversary)
9:00 JAMES
PATRICK LAWLOR-- M
req. by the
Benford Family
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7
6:45 ALL SOULS NOVENA
9:00 THE SAPORITO and LOIACONI FAMILIES
req. by Rose Saporito
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8
6:45 ALL SOULS NOVENA
9:00 ALDEA
and BRUNO FRANCOEUR--M
reg. by Ralph Santoliquido
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9
DEDICATION
of the LATERAN BASILICA
6:45 ALL SOULS NOVENA
9:00 ETHEL
C. WALBRIDGE--A
Req. by Claire Pushkal
LEO the GREAT, pope, doctor
6:45 ALL SOULS DAY
NOVENA
9:00 DONALD VANCOOK--M
req.
by Scott & Cindy Auker
MARTIN of TOURS, bishop
9:00 CHARLES WIELGUS--A
Req. by the Family
5:30 FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
7:30 MARION
HAGERTY--M
req. by Leza, Alex, & Gabbe
Van
Beuren
9:00 LEONARD
V. QUIGLEY--M
10:30 EDWARD
GARBA--M
req. by Martha Garba
12:00 MARION
LEE and JOHN DAVIDSON--M
req. by Sally H. and Brian H. Davidson
5:00 FRANK and LAWRENCE ANTONIOLI--M
req. by the Family
PRAYERFUL
REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for
the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Eugene Duffy, Lenny
Cavalieri, Jenna Mussolini, Teresa Cervera, Frank Maiola, Aileen O’Brien, Sister Margaret Coakley, Pat Bonner, Ed
Lenard, Pam Hissey, Tricia Eigo, Dana Infelice, Francis “Charlie” Abrahamsen, Lisa Scholl, Frank Diaz-Balart,
Alice Nasta, Mildred Traub, Catherine Ann Brennan, Mary & Tony Fraioli,
Hank Lawlor, 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 faithful departed, DEACON RAYMOND HODGES, and all
those who have no one to pray for them; and for the honored dead of the Armed
Services.
SUNDAY COLLECTION
Last week’s
collection (10 --29 -- 06): $10,837
Attendance: 945
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.
THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME
November 5, 2006
How best can we serve God? How best can we love? Jesus continues to
call men and women to leave everything and follow Him in a life of total
dedication to His Church and His people. If you feel God is offering you the
grace of a Church vocation, please call Fr. Cahrles Szivos at 968-11340
(priesthood), Sr. Deanna Sabetta at 212-371-1000 ext. 2803 (religious), and
Deacon Anthony Cassaneto at 968-6200 ext. 8269 (deaconate).
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: Dec. 2nd.
10:30 AM MASS MUSIC NOTES
Jesus
said “The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. The second is to love
your neighbor as yourself.” Today’s Anthem by Maurice Durufle is “Ubi Caritas”
– “Where charity and love prevail, God is there. Let us honor and love Him and
let us love one another.”
CONGRATULATIONS
to our RAFFLE WINNER!!!
Claire Kubasik, a long time parishioner, won the raffle (a new Lexus or
$30,000). We would like to congratulate her and wish her well.
CALENDAR of EVENTS for WEEK OF NOVEMBER 5th:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5th:
10:10 AM SCH: Religious Ed. Classes
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6th:
3:00 PM GYM & AUD: After School
Activities
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
7:00 PM SCHOOL CONF. RM: Boy Scouts
7:30 PM RMR: Fr. Brian’s Bible class
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th:
ELECTION DAY
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
7:00 PM AUD: Casting for SJP Youth Group play
7:30 PM RMR: RCIA
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th:
11:00 AM SARAH NEUMAN: Mass
12:45 PM RMR: 3rd grade Brownies
12:45 PM GYM & AUD: PSPA After school activities
2:50 & 7:30 PM SCHL Religious Education classes
THURSDAY, November 9th:
9:00 AM RMR: Catechical Staff Meeting
3:30 PM CHURCH: Altar Servers
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
6:30 PM RMR: Youth Group Lectors meeting
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11th:
VETERAN’S DAY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12th:
9:00 AM GYM: Basketball
AN UP-DATE
on the HALLOWEEKEND FAMILY FESTIVAL
Last weekend, the
parish held its Halloweekend Family Festival. Despite a rainy Saturday which
caused the cancellation of the 5K Run, all events went on as planned. To all
those who came and participated, thank you for helping to make the events so
successful. To all those who gave of their time and talents, the entire parish
gratefully acknowledges your undaunting dedication to our parish.
FOOD BANK NEWS!!!
Sign-up sheets for our
Thanksgiving food baskets will be up this weekend on the bulletin board between
the Church and the school. Baskets will be distributed on Monday, November 20th.
IMPORTANT
NEWS for 8th GRADERS & THEIR PARENTS
The sacrament of
Confirmation will be celebrated in our parish on Saturday, May 5, 2007. Registrations
are currently in the mail. Please call 834-4597 or check our web site www.catholic-church.org/sjp for
the schedule and the forms.
STS. JOHN and PAUL ALTAR SERVERS
There will be a meeting and a practice for all
Altar Servers on Thursday, November 9th, at 3:30 PM in the Church. Anyone,
in the 5th grade and beyond, wishing to train so as to become an
Altar Server should attend this meeting and practice, also.
YOUTH GROUP LECTORS MEETING
There will be a meeting on Thursday, November 9th, at 6:30 PM
in the rectory meeting room for all youth group members interested in becoming
a Lector at Mass.
CASTING for SJP’S YOUTH GROUP PLAY
The casting for the play that the Youth Group will put on February 9th
and 10th, 2007 will be held on Tuesday, November 7th, at
7:00 PM in the auditorium and Wednesday, November 8th at 7:00 PM in
the RMR.
CATHOLIC
FAMILY NETWORK
Parents and Tots meet
Friday morning after the 9:00 mass at St. Augustine’s in Larchmont. For more
information, call Margaret Paganini 833-3123 or Patti Ann Cunningham 833-2310.
JOIN the
STS. JOHN and PAUL YOUTH GROUP
Participate and help the community
Meet the other Youth Groups of Neighboring Parishes
Mingle and meet your peers
Assist with the Breakfast Run
Go on Ski-trips and other field trips
Help with fund-raisers
Help in theatrical performances
The Youth Group is also training Lectors for Mass
Come and join the Fun!
If you are interested in joining
the Sts. John and Paul Youth Group,
Please call Fr. Joseph A. Nahas at 914-834-5458
EUCHARIST
HOLY HOUR
The Knights of
Columbus are sponsoring a Holy Hour devoted to the Most Precious Blood of Our
Lord Jesus Christ. It will be held every Friday at 7:30 PM in the Church.
RCIA
Our RCIA program will commence
on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 at 7:30 PM in the rectory meeting room.
FR.
BRIAN’S BIBLE CLASS
Father Brian’s Bible
Class will be held on Monday evening, November 6th, at 7:00. The topic will be the Gospel of Matthew.
Come one and all even if you have not been previously attending. This program
takes place in the rectory meeting room.
THE
BLANKET DRIVE – UP DATE
The blanket collection
brought in about 50 blankets, comforters, and hand-crotched colorful throws
which were enthusiastically and gratefully received.
John Murphy, Grand
Knight of the K of C, delivered them to 5 homeless shelters in the metropolitan
area. Many thanks to all involved.
WALK FOR
HABITAT
SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 5, 2006 at 1:00 PM
Put Sunday, November 5th
on your calendar as Habitat Day. Join our Fourth Annual Walk for Habitat. Habitat
for Humanity is helping to rebuild Mr. Pond’s house that was destroyed by fire.
The Walk will begin at 1:00 PM by St. Augustine’s. For information and to
volunteer to help, please call Anne Avenius at 527-6762.
THE
PASTOR’S COLUMN
When I was young, I had many different
summer jobs to help pay college and seminary tuition. My first position was a
go-fer in the New York office of Maryknoll. It was there I met true heroes. As
a respite location for missionaries, it served as a temporary home for those
who had spent years in foreign lands. For instance, I met Fr. Toomey, a fierce
baseball fan who rooted for the Giants even after they moved to San Francisco,
who had been imprisoned in China by the communist regime. He desired more than
anything to return to his adopted land its people. Fr. Kelleher, who went to
parishes to seek funding for his confreres could speak and write Japanese like
a native. Other priests and brothers have spent much time in Latin America and
Africa. My next job was doorman and elevator operator in an apartment building
in which many stars such as Isaac Stern, Lauren Bacall, Steve Lawrence and
Edyie Gorme, and Red Buttons lived. It was a very interesting opportunity to
meet very different kinds of people including my co-workers. After two stints,
I moved on to a position with the Catholic Youth Organization as an
archdiocesan camp coordinator and consultant. (One of my bosses was Msgr. Ken
O’Connell, who was ultimately a pastor here at Sts. John and Paul.) This was a
wonderful experience for it enabled me to work in many poor communities with
children who lacked many necessities which are often taken for granted. It also
permitted me to visit day camps throughout the New York area and write for
local newspapers. But the most fascinating position, without a doubt, was held
in my last summer before ordination as a deacon. St. Patrick’s Cathedral needed
an instructor for their Information Center as well as a research person for
inquirers who were in contact with the Cardinal’s and Chancery offices.
Fortunately, Msgr. James Rigney hired me. A substantial amount of my day was
spent teaching courses on the truths of our faith to Catholics and
non-Catholics alike. It was a true joy to update many of our co-religionists on
the components of their faith commitment. The Second Vatican Council had just
concluded six years before. Confusion reigned in the minds and hearts of too
many. They needed reassurance that the substance of the Church’s teaching had
not changed while its expression is made more accessible to contemporary
society. Others attending the lectures had felt the draw to development either
a greater knowledge of the Catholic Church and/or an intimate relationship with
Jesus Christ. By the end of the summer, there was great rejoicing over the
thirty men and women who became fully initiated members of the faith community.
Perhaps because of this latter experience,
I am thrilled to participate in this year’s R.C.I.A.. One of the fruits of the
post-conciliar period has been this path of exploration of one’s spiritual
life. The Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults
have assisted those who desire either to enter into the sacramental life of the
Church or progress into fuller communion with it. This process, however, is not
new. It finds its origins in the earliest moments of the Church’s history. As
the great English Jesuit, Father Edward Yarnold, reminded us in his The
Awe-Inspiring Rites of Initiation: “The modern RCIA was composed as an
adoption of the rites of the early Church to twentieth-century needs. The rite
in use today consists of four periods: (1) evangelization and
pre-catechumenate, (2) catechesis, (3) purification and enlightenment, and (4)
mystogogy. As gateways through which one passes from one period to the next,
there are three ‘steps’: (a) acceptance into the order of catechumens, (b)
election or enrollment, (c) the sacraments of initiation.” (2) Each parish has
further adapted the R.C.I.A. to reflect the needs of the faith community it
serves as well as those drawn to desire union with it. (For instance, though
properly designed for those who are yet to be baptized, the process is also
utilized to serve those who desire to enter into full communion as well as
those Catholics who have yet to complete their initiation.
At this time, we are asking all our parishioners
to participate in the evangelization effort: to introduce the possibility to
friends and family to turn away from the world’s values which fail to satisfy and
see “the attractiveness of the divine beauty incarnate in the person of Jesus
and in those whose lives resemble his.” The vast majority of people who enter
the Church’s life do so not because of the preaching of a priest or deacon but
as a result of the example and encouragement of co-workers, relatives, or
neighbors. This Tuesday evening, I ask you to invite someone who might have
some interest in reflecting on the presence of God in their lives and their
response. Let me advise as to who might benefit from such a time: the
unbaptized. Perhaps they grew up in a home where, for whatever reason, religion
was not a priority. Right now they feel a void that cannot be filled by
possession or accomplishment. Some members of other ecclesial communities who
feel bereft of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist might wish to join
us in an examination of what unites in and what divides. Their hearts might
experience as did John Henry Neuman a longing for that one Shepherd and His
flock subsisting in the Catholic Church. Because of the mobility of modern
families as well as the increasing numbers of families experiencing marital
disintegration, young Catholics have had their reception of Eucharist and
Confirmation neglected. As they become more settled in their lives and careers
perhaps now is the time for them to reflect on their spiritual existences. Just
as important for an individual might be the opportunity for him or her to
return to the faith after years of being a prodigal. Whatever the need, they
will be welcome. Perhaps, they need the encouragement of your presence on
Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM in the Rectory Meeting Room. There is a story that
has been known by many priests. A man was in the ICU of his community hospital.
He was not a Catholic. Knowing that the end was near, he called for a priest.
He asked him to welcome him into the Church. The priest was more than happy to
oblige. After he administered the sacraments, the priest inquired of the
smiling recipient why did he not approach the Church sooner. He replied: “No
one asked me.” Let us not hesitate to invite a sibling, a spouse, a friend, or
a co-worker to walk with us.
May the Spirit lead us to witness to the
Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Jesus vivat,
Fr. Brian