THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME

NOVEMBER 11, 2007

(M - Memorial, A - Anniversary)

 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12

JOSAPHAT, bishop, martyr

                  6:45   EDWARD LEONE--M

                  9:00   MSGR. KENNETH O’CONNELL--M

                               req. by the Benford Family

 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13

FRANCIS XAVIER CABRINI, virgin

                 6:45 WILLIAM J. NEALON—M

                        req. by Theresa McNulty & Family

                 9:00 BERTHE and LOUIS BREUIL--M

                        req. by the Shields Family

 

   WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14

                 6:45 BILL NEALON--A

                        req. by the Family

                 9:00 MAY and JOSEPH MC PEAK--M

                        reg. by the McPeak Family

                       

      THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15

ALBERT the GREAT, bishop, doctor

                 6:45   THE FONTANA FAMILY

                 9:00   MSGR. JOHN J. FLYNN--A

                             req. by the Parish of Sts. John & Paul

 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16

MARGARET of SCOTLAND

GERTRUDE, virgin

                 6:45    MARY A. and EDWARD S. LADIN and ROSE DUDEK--M

                              req. by the Ladin Family

                 9:00   CORRINE PAWLING--M

                               req. by SJP School, Class 2D

 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17

ELIZABETH of HUNGARY, religious

             9:00 ANNE MARIE MC WEENEY--M

                        req. by Fr. Brian

                  5:30 DOMINICK FORTI, JR.--M

                        req. by Linda & Brian Harrington

 

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18

                 7:30   THE FONTANA FAMILY

                 9:00    BERNARD BROOKS--M

                               req. by the Family

              10:30 EDWARD GARBA--M

                              req. by Martha Garba

               12:00 FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH

    5:00 THE SAPORITO and LOIACONI FAMILIES

           req. by the Saporito Family

 

          

PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCES

Your prayers are requested for the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Robert O. Walcovy, Bill Sabia, Rev. Robert Gannon, Beth Hersh, Judy Kelly,  Maria Leal, Charles Donovan, Msgr. Joseph Boyd, Joey Mileti, Patricia Kuhr, Theresa Astorino, 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, DEACON NICOLA ANTHONY BARBIERI and DEACON JOHN MUNNICK, and those who have no one to pray for them; and for the honored dead of the Armed Services.

 

 

 

 

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

Date for the next class is:  December 1^st.

 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12^th, VETERAN’S DAY

Monday, November 12^th, is the day that the nation will honor those who served in the wars. The school, the religious education office and the parish office will be closed.

 

10:30 AM MASS MUSIC NOTES

Today’s Anthem, “Honor And Glory”, was written by one of the worlds most beloved composers, Johan Sebastian Bach. Its selection was inspired by the Gospel Acclamation: “Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead; to him be glory and power, forever and ever.”

 

FOOD BANK NEWS…

The charts are up for the Thanksgiving Baskets. The collection will be on Sunday, November 18^th between 4 & 5 PM and again on Monday morning, November 19^th, between 8 & 9. Thank you.

 

FAMILY MASS

Family Masses are held on the first and third Sundays of the month. The theme for next week’s Mass is “What’s Really Important?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVENT PROJECT

The SRA (Religious Ed’s parent organization) is planning an Advent Project for the parish on Sunday, December 2^nd, the First Sunday of Advent. Please join us in the auditorium at 1 pm to make Jesse Tree ornaments and to receive candles and special prayers for your Advent Wreath (sold again this year by the Salesians beginning November 18^th) and a gift of a beautiful Advent calendar to commemorate this special season together as a Catholic family. All ages are invited. The Women’s Guild will kindly be providing treats for you while you work on your Jesse Tree!

 

 

 

ANNUAL FALL BLOOD DRIVE

On Sunday, November 18^th, our parish will have its annual Fall Blood Drive under the auspices of the Sound Shore Medical Center. Plan to stop by and give the “gift of life”. The drive will begin after the 7:30 AM Mass and last until 1:00 PM. All participants in this drive will be entered into a special drawing for a “free” raffle ticket (grand prize of $25,000) which will be pulled at our parish fundraiser, First Night.

 

 

ADULT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The gym will be available on Tuesday evening’s beginning on November 13^th to all interested in playing 3 on 3, half court basketball. It’s fun, fast and a great workout. NO age limit on the far end. Over 18 on the near end!

Call Byrne Sleeper 381-9142 (home), 924-0730 (cell) or email: bsleeper@verizon.net.

 

 

ADULT EDUCATION

Classes for Adults on the Catholic Catechism produced by the American Bishops will continue on Tuesday evenings at seven-thirty in the Rectory Meeting Room. The next class will be on NOVEMBER 13^th. Come and enjoy coffee, fellowship, and faith sharing. Bring copies, if you have them. If not, they will be provided.

 

RCIA

Preparation for Adults to be received into the church or complete their Sacraments of Initiation of the Eucharist and Confirmation will commence in November. Please register as soon as possible with Nancy in the rectory.

 

TRIP to EASTERN EUROPE

Father Brian is planning a trip to Austria and Poland for May 19 – 29, 2008. A highlight will be meeting Fr. Darius in Poland. A meeting to discuss the trip will be held here on November 16^th in the Rectory Meeting Room at 7:30 PM. Brochures are also available in the rectory.

 

YOUTH GROUP NEWS…

The next meeting of the group will be this Sunday, November 11^th, in the rectory meeting room after the 5:00 PM Mass. All high school students are encouraged to attend and become part of this exciting group.

 

 

 

 

CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

The Teen Group Play this year will be on February 1^st and 2^nd. If you are in high school and want to try your hand at a comedic theatrical production, please consider this event. Our first meeting to discuss play selection and to cast the play will be November 14^th in the auditorium. Please understand that this is a casting not an audition. Feel free to bring a friend.

Just so you know what you are committing to: there are approximately 20 practices. They are 3 days a week starting in mid November from 7 to 9 pm. A play has not been selected yet. That will be discussed once we have a cast.

Anyone interested in acting in the play, please contact Patricia Howard if you cannot be there on the 25^th. Telephone: 833-2434 or email: Hugaworld@aol.com.

 

NOVEMBER – NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

November is National adoption Month. Let us give thanks for the families that we are blessed to have and pray for the many children who aren’t fortunate enough to have a family of their own. Downey Side Families for Youth, a non-profit adoption agency for children ages 7 through 17, with offices throughout the country and now open in the Northeast Bronx, is seeking interested single and married adults to become adoptive parents. Application fees include training, home study, support and searching for your child. Monthly subsidies and income tax incentives are available for adoptive parents. For more information, to make a donation or to become a volunteer, call Anna McNamara at 718-822-2343 or email bronxny@downeyside.org.

 

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

  I was in a quandary as to a topic for the column this week until I read a small item on one of the gossip columns of the Daily News. It read: “Russell Crowe wants to get baptized at 43. ‘I started thinking recently, “If I believe it is important to baptize my kids, why not me?” the ‘American Gangster’ star says in the new Men’s Journal. ‘I do believe there are more important things than what is in the mind of a man. There is something much bigger in the mind of a man. There is something much bigger that drives us all. I’m willing to take that leap of faith.” This witness gives us pause on many levels.

  It matters not what age we are when we hear the call of faith or what circumstances cause it. For example, history tells us that Ignatius Loyola thought little about his ultimate destiny until he, a mercenary, was felled in battle. That event forced him to look at his life and confront its lack of meaning. He was then led by the Spirit to an understanding of not only the Christian vocation but, of his unique call to found the Society of Jesus. Time and time again we have seen tragic circumstances cause individuals and whole communities to change their direction. The example of others often is the cause of a person’s examination of their existence and its purpose. Sometimes God utilizes the oddest situations to bring a lost soul to Himself. Perhaps some true events might give flesh and blood to these assertions. As a seminarian, I had the privilege to work at St. Patrick’s Cathedral teaching what was then called “Information Classes.” Today they would constitute part of RCIA. One of the young people expressed an interest in becoming a Catholic. When I inquired as to her motive, she answered that her Baptist minister started her thinking about life and the future. She could see that I was somewhat puzzled so she continued. As a life long member of her Church, she spent a great deal of time with family and friends in Bible classes and social events. Most of her neighbors belonged to the Church as a result she was not exposed to other Christian denominations, Jewish congregations, or Catholic believers. When she went to college her circle of associates included many of the above. She was especially fond of a Catholic classmate. She spent several weekends with her and her family. When she returned to her own town, she had become somewhat confused and was very uneasy about her faith journey. She had felt a tug at her heart for Catholicism but wondered whether it was merely a result of developing closer ties with her friend. She asked her minister a question which had been troubling her: “What will happen to my Catholic friend when she dies?” He answered politely but sadly: “She will probably go to hell.” That response gave clarity to this young woman. She told me she could not be a member of that Church any longer for she could not believe that the Good Shepherd she loved would treat her friend or other good people in such a fashion. On another occasion, I met and instructed a famous actor who stated: “I read and researched many different religious traditions but none satisfied me and when I came to this parish, I felt called to receive the Eucharist. I realized that all of the intellectual game-playing had to cease and humbly I had to accept the true Church of Christ.” In a post card on which was the image of St. Therese, he wrote: “I have never been happier. Each day I receive the Lord with Sir Alec (Guiness).” Others have been received into full communion because of their spouses, co-workers, or neighbors. Or as in the case of Mr. Crowe, because of their children, they are willing to take the “leap of faith”.

   This talented actor is correct as well in a further point that is appreciated by most but not acted upon by some. We cannot mandate a requirement for our children which we don’t fulfill ourselves. We cannot tell our children to say their prayers each night if we don’t. Our childhood was a period when girls wore their mother’s high heels and put on her make-up and when boys took tools to make something like their dads. We all learned by experience. The faith and its various elements are passed on in the same way. At this juncture, I should add a note of consolation. Many times fathers and mothers come to me and my brother priests reporting sadly that their children no longer attend Mass, or they are living an existence that is not compatible with the teachings of the Church. Frustrated, they cry out: “What did we do wrong? We participated in worship each week. We have been active in the parish. We sent each of our sons and daughters to Catholic schools and colleges.” In response, I use a sports analogy to begin. From Monday through Saturday, the coach of our favorite New York Giants trains his men so that they might be victorious. He helps them plan for every eventuality. But once Sunday dawns, it is up to the players to take the ball and run and pass it. The coach must stand on the sidelines, call plays, but not be able to take the place of any inadequate player. It is up to them. In any single game, he can be seen as a most frustrated teacher or a very proud parent. Though it is hard to observe, a father or mother, have patience, pray, and realize that ultimately children cannot forget the example they were give and hopefully, see its significance for their lives and that of their families.

   Russell Crowe might have inspired us with his acting or scared us with his off-screen behavior, but he has challenged all of us to reflect on our own need for conversion of mind and heart. We all could do with an examination of our conscience and see those areas in which our relationship with God and His Church might be improved. As Advent approaches, it is an excellent time for introspection.

Jesus vivat,

Fr. Brian