FIRST SUNDAY in ADVENT

DECEMBER 2, 2007

(M - Memorial, A - Anniversary)

 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3

FRANCIS XAVIER, priest

                 6:45  THE WENZEL FAMILY

                 9:00  MSGR. LAMONT HAMILTON--A

                                          req. by the Parish

 

TUESDAY, DECMEBER 4

JOHN of DAMASCUS, bishop, doctor

                 6:45 AGNES DORAN--M

                 9:00 ANTOINETTER MANGIERI--M

                        req. by Carmie Mangieri

 

   WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5

                 6:45 AL KINJO--M

                        req. by Nancy Hardart

                 9:00 DAMIANO FAZIO--M

                        reg. by Bianca Fazio

                       

      THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6

NICHOLAS, bishop

                 6:45   THE FONTANA FAMILY

                 9:00   DANTE and LINDA MATTIOLI--M

                                                  req. by Adriana Mattioli

 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7

AMBROSE, bishop, doctor

                 6:45 JOSEPH VALLARIO--M

                             req. by the Family

                 9:00  JOSEPHINE and CORNELIUS SHIELDS, PAUL V. SHIELDS and AILEEN SHIELDS BRYAN--M

                             req. by the Shields Family

                 7:30   FRANK, MATTHEW and ANTHONY BOVE--M

                             req. by Nancy Bove

 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

                 6:45 CHESTER PEET—M

                             req. by the Student & Parents of Sts. John & Paul’s 7^th grade

             9:00 SPECIAL INTENTION for the LIVING: MOTHER MARIE IMMACULATA

                        req. by Anthony D’Andrea

       12 Noon JULIE GILLIGAN--M

                        req. by Pat Sweeney

             5:30 HOWARD FITZ GERALD--M

                        req. by the Family

 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9

                 7:30  FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH

                 9:00  JAMES MC CAFFREY--M

                              req. by the Dillon Family

              10:30  KATHERINE BOCKINO--M

                              req. by Linda & John Infelice, Jr.

              12:00  VERONICA MC PEAK--M

                               req. by the McPeak Family

   5:00 WILLIAM J. NEALON--M

                 req. by Ro & Jack Regan

          

PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCES

Your prayers are requested for the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially:  Bruno Mazzari, Robert O. Walcovy, Bill Sabia, Rev. Robert Gannon, Beth Hersh, 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,  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, FRANK HART and MARIE LEAL,  and those who have no one to pray for them; and for the honored dead of the Armed Services.

 

 

FEAST of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION,

DECEMBER 8^TH

Saturday, December 8^th, is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation. There will be a Vigil Mass on Friday, December 7^th, at 7:30 PM. The Masses on the holy day will be at 6:45 and 9:00 AM, and 12 Noon.

 

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 Saturday mornings from 10 AM – 11:30 AM. Please call the rectory to attend. Classes in 2008 will be: January 5^th, February 2^nd, March 1^st, April 5^th, May 3^rd and June 7^th.

 

10:30 AM MASS MUSIC NOTES

For the 1^st Sunday of Advent, the Anthem “Rejoice, O Jerusalem” by Healy Willan refers to today’s Responsorial Psalm: “I rejoiced because they said to me ‘We will go up to the house of the Lord’. And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.” Born in London in 1880, Dr. Willan was an organist and choirmaster by the age of 15 and a member of the London Gregorian Association, a society committed to the preservation and revival of Gregorian chant.

 

FOOD BANK NEWS…

Your generosity at Thanksgiving was as always overwhelming. Now, Christmas is upon us in just a few short weeks. Therefore, the sign-up sheets for Christmas Baskets will be going up very soon.

 

YOUTH GROUP MEETING

The next meeting of the Youth Group will be on Sunday, December 9^th, at 6:00 PM in the rectory meeting room.

 

 

 

GIFT SUNDAY – DECEMBER 9^th

It has been a tradition here at Sts. John and Paul Parish to have a “Gift Mass” on the second Sunday of Advent. Last year we began a new tradition. Each Mass that weekend (December 8^th and 9^th) will be considered a “Gift Mass”. Parishioners should bring wrapped gifts for children, marked on the outside of the package whether it is for a girl or boy and the age. When you come to Mass that weekend, you can place your gift directly on the altar. The gifts will be distributed to needy children. This year the gifts will be given to the Franciscan Handmaids of Mary and Fr. Benedict Groeschel. Thank you in advance for your generous support of this project.

If you are away that weekend, you could drop your gift off at the rectory.

 

 

 

ADVENT PROJECT

The SRA (Religious Ed’s parent organization) is planning an Advent Project for the parish this 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!

 

 

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 December 3^rd. 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.

 

 

SONGCATCHERS 13^th ANNUAL

CONCERT for PEACE

Come join us for the Songcatchers 13^th Annual concert for Peace on Sunday, December 9^th, at 4:30 PM in the Chapel at the College of New Rochelle. There is no charge for admission. Free will offering only. For more information, please call 654-1178, email:bdowdmus@aol.com and web site: www.songcatchers.info.

 

CAN YOU HELP?

Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR is in need of volunteers to help the Friars send out their semi-annual appeal and newsletter. The work will be done at Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont. We will start at 9:30am and hope to finish by 12:30 or 1:00. If you are able to come on that day, please call Cathy Hickey, 834-6907, and leave word on her answering machine.

 

ST. AUGUSTINE’S HOLLY PARTY

The St. Augustine’s Ladies Auxiliary is again organizing the annual Holly Party to be held on Friday, December 7^th at 12 Noon. If you are interested in attending, please send your reservations with a check for $10.00 (payable to the Ladies Auxiliary) to Annalea Ricci, 8 Iden Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538, tel: 834-7443.

It is a tradition to bring an unwrapped gift (wrapping paper separately) to the Holly Party to put it under the Christmas tree to benefit the incarcerated mothers at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. The gifts are for children ages infants to 18. If you would like more information, please contact Anne-Mieke Smeets at 834-0194.

 

THE LARCHMONT NEWCOMERS’ CLUB

The Club will hold a Holiday luncheon and Boutique on Thursday, December 6^th, at Hampshire Country Club. Shopping starts at 11am/Lunch starts at 12 pm. Cost $40 per person. For more information, please visit www.larchmontnewcomersclub.com.

 

 

HOLIDAY BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

Coxe & Graziano Funeral Home will be hosting a discussion on how to cope with the loss of a loved one during the Holiday Season. This will take place on Saturday, December 8^th, at 1:30pm in the Stained Glass Chapel at the Funeral Home. There is no cost to attend and light refreshments will be served. For more information or to reserve a place, please contact Jennifer Graziano at 698-5968.

 

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

   As we begin the new liturgical year with the celebration of the Season of Advent, I thought it apropos to report to you on the spiritual health and financial condition of the parish. This year we welcomed fifty nine children into the family of God and our parish. One adult became fully professed in the faith and received the remaining Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.  In the spring, ninety-two of our second graders received the Eucharist for the first time. Ninety-three adolescents embraced the challenges of adult formation by receiving Confirmation. These youngsters were among the five hundred and sixty in our religious education program and two hundred and seventy-one in our parochial school. The former being taught by sixty catechists and aides while the latter were engaged by an administration and faculty. Sixteen couples asked the People of Saints John and Paul to witness their martial commitment. (It is a joy to report that some of these couples validated their marriages thereby renewing their relationship with Church.) Sadly, we had to say farewell to thirty-nine parishioners. With their families, we experienced a deep loss. They were young mothers, parish leaders, dedicated gentlemen, and all fellow believers who struggled to be united to Christ despite temptations, obstacles, and distractions. At least four times a year at Sarah Neumann Nursing Home and once during a Sunday Mass, the Anointing of the Sick is administrated. On these occasions at least 300 people received the sacrament’s gift of spiritual healing and in some cases, physical strengthening. Many visits to parishioners’ homes have served as opportunities for its celebration. (I cannot allow this moment to pass without saluting the sixty-two extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist who not only assist at our weekend liturgies but reach out to all those who can no longer come to Mass.) The Word of God is proclaimed most effectively by thirty-two men and women who serve as lectors. Additionally, we are in debt to those who volunteer week after week in the parish’s music ministry. The good order in the liturgy is due, finally, to the care of our ushers and alter servers (and the parents who make sure their children fulfill their assignments). In this context, we cannot forget the ever present, Jerry Lopez.

   Supportive of the evangelical mission have been the various parish organizations. The Women’s Guild have been always there when the social needs of the parish demand. Their charity has blessed our youth program, the parish food program, and many community efforts. Many men and women have participated in our recreation programs and teen club. We appreciate their gifts of time and talents. Our high school students are not found wanting. They inspire us with their religious productions of The Living Rosary and The Living Stations. Their Breakfast Runs have assisted many homeless people. And of course, our parish is strengthened in too many ways to mention by the Knights of Columbus. All of our activities from the food bank to the scouting programs engage all of us in the tasks of serving Christ and His people.

   As an insert in the bulletin, I have placed the financial report for the fiscal year which ended August 31, 2007. In order to present you with an accurate picture, I decided that we must have an outside accountant. This person was hired because of their professional background as well as their familiarity with the Logus system mandated by the Archdiocese and its Administrative Manuel. Some of the variances shown are caused by the fact that we and they are in a transitional mode. Our shake down cruise will end with this fiscal cycle. Though we cannot detail each line, I hope that my comments will contribute to your understanding of our position. Before discussing any specifics, may I state unequivocally my gratitude to all for their constant generosity. Through weekly contributions, support of the Bicentennial Campaign, and other gifts, we have been able to maintain our programs and outreach to every segment of the population.

   Our overall revenue has risen though our Sunday collections have experienced a slight drop. This might be related to the fact that during the summer, some parishioners avoided the gym because of its lack of air-conditioning. It must also be recognized that some of our people have diverted their gifts towards the Bicentennial Campaign. In terms of expenditures, we have attempted to hold the line. The biggest increase was in the school subsidy. The amount is at the level called for by both the policy of the Department of Education and the requirements of the Parish Finance Office. (Please note this is a substantially less amount than three year ago when it was $347,711 and the parish was experiencing a shortfall of $68,199.) Before I more on to the school side of the ledger, may I explain the line titled: Cathedraticum. Simply, it is a tax on our regular income. Restricted gifts such as ones to the Bicentennial are free of any such claim.

   There are two principle reasons for the financial vitality of our school: the faithfulness of parents in supporting the tuition structure and the generosity of the P.S.P.A. and their supporters. No other parish in the Archdiocese can claim such an organization which aids the school in supporting the faculty, providing special teachers, and improving facilities. You will note the tremendous increase in personnel costs, utilities, and other building expenses.

   The final piece of our report deals with our construction efforts called for in the Bicentennial campaign. I know that many wish that the project in the Church would have advanced with the same speed and outcome as the school. I certainly am one of them. But it was not meant to be. Because the estimates came in higher than we projected, it was necessary to value engineer the project. We are truly indebted to Dave Maddox and Glenn Gilder of the Archdiocesan Building Commission and Chris Fitzgerald, our contractor, for continuing to bring the project forward with artistic integrity and financial responsibility. Our goal for completion is Christmas. We are grateful for the generosity of all. We are continuing to receive gifts. Most recently, one of our school parents gave a gift of $10,000.

   At a recent meeting of the Finance Committee, I was asked when we are going to get another priest. Unfortunately, we have four parishes without a pastor. The question of a parochial vicar is on a back burner for now. But as you can see with the support that we have here, we are in good shape. May God continue to bless us and may all continue to receive divine graces in abundance.

Jesus vivat,

Fr. Brian