THIRD
SUNDAY in ADVENT
DECEMBER
16, 2007
(M -
Memorial, A - Anniversary)
6:45 DARLENE
L. LEONE--M
req. by the Clergy &
the People of Sts. John & Paul Parish
9:00 GEORGE
O’HAIRE--A
req. by Alice Mulderrig
TUESDAY, DECMEBER 18
6:45 BERNARD BROOKS--M
req. by the Family
9:00 JOHN BARBERIO--M
req. by Pat Barberio
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19
6:45 LOUIS CAPOLINO--M
Req. by Jeanne Loghitano & Family
9:00 MARTIN E. KING--A
reg. by the Family
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20
6:45 THE FONTANA FAMILY
9:00 DECEASED
MEMBERS of the MULDERRIG FAMILY
req. by Alice Mulderrig
PETER CANISIUS, priest, doctor
6:45 ANN WASSELL--M
req. by Kathleen Wassell
9:00 HELEN MARA NUGENT and JOSEPH NUGENT--M
req. by Maura
& Richard Concannon
6:45
PATRICIA D’ANDREA--A
req. by Antjhony D’Andrea
5:30 MARGARET and
MARTIN HEAVEY--M
req. by the Fitz Gerald Family
SUNDAY, DECEMBER
23
7:30 ELIZABETH
HANNAWAY—M
req. by Sheila & Ken Nixon
9:00 THOMAS
J. WEISS--M
req. by Jean Haley
10:30 VIRGINIA
MOORE--M
req. by the Clergy &
the People of Sts. John & Paul Parish
12:00 LOUISE
M. QUINN--M
req. by Virginia L. Quinn
5:00 FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
PRAYERFUL
REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for
the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Jean Harder, Bill Sabia, Bruno Mazzari, Robert O. Walcovy, Rev. Robert Gannon, Beth Hersh, 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, JOAN WALSH MITCHELL, 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 (12—09—07)
$13.020
Retired Religious: $ 2,534
Attendance: 1,257
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 Saturday mornings from 10 AM – 11:30 AM. Please call the rectory to attend.
Classes in 2008 will be: January 5th, February 2nd, March
1st, April 5th, May 3rd and June 7th.
10:30 AM
MASS MUSIC NOTES
The First Reading for
today, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, is beautifully paraphrased in the
Anthem “Springs In The Desert” by Arthur B. Jennings, Jr. This piece was
written as a meditation or glimpse into the end of sorrow and sighing, a
forecast of the feast to come, “a spring in the desert” and the joy of God’s
presence.
FOOD BANK
NEWS…
The food baskets for
Christmas can be delivered to the rectory garage on Sunday, December 16th,
between 4 and 5 PM and again on Monday, December 17th between 8 and
9 AM. Once again thank you for most generous contributions.
YOUTH
GROUP MEETING
The Youth Group will
have their annual Christmas Party in the rectory meeting room on Sunday,
December 16th, after the 5:00 PM Mass. All the high school students
of the parish are invited to attend.
NEW ALTAR
SERVERS MEETING
There will be another meeting on Tuesday, December 18th, at
3:15 PM in the rectory meeting room for all the new Altar Servers.
CALENDAR
of EVENTS for the WEEK
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16th:
9:00 AM CH: Family Mass
10:10 AM SCH: Religious Education classes
12 Noon GYM: Basketball
6:00 PM RMR: Youth Group Christmas Party
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17th:
3:00 PM GYM & O.S. AUD: PSPA
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
7:00 PM AUD: Play practice
TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 18th:
9:30 AM CH: Confessions
3:00 PM GYM & OUTSIDE AUD: PSPA
3:00 & 8:00 PM AUD: Choir
3:15 PM RMR: New Altar Servers Meeting
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
5:30 PM RMR: K of C
6:00 PM SCH CONF RM & AUD: Cub Scouts
7:00 PM AUD: Play practice
7:30 PM REC: Fr. Brian’s class
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19th:
10:30 AM SARAH NEUMAN: Service followed by Mass
12:45 PM RMR: Brownies
12:45 PM GYM & O.S. AUD: PSPA
2:50 & 7:15 PM SCH: Religious Education classes
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
7:00 PM AUD: Play practice
7:30 PM CH: Parish Penance Service
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20th:
9:30 AM CH: Confessions
4:00 PM GYM Basketball
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21st:
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
4:30 & 7:30 PM CH: Confessions
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22nd:
9:00 AM GYM: Basketball
CHRISTMAS
FLOWER MEMORIALS
This year envelopes
for Christmas Flower Memorials are in the special Christmas packet that all
parishioners received last week. Once again, we suggest a $15.00 donation for
each memorial (In Memory Of) or dedication (In Honor Of). There are additional
envelopes in the rear of the church. The list of Flower Memorials will be
published in the bulletins throughout the Christmas season.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE for ALTAR SERVERES
Mrs. Ronan is
beginning to plan the Christmas and New Year’s schedules. As these are very
family oriented holidays and perhaps some Altar Servers will be away, please
let Mrs. Ronan (834-1052) know what Masses you are available to serve. Thank
you.
ADVENT
CANDLES and WREATHS
Due to a glitch by the
shipping company, the Advent candles did not arrive for the First Sunday of
Advent. We apologize, and would like to announce that they have now arrived and
will sell for $5 at the inside of the church this weekend.
Also, the Salesians
have replenished their wreath supply! They will be selling wreaths for $10 this
year at the inside doors of the church after all the Masses.
May your family enjoy
this ancient tradition of the Advent Wreath during this holy season of waiting.
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 18th. Come and enjoy coffee, fellowship, and faith sharing.
Bring copies, if you have them. If not, they will be provided.
THE
CATHOLIC WIDOWS and WIDOWERS ORGANIZATION
All widows and
widowers are cordially invited to attend the monthly Mass for deceased spouses
on Monday, December 17th, at 7 PM followed by the monthly meeting at
St. Pius X in Scarsdale. For more information, please call 948-4682.
MORNING OF
RECOLLECTION
The St. Augustine’s
Auxiliary invites all of you for a “Morning of Recollection” on Saturday,
December 22nd, starting with the 9:00 AM Mass in the Church. The
lecture will be held in the School Cafeteria. After a short coffee break, at
approximately 10:100 AM, our speaker Father Frank Wolfram, S.D.B., will talk
about “secular Xmas and Sacred Christmas.”
Everyone is welcome,
bring a friend or family. Just take one and one-half to two hours out of your
busy schedule to listen to Fr. Frank’s talk before you leave on your trip or go
shopping.
Please r.s.v.p. to
Anne-Mieke Smeets at 834-0194.
THE
PASTOR’S COLUMN
Last Sunday, I had the occasion to baptize
a new parishioner. He came to the Church with his older brother, who is three
years of age. He observed his parents and the baby’s godparents signing him.
Without hesitation, he reached out and did as they had done. This concretized
what I speak about in homilies on such occasions. It also suggested to me
content for this column.
At this time of year when Santa is mulling
over the letters he has received and parents are deciding what gifts they might
purchase, it is important to recall what our children truly require. When we
reflect back on our experience, we rejoice in the time our parents spent with
us. I’ve mentioned quite a few times the Saturday nights I would spend with my
father. But there were also other occasions when he would take me to visit
people from his hometown. I would listen to their stories about the farms they
came from, when they immigrated to New York, and their first jobs and meeting
their future spouse. For someone my age, it was instructive to realize that the
surroundings in which John McWeeny grew up were different than the ones he was
able to provide for his family. He made sure that we had the wherewithal to go
to college though he had to leave the national school after the third grade to
work on the family farm which he knew he would never inherit since he was not
the oldest son. In terms of our Catholic faith, I recall the sadness of some of
his older friends as they spoke of the persecution they had endured.
Frequently, authorities would invade homes during family prayers. Religious
intolerance was away of life. My mother, having been born in this country, had
a much different experience. With her seven brothers and sisters, she lived in
a railroad flat apartment. When her youngest sister was two, her beloved mother
died of cancer. She became the caretaker as her father went to work as a laborer
building the Empire State and other projects, including the grammar school that
I would ultimately attend. There is no way that I could know about my mother
and father, be aware of the values that motivated them, and understand their
faith formation if I had not spent the many hours of sharing that they so
generously gave.
Additionally, the confidence my sisters and
in pursuing their respective vocations and myself in becoming a priest came
from recognizing the strength of my parents’ relationship and the manner in
which they treated each other. In terms of the latter, I frequently tell the
story of their passion for dancing. Mom and Dad met at an Irish dance hall
(younger people read: disco). No matter how tired they were after work, they
would run home, dress, and go out. When they married, after a brief five year
courtship, they never danced with anyone else other than each other. When dad
died, mom never danced again. No matter what their role as parents required
they are took time for each other. No matter what their role as parents
require, they took time for each other. As one who has served as a marriage
counselor, pre-cana instructor as well as a judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal,
I must emphasize the necessity for children to see the unity of marriage.
Sometimes when I suggest this and stress the importance of private time, the
protest arises: “There is just no time.” How can an aspect of communication so
important in courtship become so insignificant? When a couple first meets, they
devote hours to conservation about their lives and futures. At these times,
they discover aspects which serve as foundation stones for a most intimate
friendship and committed relationship. Though years might have passed, the
necessity for such meaningful exchanges has not. Time must be made for a cup of
coffee and a walk along the shore. Though children and their needs require much
attention, it must be recognized that they are born into a marriage only to
leave it and begin their own family. The married parties must recognize that
their partnership must be a constant concern since it will exist for many years
more.
When assisting in the development of our
young people’s personality, the unity of parents is an important factor.
Children should not be able to set parents up against each other. Unfortunately
for me and my sisters, mom and dad were on to us. When any one of us asked
either parent for permission to do something or for some item, the answer would
quickly come: “What did your mother (father) say?” Sometimes this united front
caused disappointment. These responses, however, assisted the process of
maturity. There is a tendency today because of modern stresses for some people to
believe that there must be positive responses to children’s requests on the
most part. Sometimes it will be said: “I want to give my child those things
which I didn’t have.” While this can be an admirable stance in some regard, it
can also be destructive. As adults, we know that sometimes we don’t get the
promotion we deserve, the house we wanted to sell is still on the market, or
the illness a friend or relative had proved fatal despite the prayers and best
efforts of all. We know its part of life, because from our youth we have we
have experienced it all. Success and sometimes failure is all part of the human
experience which should not be denied our young people. When we think of what
should be bestowed on our children let us give them the very best so that they
will grow and appreciate the gift of grace and life.
As the holy season of Christmas approaches,
may I ask you to tend to the most important spiritual elements of the
celebration. Please heed elsewhere in this bulletin and the flyer you have
received through the mail, the Mass schedule as well as the times for the
celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The diverse times are meant for
the convenience of most. Should no time be convenient, please call the rectory
and we shall make ourselves available.
May you enjoy the festivities of this
Advent Season as they culminate in Christmas joy.
Jesus vivat,
Fr. Brian