FOURTH
SUNDAY in ADVENT
DECEMBER
23, 2007
(M -
Memorial, A - Anniversary)
VIGIL of CHRISTMAS
6:45 DOROTHY GAY JUERGENS--M
req. by the Clergy &
the People of Sts. John & Paul Parish
9:00 CHARLOTTE and MALACHY
CONCANNON--M
req. by Maura & Richard
Concannon
4:00
GUIDO GULLA—M
req.
by the Gulla Family
5:30
CARMELLA SKOWRONKI--M
req.
by Dean & Faith Daniels
12:00 THE REILLY and MCWEENEY FAMILIES
req.
by Fr. Brian
TUESDAY, DECMEBER 25
NATIVITY of the LORD
7:30 THERESA LEONE--M
9:00 ROBERT MULDERRIG--M
req. by Alice Mulderrig
10:30 MICHAEL,
TOMMY and DONNEY
HARRINGTON—M
req. by the Family
12:00 ROSE
and HENRY BETZ--M
req. BY Mary & Harvey
Humphrey
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26
STEPHEN,
first martyr
9:00 MARY
R. NEALON--M
reg. by Ro & Jack
Nealon
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27
JOHN ,
apostle, evangelist
6:45 THE FONTANA FAMILY
9:00 ROBERT
J. TEPEDINO, SR.--M
req.
by Genevieve Tepedino
HOLY INNOCENTS, martyrs
6:45 JOHN WYLIE--M
req. by Kathleen Wassell
9:00 ZOILA PEREZ--M
req. by Melissa Perez
9:00
SPECIAL INTENTION for the LIVING:
JOEY MILETI
req. by Maria D. Markey
5:30 FLORENCE SABIA--M
req. by Alice & Henry Malgrande
SUNDAY, DECEMBER
30
7:30 FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
9:00 NICOLA
GIGANTE--M
req. by the Schonander Family
10:30 VIRGINIA
MOORE--M
req. by Joyce , Robert,
Jules & Lauren Biolsi
FLORENCE DAPAA--M
req. By Wendy Simmons
12:00 EDWARD
J. PANARELL--A
req. by the Family
5:00 JANE CARROLL—M
req. by Theresa McNulty & Family
PRAYERFUL
REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for
the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: John O’Keefe, 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, 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—16—07)
$11,763
Attendance: 715
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
For the 4th
Sunday of Advent, the Anthem is a contemporary piece by Ronan McDonagh entitled
“Behold a Virgin Bearing Him”. The Gospel Reading for today, the only reading
during Advent about Mary says: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a
son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.”
WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 26th
There will be NO 6:45
AM Mass on Wednesday, December 26th.
STS. JOHN
and PAUL SCHOOL NEWS...
Sts. John and Paul
School will re-open on Wednesday, January 3, 2008.
FR.
BRIAN’S CLASS
Fr. Brian’s class will
resume on MONDAY, JANUARY 7th, at 7:30 PM in the rectory.
CALENDAR
of EVENTS for the WEEK
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23rd:
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24th:
TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 25th:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26th:
10:30 AM SARAH NEUMAN: Service followed by Mass
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27th:
4:00 PM GYM Basketball
8 PM RMR: K of C Social
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28th:
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29th:
9:00 AM GYM: Basketball
RAFFLE
2007
The winner of last
Saturday’s early bird raffle was Joe Tomei, a parishioner. Congratulations,
Joe!
It’s not to late to be
a part of the big raffle to be held on Monday, December 31st, at
10:00 PM at the “New Night Celebration”. The grand prize is $25,000 and there
will be 5 second prizes of $1,000 each. Tickets will be on sale after all the
Masses this weekend and next. See Jerry to purchase the winning ticket.
“NEW NIGHT
CELEBRATION”
Ring in the New Year with music, dancing, crafts, hats, noise makers,
and a New Year countdown in the auditorium beginning at 10:00 PM. Refreshments
and chips will be served (BYOB). Bring a favorite dessert to share at our
dessert buffet. The advanced ticket is $20.00 per family ($30 per family at the
door).
You can RSVP at the back of church or at the rectory (834-5458). Or use
the tear off below and return it to the rectory with your check.
___________________________________________________
We would love to attend the Family Fun Celebration.
Family Name:_______________________________
# of Adults___________________
# of Children_________________
Payment enclosed_____________
Make checks payable to Sts. John & Paul Church.
CHRISTMAS
FLOWER MEMORIALS
IN MEMORY OF Donor
Carlos M. Cuevas H. & T. Zakhar
Frederick
& Helen Oyjer & The Curran & Mancini
James & Marjorie Curran Families
Louise & Arthur Quinn
& Virginia L. Quinn
Johnny
McKeever
Donohue,
Cosgrove & McDermott Mrs. Peggy McDermott
Families
Abuelos M/M
Zamarbide
Katherine
Bockino & M/M
John Infelice, Jr.
Mary Jane Infelice
&
John Infelice, Sr.
Helen
& Thomas Tierney Carolyn
Tierney
Chuck
Wieglus
Irene Wieglus
Joseph
M. Bongiorno
Annette Stqabile
Thomas
J. Cannistraci, Sr. Thomas
J. Cannistraci, Jr.
Charles Reilly & The Reilly Family
Tim Reilly &
Vincent Savage
Stephen
T. Colletti The Colletti Family
Joseph
& Carmel Rigano &
Jane & family
Laurence & Mina
Nagel &
Laurence A. Rigano,
Sr.
Michael
(Butch) Rainaldi Jane
Rigano & Family
M/M Anthony Mazzari
& Bruno &
Louise Mazzari
M/M Joseph Spagna &
M/M Louis Russo
Edward Panarello The Mastronardi
Family
Albert J. Wassell
& Alby
Wassell
Michael Patrick Joyce
Joan H. Lian & Al Lian
The Lian Family
Angelina & Henry
Ruggiero & Dominick D.
Ruggiero
Anna & Thomas D’Ambrosio
&
Marie D. Ruggiero
Giovanna Scata
& The
Persico Family
Ernesto Persico
Madeline Perri
& Carolyn Colety
Emilio Perri
Josephine &
Francis McIntee The
McIntee Family
The
Schevera & Reilly Families The
Reilly Family
Grace Feeney Kristin & Peter Fleming
Thomas J. Weiss Jean & Ted Haley
Joseph Carpanzano Joyce Carpanzano
Rita McCloy & Rita &
Mark Stephanz
W. J. McCloy &
Bill Stephanz &
Katherine Amanda
Stephanz
Richard Pace, Sr. Amy & Rich Pace
Dec. Memb/ Colarusso
& The Uddo
Family
Uddo Families
Harold & Elizabeth
Delaney Kathleen E.
Delaney
Darlene L. Leone The Leone
Family
Joseph Trapanese Mary Ann Trapanese
Irene Gray
Dennis & Lori Brooks
Matthew & John
Stowell Celia
& Davis Stowell
Ted Manno
Norma Manno Luther
Irene & Anthony
Math A. J.
Matt, Jr.
Anne Povemba Stephanie
White
Joan Savastano Mary
Davidson
Elizabeth &
Patrick McCaffery
Rosemary Roach
Dec.
Memb/ Welch & Ryan Families
Mary L. Welch
Dec.
Memb/ Onoff Family The Trapanese Family
Elena
& Joseph Benvenga &
The Moore Family
Virginia,
James & Gina Moore
Dec.
Memb/ Mikus Family
Barbara & Ed Mikus
Dec.
Memb/ Lambiasi &
The Lambiasi Fmaily
Guglielmo
Families
Lawrence
Flink &
The Flink family
Christopher
O’Neil
OFFICE
MANAGER POSITION AVAILABLE
A full time office manager
position is opened at the rectory of St. Augustine Parish, Larchmont. Position
requires word processing skills (Microsoft Word), office management skills and
the ability to communicate friendliness and hospitality for people. Health
benefits are available. Send resume and references to Msgr. Thomas Kelly, 18
Cherry Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538. Telephone number is 834-1220.
THE
PASTOR’S COLUMN
The excitement of the Christmas season is
reaching a crescendo. All minds and hearts are filed with thoughts and actions
which celebrate sharing, family, but most of all, Jesus Christ. The story of
the birth of the Messiah has been told over and over again so often and in so
many venues that it is know not only by the faithful but indeed the majority
who inhabit the Western world. Its familiarity, however, can gloss over some
significant elements then and now.
From the moment of rebellion in primordial
time, God planned man’s redemption. When Moses led the Chosen People from the
slavery of Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land, the divine plan advanced
but did not come to fruition. Faced with one crisis of political upheaval
following another, the prophets called Israel to renew herself in the hope of
true peace. Israel told the nation that the imperfections of her kings would be
replaced by one who would be “Wonder-Counselor”, “Prince of Peace”, bur also a
suffering servant. Fulfillment of his words would still be centuries off. In
fact, his life reveals a common frustration among God’s servants: they would
not see the hope that they prophesied. In fact, many of their contemporaries
would keep division on them for their seeming foolishness. But they endured
despite, at times, their own doubts. We who are inheritors of their testimonies
and the recipients of the Good News can take a lesson form this history. As we
endure the trials and tribulations of life, we often question and rebel. We
cannot understand why our prayers are seemingly not being heard. For years, we
devote ourselves to the raising of children; we spend a fortune on their
education; we devote ourselves to their religious formation; we give them the
wherewithal to begin their careers; and yet, they neglect their family ties and
too often, become lax in their practice of the faith. It’s not fair we cry to
God. We give ourselves totally to our spouses, make sacrifices for a
comfortable future, but illness strikes, and we suspect all is for naught. We
strike out and doubt God’s faithfulness. Like Israel, we must return to God for
indeed we will realize sometimes sooner, sometimes later, He is the only true
north. He will never abandon us. We will never walk alone.
Each member of the Holy Family and those
who encountered them, witness to that overwhelming reality. Though Mary had
been visited by the angel and had the assurances of divine favor, she could not
feel immune from the hot winds of the desert days as she went to the assistance
of Elizabeth and returned home only to hear that she had to retrace her steps
with Joseph and go to David’s city: Bethlehem. Her pregnancy reaching its final
stages was certainly a tremendous concern as she met closed door after closed
door denying her and Joseph suitable shelter for the night. Very often we
forget that many are homeless today through no fault of their own: some have
been burned out of their homes because of greedy landlords; some have been
turned out because of their inability to pay rent; and some have experienced
unexpected reversals of fortune. Perhaps, we might not be able to house them
ourselves but remembering the manger, we might contribute to organizations
ministering to them and possibly contribute time and talent in the new year to
Habit for Humanity.
Joseph had the comfort of Gabriel’s words
but the news that his family was in danger did cause great concern. With the
fewest of possessions, the three fled Herod’s evil and made for the land of
Egypt. How ironic: The very place that had meat shackles to Israel now meant
liberation to the new Moses. Like our ancestors who fled the poverty, oppression,
and emptiness of their native lands, so the King of Kings became an immigrant.
What if He had not been received back? How different the story would be: And
yet, how many of our fellow citizens are prepared to reject those who would
desire to be part of this nations’ future? As Catholics, we must be aware of
the needs of those who see our land as one still as a place of opportunity. So
many of them are our co-religionists from around the world.
We must recall that the events of God’s
generous gift of His Son were witnessed by very unlikely groups. Shepherds were
vagabonds at best and thieves at worst. In fact, their role as hirelings was
discounted by Jesus Himself when He compared their attitudes with those of the
Good Shepherd. But it was to such as these that the angels announced the glad
tidings. They must have been overwhelmed by the vision of heavenly powers. From
day to day, they had nothing to look forward to. The daily grind meant little
hope for change or advancement. Perhaps because of this circumstance, they were
more than willing to leave their chargers and enter the edge of town and
observe the unexpected scene. It was too good to believe. They were taken not
so much with the tableau as with the sheer joy of the parents who had as little
as they and yet were joyful and at peace. They felt the resentments they has
stored for years seep out of them to be replaced by grace which forced them to
share the miraculous moment with all they meet. As we approach the crèche
should not the same be true? Are not the feelings of anger, pain, and hatred
debilitating us more than any supposed target? Let there be peace in our world,
in our family, and in our heart!
The Wise Men, though their exact role in
their respective communities might be unknown, it is certain they were men of
great influence. They recognized that the cosmic event they witnessed was of
such importance that they were willing to leave their homes, positions, and
possessions. The time and energy they expended they knew in their souls as
absolutely necessary. Are Christ and His mission the priority for us? Perhaps
as we look forward we might examine our lives and judge what is truly
life-giving: eternal life.
May each of you and your families
experience the joy of the season and the love of Christ. I will remember you
and your intentions as I celebrate the Eucharist this Christmas.
Jesus vivat,
Fr. Brian