HOLY
FAMILY of JESUS, MARY and JOSEPH
DECEMBER
30, 2007
(M -
Memorial, A - Anniversary)
SYLVESTER I, pope
6:45 THE FONTANA FAMILY
9:00 TIMOTHY J. MARA--M
req. by Maura & Richard
Concannon
5:30
THE MC WEENEY and REILLY
FAMILIES
req.
by Fr. Brian
TUESDAY, JANUARY 1
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, the Mother of god
7:30 FRANCIS M. CONWAY--M
req. by Genevieve Tepedino
9:00 HELEN P. REGAN--M
req. by Ro & Jack
Regan
10:30 AUGUSTIN
NUNEZ-CORRAL--M
req. by the Family
12:00 SPECIAL
INTENTION for the LIVING:
JOEY MILETI
req. BY Maria D. Markey
5:00 BRIAN
HICKEY—M
req. by Don & Maris
Vidler
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2
BASIL the
GREAT and GREGORY NAZIANZEN, bishops, doctors
6:45 THE FONTANA
FAMILY
9:00 DELIA
NEAGLE--M
reg. by Elene &
Bernard Weis
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3
HOLY NANE
of JESUS
6:45 THE WENZEL FAMILY
9:00 CHESTER
PEET--M
req.
by Anne Menno
ELIZABETH ANN SETON, religious
6:45 RONALD MIRABELLA--M
req. by the Clergy & the People of Sts. John & Paul
Parish
9:00 VIRGINIA HALEY--M
req. by the Caiola Family
JOHN NEUMANN, bishop
9:00 MICHAEL PERETTI--M
req. by Ken & Jane
Padgett
5:30 FOR THE PEOPLE
OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY, JANUARY
6
7:30 GUIDO
GULLA--M
req. by Marianna Gulla
9:00 CORINNE PAWLING--M
req. by the Provanzano Family
10:30 ELIAME
KIAMIE--M
req. by Ave Christie
12:00 PAUL VOTANO, SR.--M
req. by Bill & Mary Lu
Murray
5:00 IRENE FRANCO--M
req. by Olympia Rossheim
PRAYERFUL
REMEMBRANCES
Your prayers are requested for
the sick at home, and in the hospitals, especially: Gabriel Fay, Barbara
Santorsola, 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, IRENE
ARDLEY MILLER, 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 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
In the Gospel Reading
today, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him to flee to Egypt
because Herod wants to “destroy” the child. A warning of things to come is
beautifully expressed in the poignant Anthem “Jesus Is Sleeping Tonight” by
Joseph B. Sullivan: “O tiny child, so meek and mild, ahead lies toil and sorrow
and strife, but Jesus is sleeping tonight.”
STS. JOHN
and PAUL SCHOOL NEWS...
Sts. John and Paul
School will re-open on Wednesday,
January 2, 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
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31st:
10:00 PM AUD: First Night Celebration
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2nd:
8:40 AM: SJP School reopens
10:30 AM SARAH NEUMAN: Service followed by Mass
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
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3rd:
9:30 AM RMR: Interfaith
4:00 PM GYM Basketball
7:00 PM AUD: Play practice
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4th:
4:00 PM GYM: Basketball
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5th:
9:00 AM GYM: Basketball
10:00 AM RMR: Baptism Preparation class
RAFFLE
2007
It’s not too 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).
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.
CHRISTMAS
FLOWER MEMORIALS
IN MEMORY OF Donor
Teresa & Dominick
Gallello Annamaria Gallello
Rose & Joseph
Fusco & Rosanne
& Peter
Vivian & Joseph Langelotti &
Ryan & Jake Mohan
Langelotti
Cesar Batingan, Sr. Linio B. Sosa
Tony Galasso The Galasso Faily
Margaret Reinhard
& The Hans
Family
Alice Twomey
Joseph Maloney
& The
Maloney Family
Christopher Buckley
Mary Kane Mahon
& The Shields
Family
Berthe Marie Breuil
&
Josephine Shield &
Aileen Shields Bryan
Stephen
Receniello The
Indellicate Family
Theodore T.
Francavilla Ted
Francavilla
Elizabeth Genry M. J.
Obermeier
Tara McIntyre Kevin
McIntyre
Thomas M. Lamb Elaine C. Lamb
Frank Lyons & Ann Lyons
Kathryn Bricker &
Fred Bricker
Earl & Rose
Travers Deacon James & Louise
Brown
Margaret de Forest
& Geoffrey
Maria Csenge
James Walsh
Ann Oakes The
Lucas Family
Philip J. Messina
& Donna & Joe Messina
Dominic Pallone
Joseph P. Swift Elizabeth
Swift
David & Margaret
Stewart The Lawless
Family
M/M Frank Pace D. Pace
Dominick Schiraldi The Cattau Family
My Parents Dr. Peter
Nnaemeka
Sharon Cavanagh & The Sensi Family
Chip Cavanagh &
Ilde DiMichele &
Ines Luzio &
Bernardo Sensi
William Nealon Ann Nealon
Fiorella
Fumagalli
The Funegalli Family
Kathy Jo Tamagna
& The
Tamagna Family
Rose & Nicholas
Tamagna &
Katherine &
Demetrius Scalzo
James Savastano The Davidson Family
Walter, Anne &
Albert Wassell & Alby Wassell
Dominick Forti, Jr.
&
John, Catherine,
Daniel, Jack &
Josephine Wylie &
Larry Edwards
Thompson Flint
&
Patricia Flint Straub
George Straub
The Saporito &
Loiaconi Families Joanne &
Jake Saporito
IN HONOR OF DONOR
Jake & Ryan
Monhan
Roseanne & Peter
Langelotti
THE
PASTOR’S COLUMN
As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy
Family, we reflect on Pope Benedict XVI’s message to the world as the year
begins. It is most appropriate that we do this since the title of this World
Day of Peace is: “The Human Family, A Community of Peace.” He writes: “The
first form of communion between persons is that born of the love of a man and
woman who decide to enter a stable union in order to build together a new
family. But the peoples of the earth, too, are called to build relationships of
solidarity and cooperation among themselves, as befits members of the one human
family…” (1) He adds…”in a healthy family life, we experience some of the
fundamental elements of peace: justice and love between brothers and sisters,
the role of authority expressed by parents, loving concern for the members who
are weaker because of youth, sickness, or old age, mutual help in the
necessities of life, readiness to accept others and, if necessary, to forgive
them. For this reason, the family is the first and indispensable teacher of
peace.” (3)
Though the ideal expressed by our Pope is
often seen, we must witness to the fact that in several ways it is not
expressed. Too many siblings become divided over inconsequential issues and
cease communication. Frequently, the division of a parent’s estate becomes so
testy a process that relationships end. In worst case scenarios, the
separations become multi-generational. Children, as well, often put their
parents in the dock and convict them of real or imagined malfeasance. Fathers
and mothers are no longer presumed to have done the best they could under the
circumstances they faced. On the other hand, because a young person does not
live up to expectations, they are sometimes disowned. Although it is necessary
in many cases for the welfare of an elderly parent to seek professional
assistance and alternate residency, it is perhaps true that alternative is
utilized too soon or if it is proper that family members do not exercise and
care or responsibility. (It is heartwarming to report that in our experience we
have seen truly heroic support of our mothers and fathers. Some sons and
daughters are present every Mass we celebrate at Sarah Neumann Nursing Home.
While others have put their lives on hold and render assistance for their
homebound parents.) Benedict XVI notes that violence has been experienced in
domestic relations. Our newspapers
record many tragedies concerning children who are many times exploited
and even abused by their parents and guardians. In the last few days, I am sure
everyone was shocked by the news of a child being found in a dumpster. Two
teenagers saved the newborn’s life. Statistics tell us that in one out of four
homes there is some form of domestic violence: people living in fear,
patterning that behavior for the next generation.
Looking at society as a whole, the Pope
notes: “everything that serves to weaken the family based on the marriage of a
man and woman, everything that directly or indirectly stands in the way of
openness to the responsible acceptance of a new life, everything that obstructs
its right to be primarily responsible for the education of its children,
constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace. The family needs to
have a home, employment, and a just recognition of the domestic activity of
parents, the possibility of schooling for children, and basic health care for
all. When society and public policy are not committed to assisting parents in
these areas, they deprive themselves of an essential resource in the service of
peace. The social communication media, in particular, because of their
educational potential, have a special responsibility for promoting respect for
the family, making clear its expectations and rights, and presenting all its
beauty.” (5) While some of us might not feel the urgency of many of these
issues since we have the means of securing a positive existence for our
children, there are many reasons for concern. Modern education at all levels,
at times, feels its has the mandate to inculcate values into its consumers
which are at odds with religious tents in general, and our Catholic faith, in
particular. Of even greater concern is the lack of energy applied to the
support of challenged students. Social promotions have been a grievous sin
against our young population. Additionally, we see much political grandstanding
over issues of health care but little attention to the day to day needs of our
children for proper nutrition, daycare, and medical assistance. Benedict XVI’s
final point in this section needs emphasis. Decades ago TV was called a
“wasteland.” While I think that this comment might be less true today because
of the many strides in communication arts, it is true that many programs are
being produced and watched which denigrate the family. Fathers and mothers are
made out to be fools. Religious figures are to be ignored. No idea, no matter
how immoral, is out of bounds. It is said in another area, we get the
government we deserve. I would also say, we get the entertainment we deserve.
We must monitor more carefully not only what our young people watch but what we
watch.
Towards the end of his message, the Holy
Father wants us to widen our vision in terms of our world. “The human family,
which today is increasingly unified as a result of globalization also needs, in
addition to the foundation of shared values, an economy capable of responding
effectively to the requirements of a common good which is now planetary in
scope…Honest and straightforward relationships need to be promoted between
individual persons and between peoples, thus enabling everyone to cooperate on
an equal footing. Efforts must also be made to ensure a prudent use of
resources and an equitable distribution of wealth. In particular, the aid given
to the poor countries must be guided by sound economic principles.” (10)
He concludes: “I invite every man and woman
to have a more lively sense of belonging to the one human family, and to strive
to make human coexistence increasingly reflect this conviction, which is
essential for the establishment of true and lasting peace. I likewise invite
believers to implore tirelessly from God the great gift of peace. Christians,
for their part, know that they can trust in the intercession of Mary, who, as
the Mother of the Son of God made flesh for the salvation of all humanity, is
our common Mother.
To all, my best wishes for a joyful New
Year!” (15) To which I add my own best wishes for all of us.
Jesus vivat,
Fr. Brian