Church of St. Theresa

Transcription

1 Church of St. Theresa A Caring Community Reaching Out To One Another in Christ SUNDAY MASSES Saturday at 5:00pm, Sunday at 7:30am, 9:00am(Italian), 10:30am(Family Mass) 12:15pm, 1:30PM(Spanish) & 5:00pm WEEKDAY MASSES Monday thru Saturday 8:00am & 9:00am DEVOTIONS Miraculous Medal & St. Theresa Novenas after Monday morning Masses St. Anthony Novena after Tuesday morning Masses. Thursday 12 Noon Mass & Eucharistic Adoration Exposition & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament First Friday 7:30pm to 8:30pm followed by silent adoration until 9:00pm St. Theresa Avenue, Bronx, New York CONFESSION Saturdays from 4:00pm to 5:00pm and by appointment BAPTISMS Baptisms take place most Sundays after the 1:30pm Mass. We ask parents to attend the Baptism preparation meeting. Register at the Rectory for the meeting. The date of the Baptism will be discussed at the Baptism meeting. MARRIAGES Call the Rectory at least six months in advance of the wedding date to make an appointment with parish clergy. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Derivan, Pastor Rev. Joseph Ligory, Parochial Vicar Rev. Charles Szivos, Parochial Vicar Rev. Edmundo Gomez (Retired in Residence) Rev. Robert Imbelli, Weekend Associate Mrs. Josephine Fanelli, Principal Mrs. Marie McCarrick, Dir. of Religious Education Nadia Papayani, Dir. of Music RECTORY: /1901 WEBSITE: SCHOOL: FAX: rectorystc@aol.com RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

2 CHURCH OF ST. THERESA, BRONX FROM THE DESK OF FATHER DERIVAN Listen and be assured in you heart, my littlest one, that nothing at all should alarm you or trouble you or in any way disturb your heart. Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Are you not in the cool of my shadow, in the breeziness of my shade? Am I not your source of contentment? Are you not cradled in my mantle, cuddled in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else for you to need? These words were spoken by Our Blessed Mother Mary to St. Juan Diego on December on the hill of Tepayac near Mexico City. If you read them again, you can see that they are words of a Mother spoken to her child. Juan Diego was a grown man, probably well into his fifties when Our Lady appeared to him. But still she spoke to him with words of motherly affection, with words a Mother uses for her littlest one. Like the best of mothers, Our Lady was telling him not to let anything disturb him, because she, his Mother, was always there. Dear friends, on the day Our Lady first appeared to St. Juan Diego, in the beautiful words we read above, in effect she was singing her Guadalupe Lullaby. But she was not singing that lullaby just for St. Juan Diego, that humble man whom she chose as the messenger of her love for the people of the Americas. She was singing her lullaby for all of us her children, for all who like St. Juan Diego would turn to her with love and trust. Our Lady continues to assure us, Nothing should alarm you or disturb you. Am I not here, I who am you Mother? Just as I believe little babies carry in their minds throughout their lives the lullabies of their mothers, so too we should carry Our Lady of Guadalupe s words with us throughout our lives. Pope St. John Paul II said that Guadalupe would be the place from which the light of the Gospel of Christ will shine out over the whole world by means of the miraculous Image of His Mother. The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to bring light and comfort to all of us God s people: * to the poor, like Juan Diego, she continues to proclaim the riches of God s grace; * to families, she continues to proclaim her loving care, promising to take care of parents and children as much as she took care of her Divine Son; * to expectant mothers, she continues to identify herself, because she chose to appear to St. Juan Diego as an expectant mother, carrying the unborn Jesus in her womb; * to the people of the Americas, to us who are often caught up with so many material things, even as we prepare for the most spiritual of days, the Feast of Christmas, she continues to proclaim the light of Jesus as the only way to true happiness and peace. Our Lady continues to sing her Guadalupe Lullaby. She sings it within our souls. All we have to do is listen. May we hear her beautiful words and may we realize that they are spoken to us, Do not let anything trouble you or disturb you. Am I not here, I who an your Mother? Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, pray for us. St. Juan Diego, Pray for us. Father Thomas B. Derivan PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, help all those who invoke you in their necessities! Since you are the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from your most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen. A partial indulgence is granted to the Faithful who raise their mind with Humble confidence to God. FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE This Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at a special bilingual Mass (English and Spanish) at 1:30PM. Pope St. John Paull II proclaimed Our Lady who appeared at Guadalupe in Mexico as Mother of the Americas. We invite all to join in this Mass today as we honor Our Lady, Mother of us all. On Tuesday, December 12th, the actual Feast day, we will have early morning greeting of Our Lady and the Rosary in church at 5:30AM. The prayers will be in Spanish. There will be an evening Mass in Spanish on Tuesday at 6:30PM. Please continue to share the peace and joy of our faith with others during this Holiday Season. There are so many that are in the need of Jesus. Can you be for all of us a living sign to all our parishioners and neighbors, and tell them for us we need them and love them. Someone may hear and accept the invitation from you and return home to worship the Lord with us. So please invite a friend, relative, or neighbor to come with you to Church next Sunday. God will do the rest. Let us share our treasure of faith with others.

3 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Little is known about the life of Juan Diego, to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on December 9, His given name was said to be Cuauhtlatzin (meaning Talking Eagle in his native language). He was a member of the Chichimeca people, one of the more culturally advanced groups living in the Valley of Anahuac, as the area that is now Mexico City was once known. He was a leader of his own people and may have been involved in the area s textile industry. After the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to tradition, Juan Diego received the Bishop s permission to live as a hermit in a small hut near the chapel that was built on Tepeyac. There he cared for the church and the first pilgrims who came to see the miraculous image and pray to the Mother of Jesus. His contemporaries were impressed with his holiness; parents used to bless their children with the wish, May God make you like Juan Diego. Juan Diego died in 1548; he was beatified in 1990 by John Paul II and canonized in 2002 by the same Pontiff. PRAYER Lord God, through St. Juan Diego You made known the love of Our Lady of Guadalupe toward Your people. By his intercession, grant that we who follow the counsel of Mary, our Mother, may strive continually to do Your will. Amen. DECEMBER 9TH ST. JUAN DIEGO, HERMIT ST. LUCY, VIRGIN and MARTYR DECEMBER 13TH PATRONESS OF THE BLIND and WRITERS St. Lucy, a native of Syracuse in Sicily, was from her cradle educated in the Faith of Christ under the care of her widowed mother, Eutychia. At an early age she secretly made a vow of virginity. She accompanied her longsuffering mother to the tomb of St. Agatha, and there her mother was cured of her disease. St. Lucy then disclosed to her mother the vow she had taken, and her mother, in gratitude for her recovery, left her free to follow her pious inclinations. The young nobleman who had sought her in marriage was so enraged that he accused Lucy of being a Christian. She was imprisoned, but God gave her grace to overcome the tortures she was made to endure. About the year 304/305, amidst the fierce war waged against the Christians under Diocletian, St. Lucy met her death by the sword. PRAYER Lord, may the intercession of Your Virgin and Martyr St. Lucy help us so that, as we celebrate her heavenly birthday on earth, we may contemplate her triumph in heaven. Amen. SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS: Please support our advertisers; it is their support that makes this bulletin possible, and when you visit them, please let them know that you read their advertisement in St. Theresa s bulletin. DECEMBER 11 ST. DAMASUS I, POPE The father of St. Damasus, either after his wife s death, or with her consent, had entered the priesthood and served the parish church of St. Lawrence in Rome. His son, St. Damasus, also entered the sacred ministry, being attached to the same church. Under Pope Liberius the Saint obtained a great share in the government of the Church; and when Liberius died in 366, St. Damasus, then sixty years old, was elected Pope. In 368, St. Damasus held a Council in Rome, another in the same city in 370, both directed against the Arians, and one in 374, in which the errors of Apollinaris were condemned. St. Jerome, who was a great admirer of St. Damasus, acted as his secretary during the last three years of the life of this holy Pontiff. The Pope encouraged St. Jerome in his studies, and the latter calls him an incomparable person, learned in the Scriptures, a virgin Doctor of the virgin Church, who loved chastity and heard its praises with pleasure. The church, named to the present day St. Lawrence in Damaso, was repaired by the Saint, who also made other improvements in Rome. He was a poet and a man of genius who wrote with elegance. Ancient writers commend especially his zeal for the purity of the Faith, the innocence of his manners, his Christian humility, his compassion for the poor, and his piety. St. Damasus sat in the Chair of St. Peter for eighteen years and two months. He died in 384. PRAYER Lord, grant that we may always celebrate the merits of Your Martyrs in imitation of St. Damasus who loved and venerated them. Amen. RECONCILIATION MONDAY NEXT WEEK Next Monday, December 18th, is Reconciliation Monday throughout our Archdiocese. Cardinal Dolan has directed that churches have extended hours on that day for confessions, particularly as we prepare for Christmas. Here in our church confessions will be heard next Monday, December 18th from 3:00PM to 9:00PM. Please bring this to the attention of neighbors and friends, particularly those who may wish to Come home for Christmas. Materials to help with confession will be available. MANY THANKS We are most grateful to all our wonderful parishioners who have sacrificed so generously by increasing their weekly Sunday Contributions. Please know that your weekly increase is for the betterment of St. Theresa Parish, for the building up and improvement of our parish. We are most grateful to all of you who have helped to make a difference in our community. Please continue to help us in order to keep St. Theresa Parish the vital, growing parish that it is.

4 THE GIVING TREE Our parish observes the beautiful custom of the Giving Tree. The tree is placed near the statue of St. Joseph with angel ornament tags on the back of which there is a request for toys or other items. Gifts will be distributed in the name of St. Theresa Parish to the following charities: HOPE FOR USa program started by Bronx college students to help children (particularly those affected by sickle cell anemia) who are in hospitals or other social service programs. HOUR CHILDRENa program to help children in needy families and neighborhoods to enjoy Christmas presents. DOMINICAN SISTERS OF SPARKILLto assist retired sisters in their infirmary. The Sparkill Sisters faithfully started our school and staffed it for many years. We are happy to give these Christmas gifts as our thanks to them. AHRCA facility on Mayflower Avenue for special needs adults. Gifts may be returned unwrapped and placed by the Giving Tree by Sunday, December 17th. DECEMBER 10, 2017 SPECIAL OBSERVANCES DURING ADVENT: Tuesday, December 12th Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas Las Manaitas (Early Morning Greeting) 5:30AM Evening Mass in Spanish at 6:30PM Wednesday, December 13thService of Lessons and Carols and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament7:15PM Monday, December 18thReconciliation Monday Confessions here in our church from 3:00PM to 9:00PM Sunday, December 24th7:30AM, 9:00AM (Italian), 10:30AM (Family), 12:15PM, 1:30PM (Spanish), Christmas Eve Mass at 5:00PM with children s Nativity Pageant Midnight Mass12:00AM Monday, December 25thChristmas Masses as on Sunday 7:30AM, 9:00AM (Italian), 10:30AM (Family), 12:15PM, 1:30PM (Spanish) and 5:00PM Keeping the CHRIST in Christmas The Christmas season is one of the best times to really reflect on the virtue of temperance. In a world awash in sparkling lights and neon signs demanding our attention, it is important to keep our eyes on the REASON FOR THE SEASON. Of course that is the birth of our Lord. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:912). This is IT! In reading this we realize we are children of God. And this season filled with family, food and fun is also filled with the beginning of Our Lord s time on earth. So understanding again this true meaning, what can we do as Christians to keep the CHRIST in Christmas? Well, for one we can make sure we don t use the season as an excuse to do anything in excess. We must learn ways to show our love for one another that do not involve debt, or spending in ways that only cost us in dollars. God gave us his only Son as a gift and we can use his love to make sure we give this season so much more than we take. And, like Christ, we too can be an example to those unwilling or unable to let go of the indulgences of the season. We can make time to attend that extra weekly Mass, we can remember others in our prayers and offer to drive that elderly or ill member of our community to services. We can go out of our way at work to show our true Christianity. We have it in us, it is part of the legacy left by the baby Jesus. We will work this season to keep Christ in the forefront and move forward into the new year spiritually stronger. (Reprinted from Franciscan Messengers) Heavenly Christmas Humor As we were putting out cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, I accidentally dropped one. "No problem," I said, picking it up and dusting it off before placing it back on the plate. "You can t do that," argued my fouryearold. "Don t worry. Santa will never know." He shot me a look. "So he knows if I ve been bad or good, but he doesn t know the cookie fell on the floor?"

5 HOW TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AS A CATHOLIC: Our modern observance of Christmas seems to begin in the fall, as stores are filled with holiday displays, and end on December 26th, when Christmas trees start peeking out from the trash. However, celebrating Christmas as a Catholic means that, as much as we can, we follow a radically different calendarone given to us through the ancient wisdom and tradition of the Churchbefore, and even after December 25. KEEPING THE MASS IN CHRISTMAS The medieval origins of the very word we use to name this feast and season refers to the fundamental spiritual opportunity that s here for all of us: Christ s Mass. At Christmas, we celebrate God s gift of Jesus to the world. When we celebrate Christ s Mass, this gift is offered to us through Jesus Real Presence in the Eucharist. This is the moment toward which all of our preparationsincluding the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Confessionhave brought us. There are actually four different Masses for Christmas, all with different readings, prayers, and emphases: the Vigil Mass, the Mass at Midnight, the Mass at Dawn, and the Mass during the Day. Familiarizing ourselves with all the readings for these Masses, through using a missal, web site, or another resource, is a good way to enrich our understanding of the meaning of the Incarnation and Nativity. HOW TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS The first step in celebrating Christmas is to properly celebrate the season of Advent. As we pray with the Church, attend to the Scripture readings of the season, and participate in whatever symbolic celebrations are meaningful to us, we prepare for the coming of the Lord in our lives now and in his fullness at the end of time. These are the most important and powerful themes we ll encounter in the Scripture, prayer, and celebrations of the Church during the Christmas season. We celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation: God meeting us, coming to us as one of us, humbly and full of love. We recall the faithfilled reception of this miraculous good news by Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi. We allow ourselves to be formed by all that this teaches us about gifts and giving, God s solidarity with all of us especially the poor and sinners the sacredness of human life, the peace God promises, and the hope for the fullness of God s presence among us. The Christmas season begins with Evening Prayer on December 24th and continues through the Baptism of the Lord. The feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd also known as Candlemas, or the Feast of the Circumcision marks another ancient way of ending the Christmas season. Set up a Nativity Scene The nativity scene, or crèche ( crib in French), was popularized by St. Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth century. Many put out most of the nativity scene before Christmas, but wait until December 25th to place the Baby Jesus in the manger, and until the feast of the Epiphany to arrange the magi. Setting up the crib can be an occasion for prayer and the reading of Scripture. Raise the Christmas Tree The Christmas tree, especially a real one, is an evergreen. It is symbolic of God s eternal love, as well as of the tree in the Garden of Eden, the beginning of the brokenness that Jesus came to heal by another tree (the cross) on which he was crucified. A prayer around the tree helps bring this meaning to life. Let Lights Shine On Christmas Day, we read from the first chapter of John s Gospel about the light that shines in the darkness. Our celebrations of Christmas are marked by all kinds of lights: lights on our houses, on our trees, and in our churches. Many people also place a white candle in the middle of the Advent wreath (a common tradition to remind us of Christ s innocence), announcing the Good News that we are now children of the light. Exchange Gifts Our giftgiving echoes God s gift of his Son to us. The story and carol of King Wenceslaus charity, and Matthew s narrative of the Magi traveling far to bring their finest gifts to the newborn king, can help give perspective and direction to how we give our gifts perhaps praying for our gift recipients and taking extra care to provide for the poor in our giftgiving. Share a Feast Christians throughout the ages have feasted to celebrate the gift of Jesus, and our feast today is a symbol of our communion as children of God. How can we also remember the pooramong whom Christ was born during our celebrations and feasting? DID YOU KNOW? The birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, means house of bread. Many ancient commentators interpret this as prefiguring the Eucharist. Jesus came to earth in the house of bread, and comes to us in the form of Living Bread, every time we receive him under the forms of bread and wine in the Blessed Sacrament. From Our Sunday visitor WATERBURY LASALLE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION The Waterbury LaSalle Community Association will have their annual Christmas Tree lighting on December 16th at 5:30PM at SchneiderSampson Park on Hollywood and Baisley Avenues. Santa will arrive with gifts for all good boys and girls 12 and under. Come join us for fun, cookies and hot chocolate! PETITION BOOK Have you noticed our Petition Book in the vestibule of the Church? Every Saturday before the 5:00PM Mass, the petitions entered into the book for that week are brought up to the altar of the Blessed Mother, where they remain for all the weekend Masses. Please pray for these intentions.

6 3rd TIME: Joseph Leonard & Andrea King THIS WEEK S ALTAR BREAD IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOSEPH ARGIENTO FROM THE MAIORANA FAMILY PLEASE PRAY FOR THE RECENTLY DECEASED MEMBERS OF OUR PARISH AND THEIR FAMILIES FLORENCE LOGOTINO, THOMAS E. MCCRAIN, FILIPPO LAFRANCA & CATHERINE WOJCIECHOWICZ THE FLOWERS IN FRONT OF THE ALTAR THIS WEEK ARE IN LOVING MEMORY OF FRANK DIPOLO 35TH ANNIVERSARY IN HEAVEN LOVE, MARIE & FAMILY ARE YOU A REGISTERED PARISHIONER All new or unregistered parishioners are asked to please register by phone or in person at the Rectory or fill out the information below. Many items of importance will be mailed home in the course of the year. NAME ADDRESS PHONE# CELL# PLEASE RETURN TO THE RECTORY OFFICE. SATURDAY DECEMBER 9, :00PM Frank Dipolo SUNDAY DECEMBER 10, :30AM Parishioners of St. Theresa 9:00AM Giuseppe Ortolevo 10:30AM Josephine & Joseph Lurgio 12:15PM Michael Rocco 1:30PM Francisca Gonzalez 5:00PM Gloria & William Etzel MONDAY DECEMBER 11, :00AM Mary Cea 9:00AM Albina Trerotola TUESDAY DECEMBER 12, :00AM Bruce Dilg 9:00AM Benedetta & Filadelfio Marino WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13, :00AM Joseph Argiento 9:00AM Lucia & Gaetano Santangelo THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, :00AM Huldah Gordon 9:00AM Alfio DiLeo 12:00PM Nick DeBellis FRIDAY DECEMBER 15, :00AM Olimpia Rinaldi 9:00AM Theresa Byrnes SATURDAY DECEMBER 16, :00AM Kieran Ryan 9:00AM Robert & Sylvia Schmidt 5:00PM Rose & Felice Polito SUNDAY DECEMBER 17, :30AM Agron Pergjokaj (For His Health) 9:00AM Atilio Persic 10:30AM Luigi Gentile 12:15PM Angelo & Maria Pozzuto 1:30PM Juan Antonio Jimenez & Lorenza Sandoval 5:00PM Florence Mohan PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH: Josephine (JoJo) Alvy, Phyllis Amitrano, Maryann Cale Bannan, Linda Barbaro, Ralph Barbaro, Nancy Cardone, Elaine Reiss Cina, Joseph Cina, Phyllis Caruso, Marie DiPolo, Thomas Egan, Daley Gribbon, Ita Griffin, Sean Howell, William Keenan, Sal Lanza, Frank Maiorana, Maryann Maiorana, Diane Martino, Joe Martino, Theresa Martino, Isabelle O Brien, Frank Oricco, Marie Russillo, Camille Siciliano, Mario Simeone, Toni Spahr, Florence Valentine, Dean Valentine, Nicholas Vasti, Frank Vertullo, Irene Vesely.

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