St. John the Baptist R. C. Church

Transcription

1 St. John the Baptist R. C. Church 895 Piermont Avenue, Piermont, New York Oct. 9, 2016, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Rev. Tom Kunnel, C.O. Administrator Deacon John Cunningham Deacon Robert Pang Kathleen Dunn Religious Education Director May Pang Parish Admin: MASSES Saturday: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM 1:00 PM (Spanish) Weekdays: 8:00 AM Saturday: 9:00 AM Holy Days: As Announced Rectory Mon Fri 10:15 AM 4:00 PM Sat 10 AM 12 Noon (Spanish)

2 Dear Parish Family, Sat 10/8 5:00 PM Rose Hoyt by Maureen Beary Sun 10/9 Mon 8:00 AM Margaret J. Devine by Cavanaugh Family 10:30:AM 10/10 8:00 AM Betty & Bud Sedlack by Family Robin Williams, Catrina Walsh, L'Wren Scott by Catherine O'Brien Tue 10/11 8:00 AM Rose Hoyt by Mildred Oslica Wed 10/12 8:00 AM James Murray by Eileen Murray Thu 10/13 8:00 AM Frank Pellegrino by Helen Koza Fri 10/14 8:00 AM Ada Wray by Dcn Rob & May Pang Sat 10/15 Sun 10/16 9:00 AM Theresa Fojtlin by O'Riley Family 5:00 PM Vincent Rispoli by Rispoli Family 8:00 AM Ray Sheehan by Fri Renew 10:30 AM Ryan Moson & Mary Parry by Eileen & Rick Moson Please remember in your prayers the Sick and/ or Homebound of our Parish Family. Isabelle Fenton, Tom Lynch, Antoinette Naglieri, Catherine Wright, Tebby DeMaio, Maureen O Connor, Ann Ely, Ella Beckerich, Tommy McGuire, Nicholas Bruni, brother of Marge Olsen, Fr Frank Samoylo, Giovanni Mercurio, Nijole Paronetto, Joseph Iorio, father of Lee McGarvey. As a Parish Family, let us remember in our prayers all our beloved departed members of our Parish Community, John Brown father of Tom Brown, Camille Petrilyak, mother of Geralyn O Rouke, Mark Cheramie, Ronnie Olson, John Casey, Ray Sheehan, Sandy Scelzo, Mary Iorio, Ada Wray, Johanna Krumm s Sister, Frank Pellegrino brother of Mario Pellegrino, Jonathan Townes, Ralph Merola, Michael Rotundo. In one of my Video Documentary journeys in Africa, I visited a village along the River Nile in the South Sudan inhabited by lepers. They lived cut off from the rest of humanity and the missionary priest who was also a medical Doctor was their only regular visitor. We were received amid song and dance and somehow it seemed like the worst contradiction in the world as people with stumps of fingers and feet smiling through disfigured faces. With all the medical advances leprosy is still a dehumanizing disease. The stories in today scripture tell about the healing of the lepers healing that put vibrant life into the living dead. Two foreigners are singled out in the stories for being grateful. Gratitude not only empowers the receiver of the gift; it confirms the giver. You really believe I love you, the giver says in the heart. It is truly wondrous when others actually believe you love them. It is glorious when someone thanks you. The healed leper, Naaman, proclaimed to Elisha, Now I know there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. How God must have delighted. And Christ, having healed ten, saw something greater in the one Samaritan who made time to come back, fall at his feet, and praise God. He saw the splendor of a human heart that believes it is loved, that accepts the gift. Such faith not only brings salvation. It is the gift back to God, so enchanting that God would die for love of it. What happened to the other nine who were also healed? Did they remember how it was when they always kept a distance and ever longed for cleansing? Every new dawn before was throwing fresh light on their ever worsening situation. But today it is different as their skin is glowing as that of a new born, no wrinkles and blemish. There are times when we seem to go through life the way some children go through birthday presents. We tear through the wrapping paper of our gifts, piling up the boxes as we move on to the next bright toy. Perhaps we shake an envelope without reading the message or knowing who it is from. What s next? Is that all? This perpetual flitting of our interest, this inability to rest in the gift, occurs also in matters of health. We might fret through a night, thinking the heartburn is heart attack, the cold sore is cancer and the numbness is a sign of paralysis, the next day is treacherous. In a matter of hours, the jeopardy may pass, and we forget the gift of good health as we begin to brood over something else. So it is with our desires. If only I might be married. If only we might have a child. If only I could change my job. If only I had a house, a car and a place to park it. Often enough the presents arrive. Now married, I long for independence. Now a parent, I await, with hope or alarm, the leave-taking and the empty nest. Now working, I crave for leisure. Now quiet, I am restless for action. Now done with one trial, I expect the next. Why is it nine out ten times we are oblivious of the deliverances, rescues and miracles of our life! If we are conscious and then thank God for each dreaded outcome never met, we would reach no end to gratitude. We will not take full possession of our lives until we learn to give thanks for them. We don t really own our legs or eyes, our hands and skin unless we re daily grateful. We don t really live with our loved ones unless we foster an appreciative, almost contemplative sensitivity to their presence. It is only the loss of them or the threat of it that shakes us into an awareness of their manifold grace. But when we wake up from our sleepwalk, this I lack attitude and see the wonder of the smallest parts of our existence, we begin to live. It is then we know what it is like, with the tenth leper, to be saved loved by a ever caring God. Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.

3 5:30AM Spanish morning Prayer Sun 9-Oct 11AM Spanish Baptism Prep 11:30AM Legion of Mary 1PM CDA Knitting Mon 10-Oct 7PM Men's Club Meeting 7:30PM Couples Ministry 10AM Scripture Class 7PM Spanish Choir Practice Tue 11-Oct 7PM Baptism Prep 7PM Spanish Bible Sturdy 8PM Rios de Agua 1:30 Piermont Sr Meeting Wed 12-Oct 7PM RCIA 7PM Spanish Choir Practice 10AM Outreach Meeting Thur 13-Oct 1PM CDA Meeting 7PM Rios de Agua Viva Group 7PM Spanish Choir Practice 10AM Fri Renew Group Fri 14-Oct 5PM Wedding Rehearsal 7:00{< Spanish Prayer Group 7:30PM Youth Group Sat 15-Oct 11AM Wedding THE GOOD NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOL OF RELIGION There are NO CLASSES today or tomorrow due to the Columbus Day Weekend. Today is PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY! We, in Religious Education, wish to thank and appreciate Father Tom for all he has done to enhance our program. Our office is much better, our bathrooms are bright and cheerful!, our A-V equipment super! Thank you, Father, flor all of that, but most of all thank you for being YOU!!! Don t forget, next week we have regular classes and our Sacrament Meetings. FIRST COMMUNION MEETINGS FOR PARENTS ON SUNDAY, OCT 16 th English at 9:45 am in Church Spanish at 11 am in Hall ONFIRMATION MEET- ING FOR PARENTS & CANDIDATES OCTOBER 24th at 6:45 pm Our next FAMILY MASS is SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23rd. Liturgy Schedule Oct 15/16 Day Time Lector Eucharistic Minister Altar Servers Saturday 5:00 PM Johanna Krumm Gianluca Gonzalez 10/15 Nico Gonzalez 8:00 AM Jean Delongis Diana Gensel Kiera Cameron Paige Gillen 10:30 AM John Lawler Marge Olsen Peter Shine Sunday Matthew Shine 10/16 1:00 PM Rilma Mazariego Mario Zamora Pedro Aguilar Yolanda Aguilar Emmanuel Nova Marilyn Palma Jakie Mazariego Ana Sanabria

4 Today is Pastor Appreciation Day God bless Fr. Tom for all the wonderful changes he has brought to St. John s. Thank you Fr. Tom St. Therese Church 120 Monroe Ave Cresskill, NJ An Evening of Music, Prayer and Reflection Featuring Dan Schutte composer of favorites like Here I am Lord and Table of Plenty Friday, Oct 14, PM Free will Offering ($15 Suggested) 10/2: Collection: $3,727 Will be reported next week Please do NOT park opposite Stevenson St. or you will get a ticket. Por favor no se estacione frente Stevenson St. o se obtendrá una citación. Tappan Zee Thrift Shop We just received an $800 check from them thanks to the donations and all the St. John volunteers that work at the Tappan Zee Thrift Shop. Thank you, thank you. If you would like to represent St. John 3 hours once a month Hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10AM to 1PM or 1PM to 4PM, Call Christie Liturgical Minister Workshop Saturday, Oct 15, 10:30am 1:30 PM St. Therese Parish Center 120 Monroe Ave Cresskill, N $25 Lunch and refreshments will be provided. The workshop is intended for all who exercise a ministry at the Eucharist from musicians to ushers, Eucharistic ministers to lectors who help create the environment. How can we deepen our own spirituality and finally on those practical things we can do that make such a difference to the community when we gather to worship. November 11, :30 pm - 10:30 pm SAINT ANN S CAFETERIA 16 Jefferson St, Nyack, NY Call - May Pang Reserve seats on line Contact Adrian Soltys: ext 313 asoltys@sttheresecresskill.org

5 Dear Johan, After Midnight Mass, my daughter asked me what the smoke was all about. Though I know incense is a very Catholic thing, I was unable to answer her question. Can you help me? Gentle Reader, First off, it s not just a Catholic thing, it is also an Orthodox thing, and even more so. But, thank you for asking as this seems to be a burning question for many. Not too long ago I gave a talk on the sensory aspects of the liturgy. Naturally, I sang the praises of the olfactory sense and lauded the use of incense. No sooner was I done than a person sitting in the front row jumped up. Speaking louder than was necessary, she yelled out: When will the Catholic Church stop smoking? Then she grabbed her bag and stomped out. I was speechless. It seems like people either really love incense or absolutely hate it. Very few people are opinion less when it comes to incense. Admittedly, some individuals are incense-intolerant due to allergies or respiratory conditions. We need to be very considerate of this. The use of incense is an important element in Catholic liturgy because of historical, theological, and liturgical reasons. Historically, we can trace our use of incense back to Jewish religious rites as well as Roman imperial ceremonies. Theologically, the use of incense is connected with Psalm 141, which compares our prayers rising up to God with the rising incense used during our prayers: My prayers rise like incense. Liturgically, incense is used as an honorific gesture. In addition, incense is used because of its olfactory qualities. In recent times we have become more aware of the importance of the senses. Remember, for example, how the slightest whiff of a certain perfume can whisk you off to a totally different place and time, as it reminds you of a certain person or event. Similarly, incense is used as a reminder of the sacred so that every time we smell it we are reminded that we are at prayer. Taking it a step further, some churches use a different kind of incense for each season of the liturgical year, so as to create an olfactory connection between a liturgical season and a liturgical scent. As soon as people smell a certain aroma, they are transported into a certain liturgical season. Thus, liturgical colors, liturgical music, liturgical texts, and liturgical scent mark the liturgical seasons. Many churches have abandoned the use of incense out of consideration for people who are physically intolerant of it. This is especially the case in smaller churches where there is little or no airflow. Though this is, of course, very important in terms of creating a hospitable liturgical environment, it also results in the loss of an ancient visual and olfactory symbol. Some parishes have worked to improve their airflow systems so they can continue to use incense without irritating some parishioners. Other parishes have declared certain liturgies incense free while retaining the custom in others. Whatever we do, we need to be sensitive both to the comfort of our parishioners as well as to the important legacy of our symbols. May I ask you, did your daughter love it or hate it? It may give us an insight into the liturgical future of the use of incense. Gratitude as a discipline In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realise that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy. Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint. I can choose to be grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose to speak about goodness and beauty, even when my inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or something to call ugly. I can choose to listen to the voices that forgive and to look at the faces that smile, even while I still hear words of revenge and see grimaces of hatred. There is always the choice between resentment and gratitude because God has appeared in my darkness, urged me to come home, and declared in a voice filled with affection: You are with Me always, and all I have is yours. Indeed, I can choose to dwell in the darkness in which I stand, point to those who are seemingly better off than I, lament about the many misfortunes that have plagued me in the past, and thereby wrap myself up in my resentment. But I don t have to do this. There is the option to look into the eyes of the One who came out to search for me and see therein that all I am and all I have is pure gift calling for gratitude. The choice for gratitude rarely comes without some real effort. But each time I make it, the next choice is a little easier, a little freer, a little less self-conscious. Because every gift I acknowledge reveals another and another until finally, even the most normal, obvious, and seemingly mundane event or encounter proves to be filled with grace. There is an Estonian proverb that says: Who does not thank for little will not thank for much. Acts of gratitude make one grateful because, step by step, they reveal that all is grace. (The return of the Prodigal Son, 85) The Spiritual Work of Gratitude To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives---the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections---that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for. Let s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.

6 LECTURAS DE HOY Primera lectura Naamán, purificado de su lepra, regresó a Eliseo y prometió obedecer al Señor (2 Reyes 5:14-17). Salmo El Señor nos ha mostrado su amor y su lealtad (Salmo 97). Segunda lectura Acuérdate de Cristo Jesús que fue resucitado de entre los muertos. Si perseveramos con él, también reinaremos con él (2 Timoteo 2:8-13). Evangelio Después que diez leprosos se encontraron curados por Jesús, solamente uno, un samaritano, regresa para darle gracias (Lucas 17:11-19). LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA Lunes Gal 4:22-24, 26-27, :1; Sal 112:1b-5a, 6-7; Lc 11:29-32 Martes Gal 5:1-6; Sal 118:41, 43-45, 47-48; Lc 11:37-41 Miércoles Gal 5:18-25; Sal 1:1-4, 6; Lc 11:42-46 Jueves Ef 1:1-10; Sal 97:1-6; Lc 11:47-54 Viernes Ef 1:11-14; Sal 32:1-2, 4-5, 12-13; Sábado Ef 1:15-23; Sal 8:2-3ab, 4-7; Lc 12:8-12 Domingo Ex 17:8-13; Sal 120:1-8; 2 Tim 3: :2; Lc 18:1-8 LOS SANTOS Y OTRAS CELEBRACIONES Domingo: Vigésimo Octavo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario Lunes: Día de Acción de Gracias en Canadá; Día de la Raza Martes: San Juan XXIII; Yom Kipur (festividad judía conocida como Día del Perdón) comienza a la puesta del sol Viernes: San Calixto I Sábado: Santa Teresa de Jesús GRATITUD Seguramente podemos recordar al menos unos cuantos días en nuestras vidas cuando las cosas iban tan bien que nada podía ponernos de mal humor. Tal vez fue el día en que una persona muy especial nos invitó a su fiesta de graduación o el día de nuestra boda. Quizás fue el día en que nos enteramos de que tendríamos un hijo largamente esperado o el día en que recibimos una promoción tardía. Hubo alegría en nuestro corazón, ligereza en nuestros pasos y gran vitalidad en el curso del día. Probablemente nos fuimos al teléfono para llamar a unas cuantas personas importantes y contarles acerca de nuestra buena fortuna. Seguramente que así se sintieron Naamán y el leproso cuando fueron curados de su terrible enfermedad. No podían contener su gratitud, y aunque ambos desconocían las costumbres de un país extranjero conocían los buenos modales de dar las gracias a las personas responsables de sus curaciones. TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE Mientras muchos celebran el descubrimiento de América esta semana, los latinos celebramos más bien el Día de la Raza, insistiendo que Colón no pudo descubrir lo que no estaba ni perdido ni escondido. El 12 de octubre de 1492, Rodrigo de Triana grito: "Tierra a la vista". Estas fueron las primeras palabras Europeas que sonaron en el hemisferio occidental. Rodrigo gritaba a los españoles agitados y cansados por su largo viaje. Él les daba la buena noticia de que estaban por llegar a Guanahaní, que Cristóbal Colón renombró San Salvador. Es así como se engendró un nuevo pueblo en América. Una raza mestiza se engendró en la búsqueda de Asia y luego fue dada a luz con el derrame de sangre indígena a manos del conquistador. A través del tiempo el continente americano poblado por nativos, ha recibido sangre, cultura e idioma europea, africana y asiática. De esta manera se ha ido desarrollando nuestro mestizaje. Celebremos que somos una mezcla de sangres, culturas, lenguas y creencias. Somos raza mestiza, nacida en el dolor; trabajamos y luchamos por una vida mejor. Para los cursos pre-bautismales llamar a: Alex Aguilar y Natalia Lemus Los cursos se dan previa cita los martes 7pm y domingos 11am. Bienvenido a Rafael Once Caceres, Mia Once Caceres, Lizbeth Diaz, Aylin Cierra Gomez, Baltazar Monzon, Kayle Diana Lozano Felicidades a los padres y padrinos. Amados hijos de Dios, que el bautismo es el comienzo de una vida de fe y un corazón lleno de bondad y de amor. Dios los bendiga a ustedes y siempre.

7 P A R I S H M I N I S T R I E S & C H A I R Buildings & Grounds Pat Miele, Alex Aguilar, Buzz Johnson Deanery Maureen O Connell Eucharistic Adoration Dcn Robert Pang Health Mary Loftus Hispanic Community Micaelina Maldonado/ Geny Aguilar Hospitality Robin Miller Men s Club Bill Loftus. Ralph Olsen Ushers Jake Miraglia Music Elise Espinosa, Chris & Carolyn Yates, Ted Simone Spanish Choir Carlos Cerna, William Martinez Outreach Maria Nest Parish Council Scott Giblin Parish Worship Dcn John Cunningham Religious Education Kathleen Dunn RCIA Dcn Robert Pang, Jose Bolaños Right to Life Scott Giblin Social Kelli Chilson Spiritual Life Johanna Krumm St. Vincent De Paul Fr. Tom Kunnel PARISH COUNCIL Kelli Chilson, Kathleen Dunn, Scott Giblin. Paul Johnson, Andrew Lee, Martina Lynch, William Martinez, Maria Nest, Ralph Olsen, May Pang, Carolyn Yates, Janet Zahn T R U S T E E S Phil McCartin James Pontone Our Sacramental Life Baptism: Please call the Rectory well in advance of the expected day of Baptism to arrange an appointment for an interview. Pre-baptismal meeting for parents is required. Godparents must be confirmed, practicing Catholics. Generally Baptisms are celebrated the third Sunday of each month at 12:00 pm. Reconciliation: Confessions are heard from 4:30-5:00 pm on Saturday. You may also make an appointment with Fr. Tom. Spanish confessions is available from 12:30 1:00 PM on Sundays. Marriage: Marriages should be arranged at least six months in advance. Participation in Pre-Cana is essential. Please call the Rectory to schedule an appointment with Fr. Tom. Anointing of the Sick: Before you enter the hospital for elective surgery or other serious treatment, and for those who have need of spiritual healing. In an emergency, please call Fr. Tom s mobile Holy Orders: Any gentleman interested in exploring the question of vocation to the priesthood or the permanent diaconate should contact Fr. Tom Kunnel. We would also be happy to direct anyone interested in living their lives as Religious Sisters or Brothers. Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults: For instruction for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist for adults and to learn about Catholic Faith. If interested please contact Dcn Robert Pang. For more details and forms Parish Registration: All adults (over age 21) should register in the parish themselves and should use envelopes or parishpay.com. Tithing is 5% of income. This registration is our only means of certifying anyone as a member of the parish, especially for Baptism and Confirmation sponsorship