Seventh Sunday of Easter

Transcription

1 May 28, 2017 Page 1 Seventh Sunday of Easter T h i s We e k ' s Mass Intentions 8:00AM 9:30AM 11:00AM 12:30PM 5:00PM Sunday, May 28, 2017 George & Ann Papandrea Jose Flores (Angela & Tessie) Paul Farella (Vita & Paul) Claudio Moscatiello (Elvira Moscatiello) For The Parishioners Monday, May 29, 2017 Memorial Day Cosmos & Damien (Maria DaRita) Tuesday, May 30, 2017 Carmelo Paratore (Maria Paratore) Wednesday, May 31, 2017 Visitation of BVM Lisa B., Baby Alexandra Bachert, Caroline Bachert, Frances Baio, Al Barton, Catherine Capato, Sally Capoziello, Shang Cheng, Antoinette & Catherine Chiarelli, Marge D Auria, Mary Ann D Angelo, Baby Christopher Brian Demmerle, Domenica DeVito, Virginia DiGangi, Mary Divers, Francesca Gaudino, Ian Genovese-Williams, Joseph Gentile, John Joseph Gleeson, John Pierce Gleeson, Christine Healy, Aurea Hernandez, Maria Hernandez, Rosemary Hogan, Elizabeth Isolano, Jennie Iuggiano, Keri & Baby Tristan, Amelia Kalb, Pam Karwan, Baby T.J. Krieg, Kathleen Krieg, Klavdia Krieg, Anthony Lamantia, James Leung, Valerie Librizzo, Thomas & Patricia Lipari, William J. Litt, Cindy Maione, Maryann Maione, Ralph Maresco, Mary Mastrangelo, Camillo Mazella, Rosemary Menechella, Jordan Miller, John Myers, Salvatore Noto, Angela Ottomanelli-Hubbs, Michael Palermo, Gina Palya, Santo Pantina, Ann Parsell, Anna Petito, Doris, Carlo, Philip & Frank Pecchillo, Vivian Puglissi, Joseph Questore, Mary Romano, Jake Rothman, Bill Sangirardi, Felice Scimeca, Fred Sepulveda, Rosalia Sindone, Michael Tamburo, Chrissie Tremblay, Paul Tremblay, Paul John Tremblay, Ann Marie Vayda, Sr. Joanne Walters, Elizabeth Weimer. Deceased: Rosalie Criscuola, Adelaida Samson Rose Stanton (Anthony & Rosemary Matteo) Thursday, June 1, 2017 St. Justin Fred Pane (Loving Family) Friday, June 2, 2017 Sts. Marcellinus & Peter Jeffrey & Anthony Martone (Mother & Wife) Saturday, June 3, 2017 St. Charles Lwanga Claudia & Patrick Falzarano (Joanne) Timothy Liello (Vita & Paul) Anthony Messina (William & Mary Jo Vendittelli) 5:00PM Edward Bauer, John Keenan, Jean Maniscalco, Blanche Migliaccio, Silvestro Porcaro Sunday, June 4, 2017 Pentecost 8:00AM 9:30AM 11:00AM 12:30PM 5:00PM Margaret Rosina (St. Helen Rosarians) Maryann Parlefsky (Loving Family) Gennady Basin (Loving Wife) Jean Florentino (Harriet Thompson) For The Parishioners The Altar Bread for this week is donated in memory of Mary D Andrea. St. Helen s Purgatorial Society Mass All parishioners have the opportunity to enroll the names of loved ones in the Purgatorial Society. The Purgatorial Society Mass will be held on the last Friday of each month. The offering to be enrolled in the Purgatorial Society is $120 per name (a total of 12 Masses for one year will be said for your loved one). Aside from listing one name, a husband and wife together, or a family name is also acceptable. Having a Purgatorial Society is wonderful way of living out the Scriptures and will be a relief for those who desire to have their loved ones remembered with prayers all year long at God s Altar. Please stop in at the Rectory if you are interested in having a loved one enrolled in the Purgatorial Society. The next Purgatorial Society Mass will be held Friday, June 30, Please Note: The Rectory office will be closed on Monday, May 29th in observance of Memorial Day, and will reopen on Tuesday at. GOOD SHEPHERD STATUE We would like to thank Maryann Kellen, who kept the statue this past week. Anyone interested in keeping the statue in their home and praying for vocations for one week should contact the Rectory. The Order of Franciscans Secular meet on the 3rd Saturday of every month in St. Helen s Rectory after the 9AM Mass. Come and learn more about the Franciscan way of life. If you are new to St. Helen Parish, please remember to stop in at the Rectory to register your family!

2 May 28, 2017 Page 2 Update ON Church Renovation #18 "Giving Birth" Recently, a very good friend of mine (a woman who has 5 adult children) said, "You are in the giving-birth stage of the renovation". You wait months and months for this special and beautiful moment, but the birthing process seems to take forever. The final product is ready but the incidentals are not. As I write these words, the men are raising the arch for the sanctuary and the sound system company is installing microphones and outside speakers. The electricians are installing the myriad of emergency lighting required by the City of New York and the light dimming system. It is a church with all the essentials needed for worship but not a living breathing church. The crucifix and tabernacle have yet to arrive, and the moldings for the sanctuary remain on the pews. The organ sounds beautiful and has been fully voiced for the interior of the Church. We are almost there. I remember growing up, my mother always reminded me that I was two weeks late for delivery, during one of the hottest heat waves she could recall. I pray by the time you are reading this update we are in the Church. If we are not, the issue will be similar to the pangs of labor and if you listen closely you may hear me screaming at the contractors..."push! Push! Push!". We will enter the Church as soon as we can. Please keep in mind the date for consecration of the Altar is Tuesday June 27th at 7.oo PM. Fr. Colamaria Catholic Charities Senior Center The Howard Beach Senior Center, located across from Stop & Shop on Crossbay Blvd., invites seniors aged 60 and older to become members. Activities and services are offered Monday-Friday from to 4:00PM. Daily delicious and nutritional hot lunches catered by Russo s on the Bay ($2 donation requested), as well as educational and recreational activities, case assistance, entitlement counseling and advocacy are also available. The Center also offers health promotional classes such as stay-well fitness, chair aerobics, yoga, Tai Chi, and walking groups. Dances are held weekly, as well as card games, Wii bowling, bridge lessons and, of course, Bingo. Every Friday from 1:00-3:00PM the Center hosts Karaoke by Fernando. We will be singing all popular songs selected by the seniors. Come and enjoy the fun! Weekly Exercise Classes: Mondays 9:30AM to 10:30AM: Tai Chi with Elaine Fleischman Mondays 10:45AM to 11:45AM: Chair Aerobics with Charlie Roemer Wednesdays 1:00PM to 2:00PM: Zumba with Juan Fridays 9:30AM to 10:30AM: Cardio Exercise with Dwayne Fridays 10:30AM to 11:30AM: Yoga with Charlie Roemer The Catholic Charities neighborhood Services Howard Beach Senior Center is located at Crossbay Blvd., across from Stop N Shop. For further information please contact Rosalie at

3 May 28, 2017 Page 3 Open to ALL children from ages 4 through 10 Registration Form Registration Fee: 1 Child: $ children: $60.00 (must be siblings) 3 or more children: $75.00 (must be siblings) Important: for your child s safety, please attach an additional sheet to let us know of any allergies or medical conditions. For more information July 10 July 14 9:30AM 12:00PM All registration forms must be submitted by June 16, 2017 Requirements for 4 year old applicants. A child must be 4 years of age by June 1, 2017 to attend. Please submit a copy of the child s birth certificate with this registration form. please call

4 May 28, 2017 Page 4 In the Spirit of St. Vincent de Paul St. Helen Parish Presents A parish Collection for Women & Children in Need Ages Infant through Golden Years at all masses next weekend: JUNE 3 & 4, 2017 Requested Donations: Household Items for Women s Shelters: Paper towels, tissues, soaps, Scott Toilet Tissue Only, Febreeze, Lysol, bleach, Soft Scrub w/bleach, Fabuloso cleaner, 409 All-Purpose cleaner, Glad Force Flex kitchen bags, Swiffer Wet & Dry refills. Baby Items: Baby wipes, crib sheets, hooded towels, receiving blankets Infant Clothing: Boy/girl onesies & stretchies 0-6 mos. (no newborn), boy/ girl spring clothing, sizes 3, 4, 5, 6, boy/girl spring jackets, all sizes. Diapers: Sizes 1, 4, 5 & 6 Strollers, Car Seats (under 5 yrs. old), Cribs (no drop-down please) & Pack & Plays Gift Cards (To Babies-R-Us or Target) Monetary donations are always appreciated! (Envelopes available at doors). All donations will be sent to Women s Shelters and Mother/Child Support Facilities PLEASE BE AS GENEROUS AS POSSIBLE THANK YOU!

5 May 28, 2017 Page 5 Homiletic starters and scriptural reflection points for each day of the month Mon., May 29 Acts 19:1-8; Jn 16:19-33 Memorial Day (USA) Take courage, I have conquered the world. We adopted three boys from Guatemala, two as infants, and the third when he was already 10 years old. Weary of bureaucracy, we delayed his immigration hearing until he was 14 and could speak for himself. He was asked a series of routine questions, including, Will you bear arms on behalf of the United States if required by law? My son looked troubled and whispered, What if the United States went to war with Guatemala? The interviewer gently told him he could perform noncombatant service. On this Memorial Day as the United States remembers those who have fallen in battle, I wonder if we will ever remember that we are all connected? Or, that Jesus has conquered the world and we don t have to? For those who have died in war and all those in harm s way. Tues., May 30 Acts 20:17-27; Jn 17:1-11a I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. These would be great last words! My best friend always said that she wanted to die quickly but with plenty of time to prepare. Maybe we realize this by practicing these last words every evening before sleep. Did I glorify God by accomplishing the work given to me this day? Did I ease another s burdens? Did I enjoy the blessings of today? Did I acknowledge the good and forgive the bad? My friend got her wish. She went quickly a stroke in her sleep. But she prepared every day, generous with her love and enjoying her life to the last, including the Girl Scout cookies we brought her the afternoon before she died. I checked. The package was open and there were several missing. I m so glad. For the grace to live fully each day as you would have us live. Wed., May 31 Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16; Lk 1:39-56 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord I ve sung at least twenty settings of the Magnificat. Chants. Ballads. Hymns. Sweet. Extra Sweet. My favorite of the moment is by Rory Cooney, an arrangement he calls Canticle of the Turning. It s accessible people s music, easily sung by all to a driving rhythm that makes you want to stomp in time. It s not sweet. And neither is the original text: scattering the proud, casting down the mighty, lifting up the lowly, filling the hungry, sending the rich away empty. This is not passive, feel-good religion. This is a religion that was designed and continues to turn the world around. Lord Jesus Christ, give us the grace to play our small part in the transfiguration of the world. Thurs., June 1 Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Jn 17:20-26 I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one. A friend displays a banner reminiscent of the 1970s, complete with psychedelic flowers and five cut-out felt letters: TAMBO That All May Be One. While I ve retired my bell-bottoms, the sentiment is close to my heart. I ve always had a desire to bring people together, facilitate unity, create harmony out of dissonance. It s so strong within me that it s more of an obsession than a virtue. For me that s what writing is about, and choir directing, and worship, and vacations, and family meals. I ve not always been successful, and failures grieve me, but common ground is indeed my holy ground. God of all, make us one. SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER Fri., June 2 Acts 25:13b-21; Jn 21:15-19 Do you love me? you know that I love you. In Greek there are different words that translate as love. Some scholars suggest that to better understand the conversation between Jesus and Peter, we might want to translate it this way J: Peter, will you love me unto death? P: Lord, you know that I am your friend. J: Yes, Peter, but will you die for me? P: Yes, Lord, you know that I am your friend. (Understanding Peter s limitations, Jesus asked,) J: Peter, are you my friend? (And distressed as he realized what love the Lord was asking for, a love that he could not promise, Peter said sadly,) P: Yes, Lord, I am your friend. Peter s distress indicates the depth of his love and the sincerity of his desire to please even if he cannot. That desire is what makes him great and leads him to love Jesus enough to die for him. Lord Jesus, help us to grow in love for you and for each other. Sat., June 3 Acts 28:16-20; 30-31; Jn 21:20-25 What concern is it of yours? You follow me. I have children and sometimes they can t help but tinker with the balance scales: He got more! But I did the dishes yesterday! He didn t make his bed. How come she gets to (fill in the blank) and I don t? Apparently, even the disciples of Jesus were not immune to this unattractive trait. Teaching our children and ourselves that fair does not equal same is a life-long task. Instead of looking at life and relationships as a 50/50 proposition, how much better to assume that my share to give is 100 percent (and maybe a little more). And how much should I take? What I need. Only what I need. Lord Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on you and live simply that others may simply live.