St Joseph s of Stratford Parish National Catholic Church Since 1907 Weekly Bulletin Pentecost Sunday, Yr B May 24 th, 2015 PARISH CONTACTS PASTOR Fr Michal Gitner PARISH CHAIRPERSON Nancy Sirois VICE CHAIRPERSON Dee Smith FINANCE SECRETARY Barbara Chernesky Dear Parishioners, Today s solemnity of the Pentecost concludes the Easter season for the year 2015. However, according to the Catholic doctrine, each Sunday Mass is a recollection of the Paschal Mystery that is Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. Thank you for all flower donations, which helped us to decorate the sanctuary of our church for the occasion. On Thursday, June 4 th, which is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, St Joseph s will be hosting, for the parishes of Southwest Seniorate, Mass and Eucharistic Procession to four altars. The Mass will begin at 6:00 pm with a light supper to follow. If you wish to acknowledge the name of your father, granddad or pastor and have the name/s published in the God s Field, please pick up the form in the foyer of the church and follow the instructions. The proceeds will benefit Clergy Pension Fund of our Church. Saturday: 5:00 pm - Sunday Vigil Mass Sunday: 8:00 am 9:30 am Good news - Route 113 reopens May 22 nd - July 27 th, then closes again to be reopened on September 2 nd MASS SCHEDULE Monday, 25 th (Memorial Day) - Mass 9:00 am Wednesday - 9:00 am Mass for health SOCL (religious instructions for children) - 9:00 am 1300 Stratford Road, Stratford CT 06615-7639 Tel: 203 377-9901 (office), 203 923-2424 (rectory), Fax: 203 375-6439 www.stjosephsofstratford.org Fr Michal
FAITH MATTERS GOSPEL CHALLENGE I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. (John 16:12) How truthful am I to the Spirit of truth? SOME THOUGHTS ON THE GOSPEL It is in the power of the Spirit that the Church takes up its mission. Today, before all days, the Church invites us to deepen our faith in the Savior's gift of his own Spirit. Already in the Old Testament, the Spirit of God was active as a life-giving force at work in creation. Anointed by the Spirit as God's Servant, in fulfilment of the prophecies of the Book of Isaiah, Jesus has led us to know the Spirit as a Person sharing the one divine life with the Father and the Son. Today's gospel reading is a meditation upon this shared life, and the way in which those who find faith in Christ are made to share in it. Those who have received the gift of the Spirit can tell the world the complete truth about the Savior of the world, and can announce the things to come, because the mystery of God's final plan for the world has been revealed in the events which took place in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover. No-one could say that Jesus had failed to forewarn the disciples that the Spirit would come and yet, most of the Gospel accounts of their life after the Resurrection suggest that they did not really expect anything to happen. Two began the journey back to Emmaus, others hid behind closed doors and later went back to the nets they had so impetuously left a few years before. Jesus had told them the Spirit would come - but everyday life seemed to go on as normal and, quite frankly, the disciples were probably glad of the anonymity for a while: As Jesus had also said, if the authorities treat me as they will, how will they treat you. And so, the fishermen continued to fish - and life passed - until one day, they and the other apostles came together. Earlier in Acts, we are told that they met to pray with Mary and certain women - a gathering of people who had been with Jesus during his ministry, who had seen him die and seen him rise to new life. What was it in their prayer in that gathering that opened the way for the Spirit to come upon them. As the wind blew through the house - and fire fell upon their heads, did they need Mary to discern what was happening and echo words from her own overshadowing by the Spirit: Don t be afraid. Pentecost Flower Offering Mary Baglin Jean Kwiatkowski, Irene Beauchemin Anna Smith Fox, Marion Brandolini, Ed & Barbara Bednarski Julia McKenzie Bednarski, Marianne Charabowski Frank & George Charabowski, Jan Chernesky Bugno & Cegielka families, Val Chernesky Mike Chernesky, Stanley & Mary Wilk, Michael & Mary Chernesky, Mary DiMenna Fred Di Menna, Ann Marie Egelski W. Egelski, Bertha Grabowski Sophie & Joseph Patusky-Zapotoczny & their families, Paul Lonzenski Marilyn Lonzenski, John & Jean Macionus, John & Carol Misurale Frank & Helen Steele, Anthony & Rose Misurale, Carol Murdzia Richard Murdzia & family, Alice, John & Bill Geffert, Victoria Billick, Ron & Val Beach, Darlene Kopka Edward Stempniak, Sean & Kristen Owens Edward Stempniak, Edmund Kopka, Raymond Martin Frank & Mary Owens, William & Carol Petrino Martha, Joseph & Joespeh Jr. Swiatek, Dee Smith Gerald Smith, Joesph & Mary Kafara 2 lorem ipsum :: [Date]
PARISH CALENDAR May 24 th Memorial Day Mass 9:00 am May 31 st YSMR meeting - 8:45 am Ladies Society meeting- 10:45 am June 4 th Corpus Christi Mass and Eucharistic procession 6:00 pm EASTERN DIOCESE Acolyte retreat June 30 th 10:00am 3:30 pm Our Savior Parish Woonsocket, RI BY THE WEEK Sundays: Mercy Tabernacle Church 12:30-2:30 pm Tuesdays: Mercy Tabernacle Church 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wednesdays: Thursdays: AA meeting 12:00 pm Irish dance classes 6:00 pm AA men s meeting 7:30 pm For news input in the weekly bulletin, please contact Father Michal by Wed: mgitner@gmail.com Readers roster May 24 th May 31 st 8:00am Jan Chernesky Jan Chernesky 9:30am Lee Niedzielski Joe Pelland Next Sunday s readings: Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40, Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20 FOOD FOR THOUGH Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. NEWS AND EVENTS Our Star Spangled Raffle, which will be held July 5, is off to a good start, but we need everyone s support to make it a success. For only a $20 donation to St. Joseph s Church, someone is going to win $1000! This holiday weekend when visiting your family and friends, why not ask them if they want to be that someone! For additional tickets, or if you have any questions about this fundraiser, please contact Jane Pelland at 203-377-4655 or janepell639@aol.com Eastern Diocese Acolyte Retreat Tuesday June 30th, 2015 Our Savior Parish Woonsocket, RI Prepare the Way of the Lord Begins at 10:00 am with Holy Mass and ends by 3:30 pm. Interactive sessions on St John the Baptist, baptism and serving with reverence. Time in prayer, fellowship and fun with your fellow servers. Plus a hike to Purgatory Chasm and time with John the Baptist! Open to Altar Servers of our diocese registration is just $10. Deadline to register is June 25 th. Sterling House will host a Clam Diggers Summer Clam Bake on Saturday May 30 th, 5:30 10:00 pm. Open bar, Music, Dancing and Auction. Lease contact Patty Calabrese at 203 378 2606 ext.107 or pcalabrese@sterlinghousecc.org VIRIDAIN ENERGY St Joseph s, offers a simple and powerful product 3 years fixed rates at 10.69 /kwh. It is also a fundraiser for our parish. Per each customer who signs up, every month St Joseph s receives a financial reward. There is a link on our parish website that opens for us the possibility to lower our electricity bill and help St Joseph s in its fundraising efforts without asking for money! All you need is an access to the internet, your current utility bill and an email address. Just use Firefox or Internet Explorer browsers. For parishioners who do not use internet Fr Michal is happy to help them to get on board. James Bryce 3 lorem ipsum :: [Date]
Sunday Readings First Reading Acts 2:1-11 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Second Reading 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 Brothers and sisters: No one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Gospel John 15:26-27; 16:12-15 Jesus said to his disciples: When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. March, April, May and June bulletin issues are sponsored by Ann-Marie Egelski. If anyone wishes to contribute to the printing cost of the bulletin, please contact Fr Michal. Printed by Magnetic center 30 Ferry Blvd., Stratford, CT 4 lorem ipsum :: [Date]