St Joseph s of Stratford Parish National Catholic Church Since 1907 Weekly Bulletin 26 th Sunday, in Ordinary Time, yr C September 25 th, 2016 PARISH CONTACTS PASTOR Fr Michal Gitner PARISH CHAIRPERSON Nancy Sirois FINANCIAL SECRETARY Barbara Chernesky A note from Jane & Joe Pelland: The big winner of Hawaiian Quarter Night 2016 was St. Joseph s Church as the profit for the night was $2032, which is $700 more than last year s figure. A big thank you to the donors of auction items and refreshments, and to those who tossed 69 pounds of quarters into the buckets! Together, you helped make the night a financial success. It could not have happened without the members who worked on the fundraiser and those who brought family and friends along to bid. We had a fun night, won great prizes, and raised money for our church! A special thank you to the organizers - the Pellands and the auctioneers another Pellands. On the top of the profit figure $250 was donated to SmileTrain Fr Michal After discussing the appeal of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport for a financial help in support of its food bank program, the Parish Board decided to donate $750.00 to help the needy residents of Bridgeport. 150th anniversary of the birth of Bp Hodur celebration has been scheduled for October 9 th, at Holy Trinity Parish, 200 Summer St, Plantsville, CT. A reception will follow. Please inform Fr Michal by October 2 nd, if you are planning to attend. Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 9:00 am MASS SCHEDULE Wednesday: 9:00 am - Mass for health 1300 Stratford Road, Stratford CT 06615-7639 Tel: 203 377-9901 (office), 203 923-2424 (rectory), Fax: 203 375-6439 www.stjosephsofstratford.org
FAITH MATTERS GOSPEL CHALLENGE Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.' (Lk 16:31) There are very few situations in life when we are struck by lightening to get the idea. In most cases, all that is required of us by God is common sense, openness and compassion. THOUGHTS ON THE READINGS Luke returns to the teaching of Jesus concerning poverty and wealth. In today s gospel reading, however, we are taken to a new level of understanding, as the issue is related to the very heart of the Good News brought by the Savior. With the parable of Lazarus at the rich man s gate, Jesus shows his skills as a storyteller, able to capture the attention of his listeners, as he challenges their complacency. This story, we are told, is addressed to the Pharisees, many of whom were attached to their wealth, seeing it as a sign of God s favor. The rich man in the story is not condemned for evil behavior. Reading between the lines, we may well conclude that he thought he had treated Lazarus well he had allowed him to remain at the gate in his destitution; and he was happy for him to have the leftovers of his feasting. The Pharisees are told, however, that when he repeatedly addressed Abraham as his father he was rejected. On the other hand, Lazarus whose name means God helps is received by Abraham as the guest of honor - at the eschatological banquet looked forward to by the prophets ( in the bosom of Abraham indicates his reclining at table next to Abraham). The rich man, and those like him, are not accepted as true children of Abraham, because, in their complacent insensitivity, they have disregarded the teaching of the Law of Moses and the exhortations of God s prophets a teaching that Jesus makes his own. Lazarus represents the poor, whose cry the Lord hears the common people looked down upon by the Pharisees, people whose straitened circumstances made it next to impossible for them to carry out the many prescriptions seen by this well-to-do group as a true observance of the covenant. Because the power structures of their people left these anawim disenfranchised, they must stand before God in a trust and hope that kept alive the genuine faith traditions of Israel s covenant with their God. Jesus himself comes from their midst; and his great mission will carry forward the ways of his Father, the God of the covenant revealed from the first as the champion of the poor and oppressed. Those who follow him are from this background; and the communities they form will share their outlook (cf. 1 Cor 1:26-27: Consider, brothers, how you were called not many influential God chose those who are weak to shame the strong ). Jesus appeals, in his parable, to the prophets, so often defenders of the powerless and mouthpieces of their faith as in the stinging rebuke of Amos in today s reading. It was the prophets who condemned the empty ritualism that was an escape from what the covenant really required Is this not the fast that pleases me sharing your food with the hungry and sheltering the homeless poor (Is 58:6-7). The lesson of the parable, of course, extends far beyond the need for material assistance. Our neighbors have also emotional and spiritual needs, to which true followers of Jesus will respond in friendship and concern. 2 lorem ipsum :: [Date]
PARISH CALENDAR Oct 2 nd - Food pantry collection EASTERN DIOCESE Oct 9 th - Bp Hodur s 150th birth celebration BY THE WEEK Sundays: Mercy Tabernacle Church 12:30-2:30 pm Tuesdays: Mercy Tabernacle Church 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesdays: Thursdays: AA meeting 12:00 pm Irish dance classes 6:00 pm AA men s meeting 7:30 pm News for weekly bulletin? Please contact Father Michal by Wed: mgitner@gmail.com YMSR Corner 10/15: Colossal Kielbasa Food Stand - 12pm (Church lot) 10/22: YMSR Trip to Bronx Zoo 11/12: Polish Dinner (Church hall) Readers Roster September 25 th Joe Pelland October 2 nd Dee Smith Next Sunday s readings: Habakkuk 1:2-3. 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8.13-14, Luke 17:5-10 NEWS AND EVENTS On the fourth Sunday of September our Church offers prayers for our sister organization, the Polish National Union of America. Our Church under the direction of Bishop Hodur organized the PNU in 1908 when members of our Church were denied insurance coverage. The Polish National Union of America also known as PNU or Spojnia, is a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society which provides life insurance protection, annuities, retirement plans and numerous fraternal benefits to its membership. It is member-owned and controlled through a board of directors. The basic philosophy envisioned by our founding fathers is that of People Helping People. Over the years the PNU has contributed millions of dollars for our PNCC and her many programs and endeavors. Did you know that our General Synod passed the following resolution: It shall be the moral obligation of the clergy and the laity of the PNCC to belong to the Polish National Union of America (PNCC Constitution, page 65). For information on products offered by the PNU please call them at (800) 724-6352 or visit www.pnu.org. YMSR - BRONX ZOO TRIP BOO AT THE ZOO October 22-10am Adults: (Ticket Price $33.95) - YMSR Discount $20.00 Children ( 18 & Under - $23.95) - YMSR Discount - FREE You don t need to be a member of the church to be eligible for discount See Joe or Rob - Sign up sheet on notice board *You need to provide your own transportation and supervision FOOD FOR THOUGHT Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. Henri Nouwen Life Line Screening, a leading provider of communitybased preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings on 9/27/2016 at our parish. For details please see noticeboard. 3 lorem ipsum :: [Date]
Sunday Readings First Reading Amos 6:1A, 4-7 Thus says the LORD the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment. They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph! Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Response to the Psalm Praise the Lord, my soul! Second Reading 1 Timothy 6:11-16 But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen. Gospel Lk 16:19-31 Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours. He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia Jesus Christ was rich but he became poor, To make you rich out of his poverty. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia August, September and October issues of the bulletin are sponsored by Brian and Nicole Putorak. If anyone wishes to contribute to the printing cost of the bulletin, please contact Fr Michal. 4 lorem ipsum :: [Date]