ST. CLARE OF ASSISI CATHOLIC PARISH Rectory: 1918 Paulding Avenue Bronx, New York 10462 Church: 1027 Rhinelander Avenue Bronx, New York 10461 Phone: 718-863-8974 Fax: 718-931-6909 www.stclarebronx.org stclareofassisi@aol.com His Holiness, Pope Francis Our Holy Father His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan Our Archbishop SUNDAY MASS Saturday Vigil: 5:30pm Sunday: 7am, 9am, 10am, 11:30am,1pm Santa Messa In Italiano: 8am 9am Vietnamese Mass in Msgr. Raimondo Hall: once a month as announced MONDAY- FRIDAY MASS: 7am, 9am SATURDAY MORNING MASS: 9am HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION: As announced CIVIC HOLIDAYS: 9am SACRAMENT OF PENANCE Saturday: 4:30 to 5:15pm Confessions will be heard at other times upon request. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM 2:15pm on designated Sundays Contact us for an Interview and Preparation Session. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Contact us at least six months in advance. Please do not decide on a Reception date and time until you first consult with us. ROSARY FOR VOCATIONS Wednesdays: 8:30 am VISITS TO THE HOMEBOUND Inform us about our sick and the elderly. MINISTRIES Altar Servers Choir Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Folk Group Lectors Nursing Home Team Ushers SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS Bible Study Book Club Couples for Christ Our Lady of Guadalupe Society Our Lady of La Vang Society San Pedro Calungsod Society San Silverio Committee Lord, Teach Me To Pray Women s and Men s Groups Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults YOUTH ACTIVITIES Cub, Boy and Girl Scouts Basketball, Bowling, Cheerleaders and Volleyball PASTORAL STAFF: Father Salvatore DeStefano, Administrator Assisting Priests: Fr. Richard Adams Fr. Bentley Anderson, S.J. Fr. Daniel Fitzpatrick, S.J. Fr. Damian Halligan, S.J. Fr. Nicholas Lombardi, S.J. Fr. Joseph O Keefe, S.J. Fr. Matthew Reiman Fr. Stephan Huy Tran, O. Carm Lloyd B. Thompkins, Director of Music TRUSTEES Nicholas Leshi and Geraldine Proto RECTORY OFFICE HOURS Ellen Capellan and Anne Leone, Receptionists Monday thru Thursday: 9am-7:30pm Friday & Saturday: 9am-7pm Sunday: 9am-3pm SAINT CLARE REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL 1911 Hone Avenue, Bronx, N.Y. 10461 Office-718-892-4080 Fax-718-239-1007 Mrs. Theresa Bivona, Principal B232@adnyeducation.org www.stclareofassisischool.org RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM 1925 Hone Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461 718-829-9624 Sister Linda Jean Marie Giovanelly, P.V.M.I., Director Tuesday: 3:30pm & 6:30pm Wednesday: 3:30pm FATHER VINCENT TAGLIENTI CENTER & CHAPEL 1925 Hone Ave, Bronx, N.Y. 10461 SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS Home School Association ORGANIZATIONS Altar Guild Buildings and Grounds Finance Council Holy Name Society Making All Things New Cluster Team Parish Council Pro-Life Group Senior Citizens TWELVE STEP GROUPS Alcoholics Anonymous Gamblers Anonymous Overeaters Anonymous
ST. CLARE S PRO-LIFE GROUP THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: SAT March 17, Vigil, Fifth Sunday of Lent 5:30 pm Bridget McHale+ SUN March 18, Fifth Sunday of Lent 7:00 am For the People of Our Parish 8:00 am Maria Romano+ 9:00 am Father Joseph Bergamini+ 10:00 am Rose MacDonald+ 11:30 am Ralph Gianatasio+ 1:00 pm Mario A. Madia+ MON March 19, Saint Joseph 7:00 am Rose & James Maniaci+ 9:00 am Giuseppe Avitabile+ MON March 19, Saint Joseph Mass 7:30pm Emilia Pirraglia+ TUE March 20 7:00 am Paul Quinn+ 9:00 am Adriano Prontelli+ WED March 21 7:00 am Alicia Pochintesta+ 9:00 am Marianne Umanzor+ THURS March 22 7:00 am Babby Brennan+ 9:00 am Silverio & Silveria Conte+ FRI March 23 7:00 am Frances Lordi+ 9:00 am Josephine & Mary Ciaccio+ SAT March 24 9:00 am Alexander Bellantese+ SAT March 24, Vigil, Palm Sunday 5:30 pm Patrick & Bridget Bambrick+ SUN March 25, Palm Sunday 7:00 am For the People of Our Parish 8:00 am Maria Gabella+ 9:00 am Vincent & Nancy Attraente & Nancy Ann Luongo+ 10:00 am Joseph & Gloria Galasso+ 11:30 am William & Mae McGoorty+ 1:00 pm Ivo & Teresa Panaroni+ The first person in the world to welcome Jesus, to recognize him in the womb of his own mother, was a child, Saint John the Baptist. It is wonderful God chooses an unborn child to announce the coming of his redeeming son....saint Teresa of Calcutta HOW MUCH TO GIVE...FOR GOD LOVES A PERSON WHO GIVES CHEERFULLY. (2 Corinthians 9:7) On the weekend of February 25th you contributed $4,963.00 in the Regular Parish Collection and $1,513.00 in the Second Collection for Snow Removal. On the weekend of March 4th you contributed $6,096.00 and $1,565.00 in the Second Collection for the Parish Loan Reduction Thank you for your sacrificial offerings of gratitude! STEWARDSHIP APPEAL UPDATE As of March 2nd, 75 individuals and families have pledged $10,465.00 for our poor, for our needy Parishes, for our Retired Priest, Sisters and Brothers. Please read over our weekly inserts and learn more about the value of making Lenten Pledge. Brochures and Offering Envelopes are on the table by the Church Entrance. JOIN THE CHOIR-BE HEALTHIER A three year study found that participants in singing programs took fewer medications, experienced less depression and made fewer doctor visits. RELIGION CLASSES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS Registration for September 2018 is starting now. Classes are usually after school on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00pm. (The class day depends on the grade level). Classes are offered for students entering grade 1 through grade 7. Please phone Sr. Linda at 718-829-9624 for a Registration Form or pick up one at the Rectory. If Sister s office phone isn t operating, please contact the Rectory. Catechists (teachers) & assistants are needed for grade 5 and other grades. Please contact sister if you are interested. Our Religious Education Program needs the cooperation and support of the Parish in order to continue to offer classes to the children. Join the choir and be healthier! MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Please pray for the souls of Sylvia Mottola who was buried from our Parish on March 8th and Christian Garcia who was buried from our Parish on March 12th. The Bread and Wine Offering for the Week Is In Memory of Rose & James Maniaci The Vigil Light Burning This Week Is In Memory of Rose & James Maniaci
Fifth Sunday of Lent March 18, 2018 I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33 THE INFINITE VALUE OF THE HOLY MASS Sun, Mar 18 2:15pm Baptisms (Church) Mon, Mar 19 7:30pm St. Josephs Mass (Church) Tues, Mar 20 3:30pm Religious Education (School) 6:30pm Religious Education (Fr. DiFalco Room) Wed, Mar 21 8:30am Rosary for Vocations (Church) 3:30pm Religious Education (School) Thurs, Mar 22 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal (Church) 7:30pm Alumni Basketball Team #2 (Gym) Fri, Mar 23 8:30am Women s Prayer Group (Msgr. Raimondo Hall) 12 Noon Via Crucis in Italiano (Church) 7:30pm Stations of the Cross (Church) Sat, Mar 24, Church Open All Day 9:00am Men s Prayer Group (Msgr. Raimondo Hall) 4:30pm Confessions (Church) 6:30pm RCIA Rehearsal (Church) STATIONS OF THE CROSS ON THE FRIDAYS OF LENT 12 Noon: Italian 7:30pm: English BIG DEAL SUPERMARTET 1018 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx NY & THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY Are teaming up for a Lenten Fundraiser +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ From Friday, February 9th through Thursday, April 5th A percentage of all sales during this period will be donated by Big Deal Supermarket to St. Clare of Assisi Church It s easy! After you pay, Just drop your sales receipt into the jar. That s it. LENTEN GUIDELINES ON ABSTINENCE For those 14 years of age and older No meat is to be eaten on the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of the Church. The Church which is the Body of Christ participates in the offering of her Head. With Him, she herself is offered whole and entire. She unites herself to His intercession with the Father for all men. In the Eucharist the sacrifice of Christ becomes also the sacrifice of the members of His Body. The lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer, and work, are united with those of Christ and with His total offering, and so acquire a new value. Christ s sacrifice present on the altar makes it possible for all generations of Christians to be united with His offering (Catechism, 1368). LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO GIVE UP FOR LENT? Give up resentment and become more forgiving. Give up hatred and return good for evil. Give up complaining and be more grateful. Give up pessimism and become more hopeful. Give up worry and become more trusting. Give up anger and become more patient. Give up pettiness and become more noble. Give up gloom and become more joyful. Give up doubt and turn to God. PRAYERS FROM POLAND Father Paul Tambor was saddened to hear of the news of Father Aufieri s passing. He sent the following message to the parishioners of Saint Clare s: On behalf of Father Milosz Holda and Father Adam Wilczynski, I would like to express our sincere condolences to Father Robert s family and the wonderful St. Clare s Parish over the loss of your Good Pastor. We are honored and blessed to have known Father Robert Aufieri for several years. He invited us to assist him during the summer time. For me that blessed time, thanks to Father Robert, was an occasion to meet and acknowledge the beautiful and inspiring tradition of the Catholic Church in the United States. Father Robert has always been a true and authentic witness of Christ the Good Shepard, so devoted to his parish. In addition, he was a good friend, gently sharing his pastoral experience with me. We, the priests from Poland, will always remember Father Robert Aufieri. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Dear Parishioners in this time of sadness but also this time full of Christian hope for resurrection. May God rests his soul in peace.
REST IN PEACE Eternal Peace Grant Unto Them, O Lord Gary Frank Belviso Joseph Cardile Mary & Cesidio Cugini & Monica Erdman Gaetano & Amilia D Arco Ronald Darminio Rose & Paul DeFonzo Gennaro & Elizabeth DiPalma Robert Engel Joseph, Ines & Michael Falcone & Rachel Panza Furgiuele Family Joseph, Gloria & Thomas Galasso Anthony Leone Andrew & Anna Lo Scalzo & Nicholas Sicilia Francesco Mucciacciaro Gildo Paganussi Italo Norman & Adelaide Ida Peduzzi Helen & Martin Reilly Edward & Theresa Rossi Chester Rywalt The following is an excerpt from Father DeStefano s letter in St. Frances Xavier s bulletin: On Saturday, we laid to rest a truly great priest, Father Robert Aufieri, Pastor of St. Clare s here in Morris Park. He died suddenly last Friday morning at the age of 69. He was my former pastor, mentor and dear friend. Having served with Father Aufieri for over three years, I will tell you that he was one of the kindest, warmest and most sincere people I ve ever known. He absolutely loved being a priest. In fact, being a priest was all he ever wanted in life, From the time he was a child, he dreamed of serving Christ as a Catholic priest and entered the seminary right after graduating Salesian High School in 1966. While other kids wanted to become doctors, policemen or lawyers, he wanted nothing more than to offer the Mass and hear Confessions. On December 7, 1974, his dream came true. I have never in my life met a harder-working or more devoted priest than Father Aufieri. He was absolutely dedicated to everyone he ever served, but never more than his beloved little flock at St. Clare s. He loved them-and they loved him. I believe his parishioners sensed and understood that the genuine love and joy of Christ shined very brightly in his ministry. No one ever felt excluded or left out. He was the most joyful priest I ve ever met, and it showed. I have to share with you something that I witnessed the other day. It was the saddest-and at the same time-most beautiful moment I have ever seen in my priesthood. On the day Father Aufieri died, the decision was made that the school children should hear it from their principal, rather than from a third party or a rumor. At 1:15 in the afternoon, the entire school population was gathered for a special assembly in the gym. There, Mrs. Theresa Bivona informed the children that their pastor had died. The emotion that followed this announcement was breathtaking. The kids were stunned, shocked, and devastated. So many were crying, many inconsolably, over the death of their spiritual father and shepherd. The incredible outpouring of tears by both the older and younger children was astounding. PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED PARISH CLERGY AND CONSECRATED RELIGIOUS Fr. Robert Aufieri Fr. Frank Bassett Msgr. Francis Cagnina, P.A. Fr. Anthony D Antonio Fr. Leonard DiFalco Fr. George Giammarino Fr. Robert Macchietto Msgr. Louis Mazza Deacon James Oakes Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Sr. Josephine Stabile, OBT Fr. Vincent Taglienti Deacon Joseph Weckbach OUR SCRIPTURE READING AT MASS THIS WEEKEND The Book of Prophet Jeremiah Chap 31 Verses 31-34 The Lord makes a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah. The Letter to the Hebrews Chap 5 Verses 7-9 When Jesus was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Gospel of John Chap 12, Verses 20-33 Whoever serves me must follow me, says the Lord; and where I am, there also will my servant be. I say that it was sad for obvious reasons. It was a terrible scene to witness, on one level. At the same time, it was the most beautiful moment I have ever personally seen with my own eyes. The thought that kept coming back to me was: These children really, really loved this priest! That must mean that their experience of this priest, and of the priesthood in general must be extremely positive and joyful if this is their reaction. I thought to myself, What a wonderful example of a pastor he must have been if his passing would elicit this level of grief. In a world where the Church is cast in a negative light 90% of the time (to be conservative) here were children who would grow up thinking that the Church, and her priests are simply wonderful. There s no amount of money that can buy that level of trust and love and emotion. Father Aufieri was very much like a father to me, and indeed, he was exactly that after my own father died (he preferred I refer to him as my older brother. ) Father Aufieri will be greatly missed by his parishioners, his family and his friends. He will be missed by the hundreds of homebound people he visited each month and to whom brought Holy Communion, giving them the hope only Christ can give. He will be missed by all of the families he comforted at funerals, and by the thousands of people he sent Christmas, birthday and anniversary cards to-he never missed an important event. He will be missed by his beloved St. Clare s Catholic School, and by all the faculty, children and principal there. He will be missed by his altar servers, whom he trained personally and would always share his joy with. He will be missed by his sister, Joan Tretta, who took such beautiful care of him and who was with him when he died. He will be missed by his brother priests who sought his advice as well as his wise and holy spiritual counsel. And lastly, he will be missed by me, his former parochial vicar, his friend and confidant. He taught me more about being a good prayerful and joyful priest than any one. Father Robert Aufieri will be missed. Eternal Rest, Grant Unto Him O, Lord, And may the Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. May He Rest in Peace, Amen And May His Soul, and All the Souls of the Faithful Departed, Rest In Peace. Amen