St Joseph s of Stratford Parish National Catholic Church Since 1907 Weekly Bulletin 2 nd Sunday of Easter, yr A April 23 rd, 2017 Dear Parishioners, PARISH CONTACTS PASTOR Fr Michal Gitner PARISH CHAIRPERSON Nancy Sirois FINANCIAL SECRETARY Barbara Chernesky Thank you to the Ladies Society for coordinating this Sunday s parish Easter breakfast. And of course the food donations. This year we celebrate on a smaller scale due to the fact that on Saturday, April 29 th in the spirit of the Risen Lord we are going to celebrate our parish s 110 th anniversary. The Prime Bishop, the Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky will be the main celebrant. Our Diocesan Bishop, The Rt Rev. Paul Sobiechowski will be in attendance as well as some of the other clergy. The anniversary Mass is scheduled for 4:00 pm with Mercy Tabernacle choir warming us up from 3:30 pm with praise and worship. During the Mass a prayer of re-dedication for the renovation of the church will be offered and we recommit ourselves to Jesus and the Gospel by reciting the anniversary litany. The banquet in the parish hall will follow. The able ones, please do stay after the meal for a few minutes to clean up and put the chairs and tables away. Each extra pair of hands will help to make the job easier and faster. Fr Michal Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 9:00 am MASS SCHEDULE Wednesday - Mass for health 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
FAITH MATTERS GOSPEL CHALLENGE But he said to them, Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe (John 20:25) If I had the chance of putting my finger into the holes the nails made, would it have changed anything in the practice of my faith, the way I live my life, my attitude? SOME THOUGHTS ON THE READINGS Our faith is grounded in the witness of the apostles. This witness had its origins in an overwhelming experience: a meeting, against all their expectations, with the final achievement in God s work of creation, the greatness of the Risen Lord. The gospel accounts echo this experience. Meditating on them gives us a greater appreciation of this foundation of our faith the teaching of the apostles that has gathered the Church in faith, since its beginnings in Jerusalem. John s gospel, as we know, is the product of profound reflection on this gospel tradition. The more we come to know it, the more we recognise how much is implied in its apparently simple narrative (even, it seems, reference to the fact that the celebration of the Lord s Resurrection on the first day of the week had its origin in the generation of the apostles). It has often been pointed out that our understanding of the Easter Mystery has been shaped by three distinct events: Resurrection, Ascension (40 days later), Pentecost (10 days later). In John s gospel, the Easter Mystery, is already experienced in all its aspects on Easter Day itself. Meeting Mary of Magdala, Jesus speaks of his imminent ascent to the Father; and when he comes to the apostles place of refuge, on the evening of that same day, the Saviour who had emptied himself becoming as we all are, shows himself already one with the Father in divine greatness and authority, as he bestows the Holy Spirit and commissions the apostles to undertake their great mission As the Father has sent me, so am I sending you. John s narrative tells of the apostles experience as a passing from apprehension and uncertainty the doors were closed for fear of the Jews to the reassurance and joy brought by faith in the Risen Lord. Three times in this narrative he repeats his greeting, Peace be with you. Given the fact that this is their first encounter with the one they had abandoned to his fate, even denied, these words three times repeated are far more than a conventional greeting. They echo down through the ages as words of divine forgiveness and reconciliation for a world whose burdens he has taken upon himself in the terrible drama of the cross. The gospels all speak of the hesitations experienced by the group as they came to terms with their experience, and passed from fear and uncertainty to the joy of believing. In John s narrative, this is all dramatized in the story of Thomas, the outspoken enthusiast, who tells Jesus, We do not know where you are going, how we can know the way? and urges the group, Let us go up and die with him! As in other gospel accounts, Jesus makes it clear that what they have encountered is not a ghostly apparition, but his Incarnate Self: Put your finger here, your hand in my side. Doubt no longer but believe. 2 lorem ipsum :: [Date]
PARISH CALENDAR April 23 rd - parish Easter breakfast April 23 rd - Parish Board meeting April 29 th - St Joseph s 110 th Anniversary, Mass 4:00 pm followed by dinner 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 Readers Roster April 23 rd Jean Macionus Next Sunday s readings: Acts 2:14, 22-28 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35 FOOD FOR THOUGHT April 30 th Charlie Vasas A river cuts through rock not because of it s power, but because of it s persistence. Author Unknown NEWS AND EVENTS St Joseph's 110th Anniversary donations anyone willing to contribute to the project please do so. There are still a few items to be purchased like the votive candle stand (so far we have $1000.00 in donations and we are short of $850.00). The same applies for the banners, we need another 4 sets of them for each liturgical season. The Easter ones hanging in the sanctuary gives us a taste of what it looks like. They have been donated by Ed and Pat Slonina. CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP - WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? (continued) Parish Stewardship: One of the ways our church is unique in its democratic structure is that the people purchase, build, and maintain their own Church property in accordance with the Constitution and Laws of the Polish National Catholic Church. Just as our homes must be maintained and the bills paid to keep the lights on, heat working and everything running in proper order the same holds true for our spiritual homes. Some only view the meeting of their church obligations as attending Holy Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. Others acknowledge that attendance at church is one of the many gifts received to enrich our lives with the Word of God and the receipt of Sacraments. It is easy to focus on the spiritual fulfillment, knowledge and growth that is the center of our attendance. Of course, that is the basis for learning more of our faith and advancing our relationship with Christ. We trust the church will be there with open doors when we come to worship. Being in Easter season it ight be a long shot but for those who like planning ahead - BUS TRIP Our Lady of Peace Parish, Stratford, is organizing a bus trip on Tuesday, November 28th and Wednesday, November 29th to see the Miracle of Christmas show (great reserved seats) at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pa. The package includes: roundtrip deluxe motor coach, 1 night at the Best Western Resort which includes a glass of wine/snack welcome reception. 1 buffet breakfast, Dutch Apple, Dinner Theatre with Irvin Berlins White Christmas, Kitchen Kettle Village, National Christmas Center, baggage handling, taxes and driver gratuity all for the cost of $305 per person double occupancy, single $394, triple $295. Minimum of 40 interested persons is required before the trip can be finalized. You do not need to be a parishioner to come on the trip-all are welcome! If interested call Maryann at 203-375-3080. A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT! 3 lorem ipsum :: [Date]
Sunday Readings First Reading Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. Second reading 1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia You believe in me Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Gospel John 20:19-31 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, Peace be with you. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, Peace be with you. Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe. Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. Feb 19 th - June 4 th (16 weeks) issues of the bulletin are sponsored by anonymous donor. If anyone wishes to contribute to the printing cost of the bulletin, please contact Fr Michal. 4 lorem ipsum :: [Date]