4 SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH BROOKFIELD, CONNECTICUT 5th SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 22, 2015 SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT March 22, 2015 PARISH STAFF Rev. George F. O’Neill, Pastor Celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph, our patron, this weekend, March 21 & 22 Zeppole will be served in the Parish Center after the 5 PM Vigil, and the 9 & 11 AM Masses [email protected] Msgr. Edward Scull, Retired - Weekend Liturgist Deacon Peter J. Kuhn [email protected] Deacon William J. Shaughnessy [email protected] Rita Golaszewski, Parish Secretary [email protected] Andrea Woronick, Director of Faith Formation and Ministry [email protected] EDJE & Cross Over 2 Jesus Administrator Roseann D’Aureli [email protected] David Kendall, Music Director [email protected] Tory Gozzi, Choir Director [email protected] PARISH OFFICE Phone: 203.775.1035 Fax: 203.775.1684 Web Site: www.stjosephbrookfield.com Email: [email protected] Mail: 163 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, CT 06804 Office Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Friday Mass Schedule: Saturday Vigil – 5:00 PM Confessions: Sunday-7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM Monday-Friday – 6:45 & 8:45 AM Saturday morning – 8:00 AM Tuesday, 7:00 PM; Saturday, 3:45 PM HOLY HOUR FOR THE UNBORN Every Sunday 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL Mr. Scott Bannon, Principal Phone: 203.775.2774 Fax: 203.775.5810 Web Site: www.sjsbrookfield.org PRAYING FOR PEACE We invite you to stay at the end of Sunday Mass – following the closing hymn – and join in praying three “Hail Marys” for Peace: in our World, in our Families and in our Hearts.. SACRAMENTS Baptism – The Sacr ament of Baptism is celebr ated on Sundays at 12:30 p.m. A Pre-Baptism class is required for both parents prior to the Baptism of their first child. Register with the Parish Office: 203.775.1035. Marriage – Weddings gener ally ar e celebr ated on Friday evening or Saturday afternoon and must be scheduled at least six months in advance. Please do not make final arrangements for your reception prior to contacting the Parish Office. R.C.I.A. – Inter ested in Catholic Faith? Call the Par ish Office. HOSPITALIZED PARISHIONERS Parishioners entering local hospitals are urged to advise the Admissions Department that they are Roman Catholic and that they wish to be visited by the Catholic Chaplain. This is especially important if admission is through the Emergency Room. In addition, you may contact the Parish Office directly in order to arrange a visit from a member of St. Joseph’s clergy. THOSE FOR WHOM WE PRAY FOR THOSE IN NEED OF GOD’S HEALING, STRENGTH AND COMFORT: Pat Walsh, Gloria H., Ralph Santoliquido, John Mainhart, Patricia, Sr. Sophia, Pete V., Bob Murphy, Charles and Faye Thibodeau, and Matthew. FOR THE PROTECTION AND SAFE RETURN OF THOSE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES: C.J. Arconti, Brendan Cooney, Michael Ayala Lopez, Michael Moreira and John Suszynski. BROOKFIELD, CT SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2015 FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT; THIRD SCRUTINY OF THE ELECT The voice of the Lord is our escape Each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to “Deliver us from evil.” Although we don’t think about it, this is technically an exorcism: an invocation against the spirit of evil in the world. The three Scrutinies of the Elect are not simply opportunities for a long, searching examination of the heart in preparation for Easter. The Scrutinies are also meant to strengthen those who are new in faith against the lure of sin, described as “a horror” and “a shackle.” Like Lazarus, we all need to “come out!” of that darkness and into saving grace. TODAY’S READINGS: Year A: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:811; John 11:1-45 (34). “So Jesus said to them, ‘Untie him and let him go.’ ” MONDAY, MARCH 23 TURIBIUS OF MOGROVEJO, BISHOP Let’s get a move on! FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT By Gina Loehr “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.” In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks about death. He gives the analogy of the grain of wheat that must fall to the ground and die in order to produce much fruit. Later, He speaks about how He will be "lifted up from the earth," making reference to His crucifixion. He says that the fruit of this will be that He will "draw everyone" to Himself. Jesus is telling us that death yields a greater good, that it produces fruit. So, when He insists that we must follow Him, we can take courage. Yes, following Jesus means accompanying Him all the way to the cross. It means that we too are called to carry our own cross and die to ourselves: “W hoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” But this death leads to a greater kind of life. When we stay connected to Jesus through thick and thin, we receive eternal life in the end! Jesus says, "The Father will honor whoever serves me." The season of Lent is designed not only to help us reflect a bit more deeply on the sufferings and death of Christ, but also to prepare us for the glory that follows. The joy of Easter and the triumph of the Resurrection are all the more powerful precisely because they emerge out of the darkest, most "hopeless" of situations. When we cling to Jesus even through these kinds of circumstances in our own lives— whether they be sickness, unemployment, conflict, or disappointment—we are those servants that Jesus spoke of, the ones who go where Jesus goes, even when the going gets tough. But let us remember, as we march through Lent, that this journey will bear much fruit. © Liturgical Publications Inc “Turibius the Tireless” could be the nickname of today’s saint. As a Spanish missioner and later bishop in 16th-century colonial Peru, he traversed a 176,000-square-mile diocese—three times—to attend to those in his charge. His favorite saying is one we do well to keep in mind: “Time is not our own, and we must give a strict account of it.” Keep a simple time log for a week, and you’ll learn something about your priorities. You might be surprised by how much time is frittered away. Not that down-time is all bad, mind you—relaxing and recreating are also part of God’s plan. But keep in mind that time is a nonrenewable resource. How will you spend your precious allotment? TODAY’S READINGS: Deuteronomy 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; John 8:1-11 (251). “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” TUESDAY, MARCH 24 - LENTEN WEEKDAY Spoken for “Each one of you has to be God’s microphone. Each one of you has to be a messenger, a prophet.” These fateful words of Archbishop Oscar Romero, martyred this day in 1980, speak of what it means to be a person of faith. Faith must be lived out. Romero advocated for the rights and dignity of those who were materially poor. He preached the gospel by how he lived. His life broadcast the Good News, calling others to lives of holiness and humility. Your life can speak volumes, too; it’s simply a matter of letting God make of you a microphone. TODAY’S READINGS: Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30 (252). “The one who sent me is with me.” WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD That’s the spirit “Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Those familiar and beloved words are the core of today’s celebration. The Annunciation is a favorite subject of artists from Da Vinci to Fra Angelico to Jan van Eyck and others, all trying to capture what it Continued next page ... FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT Continued from preceding page … means to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit: the meeting of God and the ordinary human person. The paintings show a range of emotions in Mary, what any of us would feel when God asks something of us: fear, uncertainty, humble acceptance. With or without angels, God is daily entrusting the mission of Christ to your hands. How do you usually respond? What about today? TODAY’S READINGS: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38 (545). “How can this be?” THURSDAY, MARCH 26 LENTEN WEEKDAY What’s beyond the rainbow? The books of the Old Testament present a number of covenants between God and the patriarchs—Abraham, Moses, and David all have their moment. But perhaps most interesting is the first covenant God makes, in the story of the flood, because that one is with every living creature, a covenant, says God, “between me and the earth.” The rainbow covenant promised protection against destruction by flood. Have we made a similar covenant with the earth, promising not to destroy through polluting, deforesting, and overdeveloping? We survived the flood thanks to God’s covenant. The next covenant depends on us. TODAY’S READINGS: Genesis 17:3-9; John 8:51-59 (254). “Whoever keeps my word will never see death.” FRIDAY, MARCH 27 LENTEN WEEKDAY; DAY OF ABSTINENCE It’s not too late So maybe this has been the richest, most faithful, most spiritually rewarding Lent of your life. Or maybe your early resolutions to pray more, eat less, be kind all fell apart like a house of cards the day after Ash Wednesday. Be not afraid: There’s still time to get your spiritual act together and make this a Lent to remember. Spiritual renewal is not about attaining perfection, but about putting yourself in the hands of grace. Confession is a place to begin. Ask for what you need in prayer. Trust in God, not yourself. God is a much better bet! TODAY’S READINGS: Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42 (255). “The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion.” SATURDAY, MARCH 28 LENTEN WEEKDAY “They’re into the final turn” Take a deep breath—with Palm Sunday on the way and Holy Week ahead, you’re in the home stretch to Easter. Maybe your life this Lent resembled a road race, complete with bumps and dents and a few hairpin turns. That’s all behind you now. Take a deep breath today, let it all go, and look toward the horizon of hope. That is what Easter is all about. It pulls us forward toward what we think is the finish line, only to discover when the checkered flag comes down that we were winners all along! TODAY’S READINGS: Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56 (256). “Now the Passover of the Jews was near.” Looking for Some PART TIME Work? Saint Joseph School is looking for Substitute Teachers! If you would like to pick up a Sub Packet, please contact the School Office: 203-775-2774. Ask for Kim. Qualifications: To be a Classroom Aide, you need to have a high school diploma. To be a Substitute Teacher, you need a college degree. VIRTUS certification required for all positions. A FLEXIBLE JOB with GREAT PAY for a FUN DAY! NOW ENROLLING PRE-K 3 & 4 AT SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL!! PK-4 meets Monday through Friday - a full day! 8:45 - 3:00 PK-3 meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - half day! 9:00 - 12:00 Come see what our Pre-School Programs are all about! Call 203-775-2774 for more information. VIRTUS Training Information “VIRTUS: Protecting God’s Children for Adults” is a threehour training class on child sexual abuse and prevention. Completion and certification of VIRTUS training—along with a criminal background check—is mandatory for anyone 18 years of age or older who works or volunteers in the Diocese of Bridgeport in any capacity or activity. New Volunteers Go to www.virtusonline.org and click on “Registration” in the left-side column. Your will be prompted to create a VIRTUS account. From there, select “Bridgeport Diocese” from the pull-down menu to can find a schedule of training classes. There also is a form to authorize the necessary criminal background check. Currently Certified Volunteers All currently certified volunteers must take a one-hour online awareness course and sign an Executive Summary form stating that they have read and will comply with the guidelines of the Protecting God’s Children program. Copies of the Guidelines booklet and the Executive Summary form are in the vestibule. Requirement for New Background Checks Some currently certified volunteers may need to authorize a new criminal background check. If the volunteer’s activity/ program involves working with children, a new background check is required every five years. If children are not involved, a new background check is required every ten years. To obtain an authorization form, or for any information related to the VIRTUS program, please call Rita in the Parish Office: 203775-1035. If you do not have a computer, the registration may be completed in the Parish Office. MARCH 22, 2015 Our Gifts to God And His Church WEEKEND OF 14-15, 2015 Offertory results for last weekend were not available at press time. They will be published next week. Sacrament of Reconciliation Tuesdays, March 24 & 31—7:00-9:00 PM At all Churches in the Diocese of Bridgeport Saturday, March 28—3:45 to 4:45 PM (No Confessions on Holy Saturday) If you have not yet responded to the 2015 Annual Catholic Appeal, please reflect upon the importance of your support to ministry and outreach that relies upon the charity of the Diocese of Bridgeport. The challenge is immediate and far reaching, but the solution is within our reach! Please consider the following options when deciding upon the best way to support the Annual Catholic Appeal this year: Make a pledge and spread out your payments up to 10 months. Donate on-line by going to the diocesan website, 2015ACAbridgeport.com Check if your employer will match your gift through the Corporate Matching Gift Program Donate a one-time gift Contribute a gift of appreciated stocks or securities Whatever you decide, your gift will be greatly appreciated and make a difference in lives of others. Stations of the Cross Fridays at 7:00 PM Good Friday—Living Stations at 8:00 PM Monday-Wednesday, March 30-April 1 Weekday Mass at 6:45 & 8:45 AM Holy Thursday Morning Prayer at 8:00 AM (No Mass) Mass of the Lord’s Supper—7:00 PM Good Friday Morning Prayer at 8:00 AM (No Mass) Ecumenical Cross Walk—10 AM to Noon The Easter Triduum, the “Three Days”, is the celebration of the Christian Passover. Just as our Jewish ancestors gathered annually to remember the events of their release from slavery in Egypt, so too, we gather to celebrate our Passover from death to life in Christ. The Triduum is at the heart and soul of our Christian faith, commemorating the triumph of God's love over darkness and death. It’s the fullest ritual expression of what it means to be a Christian. In our reliving and remembering, we’re renewed and reborn along with the newly initiated members of our community. As we prepare the rites of the Triduum liturgy, we are afforded many opportunities to emphasize and maintain the unity of this one celebration. We accomplish this ritually by remembering that each of the days, while having their own emphasis, celebrate the entire mystery of Christ’s passion and death. In our Friday rituals, we need not pretend that the resurrection has not yet happened. We are not playacting here. Though the liturgy of Friday is stark, we may still catch glimpses of Easter triumph. The same is true of Easter. We arrive at the joy of the resurrection only through suffering and death. Easter without the cross has little meaning. (Begins at Congregational Church) Recorded Stations—Noon-1:00 PM—Church Solemn Passion of the Lord—3:00 PM Living Stations of the Cross—8:00 PM Holy Saturday Morning Prayer at 8:00 AM (No Mass) Blessing of Easter Food—Noon Easter Vigil—8:00-10:30 PM Easter Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 AM (No 5:00 PM Mass) MARCH 22, 2015 Just two weeks to go ... Monday, March 23 6:45 a.m. - Intentions of our Par ishioner s 8:00 a.m. - For an increase in vocations Tuesday, March 24 6:45 a.m. - Intentions of Kevin Wallin, req. by Joan Marschall 8:45 a.m. - Mass of Thanksgiving, req. by the Kulowiec family Wednesday, March 25 - Solemnity of the Annunciation 6:45 a.m. - Bar bar a Lindner , r eq. by her family 8:45 a.m. - Annunciata Cicchetti, req. by Betty Paravati Thursday, March 26 6:45 a.m. - Geor ge Nault, r eq. by his family 8:45 a.m. - Geor ge F. O’Neill, Sr ., r eq. by Fr . Chip Friday, March 27 6:45 a.m. - Her man and Pat Otte, r eq. by the Monti family 8:45 a.m. - Beverly Stanley, req. by Ray Conroy Saturday, March 28 8:00 a.m. - Intentions of the Holy Father 5:00 p.m. - John H. Russo, req. by Russo family Sunday, March 29 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord 7:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. - Philip Banfelder, req. by Patty & Matt Lennon 11:00 a.m. - James J. Foley, req. by the McFarlin family 5:00 p.m. - Michael and Maria Emanuele, req. by the Emanuele family PARISH MINISTRIES Week of March 21 - 28, 2015 Saturday & Sunday – St. Joseph Feast Day Celebration after 5 PM Vigil, and 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Masses - Parish Center Sunday - Holy Hour for the Unborn - 3:00 p.m. - Church Monday thru Friday – Rosary for Life – 8:20 a.m. – Church Tuesday - Lenten Confessions - 7:00-9:00 p.m. - Church Friday - Stations of the Cross - 7:00 p.m. - Church Friday - BINGO! - 5:30 P.M. - SJS GYM Liturgy Altar Servers – Mr. Patrick Jennings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203.740.7133 Dir. of Music – Mr. David Kendall. . . . . . . . . . . . .203.775.1035, ext. 177 Eucharistic Ministers/Lectors – Mike & Joanna Charecky . 203.775.6612 Faith Formation and Sacraments Religious Education (Grades 1-8), RCIA and other Sacramental Preparation – Mrs. Andrea Woronick . . . . . .203.775.1035, ext. 105 Scheduling Baptisms – Mrs. Rita Golaszewski. . . 203.775.1035, ext. 101 Marriage Scheduling/Prep – Deacon Peter Kuhn. .203.775.1035, ext. 104 Prayer & Devotion Men’s Retreat – Mr. Jeff Roeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203.740.9428 – Mr. Andy Pacuk ([email protected]) . . . . 917-514-5974 Women’s Retreat – Mrs. Barb Roeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203.740.9428 Men of St. Joseph – Mr. Carl Monti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203.740.9544 Centering Prayer – Mrs. Michele Curnan Parish Councils and Administration Parish Council – Mr. Pat Jennings, Chairman. . . . . . . . . . . .203.740.7133 Finance Council – Mr. Frank Cavalea, Chairman. . . . . . . . .203.482.5563 SJS Home & School Association Theresa Mitchell, Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860.799.7571 Other Ministries & Organizations 8th Station Bereavement Ministry Mrs. Mary Shaughnessy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203-775-9138 Mrs. Pat Tharrington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203-775-4836 55-Plus Club (Seniors) – Mrs. Helen Fiddner . . . . . . . . . . . 203.775.9613 Knights of Columbus – Mr. Patrick Jennings.. . . . . . . . . . . .203.740.7133 Mary-Martha Ministry – Mrs. Pat Font. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203.775.2335 MOMS (Ministry of Mothers Sharing) – Mrs. Barb Roeder203.740.9428 Outreach to Sick/Shut-In – Sr. Mary Ann Socha, CMGT. . 203.794.1486
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