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SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH
BROOKFIELD, CT
PARISH STAFF
Rev. George F. O’Neill, Pastor
MAY 3, 2015
PARISH OFFICE
Phone: 203.775.1035
[email protected]
Web Site: www.stjosephbrookfield.com
Email: [email protected]
Msgr. Edward Scull, Retired - Weekend Liturgist
Deacon Peter J. Kuhn
Mail:
163 Whisconier Road,
Brookfield, CT 06804
[email protected]
Deacon William J. Shaughnessy
[email protected]
Rita Golaszewski, Parish Secretary
[email protected]
Andrea Woronick,
Director of Faith Formation and Ministry
GPS Address: 1 Obtuse Hill Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
Office Hours:
[email protected]
David Kendall, Music Director
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday-Thursday
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Friday
Mass Schedule:
[email protected]
EDJE & Cross Over 2 Jesus Administrator
Roseann D’Aureli
Fax: 203.775.1684
Confessions:
Saturday Vigil – 5:00 PM
Sunday-7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM
Monday-Friday – 6:45 and 8:45 AM
Saturday morning – 8:00 AM
Saturday at 4:00 PM
HOLY HOUR FOR THE UNBORN
Every Sunday at 3:00 PM
[email protected]
SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL
Tory Gozzi, Choir Director
Mr. Scott Bannon, Principal
Phone: 203.775.2774
Fax: 203.775.5810
Web Site: www.sjsbrookfield.org
[email protected]
SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
May 3, 2015
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: Carmine Mango, Pat Walsh, Helen Fiddner,
Gloria H., 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, Ryan Quintard
and John Suszynski.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
By Gina Loehr
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask
for whatever you want and it will be done for you.” What a
lovely promise! Imagine how satisfying it would be to ask
for whatever we wanted and then to see that wish granted.
Truly, it would be difficult to think of anyone who would
not love to see a promise like this fulfilled. But we know
Jesus isn’t a genie in a magic lamp sent to indulge every
selfish whim. So, what’s the catch?
Well, as Jesus puts it in today’s Gospel, this promise is
extended to those who “remain” in him. He uses the beautiful analogy of the vine and the branches to explain what this
means. “A branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine ... I am the vine, you are the branches.”
The idea here is that we are to be connected to Jesus so
closely that our very life, our growth, our actions, indeed
even our desires come from Him as their source. When we
are authentically rooted in Christ, and when His words remain in us, then that cannot help but transform us into people who want what Jesus wants. And when we want what He
wants, why wouldn’t He give it to us?
This brings to mind a quote from St. Alphonsus Liguori.
“In cold and heat, in rain and wind,” said this wise doctor of
the church, “the soul united to God says: ‘I want it to be
warm, to be cold, windy, to rain, because God wills it.’” In a
similar vein, another doctor of the church, St. Thérèse of
Lisieux, said that God has “always given me what I’ve desired, or rather, He’s made me desire what He wanted to
give me.” This is the secret to constant contentment. No
matter what life brings, when we truly desire to embrace
God’s will, we are bound to be happy.
© Liturgical Publications Inc
BROOKFIELD, CT
Kidz Eye View
The SJS 8th Graders offer their thoughts on this week’s Gospel
in which Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit….”
Joseph Moore - [The Message is] that anyone can be changed
if they just listen to God.
Amy Perna - The Lor d is our vine and we ar e the branches.
Without Him we couldn’t bear fruit and if we keep close contact
with God we will be able to survive throughout eternity.
Sarah Bohling - Dear Jesus, Please help me to pray more and
bring God into every aspect of my life. I love you, Lord. Amen.
Deeksha Surisetty - Believing and tr usting in God is your only
means of salvation . Stay close to Jesus or you will fail.
Jessica Garcia - Dear God, T hank you for continuing to nourish me in the faith. Thank you for helping me flourish and please
help me to build my relationship with you. Amen.
Victoria McFarlin - If you follow God and do His good wor ks
you can wash away all your wrongdoings.
Kaleb Monti - God, help m e to grow in the way you want me
to, to spread the good news.
Christiana Blank - Dear L ord, T hank you for giving me everything I have.
Q&A
My best friend is Lutheran and is a good Christian. I would like
her to be my child’s sponsor, but I’m wondering, does she have
to be a practicing Catholic?
The practice of two godparents for an infant’s baptism goes
back to the time when Church law and civil law were one and the
same in Europe. If anything did happen to the parents, the custody
and well-being of the child became the responsibility of the godparents. Adult baptism required that one have a sponsor from the
church who would act as a guide or mentor, in bringing the person
to faith.
Today, being a godparent has no legal implications. It is a
spiritual matter. But at least one of the godparents must be a practicing Catholic. The other is called a Christian witness. This distinction recognizes the difference between faith and religion. A
Christian can be a witness because of their relationship to God
(faith), but the Catholic is a mentor in the practice of the religion.
In any event, it is vital that parents give serious consideration
to the people they choose to be a child’s godparents. That choice
should be based on practice of faith, solid moral character and
ability to give good example. Too often the choice is left to whose
turn it is in the family, or to friends that parents wish to honor or
acknowledge in some way. Your choice of godparents is the first
lesson of faith you teach your child. Make it count!
©2009 Liturgical Publications Inc
SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Fruit of the womb
Prepositions are fascinating parts of speech:
small, seemingly trivial until one looks
closely. When Jesus uses the metaphor of a
grapevine to illustrate our relationship to Him
and to God, He says, “Remain in me.” To be
“in” is not to be “on”! We are not random
branches grafted onto the vine. We’ve been
chosen to bear fruit. We have the vine’s very
sap, its inner life, its juices, as Gerard Manley Hopkins says of
spring: “What is all this juice and all this joy?” We belong there,
in Christ. We are pruned. We abide. We remain. We ripen. We
bear.
TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8
(53). “Remain in me, as I remain in you.”
MONDAY, MAY 4 - EASTER WEEKDAY
At the heart of it all
“Jesus knew and loved us each and all during His life,” says the
Catholic Catechism. “He has loved us all with a human heart.”
Take a moment to let that teaching sink in: Jesus knew you long
before you were made aware of your own existence. That alone is
all you need to understand your life’s purpose. You were, are, and
will continue to be in the mind and heart of Jesus, who is love
itself. What joy there is in embracing that love!
TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 14:5-18; John 14:21-26 (285).
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one
who loves me.”
TUESDAY, MAY 5 - EASTER WEEKDAY
Cling to the love and let go of the fear
If (or when) you feel down, confused and especially afraid,
wondering—in spite of the evidence!—whether God loves you, go
to John’s gospel and read what Jesus wanted His friends to hold
onto (Chapters 13-15). Jesus almost pleads with His intimates to
realize how much He loves them and how they/we and He will not
be separated, in spite of what is about to happen to Him. Do little
pockets of fear pop up in your day, moments of dismay? Hold on
to “Be not afraid. Trust in God and trust in me.” Cling to that love
Jesus has for you, but let go of the fear. Relax. Be at peace. God is
in control.
TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a (286). “I
am going away and I will come back to you.”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 - EASTER WEEKDAY
Why wine?
In the ancient Near East wine was essential for sustenance; it was
a symbol of life and celebration. Perhaps that is why wine plays a
key role in Jesus’ first public miracle, where He changed water
into wine at the wedding at Cana, and in the Last Supper, when he
reveals who He is to His disciples. Through His death and
Resurrection, Jesus becomes the symbol of life and celebration for
all of us. He is the fruit of the vine poured out for us. Drink
deeply.
TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 15:1-6; John 15:1-8 (287). “I am the
true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.”
Continued next page ...
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Support Birthright’s Baby-Bottle Fundraiser
Continued from preceding page …
THURSDAY, MAY 7 - EASTER WEEKDAY
Be careful using “us and them”
The phrase “us and them” separates humanity into teams of rivals.
But what happens when those teams change sides? When Saint
Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, talks about “us,” he means his Jewish
brothers and sisters. For Paul, “them” refers to non-Jewish
followers of Jesus—which curiously now means, mostly, “us.”
Today the Jewish community celebrates the mystical side of faith
on the feast of Lag B’Omer, the revelation of divine secrets to a
second-century rabbi. Mysticism reminds us all that heaven’s view
of history is quite fuller than ours. Isn’t it time to build more
bridges, and to see as God sees?
TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 15:7-21; John 15:9-11 (288). “God
made no distinction between us and [Gentiles], for by faith he
purified their hearts.”
FRIDAY, MAY 8 - EASTER WEEKDAY
A friendship worth fighting for
Jesus wants to be your friend. But accept the invitation at your own
risk, because that is what it requires: Risking all you have, all you
are, your very life for His sake. That doesn’t exactly conjure a
romantic image of hanging out with Jesus watching a ballgame. In
fact, true friendship is complicated. As a friend of Jesus, you will
find yourself angry and frustrated at what is being asked of you.
But, as renowned theologian Martin Marty assures us in
Friendship, his little treasure of a book on this sacred relationship,
“For friends, never coming into conflict is probably a sign of
apathy; people who care deeply about anything in the world are
going to disagree.” So go ahead, accept Jesus’ invitation of
friendship, and get ready for the fights, fun, and unconditional love
that the best of friendships bring.
TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 15:22-31; John 15:12-17 (289). “I
have called you friends, because I have told you everything I
have heard from my Father.”
SATURDAY, MAY 9 - EASTER WEEKDAY
Already taken care of. Thank God.
The events of Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection have brought
redemption, healing, and wholeness, as we declare when we pray
the words, “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by
your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” There is no longer
separation between the so-called “secular” world and the reign of
God. With Christ, we participate in the life welling up within us
and within the world. Next time you are waiting in traffic,
wrangling with a tough business decision, or scrolling through
your newsfeed, be on the lookout for Christ, who has already
redeemed even the challenging situations we have yet to resolve!
TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 16:1-10; John 15:18-21 (290). “God
had called us to proclaim the Good News.”
©2015 by TrueQuest Communications
The Will of God never takes you
to where the Grace of God
will not protect you.
Birthright has served pregnant women, in Greater Danbury,
since 1972. Thousands of mothers and babies have been helped!
Life is a precious gift that should be nurtured and protected.
Our volunteers help pregnant women in crises find workable solutions so that they can give birth to their babies and face the future
with dignity and hope.
Birthright is having its annual baby-bottle fundraiser that will
help us to continue to offer our services during the coming year.
Baby bottles will be distributed next Sunday on Mothers Day.
Please fill the bottle with check, cash or coin and return it to St.
Joseph church on the weekend of May 23 and 24. Thank you and
God bless you.
Diocesan Jubilee Mass
Of Wedding Anniversaries
The Diocese of Bridgeport will celebrate a Mass commemorating significant wedding anniversaries at Saint Theresa Church, Trumbull, on Sunday, May 17, at 3:00 P.M.
Bishop Caggiano will be the Principal Celebrant at this
special Mass which will include the renewal of marriage
vows and presentation of commemorative certificates. Couples celebrating an anniversary in 2015 which ends in “0” or
“5,” or anyone celebrating 50+ years are invited to register
through the St. Joseph Parish Office—(203)775-1035—by
Friday, May 8.
Women’s Day of Reflection:
“The Rosary of Our Lives”
With Amy Ekeh
Join us at the Women’s Day of Refection, “The Rosary
of our Lives” with Amy Ekeh on Saturday, May 30, at Saint
Margaret Shrine, 2523 Park Avenue, Bridgeport.
Begin the day with morning Mass at 8:15 AM, breakfast,
then talks, discussions, meditations, and lunch. The day will
conclude at 2:30 p.m. The cost is $25/person; bring a rosary
or one will be provided if you do not have one.
RSVP by Friday, May 22 to Gina Donnarummo at 203416-1446 or [email protected]. To register,
mail check, made payable to: “Office of Faith Formation,”
Attn: Gina, 238 Jewett Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606.
SYMBOLON:
The Catholic Faith Explained
Coming up on Wednesday, May 6: Episode 4 - “The Story of Salvation.” The pr ogr am will be shown each week beginning at 1:00 PM in the lower level meeting room of the rectory. A brief discussion period follows each episode. Segments are
self-contained so it is not necessary to have seen earlier episodes.
Sponsored by the 55-Plus Club. No reservation required.
APRIL 26, 2015
Our Gifts to God
And His Church
2015 blessing of the bikes
WEEKEND OF APRIL 25-26, 2015
Sunday Offertory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,025.16 *
* Includes average weekly electronic contributions of $3,200
Happy Spring and Biking Season to all!
St. Joseph parishioner Jeff Font will be ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Bridgeport on Saturday, June 13.
The Permanent Diaconate Formation Program prepares aspirants
spiritually, academically, intellectually and pastorally to serve the
Lord in a sacramental way through their assigned diocesan and
parish ministries. This important program is among the many essential ministries and services that rely upon the Annual Catholic
Appeal contributions.
Please prayerfully consider making your gift today. Pledge
envelopes are available at the church entrances, or pledge online
via the Diocesan Web site, www.bridgeportdiocese.org.
Are you a caregiver, family member or friend of someone who is affected by Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia?
Brookfield has a support group for you! This ongoing educational/support group meets in a safe and caring environment
once a month. Join us as often as you like!
When: The second Wednesday of ever y month fr om 6:30
to 8:00 PM. (A ugust meeting on W ednesday, A ugust 5.)
Where: Brookfield Senior Center , 100 Pocono Road,
Brookfield, CT.
Group led by an Alzheimer’s Association facilitator.
***Save the Date***
2015 Saint Joseph School Annual Golf Outing
Candlewood Valley Country Club
Thursday June 11, 2015
All skill levels are welcome!
Registration and payment of $175 fee per golfer will be
available through the SJS website at www.sjsbrookfield.org.
We are also seeking donations and sponsorships for the
golf outing.
Contact outing chairman Pat Conlon at
[email protected] for registration and sponsorship information. See you on the links!
The 2015 Blessing of the Bikes will be held Sunday, May 17, at 1:15 PM at St Joseph Church in
Brookfield. (GPS Address: 1 Obtuse Hill Road,
Brookfield, CT 06804)
We will have the Blessing and a short ride
around southern Litchfield County and return for
some light refreshments at St Joseph Church.
If you plan on attending, please let us know so
that we can plan accordingly for food and
drinks. Email [email protected]. (If you know
for sure that you will not be able to attend, please
let us know that too.)
Looking forward to seeing you on the 17th!
Save the date!
July 13 thru July 17, 2015
At Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
All school-aged children (entering grades Kindergarten
through 6th grade) are invited to be part of the excitement as
Brookfield’s only Ecumenical Vacation Bible School gears up for
another year! Each year, representatives from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Congregational Church of Brookfield wor k together to pr esent God’s
word to local children. The theme this year is Gospel Light’s
SonSpark Labs!
Come experience the adventure! Registration forms are available at the St. Joe’s Parish office, or email [email protected] to have a form emailed to you. Cost is $25 per
child with a maximum $75 per family. Classroom experiences are
for those children entering grades Kindergarten through 6 th grade,
and a CIT program (including service hours) for those entering
grades 7 and 8. Assistant teaching opportunities are available for
those in high school and we are always looking for adult volunteers
in other areas.
Questions?
Contact: Leanne Fuccillo at [email protected]. “Like” us on Facebook at Brookfield Ecumenical
Vacation Bible School .
APRIL 26, 2015
Monday, May 4
6:45 a.m. - Deceased member s of the Leone family, r eq. by
Ralph & Gisele Santoliquido
8:45 a.m. - John P. Geddes, Jr., req. by Lani & Lucille Wong
Tuesday, May 5
6:45 a.m. - Intentions of our Par ishioner s
8:45 a.m. - Patrick Lennon, req. by SJS 1st & 2nd Graders
Wednesday, May 6
6:45 a.m. - Rober t Kahn, r eq. by the Monti family
8:45 a.m. - Teresa Campana, req. by the Capilupi family
Thursday, May 7
6:45 a.m. - Neil Dempsey, r eq. by Patti, Matt & Calista Canaan
and Doug Dempsey
8:45 a.m. - Rosa Suar ez, r eq. by the Koeppen family
Friday, May 8
6:445 a.m. - Fr ank Sydor , r eq. by Ralph & Gisele Santoliquido
8:45 a.m. - J ames O’Connor , r eq. by Michele Bader & Laur ie
Barrett
Saturday, May 9
8:00 a.m. - J ohn Cicchetti, r eq. by Elizabeth Par avati
5:00 p.m. - Intentions of Mike and J oanna Char ecky (45 th
Wedding Anniversary)
Sunday, May 10 - 6th Sunday of Easter
7:30 a.m. - Delor es Stanley, r eq. by Diane Stanley
9:00 a.m. - Nancy Cleveland, r eq. by the Holko-Meehan families
11:00 a.m. - Etta Condon, r eq. by her family
5:00 p.m. - Anna Smith, r eq. by her family
Banns of Marriage
Mallory Martino and Michael Ditter
SANCTUARY LAMP INTENTIONS
To request a sanctuary lamp memorial or intention,
please call the Parish Office at 203.775.1035.
Week of May 3 - 9, 2015
Sunday - Coffee & Donuts after 9 AM Mass - 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 - MOMS Meeting - 7:30 p.m. - Parish Center
Funny Thing …
Two Jewish men, Moshe and Jacob, were talking one
afternoon. “Jacob, my friend,” said Moshe, “I don’t know
what to do. I sent my son to Israel to live for a year. And
when he gets home, he tells me he’s become a Catholic.”
“Funny thing,” said Jacob. “I, too, sent my son to Israel
… and he came back a Catholic. Perhaps we should discuss
this with the rabbi.”
So Moshe and Jacob went to the rabbi and told him
about their sons.
“Funny thing,” said the rabbi. “My son also went to
Israel and now he is a Catholic. I think we need to pray to
God.”
The three men bowed their heads in prayer. Suddenly a
voice for heaven was heard: “Funny thing, I sent my Son to
Israel ….”
PARISH MINISTRIES
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. Andy Pacuk, Chairman. . . . . . . . . . . .917.514.5974
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