SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER May 10, 2015 PARISH STAFF Rev. George F. O’Neill, Pastor [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 GPS Address: 1 Obtuse Hill Road Brookfield, CT 06804 Office Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Friday Mass Schedule: 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 Cancelled this week for Mother’s Day 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: Bill Schappert, Carmine Mango, Pat Walsh, Helen Fiddner, 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. BROOKFIELD, CT Kidz Eye View In this school year’s final installment of “Kidz Eye View,” the SJS 7th and 8th Graders reflect on Jesus’ command to “Love one another as I love you.” Sarah Bohling (8) - The message is that we should love ever yone completely and unconditionally the way God loves us. Love is universal. Love is God and God loves us all. No matter what race or religion we are, we are all children of God and He loves all of us equally. Molly Coyle (7) - In or der to love, you need God. God is love and always remember, we should love Him above anyone, for He is the reason we are here. Isabella Font (7) - Show other s what it means to love by a love that is so strong you would do anything. Michael Iannucci (7) - Dear God, Help me love everyone, including you, and help me understand why. Victoria McFarlin (8) - The main command J esus left us is to love one another. And if that’s all we do we are surely to be accepted in God’s Kingdom. Catherine Hanley (7) - Without God you could not love because He is love. Spencer Brown (8) - The theme of the fir st r eading and the gospel is to take everything you’ve learned as a Christian and use it in your everyday life. Joseph Moore (8) - If you love one another , you love God. Holly Fleming (8) - I will pr ay for cour age. Amy Perna (8) - Dear Jesus, Help me to use your grace and strength to love others to the point I would lay down my life for them. Amen. Jessica Garcia (8) - The message is simply to love one another . We need to treat each other with love because we are all brothers and sisters in God. SYMBOLON: The Catholic Faith Explained Coming up on Wednesday, May 13: Episode 5 - “Who is Jesus?” 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 selfcontained so it is not necessary to have seen earlier episodes. Sponsored by the 55-Plus Club. No reservation required. SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015 SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER You’ve got a friend A high-school junior recently pointed out that the word “friend” has lost its meaning. “Isn’t there a difference between having a real friend and thousands of Facebook ‘friends’?” Indeed there is, and the difference is trust. A true friend is someone who knows your heart because you have opened it to him or her. This takes trust. It’s risky to let yourself be known deeply. But this is just what Jesus does in these hours before His Passion: “I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” How do you respond to Jesus calling you His friend? What do you expect of a friend? What do you think Jesus expects of you, His friend? TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4:710; John 15:9-17 (56). “This is my commandment: Love one another as I love you.” MONDAY, MAY 11 - EASTER WEEKDAY Be a good host From His birth in a stable to His travels as an adult, Jesus gave others the opportunity to take care of Him by offering their shelter, sustenance, and company. It was while relaxing and dining as a guest that He imparted so many of His greatest teachings. Christians are called to welcome and serve others as Christ was welcomed and served. Consider opening your home, your wallet, your heart to strangers on a regular basis. You never know what spiritual gifts are in store. TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 16:11-15; John 15:26-16:4a (291). “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home.” TUESDAY, MAY 12 - PANCRAS, MARTYR Growing up fast What were you doing when you were 14? Hanging out with your friends, catching a movie, studying for an eighth-grade exam? Things were quite a bit tougher for Pancras, a Roman youth of 14 who had converted to Christianity along with his family around the year 300. During the persecution of Christians by Diocletian, Pancras refused to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods. Impressed with the boy’s determination to resist, Diocletian promised him riches, but Pancras chose martyrdom instead. Whether or not you would have had the courage at 14—or now— to make the same choice, you can honor Pancras today for the choice he made—on behalf of us all. TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11 (292). “The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas ...” WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 - EASTER WEEKDAY OMG! Awesome! Catholic Christians are a conundrum. Our creed is a litany of OMG!s (Oh my God!) literally and figuratively. We believe in one God who is three persons. We believe God became fully human while remaining fully divine. We believe in the resurrection of the dead. Even with these mysteries of our faith, we can come to know our God personally. Theologian Karl Rahner wrote frequently of the experience of God as an intermingling of incomprehensibility Continued next page ... FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Continued from preceding page … and intimacy: “Thanks be to your mercy, you Infinite God, that I don’t just know about you with concepts and words, but have experienced you, lived you, suffered you.” Amen! TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 17:15, 22—18:1; John 16:12-15 (293). “It is God who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.” THURSDAY, MAY 14 SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD Body and soul rise to the occasion We’ve all seen artwork commemorating the Ascension—typically Jesus hovering in a cloud above His disciples, taking His leave of this earth with a blessing and promise to return one day. We usually focus on the fact that Jesus “left” earth. But the deeper significance of this event is that Jesus’ humanity is taken to heaven with Him. He enters into His glory fully embodied. What this tells us is that our own bodies, with all the aches and pains and vulnerability to illness and death, are also sacred space. God redeems all of us—soul and body. Give thanks with every breath, in every cell in your body! TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 4:1-13 or Ephesians 1:17-23; Mark 15-20 (58). “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” FRIDAY, MAY 15 - ISIDORE Holiness starts with humility Humility comes from knowing we’re dust: literally humus, the soil. So Isidore the farmer and his wife Maria de la Cabeza, both saints, were planted in holy ground from the start. From humble beginnings, miracles spring up like grass! Today Muslims celebrate Laylat al-Miraj, the event through which their prophet rose into his destiny. Mohammed had a vision in which he meets Adam, John, and Jesus; Joseph, Aaron, Moses, and Abraham. Through these holy encounters, he discovers the necessity to bow and pray before God five times daily. Practice the humility of bowing: before the tabernacle, at the cross, in the presence of all that’s holy. TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 18:9-18; John 16:20-23 (295). “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you.” SATURDAY, MAY 16 - EASTER WEEKDAY Faith practiced is faith perfected It can be hard to face the fact that life isn’t perfect. What you hope for isn’t always so and the road to change can be a long one. The journey of life isn’t meant to be perfect, however, it’s meant to perfect us—to make holy what is by working toward wholeness. Jesus longs for you to be whole. Catholic teaching defines prayer as the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God. Note the qualifier—”of good things.” But what is good? Think of it this way: What do you need today so that you can be more whole? What will allow you to be a joyful witness to the gospel? Start there! TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 18:23-28; John 16:23b-28 (296). “Whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you.” ©2015 by TrueQuest Communications Birthright’s Baby-Bottle Fundraiser 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 hosting its annual baby-bottle fundraiser this weekend. Proceeds will help them continue to offer their vital services during the coming year. Baby bottles are being distributed this weekend at all Masses. Please fill the bottle with check, cash or coin and return it to St. Joseph church in two weeks on the weekend of May 23 and 24. Thank you and God bless you. Summer Clothing Needed For Waypoint’s Midnight Run Waypoint - St. J oe’s teen gr oup - will be making their third Midnight Run to New Yor k City on May 30 to distr ibute clothing and sandwiches to the street people and others in desperate need. Please support our teens who will make real the love of Christ for the poor and marginalized of our society. We are looking for donations of gently used summer-weight clothing in good condition. (No bathing suits, please!) Clothing should be placed in a plastic bag and deposited in the tan clothing drop shed in the lower parking lot behind the school. Receipts are available at the shed. Thank you for your support. 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. APRIL 26, 2015 Our Gifts to God And His Church 2015 blessing of the bikes WEEKEND OF MAY 2 - 3, 2015 Sunday Offertory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,403.01 * Includes average weekly electronic contributions of $3,200 The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport is located on four campuses in the city of Bridgeport. Nearly 1,000 elementary school children benefit from the academic excellence, discipline and Catholic values that are imparted at the culturally, spiritually, and economically diverse environment. Students in Catholic Academy outscore the public schools in Bridgeport in reading and mathematics with all on or above grade level. Annual tuition is approximately $4,000 and 65% of families cannot pay the total tuition. The Board of Catholic Academy is required to raise over $1.5 million in aid annually which serves some of the lowest income families in the city and state of Connecticut. Education is the gift of a lifetime. Gifts restricted to the Annual Catholic Appeal enable inner city youth to become faith-filled, industrious, responsible and well educated adults. Our society and the Church need these young people who will continue to foster the faith. 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. ***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! MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE CHANGES SUNDAY, MAY 24—NO 5:00 PM MASS MONDAY, MAY 25—WEEKDAY MASS AT 8:00 AM ONLY PARISH OFFICE CLOSED The 2015 Blessing of the Bikes will be held next 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 6th 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 11 6:45 a.m. - Intentions of our Par ishioner s 8:45 a.m. - Roger Messier, req. by Bill & Ginger Schappert Tuesday, May 12 6:45 a.m. - Souls in Pur gator y, r eq. by Vilma Illescas 8:45 a.m. - Evelyn Gill, req. by the Leggett family Wednesday, May 13 6:45 a.m. - Laur a Russo, r eq. by Ralph & Gisele Santoliquido 8:45 a.m. - Simon Aragi, req. by Joe Howells Thursday, May 14-Ascension Thursday, Holy Day of Obligation 6:45 a.m. - Deceased member s of the Magner family, r eq. by Joann Magner 8:45 a.m. - David Boyd, r eq. by his family 7:00 p.m. - J oanne Lynch, r eq. by Pat & Ed Hopkins Friday, May 15 6:445 a.m. - Deceased member s of the Giuffr eda family, r eq. by the Monti family 8:45 a.m. - J ames O’Connor , r eq. by J ulie Lewis & Amy McGuinness Saturday, May 15 8:00 a.m. - Patr ick Russell, r eq. by Dor othy & Steve Degar ay 5:00 p.m. - Richar d Hess, r eq. by Bob & Reyna Koeppen Sunday, May 17 - 7th Sunday of Easter 7:30 a.m. - Gir olana and Cr escenzo D’Onofr io, r eq. by Filomena Capanna 9:00 a.m. - Deceased member s of the Palazzolo family, r eq. by Marie Emanuele 11:00 a.m. - Maur een Leggett, r eq. by the Leggett family 5:00 p.m. - Intentions of Colette Stur m, r eq. by the Claxton family Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Thursday, May 14 - Holy Day of Obligation Masses at 6:45 & 8:45 AM and 7:00 PM Parish Office Closed Banns of Marriage Mallory Martino and Michael Ditter Week of May 10-17, 2015 Sunday - Coffee & Donuts after 9 AM Mass - Parish Center Sunday - Holy Hour for the Unborn - Cancelled this week Mon., Tue., Wed. & Fri. – Rosary for Life – 8:20 a.m. – Church Wednesday - K of C Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Parish Center Friday - Confirmation - 7:00 p.m. - Church & School Saturday - Men of St. J oseph - 6:45 a.m. - Parish Center Sunday - Blessing of the Bikes - 1:15 p.m. - Parking lot The Commencement Speech The often extreme efforts to maintain separation of church and state don’t sit well in some parts of the country. Nonetheless, the principal at a Midwest high school strongly cautioned the senior class valedictorian against including any religious references in his commencement speech. At the graduation ceremony, the young man approached the podium and began: “My fellow graduates…” As if on cue, the entire senior class roared “AHHH -CHOOOO!” “God bless you,” the valedictorian replied...and returned to his seat. 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
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