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CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN
ST. JOHN CHURCH
NOVEMBER 9, 2014
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
Pastor Column
May 26, 1990, the feast of St. Philip Neri, was the day of days — my ordination day. It dawned overcast with the promise of rain.
I got up early and ran a 3 mile loop through my old neighborhood of Black Rock in Bridgeport, along the water in a section the locals refer to as St. Marys by the Sea. (Alas, I cannot run like that anymore.) I was very glad that the ordination was at 10 o’clock in
the morning. It is not that I was nervous, I just wanted to get to it, kind of like wanting to get to Christmas morning when we are
little. The night before, we had a rehearsal in St. Augustine Cathedral, followed by dinner with Bishop, now Cardinal, Edward Egan
in the cathedral rectory. I already knew that I was going to St. Leo in Stamford. Following the dinner, I went over the convent to
meet an old friend and great influence on my life.
Her name is Sister Evelyn Cutajar, but I still think of her as Sister Dionysius. She was my second and fourth grade teacher at St.
Bernard School. I had not seen her since grammar school but I had reconnected with her via my Greek teacher in seminary who was
also a Sister of St. Joseph of Brentwood. How wonderful it was to see her after so many years! We talked and she told me that she
always knew I would be a priest and had prayed for me all those years. Sometimes we have people praying for us and pulling for us
that we don’t even know. I am convinced that her prayers helped to bring me to that special day.
The cathedral was packed for the ordination. There were five us ordained that day. A lot of people had said to me that it is good
that you go to so many ordinations during your years at the seminary because you won’t remember your own. I can tell you most
emphatically that that is not so. I remember it all so very well. I especially remember the many times during the ceremony that I was
moved to tears by the reality of what was happening to me, by the incredible love that God was expressing to me by giving me the
opportunity to serve his people in this way. I also remember something pretty funny.
After the bishop imposed hands on the ordinandi, they kneel down in a row and all the priests present also lay hands on them. It
is a sign of the sharing of the priesthood. We knelt on the top step of three steps leading up into the sanctuary. I neglected to kneel
all the way up and was on the very edge of the step. I spent the whole time in fear that someone was going inadvertently to push me
off the step! And some of them push pretty hard!
Immediately after the Mass was over, I came back into the church to give my very first blessing as a priest to my mother and father and sister. If that isn’t a great moment of grace, I don’t know what is. All those years of prayer and struggle and uncertainty and
hope had finally come to fulfillment in the Lord.
This past week, Bishop Caggiano asked us to pray for vocations to the priesthood. As I reflect on my own priesthood, I continue
to see what a gift it is both the people and to the priest himself. It is, of course, not the easiest life, but it is full with so many blessings, so many surprising ways that the Lord makes himself present in life. I feel very blessed that I had some small part in helping
Fr. Robert Wolfe become a priest. (In case you did not know, he was a 11 year old altar server when I came to his home parish of
St. Joseph in Shelton as pastor.) I hope that we as a parish community of faith may bring some of our young men to this same joy of
serving the Lord.
Fr. Frank Hoffmann
Please Support St. John’s Preschool Bake Sale
St. John Preschool Parents' Association will be holding a BAKE
SALE which will include an amazing assortment of treats - such
as pies, breads, cakes, cookies and more - in the Conservatory
after mass today, Saturday evening and all day Sunday.
This is our biggest Fundraising event and all proceeds will go to
support Music Together a wonderful music program for our
preschool children. Please come down and help support our
school and this fantastic new music program. Thank you.
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ST. JOHN CHURCH
NOVEMBER 9, 2014
Mass Intentions
VIGIL
4:30 PM
Mary & Daniel Gaudio by Their Family
SUNDAY
7:30 AM
8:30 AM
10:00 AM
11:30 AM
5:00 PM
November 9
Anthony Domino by Janet & Joseph Lazzaro
Parishioners of St. John
Gjon Shtufaj by His Wife & Family
Mary Sapia by Her Family
Jim Condito by Kirsys Condito
MONDAY
8:00 AM
November 10
Joseph DeLuca by Claire DeLuca
TUESDAY
8:00 AM
November 11
Kay Luff by Erin & Bob Noonan
LifeNotes
to defend and celebrate the culture of life
November is National Adoption Month. Adoption is central
to Christianity and found throughout the Bible! Jesus said
to his disciples, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to
you." John 14:18. He also said, "And whoever welcomes a
little child like this in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18.
As the Psalmist wrote: "Though my mother and father forsake
me, the Lord will receive me." 27:10 … Isaiah writes that we
are to "Defend the cause of the fatherless." Isaiah 1:17 … “[F]
or in you the fatherless find compassion." Hosea 14:3
“In Galatians Chapters 3 and 4, Paul speaks about what adoption is really all about and what it means to be called ‘sons of
God’ … to ‘receive the full rights of sons’ … and again, being
able to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’ When adopted with the full
rights of a son, ‘you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since
you are a son, God has made you also an heir.’” Excerpted from
The Centrality of Adoption for Christians by Rebecca Kiessling,
Founder of Savethe1
http://
www.rebeccakiessling.comRebeccakiesslingwritings.html#Cent
rality_of_Adoption_for_Christians
WEDNESDAY
November 12
8:00 AM
Ellen Dwyer, Peggy Brosnan and Lulu
Petrowski by The Tracey/Marini Families
THURSDAY
8:00 AM
November 13
John Mason by His Son
FRIDAY
8:00 AM
November 14
Albert Hanson
by MaryAnn Hanson & Daughter Helena
SATURDAY
8:30 AM
November 15
Nora, Patrick, & Barbara Tracey and Patsy
Boullé by The Marini/Tracey Families
VIGIL
4:30 PM
SUNDAY
7:30 AM
8:30 AM
10:00 AM
11:30 AM
5:00 PM
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
St. John Prayers for the Sick
Please Remember The Following In Your Prayers:
Grace Wohlberg, Alex Newton, Pat Rimaldi, Jack Kelly,
Donald Brown, Martha Riano, Dorothy Haas, Kerry Supple
Nelson, John Ulmer, Catherine Alter, Vincent Andrade, Kristin
Hocker, Lee Sposito, Brayden Knapp, Angela Yang, Hallie
Garfield, Baby Henry, Peter Couri, Jim Dean and to those
whose suffering is known only to God, and to those who care
for them.
Sue Rotella by Her Family
November 16
Ellen Hanley by Her Family
Sue Bequet by Betsy & Sean Shay
Parishioners of St. John
George Oxer by Mr. & Mrs. Gary Slinsky
Carlo & Antonetta Sgritta
by The Sgritta Family
Memorial Sanctuary Candles
The Sanctuary Candle burns in memory of
Lynn Slavin
Readings for the Week of November 9, 2014
By Raymond Slavin
Sunday:
Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12/1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17/Jn 2:13-22
Monday:
Ti 1:1-9/Lk 17:1-6
Tuesday:
Ti 2:1-8, 11-14/Lk 17:7-10
Wednesday: Ti 3:1-7/Lk 17:11-19
Thursday:
Phlm 7-20/Lk 17:20-25
Friday:
2 Jn 4-9/Lk 17:26-37
Saturday:
3 Jn 5-8/Lk 18:1-8
Next Sunday: Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31/1 Thes 5:1-6/
Mt 25:14-30 or 25:14-15, 19-21
The Tabernacle Candle burns for the
intentions of Dolores Twardy
By Pat Broderick
If you would like to memorialize a candle in the sanctuary, in
the name of a loved one, you may do so by contacting the
parish office and making a request. We will take requests for
petitions for the Tabernacle, Sanctuary, and Marian candles
which will burn for one week each. The suggested
donation is $10.
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ST. JOHN CHURCH
NOVEMBER 9, 2014
Christmas Arts & Craft Fair
November 22 & 23
Thank You for Sharing Your Blessings
Our St. John Arts & Craft ladies will be having their annual sale
of homemade gifts on November 22 & 23 after the Saturday
4:30 mass and all the masses on Sunday till 2PM. These gifts
are made with love that you can give to someone special at
Christmas. Come see their array of new ornaments, decorations
for the holiday, and great gift items for teachers.
Please consider remembering St. John Church in your Will.
November 2
2014
$13,010
2013
$11,871
Monthly Offertory: $ 4,312
$ 5,769
All Saints:
$
$ 1,286
All Souls:
$ 1,378
$
Annual YTD:
$21,965
$ 17,380
Weekly Offertory:
708
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
Defending Our Religious Liberty
Pope Francis has emphasized that “religious freedom is not simply freedom of thought or private worship. It is the freedom to live
according to ethical principles, both privately and publicly.”
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If you haven’t done so already, please voice your opposition to
the mandate by calling President Obama at the White House at
202-456-1111 or U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
Sylvia Mathews Burwell at 202-205-5445. Let them know that
the mandate is in violation of our First Amendment right to
religious freedom.
If you would like to make your weekly or monthly offertory donation by
credit card or online banking, please call the parish. You may also visit
our website for Online Giving. www.stjohndarien.com. If you are currently using online banking, please remember to update expiration
dates.
The Week Ahead November 9-15, 2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
10:00-11:30AM 9:30-11:00AM 9:00-10:00AM 3:00-4:00PM
Healing the
Prayer Shawl Soup Ministry Confessions
9:30AM-12:00PM Passages of Life Pierre room
Kitchen
Craft Group
Room 108
9:40-11:10AM
St. John Preschool 7:30-8:30PM Conservatory
4:00-5:15PM
Bible Study
Bake Sale in the Parish Council
Meeting
10:00-11:30AM
CCD
Room 108
Conservatory
Pierre Room
Sewing Group
Parish Center
8:30-10:00AM
Room 108
6:00-7:30PM
CCD
6:30-9:00PM
RCIA
Parish Center
4:00-8:00PM
Alpha
Room 108
CCD
Pierre Room
6:00PM
Parish Center
7:00-9:00PM
YG Meeting
7:00-8:30PM
Prayer Shawl
Conservatory
7:30– 8:30PM
Bible Study
Pierre Room
Gospel of Matthew Room 108
Bible Study
7:00PM
Conservatory
7:30-8:30PM
St. John Choir
Joyful Praise
Parish Center
7:30-9:00 PM
Choir
Prayer Group
Church
Russ Brine will
speak at all the
Masses
4:00-5:15PM
CCD
Parish Center
Veteran’s Day
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ST. JOHN CHURCH
NOVEMBER 9, 2014
St. John Parish Annual Raffle
A SUCCESS!
As you know, the Parish Raffle drawing was last
Saturday, October 18, 2014
By the drawing, we had sold 589 tickets
Congratulations to our lucky winners:
1st Prize – Jennifer Cippoletti (ticket #335)
2nd Prize – Eileen Flynn (ticket #329)
3rd Prize – Gregg Karas (ticket #197)
A Great big THANK YOU to everyone who supported the
raffle by buying and selling tickets.
After expenses, we netted a little over $19,000 for the Parish
St. John’s Blessed
Garden
There is movement afoot in the renovation
of St. John’s blessed vegetable garden located adjacent to the rear parking lot. After
a lapse of two seasons, we have high hopes
these plots will produce great harvests in
2015.
On our wish list this season: 30 + yards of garden soil or compost mix to raise the depth of the shallow beds and help establish them for Springtime planting.
Please call with your ideas, help and enthusiasm before the
Springtime.
Beth Chappel 203-856-7001
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
ST. JOHN CHRISTIAN FORMATION PROGRAM
203.655.8020
ELEMENTARY PROGRAM : Grades 1-5
Monday and Wednesday classes will meet November 10, 12
– 4:00-5:15PM for instruction in the Parish Center.
*Tuesday Classes will not meet November 4 (Election Day).
MIDDLE GRADES PROGRAM : Grades 6, 7, 8
“SUNDAY” Grades 6, 7, 8 will meet November 9, 16 - 8:3010:00AM
“TUESDAY” Grades 6, 7, 8 meet November 11 - 5:456:45PM and 7:00-8:00PM
Classes meet in the Parish Center.
URGENT
“MONDAY” GRADE 3 CATECHIST NEEDED
Due to an unfortunate turn of events, our present Grade 3 Catechist is unable to fulfill a sincere commitment to bring God’s
faith to 10 wonderful children enrolled in our Third Grade
Monday Class for the remainder of the 2014-2015 religious
school year. The class meets on Mondays from 4:00-5:15PM.
If you are able to step forward to share the love of Jesus and
His Church with a group of eager 8 year olds kindly call Mr.
Cunningham at 203.655.8020. Thank you.
TO THE PARISH FAMILY
FIRST EUCHARIST CLASS OF 2015
Kindly continue to keep candidates for First Holy Communion
in your prayers and encourage them with a kind word
whenever you see them. They may be identified by a round
badge imprinted with the words: “I Am God’s Child” with an
attached white ribbon with the word: “Communion” which
they are asked to wear to church. Thank you for your special
role in the faith formation of our parish children.
LEAP 2014 Pie Drive
LEAP students from Darien, Norwalk, New Canaan, and
Stamford will bake pies for your Thanksgiving Table!
Order or Donate an:
Apple, Pecan, and Pumpkin Pie
Price: $15 per pie
Funds Raised Will Help End Ebola and Reduce Poverty
Pickup Pies: Saturday, November 22, 2014 2:30-4:00PM
Where: St Luke’s Church (Darien) Or Inspirica (Stamford)
Questions: Email [email protected]
Council 4460 of St. John’s Church meets the
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from
8:00 – 9:30 PM in the Parish Center
If you are interested in becoming a Knight
Or
You are already a Knight and want to join our council
Please contact John Skroly (203) 854-4818 or
[email protected]
Meeting Dates:
Nov. 18th
Dec. 2nd . 16th
ST. JOHN CHURCH
NOVEMBER 9, 2014
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
Alpha
An 11-week course in basic Christianity involving small group
discussions and centered around a meal. Jean Benitez 203-655-5112.
Church Staff
Phone 203.655.1145
Baptism
Prior to the Baptism of a first child, both parents must attend a Baptism
Workshop. Parishioners looking to baptize a child should contact the
parish office for registration information at 203.655.1145.
Pastor: Fr. Frank Hoffmann ext 24
[email protected]
Resident Priest: Fr. Frank Gomez
Book Ministry
The Book Ministry maintains a variety of books, pamphlets and
magazines for personal and spiritual growth. Use the envelope on the
shelves to place donations for any books you take and place it in the
votive candle box or drop it in the offertory. If possible, please pay the
full price listed.
Bookkeeper: Mrs. Michelle Leville ext 11
[email protected]
Secretary: Miss Rose Lotocky ext 10
Caring Ministry
Helping homebound parishioners with rides to church, appointments,
grocery shopping, respite assistance, friendly visiting and phoning,
simple tasks and errands, occasional meals. If you need help or know
of anyone who does, please contact the Parish Office at 203.655.1145.
Would you like to help bring new life to the Homebound? If so, please
contact the Parish Office.
[email protected]
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
Mr. Richard Slagle 203.966.8928
[email protected]
Celebrate Life Committee
We look forward to your insights and energy. More information to
follow.
PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON
Mrs. Helen O’Donnell 203.354.4358
[email protected]
Communion Calls
If you know of anyone who is homebound, in a nursing home or
hospital, and would like communion from a priest or Eucharistic
minister brought to them or have a visit, please call the parish
secretary. Oftentimes this is the only way we know of the need.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Director: Mr. John Cunningham 203.655.8020
[email protected]
Marriage
Couples should contact a parish priest at least six months prior to the
desired wedding date.
PRESCHOOL
Director: Mrs. Lisa Ioli 203.656.0548
[email protected]
Moms Supporting Moms
This is an informal support group for moms with children of any age,
facilitated by Marilyn Dolcetti, LCSW 203.655.9481
([email protected]) . The group meets twice a month in the Pierre
Room from 9:15 to 10:15 AM during the school year.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Choirmaster: Mr. W. Ogden Booker 203.655.0777
JOYFUL PRAISE CHOIR
Prayer Group
A group formed in the charismatic prayer group tradition that focuses
on the worship of God, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, fellowship and
prayer for healing and peace facilitated by Marilyn Dolcetti –
203.655.9481 ([email protected]).
Ms. Rebecca Brendli
[email protected]
TEEN MUSIC MINISTRY
Mr. Dominick Wood
Prayer Shawl Ministry
We meet every other Thursday to make shawls of comfort for those in
need of prayer. If you would like to make, receive or send a shawl,
please contact Anne van Geldern at [email protected] or
203.750.5313 or the Parish office.
YOUTH MINISTRY
203.662.1217
PARISH CENTER
Manager & Sexton Mr. Kevin Donnelly
Senior Citizens
Chat & Chew meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesdays from May
through November, beginning with Mass at 12:00 PM. They have
pizza parties, ice cream socials with speakers/entertainment, a day of
retreat, and luncheon at nearby inns.
WEBSITE
www.stjohndarien.com
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