Bulletin The Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Community Newsletter November 16, 2014 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time 404 Hudson Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 201.659.2276 www.spphoboken.com bit.ly/spphoboken spphoboken @spphoboken Vision Parish Office Hours SUNDAY READINGS To grow the Catholic Community of Ss Peter and Paul in faith, Monday Thursday hope, and love. Friday Saturday – Sunday Mission 10 AM – 7 PM 10 AM – 5 PM Closed Ss Peter and Paul strives to be an inviting Catholic community, Church Hours inspired by Jesus Christ, where we grow a rich sacramental life through prayerful worship and service to our neighbors with one Sunday Friday Saturday another. Pastoral Team Sunday Masses Msgr Robert S Meyer, Esq [email protected] PASTOR Stephanie Panzariello, BS [email protected] PARISH SECRETARY PASTORAL ASSOCIATE FOR ADMINISTRATION Karen Imbach, BA [email protected] Valerie Sorge, BA [email protected] FRONT DESK / RECEPTIONIST Karen Barisonek, MBA [email protected] BOOKKEEPER Sr Joann Marie Aumand, SCC, MA RCIA / FAITH FORMATION [email protected] PASTORAL ASSOCIATE Susan Francesconi, BA [email protected] DIRECTOR OF EVANGELIZATION DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & STEWARDSHIP Louis Scarpa, MA [email protected] Matthew S Still, BA DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES [email protected] DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Max Colas, MSc [email protected] PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATE Matthew Fantau [email protected] Drew Stuart, MA BENEDICT XVI HOUSE INTERN [email protected] Ed Yruma 7:30 AM – 7 PM 9 AM – 7 PM CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COUNCIL Greg McDonald Katie Riley Geoffrey Scheer CANTORS Rose Perry Don Meyer TRUSTEES The Waterfront Project, inc Vigil (Saturday) Sunday 5.30 PM (No music) 8 AM (Family Mass) 9 AM 10.30 AM 12 Noon 7 PM Daily Liturgies Monday Communion Service 12:10 PM Mass intentions originally scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled for the following Friday Tuesday Friday Mass 12:10 PM Holy Hour Eucharistic Adoration First Thursday of the Month 11 AM to 12 Noon Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays 5:00 PM sharp Ministry for the Sick If you are aware of any parishioners who no longer can come to Church and would like to receive Communion and a visit from someone at our Parish please call the Parish Office. Prayer Intentions of the Holy Father for November A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing legal assistance to General intention: Lonely people. That all who suffer loneliness may experience the disadvantaged individuals. closeness of God and the support of others. Elizabeth F Caraballo, Esq FOUNDING DIRECTOR Missionary intention: Mentors of seminarians and religious. That young seminarwww.thewaterfrontproject.org Tel: 201.308.3986 ians and religious may have wise and wellformed mentors. Hoboken Catholic Academy Our Cover Proud co-sponsor of Hoboken Catholic Academy 555 7th Street, Hoboken, NJ 201.963.9535 Matthew McGrath, MA, MEd www.hobokencatholic.org PRINCIPAL This week our cover is Driving of the merchants from the temple by Scarsellino. It describes this Sunday's Gospel. Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31 The author describes “a worthy wife” as holy and just, hardworking and generous. She shall be valued by her husband and praised by many. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6 Paul urges the church to “stay alert” and prepared for the coming of the Lord, for we do not know the day, and discipleship should be constant.” Matthew 25:14–30 A parable: a master gives three servants different amounts to care for in his absence. Upon his return, he rejoices in the first two’s stewardship, but punishes the third’s laziness. Weekday readings Monday St Elizabeth of Hungary Rev 1:1–4; 2:1–5 / PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6 / Lk 18:35–43 Tuesday The Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss Peter and Paul,St Rose Philippine Duchesne Rev 3:1–6,14–22 / PS 15:2-3A,3BC-4AB,5 / Lk 19:1–10 Wednesday Rev 4:1–11 / PS 150:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6 / Lk 19:11–28 Thursday Rev 5:1–10 / PS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B / Lk 19:41–44 Friday The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Eph 4:1–6 / PS 119:14,24,72,103,111,131 / Lk 12:54–59 Saturday St Cecilia Rev 11:4–12 / PS 144:1, 2, 9-10 / Lk 20:27–40 This Week's Mass Intentions Saturday, November 15 5:30 pm Albert Guamer Sunday, November 16 8:00 am 9:00 am 10:30 am 12:00 pm 7:00 pm † James Calandriello † Cher Horning † Jack Raslowsky † Myrna Iris Zelaya Quesada † Margaret Peltin Tuesday, November 18 12:10 pm † The Cappock Family Wednesday, November 19 12:10 pm † Arthur Pelaez 7:00 pm For the recently departed, retired members of the Hoboken Police and Fire Departments Thursday, November 20 12:10 pm † Madonna Della Salute Friday, November 21 12:10 pm † Nozario Tarabocchia Saturday, November 22 5:30 pm † Anna Chirichella Sunday, November 23 8:00 am † Anna Chirichella 9:00 am † Anna Roberts 10:30 am Edith Ortolano 12:00 pm † Marion DiGiulio 7:00 pm † John Thomas Joseph Nisler & Catherine McGovern The Bulletin – Contact: [email protected] – Please consider advertising on the back of the bulletin to help us maintain this free publication. For more information please contact J.S. Paluch Cp, Inc. at 1-800.524.0263 and reference bulletin 790250. Please also patronize our sponsors and let them know you saw their ad in The Bulletin. Thank you! Got photos of SPP events? Share them with us on Facebook or Instagram! You can also email them to [email protected] from your Camera Roll and choose "Full Size". THANKSGIVINGEXPO November 15 — December 15 Look around our church today and you will see portraits of parishioners saying "Thank you". This is our Thanksgiving photo exhibit by photographer Max Colas. We all have something to be thankful for: life, faith, the love and presence of those around us, health, occupation, experiences and dreams. This month, take time to be grateful, turn to others and share a word of thanks. The Catholic Community of Saints Peter & Paul is grateful that you are one of us in Christ. Special thanks to: Don, Elvi, Grace, John, Karen, Kennedy, Lindsey and Greg, Michael, Susan and Guy, Sr Symphorosa, and the Nieves/Fernandez Family. Parish Calendar Saturday, November 15 Collection: Black & Indian Catholic Relief Services 5:00 PM Confessions Sunday, November 16 Collection: Black & Indian Catholic Relief Services 9 AM Faith Formation / Family Mass 10 AM Welcome Sunday Monday, November 17 4:15 PM Jr Girl Scouts 12881 / Daisy 12006 Tuesday November 18 5:30 PM ACOA Meeting Wednesday November 19 10 AMStay. Play. Pray. Wednesday Morning Mom's Group. 7 PM Mass of Remembrance 7:30 PM Choir rehearsal Thursday November 20 9:30 AM Theology Thursday (at St Lawrence Community Center, 22 Hackensack Avenue, Weehawken) 7 PM Wine Tasting Friday, November 21 5:30 PM Wedding rehearsal: Woolley —Vincent Saturday, November 22 3 PM Wedding: Woolley—Vincent Sunday, November 23 9 AM Breaking Open the Word 10 AM Faith Formation — Home Activities/Sacramental Classes Also note... Wednesday, November 26: Parish Office closed Thursday, November 27: Thanksgiving: Parish Office closed Friday, November 28: Parish office closed COME, AND YOU WILL SEE... WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EVANGELIZING PEOPLE Nothing but the Best Investments can be tricky. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a crystal ball? Then we would know that our choices would be sound and we’d never lose a penny. Better yet, we’d have a windfall every quarter. But we don’t. And unless time is on our side or we have a fallback plan, we generally aren’t willing to take chances with our money or with anyone else’s. Besides, taking risks is, well, risky. But Jesus has a different perspective. When Jesus really wants to make a point he tells a parable. Parables are stories that seem to be heading toward a predictable conclusion but then suddenly the rug is pulled out from under the listener. There’s always a surprise ending, and it is often one that takes time to understand, like today’s. “Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away.” You know the story. The first two servants went out and doubled their investment. They jumped right in. They weren’t afraid, they did not circle their wagons or hide whatever it was under a mattress for safekeeping. They used it in the way it was intended and it increased. The third servant lacked trust. He did not trust his own ability to make a good choice, he did not trust what the talent might become, and he did not trust the one who gave it to him. The only faith he had was in the status quo. So he kept it to himself. So sad. Choosing to hide what has been entrusted to Theology Thursday All are invited to attend a New Program that is beginning in November. Our new spirituality program is called “Theology Thursday”. It takes place on Thursdays, immediately after the 9:30 AM Liturgy at St Lawrence. Susan Francesconi and Sr Joann Marie will take turns leading the sessions. “Theology Thursday” will consists of two themes: Susan will facilitate a study about The Gospel of Mark, as this is the Gospel that will be read on Sundays during this coming Liturgical year. Sr Joann Marie will consider A Look at the Saints. During these sessions various Saints in the Church will be discussed and talked about. “Theology Thursday” will take place at the St Lawrence Community Center on Thursdays after the 9:30 Liturgy — until 11 AM and is open to parishioners from St Lawrence and Ss Peter and Paul. By Susan Francesconi us because we are afraid does a both disservice to the object and to ourselves. But it mostly offends the one who provided us with the opportunity. The metaphor of talent as used in the parable can be applied to any number of things: money, skills, intellect, etc. but for the purposes of understanding what it means to be an evangelizing people, it might be helpful to think of Jesus as the talent. By virtue of our baptism we are charged with sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and in action. We are to invest ourselves in this task to the best of our ability and without fear. This is the story of Christianity and how it grew from a dozen or so believers to what it is today. So share it, increase it, enhance it, supplement it, prove it. Give nothing less than your best for God. Breaking Open the Word with Children On the second and fourth Sundays of the month at the 9 AM Mass, we invite children who are 4 ½ to 9 years old to the Family Chapel to participate in Breaking Open the Word. Depending upon numbers we may use two doors to bring the children up and to lower church (Waterfront Room and Children Chapel). We ask parents not to accompany the children of this age downstairs but to remain in the upper Church. Thank you. There will be no Mass nor Communion Service on November 28 (Day after Thanksgiving) New group aims to pave way for legal immigrants in Hudson County to become US citizens By Matthew Speiser, The Jersey Journal Tucked in the fourth floor of a building on Bergen Avenue in Jersey City – – the second most diverse city in the country — a new nonprofit organization is preparing to take on the challenge of empowering legal immigrants to become US citizens. We Are One New Jersey, backed by a $125,000 grant from the county, wants to raise the tide of immigrant workers living in Hudson County by providing them with the necessary assistance to become United States citizens and obtain all the rights that come with citizenship. We Are One also offers Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) application assistance to help immigrant students attend and pay for school, wage advocacy on behalf of immigrant workers, notary services and citizenship loans. “This project seeks to connect the labor movement in New Jersey with the community to provide community services and to educate people on how to become U.S. citizens,” said Edward Correa, executive director of the program and a Colombian immigrant himself. According to Correa, New Jersey has the fifth largest population of legal immigrants eligible for citizenship in the country and 93,000 (15 percent) of them live in Hudson County — more than anywhere else in the state. If those 93,000 obtained legal citizenship, We Are One projects it would provide a significant boost to the development of the area. “Naturalized citizens gain access to better jobs, education and economic opportunities,” said Angela Delli Santi, communications director for the New Jersey American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). “They gain the right to vote and with it the right to engage fully in the democratic process without fear of deportation. Fully engaged residents help build stronger communities.” We Are One New Jersey will open its doors for business on Oct. 28 with a kickoff ceremony featuring Sens Robert Menendez and Cory Booker. We Are One hopes to help at least 300 Hudson County residents obtain citizenship and register 500 new voters through a nonpartisan voter registration campaign, Correa says. We Are One New Jersey offices are located at 830 Bergen Ave. — Suite 4A in Jersey City. REFLECTION Elizabeth Carraballo, Director, The Waterfront Project, Inc. The need to help Hudson County’s poorest continues to be acknowledged by community leaders. Last week, Elizabeth F. Caraballo, Esq., Director of The Waterfront Project, Inc, and Trustee Monsignor Robert Meyer, Esq., attended the official opening ceremony of a new legal center, We Are One NJ, a legal center sponsored by Hudson County. We Are One NJ is a legal center located in Jersey City that provides immigration and labor and employment legal services to Hudson County residents. Conference American Bible Society and America cordially invite you to a talk with N T Wright, Leading New Testament Scholar, Professor and Author on “Paul and the Powerful Word: Gospel, Community, Mission”. The conference will take place on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 AT 6:30PM at American Bible Society, 1865 Broadway, New York. Reception to follow. The event is free and open to the Public. Please respond by November 15th to Margaret Sarci, American Bible Society at [email protected] Annulment An Annulment Information Evening is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2014, 7:30 PM-Saint John the Apostle Church, 1805 Penbrook Terrace, Linden. A staff member of the Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Newark will provide basic information about annulments; the requirements for annulments and how to begin the process of petitioning for an annulment. Pre-registration is not necessary, but for directions, please call the parish at 908.486.6363. Vespers Service drugfreenj.org/faithbaseddonoharm/ On Sunday, November 23, the Archdiocese of Newark will celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King with a Vespers Service and Multicultural Concert to at 3 PM at St Aedan’s, the Church of St.Peter’s University, at 800 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City. All are invited to join in this moment of prayer and rejoicing. The Zucchetto Trade-ition Using God’s Gifts How Pope Francis' white skull cap made its way to SPP. By Janel ESKER On October 11, 2014 SPP parishioners Kevin and Rachelle were married at the Chiesa Del Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano in Rome, with Father Bob presiding. After a beautiful ceremony, the newlyweds received a piece of advice from Father Bob’s seasoned experience of Rome and the Vatican. He filled them in on a special area of Vatican Square that is reserved for newlyweds to meet the Pope. Can you imagine the opportunity to be married in Rome and have the chance to meet Pope Francis in the flesh? Father Bob explained, “People know about the newly wed greeting area. But very few know about the tradition of the zucchetto swap”. It takes courage to entrust something precious to someone else. New parents stall when leaving their newborn in a babysitter’s care for the first time. A mother repeatedly reminds her daughter on prom night that her grandmother’s pearl necklace needs great care. I’ve hesitated when handing my car keys to my husband, even though he’s the safest driver I know. When we entrust another with a precious gift, there’s an unwritten covenant that the recipient will use the gift wisely and responsibly. The zucchetto is the skull cap that clergyman wear, with the white zucchetto being reserved to the Pope. The instructions were simple: buy a new zucchetto from the Pope’s official provider and present it to the Holy Father. A few years ago, an Associated Press article chronicled US clergyman Father Richard Kunst’s difficult but ultimate successful journey in presenting a zucchetto to Saint Pope John Paul II, who was not so keen on and rarely practiced the “trade-ition”. Would Pope Francis make the trade or would he air on the side of John Paul II in keeping his own? So at the direction of Father Bob, Rachelle and Kevin made their way to Gamarelli’s, the official papal clothing store located across the Tiber River from St Peter’s and just around the corner from the Roman Pantheon. they then entered the special section of Vatican Square with zucchetto in hand. After celebrating Mass, Pope Francis made his way over to the designated area which corralled a gathering of newlyweds that anxiously awaited the Holy Father’s arrival. As Pope Francis walked down the line amidst the couples trying to kiss his “Ring of the Fisherman” or take a photo he approached Kevin and Rachelle. Excitedly, Rachelle knelt down, kissed his ring and Kevin presented the zucchetto. The Argentinianborn Bishop of Rome then offered his blessings and without hesitation, lifted the zucchetto from atop his head, and accepted the trade. Today, we are delighted and thankful for Kevin and Rachelle who have generously presented the zucchetto to Saints Peter and Paul, here in Hoboken. We wish them many blessings on their marriage and many thanks for sharing their amazing experience with Pope Francis in Rome. The zucchetto will be presented to the parish during the 10.30AM Mass on Sunday. The Pope's zucchetto is usually white, cardinals' are scarlet, and those of bishops are amaranth. Priests and deacons can technically wear a black zucchetto and ordained Franciscan Friars (like Fr Linh, OFM) can wear a brown one. The zucchetto is not a liturgical vestment and it is never worn in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Such was the covenant between the master and his servants in today’s Gospel. Jesus tells us the master entrusted his precious possessions to the servants. This wasn’t a random scattering of excess monies. The master gave particular thought to what each servant should receive based on his abilities. The master was thrilled at the first two servants’ use of his gift and gravely disappointed in the third’s refusal to use the gift responsibly. Top: Kevin presents the zucchetto to Pope Francis. Middle: Rachelle kisses the Fisherman's Ring. Bottom: The Holy Father removing his zucchetto and giving it to Kevin. Prayer for the Holy Father Almighty and Everlasting God, have mercy on Your servant Pope Francis, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Your loving kindness, in the way of eternal salvation, that with Your help he may ever desire that which is pleasing to You and accomplish it with all his strength. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Lord Jesus, shelter our Holy Father the Pope under the protection of Your Sacred Heart. Be his light, his strength and his consolation. We know the master represents God, the servants us, and the talents God’s many gifts to us. But have we pondered our unwritten covenant with God—God’s courageous choice to entrust to us what is precious to him and an expectation that we’ll use these gifts to the best of our ability? God’s gifts aren’t randomly scattered, but instead confidently entrusted to us for use in serving others. Perhaps we ought to look at our good health, ample food and clothing, creative talents, and compassion as keys to God’s Corvette or the finest pearl necklace in the divine jewelry collection. They’re to be used—and used well—in the service of the Lord. Saint John’s Open House The Staten Island Campus Open House will be held on Saturday, November 22nd from 10 AM – 3 PM, and will provide students and their families the opportunity to learn more about St John’s University, our Vincentian heritage, the benefits of a Catholic university education, our prestigious academic programs, international service learning opportunities, and more. For more information, go to http://www. stjohns.edu/about/events/Open-House Offertory Envelopes to Faith Direct — Now that you have made the switch! Thank you to the many parishioners who are changing their method of giving to Ss Peter and Paul from the envelope system to FaithDirect, our eGiving program. If you have recently switched to FaithDirect, please let us know so that we are 100% sure that envelopes will no longer be sent to you. We are doing all of this in an effort to make your donations go further for SPP. Contact Stephanie, parish secretary at [email protected] or at 201-6592276 to let us know. Sign-up for FaithDirect today at www.faithdirect.net with our parish code of NJ627. Thank you for helping SPP achieve great things through good stewardship! Why Register as a Parishioner of Ss Peter and Paul? If you are currently attending SPP (and we love that you are with us!) but are not registered, we need you to commit to the parish community in a very concrete way by registering as a parishioner. You will receive end of the year tax contribution statements. You will be personally invited to gatherings to meet the staff and other parishioners. The parish will know the demographics and respond to needs. Further, the Archdiocese will know that our parish has a healthy base of registered, supportive parishioners. Learn the Basics and Enjoy a Taste! Understanding wines is a fun, informative and fascinating journey. Take the first step with an introductory wine class and tasting with Susan Hesleitner, founder of The New Jersey Wine School on November 20th, 7 pm at Waterfront Hall, Ss Peter and Paul Church. Learn the basics about wine, food pairing, wine ratings, how to choose a wine, the seven noble grapes, and what makes them taste different around the world. You will taste six wines and learn how to write a tasting note. Enjoy delicious "palate teasers" from The Hoboken Gourmet Company. Wines will be available to order from Giannone Wine and Liquor. Sign-up today at www.spphoboken.com/wine. Place your holiday wine order at the event! Class fee is only $25. You can also send a check payable to Ss Peter and Paul to 408 Hudson Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Contact Louis Scarpa, Development Director at 201-659-2276 x306 or email [email protected] for more information. This is a great event to attend with friends and makes a wonderful gift. Cheers! Thanksgiving Meals for The Hoboken Shelter Ministry cooks and servers! Please consider preparing one of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes a little early this year and sharing that dish in community and fellowship with those who Archdiocesan Youth Conference Day Register online at http://www.spphoboken.com/registration.php or call the parish office for more information at 201-659-2276. Register today! WINE CLASS AT SS PETER AND PAUL: will be touched by your generosity. If you are interested in participating in this effort, please contact Guy Francesconi at guyfrancesconi@ gmail.com for more information. We ask a minimum of one hour’s wage from each working parishioner weekly. Why one hour? The first hour of the work week is given to God, imbuing our work with a sense of sacredness and gratitude. This is a spiritual approach to work and stewardship. Average weekly e-giving contribution: $8,071 This represents 62% of our weekly expenses. November 9, 2014 Weekly average expense : $13,050 Basket Collection (121 envs): $6,399 Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Cumulative expenses: $247,950 Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Cumulative Collection: $244,908 Deficit for the fiscal year to date: $3,042 You may receive verification letters to sponsor individuals for sacraments, receive sacraments yourself or your child (i.e. marriage, baptism). The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is our parish gift to the support the ministries of the Archdiocese of Newark. As of November 11, 90 parishioners from Ss Peter and Paul have pledged $43,460 toward our goal of $59,176. Thank you to those who have made a gift. Please make a pledge today – our true goal is helping others. To donate, make your check payable to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, you can mail your gift to Ss Peter and Paul Church. Stewardship and Financial Responsibility For a convenient guide on how much is one hour's wage for you, please go to: spphoboken. com/donate Why register? Annual Appeal Update The Hoboken Shelter ministry at Ss Peter & Paul is coordinating a Thanksgiving meal for the single occupancy residents of the Hoboken Y on Monday November 24 and we need New Hymnals for Ss Peter and Paul: Because Music Enriches Our Faith! Join us on Saturday November 22nd from 9:30am until 9pm Our Ritual Song hymnals have served the parish well for 15 years. They are now worn and do not include the revised mass settings. The bilingual resource Unidos en Cristo / United in Christ is a 3 year hymnal subscription which ends this November. A new, comprehensive hymnal is needed to replace both of these books. After reviewing various hymnals, we’ve selected Gather 3rd Edition from GIA Publications. Gather contains most of our current repertoire with additional new music. Therefore, you will still enjoy the familiar titles you have come to know and love, while learning new music. The parish will purchase 300 hymnals plus choir and accompaniment books. Please make a donation today to help defray the cost of the hymnal Mom’s Group STAY. PLAY. PRAY. Calling all moms and little ones (newborn to pre-K) to the Ss Peter & Paul mom’s group. Come join other parish moms for friendship, playtime, prayer, and the support every mom needs during this new, exciting, and sometimes challenging time. Create lasting friendships with other moms and children in your parish community! Wednesday, November 19 10am – 11:30am Ss Peter & Paul Family Chapel, (lower level of the church) Questions? contact Susan at [email protected] and lend to support to music ministry at Ss Peter and Paul. We are asking parishioners to provide of gift of $100 for each hymnal. We will create a placard in the hymnal to recognize your thoughtful gift. See the donation envelope for details. Fall Sports are over! (unless your towns football team makes the 2nd round of the State Playoffs)! Marching Band Season is over!! Winter Sports can’t start for another 2 weeks!!! CONFLICT FREE !!!! You may make additional donations for multiple hymnal commemorations. Donation envelopes are found in the church vestibule. You may also donate to the Hymnal Fund online at www.faithdirect.net, using our parish code NJ627. Chris travels around the country speaking to teens and adults and has been a presenter at Steubenville, National Catholic Youth Conferences and more. Donations can be made at any point throughout the year, even after the hymnals have arrived. We anticipate having the books in place on November 30th in advance of Christmas. We are very grateful for your generosity. May God bless you. Keynote Speaker — Chris Padgett Keynote Speaker — Bob Perron Bob was one of the Keynote Speakers for the National Catholic Youth Conference held in November of 2013 and spoke in front of 23,000 teens! Have your High School Teens join us for a GREAT Day of Music . . . Opening Prayer with Archbishop Hebda . . . Workshops . . . General Session with Chris & Bob . . . Eucharistic Adoration . . . Lunch AND Dinner . . . Reconciliation . . . Mass . . . Closing Dance! ONLY $20 a PERSON. Learn more and get group registration materials at www.newarkoym.com PLEASE NOTE: This Event IS NOT meant to be a Confirmation Retreat and should not be used as a substitute for one. Our Office offers Confirmation Retreats during the school year. Arts and Entertainment DEATH WITH DIGNITY The Church’s Perspective By Drew STUART Imagine this: You are diagnosed with a terminal illness and told that you only have a year to live. For the next six months, you endure debilitation and suffering beyond anything you could have imagined. In the process, you begin to lose your autonomy and are increasingly forced to rely on others for help. You begin to fear that your quality of life will degrade to the point that you will become a burden on your family and friends. Finally, you to lose hope as you realize that you will never return to full health. Now imagine that the law permitted you to ask your physician to help you die. What would you do? Whether you know it or not, this scenario has been played out numerous times, right here in the United States. Oregon, Vermont, and New Mexico have all passed so called “death with dignity” laws. Under these laws, anyone who is 18 or older and has a life expectancy of 6 months or less can ask their physician to prescribe lethal drugs to hasten death. Patients are required to make the request three times at least two weeks apart, twice orally and once in writing. After the third request, the physician prescribes a lethal cocktail of pills. The patient is then free to take this prescription at the time of his or her choosing. “Death with dignity” advocates insist that this process cannot be considered physician assisted suicide. Instead, they believe these laws allow people, who would rather live if it were not for their illness, to maintain their dignity by giving them control over their death. At first glance, this seems compassionate; after all, no one likes to see another person suffer. However, despite such staunch denials, “death with dignity” laws do legalize physician assisted suicide. The CDC defines suicide as “death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with any intent to die as a result of the behavior.” Knowingly taking a lethal prescription is clearly a “self-directed injurious behavior” that is intended to cause one’s own death. Physicians who prescribe these lethal drugs are therefore helping people commit suicide. While we may sympathize with those who feel the need to take advantage of these laws, sympathy does not change the reality of the situation: doctors are helping these people kill themselves. By Kathleen M Basi While American society may one day accept physician assisted suicide, Catholic teaching unequivocally opposes it. The Church asserts that physician assisted suicide takes an innocent life, thereby violating human dignity. Opponents of this position claim that it condemns people to a life of suffering and pain without hope of recovery. However, over 80% of the people who request physician assisted suicide do so because of a loss of autonomy and control, not for reasons of unbearable pain. Modern medicine is fully capable of addressing the pain and depression associated with terminal illnesses through palliative care, a holistic treatment approach that makes use pain medication, psychological and spiritual counseling, antidepressants etc. This refutes the common claim that “death with dignity” laws are primarily a way to acknowledge human dignity by allowing the terminally ill to end their pain. This being said, when a debilitating illness takes away a autonomy, making even the most basic tasks, such as eating, walking, and bathing, by oneself impossible, a person may feel that life has lost all value. This can be compounded if he or she also feels like a burden on friends and family. Some believe this lends support to advocates of physician assisted suicide. However, Scripture and the Church’s teaching tell us that all life is sacred. Human dignity comes from being made in God’s image and likeness, not from having autonomy and independence. This dignity can never be lost or compromised. At the same time, from a Christian standpoint, suffering has a value and purpose. Saint Pope John Paul II asserted that our suffering is added to all that Jesus suffered during his Passion. In this way, human suffering becomes redemptive as it shares in the saving power of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. John Paul II personally bore witness to this during the last ten years of his life. Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses slowly deprived him of his autonomy, causing his mind and body to fail. Despite this he endured, practicing what he preached by showing us how to bear suffering with dignity and courage. Truly acknowledging the dignity of those who are terminally ill therefore consists of standing in solidarity with them, not in helping them end their lives once autonomy begins to fade. Compassion should motivate us to help them bear their suffering with courage; it should not motivate us to hasten their deaths. While the Church asserts that modern medicine should never be used to end a life, it supports the use of palliative care, such as pain medication, and psychological counseling, to ease the process of dying. Essentially, Church teaching calls us to show the terminally ill that their lives still have value; that we see them as human beings made in God’s image and likeness, not as burdens. This is the only way to truly recognize their inviolable human dignity. I don’t know about you, but I find my nightly TV-viewing options rather uninspiring. It seems basic cable offers little more than crude sitcoms, so-called reality TV, and gruesome crime dramas. I’m a writer with aspirations to publish fiction, so I understand how we got to this point. As entertainment options increase, artists try to stand out by delivering the unexpected, something that irresistibly draws people to the next page or scene. The trouble is, the more we see, the more it takes to shock us and the more desensitized we become to the real—but ultimately less dramatic— presence of evil in everyday life. Of course, there are bright spots in modern entertainment. And we always have the option not to view morally offensive material. Corporate executive, author, and syndicated radio personality Dr Dick Lyles has created Origin Entertainment as a way to carve out a place for Christi- anity in today’s culture. Catholics, he says, are willing to give money to the poor, but they don’t give to the arts as much as they used to. That means Catholics aren’t helping shape our culture through the arts. Artists of the past like Michelangelo, Palestrina, and da Vinci are revered by the faithful as masters, in part because the Church and its wealthiest members made the arts a priority. Nowadays, people criticize the Church’s vast collections of art. Sometimes local parishes catch flak for commissioning artwork for new worship spaces: Shouldn’t the Church’s wealth be used instead to feed the poorest of the poor? It’s a tough question, and I don’t pretend to have answers. But it’s worth remembering that the stakes are high: The next generation is at risk of becoming even more desensitized to cultural values that stand utterly opposed to the faith we’re responsible for passing on. THE WEEK IN PHOTOS Top: Last week the Family Assembly was busy crafting some colorful hands. Middle: Meanwhile, the Rosary Society gathered and was awed to be presented with the original document in Latin that created the Rosary Society at SPP (the Confraternitas Sanctiii Rosarii, as it was called in October 1915). If you would like to join the Rosary Society, call Maria 201-656-6176 or Joan 201-792-2596. Bottom right: Newlyappointed Hoboken Chief of Police Kenneth Ferrante meets with Fr Bob. 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