St. Vincent de Paul
Roman Catholic Church
1500 DePaul Street
Elmont, N.Y. 11003
“A Parish with Heart”
Pastoral Staff
Rev. Msgr. Richard M. Figliozzi, Administrator
(516) 352-2127
Outreach Services – (516) 354-4976
Parish Social Ministry Coordinator
Maureen Russell
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2014
From Msgr. Figliozzi
Scriptural Reflection for the Week
“The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of
Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin...Mary.” (see Luke
1:26) The time of waiting is about to end. God visits
Mary through the announcement of His angel. God’s
promise is about to be fulfilled. He promised to send a
Savior to spare the people from the effects of their sins,
their infidelity to Him. His promise is not a vague, general or idealistic one. His promise is to be fulfilled at a
certain time. In a certain place, in a certain person—
His own son, Jesus the Christ. Our sins are not vague
or generalities. They are quite real, specific and concrete committed at certain times against certain people
and against God. The reality and specificity of our sins
meets up against the reality of this Savior. The Savior
can only save you from the consequence of your sins,
from death, if you are certain and definite , not vague,
in inviting Him into your heart and allowing Him to dwell
there as He dwelt firstly in that cold cave, symbolizing
the coldness of a sinful heart, and as He dwelt in Nazareth, symbolizing the ordinariness of our lives. Yes, the
time of waiting and watching is about to end but only if
you can recognize, like Mary, the time of your visitation
by God to you.
Thank You!
To all our Morning Star Youth Ministry Members and
St. Vincent de Paul Choir members for their production
of “God’s Greatest Gift— The Christmas Story”.
Christmas Concert at St. Catherine’s
We welcome back Natalie Salemmo and Christopher
Colmenero who will offer us a selection of classical,
sacred and seasonal music on SUNDAY, December
28th at 3pm in the Church. Tickets will be available the
next two weekends after Masses and at the doors on
December 28th.
Advent Examination of Conscience
• Where there is hatred, do I sow love?
• Where there is doubt, do I sow faith?
• Where there is despair, do I sow hope?
• Where there is sadness, do I sow joy?
• Where there is injury, do I sow pardon?
An Act of Contrition
“Lord Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me, a
sinner.”
Times for Confession before Christmas
TUESDAY, December 23rd from 7:00pm to
8:00pm.
Christmas Eve Masses
Are at 4:00pm (preceded by pageant) and at
10:00pm.
Christmas Day Masses
Are at 8:30am and 10:30am
Your Christmas Gift to Your Parish
“God has no hands and feet but yours.” Be not
only generous but even sacrificial in this year’s
gift to your parish. Know the joy of giving of not
only your abundance but your substance to the
Lord!
Last Weekend’s Collection and Attendance
Parish: $4,002.00
Immaculate Conception: $648.00
Attendance: 4:00pm— 190
8:30am—154
12:30pm—161
Total: 505
Thank you for your support.
One Final Thought
“Even Almighty God cannot fill what is already full.
We must be empty if we want God to fill us with
His fullness.”
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday
4:00 pm
Sunday
8:30 am
12:30 pm
MASS INTENTIIONS
for the Week
for this Weekend
December 20
Joseph O. Conter; Jerry DeStefano;
Ernest & Catherine Dietz; Antonio Mineo
December 21
Giovanni Castellucci
———
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday:
Fourth Sunday of Advent; Winter begins
Tuesday:
St. John of Kanty
Wednesday: The Vigil of Christmas
Thursday: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Friday:
St. Stephen
Saturday: St. John
Monday
8:30 am
Tuesday
8:30 am
Wednesday
8:30 am
4:00 pm
10:00 pm
Thursday
8:30 am
10:30 am
Friday
8:30 am
Saturday
4:00 pm
Sunday
8:30 am
12:30 pm
December 22
William Ellsworth
December 23
———
December 24
Ronnie & Joseph Donahoe
Bernard Angst & Isabella Rose Kirch
———
December 25
Pasquale & Pasqualina Correale
For the People of the Parish
December 26
Mary & William Medlow
December 27
Clara Morea
December 28
———
Chela Jimenez
Congratulations to our newly married couple:
Gregory Romano and Megan (Lawlor) Romano
BREAD & WINE
For the week of December 21 thru December 27
Is in Loving Memory of Carrie Mirro-Young
As requested by The Mirro Family
ALTAR CANDLES
For the week of December 21 thru December 27
Is in Loving Memory of Santa Monteleone-Reid
As requested by Mr. & Mrs. Monteleone
MISSION STATEMENT
As members of St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Parish, we are committed to assisting our
members in both the spiritual and temporal needs of life. We are a parish with heart who are
committed to “Let all things be done with Charity” and show we are disciples of
Christ by our love for one another.
Please Pray for our sick Relatives and Friends:
Rev. Msgr. Thomas Hartman
Matthew Haygood
Anthony Gangemella
Madelyn Kushner
Maria Scuccimarra
Linda Rome
Charlotte Orlando
Patricia DeRosa Sean Bennett
Kaelyn Judith Donlon
Larry Blumberg
Ann Mitarotonda
Margaret McCabe
Brittany Wilson
Arlindo Marcelino
Janet Falco
Diane Drescher
Helen Strohm
Diane Wilson
Ralph Wilson
Penny Wyckoff
Mary Italo
Matthew Noah
Raul Matos
Karen Hoffmeyer; Dorie Harbin
Tommy Lannan; Ann Marie VanBergen
Vincente Mejias; William Ross
George McAuliffe; Maria Gloe; Shane Harbin
Bob Soveign; Michael O’Malley
Karen Carlucci; Ann Donahue; Jack Musolino
Thomas McCreight; Dominick Consolazio
Theresa Chevalier Frank Saccone
Eugenia Lane; Barbara Ostipwko
Dorie Harbin; Frank Saccone
Gerry Petrella; Veronica Dixon
Bill Gilbert; Madeline Corrigan
Tom Camberiarti
Maria Rossi Pashayen
Howard Wirth
Albert Bartlett
Anna Marie Orlando
Dorothy Mink Honald
Please Pray for our Men & Women in the
U.S. Armed Forces:
Diane Rosemary Patrick, USAF
Aaron J. Shattuck
Thomas Bradshaw
Arlindo Almida
Thomas Lainis
Peter Dilos
Frankie Umile
Rev. David Kruse (Chaplain)
Joseph Giordano, USMC
John Marco Militano, USA
Joseph A. Galante, USMC
Jimmy Bustamante
Latasha Coward
Nicholas Russo
James E. Allen
Brian Kevin Corrigan
Michael Borg
Christopher Messano
Carlos Felix
Michael Arana
PARISH ‘IN HOME’ PRAYER
PROGRAM
Host Family/Individual:
PILGRIM STATUE OF OUR LADY
OF FATIMA
Silvana & Domenico Apicella
The Mass Intention Book is
open for 2015
For your Intentions
Also Bread & Wine
&
Altar Candles
GOD'S GREATEST GIFT
By Rev. Johnny R. Mendonca
Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet said, "Unto us a child
is born, unto us a son is given" Is. 9:6. That prophecy was fulfilled in the words of
the gospel according to John, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" 3:16. Jesus Christ is God’s Greatest Gift, and God never gives anything
but the best. "Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above, and comes
down from the Father of lights, with whom is no alteration, or shadow caused by
change" James 1:17. With deep gratitude for this Gift, St. Paul wrote, "Thanks be
unto God for his unspeakable gift" 2 Cor. 9:15.
Christmas is that blessed time of year when nearly everyone’s thoughts turn to
gifts and giving. Ample evidence of the fact is the enormous sum of money spent
for Christmas gifts each year. Giving is a Christian virtue not to be taken lightly. It
is a tragedy for life to be lived in ignorance of the joy of generous giving. To keep
happiness, it must be given away. As we think of gifts and giving at this Christmas
season, let us meditate on the fact that the Father gave His Son. "He that spared
not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32 .
When Adam and Eve sinned and fled from the presence of God, it wasn’t Adam
who saw his need and sought for God; but it was God who, knowing Adam’s
need, sought him. It was God who asked, ‘Where are you?' not Adam who asked,
"Where are you, God?" How wonderful during this Christmas season to think of
the greatest Gift ever given; we didn’t ask for it, but "while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us"
(Rom. 5:8).
Take a moment to think of how commercial the gift giving has become… some
department stores cater only to the very wealthy. The gifts they offer for sale are
so expensive that the average person cannot purchase them. Some very poor
families are unable to enjoy gifts that are enjoyed by the middle class of society.
Jesus Christ was God’s Gift to the entire world. No one, no matter how poor, is
excluded. Jesus came as God's Greatest Gift for everyone, no matter how educated or uneducated, no matter how wealthy or poor, no matter how privileged or
underprivileged, no matter how unloved or unwanted. God’s Gift is unlimited.
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." Heb. 13:8. Times
change, styles change, attitudes and tastes change, history and math books
change. Nearly everything we know of, changes. But Jesus Christ is God’s unchanging Gift. There can be no moral change in Jesus. If He got better, it would
mean He was not perfect before He improved; and if He got worse, it would mean
He was no longer perfect. All that Jesus is He always has been, and all that He
has been and is, He ever will be. Christmas gifts we exchange several years ago
have now become old or broke or end up in closets and storage.
Finally, Imagine an unclaimed gift…. all adults, young, children, family and friends
purchase Christmas gifts for the ones they love. These gifts are wrapped in beautiful packages and laid underneath the tree. Excitement builds as Christmas Day
approaches, and those who have made sacrifices are anxious to watch as loved
ones and friends open Christmas presents. We watch with joyful faces as one
opens a beautiful package and then exclaims, "O This is just what I wanted!" And
then hugging and kissing the giver says, "Thank you." Then another package is
opened, and the scene is repeated…. How sad to imagine that after sacrifice and
expense, some gift is unclaimed, some package is unopened! …How sad the
giver must feel to think that the gift is not wanted! Yet the greatest gift of all, God’s
Greatest Gift, Jesus Christ, is still not accepted by millions!
Perhaps there are some close people in your life who have never known Christ as
their Lord and Master; or have never accepted Him. If that be the case, let me
urge you to trust Him now, reach out to them and bring the Joy of Jesus to their
lives. Don’t wait another moment. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now
is the day of salvation" 2 Cor. 6:2. "But to those who accept him, he gave power
to become children of God" John 1:12. To accept means to open our lives to Jesus, the Word of God, to depend on Him and thus to receive God’s Greatest Gift
that is Jesus Christ.
St. Vincent de Paul
Parish Office – (516) 352-2127
Hours:
Monday thru Thursday - 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Saturday - 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Friday and Sunday – Closed
Fax – (516) 305-5474
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.stvincentdepaulparish.org
For Emergency relating to death or dying after
2 pm call St. Catherine of Sienna - (516) 352-0146
We Celebrate the Eucharist
Saturday Vigil – 4:00 pm
Sunday – 8:30 am & 12:30 pm
Weekdays: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am
Holy Day Mass Schedules will be announced in the
Bulletin on the prior Sunday.
We Celebrate the Sacraments
Sacrament of ReconciliaƟon – Saturdays immediately after celebration of the Vigil Mass, or by
calling the Parish Office for an appointment with a
Priest.
Sacrament of BapƟsm – call the Parish Office to
arrange for an interview. This should be done while
awaiting the birth of your child.
Sacrament of Marriage – call the Parish Office to
make an appointment with a priest before making
social arrangements.
Visitation of the Sick and Homebound
call the Parish Office to arrange for a visit by a
Priest to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of
the Sick, and also to receive Holy Communion.
Holy Hour – on the first Friday of the month after
the 8:30 am Mass with Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament and concluding with Benediction.
Devotions
The Rosary – is recited daily before the 8:30 am
Weekday Masses. Miraculous Medal Novena and
Special Prayers to St. Anthony are said on Thursdays after the 8:30 am Mass.
The Clergy from St. Catherine of Sienna
who serve us here at
St. Vincent de Paul are as follows:
Pastor/Administrator
Rev. Msgr. Richard M. Figliozzi
Associate Pastors
Rev. Allan Arneaud
Rev. Johnny Mendonca
Rev. Charles N. Srion
Deacons
Joseph Benincasa
Frank Gonzalez
Christmas 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
This past year I found myself twice in the Holy Land, first in my role as a member of the Board of Catholic Near East
Welfare and second as part of a Pilgrimage of Prayer for Peace by eighteen United States bishops. Both visits brought
home to me in a vivid way what all of us see and hear in the media: the land made holy by the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior is anything but a land of peace, joy and fraternal love. If we were to stop there it
would be very difficult to be hopeful.
Yet we know that the Feast we celebrate on December 25th is the very reason why the worrisome facts of today’s world are not the end of the story. They are the context into which the Lord enters in order to reverse the spiral of
violence and death and to found a new order, “the new heaven and the new earth” that are the fruit of the Son of God
Who came into the world to reveal God’s plan of salvation.
He is the true history of humanity because He alone is the Word through whom the world and human life are created.
And that Word, the eternal Son of the Father, becomes flesh so that we might be saved from all the darknesses that lie
hidden in human hearts. He is the true light that dispels the darkness. He is the one sure hope of the world. And He
comes to become part of the human condition so that He and He alone can reverse the destiny of humankind by giving
us a new destiny, life in Him, life in the Spirit which is the gift of God’s love.
This Christmas I greet you all in the light of that love that came into the world that first Christmas in a Bethlehem stable. This Christmas I invite you all to join with me in a pilgrimage of the heart to that very place where Mary
brought forth Jesus into a world that so needs the gift of divine life that He is and so yearns for the peace that only He
can give.
My prayer for each of you and all of you is that we might let Him transform any of the darknesses that control our lives
and endow us with the newness of life that His birth has made possible. May the light of His life shine on us all, without exception. May the example of Mary and Joseph be the model for all our families. And may we be found with the
shepherds adoring the Prince of Peace while angels sing and all the world rejoice for Unto us a Son is given, unto us a
child is born and He is Savior, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Bishop of Rockville Centre
St. Vincent de Paul Society &
Parish Social Ministry (Outreach)
Th
ank you to those drivers and helpers
who assisted in delivery of the Christmas baskets. Your assistance was greatly appreciated.
Faith Formation News
St. Catherine of Sienna
Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent
Level 5 Mass
All fifth grade students and their families are invited to
attend Mass on:
Sunday, December 28th
9:30am
Sienna Center at St. Catherine’s
There are no classes scheduled in Faith Formation
for the week of December 22nd and the week of December 29th. Classes resume the week of January 5,
2015.
We wish our Faith Formation family a Happy and Holy Christmas. May the peace of the new born child be
in all of our hearts.
The joy of the season should be completed by attending all Christmas Liturgies. January 1st we celebrate
the Solemnity of the Mother of God. This is a day
obligation. Please try to begin the new year by attending Mass.
Stewardship…..
Reflection
In the first reading, God promised King David
that his house and his kingdom will endure
forever. It is through Mary’s “Yes” - “I am the
handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me as
you say.” - that the promise finds
fulfillment.
Living Stewardship
We are grateful this week for all stewards in our
parish who have the courage, like Mary, to listen
to God’s voice in their own hearts and
conscientiously pursue the tasks - whatever they
are - to which they have been called.
A Prayer for
Christmas
Look on us, Jesus,
And let the darkness of our souls
Disappear before your brightness.
Fill us with your holy love,
And open to us
The treasures of your wisdom.
You know all our desire,
So bring to perfection
What you have started
And what the Holy Spirit
has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek your face,
Turn your face to us
And show us your glory.
Then our longing will be satisfied
And our peace will be perfect.
Amen.
- St. Augustine of Hippo
Sharing faith
through the eyes of
our Catechists:
I began volunteering in the Faith
Formation Program when my oldest daughter was in first grade. I
wanted to be a part of her experience. I started as an assistant, and
realized my first year how important
the Faith Formation Program is to
our community. The very next year I became a catechist. I enjoy working with Level 2 students because I am an integral part of preparing them
for two sacraments, the sacrament of Reconciliation
and the sacrament of Holy Communion. I teach
from my heart. What a wonderful feeling I experience that I am able to share my knowledge and
love of Jesus with my students. We read, talk,
sing, pray and learn together each week. Each
week my students share stories about situations
during the week that they can connect to our lessons. When this happens I know I am making
a difference. Sharing God’s Word is powerful. They
are able to explore their faith with me as their
guide.
Being a catechist is such a rewarding experience. I
look forward to my time with my class each week. If
you would like to share your faith with the youth of
this community, please enquire about being a
part of the Faith Formation Program. I am so glad
and blessed that I did.
Alison Brotschol
2nd grade Catechist
News & Upcoming Events
Pope Francis Hospitality Center
1510 De Paul Street
We have started this center for seniors, veterans, those in need and for anyone wishing to
share a simple meal. It is open on Saturdays from 9:30am to 1:00pm.
The Center meets in the former school cafeteria (entrance off De Paul street)
♦
♦ Supportive services
Employment Center/GED Referral Services
♦ Clothing Closet
♦ Immigration
Everyone is Welcome
ATLANTIC CITY BUS TRIP
HARRAH’S
JANUARY 15, 2015
AMERICAN LEGION MALVERNE POST 44
Franklin Ave. & Legion Place
Tickets $40.00 - Includes $30.00 Casino Play
CALL: Bob Guarnari @ 516-483-5631 Or
John Hassett @ 887-7473
ARRIVE AT 8:15AM; BUS LEAVES AT 9:00AM
SHARP!
 Reserve and pay by January 12
 Free parking
 Coffee, bagel & donuts
CONSOLATION MINISTRY
The Consola on Ministry began in St. Vincent
De Paul Church under the direc on of Msg. Frank Schneider in
order that grieving families would feel that the deceased was an
important part of our parish family, and that we, as a family, are
present to assist them in the planning of the liturgy of the Chrisan Burial Mass.
A booklet of appropriate Bible readings and hymns, along
with a biography form, are presented to the family by the Funeral Home. We then contact the family and oﬀer the Parish's condolences and our assistance, if needed. We can meet with the
family at their convenience, either at home, at the Funeral
Home or rectory to review the selec ons and to answer any
ques ons they may have. These papers are then submi ed to
the rectory to be reviewed by the priest.
A booklet is then printed up to be distributed at the
Mass.
Please consider helping in this ministry!
Needed:
Contact Persons
Altar Servers
Church Greeters
Booklet Typists
Contact: Rectory 516-352-2127