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
Parish Social Ministry
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
(516) 354-4976
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 15, 2015
Scriptural Reflection for the Week
“…whatever you do, do everything for the glory of
God.” (see 1Corinthians 10:31-11:1) Just hearing these
words reminds us of the joy that comes in living for God!
When a person becomes very self absorbed there is little
or no joy for them. Everything becomes a chore and a
challenge. We need to start our day with these words of
encouragement which Saint Paul gives us. They should
be part of our prayers as we rise to begin a new day—
part of our Morning Offering Prayer. To start one’s day
having a desire to be pleasing to God and pleasing God
in everything we do cast a supernatural meaning over all
the actions we perform and words we are to speak. We
then see and understand ourselves as missionary disciples of Christ. We wish to carry Him wherever we go. We
wish to share Him with all we meet; friend and foe alike.
Ash Wednesday, February 18th
Masses are at 8:30am and 7pm
Ash Wednesday is a day of Fasting and Abstinence.
Stations of the Cross and Confession
Every Friday of Lent after the 8:30am Mass
Lenten Meditation at St. Catherine’s
On Tuesday, March 3rd at 7:30pm, Bishop Andrzej
Zglejszwski will lead at night of Recollection. All are
invited.
Last Weekend’s Collection and Attendance
Parish: $3,896.00
Attendance: 4:00pm—149
8:30am—142
12:30pm—161
Total: 452
One Final Thought
“All of us must be saints in this world. Holiness is a duty
for you and me. So let’s be saints and so give glory
to the Father. That is why Jesus came to this earth. Being rich, He became poor out of love for us, so that we
can be rich and fully share in the happiness of God for all
eternity.”
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
Stewardship…..
Reflection
In today’s second reading, St. Paul urges the
Corinthians to “do all for the glory of God.” If we
follow that advice in everything we do, we cannot
help but be good stewards!
Living Stewardship
We are grateful this week for all stewards in our
parish who use their gifts to welcome and offer
hospitality to those who are frequently shunned….
the stranger, the immigrant, the AIDS sufferer,
the mentally ill and the poor.
MASS INTENTIONS
MASS INTENTIONS
for the Week
for this Weekend
Saturday
4:00 pm
Sunday
8:30 am
12:30 pm
February 14
———
February 15
Pietro Regina
Matilda & Angelo Rosetti; Jose Cisneros
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday:
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday:
The Seven Holy Founders of the
Servite Order; Mardi Gras; Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday: Ash Wednesday; Fast and Abstinence;
Almsgiving
Friday:
Abstinence
Saturday: St. Peter Damian
Monday
8:30 am
Tuesday
8:30 am
Wednesday
8:30 am
7:00 pm
Thursday
8:30 am
Friday
8:30 am
Saturday
4:00 pm
Sunday
8:30 am
12:30 pm
February 16
———
February 17
Strohm Family;
Catherine & James Carrano
February 18
Luigi & Angela Mastroserio
February 19
For the People of the Parish
February 20
John & Antoinette Accardi
February 21
Joseph Rischman; Nellie Sanzone
Sally O’Connor; Betty Gaffney
February 22
Joe Cisario
Christina Schmidt; Shirley Henry;
Claris Paul
The Church in Need
On February 22, 2015 a collection will be taken for “The Church in Need.” The monies collected at this time will be
shared among three areas of the world where there is particular need for help:
Church in Central and Eastern Europe - the Collection provides support for basic pastoral programs and
makes scholarships available for students studying to serve their local church. These students become
vital participants in the renewal of the Church in the region.
The Church in Latin America faces many difficult challenges. Natural disasters in many areas caused lasting
damage to the Church, while a significant loss of parishioners to migration and to other faiths, the inability
to support itself financially, and a lack of priests and religious to help effectively minister to the large number of Catholics continue to trouble the region.
The Church in Africa – the funds will go to assisting African countries where poverty, sickness and political
strife prevent people from living in dignity.
Thank you for your generosity.
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.
Why is Eucharistic Adoration Important ?
Part 3
By Rev. Johnny R. Mendonca
Unfortunately, there are many in the Church today who do not see the
need or the value of Eucharistic Adoration. Some even oppose it, claiming
that adoration of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist is out of date in today's
modern church. That's why it is so important for us today to realize that
Eucharistic Adoration is very much in accord with the teachings of the
Church, and especially of Vatican II. One of the main points of Vatican II
was to emphasize the importance of the Eucharistic liturgy in the worship
of God and in the development of our own personal spiritual life. The Vatican council strongly advised us that the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist, the
Mass, should be the principal expression of our faith, and that all other
devotions should spring from the Mass and leads us back to the Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration does exactly that.
All experience shows that private prayer and adoration of our Lord in the
Eucharist causes more frequent and more intense participation in the
Mass. Despite this teaching of Vatican II, about the Holy Eucharist, almost
immediately after the Council, we began to see a steady tragic decline in
respect for the Holy Eucharist. In some cases, the Mass seemed to be
transformed from the worship of God to the entertainment of the people.
Reverence for the Blessed Sacrament diminished. Genuflections expressing our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus almost disappeared. Prayerful
silence in our churches gave way to socializing.
For many, the church became a social hall instead of a sacred place for
prayer and worship. The sacrifice of the Mass was often used as a vehicle
for political statements. Eucharistic devotions were ridiculed as "old
church", and almost disappeared from the Catholic scene. Today we have
a generation or two of young Catholics who have never even seen benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Any document of Vatican II or any statement of the Church directed none of this decline. It's contrary to the faith
and practice of the Church. This is why Pope John Paul has led the counterattack to restore the Holy Eucharist to its rightful place in the worship
and spiritual life of the Church. Every year of his pontificate, Pope John
Paul has written a pastoral letter about the Holy Eucharist to all the bishops and priests of the church. In these letters, the Holy Father demanded a
stop to the abuses being committed against the Blessed Sacrament. He
pleaded for a return to the reverence and traditions of the past, especially
for the adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Father
reinforced his words with action. In 1991, Pope John Paul began perpetual
adoration of the Eucharist in St. Peter Basilica in Rome. In 1991, the Holy
Father approved the canonical establishment of the lay association for
perpetual Eucharistic adoration to promote adoration in every Catholic
parish throughout the world. St. Pope John Paul said, "The Church and the
world have a great need of Eucharistic worship". Jesus waits for us in this
sacrament of love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him
in adoration." The Holy Father asked us to be generous with our time. He
is not asking for our money but something much more precious – our time.
A few years ago at the International Eucharistic Congress in Spain, the
Holy Father in his remarks at the opening of the Congress, thanked all the
parishes and people who had promoted adoration of the Eucharist in preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress. Then, he prayed that
such perpetual exposition and adoration of the Eucharist would be established in every Catholic Church throughout the world. There is no question
or doubt about where Pope John Paul stood with regard to adoration of the
Holy Eucharist.
Growth of spiritual life has been seen in parishes with Eucharistic Adoration. They have increased in attendance at Mass on Sundays and week-
days, stronger marriages and happier families, and responded to
vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Of course there have
been some objections to Eucharistic adoration. Some complain
that Eucharistic adoration is too private, too personal and even too
quiet. This complaint seems to be based on the idea that our worship of God must always, always be a community exercise. It must
always involve a lot of people, with much activity and maybe even
lots of noise. Prayer does not always have to be that way. Jesus
himself showed us that, throughout His life, Jesus faithfully participated in the public worship of God by attending the services in the
temple, or in the synagogues - Just as we participate at Sunday
Mass, - but Jesus also frequently went off by himself to pray – in
the desert, up on the mountains, to be alone with his Father, to
communicate in prayer… quietly, to worship, to thank, to ask for
help and strength, especially before major events and decisions in
His life. Jesus prayed in private for forty days in the desert before
beginning His public ministry. Again, before he chose the twelve
apostles, from among his disciples, Jesus spent the whole night in
private prayer. The night before he died, Jesus prayed alone to his
Father asking for the strength to bear the suffering that He knew
that was coming to Him the next day. We should follow the example of Jesus also.
( To be Continued next week )
PARISH ‘IN HOME’ PRAYER
PROGRAM
Host Family/Individual:
PILGRIM STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
Liliana Bustamante
CUP OF PRAYER
The Longchamp Family
Please Pray for our Sick relatives and
Friends:
Rev. Msgr. Thomas Hartman
Matthew Haygood ; Anthony Gangemella
Madelyn Kushner; Maria Scuccimarra
Linda Rome; Charlotte Orlando; Bob Soveign; Maria Gloe
Helen Strohm; Maria Rossi Pashayen; Ann Parazelli
Patricia DeRosa; Kaelyn Judith Donlon
Ann Mitarotonda; Margaret McCabe
Arlindo Marcelino; Jack Musolino
Janet Falco; Diane Drescher; Ralph Wilson
Diane Wilson; Brittany Wilson; Raul Matos; Mary Italo
Penny Wyckoff; Matthew Noah; Karen Hoffmeyer
Tommy Lannan; Vincente Mejias; William Ross
George McAuliffe; Michael O’Malley; Ann Donahue
Thomas McCreight; Jean Henry; Dominick Consolazio
Anna Marie Orlando; Theresa Chevalier; Frank Saccone
Eugenia Lane; Barbara Ostipwko; Dorie Harbin
Carlos Mackey; Shane Harbin; Gerry Petrella
Veronica Dixon
Bill Gilbert
Madeline Corrigan
Karen Carlucci
Tom Camberiarti
Howard Wirth
Albert Bartlett
Dorothy Mink Honald
Please Pray for our
Men & Women
in the U.S. Armed
Forces:
Diane Rosemary Patrick
Aaron J. Shattuck;
Thomas Bradshaw
Arlindo Almida
Thomas Lainis
Peter Dilos; Frankie Umile
Rev. David Kruse (Chaplain)
Joseph Giordano
John Marco Militano
Joseph A. Galante
Jimmy Bustamante
Latasha Coward
Nicholas Russo
James E. Allen
Brian Kevin Corrigan
Michael Borg
Christopher Messano
Carlos Felix
Michael Arana
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
Pope at Santa Marta: A lesson in contemplative prayer
2015-02-04 Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio) Daily contemplation of the Gospel helps us to have true
hope, said Pope Francis Tuesday morning during Mass celebrated in the
Casa Santa Marta chapel. In his homily, the Pope again urged people to take
10 minutes out of their day to pick up the Gospel and talk to the Lord, rather
than waste it on TV soap operas or listening to other peoples’ gossip.
Focusing on the passage from the Letter to the Hebrews on hope, Pope Francis said that “keeping our gaze fixed on Jesus” is the core of hope. He
stressed that if we do not listen to the Lord, we may be “optimistic or positive” people but without the hope that we learn “from contemplating
Christ”.
This led the Holy Father to speak of "contemplative prayer”. The Pope said
that "it is good to pray the Rosary every day", to talk "with the Lord, when
we have a problem, or the Virgin Mary or the Saints ..". But, "contemplative prayer" is important and this can only be done
"with the Gospel in hand":
He said: "'How do I contemplate with today’s Gospel? I see that Jesus was in the middle of the people, he was surrounded by
a large crowd. Five times this passage uses the word 'crowd'. Did Jesus ever rest? This would lead me to think: 'Always with
the crowd ...'. Most of Jesus’ life was on the streets, with the crowd. Did he ever rest? Yes, once, says the Gospel, he was
sleeping on the boat but the storm came and the disciples woke him. Jesus was constantly in the midst of the people. And this
is how we look at Jesus, contemplate Jesus, imagine Jesus. And so I tell Jesus what comes to my mind to tell him".
Continuing his reflection on today's Gospel, Pope Francis spoke of how Jesus realizes that a sick woman in the crowd touched
him. Jesus, the Pope said, "not only understands the crowd, he feels the crowd", "he feels the heartbeat of each of us, everyone. He cares for each and every one of us, always!".
The case of the chief of the synagogue who goes "to speak to him of his daughter who was seriously ill” is similar: [Jesus]
leaves everything to takes care of the matter. The Pope went on to depict the scene: Jesus arrives in the home, the women are
crying because the little girl is dead, but the Lord tells them to be calm and they scorn him. Here, the Pope said, we see "the
patience of Jesus."
And then after the resurrection of the child, instead of saying "Praise be God!", Jesus tells them: "Please give her something
to eat". Pope Francis noted "Jesus always thinks of the little things." The Pope then pointed out "What I have just done with
this Gospel is a prayer of contemplation: take up the Gospel, read and imagine the scene, imagine what happens and talk to
Jesus, from the heart": "And with this we allow hope to grow, because we have our gaze fixed, we keep our eyes fixed on
Jesus. We should all carry out this contemplative prayer. 'But I have so much to do!'. At home, 15 minutes, pick up the Gospel, a small passage, imagine what happened and talk with Jesus about it. So your gaze will be fixed on Jesus and not so much
on a TV soap opera, for example. Your ears will be focused on the words of Jesus and not so much on your neighborhood
gossip ... ".
"This is how contemplative prayer helps us in hope. Living the substance of the Gospel. Always pray”. Pope Francis invited
people to "pray your prayers, pray the rosary, talk with the Lord, but also carry out this contemplative prayer keeping your
gaze fixed on Jesus". Hope comes from this prayer, he said, adding "our Christian life unfolds in that context, between
memory and hope": "Memory of our past journey, memory of so many graces received from the Lord. And hope, looking at
the Lord, who is the only one who can give me hope. And in order to gaze at the Lord, to know the Lord, we pick up the Gospel and carry out this contemplative prayer. Today, for example, try for 10 minutes - 15, no more – to read the Gospel, picture
it and say something to Jesus. And nothing more. And so your knowledge of Jesus will be bigger and your hope will grow. Do
not forget, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. And in order to do this contemplative prayer".
2323 Merrick Avenue
Merrick, NY 11566
St. Vincent de Paul Society & Parish Social Ministry
(Outreach)
In today’s Gospel Jesus moved with pity touched the leper and healed
him. By your generosity to our food pantry you put your faith in action
and bring healing to those who are in need.
Last month the St. Vincent de Paul Society helped 116 individuals
within 59 families. This could not have been done without you.
So many of you answer the call to help those in need that is truly
inspiring. We count on you to continue.
This week the pantry is in need of:
♦
Instant potatoes
♦
Pancake mix
♦
Coffee
♦
Syrup
♦
Cake mixes
♦
And any other non perishable items you
can contribute.
Thank you for all your help.
The blood pressure screening conducted by Duane
Reade will be held on Thursday, February 19th
from 10am—Noon.
UPCOMING EVENTS
& NEWS
Faith Formation News
Level 4 Mass
All fourth grade students and their families are invited to attend Mass on:
Sunday, February 22, 2015
9:30 am
Sienna Center at St. Catherine’s
St. Catherine of Sienna
990 Holtzheimer Street
Franklin Square, NY
Reconciliation
This is an opportunity to participate in the Sacrament
of Reconciliation as part of your Lenten observance:
Levels 3 & 4 - Saturday, February 28th
Levels 5 & 6 - March 7th
12:30 pm in the Sienna Center at St. Catherine’s
Level 7 - Thursday, March 19th
Level 8 - Thursday, March 12th
7:00 pm in the Sienna Center at St. Catherine’s
Camp hours: 9am—3pm
Extended Day: 9am—6pm
There are no Faith Formation classes scheduled
for the week of February 16th. Classes resume
the week of February 23rd. Ash Wednesday is
February 18th.
“At Camp Sienna we recognize that each child is a unique gift
from God. We created a safe, supportive, and fun summer
environment where every child can make memories and
build lasting friendships.”
June 29th to August 7th
Kids: 3—6 yrs.
Children: 7—10 yrs.
Teen: 11—14 yrs.
[email protected]
ATLANTIC CITY BUS TRIP
Thursday, March 19, 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 by March 16, 2015
ARRIVE AT 8:15AM; BUS LEAVES AT 9:00AM SHARP!