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: svdp1500@optonline.net 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. campsienna@stcatherineofsienna.org 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!
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