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The Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist
The Mother Church of Stamford 279 Atlantic Street Stamford,
Connecticut 06901
July 9, 2017 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Pastor Rev. Msgr. Stephen M. DiGiovanni Parochial Vicar Rev.
Andrew A. Vill Resident Priest Rev. Albert D. Audette, Jr. Director
of Religious Education Rev. Andrew A. Vill
[email protected] Basilica Choir Master &
Organist David Indyk Chairman, Parish Financial Council John Regan
(203) 324-1553 x 117
Lay Members of the Parish Corporation John DeSoye Annie Schreck
Photo by John Glover
Rectory, Parish Office and Religious Education Tel: (203)
324-1553 x 21 Fax: (203) 359-2660
Website: www.stjohnsstamford.com E-mail Address:
[email protected]
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Pastors Corner: During these warmer months, I thought Id offer
some lighter summer fare for your weekly consideration, rather than
the more heady stuff of past articles. Lets do a type of walking
tour of our basilica. We have the largest and oldest church
building in the area. But I think few parishioners or visitors
really notice the quality of construction or detail of artwork that
makes Saint Johns so unique a treasure in Fairfield County and the
Diocese of Bridgeport. Here we go. Lets start from the outside and
work our way inside during the next weeks. The property was
purchased in 1868, and had been excavated in 1869 by Michael
Coughlan, whose firm also laid the footings for the new church, all
free of charge. The church is built of granite, quarried from
Leetes Island off the New Haven coast, the same quarry that
supplied the granite used in the construction of the plinth for the
Statue of Liberty. The exterior of our church was the design of
James Murphy, one of the leading church architects in New England.
When the church was completed in 1886, the press trumpeted the
building as the largest stone church and undoubtedly one of the
very finest ecclesiastical edifices in the state [The Stamford
Advocate, June 1, 1886], and In general style the new edifice is
said to resemble the cathedral at Milan [The New York Times, May
31, 1886]. Obviously, the reporter had never been to Milan!
Nevertheless, the sentiment is appreciated, and, truly, the church
exterior is imposing and impressive. Set in our magnificent
gardens, it provides a true oasis in todays downtown of high rise
buildings. The church is designed in the form of a Latin Cross: the
central aisle and sanctuary run on an east-west axis [the front
door faces east, just like Saint Peters in Rome], and the transept
crosses on a north-south axis. The design allows the altars to be
illuminated by the rising sun through the choir loft window. When
Mass was offered by a priest facing the altar, the rising sun
provided him the light sufficient to read the large Mass book known
as the Missal. Likewise, it shines through the choir window with
the image of Christ, the light of the world, literally. The are
three impressive front doorways before which are pink granite stair
cases on either side of which are pink granite side risers. Each
riser is formed by a single 8-ton block of pink granite, which the
press judged not only beautiful, but durable. [The Connecticut
Catholic, September 27, 1884] Originally, the bell tower was
planned to be the tallest in the state, rising 250 feet and forming
a pointed wooden steeple. Never completed because of a lack of
funds, the tower was merely capped in 1886, slightly above the
height of the lowest large tower window. In 1886, the most imposing
element of the faade was the choir window, rising above the central
door. To its left [south] are two smaller stone turrets: that
nearest the central door is decorative; the larger one, closer to
the rectory, houses the original circular brick staircase leading
to the choir loft. At the base of this southern-most turret is a
granite block carved with a Greek Cross. The lower course of the
faade is pierced by three small lancet windows, and, above, between
the turrets, a quatrefoil window. This window was the gift of Fanny
Meredith: a parishioner who was a washer woman, who saved her
pennies to give the best she had to God in the form of a beautiful
window. Each early morning as the sun rises, this window daily
lights up the Blessed Mother altar, just as Fanny intended in the
1880s! The bell tower was finally completed by Fr. James OBrien in
the 1920s in English Perpendicular Gothic style. You can see eight
carved angels: two on each side of the tower. The smaller angels
each hold an open Bible with the Chi Rho, the first two Greek
letters for Christ; four larger angels, nearer the top, pray with
folded hands. More next week. Monsignor DiGiovanni
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Please pray for the sick: Debbie Schemmel, June Roberts, Marie
Cassis, Patricia Morgan, Vittorio Faugno, Robert Strada, Dionysia
Oliveira, Salvatore Piria, Mary Ellen Callahan, Louise Wiles, Frank
Wruk, Erin Wiggin, Isaac Lopez, Richard Ridge, Debbie Schemmel, Ron
Frasca, Lisa Giugno, Michele Giugno, Helga Pecaric, Kimberly Rice,
Jimmy Berube, Maria Trivino, Maria Gabriela Mossa, Bill Rice, Diane
DiNapoli, Gayle Moore, Paula Bennett, Mildred Beirne, Karen Hsu,
Silvana Smith, Harriet Lockhart, Joseph Kung, Jacqueline Domingue,
Eilish Collins Main, Antonietta Cerone, Sylvia Iannazzi, William
Byrnes, Jonathan Victor, Sophia Petrafesa, Lyn Geikie-Rice, Ruth
Coyle, Elaine Shoztic.
Please pray for those who have recently died: Joseph Verrilli,
Peter C. Schmitt, Sr., Joseph Prendergast, Msgr. Peter Dora,
Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, A.J. Barr, John Kronk, Joseph Esperance,
Terence Leydon, Maureen Flanders, Ann Touhey.
Banns of Marriage: II Banns: Christopher Xavier Fernandez and
Lauren Michelle Strawn
Monthly Collection . . . The second collection today will be the
monthly collection for the parish. Your generosity is
appreciated.
HOLY COMMUNION: We welcome all visitors and guests to our
basilica. For those who are not Catholics, know that you are
welcome here, but we ask that you not come forward for Holy
Communion. Receiving Holy Communion signifies full membership in
the Church founded by Our Lord, called Catholic since the end of
the first century. Those who are not Catholics are not in full
communion with the Church, so please remain in your seats and pray
during the communion rite of the Mass. God bless you.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: "The Eaglet," the new parish blog on our
Basilica website, www.stjohnsstamford.com, is up and running,
featuring a variety of thought-provoking articles on the Catholic
Faith and Church, posted weekly. Feedback is welcome and discussion
is encouraged, via a comments form at the end of each article.
Please bookmark the page, visit often, and share the link with your
family and friends.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS July 13, August 13, September 13, &
October 13: 7:30 pm: Rosary in honor of Our Lady of Fatima during
this centenary year of the apparitions at Fatima.
PLENARY INDULGENCE: May be obtained on Sunday, July 16th, the
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which is also the eighth
anniversary of St. Johns being raised to the dignity of a minor
basilica. To obtain the indulgence on the day, you must be in the
state of grace, having repented of sin and gone to Confession,
visit the Basilica and receive Holy Communion worthily on July
16th, and pray one Our Father for the Holy Father, and the Apostles
Creed.
Monsignors New Book: IS now an EBOOK, as well as in hardcover.
You can purchase the Ebook version of AGGIORNAMENTO ON THE HILL OF
JANUS from the publisher, Midwest Theological Forum on line:
[email protected] OR theologicalforum.org The book is the modern
history of the American Bishops seminary in the Vaticanthe
Pontifical North American College1955-1978. Great beach reading!!!
Of course, you can still purchase the hardcover in our Basilica
bookstore or in the parish office in the Rectory.
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July 16th, Sunday Readings: Is 55:10-11; Rom 8:18-23; Mt
13:1-23.
Police: As policemen and women are under attack throughout the
country, we ask that you Please remember the members of our
Stamford Police Department in your prayers. Likewise, remember in
your prayers members of Stamfords EMS and Fire Department, and our
military women and men who protect our nation.
Adult Education: Some parishioners have asked for more
opportunities to study the Churchs teachings. We plan a Bible study
to resume in September. For years we studied the Church Fathers
with the St. Monica Institute for Patristic Studies. If you have
any suggestions for new adult programs, such as studying the Church
Fathers, or the social teachings of the popes, or anything, please
let Monsignor know: 203-324-1553, ext 11.
Project Rachel Ministry: Offers free and confidential help to
those seeking healing after abortion. Come back to Gods love and
mercy. Call 203-416-1619 or [email protected].
Birthright: seeks volunteers: Support women to bring their
babies to term, providing pregnancy tests, connecting women with
medical, financial, legal and other resources. Flexible schedules;
train-ing provided. Call 203-348-4355 or www.birthright.org.
Help End Legalized Abortion: Abortions take place daily at
Stamfords Planned Parenthood, 35 Sixth Street. Help us stop this by
joining parishioners in front of the facility on Wednesday or
Friday mornings, 8am-10:30am, or even just for 30 minutes. We pray
and silently bear witness to the sanctity of human life. Our
presence has even helped convince expectant mothers to spare their
children. To join us, or for specialized training as a Sidewalk
Counselor, call Noelle at 857-345-0808.
New Covenant House of Hospitality: Saint Johns parishioners
staff the kitchens once each month to feed the homeless and less
fortunate. For information, please call: 203-324-1553, ext 21.
St. Monica Latin Reading Group: Tuesdays at 12:45 in the
Rectory. We are continuing our re-view of ecclesiastical Latin
using Second Latin by Cora and Charles Scanlon and reading excerpts
from Ambrosi Epistulae Variae. An intermediate reading ability in
Latin is necessary.
Volunteers: FUTURE 5 is a non-profit organization to help
motivated low income high school stu-dents in Stamford to improve
themselves and their future. We need volunteers to do one-on-one
stu-dent work, such as college coaches, job prep coaches, and
teachers. For more information or to vol-unteer, please contact
Fanny Moran: [email protected]
Latin Low Mass: In the Extraordinary Form each Friday at 2pm.
Everyone is welcome.
Job Seekers: Led by Melanie Szlucha whose company, Red Inc., is
a leader in helping find jobs. Jobseeker's Group in the Monsignor
Nagle Hall the 4th Wednesday of every month from 7:30 to 9PM.
Topics include Job Interviewing, Resumes, Networking and Job Search
Strategies. Next meet-ing: Wednesday, July 26th. THERE IS NO
CHARGE, this is free job coaching. Call Melanie Szlu-cha at
203-866-1606, or [email protected].
Weekly Sunday collection:
Sunday July 2, 2017 $ 12,253.00 Sunday July 3, 2016 $ 10,035.60
Please increase your Sunday offering by $5.00 each weekend. I ask
you one thing: do not tire of giving to God, but do not give your
leftovers.---Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
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Natural Family Planning & Fertility Care: Natural Family
Planning / Fertility Care Are you seeking a family planning method
that is natural, effective, and morally sound? The Creighton Model
System is based upon a couples knowledge and understanding of their
naturally-occurring phases of fertility and infertility. Engaged
couples preparing for marriage, as well as married couples, and
couples who are experiencing infertility issues, can all benefit
from using this system. The teachers of the Creighton Model System
are trained allied health professionals, and specifically-trained
physicians have been educated to incorporate the Creighton Model
System into their medical practice. For a FREE introductory
session, please contact Angela Marchetti at
[email protected].
Project Rachel: Are you or someone you know hurting from a past
abortion experience? There is help and hope. Project Rachel is
offering an Entering Canaan Day of Prayer and Healing on Saturday,
July 15th for women who are suffering from a past abortion. Please
contact us at 203-416-1619 or [email protected] for more
information or confidential registration.
Homeplace Wisdom: Is a Catholic womens organization promoting
friendship and vocational development with monthly speakers and
gatherings, play dates, and a daily email list for sharing ideas,
prayer requests, parenting or home-place questions, and reading
material. To join: [email protected]
Catholic Young Adults of Stamford: We are Catholic young adults
in our 20s and 30s, We regularly meet for social events and
community service projects. Join us for our monthly Sunday dinner
following 5pm Mass. Connect with us on Facebook or Meetup, or email
us at [email protected].
Electronic Giving - Offertory Donations Made EasyConsider using
your credit card to make your weekly or monthly donation to St.
Johns. Easier for you, and less costly for the parish than the
printing and mailing of weekly envelopes, credit card giving
automatically sends your weekly offering to the Basilica of St.
Johns. Call the parish secretary (324-1553, ext. 21).
The Face of Prayer: For all young Catholics of all ages [under
18 will need parental consent]: www.thefaceof prayer.org Will you
join the movement of prayer? Bishop Frank Caggiano invites you to
be the face of prayer. Text your picture, a prayer intention, or
the word prayer to 55778. Then follow the prompts to complete your
registration and commit to being the face or prayer! Participants
will receive a prayer from Bishop Frank either every day or three
times a week [your choice] as well as a weekly video from our
bishop, access to great resources online, and the opportunity to
pray together with friends from all around the Diocese of
Bridgeport. This project is a partnership between the Diocese of
Bridgeport and the Mater Ecclesiae Foundation. Privacy protections
are in place.
Connected Catholics: Catholic young adults, Summer Social
Nights, Thursdays at 7PM, Stamford, CT. July 13th at Dinosaur BBQ.
Official Facebook account of CONNected Catholics. Accompanying
Young Adults in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
www.facebook.com/CONNCatholicsBPT
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Mass Intentions + Denotes Deceased
Saturday, July 8, 2017 4:00 Special Intentions Mobilio, Fauci
and Marotta Family req. Sally Mobilio Sunday, July 9, 2017 7:30
+Rolando Garcia req. Irsa Garcia 10:00 Patricia Ridge req. Michelle
Sagdati 12:00 Magdalene Young req. Family 5:00 +Alphonse and Lucy
Alagia Monday, July 10, 2017 8:00 Deceased members of the Berger
Family 12:10 +Pacifica Operario req. Judith Jordan Tuesday, July
11, 2017 8:00 +Julia Weglarz req. Steven Terenzio 12:10 Deceased
members of the Churley and Kronk Families Wednesday, July 12, 2017
8:00 +Patrick Timon req. Tom Timon 12:10 +Nancy Ligouri req. Marion
Morris & Family Thursday, July 13, 2017 8:00 Souls in Purgatory
req. Maria 12:10 Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Friday,
July 14, 2017 8:00 +Joseph and Margaret Curtis req. Mary Maloney
12:10 +Joan Terpack req. Diane Strain Saturday, July 15, 2017 8:00
+Hope and Joseph McAleer req. McAleer Family 12:10 +Mark Harris
req. Lilian and Alvina Ramos
Baptisms: Are celebrated every day of the week, according to the
schedule of the parish priests and the families. Baptisms at St.
Johns are one-family only ceremonies: never groups. For more
information, please call Cindy, (203-324-1553, ext 21). Baptisms
are offered for parishioners only. Baptisms are offered in English,
French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
Weddings: Couples must contact and begin meeting with one of the
parish priests for at least 6 months before a hoped for wedding
date at Saint Johns. Please call the parish secretary, Cindy, or
one of the priests for an initial discussion. Weddings are offered
for parishioners only.
Holy Name Society: For men of the parish, meets Fridays in the
Rectory, 7-7:50 a.m. for coffee, Eucharistic Adoration &
Benediction. All men are welcome. We finish in time for the 8a.m.
Mass.
The Legion of Mary: Wednesday Evenings: 7:30 pm till 9:00 pm in
the Msgr. Nagle Hall.
St. Monica Latin Patristic Reading Group: Tuesdays at 12:45 in
the Rectory.
Coffee Hour: Starts again in September, after the 10:00a.m.
Family Mass in the Msgr. Nagle Hall.
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Daily & Weekend Mass Schedule: Monday through Saturday:
8:00a.m. & 12:10p.m.
Saturday (Sunday Vigil): 4:00p.m. (Hymns) Sunday: 7:30 a.m. (No
Music) 10:00 a.m. Family Mass 12noon Solemn Mass (Gregorian Chant)
5:00 p.m. (No Music)
Holy Days of Obligation: - Vigil Mass (evening before): 5:15p.m.
- Holy Day: 8:00a.m., 12:10p.m. & 5:15p.m.
Confessions: (English, Francais, Espanol, Italiano, Portoguese).
Mon-Fri: 11:30-11:50 a.m. First Fri: 7:30 a.m.- 7:50a.m. &
11:30a.m.- 11:50a.m. Saturday: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:00-7:25,
9:30-9:55, 11:30-11:55 a.m. Anytime by appointment in the
Rectory.
Baptism Parents must be parishioners of St. Johns. Please call
the parish office: 324-1553, ext. 21.
First Communion and Confirmation For information on Religious
Education, please e-mail [email protected], attention
Fr. Vill. Confirmation is a two-year program.
Sacramental Records call the parish secretary, Mon-Fri: 9am -
4pm.in the rectory, 324-1553, ext. 21.
Marriage Engaged couples [bride or groom must be a St. Johns
parishioner and attending Sunday Mass regularly] should contact one
of the St. Johns parish priests at least 6 months in advance of the
wedding. Marriages are not performed on Sundays at St. Johns.
Sick Calls, First Friday Communion Calls, and the Anointing of
the Sick: Our priests would be happy to bring Communion, hear
Confession and administer the Sacrament of the Sick to anyone
seriously ill, homebound or in the hospital. Please call the
rectory: 324-1553, ext. 21.
Devotions Miraculous Medal Novena: Monday, following the 8:00
a.m. Mass. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Friday,
following the 8:00 a.m. Mass until 12:00 p.m. Daily Rosary
following the 12:10 Mass: Mon-Sat.
The Basilica of St. John Bookstore Hours Sunday: 10:45a.m. - 12
Noon. Thursday: 11:30a.m. - 1:00p.m. (Closed during Mass) Friday:
11:30a.m. - 1:00p.m. (Closed during Mass)
ST. JOHNS IN THE ADVOCATE:
110 YEARS AGO, OR SO: July 12, 1907: Alumni Association Formed.
St. Johns Parochial School Alumni Association was organ-ized last
evening at a meeting in the convent of St. Johns Catholic Church.
The association began its career with 50 charter members. Only
those pupils of the school who passed entrance examinations for the
High School were considered as eligible for membership. The
following offi-cers were elected: President, Miss Jennie Terry;
vice-president, John A. Maher; secretary, Miss Agnes Hanra-han;
treasurer, Sister Mercedes. The association will meet every two
weeks. The next meeting will be on July 25. July 15, 1907: Lawn
Fete at Shippan Point. A lawn fete for the benefit of St. Johns
parochial school is to be given in the course of the summer, at
Leopold L. Barzaghis place at Shippan. A number of the summer
families at Shippan are Catholics, and they are going to take this
way of showing their interest in their summer parish. The details
have not been arranged yet, but the af-fair promises to be quite a
social event at the Point. July 16, 1908: Italian Colony
Celebrates. The local Italian colony or that portion of it which is
Catholic (and on feast days and funeral days this includes nearly
all of it), is observing today the feast day of Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel, which is always marked by the greatest devotion on the part
of Italians. There was a parade this morning, in which several
Italian societies took part, and at 10 a.m. Solemn High Mass was
celebrated in St. Johns R. C. Church. Rev. Antonio Rizzo was the
celebrant; Rev. Fa-ther Leary of New Canaan, deacon; and Rev.
Father Sulli-van sub-deacon. Father Rizzo preached a sermon in
Ital-ian. A quantity of fire crackers were set off in the street
during the service.
95 YEARS AGO, OR SO: July 12, 1922: NEW CROSS PLACED ON ST.
JOHNS CATHOLIC CHURCH. A new cross, replac-ing that blown down
several months ago, was placed in position on the top of St. Johns
Catholic Church, yester-day, by Edward Gorman, the sexton, and his
assistant Harry Young. The former cross, which had been in
posi-tion for 10 or 15 years, came down with a crash in the Spring,
and was broken into hundreds of fragments on the stone steps at the
south entrance to the church. The new cross is made of wood,
sheathed with copper and gilded. A support, imbedded in the stone
of the church, holds the cross firmly. It stands six feet high and
has a span of four feet.
70 YEARS AGO, OR SO: July 15, 1946: St. Johns Wins From Hearts,
3:0. It is the St. Johns who are the toast of the Twilight League
fans today, after defeating the Sacred Hearts for the second time,
3:0. It was Gene OConnell who spun a neat four hit game to pitch
the Johnnies to a brilliant tri-umph over the Lionmen.
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