SAINTS SIMON & JUDE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Established 1897 185 Van Sicklen Street, Brooklyn, New York 11223 Telephone: (718) 375-9600 Fax: (718) 375-6642 E-mail: [email protected] /www.stssimonjude-brooklyn.org Rev. John Maduri, Administrator Rev. Sijo George, CMI-Parochial Vicar & Rev. Gesson Agenis Deacon Andrew Mastrangelo, Pastoral Minister/Business Manager Ms. Sara Nespoli, Director of Faith Formation SUNDAY MASSES : Saturday evening at 5:00pm Sunday morning at 8:30am(Italian/English), 10:15am & 12:00pm Misa en Espanol-1:30pm WEEKDAY MASSES: Monday – Saturday at 9:00am HOLYDAY MASSES: 7:30am, 9:00am, 7:30pm (Except Christmas and New Year’s Day) WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE/ PARKING LOT DEVOTIONS: Chaplet of The Divine Mercy: Monday after the 9 am Mass Circulo de Oracion Carismatico en Espanol- Todos los Lunes de las 7pm a las 9pm en la parte baja de la iglesia. Para mas informacion, favor de llamar a la Sra. Teodora Aquino 347-355-5715. Miraculous Medal Novena: Tuesday after the 9 am Mass Rosario in Italiano ogni Mercoledi alle 7:30pm (Settembre– Giugno). St. Jude Novena: Friday after the 9 am Mass Holy Hour / Benediction: 8:00am-9:00am every Saturday RECONCILIATION (Confession): Saturday: 4:00pm-4:30pm Other times by appointment. RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday: 9:30 am -4:30 pm (CLOSED for lunch from 12pm-1pm) Sunday: 9:30am to 1:30 pm RECTORY/CHURCH STAFF: Bookkeeper / Bulletin Coordinator: Nicole Compagnone Parish Secretary: Antoinette Capobianco Maintenance and Custodians: Nelson Bobe and Eraldi Leka Cook and Housekeeper: Angelica Compagnone Sacristan: Lilian Acevedo Sunday Receptionist: Marie Gatto Youth Minister: Diego Araujo PARISH REGISTRATION: We are happy to welcome all newcomers to our parish! Join our parish family by registering at the rectory during office hours. Current parishioners who change address, phone number or are moving away are asked to contact the rectory, so we can keep our files up to date. BAPTISM: Congratulations on the birth of your child! Parish Baptisms are on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 12:00pm. Please call for an appointment to regis- ter and make arrangements for your child’s Baptism. OFFICE OF FAITH FORMATION: To register for religion classes grades K through 8, children’s First Communion, or Confirmation, call 718-372-0733 in the rectory lower level. Secretaries: Nina Varone and Nelly Yepez (para hablar en Espanol). ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Teens over 14 and Adults who are interested in becoming a Catholic or who have been baptized Catholic but never received Holy Communion or Confirmation should be part of our RCIA program. Leave your name and phone number at the Office of Faith Formation for Sara Nespoli. Catholic Adults who have received Holy Communion and desire to receive Confirmation should also leave their name and phone number at the Office of Faith Formation for Sara Nespoli. MARRIAGE: Plan to make your wedding both a JOYFUL and a HOLY event! Couples must call for an appointment at least 6 months prior to the planned wedding date and partici- pate in the parish and diocesan marriage preparation program. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: We celebrate this sacrament of healing grace at the 9:00am Mass on the first Saturday of each month. Please join us at that Mass if you are ill. You may also call and arrange with a priest to receive this sacrament at other times. PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: Please contact the rectory if you are home- bound, and would like to receive the Holy Eucharist on a regular basis.
Transcript
SAINTS SIMON & JUDE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Established 1897
RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday: 9:30 am -4:30 pm (CLOSED for lunch from 12pm-1pm) Sunday: 9:30am to 1:30 pm RECTORY/CHURCH STAFF: Bookkeeper / Bulletin Coordinator: Nicole Compagnone Parish Secretary: Antoinette Capobianco Maintenance and Custodians: Nelson Bobe and Eraldi Leka Cook and Housekeeper: Angelica Compagnone Sacristan: Lilian Acevedo Sunday Receptionist: Marie Gatto Youth Minister: Diego Araujo
PARISH REGISTRATION: We are happy to welcome all newcomers to our parish! Join our parish family by registering at the rectory during office hours. Current parishioners who change address, phone number or are moving away are asked to contact the rectory, so we can keep our files up to date.
BAPTISM: Congratulations on the birth of your child! Parish Baptisms are on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 12:00pm. Please call for an appointment to regis-ter and make arrangements for your child’s Baptism.
OFFICE OF FAITH FORMATION: To register for religion classes grades K through 8, children’s First Communion, or Confirmation, call 718-372-0733 in the rectory lower level.
Secretaries: Nina Varone and Nelly Yepez (para hablar en Espanol).
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:
Teens over 14 and Adults who are interested in becoming a Catholic or who have been baptized Catholic but never received Holy Communion or Confirmation should be part of our RCIA program. Leave your name and phone number at the Office of Faith Formation for Sara Nespoli. Catholic Adults who have received Holy Communion and desire to receive Confirmation should also leave their name and phone number at the Office of Faith Formation for Sara Nespoli.
MARRIAGE: Plan to make your wedding both a JOYFUL and a HOLY event! Couples must call for an appointment at least 6 months prior to the planned wedding date and partici-pate in the parish and diocesan marriage preparation program.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK: We celebrate this sacrament of healing grace at the 9:00am Mass on the first Saturday of each month. Please join us at that Mass if you are ill. You may also call and arrange with a priest to receive this sacrament at other times.
PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: Please contact the rectory if you are home-bound, and would like to receive the Holy Eucharist on a regular basis.
MASS INTENTIONS
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
5:00 GIULIO GRIMALDI
SUNDAY, MARCH 24
8:30 DONATO DENINNO
10:15 PEOPLE OF PARISH,SERGEANT DOMINICK
MAURO, FRAN MATTERA, FELICIA & NICOLA
DEMARTINO, GIUSEPPE ROSARIO & LOUISE
CATALANO
12:00 CATHERINE & FRANK COSTANZA &
JOSEPH MARCHISELLO
1:30 JOSE AQUINO
MONDAY, MARCH 25
9:00 ARMANDO FORESTA
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
9:00 THERESA CIVITELLO
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
9:00 MARGHERITA & NICOLA BONOMO
THURSDAY, MARCH 28
9:00 SPEZIALE FAMILY FRIDAY, MARCH 29
9:00 ANTOINETTE & NIKOLA FRANKI
SATURDAY, MARCH 30
9:00 ANTONIO & VINCENZA IACOANGELO &
JOSEPHINE & DANIEL MARTORANO
5:00 ROSALIE & MARIO CORAGGIO
SUNDAY, MARCH 31
8:30 FRANCES ZIMMARDI
10:15 PEOPLE OF THE PARISH, VINCENZA
SCIBILIA, FRAN MATTERA, ANNA IACOPELLI,
CHRISTOPHER, FERDINANDO & CARLO
MAIELLO, JOSEPHINE BUETI & SALVATORE
MAZZAMUTO
12:00 CHARLIE & KATHY SWEENEY, JOAN MAURER,
ROSE ZEMBOVICTZ & JENNIE CURATOLO
1:30 SPANISH MASS
IN OUR PRAYERS May the Holy Spirit bring healing comfort to all of our sick, especially:
Jeanine Ardizzone, Camille & Anthony Chiusano, Annette Puglisi, William
Tirelli, John Belezio, Denise Pizzullo, John Geraci, Antoinette Marino, Jean-
ina Caceres, Millie Piccarelli, John DzHon Vong, Gina Morselli, Mary Ann
Barry, Susan Fischetti, Dominic Nunziato, Linda Viscardi, Maria Sciarrino,
Mary Antico, Maria Selca Maher, Angelo D’Attoma, Joseph DiBella, Ella
Spina, Carmela Maccia, Rose Colombo, Theresa Pagani, Roza Camaj-Ivezaj,
Richard Bubello, Joseph Nucifora, Grayce Prestipino, Howard Passman,
Frank Apsel, Isabella DiNiso, Jeanne Turzilli, Larry Lembo, Gesterkent
Jaro, Antonino Curatolo, Robert Cusimano, Michael Fiore, Karen Giachetta,
Mary Jencsik, T. Guida, Richard & Gary Prestipino, Carol Marcinsky,
Pietro Grippo, John Paul Harris, Reid Moritz, Julia Bruzzese, Angela Nuci-
fora, Stephen DiBella, Maria Piccarelli, Russ Pennington, Dorothy Vallone
Iaconis, Jacinta Duenas-Ladd, Sal D’Aquino, Josephine Gioia, Giada Crav-
DOUBTS AND GRUMBLES In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he is warning them not to fall into the same trap that the Early
Israelites did. Although they had seen God’s glory and benefitted from his graces, they still had
doubts and complaints. Their grumblings led to their wandering the desert for 40 years waiting to
get to the Promised Land and some of the perished before getting there. Even those who have ex-
perienced the blessings of God can become jaded and not appreciate all they have, Paul did not
want them to be the same way.
DO YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE RIGHT? In the Gospel today Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that did not bear fruit. The owner of the land wanted to cut it down, thinking it
was not a good tree. The gardener had faith that with the proper care the tree would bear fruit. That’s how it is with us. Sometimes we are
not living up to our fullest potential as Catholics, and we need a little extra care. That’s the great thing about Lent, it gives us the chance
to evaluate ourselves and try to make changes. Our parish is offering some opportunities to do some spiritual pruning to help us live our
best lives as Catholics.
ANNUNCIATION On Monday February 25 we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation. It is the remembrance of when the Angel Gabriel came to Mary to
let her know that God had chosen her to be the mother of our Lord. Imagine the fear she must have felt, having this being appear; and
then the confusion of being told she was to bear the Savior of the world. Seems to be too much to process; but Mary being ever faithful to
God said “yes.” Through her we were able to receive the salvation promised by God.
CONGRATULATIONS Yesterday the children of our Communion program received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. Please keep them in your
prayers as they continue their preparation for First Eucharist.
PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle;
be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do you, O prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits
who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.
Amen
WHO IS THIS GOD?
I remember vividly a teenage girl once telling me about a
friend who was considering an abortion. After going back-and
-forth with her I finally asked her what she thought God
would want. She answered immediately that God would not
want her friend to have the abortion but then quickly added
that “God has to understand that sometimes things happen.” I
was taken back by the fact that she knew what God expected
but had no problems saying that God had to accept her
friend’s potential abortion whether He liked it or not. Another
way of putting it is that in her thinking our needs and desires
are more important and supersede God’s Will. She was obvi-
ously one who believed in God but was unwittingly beginning
to live like a functional atheist.
In today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus we find
Moses with God on Mount Sinai. Unbeknownst to Moses the
people at the base of the mountain had begun to worship a
false god and live in debauchery. Through the long journey to
the mountain Moses had to deal often with the people’s grum-
bling which were ultimately aimed at God Himself. Was it
perhaps because God had become so close to His people that
they forgot in whose Presence they were in?
It is without doubt that God has continually sought to reveal
Himself to us. In the midst of the Israelites’ transgressions,
sins, complaints and on again off again fidelity, God never
tired of revealing Himself as One who was ever present to His
people in love and mercy. He was always giving them another
chance.
As we enter into the scene with God and Moses at Mount Si-
nai we encounter a God who is certainly close. He is “seen” in
the burning bush and He speaks with Moses. At the same time
He also admonishes Moses to remove His sandals because he
is on holy ground. Then He gives the Name by which He is to
be made known to the people: “I AM”. He is life, being and
essence itself. Nothing is without Him. No one, no thing has
life or being without Him who is being. Flowing from this is
His one and undivided Will which must seek to live by if our
life, essence and being is to be complete.
At this point some may one wonder if their is a contradiction
between this and Jesus’ revelation of God as Father. The con-
fusion may come because we can easily forget that while Je-
sus did in fact reveal God as Father He did not reveal God as a
buddy. We can become neglectful or even ignore what our
friends ask of us. It is not so easy with one’s father. If a father
is fulfilling his vocation well his children will trust Him and
love Him and have comfort from him, but they will also listen
and follow his direction not out of fear but out of respect and
devotion.
This is essentially what we are being offered in the Sacred
Scriptures: God who is love, mercy, close at hand, a father in
the perfection of fatherly love but a father who requires our
obedience and fidelity not out of fear but out of grateful love
for all He has given us. Like Moses at Mount Sinai we are to
stand in awe and reverence before God because of Who He is
but also because of how He loves.
If the teenage girl I mentioned at the beginning of this reflec-
tion had this proper understanding of God her reaction would
have been different. Rather than a pedestrian god who has to
ascend to her will because she or her friend think they know
better, she would have seen God as the Father who would not
abandon her or her friend, who would have journeyed with
them in the joys and sorrows of life, and whose Will would
have brought them - not necessarily ease - but joy in peaceful
acceptance.
There are clearly many obstacles that need to be confronted in
our present social climate. Fathers are absent, abusive and
indifferent in the lives of vast numbers of people. Fatherhood
is then denigrated in many areas of society especially in popu-
lar entertainment; a disturbing narcissism has gripped and
enslaved millions, and among those who believe in God there
is difficulty in accepting God’s fatherhood given the negative
experience that too many have had with their own fathers. At
the same time Jesus calls us “no longer slaves but friends” but
even true friendship has become harder to come by. When so
many live surface lives without much depth there is not much
to share and even less loyalty. This affects our understanding
of Jesus as friend. There are no easy solutions to any of this
but faithful Christians must at least give witness by our own
lives.
Moses stood in awe and reverence before the majesty of God,
for who God is and all He has done in His mighty power. He
also conversed regularly with God and even with a certain
familiarity. He was a son before a father. Yet Moses never
lost sight of the obedience, loyalty, and love he owed God, a
love that was shown by his constant “yes” to God’s Will. In
that fidelity he was able to glimpse the Promised Land as He
came to the end of His earthly life and now dwells in the
promised land of the New Jerusalem.
We are given the same promise. If we live in relationship with
God in the manner of Moses we can also glimpse the kingdom
of God already in our midst and one day dwell with faithful
men and women in the New Jerusalem of heaven.
Fr. John Maduri,
Pastor/Administrator
THE BATTLE OF PRAYER
Each of us has been graced with a free will, which is
both a tremendous gift and a tremendous responsibility.
If we want to live a life rooted in prayer, we can. But it
requires us to choose to do so every day. It requires forti-
tude and perseverance, and it is far from easy. Figures
throughout the Old and New Testament, as well as many
of the saints, attest to the fact that prayer is a battle. It is
a struggle against the desires of our flesh, as well as the
temptations of the world and the evil one. Prayer is much
more than a “simple psychological activity” or “ritual
words and postures”. It comes from the Holy Spirit trans-
forms us from the inside out if we allow it to.
When we go to pray, there are several difficulties that we
will face. The first, which the Catechism calls “the habit-
ual difficulty”, is distraction. This is something that sim-
ply takes time and continued effort to overcome. One
mistake that many make is to mentally set out to find
distractions in our heart, when what we really should be
doing is simply turning our minds and hearts back to
God. Distractions often tell us what we are attached to.
Earthly attachments are not necessarily a bad thing, but
we should have a “preferential love” for God above all,
and turn our hearts back to him every time we find our-
selves distracted.
A second difficulty that we will encounter is dryness.
Often, when we first set out on our spiritual journey and
prayer life, everything feels new and exciting. Prayer
may come easily for us, and we may see all sorts of good
fruit coming from it. Other times however, we are called
out into the desert to follow Christ, and we experience a
dryness in prayer, where we feel distant from God no
matter how much we pray. Dryness could be present for
several reasons. Maybe we have a hardened heart and
need conversion, or maybe it really is just a time to grow
closer to God in the wilderness. What is crucial is that
we don’t stop praying when we encounter this. Consis-
tency is key, and these times of dryness purify us and our
love and lead us closer to God.
In addition to these difficulties, there are also tempta-
tions. Lack of faith and slothfulness are the two we
should be most “on guard” for. Are we turning to God
only in moments where we feel like we need him? Or are
we giving our very lives to him and trusting the plan that
he has for us. Are we giving into laziness? Spiritual
slothfulness? Be vigilant! Stand guard! Every prayer we
pray is heard by God, even if we don’t always receive
the answers we are hoping for.
I once heard it remarked that the only two things we
need to have a prayer life are honesty and consistency. If
we come before God every day, even for just a few min-
utes, but we do it consistently and being honest with
God and with ourselves, we will grow spiritually. Prayer
may be a battle, but if we hone in on these two crucial
