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 16
5:00 GIUSEPPE & SALVATORE PAGANO
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
8:30 STELLA CIRINO, ANTONIO, FILOMENA &
CARMEN
10:15 PEOPLE OF THE PARISH, ANNA ESPOSITO,
CECILIA PASTORELLI, MARIE & ROBERT
KENAVAN & ROB KENAVAN
12:00 DONATO, ANGELA & VITO ANTONIO
BATTISTA
1:30 SPANISH MASS
MONDAY, MARCH 18
9:00 GIUSEPPE CAPITUMMINO &
GIUSEPPA ANNONUOVO
TUESDAY, MARCH 19
9:00 MICHELE DAGOSTINO, ANNA ILLUZZI &
FRANCESCO MATTIA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
9:00 DANIEL BREEN
THURSDAY, MARCH 21
9:00 JOSEPHINE MILANO FRIDAY, MARCH 22
9:00 GIUSEPPE & MARGHERITA VERGA &
CARMELA & NICOLA DEFILIPPIS
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
9:00 MARIA DE LOS ANGELES CERVANTES SANCHEZ
5:00 GIULIO GRIMALDI
SUNDAY, MARCH 24
8:30 DONATO DENINNO
10:15 PEOPLE OF THE PARISH, SGT. DOMINICK
MAURO, FRAN MATTERA, FELICIA & NICOLA
DEMARTINO, GIUSEPPE, ROSARIO & LOUISE
CATALANO
12:00 CATHERINE & FRANK COSTANZA & JOSEPH
MARCHISELLO
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-
LISTEN TO HIM In the Gospel we hear about the Transfiguration. The voice of God was heard by Peter, John and
James telling them to listen to Jesus. By following the instructions of God and modeling their be-
havior of Jesus they became our examples. The in the second reading today we hear St Paul in-
structing the Philippians to model their behavior on the Apostles. He is telling them (and us) that we
should keep our focus on Christ and heaven. Those who look to earthy things to make them happy
will be disappointed. In modeling ourselves after the Apostles, we are in fact, obeying God.
DO YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE RIGHT? In the first reading today we hear of the covenant that God made with Abraham. In those days animals were used in the rituals for blood
covenant, solemn promises between two parties; each side had to keep their end of the promise. Throughout our history God mad cove-
nants with many people, Abraham, Moses, Noah and others. In each one the other parties eventually turned their backs on God and did
not keep their covenant. Jesus is the final covenant, his body was sacrificed for all of humanity. We are the others on the side of the cove-
nant. Are you keeping up your end of the bargain? Do you live the life that God asks of each of us? Lent is the perfect opportunity to see
how we far we fall short of living that promise. As each day passes, use the discipline of prayer to examine your life. Use the discipline
of fasting to eliminate those behaviors that keep you from being the best you. Practice almsgiving as a way of showing others the love
you have received from God. Putting these small actions in place will help you keep your side of the covenant.
FEAST OR FAST? Always during Lent we have two saint feast days that center on food. St Patrick’s Day and St Joseph’s Day. For St. Patrick the food is
corned beef and cabbage, many families, if they are Irish or not enjoy that meal. What torture when the feast day falls on a Friday! Let’s
not forget the Irish soda bread; even Italian pastry shops sell this delicious bread that tastes good toasted or plain and is best served with
butter. Then we have the tradition of the St Joseph’s bread and the delicious pastries sfinge and zeppole. I pity the poor people who have
given up bread and sweets for Lent. This year instead of focusing on the foods for the saints, let’s focus on their lives. How much better
would our Lenten journey be if we incorporated their love, courage, faith and trust into our lives?
ST JOSEPH On Tuesday we celebrate the feast day of St Joseph. He is the spouse of Mary, earthly father of Jesus. St. Joseph might be one of the most
underrated saints. As part of the Holy Family we acknowledge his role in the life of Jesus. He is an excellent example of being a man
with courage. Trusting and listening to God, keeping his promise of marriage to Mary when he could have quietly divorced her. He is a
role model to fathers and husbands, promising fidelity not only to God but to Mary. His quiet strength and faith is something we should
all strive for; whether we are men or women.
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
JUST SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE
Most of us are aware of the story that broke this past
Tuesday when dozens of rich and famous people were
caught in a bribery scam involving some elite colleges
and universities. They used their money and influence to
buy their children’s way into some of the best higher
educational institutions of the country. As many pointed
out, aside from the illegality and immorality of the brib-
eries, these parents are leaving their children a legacy of
dishonesty and deceit. The basic lesson they are teach-
ing their children is that the ends justify the means. One
can only wonder with some apprehension what these
parents’ descendants will be like through the generations
when such dishonesty and deceit is taught to the young.
The simple fact of the matter is that all of us leave de-
scendants. The question is what kind of descendants will
they be.
In today’s first reading from the book of Genesis the
Lord God makes it clear to Abraham, prior to that
Abram, that he will be a father to the nations and his
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. These
descendants of Father Abraham would be men and
women who would acknowledge the one true God and
live as His sons and daughters in faith, hope, love and
truth. Many of these descendants would be the ones
would welcome the coming of the Messiah. These de-
scendants of Abraham would sprinkle the world with
God’s life redeeming love and the wisdom to penetrate
the mysteries of faith. They would work for true justice
and charity toward all and thereby fulfill the mandate of
love.
As I mentioned already, all of us leave descendants. We
can leave descendants who have learned from us the
ways of God and all that flows from that. We can also
leave descendants who will live for this world alone and
all the corruption that goes with it. This applies equally
to institutions and churches just as much as to individu-
als. How many of these institutions and even the
churches will leave descendants who are confused, disil-
lusioned and even corrupted by these same institutions?
How many generations to come will have little to no
knowledge of God or truth because of flawed and sinful
foundations being laid down now? When the Sacred
Scriptures speak about children suffering for the sins of
their parents it is not that God is deliberately holding
future generations hostage to their parents’ sins. Rather
it is their parents’ sins and evil that will hold them hos-
tage even for many generations to come. Only a deliber-
ate and consciously sought conversion can break the
cycle. This conversion of course can only come about
through the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior.
In the Gospel reading today we read of the great Trans-
figuration. Just as Jesus is transfigured and shown in His
glory to Peter, James and John we too are meant to be-
come new creations in Jesus Christ. In one sense we are
all descendants of Adam and his rebellion and rejection
of God’s will. Moreso, however, we are descendants of
the new Adam Jesus Christ who in His acceptance of the
Father’s will shows us the pathway to authentic living,
what it means to be fully alive and free.
The question then to ask ourselves is what kind of de-
scendants are we hoping to leave: dishonest ones who
buy their way through life, selfish ones who think every-
thing is about them, amoral ones with no sense of right
and wrong, ones with little to no hope who scrape
through every pleasure in this life to find meaning, un-
believers who eventually become nihilists? Or do we
want to leave descendants who have the wisdom of the
Saints, the courage of the martyrs, men and women who
seek after the one true living God and His truth and jus-
tice toward all? This question is not answered with
words but rather by our example. The challenge for us
as we read today’s Sacred Scriptures is to ask just that
question, “What kind of descendants am I leaving?”
Fr. John Maduri,
Pastor/Administrator
EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER-PART3:
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
In our third and final reflection on the different
“expressions of prayer”, we will look at what is com-
monly called contemplation, or contemplative prayer.
We began several weeks ago with vocal prayer, which
includes prayer said out loud or in our minds with a
“voice” where we are talking to God. This can take many
forms: praise and thanksgiving, petition (asking God for
things), devotions such as the rosary or even saying
prayers at Mass. The second expression of prayer, which
we looked at last week, is meditation. Meditation is re-
flecting on some topic or reading. It is the mind seeking
deeper understanding of the mysteries of God, and there
are countless methods of meditative prayer that we see
used by the saints throughout history. We are all unique,
individual beings with unique personalities and perspec-
tives. Therefore, God speaks to us each differently, and
we each encounter him differently. No two people pray
exactly the same way. Therefore, when it comes to medi-
tative prayer it is strongly recommended to find the type
of meditation that brings you closer to God, whether it be
imaginative prayer, reflecting on the mysteries of the
Rosary, doing lectio divina (prayerful reading of Scrip-
ture), etc.
Contemplative prayer is different from both vocal prayer
and mental prayer in that the voice (external or internal)
and the mind both are silent in this type of prayer. St.
Teresa called contemplative prayer “a close sharing be-
tween friends”. There is a great story of St. John Vian-
ney, who was a pastor in the small village of Ars in the
late 1700’s. Every day, he saw one of his parishioners
sitting in the pews for hours, just sitting and gazing at the
tabernacle. One day, he decided to ask the man what he
does during this time, how does he pray? The man re-
plied simply, “I look at Him, and He looks at me”. This
is the heart of contemplative prayer.
For many of us, this type of prayer might seem beyond
reach, or even impossible. Despite how simple it sounds
in description, we may think it to be a little “too intense”.
This “silent love” between God and man sounds like
something only the greatest saints had, but the truth is
every single one of us is called by God into this deep
intimate relationship with him.
The best way to enter into contemplative prayer is to
spend time in adoration. Oftentimes, we begin with vocal
prayer; maybe we pray a rosary or write in a prayer jour-
nal. We may do some meditation on Scripture, or read a
Matthew Kelly book (or do some other spiritual reading).
The key to start contemplative prayer is to take little
pauses while doing these things. It is often the case
where we will be praying, and then suddenly we feel the
urge to just “be still”. When this happens, drop whatever
prayer you are doing and rest. Many people mistakenly
believe they must continue along, but this can be a real
sign of the Spirit wanting to take you deeper into con-
templative prayer. You can always pick it back up after
taking a rest and letting your mind go silent for a bit and
just simply being in the presence of God.
I heard a joke once that we should be called human do-
ings instead of human beings, because we are often zip-
ping around doing all sorts of things. When it comes to
prayer, don’t be afraid to simply be. This isn’t being
lazy. On the contrary, it can be one of the deepest
sources of grace and encounter that we can experience
