St. John the Baptist R. C. Church 895 Piermont Avenue, Piermont, New York 10968

www.stjohnspiermont.org stjohnspiermont@optonline.net 845-359-0078

Aug. 20th, 2017 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Rev. Tom Kunnel, C.O. Administrator

frtomkunnel@gmail.com

Deacon John Cunningham Deacon Robert Pang

Kathleen Dunn Religious Education Director

May Pang Parish Admin: maysoohoo@optonline.net

MASSES

Saturday: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM

1:00 PM (Spanish) Weekdays: 8:00 AM Saturday: 9:00 AM

Holy Days: As Announced

Rectory

Mon – Fri 10:15 AM – 4:00 PM

Sat 9 AM – 11 AM (Spanish)

“In Memory of Philip & Gilda Scala & Bernard & Vivian Gorman”

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP ‘ST JOHN PIERMONT’

Dear Parish Family, The Gospel narrative of Jesus’ encounter with the ‘Canaanite woman’ has many Scripture scholars taking opposing stands of interpretation. The other readings of

this week-end from Isaiah 56 and Romans 11 give us fresh ground of assimilating this wonderful encounter for our own spiritual growth. Jesus takes his disciples to pagan territory, an area according to Jewish tradition considered cities of sin and rebellion against God. Here they are met by a woman of Ca-naanite origin. The Canaanites were traditional enemies of Israel and it was a cultural and religious taboo to talk to women espe-cially from other cultures. The reaction of the disciples to send her away and Jesus’ seemingly stern rebuff of drawing lines of division between Jews and gentiles and the purpose of his mis-sion solely to the Jewish nation are all deep seated sentiments of ‘traditional Jews’.

It is content of the conversation and the end result of the encoun-ter that carries to us, the faith community the kernel of the mes-sage. This perceived enemy and outcast (in Jewish eyes) is a woman who has deep understanding of God’s work as she ad-dresses Jesus as ‘Son of David’ a Jewish title for Messiah. She follows it with a hallowed prayer of a fervent Israelite, “Lord help me”. Here she is acknowledging that Jesus is divine and He can save. In the face of this deep faith Jesus takes a step in the direction of the popular insult term for Gentiles: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” In turn, the woman has the blessed hutzpah to make a witty play on Je-sus’ image: “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” The original transliteration of her reply can be rendered as, ‘The children who have pet dogs share the same food’. Here is a woman of unshakeable faith and Jesus acknowledges it and grants her request to show his disci-ples that he is the Savior of all humankind. This lesson was well learned as the early Church would defy all expectation and em-brace the pagans into its fold and we all are in the church today as the result of this change of heart. The wonderful plan of God still amazes us.

Can we challenge our prejudices and misgivings about people around us and embrace them as Christ loved and praised this woman of our Gospel? There are places of contempt in our neighborhood that we avoid, and yet they are the places where the Gospel is most needed. God has a wonderful plan for the world, to spread his message of hope and love and each of us have a role to play in bringing about this kingdom. A faith kept to ourselves never grows but when shared it multiplies.

Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O

THE SANCTUARY LAMP Is Being Offered this week

Veronica Hickey

By Connie Lynch

Please remember in your prayers the Sick and/or Homebound of our Parish Family. Antoinette Naglieri, Tommy McGuire, Nicholas Bruni, brother of Marge Olsen, Giovanni Mercurio, Nijole Paronet-to, Caroline Kelly, Julie Cawley, Betty Keyes, Den-is Spillane, Thomas Mooney, John Beckley, Ron Rebers, Ginny Terzer

As a Parish Family, let us remember in our prayers all our beloved departed members of our Parish Community, Theresa Sforca, Madeline Ventriglia, Angelina Benicasa, Frank Walsh, Nelida Cortes, Joseph Iorio, father of Lee McGarvey, Ken Melia, Angelo Mercurio, Michael K . McGuiness, Jr., Mi-chael K. McGuiiness, Theresa (Patti) Veen, John McCann, Charlie Card, Beverly Pane PLEASE ADVISE THE RECTORY (359-0078) WHENEVER A PARISHION-ER BECOMES HOMEBOUND, ILL, OR HOSPITALIZED SO ARRANGE-MENTS CAN BE MADE FOR A PRIEST, DEACON OR EUCHARISTIC MINISTER TO VISIT AND BRING COMMUNION TO THEM.

Sat 8/19 5:00 PM Francis & Bridget Doonan by Armstrong Family

Sun 8/20

8:00 AM Soriano & Silva Family (intentions) by Family

10:30:AM Mary Iorio by Lee Mc Garvey

Mon 8/21 8:00 AM Angelo Mercurio by Ann Ely

Tue 8/22 8:00 AM Christopher Castagna Silvio By Maria Castagna

Wed 8/23 8:00 AM Theresa (Patti) Veen by Ann Ely

Thu 8/24 8:00 AM Theresa (Patti) Veen by Helen Koza

Fri 8/25 8:00 AM Karen Emden by Moore Family

Sat 8/26

9:00 AM Steve Hnat by Helen, Anthony, & Kathy Koza

5:00 PM Jerry O'Dowd by Family

Sun 8/27

8:00 AM Theresa (Patti) Veen by CDA

10:30 AM Anthony & Christine Barone by Rosemarie & Pat Miele

Liturgy Schedule Aug 26/27

Day Time Lector Eucharistic

Minister Altar Servers

Saturday 8/26 5:00 PM Carol Conklin Spillane

Sunday 8/27

8:00 AM Catherine O’Brien Lucy Bosco Freddie St eifel Maddie Steifel 10:30 AM Jeannine Kennedy May Pang Michaela Duggan Aoife Kennedy 1:00 PM Arelis Martinez Marleni Lemus David Nova Gloria Trinidad Mariela Ramirez Elmer Mazariego Bethzy Aguilar Pedro Aguilar

Classes will begin on Sunday, September 10th and Monday, September 11th. Be aware that we will not accept any registrations on those days, so if you have not yet registered your children, please do so as soon as possible to avoid disappointment come the big days. We are still looking for a seventh grade teacher. Try to find it in your heart to join our wonderful group of Cat-echists who inspire and motivate our youngsters. I am sure you are out there, but are just a bit shy. Please come forward, WE NEED YOU! Bear in mind that God does not call the qualified, but rather He qualifies the called. I can be reached at 845.942.2908 or by Email at sjre@optonline.net. Blessings, Kathleen Dunn

20th Sunday in Ord. Time

Readings No. 910A

Sun 20-Aug

11:30AM Legion of Mary

11:45AM Baptism

1PM Spanish Baptism

7PM AA Meeting

Mon 21-Aug 7:30PM

Tue 22-Aug

7PM Baptism Prep

7PM Spanish Scripture Class

7PM Rios de Agua Viva Group

7PM Altar Server Prep and Practice

Wed 23-Aug 1:30PM Piermont Sr Meeting

7PM Spanish Choir Practice

Thu 24-Aug

1PM CDA Knitting

7PM Amigos de Jesus

7PM Rios de Agua Viva Group

Fri 25-Aug

10AM Fri Renew Group

7PM Spanish Prayer Group

7PM Laying of Hands

7:30PM Youth Group

Sat 26-Aug

Will be reported next week

If you have not sent in your 300 Club renewal payments yet, please do so ASAP.

Or let us know if you are not renewing.

8/13 $3954

TODAY'S READINGS

TODAY'S READINGS

CALLED TO ACT IN GOD'S NAME "Let all the nations praise you!" (Psalm 67:4) today's psalm response exclaims. In the psalms and other Hebrew scriptures, this kind of invocation is actually an invitation to God to act, to intervene in hu-man lives in a manner that will cause everyone--not just the Chosen People--to give praise. Stated a bit more strongly, it is something of a "put up or shut up" challenge to God, the sort of strong statement the psalmists of Israel, trusting in their intimate and loving relationship with God, were not afraid to make. The Gospel has its own exclamation, announcing the appearance of the Canaanite woman with "Behold!" (Matthew 15:22) "Behold!" is a scriptural flag that tells us that God is about to act or announce something through an individual or a situation. In the case of Jesus, God was going to act through this woman, whom nobody among Jesus' followers would have believed to be an agent of the divine will. Like the psalmists, we might passively inform or perhaps even ac-tively challenge God to do something so that everyone will come to belief, but God will always turn the tables on us. It becomes our call-ing, our duty (as it was for Jesus) to behold the situations and per-sons of our daily lives so that God can act through us, so the King-dom can be announced through our living.

First Reading -- Thus says the LORD: "Stand firm in justice; do what is right" (Isaiah 56:1, 6-7). Psalm -- O God, let all the nations praise you! (Psalm 67). Second Reading -- The gifts and the calling of God are unable to be revoked (Romans 11:13-15, 29-32). Gospel -- Jesus told the Canaanite woman of great faith, "It shall be done as you wish" (Matthew 15:21-28).

Religious Education for Adults - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

ARE YOU SOMEONE OR DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO…

Has not been baptized and would like to learn more about the Catholic faith, with the possibility of becoming a Catholic? Is a baptized Christian of another denomi-nation and who would like to learn about and possibly join the Catholic tradition? Is a baptized Roman Catholic who has not re-ceived the sacraments of Holy Communion or Confirmation? Then our RCIA program might be the answer for you. The goal is to prepare adults who wish to join the Roman Catholic Church, or who wish to complete their sacraments of Christian initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist).

You will attend weekly classes where you will learn about the faith, traditions, and practices of the Catholic Church. Classes are available in either English or in Spanish. They typically run from September until Easter.

Please contact Deacon Rob Pang, Jose Bo-lanos, or the rectory to register for RCIA or if you have any questions or need more infor-mation.

The Beatitudes. The Golden Rule. The Lord’s Prayer. ..These are just a few of the central teachings contained in the Sermon on the Mount. Undoubtedly, the Sermon is one of the most powerful parts of the New Testament.

12 DVD lectures

video teacher is Father Dennis Hamm, Ph.D Pro-fessor of Theology and Endowed Faculty Chair in Catholic Theology at Creighton University.

Classes Tues, 9/5—12/5 10AM - 12 noon

St. John Connelly Hall, 895 Piermont Ave. Pier-mont, NY

Fee: $20 for 12 weeks, includes study guide

Contact Johanna Krumm for additional information 845-353-8910

It was on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29 in 2007, that the Holy Father,

Benedict XVI approved the foundation of the NY Oratory of Saint Philip Neri.

We invite His Emminence Cardinal Dolan

and All Our Parishioners

to join us in this Anniversary Celebration

Mass: Tuesday, August 22, 2017

7:30 in the Evening

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church

120 Kings Highway, Tappan

Light refreshments after Mass Together we will thank God for the

many blessing we received in these ten short years of our existence.

Your presence will also confirm your love for us and our love and loyalty to you.

FAITH AND DARKNESS Ron Rolheiser

We tend to confuse faith with our capacity on any given day to conjure up a concept of God and imagine God’s ex-istence. Moreover we think our faith is strongest at those times when we have affective and emotive feelings attached to our imaginations about God. Our faith feels strongest when bolstered by and inflamed by feelings of fervor. Great spiritual writers will tell us that this stage of fervor is a good stage in our faith, but an initiatory one, one more commonly experienced when we are neophytes. Experience tends to support this. In the earlier stages of a religious journey it is common to possess strong, affective images and feelings about God. At this stage, our relationship with God parallels the relationship between a couple on their honeymoon. On your honeymoon you have strong emotions and possess a certain certainty about your love, but it’s a place you come home from. A honeymoon is an initiatory stage in love, a valuable gift, but something that disappears after it has done its work. A honeymoon is not a marriage, though often confused with one. It’s the same with faith; strong imaginative images of God are not faith, though they’re often confused with it. Strong imaginative images and strong feelings about God are, in the end, just that, images. Wonderful, but images nonetheless, icons. An image is not the reality. An icon can be beautiful and helpful and point us in the right direction, but when mistaken for the reality it becomes an idol. For this reason, the great spiritual writers tell us that God at cer-tain moments of our spiritual journey “takes away” our cer-tainty and deprives us of all warm, felt feelings in faith. God does this precisely so that we cannot turn our icons into idols, so that we cannot let the experience of faith get in the way of the end of faith itself, namely, an encounter the reality and person of God.

Mystics such as John of the Cross call this experience of seemingly losing our faith, “a dark night of the soul.” This describes the experience where we used to feel God’s pres-ence with a certain warmth and solidity, but now we feel like God is non-existent and we are left in doubt. This is what Jesus experienced on the cross and this is what Moth-er Teresa wrote about in her journals.

And while that darkness can be confusing, it can also be maturing: It can help move us from being arrogant, judg-mental, religious neophytes to being humble, empathic men and women, living inside a cloud of unknowing, under-standing more by not understanding than by understanding, helpfully lost in a darkness we cannot manipulate or con-trol, so as to finally be pushed into genuine faith, hope, and charity.

Our goal: $521,400 Current Pledge: $260,000

Help us with your pledge, a 5-year donation gift plan. All gifts are tax deductible and may be paid annually, semi-annually, quarterly or monthly. Thank you for your sup-port of our Parish.

LECTURAS DE HOY Primera lectura -- Mi salvación se viene acercando; mi justicia está a punto de aparecer (Isaías 56:1, 6-7).

Salmo -- Que te alaben, Señor, todos los pueblos de la tierra (Salmo 66).

Segunda lectura -- Los dones y la llamada de Dios son irrevocables (Romanos 11:13-15, 29-32).

Evangelio -- Mujer, ¡qué grande es tu fe! (Mateo 15: 21-28).

LLAMADOS A ACTUAR EN EL NOMBRE DE DIOS "¡Que todos los pueblos te alaben!" (Salmo 67:4) exclama la respuesta del salmo de hoy. En el salterio y en otras escritu-ras hebreas, este tipo de invocación es en realidad una invi-tación a Dios para que actúe e intervenga en las vidas hu-manas de tal manera que haga que todos -no sólo el Pueblo Elegido -exprese alabanzas. Dicho algo más fuerte, es como desafiar a Dios para que "aguante o se calle", el tipo de palabras duras que los salmistas de Israel, confiando en su íntima relación de amor con Dios, no temían expresar. El Evangelio tiene su propia exclamación que anuncia la aparición de la mujer cananea con un "Entonces" (Mateo 15:22). "Entonces" o "he aquí" es una señal en la Biblia que nos indica que observemos con mucha atención, que Dios está por actuar o anunciar algo por medio de un individuo o una situación. En el caso de Jesús, Dios iba a obrar a través de esta mujer, a quien ninguno de los seguidores de Jesús hubiera creído pudiera ser una agente de la voluntad divina. Como los salmistas, puede que informemos en for-ma pasiva a Dios o quizás hasta activamente le desafiemos para que haga algo para que todos lleguen a creer, mas Dios siempre nos volteará las posiciones. Se convierte en nuestro llamado, nuestro deber (como lo fue para Jesús) observar atentamente las situaciones y a las personas en nuestra vida diaria para que Dios pueda actuar a través de nosotros, para que el Reino sea anunciado en nuestro diario vivir.

Para los cursos pre-bautismales llamar a: .Alex Aguilar 845-480-1502 y Natalia Lemus 845-480-1682. Los cursos se dan previa cita los martes 7pm y domingo 11am.

LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA

Lunes Jue 2:11-19; Sal 105:34-37, 39-40, 43ab, 44; Mt 19:16-22

Martes Jue 6:11-24a; Sal 84:9, 11-14; Mt 19:23-30

Miércoles Jue 9:6-15; Sal 20:2-7; Mt 20:1-16

Jueves Apo 21:9b-14; Sal 144:10-13, 17-18; Jn 1:45-51

Viernes Rut 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22; Sal 145:5-10; Mt 22:34-40

Sábado Rut 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17; Sal 127:1b-5; Mt 23:1-12

Domingo Is 22:19-23; Sal 137:1-3, 6, 8; Rom 11:33-36; Mt 16:13-20

TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE

Mientras que la población de estudiantes que no son his-panos va bajando en Estados Unidos de América, el número de estudiantes hispanos va creciendo en las es-cuelas primarias y secundarias. Esta es buena noticia para los latinos. La mala noticia es que el porcentaje de estu-diantes latinos que abandonan la escuela y nunca terminan su educación sigue creciendo. De la misma manera, el número de latinos que van a la universidad continúa muy bajo y muchos de los que asisten nunca terminan por falta de recursos, documentos legales o apoyo familiar. La familia constituye uno de nuestros valores centrales co-mo hispanos. Esta no debe ser una barrera sino un apoyo para que se eduquen nuestros hijos e hijas. Recuerdo bien que a la edad de 6 años mi papá me hacía pasar y repasar el abecedario. Durante la primaria, él y mi mamá me cor-regían la tarea, y cuando no quería ir a la escuela, me hací-an ver lo difícil que es la vida cuando no se tiene estudios. Mis padres no terminaron la escuela pero todos sus hijos ahora somos maestros. La educación comienza en el hogar, animen a sus hijos.

Mi agradecimiento personal a aquellos de ustedes que se pusieron de pie para invertir en el futuro de San Juan.. Si aún no lo ha hecho, le pido con urgencia que envíe su "FORMULARIO DE PAGO" (PLEDGE FORM) antes del 20 de agosto. Se le enviará un recordatorio por correo. Por favor, sepa, estaría muy feliz de reunirme con usted personalmente para discutir con usted el compromiso de su campaña.

Mis sinceros agradecimientos a todos ustedes que ya hicieron una promesa de sacrificio a nuestra parroquia. San Juan Bautista, ruega por nosotros. En Cristo,

Fr. Tom Kunnel

te invita a vivir un retiro de parejas.

El día 30 de septiembre de 8:30 am a 4:00 pm.

Para mas informacion—845 499-9225

Predicadora: Yilma Asebedo Ministerio de Alabanza: Evelin Moran

Fecha: 14 de Octubre 2017 Informacion a los Telefonos ; 845 406—7087 845 274—2520

P A R I S H M I N I S T R I E S & C H A I R Buildings & Grounds Pat Miele, Alex Aguilar, Buzz Johnson Deanery TBD Eucharistic Adoration Dcn Robert Pang Health Mary Loftus Hispanic Community Mario Zamora, Marili Mendoza Palma Hospitality Robin Miller Men’s Club Bill Loftus. Ralph Olsen Ushers Jake Miraglia Music Elise Espinosa, Chris & Carolyn Yates, Spanish Choir Carlos Cerna, William Martinez Outreach Maria Nest Parish Council Scott Giblin Parish Worship Dcn John Cunningham Religious Education Kathleen Dunn RCIA Dcn Robert Pang, Jose Bolaños Right to Life Scott Giblin Social TBD Spiritual Life Johanna Krumm St. Vincent De Paul Fr. Tom Kunnel

P A R I S H C O U N C I L Kathleen Dunn, Scott Giblin. Paul Johnson, Andrew Lee, Martina

Lynch, William Martinez, Maria Nest , Ralph Olsen, May Pang, Alex Flores, Carolyn Yates, Janet Zahn, Rafael Mazariego

T R U S T E E S Phil McCartin James Pontone

Our Sacramental Life

Baptism: Please call the Rectory well in advance of the expected day of Baptism to arrange an appointment for an interview. Pre-baptismal meeting for parents is required. Godparents must be confirmed, practicing Catholics. Generally Baptisms are celebrated the third Sunday of each month at 12:00 pm.

Reconciliation: Confessions are heard from 4:30-5:00 pm on Saturday. You may also make an appointment with Fr. Tom. Spanish confessions is availa-ble from 12:30–1:00 PM on Sundays.

Marriage: Marriages should be arranged at least six months in advance. Participation in Pre-Cana is essential. Please call the Rectory to schedule an appointment with Fr. Tom.

Anointing of the Sick: Before you enter the hospital for elective surgery or other serious treatment, and for those who have need of spiritual healing. In an emergency, please call Fr. Tom’s mobile 845 608 9358.

Holy Orders: Any gentleman interested in exploring the question of vocation to the priesthood or the permanent diaconate should contact Fr. Tom Kunnel. We would also be happy to direct anyone interested in living their lives as Religious Sisters or Brothers.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults: For instruction for Baptism, Confirma-tion and Eucharist for adults and to learn about Catholic Faith. If interested please contact Dcn Robert Pang.

For more details and forms—www.stjohnspiermont.org

Parish Registration: All adults (over age 21) should register in the parish themselves and should use envelopes or parishpay.com. Tithing is 5% of income. This registration is our only means of certifying anyone as a member of the parish, especially for Baptism and Confirmation sponsorship

Parish Renew & Rebuild Campaign My personal gratitude to those of you who stepped up to invest in the future of St. John. We have all inherited a very special place thanks to the generations before us. I hope you now feel a sense of gratitude to those who made this all possible and that you also feel a strong sense of obligation to do your part to help insure that St John’s continues to move forward and be all that you would want in a parish community.

If you have not yet done so, I urgently ask that you send in your “PLEDGE FORM” by 20 August. A reminder is being mailed to you. Please know, I would be very happy to meet with you personally to discuss with you your campaign commitment.

My sincere thanks to all of you who already made a sacrifi-cial pledge to our parish. St. John the Baptist, pray for us. In Christ,

Fr. Tom Kunnel