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22 / 23 DECEMBER Saint Joseph Parish Saint Francis deSales Parish |
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Monday, 31 December 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph's 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at St. Francis deSales' |
| THE LOURDES GROTTO CANDLE is offered, during the week of 30 Dec - 05 Jan, in loving memory of Anthony and Jennie Morris, at the request of their daughter, Ugenia. |
| WE ACKNOWLEDGE WITH GRATITUDE the receipt of a contribution to the StJosPar Memorial Fund from Caren Ganey in memory of James A. Coyle. |
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NO BIBLE STUDY
on Tuesday, 1 January! Next Bible Study will be on Tuesday, 8 January, God willing! NO MASS AT SIMON KRAMER INSTITUTE this month! It is customary to have the monthly Mass on the last Monday of the month. However, this conflicts with the Vigil of the Holy Day. So, please note that the next Mass at the SKI will be on Monday, 28 January. |
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Mary N. Prestileo Sheila Beach Koinski Joan Larish Tranquillo Linnea Buehner Morris Davon R. Slaton Catherine Gerace Smith Annetta Mercuri Yackenchick |
Rosalie Messina Gerace Lisa A. Kauffman Cheryl Pasqua Lecher Courtney Briel Barbara Sciarrone Kasper Francis E. Piccioni |
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PLEASE PRAY FOR
a gentleman who died on 20 December in Hamilton ON. Frank Mercuri,
age 79, is a beloved brother -in-law / uncle / cousin to the
members of the Mercuri family of St. Joseph Parish. He had visited
St. Joseph Church on a number of occasions. Eternal rest grant unto Frank, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. |
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NEW YEAR'S EVE FESTIVITIES At 9:00 p.m. on Monday, 31 December, we will expose the Blessed Sacrament in St. Joseph Church. There will be silent adoration until 11:00 p.m. At 11:00 p.m., we will pray the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, some Litanies. At 11:50 p.m. we will have Benediction. Afterwards, we will pull out all the stops. We will go over to the kitchen of St. Joseph Rectory, eat cheese and crackers and Christmas cookies and drink ginger ale until we get silly! If the cops come banging on the door, we'll turn out the lights! You are invited! Bring some of your wild-and-crazy friends! |
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and THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE NEW YEAR happen to co-incide this year! Date: 4 January 2008 We should all take advantage of this rare astronomic / calendaric conjunction by taking part in Mass on 4 Jan 08. Better yet: Take part both in Mass and Holy Hour! 10:00 a.m. - Mass at StFdS 12:05 p.m. - Mass at StJos 6:15 p.m. - Mass at StJos 7:00 p.m. - Holy Hour at StJos Please note: First Friday Masses and Holy Hour are exclusively for persons who are dependent on God's Mercy for entrance into eternal life. Those who are not in need of mercy but are content to rely on their own self-generated excellence would not benefit from what is offered on First Friday, although they might want to come anyway in order to taunt the sinners. |
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THE NEWS ABOUT THE ASSASSINATION
OF BENAZIR BHUTTO on Thursday,
27 December, hit me in the gut. This was somewhat strange, because,
after all, who is Benazir Bhutto to me and who am I to Benazir
Bhutto? She is (was) a Pakistani politician. I have no connection
with Pakistan. I am not even acquainted with any Pakistanis.
On the other hand, I felt disgusted and angry that some demented
and cowardly bastards succeeded in killing her - and about 22
others. Although interested in world events and politics, I must admit that I don't have a clear idea of where the line is drawn that separates "the good guys" from "the bad guys" in Pakistan. That's probably because there is no clear line. I realize that Musharraf came into power by means of a coup and that he is pretty much of a tyrant. These considerations should make him "a bad guy". On the other hand, I respect the fact that he has been an ally of the USA in the war against the Islamic terrorists. This makes him "a good guy". After all, if my enemy's enemy is my friend, then Musharraf is my friend. However, I know that there was no love lost between Musharraf and Bhutto. It seems that the former tolerated the latter only because he knew that she was beloved by the people - at least by a significant portion of the people. For this reason, I was not too favorably inclined towards Benazir Bhutto. I have become cynical about the capacity - at least the current capacity - of some people for democracy and I do not share President Bush's apparent zeal to spread democracy throughout the earth. Insofar as Bhutto represented "democracy" and Musharraf represents "control", I opted for Musharraf, at least for the present time. There is a lot to be said for being realistic. |
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The strong
suspicion that Musharraf was at least a passive party to Bhutto's
assassination troubles me, although it may turn out that this
is not true. We may never know. When I first heard the news about the assassination, I said (believe it or not): "Eternal rest grant unto Benazir Bhutto, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen." This is what I normally say when I hear that someone has died. But, after saying it this time, I said to God that He should edit that prayer as He sees fit. After all, Benazir Bhutto was a Muslim. She was not exactly one of "the faithful departed"! The category "faithful departed" carries the implication that one was a baptized believer in Jesus Christ. Benazir was not baptized. She professed the Muslim religion. There is no reason to think that she was a secret Christian. So, is salvation even possible for her? Is it possible that Benazir Bhutto will be raised from the dead glorious and immortal when the Lord Jesus comes to gather His people? With full submission of mind to Holy Mother Church, I think it is possible. I note the report that the last word on Benazir's lips before she died was "Allah". If this is true, it is both profound and consoling. I confess to being among those who believe that it is within the realm of possibility that Benazir Bhutto will go to heaven. I know that this belief makes me a great disappointment to those who style themselves "traditionalist Catholics". So be it. I never accepted that my firm belief in Jesus Christ as the Only Way to the Father ever required me to postulate the damnation of all those who die outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church, nor even of the Christian Faith. God's saving will is broader and more powerful than, perhaps, we have been led thus far to believe. And yet it is true that the way to eternal life is narrow! A paradox, indeed! |
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MARY MOTHER OF GOD Holyday of Obligation Mass Schedule 4:30 p.m. - StJos 6:00 p.m. - StFdS 7:45 a.m. - StJos 9:15 a.m. - StFdS 10:45 a.m. - StJos 12:15 p.m. - StFdS |
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WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING! You're thinking: "Good grief, don't tell me we have another Holyday of Obligation! We just had one last week (Christmas) and I really didn't mind that one because it was Christmas after all, and I wouldn't dream of not going to Mass for Christmas! But I don't see why we should have to have another holyday of obligation so soon. And for what? For New Year's Day? Why is New Year's Day a Holyday? Oh, it's not for New Year's Day? Well, what's it for then? You say it's for Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God? Gee, that's a mouthful! Well, is it really all that important? Oh, so you're saying that it is that important! So, you're saying that if I want to be a good Catholic, I have to go to Mass on the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, is that it? Well, let me tell you: If I were a Lutheran or a Methodist or a Baptist or a Presbyterian or a United Church of Christ-er or a Foursquare Gospel-er or a Lighthouse Assembly of God-er, then I wouldn't have to go to Mass for any Solemnity of Mary Mother of God because those guys don't believe that Mary is the Mother of God, do they? They say she's 'Mother of Jesus but not Mother of God', which really implies that they don't believe that Jesus is God! And, of course, those guys never go to Mass anyway, do they? And they don't have any Holydays of Obligation either, do they? So, I guess three of the differences between us Catholics and those Protestants are: (a) we go to Mass and they don't and (b) we believe that Mary is the Mother of God and they don't and (c) we have Holydays of Obligation and they don't. So you're saying that I had better decide whether I want to be a Catholic or a Protestant, right? Well, if you put it that way, I guess it's pretty clear. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be a Protestant! I want to be a Catholic! So, I'll be showing up for Mass either on Tuesday, 1 January, or on Monday, 31 December, to honor MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD. I'll check it out with my wife and see which Mass she wants to go to! (See page 08 for schedule.) |
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SOME PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR THE NEW YEAR Two farmers each claimed to own a certain cow. One pulled on its head and the other pulled on its tail. Meanwhile, the cow was milked by a lawyer. Jewish proverb I get my exercise acting as a pallbearer for my friends who exercise. Chauncey Depew (1834 - 1928) That government is best that governs least. Thomas Paine (1737-1809) The volume of paper expands to fill the available briefcases. Jerry Brown (1938- ) Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation. Henry Kissinger (1923- ) There's nothing wrong with teenagers that reasoning with them won't aggravate. Anonymous Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who do not. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) If you have never been hated by your child, you have never been a parent. Bette Davis (1908-1989) Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves. After marriage, he does the same, except for the "y". Anonymous I love being married. It's so great to find the one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. Anonymous You can get more done with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. Al Capone (1899-1947) |
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WE HAD A PROBLEM. and MATTHEW K. SMITH. Matthew's little brother,
Marcus, was mightily entertained at the goings on. His baby brother,
Lucas, seemed bored. Marie, the mother of the synoptics, looked
on and prayed. You did a good deed and we are grateful to you! |
 JOIN UP FOR THE ANNUAL PRO-LIFE MARCH WASHINGTON DC TUESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2008 Call to let us know that you would like to ride with us. Details about price will be announced as we get closer to the event. Special break on the price for teenagers and younger children. Call St. Joseph Rectory (622-3081) or Sue Thye (385-5924) to sign up for the bus. Be a part of the premier moral crusade of our time! |
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May them that love us, love us. And as for them that don't love us, may God turn their hearts. But if He doesn't turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles, so we can know them by their limping. ************************************************ Some Advice for the New Year Always remember to forget the things that made you sad. But never forget to remember the things that made you glad. the friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember those that have stuck by you. the troubles that passed away. But never forget to remember the blessings that come each day. ************************************************ Not knowing just what lies before us in 2008, but having perfect trust in God, Who makes all things work together to good for those who love Him, I wish all the members of St. Joseph Parish and St. Francis deSales Parish a HAPPY NEW YEAR. |
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SAINT FRANCIS deSALES CHURCH %20Jan%202007/abu076.gif){kind=small} Saturday, 29 DecemberVigil of Holy Family 6:00 p.m. - God's Blessings on the WHITNEY FAMILY by Sandy Sunday, 30 DecemberHoly Family 9:15 a.m. - EDWARD W. MORAN by his great-grandchildren 12:15 p.m. - ANGELINE and GERALDINE FOLINO by their family Monday, 31 DecemberVigil of Mary Mother of God 6:00 p.m. - PARISHIONERS: StFdSPar / StJosPar by EBC Tuesday, 01 JanuaryMary Mother of God 9:15 a.m. - CHARLES A. DeSTEFANO by Ann Marie Dougherty 12:15 p.m. - WILLIAM E. BRENNAN by his sister, Ann, and his brother Vincent Wednesday, 02 JanuarySS. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops, doctors (OblMem) 10:00 a.m. - God's Blessings on SISTER MARY RAYMOND, OP by her sister, Carolyn Friday, 04 JanuarySt. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, religious (OblMem) 10:00 a.m. - FRANCES K. McGOVERN by bequest Saturday, 05 JanuaryVigil of Epiphany of the Lord 6:00 p.m. - CATHERINE CARESTIA RINALDO by Charlie and Irene Grabusky Sunday, 06 JanuaryEpiphany of the Lord 9:15 a.m. - JOHN PALKO by Bill and Karen Moran 12:15 p.m. - MARIA MESSINA by Joseph T. Cescon and family |