Saturday, 22 September
Vigil of Sunday
4:30 p.m. - VINCENT LUPPINO
by his family

Sunday, 23 September
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
7:45 a.m. - DECEASED MEMBERS: KUTCH FAMILY
by the family
10:45 a.m. - LILLIAN CAPPETTA KEVY (anniversary of birth)
by her daughters Phyllis and Roni (+)

Monday, 24 September
Weekday
12:05 p.m. - SPECIAL INTENTION
by Sandy

Tuesday, 25 September
Weekday
12:05 p.m. - JOSEPH MANZO
(30th anniversary)
by his daughter, Kitty
7:00 p.m. - SPECIAL INTENTION
by Mary Harman Luppino

Wednesday, 26 September
SS. Cosmas and Damian, martyrs (OptMem)
12:05 p.m. - JOSEPH WILLIAM LEONARD IV
by his parents, Joseph and Josephine

Thursday, 27 September
St. Vincent DePaul, priest (OblMem)
12:05 p.m. - God's Blessings on JOSEPH and SANDY FRINZI
by Susan
7:00 p.m. - DAVID G. NICASTRO Sr. (31st anniversary)
by Julian and Mary Chiplonia

Friday, 28 September
St. Wenceslaus, martyr; SS. Lawrence Ruiz and companions, martyrs (OptMems)
12:05 p.m. - ANDREW G. LUCAS
by Michael and Catherine

Saturday, 29 September
Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels (Fst)
8:00 a.m. - God's Blessings on the CARESTIA FAMILY
by Ron and family
Vigil of Sunday
4:30 p.m. - ANTHONY J. LUPPINO
(2nd anniversary)
by his wife, Mary, and family

Sunday, 30 September
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
7:45 a.m. - DOROTHY MILLER
by Jim and Marie Cairns and daughter, Angela
10:45 a.m. - RONI J. KEVY
by Kitty Owens DiCello

Saint Joseph Parish
$1,862.00 from the envelopes and $137.00 from the plate. Thank you.
When one deducts from the sum of these two figures, $1,999.00 the parish's weekly financial obligation to the Diocese, i.e. assessments, $410.08 plus the weekly premiums for property and liability insurance, $160.01, the sum of which is $570.09, plus its weekly obligation to All Saints School, $941.06 the sum total of which is $1,511.15, one sees that $487.85 of this collection is available for operating the parish.

Saint Francis deSales Parish
$736.00 from the envelopes and $39.00 from the plate. Thank you.
When one deducts from the sum of these two figures, $775.00 the parish's weekly financial obligation to the Diocese, i.e. assessments, $46.15 plus the weekly premiums for property and liability insurance, $60.67, the sum of which is $106.82, plus its weekly obligation to All Saints School, $188.21, the sum total of which is $295.03, one sees that $479.97 of this collection is available for operating the parish.

THE SANCTUARY LAMP at St. Joseph Church is offered, during the week of 23 - 29 September, in loving memory of Elanore Tegano Folino, at the request of her husband, Jack.

NATIVITY BVM HS GREEN and GOLD will hold a SPAGHETTI DINNER on Sunday, 30 September, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the school cafeteria. $7.00 per adult or teenager. $3.50 for child (12 and under). Benefits the Nativity Booster Club athletic program and the Nativity cheerleaders.

Comment on the preceding passage

The Didache - short for Didache Apostolorum (Teaching of the Apostles) - is probably the oldest Christian document in existence, not counting the 27 books of the New Testament. It was written in either the late first century or early second century.
It was so highly revered in the early Church, it was actually a "contender" for inclusion in the canonized Scriptures, i.e. in the Bible. However, the Church had to draw a line somewhere and the Didache did not quite make the cut!
Nonetheless, the Didache is well respected in the Catholic Church and is recommended reading. Among other things, it gives a fascinating description of how the early Christians celebrated the Mass.
I chose to print this particular excerpt (see page 7) because of the reference to the practice of magic and the use of potions. Do you understand what is being referenced? The reference is to artificial contraception!
From earliest times, the Church has condemned the use of drugs and potions, sheaths and pessaries intended to prevent conception.
It is mortally sinful to use condoms, patches, loops, coils or anovulant pills - or deliberate withdrawal or any other means - to prevent the conception of a child. Anyone who does such deeds must refrain from receiving Holy Communion, lest he or she be guilty of sacrilege against the Body and Blood of the Savior.
Do not receive Holy Communion if you practice artificial contraception and intend to continue to do so.
If you have been practicing artificial contraception but are repentant, go to Confession. I guarantee you that I shall be entirely respectful and kind and - best of all - shall probably not even make any comments at all! It will be my honor and privilege to absolve you of your sins.

Make this promise to each other: "I solemnly promise on my word of honor that, under no circumstances, shall I ever speak a harsh, angry, ill-tempered word to my wife or to my husband, so help me God!"
This promise is a wonderful technique which will enable the husband and wife to preserve the splendor of their love amid the raucous realities of a thoughtless world. Do not minimize the destructive power which lies in harsh words or nagging.
A wife once said: "I can readily forgive the thoughtless actions of my husband, which have now and then embarrassed and confused me, but I can never forget the names he called me, not even if I live to be 100."
An angry word wounds more deeply than the sword.

Duties of Husband and Wife (excerpt)
Schudio

One notices - if one looks at page 2 of this bulletin or if one is otherwise aware of such mundane matters - that #882 came up two days in a row, viz. 17 Sept and 18 Sept.
One is struck by this seeming anomaly and asks himself (or herself, as the case may be): WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THIS HAPPENING?
In other words: How likely is it that a particular three-digit number will emerge from the pool of one thousand three digit numbers on two successive days?
Well, it all depends! "Likely" is relative to time.
Prior to the 18 Sept drawing but after the 17 Sept drawing: It has already been established that #882 emerged from the one thousand possibilities on 17 Sept. So, the odds that #882 will once again be the winning number on 18 Sept are one in one thousand.
Prior to both the 17 Sept and the 18 Sept drawings: The odds that #882 will emerge on 17 Sept are one in one thousand and the odds that it will emerge on 18 Sept are one in one thousand and, so, we multiply one in one thousand by one in one thousand, which, of course, comes to one in one million!
We human beings live in time: PAST / PRESENT / FUTURE. However, the PRESENT is something we become aware of only when it is PAST. We are never really aware of the PRESENT. (You might need to think about that, but it is true! At the time something happens and we become aware of it, it is already past. All we ever really experience is the PAST. We experience the FUTURE only as it rushes towards us becoming the PAST.
Looking back on 17 Sept and 18 Sept - i.e. seeing the drawings of 17 Sept and 18 Sept as PAST events - the whole business of "odds" becomes totally irrelevant. We see the emergence of #882 on those two successive days as a certainty. We have, in a certain sense, become "godlike" in regard to those two happenings.
GOD THE FATHER does not live in the sequence of PAST / PRESENT / FUTURE. To Him all is eternally present. He smiles when we talk to Him about "the odds".
That is one reason wise persons do not gamble with God. He just knows too much.
What are the "odds" that you will die in the state of sanctifying grace? Bad question! Don't ever ask it! Come into the state of sanctifying grace now. Live in the state of sanctifying grace always. Let it be your past, present and future state, so that it will be your eternally present state.

That is one reason wise persons do not gamble with God. He just knows too much.
What are the "odds" that you will die in the state of sanctifying grace? Bad question! Don't ever ask it! Come into the state of sanctifying grace now. Live in the state of sanctifying grace always. Let it be your past, present and future state, so that it will be your eternally present state.

ALL SAINTS CHILDREN will come to St. Joseph Church for Mass on Friday, 28 September, at 9:00 a.m.
Parishioners and others should know that they are most welcome to attend this Mass, even though it is not listed on the schedule of parish Masses.

NOT SEEING THE FACTS IN FRONT OF OUR NOSES
Many times we marvel at the fact that "other people" don't see what (we think) is obvious! We don't often marvel at the fact that we ourselves sometimes don't see what is obvious. I'll give you a "for instance".
A couple of weeks ago, a young parishioner came to the Rectory after the spaghetti super and told me he needed a ride home. He asked me if I could possibly give him a ride.
I told him "yes". Then I told him to call his mother to tell her that I would be driving him home. He did so. Then, as we were walking from the Rectory to the parking lot, he asked me: "Father Connolly, do you have airbags in your car?" I said, "Yes. Why do you ask?"
He said, "Well, then, I have to sit in the back." This went right over my head. I said, "Why do you have to sit in the back and what does that have to do with airbags?"
He said, "I'm eleven and I'm not old enough to sit in the front seat if there are airbags." This puzzled me.
I said, "Where did you ever hear that? I never heard anything about that!"
He then pointed out to me the stickers pasted on the sun-visors in my own car on which it is plainly written that children twelve years of age and under should not sit in the front passenger seat because of the danger of injury in case the airbags are deployed. I said, "I'll be a son of a gun! I never knew that!" I commended the boy for being so well-informed and so law-abiding. So, he got into the back seat and I delivered him safely home. The airbags did not deploy, I am happy to say.
I am still amazed that, after about seven years of driving the same car, I have to admit that I had no idea that the sticker (just inches away from my eyes and nose) was telling me anything that I should know. How could I be so blind?