Parish Bulletin Online - April 4th, 2004
Passion Sunday
Read a letter from our Bishop William Murphy - English - Spanish
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OUR LITURGY
Today’s Liturgy is that of Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday). In the suffering and death of Jesus we are saved. Through His passion and death Jesus has redeemed us. There are so many lessons to be learned here that it is difficult to focus on one. The why of suffering is an ever-present concern for us. In His passion, Jesus gives us the answer. Jesus suffered willingly and silently to redeem all people because of His love for us and His obedience to His Father.
Liturgical Commission Publishings, Diocese of Lansing, Lansing, MI
Altar Bread And Wine The gifts offered at our Masses this week end The Mickelson & Williams Families Requested by: Barbara Mickelson |
REMEMBER OUR DEAD
Christopher Gilardi Mary McGee Garone David Graff , Consuelo Ortiz, Peter Gallant, Destiny Crosby
and our deceased soldiers, and all of our deceased relatives and friends.
REMEMBER OUR SICK
For this week, please pray for the sick, especially
:Angela Aponte Frank Belsito John Bickel
John Biglin Matthew Boland Maureen Ann Beradon
Jean Boland Kathy Butler John Cannizzano
Jennifer Carlisle Alex Cintron Emmanuel Coby
Al Croce J. D’Agostino Joan DeCicco
Dylan DiLauro Wendy Eilers Maggie Errico
Anna Esposito Louis Fava Robert Filce
Mary Ellen Flynn Michael Flynn Mary Forsythe
Joseph Fortier Catherine Gracey Ed Hansen
Patti Hunt Robert Lang Ashlee LaRocca
Georgianna Lopez Juliana McLarney Brett Meyers
Marie Minto Rosann Moscato Anita L Nanry
Tom Nanry Sam Nettles Michelina Raia
Sal Romagnuolo Joyce E. Ryan Louise Schaaf
Helen Schaefer Theresa Schiano William Schmelzer
Gary X Stadler Maria Stadler Phyllis Stewart
Linda Stultz Stacie Tizzard George Tizzard
Marlene Urban Mckayla Vilsant Patricia Wickers
PLEASE NOTE:
To keep our prayer list current, we will keep names on the sick list for two months. We ask families to return the bulletin cut-out to include names of those who are ill for another two months.MASS INTENTIONS
Anticipated Mass for Sunday
5:00 Yumiko Gruja requested by loving husband
5:00 Josephine M. Eisinger requested by Daria Arnold
5:00 Frank Cussen requested by Phil & Barbara Hoos
Sunday- April 4- Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
7:00 For The People of the Parish
7:00 Anthony Maltese, Jr. requested by Joann Mazzara
9:00 Felicia Scordia requested by Anthony and Donna Scordia
9:00 Maria Rizzuto requested by St. Regis Columbiettes
10:30 Ann Gregory requested by Les
10:30 For an End to Abortion requested by Respect Life Committee
12:00 Mary Thienhen requested by Rosemary Schlicht
12:00 Mary & Stephen Salata requested by Loving Children
5:00 Paul Shadlich, Rita and Bill Hubbard (requested by loving family)
5:00 Thomas Hodes requested by Theresa Marino
5:00 Edie Ryan requested by the Muench Family
Monday- April 5- Monday of Holy Week
7:00 Santina Massaro requested by the Dillhoff Family
7:00 For the Intentions of the Priest
9:00 Susan Schubert requested by Erwin & Rosemarie Profit
9:00 William Fehringer requested by Matt and Fran Yellico
Tuesday- April 6- Tuesday of Holy Week
7:00 Ana Kunz requested by Marie Mawn
7:00 For Our Beloved Dead
8:45 Nicholas Santo requested by Joseph Basar
8:45 Teresa Carusillo requested by Christine Rossi
8:45 Frank Cussen requested by All Ushers
Wednesday- April 7- Wednesday of Holy Week
7:00 Helen Hennessy requested by Family
7:00 The People of the Parish
9:00 Thomas Cozzi requested by Libby & Family
9:00 Palma & Dominic DiVito & Family requested by Thomas DuBritz & Son
9:00 Stanley Kwiathouski requested by Loving Family
Thursday- April 8- Mass of the Lord’s Supper
9:00AM Morning Mass
7:30PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Friday- April 9- Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
9:00AM Morning Prayer
3:00PM Liturgy of the Passion
Saturday- April 10- Easter Vigil
9:00AM Morning Prayer
9:30AM Blessing of Food
7:30PM Vigil Mass
Sunday- April 11- Easter Sunday- Resurrection of the Lord
7:00
7:00
9:00
9:00 FOR THE INTENTIONS OF THE CELEBRANT
10:30
10:30
12:00
12:00
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THE GIFTS AT THE MASSES ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY,
PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE USHERS WHEN YOU ARRIVE FOR MASS.
Help Decorate Our Church for Easter We need your help decorating the Church on Saturday, April 10th at 10am. It is not a hard job, taking paper off flowers and putting new paper on, placing flowers around the altar and the water fountain etc.Please bring scissors. If you can help, please call 981-9314. (Mary Lou) |
From Fr. Mike’s Desk
“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ Jesus said in reply, ‘I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!’” These quotes taken from Luke’s Gospel read this Sunday at the beginning of the Mass (Gospel at the Procession) reminds us of that day when Jesus enters into Jerusalem in triumph and how the people shouted out Hosanna, and Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Indeed if the people did not shout out, the very stones would have because Jerusalem had been waiting a long time for this great moment when the long promised Messiah would come through her gates. Come through her gates and announce that the Kingdom of God is at hand. While the stones would have shouted out, it is amazing that the Pharisees failed to recognize Jesus when He came. And thanks to the efforts of the Temple leadership and some of the Pharisee party the same people who shouted praises on Sunday were calling for Jesus’ death on Friday. It is up to us 2000 yrs. later to shout Hosanna and blessed is He who comes in the name of Lord! We must shout out loudly against those who still seek to crucify our Lord and likewise us-who listen to the Gospel, and have true life and faith through Him. We cannot give up the fight to change the world into the image and likeness of Christ-for we are His Living Body.
With Palm Sunday, we enter into the holiest week of the Church’s Year, and during this week, we will trace the final steps of Jesus’ Earthly Ministry. We will be reminded of all Christ underwent for us to free us and set us free from sin, darkness, and spiritual death. We will enter this week in silence and contemplation, and we will leave it next Sunday with great joy and new life. Let us make the most of this Holy Week, and please consult the bulletin for the many opportunities for prayer and for the schedules for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Also remember that tomorrow from 4-5 PM and 7-8:30 PM we will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (we will also celebrate Reconciliation after the 7 & 9 AM Masses on Monday and Wednesday of Holy Week). Please join all of your brothers and sisters in Christ as we go through this powerful week.
Remember that next Sunday (Easter Sunday) we will take up a 2nd Collection. However, this collection (just as on Christmas Day) is not directed at you who are our regular supporters and a regular part of the worshipping community. No, this collection, which will help support our various parish ministries, is directed to those who only come at the special holidays. While we certainly welcome them to come and pray, and certainly invite them to come every week of the year, we likewise would like to extend to them this opportunity to do their part in supporting the work of St. Joseph’s (as we do every week). So, please feel free and without guilt to not contribute to this special collection next Sunday. We do ask you to be as generous as you can because the Easter Collection is one of the most important during the year for the support of the Parish and all we do. So, I like to take this time to thank you in advance.
Also, a very special thank you for all who have contributed to our Emergency Church Roof Fund. As of this writing, the fund was at 64% of goal, and I am truly grateful for your generosity. I know that we (the priest, deacons, and the staff) cannot do anything without your help and all of us working together. I thank God everyday for the wonderful gift He has given me in allowing me the honor and privilege of being your pastor. And while it may seem to some that you haven’t met me yet, or don’t quite know me yet, I have come to know you. And I am getting to know you more and more each week. But, the reason for this not quite knowing each other is simple. First, I have only been here about 10 months and while that is a good amount of time, it is still not enough for a place as large as St. Joseph’s. So, it is possible that our paths haven’t cross, plus with the great amount of work to do here and us being one priest short, we are always on the go or we are thinking about what has to be done next. And I am truly grateful to Fr. Paul, Fr. Peter, Fr. Mike Rieder, our Deacons and Staff members for all they do to make St. Joseph’s work! Also this is my first time as a pastor, so I am still trying to get a handle on things –some of which I am doing for the first time-so that has been taking up a great deal of time. As time goes by we will get to know each other better, that will just happen as the weather gets nicer.
Please rest assure, that I keep you all in my prayers and I ask you always to pray for me so that I can do and offer you my very best as your Shepherd. As always thank you for all you do for Saint Joseph’s. I wish you a very Happy Palm Sunday and very truly Holy Week. God Bless you,
Fr. Mike
ROOF APPEAL—We have reached 64% of our goal.
SAYING A PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS
Please continue to remember them in your prayers.
Cpl Jason Bertran Cpl. Michael Bruno
Cpt. Kevin Connolly Capt Edward Cuevas
Sgt Ryan Delaney Pvt. Matthew DiNardo Capt. Keith Flick SSG Jeremy Garcia
Spc. Tristin Mortensen Capt. Evan Gotkin
Capt. Jennifer Gotkin Sgt. Steven Knight
Pfc. Brian Lane Spc. Adam Mackey
Andy Mezador Cpt. Gregory Mueller
SSG Joey Napolitano COP Jonathan Norris
Spc. Brian Pacella Sgt. Rudy Schoverling
Ensign 3 Lucy P. Padro Navy Seal Paul M. Padro
PFC Christopher Reid Sg.t. Edwin Rivera, II
PO2 Roger Schoverling Pvt. James Stanek
SR. Andrew J. Szynaka SSG Thomas J. Valentino
SRA Jason M. Schiavo SSG Dusty Williamson
(If you would like to include a soldier from your family who is serving, place their name and rank on a piece of paper in the collection basket)
RESTORATION FUND—We are always accepting pledges to our parish fund drive to carry on the work of rebuilding and restoring. To date, we have used over $960,000 to pay for various parts of the parish infrastructure. Thanks to all those who are making regular payments and to those who have increased their pledges.
St. Joseph’s School News
Jocelyn Sheehan Memorial Scholarship
will again be established with donations received from Jocelyn’s family and friends. All of the proceeds will be awarded to an eighth grade student at Jocelyn’s alma mater, St. Joseph’s of Ronkonkoma, and will go directly towards tuition at a Catholic high school of the student’s choice.If you would like to make a donation in any amount, please make a check payable to Gregory Sheehan and forward to school office. The deadline for this year’s fund is June 1st.
Home School Association
The St. Joseph’s Home School Association would like to thank you for all of your support with our monthly McDonald’s Night. For the month of March we received $263. Please continue your generous support, and we hope to see you at our next McDonald’s night on Tuesday April 20th between 5-7pm.
Religious Ed News
The Religious Ed office is open Monday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please be aware that our office closes on 3:30, as our staff needs to be in the school buildings for class times. The office will open on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Registration forms for 2004/2005 have been mailed out. This is a mail in registration, please return your forms as soon as possible. If you did not get your forms, please call our office at 981-1805. Any child entering Grade 1 in the Fall should be registered for Level 1 this is the first year of our two year Communion prep program. Call the office for registration forms.
Level 7 students did their Parable skits this past week. We congratulate our students and their catechists for doing such a great job. Thank you to the parents who brought juice and cookies.
The Religious Ed staff wishes all a very
Blessed and Happy Easter.
Banns of Marriage
(Second Time)
Michele Shaver &
Ronald Clifford both of St. Joseph’sAngela Liberto &
Terrence Tringone both of St. Louis de MontfortCarolyn Minker of St. Patrick &
James P. Domiano of St. Joseph’sLanette Dwyer of St. Louis De Montfort &
Peter Pizarro of St. Joseph’s
Respect Life
SOME Life Facts: Human life is a continuous developmental process that begins at conception and ceases at death. Most developmental changes take place during the embryonic and fetal periods, but important changes also take place during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Most developmental changes are completed by age 25.
More than 1000 emergency pregnancy centers have been established in the United States in recent years to provide women with alternatives to abortion.
Q: Just why is abortion wrong anyway?
A: The principal reason why abortion is wrong is that it involves taking the life of an innocent, unborn human being. The child in the womb is human in origin, destiny and make-up. This newly conceived child is one of us. Human life comes into being at conception, and from conception into a mature adult.
Q: But isn’t abortion basically a private matter?
A: No. Abortion involves not just a woman and her doctor. Even more directly and intimately involved is a third human being – the mother’s unborn child, the doctor’s unborn patient. If the unborn child did not exist, there would obviously be no question of performing an abortion. Also, the generation of new human life has broad social consequences. Both a mother and a father are involved.. And society as a whole has an interest in the well being of its members and, in a special way, the well-being of the family. Finally, and most importantly, we are not the absolute owners but the stewards of our being, body and soul, and in all things accountable to God.
Q: What about the problems of poverty, overpopulation, and out-of-wedlock pregnancy?
Aren’t these reasons that would justify abortion?
A: Abortion is proposed as a solution to various personal and social problems. In many cases, though, abortion merely postpones or obstructs the search for solutions, which go to the heart of the problem.
Furthermore, the crucial fact is that every abortion destroys an innocent life. It is far better to respond to problems constructively and with compassion. Each of the above-named problems is important and complex. A lasting solution to each requires its own specific answers – not abortion. Protecting human life, especially in its weakest forms, is considered a mark of a civilized society. The right to live is the most basic human right bestowed on us by God. However, U..S. law now says, in effect, that unborn children can be killed by abortion at any time during the gestation period – a million, two million, whatever the number, it is legal to kill them.
From “Abortion: Questions & Answers” Comm. for Pro-Life Activities, NCCB
DID YOU KNOW/
We need to seize each opportunity to point out that the “choice is NOT whether or not to have a baby! If a woman is pregnant, she already has a baby. The choice is whether to have a live baby or a dead baby!
Parish Outreach
Fienstein Matching Grant: This foundation will match all donations made to the Outreach Program during the months of March and April. This is a great way to make your contribution dollar go farther. The need is great but the supply is low.
PREGNANCY CRISIS HOTLINE—We are here to help you. Please call 981.6888.
FOOD SUPPORT—Your donations of food and staple items is always appreciated. Kindly leave them in the front of Mary’s statue in the Church before or after Mass.
Weekly Offering
Last Sunday’s collection $ 16,911
Same collection last year 17,372
Poor Box last weekend 414
Catholic Relief Collection 04 1,807
03 1,745
We thank you for your continued and generous support!
Calendar Club
Mar 21 $50 #021 Innocenzio D’AnnaMar 22 $25 #669 Fred Amerino
Mar.33 $25 #748 Kathy & Charlie Wiener
Mar 24 $25 #154 Rosemarie Profit
Mar 25 $25 #809 Fr. Paul Butler
Mar 26 $25 #615 Michael Devenney
Mar 27 $25 #564 Mr. & Mrs. Harry Watson
Stewardship
“The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue that I may know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them,” says Isaiah in today’s first reading. The gifts God has given us are likewise given for the good of others. How am I using my gifts?
Restoration Fund
Pledged to date $1,120,210Paid to date: 986,363
Scrip Corner
Scrip sales last week $ 16,800
Same period last year 16,455
Gross Profit 839
Catholic Ministries Appeal 2004
When we have paid our goal of $65,900 St Joseph Parish will get a rebate of $13,180. Every dollar paid to the Appeal over that amount means 80 cents to the parish.
Many of the dollars collected also come back to us through our hospitals (including Good Samaritan, St Catherine, St. Francis and St Charles), our high schools (including St John the Baptist and McGann Mercy), the support for St Joseph School from the Diocese (such as last year’s $10,000 technology grant), Diocesan support of our Religious Education program, the Tribunal that helps with annulments, as well as Catholic Charities with the support it gives our parish outreach as well supporting the Diocesan Senior Citizen Housing.
SURFING THE WEB? Visit St. Joseph Parish Online ~ now even easier to find at ~ StJoRonk.org The parish bulletin is posted on our website each week .- also for your convenience- You can now communicate with the parish office by e-mail. Send your inquiries toInfo@StJoRonk.org |
Used Inkjet Cartridges, Where are you?!
Ever wonder how to continue the useful life of that inkjet cartridge that just went dry? We have found a way to help St Joseph and keep those complicated pieces of plastic, metal and printed circuit boards out of the land fill. Drop them off (in a plastic baggie) when you come to mass. We will send them to a company who reuses them and gives the parish a bounty for each. One note, to clear confusion, if it is larger than a fist, it is not an inkjet cartridge!!!
REMEMBERING THE SICK Please include the following in the bulletin sick list:
______________________________ Name of person who is ill:
_______________________--- __________________________ Person making this request--- Relationship to ill person
Your Phone #: _____________________ (Please place in collection basket or return to Church Office) |
PARISH RESTORATION FUND ( ) I/we would like to pledge to St. Joseph’s Parish Restoration Campaign.( ) I/we would like to increase our current Pledge Amount ___ $5,000 ___ $4,000 ___ $3,000 ___ $2,000 ___ $1,000 I/we would like to make payments ___Annually ___Semi-Annually ___Quarterly ___ Monthly I/we would like to spread the payments over ___One year ___ Two years ___ Three years ___ Four years NAME(s): ADDRESS: PHONE: AMOUNT ENCLOSED NOW: $ ________ (Please return this form in the collection basket or to the Church Office) |
PARISHIONER REQUEST FORM
I/we would like to register in the parish of St. Joseph’s. NAME(s): ____________________________________________ ADDRESS:__________________________________ _________ PHONE:_____________________ I/we would like become members of the parish. ( ) Yes I/we would like to receive contribution envelopes. ( ) Yes ( )No. ( ) Weekly ( ) Monthly I/we would like to receive the LI Catholic newspaper. ( ) Yes ( ) No. ( ) I would like to become a lector. ( ) I would like to become an altar server. ( ) I would like to become a Eucharistic Minister. ( ) I would like to become a choir member ( ) I would like to offer my following talents to the parish
( ) I would like to help maintain the parish plantings (Please return to the Church Office or place in Collection Basket)
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One Person’s Trash, Another’s ...
BOX TOPS
from cereals for Educational purposes are always welcomed. Please drop them in the collection.DEPOSIT BOTTLES AND CANS—
Please place them in the blue truck that is located on the school side of the Church on weekends (when it works) or behind the rectory during the week.CELL PHONES—Please bring your no longer used or needed cell phones and deposit them at the Scrip table in the Church lobby.