Page 1, Sunday, February 16, 2014
SACRED HEARTS & ST. STEPHEN R.C.CHURCH
WWW.SacredHearts-StStephen.com
Rectory: 108 Carroll Street
Brooklyn, N.Y 11231
718-596-7750 tel
718-260-9233 fax
REV. MSGR. GUY A. MASSIE
Pastor
REV. CLETUS FORSON
Parochial Vicar
SR. ROSALIND PICCIANO, CSJ
718-596-0880
Director of Religious Education
JOHN HEYER, II
Pastoral Associate
JAMES LAKE
Parish Organist
EVELYN TROESTER
Choir Director
ROSE MARIE FOGLIA
Administrator
ANDREW DI MANSO
Sacristan
MICHAEL J. ENG
DONALD J. GLOCKNER, JR.
Parish Trustees and Advisors
St. Stephen’s – Founded 1866
Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary
Founded 1882
MASSES ON SUNDAYS:
8:00 AM 10:00 AM & 11:45 AM
5:30 PM on Saturday
MASSES ON WEEKDAYS:
Monday 12:00 Noon
Tuesday thru Saturday 8:30 AM
CONFESSIONS:
Saturdays 4:45 P.M. as well as By Appointment.
For Holiday and Special Mass Schedules, please call
the Rectory and press extension number 4 for specific
details.
BAPTISMS:
Every third Sunday at 1:30 PM.
Please call a month before to make arrangements.
SICK CALLS:
Please call and arrange for the sacrament of anointing whenever anyone is seriously ill.
MARRIAGES:
Please call the rectory at least 6 months ahead for
an appointment with a Priest.
WELCOME:
Adults who are interested in learning more about
or joining the Catholic Faith please call the rectory. Adults who have not completed the sacraments of initiation (Eucharist and/or Confirmation)
please call the rectory.
ON LINE & CREDIT CARD GIVING: WWW.DONATIONPATH.COM
RECTORY OFFICE HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Office closed on Saturday & Sunday
No evening hours at the present time.
IF YOU WISH TO SEE A PRIEST, PLEASE TELEPHONE FOR AN APPOINTMENT
PLEASE REMEMBER SACRED HEART & ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH IN YOUR WILL.
Page 2, Sunday, February 16, 2014
DATES TO REMEMBER THIS WEEK
Monday
MON.
12:00
FEBRUARY 17, 2014
Marie Ismail
BY: Her Friend, Anna Hamilton
TUE.
8:30
FEBRUARY 18, 2014
William Joseph Foley
BY: M/M M. Muino
WED.
8:30
FEBRUARY 19, 2014
Pauline Maresca
BY: Carolyn & John Zodda
THURS. FEBRUARY 20, 2014
8:30 Jimmy Gonzalez
BY: The Michael Family
FRI.
8:30
BY:
FEBRUARY 21, 2014
Terry “Nanny” Ambrosio
Edwin & Sondra Rivera
SAT.
FEBRUARY 22, 2014
8:30 Roy & Carmela Cushing
5:30 PM Louis Valentino, Jr.
BY: Loving Family
SUN.
8:00
10:00
11:45
FEBRUARY 23, 2014
For the People of the Parish
Mimi & Josie Romano
BY: Jo Ann Martino & Judy Calkin
Connie, Ernie & Joseph
BY: Loving Family
February 17th Mass at Noon
February 17th Rectory Office Closed
in Observance of President’s Day
Tuesday
February 18th Mass at 8:30 AM
February 18th Staff Meeting
@4:00 PM Parish House
February 18th K of C Officers
@ 8:00 PM Cabrini Hall
Wednesday
February 19th Mass at 8:30 AM
February 19th Choir Practice
Children @ 5:30 PM Church
February 19th Choir Practice
Adults @ 6:45 PM Church
Thursday
February 20th Mass at 8:30 AM
February 20th Finance Committee &
Special Parish Council Meeting
@ 7:00 PM in Parish House
Friday
February 21st Mass at 8:30 AM
Saturday
February 22nd Mass at 8:30 AM
February 22nd Confessions
@ 4:45 PM Church
February 22nd Mass @ 5:30 PM
Sunday
February 23rd Mass at 8:00 AM
February 23rd Mass at 10:00 AM
February 23rd Mass at 11:45 AM\
February 23rd Diocesan Event
@ 3:00 PM Cabrini Hall
Page 3, Sunday, February 16, 2014
Please remember in your prayers the members
of our parish and community who are ill,
hospitalized or in nursing home care, most
especially:
Jonelle Bernardo, Vicky Puglise,
Kevin Sheehan,
Raj Sandu,
Michelle Laquercia. Antionette DiBuglione,
Dolly Vergona,
Philip Saraceno
Angelo Vergona
Maria Abdo
Filomena Peruffo
Anna Ruggiero
Frances Forte
Altar Bread and Wine for the
week of 2/16/14 has been
donated
In Memory of
ANITA LUBRANO
BY: MILLIE AGOSTA
TAX STATEMENTS FOR 2013
Tax statements for the Contribution Year
2013 are now available. These statements are
not automatically mailed to each parishioner.
Should you require a statement of
contributions, kindly call the Rectory and
speak with Rose Marie Foglia. Please have
your envelope number available.
The
statement will be mailed to you immediately.
Thank you for your generous support of our
Parish.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ash Wednesday is March 5th.
coming. More details to follow.
Lent is
THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH
The Table of Saint Joseph, La Tavola Di San
Giuseppe will be held on March 19th in
Cabrini Hall right after the 7:00 PM Mass.
More details to follow.
POTLUCK
catholicism
Please be advised that our Pot Luck
Catholicism sessions are beginning once
again. Please join us for lively discussions
on contemporary Catholic issues on the following
Thursday evenings @ 7:00 PM in the Parish House. If
something’s getting in the way between you and Jesus, find
your support here. Let’s talk!
The Challenges of Family Life 2/27
Divorced & Separated Catholics 3/13
Catholic, Gay & Conflicted 3/27
JANUARY FINANCIALS
Sat/Sun Collections: $12,291.00
Expenses
$53,583.00*
$41,292.00
Deficit:
Included in these expenses is $14,220.00
representing the 2nd
Installment of The
Elizabeth Seton Trust to the Diocese. This fund supports
Catholic Education in our Diocese. On Line contributions for
the month of January totaled $999.46 and represent various
collections such as: fuel, maintenance, diocesan and Sunday.
TRIP TO SEE MOSES AT SIGHT & SOUND
THEATRE IN LANCASTER, PA.
We are very excited to announce our Parish will be going
to see the brand new show Moses at the Sight & Sound
Theatre in Lancaster, PA on Wednesday, April 23, 2014.
This all new production is truly an experience in both
spectacle and story. Witness the golden splendor of
ancient Egypt and the oppression of the Hebrew slaves.
Meet the humble, broken man whom God raises to
become their deliverer. Travel with Moses on his quest
for personal identity that changes the course of history.
Experience God’s awe-inspiring power in the center of the
Red Sea. Feel the celebration of the Israelites as they
brush past you on their path to freedom. Ticket prices for
adults are $130.00 and for children $105.00. We have the
same seats we had for the Miracle of Christmas. Our first
stop on this trip will be Bird in Hand Farmers Market,
then to the show which begins at 2:45 PM. Our day ends
with supper at the Good & Plenty Restaurant we have all
become so fond of. Seats are selling out quickly. There
are less than 15 seats left. If you are interested, don’t
hesitate to make your reservations now! As usual, tickets
are non-refundable! Accommodations for seating will try
to be honored, but cannot be promised!
Dear Parish Family:
The Gospel message today is the Sermon on the Mount. The Gospel today, while seeming long,
is quite direct and instructive in the way of discipleship. While reading this text or listening to this
text, keep the following points in mind: Jesus calls his disciples to a higher standard of morality which begins with
our internal attitudes. Jesus therefore expands the Law of Moses beyond immoral acts to the thoughts and
attitudes which ultimately lead to immoral acts. Jesus bases his statements on the Law of Love. Love meaning:
the effective willing of the Good for others. This love is not emotional, not sentimental but rather a product of
will based on God’s Law. In this text, Jesus takes the Law of Moses and intends it for everyone. Jesus makes
universal the Law of Moses. If we are determined to follow in discipleship than avoidance of immoral situations
becomes the way to lead a life of discipleship. Reconciliation is put forth as a necessity and not an option for the
life of a disciple. Finally, in the text Jesus uses typical Semitic exaggerations. Remember Jesus is Jewish. Jesus
teaches and speaks and thinks as a Semitic person of his era. He is not a western gentlemen. He is not a
European or an American. The text we are reading is Semitic. This means that what is presented as absolute
term is really meant to be a relative term. Thus, the statement about not swearing an oath means one should be
honest. Yet Paul in 2 Cor 1:23, swears an oath, Jesus, in the Passion Narrative of John does not turn the other
cheek without a question. (Jn 19f).
Jesus calls his disciples to a higher standard of morality which begins with our internal attitudes. Compare the
directive of the Ten Commandments which states: “you shall not murder.” Jesus expands this to say you should
avoid all things that lead to murder such as anger which festers and violence against another person which can
lead to such an act. Notice the level of violence in our society. Notice the level of anger in our society. Notice
the domestic violence in our society. Notice the violent language we use when communicating with each other.
It is internal anger, festering resentments which lead to such criminal acts. To avoid these dire situations, Jesus
calls us to reconcile. He calls us to face the issues which lead us to these situations and solve them by
recognizing the mutual dignity of each person.
Jesus speaks to our inner intentions not only to our acts. At the beginning of Mass, we pray for forgiveness for
our thoughts, words and deeds, in what we have done and the good we failed to do. Jesus expands the
immorality on the topic of adultery. Adultery begins in the mind. Sexual misbehavior is founded first in the
mind and attitude of the one who wishes to misbehave. How do we hear Jesus speakng in our day when internet
sex and television introduces this behavior into our own homes? How do we speak to our children about the
issues? If we do not steer our young people than someone else will steer them in ways we may not like. In
society, which has regulated all behavior to private sector, there seems to be no accountability. It is not that we
the Christians want to make life difficult, but we need to address these issues because so many are hurt and so
many have lost their dignity. Many young people have lost the art of relationships because their primary activity
is of a sexual nature. As Jesus has clearly noted, sexual misbehavior starts in the mind.
The Gospel, as does the first reading, places choices before us. We are invited to choose. We can choose a life
that follows the discipleship of Christ and be free. We can choose to go in the opposite direction and be
enslaved to our appetites. To make this decision, we must ask ourselves do we want discipleship, faith and
relationship with Christ or not? Do we see Christ as The Way, The Truth and The Life or do we seek
compromise? In the end, discipleship leads to freedom, to solid relationships with others and a deep
relationship with Jesus.
Msgr. Guy A. Massie
Page 5, Sunday, February 16, 2014
MINISTERS OF CONSOLATION
I am looking for people who would be interested in a great parish ministry. Consolation is a ministry which helps our brother and
sister parishioners when they are mourning and preparing funerals for their loved ones.
What does a minister of consolation do?
The minister of consolation will visit the wake, give the condolences from our Parish Family of SHSS. You will go to the mourners,
introduce yourself as a representative of our parish. You will either call Fr. Massie or meet him at the wake and help him to plan his
homily for the funeral by giving some of your insights thus adding to help console the family through the homily.
Funeral Mass attendance: If possible, the Minister of Consolation will attend the Funeral Mass. Just being in church, receiving
communion helps the family.
You need not plan the funeral. You need not make any public presentation. You are dealing not with the one who has died, but with
the living. In short, you are being asked to be a good neighbor in an official way representing our parish to others.
If you are interested in this and have questions or would like to learn more, please contact me at the Parish House 718 596-7750.
Msgr. Guy A. Massie
Cari Parrocchiani,
Il Vangelo di oggi e` il famoso discorso della montagna, anche se puo` sembrare lungo e` molto diretto e preciso nelle sue istruzioni
verso i discepoli. Nel leggere o ascoltare il testo dobbiamo tenere presente che Gesu` chiede a tutti i suoi discepoli profondi valori
morali che debbono cominciare con il nostro profondo e personale atteggiamento. Gesu` estende la legge mosaica riguardo gli
atteggiamenti morali e` basa il suo insegnamento sulla legge dell'amore. Amore non e` altro che operare il bene di Dio per gli altri,
quest'amore non e` emozione o sentimentale ma basato sul desiderio di Dio. Gesu` nel suo discorso usa il testo della legge di Mose ed
esorta tutti a seguirla in modo da evitare situazioni scabrose e divenire veramente discepoli nel proprio comportamento di vita,inoltre
riconciliazione diventa necessaria no un'opzione nella vita del discepolo. In questo discorso il linguaggio da lui usato e` un po` forte,
perche` usa un linguaggio Semitico. Dobbiamo tener presente che Gesu` era Giudeo e come tale usa un linguaggio usato del popolo
di quel tempo. Il suo linguaggio e` differente di quello che possiamo usare noi europei o americani.Quando parla di non fare falsi
giuramenti significa che ogn'uno di noi deve essere onesto nel suo dire. Anche se Paolo nella seconda lettera ai Corinzi 1:23 giura,
Gesu`, nella passione secondo Giovanni Gesu` non porge la sua guancia senza chiedere di cosa Lo si accusa.
Gesu` richede un profondo valore morale ai suoi dicepoli che deve principalmente cominciare con i loro sentimenti. Quando
cita il comandamento non uccidere, non intende semplicemente l'atto materiale, ma intande il sentimento ed attitudine che si conclude
in esso. Guardando la televisione o parlando con il vicini, udiamo di atti di violenza commessi contro il prossimo o la famiglia, e`
questa rabbia interna che porta a queste situazioni ed atti criminali. Gesu` richiamo ognuno di noi alla riconciliazione appunto per
evitare questo stato di cosa, riconoscedo e rispettando la dignita` di ogni persona.
Gesu` si riferisce anche ai nostri pensieri non solamente agli atti, infatti all'inizio della messa chiediamo perdono per i nostri peccati
di pensieri, opere e azioni, che abbiamo commesso. Gesu` si riferisce inoltre al peccato di adulterio, non semplicemento all'azione ma
al pensiero che abbiamo prima ancora di commetterlo. Oggi e` molto difficile evitare questo soggetto con i giovani in quando
televisione, computer face book lo presentano di continuo. Ci chiediamo spesso qual'e` la maniera giusta di discuterne con i nostri
giovani? Se non siamo noi che ne parliamo con essi chi sara` a discuterne? Possibilmente non ci piace la maniera con cui lo
presentano ai giovani. La societa` di oggi, che accetta qualsiasi comportamento, sicuramente non si sente responsabbile . Noi come
Cristiani non che vogliamo far diffice la loro vita, dobbiamo trovare la maniera di inculare in essi il sentimento di dignita`, rispetto e
oneste relazioni che molti giovani di oggi hanno perduto. Gesu` chiaramente dice che il primo sentimento di cattivo comportamento
comincia nella nostra mente.
Il Vangelo e la prima lettura ci danno la scelta. Siamo esortati a fare una scelta di vita , una che ci rende liberi e ci fa discepoli di
Cristo, l'altra che ci fa schiavi dei nostri vizzi e ci allontana dalla verita`. Nel fare questa scelta di vita dobbiamo chiederci vogliamo
essere discepoli e seguire Cristo o ignorare i suoi insegnamenti. Riconosciamo Cristo come Verita`, Via e Vita o vogliamo dei
compromessi. Alla fine dobbiamo riconoscere che la nostra scelta di essere discepoli ci conduce alla liberta`di relazione con gli altri e
Gesu`.
Page 6, Sunday, February 16, 2014
INFORMATION SHEET
CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS
Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen #875400
PHONE
718-596-7750
CONTACT PERSON
Rose Marie Foglia
SOFTWARE
Microsoft Publisher® 2002
Adobe Acrobat 8.0®
Windows XP Home® SP3
PRINTER
HP® Laserjet 1320
NUMBER OF PAGES SENT
Cover + 4 text pages + this page = 6
SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION
February 16, 2014
TRANSMISSION TIME
Wednesday 1 PM
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS