2007 CHRISTMAS AT SAINT JOHN’S, STAMFORD

DECEMBER 24TH: CHRISTMAS EVE

CONFESSIONS:  3:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.

MASSES:  

4:00 P.M.   VIGIL MASS WITH ADULT CHOIR

11:30 P.M.   CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT

12 MIDNIGHT  MIDNIGHT SOLEMN CHOIR MASS

DECEMBER 25TH: CHRISTMAS DAY

CONFESSIONS:  7:00 A.M.-7:30 A.M.
    9:30 A.M.-10:00 A.M.
    11:30 A.M.- 12 NOON

MASSES:

7:30 A.M.  MASS AT DAWN

10:00 A.M. FAMILY MASS

12 NOON  SOLEMN CHOIR MASS





Pastor’s Corner…As we draw nearer to Christmas, our minds turn to the birth of Our Lord in

Bethlehem. During the first thousand years of the Church’s life, much emphasis was placed

upon the divinity of Christ, in opposition to the numerous heresies that grew denying that

Jesus was both God and man.  While the truth of the two natures of Our Lord was believed by

all, the stronger emphasis upon His divinity made Him seem too distant a redeemer, unable to

understand the weaknesses or difficulties of our daily lives. 

Saint Francis of Assisi began to change that by his preaching that by the Incarnation--God

becoming a man—God actually revealed that He does understand us, since He loved us so much

that He became exactly like us, except without sin, in order to make us more like God.  It

was Saint Francis who gave the Church the first Nativity scene or Crèche, with images of the

Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph, the shepherds with their flocks and the three kings around the

Infant Savior. Here is a God who understood human hardship and suffering from the moment of

His birth in a cold stable. 

Other devotions concerning Our Lord’s infancy began to develop in the middle ages, the

renaissance, and later, fostered by some of the Church’s most popular saints: Saint Anthony

of Padua, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. If you visit the

Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, you’ll see a small doll-sized crib, of wood and

silk, with baubles and beads. It dates from the 13th century, when devotion to all aspects

of Our Lord’s birth and infancy were very popular. There are innumerable paintings of the

Infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph in every country and from all centuries and cultures.

Another devotion, still very popular today, is that of the Infant of Prague. The original

statue was made in Spain and came to Prague with a Spanish noble lady, Marie Manrique, when

she married a Czech nobleman in 1587. In 1628 the statue was given to the Carmelite priests

of the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Prague, and has been known as the Infant of Prague

ever since. It is a tiny wooden and wax statue [barely 18 inches in height], dressed in

costly gowns similar to those worn at the imperial court in 16th century Spain. He is

crowned and holds an orb, or globe, in His hand, with His right hand raised in benediction. 

Our statue of the Infant of Prague stands below the Blessed Mother statue on Her side altar.

Shortly after 1628, Prague was invaded by protestant Swedes, who burned much of the city,

including the Church of Our Lady of Victories. The Carmelites returned to their destroyed

church in 1638, and, while clearing the rubble, discovered the little statue of the Infant

Jesus, battered, with his hands broken off, but otherwise intact.  One of the priests, Fr.

Cyril, cleaned the broken statue and placed it in an oratory, open for public prayer.  One

day, as the legend goes, while the priest was praying, the Infant spoke to him, saying “Have

pity on me, and I will have pity on you.  Give me my hands and I will give you peace. The

more you honor me, the more I will bless you.” Over the centuries, innumerable miracles and

blessings have been attributed to the Infant of Prague, and the devotion is still one of the

most popular throughout the world.

Attached to today’s parish bulletin, please find a copy of the Novena to the Infant of

Prague, which begins December 16th, and continues through December 25th.  Please join in

this beautiful devotion to our Infant Savior and King. What a wonderful way to prepare for

Christmas by praying the Novena daily with your family to the Infant Savior. Besides favors

we might ask, Our Lord will give us peace in our lives if we offer Him our hands and hearts

so He might continue His work of saving mankind from sin and death, through our acts of

charity and mercy in our daily lives. Please join us, and pray to the God who became a child

for us; who shares our sufferings, heartbreaks, and even death, in order to free us from the

power of evil, sin and death, to live with Him forever in Heaven.  --Msgr. DiGiovanni

Please pray for the sick…  Antoinetta Fiore, Lorraine Lindahl, Marilyn Fabio, Robert Geikie,

Alan Comier, Barbara Schuerger, Brady Rodgers, Mary Anne Vagnone, Gail Ruge, Msgr.

Constantino Caldas, Madam Wong Oi Ling, Fiona Farrell, Gerard Albert, Christina Hanlon, Lisa

Farina, Corrie M. Evans, Joseph M. Kirkland, Joan Bankowski, Evelyn Bauman, Resa Mestel,

Felix D’Olimpio

Please pray for those who have recently died… John Darling, Joseph P. Valentine, Msgr.

Edward Petty, Robert A Kingsley, Rose A. Roman, Simone Parisi, Helen Carr, Bishop Han

Dingxiang, in China; Mary Ellen Armstrong, Eleanor Keating, William E. Thomson III,

Monthly Collection . . . The second collection today will be the monthly collection for the

parish.  Your generosity is appreciated.

Moms and children of all ages…Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Marian Altar on the

first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. followed by a social gathering in the Church Hall

at about 10:30 a.m.  (Bring your own food for early lunch with the tots) Of course, there is

Confession available beginning at 11:30 a.m. and Mass at 12:10 p.m. for all.  See you on the

1st Tuesday…

Coffee Hour…Please join us at the Msgr. Nagle Hall after the 10:00 a.m. Family Mass for

coffee and donuts.

Parents of our Religious Education Students…Are invited to meet each Sunday morning in the

Parish Rectory with Father Walsh to discuss our Catholic Faith. Come join us for a cup of

coffee and an opportunity to grow in knowledge and understanding of our faith.

Bible Study will resume in January.

 

Sunday, December 9, 2007       $ 11,507.00

Sunday, December 10, 2006     $ 15,109.73

“I ask you one thing: do not tire of giving to God, but do not give your leftovers.”

---Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Banns of Marriage:  2nd     John Richard Meehan, Jr. &
                                           Heather Patricia Mary Lyden

Hymns for this weekend . . . (1) 4  (2) 9.  The Creed for the Noon Mass may be found in the

hymnal at No. 289.

Choral Music for the 12:00 Noon Mass . . . Mass Ordinary: Missa ‘Præparate corda vestra’ –

Steffano Bernardi, c. 1576-1636. Offertory Motet: And the Glory of the Lord (Messiah) –

George Frederick Handel, 1685-1759 (And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. And all

flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. [Isaiah 40:5]).

Communion Motet: Rejoice in the Lord Alway – attributed to John Redford, d. 1547 (Rejoice in

the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. Let your softness be known unto all men: the Lord

is e’en at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in all prayer and supplication let your

petitions be manifest unto God with giving of thanks. And the peace of God, which passeth

all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesu. Amen.). The Gregorian

chants proper to this Sunday are: Alleluia Excita, Domine (Stir up your might, O Lord, and

come to save us. [Psalm 80:3]); Offertory Benedixisti, Domine (O Lord, you have blessed your

land, you have put an end to Jacob’s captivity; you have forgiven the guilt of your people.

[Psalm 85:2]); Communion Dicite: Pusillanimes (Say: “Take courage, you who are fainthearted,

and do not fear; behold, our God will come and he will save us.” [Cf. Isaiah 35:4]).

Birthright …needs a special someone…YOU! 

Birthright is an emergency pregnancy service offering practical help and encouragement to

any woman who is distressed by her pregnancy.  Our guiding principle is “It is the RIGHT of

every pregnant woman to give BIRTH and the RIGHT of every child to be BORN.” Join today as a

friendship counselor (training provided), clerical or clothing helper.  Eleven (11) chapters

are in Connecticut Call 1-800-550-4900 for nearest chapter.

Theology on Tap (January) will feature Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life, on SUNDAY, the

Epiphany, January 6th. Monsignor General Thaddeus Malanowski will accompany Fr. Pavone. The

meeting will take place in the Church Hall at 3 pm. All are welcome!

 

Join us and the Sisters of Life on December 28th, The Feast of the Holy Innocents, 12:10

p.m.  Mass followed by a gathering at the Planned Parenthood Clinic to pray the Rosary

together. Afterwards the Church Hall will be opened for a chance to have drinks and snacks

and spend time together.

St. John’s In the News…100 years ago, or so:

December 22, 1882 Christmas in the Churches “In the Roman Catholic church there will be

early mass at 5 o’clock and services at the normal Sunday hours, 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m.

There will be extra music, some orchestral instruments will accompany the organ. The

decorations will not be as elaborate as a year hence, when it is hoped the large audience

room upstairs will be completed. The work is being rapidly pushed forward to completion

under the supervision of Mr. John Ennis, the skillful architect and mechanic. Mr. Ennis

built the Moody and Sankey tabernacle in Chicago and other large buildings.”

December 21, 1907:  “Rev. James C. O’Brien, rector of St. John’s R. C. Church, will have

been ordained a priest 30 years tomorrow. Father O’Brien has been slightly ill of grip for

the past few days, and owing to his indisposition, Rev. Father May of the Connecticut

Apostolate will officiate at some of the masses tomorrow.”

December 21, 1934: St. John’s Group To Have Recital In School Hall. “A recital will be held

in St. John’s school hall tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 by the children of the classes in

expression. Ruth Gilbert, Betty Nagle, Mary Michaels, Teresa Haynes, Mary Divine, Betty O’

Brien, Katherine Johnson, Julia Arone, Dorothy Murphy, Edward Condon, Thomas Cowan, Jack

Madigan, Garret Franklin, Richard Finn, Katherine Gash, Katherine and Lucille Brown, Mary

O’Connor and James Keeley will appear in a program of Swedish folk dances. A recitation,

“The mission of a Rose” will be given by Regina Coons. Appearing in a Dutch rance will be

Mary and Doris Troy, Margaret and Josephine Hammernick, Rose Marie and Thomastina McNally,

Betty Farrell, Mary Kerrigan, Janet Finn, Rosaline McCue, Doris Garvey and Constance

Borgmann. This will be followed by a minuet, danced by the smaller children with a prelogue,

“Garden Party.” and “The Palace Garden,” Margaret Trupkowitz will appear as the princess

with Betty Borgmann as Gretchel. Others in the cast are Doris and Mary Troy, Betty Farrell

and Marie Keeley as the fairy queen. A Greek dance of the veils will be presented by Betty

Borgmann, Marie Keeley, Margaret Ryan, Alice Cowan, Mary Mulvey, Bertha Richards, Frances

Matutis, Margaret Trupkovitz and Doris Troy. Mrs. F. F. Borgmann, the pianist accompanying

members of the class, will present a recitation and the program will close with a scene from

Louisa Alcott’s Little Women, played by Betty Borgmann, Alice Cowan, Mary Mulvey, Bertha

Richards, Frances Muaukas and Margaret Trupkovitz.”

 

Mass Intentions

Saturday, December 15
4:00 +Vincent Freccia Christmas Remembrance req. Wife

Sunday, December 16
  7:30 +Bill Thomson req. Millie, Providencia & Ferry
10:00 All Souls req. Bosilevas Family
12:00 +Rosa Osorio req. Maria
 6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family

Monday, December 17
  8:00 +Alexander Vanech req. Mr. & Mrs. Tommaso Marena
12:10 +Dominick Sanseverino req. Tom Kolenberg

Tuesday, December 18
  8:00 +Maria Giovana Francese & Family req. Rosario & Elizabeth Purgliese & Family
12:10 +Eleanor Ingram req. Edward Nemchek

Wednesday, December 19
   8:00 Souls in Purgatory req. Mary Ann Vagnone
 12:10 +Bishop Michael J. Dudick req. Mary Churley

Thursday, December 20
  8:00 +Randolph Samedi req. Anne Marie Samedi
12:10      +John Emery Jr. req. Tom Kolenberg

Friday, December 21
  8:00 Souls in Purgatory req. Mary Ann Vagnone
12:10 +William Edward Ambrose req. Tom Kolenberg

Saturday, December 22
  8:00 Eileen Tarleton Birthday req. Sharon Gannon
12:10    +Victoria Santagata req. Angela Giannitti

Holy Name Society . . . for all men of the parish, meets in the rectory every Friday morning

for coffee, Eucharistic adoration Benediction & prayer, from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m.  Just

walk in the rectory front door.

Pray for an end to abortion every Wed. 7:00 -10:30 a.m., Planned Parenthood, 1039 East Main

St, Stamford. 

Eucharistic Adoration:  Fridays, 8:30 a.m.–12:00 noon

Are you a registered parishioner? … If not, please visit the parish office Monday - Friday,

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. or call the office for more information [ext 21 or 17].

Sponsor Certificates for Baptism or Confirmation Sponsors…are happily given to parishioners

of St. John’s, i.e. those whose regular Mass attendance is known to the priests or can be

verified by the records of the weekly offertory (envelopes).        

St. Maria Goretti Society…For the spiritual formation of girls from 9th - 12th grades meets

monthly in the Rectory.  For more information, please call Rosa Marchetti at 348-023.

St. Dominic Savio Society…For the spiritual formation of boys from 8th – 12th grades meets

monthly in the Rectory.  Any questions, please contact Frank Marchetti at 434-4734.
 

Credit Card Offertory…Make weekly or monthly donations by credit card. You can set up

recurring credit card donations with the church secretary.  She can take your information

over the telephone.  Call 324-1553 x21.

 

 

The Pearly Gates
- Fr Terry Walsh
“
And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a

bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold,

the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and

God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes…”(Revelation

21). In his vision, John goes on to tell us that the walls of the Heavenly Jerusalem will be

built of the greatest jewels such as jasper, sapphire, emerald, topaz, amethyst and others.

The city itself will be of pure gold, clear as glass, and each of the monumental 12 Gates

will be made of a single pearl. Ah, the Pearly Gates of Heaven.
The Scriptures reveal a glimpse of the Heavenly Kingdom through the prophets, Isaiah and

Ezekiel, as well as St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist, and others. Indeed, we hear “Eye has

not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for

those who love Him.” In your mind’s eye, have you ever sneaked a peek inside the Gates? Have

you thought about what it might be like to dwell in Heaven? What do you see and hear? What

do you taste and smell? What must it be like?

The created world is indeed beautiful, after all, God made it. Consider the beauty of the

Giant Sequoias that tower over the mossy ground far below, or the snow capped Rocky

Mountains glistening under a beautiful sunset, or perhaps the explosion of color in the

Hills of New England on a crisp autumn afternoon surrounded by water rushing into an icy

pond, reflecting a beautiful landscape. There is so much beauty here. But, in the big

picture, it’s all dust. Truly, while Creation reveals something of God’s magnificence and

benevolence, it is merely a passing shadow of “what He has prepared for those who love Him”.

And yet, how attached, even possessive, we can become to the things of this world, even to

our detriment. The danger is to fall victim to worshiping created things, especially holding

onto particular attachments (various vices), rather than worshiping the Lamb of God who has

come to Redeem us, the One who invites us into His home, in Heaven, the One who created all

things, “Out of Nothing.”
I
t reminds me of a little story I heard a priest tell some years ago about an elderly Irish

man who was about to breath his last breath. He called his 4 sons into the small farm

cottage and asked if they would be so kind as to lift him up, carry him outside, and lay him

upon the lush green sod that he so dearly loved. As he lay upon the soft grass of Ireland

for the last time, he dug his hands into the fertile soil and grasped two fists full of the

old sod, and drew his last breath. Now, when he arrived at the Pearly Gates, St. Peter

welcomed him with great joy. ‘Ah, Paddy, we’ve been expecting you, we’re so glad you’ve

finally arrived. There are so many waiting to see you! Come in! As the Gates were about to

open, St. Peter noticed that Paddy was holding on to something and asked, ‘What have you

brought with you?” “O, I have here in my hands my prize possession, two fists full of the

Old Sod from my beloved Ireland.” Naturally, St. Peter explained that Paddy would have to

leave all his possessions behind in order to enter the Gates of Heaven. But Paddy dug his

heels in and pleaded with St. Peter, explaining how dear Ireland was to him and, after all,

it was a very small possession. St. Peter simply shook his head, but Paddy refused to let go

of his precious possession. St. Peter had no choice but to leave him outside the gates.

Various friends came out to plead with Paddy to let go of the dirt and come inside the

Gates; so many were waiting for him, but he refused. Finally, his little granddaughter who

had died the year before came rushing out, “Grampa! Grampa!”  As she leaped toward his arms,

Paddy opened his hands and the old sod fell to the ground. Immediately, the Gates were

opened and all of Ireland lay before his eyes. When he finally let go of his puny prized

possession, he received an infinitely greater gift.

Our life here on earth is indeed a great gift. But, it’s meant to draw our attention to the

One who provided it – the One who gives us everything, even His own beloved son, if we give

ourselves to Him. ‘Open wide the Gates of your heart’ and receive Him.