Pastor’s Corner… Merry Christmas!  This is THE season for images of the holy, especially the

Nativity scene of Our Lord’s birth, made popular first by Saint Francis of Assisi. He

developed it because so many people found it difficult to relate to the unseen God.  Saint

Francis reminded us in the Nativity scene that the unseen God became visible in Jesus: the

eternal Word of God was born in human form for a specific purpose. What purpose? While we

have that scene before us, and it is so familiar—you can see ours on the right of the High

Altar, at the Saint Joseph Altar—what does it actually mean?  What it means is that God, who

created us in His image and Likeness in Adam, has returned to restore that image in us

through the Second Adam: Jesus born of the Virgin Mary.  St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the great

12th century mystic—Dante has him leading the way to the Beatific Vision in the Paradiso of

his Divine Comedy—explained why Christmas is so important for all human kind.  In a sermon

about the Annunciation—look at the stained glass window next to the Blessed Mother’s Altar—

when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she had been chosen to assist God in the work

of our salvation, Saint Bernard has the hearer and all humankind eavesdropping on the Angel.

Gabriel, who has just asked Mary to consent to cooperate with God.  Bernard explains why

Mary’s maternity and the birth of her Son, Jesus, is important to us: “The angel awaits your

answer . . . we too await your merciful word, Lady, for we are the wretches whom

condemnation threatens. We are created in God’s eternal Word and image, yet now we are

doomed to death [through sin]; in your short answer we shall be remade and summoned back to

life. Adam stands here weeping with his poor exiled children and awaits your answer; Abraham

is here and David and all the holy patriarchs who are your fathers but who now dwell in the

valley of death’s shadow. The whole world is prostrate at your feet and waiting. What else

can they do, since on your words depend the consolation of the wretched, the liberation of

prisoners, the rescue of the condemned, and, in a word, the salvation of all Adam’s

children, of your whole race? The One for whom the nations yearn is knocking at the door. 

Delay, and he will pass by. She answers, ‘Behold the Lord’s servant. Do with me as you say.’

[Sermon 4, In Praise of the Virgin Mary]. 


Most think the image and likeness of God is a picture or statue of Jesus.  Few remember that

the phrase refers to every human person, since we have all been created in “the image and

likeness of God.”  St. James’ question repeats this, “How can he who does not love his

neighbor, whom he sees, love God, whom he does not see?” [I John 4:19-20] The Nativity scene

of Saint Francis of Assisi simply reminds us why God became a man in Bethlehem—to remake us

in His image and likeness. That likeness to God is marred in each of us by our sins. God

became a man so that mankind could become God—just as God planned from all eternity. So,

visit the Nativity scene at Saint Joseph’s Altar today. But tomorrow, don’t forget why God

became a man: why there is an image of God in the Nativity scene:  to remind you to respect

and honor the image of God you see daily in your husband, wife, kids, father; or in the guy

next door, or the woman in the office, or the poor immigrant looking for work.  WE are the

image and likeness of God, just as Saint Francis, Saint James, Jesus and Mary remind us. 

Act more Godly in your daily life: show  more mercy, forebearance, patience, charity, and

you’ll find life happier. Merry Christmas!--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,

2008 Calendars . . . 2008 St. John’s Catholic calendars are available free and can be picked

up at all the entrances and exits of the church.  Please take one home per household.

Christmas Fair . . . While I was away, the parish held a very successful Christmas Fair. My

thanks to those who labored so diligently, in particular: Betty Czarnecki, Mirella Badetti,

Tracy Banahan, Angela Marchetti, Eileen Tarleton, Jane Marie Raiteri, Marjan Falek, Landa

Leute, Sharon Gannon, Kathryn Olnek, MaryJean DalMolin, Maureen Carpiniello, Margarita

Ucero, Mary Ann Catucci, Donna Sticco, Kateri Duffy, Pearl Benoit, Rosa Marchetti, Jennifer

Marchetti, Gina Leale, Scholastica Nabwire, Donna Cycon, Mary Cycon, Leon Tariconi, Maria

Mossa, Maria Pinto, Juanita Evans, Judy DiFelice, Tom Kolenberg, and the members of the

parish staff. God bless you, and thank you! Msgr. DiGiovanni

CHRISTMAS CONFESSION SCHEDULE:
December 24th:  3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.;
December 25th: 7:00 am-7:30 a.m.; 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. - 12 noon.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE:
Christmas Eve: 4:00 p.m. and MIDNIGHT Solemn Mass with Choir [11:30: choir concert];
Christmas Day: 7:30 a.m.  & 10:00 a.m.; 12:00 noon Solemn Mass with Choir; 6:00 p.m. Haitian Mass.

Christmas Collection…The second collection is for emergency repairs to the Bell Tower.  The

masonry is a shambles, resulting in much water damage on all levels of the tower. PLESAE

HELP!!.

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.

January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, is a holy day of obligation when all

Catholics are obliged to attend Mass. Please mark your calendars: Mass schedule will be in

next week’s bulletin [or consult the back flap of today’s bulletin: the schedule is that for

Holy Days of Obligation.

Bible Study will resume in January.

Sunday, December 16, 2007       $ 8,962.00

Sunday, December 17, 2006     $ 10,362.36

“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:  3rd    John Richard Meehan, Jr. &
 Heather Patricia Mary Lyden

Hymns for this weekend . . . (1) 8  (2) 155.  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 motets: Rorate cœli (The Advent Prose – Traditional Roman Chant (The text may be

found in the hymnal at No. 305.); Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive and O thou that tellest

good tidings to Zion (Messiah) – G. F. Handel (Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a

Son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us. O thou that tellest good tidings to

Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem,

lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, and be not afraid; say unto the cities of

Judah, Behold your God! Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is

risen upon thee. [Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23); Isaiah 40:9; Isaiah 60:1]), Sarah Bleasdale,

mezzo-soprano. The Gregorian chants proper to this Sunday are: Alleluia Veni, Domine (Come

Lord! do not delay. Pardon the sins of your people.); Offertory Ave Maria (Hail Mary, full

of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of

thy womb. [Luke 1:28]); Communion Ecce virgo concipiet (Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and

bear a Son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel. [Isaiah 7:14]).

Choirs . . . Please consider joining the Saturday 4:00 p.m. Adult Choir (rehearsals are each

Saturday at 3:00 p.m.) and/or enjoining your children in the St. John’s Children’s Choir or

Teen Choir, which sing for the 10:00 AM Family Mass on Sundays. Please call Scott Turkington

at ext. 18 for information.

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.

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.

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.

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

December 27, 1872 “The “Cadet Corps” of St. John’s R. C. Church will give their first annual

ball in Seeley’s Hall, New Years eve. The proceeds are to be used for the purchase of new

uniforms.”

December 26, 1900:  “St. John’s R. C. Church was crowded with worshippers at the 5:30 mass

yesterday morning. Every pew was filled; benches were pressed into service, and even the

open spaces in the church were congested with people, standing. The service was unusually

attractive. The solemn high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Dolan, with Father Sullivan

as deacon, and Father Picker as sub-deacon. The Christmas music by the choir gave evidence

of careful and painstaking rehearsal. It was very well rendered, the solo parts being

particularly effective. A most pleasing feature of the service was the presence of an

orchestra in the choir loft. The combined effect of great church organ, the violin, cornet,

and other instruments of the orchestra was simply grand. Prof. Wood’s musicians rendered the

orchestral parts. Mrs. J. A. Rosenplenter presided at the organ. The decorations were

extremely beautiful – more so than usual. Streamers of pine and holly entwined the pillars

and balconies of the church, and depending from a point above the center of the chancel were

bows of the same material, which extended to and wound about the altar. The altar was a mass

of blazing candles, wreaths of pine and cut flowers. It was flanked on either side by tall

rubber plants. At intervals within the sanctuary stood tall pine trees. The effect was

simply magnificent. The decoration was done by the members of the Altar Society. An

unusually large number of acolytes participated in the ceremony. One of the features of the

decoration was a manger fashioned of pine and containing straw and waxen images to represent

the birth of Christ. At the 10:30 mass there was another large turnout of people. This

service marked the first celebration of high mass by Father Picker, who is a Stamford young

man. In the congregation were many of his friends and relatives who could not but have been

pleased with the ease and grace of the young priest’s celebration.”


December 29, 1926:  “St. John’s R. C. Church, at Bell and Atlantic Streets, now looks grand

with the completion of the new tower. The completion of the tower comes as the result of

years of planning by the Rev. James C. O’Brien, pastor of the church and forms a splendid

memorial to his work as leader of the parish. The tower may be seen from practically all

parts of Stamford. The church is now one of the finest pieces of architecture in the city,

and in fact, is one of the finest church buildings in the State.”

 

Mass Intentions

Saturday, December 22
4:00 +Members of the Terenzio & Longo Families req. Millie & George

Sunday, December 23
  7:30 +Jayson Jarrett req. Norma Jarrett
10:00 Special Intention
12:00 Maria Trivino Birthday req. Lilian & Alvin
 6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family

Monday, December 24
  8:00 Aimee Alcarez Cowan & Family
12:00 Grandchildren req. Josephine Lanquedoc
  4:00 O. L. Loretto Altar Guild
12:00 Midnight – People of the Parish

Tuesday, December 25
  7:30 +Brunilda Perez req. Rosario & Family
 10:00 For the Forgotten Souls in Purgatory
 12:00 Special Intention req. Joseph Languedoc
   6:00 Special Intention Fr. Ridly

Wednesday, December 26
   8:00 Msgr. Stephen M. DiGiovanni req. Rosario & Family
 12:10 +Stephen & Nicholas Churley & Eva, Charles, Nicholas, Anne, Joseph & Charles Kronk, Jr. req. Mary Churley

Thursday, December 27
  8:00 +Nang Nguyen req. Thang Nguyen
12:10 +Fr. Robert J. McDermott Remembrance

Friday, December 28
  8:00 +Randolph Samedi req. Anne Marie Samedi
12:10 +Anne Augustine Penta req. Armelle Penta

Saturday, December 29
  8:00 Special Intention Maria Trivino req. Barbara Schuerger
12:10    +Matilde L. Battaglia req. Tom Kolenberg

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 House of Bread
- Fr Terry Walsh
O the Mystery and the Wonder of the love among the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity -

what beauty, what humility; so mysterious, so explosive, so pure and holy! We were created

through that love. And, even when man, in his foolish arrogance, freely chose to separate

Himself from God, taking upon His shoulders the ‘Yoke of sin through Pride’ - God responded

with a perfect act of Humility. Christmas celebrates that unfathomable act of love and our

hearts and minds naturally open to a deep and profound contemplation of the wonder of God.

In His mercy, God descended from Heaven, exchanging His Throne of glory for a wooden manger

in a cold cave. The Saints proclaim, ‘God became man so that man might become God’ – ‘He

became poor so that we might become rich’ – rich in divine grace, rich in love and mercy.

We, likewise, must become humble. 

The angels cannot contain their praise and adoration – marveling at the incomprehensible

love - the complete humility of the Creator of all things. Those same angels that cried out:

“Glory to God in the Highest!!!” that first Christmas night – are with us at every Mass,

joined by all the Saints in Heaven; they come to praise and adore God-with-us. We too hear

the echo of the calm and gentle words of the angel to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid.” We

who once were in Darkness – under the Yoke sin – have been redeemed by this Babe in the

Manger. Now, we’re able to bathe in the Light, under the grace of God. ‘He has smashed the

Yoke that burdened man’ – the Yoke of death. Christ has come to make possible salvation for

all who are drawn to His Light – the Light of Truth and Purity; the Light of Mercy and

Forgiveness; the Light of Love. He has come for all who believe in Him and live in His Light

by faithfully living the Gospel.

Born in the City of David, in the little, humble town of Bethlehem, whose Name means ‘House

of Bread’ – our Lord – who is the Bread of Angels – becomes for us “the Living Bread come

down from Heaven!” It is precisely this act of love - made in perfect humility – that the

very Son of God is born into the world – to offer Himself in sacrifice. On that night, He

was lain in a bed of hay; but now, He comes to us wrapped in the tiny host, what

extraordinary humility. Think of it – He makes it easy for us.  He nourishes and sustains

His divine life in us through ordinary bread and wine. What had been a little piece of bread

becomes his dwelling place. He is there – in the host – in “Perfect Humility!” He no longer

rests in a cold manger, but rather, in every warm heart that receives Him worthily – in

Faith and with love. And at that most extraordinary moment when He enters our hearts; when

we receive Holy Eucharist worthily, we experience an explosion of light radiating throughout

our souls - a boost of strength and life. It’s this strength which enables the humble heart

to “reject godless ways and worldly desires” as St. Paul tells us, and instead “live

temperately, justly, and devoutly – eager to do what is good.” Every single day Emmanuel

comes to us - hidden in the tiny host! –waiting for us to come to Him. EVERY single day He

humbles Himself to become present and dwell forever IN us. May we reflect on his perfect

humility and be truly overwhelmed with awe and wonder, echoing the song of the angels –

‘Glory to God in the Highest and peace to all on whom His favor rests!’

A Blessed Christmas Season to all…