Pastor’s Corner . . .- The Church celebrates the Epiphany this weekend, which commemorates three historical events of great importance:  the veneration of the Christ Child by the Three Kings; the Baptism of Our Lord by John the Baptist; and the miracle of the Wedding Feast at Cana.  Each of these events is important, because each explains precisely who this child is and what he is to do.  The Three Kings came, having followed the “star” rising in the east.  In reality, they saw a rare eclipse of Jupiter by the moon, the “king” of planets, the movement of which was interpreted in the ancient world as a portent of royal birth. They observed this, and understood that the baby they found in Bethlehem was no mere child, but a king, greater than any earthly monarch. Their gifts bore witness to the reality of Jesus’ identity: gold for a king; frankincense for a god; and myth, both a medicine and a burial herb in the ancient world, for one who was to cure humanity of sin and death by his saving death. The Baptism of Our Lord, which feast we celebrate next Sunday, and which I will treat at greater length in next week’s bulletin, signifies who the man Jesus is: the voice from Heaven tells us “This is my beloved Son, on whom my favor rests; listen to him.” And, finally, the Wedding Feast at Cana: the first of Jesus’ miracles as he began his ministry. At the prompting of His Mother, Jesus comes to the aid of a newly married couple. Sparing them the embarrassment of having no wine for their guests, He changes water into wine. Who is this? Jesus is the Creator of the universe, whose word created everything from nothing, and is obeyed even by the basic elements. The child born in the manger is no mere child: He is the only God, eternally existing, through whom everything was created in the universe, who, for love of mankind created in His image and likeness, humbles Himself to be born, taking on human flesh of the Virgin Mary, who enters His creation to recreate everything by His presence and sacrifice. He especially comes to recreate every human being, wounded by the sin of Adam and subject to death, whom He frees by His life-giving death on the Cross. This is He, born in Bethlehem, revealed at the Jordan at His baptism, manifested in his power at Cana, God who became a man so that mankind can share His divine life. -Msgr. DiGiovanni

Please pray for the sick… Eugene Lops, Janet Rodgers, 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… Bridget Leen, Lou Tosches, 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,

TODAY…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 3:00 p.m.  All are welcome!

SPECIAL TIME MONDAY JAN 7TH:
Moms and children of all ages…Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Marian Altar 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 Monday…

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.

St. Monica Institute . . . will resume the study of the Church Fathers on Wednesday, January 9th with a study course on the Apologists of the first three centuries.  We meet in the rectory at 7:30 pm. The reading course will continue on January 16th, 23rd and 30th.  All are welcome: just walk in the front door!

Bible Study will begin again on Thursday, January 17th at 7:30 pm in the rectory. We will meet every third Thursday of each month [except in APRIL, which is Holy Thursday]. We will be studying the Book of Revelation, with commentary by Scott Hahn.  We will use Hahn’s book The Lamb’s Supper. You can either purchase your own copy, pick it up in the parish bookstore, or order a copy for yourself. All are welcome!

Holy Name Society . . . will host its annual supper for members in the rectory, on Saturday, February 2nd following the 4 pm Mass. Members only: please call the rectory to reserve your spot. 

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat for Healing After Abortion…If you are suffering from an abortion, whether it happened recently or forty years ago, experience the healing love of Jesus on a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat weekend from January 25-27, 2008.  The retreat will combine spiritual meditations, discussions, Confession, a Memorial Service and Mass.  Retreats are small, participation is strictly confidential and offers a beautiful opportunity to experience God’s love and forgiveness.  Participants have their own private room.  For more information, please call the retreat director at 203-218-0291 or e-mail her at Jeremiah31v17@aol.com or visit our website at www.rachelsvineyardbpt.com.  All inquiries are kept in the strictest of confidence.  This ministry is sponsored by the Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

Join the Conversation…Bishop William Lori has started a “blog” to share news.  www.BishopLoriBlog.org.

Christmas, December 25, 2007     $ 39,804.00

Christmas, December 25, 2006     $ 38,554.00

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

---Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Hymns for this weekend . . .

Choral Music for the 12:00 Noon Mass . . .

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 a.m. Family Mass on Sundays. Please call Scott Turkington at ext. 18 for information

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:

January 5, 1866: “The second annual ball of the St. John’s Roman Catholic Benevolent society, which took place at Hoyt’s Hall, on Friday night last, was a decided success, and a handsome sum must have been realized in aid of the charitable object of the association. The floor managers, Messrs. Eugene W. Drew, Hickey and Mannon, performed their duties in a manner creditable to themselves and agreeable to all concerned. The dancer’s feet kept time to the music of a fine quadrille band, and the harp “woke all its chords” for the enjoyment of the festive throng. The utmost order prevailed throughout, and nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion.”

January 12, 1877:  “There were many demonstrations of grief among the congregation assembled in St. John’s R. C. church last Sunday, when the pastor, Rev. M. Tierney, announced his intended removal to another field of labor. Father Tierney began his pastorate in Stamford immediately after the death of Father Fagan, which occurred December 5th, 1873. During his residence here he has not only contributed greatly to build up the religious and temporal interests of the church, but has favorably impressed everybody both in and out of his parish, who have had any personal acquaintance with him. He is to take charge of the pro-cathedral at Hartford, and his place here is to be supplied by Rev. Father Rogers, formerly assistant pastor, in Stamford, and in that capacity having already won the confidence and esteem of his parishioners.”

January 7, 1907: FINE MUSICAL SERVICE. “A solemn high mass will be celebrated in St. John’s R. C. Church at 10:30 a. m. Sunday, Jan. 20, when the dedication of the new school and convent will take place. Miss Margaret Kennedy, the organist and choir director, is preparing a special musical program for the occasion, which, if it is carried out without any abridgement, is sure to be of great interest. The choir of this church, including the soloists, is a volunteer organization and it is doing excellent work, which really deserves much more appreciation than it at all times receives. Any one having a knowledge of musical composition knows that Catholic music is far more difficult than that of other churches, but, when it is properly sung, it is very beautiful. St. John’s choir has shown continued improvement during the past year and the soloists, Mrs. McMahon, Miss Hickey, John P. Reilly and Joseph Greeney, are doing especially creditable work, and the only thing they can expect for it is appreciation.”
January 11, 1922:  Storm Fells Great Wooden Cross On St. John’s Catholic Church “The large, wooden, gilt cross, which adorned St. John’s Catholic Church, fell, shortly before noon today, first to the sloping roof and then to the ground, breaking into a hundred pieces. The debris covered the steps of the south entrance to the church on Atlantic Street. A stone cross, similarly placed, was knocked down by a bolt of lightning about fifteen years ago, and broken.”

Mass Intentions

Saturday, January 5
4:00  +Jacqueline Neuberger req. Kevin & Alison Tosches

Sunday, January 6
  7:30 People of the Parish
10:00 +Robert S. Tarleton req. Mary Jean Dal Molin
12:00 +Suzanna Donovain:  13th Anniversary req. Marion Morris
 6:00 Special Intention Ronald Juwonoputro req. Filumena & George

Monday, January 7
  8:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family
12:10 Patrick & Eileen Heiny req. Sharon Gannon

Tuesday, January 8
  8:00 +John Maloney req. Mary Maloney
12:10 +Ann Tunnick req. Maryanne Koller

Wednesday, January 9
   8:00 John J. Gannon req. Daughter
 12:10 +Catherine Henson req. John Pascale

Thursday, January 10
  8:00 Thanksgiving req. Thang Nguyen
12:10     +Patricia Sher McLean req. Shirley Hinnau

Friday, January 11
  8:00 Ronald Juwonopautro req. Filumena & George
12:10 Souls in Purgatory req. Fabiola C.

Saturday, January 12
  8:00 +Hope & Joseph McAleer req. Family
12:10    +Sacha Borthwick req. Suzanna Borthwick

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 Epiphany
- Fr. Terry Walsh
Revisited…….
As a Seminarian, several of our academic classes focused on the various books of the Bible, such as the Psalms or the Letters of St. Paul. They were very interesting courses, but were only able to focus on specific aspects of the various particular parts of the Bible. There’s so much ground to cover and at first glance, it can appear a little “foreign.” After all, the events and circumstances in the Holy Bible go back many centuries. Even the most recent writings in the Bible (The New Testament) are 2000 years old! Where do I begin? How will I understand?
And yet, it’s not simply a history book. It is rather like a “love letter” and it is addressed to every single person created in the image and likeness of God – individually. It is the living Word of God and it speaks to our hearts in a unique way if we simply pick it up and read it.  And so, I began to understand more clearly that in order to come to know the Heart of our Lord, I needed to read the Bible in a new way. Yes, the courses were very helpful and interesting. Still, it was time to travel through the Bible in a more personal way – to read it as a letter from God.
So, on Ash Wednesday of my 3rd year at the Seminary, I decided I would read a couple chapters each day throughout Lent. When Easter arrived, I continued my daily reading – at least one chapter a day – every day – until I read the last word on the last page of the last book of the Bible. I began to see all of “Salvation History” unfold before my eyes in a whole new way. Each book of the Bible was “connected” to every other book and told a story of love. Somewhere along the line I found myself “praying” my ‘chapter-a-day.’ There were days that I just couldn’t put it down. So many graces come with that journey – the grace of coming to a greater knowledge and understanding of God for sure – but also the graces that come simply from spending that time with God. There were so many ‘ah ha’ moments – so many occasions when I was able to “connect the dots” so to speak – and see how all of Sacred Scripture was part of a seamless whole – it is Christ. Coming to understand His love and mercy, His faithfulness and patience – and every other virtue for that matter – was quite literally like wiping fog away from a window. It’s a wonderful journey into the very Heart of Jesus Christ. He leads us every step of the way. I began that journey on Ash Wednesday, a “day of darkness” when we remember that “we are dust and unto dust shall we return” - a day when we consider our own mortality. I finished a year and a half later on the Feast of the Epiphany, the day of great Light. I hadn’t planned it that way, it was simply another grace. It was the grace of understanding that in order to gain a true knowledge of the purpose of life, we must be enlightened by Christ Himself. He alone pours “light” into our hearts and minds so that we may know the love of God. Without this light we would only stumble in the dark. Why not begin your journey to the Heart of our Lord on the day of great Light and see where He leads you – one chapter at a time….