Pastor’s Corner . . . The Eternal Son of the Father became a man to offer himself on the Cross and rise in His human flesh in order to save the entire human person, body and soul, for eternity.  Instead of my words, here are reflections of some of the Church’s early bishop theologians about Christ’s Cross  and Resurrection:
“The Passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a pledge of victory and a lesson in patience: what may the hearts of believers not expect from God’s grace when his only Son did not hesitate to become a man and to die at the hands of men whom he himself had created? Great indeed are God’s promises to us, but greater still is what he has already done for us. How can we doubt that he will give us a share in his eternal life when he has already given us his death?  ‘The Eternal Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.’  He was unable to die for us since He is God; he had to take mortal flesh from us to do so. Then the immortal One could die and give life to mortal men and women; he would give a share of Himself to those whose lot he first shared by becoming a man. We had no power of ourselves to live; he had no power of Himself to die. He entered, therefore, into an exchange with us: we gave him the means of dying, by His becoming a man; He gave us the means of living, since He is God. Not only should we not be ashamed of our Lord’s death, then, but we ought to trust in it and make it our boast. For in taking for Himself the death He found in us, He promised to give us the life that was beyond our reach.” [St. Augustine, Sermon III]
“The prophets had much to say of the mystery of Christ our Passover, . . . He came to earth to become a suffering mortal; he put on manhood in the Virgin’s womb, destroyed the passions of  the flesh in his own mortal body, and in his undying spirit slew death.  He was led to slaughter like a lamb, rescued us from servitude to our Egypt, the world, and from servitude to our Pharoah, the Devil. He marked our souls with his own Spirit and our bodies with His  blood. He threw death into confusion, and Satan into turmoil, as Moses once did to Pharoah. He took flesh of the Virgin, hung upon the Cross, was buried in the earth, and rising from the dead, ascended the heights of heaven. And when he rose from the dead, he raised mankind from its tomb.” [Melito of Sardis, On the Paschal Mystery, 65-71]
“Today, there is a great silence over the earth, for the King sleeps. The earth has trembled and fallen still, for the Lord sleeps in his fleshly nature; in the netherworld he is arousing those who have slept for ages. God is dead in the flesh, and has shaken Sheol to its foundations. He goes to visit our first parent, Adam, like a lost sheep. He wills to visit those who sit in the dark shadows of death, and to release Adam and his wife from their grievous captivity. The Lord takes Adam’s hand and says to him: ‘Awake, sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ shall enlighten you. I am your God. For your sake I became one of your sons. . . For your sake I came to earth and to the underworld. See the spittle on my face—it was for you, that you might have the breath of life again. See my cheeks reddened by the blows—it was for you, that you might be remade in my image. See my torn back—it was for you, that I might take the burden of sin from your shoulders. See the nail-marks in my hands—it was for you, because you once put your hand to the forbidden tree. Arise, let us go hence. I have a heavenly throne prepared for you, and the cherubim shall bow down before you.” [2nd century Homily for Holy Saturday]. Happy Easter! --Msgr. DiGiovanni 

Please pray for the sick… George Terenzio, Eleanor McNamee, Nancy Geikie, Vicki Manes, Anthony Sansone, Margaret Woods, Paul Forte, Anne Marie Brutus, Gelanie Lops, Titina Tarantino, Jennifer Tomasello, Janet Rodgers, Antoinetta Fiore, Lorraine Lindahl, Marilyn Fabio, Robert Geikie, Alan Comier, Barbara Schuerger, Brady Rodgers, Gail Ruge, Msgr. Constantino Caldas, Madam Wong Oi Ling, Fiona Farrell, Billy Therriault, David Lloyd

Please pray for those who have recently died…Reta Satoriti, Marcello Santagata, Louis Manes, Paul Dudash, John Borron, Fouchard Paulemon, Louis Meyer, Phillis Doherty, Violet Roddy, Wallace Stewart, Patrick Farenga, Marie Swanson, Neill Carey, Margorie Watkins, Antoninette DeMott, Rose Harrington, Maria C. Roldan-Ranero, Frances C. Delaney, Mary Anne Vagnone, Bridget Leen, Lou Tosches, John Darling,

Easter Collection . . . Please drop your Easter Collection envelope into the second basket that will be passed at the Offertory.  There will be two collections today.

Ancient Order of Hibernians: Saturday, April 5th: Gentlemen: Join us for the NCAA Men’s Final Four Game at the AOH Hall on Greyrock Place, beginning at 4:40 p.m.: Large Screen Projection TVs; Buffet Dinner with open bar; Cigar and Whiskey tasting.  All profits for local charities: $50.00 at the door or $45.00 in advance: contact Joe Sargent: 203-235-2323 or josephpsargent@yahoo.com

SAVE THESE DATES: 2 GREAT EVENTS:

Solemn Vespers and Benediction:  Friday, May 30th at 6:30 p.m., to celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of our church in 1886. This will be an annual event, so please plan to join us.

Passport to the World:  Sunday, June 22nd at 5:30 p.m.: Our annual fund raising supper and auction.  Please join us to help raise funds for our church bell tower. Tickets: $100 each.  Details to follow!
 
Divine Mercy Sunday . . . March 30th:  Join us for the noon Mass and at 1:30 p.m. for the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction.

Catholic Faith on Tap… For men and women in their 20’s and 30’s at Bennigan’s Restaurant – just across the street - from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  We will meet there the 2nd Monday each month - bring a friend!  Next meeting: Monday, April 10.

Parents of our Religious Education Students…While your children are in religious education class on Sundays, join us in the Parish Rectory with Father Walsh for a cup of coffee and learn more about our Catholic Faith.

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

NO COFFEE HOUR EASTER SUNDAY… Coffee hour will start again the following Sunday, March 30th at 10:00 a.m.

The Latin reading group is translating St. Augustine’s Confessions.  All are welcome on Wednesday evenings at 6:15 p.m. in the rectory.  If you have only studied Latin during high school, please join us: you know more than you think!

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.

Sunday, March 16, 2008      $ 11,354.00

Sunday, March 18, 2007      $ 9,910.13

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…(1) 79 (2) 83.  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 ‘Simile est regnum’ –  Tomás Luis de Victoria, 1548-1611. Offertory Motet: Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem – Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, 1852-1924 (Ye choirs of new Jerusalem, your sweetest notes employ, The Paschal victory to hymn, in strains of holy joy. For Judah’s Lion bursts his chains, crushing the serpents head; And cries aloud, through death’s domains to wake the imprisoned dead. Devouring depths of hell their prey at his command restore; His ransomed hosts pursue their way where Jesus goes before. Triumphant in his glory now to him all power is given; To him in one communion bow all saints in earth and heaven. While we his soldiers praise our King, his mercies we implore, Within his palace bright to bring and keep us evermore. All glory to the Father be, all glory to the Son, All glory, Holy Ghost to Thee while endless ages run. Alleluia. Alleluia. [St. Cuthbert of Chartres, trans. R. Campbell and others]). Communion Motets: Laudate Dominum (K. 339) – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791 (Praise the Lord, all nations; praise him in unison, all peoples. For his mercy is confirmed upon us and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [Psalm 117]); Ave verum Corpus (K. 618) – Mozart (Hail true Body, born of Mary by a wondrous Virgin-birth! Thou who on the Cross wast offered to redeem the sons of earth; Thou whose side became a fountain pouring forth thy precious Blood, give us now, and at our dying thine own self to be our food. O sweetest Jesu, O gracious Jesu, O Jesu, blessed Mary's Son, grant us at the last thy mercy. [Pope Innocent V, trans. N.H. Oxenham, alt.]); Most Glorious Lord of Life – Sir William Harris, 1883-1973 (Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day Didst make Thy triumph over death and sin, And having harrowed hell, didst bring away Captivity thence captive, us to win. This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin, And grant that we for whom Thou didest die, Being with Thy dear blood clean washed from sin, May live for ever in felicity: And that Thy love we weighing worthily, May likewise love Thee for the same again; And for Thy sake, that all like dear didst buy, With love may one another entertain. So let us love, dear Love, like as we ought; Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught. (Edmund Spencer 1522-99). The Gregorian chants proper to this Sunday are: Introit – Resurrexi (I am risen, and I am always with you, alleluia; you have placed your hand upon me, alleluia; your wisdom has been shown to be most wonderful, alleluia, alleluia. O Lord, you have searched me and known me; you know when I sit down and when I rise up. [Ps. 139:18,5,6,1,2]); Alleluia Pascha nostrum (Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed. [I Corinthians 5:7]); Sequence Victimæ paschali laudes (To the Paschal Victim, Christians, offer a sacrifice of praise. The Lamb has ransomed his sheep; the innocent Christ has reconciled sinners with the Father. Death and life confronted each other in a prodigious battle; the Prince of life who died, now lives and reigns. “Tell us, Mary, what did you see upon the way?” “I saw the sepulchre of the living Christ; I saw the glory of the Risen One. I saw the angels, his witnesses, the shroud and the garments. Christ, my Hope, is risen. He will go before his own into Galilee.” We know that Christ is truly risen from the dead; O Victorious King, have mercy upon us.); Offertory Terra tremuit (The earth trembled and was still, when God arose in judgment, alleluia. [Ps.75]); Communion Pascha nostrum (Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed, alleluia; therefore, let us keep the feast by sharing the unleavened bread of uprightness and truth, alleluia, alleluia. [I Corinthians 5:7,8]).

Trinity Catholic High School…Annual College Night, Wednesday, March 26th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at 726 Newfield Avenue in Stamford, Connecticut.  Held in the Gymnasium.  Over 60 colleges expected to be in attendance.  Any question please call 322-3401.

Bible Study…Our next meeting is April 17th, 7:30 p.m. in the rectory. We’re reading the Book of Revelation.  All are welcome!

Legion of Mary…The Annual Actes Ceremony of the Regional Legion of Mary Bridgeport Curia, will be held at here at St. John’s on Sunday, April 6th at 2:30 p.m.; consisting of Mass with Legion prayers and individual dedication, and refreshments to follow.  All are invited.

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

The Stamford Advocate:

March 30, 1866: Local Matters “Fast Day. – Friday next being Good Friday, also the day appointed for a general fast day in this state, there will be the usual services in the Roman Catholic Church.”
March 24, 1871: “A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Roman Catholic church, Sunday afternoon last, in response to the request of the Bishop of the diocese, for the purpose of taking an expression of the sense of the Catholics of this vicinity regarding the recent occupation of Rome by King Victor Emmanuel. Rev Father Fagan presided, and Rev. Father Gaffney acted as secretary. The meeting was addressed by Dennis Riordan, P. Reilly, John Moore, P. Kavanaugh, John Burke, and others. A series of resolutions were unanimously passed asserting the rights of the sovereign Pontiff, and denouncing the action of the Italian King and his supporters.”
March 26, 1904: CHANGE IN CHURCH MUSIC. Male Choirs and Gregorian Chant to Be Introduced Shortly  “It is considered to be but a matter of time ere the instructions of the Pope concerning the Gregorian chant and choirs exclusively of men and boys, will be carried out in this diocese. Father O’Brien has not taken action in this respect as yet, but there is a likelihood that the new order, or rather the old order, will soon be adopted here. Rev. Walter Shakley, the rector of St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hartford, has announced that after Easter, the Gregorian chant will be introduced at all the services in the cathedral. The Catholic Transcript, the official organ of the diocese, gives a good deal of space in its issue this week to the chant. A boys’ choir was organized in St. John’s R. C. Church at Christmas. While it has done good work, it is far from a point where it could carry on all the singing at the services without the assistance of the regular choir. Musicians generally are displeased with the attempt to change the character of the music. They say that this plain chant does not permit of the effects that can be obtained with some compositions which have been in vogue for some years. This is true, and it is just the reason why the chant has been reintroduced. The music of some masses is, in the opinion of high church authorities, to detract from the worship itself. The plain chant, contrary to an impression which appears to prevail, is by no means dull, and may be rendered in a very effective way. The change from the music which Catholics have been accustomed to will be most striking, but there is every reason to believe that it will be none the less inspiring. It is said that every boy knows how to sing, provided he is properly trained, and no one will doubt that as regards boys, Stamford is not lacking in numbers.”


Mass Intentions

Saturday, March 22
4:00 NO MASS

Sunday, March 23
  7:30 +Bob Darling  req. Wife
10:00 Special Intention Patrick Naughton “Birthday”
12:00 +William Borkowski req. Michael & Ann Borkowski
 6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family

Monday, March 24
  8:00  Special Intention Florence & John Gannon, Jr. req. Sharon Gannon
12:10 +Ronnie Duncan req. Ciaran Carruthers

Tuesday, March 25
  8:00 Special Intention Jeanette Kim req. Sharon Gannon
12:10 +John Swanhouse req. Thomas & Olga Kolenberg

Wednesday, March 26
   8:00 +Amy Reed req. Fabiola C.
 12:10 +Patricia M. Carozza req. Duffy Family

Thursday, March 27
8:00 +Mary Kielty
12:10  Rosina & Clement Raiteri 45th Wedding Anniversary req. Janemarie Raiteri
Friday, March 28
  8:00 +Frank Janesch req. Cycon Family
12:10 +Therese Guggolz req. Maryanne Koller

Saturday, March 29
  8:00 +John Maloney req. Mary Maloney
12:10    +O’Hara Family req. Maryanne Koller

Holy Name Society . . . for all men of the parish: the rectory every Friday morning for coffee, Eucharistic adoration benediction & prayer, from 7:00-8:00 a.m.

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.

Novena of the Miraculous Medal:  Monday 8:30 a.m.

The Veil of the Sanctuary was Torn in Two

-Fr. Terry Walsh

On Ash Wednesday, God, speaking through the Prophet Joel, directed us: “Rend your Hearts, not your garments.” In other words, purify the inside, the intentions of the heart, the thoughts of the mind and bring to God all that needs to be healed – so that your actions may be governed by a faithful heart directed to God through love. Tear open the ‘curtain’ of your heart and unveil your “inner sanctuary” – cut through the walls of pride and self-will and so allow the soothing rays of Divine Love made accessible through the Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ to form you into a vibrant, living Temple of our Lord. In 1Kings 6, we read about Solomon’s construction of the “Inner Sanctuary.” It was the Holiest place in the Great Temple of Jerusalem. “The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.” This Inner Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, was separated by a Curtain or ‘Veil’ (Exodus 26:33 “…bring the ark of the testimony in…and the veil shall separate for you the holy place from the most holy.”) As we read on, the sacred writer reveals the beauty of the Temple and its magnificent construction: “the priests brought the ark of the Covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, there was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made the Covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord”(1Kg 8:6f). Jesus, the Word made Flesh, is of course, the Holy One, ‘True God and True man.’ Born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the True Ark, Jesus enables us to become “living temples” through His Sacrifice. As our Lord hung dead upon the Cross, and the “Veil of His Flesh” was torn open by the soldier’s lance, Blood and Water flowed out of His Sacred Heart, the Sanctuary of the Holy One. At the same time, the great curtain, the Veil in the Temple in Jerusalem was rent open: “…behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many”(Mt 27:51). Jesus makes all things new through His One, Perfect Sacrifice. Speaking to the woman at the well, and to each one of us, Jesus says: “…true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth”(Jn 4:23). Now, in order to accomplish this, we must “rend our hearts” thus allowing Him to heal and nourish us; to “put on the new man” as St. Paul says. And Paul continues, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”(2Cor3:17). Hebrews adds, “We have (this) as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”(Heb 6:19)…“when Christ appeared as high priest…he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption”(v.11). “For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf (v24)…He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”(v.9)”. St. Gregory Nazianzen reflected, “He surrenders His life, yet He has power to take it up again. Yes, the veil is torn, for things of Heaven are being revealed, rocks split, and dead men have an earlier awakening…God hanging from a cross, the sun made dark and again flaming out; for it was fitting that creation should mourn with its creator…” He is Risen!