Pastor’s Corner . . . Progress is being made on the uncovering of the altar mural, as you may notice. Mr. Markovych, the professional restorer and artist, is slowly competing the removal of the six layers of paint and primer that have covered the mural for decades.
 The subject in the mural around the central window of the Crucifixion is the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the writing of the four Gospels. Above the central window is the Holy Spirit: the image is the traditional dove, with head down and wings outstretched: it appears as if the Holy Spirit is
dive-bombing the altar. Extending downward from the Holy Spirit, on each side of the arch, are rich luxuriant vines of stylized acanthus leaves—in bright orange!
--with touches of gold and copper leaf.  On each side of the central window frame can be seen two medallions, each with one of the symbols of the four Evangelists: on the right side is the Eagle of Saint John, our patron, below which is the Ox of Saint Luke; on the left side of the window frame is the Angel of Saint Matthew, below which is the Lion of Saint Mark.  The pattern is repeated on the two side windows behind the altar as well, but the details and themes won’t be known until the layers of paint are removed.
 Painted during the 1920’s, these murals are real pieces of Catholic folk art: perfect or world class, maybe not. But they are purely and thoroughly Saint John’s: Created by members of our parish, commissioned by the priests of the parish and paid for by them and by the parishioners, these murals are a beautiful part of our parish heritage: they were created for the glory of God, as a gift of the people and parish priests for future generations as a sign of their love and gratitude to Our Lord. I think we should preserve them.
 One of the challenges is the cost: to remove the layers of paint from around the central sanctuary window alone costs nearly $19,000. That does not include the restoration. I’ll need your help to do this, and I hope to do it in stages. If you would like to lend a hand, please consider making a donation to the parish, expressly to restore the church murals. Your gift can be paid monthly, if that proves easier for you. However you choose, your help is essential. In a way, “this is déjà vu all over again.” Just as Fr. James C. O’Neill, the pastor of the parish in the 1920’s, asked his parishioners to finance the painting of the mural, so now I’m asking you to help to restore and preserve them. But I’m not asking you to do it alone.  Just as the pastor then made his own donation to the project, so I’m making my own donation: most of my salary for the year: $16,000 of my total
$27,000 annual salary will go to restore the murals. Please join me, as a way to say thanks to that earlier generation of Saint John’s parishioners who created this beautiful work of Catholic folk art, and as a way to show our love for Our Lord and for our parish to those Catholics who will come after us. God bless you.
--Msgr. DiGiovanni 

Please pray for the sick… 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, Alan Comier, Barbara Schuerger, Brady Rodgers, Gail Ruge, Madam Wong Oi Ling, Fiona Farrell, Billy Therriault, David Lloyd

Please pray for those who have recently died… William Speranza, George Lampman, Robert Geikie, Florence DeSilva, Margaret Mine, 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,

SAVE THESE DATES: 3 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!
 
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH: Parish picnic at Cove Island.

Young Adult 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 14.

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.

COFFEE HOUR… After the 10:00 a.m. Mass.  All are welcome.

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!

St. Monica Institute for Patristic Studies . . . meets each Wednesday in April at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory. This month we will read patristic works [in English translations] concerning the Incarnation and Resurrection of Christ. Everyone is welcome.

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!

Sunday, April 06, 2008    $ 13,302.00

Sunday, April 08, 2007    $ 14,735.72

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) 77 (2) 265.  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 secunda – Hans Leo Hassler, 1562-1612. Offertory Motet: Jubilate Deo – Orlandus Lassus, 1532-1594 (O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God. [Psalm 100:1,2. Trans. M. Coverdale]). Communion Motet: Haec Dies – Marc’Antonio Ingegneri, 1547-1592 (This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. [Ps. 118:24,1]). Communion Solo: He shall feed his flock (from Messiah) – George Frideric Handel, 1685-1759, Sarah Bleasdale, mezzo-soprano. The Gregorian chants proper to this Sunday are: Introit Misericordia Domini (The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord, alleluia; by the word of the Lord, the heavens were established, alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! Praising befits those who are upright. [Ps.33:5,6,1]; Alleluia Ego sum pastor bonus (I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my own know me. [John 10:14]); Offertory Deus, Deus meus (O God, my God, from daybreak do I watch for you; and in invocation of your name will I lift up my hands. [Ps. 63:2,5]); Communion Ego sum pastor bonus (I am the good shepherd, alleluia; I know my sheep and my own know me, alleluia, alleluia. [John 10:14]).

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.

Citizens Day . . . April 26, 2008: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: attorneys and paralegals will assist with U.S. Citizenship process for no charge: at Stamford UCONN:  One University Place, Room 108, Stamford.

Lost and Found . . . The parish has a collection of items left behind in church. If you have lost something, you may find it at the parish office in the rectory: Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

Join the Conversation . . . Bishop William Lori has started a “blog” to share news: www.BishopLoriBlog.org.
 St. John’s In the News…100 years ago, or so:


The Stamford Advocate:

April 7, 1871:  “The Catholic school house on Meadow Street was completely filled on Monday evening by an audience gathered to promote the objects of the temperance organization lately formed. The new society, pledged to total abstinence, now numbers between seventy and eighty members, all males, and most young men. Father Tierney is Director, Father Rogers, Treasurer, John Nolan President, and P. Larkins, Secretary. Some thirteen young men came forward and joined the society on Monday evening. The name adopted is the St. Joseph’s Total Abstinence Society. Addresses were made by Messrs. McGee, McIntire and others. The regular meetings of the society hereafter will be on the first and third Mondays of each month. Among the plans contemplated are the formation of a library and reading room, and it is understood that Mr. Collender will contribute a billiard table which will be used in the rooms of the society.”

April 18, 1904: PASTOR AT WHITE HOUSE. “Rev. James C. O’Brien, pastor of St. John’s R. C. Church, together with a few other priests from this State, had an audience with President Roosevelt, at the White House, last week. Father O’Brien made the trip for the purpose of attending the ceremonies marking the endowment of the Catholic University with a chair in secular history by the Knights of Columbus. The audience with the President was arranged by Congressman at Large Lilley of Waterbury and Congressman Hill of Norwalk. Father O’Brien spent several minutes with Mr. Roosevelt and was much impressed with the striking personality of the man.”

April 15, 1908: “It was a very interesting and impressive sermon on temperance that Rev. Father Sullivan, President of the Catholic Temperance Union, of this State, preached in St. John’s R. C. Church, last night. It is a well known subject, of course, and every one is familiar with it, but Father Sullivan added to the usual arguments a forceful and exceedingly pleasing delivery. The members of St. Joseph’s T.A.B. Society attended in a body.”

April 15, 1912: To Discourage Profanity.  “At the meeting of the Holy Name Society of St. John’s R. C. Church, last night, a resolution to have anti-profanity cards printed and distributed, was adopted. The committee in charge of this work are James Brennan, William Ryle, Jeremiah Donovan and William Hyland. It was arranged to have State Commissioner of Labor P. H. Donnelly of Danbury present at the next meeting of the society, to speak upon, “The Work of the Bureau of Labor.” Mr. Donnelly is well known in labor circles in this State, and is said to be a very interesting speaker. Others besides members of the society may attend if they so desire for his talk is sure to prove of interest to every man.”

Mass Intentions

Saturday, April 12
4:00 +Rosemarie & Vito Longo req. Millie (daughter)
Sunday, April 13
  7:30 Special Intention Mary Young Kim req. Joseph & Mary Kim
10:00  +Ruffina Fernandes req. Lilian & Alvina Ramos
12:00 Diane Strain Birthday req. Josephine Languedoc
 6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family
Monday, April 14
  8:00 +Tin Nguyen req. Thang Nguyen
12:10 +Margretta De Vivo req. The De Vivo & Munro Families
Tuesday, April 15
  8:00 +John Lancaster req. David Lancaster
12:10 +Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Jean-Guillaume req. by Children
Wednesday, April 16
   8:00 +Betsy Milne req. Fabiola Contreras
 12:10 Lilian Ramos Special Intention Birthday req. Maria
Thursday, April 17
8:00 Cathleen Gannon req. Sister
12:10   Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart of Jesus req. Sarah Aslam
Friday, April 18
  8:00 Special Intention Eleanor Theresa Kim req. Joseph & Mary Kim
12:10 +Jones Family req. Kathleen Crowley
Saturday, April 19
  8:00 Special Intention Eleanor Theresa Kim req. Joseph & Mary Kim
12:10    Jack Walsh

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.

A Knock at the Door…
- Fr Terry Walsh

In the Gospel of John, Jesus comforts His Apostles as He prepares them for the separation they are about to experience. He is preparing to return to the Father – but first – He will endure His Passion and death on the Cross in order to open the Gates of Heaven for all His sheep. Through His sacrificial love, Jesus makes it possible for all of us to follow Him into Heaven. At the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples, “In My Father’s House are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also…. I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me”(Jn 14:2). In order for us to realize the end for which we were created, namely, unending life in perpetual light, happiness, and peace, we must pass through the Gate, Jesus Christ. There is no other way. He has already prepared a place for each of us. He has already invited us to the Heavenly Banquet. We simply need to say yes – to open the door of our heart to his love and to his will. The path involves the Cross, but He will help us carry it, if we ask Him. Our life here on earth will involve some measure of suffering, but at the same time, we have the greatest possible consolation: ‘HE is our help and our shield.’ Recall the words of the great Carmelite, St. Teresa of Aliva: “Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you. Everything passes. God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God wants for nothing. God alone is enough.” He dwells IN you, nourishing you, Sacramentally.
In a mysterious sort of way, Heaven actually begins here – on earth. At Baptism, we enter the Divine Life of Grace. The Holy Trinity resides in us and remains with us, provided we live according to His will. Jesus says: “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him…Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you”(Jn 14:23).
In the spiritual classic, The City of God, St. Augustine put it this way: “Perfect peace will reign (in Heaven), since nothing in ourselves or in any others could disturb the peace. The promised reward of virtue will be the best and the greatest of all possible prizes – the very Giver of virtue Himself, for that is what the Prophet meant: ‘I will be your God and you shall be my people’…He will be the consummation of all our desiring – the object of our unending vision, of our unlessening love, of our unwearying praise. And in this gift of vision, this response of love, this paean of praise, all alike will share, as all will share in everlasting life.”
 How very important it is that we take the time to meditate on the Mystery of the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Presence of God in our very being. It changes everything. It orients our spiritual compass on the course that leads to Eternal Beatitude. It enables us to handle any test, any tribulation, with the help of His grace. Our suffering takes on a supernatural value. We participate in the salvation of souls. We satisfy the Thirst of our Lord and “win heaven” through love. Allow our Lord’s words to well up from your heart into your mind and so direct the path of your actions: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you”(Jn 14:15).
 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me”(Rev. 3:19).