Pastor’s Corner . . . Above the central sanctuary window of the Crucifixion is a smaller window in which a bird is portrayed: it is a pelican. White pelicans have long beaks with a fleshy sack attached, serving as a container for transporting small fish to its young.  It’s breast feathers are reddish-brown, and the tip of its beak, red, which gave rise to the ancient folk tale that the pelican pierces its own flesh to feed its young with its own blood, when other food is unavailable.
           In the Physiologus, a 2nd century Egyptian work describing animals and minerals both real and mythological, the pelican is described in this way:
“The little pelicans strike their parents, and the parents, striking back, kill them. But on the third day the mother pelican strikes and opens her side and pours blood over her dead young. In this way they are revivified and made well.  So Our Lord Jesus Christ says also through the prophet Isaiah: ‘I have brought up children and exalted them, but they have despised me’ [Is. 1.2]. We struck God by serving the creature, [Satan and ourselves] rather than the Creator [God]. Therefore He deigned to ascend the cross, and, when His side was pierced, blood and water gushed forth unto our salvation and eternal life.” 
 This imagined life-giving self-sacrifice of the pelican  caught on in Catholic literature, art, architecture and music as a sign of Jesus’ life-giving self-sacrifice on the Cross for us. The ancient hymn Adoro Te, is one example:
“Oh, holy pelican, Lord Jesus,
You cleansed my uncleanness by your blood,
Saving me by just one drop,
Fully cleansing me from every defilement.” [verse 6]
 Dante used the image in his Divine Comedy, referring to Christ and Saint John the Evangelist at the Last Supper: “This is he that lay on the breast of our Pelican, he that was chosen from the cross for the great charge” [to care for the Jesus’ Blessed Mother] (Paradiso, 25. 113).
 Take a look at our pelican window above the Crucifixion window: with wings slightly spread, sitting in a brown rush nest with her five young squawking for food, the bird pierces its breast with its bill to feed the young with its very life blood. It’s meaning is clear, especially in the context of the Incarnation, Death, Resurrection of Our Lord, which are represented in the other windows above the sanctuary. God, who created us in His image and likeness to live forever, sent His Son—the Pelican--to take on human flesh and to offer Himself on the Cross as the only means powerful enough to save us from death.
Unlike the myth of the Pelican, Christ is real. He is not destroyed by death, but destroys death itself, and rises from the grave—the full person, body and soul. Furthermore, to make His triumph complete, He returns to the Father, ascending in His risen body, united to His divinity. The whole human person is now immortal, both body and soul. How do we benefit today, 2,000 years after these events? Through the Church Christ established before He ascended. He breathed the Holy Spirit upon the Eleven Apostles, giving them His power to forgive sins, and His power to extend His triumph over death through the sacraments, especially through Baptism and the Eucharist. It is the Holy Spirit who affects the change in the hearts of believers in Baptism, just as He changes the bread and wine at Mass into the risen bodily real presence of Christ, and who transforms us by the Son’s continual sanctifying of us through His risen manhood.  The Spirit of the Risen Lord, who ascends to the Father in His humanity, places His Church beneath the sign of the Cross—under the sign of the Pelican, whose generous love for us transforms us, if we allow Him. —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,

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,

4 GREAT upcoming EVENTS:

Church in China Mass: Saturday, May 24th at 12:10 p.m. The Holy Father has asked that Masses be offered in Catholic churches around the world for the government persecuted Catholic Church in China.  Saint John’s will offer Mass on May 24th. Representatives of the Cardinal Kung Foundation will be present.  All are welcome.

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!
 
Parish Picnic: Sunday, September 14th: Parish picnic at Cove Island.

Theology on Tap – Last one for the year – Thursday May 8th in the Church Hall: Mother Agnes, Sisters of Life: “Mary of Nazareth”

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, May 12th –
Fr. Ringley on The Mass

St. Monica Institute for Patristic Studies will next meet in June.

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!

Bible Study…Monthly meetings. Our next meeting is May 15th at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory.  We’re reading the Book of Revelation.  All are welcome!

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

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.

TAXES: IT’S NOT TOO LATE…If you live on Social Security and do NOT file Income Taxes, you still QUALIFY for the Economic Stimulus Program. Simply file a return and you will receive the money you are entitled to receive.

Marriage Banns:   Brian Fennessey & Kathleen Delia

Sunday, April 27, 2008    $12,593.00
Sunday, April 29, 2007    $11,300.24
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) 87 (2) 161. Crowning hymn, 10:00 a.m.: Hymn 144. 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 quarti toni – Tomás Luis de Victoria, 1548-1611. Offertory Motet: Ascendit Deus (God has gone up amidst shouts of joy, the Lord to the sound of the trumpet, alleluia. [Ps. 47:6]) – T.L. de Victoria. Communion Motet: I will not leave you comfortless – Everett Titcomb, 1884-1968 (I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you yet again: Alleluia. And your hearts shall be joyful. Alleluia. [John 14:18]). The Gregorian chants proper to this Sunday are: Introit Exaudi, Domine (Hearken, O Lord, unto my voice which has called out to you, alleluia; my heart declared to you: “Your countenance have I sought; I shall ever see your countenance, O Lord; do not turn your face from me, alleluia, alleluia.” The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? [Ps. 27:7, -9,1]); Alleluia Exivi a Patre (I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. [John 16:28]); Offertory Ascendit Deus (God has gone up amidst shouts of joy, the Lord to the sound of the trumpet, alleluia. [Ps. 47:6]); Communion Pater, cum essem cum eis (Father, when I was amongst them, I kept those whom you had given me, alleluia; but now I am coming to you; I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from evil, alleluia, alleluia. [John 17:12,13,15]).

Trinity Catholic Middle School Entrance Exam . . . will take place on Saturday, May 3rd from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.  The exam is open to those students not presently attending a Catholic school in Stamford.  Parents of prospective students need to register before this date by calling 322-7383.

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, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

The Stamford Chorale…will perform the Faure Requiem on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 884 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT.  Tickets are $15.00 general admission.  Tickets may be obtained at the door or by calling Janet Gill-Gentry at 203-249-9072 for further information.

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

The Stamford Advocate:

May 6, 1870:  “We expect soon to interview the architect of the proposed new Roman Catholic Church, (Mr. James Murphy, of Providence, R.I.), and lay before our readers a full and detailed description of the building that is to be.  For the present we will content ourselves with a few facts in relation to the new church, which have lately come to our knowledge.  The society at first endeavored to secure the lot on the south side of St. John’s Park, but failing in that, they have finally and absolutely decided to build on their lot on Atlantic Street.  The building, when finished, according to the present plans, will be the finest ecclesiastical edifice in the State of Connecticut, being considerably larger than the new Catholic church lately built in Norwalk, and far more elaborate and costly.  The spire will be two hundred and twenty-four feet high, about fifty feet above the tallest spire now in this village. The entire length will be about two hundred feet, and the breadth in the nave sixty-eight feet, and from side to side in the chancel ninety-three.  It is expected that a large portion of the stone needed in the body of the structure will be obtained from a quarry to be opened in the rear of Mr. Leed’s property on Clark’s Hill.  The trimmings will be of blue stone, imported from a distance.  We understand the work will be proceeding with all possible dispatch.”

The Connecticut Catholic:
May 11, 1878:  “May devotions here morning and evening – Mass in the morning, instruction in the evening and singing by the choir was the chief exercise.  A beautiful shrine in honor of the Blessed Virgin is erected and decked with fairest flowers.  It is a very prominent feature in the church.  Father Tome’s sermon was delivered last Sunday.  The large church was crowded, and the eloquent preacher did ample justice to the text ‘What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul’.”

The Stamford Advocate:
May 7, 1880:  “On Tuesday morning two weddings at the same time were solemnized in the Roman Catholic church by Rev. Father Walsh, assistant priest. One of the bridegrooms was Mr. James Hayes, the keeper of a respectable grocery in West Stamford, formerly an employee of Mr. James H. Olmstead.  In the evening of the wedding day the friends of the parties gathered at the house of the bride’s parents and celebrated to their hearts content.
In the Catholic church the entire month of May is known as the “Month of Mary,” and is dedicated to special services in honor of the Blessed Virgin.”

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

Mass Intentions

Saturday, May 3
4:00 +Curioni family req. Leon
Sunday, May 4
7:30 People of the Parish
10:00 Special Intention Margo Skidd & Family req. Marion Morris
12:00 +Anthony Wollen req. Bill & Marion Morris
 6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family
Monday, May 5
 8:00 +Frank Skehan, Jr. req. his sister Maureen
12:10 Special Intention Bob & Laurel Silveri
Tuesday, May 6
 8:00 +Amy Reed req. Fabiola Contreras
12:10 +Dila Haidar req. Granddaughter
Wednesday, May 7
 8:00 Special Intention Mary Young Kim req. Joseph & Mary Kim
12:10 Special Intention Mary Garofalo
Thursday, May 8
8:00 +Anthony Woollen req. Jimmy & Michelle Sagdati
12:10   +Alan Stuart req. David Lancaster
Friday, May 9
8:00 +Teresa Nandera, sister req. Scholastica Nabwire
12:10 +John Daly req. John Pascale
Saturday, May 10
8:00 +Hope & Joseph McAleer req. Family
12:10    +Scholastica Lloyd req. Family

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 One Perfect Sacrifice

                                   Part 2                   - Fr. Terry Walsh

In 1st Kings, chapters 18 and 19, Elijah calls the people to come near him. And when they approached him, he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been destroyed. He took the 12 stones and built an altar in honor of the Lord with these stones. See how this reflects the Holy Mass and the Sacrament of Confession. Elijah calls the people near him in order to offer the Sacrifice. Likewise, all who come to Mass must draw near the Priest and cry out with Him. The priest is in the very heart of Jesus during the Holy Mass – JESUS TAKES OVER – Jesus is the only One Who can make the sinless offering – there is no sin in Him. Jesus alone offers the perfect and acceptable sacrifice to God the Father.
The Altar upon which Elijah offers the sacrifice is built on 12 stones. I’ve heard it suggested that these stones represent the commandments – the 10 commandments given to Moses in the Old Testament as well as the 2 Commandments Jesus gives us in the New Testament. It’s a beautiful image, really, and calls attention to the importance of knowing and reflecting upon the Commandments in light of our daily lives. When we purify our sacrifice through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we offer our confession in Light of these commandments – and the altar of our heart is rebuilt. It is restored, healed, perfected. We rebuild the Altar in our hearts which has been destroyed by sin with the “Stones” our Lord has provided in order to honor our Heavenly Father. The sin is rooted out. The Altar is rebuilt.
Three times Elijah drenches the sacrifice with water which fills the Trench and flows around the altar. The Water of course represents our tears – the tears of heartfelt sorrow for having offended our Heavenly Father, Who loves us beyond measure.
Next, Elijah cries out in FAITH: ‘Let it be known this day that you are God…Answer me Lord! Answer me, that this people may know that you, lord, are God and that you have brought them back to their senses.” Elijah reveals a compassionate, forgiving God – One Who is constantly calling us to return to Him – to purify our hearts and minds and be sanctified by His Grace.
And, just as the FIRE consumes the Sacrifice of Elijah, so too, does the fire of God’s love receive our cries for forgiveness and purifies us and makes us holy.
After dispatching the false prophets, Elijah fears for his life and flees into the desert where he experiences the “dark night’ – deep suffering of the soul. But God teaches Elijah, and us, that we are not suppose to fear – the spirit of fear does not come from God. Indeed, throughout the Gospels, Jesus tells us: ‘Be Not Afraid!’ In John 14, Jesus comforts us: ‘Let not your hearts be troubled!’ And Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans (8): ‘Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus!’
In the cave, Elijah’s soul is experiencing much turmoil. He is going through so much. And his suffering is represented in nature – the Heavy Wind, the Earthquake, and the Fire. In all these events he doesn’t see God anywhere. Likewise, we don’t always recognize God in the midst of the storms of our lives – but He is near, He is in our midst.
After the storms passed, Elijah heard a tiny, whispering sound and when he heard it, “Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.” He was fully aware that HE was in the Presence of God.
Part 3, Next Week