Pastor’s Corner . . . The True God reveals Himself to us. Made in His image and likeness, we are capable of being loved by God, and, in return, we are capable of loving Him. The inner reality of God was revealed to us in the Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Read the Gospels, and you can see that revelation: begin with the Annunciation: the Angel Gabriel announced to the young Mary that she had been chosen to bear the eternal Son of God.  “The Son of the Father allows himself to be borne into a human womb, and so the heavens open in a new way and reveal a threefold life in God.” [Balthasar, The Threefold Garland, p. 27.] This image is clearly seen in various Medieval altarpieces: the Father with right hand raised in benediction sends the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove, from whom a beam of light descends to the womb of the Blessed Virgin, and in the light ray can be seen an infant Jesus, carrying a Cross.  “The Father sends the Eternal Son; the Son allows Himself to be sent; and the overshadowing Holy Spirit fashions a body for him from the flesh of the assenting Virgin Mary.” [Sayward, The Mysteries of March, 7]
This revelation of the Three Divine Persons in the One God, whose love for one another overflows to work for our salvation, continues throughout the Gospels, in the teachings of Our Lord, but also in historic events: Jesus Baptism, the Transfiguration, His sacrificial death, His Resurrection and Pentecost.
This God is radically different from the gods of mythology, who are embroiled in the events of the world in order to exercise their divine whim, or to discover some type of divine fulfillment.  The True God is a community of three Persons, each sharing divine life and attributes, each distinct and rational, capable of love. Their eternal relationship one with another is precisely that—the Father loves the Son from all eternity; the Holy Spirit is that divine love between Father and Son. Therefore, the involvement in history, from God’s creation of the universe and of man and woman, is not by mechanical necessity. God’s creation, and His relationship with man and woman, created by Him in His image and likeness—free willed, capable of love, rational—is one of love, not necessity. This God who shows us such generous love IS love in Himself, before anything else existed. Creation is a product of God’s interior love amidst the Three Divine Persons of the Trinity.  He does not need to create, nor to love us. Charity being God’s very essence, seen in the relationship among the Three Persons, overflows to create those upon whom that love might be lavished. The Incarnation—God becoming a man--, the Cross and the Resurrection of God in the crucified flesh, are manifestations of the depth of that love, which the Three Persons of the Trinity join in, to free us from sin and the grave, to share their divine and eternal life of love with us.  No mythology here—this is not the gods taking the form of creatures to entertain or fulfill themselves. The True God is unchangeable, and unsuffering. The historical reality that God took on human flesh, was crucified and raised in that human flesh are not the changing of God into a man, but the taking up of our manhood into God.  [“non conversione divinitatis in carnem, sed assumptione humanitatis in Deum.”—pseudo-Athanasian Creed, DS 76, 36].
“God is love”, as Saint John tells us, by which he refers to the relationship of the Three Persons within the Trinity. That love pours out to us, in creation and redemption. We should be so charitable to others, obedient to Christ’s command: “love one another as I have loved you”—willing to sacrifice oneself, one’s ego, pride, ambitions or agenda, and, thus, work for their salvation.  —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… Viola S. Russo, 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.

Moms & Tots . . . a group of moms and children meet with Fr. Walsh each first Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m. in church for Eucharistic adoration, followed by snacks in the parish hall. Please join us. Our next meeting will be on June 3rd.

Catholic Communication Campaign Collection . . . Please drop your envelope into the ONE basket that will be passed at the Offertory.  There will only be one collection today.

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.

Young Adult Faith on Tap… For men and women in their 20’s and 30’s normally at Bennigan’s Restaurant – just across the street - from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  But, our JUNE meeting will take place at the Parish Rectory, 279 Atlantic Street – COOKOUT. We’ll meet there the 2nd Monday. Bring a friend!

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’ve got high school Latin, you’ll be fine; we all help each other; please join us: you know more than you think! Stay and join us for:

St. Monica Institute for Patristic Studies will next meet on June 4th at 7:30 pm in the rectory: History of the Monks of Syria: led by Doctor Lois Gandt, we will read English translations of the works by St. Theodoret of Cyrrhus. All are welcome. Please join us.

Bible Study…Monthly meetings. Our next meeting is June 19th 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.

Sunday, May 11, 2008    $ 12,517.03
Sunday, May 13, 2007    $ 12,057.37
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) 96  (2) 99  (Tune: St. Flavian). 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: Mass for Three Voices – William Byrd, 1540-1623. Offertory Motet: Benedictus sit Deus – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791 (Blessed be God the Father, and the only-begotten Son of God, and the Holy Spirit; for he has dealt with us according to his mercy. [Cf. Tobit 12:6]). Communion Motet: - O veneranda Trinitas – Jacob Handl, 1550-1591. The Gregorian chants proper to this Sunday are: Introit Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas (Blessed be the Holy Trinity and its undivided Unity; we shall ever give him thanks, for he has dealt with us according to his mercy. O Lord, our Governor, how admirable is your name in all the earth! [Tobit 12:6; Ps. 8]); Alleluia Benedictus es, Domine (Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers; and worthy to be praised for ever.[Daniel 3:52]); Offertory Benedictus sit Deus (Blessed be God the Father, and the only begotten Son of God, and the Holy Spirit; for he has dealt with us according to his mercy. [Cf. Tob. 12:6]); Communion Benedicimus Deum cæli (Let us bless the God of heaven and utter his praises before all who live; for he has dealt with us according to his mercy. [Tob. 12:6]).

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.

IMPRESSIONIST GIVERNY: AMERICAN PAINTERS IN FRANCE, 1885- 1915. You are cordially invited by the Stamford Historical Society on a day trip to the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT on Thursday, June 12th to view the new Impressionist exhibition recently highlighted in the Advocate. Bus transportation and lunch at the Old Lyme Inn are also included.  Call Mary Ann Lawlor at 203-461-9422 for details.

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.

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

The Stamford Advocate:
May 21, 1880:  ORGAN CONCERT. “The new pipe organ recently purchased for St. John’s R. C. Church, now being placed in position, will be ready for use on Sunday, 30th inst. On Monday evening, 31st inst., a grand instrumental concert is to be given by Chas. W. Smith, Esq., assisted by a full chorus of vocalists. The programme includes some of the most classical selections, and without doubt, the concert will be a fine one, well worth attending. Mr. N. K. Ferris is also to make the instrument speak to the soul.”

The Stamford Herald:
May 19, 1886: Local News. “A week from next Sunday occurs that great event at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church – its dedication to divine worship.”

The Stamford Advocate:
May 20, 1909:  FATHER O’BRIEN SAILS. “Rev. James C. O’Brien and party left town about 8:30 this morning, and sailed on the Carpathia for Rome at 1 p.m. Father O’Brien was accompanied by his niece, Miss Flemming, and his nephew, Rev. Charles A. Leddy of Mystic. He will be abroad about 10 or 12 weeks. There are about 80 priests on the trip to Rome, this being made for the purpose of taking part in the golden jubilee of the American College at Rome. After these ceremonies Father O’Brien will tour through Italy, France, and other places on the continent and will then visit England and Ireland. He will spend some time in Ireland. A number of friends went to New York to see the party off. Last night, the pastor was kept busy receiving good wishes from his friends until a late hour. Between 8 and 9:30, the parsonage was full of people who had called to wish the priest a bon voyage, and the visitors continued to come until much later. In fact, the evening was turned into a reception, although Father O’Brien had wished to slip away very quietly.”

The Stamford Advocate:
May 25, 1931: SODALITY OF ST. JOHN’S CHURCH HONORS VIRGIN MARY  “About 200 members of the Children of Mary Sodality of St. John’s R. C. Church participated in the impressive ceremony of the May crowning of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the church, last evening, beginning at 7:30. The attendance was so large that many late-comers were grouped about the entry. The procession of members in white with green wreathes, laid tributes of many flowers at the feet of the statue. Miss Emily McRedmond, president of the Sodality, carrying a magnificent bouquet and wearing a bridal veil and white satin train, advanced to the altar of the Blessed Virgin, where she draped a lace mantle on the head of the statue and at the words “Crown oh Crown Our Lovely Queen” sung by the Sodality, she placed a beautiful golden crown presented by the Sodality, on the statue. The ceremony was one of the loveliest held in Stamford for some time, and had one of the largest groups ever to participate in such a service here.”

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


Mass Intentions

Saturday, May 17
4:00 +DeRosa, Kronk, Capobianco & Edwin Clark req. John & Joan Kronk

Sunday, May 18
7:30 Special Intention of Richard Paul Kim req. Joseph & Mary Kim
10:00 +Dorothea Maksymowicz req. Mary Churley
12:00 Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI – God’s Blessing req. Our Lady of Loreto Altar Guild
6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family

Monday, May 19
 8:00 Special Intention
12:10 Special Intention of Scott Turkington

Tuesday, May 20
8:00 Special Intention of Olivia Rovegno
12:10 Special Intention of Fr. Terry Walsh

Wednesday, May 21
 8:00 In Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary req. Fabiola C.
12:10 +Steven Churley req. Mary Churley

Thursday, May 22
8:00 Special Intention of Fr. Cipriani req. Millie
12:10   Special Intention of Fr. Walsh req. Millie

Friday, May 23
8:00 Special Intention
12:10 Special Intention of Maria Zajac & Family

Saturday, May 24
8:00 Fr. Brian Gannon 11th Anniversary in the Priesthood
12:10    For the Catholic Church In China

Novena of the Miraculous Medal:  Mondays, 8:30 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).        

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.

St. Anne’s Family Society . . . will resume in September, meeting monthly on a Sunday evening for the whole family.

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.

May, the month of Mary
- Fr. Terry Walsh
(Revisited)

May is the month of Mary. It’s a wonderful time to reflect on the virtues of our Lady and seek to grow in our knowledge and understanding of Her role in Salvation History. It’s said that while Mary is our Queen, She is even more our Mother. As members of the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, Her only Son, we become Her “Spiritual Children” at the moment of our Baptism. As faithful sons and daughters of so magnificent a Mother, we come to know Her and love Her more deeply through prayer and of course by imitating Her love for Christ. Recall the words of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta: “It’s so easy to be proud and harsh and selfish – so easy; but we have been created for greater things. How much we can learn from our Lady! She was so humble because She was all for God.” Mary intercedes for us at the Throne of God with a Mother’s love. We simply need to go to Her and ask for Her help and intercession. Saint Anthony Mary Claret explains: “Mary is the heart of the Church. This is why all works of charity spring from Her. It is well known that the heart has two movements: systole and diastole. Thus Mary is always performing these two movements: absorbing grace from her most holy Son, and pouring it forth on sinners.”
Like Jesus, we too must observe the 4th Commandment – we must be obedient children. As we reflect on Her role as Queen and Mother we will naturally come to know and love Jesus more profoundly. May is a wonderful time to reflect upon our relationship with our Mother so that we might come to love and honor Jesus through Her. The month begins with the celebration in honor of Her Spouse, St. Joseph the worker. On May 13th, we honor Her apparition at Fatima when She called for the conversion of Hearts, the turning away from sin, and a more faithful life of prayer, especially reflecting on the Mysteries of the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Her Son through the Holy Rosary. What a wonderful and effective family prayer. May ends with the Feast of the Visitation, honoring the humble love of Mary toward her cousin Elizabeth, who was preparing to give birth to John the Baptist. Mary likewise comes to us in our need with the same love she showed to Elizabeth.
One way we can honor our Lady during this month of May would be to reflect on what the Saints have written about Her. There is much written in Her honor. Perhaps reading what many consider to be the definitive book on the Blessed Mother, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Louis de Montfort or perhaps The Secrets of the Rosary by the same Saint. Let the graces flow. In the words of Pope John Paul II: “Yes, our guide is a strong column. [Mary] accompanies the new Israel, the Church, in its pilgrimage towards the promised land through Christ our Lord. In this way, Our Lady of the Pillar is a ‘flaming torch’ and the ‘throne of glory.’ She affir ms the faith of a people who never tire of asking her in the Salve Regina: ‘Show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.”
Mary, Queen of Peace, Pray for us.