Pastor’s Corner . . .Have you ever read the sixth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel?  The chapter opens with Our Lord feeding the five thousand by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish.  Following the miracle, Our Lord took his apostles and fled to the mountains, because he knew the people would otherwise have forced him to be king of Israel. No one understood His real purpose and work: to save humankind from Adam’s sin and from Death. The Apostles are next seen in a boat on Lake Tiberias, when Jesus walks on the water, and they are frightened, thinking him a ghost. “It is I, do not be afraid,” Jesus told them.  Finally, by verse 22, Our Lord begins his discourse on the Eucharist.  The crowd he’d fed the previous day found him, and listened as he taught. But Our Lord knew they were there only because he had fed them, and that they wanted more free food!  Jesus began by teaching them not to work for food that will perish, but for that which will give eternal life.  When they asked where they might find such food, he responded, “I am the bread of life”, and “I am the living bread from heaven. If anyone eat of this bread he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Eleven times in one chapter, Our Lord repeated this, affirming over and over again, “My flesh is real food and my blood real drink.”  What did he mean?  Maybe he meant what he said. This is certainly possible. But, for those who had tracked Jesus down looking for more food, their response to His words was to abandon Him, saying,   “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”  If Our Lord were simply using a metaphor, don’t you think he would have run after those people to clarify that He was only speaking symbolically?  But He didn’t run after them. He let them go.  In fact, He turned on his apostles to ask them “Do you also wish to go away?” seeing that they too found his teaching about the Eucharist hard to believe.  He did mean what He said: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life everlasting and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides in me and I in him.” He meant precisely what he said, and the Church understood that immediately.
In the catacombs of Rome, and in much literature of the first three centuries, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is clearly presented: in the sign of bread and fish.  The early Church developed a simple undercover sign for Jesus: the fish. Since each letter of the word FISH in Greek [IXTHUS] is the first letter of a statement of faith about Jesus: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” You might see this acronym today on bumper stickers—a fish with the name of Jesus.  When it was presented alongside loaves of bread in
the Roman catacomb frescoes, it represented the Eucharist: the outward appearance is bread, but the inner reality is THE FISH—Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. At Mass, through the invocation of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine are transformed into the actual resurrected Body and Blood of Christ. No mere symbol: a deeper reality.  God who created all from nothing, now uses his creation—simple bread and wine—transforming them that God becomes our food, so we become transformed to be more God like in our lives.
The Church commemorates this reality this weekend in the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.  During the 12 noon Sunday Mass, as part of the Church founded by Christ, we will make a public profession of our faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist during our indoor procession with the Most Blessed Sacrament. Jesus meant what He said; the Church means what she professes, for that faith and that reality will lead to eternity.
—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.

3 GREAT upcoming 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. Refreshments to follow.

AROUND the World:
Sunday, June 22nd at 5:00 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.

MEMORIAL DAY. . . Please pray for our veterans who have served so faithfully to defend our nation. Pray for those who have died, and for those who serve our great nation today.

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.  We’ll meet there the 2nd Monday of each month. But, our JUNE 10th meeting will take place at the Parish Rectory, 279 Atlantic Street – COOKOUT. 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!

Banns of Marriage:  1st Vu Nhat Tran & Thao Vu

Sunday, May 18, 2008    $ 10,309.20
Sunday, May 20, 2007    $ 12,980.60

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) 118  (2) 117. 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 ‘Lauda Sion’ – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, 1525-1594. Offertory Motet: Lauda Sion – F.C. de Arauxo (The text may be found in the Missalette on page 50.). Communion Motet: Ave verum Corpus – William Byrd, 1540-1623 (Hail true Body, born of Mary the virgin; suffering, sacrificed truly on the cross for men; from whose pierced side water flowed and blood. Be merciful to us at the judgement of death, O sweet Jesus, O merciful Jesus, O Jesus Son of Mary. [From a 14th cent. Gradual at Limoges, trans. Rev. A. Fortescue]. Motets at the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament: O salutaris Hostia – Pierre de La Rue, 1452-1518; Tantum ergo – Tomás Luis de Victoria, 1548-1611. The Gregorian chants proper to this Sunday are: Introit Cibavit eos (He fed them with the finest of wheat, alleluia; and with honey from the rock he satisfied them, alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice in honour of God our helper; shout for joy to the God of Jacob. [Ps.81:17,2,3,11]); Alleluia Caro mea (My Flesh is the True Food, my Blood is the True Drink; he who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood abides in me, and I in him. [John 6:56,57]); Sequence Lauda Sion (The text may be found in the Missalette on page 50.); Offertory Portas cæli (The Lord opened the doors of heaven and rained down manna upon them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven; man ate the bread of angels, alleluia. [Ps. 77:23-25]); Communion Qui manducat (He who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood, abides in me, and I in him. [John 6:57]).

St. Maria Goretti Society…For the spiritual formation of girls from 9th - 12th grades will meet on Sunday, June 1st after the 12:00 noon Mass from 1:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  in the Rectory.  For more information, please call Rosa Marchetti at 348-0232.

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.

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.

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 Sun (New York):

May 25, 1886: STAMFORD’S NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH. “The members of St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Stamford conceived the idea sixteen years ago of erecting a new home of worship. The building, which had been in use since the establishment of the church, was too small to accommodate the increasing Catholic population which now has grown to 4,000. The site selected is at the junction of Atlantic and Bell Streets. The earnestness with which Catholics of Stamford and vicinity entered into the plan encouraged Father Fagan, then pastor, to undertake a building larger and more beautiful than the most enthusiastic could hope for. The edifice stands today completed. Father Fagan died soon after the work was begun, but his successor, Father Tierney, now of Hartford, continued it. As soon as the basement floor was finished, the old church was turned into a schoolhouse, and the congregation has since worshiped in the basement of the new church. For two or three years, the work lagged. In November 1882, Mr. John Ennis, who had retired from pedestrianism and became a resident of Stamford, was induced to undertake the work of completing the building. He brought to the work long experience as an architect and builder and he gave it his entire thought. Father Rogers, who succeeded Father Tierney, began work in the Fall of 1882 with a debt of $80,000 on the growing building. Since then he has reduced the debt $30,000 besides steadily continuing the work. The edifice is now finished with the exception of the spire and the date of dedication has been fixed for Sunday, May 30th.
The Stamford Advocate:
May 31, 1941: Stamford Mourns Its War Dead at Memorial Parade, Cemetery Rites. “At St. John’s Cemetery, the service of tribute to the memory of all the dead was under the sponsorship of St. John’s parish with members and clergy of other Catholic parishes taking part. The religious and patriotic exercises were held before an altar erected near the center of the cemetery.  Announced in Catholic churches last Sunday that the ceremonies would be held for the first time with the hope that they would become an annual Memorial Day event to honor all the dead, the attendance which they drew yesterday was far beyond the expectations of those in charge, it was said. The Rev. N. P. Coleman, pastor of St. John’s Catholic Church, was the speaker at the memorial services in St. John’s Cemetery. Father Coleman paid tribute to the soldiers dead and said that “the liberties which we now enjoy were won for us by the sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors of all American wars.” Father Coleman asked those participating to remember in their prayers those gone before them and to keep alive the memory of those whose service to their country established peace and liberty. The Rev. Michael J. Sullivan pronounced the invocation; Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was recited by Joseph Labelle of St. Basil’s School; and Rev. Francis S. Morrissey lead in several prayers.”

Mass Intentions

Saturday, May 24
4:00 Special Intention of Rev. Paul Check req. Millie
Sunday, May 25
7:30 Special Intention of Margaret Mary Cycon req. Cycon Family
10:00 +Patrick Forlenzo req. Christopher, Michelle, & Mary Anne
12:00 +Aniello Preziosi 42nd Anniversary req. Your Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren
6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family
Monday, May 26
8:00 Special Intention of Fr. Albert Audette
12:10 Veterans of the Parish
Tuesday, May 27
8:00 Special Intention of Fr. Jean Ridly Julien
12:10 +Mary Ellen Santoro req. Marie Carr
Wednesday, May 28
8:00 Souls in Purgatory req. Fabiola Contreras
12:10 Special Intention of Mireille & Family
Thursday, May 29
8:00 Special Intention of Maya Rovegno
12:10   Special Intention
Friday, May 30
8:00 Special Intention of Christopher Flynn
12:10 In Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus req.
Fabiola C.
Saturday, May 31
8:00 Special Intention of Eleanor Theresa Kim req. Joseph & Mary Kim
12:10    Special Intention Joseph H. Kim req. Joseph & Mary Kim

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 …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, with Eucharistic adoration, Benediction, a pot luck supper and spiritual talk. More details to come.

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.

The Habit of Prayer
        (Revisited)                                                                   - Fr. Terry Walsh
 
       How often does it feel like “the burden of prayer?” How do we pray? When, where, and how often? Am I doing it right? Shouldn’t I be getting some answers, some feedback from God? To begin, prayer is that intimate conversation we have with God in that quiet place in our soul, even in the midst of an often times noisy world all around us. St. Therese calls prayer quite simply a ‘Surge of the Heart toward God.’
There is so much to say about prayer, but I will simply focus on a few practical points for consideration. Prayer is of course indispensable in our spiritual growth. It is a necessary activity that prepares us for faithful reception of the Sacraments, for a deepening of our knowledge and understanding of God and consequently of ourselves; prayer enables us to examine our lives in light of the Gospel teachings and informs our conscience so that we might seek forgiveness for those occasions when we realize we have offended God or one another.
In prayer, we’re able to offer thanks and praise to God, we’re able to adore Him, we’re able to petition Him for whatever we need or for some particular gift that will benefit someone else in need. 
    If we’re able to receive so many varied and beautiful graces through prayer, why is it so difficult to pray sometimes? 
    Well, it might simply be that we don’t work at it. It is, after all, a relationship. If too little attention is given to examining “the prayer life” how can it grow? That’s NOT the same thing as saying ‘too little time’ is spent in prayer. The time for prayer will quite naturally vary from person to person, depending on one’s vocation, along with a whole host of other circumstances. The “attention” I’m speaking about has more to do with the quality of our prayer life. It is, in many ways, an “organic” activity – it’s a living relationship with God: it changes, it grows, it deepens, provided there is due attention given to it. 
    As a practical matter, I’d recommend that you consider forming a “foundation” to your daily prayer. This might include a brief, but deliberate, morning offering, something as simple as standing at the foot of the Crucifix in your room and offering the day to God - asking Him to bless your family, your work, your play, and so on. Naturally, it would be good to take a few moments at the end of each day to examine – briefly – how you did in light of the Gospel. Read the Scriptures everyday. Let the habit of growing in the knowledge of God be real food for your soul every single day. It only takes 10 minutes. Reflect on one of the Mysteries of our Lord’s life through the beautiful devotion of the Rosary, which will take another 10 minutes. And finally, perhaps, take 10 minutes to simply tell God what’s on your mind and in your heart. He really wants to hear it from you. What trust, what an act of faith and hope and love as you simply give it all to Him and ask for whatever you need to heal and to grow. This would be a good beginning. See where the Holy Spirit leads you. One thing is certain, if you seek Him through a deepening of your prayer, He will reveal Himself to you in that “inner room” of your soul. Prayer will no longer seem strained, or a burden, but rather, it will become alive and fresh and as natural as the air you breathe.