Pastor’s Corner . . ---Msgr. DiGiovanni
Last week’s Around the World fundraising dinner was a magnificent success, for a variety of reasons. First, and most important for the restoration of the church bell tower, we raised $60,000, all of which—every penny—will be used to repair our ailing bell tower. The other reason why the dinner was such a superb success was that it was just a lot of fun!!!!!
Put 170 fun parishioners of Saint John’s together, along with the 20 volunteers who worked that evening to assure that all proceeded without a hitch, and all we did was have fun.
 Such a splendid parish event did not come about by spontaneous generation: there were very many people who labored for scores of hours, and who made generous donations in cash, goods and services to make the evening so wonderful. I’d like to thank just a few of them now, reserving the grand list of contributors and workers until a few weeks hence.
 First and foremost, I must thank the Marchetti Family: Maria and Tony and their wonderful children and daughters-in-law donated the food, as well as hundreds of hours to prepare and serve the food and decorate the hall. Without the Marchettis’ generosity, this annual fundraising dinner would never have been the success that it has been this year and during the past four years. Tante, tante grazie a Voi: da cuore! Organizing the preparations and choreographing the work of everyone was Marjan Falek: hundreds of hours of planning and meetings, numerous sleepless nights, scores of phone calls, emails, faxes and text messages later, Marjan and her committee produced a truly memorable evening. While I an unable to say this in Dutch, the sentiment is, nonetheless, heartfelt in English, when I say thank you, thank you, thank you, Marjan, for your generosity!
 The committee members, likewise, spent a good number of their winter hours planning, organizing, preparing and creating the fundraising event: Mirella Badetti, Tracy Banahan, Lisa D'Acunto, MaryJean Dalmolin, Juanita Evans, Joe McAleer, Angela Marchetti, Maria Marchetti, Michael Marchetti, Landa Leute, Shelley Sahd, Leon Taricani, and Margarita Ucero. Thank you all for your hard work and love for our parish.
There were others, as well, who put their hands, hearts and minds to good work preparing for the event and doing work on the evening itself:  Mary Cycon & Donna Cycon, who worked at checkout during the event, and many of our parish staff: Providenzia Rodriguez, Ferry Galbert, Tony Colon and Gary Belmonte, who have labored for the past months behind the scenes.  I also want to thank the St. Dominic Savio Society and the St. Maria Goretti Society.  I am very grateful to you all.  
Many others contributed in goods and professional services for that evening, and I’d like to mention just a few:
Besides the Marchetti Family and Columbus Park Trattoria, Frank Carpanzano of Advanced Travel provided air line tickets for our auction, as well as all the posters and travel advertising used as decoration for our evening; Nick and Terry  Troilo of Nicholas Roberts Fine Wines, LTD, of Darien donated the wonderful wines for the evening; Dr. Joseph McAleer, editor of the Fairfield County Catholic and his staff who designed the invitations, correspondence cards and invitations for the vent; Greg Duffy of MinuteMan Press of Norwalk, who donated the printing of the programs for the evening; and Yankee Linens who donated all the dinner linens. There are many others, and I’ll mention them next week, along with those who gave financial contributions.
 To all who participated, I wish to extend my gratitude, as well. So many of our parish joined in to make this evening a success, and I thank you, truly. God bless you.
 Please pray for the sick… Mather Dearbone, Jim Bosilevas,  Felicia Stamadini, Vinci Balbucci, Pasqualina Bruzzesi, Carmella Micik, 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… Christopher Kanel, Rose Sobieski, Rose Magorane, Ralph Stain, Jr. Susan Perretta, Mary Louise Deluca, Viola F. 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.

               THE PARISH MYSTERY THEATER
                          Presents the
                          Rectory Players
           In a Radio Style Presentation
                    of:
           AGATHA CHRISTIE’S
                     The Uninvited Guest
         At 7:00 p.m. August 7, 8 & 9
                         In The Rectory Ball Room
                             45 seats - $30.00 each
                           (Beverages & Desserts)
                                     (16 minimum age)

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

St. Monica Institute for Patristic Studies will next meet on July 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory:  Popes of the Early Church: All are welcome.  Please join us. July’s topic will be the Popes of the Early Church. HOWEVER, because of traffic problems on some July Wednesday evenings, the dates are slightly altered for the reading course on the Popes.  We’ll meet on Wednesdays: July 2nd & 9th, and on August 6th at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

New Testament Greek . . . anyone interested in a summer introductory study group, please contact Monsignor DiGiovanni.

St. John’s Bible Study… New and Improved: Bible Study will change its format and become more intense. We will use The Bible Timeline Series for 25 Thursdays beginning September 25th through May 7th.  If you are interested, please call the Parish Office to register so that we can order the appropriate materials.  BIBLE STUDY WILL NOT

MEET DURING THE SUMMER. We’ll begin in September.
  
Parish Picnic: Sunday, September 14th:
Parish picnic at Cove Island. Details to follow.  

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING:  An Instruction Session in NFP will be offered on Monday, July 7th at 7:30 p m.  All are welcome.  Please contact Lisa Frawley if you plan to attend (203-254-6615).

Bann of Marriage:  1st Methernick Bernadel & Yves Volcy

Sunday, June 29, 2008    $ 11,661.00

Sunday, July 01, 2007  $ 11,547.51

I ask you one thing: do not tire of giving to God, but do not give your leftovers.”---Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Recollections on the Fourth:
The celebration of our nation’s independence on July 4th was always marked well. This was particularly true following the American Civil War, when the sacrifice of so many tens of thousands of Northern and Southern young men on the battlefields was still fresh in the minds of all Americans—immigrants and Catholics included!

Those early Independence day celebrations, right after the Civil War, were of exceptional importance, as a means of paying tribute to both the tens of thousands of fallen heroes and to those tens of thousands of living veterans who had endured the unimaginable in the horrors of battlefield to preserve the Union.  Liberty in America was deemed precious, and the rights of all, even of slaves, sufficient cause for war. Large numbers of Catholics, fought valiantly.

On our own 4th of July weekend, when we are again at war, we should not forget that our liberties and freedom are still precious, and that they are still threatened. Even our earliest immigrant members of St. John’s parish, who endured anti-Catholic prejudice, knew that such suffering was worthwhile, both because it was the lot of the true Christian to suffer as did the Master for the faith, and because being in the United States was worth any suffering or hardship required.

On this weekend of the 4th, pray for our country, for our President, our Congress and, especially, for our troops. The U.S.A. is still the greatest nation on the planet; that’s why so many people still make their way to our shores-- and many even make it to Saint John’s!! -- Msgr. DiGiovanni

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 August  5th  .

St. Maria Goretti Society . . . for the spiritual formation of young ladies of the parish, from 8th - 12th grades. Questions, please contact Fr. Walsh.

St. Dominic Savio Society…For the spiritual formation of young men from 8th – 12th grades meets monthly in the Rectory.  Any questions, please contact Frank Marchetti at 434-4734.
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 New York Freeman’s Journal and Catholic Register:
July 13, 1860: “On Thursday, the 20th of June, John Fagan, of the Hartford diocese received the sacred order of Sub-deaconship from the Most Rev. Archbishop of Baltimore, in the chapel of St. Mary’s Seminary, in that city. On the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, John Fagan, received Deaconship. On Saturday, Feast of St. Paul, John Fagan was ordained a priest in the same place by the Most Rev. Archbishop.” (The Reverend John Fagan was Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, Stamford, from 1868 to 1873.)

The Connecticut Catholic:
July 8, 1876: STAMFORD “The schools, under the Sisters of Mercy at this place, are actively engaged in preparation for the annual exhibition and commencement which is to take place before the close of the present month. Father Coleman has arrived here as assistant, the need of an additional priest having long been felt.”

The Connecticut Catholic:
July 11, 1885: STAMFORD. “The A.O.H. has engaged St. John’s cornet band for the state parade at Hartford August 18, an indication that it is their intention to have good music. The order will, no doubt, present a creditable appearance on that occasion, judging from the manner in which it has always appeared before in public. Our annual church picnic came off last Saturday at Woodside Park, but failed to escape the rain which is almost certain to come; otherwise the attendance, although large, would have been much greater than it was. The children of the Sunday school, and the different societies, St. Patrick’s, and St. Joseph’s Temperance, A.O.H., and St. John’s Benevolent with St. John’s Band, attended in a body.”

The Stamford Advocate:
July 9, 1906:  Bishop Tierney Laid the Corner Stone of Parochial School  “The corner stone of St. John’s school was laid, yesterday afternoon, with all the impressiveness of the Roman Catholic ritual and in the presence of a large and representative assemblage of townspeople. It was a notable gathering that was present, including public officials and men prominent in all walks of life, together with a distinguished array of clergymen, headed by the Rt. Rev. Michael Tierney, D. D., Bishop of the diocese of Hartford, who officiated at the religious ceremony and also set the stone, using the conventional trowel of silver. All the arrangements had been attended to with the utmost care with the result that there was no confusion and the program was carried through without delay, the ritual, singing and address taking up only a little over an hour.”

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.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, July 5
4:00 +Isabell Coppola req. Terenzio Family
Sunday, July 6
  7:30 Special Intention Mary Young Kim req. Joseph & Mary Kim
10:00 Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart of Jesus req. Margarita Arenas
12:00  +Patrick Forlenzio req. Christopher, Michelle, & Maryanne
 6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family
Monday, July 7
  8:00 +Amy Reed req. Fabiola C.
12:10 +Rosario D’Amico req. his brother Frank
Tuesday, July 8
  8:00 +Martin & Katie Maloney & Family req. Mary Maloney
12:10 +Salvador Sandoval req. Fabiola C
Wednesday, July 9
   8:00 Special Intention Carmello C. D’Ariano & Family req. Anthony D’Ariano
 12:10 +Jayson Jarrett req. Norma Jarrett
Thursday, July 10
8:00 +Elias Contreras req. Fabiola Contreras
12:10     +Vita Fazio req. her brother Frank D’Amico
Friday, July 11
  8:00 Special Intention Josephine Languedoc req. Diane Strain
12:10 +Irene Medwed 4th Anniversary req. De Vivo Family
Saturday, July 12
  8:00 +Hope & Joseph McAleer req. Family
12:10    +Shirley Henry req.  The Ward Family

Miraculous Medal Novena: 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 for the whole family: Eucharistic adoration, Benediction, a potluck supper and spiritual talk.  More details to come.

The Christian Moral Life
Freedom and Responsibility         - Fr. Terry Walsh
Part I
“It was God who created man in the beginning, and left him in the power of his own inclination. If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him.” – Sirach 15: 14-16

 Saint Paul teaches in his letter to the Galatians, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery”(5:1). Through the gift of divine life, that is, through Baptism, which comes to us through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have access to every grace necessary to turn away from the slavery of sin and darkness and instead ‘walk in the Light of Christ.’ As we grow in our knowledge of God (Bible, Sacraments, Prayer, Keeping the Commandments) we grow in the habit of virtue, habits that are perfected by the supernatural grace of the Holy Spirit. We simply need to choose to follow our Lord. He doesn’t force us; rather, he presents us with the offer of life with and in Him, as well as the “cost” of discipleship, and then – “…whichever we choose, he gives us”: Eternal Beatitude, Heaven, or, sadly, the pains of Hell. Our actions, free and deliberate choices, have eternal consequences. We were created for eternal happiness in the perpetual light of Heaven. We prove our love for God by living in communion with Him here on earth – putting Him at the center of our lives. St. Augustine said, “We all want to live happily; in the whole human race there is no one who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully articulated”(De moribus ecclesiae catholicae) and Augustine asks the question, “How is it, then, that I seek you, Lord? Since in seeking you, my God, I seek a happy life, let me seek you so that my soul may live, for my body draws life from my soul and my soul draws life from you”(Confessions). And so, we must ask the question, “How can I best love God; how ought I live my life?” It’s a question that leads each of us to a particular vocation within the “vocation” of Christian Discipleship, or what St. Paul calls, “faith working through love.” He tells the Galatians: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself””(5:14).
 As we grow in our knowledge of God (Scriptures, Prayer, Sacraments, Good Deeds) we can more faithfully imitate our Lord. He said, “Whatever you ASK in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ASK anything in my name, I will do it”(Jn 14:13). How pleasing it is to our Lord when we ask Him to lead us to Himself – to guard our hearts and minds – to heal us of our sins and to fill us with his love. How beautiful the life of grace for those that SEEK to do his will; to live in communion with him today, right now, at this very moment and every moment, in a gentle and harmonious way, confident in his abiding love. He calls each of us to himself. He places before us the eternal water of divine grace or the eternal fire, and he waits. He gives us the gift of freedom (without freedom, we couldn’t love) and he thirsts for our love. He gives us all that we need when we freely choose to cooperate with Him for the accomplishment of our Eternal Salvation. “By free will one shapes one’s own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude”(ccc1731).