Pastor’s Corner . . . Monday, September 29th, will be the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel.   The Church has always held the archangels in high regard. The Roman Church’s devotion began at the end of the 6th century. As Pope Saint Gregory the Great led a penitential procession around the City in 590 a.d., praying for the end of the plague even while people dropped dead beside him along the processional route, the Archangel Michael appeared atop the Tomb of Hadrian, sheathing his sword and ending the plague that had devastated the City.  The legend continues that a choir of angels appeared, singing the chant now used at Vespers during the Easter season, “Queen of Heaven rejoice, for Him whom you merited to bear has risen as He said.” To which the pope responded, “Pray for us to God, alleluia.” Pope Boniface IV built a small chapel at the top of what is now the Castel Sant’ Angelo in 608 to commemorate this work of Michael the Archangel. 
This particular celebration of the Archangels originally began as a commemoration of Saint Michael the Archangel back in the 9th century, when the Basilica of the Archangel Michael was consecrated in Rome.  Pope Saint Leo IV dedicated the basilica in remembrance of those who died fighting the Saracens [Moslem pirates] who attacked Rome in 846, despoiling the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul. 
The Church has always seen Saint Michael as the point man of the Heavenly Hosts in defense of God’s creation against Satan and his angels, described in the Book of Revelation (Apoc. 12:7ff): “There was a battle in heaven–Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But they were unable to win, and their places were no longer found in heaven.  So the great dragon, the ancient serpent who is also called the devil or Satan, but one who seduces the whole world, was hurled down to earth and his colleagues were hurled down with him.”  The fall of Lucifer or Satan after his rebellion against God was also described by the Prophet Isaiah: “How you have fallen from heaven, you Morning star! (Lucifer) How you have been smitten to earth, you conqueror of nations! You thought to yourself: I will scale the heavens, I will set my throne above the star of God; I will ascend the heights of the clouds, I will become like God the Most High. But now you have been brought down to Hell, to the depths of the pit.” (Is. 14:12-15)
But it was Michael who remained the faithful servant of God the Creator, and defended all from the rebellion of the Evil One.  We celebrate his feast on the 29th, not as a mythical figure, but as one of the angels of God, created a pure spirit with free will, who exists only to do the will of God. 
Satan continues his assault upon us in his battle against the Church until the end of time, as narrated in the Apocalypse, or the Book of Revelation. Employing all means, occasionally including governments and individuals in  religious institutions, as well, the Evil One works to destroy the work of God and to undermine the work of His incarnate Son and of the Holy Spirit by bringing about our loss of faith in God. Let us pray to Saint Michael to defend us in our present day struggles here on earth against temptation, pride and self-interest, that we may be preserved from Satan and sin, and one day join Him and Our Lord in Heaven.
-- Msgr. DiGiovanni

Pro-Life Activity. . . Stamford’s Life Chain on Sunday, October 5th from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Atlantic Street and Tresser Blvd.  Come be a living link in our Chain of Life. For information, please call Frank Carpanzano: (203) 975-8833, ext. 3004.  Parking is available at St. John’s lot.

Please pray for the sick… Frederick Naphen, Paul Eldridge, Antoinetta Fiore, John Dagostino, Drew, John Castellano. Andrew DeMott, Anita Fasanelli, Felicia Stamadini, Vinci Balbucci, Pasqualina Bruzzesi, Carmella Micik, Eleanor McNamee, Nancy Geikie, Anthony Sansone, Paul Forte, Anne Marie Brutus, Gelanie Lops.

Please pray for those who have recently died… Sr. Inez, O.SS.S., Vicki Manes Henry Saraniero, Philipe Waterbury, Michael Murray, Jennifer Tomasello, Mather Dearborn Fr. Joseph Link, Maureen Apruzzese, Jerry Allen, Susan Wilhelm, Margaret Timon, Felix Fiore, Estelle Burke, Margaret Barko, Margaret Roth, Jane C. Hlavaty, Joan Bankowski.  

         BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
THE PARISH MYSTERY THEATER
   Presents the
Rectory Players
Two repeat performances
In a Radio Style Presentation
of:
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S
The Unexpected Guest
At 7:00 p.m. October 3rd & 4th
     In The Rectory Ball Room
45 seats - $30.00 each
(Beverages & Desserts)
(16 minimum age)

AUDITIONS! Parish Shakespeare Theater is open for auditions to parishioners, AGES 18 TO 35 – SATURDAY OCTOBER 11th FROM 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the rectory. Come Join or Parish theater program.
Banns of Marriage:   3rd  Mark Kotasek & Lisa Starr                                   
                                    2nd  Christopher L. Mason & Amy Ferraiuolo
                                    2nd  Pablo Labrosciano & Angela Piria
                                    1st   Richard Chow & Alexandra Carlson

Religion Classes for adults. . . Catholics who have not yet received Holy Communion or Confirmation, and for non-Catholics who wish to join the Church, will begin on September 30th at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory.  Interested?  Please contact Providencia at (203¬) 324 -1553 ext. 21.

St. John’s Bible Study…We will use The Bible Timeline Series for 25 Thursdays: we just began this past Thursday, and will continue through May 7th in the rectory at 7:30 p.m.  Interested? Please call the Parish Office, ext. 21 to register: the cost for the materials:  $40.00 per person.  All are welcome.

St. Anne Family Society . . . Will be on the first Saturday of each month. Our first meeting: Saturday, October 4th, at 5:00 p.m. in the church and parish hall. Each meeting will include Eucharistic Adoration, a potluck supper and a spiritual conference.  All families—including children—are invited.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR . . . Saturday, November 29th St. John’s will host an antique tag sale, sponsored by and for the benefit of the Historical Neighborhood Preservation Society of Stamford.  All are welcome; details to follow in later bulletins.

Sunday, September 21, 2008     $ 11,116.00

Sunday, September 23, 2007    $    9,706.53
I ask you one thing: do not tire of giving to God, but do not give your leftovers.”---Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Sunday Readings for October 5th: 
Is 5:1-7; Phil 4: 6-9; Matt 21:33-43.

Hymns for this weekend . . . (1) 207 [Tune: King’s Weston] (2) 118 [Tune: Sweet Sacrament].  The Creed for the Noon Mass may be found in the hymnal at No. 289.

New Adult Choir . . . St. John’s has formed a new Adult Choir to sing for the 10:00 a.m. Family Mass on Sundays. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. in the choir room. All with even a little singing experience are welcome. We especially need TENORS & BASSES! Please call Scott Turkington for more information, (203) 324-1553, ext. 18 ... and ... The Children’s Choir has resumed its Saturday rehearsals.  Now in its 10th year (!), the St. John’s Children’s Choir sings for the 10:00 a.m. Family Mass on Sundays, alongside our newly-formed Adult Choir.  Rehearsals, at which children learn about singing and reading music, are held each Saturday from 1:00-1:45 p.m. The choir is open to boys and girls, ages seven and above, who can match a pitch and who are willing to make a weekly commitment. Please call Scott Turkington for more information, (203) 324-1553, ext. 18.

Choral Music for the 12:00 Noon Mass . . . Mass Ordinary: Mass for Four Voices – William Byrd, 1540-1623. Offertory motet: Christus factus est pro nobis – Felice Anerio, 1560-1614 (Christ became obedient for us unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him, and bestowed upon him the name which is above every other name.). Communion motet: Super flumina Babylonis – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, 1525-1594 (By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered thee, O Sion. As for our harps, we hanged them up upon the trees that are therein. [Ps. 137:1,2. Trans. M. Coverdale]). The Gregorian chants proper to this Sunday are: Introit In Nomine Domini (At the name of the Lord let every knee bend, in heaven, on earth and under the earth; for the Lord became obedient unto death, even death on the Cross; that is why Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto you. [Phil.2:10,8,11; Ps. 101:2]); Alleluia Paratum cor meum (My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready; I will sing to you and praise you, my glory. [Psalm 108:2]); Offertory Super flumina Babylonis (Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and we wept, as we remembered you, O Zion. [Psalm 137:1]); Communion Memento verbi tui (Be mindful of your word to your servant, O Lord, in which you caused me to hope; this has been my comfort in my affliction. [Psalm 119:49,50).

St. Monica Institute for Patristic Studies . . . Will next meet on October 1st at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory.

The Latin reading group is translating St. Augustine’s Confessions…and will meet every Wednesday evening in the rectory at 6:15 p.m.  High school Latin is all that’s needed.  Just walk in.

 St. John’s in The Advocate...
  . . . 100 years ago, or so:

October 5, 1908: The Children of Mary. “A meeting of the Children of Mary was held yesterday afternoon, at their reading-room in St. John’s R. C. school. During the session, about 100 clever young maidens were received into the sodality, and election of officers for the coming year took place. Rev. Father Rizzo has been appointed the spiritual director; Sister M. Bernardine, directress, was unanimously elected president; Miss Jennie Moriarity, vice president; Miss Louise Hynes, secretary; Miss Florence Nightengale, treasurer; and Miss Mary Quinn, librarian.”

October 4, 1909: “Some very beautiful prizes have been donated to the Alumni Association of St. John’s parochial school, for the euchre to be given in the Assembly hall next Friday evening. The prizes will be placed on exhibition this week.”

October 4, 1934: FIRE DISCOVERED IN ST. JOHN’S R. C. SCHOOL THIS NOON. “Shortly after 700 pupils in St. John’s Parochial school, Bell St., had been dismissed for lunch hour at noon today, fire swept through the third story of the building, gaining such headway that a second alarm was sounded for every piece of fire apparatus in the city. All pupils and the teaching staff, consisting of nuns, were out of the building when the fire was observed by Attorney Daniel E. Ryan, who sent in an alarm at 12:11. Chief Victor Veit ordered a second alarm upon his arrival four minutes later, calling every piece of apparatus and the men off duty. Great clouds of smoke were pouring out of a chimney at one end of the building when firemen arrived, many believing it to be a chimney fire. Chief Veit said he found plenty of fire on the top floor which is used as an assembly hall. The flames ran along under the peak in the long roof, breaking out in two places. Firemen laid four lines to combat the blaze, much water pouring down into the lower halls and rooms. The fire was brought under control in a few minutes, but the building, built in 1906, and of brick construction, was in such condition from smoke and water that class sessions will probably be suspended for several days. Some of the children were eating their lunches in the school yard, while others were playing about outside when the fire was discovered. Fire drill was held in the school only yesterday. Traffic was tied up on Atlantic Street for a half-hour while the fire was in progress. Hundreds of people gathered on Bell St., while all of the nuns attached to the school remained in the yard to watch the battle against the fire. Some of them moved by the sight wept. An official estimate of the damage will be determined by Chief Veit today. Anxious parents, upon learning of the fire, eagerly sought information and were relieved when informed that all children were out of the building when the fire was observed.”

Biblical Greek. . . I would be grateful if those interested in studying introductory Greek would call me at the rectory, extension 11, so we can schedule our lessons—Mons. DiGiovanni

Coffee Hour…Please join us downstairs after the 10:00 a.m. Mass in the Monsignor Nagle Hall for coffee and snacks.

Latin Mass . . . . At Saint Gabriel’s Church on Newfield Avenue, each Sunday at 12:30 p.m.  All are welcome.

House Blessings . . . Please check the parish website:  www.stjohnsstamford.com for the list of streets we’ll visit this month. To schedule a blessing, please call the rectory: (203) 324-1553, ext. 21.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, September 27
4:00 +John Vandereedt req. Wife
Sunday, September 28
  7:30 +Felix & Louise Bertasso req. by daughter
10:00 +Unknown req. Anne Marie Samedi
12:00 The Persecuted Roman Catholic Church in China req. Cardinal Kung Foundation
 6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family
Monday, September 29
  8:00 +Anne Constance Penta req. Armelle
12:10 +Elvira Palermo req. Frank & Beth Carpanzano
Tuesday, September 30
  8:00 All Missionaries
12:10 +Alberto Faugno req. Frank & Beth Carpanzano
Wednesday, October 1
  8:00 Special Intention Tracy H. Rubin req. Fabiola Contreras
12:10      +Andrew Daniello req. Hannah Young
Thursday, October 2
  8:00 +Dila Haidar req. Granddaughter
12:10    Sister Ellen Mary SSJ 70th year Anniversary
Friday, October 3
  8:00 Special Intention req. Gerard J. Carriera
12:10 +Lewis Miller req. Nicholas & Theresa Troilo
Saturday, October 4
  8:00 In Honor of St. Francis
12:10   +Ismael Vega req. Evelyn Flaharty (daughter)

Miraculous Medal Novena: Mondays, 8:30 a.m.

Pray for an end to abortion every Wednesday, 7:00 - 10:30 a.m., at 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 who are registered members; those whose regular Mass attendance is known to the priests, or whose parish membership 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. Maria Goretti Society . . . For the spiritual formation of young ladies of the parish, from 8th - 12th grades. Questions, please contact Rosa Marchetti at (203) 348-0232.

St. Dominic Savio Society…For the spiritual formation of young men from 8th – 12th grades meets this Sunday, after the 12:00 noon mass in the rectory.  Any questions, please contact Frank Marchetti at (203) 434-4734.

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 (203) 324-1553 x21.

The Interior Law of Charity
- Fr. Terry Walsh
“For God is not a God of confusion but a God of Peace” (1Cor14:33)
 Before God created anything, He existed. He has revealed the very nature of His Being as Triune; that is, He always existed as Holy Trinity – Three distinct Persons yet One God. The Holy Trinity is the greatest Mystery of our faith and we can only know of this great truth because God has revealed it to us. He always existed as a perfect community of Three distinct and yet not separate Persons. He always existed as a perfect family overflowing in love. Indeed, John tells us that “God IS love.” He created the Universe and everything in it through love. St. Paul teaches us that ‘we live and move and have our being’ in God; in other words, we are held in existence IN the love of God. The Church teaches us that the very purpose of our existence is to be “caught up in the love of the Holy Trinity for all eternity” in Heaven. When God created the Universe and everything in it He created it with perfect beauty, harmony, justice and order. It is called “Original Justice.” The sin of Adam, the disobedience of man, caused disharmony, injustice or “Original Sin.” Now, while the beauty and harmony of the Universe was effected by the disruption brought about by sin, Truth itself remained Perfect. Truth is not a thing; nor can it “change”. Truth is a Person: Jesus Christ, “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is Perfect and what is Perfect can not change. There is an objective Truth by which our lives and our very salvation are governed.  We are able to know and understand Truth because God has “written it upon our hearts” and speaks it to us in the very depths of our souls (our conscience) if we are listening to His Voice. God wants all people to come to the knowledge of the Truth and choose to live in the Truth and so be saved. St. Paul writes, “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1Cor16:13). Or again in Ephesians, “…he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you be rooted and grounded in love…to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”(3:116ff). And so, there is a relationship between Law and Grace. The Law emanates from Truth, Jesus Christ, and so points us toward Him. The Law is a “guidepost” to keep us on the well-lit path to our salvation. The Church teaches: “Called to beatitude but wounded by sin, man stands in need of salvation from God. Divine help comes to him in Christ through the law that guides him and the grace that sustains him”(ccc1949). The Catechism beautifully explains the various expressions of law in Part 3, chapter 3, beginning with paragraph #1949. It is clear, concise, and very helpful in understanding the relationship between Law and Grace. The Incarnation, the New Covenant, ushered in the New Law: the Law of Divine Grace. The Church states: “The New Law or the Law of the Gospel is the perfection here on earth of the divine law, natural and revealed. It is the work of Christ and is expressed particularly in the Sermon on the Mount. It is also the work of the Holy Spirit and through him it becomes the interior law of charity: ‘I will establish a New Covenant with the house of Israel…I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people’ (Heb8:8, Jer31: 31-34)” (ccc1965).