Pastor’s Corner . . .
 On January 21st the Church commemorates the martyrdom of a young girl, Saint Agnes, who died during the last persecution of the Church by the Roman Empire, under the Emperor Diocletian, in 303 a.d. 
 Agnes was 12 years old, the beautiful daughter of wealthy ennobled parents.  While “her beauty and riches excited the young noblemen of the first families in Rome”, as Dom Alban Butler put it, Agnes responded repeatedly that she had one spouse already: Christ, to whom she had vowed her virginity.  Frustrated in their pursuit of the girl’s wealth and beauty, they reported to the governor that she was a Christian, an enemy of Rome.  Her suitors and the governor, knowing the family and the girl, thought that the mere suggestion of a trial and torture would be sufficient to wear Agnes down, so that she would relent and marry herself and her fortune to one of them.  Yet, to the consternation of all, neither pleasant words, nor threats nor even the sight of instruments of torture could weaken her resolve to be faithful to her Heavenly spouse: “you may”, she said, “stain your sword with my blood, but will never be able to profane my body consecrated to Christ.”
 Saint Ambrose continues the story,
“Was her little body really large enough to receive the sword’s thrust? She was hardly big enough to be struck, yet was great enough to overcome—and then at an age when little girls cannot bear a mother’s stern look and think a needle’s jab a mortal wound.
 “Agnes did not tremble when in the executioner’s bloody hand nor cringe at the harsh sound of chains. She did not know yet how to die, but was ready. Dragged to the pagan altar, she extended her hands to Christ in the flames of the pagan sacrifice, and turned the sacrilegious fire into a victor’s banner. She offered her neck and hands to the fetters, but they were too big for her tiny limbs.” [On Virgins, Book 1]
 Finally, Agnes was led outside the City and beheaded: she courageously bent her head, praying for her persecutors, while the executioner, terrified and trembling, dispatched her with one stroke.  From the moment of her burial, her tomb became a site of pilgrimage, embellished after the peace of the Church in 313 by the Emperor Constantine, who built a small basilica over her tomb on the Via Nomentana.
There, since that time until ours, each January 21st the pope sends an archbishop as his special emissary to bless two white lambs: each crowned with red and white roses, carried into the church by twelve young girls, likewise crowned with red and white roses.  Hundreds of people crowd the small church, and join in the prayers of blessing, after which the lambs are taken away [in a Vatican Mercedes!!], to the convent of Saint Cecelia across the Tiber, where, once grown, their fleece is shorn, and is woven into a number of pallia:  liturgical stoles of white wool with black crosses, which are placed within the Tomb of Saint Peter in the Vatican. The Holy Father gives these to newly named archbishops on June 29th, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, as a sign that their authority comes from Peter through his successor the pope, and that apostolic authority to preach and teach is linked with the virtue of purity of personal life, both symbolized by the wool of the lambs blessed at the tomb of Saint Agnes.
 Saint John, our parish patron, relates how highly virginity for Christ was held in the early Church: in the Book of Revelation, they are the companions of the Lamb of God, following Him wherever He goes [Rev xiv, 1-5].  So too, today. Let us teach our children to value purity and to practice it in daily life: preferring, as did Saint Agnes, to please Christ by loving virtue. --Msgr. DiGiovanni

Please pray for the sick…  Vincenzo Giannitti, Janet Rodgers, Aidan Moon, Mary Daniele, Lena Cocchia, Phillip Renard, John Castellano, Anthony Sansone, Paul Cavallo, Kathy Hennesey, Ruth Coyle, Lily Rice, Mildred Fiore, Catherine & Jay Olnek

Please pray for those who have recently died. . . Thomas Carucci, Sr. Julia McCarthy, Ella Palumba, Vito Melfi,  Arthur Capalbo, Avery Cardinal Dulles, Laurie, Jeannette Augustine, Vivian E. Torres, Margie Nicholson, Ed “Red” Baker 

Monthly Collection . . . The second collection today will be the monthly collection for the parish.  Your generosity is appreciated.

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 February 3rd.

Religion Classes for Adults. . . Catholics who have not yet received Holy Communion or Confirmation, and for non-Catholics who wish to join the Church, every Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory.  The class is on a 7 week cycle:  If you miss one, we repeat it.  Interested?  Please contact Providencia at (203¬) 324 -1553 ext. 21.

Parish Women’s Society... We would like to begin a parish society for the spiritual growth of women.  Please contact Monsignor if you are interested:  Ext. 11.

The Latin Reading Group… Is translating St. Augustine’s Confessions…And meets every Wednesday in the rectory at 6:15 p.m.  High school Latin is all that’s needed.  Just walk in. 

Introduction to New Testament Greek Class ... Meets every Thursday evening in the rectory at 7:30 p.m.  

St. Monica Institute for Patristic Studies ... Will next meet on January 21st.  We are studying Pope Saint Gregory the Great’s Four Books of Dialogues.   Join us each Wednesday evening in the rectory at 7:30 p.m. Just walk in.

St. John’s Bible Study…We are using The Bible Timeline Series every Thursday in the rectory at 7:30 p.m.  Join us!

Coffee and refreshments… Following the 10:00 a.m. Mass, in the Monsignor Nagle Hall. 

Year of Saint Paul... A Plenary Indulgence is offered the faithful through June 29th: by visiting the adoration chapel at Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence on Newfield Avenue: the chapel is open Monday through Thursday, 6:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m., and from Friday at 6:00 a.m. until Sunday 11:00 p.m.  The usual conditions apply: sacramental confession and communion, praying one Our Father and Hail Mary for the intentions of Pope Benedict XVI apply.

The 20’s and 30’s … The next meeting will be on February 9th at the Upper Room at Columbus Park at 6:30 p.m.  Our Topic will be “Stump the Priest” – come with your questions….bring your friends!

NOTE CHANGE: Session III of RCIA which was scheduled to be held on TUESDAY NIGHTS beginning on March 10th will be held on WEDNESDAY NIGHTS instead, beginning on March 11th. Call the office for more details.
         
Sunday, January 11, 2009     $  8,884.10 (Snow)

Sunday, January 13, 2008      $ 11,991.51

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 Jan. 25th:   Jon. 3: 1-5, 10; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mk. 1:14-20

Hymns for this weekend . . . (1) 260   (2) 223. 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 secunda – Hans Leo Hassler, 1562-1612. Offertory motet: Jubilate Deo – Orlando di Lasso, 1532-1594 (O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God. [Ps. 100:1,2. Trans. M. Coverdale]). Communion motet: Exsultate justi – Ludovico da Viadana, 1560 – 1627 (Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just; praise befits the upright. Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings. Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just; praise befits the upright. [Ps. 32:1, trans. W. Mahrt]). The Gregorian chants proper to this Sunday are: Introit Omnis terra (Let all the earth adore you, O God, and sing unto you: let it sing a psalm to your name, O Most High. Shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing a psalm to His Name: give glory to His praise. [Ps.66. 1, 2]); Alleluia Laudate Deum (Praise God, all his Angels; praise him, all his host. [Ps. 149:2]); Offertory Jubilate Deo (Sing joyfully to God all the earth; let the entire earth cry out with joy to God; sing a psalm in honour of his name. Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what the Lord has done for my soul, alleluia. [Ps. 66:1,2,16]); Communion Dicit Andreas (Andrew said to his brother Simon: “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ); and he led him to Jesus. [John 1:41, 42]).

Calling all 10:00 AM Singers! . . . Do you have even a little singing experience? Do you usually attend the 10:00 a.m. Mass? Come join us in the choir loft – we really need you! Rehearsals are Thursday nights at 7:30 PM in the music room in the basement of the church.  For those who want to learn or refresh their knowledge of the basics of music, there is a short optional Music Theory Class at 7:15 p.m. For more information, call Scott Turkington 324-1553, ext. 18.

Vespers for the Conversion of St. Paul … On Sunday, January 25th at 4:00 p.m. Solemn Vespers and Benediction will be celebrated at St. Gabriel Church on Newfield Avenue in Stamford for the Feast of the conversion of St. Paul.  Bishop Lori has graciously granted the plenary indulgence for the Pauline Year to those who attend.  All are welcome for this special event to mark the Year of St. Paul!

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

January 22, 1869: “The Catholic Fair, which commenced in Seely’s Hall on Tuesday evening is, we learn, a decided success so far. The Hall is tastefully decorated with flags, etc., and the various tables are arranged with much neatness. An unusually large number of valuable articles are to be disposed of by lottery, the drawing to take place Saturday evening. Among these are a magnificent clock, gold watches, oil paintings – one worth two hundred dollars – a gold mounted revolver and other articles too numerous to mention. The temperance society visited the Fair in a body on Wednesday afternoon, and the school children yesterday. Last evening the “Stamford Serenaders” contributed to the amusement of those present at the Fair, and this performance is to be repeated Saturday night. From present appearances we have no doubt the Fair will be  a success financially and otherwise.”

 January 22, 1908: “Rev. Patrick Connors, the Stamford young man who was recently ordained to the priesthood, has been assigned as curate in Westport.”

 January 22, 1932:  “Appointment of the Rev. Andrew J. Plunkett, Ph.D., a native of Stamford, as pastor of St. Mary’s R. C. Church, Derby, has been announced by Rt. Rev. John J. Nilan, D. D., Bishop of Hartford. The appointment is a transfer from St. Joseph’s Church, Shelton.”

January 22, 1940: St. John’s Pastor Reports Spiritual Activities of ‘39.  “A report on the spiritual activities at St. John’s Catholic Church during 1939 was presented at Masses yesterday by the Rev. N. P. Coleman, pastor. Father Coleman’s report showed 100 infants had been baptized during the year; 10 adults received the same sacrament; there were 49 marriages and 57 deaths in the parish; 119 received First Communion; 422 received the Sacrament of Confirmation; 69,000 Communions were distributed; last rites were administered 303 times; 3,285 sick calls and visits were made. There are 721 children in St. John’s School, including 520 in the grades, and 201 in the junior high school division. During 1939, 276 public school children received weekly religious instruction, also 25 Junior High School students and 173 Senior High School students. The church calendar for 1940 shows daily Masses at 7:30; devotions Sunday and Tuesday nights, and during Lent the services will include three in each week with the additional service on Friday nights. Father Coleman announced that the LaSalette mission band of Hartford will conduct a mission at St. John’s during the first two weeks of May.”

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St. Anne Family Society ... PROGRAM CHANGE … We will now meet 4 times a year – twice in the Fall and twice in the Spring. Our next meeting will be held in APRIL – stay tuned for more details. It will include Eucharistic Adoration in church; a potluck supper and a spiritual conference in the parish hall.  All families—including children—are invited.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, January 17
4:00 +Lockhart Family req. Harriet Lockhart
Sunday, January 18
  7:30 Special Intention Heloise Nana req. Kristin Cassidy
10:00 +Victoria Santagata req. Angela Giannitti
12:00 +Maria Preziosi 16th Anniversary req. Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren
  6:00 +Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane & Family
Monday, January 19
  8:00 +Marylou Deluca r eq. Al & Stella Sorrentino
12:10 +Alvino Mesa req. Raquel Mesa
 Tuesday, January 20
  8:00 The Marchetti Family
12:10 +Stephen, Irene & Nicholas Churley and Anne C. Yaworski req. Mary Churley
Wednesday, January 21
  8:00 +Lorenzo Del Castillo req. Nick & Lyca Brown
12:10 All Priests of the Parish req. Raquel Mesa
Thursday, January 22
  8:00 Special Intention & Healing Mrs. Pelton
12:10 +Leon Terenzio req. Michael
Friday, January 23
  8:00 Souls in Purgatory req. Fabiola C.
12:10 +Rose Lee & Helen Mathews req. Bosilevas Family
Saturday, January 24
  8:00 +Eileen Carr req. Marie Carr
12:10    +Betsy Woolf req. Fabiola C.

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.

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.

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).        

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.

St. Maria Goretti Society . . . For the spiritual formation of young ladies 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. Questions, please contact Frank Marchetti at (203) 434-4734.
 

Who is St. John the Evangelist?
(Revisited)
- Fr. Terry Walsh

John is, of course, one of the 12 Apostles – the youngest of them all. He and his brother, the Apostle James, were fishermen from Bethsaida, a town in Galilee. They were the sons of Zebedee and Salome and were known as the ‘Sons of Thunder’ because of their deep and abiding faith and their desire to preach the Gospel to all the world. John was also known as the ‘Beloved Disciple’.  Along with Peter and James, John formed part of the ‘inner circle’ of Jesus. Through out the Gospels we see Jesus take Peter, James, and John aside and draw them into the most significant moments in His ministry, such as the Raising of Jairus’ daughter and the Transfiguration. Both St. Luke (Acts of the Apostles) and St. Paul (Letter to the Galatians) speak of John as playing a prominent role in the early Church following the Ascension and the Feast of Pentecost.
Who is John? He was the only Apostle at the foot of the Cross. It was there – from the Cross- that our Lord gave John to Mary and at the same time entrusted His Blessed Mother into the hands of his faithful Apostle. We can only imagine the influence the Mother of our Lord had on John through out the years they lived together. We need only look to Sacred Scripture to gain some insight into the influence of Mary’s Motherly love upon the heart of the disciple that leaned against our Lord that night when He would give Himself up for us.
John wrote the 4th Gospel, sometimes referred to as the ‘Spiritual Gospel.’ John pierces the veil, as it were, into the deeper meaning of Jesus’ words. In addition, John wrote three of the letters in the New Testament as well as the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. He was the last of the Apostles to die and with his death the Canon of Sacred Scripture, which comes to us through the Apostles, was closed.
Consider the stunning beginning of the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John powerfully proclaims the divinity of Jesus and points to the sacrifice He would offer in order that we might share in His Divine life for all eternity. What a magnificent hymn of praise to He Who calls us to be His very children. Moreover, John beautifully recalls our Lord’s words to His disciples in the 6th chapter of the Gospel, also known as “The Bread of Life Discourse,” and tells how those who are baptized into His Body will be nourished and sustained – it is through the very Body and Blood of the Word made Flesh. In this chapter the mystery of Holy Eucharist is revealed. Why did the Word leave His heavenly throne of Glory to become incarnate? Why did He willingly undergo terrible suffering and die upon the Cross? John tells us in his 1st letter, “God IS Love,” and this is why he came. We are called to abide in His love. As we receive His very Body and Blood in faith, we naturally grow in love and - in our own particular way with the help of His grace - we too become – in a manner of speaking –  “Sons of Thunder.”