The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
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CHURCH of SAINT MARY Th e Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ June 3, 2018 Reverend Father Robert A. Romeo | Pastor Reverend Father Jiha Lim | Parochial Vicar Reverend Father Jude Dioka | Parochial Vicar 1300 Northern Boulevard | Manhasset, New York 11030 516 627 0385 | Fax 516 627 6070 www.stmary.ws Parish Mission Statement We, the community of Saint Mary’s, Manhasset, building on our rich heritage of Catholic faith and tradition, center ourselves in the Eucharist and honor God in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we seek to be the presence of Christ through our liturgical, educational and social ministries. We dedicate our time, talent and treasure to the service of all as we build the kingdom of God in our world. We commit to this mission in the name of Jesus Christ. PARISH DIRECTORY Church of Saint Mary Pastoral Staff Th e Schools of Saint Mary 1300 Northern Boulevard Rev. Fr. Robert A. Romeo Nursery through 12th Grade Manhasset, New York 11030 Pastor (516) 627-0385 Joseph R. McCleary, Ph.D. 627-0385 | ext. 1004 Fax (516) 627-6070 President [email protected] www.stmary.ws 627-2711 Rev. Fr. Jiha Lim [email protected] Schedule of Masses Parochial Vicar Sean T. Collins ’73, ’77 Monday–Friday 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM 627-0385 | ext. 1006 Vice President of Development Saturday 8:00 AM, 5:00 PM [email protected] 627-4605 [email protected] Sunday 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, Rev. Fr. Jude Dioka 12:00 Noon and 5:00 PM Parochial Vicar Eileen M. Symmons ’82, ’86 627-0385 | ext. 1011 Director of Communications Sacrament of Penance 627-2711 | ext. 1081 Saturdays from 4:00-4:45 PM and by Rafal Borowiejski [email protected] appointment. Please call 627-0385. Seminarian 627-0385 Kiera Gmelich Walsh Director of Alumni and Parent Anointing of the Sick Parish Staff Relations Th e Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick 627-2711 | ext. 1162 Jane Cliff ord is celebrated in the Chapel on the second [email protected] Bulletin Editor Sunday of the month following the [email protected] 10:30 AM Mass. If you are unable to come St. Mary’s Elementary School to Church, please call the Parish Offi ce to Michael Griffi n 627-0184 make arrangements for Anointing or to Youth Minister www.stmary11030.org [email protected] receive the Eucharist. stmarysyouth.weebly.com Sarah de Venoge ’02, ’06 Principal Parish Offi ce Vincent Hartley [email protected] 627-0385 | Fax 627-6070 Facilities Manager 627-0385 | ext. 1002 Th eresa A. Kemp Monday - Th ursday 9:30 AM–8:00 PM Assistant Principal Friday 9:30 AM-5:00 PM Annette Lachmeyer [email protected] Saturday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Parish Offi ce Sunday 9:45 AM–1:30 PM 627-0385 | ext. 1008 St. Mary’s High School E-mail: [email protected] Robert Levulis 627-2711 Music Director www.inspiredthinkers.org Parish Social Ministry 313-7606 Jonathan D. Kramer ’92 365-2705 Sr. Teresa Raftery, IHM Principal Monday-Th ursday 9:45 AM-12:00 Noon Adult Faith Formation [email protected] 1:00 PM-4:00 PM 627-0385 | ext. 1010 Religious Education Frank Souza Director of Religious Education 627-4028 627-4028 | ext. 1127 Monday 12:00 Noon-9:00 PM [email protected] Wednesday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Tuesday and Th ursday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM Christine Sutherland Closed on Friday Coordinator of Parish Social Ministry 365-2705 | ext. 1126 From the Pastor’s Desk Dear Parishioners, “Whoever eats my fl esh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (John 6:57) Last week we celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, which is not meant to simply be explained, but rather encountered as mystery. A mystery that is meant to be pondered so as to draw us into the mystery of God. Today we celebrate another Solemnity that is meant more to be pondered than explained. Th is Solemnity of Corpus Christi, or the Body and Blood of Christ, doesn’t need theological explanations; they will never be enough. What we need is faith and trust. Trust that the Word of Jesus is true. Many Christians believe that Jesus was speaking metaphorically and not literally about His Body and Blood but rather He meant to feed on the “Word” that He came to preach. While the Word is certainly important and that understanding would be easier to accept, it is certainly NOT what Jesus intended. If it were, He would have clarifi ed His teaching when many who could not accept it turned away. What Jesus says is to reiterate more strongly His words and this teaching. After many leave Him, He turns to the Apostles and says, “Will you leave me too?” Th is would have been the opportune moment to explain a diff erent teaching to His Disciples so they would understand more clearly. Yet there is no other explanation off ered. So we conclude from this teaching and others in the Scriptures that Jesus does indeed want to give us His very Self as food for our journey. Jesus never said this is a symbol of my Body and Blood but rather IT IS My Body and Blood. Th is teaching has been believed and taught from the earliest days in the life of the Church. We share this continual believe in the Real and True presence of Jesus in the Eucharist with our Orthodox sisters and brothers. As the Churches founded by Jesus we have kept faithful to this beautiful yet diffi cult teaching. St. Ignatius of Antioch (c.110 A.D.) says, “Th e Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, fl esh which suff ered for our sins and which the Father, in His goodness, raised up again.” Like the Trinity, we again encounter mystery. Th eologians have attempted to help us grasp this mystery through the teaching of Transubstantiation. Th is states that the accidents (external presence) remain the same but their substance changes into the Body and Blood of Jesus. So bread still looks and tastes like bread but is in reality the Body of Christ. Th e same would be true for the accident of the wine and its change into the Blood of our Lord. Again, this is helpful but falls short of the beauty of what Jesus intends. What we need is faith to see past the accidents and to believe what Jesus intends. Faith acknowledges this great and wondrous Sacrament so that He may become part of us, as food for our journey and that hopefully we become what we eat and drink...namely more like Jesus Himself. So, what do we believe? After the priest calls down the Holy Spirit on the gifts of bread and wine they truly BECOME the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Himself. Not a symbol, not a mirror of something else, BUT Jesus Himself. St. John Chrysostom (c. 344 A.D.) addressing some who doubted and needed proof of this great Mystery says, “Some of you say, I wish I could see His shape, His appearance, His garments. Only look! You see Him! You touch Him! You eat Him! BELIEVE.” A great challenge for each of us. So as you come to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, do you ponder while walking up to communion that you will cradle in your hands or on your tongue the true Body and Blood of our Savior? Th is awesome and humbling gift is Jesus’ abiding presence to us. We come to Mass to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. Th e prayers and actions of the Liturgy help us to refocus and continue to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and to remind us that we gather to worship this wondrous presence among us. May we stand in awe at this mystery, BUT more importantly, may it cause us to seek Jesus and become more like Him whom we consume. I encourage you to spend time with Our Lord Jesus present in the Tabernacle or at Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. It certainly helps us believe more deeply. By the way, as a reminder, exposition is off ered each Monday from 3-8pm in the Chapel. Come spend time with Jesus. In Jesus, Our Eucharistic Lord, Fr. Bob Th e Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ | June 3, 2018 Stewards of God’s Gifts Th e Bishops’ stewardship pastoral asks, “And what do Christians bring to the Eucharistic celebration and join there with Jesus’ off ering?” Th e answer: “Th eir lives as Christian disciples; their personal vocations and the stewardship they have exercised regarding them…”. We are grateful this week for all stewards in our parish who use their gift of time to receive the Body of Christ to become the Body of Christ through weekly Eucharist. Th e collection for Sunday, May 27, 2018, amounted to $25,539.00 Th e collection for Sunday, May 28, 2017 amounted to $22,583.00 Have you enrolled yet? Visit www.faithdirect.net. Our parish code is NY281. We Care for Our Parish Community Baptism at St. Mary’s. Grades 1 through 5 meet on Tuesdays and We celebrate Baptism at 1:30 PM on the second Sunday of Th ursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. Families choose which the month and at 12:30 PM on the fourth Saturday of the day.