THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES OF ST. PIO OF PIETRELCINA REVEREND JEREMIAH N. MURASSO, PH.D., ED.D., PSY.D., PASTOR REVEREND PATRICK KANE, PAROCHIAL VICAR REVEREND TIMOTHY MEEHAN, WEEKEND ASSISTANT DEACON WAYNE SANDFORD, PERMANENT DEACON DEACON GEORGE MCCARROLL, RETIRED DEACON

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time AUGUST 16, 2020 Mass Intentions for the Week STEWARDSHIP SATURDAY, August 15 - Vigil - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00pm OLOP + Rick, Ray, Joe, Dan & John (20 years) by Wives With public Masses cancelled, please continue to 4:00pm ST. B + Mary Ann Triumfo (Anniversary) support the parish. We need your support as the by DeCola Family operations continue on a daily basis. In addition, we 4:30pm SVDP + Elizabeth Gambardella by Family want to continue to pay our loyal staff. Please mail-in SUNDAY, August 16 - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time your contributions. Online giving is also available at, 8:00am OLOP + Steve, Catherine, Stephen & Stephen, III Bogusky https://stpioofpietrelcinaeh.com/ and click on the GIVE by Arlene Van Der Maelen 8:00am ST. B + Annette LaCava button. 9:00am SVDP + John Finkle by Lucille, Jim & John Regular Collection 10:00am OLOP + Janet Butterworth Total Regular $4,330.00 by Joan Hall 10:00am ST. B + Irene DiAdamo (Anniversary) by Children Monthly Collection 11:00am SVDP + Joe Ciarelli Total Air $1,605.00 by Daughter & Family 11:45am OLOP + Diane Panzo by Family Thank you to the many of you who have been so 6:00pm ST. B + Dennis Gavney Trotta generous and responsive in these difficult times. by Brother, Fred MONDAY, August 17 - Weekday 8:00am OLOP + Sebastian D’Amato by Porto Funeral Home SCRIPTURE READINGS 8:00am SVDP + Laura Anderson 8:00am ST.B + Living & Dec’d Family & Friends of Campbell & Parlato Sunday: Is 56:1, 6-7/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 [4]/ Families Rom 11:13-15, 29-32/Mt 15:21-28 by Family TUESDAY, August 18 - Weekday Monday: Ez 24:15-24/Dt 32:18-19, 20, 21 [cf. 18a] 8:00am OLOP + Beverly Gormley Mt 19:16-22 by Kathy & Anthony Mauro Tuesday: Ez 28:1-10/Dt 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 8:00am SVDP + Filomena Lavorgna by Gino Lavorgna & Family 35cd-36ab [39c]/Mt 19:23-30 8:00am ST. B + Monica Ann O’Neill Wednesday: Ez 34:1-11/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 [1]/Mt by Parents 20:1-16 WEDNESDAY, August 19 - St. John Eudes 8:00am OLOP + Frank & Mary DeMilo Thursday: Ez 36:23-28/Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 [Ez by Andy & Jean 36:25]/Mt 22:1-14 8:00am SVDP + John Alfone, Jr. Friday: Ez 37:1-14/Ps 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [1]/Mt by Porto Funeral Home 22:34-40 8:00am ST. B + Ralph Criscuolo (Birthday) by Son, Henry Criscuolo Saturday: Ez 43:1-7ab/Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13- THURSDAY, August 20 - St. Bernard 14 [cf. 10b]/Mt 23:1-12 8:00am OLOP + Patricia & Susan Zampa by Zampa Family 8:00am SVDP + Orazeio & Maria Geraldo by Anna Voira & Family 8:00am ST.B + Doreene Scherb (Birthday) Live-Stream Mass by Sister-in-Law, Linda & Family Monday-Thursday at 8:00 AM FRIDAY, August 21 - St. Pius X Saturday at 4:00 PM 8:00am OLOP + Sr. Paula Koplar, R.S.M. Sunday at 8:00 AM & 11:45AM 8:00am ST. B + Sr. Susan Carlin, R.S.M. SATURDAY, August 22 - Vigil - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00pm OLOP + Andy Esposito To watch the live stream go to, by Family https://www.stpioofpietrelcinaeh.com, then click on 4:00pm ST. B + Marie DelSanto (Birthday) by Sister, Catherine Online Mass and click on StreamSpot. 4:30pm SVDP + Mary, Donald & Angelo Izzo & Frank Cantore & David Dunaj by Family SUNDAY, August 23 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish 8:00am OLOP + Filomena Lavorgna Address: 355 Foxon Road, East Haven, CT 06513 by Lavorgna Family 8:00am ST. B + Manuel “Manny” Azevedo (1st Anniversary) Phone Number: (203) 469-0764 by M/M Matthew Govern 9:00am SVDP + Karen Daley Office Hours: by Diane Carr Foxon Road: Mon-Fri 8:00-12:00 & 1:00-3:00 10:00am OLOP + Anna Marie Kuczenski Taylor Avenue: Mon. & Fri. 10:00-2:00 by Family 10:00am ST. B + Angelo & Mary Santino by Santino Family E-Mail: [email protected] 11:00am SVDP + Anna Cleto by Marie Connors 11:45am OLOP + Frank Massimino CONFESSION SCHEDULE: by Wife & Family 6:00pm ST. B + Connie Illiano (Anniversary) St. Bernadette & Our Lady of Pompeii: Saturday at 3:00- by Patti & Serg 3:30pm

St. Vincent de Paul: Saturday at 3:30-4:00pm Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time MINISTRY & EVENT CALENDAR SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED MONDAY, AUGUST 17 MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Holy Hour - 8:30-9:30am in Our Lady of Pompeii Holy Hour - 8:30-9:30am in Our Lady of Pompeii Church

Bible Study - 7:00pm Bible Study - 7:00pm Contact Christine Sandford for Location Contact Christine Sandford for Location

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 TUESDAY, AUGUST 25

ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26

ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 THURSDAY, AUGUST 27

Scriptural Rosary - 7:00pm Scriptural Rosary - 7:00pm Contact Sally Mucka at 203-469-0764 ext. 8 Contact Sally Mucka at 203-469-0764 ext. 8

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

Divine Mercy - 11:00am at Our Lady of Pompeii at St. Clare Divine Mercy - 11:00am at Our Lady of Pompeii at St. Clare Garden Garden

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena 25th Anniversary

The 9-day novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help will begin on: Tuesday, September 15, @ 7:00pm at Our Lady of Pompeii Church. This is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The novena will continue for 8 additional evenings @ 7:00pm. There are 2 Two Exceptions: Day 5 of the novena, Sat. Sept. 19, the novena will be held at 10:00am. Day 6 of the novena, Sun. Sept. 20, the novena will be held immediately after the 11:45 Mass. The novena will conclude of Wed. Sept 23, which is the feast of our Patron, Padre Pio. The hour-long novena includes: Novena Prayers Benediction Recitation of the Rosary Enrollment in the Brown Scapular.

The final day, Wed. Sept. 23, will conclude with Mass at 7:00pm followed by a rosary procession (weather permitting). Midnight Run Taylor Avenue Campus

The Midnight Run for August, will be the 3rd Monday , August The Candles burn this week for these 17th. Donations of brown bag lunches, water and toiletries can be special intentions: dropped off to Sue Stacey, on Monday up until 7pm, at her home 82 Forbes Pl Thankful for all donations. Thank you to all who Our Lady of Pompeii Candles donate to the Midnight Run!!! The Midnight Run for the month Sanctuary Lamp (Right Side) ~ In Memory of of August will be on August 17th, which is the 3rd Monday of Billy Richmond & For All the Souls in Purgatory the month, this is for August only! Until further notice PLEASE Sanctuary Lamp (Left Side) ~ In Memory of drop off all brown bag lunches to Sue’s home, 82 Forbes Pl, I can the Mauro & Elko Families not at this time accept clothing or blankets, but toiletries are still Chapel ~ Virginia Mingarelli by Daughter acceptable Thank you God Bless You! Stay safe and well!!! Sacred Heart of ~ Ryan Kiley by Patti Scussel Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon ~ Midnight Run Our Lady of Pompeii Picture ~ Brian Gallagher by Mom Foxon Road Campus

St. Vincent de Paul Candles On the last Monday of each month, we bring 75 bagged lunches to the Columbus House Overflow Shelter. Sanctuary Lamp (Right Side) ~ In Memory of the Balzano & Avitable Families Donations Needed: Sanctuary Lamp (Left Side) - In Memory of ShopRite Gift Cards or Ronald Paolillo Gallon Size Ziploc Bags Statue of Our Lady’s Altar ~ Elizabeth Gambardella Quart Size Ziploc Bags by Family; Peanut Butter & Jelly Nicholas, Raffaele & Peter Bertier by Ann Juice Pouches Statue of St. Joseph’s Altar ~ A Favor Received Raisin Boxes Fruit Cups & Pudding Cups Granola Bars Individual Packaged Cookies, Crackers or Chips

We are also looking for small amounts or full skeins of yarn, it will be used to make hats and scarves for the midnight run. Please leave your donations at any entrance of the church. Thank you.

Midnight Run is the LAST Monday of EVERY month from Our Lady of Pompeii Church from 6-7 pm.

FOR NICK VESSICCIO Thank-you for being so generous!

As you know, Nick’s recovery from a traumatic PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH injury 3 years ago has been long and challenging. His family needs to purchase a special oxygen treatment Nick Vessicchio, Sally Ann Fallon, Lynette Ely, David T. Boyle, Richard Lucibello, Carmel Ferretti, Bryan Surprenant, Sharon machine with the cost in excess of $20,000, so that Nick Spadacenta, Marie & Charles Zambrano, Marie Sunderland, Helen can be treated at home 3-times a day as opposed to Langello, Annette Brissette, Brian Savo, Gerry Andrea, John Umlauf, having to be transported for his treatments. Alan Poirier, Joseph Benson, Connie Rasimas, Jane Pyka, Harry Clark, Lou DiNola, Peter Pepe, Vincent Perricone, Virginia Klump, Robert Savino, Geraldine Licciardi, Joanne Cretella, Joseph Anyzeski, Alice Tietjen-DeSenti, Faith Gibson, Fran Sofo, Elizabeth Kuen, Deborah Sanning, Paula Ferrara, Patricia Brasile, Joann Mazzucco, Tina Marie Fionia, Elizabeth Nucolo, Joseph Parise, Frank DelGrego, Moira Ferguson, Danielle Joubert, Nelson Eddy, Margaret Lendroth, Katherine Hungerford Picciano, Frances Polaski, Sharon Filion, Pauline Condon, Rose Marie Monaco, Paul Spadacenta, Anna Izzo, Angelo DeMatteo, Carmen & Patricia Riccitelli, Patricia Aulenti, Michael Pascale, Alyce Richmond, Catherine Leach, Mark Schettino, Patty DiMilo, Rose We are conducting 2 raffles, the first with the goal of Rogalski, Elaine Smith, Karen Rescigno, Virginia Pisano, Joan Baisley, $5,000. Please consider purchasing a $10 raffle ticket Deanna Baldassare, Kim Hughes, DJ DiVincenzo, Sgt. Anthony toward this goal for a chance to win some cool prizes Rybaruk, Philip DeMilo & Sally DeMilo, Anna Concelmo, Sally Ann and cash. Corcoran, Paul Castiglione, Anna Marie Nappi, Brian Higney, Rich All money raised from this raffle will go to the Tortora, Andrea Palmucci, Frances Randi, Denise Bailey, Peg Dmytruk, Mary Mack, Joseph Peterson, Judith Robbins, Marion Mahl, Gloria family of Nick Vessicchio. If you prefer to use Venmo or Ranfone, Paula Ruddock, Pamela Willis, Laura Luzzi, Jose Maisonet, PayPal, please contact Joanne Fowler and she will send Anita Della Ventura, Brian Wilson, Maureen Redmond, Pasquale Savo, you the information. Kristianne Argentino, Shirley Perrelli, Marion Schobert, Bill Izzo, Call or text Joanne Fowler at 203-623-0900 or email Andrew & Catherine Criscuolo, Patricia Miles, Joe Coscia, Deborah Verab, Msgr. James Shanley, Barbara Nixon, Frank Camera at [email protected]. Please send prayer requests to [email protected] so that our parishioners and friends can be remembered in our prayers. From the Pen of Fr. M. St. Matthew recounts the story of the Canaanite Reverend Jeremiah N. Murasso, Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D. woman. St. Mark records the same incident but refers to the woman as a Syrophoenician (7:24-30). The St. Matthew’s Jesus and woman is not a Jew; she is a Gentile and as such The Canaanite Woman would have had devotion to the great mother-goddess, Matthew 15:21-28 Ashtoreth who was thought to be the supplier of all good life to plants, animals and people. It was from Jesus’ Promise such a cultural milieu that the Canaanite woman, For the past several weeks, we have been reflecting conscious of her inadequacies and unworthiness would on St. Matthew’s account of Jesus teaching the have approached Jesus with the hope that he would apostles and instructing the crowds in the form of heal her demon-possessed daughter. about the kingdom of heaven. Last weekend, In both accounts, the woman approaches Jesus Matthew recounted the incident of Jesus walking on with a request to heal her daughter. This is a story the water and calming the horrific storm, which about the compassionate and merciful Jesus who terrified the apostles. The story acts as a powerful welcomes and embraces those who approach him with metaphor for men and women of faith and a sincere heart. becomes an invitation to all of us to hold fast to the As we have stated in the past, when a particular message of the , particularly during those times incident in the is recorded in more when it appears that God is absent from our lives. than one gospel account, it does two things: (1) it reinforces the authenticity of the account and (2) it gives us a glimpse of what was important and on the minds of the early Church. It was essential that the community for whom Matthew was writing recognize and understand that both Jews and Gentiles can and must exist together in the same community as believers in the One True God. How appropriate this message is for us in the twenty-first century, in a world in which we continue Although He is never absent from us, too often, to draw lines in the sand in an attempt to isolate those man mistakes His silence with His non-existence. Yet, who are different. He is always present as He has promised. This is a story about a woman’s determined and “I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to stubborn persistence to save her child from continued you. In a short time the world will no longer see me; physical and spiritual torment by seeking not the but you will see me, because I live and you will service of a physician. Rather, she seeks the prayerful live” (John 14:18-19). intervention of a man of God. The Canaanite woman Canaanite Woman believes that Jesus who was somehow connected to This weekend is the twentieth weekend in the God would grant her request and heal her Church’s calendar. We leave the and demon-possessed daughter. The theme of persistent focus upon his strange interaction with a Canaanite and sincere prayer characterizes Matthew‘s description woman. The Canaanites were people who lived in the of the woman’s request for healing. area of Palestine, having been conquered by the The woman’s interaction with Jesus is blunt but respectful, as it is also humble and reverent. She begs and Israelites. Although they occupied the same territory, pleads with Jesus, and is described as being driven in her the Canaanites were considered by the Israelites to be attempt to obtain this special healing from Jesus. The pagan due to the fact that they worshipped idols; thus woman appears to possess an uncanny and rather surprising this would explain Jesus’ initial comments to the confidence that she who is face to face with God would be woman upon hearing her request. granted her request. There is no doubt in the accounts of both Matthew and Mark that the woman’s cry for help is one that is rooted in and driven by her faith in God. This is a story about the transformation of an individual whose faith becomes the means by which her prayer is answered. The story of the Canaanite woman mirrors that of the Samaritan woman (John 4: 5- 42),whereJesusis described as almost toying with the faith and with the emotions of the Samaritan woman who boldly confronts Jesus with an unyielding determination that eventually results in the woman’s ability to see and believe. In her brief journey of faith that she embarked upon with Jesus, her life is transformed. August 16, 2020 Both Matthew and Mark indicate that Jesus, along Why did Jesus respond in such a tone? In other with his apostles went to the region of Tyre: “Then parts of the we hear Jesus speaking of Jesus went from that place and withdraw to the region the need for the Gospel to reach all the ends of the of Tyre and Sidon” (Matthew 15:21). “From that earth. Yet, in this passage he appears to be limiting place he [Jesus] went off to the district of Tyre” (Mark God’s Word to a select few. Actually Jesus’ silence 7:24). followed by his statement with regard to the lost sheep This particular region was located on the of Israel should not be interpreted as disregard for the Mediterranean coast and was considered to be pagan woman’s ethnic background or her plight. Jesus territory. One wonders why Jesus is leading his desires to awaken true faith in the woman’s soul. In apostles through pagan territory when initially he was other words, Jesus begins to do for the Canaanite quite clear in telling them: “Do not go among the woman what he did for the Samaritan woman. He Gentiles, nor to enter the city of the Samaritans; rather gently extends an invitation to embark upon a journey go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew. in faith with him. 10:5-6). While the Canaanite woman appears to be a Mark (7:24) describes Jesus as entering a house, believer who represents a tradition that worshipped perhaps for rest and solitude, or perhaps to escape the gods and goddesses, she must have approached Jesus Pharisees. Matthew makes no mention of a house. with some superstition. Perhaps she thinks that the Mark also describes the Canaanite woman as mere utterance of the words would result in an approaching Jesus and paying him homage by kneeling immediate answer to her request. before him. This is Mark’s way of indicating that the woman realized that Jesus had a divine origin, and represented God in human form. Matthew also describes the woman as crying out to Jesus as Lord and refers to him as Son of David (v.22). Addressing Jesus as Lord indicates a sign of respect for the divine. This was Matthew’s way of reminding the Jews for whom he is writing that this pagan woman recognized what many of the Jews refused to admit: that Jesus was God. Referring to him as Son of David acknowledges Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. The woman had some obvious understanding of who Jesus truly was. How often do we do the same? How often does superstition drive us to utter words of petition to Jesus without truly hearing or believing what we say? How often do our prayers when uttered without true feeling or certitude actually lack authenticity? How often do we presume that without any merit on our part, God should grant our request? The woman persists. Matthew tells us that she pays Jesus homage. How surprised she must have been at his response to her. How disappointed she must have Jesus is surprisingly and uncustomarily slow to been not to receive an answer as quickly as she wanted acknowledge the woman and her petition as praiseworthy, or thought she needed. Jesus finally responds, but not as it is appears to fall on deaf ears. Matthew tells us that as the woman intended. Jesus says, it is not right to “Jesus did not say a word in answer to her” (v.23). take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs Actually, it was the apostles who responded not to the (v.26). Food here refers to the Word of God. The woman but to Jesus as they urged him to give her what she children represent Israel and the Jews, the children of wanted and then to send her on her way: the kingdom (Mt.8:2). The dogs symbolize the Gentiles “But he [Jesus] did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came to him and said, ‘Send her away, for she who were thought of by the Jews as being steeped in keeps calling out after us’” (Matthew 15:23). impurity; thus similar to the wild dogs that roamed Jesus’ response to the woman’s request initially their streets and who were considered unclean appears heartless and indifferent as he indicates that his scavengers. mission is not to pagans. I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (v.24). Jesus’ Humor FR. MURASSO’S MESSAGE BOARD SOMETHING TO PONDER

Jesus, however, is not calling the Canaanite woman a dog. Actually, Jesus uses the Greek word kynarion, which refers to a puppy or a house pet. Such an animal ******* ******* ******* is part of the family and often sits under the table during meals waiting patiently for someone to throw a scrap from the dinner plate. The woman picks up on Jesus’ use of kynarion and quickly matches his wit by saying, “please, Lord, for even the dogs (house pets) eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters (v. 27). Jesus interprets the woman’s persistence as a sign of true faith. How pleased he appears to be. Matthew tells us that Jesus says to the woman: “O Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done to you as you wish. Matthew continues by saying: “And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour (v.28). This story of the Canaanite woman’s persistence paid off precisely because of her faith. She did not give up, even when she was met with Jesus’ silence. And when met with silence, she did not become Mother Teresa Lessons to Life by discouraged or angry. Rather, she persisted in her prayerful request. “Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your The Canaanite woman becomes a model for each own house...let no one ever come to you without leaving of us with regard to our persistence in prayer. So often, better and happier. Be the living expression of God's when we pray, we expect Jesus to do it all. If our kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, prayers are not answered as quickly as we think that kindness in your smile." she should be answered, we often give up and become *************** despondent, or we stop praying. Some may even stop "Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is a beauty, attending Mass. admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, The story of the Canaanite woman should be a meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life constant reminder that Jesus hears all our prayers and is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a in hearing always responds, although not necessarily in tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is the way that we might like him to. Even in silence luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it!" there is a response. In some cases the silence means: ***************** “No!” In other cases his silence means: “Not Now!” “We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the JNM only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love." From the Pen of Fr. M. Reverend Jeremiah N. Murasso, Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D.

The Parables of the Buried Treasure & The Merchant’s Search for : Another Look

Matthew 13:44-46

The experience of the kingdom of heaven is not reserved for us as a reward at the end of our lives. Rather, it must be discovered, experienced and nurtured while we live in the world. This is accomplished by living out the message of the . Four weekends ago, on the Seventeenth Sunday in ordinary It is only by living out of the Good News and in our daily striving time, the Church listened attentively to yet, more parables of to emulate Jesus in our interactions with one another that the Jesus. They are worthy of a second look. kingdom of heaven and all that it has to offer will be given to each of us. Not to experience or to recognize the kingdom of heaven in of the Buried Treasure the here and now means that there is a flaw in the way we are living our lives. In other words, man’s inability to experience His presence indicates the superficiality with which post-modern men and women live their lives. Unless we conform our lives to Jesus in the present, we will never experience the kingdom in the afterlife. God’s kingdom is in our midst and is present to us for our discovery. When we come upon it; when we experience it we will in fact know it because it will change our lives. But first, each of us must re-conform our life and our choices to the will of God.

The Merchant’s Search for Fine Pearls

“The kingdom of heaven is like buried treasure hidden in a field, which a man finds; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field” (13:44). The field in the parable symbolizes the world. The message is quite simple: God’s kingdom has come and is present in our midst. The parable signifies the hidden nature of God’s presence in the world. The kingdom is hidden to the world not because God is playing games with mankind. Rather, God’s kingdom remains hidden due to the fact that man has turned his back on God; thus “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who sets out in he does not know how to find his way back to God. We live in a search of fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes society where men and women who claim to believe in God and sells everything he owns and buys it” (13:45-46). continue to live their lives in the absence of God. Jesus tells his Unlike the man in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure who inquisitive disciples that “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven happened to discover the treasure that was buried in the earth, in are hidden from the wise and revealed to the single hearted. I talk the Parable of the , the man is a merchant, a businessman to them in parables because [many] look without seeing and who actually sets out in search of fine pearls. In his pursuit, he listen without hearing or understanding” (:11-12). finds the perfect pearl. He knows it when he finds it; thus had no In other words, the kingdom of heaven is experienced by doubts about its value. The pearl was perfectly rounded and those who strive to know Jesus by embracing his Word; thus are brilliant. able to discover its hidden nature and powerful presence. In Jesus’ day, when a farmer or landowner purchased a piece of property, he also took possession of that which lay beneath the terrain. The Jews who listened to Jesus would have understood this. Not only did the man in the parable discover the treasure, when he took possession of the land, he also took legal possession of the treasure and made it his own. To embrace God’s Word is to take possession of it. The man or woman of faith who permits God’s Word to become a part of his/her daily life strives to live by the Word, demonstrating the effects of the Word in and through the choices that he/she makes Like the chap who comes upon the buried treasure, the as a of Jesus. The kingdom of heaven is revealed to just merchant in this parable also sells everything that he owns in such individuals. order to purchase the gem, which he does at a great price. We are told that it was the perfect pearl. The Birth of the Pearl Of all the gems, the pearl is the only precious stone that is the product of a living organism such as: an oyster, a clam or mussels and as such is rare and expensive. In Jesus’ day, pearls had a value that was higher than that of gold or silver. Pearls are rated and valued by their roundness, their color and of course, by their luster and flawless brilliance. In the production of a pearl, a foreign particle becomes inserted in the oyster, becoming lodged between the two shells. The uninvited intruder causes great pain to the living organism, resulting in the secretion of a milky-like, calcium substance that surrounds the foreign particle. Over a long period of time, the precious pearl is produced.

The Church & Personal Suffering Jesus says, The pearl in the Parable of the Pearl becomes a great “Come to me, all you who labor and who are burdened, and metaphor for the birth of the Church. For it is from the bloody I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon your shoulders, and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find execution of Jesus at Calvary that the Christian Church comes into existence. It is from the pain that Jesus suffered that the rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28). Church is born. The pearl also becomes a powerful metaphor for personal Matthew 14:22-33 suffering, which is endured by men and women of faith. In many Jesus Walks on Water ways, the pain that the oyster endures, only to produce something On this nineteenth Sunday in ordinary time, we listen to St. as precious as the pearl parallels man’s journey through the dark Matthew as he recalls the episode in which Jesus, after feeding night of the soul. The story of the pearl is a reminder that no the multitude directs his apostles to get into a boat and make their personal suffering is ever in vain because from the carrying of a way to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. During the fourth heavy cross there emerges something precious; something unique watch, which was about 6:00 am, in the midst of a violent storm, and personal, from which man gains greater insight into the hand we are told that the small boat carrying the apostles was being of God at work. For the man with no faith, or who lacks belief in tossed about; thus causing the twelve to become terrified for their a merciful God, for him, unfortunately, suffering and pain appears lives. In the midst of all of this high drama, Jesus appears walking in his view to be nothing more than a dead end. on the water.

The Kingdom of Heaven The kingdom of heaven possesses great value. We see this scene played-out over and over again in the New Testament throughout the ministry of Jesus. Those who approach Jesus for healing are made whole, not only in the curing of their physical disease, but more so in the healing of their spiritual dis-ease; a fusing of their personal brokenness at the very core of their being: at the level of soul. A look at the hundreds of saints and martyrs throughout the history of salvation tells an incredible story of faith and sacrifice in man’s desire to praise and worship God. We see the multitude of men and women who gave their lives and shed their blood because they refused to relinquish their belief in Jesus . This is testimony to just how precious the experience of the kingdom of God has been is in the lives of those who were willing to die, rather than to relinquish their hold on God, in the same The image of someone or something walking on water intensified their fears because they mistook Jesus for a ghost. way that the merchant refuses to relinquish his hold on the perfect Jesus assures them that he is not a ghost, only to have Peter pearl. When men and women of faith, even in the twenty-first request that Jesus permit him (Peter) to walk toward him on the century strive to discover the kingdom of heaven in the here and water in an attempt to prove that it really is Jesus. Peter makes his way out of the boat, but as he proceeds to walk across the water, now, they know it because lives are changed and life itself is the angry waters cause him to have doubts; thus he begins to sink restored of its personal meaning, enabling man to re-discover a renewed purpose for living and doing and being. into the depths of the sea. The story provides us with yet, another metaphor for The message of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the weathering the storms that come our way throughout our journey Merchant’s Search for Fine Pearls are powerful metaphors for through this world as disciples of Jesus. We too, are often being discovering the Hidden God within each of us and in allowing the tossed upside down by the problem of the moment or the disaster experience to be a source of hope in a world filled with empty of the day, the result of which produces anxiety and disorder in promises and false assertions for acquiring true happiness. our hearts and at the depths of our souls. We too, are tossed Post-modern men and women of faith who have been about by fear of sickness, the loss of a loved one due to death or enlightened by the Word of God, and who have had a spiritual estrangement, the loss of employment, the fear of being alone, experience: a metanoia due to a change of heart, or even those etc. who have been transformed through the listening of the Word of In the middle of all these fears and disturbances in our lives, God, or to a mere homily often hunger for more; thus find Jesus silently enters into our conscious reality to assure and to themselves going to great lengths for finding and nurturing calm us and to say to us that we need not fear. How often, ongoing nourishment of the soul. however, do we like the apostles doubt the healing presence of Jesus? How often do we like Peter try to test Jesus in proving his love for us? August 22 & 23, 2020 4:00pm OLOP Vigil: Fr. Borino 4:00pm SB Vigil: Fr. Murasso 4:30pm SVDP Vigil: Fr. Patrick 8:00am SB: Fr. Meehan 8:00am OLOP: Msgr. Walker 9:00am SVDP: Fr. Patrick 10:00 SB: Fr. Murasso 10:00am OLOP: Msgr. Walker 11:00am SVDP: Fr. Patrick 11:45am OLOP: Fr. Murasso 6:00pm SB: Fr. Meehan ********* ******** ******* August 29 & 30, 2020 4:00pm OLOP Vigil: Fr. Murasso 4:00pm SB Vigil: Fr. Partick What is the meaning for you of Matthew 14:22? Can you 4:30pm SVDP Vigil: Fr. Borino find yourself in the boat above? Look carefully! What does this 8:00am OLOP: Fr. Patrick miracle story say to you about Discipleship, trust, faith, the role 8:00am SB: Fr. Meehan that Jesus plays in your life? JNM 9:00am SVDP: Msgr. Walker 10:00 SB: Fr. Murasso 10:00am OLOP: Fr. Patrick BIBLE CAMP IS AT HOME 11:00am SVDP: Msgr. Walker AND ONLINE! 11:45am OLOP: Fr. Murasso 6:00pm SB: Fr. Meehan Visit the Bible Camp page, under the Religious Education tab on our website:

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Contact Sally Mucka to register at [email protected] or at 203-469-0764 ext. 8

August food collection for the East Haven Food Pantry for the month of August: pancake mix and oatmeal.

FR. MURASSO’S MESSAGE BOARD

Every Monday, immediately following morning Mass at Our Lady of Pompeii, there is one hour of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. This Holy Hour is also Tickets are available now, call or text Sal DeCola or streamed for those who cannot join us. Go to https:// Ellen Looney at the above numbers. www.stpioofpietrelcinaeh.com