Church of St. Theresa A Caring Community Reaching Out To One Another in Christ

2855 St. Theresa Avenue, Bronx, New York 

SUNDAY MASSES ST. THERESA’S FAMILY IS OUR FAMILY Saturday at 5:00pm,  Sunday at 7:30am, 9:00am(Italian),  “ST. THERESA STRONG” 10:30am(Family Mass) 12:15pm ,  1:30PM(Spanish) & 5:00pm  WEEKDAY MASSES Monday thru Saturday 8:00am & 9:00am  DEVOTIONS Miraculous Medal & St. Theresa  Novenas after Monday morning Masses St. Anthony Novena after Tuesday  morning Masses.  Thursday 12 Noon Mass  & Eucharistic Adoration  Exposition & Benediction of the  Blessed Sacrament First Friday 6:00PM  

CONFESSION Saturdays from 4:00pm to 5:00pm  and by appointment  BAPTISMS Baptisms take place most Sundays  after the 1:30pm Mass. We ask parents to attend the Baptism  preparation meeting. Register at the  Rectory for the meeting.  The date of the Baptism will be discussed at the Baptism meeting.  MARRIAGES Call the Rectory at least six months in advance of the wedding date to make an  appointment with parish clergy. 

Rev. Msgr. Thomas Derivan, Pastor

Rev. Joseph Ligory, Parochial Vicar Mrs. Josephine Fanelli, Principal Rev. Edmundo Gomez, Retired,  Mrs. Marie McCarrick, Dir. of Religious Education Rev. Robert Imbelli, Weekend Associate Nadia Papayani, Dir. of Music 

RECTORY: 7188921900/1901 WEBSITE: www.sttheresachurchbronx.org SCHOOL: 7187923688 FAX: 7188921146 EMAIL: [email protected]  RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: 7187928434 CHURCH OF ST. THERESA, BRONX FROM THE DESK OF FATHER DERIVAN  In our gospel today, the apostles ask the Lord, “Increase our faith.” I suppose that request has been made by every Christian ever since the days of the apostles. We love our faith. We hold on to our faith. But we know that we need help to increase our faith. We are never really there in matters of faith; we are always just beginning, just starting out on faith’s road, trying to be people of deeper faith on our way to eternal life. How blessed we are to have God’s grace to help our faith grow. We have the Holy Eucharist. We have the Bible, God’s Word. We have the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have prayer, which helps us talk with God our Father. But let me mention today one other great help that we have in increasing our faith, something that helps our faith to grow, something that we should think about especially today, which is the eve of a special Feast day. And that something, that special help to our faith, is the Rosary. Tomorrow is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and this month of October is the month of the Rosary. Let us think of the place of the Rosary in our lives. A number of years ago St. John Paul II gave us a great gift. He issued his Apostolic Letter entitled The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is one of the most beautiful testimonies to the power of the Rosary ever written. Pope John Paul emphasized that the Rosary had sustained him throughout his life. He mentioned how he turned to the Rosary especially in the first year when he was  elected Pope in 1978. And as he approached his golden years, he wanted to make the Rosary once again an integral part of every Catholic’s life. In fact, he proclaimed a special Year of the Rosary and he gave us the new set of mysteries, the Mysteries of Light, to be added to the other Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries. But most importantly the Pope emphasized how important the Rosary is: “The Rosary is destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness.” “The Rosary,” he says, “has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety.” The Rosary helps us to be better Christians: “To pray the Rosary is to hand over our burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and His Mother.” And the Pope says this beautiful sentence, “To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Jesus.” The Holy Father uses a beautiful term for the RosaryNhe calls the Rosary the “school of Mary” for us Christians. “Mary constantly sets before us the mysteries of her Son so that contemplating these mysteries will release all their saving power.” That was the Pope’s great pointNthe Rosary is powerful. To connect it with the words of today’s gospel, it is a powerful help to increase our faith, if  Catholics only turn to it. The Pope mentioned four reasons why he wrote this letter about the Rosary: First, he wanted to counter a lessening of emphasis on the Rosary’s importanceNhe wanted to put the Rosary back into the hands and the heart of every Catholic. Second, he wanted people to realize the Rosary will help them grow in prayer and in contemplationNthat Mary herself will help us pray better and increase our faith. Third, the late Pope wanted to carry out the message of Our Lady of Fatima and in her other  appearances where she asked all Catholics to pray for the Rosary for peace. We certainly need that prayer for peace today. Finally make the Rosary our special family prayer. What a wonderful suggestion to all parents, to say the Rosary as a family. What a blessing for parents and children alike! “Lord, increase our faith.” The apostles asked. The Rosary is indeed a powerful help in increasing our faith. It is, as the late Pope said so beautifully, “ the true doorway to the depths of the Heart of Christ.” During this Month of the Rosary, may we all rediscover the Rosary’s power. May we let the Rosary be our powerful help. May the Rosary be our bond of connection to Jesus and Mary, a golden cord of faith that we can hold on to, one that will lead us step by step to the glory of eternal life.   Father Thomas B. Derivan

 SOCIAL SERVICES & SENIOR ASSISTANCE DAYS   OPEN HOUSE   Preston High School   Open House  Sunday, November 3, 2019  11:00AM  12:00PM  For more information call 7188639134/Ext 131    St. Barnabas High School At Councilman Gjonaj’s District Office   Open House Every Wednesday * 1478 Williamsbridge Road,  Bronx, NY 10461 425 East 240 Street  Bronx, NY 10470    October 24, 2019 6:00PM to 8:00PM or    October 26, 2019 12:00PM to 2:30PM Offering services in the following areas:      For more information call 718 325 8800 or Medicaid Renewal www.stbarnabashigh.com  Medicaid with Pooled Income Trust  Medicare Savings Program  SCRIE/DRIE Applications  Eviction Prevention  Senior Benefits  NYCHA Annual Renewals   SAVE THE DATENNOVEMBER 1, 2019 To schedule an appointment, contact  LADIES NIGHT FALL BINGO Councilman Mark Gjonaj’s ST. THERESA SCHOOL GYM District Office at 7819311721.  STARTS AT 7:00PM TWENTYSEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME DEVOTION TO OUR BLESSED MOTHER:  October is one of the special months of devotions to Our Blessed Mother Mary. During this month in our bulletin we are presenting for your prayerful consideration accounts of several apparitions of Our Lady as approved by the Church.  Today we present:  The Apparitions at LaSaletteNSeptember 1846       Melanie and Maximin, the two children privileged to see Mary in 1846, came from the town of Corps near , in a poor part of southeastern . Maximin Giraud was eleven years old at the time and Melanie Calvat fourteen. On Saturday 19th September, they were looking after their employer’s cattle, high up on the pasture above La Salette, a village near Corps, when they saw a  wonderful apparition of Mary. A globe of light opened to reveal a resplendent woman seated on a stone with her head in her hands. The children later described her as very tall and beautiful, wearing a long, white, pearl studded, sleeved dress, and a white shawl, with some sort of tiara or crown on her head. Hanging from her neck was a large crucifix adorned with a small hammer and pincers, with a brilliantly shining figure of Christ on it. The whole effect was as if she was made of light. Speaking tearfully she told them that unless people repented she would be forced to let go the arm of her Son because it had become so heavy. Mary went on to complain that she had to pray ceaselessly to her Son for them, but the people still worked on Sundays and  blasphemed. She also spoke of coming punishments for these sins, including crop blights and famine. She confided a secret to each of the children, which they were not to divulge, although eventually these secrets were made known to Pope Pius IX. Finally she asked the children to spread her message before disappearing. When the children returned home they told their story, an account of which was taken down in writing the next day. They faced much opposition in making known Mary’s message, but they maintained their story with resolution. The local Bishop too faced quite a degree of opposition in investigating the apparition, and it was only after four years, and having set up two commissions of enquiry, that Mgr Bruillard, as bishop of Grenoble, approved of  devotion to Our Lady of Salette, in the following terms: “We declare that the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to two shepherds, on September 19, 1846, on a mountain in the Alps in the  parish of La Salette, bears in itself all the marks of truth and that the faithful are justified in believing without question in its truth. And so, to mark our lively gratitude to God and the glorious Virgin Mary, we authorize the cult of .”

  OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH  OCTOBER 6   ST. BRUNO   Patron of Those Possessed      St. Bruno, the founder of the illustrious Carthusian Order, was  born at Cologne about the year 1033, and educated under the As we observe the month of October, we offer our special  eyes of St. Cunibert, Bishop of that city. He became Canon of prayers for the preservation of unborn children. the Cathedral, but afterward went to France to continue his   studies at Rheims. He was ordained about 1056 and taught  PRAYER FOR UNBORN LIFE Theology at Rheims for twenty years. His abilities so impressed  Gervasisus, Archbishop of that city, that he shared with him the Heavenly Father, in Your love for us, protect against all evil, government of his diocese. those helpless little ones to whom You have given the gift of After spending six years in this retreat, St. Bruno was  life. Touch with pity the hearts of those women pregnant in our summoned to by Pope Urban II, who had been his pupil at world today. Help them to se that the child they carry is made in Rheims. He spent some time at Rome, but having succeeded in Your imageNas well as theirsNmade for eternal life. Dispel obtaining leave to retire, he went to Calabria, where he founded their fear and give them true hearts to love their babies and give a second, monastery. Here the Saint spent the remainder of his them birth and all the needed care that a mother alone can give. life. He died at the Monastery of La Torre on October 6, 1101. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, who  lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one PRAYER God, You called St. Bruno to serve You in  God, forever and ever, Amen. solitude. Through his intercession, grant that amidst the many  affairs of this world we may always have time for You. Amen. Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, pray for us.   OCOTBER 6, 2019 TERENCE COOKE      “From the day of his ordination, a priest can never forget that he has been called by God himself. The priest is called to be…  … a servant, … a victim, … a brother, … a listener, … a friend.” Terence Cardinal Cooke  Born on March 1, 1921 in , Terence Cooke was drawn early to the priesthood and entered a minor seminary of the  Archdiocese of New York in 1934. After graduation from there, he moved on to St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, also known as  Dunwoodie. Cooke was ordained a priest by Cardinal Spellman and his first assignment was chaplain for St. Agatha’s Home for Children, but soon after he was assigned to pursue additional studies at the Catholic University of America, in Washington D.C. There he received a  Master of Social Work degree, which would greatly benefit him later on in his priestly ministry. When he returned to New York, Cooke served at St. Athanasius church in and taught at . Then in 1954 he was appointed Executive Director of the Youth Division of Catholic Charities. His dedicated work there caught the interest of Cardinal Spellman, who then brought him in to help form priestly vocations at Dunwoodie until 1956. “Without prayer, our faith is weakened, our love grows cold, our hope becomes uncertain,” he said. In the tumultuous year of 1968, Cooke was appointed Archbishop of New York as Spellman’s successor, and his installation took place on April 4  the same day Martin Luther King was assassinated and unrest broke out in major cities throughout the nation. That evening Cooke walked the streets of , talking with crowds and individuals and pleading for peace. His first official function after his installation as Archbishop was his attendance at King’s funeral, in Atlanta. Cardinal Cooke was known as an approachable figure, gentle in demeanor, Irish and affable, but firm when needed. The New York Times reports that shortly after his installation he said, “Here I am with this sudden, awesome responsibility … only too aware of my weaknesses, struggling with my faults.” His conciliatory manner was useful, especially as he was entrusted with the weighty of task leading the New York Archdiocese in the wake of Vatican II. Besides helping the Archdiocese implement the reforms of the Council, Cooke made great strides working for the people of the city. He founded nine nursing homes, including Kateri Residence and the Jeanne Jugan Residence, and created an Archdiocesan Housing Development Program. He advocated for the poor and suffering of New York. He was instrumental in bringing Mother Teresa’s  into New York, and founded , the first formal intrachurch program directed toward the samesexattracted. He also founded Birthright as a way to bring alternatives to women considering abortion. The InnerCity  Scholarship Fund and Catholic New York, the Archdiocesan newspaper, were formed under his watch. Cardinal Cooke not only spoke out (and spoke out strongly) against abortion, but on behalf of all human life. In his final letter for Respect Life Month, written at a time when all New Yorkers finally knew that he himself was dying, the words he chose were  especially moving and dramatic: “The gift of life, God’s special gift, is no less beautiful when it is accompanied by illness or weakness, hunger or poverty, mental or physical handicaps, loneliness or old age. Indeed, at these times, human life gains extra splendor as it  requires our special care, concern and reverence.” His entire life can be summed up in his episcopal motto, Fiat Voluntas Tua (“Thy Will Be Done”). Cooke worked strenuously to be faithful to the Church and to accomplish God’s will in whatever activity he was engaged in. Cooke died in his residence in 1983 after a long battle with leukemia; he had served as Archbishop for 15 years, and he is remembered fondly in New York. His life has been an inspiration to many who had considered him a “living saint” in his lifetime, and in 1992 Cooke was recognized as a “Servant of God” by St. John Paul II.  

Healing After Abortion: Do you know someone who is  PRAYER FOR THE  carrying the grief of a past abortion? There is always hope. The CANONIZATION OF CARDINAL COOKE pain and sorrow of abortion does not need to endure for a   lifetime. A “Day of Prayer and Healing” offers the opportunity Almighty and eternal Father, we thank you for the exemplary to experience the love and mercy of God and to respond to His life and gentle kindness of your son and bishop, Terence Cooke. invitation to begin the journey of healing the wound of abortion. If it be your gracious will, grant that the virtues of you servant Upcoming dates in the NYC area are: October, 19th (Spanish), may be recognized and provide a lasting example for your  November, 9th, and more dates in 2020. For more dates,  people. We pray through Our Lord Jesus Christ you Son who locations, and confidential registration, or just to talk to a Sister, lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever please call the Sisters of Life at 8665750075 (toll free) or and ever. Amen. reach us by email at [email protected]. MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS FOR THIS SUNDAY  Today, the Reading from the Gospel begins like this: “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” It seems that we can all make this our invocation. Let us too, like the Apostles, say to the Lord: “Increase our faith!” Yes, Lord, our faith is small, our faith is weak and fragile, but we offer it to you as it is, so that you can make it grow. Would it be good to say this all together? Shall we repeat together: “Lord, increase our faith?” Shall we? Everyone: Lord, increase our faith! Lord, increase our faith! Lord, increase our faith! Make it grow! And how does the Lord answer us? He responds: “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.” A mustard seed is tiny, yet Jesus says that faith this size, small but true and sincere, suffices to achieve what is humanly impossible, unthinkable. And it is true! We all know people who are simple, humble, but whose faith is so strong it can move mountains! Let us think, for example, of some mothers and fathers who face very difficult  situations; or of some sick, and even gravely ill, people who transmit serenity to those who come to visit them. These people, because of their faith, do not boast about what they do, rather, as Jesus asks in the Gospel, they say: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” How many people among us have such strong, humble faith, and what good they do! In this month of October, that is dedicated in a special way to missions, let us bear in mind the many missionaries, men and women, who in order to bring the Gospel have overcome obstacles of every kind, they have truly given their lives. As St. Paul says to Timothy: “Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the gospel in the power of God.” This, however, is for us all; each one of us in our own daily lives can testify to Christ by the power of God, the power of faith.  The faith we have is miniscule, but it is strong! With this power to testify to Jesus Christ, to be Christians with our life, with our  witness!  And how do we draw from this strength? We draw it from God in prayer. Prayer is the breath of faith: in a relationship of trust, in a relationship of love, dialogue cannot be left out, and prayer is the dialogue of the soul with God. October is also the month of the  Rosary. Let us join spiritually together in this act of trust in our Mother, and let us receive from her hands the crown of the Rosary.  The Rosary is a school of prayer, the Rosary is a school of faith!   October 6, 2013

THE PRESENCE OF GOD      Realizing God’s presence is not a matter of being very emotionally aware. Neither do we need highlysensitive spiritual antenna or a vivid imagination to sense the reality of God’s omnipresence, and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Rather it is more often a question of intelligence and will more than a feeling. By faith we know God is everywhere, that the Lord of Creation enjoys His Creatures and “delights to be with the children of men.” The Scripture assures us that the Kingdom of God is within us, and that “in Him we live and move and have our being” our very existence. One of the more familiar Bible passages that illustrates God’s omnipresence in our lives is in Isaiah. “When you pass through waters, I will be with you; through rivers, you shall not be swept away. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor will flames consume you.” (Is. 43:2). The entire chapter depicts a Lord who “calls us by name.” Do we remember that? Do we look for God in those times or do we curse God during difficulty? Unlike Anthony and so many other saints, we don’t often see that burdens are  sometimes blessings in disguise. So, how do we open our eyes to our Lord? We stop walking through life looking at “things.”  Instead, we make ourselves aware that everything comes from God  that dolphin off the pier, the beautiful poem in that favorite book, and even the uncut grass of our neighbor. All of this and more is given to us by God. If we dedicate our lives to the Lord, and listen and follow His Will, what a glorious and enriched mortal life we will have. And with this gratitude and joy we will spread His Word to those who need it most. God is always close to each of us, particularly in times of trial and temptation. Though we so seldom realize His presence, we acknowledge it whenever we are recollected, and we can turn to Him humbly and prayerfully for comfort.   (From Franciscan Mission Associates)  

Fall Stewardship Day BronxPelham Bay Forest Restoration on Saturday, October 26th       From 9:00AM to 12:00PM Meeting location: Rodman’s Neck South Parking Lot (Next to Baseball Fields)  Volunteers will learn how to install deer guards to protect young trees in Pelham Bay Park! Please contact Rebecca Gonzalez (Outreach Coordinator/Forestry, Horticulture & Natural Resources) 7183925232 ext. 121 THE SANCTUARY LAMP BURNING NEAR THE SATURDAY OCTOBER 5, 2019 TABERNACLE THIS WEEK IS IN LOVING MEMORY 5:00PM Fay, Anthony, Tony & Jeanie Landi   OF SUNDAY OCTOBER 6, 2019 ESTELLE & HARRY WALLACH 7:30AM Keith Hubner    LOVE, YOUR DAUGHTER, STEPHANIE 9:00AM Marie Sansalone    10:30AM Sal Zottola (1st Anniversary in Heaven)  12:15PM Mary Jean Costanza     PETITION BOOK 1:30PM Parishioners of St. Theresa  Have you noticed our Petition Book in the vestibule of the 5:00PM Steven Marescie in Thanksgiving (Living) Church? Every Saturday before the 5:00PM Mass, the   petitions entered into the book for that week are brought up to MONDAY OCTOBER 7, 2019 the altar of the Blessed Mother, where they remain for all the 8:00AM Angelo & Abbondanza DelGrosso  weekend Masses. Please pray for these intentions. 9:00AM Patricia Jackson    TUESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2019 8:00AM Debra DeCamillis   Please continue to share the peace and joy of our faith with 9:00AM Oliva Gomez others . There are so many that are in the need of Jesus. Can WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9, 2019 you be for all of us a living sign to all our parishioners and 8:00AM Cardone Family   neighbors, and tell them for us “we need them and love them”. 9:00AM Lidio DiCristofaro  Someone may hear and accept the invitation from you and THURSDAY OCTOBER 10, 2019 return home to worship the Lord with us. So please invite a 8:00AM John Ruggiero   friend, relative, or neighbor to come with you to Church next 9:00AM Giovanni Reda     Sunday. God will do the rest. Let us share our treasure of faith 12NOON Nancy Reitano      with others. FRIDAY OCTOBER 11, 2019 8:00AM Keith Hubner    9:00AM Nicola Stancati    SATURDAY OCTOBER 12, 2019 CONFESSIONS are heard every Saturday from 4:00PM to 8:00AM Vincent Cartelli   5:00PM or by appointment in the Rectory. 9:00AM Helen Santiago Olivo    5:00PM James Lane    SUNDAY OCTOBER 13, 2019  ARE YOU A REGISTERED PARISHIONER     7:30AM Daniel & Madeline Donovan       All new or unregistered parishioners are asked to please register 9:00AM Luigi Triscari by phone or in person at the Rectory or fill out the information 10:30AM Eileen Savino     below. Many items of importance will be mailed home in the 12:15PM Sal Greco    course of the year. 1:30PM Parishioners of St. Theresa         5:00PM Florence Mohan     NAME______   ADDRESS______   PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH: PHONE#______ Phyllis Amitrano, Maryann Cale Bannan, Kenny Brisco,     Nancy Cardone, Elaine Reiss Cina, Joseph Cina, Phyllis Caruso,  CELL#______ Pasqua Del Prete, Marie DiPolo, Thomas Egan, Frank Ferrara,  Rita Ferrara, Daley Gribbon, Ita Griffin, Sean Howell,   William Keenan, Sal Lanza, Frank Maiorana,  EMAIL______ Maryann Maiorana, Diane Martino, Joe Martino,     Theresa Martino, Patrick & Jimmy McCoy, Isabelle O’Brien,  Marie Petillo, Joseph Pisano, Marie Russillo, Camille Siciliano, PLEASE RETURN TO THE RECTORY OFFICE. Mario Simeone, Toni Spahr, Florence Valentine,  Dean Valentine, Nicholas Vasti, Frank Vertullo, Irene Vesely.