St. John the Baptist R. C. Church

895 Piermont Avenue, Piermont, New York 10968

www.stjohnspiermont.org [email protected] 845-359-0078

April 24, 2016, Fifth Sunday of Easter

Rev. Tom Kunnel, C.O. MASSES Administrator Saturday: 5:00 PM [email protected] Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM

1:00 PM (Spanish) Deacon John Cunningham Weekdays: 8:00 AM Deacon Robert Pang Saturday: 9:00 AM

Holy Days: As Announced Kathleen Dunn Religious Education Director Rectory Mon – Fri 10:15 AM – 4:00 PM May Pang Sat 10 AM – 12 Noon (Spanish) Parish Admin: [email protected]

Dear Parish Family,

In the Gospel for this Fifth Sunday of Easter Jesus gives us a new commandment. “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you so Sat 4/23 5:00 PM Bernard & Elizabeth Ross you also should love one another.” This new commandment is by Armstrong Family quite different from the old commandment. The old law com- 8:00 AM Margaret Doherty manded us to love our neighbor as we love our self. In Leviticus by Doherty & Moore Family it refers to other Israelites only; here it refers to other Christians, Sun 4/24 10:30 AM Daniel O'Sullivan in a similarly restricted sense (19:34f). The new commandment by O'Sullivan Family bids us to love our neighbor as Jesus has loved us. How did Je- Mon 4/25 8:00 AM Msgr. Robert Ford sus love us? “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, by Friday Renew Group coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he Tue 4/26 8:00 AM Fr. Ravi Dasari humbled himself becoming obedient to death, even death on a By Catherine O'Brien cross.” (Phil.2:7-8) This is the kenosis (self-emptying) of the Incarnation and the Wed 4/27 8:00 AM Raymond Galante by Helen, Jean, Angie, Almeda, Paschal Mystery: love fulfills itself by emptying itself. This is Luz the new math of Christianity: you add by subtracting and multi- ply by dividing. “Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but Thu 4/28 8:00 AM Blanca Guillermo whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” This amazing by Luis Narvaez paradox of Christianity is one of the few texts found in all four Fri 4/29 8:00 AM John Miraglia (healing) Gospels. (Matt. 10:39; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; John 12:25) by Outreach This is the gist of the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, 9:00 AM Msgr. Robert Ford who left all to follow Jesus. “Lord, grant that I may not so much by Bark Family Sat 4/30 seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to under- 5:00 PM Glenn Messner stand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; by Mildred Oslica and it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying 8:00:00 Lois Holmes that we are born to eternal life". AM by Kevin & Elizabeth Fagan Sun 5/1 Isn’t it strange that we can say this prayer so often and sing it so 10:30 AM Charles Teague beautifully and never get the point? We foolishly think that we by James & Bridget Teague fulfill ourselves by self-gratification and self-indulgence, by receiving and possessing. The whole cultural impetus is to possess more. We think that if we empty ourselves we will be vulnera- ble. So like the rich fool in the Gospel we spend our time and energy and our lives feathering this little nest here as if it will go Please remember in your prayers the Sick and/or on forever heedless of our Lord’s warning, “You fool, this night Homebound of our Parish Family. Theresa Veen, your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have pre- John Miraglia, Bill Stein, Ginny Tercer, Marcelo Giu- pared, to whom will they belong?” (Luke 12:20) liante, Elizabeth Flynn (Msgr Mulligan’s cousin), On the other hand it is not so strange that we don’t get the point Caroline Kelly (M.Oslica’s niece), Nick Bruni, Mary & when we realize that we live in a consumer society where buy- Joseph Iorio (Lee Garvey’s Parents), Isabelle Fen- ing and consuming, receiving and possessing is held to be the ton. Tom Lynch, Antoinette Naglieri, Catherine standard of success and value and is beamed at us constantly Wright. through the media. It is not easy to be contra-cultural. So we buy As a Parish Family, let us remember in our prayers things that we do not need with money we do not have to im- all our beloved departed members of our Parish press people we do not like. We go against the great spiritual Community, Anne Di Francesca, Bo Di Francesca, principle of, "Fill your mind with all that is good ..." Catherine Lesica, (mother of Carol Conklin-Spillane). This new commandment reminds us that love is not cheap; it Eileen Keane, Msgr Robert Ford, Lois Holmes, costs to be a lover. The language of love is sacrifice. Never has Raquel Roseta, Frederic Schettig, Peggy McCann, this language of love been spoken so convincingly and as effica- mother of Cathy McCartin ciously as our Lord spoke it from the cross on Calvary. The cru- cifix with the wounded heart will ever be the symbol and the PLEASE ADVISE THE RECTORY (359-0078) WHENEV- ER A PARISHIONER BECOMES HOMEBOUND, ILL, OR HOSPI- proof of love. If you want to know how much you love someone TALIZED SO ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR A PRIEST, just ask yourself how much you are willing to sacrifice, not of DEACON OR EUCHARISTIC MINISTER TO VISIT AND BRING your possessions, but of yourself for that person. COMMUNION TO THEM. Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.

9:00AM Religious Ed - English 11AM Baptism Prep Spanish Sun 4/24 11:30AM Legion of Maria 11:30AM Religious Ed - Spanish 7PM AA Meeting 1PM CDA Knitting Our Spanish classes will have their first practice for Mon 4/25 Communion today from 11 am - 12 noon. Their 6:30PM Relig Ed second practice will be next Sunday at the same 10AM Lecture Class time. 7PM Altar Server Prep and Practice The two English practices will be Tue 4/26 7PM Baptism Prep next week on Monday, May 2 and 7PM Spanish Scripture Study Group Wednesday, May 4. Both will be 7PM Bible Study Spanish from 5-6 pm.

1:30PM Piermont Sr Meeting Wed 4/27 Our FIRST COMMUNIONS are 7PM Spanish Choir Practice scheduled for MAY 7th. ENG- 1PM CDA Knitting LISH at 10:30 pm. SPANISH at 1 pm. Thu 4/28 7PM Rios de Agua Viva Group 7PM Spanish Choir Practice MOTHER'S DAY, MAY 8th - 10AM Fri Renew Group Our MAY CROWNING will take place at 9:45 am in the Church 7PM Spanish Adult Prayer Group Fri 4/29 Hall. All are invited to this tradi- 7:30PM Youth Group tional way of honoring OUR Sat 4/30 BLESSED MOTHER during her spe- cial month.

At 10:30 am, we will have our final FAMILY The Altar Flowers MASS for 2015-2016. Thank you to the Lennon Family For the Beautiful Flowers!

Liturgy Schedule April 30 / May 1, 2016 Eucharistic Day Time Lector Altar Servers Minister 5:00 PM Saturday Christine Mooney Lana Pontone 4/30 Sofia Tassello 8:00 AM Jean DeLongis Diana Gensel Maggie Colquitt

Kiera Cameron 10:30 AM Jeanine Kennedy Marge Olsen Michaela Duggan, Paige Gillen Sunday Robert Royston 5/1 1:00 PM Santiago Nova Irma Basques Michael Perez

Armando Guzman Natalia Lemus Kelly Perez

Marvin Vivar Santiago Nova Dayanna Garcia

Erasmo Maldonaldo 4/17 Collection: $4,669

4/10 #274 MaryAnn Beckerich 4/17 #289 Claudette Scheffold

"We were created to love, as a reflection of God and his love. And in matrimonial union the man and woman realize this vocation, as a sign of reciprocity and the full and definitive communion of life" said Pope Francis at the conclusion of his catechesis on the Sacra- FOR WHO - for ONLY 50 Children ments. When a man and a woman receive the Sacrament of marriage, "God is, so to say, 'mirrored' in them, he imprints in them Entering Grade 1 thru Grade 5 the features and indelible nature of His love. Marriage is the icon Contact Amy Ramundo to register: of God's love for us. Indeed, God too is communion: the three Persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have always [email protected] lived and live forever in perfect unity. And this is the mystery of marriage: God makes married couples into one existence. The Children will learn more about Jesus thru Bible uses a strong term: it says one 'flesh' only, so intimate is the games, art & crafts, singing union between man and woman in marriage. And this is the mystery of marriage: God's love that is reflected in the couple who and fun times. decide to live together".

Pope Francis mentioned that, in his Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul emphasizes that Christian married couples reflect the great mystery of the relationship that Christ establishes with the Church, which means that "marriage responds to a specific vocation and must be considered as a consecration. The man and woman conse- crate themselves in their love. Married couples, thanks to the Sac- rament, are invested with a genuine mission, that of making visi- Contributed by ble, starting with simple and ordinary things, the love Christ has

Jill Ammerman for His Church" .

"The plan inherent in marriage is a truly wonderful! It is expressed UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS in the simplicity, and also the fragility, of the human condition. We are well aware of the many difficulties and trials there may be FIND A MESSAGE using the ‘letter’ in the “( )”. in the life of a married couple. ... The important thing is to keep alive the link with God, which is at the basis of the matrimonial Clue: The greatest work God commands from us bond. When a husband prays for his wife, and a wife for her husband, the bond remains strong; each one prays for the other. It is Answers are words from this week’s readings. true that married life has many difficulties: work, there isn't enough money, there are problems with the children ... and often H E D B L O ______(___) ___ the husband and wife become irritable and argue amongst themselves. There are always arguments in marriages, and at times N O R T E H ______(___) even plates are thrown. But we must not be sad about this: this is V A E N E H ______(___) ______the human condition. And the secret is that love is stronger than the moments in which we argue, and I therefore always advise O Y L I G F R ______(___) ______married couples never to let the day draw to an end without making peace. There is no need to call in the United Nations peace- ( __ ) ( __ ) ( __ ) ( __ ) = ______keepers. A little gesture is enough: a caress, see you tomorrow, and tomorrow we start afresh. This is life, and we must face it in this way, with the courage of living it together. Married life is Answers on Page 7 below the cartoon. beautiful, and must be protected". POPE FRANCIS biographers, "He was all things to all men.... When he was called upon to be merry, he was so; if there was a demand upon his sympathy, he was equally ready.... In The Italian people loved and venerated him, consequence of his being so accessible and willing and visitors came from other countries to to receive all comers, many went to him every speak with him. He had the gift of distin- day, and some continued for the space of thir- guishing the pure from the impure by the ty, nay, forty years, to visit him very often both sense of smell. Philip had the gift of mira- morning and evening, so that his room went cles; and, though seeking to be forgotten by the agreeable nickname of the "Home of and despised, he was continually sur- Christian mirth." The tradition of this genial rounded by people, who besought him to saint was very much alive two hundred years pray for them, either in their temporal or spir- later, when the German poet Goethe was living in itual concerns. Many were cured of their sickness Rome. He heard so much of Neri that he studied the and few brought back to life. Thus he continued his sources and wrote a highly appreciative essay about apostolate when the infirmities of age prevented him him, entitled, "The Humorous Saint." from leading an active life. In the words of one of his On the Feast of Corpus Christi, May 25, 1595, Philip was in a radiantly happy mood, and his physician told him that he had not looked so well for ten years. He alone realized that his hour had come. All day he heard confessions and saw visitors as usual, but before retiring he said: "Last of all, we must die." About midnight, he had a severe hemorrhage and the priests in the house were called to his bedside. He was dying, and Baronius read the commendatory prayers, and then besought him to say a parting word or at least to bless his sons once more. Unable to speak, Philip raised his hand, and in the act of benediction passed to his reward. He had ST. PHILIP NERI OCCU- reached the ripe age of eighty and his PIES A PROMINENT work was done. His body rests in the New PLACE IN ST. PETER’S BA- Church, which the Oratorians still serve. SILICA Six years after his death, he was beatified. Pope Gregory XV canonized him in 1622. Even during his lifetime he had received the title of "Apostle of Rome." The niche of their beloved saint is closest to the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica and every year to this day the Mayor of Rome presents the Provost of the Oratory a golden chalice in grateful acknowledgement of St. Philip’s dedicated life to the eternal city. LECTURAS DE HOY: Hch 14:21-27; Salmo 144; Quinto Domingo de Pascua Apocalipsis 21:1-5a; Juan 13:31-33a, 34-35 VERDADERA COMUNIDAD CRISTIANA LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA ¿Te puedes imaginar un mundo tal como nos lo Lunes: 1 Pe 5:5b-14; Sal 89 (88):2-3, 6-7, 16-17; presenta las lecturas bíblicas de hoy? Comunidades Mc 16:15-20 de fieles por todas partes que se apoyan y se animan unas a otras y se identifican como cristianos por el Martes: Hch 14:19-28; Sal 145 (144):10-13ab, 21; amor que se tienen unos a otros. Sería un mundo sin Jn 14:27-31a lágrimas, sin muerte ni luto, sin gritos de dolor. Miércoles: Hch 15:1-6; Sal 122 (121):1-5; Jn 15:1-8 “Ahora todo lo hago nuevo”, oímos decir al Hijo de Dios en la segunda lectura del libro del Apocalipsis Jueves: Hch 15:7-21; Sal 96 (95):1-3, 10; Jn 15:9-11 (21:5). Viernes: Hch 15:22-31; Sal 57 (56):8-10, 12; Este mundo de la visión de Juan, ¿es sólo un Jn 15:12-17 mundo imaginario? Y esos fieles seguidores de Jesús Sábado: Hch 16:1-10; Sal 100 (99):1b-3, 5; por los cuales él reza, ¿son un mero sueño del salva- dor? Hoy se presentan ante nosotros como una meta Jn 15:18-21 valiosa. ¿Cómo podemos acercarnos cada vez más a Domingo: Hch 15:1-2, 22-29; Sal 67 (66):2-3, 5-6, 8; esta visión de una verdadera comunidad cristiana en Ap 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29 nuestra vida de hoy?

Para los cursos pre-bautismales llamar a: Alex Aguilar 845-480-1502 y Natalia Lemus 845-480-1682. Los cursos se dan previa cita los martes 7pm y domingos 11am. Welcome to Oscar Alexander Lemus- Juarez Alondra Estela Nolasco Angela Lucia Nolasco Felicidades a los padres y pa- drinos . Amados hijos de Di- os, que el bautismo es el comienzo de una vida de fe y un corazón lleno de bondad y de amor. Dios los bendiga a ustedes y siempre.

No amemos solamente de palabra; amemos de

5/7 Pr verdad y con las obras. 5/1 imeras Comida Comu niones -- 1 Juan 3:18 para Primer 1 5/5 PM Vendez a dia noven tes Pentecos 7PM

5/11 Co - nfir- on ma c ciones 5/13 Vijilia 20 5/ y 7 de Pente- rto on :30PM ie ci costes c ra do 7PM A PARISH MINISTRIES & CHAIR Our Sacramental Life Buildings & Grounds Pat Miele, Alex Aguilar, Paul Johnson Deanery Maureen O’Connell Please call the Rectory well in advance of the expected day of Eucharistic Adoration Dcn Robert Pang Baptism: Health Mary Loftus Baptism to arrange an appointment for an interview. Pre-baptismal meeting Hispanic Community Micaelina Maldonado/ Geny Aguilar for parents is required. Godparents must be conﬁrmed, practicing Catholics. Hospitality Robin Miller Generally Baptisms are celebrated the third Sunday of each month at 12:00 Men’s Club Bill Loftus. Ralph Olsen pm. Ushers Jake Miraglia Music Elise Espinosa,Chris & Carolyn Yates, Reconciliation: Confessions are heard from 4:30-5:00 pm on Saturday. Ted Simone You may also make an appointment with Fr. Tom. Spanish confessions is Spanish Choir Carlos Cerna available on 1st Fridays of the month at 7 PM and from 12:30–1:00 PM on Outreach Maria Nest Sundays. Parish Council Scott Giblin Parish Worship Dcn John Cunningham Marriage: Marriages should be arranged at least six months in advance. Religious Education Kathleen Dunn Participation in Pre-Cana is essential. Please call the Rectory to schedule an RCIA Dcn Robert Pang, Jose Bolaños appointment with Fr. Tom. Right to Life Scott Giblin Social Kelli Chilson Before you enter the hospital for elective surgery Spiritual Life Johanna Krumm Anointing of the Sick: St. Vincent De Paul Fr. Tom Kunnel or other serious treatment, and for those who have need of spiritual healing. In an emergency, call Fr. George Torok 845 323-1346. PARISH COUNCIL Kelli Chilson, Kathleen Dunn, Scott Giblin. Paul Johnson, Andrew Lee, Holy Orders: Any gentleman interested in exploring the question of vocation to the priesthood or the permanent diaconate should contact Fr. Tom Martina Lynch, Cruz Molina, Maria Nest , Ralph Olsen, May Pang, Kunnel. We would also be happy to direct anyone interested in living their Amy Ramundo, Carolyn Yates, Janet Zahn lives as Religious Sisters or Brothers.

TRUSTEES Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults: For instruction for Baptism, Phil McCartin James Pontone Conﬁrmation and Eucharist for adults and to learn about Catholic Faith. If interested please contact Dcn Robert Pang.

For more details and forms—www.stjohnspiermont.org

Parish Registration: All adults (over age 21) should register in the parish themselves and should use envelopes or parishpay.com. Tithing is 5% of income. This registration is our only means of certifying anyone as a member of the parish, especially for Baptism and Confirmation sponsorship

As Disciples of Christ, we are called to share our gifts with our brothers and sisters. Even small sacrifices can make a big impact. Please answer the call and make your commit- ment today. Don’t for- “We have a problem! You have ﬂeas and we can’t take get our church number more than 2 ﬂeas into the ark!”

www.cardinalsappeal.org The message is: LOVE Behold, Throne, Heaven, Glorify