The Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist The Mother Church of Stamford 279 Atlantic Street · Stamford, Connecticut 06901 November 8, 2020 Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Pa stor Rev. Msgr. Stephen M. DiGiovanni Parochial Vicar Rev. Joseph A. Gill Resident Priest Rev. Albert D. Audette, Jr. Director of Religious Education Anne Marie Mbabaali [email protected] Basilica Choir Master & Organist Nicholas Botkins [email protected] Chairman, Parish Financial Council John Regan Lay Members of the Parish Corp John Regan Annie Schreck Photo by John Glover Rectory, Parish Office and Religious Education Phone: (203) 324-1553 Website: www.stjohnbasilica.org E-mail Address: [email protected] Pastor’s Corner:..During November, the Church universal celebrates the dedication of three of the four major basilicas in Rome: November 9th will be the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the pope’s cathedral, as the bishop of Rome; November 18th, the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Peter and the Basilica of Saint Paul, built over the tombs of the two greatest Apostles nearly 1,800 years ago. The November 9th celebration reminds us of the unity we have with the Successor of Saint Peter, Pope Francis, as members of the Church founded by Christ. The original basilica was built by Pope Sylvester I, and consecrated in 324 a.d. to Our Savior. By the early 10th century fires and earthquakes forced it’s rebuilding, and rededication to St. John the Baptist, and rededicated also to St. John the Evangelist in the 12th century. On the façade is a Latin inscription express- ing the wish of the Emperor Constantine and Pope Sylvester that the Basilica be “The Head and Mother Church of all Churches throughout the City of Rome and the World.” The November 18th celebration reminds us of the central place of the Apostles Peter and Paul in the development of the Church, the same Church we belong to. “Oh, Happy Rome, whose stones are consecrated by the Blood of the Martyrs, Peter and Paul”, is an ancient hymn recalling the ministry and martyrdom in Rome of these two Apostolic giants. St. Peter, the fish- erman, was crucified in 67 a.d., and buried in the cemetery at the base of theVatican Hill. In 323 a.d., the Emperor Constantine began one of the largest construction projects of the ancient world: the leveling of the Vatican Hill, moving over 1 million cubic feet of rock and dirt, to build the first Basilica above the tomb of Saint Peter. Both the ancient and present day Basilicas were ded- icated on November 18th. St. Paul, the tentmaker, was martyred outside Rome’s walls, and bur- ied near the present-day Fiumicino Airport near Ostia. Constantine began a Basilica above Paul’s tomb, but it was not completed until the fifth century by the EmperorTheodosius and Pope Saint Leo the Great. Archaeological explorations beneath St. Peter’s in the 1940’s, and beneath St. Paul’s in the 2000, unearthed and confirmed the tombs of each Apostle beneath the basilicas’ high altars. It may be difficult for us who live in the 3rd millennium to understand the importance of the celebrations concerning church buildings of another time, so far away from Stamford. The celebrations are important because we belong to the Church they founded, share the Apostles’ faith and are united with them in the sacraments. A priest named Gaius wrote in 200 a.d., “If you come to Rome I will show you the tombs [tropaia, Greek for trophies] of the Apostles Peter in the Vatican and Paul on the via Ostiense.” St. John Chrysostom, two centuries later, offered some idea of the importance of the lives and tombs of Peter and Paul: “The sepulchers of those who served Christ crucified surpass the palaces of kings, not so much in the greatness and beauty of the buildings, as in other tings of more importance, such as the multitude of those who with devotion and joy visit them. For the emperor himself, clothed in purple, goes to the tombs and kisses them. He who wear a royal crown looks on it as a great privilege from God that a tent- maker [St. Paul] and a fisherman [St. Peter], should be his protectors and defenders. .” [Hom. I Cor, 20]. These celebrations are really about the larger universal Catholic Church, whose very essence is the same today as when Christ established it on the Apostles. Here at Stamford’s Basilica, we are reminded of the Apostle Peter by his bronze statue with the Keys of Heaven; and of our union with His Successor, Pope Franics, by the four bricks from the Holy Year doors of the four major basilicas of Rome, sent to the parish by Pope John Paul II, set in the walls behind the statue. Though far from the City of Rome, we are one in communion each time we gather at the altar for Mass, through Christ in the Eucharist, sharing Christ’s life with the Apostles and saints. -Monsignor Digiovanni Salus Populi Romani Our lady, protectress of the Roman People, Help Us in Stamford! The image of Our Lady arrived in Rome 590 AD during the pontificate of Pope Gregory the Great. The Pope welcomed the image in person, sailing the Tiber River in procession with Her, praying for Rome during the plague. Let us Pray: Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Our Lady, Pray for us in Stamford! Online Giving New Year New Way to Give Switch to online giving Online Giving will help sustain our church, save the church envelope costs and labor, and help you keep track of your donations Online Giving allows you to make donations via your smart phone or computer to our church Two ways to give Visit Donate www.stjohnbasilica.org Click “donate” Online tithing has several advantages for parishioners and our parish. Click under Donate on our parish website https://stjohnbasilica.org to register. Call 800-348-2886 if you need any assistance with setting up your account. Please pray for the sick: Monsignor DiGiovanni, Juanita Evans, Nelly De La Cruz, Melanie Fieffe, Alice Joseph, Gayle Moore, Kathie Guardino, Ralph Santalis, Ruth Coyle, Rosemarie Drexel, Ann Blackson, Janet Cigar, Rudolph John Sandor, Ed Iacovo, John Hagan, Robert Peterson, Julie Fish, Nino Antonelli, Rob- ert Smith, Janet Rodgers, Rosemary Betill, Lyn Rice, Francis Burgio, Josephine Faienza, Joe and Cettina Scodella, Julio Rosa, Robert Adamsky, , Jorge Figueroa, Michael Butler, John Mossa, Jr., Timothy Lyons, Joseph A. Reda, Gregory Vujs ,Thomas Timon, Margaret Jean Velanzon, Christopher Heap, Carol Keeney. Please pray for those who have recently died: Tom Cycon, Bette Calarco, Dan Walters, Paul Haidar, Jackie Gaine, Kitty O’Leary, Joseph A. Reda, Anthony A. Galasso, Toan Nguyen, Charo Braggiotti, Fran Johnson, Johnny Tieso, Cedrick Chan, Frank Seely, Providencia Nieves, Elaine Shoztic, Cesare Ambruofo, Lorraine Russo, Bob Berry, Francis Heyman, Jacqueline Jackson-Sein, Robert Parish, Karen Ordogne, Mass Intentions + denotes deceased Saturday, November 7, 2020 4:00 In thanksgiving for all our blessings Sunday, November 8, 2020 7:30 †Katherine Ann and Patrick McCann req. family 10:00 Maria Teresa Vargas req. Vargas family 12:00 † Souls in Purgatory req. Lilian and Alvina Ramos 5:00 †Frank Alagia Monday, November 9, 2020 8:00 † Joseph Reda req. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carpanzano 12:10 † Lily Kuo req. Karen Hsu Tuesday, November 10, 2020 8:00 † Patrick Kane & Family req. Estate of Catherine Kane and Family 12:10 † Walter A. DiGiovanni req. Priests and People of the Parish Wednesday, November 11, 2020 8:00 † Jean Evans Kirkland req. Juanita Evans 12:10 † Paul Rittman, Sr. req. Pam Rittman Thursday, November 12, 2020 8:00 † Nan Crowther req. Sharon Gannon 12:10 † Walter A. DiGiovanni req. Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Ingram and Ed Friday, November 13, 2020 8:00 † Julius and Jane Shoztic and Barbara req. Richard and Jason Shoztic 12:10 †Jean Tompkins req. Andrew Kolenberg Saturday, November 14, 2020 8:00 †Hope and Joseph McAleer req. McAleer family 12:10 † Ann DiGiovanni Mater Salvatoris: Mater Salvatoris is an Independent Catholic College Preparatory School for girls, Co-ed in PreK and K, under the direction of the Sisters of the Company of the Savior. We provide a faithful Catho-lic Education, committed to educating the whole person. Currently enrolling from PreK3 through 4th Grade for 2020-2021.Mater Salvatoris is locat- ed at 403 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT 06903. Contact us at (203) 489.0977 or at stm. [email protected]. Visit us at stamford.matersalvatoris.org. Religious Education: Classes have now begun. Mass Intentions: We are receiving a high volume of Mass requests; therefore, we will need to limit the requests to 5 per family for the remainder of the year. Generally, Mass requests are scheduled several months in advance. It is customary to offer a $10.00 donation per Mass at the time the request is made. (This tradition is referenced in canon n.946 of the Code of Canon Law (CIC) which states that those members of the faithful who give Mass stipends are contributing to the good of the Church, for they share in the Church’s support of its min- isters.) To schedule your Mass intention please call Juanita in the office: (203) 324-1553.