September Newsletter

ST. JOSEPH PARISH
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2010


BACK TO SCHOOL. I can’t think of a phrase that excite parents more then ‘back to school’, except maybe ‘you won the lottery.’ I know that most kids over a certain age aren’t excited about school and wished that the summer would never end, but it has. As the new school year begins, I hope and pray that all of our kids have a safe, healthy, happy, and productive year. I pray especially for those kids who have gone away to college, and their parents who miss them already and can’t wait until they could see them again. God bless all our kids: do well and know that you are in our prayers.


BACK TO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. We will start our religious education program later this month. I would like to thank all the teachers and any others involved in our program. It is a special calling for special people. You will be sharing your faith with our youngsters and helping to form them in our faith. I know you will do a good job. I say thank you to all of you and you will be in my prayers. I also pray that our students will open up their hearts to our God who loves them and wants to be a part of their lives. I pray that you will grow in your faith and come to know and love Jesus Christ. This can make all the difference in the world.


NEW ROMAN MISSAL. The Vatican has approved the new English translation of the Roman Missal. This Missal is also called the Sacramentary. It is the big red book on the altar that the priest uses during mass, and it has everything in it except for the readings. There will be some changes that will start on the first Sunday of advent in 2011. The diocese will be running some workshops, and when I have more information, I will pass it on to you. You can also go to the Bishop’s website for further information: www.usccb.org.


SPIRITUAL BASEBALL. It is kind of an odd title, but I think we can gain a spiritual insight from looking at baseball. What we learn is that success is not measured by perfection, but by doing the best we can. The baseball season is 162 games long, and no team has ever had a record of 162-0, nor will this ever happen. It’s just not possible. Conversely, no team has ever had a record of 0-162, nor will this ever happen. This too is impossible. As the saying goes, you win some, you lose some. There is an old adage in baseball that says every team will win 54 games, and every team will lose 54 games (there have been a few exceptions, but very few). The success of your season depends on what you do with the remaining 54 games. Our lives are a lot like that. There are days that we do really well in following Christ: our prayer is fulfilling, we have a good outlook on life, we help others, we practice virtue, we do well in living the Christian life, and we seem to do it easily. There are other days that we would like to forget. We’re crabby, we snap at everyone, we are harsh and unforgiving, we don’t pray, we offend people, and nothing pleases us. Unfortunately, we also do these things just as easily. However, there are those in-between days, those days that can go either way. What we decide to do and how we decide to live our lives on those days determines the depth and breadth of our spiritual lives. Mother Theresa once said that God does not expect us to be successful, but to be faithful. We know that we will sin, but God offers us forgiveness and the strength to overcome our sins. The first time we turn away from our sins we will find it difficult, but the more we turn away from sin the easier it becomes, until virtue becomes a habit, the kind of habit we want to develop. God provides us with the grace to step up to the plate and turn those in-between days into virtuous days, to raise our spiritual batting average, until at last we enter into the heavenly hall of fame. Those who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown failed more often than not. We too are allowed to fail, but not to give up. With God’s help, we can be all be members of the spiritual hall of fame.


MILITARY PICTURE BOARD. We are looking for new photos of men and women (in uniform, please) who are presently serving in the armed forces along with the following information: name, rank, branch of service, where they are serving, mailing address if possible, and their connection to our parish. There are cards in the church vestibule. Please fill it out and return it to the rectory with a picture. The present pictures will be removed and kept on file or returned to families.


RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS


Or RCIA for short is a program for those people who would like to become full members of the Catholic Church. There are three groups of people who would be in this program; 1) baptized Catholics, who, for whatever reason, never received the sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation; 2) Christians of other faith traditions who would like to convert to Catholicism; and 3) unbaptized people.


RCIA is a program of faith sharing and community building that begins in September and ends with the reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil, which is April 23rd of next year. They meet on Wednesday evenings to learn about the catholic faith and on Sunday during the 10 am mass for scripture sharing.


Some of you reading this newsletter may have never received confirmation as a teenager. You may be an active member, or only a part time participant. This is an opportunity for you to be updated on your faith, and a time of grace and blessing as you grow in your faith. If you have not received this sacrament, I strongly urge you to consider this program.


The other 2 categories of people in this program are not with us on Sundays, for obvious reasons. How are they to know about this program? You can tell them! How exciting? What a great way to live out the Great Commission given by Jesus just prior to his ascension to baptize, evangelize, and teach. And it is so easy. All you need do is tell someone about this program, and encourage them to attend. If they are interested, have them call Linda Boyle ay (973) 696-1164.


PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH, MODEL FOR WORKERS
(From Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, revised edition, page 303)


Silent and well-known carpenter in Nazareth,
model of workers, by the work of your hands,
you gave your contribution to the work of the Creator,
you earned your living,
and you provided for the needs of the Holy Family.
Intercede for all workers, in the difficulties of their daily lives,
especially for the unemployed, in their anxieties
for tomorrow,
so that, through the guidance of God,
the great Architect and Builder,
they may all use their strength and their talents
to make visible his Kingdom, his new creation,
to offer a concrete service to society,
and to earn wages worthy of their efforts.


LINCOLN PARK DAY. This year is the 19th annual Lincoln Park Day and is being held on September 25th and, as always, it will be filled with crafts, entertainment, food, fun, and a deep sense of community spirit. We here at the parish are supporting a scholarship at the sponsor ($250.00) level, and we will also have a booth at this event. I urge you to support this day by stopping in for a while. It certainly is a worthwhile event. Call the rectory if you can give us an hour or two at our booth.


Why Catholic?


Earlier this year we began our journey with exploring how we celebrate our Catholic faith in sacramental liturgy. Those six gatherings focused on the liturgy, an understanding of the sacraments, Baptism, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. We are now preparing for another six gatherings to take a deeper look into each of the sacraments and how they impact our lives both from an individual and inter-relationship view. Our discussions will include:


Confirmation, a Sacrament of Initiation
Eucharist, a Sacrament of Initiation
Penance and Reconciliation, a Sacrament of Healing
The Anointing of the Sick, a Sacrament of Healing
Holy Orders, a Sacrament at the Service of Communion
Matrimony, a Sacrament at the Service of Communion


The process has not changed. It takes place in small community groups. Each group gathers in someone's home or at the rectory once a week for an hour and a half on a day and time you choose for six weeks. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal and sharing is at each person's comfort level. Sign up Sunday is September 11th and 12th and the faith sharing groups will begin October 3rd. Sign up sheets will be placed in the pews and in the back of the church during Sign-up Sunday. For additional information please see me (Vicki Pignone) after mass or email vpignone@optonline.net


I leave you with this True Story that was past down to me


A man came to church every Sunday, but never came to communion because he was not Catholic. As his wife and three children received Eucharist each week, a parishioner felt badly seeing him alone in the pew. He came to and attended all the church functions and helped out whenever he was asked. So one day, that parishioner finally got the chance to ask him, "Jim you are here with us all the time, would you ever think of actually joining the church?" Well, in fact, I would, I did. But nobody ever asked me. You are the first." It has been 18 years since he had been coming! His wife had been afraid to 'pressure' him and the pastor thought he'd come forward on his own. There had been pulpit and bulletin announcements welcoming people to come and inquire to join the church for many years, but Jim was simply waiting for someone to reach out and personally ask him. So here I am, standing before you, to personally invite and welcome each and every one of you to come, join us, as we once again begin our Why Catholic? journey. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!


INSPIRATIONAL STORY. I subscribe to a homily service called Connections, and in the August 2010 issue, there is a story from People Magazine of July 5, 2010, and CBSNews.com I would like to share with you.


Olivia’s pelicans


“Eleven-year-old Olivia Bouler knows every species of bird near her grandparents’ cottage on the Alabama coast. The fifth-grader, a budding ornithologist, appreciates their beauty and elegance and has developed a real talent for illustrating them.

So when she saw the pictures of the birds drenched with oil, Olivia was devastated. “I couldn’t stand it…It wasn’t fair for them. They didn’t do anything.”

Olivia was determined to do something. She wrote a letter to the National Audubon Society: “I’m a decent drawer and I was wondering if I could sell some bird paintings and give the profits to your organization.” Olivia’s sketch of a cardinal accompanied the letter. The Audubon Society was so moved by the young girl’s talent and determination that they began offering her watercolors and prints on their website. To date, Olivia’s drawings have raised over $130,000.00. The Audubon Society is using the money for animal rescue and to establish a new bird habitat in the Gulf.

This summer, Olivia is working to turn out some 500 illustrations for sale. A fifth-grader with a paintbrush and a big heart is one of the few signs of hope amid the toxic sludge destroying the wildlife and beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.”


May God bless this young girl, and may more of us be inspired to help build up the Kingdom of God.




GIVING YOUR LIFE TO THE MISSION


This past week I have been thinking about people who have been obsessed with mission. Some years ago, Scott Carpenter died. Scott Carpenter was one of the great citizens of the United States of America. He was one of our seven first astronauts. He was truly a great man. Scott Carpenter was a man who had a sense of mission. Let me read what Scott Carpenter had to say, “This project of being an astronaut and going to the moon, gives me the possibility of using all of my capabilities and all of my interests and gifts at once. This is something that I would be willing to give my life for. I think a person is fortunate to have something that you care that much about that you would give your life for. There are risks involved, that’s for sure.” Then Scott Carpenter went on to say in the following words in a letter to his wife, “My dear, if this comes to a fatal, screaming fiery end for me, I will have three main regrets. I will have lost the opportunity to prepare for my children’s life here on this planet. I will miss the pleasure of seeing you and loving you when you are a grandmother. And I will have never learned to play the guitar.” Signed, Scott. He cared for his wife. He cared for his children. He wanted to play the guitar. But more than that, more than his love for his wife and children, more than his wanting to learn to play the guitar, Scott Carpenter was willing to give his life for the mission to go to the moon.


What does it mean to give your life for THE mission of Jesus Christ?


Edward F. Markquart, Christ Brings Division



WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN WHEN WE PRAY?


I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, ' This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.


I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.


Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.


The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.


Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section", my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed. “How is it that there is no work going on here?” I asked.


"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments"


"How does one acknowledge God's blessings?” I asked...


"Simple,” the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord.”


"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.


"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy. "


"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."


"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. "

"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."


"If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."


"If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare."


"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm; you're unique to all those in doubt and despair......."

Ok, what now? How can I start?


If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.


Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you care to, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.


ATTN: Acknowledge Dept.

"Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people with whom to share it.”




Billy Joel This song & it's title was an answer on Final Jeopardy -- only one person got it right. Question was (paraphrased) "What 1980's song do history teacher's praise for its educational value." Never could understand all the references on Billy Joel's song -- fortunately, with this VIDEO, given the picture(s), I now can "see" what my "ears" couldn't. Apparently, it's Joel's homage to the 40-years of historical headlines since his birth (1949). WAY TOO COOL -- wish I could have appreciated the depths of this song when it was released. Twenty years later, I'm in awe of what Joel was able to put into music and lyrics lasting only a few minutes. Whether you are a Billy Joel fan or not, you probably remember his great song, 'We Didn't Start the Fire.' Here it is, set to pictures... very, very cool. It's a neat flashback through the past half century. I never did know the words. Turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy a review of 40 years of history in about 3 minutes! Top left gives you full screen....top right lets you pause. Bottom left shows the year. The older you are, the more pictures you will recognize. Anyone middle aged or older should remember over 90% of what they see. But it's great at any age. We Didn't Start The Fire is at http//yeli/Flash/Fire.HTML


Unconditional Love


What is your view of God? The scowling judge waiting to convict you? The disapproving parent whose love you have to earn? Your view of God affects every decision and relationship in your life. Kathleen Chesto wrote to Catholic Digest to tell them about an incident that occurred in her family. Her five-year-old child approached her one day in the kitchen and asked, "Mom, is God a grown-up or a parent?"


Mom was a little puzzled by the question. "I'm not sure what you mean," she said. "Is there a difference between a grown-up and a parent?" "Oh yes," her five-year-old answered quickly. "Grown-ups love you when you are good and parents love you anyway." I know this sounds trite to some of you, but have you ever really come to appreciate the wonder of God's unconditional love? I dare say that there are some people in this room who don't really believe in unconditional love. You have never received it, and you have never given it. Some of you are still trying to earn your way to heaven. And you are expecting others to earn their way as well. Relax, my friend, and let God love you. Jesus is trying to tell us in this parable (Luke 15:1-32) that God's love doesn't depend on our goodness; it depends on God's character. Here is this truth expressed in I John 4: 10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."


King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com



I hope you enjoy this newsletter. God bless all of you. Fr. Phil