|
| |
|
GOOD NEWS.
As mentioned in last week’s bulletin, the 2011 Daily Mass
Book will be available for your intentions. Please take note
that the "Book" will be opened for the period of January 1,
2011 to June 30, 2011 only. In order to give every
parishioner the opportunity of selecting Mass dates, each
parishioner is limited at this time to three (3) Mass dates.
Only one (1) may be Saturday Vigil/Sunday Mass.
Also, intentions for Altar Bread, Wine, and Candles; Ringing
of the Bells; Sanctuary Lamp, and Saint Anne’s Candle will be
avail-able for 2010 and for 2011 from January to June.
You may come on Friday, April 16, 2010 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Please enter Church through the Vestry
door.
|
|
|
|
LABORERS FOR THE HARVEST
The Gospel tells the
story of the sending out of the seventy-two, some of the
first disciples in the burgeoning church. They must have
been full of idealism and excitement as they went from town
to town healing the sick and expelling demons. On the
Fourth of July, we remember those who founded our country
and can also imagine their excitement and idealism as they
worked in this newly established country. Our Church, now
over two thousand years old, is still in need of men filled
with idealism and excitement who are willing to answer the
call to the ordained priesthood. Today is a day to pray for
vocations to the priesthood; as the Lord tells his
disciples, “[A]sk the master of the harvest to send out
laborers for his harvest” (Luke 10:2).
|
|
|
| Liturgically Speaking... |
|
The Church is traditionally divided into
• the
Church Triumphant - those in Heaven
• the
Church Militant - those who are living,
• the
Church Suffering or Church Expectant those presently in
Purgatory.
These terms are often used in the context of the
doctrine of the Communion of Saints.
During the month of November, we commemorate the
Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering on two consecutive
days: All Saints Day on November 1 (the Church Triumphant), and
All Souls Day on November 2 (the Church Suffering).
This past All Souls Day, the management of
Cypress Hills Cemetery invited us to celebrate Mass at their
Abbey Chapel. What a privilege it was for all of us. We
thank them for this wonderful opportunity and we thank all of
our parishioners who attended. It was quite fascinating to
learn that Cypress Hills Cemetery opened in 1848. The first
burial was December 11, 1848 - David Fay Corey who was 11 months
old. His parents were Cyrus B. Corey and Mary Fay Corey
who lived on Myrtle Avenue. This year there were 1,462 burials.
There are currently 352,248 people buried in over 220 acres.
These 352,248 people are our neighbors.
Many may even be relatives or friends. We believe that although
we may be physically separated from each other by the barrier of
death, we nonetheless remain united to each other in one Church,
and support each other in prayer.
Please pray for our neighbors up the block as
they continue to pray for us.
|
|
Focusing on the Liturgy of the Word section,
when related to Mass, one may think our liturgical language is
characterized by what might be called a noble simplicity and
clarity. (Some would find such precision admirable but rather
dry! )
Worship as due acknowledgment to God for the
gifts of creation, good health, political stability, etc. is a
universal religious sensibility. This sentiment is clearly part
of our own religious heritage as Christians. Each time we gather
for worship, particularly for the Eucharist (the word itself
means “thanksgiving”), we duly acknowledge with gratitude the
Giver of all gifts of creation, of Jesus Christ, and of the
Spirit at work in the Church. Therefore, after each Reading
there is a period of silence, allowing us to focus on the
Reading we just heard and pull out of it a word or phrase which
would have meaning to help us live better lives.
While we may feel obligated to render God this
“glory”, due to a negative attitude (if I don’t go to Mass, I
will be in grave sin), we are then defeating the purpose of
praising and spending time with God. It is well to remember that
Catholics have the freedom to - rather than the freedom from.
How wonderful it is to spend time with Someone who loves us -
and that Someone is God! So, spending time with God while
attending Mass has a more meaningful reason because one wants to
be with the Loved One,
“Goodness returns Goodness”
|
|
Here are some questions frequently asked:
Why, if the Entrance Hymn is not sung, do we recite the Entrance
Verse (found in the yellow section of the song Missal)?
The very beginning of our worship time together is
sometimes called The Gathering. It is at
this time that the Congregation present, unites their minds and
hearts to the moment of prayer and worship, (one mind and one
heart in God). True, each person is an individual who
prays and sees God differently from another. Yet, keep in
mind that The Mass is communal prayer. We sing and
pray as a community of believers.
When is the Gloria used at Mass?
The Gloria is a hymn to praise God for God’s mercy and
to acclaim the presence of the risen Lord in our midst.
The Gloria is used on all Sundays and major feasts throughout
the year except during Lent and Advent. The Gloria is
omitted during Lent because of the Church’s desire to focus on
the penitential aspect of that season. (It is for the same
reason that the Alleluias are omitted during Lent.) During
Advent only the Gloria is omitted and in contrast comes back
joyfully in union with all the Angels on Christmas Eve.
~Sr.
Joseph Maureen, O.P.
|
|
