WHO IS WELCOME IN ST. SAVIOUR CHURCH?

Are you a sinner? Have you been away from the church for a long time? Are you divorced or separated? Are you physically or

mentally challenged? Are you from a different culture? Are you not accepted because of your sexual orientation? Are you

elderly, a teen or young adult? Are you discriminated against because of your color? Are you feeling broken? Are you poor or

out of work? Have you been imprisoned? Have you a feeling that you are left out? You are welcome here! This is your home,

and we are your family!

CHURCH OF ST. SAVIOUR

Confessions First Saturday of the month in the church from 4:00-4:30 PM. By appointment for all other times.

Director of Music Christopher D. Berrios

Paula McKeown

Stewardship

February 4

Offertory

Valentino Nicola Marinelli

Valentino Nicola Marinelli

Valentino Nicola Marinelli

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR PARISH PRIESTS

We are all familiar with the proverbial phrase “when it rains it pours.” Well, here around Saint Saviour Parish it just doesn’t seem to want to stop pouring. As we all experienced a few weeks ago, the boiler in our church conked out on one of the coldest weeks of the new year. After nearly 5 days of no heat, 5 different technicians and a lot of wasted time waiting around for service trucks to arrive and figure out what was going wrong, we were able to get the boiler functioning to provide us with minimal heat. However, rather than keep pumping money into boilers that are rapidly aging and are becoming quite costly to maintain, we have begun the process of getting estimates to convert our present oil heating system in the church to gas. We oversaw this process while we were assigned at Saint Brendan Parish and in the end it saved us a lot of money converting the church from oil to gas, and if anything went wrong we had a service person present within an hour to fix it. We will keep you up to date as things progress. We are also experiencing a few issues with the heating system in the Rectory but those incidents have been relatively minor and were able to be fixed rather quickly. We want to thank everyone for their patience during those cold days in church, and we also want to thank those of you who offered us a place to stay in your homes when the heat and hot water conked out in the Rectory. Your kindness will not be forgotten. In 3 days, we will begin the liturgical season of Lent. This has always been an opportunity for us to turn away from sin and try our best to be a little more faithful to the Gospel. Here at Saint Saviour Parish, we have a number of spiritual and educational opportunities to assist us on our Lenten journey this year. There is a special insert in this weekend’s bulletin outlining all the things planned. We do hope and pray you will consider joining us for some or all of the events planned throughout the season of Lent. On Saturday morning, February 24th, we will be hosting a day of prayer and reflection for ALL the members of our parish family. We are inviting in a special way all those who minister in any way here at Saint Saviour (Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Choir Members, Catechists, RCIA Formation Team, Counters, Martha’s Ministry, Young Families, Ushers and Ministers of Hospitality). The presenter for our time together will be Sister Mary Walsh, CSJ. We will begin with Eucharist at 10:00 a.m., followed by a presentation by Sister Mary, followed by lunch, and conclude with some time for prayer and reflection. Our day will conclude by 1:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars now and plan on joining us. PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO 8:30 a.m. MASS THAT MORNING. Finally, our participation in the 2017 Annual Catholic Appel has now concluded. We received a letter this week from the diocese that our parish unfortunately did NOT reach its goal of $60,588.00 Only 54 parishioners chose to make a pledge totaling $38,965.00 This left us with a deficit of $21,623.00. Bishop DiMarzio has ordered that this deficit of $21,623.00 be paid from Saint Saviour reserves. This will certainly hurt us, as we still are trying to pay off our parish insurance bills and assessment bills amounting to nearly $100,000.00. It also hurts us because this money could have been used for parish activities and events here at Saint Saviour—instead, we need to use this money to pay the deficit of our unfulfilled goal in last year’s Annual Catholic Appeal. We share this with you because in a few weeks, our parish will begin its participation in the 2018 Annual Catholic Appeal. It is our fervent hope that every family here at Saint Saviour Parish will choose to make a pledge in the 2018 Annual Catholic Appeal. Remember, once our parish makes its goal in that Appeal, every penny collected over that goal is returned to the parish. Let’s do our best in the 2018 Appeal so that we get money returned to us by the diocese, rather than us having to once again dip into our parish reserves to pay yet another diocesan bill. Have a great week everyone.

Father Frank and Father Kevin

February 11, 2018

Our celebration of the season of Lent will begin

this Wednesday, February 14th. We have quite a

number of activities and spiritual and educational

opportunities and activities planned for YOU –

the faithful people of Saint Saviour Parish family –

which will be inserted into next weekend’s parish

bulletin. For now though, we want you to know

the schedule for the distribution of ashes on

February 14th. Please note that ashes will ONLY

be distributed within the context of our

celebration of Eucharist!

Ashes will be distributed during the

following Masses here at Saint Savior on

Wednesday, March 14th:

8:30 a.m.

12:05 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR PASTOR

“Thus says the Lord: This rather is the fasting

that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly; untying

the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed;

breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the

hungry; sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;

clothing the naked when you see them, and not

turning your back on your own. Then shall your

light break forth like the dawn, and your wounds

shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go

before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your

rear guard. Then you shall call and the Lord will

answer; you shall cry for help and the Lord will

say: HERE I AM!” (Isaiah 58:6-9)

What a wonderful passage from Scripture to

meditate upon as we begin this holy season of Lent

this Wednesday! After all, this is what it’s all

about, isn’t it? This is what we are called to do, are

we not? Yet– if all we do is read these words and

not allow them to jump off the page and never into

our hearts—they really aren’t going to bring about

much of a change in us—are they?

Our season of Lent begins this Wednesday (Ash

Wednesday). I can’t wait to see how many times

the phone is going to ring with people inquiring,

“When are you giving out ashes?” I often wonder

if people really understand the significance of

receiving ashes. I am amazed at how people will go

to great lengths to receive ashes—but could care

less about receiving the Eucharist. The ashes we

receive on our forehead every year are the remains

of burned palm branches from the previous year.

The custom of placing ashes on the heads of people

is an ancient penitential practice among the Hebrew

people. At one time, people even had to walk

around wearing nothing but sack cloth. We find

evidence of this in our Scriptures (see 2 Samuel

13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 42:6; 1 Macc. 3:47 and 4:39;

Lam. 2:10; Jonah 3:5-9; Jer. 6:26 and 25:34;

Matt.11:21). It’s also interesting to note how by the

year 300 A.D., ashes were placed on the heads of

public sinners who were excommunicated or

expelled from the community because of public sins

or scandals such as apostasy, heresy, murder and

adultery.

By the 7th century, persons wearing sackcloth

and ashes were recognized as persons doing

penance for previous public sins. They would

often live apart from both their families and their

community. Sometimes a penance could last

several years, while others lasted a lifetime. By the

11th century, however, the customs of Ash

Wednesday had pretty much evolved into what we

celebrate and recall today; that we are a human and

sinful people in need of reconciliation, love and

forgiveness. That’s what we remember on Ash

Wednesday—and that is what we celebrate

throughout these 40 days of Lent. It’s not a very

long period of time, but is a start, so let’s make a

promise that THIS LENT we’re going to make a

difference!

Fr. Frank

Brownbaggers Homeless Outreach

The Brownbaggers project serves the poor in

the NYC parks during the winter months. Since

2009 we have delivered thousands of lunches.

Meeting monthly in the Parish Hall at 12:30 pm, we

assemble 100 brown bag lunches with food and

clothing items donated by our volunteers. We then

travel via subway to multiple Manhattan parks to

distribute our lunches to those most in need,

returning to Brooklyn by 3:30 p.m. John Olash is

the current director of our Brownbaggers Homeless

Outreach program.

Volunteers can reach John

at: johnolash@hotmail.com

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Children under the age of 18 must to be

accompanied by an adult. Please wear comfortable

shoes and have your metro card charged.

Twenty five volunteers are needed for this event.

RSVP to: johnolash@hotmail.com

Please consider donating warm socks, hats or gloves

into the Brownbaggers Donation Box which will be

located in the vestibule of the church after every

mass. Any donations received will be distributed at

that month’s Brownbagger event. Also, financial

donations used to purchase food items can be made

in the Parish rectory. Thank you for your support.

Looking ahead to our last event for the year

March 4, 2018

HELLO PARENTS!

If you have a child too young for Faith Formation

classes, come join us after the Family Mass in the

playroom downstairs, through the door/hallway to

the right of the stage. You can let your kid(s) play,

enjoy some coffee, and have a nice

conversation with other parents.

For more information go to

saintsaviourchurch.org and click on

“Young Families Group.”

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. “

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE For the first time since 1945, the observance of Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 14. Some have inquired about the possibility of receiving a dispensation from the laws of fasting and abstinence. Our observances of these spiritual practices unite us with Catholics throughout the world as we commence a time of prayer and penance in preparation for Easter. For this reason, no dispensation will be granted from these universal norms. Catholics who desire to celebrate Valentine’s Day should consider doing so on Tuesday, Feb. 13, a day traditionally associated with festive celebrations.

We still have Mass Intentions available for both weekday AND weekend celebrations of Eucharist. Please consider having a Mass celebrated for a loved one or family member—either living or deceased. We are ALL in need of prayers, and there is no greater prayer than the celebration of Eucharist. Each Mass Intention is only $15.00. If you are interested in having a Mass celebrated in memory of a deceased loved one, or in honor of someone who is living, please call Emily at the Rectory and she will be more than happy to assist you.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR

Re: Precautions regarding the Influenza

Outbreak

As you are aware, the metropolitan area is

experiencing a severe outbreak of a virulent form of

the influenza that has sickened large numbers of

persons. While not life threatening in most cases, the

influenza can be very dangerous if contracted by

infants, small children, the elderly and those who

suffer from chronic illness.

Due to the severity of this year’s outbreak,

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of

Brooklyn, has mandated that effective immediately,

the distribution of the precious blood to the faithful

at Mass, be suspended. This suspension will be

lifted upon conclusion of this flu season.

Your assistance in reminding the faithful that

they should use common sense precautions when

attending Mass or other public functions in the

parish is also sought, so that the possibility of

spreading this virus is minimized. More specifically,

you are asked to remind the faithful, either through

the use of your Sunday bulletin or perhaps by means

of an announcement at Mass, of the need to refrain

from physically exchanging the sign of peace

at Mass if a person exhibits any signs of the disease.

Precautions should also be taken to ensure that

access to a hand sanitizer is readily available in the

sacristy for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy

Communion and the celebrant alike.

While the need to remind our people of these

common sense precautions may seem unnecessary,

given the gravity of the latest outbreak, such

reminders may protect those most vulnerable in our

midst against a serious threat to their health.

March Meeting of the St. Saviour Book Group The St. Saviour book group will meet on

Wednesday, March 7, from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

to discuss The Secret Chord: A Novel by

Geraldine Brooks. We will gather in the meeting

room at the rear of the parish hall. All are

welcome. For additional information and

reading list for 2018, contact Betsy

at ektbetsy@gmail.com .

Our Schedule for February 2018 is as follows:

February 11th Faith Formation Classes in session

*February 14th Ash Wednesday

The beginning of the Holy Season of Lent Repent and Live the Good News

February 18th No Faith Formation Classes First Sunday of Lent February 25th Faith Formation Classes in session Second Sunday of Lent FIRST SACRAMENTS

On Saturday morning, February 10, all our

young people preparing to receive the Sacraments

of Reconciliation & Holy Communion attended

their First Sacraments retreat. It was a beautiful

experience for our young people to pray and reflect

upon the 2 great sacraments they will be receiving

in the coming weeks. Please continue to keep these

young people in you prayers as they finalize their

preparations to receive the healing touch of Jesus in

the Sacrament of Reconciliation on March 3—and

the Body of Christ in May.

Please join us on Sunday, February 18th after

all Masses for Hospitality Sunday down in the

Parish Hall.

Sunday, February 11, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary

Time

9:30 a.m. Rose Gunning/Mary Rose Rubeck

11:30 a.m. Marion Cappiello/Alice Smiertka

5:00 p.m. People of the Parish

Monday, February 12, Weekday

8:30 a.m. Rev. Robert Frueh

Tuesday, February 13, Weekday

8:30 a.m. Valentino Nicola Marinelli

Wednesday, February 14, Ash Wednesday

8:30 a.m. Christopher Greany

12:05 p.m. Valentino Nicola Marinelli

7:30 p.m. Marion Marchello

Thursday, February 15, Thursday after Ash

Wednesday

8:30 a.m. Valentino Nicola Marinelli

Friday, February 16, Friday after Ash Wednesday

8:30 a.m. Valentino Nicola Marinelli

Saturday, February 17, Saturday after Ash

Wednesday

8:30 a.m. Valentino Nicola Marinelli

5:00 p.m. Marion Cappello/Thomas Devane/Oselia

Lopez

Sunday, February 18, FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

9:30 a.m. Herbert Victor Nelly

11:30 a.m. Valentino Nicola Marinelli

5:00 p.m. People of the Parish

On May 22nd, our very own Father Kevin

will be celebrating his 25th Anniversary of

Ordination to the priesthood. Father Kevin was

ordained by Bishop Thomas V. Daily on May

22, 1993, at Saint James Cathedral-Basilica in

downtown Brooklyn. Here at Saint Saviour

preparations have already begun to celebrate

this very special occasion. On Sunday, May

20th, Father Kevin will celebrate a Mass of

Thanksgiving here in Saint Saviour Church

at 11:30 a.m. Following our celebration of

Eucharist everyone will be invited to join us in

our High School gymnasium for a reception

of sandwiches, wraps, cake, coffee & cold

beverages. Please mark your calendars now &

plan on joining us for this special occasion

celebrating Fr. Kevin’s 25 years of faithful

service to the people of Brooklyn & Queens as

an ordained priest.