SAINTS SIMON & JUDE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Established 1897

185 Van Sicklen Street, Brooklyn, New York 11223

Telephone: (718) 375-9600 Fax: (718) 375-6642

E-mail: rectoryssj@optonline.net /www.stssimonjude-brooklyn.org

Rev. John Maduri, Administrator Rev. Sijo George, CMI-Parochial Vicar

Deacon Andrew Mastrangelo, Pastoral Minister/Business Manager

Ms. Sara Nespoli, Director of Faith Formation

SUNDAY MASSES: Saturday evening at 5:00pm ,

Sunday morning at 8:30am(Bilingual Italian/English)10:15am, 12:00pm

Misa en Espanol-Cada tercer Domingo del mes a las 5:00pm

WEEKDAY MASSES: Monday – Saturday at 9:00am

HOLYDAY MASSES: 7:30am, 9:00am, 7:30pm (Except Christmas and New Year’s Day)

DEVOTIONS: Chaplet of The Divine Mercy: Monday after the 9 am Mass

Circulo de Oracion Carismatico en Espanol- Todos los Lunes de las

7pm a las 9pm en la parte baja de la iglesia. Para mas informacion,

favor de llamar a la Sra. Teodora Aquino 347-355-5715. Miraculous Medal Novena: Tuesday after the 9 am Mass

Rosario in Italiano ogni Mercoledi alle 7:30pm (Settembre– Giugno).

St. Jude Novena: Friday after the 9 am Mass

Holy Hour / Benediction: 8:00am-9:00am every Saturday

RECONCILIATION (Confession): Saturday: 4:00pm-4:45pm

Other times by appointment.

RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday: 9:30 am -4:30 pm (CLOSED for lunch from 12pm-1pm) 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday and Sunday: 9:30am to 1:30 pm RECTORY/CHURCH BUILDING & GROUNDS STAFF: Bookkeeper: Nicole Compagnone Secretary: Antoinette Capobianco Maintenance and Custodians: Nelson Bobe and Eraldi Leka Cook and Housekeeper: Angelica Compagnone Sacristans: Sal Gallaro and Michael D’Alessio Evening and Weekend Receptionists: Marie Gatto and Vito DiGiovanni

PARISH REGISTRATION: We are happy to welcome all newcomers to our parish! Join our parish family by registering at the rectory during office hours. Current parishioners who change address, phone number or are moving away are asked to contact the rectory, so we can keep our files up to date.

BAPTISM: Congratulations on the birth of your child! Parish Baptisms are on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 2:00pm (except during Lent) Please call for an appointment to register and make arrangements for your child’s Baptism.

OFFICE OF FAITH FORMATION: To register for religion classes grades K through 8, children’s First Communion, or Confirmation, call 718-372-0733 in the rectory lower level.

Secretaries: Nina Varone and Nelly Yepez (para hablar en Espanol).

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

Teens over 14 and Adults who are interested in becoming a Catholic or who have been baptized Catholic but never received Holy Communion or Confirmation should be part of our RCIA program. Leave your name and phone number at the Office of Faith Formation for Sara Nespoli. Catholic Adults who have received Holy Communion and desire to receive Confirmation should also leave their name and phone number at the Office of Faith Formation for Sara Nespoli.

MARRIAGE: Plan to make your wedding both a JOYFUL and a HOLY event! Couples must call for an appointment at least 6 months prior to the planned wedding date and partici-pate in the parish and diocesan marriage preparation program.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK: We celebrate this sacrament of healing grace at the 9:00am Mass on the first Saturday of each month. Please join us at that Mass if you are ill. You may also call and arrange with a priest to receive this sacrament at other times.

PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: Please contact the rectory if you are home-bound, and would like to receive the Holy Eucharist on a regular basis.

MASS INTENTIONS

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

5:00 VINCENT CAVALLO

SUNDAY, MARCH 5

8:30 SANTO GIOFFRE

10:15 PEOPLE OF THE PARISH, DECEASED

MEMBERS OF THE ROSARY SOCIETY &

DOMENICO PICARIELLO, MERCEDES LISAY

12:00 DOLLY, JOSEPH & BARNEY BUTTA

MONDAY, MARCH 6

9:00 ARMANDO CAFARO

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

9:00 JOSEPH MARCHISELLO

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

9:00 DONATO DENINNO

THURSDAY, MARCH 9-ST. FRANCES OF ROME

9:00 ASSUNTA TRAPANI

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

9:00 VINCENZO, VIRGINIA & STEVEN ANCONA

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

9:00 DOLORES MIGALACCIO &

ROSEMARY LOMBARDO

5:00 GIROLAMO & IGNAZIA ARENA

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

8:30 GIUSEPPE & SALVATORE PAGANO

10:15 PEOPLE OF THE PARISH, DECEASED

MEMBERS OF THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY,

MARIANNA BLANCO, FERDINANDO

BERTOLOTTI, LUCYLE K. MC ENTEE

12:00 MARY & NUNZIO RUSSO

IN OUR PRAYERS May the Holy Spirit bring healing comfort to all of our sick, especially:

Jeanine Ardizzone, Stacy Meli, Camille & Anthony Chiusano, Annette Pug-

lisi, William Tirelli, John Belezio, Jean Petrobono, Denise Pizzullo, Martha

Monti, John Geraci, Antoinette Marino, Anna Iacopelli, Jeanina Caceres,

Millie Piccarelli , John DzHon Vong, Henry Soto, Gina Morselli, Mary

Russo, Mary Ann Barry, Susan Fischetti, Dominic Nunziato, Thomas

McGuiness, Linda Viscardi, Ludovica Sementa, Maria Sciarrino, Mary

Antico, Maria Selca Maher, Sadie Favara, Grace Landricina, Angelo D’At-

toma, Joseph DiBella, Fran Mattera, Ella Spina, Carmela Maccia, Rose Co-

lombo, Theresa Pagani, Roza Camaj-Ivezaj, Gina Poggi, Richard Bubello,

Joseph Nucifora, Grayce Prestipino, Howard Passman, Frank Apsel, Gen-

naro & Marie Filosa, Isabella DiNiso, Jeanne Turzilli, Larry Lembo, Nicola

Lupo, Anthony Scialabba, Carmela Acquaviva, Gesterkent Jaro, Antonino

Curatolo, Thomas David DeAngelo, Robert Cusimano,

Michael Fiore, Florence Mauro, Karen Giachetta, Sherry Ann Mari,

Mary Jencsik, T. Guida, Richard & Gary Prestipino, Maria Andronico,

Carol Marcinsky, Pietro Grippo, John Paul Harris, Mary Troise,

Reid Moritz, Julia Bruzzese, Angela Nucifora, Stephen DiBella,

Maria Piccarelli, Linda Grimaldi, Alfred Pilotti & Rosemary Breen

May God bring safely home all of our deceased family and friends

especially: Antoinette Cassar

MEMORIALS FOR THE WEEK OF

MARCH 5 - MARCH 11, 2017

THE GIFTS OF THE BREAD AND WINE ARE DONATED IN LOVING MEMORY OF

GRACE LAGRECA

REQUESTED BY: STS. SIMON & JUDE GOLDEN AGE CLUB

THE TABERNACLE CANDLE IS DONATED IN LOVING MEMORY OF

JOSEPH MARCHISELLO

REQUESTED BY: LOVING FAMILY

THE ALTAR CANDLES ARE DONATED IN LOVING MEMORY OF

JOSEPH ANTHONY MARCHISELLO

REQUESTED BY: CATHY MARTELLI

THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS CANDLE IS DONATED IN LOVING MEMORY OF

A SPECIAL INTENTION

STS. SIMON & JUDE PURGATORIAL SOCIETY The Purgatorial Society of Sts. Simon & Jude parish for the month of

March includes the following members who were enrolled last month:

Joseph Marascia, Patrick McGuire, Jay Medley,

Josephine Cirabisi & Marie Addeo

__________________________________________________________________________________________

THE SEASON OF LENT In union with the faithful all over the world, we enter a time of penance

and prayer to renew our hearts in God’s love, and experience His

mercy. Take time to share with us in any of the following Lenten ex-

periences of prayer.

We mark every Friday of Lent as days of abstinence when no meat

(fowl and beast) is eaten. We also mark Ash Wednesday and Good

Friday as days of abstinence and fasting when no meat & only one

full meal and two smaller meals are eaten, and only water, coffee or tea

is consumed. We accept these communal sacrifices offered to God as a

way of uniting ourselves to the suffering of Christ and the suffering of

our world. We also seek to lessen our dependence on the things of this

world, so as to increase our focus on the things of heaven. As a visual way of marking this solemn season, the church is kept bare of most

decoration. NO FLOWERS will be kept in the church until we joyfully cele-

brate the great feast of Easter!

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY & THE BIBLE

Rev. John Maduri, our parish administrator, will be hosting a 12 week

adult faith formation course on “The Blessed Mother & the Bible” be-

ginning Wednesday, March 8th at 7:30pm in the rectory basement

meeting room. All are invited to participate. Fliers with details will be

available in the church main vestibule.

“IT IS FINISHED” The Glenn Mohr Chorale will be presenting a special Passion Play for

the Lenten season on Sunday, March 12th at 3pm in the church. “It Is

Finished” is a deeply moving production. Experience the final hours of

the Lord’s Passion, as seen through the eyes of Pontius Pilate, Dismas

the Good Thief, Judas and Veronica, presented through drama and

song. For more information visit www.glennmohrchorale.com

EUCHARISTIC MINISTER MEETING

There will be a special meeting for all Eucharistic Ministers on Tues-

day, March 14th at 7pm in the office of faith formation, rectory base-

ment. Fr. Maduri will be hosting the meeting and would like to meet

with all of the Eucharistic Ministers, please be sure to attend.

WHEN THE DESERT BECOMES A GARDEN

All of us are aware that for two thousand years both Sacred Scripture and

the Church have regarded Jesus as the new Adam. As Adam brought sin

and corruption into the world, so our Lord brings truth and beauty into

the world as God originally intended. As Adam brought death so Jesus

brings life. What we see in today’s readings is a process of beauty lead-

ing to corruption, life leading death. Then we see the reverse as all is

restored in Christ.

The desert as we know is largely lifeless and parched. Lost in a desert

for a period of time people will die of hunger and especially of thirst.

The imagery that Scripture uses was not lost on the people of our Lord’s

time. They knew the dangers and the death of the desert and with good

reason they avoided it. Gardens of course are the complete opposite.

Colorful, full of splendor and life giving water, they thrive and enliven

those who traverse there paths.

It was to one such garden that Adam and Eve were placed, a gift given

by God for them (and us) to share eternally. In this garden there was

nothing but the satisfaction of the human heart’s deepest longings and

desires for truth and goodness and beauty, ultimately for love. As in all

gardens there can occasionally be weeds that need to be removed. No

one in their right mind removes the trees and the flowers for the weeds to

grow. Yet by all accounts Adam and Eve were more taken by weeds

than flowers, more enthralled by ugliness than beauty, more tempted by

lies than truth, more open to death than to life. It sounds tragically a lot

like how many contemporary men and women live their lives. The dis-

obedience of Adam and Eve was a choice for themselves and against

God; it was a choice to live in the death and lifelessness of the desert.

For what we may ask? It was for their own wants and pleasures; to ful-

fill their desires on their terms; to live life as they chose. By doing so

they gained their worse selves but lost their true selves: sons and daugh-

ters of God created in His own image and likeness.

In today’s Gospel reading something completely opposite happens. Just

as God brought Adam and Eve into the garden, so the Evil One brings

Jesus into the desert. Here our Lord experiences the very same tempta-

tions we experience, perhaps in different form, but at root the same.

They are pleasure symbolized by hunger (“If you are the Son of God,

command these stones become loaves of bread”); doubt, symbolized by

Satan trying to test Jesus’ trust in the Father (“He will command His

angels concerning You and with their hands they will support You, lest

You dash Your feet against a stone”); and power (“I will give you all the

Kingdoms of the world if you prostrate and worship me, Satan”).

The response that Adam and Eve gave to God by their words and actions

were not the ones God would have wanted. The response that Jesus

made to Satan by His words and actions were not the ones that Satan

wanted either. We can say that both God and Satan were disappointed.

The plan of each had failed. Or had it failed for both? And whom do we

wish to disappoint?

We can take the second question first, “Whom do we wish to disappoint?

Too many of us who call ourselves Christians have little to no problem

disappointing God at seemingly every turn. We willingly place our-

selves in the occasions of sin, we embrace the materialism and greed of

the world, seeks its pleasure in ways that are at odds with God’s eternal

plan; justify our disdain for those whom we deem different from us by

virtue of the color of their skin, their ethnic background; their religion, or

their immigrant status, and in the end love our sins (ourselves) more than

God. It is the way of Adam and Eve. It is the way of the parched desert.

Jesus offers a different way and in this we see that God’s plan for our salvation is

victorious. Jesus has the best food, His Father’s Will. He has the best gift, total

trust in the Father. He has the most power, the power of love. His is the way of

God. It is the way of the life giving garden.

What Sacred Scripture does once again is shake us from our complacency and our

penchant for compromise. Just as in last Sunday’s Gospel which reminded us that

we cannot serve two masters, so this Sunday we are reminded that we cannot have

both the desert and the garden. We must choose. The choice of course is not so

much with words but with the actions, choices, decisions of our lives which we

must make every day. Genesis tells us that placed before us is life and death.

Today’s readings are doing no less. The desert of our sins is the realm of death.

The garden of God’s Will is the realm of life. The writer of Genesis tells us point-

edly, “Choose life.” Today’s Scriptures tell us the same but in different words,

“Choose the Garden of life,” where God is all in all and where the wise will reign

with Him now and forevermore.

Fr. John Maduri

APPROACHING THE ALTAR:

Letting the Eucharist Transform Us From Within In Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ famous “Bread of Life” discourse.

“Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall never hun-

ger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst…Truly, truly, I say to you, unless

you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;

he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up

at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who

eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in my, and I in him.” (John 6:35, 53-56)

This teaching of Jesus at first glance is one that seems scandalous. Surely he must

be speaking allegorically, or using some form of hyperbole? This is the argument

that many Protestants and Evangelicals use when interpreting this passage. How-

ever, Jesus clearly leaves no room for this interpretation if we take an honest look

at the text. What scandalizes people who don’t understand the Church’s teachings

on the Eucharist today was just as big of a scandal to the first century Jews of

Jesus’ time. After Jesus claims to be the bread of life which comes down from

Heaven, the Jews murmured among themselves and asked how this could be. But

instead of telling them he is speaking metaphorically, Jesus emphasizes all the

more that people need to receive his body and blood as food and drink, using the

Greek word trogo, which although is translated “eat” in our Bibles, finds it’s lit-

eral meaning in the English verb “to gnaw” or “munch”.

Jesus lost thousands of followers after giving this teaching. They just up and left.

And rather than telling them they are misunderstanding, Jesus lets them go,

prompting Jesus to ask the Twelve, “Will you also walk away?” Jesus clearly

meant what he said, and he would rather lose every disciple then compromise this

teaching.

But all of this begs us to ask the question, “Why must we eat his flesh and drink

his blood?” Why is Jesus so adamant about this teaching, to the point of letting

thousands of his disciples walk away? To the Jews, this was especially a scandal-

ous because they were forbidden to drink the blood of any animal. The reason

being that the lifeblood contained the essence of the animal. Quoting the Biblical

commentary of Curtis Mitch and Scott Hahn, “To do so is to consume “life” that is

merely natural and of a lower order than human life.” It seems that the Jewish

people had an understanding of that famous proverb we use often, “you are what

you eat!” Even from a scientific standpoint this adage proves true, as all the food

and nourishment we take into our bodies is broken down within us and used for

rebuilding. Our bodies literally transform food and make it part of us.

With this simple scientific truth, we see the beautiful simplicity of exactly why we

need the Eucharist. God wants us to be like Him. In order for this to take place, he

needs to become food that we can take into our bodies. As we go through life

receiving the Eucharist, we are made more and more likened unto God. Union

takes place within us.

However, we can approach the Eucharist every Sunday for the rest of our lives and

never experience a difference if we’re not opening ourselves up to the graces that

our present there. I am convinced that what sets the saints apart, what gave them

the heroic virtue they acquired through life, is the fact that when they approached

the altar of our Lord to receive him, they did so with an attitude of reverence and

respect, telling God from the bottom of their hearts that he can do whatever he

wishes with them. When we approach the Eucharist with childlike simplicity and a

desire to allow God to transform us, we will be changed. As God gives himself

completely to us, we must strive to hold nothing back from him. May we always

approach this most blessed Sacrament with this desire. May we be transformed

into saints. Amen.

Jonah Soucy

MARCH 5, 2017

The Mustard Seed Contact us @ 718-372-0733

Or email us at faithformssj@optonline.net

DON’T BE TEMPTED In today’s first reading we hear about how the snake tempted Eve, and through her action sin en-

tered the world. Eve’s sin of ego – wanting to be like God is something we all struggle with. God

created us and knows what is best for us; but we always think we know better. It is in those times,

when we question the goodness of God, that we sin. That sin then leads us to something we all suf-

fer with from time to time – shame. God did not create us to live in shame – He created us to live in

the light of love. By controlling our selfish desires, we can live in happiness.

DO YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE RIGHT? Today, on the first Sunday of Lent we hear of Jesus’ time in the desert. During those 40 days He was tempted by the devil. Jesus real-

ized that all He needed came from God. During our Lenten journey we work at realizing that all we need comes from God. We have all

that we need, but in our society we are always seeking more. Take some time during these forty days to realize our God has given us all

we need.

FASTING, PRAYER AND ALMSGIVING During Lent we are asked to examine our lives and change those things that lead us away from God. Very often people use Lent as a way

to stop smoking drinking or overeating; but after the forty days go right back to their old ways. That makes your Lenten sacrifices a

waste of time. During Lent we can make those sacrifices if we make them to better ourselves and those around us. You can fast from a

bad habit – but replace it with a good habit; or use the money saved from the bad habit to benefit someone. After the 40 days we should

be different and have aligned ourselves closer to God.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS/SOUP SUPPER During Lent we participate in many of the rituals and practices of our faith. Every year our students participate in the Stations of the

Cross and have a soup supper afterwards. Please plan to join us on Tuesday March 28 at 6:30 PM.

SSJ GOT TALENT On March 11 we will present our 3rd Annual SSJ’s Got Talent. Mark your calendars and plan to come to be entertained by the brightest

stars of our parish.

Dress rehearsal for all the participants will be on Friday March 10 at 7 PM.

ST PATRICK/ST JOSEPH CAFÉ NIGHT Entertainment and great desserts are planned for our St Patrick/St Joseph Café Night. Come join us. Tickets are $10 and will be sold

after Mass on Sunday March 5 and March 12 or you can call the office to reserve your ticket.

SAVE THE DATE March 11 Talent Show

March 17 St Patrick/St Joseph Cafe Night

March 25 First Reconciliation

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

MONDAY, MARCH 6

9:30am: Chaplet of the Divine Mercy (CHU)

6:30pm: Rosarian Meeting (LC)

7:00pm: Circolo de Oracion (LC)

TUESDAY, MARCH 7 9:30am: Miraculous Medal Novena (CHU)

3:00pm-5:00pm: Youth Ministry (LC)

7:00pm: Faith Formation Classes

7:00pm: Antique Auto Club (LC)

7:00pm: Circulo de Oracion

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

12:00pm-3:00pm: Golden Age Club (LC)

11:30am: Stations of the Cross (CHU)

6:30pm: Al-e-Mo Square Dancing (LC)

7:00pm: Italian Rosary/Via Crucis (CHU)

7:30pm: “The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Bible” (RMR)

THURSDAY, MARCH 9 9:30am: Legion of Mary (LC)

6:00pm: One Life Youth Group (LC)

7:30pm: AA Meeting (OFF)

8:00pm: Folk Group Rehearsal (CHU)

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

9:00am: St. Jude Novena (CHU)

7:00pm: Reunion de Servidores/Via Crucis (CHA)

7:00pm: Talent Show Dress Rehearsal (LC)

8:00pm: Prayer Group (OFF)

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 8:00am: Holy Hour (CHU)

4:00pm: Adult Confirmation (OFF)

5:00pm: Pasta Sunday Ticket Sale (CHU)

6:30pm: Talent Show

7:00pm: AA Meeting (OFF)

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

8:00am: Rosario Italiano (CHU)

9:00am: Pasta Sunday Ticket Sales (CHU)

9:00am: Holy Name Meeting (LC)

10:15am: Faith Formation Classes (LC)

3:00pm: Glenn Mohr Chorale

OUR SCHOOL Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy

(K-8th grade and Nursery Program)

385 Ave. W -Brooklyn, NY 11223

718-375-2081 or visit www.olgbk.org

STS. SIMON & JUDE PARISH MISSION STATEMENT

Sts. Simon & Jude Parish is a Roman Catholic community striving to fulfill the mission of Christ in His Church through prayer, sacrament and service. Obedient to the word of God, we aspire to create a spirit filled atmosphere of faith, unity and love among our members. Instructed by the Gospels, and with Christian charity, we strive to reach out to and care for those in need. By fostering the full participa-tion of our members in the worship and ministries of the church, Sts. Simon & Jude Parish seeks to establish a committed center for spiritual growth, social involve-ment and evangelical outreach to people of all ages in our community.