St. John the Baptist R. C. Church 895 Piermont Avenue, Piermont, New York 10968

January 1. 2017

Rev. Tom Kunnel, C.O. Administrator frtomkunnel@gmail.com

Deacon John Cunningham Deacon Robert Pang

Kathleen Dunn Religious Education Director

May Pang Parish Admin: maysoohoo@optonline.net

MASSES

Saturday: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM

1:00 PM (Spanish) Weekdays: 8:00 AM Saturday: 9:00 AM

Holy Days: As Announced

Rectory

Mon – Fri 10:15 AM – 4:00 PM

Sat 10 AM – 12 Noon (Spanish)

December Sponsor of St. John’s App: Deacon Rob & May Pang

In Memory of: Elizabeth Grace Reyes

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP ‘ST JOHN PIERMONT’

Solemnity of Mary

Dear Parish Family, Happy New Year everyone! As the New Year ushers us into another year of our life, we take a brief glance at the historical significance and development of the Feast that we celebrate on the New Year ’s Day. The origins of a feast

celebrating Mary's divine maternity are obscure, but there is some evi-dence of ancient feasts commemorating Mary's role as theotokos (God bearer). The first documented usage of the term is in the writings of Origen of Alexandria in AD 230. Referring to Mary as ’Mother of God’ was pop-ular in Christian piety, but the patriarch of Constantinople from 428-431, Nestorius, objected. He suggested that Mary was only the mother of Jesus' human nature, but not his divine nature. Nestorius' ideas (or at least how others perceived his arguments) were condemned at the Council of Ephe-sus in AD 431, and again at the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451. The Church decided that Christ was fully God and fully human, and these na-tures were united in one divine person, Jesus Christ. Thus Mary could be called "mother of God" since she gave birth to Jesus who was fully divine as well as human. Since this time, Mary has been frequently honored as the "mother of God" by Catholics, Orthodox, and many Protestant denomi-nations. Calling Mary "mother of God" is the highest honor we can give Mary. Around 500 AD the Eastern Church celebrated a "Day of the Theotokos" either before or after Christmas. This celebration eventually evolved into a Marian feast on December 26th in the Byzantine calendar and January 16th in the Coptic calendar. In the West, Christmas has generally been celebrated with an octave, an eight day extension of the feast. The Gregori-an and Roman calendars of the 7th century mark the Christmas octave day with a strong Marian emphasis. However, eventually in the West, the eighth day of the octave of Christmas was celebrated as the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus. The push for an official feast day celebrating Mary's divine maternity started in Portugal, and in 1751 Pope Benedict XIV allowed Portugal's churches to celebrate Mary's divine maternity on the first Sunday in May. The feast was eventually extended to other coun-tries, and by 1914 was being celebrated on October 11. The feast of Mary's divine maternity became a universal feast in 1931. However, following Vatican II, Pope Paul VI decided to change the feast of Jesus' Circumcision to the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God to reclaim the ancient Western Marian emphasis at the end of the Octave of Christ-mas. Celebrating Mary's divine maternity during the Christmas octave makes complete sense in that the celebration is connected closely to Christ's birth. Pope Paul VI gave his reasoning for the change: “In the re-vised arrangement of the Christmas season, we should all turn with one mind to the restored solemnity of the Mother of God. This feast was en-tered into the calendar in the liturgy of the city of Rome for the first day of January. The purpose of the celebration is to honor the role of Mary in the mystery of salvation and at the same time to sing the praises of the unique dignity thus coming to "the Holy Mother...through whom we have been given the gift of the Author of life." This same solemnity also offers an excellent opportunity to renew the adoration rightfully to be shown to the newborn Prince of Peace, as we once again hear the good tidings of great joy and pray to God, through the intercession of the Queen of Peace, for the priceless gift of peace. Because of these considerations and the fact that the octave of Christmas coincides with a day of hope, New Year's Day, we have assigned to it the observance of the World Day of Peace.” (Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, Feb. 2, 1974, no.5). Thus Pope Paul VI highlighted the feast's celebration of both Mary and Jesus. He also noted the connection to New Year's Day and Mary's role as Queen of Peace. Jan-uary 1st, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God is also the observed "World Day of Peace." It was Mary’s sin-gular privilege to be the Mother of God, but we can share in her role as ‘Christ bearers’ by bringing the ‘Good News” to the world at the reach of our hands. Want to make this your New Year Resolution?

Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.

Please remember in your prayers the Sick and/or Homebound of our Parish Family. Tom Lynch, Antoinette Naglieri, Ann Ely, Tommy McGuire, Nicholas Bruni, brother of Marge Olsen, Fr Frank Samoylo, Giovanni Mercurio, Nijole Paronetto, Joseph Iorio, father of Lee McGarvey, Caroline Kelly

As a Parish Family, let us remember in our prayers all our beloved departed members of our Parish Community, Mary Iorio, Ada Wray, Johanna Krumm’s Sister, Frank Pellegrino brother of Mario Pellegrino, Jonathan Townes, Ralph Merola, Mi-chael Rotundo,Tebby DeMaio, Francisca Aguilar Gomezz, Deloress Pontone, mother of Jim Pontone, Gene Cummins, father of Jeanine Ken-nedy, Elizabeth Reyes, granddaughter of Dcn Rob & May Pang, Maureen O’Connell

Sat 12/31 5:00 PM James Murray by Eileen Murray

Sun 1/1

8:00 AM Patrick Donohue by Elizabeth Maher

10:30:AM Helen O'Brien by Pat & Rosemarie Miele

Mon 1/2 8:00 AM George Heath by Joe & Gina O'Keeffe

Tue 1/3 8:00 AM Kevin Lawler by Robin Miller, Janet Zahn Maryann Beckerich

Wed 1/4 8:00 AM Kevin Lawler by Therese O'Dowd

Thu 1/5 8:00 AM Ronald Beckerle by Mildred Oslica

Fri 1/6 8:00 AM Residence of Esplanade (intentions) by Outreach

Sat 1/7

9:00 AM Veronia Frances Scallon by Fernandez Family

5:00 PM Sandy Scelzo by Janet Zahn

Sun 1/8

8:00 AM Scott Bollino by Ted Simone & Buzz Johnson

10:30 AM Themy Dumlao by Diane Dumlao

Liturgy Schedule Jan 7/8

Day Time Lector Eucharistic

Minister Altar Servers

Saturday 1/7

5:00 PM Oscar Nordstrom Brooke, Hailey Comito Cassidy Carney

Sunday 1/8

8:00 AM Sal Caruana Lynne Dennerlein Charles Caruana 10:30 AM Jeanine Kennedy Marge Olsen Freddie Steifel Emily Moran 1:00 PM Dayana <azaroegp Micaela Maldonado Gabriela Garcia AyLeen Sicha Amy Cajamarca Evelyn Palma Nathalie Cajamarca Kelly Perez

THE GOOD NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOL OF RELIGION

...A Happy, Healthy & Holy New Year to All!

JANUARY HAPPENINGS

January 1st & 2nd - NO CLASSES

January 8th & 9th - Classes resume January 15th & 16th—NO CLASSES

January 22nd - FAMILY MASS at 10:30 am

Peace & Love

Sun 1-Jan

11:30AM Legion of Mary

11:45AM Religious Ed

12:30PM La Virgin of the Cloud

7PM AA Meeting

Mon 2-Jan 7PM Couples Meeting

Tue 3-Jan

7PM Altar Server Prep and Practice

7PM Baptism Prep

7PM Rios de Agua Viva Group

7PM Spanish Bible Sturdy

Wed 4-Jan 7PM Spanish Choir Practice

Thu 5-Jan 7PM Amigos de Jesus

7PM Rios de Agua Viva Group

Fri 6-Jan

8:30AM Adoration

10AM Fri Renew Group

5PM Adoration

"307PM Benediction

Sat 7-Jan 6:00PM Youth Grouth Gathering & Celebration

12/18 Collection: $3,943

12/11 #85 Peter Marino 12/18 #38 12/18 #38 Sal Caruano

25 SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS)

Movie The Story of the Nativity Audio The True Meaning of Christmas

27 ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE Program: Catholicism: Session 2 Happy

Are We Audio: Searching the Scriptures: The Gos-

pel of John 28 FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

Program: Catholicism Session 6: A body both Suffering and Glorious

31 FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY Movie: Joseph of Nazareth

Our Parish Code RGDV27

UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS

FIND A MESSAGE using the ‘Letter’ in the “( )”.

DAZEAM __ (__) __ __ __ __ SHARET __ __ (__) __ __ __ NEISH (__) __ __ __ __ FOGGYNILIR __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (__) USEJS __ __ __ __ (__) FILERGENTC __ __ __ __ (__) __ __ __ __ __ ECAPE __ __ __ __ (__)

Christ brought the Holy Spirit to our hearts as God's __ __ __ __ __ ___ ___

Answers are words from this week's readings (See Pg. 7 below the cartoon)

Contributed by Jill Ammerman

You can see a “FLY OVER VIDEO” in Media Section

You can send us a photo using “Capture” Feature

You can “Light a Candle” or make a “Prayer Request” from ‘Requests’ Button

Thank you to the Piermont Fire Dept for put-ting up the Christmas lights for us on our Christmas tree outside.

Thank you to Alex Aguilar for building the platform, putting up the backdrop and seting up the creche outside of the rectory.

Thank you to Lucy Bosco, Bill Gorman, Silvia Leiva, May Pang, Deacon Rob Pang, Kelly Pe-rez, Michael Perez, Mario Zamora, Yolanda Zamora for cleaning the church.

Thank you to all the Christmas decorators: Maria Contreras, Deacon John Cunningham, Jean Delongis, Willie Loniewski, Vincent McClure, Christine Mooney, Maria Nest, Dea-con Rob and May Pang, Brianne, Brendan, and Patrick Scollan, Almeda and Luz Silva, Yolanda & Mario Zamora.

Thank you, thank you...mucho gracias!!!!!

If you have not sent in your 300 Club payment, please do so as soon as possible. Your payment is OVERDUE. Thanks.

Thank you Lord for atime of blessing and mercy, for persons of our parish family who have journeyed on to eternity and new ones who have just begun their life with us. You have blessed us with generous hearts who give without counting the cost and others who serve without seeking a mention. Lord we thank you!

LECTURAS DE HOY

Primera lectura -- El Señor te bendiga y te proteja. Que el Señor te mire con benevolencia y te conceda la paz (Números 6:22-27). Salmo -- El Señor tenga piedad y nos bendiga (Salmo 66). Segunda lectura -- Dios envió a sus corazones el Espíritu de su Hijo, que clama "¡Abbá!" (Gálatas 4:4-7) Evangelio -- Los pastores se volvieron a sus campos, ala-bando y glorificando a Dios por todo cuanto habían visto y oído (Lucas 2:16-21).

LA BENDICIÓN QUE RECIBIMOS La bendición que experimentamos en Cristo Jesús es proclamada en Números como una bendición espe-cial para el pueblo de Israel. Ellos y nosotros seremos bendecidos por la invocación de la misericordia de Dios, la gloria resplandeciente de su rostro que nos mira con amor y no se aleja de nosotros con ira. ¡Hemos sido bendecidos por la paz de Dios! Nuestro deseo y nuestra esperanza se cumplen en esta bendición, que se hace visible en la venida de Jesús. En Jesús, la imagen del Dios invisible, se nos muestra su rostro y su presencia se nos da a conocer en la bondad amorosa y fiel.

Para los cursos pre-bautismales llamar a: Alex Aguilar 845-480-1502 y Natalia Lemus 845-480-1682. Los cursos se dan previa cita los martes 7pm y domingos 11am.

LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA

Lunes 1 Jn 2:22-28; Sal 98 (97):1-4; Jn 1:19-28

Martes 1 Jn 2:29 -- 3:6; Sal 98 (97):1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34

Miércoles 1 Jn 3:7-10; Sal 98 (97):1, 7-9; Jn 1:35-42

Jueves 1 Jn 3:11-21; Sal 100 (99):1b-5; Lc 4:14-22a

Viernes 1 Jn 5:5-13; Sal 147:12-15, 19-20;

Sábado 1 Jn 5:14-21; Sal 149:1-6a, 9b; Jn 2:1-11

Domingo Is 60:1-6; Sal 72 (71):1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Ef 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE En Nicaragua y otras naciones latinoamericanas se cele-bra el final de un año con la "quema del año viejo". Con-struyen grandes muñecos con ropa vieja, pólvora y papel que se encienden a medianoche entre los dos años. Cele-brar el comienzo de un año nuevo tiene una larga tray-ectoria en la historia humana. Hace unos 4000 años el pueblo de Babilonia ya festejaba la llegada de un nuevo año con grandes fiestas de primavera. Los judíos, al igual que otros pueblos agrícolas, también celebraban su año nuevo durante la primavera, el primer día de Nisán (a principios de abril). Fue Julio César quien nos dio la fecha del primero de enero como el inicio de nuestro calendario. En 1582 el Papa Gregorio XIII reformó el calendario para darnos el que actualmente está en uso. No obstante, los cristianos continuaron celebrando el año nuevo en primavera para evitar los excesos del "hombre viejo". Hace 400 años la Iglesia comenzó a celebrar el día primero de enero buscando cristianizarlo lo mejor posible. Por eso en el calendario litúrgico este día es dedicado a María, Madre de Dios.

P A R I S H M I N I S T R I E S & C H A I R Buildings & Grounds Pat Miele, Alex Aguilar, Buzz Johnson Deanery Maureen O’Connell Eucharistic Adoration Dcn Robert Pang Health Mary Loftus Hispanic Community Micaelina Maldonado/ Geny Aguilar Hospitality Robin Miller Men’s Club Bill Loftus. Ralph Olsen Ushers Jake Miraglia Music Elise Espinosa, Chris & Carolyn Yates, Ted Simone Spanish Choir Carlos Cerna, William Martinez Outreach Maria Nest Parish Council Scott Giblin Parish Worship Dcn John Cunningham Religious Education Kathleen Dunn RCIA Dcn Robert Pang, Jose Bolaños Right to Life Scott Giblin Social Kelli Chilson Spiritual Life Johanna Krumm St. Vincent De Paul Fr. Tom Kunnel

P A R I S H C O U N C I L Kelli Chilson, Kathleen Dunn, Scott Giblin. Paul Johnson, Andrew Lee, Martina Lynch, William Martinez, Maria Nest , Ralph Olsen,

May Pang, Carolyn Yates, Janet Zahn T R U S T E E S

Phil McCartin James Pontone

Our Sacramental Life

Baptism: Please call the Rectory well in advance of the expected day of Baptism to arrange an appointment for an interview. Pre-baptismal meeting for parents is required. Godparents must be confirmed, practicing Catholics. Generally Baptisms are celebrated the third Sunday of each month at 12:00 pm.

Reconciliation: Confessions are heard from 4:30-5:00 pm on Saturday. You may also make an appointment with Fr. Tom. Spanish confessions is availa-ble from 12:30–1:00 PM on Sundays.

Marriage: Marriages should be arranged at least six months in advance. Participation in Pre-Cana is essential. Please call the Rectory to schedule an appointment with Fr. Tom.

Anointing of the Sick: Before you enter the hospital for elective surgery or other serious treatment, and for those who have need of spiritual healing. In an emergency, please call Fr. Tom’s mobile 845 608 9358.

Holy Orders: Any gentleman interested in exploring the question of vocation to the priesthood or the permanent diaconate should contact Fr. Tom Kunnel. We would also be happy to direct anyone interested in living their lives as Religious Sisters or Brothers.

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults: For instruction for Baptism, Confirma-tion and Eucharist for adults and to learn about Catholic Faith. If interested please contact Dcn Robert Pang.

For more details and forms—www.stjohnspiermont.org

Parish Registration: All adults (over age 21) should register in the parish themselves and should use envelopes or parishpay.com. Tithing is 5% of income. This registration is our only means of certifying anyone as a member of the parish, especially for Baptism and Confirmation sponsorship

Answers A(m)azed,He(a)rts, (S)hine, Glorifyin(g), Jesu(s), Refl(e)cting Peac(e) Solution - MESSAGE