November 6, 2011

32nd Sunday in ordinary time

Wis 6:12-16/1 Thes 4:13-18 or 4:13-14/Mt 25:1-13

“The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.”

Every day we are informed about the price per barrel of oil. The news media includes it as part of the report on the economy. We are dependent on oil, yet seek alternative forms of energy from the sun or wind.

How dependent were the people of Jesus’ time on oil. It provided light in darkness, healing for sickness, and was essential for cooking. The parable today provides a lesson for all, in one word – preparedness.

The image of oil goes far beyond the items mentioned above. It can be an example of the life of grace, the good works we perform, or the generosity of our God. Grace strengthens us in living our Christian lives. Christ’s presence is made manifest in our actions in the service to others. God showers us with His goodness in countless ways, which we neither merit or earn. His soothing oil fills us.

The foolish ones in the parable perhaps think only of themselves and the present moment. There is little concern beyond their needs or the needs of others for the future. When we read of our responsibility for the environment it takes us beyond the now, except for action. When we hear of global warming, it is not just how things affect us, but concern for the future. When our land is consumed by deserts or destroyed by construction we take a step backward. Reforestation projects in Haiti or on the islands of the Pacific address vital needs for the future. Care for the rainforests in Brazil is essential for the life of future generations.

Our lesson today pits the wise versus the foolish.

HIS WORDTODAYby Rev. William J. Reilly

The collection forOctober 30th was $6,149. Please be generous with your weekly contribution to our parish ministries.
We encourage you to enroll via the ParishPay website Select the St JosephWestVillage link. Use the paperless way to help our ministry.

Theology on Tap-NYC ( Young Adult Ministry for those in their 20s and 30s) presents: “Will the Son of Man Find Any Faith When He Comes?”: On November 7, 2011, Msgr Lorenzo Albacete, Chairman of Crossroads Cultural Center, will address Theology on Tap about finding faith in our current society. ToTNYC is located at Klub 45 Room-Connolly’s Bar, 121 West 45th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Event begins at 7:30pm and ends around 9pm. For more info, visit

Dear Friends,

It is customary in parishes served by Dominican Friars to have a special annual collection for the benefit of each Dominican provinces novices. In the case of our own St. Joseph's Province to which we friars here belong, God has blessed us with a tremendous number of highly qualified men. In the photo handed out today you see the 16 novices who were leaving the novitiate in Cincinnati, Ohio and the 13 newly enrolled. Two of the latter, Paul Camerati and Eddie McCullough come from our parish. They are awaited by 55 Dominican seminarians in Washington, DC.

We Dominicans are totally dependent on the generosity of our parishioners and friends for the funds to educate and care for these young men in formation. We receive no income or re-imbursement from the local diocese in which we serve regarding the expense of our preparation for the priesthood. And so, I ask you to please be generous in next Sundays' second collection for our novices. More than one of them will be serving our parish in the future. Please help us prepare them for that day.

Reverend John P. McGuire, O.P.

Pastor

Open Pastoral Council Meeting
St. Joseph’s Pastoral Council will be holding an open meeting on Monday, November 14, at 7 p.m. in the Rectory Common Room on the 2nd floor. Expected topics of discussion include the new translation of the Mass and plans for Advent. All parishioners are encouraged to attend.
Christ the King Brunch
To celebrate the end of the liturgical year, the Pastoral Council invites you to a brunch on Sunday, November 20, at about 10 a.m. in the Rectory Common Room on the 2nd floor (following the 9 a.m. Mass). Come meet your fellow parishioners and wish them an early Happy Thanksgiving.

For what are you waiting? Are you wise enough to be prepared or are you unwise and unprepared? These are questions we might draw from today’s readings? Are we waiting for the coming of the reign of God without doing our fair share, or do we recognize our role in bringing forth the reign? Do we want peace, but condone war; want economic security for all, but neglect the impoverished; want universal health care, but allow the profit motive to determine who receives and who’s denied? Do we engage in the corporal works of mercy that Jesus taught, or do we only support them in theory? Let us prepare the way for a more just and peaceful future with wisdom, in faith.

~Pax Christi

Interested in growing closer to God?

“Open the eyes of your heart and see.” Isaiah 60:3

The Lay Spirituality Program at the Church of St. Francis Xavier offers you a way.

For 25 years, Lay Spirits has offered a program of prayer, presentations, reflection, group sharing and retreats.

Consider joining the next LSP group scheduled to begin in January 2012

Information Meeting: Sunday, November 6, 1:00 PM

Questions? Contact Mary Anne Sullivan at 212 580 1668, , or

Grace Gorman 212 535 1326, .

Church of St. Francis Xavier

55 West 15th Street, New York, NY 10011

Visit our website at

The NYU Symphony will perform at the Church of St. Joseph on Monday, November 14 at 8:00 PM, led by conductor Jens Georg Bachmann. The program includes Schoenberg Kammersymphonie No. 2, Moscheles Concertante in F Major for Flute and Oboe, and Schubert Symphony No. 1. FREE admission!

Theology in the City 2011-21

Church of St. Vincent Ferrer-869 Lexington Ave

New York, NY 10065

November 7-7pm

What do you know about the Apocalypse? In this series of lectures, Fr. Shah will unpack the rich and hopeful vision of all things, as seen by the Catholic faith. These lectures are suitable for the layperson, but they are aimed to take you more deeply into your spiritual life and theological understanding. And each conference can stand on its own. October 3rd is our first installment, where the nature of Beauty will be discussed: What is it? How do we know something is beautiful and why? Is God beautiful? Are we? How? We hope you will join us for Theology in the City 2011-2012! Bring friends!

Topic for 11/7: The Wisdom of Creation

Upcoming dates include:

The Promise of the Temple - December 5

The Poetics of the Bible - January 2

The Glory of the Lord - February 6

The Apocalypse in the Bible - March 5

The Work of Liturgy - April 2

The End of Man - May 7

FEAST DAYS, SCRIPTURE CITATIONS

AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

SATURDAY, November 5

Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27/Lk 16:9-15

12:10PM

5:30PM Rosalind & Vincent Lazara

SUNDAY, November 6 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wis 6:12-16/1 Thes 4:13-18 or 4:13-14/Mt 25:1-13

9:00 AM Alfonso Garcia

11:30 AM Anita Caspary, IHM

6:00 PM

MONDAY, November 7

Wis 1:1-7/Lk 17:1-6

12:10 PMAlbert Tazik

5:30 PM Jane Darrow Erickson

TUESDAYNovember 8

Wis 2:23-3:9/Lk 17:7-10

12:10 PM Ronald Kent Erickson

5:30 PM Alphonsia Adams

WEDNESDAY, November 9

Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12/1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17/Jn 2:13-22

12:10 PM Italo, Elena & Ephrem Parmigiani

5:30 PM Dr. John Darrow (living)

THURSDAY,November 10

Wis 7:22b-8:1/Lk 17:20-25

12:10PM Alphonsia Adams

5:30PM

FRIDAY,November 11

Wis 13:1-9/Lk 17:26-37

12:10PMBartolome Umayam

5:30PM

SATURDAY,November12

Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9/Lk 18:1-8

12:10PM Grace Henry Dybuncio

5:30PM Barbara Anne Smith

MONTHLY PARISH ACTIVITIES

Sunday
10:00 AM / Children’s Religious Studies / Casserly
10:00 AM / Scripture Discussion / Library
2:30 PM / Roman Forum Lectures / Casserly
7:00 PM / Grad Law / Casserly/Rectory
Monday
6:30 PM / Centering Prayer / Church
7:00 PM / YACHT Club for Young Adults / Casserly/Library
Tuesday
7:00 PM / Aquinas Circle of Undergraduates / Casserly/Library
Wednesday
6:30 PM / Korean Catholic Students / Casserly/Library
7:30 PM / Lenten Confirmation Class / 1st Floor Back Parlor
Thursday
6:30 PM 1st /mo / Pax Christi Bd Mtg / PCMNY
7:00 PM / Newman Club / Casserly/Library
7:00PM / Scripture Study / 1st Floor-Back Parlor
Friday
6:00 PM 1st/mo / Novena/ Sacred Heart / Church
6:15 PM / St. Egidio Prayer / Church
Saturday
10:00-3:00 PM / Soup Kitchen / Casserly
12:30 PM 1st/mo / Blessing of the Sick / Church
6:00 PM / Alcoholics Anonymous / Caserly