February 19, 2012
Seventh Sunday, Ordinary Time
Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25, Cor 1:18-22, Mk 2:1-12 (80)
“While he was delivering God’s word to them, some people arrived bringing a paralyzed man to him. The four who carried him were unable to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they began to open up the roof over the spot where Jesus was. When they had made a hole, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.’”… “It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses: your sins I remember no more.”
It took extra effort for the five persons to get Jesus. Four carried, one couldn’t move. The roof allowed them to bypass the crowd and come face to face with Jesus. A twofold healing took place, spiritual and physical. Another healing occurred as people observed, challenged and learned that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins.
How appropriate for us as we take seriously this gospel text and begin the season of Lent this week. This unique time of penance and spiritual renewal calls us to admit to our sinfulness and do something about it. As the paralytic allowed Jesus to touch and teach through his command, he learned forgiveness and was restored to health. The others were ‘awestruck; all gave praise to God. Saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Use this incident to initiate Lent this year. Although it is unpopular and makes us uncomfortable, we all need to admit our need for forgiveness and healing. As we seek forgiveness, we learn to forgive. The Lord wipes out our offenses and remembers our sins no more. Like the four, our effort will be blessed and we too will be changed.
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HIS WORD TODAY by Rev. William J. Reilly
The collection for February 12, was $5757.Thank you.
We encourage you to enroll via the ParishPay website and click on the St Joseph West Village link. Use the paperless way to help our ministry.
PLEASE REMEMBER OUR PARISH IN YOUR WILL
No matter what the size of your estate, if you want to provide for relatives, friends and our Parish you will need a WILL. If you die without one, you lose control of the disposition of your assets. The state law in which you reside will tell your family where your money and property goes.
Naming our Parish as a charitable beneficiary in your Will is simple. Through careful review of this alternative you may save further income and estate taxes. For further information, you and/or your attorney may contact
Director, Planned Gifts
The Archdiocese of New York
1011 First Avenue, SI400
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: 212-371-1000, E3317
“‘Catholicism’ could well become one of the most significant efforts ever to advance what Pope John Paul II called ‘The New Evangelization,’” writes
GeorgeWeigel, biographer of POPE JOHNPAUL II
Paris Pay enables parishioners to make their regular donations to the parish electronically via automatic deductions to checking or savings accounts, or via credit card. Some opt to give monthly while others also take the opportunity to use Parish Pay for special occasions like Christmas and Easter. In whatever manner they have chosen to use ParishPay they have found the system to be very facilitating.
We encourage you to enroll the ParishPay website under St Joseph West Village link. The St. Joseph Soup Kitchen has also adopted ParishPay, we encourage you to think of the service the soup provides when giving.
ParishPay provides a steady stream of revenue for the parish, and enables funds to be collected, recorded, and deposited efficiently and effectively. Also, this revenue becomes a steady source of income, not subject to the fluctuations that our regular Sunday collections exhibit, and helps us plan and manage parish finances and activities more efficiently. It will also let the donor make and annual Parish gift and pay this gift over the entire year. It eliminates the need for writing a weekly check or making a cash gift through the offering plate each week. Parishioners may increase or decrease these gifts as their circumstances allow.
We know that many parishioners wish to give generously and regularly. ParishPay provides the vehicle for this faithful generosity
Please call the Rectory and inform us if you know of anyone who is homebound, feeling the effects of old age or is ill and not able to attend mass. We will be happy to visit them on a regular basis and provide them with the sacraments at home. Call 212 741-1274Please note that we have a new listing Parish Activities. Please visit our website washingtonsquarecatholic.org for the latest news on the NYU Catholic Center, St. Joseph’s Parish, and links to other Catholic organizations and interests.
Please send your announcements and events to be included in the bulletin and web:
CALLING SOPRANOS AND ALTOS!
The 11:30 AM Traditional Choir is seeking volunteer female choir members. Sunday 10 AM rehersal. Auditions required. You must be committed and be able to read music. Please contact the music director at the parish office or by email:
How generous is our God! Despite our iniquities and transgressions, God forgives. God “puts a seal upon us and gives us the Spirit in our hearts.” God heals our brokenness, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Do we say Yes to such a generous God and what would that look like? Do we forgive? Do we repent and reconcile? Do we heal those we’ve hurt?
This week we begin the sacred season of Lent, a special time to focus on these virtues. During this season, Pax Christi Metro New York invites you to pray, reflect, and be inspired to act on them at its annual Lenten retreat, “Our Call to Justice and Peace: Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Healing.” Contact the office at 212-420-0250 or nypaxchristi.org for details
~~Pax Christi Metro New York
Theology on Tap-NYC ( Young Adult Ministry for those in their 20s, 30s and early 40s) presents: “Our World Needs Catholic Heroes”: On March 5, 2012, Tom Peterson, President and Founder of VirtueMedia, Inc. and Catholics Come Home, will address Theology on Tap about our call to action to get our fellow Catholics to evangelize. 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
REMINDER: tHE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON mONDAY, fEBRUARY 20TH IN OBSERVANCE OF pRESIDEN’T DAY.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ashes will be distributed after the Homily at each Mass at St. Joseph’s Church. Masses are at 8:00 am, 12:10 p.m, 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
FEASt DAYS, SCRIPTURES citations
& special INTENTIONS
Saturday, February 18.
Jas 3:1-10 Mk 9:2-13 (340)
12:10 PM
5:30 PM Kathleen McDonald
Sunday, February 19
Is 43:18-19, 21-22,24b-25 2 Cor 1:18-22 Mk2:1-12 (80)
9:00 AM Aleksandra Schlussman (living)
11:30 AM Cathy Driscoll
. 6:00 PM Angelo Dundee
Monday, February 20
Jas 3:13-18 Mk9:14-29 (341)
12:10 PM Anthony Capone
5:30 PM Minetta Spagnola
Tuesday, February 21 St. Peter Damian
Jas 4:1-10/Mk 9:30-37 (342)
12:10 PM Victor Julio Narvaez
5:30 PM Catherine Bortner
Wednesday, February 22 Ash Wednesday
Jl2:12-18/2Cor5:20—6:2, Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 (219)
12:10 PM Jackie Butler
5:30 PM Rose Arias
Thursday, February 23 St. Polycarp
Dt 30:15-20; Lk 9:22-25
12:10 PM Jose Arias (living)
5:30 PM Stephanie Paterek
Friday, February 24
Is 58:1-9a Mk 9:14-15 (221)
12:10 PM Mary Irene Burns
5:30 PM Rita Cea
Saturday, February 25
Is 58:9b-14 Lk 5:27-32 (222)
12:10 PM Herb Averell
5:30 PM Laura Morales
MONTHLY PARISH ACTIVITIES
Sunday10:00 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
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