March 27, 2011

Third Sunday of Lent

Exodus 17:3-7/Romans 5:1-2, 5-8/John 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

Pilgrimage of NY 2011: The popular walking NY pilgrimage is back on April 9, 2011! This prayerful pilgrimage will commemorate the importance of Catholic education in our Archdiocese. During this walk, we will exercise our feet and soul as we walk from the northern tip of Manhattan (At Mother Cabrini Shrine) to the southern tip of the island, ending with Mass at. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine. Prominently featured is the Church of St. Joseph for its historical significance to NYC. For more info and to register, please visit

“There was a time when you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, well, then, live as children of the light. Light produces every kind of goodness and justice and truth. Be correct in your judgment of what pleases the Lord.” … “It was no sin, either of this man or of his parents. Rather, it was to let God’s works show forth in him. We must do the deeds of him who sent me while it is day. The night comes on when no one can work. While I am in the world I am the light of the world.”

Themes of light and darkness fill the scripture. The contrast is quite striking for you cannot have some of each. Before grace we were in the dark, not knowing or experiencing the love of Jesus Christ. We are told by Jesus we are salt and light, neither of which exists for itself. Salt gives flavor and light enables us to see the beauty which surrounds us. We are called to be children of the light. On our baptismal day, we were given a candle lighted from the paschal candle and told ‘you have been enlightened by Christ. Keep the flame of faith alive in your heart until the Lord comes.’ Have we?

Following a recent eye exam it was impossible to go out into the light. It was necessary to stay in a dark place until the medicine wore off and adjustments were made. Our Lent is the time for this change to take place, enabling us to go out in the light and be light for others. If we are the light the Lord calls us to be, we reflect the good deeds of the Lord while it is still day.

When Judas left the paschal supper ‘it was night.’ At this time of the year the days become longer, we begin daylight saving time. Change is taking place and we change too. We will soon celebrate the rising of Christ, when darkness is conquered and sin is banished. We take our final steps in being correct about what pleases the Lord.

The collections forMarch 20th were$6,402. 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.

HIS WORDTODAYby Rev. William J. Reilly

Roman Forum Lectures

Please note that the following lectures have been cancelled: March 27th, and April 10. Thank you for your understanding.

Next week our parish will take up the Catholic Relief Services Collection. This collection supports six Catholic agencies benefiting millions of vulenerable, displaced, and impoverished families and individuals around the world. From direct humanitarian service to helping victims of human trafficking and working to reunify families, the funds from this collection make a real differnece in lives across the globe. How will you help? Next week, please support the Catholic Relief Services Collection and Jesus in disguise.
St. Joseph’s Lenten Lecture Series
All Saturday's in our church at 7:00PM
April 2rd
Death amidst Life:
Lenten Gregorian Chant
Br. Innocent Smith, OP
April 9th
Wondrous that Tree: the Cross in Poetry
Br. Sebastian White, OP
April 16th
The (Other) Good Thief
Br. Cajetan Cuddy, OP
Theology on Tap-NYC (a young adult apostolate for those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s) presents“Facebook, Twitter, and Social Networking....Too much of a Good Thing?" on March 28, 2011. Fr. Jordan Kelly, OP, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Church, will talk to us tonight about the latest fads in social networking and communication. They are popular....but can they do harm? How should Catholics approach these methods? ToTNYC is located at Klub 45 Room-Connolly's Bar, 121 West 45th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Event begins at 7pm and ends around 9pm.

FEAST DAYS, SCRIPTURE CITATIONS

AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

SATURDAY, March 26

Mi 7:14-15, 18-20/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

12:10 PM

5:30 PM John A. Burns

SUNDAY, March 273nd Sunday of Lent

Ex 17:3-7/Rom 5:1-2, 5-8/Jn 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

9:00 AM Patrick McGeady (living)

11:30AMMaura & Eric Compton

6:00 PM Mary Duffy (living)

MONDAY, March 28

2 Kgs 5:1-15b/Lk 4:24-30

12:10 PM Eileen Buckley

5:30 PM Patricia Witterschein

TUESDAYMarch 29

Dn 3:25, 34-43/Mt 18:21-35

12:10 PM Francis X. Walsh Jr.

5:30 PM George Cannon

WEDNESDAY, March 30

Dt 4:1, 5-9/Mt 5:17-19

12:10 PM Elmo & Joseph Perazzo

5:30 PM Segundo Avilla

THURSDAY, March 31

Jer 7:23-28/Lk 11:14-23

12:10 PM Scott Fairchild

5:30 PM Bida McGonigle (living)

FRIDAY,April 1

Hos 14:2-10/Mk 12:28-34

12:10 PM Eugene Harkin

5:30 PM

SATURDAY,April 2 St. Francis of Paola

Hos 6:1-6/Lk 18:9-14

12:10 PMFrederick Pompei

5:30 PM Catherine M. Johnston

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