July 29, 2007

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Holy Spirit gathers us this Lord’s Day to hear the story of Abraham bargaining with God for the lives of the innocent people of Sodom. In addition to their immorality, the people of Sodom were infamous for their horrendous treatment of strangers and travelers. In the past few weeks we have heard scripture readings that focus on the virtue of hospitality. Let us heed the call to welcome the stranger and show Christian hospitality to all who enter this holy place.

MASS SCHEDULE

July 28 4:30PM Joseph and Elizabeth Delafano………Betty, Mike & Michael

July 29 10:00AM Zigmund “Ziggy” Goscinski..............Rick & Gert Johnson

Aug. 02 12:15PM Novena to the Miraculous Medal

Aug. 04 4:30PM Amadeo Volpe…………………By Wife

Silvio Tremante…………Skip & Marie Johnson

Aug. 05 10:00AM Silvio Tremante..................The Adinolfi Family

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

07/28:   R. Abeel, S. Abeel & E. Feuerstein 07/29:   S. Hedman & C. Mastan & J. Rey

08/04:   L. Lucas, A. Lotano & T. Lotano 08/05:   C. Mastan & D. Alvarado & W. Chura

COMMENTATOR & LECTOR

07/28:  C. Kiszkiel & W. Chura 07/29:   M. Burger & L. Lucas

08/04:  E. Feuerstein & W. Chura 08/05:   C. Hajjar & J. Scheib

ACOLYTES

07/29: All – Fr. Leo’s Last Mass 08/05: Mark DiCerbo Jr.

LITURGY PLANNING MEETING, Monday, July 30, 6:15 p.m. in the Rectory:  If you direct or facilitate a liturgical ministry (music, art and environment, acolytes, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, Sacramental preparers, sacristan), please make every effort to attend this meeting at which we will prepare a basic calendar of liturgical services for the remainder of this liturgical year through February 2, 2008, the Feast of the Presentation.  All parishioners are welcome.  If you would like to suggest an agenda item or an idea you would like to submit to enhance our parish liturgical life please e-mail it to waltchura_sfo@yahoo.com, or drop it off to Eileen at the rectory ASAP.  Participating in liturgy planning is one of the ways we are "Called to Be Church."

WANTED:  Communion Bread Bakers:  e-mail: waltchura_sfo@yahoo.com or phone: 456-3201 No pay.  Heavenly benefits.

FAREWELL FR. LEO – Fr. Leopold will be leaving to return to the Congo in September. This Sunday, July 29^th he will celebrate mass with us. A simple luncheon will follow mass. Education is not free in the Congo and Fr. Leo supports many people’s education in the Congo. Donations can be made for Fr. Leo’s education in the Congo, a basket will be provided for that purpose.

FOLK GROUP – The Folk Group is recruiting new members! We need to have a bigger group so we are assured of having a Folk Group at all times. Guitarists and keyboard players are welcome as are, additional vocalists. If you are interested contact Rick Johnson via the Parish Center at 374-9148 or sjb@albany.net

FAMILY/FAREWELL PICNIC – Sacred Heart/St. Columba is planning a picnic for Fr. Leo on Sunday August 12^th in the Central Park Pavilion. A bilingual Mass will be at noon followed by a potluck picnic. Sign up sheets are located near the front entrance of the church.

SAVE THE DATE! – Sunday September 9^th. Our “Called to be Church” local planning group (St. Mary’s, St. John the Evangelist & St. Anthony’s) is having a picnic in the Central Park Pavilion. Mass will be at noon followed by a picnic. More details will be forthcoming.

SALVATION ARMY SOUP KITCHEN – MARK YOUR CALENDAR! - We have received our serving dates for 2007/2008. 2007: August 24^th & November 30^th. 2008: January 18^th, February 22^nd, March 28^th, May 9^th & June 13^th.

REGISTRATIONS NEEDED! – Registration forms for the 2007-2008 school year are located in the entrances of the church. Early registration enables us to properly plan for the upcoming school year. Please register by as soon as possible.

WELL WISHES NEEDED! – Following a recent hospitalization, Gertrude (Sully) Sullivan is now residing at: Rm. 306 Kingsway Nursing Home, 323 Kings Rd., Schdy. NY 12304. She would love to hear from her fellow parishioners.

TRIP TO ATLANTIC CITY SEPT 9-11 $229 PER PERSON – Trip includes bus transportation, 2 nights at Bally’s Casino, $20 casino play, $30 food voucher, shows and much more. Sponsored by St. Paul the Apostle Men’s Club – contact Lou Grasso @ 374-1623.

MERTON IN THE MOUNTAINS:  CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER RETREAT Sept. 7-9, 2007 “Our real journey in life is interior" wrote Thomas Merton.  Merton's wisdom will again become your "Adirondack guide" to the heights and depths of silence and solitude amidst the awesome beauty of the wilderness surrounding Pyramid Life Center. For registration or facilities questions contact www.pyramidlife.org (518) 585-7545.  To contact retreat director, Walt chura, s.f.o. e-mail wwchura@yahoo.com or call 518-456-3201  

MEETING DATES

THURSDAY August 2nd Bible Study 11:00 AM in the Parish Center

MONDAY August 13th Parish Council 6:45PM in the Parish Center

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: The offertory collection for the weekend of 07/22/07 was $1,994.00. Needed to meet weekly expenses is $2,000.00. "And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good works."  2 Corinthians 9:8

MEDITATION:

17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME:  HOW TO BE CATHOLIC, Part 2

 I will be a better Catholic, not if I can refute every shade of Protestantism, but if I can affirm the truth in it and still go further.
           So, too, with the Muslims, the Hindus, the Buddhists, etc. This does not mean syncretism, indifferentism, and the vapid and careless friendliness that accepts everything by thinking of nothing. There is much that one cannot "affirm" and "accept," but first one must say "yes" where one really can.
           If I affirm myself as a Catholic merely by denying all that is Muslim, Jewish, Protestant, Hindu, Buddhist, etc., in the end I will find that there is not much left for me to affirm as a Catholic: and certainly no breath of the Spirit with which to affirm it."
Thomas Merton. Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander. New York: Doubleday, 1966: 144

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Schenectady’s Historic Church

Over 175 Years of Worship and Service

Rev. Michael T. Schmitt – Sacramental Minister

Administrative Assistant –Eileen Mazur

Parish Office Hours 8:30AM-2:30PM Monday through Thursday 374-9148 Closed Friday

Parish Center Email: sjb@albany.net Web Site: www.albany.net/~sjb/

Saturday Mass taped for Channel 16 – Shown: Sunday 2 PM & Monday 2 PM

St. John the Baptist Mission Statement

Dedicated to Celebrating Christ’s Love in

Worship, Works of Charity and Fellowship