November 4, 2007

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sisters and brothers, our gracious and merciful God gathers us together today. Here we taste the gift of salvation that comes to us through Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we gather we feel lost. We come to this place to search for meaning and truth in our lives. When we open our hearts to the love of the Lord, we who were lost are found—we are given the gift of new life. As this Mass begins let us rejoice in the presence of God, whose love for us knows no end.

MASS SCHEDULE

Nov. 03 4:30PM Lawrence Hebert………….Margaret Hebert

Marguerite Ciarmiello……By Daughters

Nov. 04 10:00AM John & Raffaela DeMatteo..........By Family

Paul Tunke………………….The Bright Family

Nov. 08 12:15PM Novena to the Miraculous Medal

Nov. 10 4:30PM Amadeo Volpe………..…….By Wife

Loretta Adinolfi (2 yr. Anniv)………By Family

Nov. 11 10:00AM Richard LaTorre.....................Julia Pavlic

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

11/03:  L. Lucas, T. Lotano & A. Lotano 11/04:   C. Mastan & D. Alvarado & J. Rey

11/10:  S. Abeel, R. Abeel & B. Cummings 11/11:   C. Rogowicz & C. Rogowicz & A. Welch

COMMENTATOR & LECTOR

11/03:   B. Cummings & W. Chura 11/04:   C. Hajjar & C. Greene

11/10:   C. Kiszkiel & M. Burger 11/11:   D. Holodak & J. Carosella

ACOLYTES

11/04: Mark DiCerbo Jr. 11/11: Rachel, Christine & Michael Natalie

Getting Ready for the new Liturgical Year
1)*The *Missals* have arrived for the new liturgical year which begins on the First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 2, 2007.  Please pick one up in the back of the church and begin to familiarize yourself with this excellent resource of growing in prayer.  Freewill donations to cover the cost
may be given to Donna Simone or placed in the collection basket.

*2) New Hymnals*:  Watch in the pews for the new hymnals we will be using soon.

*3) ADVENT/_URES IN CATHOLIC LITERACY!  *On the weekend of Christ the King, marking the last week of the current liturgical year, free sample copies of several excellent Christian magazines and newspapers will be available.  Take one home and consider subscribing.  If you find that the one you chose is not right for your family, bring it back the First Sunday of Advent and leave it for someone else to look at.  *THEN TRY ANOTHER*! If only *one family *subscribes to each periodical and brings it back to share with others *WE WILL ALL GROW UNDERSTANDING OUR CHURCH AND OUR FAITH!*

Your Digital Photos of Parish Events Needed ASAP! - Please forward your best digital photos of what we as a community are grateful for which took place during this past year to Mark Perrella [mperrell@nycap.rr.com].  Mark will select photos for a post-Communion visual meditation at our Thanksgiving Day 9 a.m. Mass.

SALVATION ARMY SOUP KITCHEN – Our next date to serve is Nov. 30^th. We will be serving Cranberry Chicken. We are in need of Stove Top stuffing, dry Onion Soup mix, cash donations and as always helping hands.

THE SALVATION ARMY – is looking for volunteers for several upcoming Holiday Social Service programs. A complete listing of programs is located on the bulletin board.

ANNUAL COOKIE WALK – will be held on December 15^th & 16^th. We are in need of small clean coffee cans (plastic or aluminum).

SCHOOL OF RELIGION – Classes are scheduled for Nov. 4^th. NO CLASS Nov. 11^th – Veteran’s Day. Classes scheduled for Nov. 18^th. NO CLASS Nov. 25^th (Thanksgiving Recess).

FRIENDS OF FR LEOPOLD – You may contact him by mail at: Rev. Leopold Kamundu, C/O Rev. Abbot Marcel Lasters, Abdij Postel, Abdijlaan 16, 2400 Mol, Belgium.

Email: kamunduleopold@yahoo.fr

ELECTION DAY ZITI DINNER – will be held on Tuesday Nov. 6^th from 4:00 – 8:00PM at St. Joseph’s Church, Schenectady in the church hall. Cost is $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12 and includes ziti and meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and coffee or tea. Takeout is also available upon request by calling 381-6088 after 3PM on Nov. 6^th.

THANK YOU - Thanks to ALL who worked, came & enjoyed, and those who donated to the Annual Pasta Dinner. Preliminary results indicate that we realized over $500.00 for everyone's efforts last Wednesday. The winners of the 50/50 were Jim Boughton, Bob Wagner, Darlene Duggan and Dave Rey. Dave Rey, Chairman

MEETING DATES

SUNDAY November 4th Folk Group Mtg. 11:15 AM in the Parish Center

THURSDAY November 8th Bible Study 11:00 AM in the Parish Center

MONDAY November 12th Parish Council 6:45PM in the Parish Center

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: The offertory collection for the weekend of 10/28/07 was $2,340.00. Needed to meet weekly expenses is $2,000.00. And keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive."  Acts 20:35

MEDITATION:  THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME*
*Conversion*

[P]sychologists have had some pretty rough things to say about the immaturity and narcissism of love in our marketing society, in which it is reduced to a purely egotistical need that cries out for immediate satisfaction or manipulates others more or less cleverly in order to get what it wants. But the plain truth is this: love is not a matter of getting what you want. Quite the contrary. The insistence on always having what you want, on always being satisfied, on always being fulfilled, makes love impossible. To love you have to climb out of the cradle, where everything is "getting," and grow up to the maturity of giving, without concern for getting anything special in return. Love is not a deal, it is a sacrifice. It is not marketing; it is a form of worship. Thomas Merton. "Love and Need" in /Love and Living/. Naomi Burton Stone and Brother Patrick Hart, editors. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1979: 30-31

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