MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday August 27, 2016 Vigil for Sunday St. Monica 5:30pm Joseph Saraco requested by Eva and Al Bertolacci Sunday August 28, 2016 Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30am All Parishioners SFX 9:30am Frank Ramunno requested by Jeneanine Ramunno

11:15am Anthony Saraco requested by Lucille Saraco 12:30pm Angelina Delia (Sixth Anniversary) requested by Frances Delia Monday August 29, 2016 The Passion of St. John the Baptist 7:30am Reverend Monsignor Joseph H. Quinn—2nd Pastor SFX 9:00am Clara King requested by the Carbala Family

Tuesday August 30, 2016 7:30am Clara King requested Aleena Gil 9:00am Al DeSantis requested by Ronald E. Bellantese Wednesday August 31, 2016 7:30am Al DeSantis requested by Holy Name Society 9:00am Reverend Matthew J. Furey & Mrs. Mary Furey (living) requested by Angela Lifrieri Thursday September 1, 2016 7:30am Robert D’Ambrosio requested by Patricia Perugini 9:00am Kathleen Ann Dean requested by Margaret Dean Friday September 2, 2016 7:30am Maria Marino requested by Angie Marino 9:00am Special Intentions Joseph Lauria (living) 95th Birthday requested by Frances Delia Saturday September 3, 2016 St. Gregory the Great 7:30am Agostino Calisi requested by The Calisi Family 9:00am Pasquale Rocchio requested by The Vasti Family 7pm—8:00pm First Friday Holy Hour and Benediction Only Vigil for Sunday Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:30pm Margaret Rita Dean requested by Margaret Dean Sunday September 4, 2016

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30am All Parishioners SFX 9:30am Joseph Milone requested by Joan Milone

11:15am Salvatore Picone requested by Debbie Picone 12:30pm Rosaria and Luigi Rampino requested by The Nigro Family

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mother Teresa, “humble servant of Jesus,” will be canonized on September 4th, 2016 Her approach to a life of lived faith: Pray so that we enlarge our hearts Love without limits Forgive as we are forgiven

Lean on Jesus and offer our suffering to Him “The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow,

do good anyway.” Please see prayer on opposite page.

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Correction from last week’s bulletin: Congratulations to Gerald Christopher and Marliza Gutnick who were married here on Saturday, August 27th, 2016.

Congratulations to John Tomero and Gina D’Amore who were married here on Saturday, August 27th, 2016.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: If you are interested in receiving the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist) and being

received into the Catholic Church at Easter, or if you are already baptized but not yet received First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is meant for you. If you are interested, please call the Rectory at 718-892-3330. Sessions will begin the end of September.

St. Francis Xavier School: Office will be open Monday -Thursday 9:00am until 2:00pm. Friday, Sept. 2nd, School will be closed. School begins Thursday, September 8th. Visit School website. UPK and Kindergarten received a

letter outlining dates and times. Applications and scholarship

information is available at www.ApplyCatholicSchoolsNY.org.

Religious Education—Learning to live our beautiful Catholic faith 24/7: Jesus is waiting for you in the Eucharist! Classes will begin Sunday, September 18th at 9:30am in the School. Parent meeting is

scheduled during class time in the gym. Re-registrations forms are available in the Vestibule of the Church and the Rectory. For new families registering, please contact the Rectory. New Kindergarten Class and “Saturdays With Jesus” will begin in September. ________________________________________________ League of the Sacred Heart will meet on First Friday after the 9am Mass in the Lower Level of the Rectory for breakfast. ______________________________________________________ The Office of the Vicar General has made an amendment to the 2016 Collection Calendar: The collection for St. Joseph Seminary September 11th is now on October 1/2, 2016; Therefore SFX Capital Expenditures of October 1/2 is now moved to October 8/9 and

Mission Sunday collection is being transferred to October 22/23, 2016. _________________________________________________ The Rectory will be closed on Monday, September 5th, 2016 in

observance of Labor Day.

August 28, 2016

Banns of Marriage Announced Gerard Hveem and Cristina Souza

Weekly Collection (Parish Pay included) 2016 August 21, 2016 : $4,560

Collection last year (Parish Pay included) 2015 August 23, 2015: $5,416

Next Week’s Readings (Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time): Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm: 90: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 (1); Philemon 9-10, 1217; Luke 14:25-33.

BRONX, NEW YORK

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:8

Today’s refection is based on the verse: “a more distinguished guest…” In the second century AD, the scientist/astronomer Claudius Ptolemy thought that the earth was the center of the universe. About 1,400 years later, another astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus, overturned Ptolemy’s theory and taught the opposite that the Earth revolved around the sun. Just as Copernicus overturned Ptolemy’s teaching, Jesus overturns our assumptions. Every day He asks us, “Who is the center of your life? Are you living under my rule or under yours?” If you think like Ptolemy, you might say, “I choose to be the center of my universe.” Living under this assumption tends to make us self-centered, even if we appear to be good and upright in prestigious positions. It can move us to ignore our weaknesses, our faults, and take all the credit for our goodness. If you think like Copernicus, you might say, “Jesus is at the center of my universe.” Although He was perfect as the Son of God, He became a man and died to rescue us from sin. We place Him at the center of our lives because not only does He love us even unto death, but also that He has been raised up and is now Lord of Heaven and Earth.

Today’s Gospel reading teaches us the importance of

humility. What is humility? What does it mean to be humble? Does it

mean to put ourselves down? Does it mean to think little of ourselves?

Does it mean to deny our true worth? Is it saying, you are unlovable,

when you are truly lovable? Humility is more profound. Humility is not

thinking little of ourselves. Humility is not thinking of ourselves at all.

Humility means to be like Jesus, to live like Jesus, to act like

Jesus. It means to use our talents and gifts as Jesus used His – not

for ourselves or our glory, but for others and their needs. People who

are humble don’t think that they are better than others. Rather,

humble people see others as being more important than they are in

their thoughts and in their actions.

It’s hard to be humble if we think that we are better than

others (i.e. smarter, more popular, bold, impolite, rude, luxurious or

egotistical). To be proud is sinful and like any sin, pride separates us

from God. So, to become humble we need to look to Jesus.

Even though Jesus was God’s own Son, He was a humble servant to others. The night before He was crucified (Holy Thursday), Jesus humbled Himself enough to wash His disciples’ feet. Jesus, the King of Kings, showed us what it means to think of others as more important than ourselves when He washed the dirt off of His disciples’ feet. In doing so, He was teaching His disciples (His newly ordained priests) that the washing of feet was meant as an example of how humble service should be shown to others. So much so that when He was done, He said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

Please remember the following members of our parish community in your prayers: William Ahearn, Dennis Aiello, Edwardo Alicea, Mary Annunzio, Judith Arriaga, Betty Barbagallo, Nettie Bianchini, Joe Blandino, Nellie Calderon, Louis Campisi, Flavia Chiappa, Theodore Civetta, Jenny Cioffi, Loreen Clavin, Lorraine Capozzi, Yolanda Carrozza, Angelo Caruso, Brenda Colon, Joanne Cunneen, Richard

Daum, Margaret Mary Dean, Carlann Defedele, Antoinette DeLillo, Baby Colin Depriest, Dot DeSantis, Patrick Dolan, Baby Max D’Onofrio, Carmella Emily DonVito, Mario Esguerra, Cheryl Espinoza, John Esposito, Esther Finn, Carmen Flores, Billy Fischer, Luis Paz Florencio, Sr., Peter Frenna, Bill Ford, Donald Gallagher, Maritza Garcia, Brian Gillick, Alexis Marie Gonzalez, Cora Gonzales, John Hastings, Charlotte Hayes, Kerry White Hemmer, Laura Lifrieri Hernandez, Frances Jenkins, Felix Jaiman, Emily Koch (6-yr. old), Janet Kreage, Rosemarie Leo, Margaret Leonard, Ann Kittle, Angela Lifrieri, Gloria Lisanti, Lucy Lorusso, Barbara Lyne, Andy Massa, Vincent (Jimmy) Mastrogiovanni, Paul McAllister, Theresa McDermott, Jennie Miraglia, Maria Mayo, Maria Mazzella, Marjorie Morales, Brianan Murtagh, John Muzzillo, Michael Nichols, Paige O’Donnell, Kerry O’Keeffe, Rosa Maria Ortiz, Louie Paone, Ralph Palumbo, Sylvia Pankovcin, Virginia Parchen, Richard Quartarone, Barbara R. and Mollie R, Giselle Ramos, Thomas J. Reardon, Blake Rosenn, Angela Rizzo, Alejandra Rosario, Rosa Russo, Gloria Santaniello, Maureen Dean Schmidt, Theresa Smith, Niko Stravrianopoulos (3-yr. old), Marie Swain, Paul Teehan, Frank Toapha, Justina Torres, Patricia Trainor, Lori Mayer Tricoli, Dominick Villara, Christopher Vitale, Kathy Vitale, George Walsh, Gary Wieler, Jonathan Wilson (12-year old), Ottilia Zangrandi, Madelyn Ziesel In your prayers please remember all the men and women serving in our Armed Forces, especially: Anthony Vincent Boccia, Nick Visconti, Christopher C. Cannata, Carlos E. Blanco, Emmanuel Martinez, Lt. Michael Tafone, Cpl. Christopher Antony, Cpt. Brian Pascuzzi, Master Sgt. Janelle Amador, Anthony Thomas Candito, Sgt. Troy Mastin, 1st Lt. Nicholas Cardiello

Pray for those who have died: Deceased Members of SFX

SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH

On the following day (Good Friday) Jesus humbled Himself

enough to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus – the Son of God, the

King of Kings, the only person who has never sinned at all – suffered

and died so that we could be forgiven for our pride and all our other

sins that separate us from God. Yes, when we consider what Jesus did

for us on the Cross and look to Him, we can rid ourselves of pride and

become more humble.

So, today and every day may each and every one of us say, “Jesus, I want you to be at the center of my life.” The more we begin each day by praying these words, the more we will find ourselves filled with an incredible peace. We will also encounter the Grace to set our lives in right order – every thought and every action – under Jesus’ direction.

With great humility let us also remember that Jesus is the

most Distinguished Person ever to live in our hearts. Let’s treat Him like

the Royal Guest that He is at all times, and most especially when we

receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist at Mass, and pray to Him.

“Jesus, you are my Lord and my God. Come and reign in me.”

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Prayer to Saint Mother Teresa “Saint of Mercy”: You allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all. Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your request). Teach me to allow Jesus to pierce and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Pray for Me