"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you" (Jn. 6:53).

Announcements

LENT AND EASTER SCHEDULE

Lent begins Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. Ashes will be available at the 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Masses.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be on all Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and will be followed by Stations of the Cross at 3:30 p.m. NOTE: There will be no Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Good Friday.

Stations of the Cross will be on all Fridays, Feb. 17 through April 2nd at 3:30 p.m. On Good Friday, April 2, there will be a Divine Mercy Novena Chaplet at 3:00 p.m. followed by Stations of the Cross. There will be a Good Friday service at 4:00 p.m.

Holy Week - March 29 - April 3: Mass on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, March 29, 30 and 31. There will be no morning Mass on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 1, 2, 3.

SPECIAL HOLY WEEK SERVICES:

On Holy Thursday, April 1 there will a Mass of the Last Supper at 4:00 p.m. Repose of the zBlessed Sacrament following Mass until 8:00 p.m.

On Good Friday April 2 there will be a Divine Mercy Novena Chaplet at 3:00 p.m. followed by Stations of the Cross. Good Friday service at 4:00 p.m.

On Holy Saturday, April 3, there will be a blessing of food for the first meal of Easter at 10 a.m. The Easter Vigil Mass will be at 5:30 p.m. (no 4:00 p.m. vigil Mass).

HOLY WEEK CONFESSION SCHEDULE:

Holy Thursday - 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Also, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Good Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

Holy Saturday - 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

EASTER MASS SCHEDULE (April 3 - 4):

Easter Vigil Mass, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. This relaces the regular 4:00 p.m. Saturday Mass.

Easter Sunday Masses will be at 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.

DIVINE MERCY (SATURDAY/SUNDAY, APRIL 10 and 11):

On Saturday April 10, Confessions wil be from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon. The Chaplet will be at 3:00 p.m. followed by the Rosary at 3:30 p.m. and the Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m.

On Sunday April 11, our regular schedule of Masses will be at 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. There will be an added Mass at 3:00 p.m. to celebrate Divine Mercy. Prior to this Mass, Confessions will be heard from 1:30 - 2:30 (2 priests). The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be at 2:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 3:00 p.m.

LENTEN REGULATIONS FOR FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

Ash Wednesday 2/10/10 and Good Friday 4/2/10 are days of fast and abstinence.

FASTING is to be observed by all 18 years of age through age 59. On a fast day one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each ones needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids including milk and juices is allowed.

ABSTINENCE is observed by all 14 years of age and older. On days of abstinence no meat is allowed. Note that when health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. When is doubt concerning fast and abstinence, the paris priest should be consulted.

FASTING, ALMSGIVING AND PRAYER are the three disciplines of Lent. The faithful and catechumens should undertake these practices seriously in a spirit of penance and of preparation for baptism or of renewal of baptism at Easter.

Our Lenten Retreat

We will have a Leneten Retreat on the evenings of Thrusday, March 4 and Friday March 5 at 7:00 p.m. and close after the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Saturday, March 6th. Nationally and internationally acclaimed speaker Peter Herbeck will lead the retreat. Peter is a co-host on two EWTN programs, The Choices We Face and Crossing the Goal. Peter is also the author of several books.

Peter recently spoke to a full house at the Men's Rally at the Cathedral in Palm Beach Gardens. He was outstanding! The WebMaster personally invites you to this event. You will be very impressed with his message and delivery, making this an event for everyone.

His wife Debbie will speak on Friday evening and tell her incredible conversion story of going from a practicing Jew to the Catholic Church.

DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT!!!

Bingo

There is Bingo on every Friday beginning Sept. 11th at the Crowley Center on 82nd Ave. A FREEE LUNCH IS PROVIDED.

Confirmation 2010

St. John of the Cross parish is happy to announce that Bishop Barbarito has scheduled the following date for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation:

June 5, 2010 4:00 p.m.

Vigil of Feast of Corpus Christi

The diocesan guidelines require that a student attend the parish formation classes for two years prior to being confirmed and be at least in the ninth grade. Please watch the Bulletin for registration information.

 

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Exposition is held every Friday (Oct. through May) immediately following the 8:30 am Mass. Exposition closes with Benediction at 4:00 pm. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is recited at 3:00 p.m. No exposition/Benediction June to October.

Ministry Meetings

Women's Guild

Committee meets September, November, January, March at 9:30 a.m. - Rev. John A. Crowley Center. General Meeting occurs October, December, February, April at 12 noon - Rev John A. Crowley Center.

Hurricane Prayer

God our Father, Creator of the Universe and Lord over all creation, we humbly stand before you as your children in thanksgiving for your loving care and protection.  We ask that you keep us safe from all hurricanes which may threaten us in the coming seasons. Protect us from all fear and anxiety of storms and give us an ardent trust and hope in Your love and mercy. You alone have the power to command the sea, the wind and the rain. You alone bring peace, calm, and safety. 

Father, we thank you in advance, for you are our only Refuge.  We ask this through Christ Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen. 

Diocese of Palm Beach, Office of the Bishop

Shepherds of Christ Prayer Chapter

The Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters pray for priests (all their needs, the world over), the Church (the entire community of faith), and the world (all members of the human family). Prayers are held after the Tuesday morning Mass. Terry Spytek and Anne Young are contact persons in the church.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Calling all knitters!  Would you like to be part of a ministry that knits simple shawls consisting of three knits and three purls (just right to meditate on Father, Son and Holy Spirit while praying your way through the making of the shawl)?  We would then place them by the Pieta in the sanctuary one Friday a month during Adoration.  Father would bless them and we would send them on their way to anyone who needs to be comforted and surrounded by loving prayer – to a relative or friend, to someone from the wellness ministry or to a newly pregnant woman from one of our two crisis pregnancy centers, etc. If you are interested, the directions for creating the shawl are available in the office.  Please provide your name and phone number to the office staff when receiving the information.  If you would prefer to knit, crochet or quilt a similar comforting article, even clothing for babies, we would love to have you join us in spirit as we all work in our own homes. We would then come together to have the work of our hands blessed before given to a recipient. Please call Ginny at 567-6131 if you have any questions.

Don't know how to knit, but would like to learn so you can be part of the team? We'll have a class to teach you. Call Ginny at 567-6131.

Giving of shawls, etc. - Do you know someone who is homebound or someone who is dealing with an extended or difficult illness? Possibly someone in a nursing home? Maybe an out-of-town relative or friend who would appreciate how much you care about them? Perhaps a mom with a difficult pregnancy or one who has made a decision to keep her baby? If so, then get your name on a list in the parish office to get one of these "snuggle wraps", each beautifully handcrafted by a cadre of our parishioners now involved in this ministry. They are provided in a box and include a beautiful card from our St. John of the Cross parish that explains the special blessings that come with it (see above paragraph). These will be suitable for both men and women through a variety of colors that can be selected. Keep in mind that whoever you may be thinking of does not have to be Catholic. First come, first served. We expect a high demand. Think about who you might surprise and then get on the list. Blessings to you!

Events

Confirmation 2010

St. John of the Cross parish is happy to announce that Bishop Barbarito has scheduled the following date for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation:

June 5, 2010 4:00 p.m.

Vigil of Feast of Corpus Christi

The diocesan guidelines require that a student attend the parish formation classes for two years prior to being confirmed and be at least in the ninth grade.

Please watch the Bulletin for registration information.

 

Food Pantry

The food pantry still needs some helping and food. We need more canned goods and non-persishable staples for the needy in the area. The pantry has been busy distributing food to the needy over the summer months, but now needs your help. A large container is available for your donations in the back of the church near Fr. John's office.

Ushers

They are needed at the 7:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Mass. If you attend either Mass, we would appreciate your volunteering to help take up the collection. Any usher (in white jacket) can direct you to where you are needed.

Adult Altar Servers

We are in need of adult altar servers for the added weekend Masses as well as daily Masses. If you think you might be interested in this ministry, please call Jerry Martin at 772-563-0537. Excellent training provided.

Sacristans

We can always use sacristans to serve at either daily or weekend Masses. If you think you might be interested in this ministry, please contact Fr. John or Jerry Martin. Excellent training provided.

 

Abortion

Just the Facts

(Reprinted from the Florida Catholic Newspaper, 2002)

(Adult Only Reading)

A woman seeking an abortion before the fourteenth week of pregnancy will likely undergo one of the following procedures:

 Suction Curettage

1. The cervix is dilated.
2. A suction curette (a hollow tube with a knife-like edged tip) is inserted into the womb.
3. Suction tears apart the fetus (the human person) and sucks the body parts into a container.
4. he container is checked to assure that all the body parts have been removed in order to prevent any infections—infections which can at times lead to the death of the mother.

 Dilation and Curettage (D&C)

1. The cervix is dilated.
2. The insertion of a loop-shaped knife (curette) is inserted.
3. The curette scrapes the wall of the uterus and cuts the placenta and fetus into smaller parts.
4. The parts are pulled out of the uterus through the cervix.
5. Body parts must be counted so as to prevent infection.

 RU 486 (taken before the ninth week)

1. A steroid drug (taken in the form of a pill or injection) is given to the woman to destroy the placenta or prevent it from being formed.
2. Prostaglandin is injected or orally given to induce the uterus to contract and push the fetus out of the body.

During the first fourteen weeks brain waves (week six) are recorded and the heart is beating (week three).  The child can hear, can hiccup, can close and open his (her) eyelids and can respond to touch or pain.  The child has permanent fingerprints and an identifiable sex.  By week eight the skeletal, nervous, digestive, circulatory, and respiratory system are functioning.  By week twelve the child looks like a tiny doll sucking its thumb.  The following weeks entail simple refinements of what has already begun. 

Pagans routinely aborted their children and abandoned them to die outside city walls.  We have outdone the pagans in our cruelty.  The revival of paganism is more vicious than its original incarnation.

A woman seeking an abortion after fourteen weeks but before sixteen weeks of pregnancy will likely undergo the following procedure:

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)

1. The cervix is dilated.
2. A curette (resembling pliers) is used to dismember and crush the large and strong bones of the fetus (such as the skull or head).
3. The dismembered and crushed parts are now small enough for removal through the cervix.
4. Body parts are counted.

A woman seeking an abortion after sixteen weeks of pregnancy will likely undergo one of the following procedures:

Saline Solution Evacuation

1. A concentrated salt solution is injected through the abdomen and into the amniotic fluid, which surrounds the fetus (the child) in the uterus.
2. The child inhales and swallows the solution and dies within two hours either by salt poisoning, dehydration, hemorrhaging, or convulsions.
3. The mother goes into labor twenty-four to forty-eight hours later and gives birth to a dead child.

Prostaglandin Abortion

1. Prostaglandin is injected through the abdomen into the amniotic fluid, which surrounds the child in the uterus.
2. Prostaglandin causes the muscle tissue of the mother to push the fetus, the child, out of the uterus.
3. The child is born dead or alive (when born alive it is left to die).

A woman seeking an abortion during the latter periods of her pregnancy will likely undergo the following procedure:

Partial-Birth Abortion or Dilation and Extraction

1. Laminara is used to dilate the cervix over a two-day period.
2. The abortionist uses large forceps to grasp the leg of the child (the fetus) and pull it down into the vagina and out of the body.  The head, being too big, remains lodged in the cervical opening.
3. An incision is made at the base of the fetal skull to spread open the skull in order to insert a suction catheter.
4. The skull contents are evacuated through the suction catheter and the entire body is now capable of being removed.

Rachel’s Vineyard is a healing ministry for those who are suffering from Post-Abortion Trauma.  For information regarding Rachel’s Vineyard call the Diocese of Palm Beach’s Respect Life Office, 561-9500.

AFFIRMS ABORTION/BREAST CANCER LINK

By  THADDEUS M. BAKLINSKI

(From 12/16/07 Bulletin)

CHICAGO (Life Site News) A new study published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons documents the fact that abortion is the "best predictor of breast cancer" in eight European nations.
           While this study was ignored by much of the major media, Dennis Byrne of The Chicago Tribune, wrote a commentary entitled, "Snubbing cancer study will only hurt women: Research showing link to abortion ignored by media."
           Karen Malec of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer said: "The media's behavior is very problematic. When the history, books are written on the abortion-breast cancer link, women are going to be appalled by the major media's behavior on this matter and the media will suffer further loss of credibility."
           "The mainstream media have aggressively promoted abortion and the abortion-breast cancer link would mean that more of their readers are getting breast cancer because they believed what the media were telling them," she added.
           The usual argument used by critics of abortion-breast cancer link studies is "recall bias," which claims flawed research due to its being based on interviews with women who have breast cancer and admit to having had one or more abortions.
           After the study was published, critics attacked the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, saying the research was politically motivated. "It was a shoot -the-messenger approach," explained Karem Malec, "because science really is not on their side, so they argued ideology."
           Furthermore, this research was discussed in the insurance magazine The Actuary. Insurance actuaries were advised to adjust their insurance premiums and reserves accordingly in order to plan for a 50% increase in breast cancer projected out to 2029.
           Malec continued, "The abortion-breast cancer link critics are having a hard time explaining why an insurance magazine would publish a 'politically motivated' article discussing the abortion-breast cancer link: and advising its readers that this epidemic will be costly for the insurance industry and consumers. Insurance companies, after all, are in the business of making money and pleasing their stockholders, not in dealing with politically motivated issues."

           

She concluded: "For people who don't know whom to believe, when the insurance industry starts talking about the issue, then we know it's a serious problem."

 

The Scriptures point out the importance of tithing for blessings. While we as Catholics are not bound by the tithing laws of the Bible, we are called to give according to how we feel God has blessed us. Scriptural quotes for tithing are found in Genesis 14:18-20; Gen. 28:22; Lev. 27-30; Mt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42; Heb. 7:1-11.

Examples of tithing are as follows (Annual Gross Household Income/Amount of Weekly Gift @ 10%/5%/3%/1%):

$30,000/$58/$29/$17/$6
$50,000/$86/$48/$29/$10
$70,000/$135/$67/$40/$14
$100,000/$192/$96/$58/$19

For those who are unable to meet the financial dimension of tithing, one may fulfill tithing by offering up one's talent (ie. Ushering, Knights of Columbus, CCW, etc.) or time to the parish (ie. attending the Bible class or Catechism class). In whatever manner you choose to build the Kingdom of God, we love you!

Boy Scout Troop #513

The Knights of Columbus #13153 of St. John of the Cross Church have sponsored Boy Scout Troop #513 for the past 4 years. We meet weekly on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm in the Rev. John A. Crowley Center. Dave Smith (an EM) is the Scoutmaster. There are 5 Assistant Scoutmasters and a Troop Committee of 10-12 members. We have 23 scouts who are members of 4 patrols.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Scoutmaster Dave Smith at 778-0242 or Ken Rozelsky, K of C at 567-9481.

Please see Fr. John on any matters concerning the building of the new rectory and the build-out inside the existing structure of our church.