March 1, 2009

First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 9:8-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22;Mark 1:12-15 [23B]

EXEGESIS

The Gospel reading for today begins with Mark’s short version of Jesus’ forty day temptation by Satan in the desert. Mark provides no details as to the exact nature of the temptations, only that Satan tempted Jesus for forty days. The sparse details may have been a motivating factor for Matthew and Luke to provide more explicit information on the nature of Jesus’ temptations by Satan in their versions of the account (see Mt 4:1-11 and Lk 4:1-13). You can see from the “forty day” flood and the “forty day” temptation that certain numbers conveyed specific meanings to ancient people.

In the Bible, forty is a symbolic number sometimes representing one generation, sometimes representing simply a long time (see, for example, Israel’s forty years in them desert wandering with Moses, or Jesus’ forty day post-resurrection ministry). We also hear in the Gospel reading the first words spoken by Jesus at the start of his public ministry in Galilee: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the gospel.” How Jesus speaks of “time” is important here. He uses the word kairos, meaning “sacred time.” For Jews, one of the markers of Israel’s “sacred time” was the covenants that God established with Israel throughout their salvation history. In effect, Jesus announces at the start of his public ministry, that the presence of the kingdom of God in the world is evidence of God’s fulfillment of the covenantal promises he established with Israel throughout the ages. What Jesus was calling others to do was first “repent” and then “believe” in this “good news” (i.e., Gospel).

The collection for February 22 was $5,460.
The second collection for Peter’s Pence was $1,026. Thank you

“The reign of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15).

Can we believe in the good news in a world plagued by all kinds of sad and painful realities? Perhaps we can find an answer in the link between the call to repent and the invitation to believe. To repent is to turn around, to reverse our sinful ways. If we do so, we can be co-creators in the good news, believing because we are part of making it happen. Of what might each of us repent to help turn those sad and painful realities into joyous expressions of God’s reign?

Pax Christi Metro New York

Dear Parishioners,

Alvara Salas & William Derrough recently had their son Joseph Ezekiel baptized at our St. Joseph Parish. In lieu of gifts, the family welcomed donations to the scholarship fund of Zeke’s future school, the Academy of St. Joseph.

We received $3,000.00 in donations from Baby Zeke. What a beautiful act of kindness from one child to another! What a wonderful example of our call to care for one another!

With a Grateful Heart,

Angela Coombs

Head of School

/ Baptism
February 28th. 11;00 AM
William Skrobe
Son of Thomas Skrobe & Laurie Nicosia
February 28th. 1:00 PM
Ana Paterson
Daughter of John Paterson & Jimena Salinas
March 1st 9:00 AM
Benjamin Ernst
Son of Patrick Hainault & Ann Beemish
Please call the Rectory and inform us if you know of anyone who is homebound, feeling the effects of old age or is ill and not able to attend mass. We will be happy to visit them on a regular basis and provide them with the sacraments at home. Call 212 741-1274
Young Adult Catholics for Hope and Transformation
We are a group of young adult Catholics with ages 22 to 32. Our mission is to explore Catholicism through scripture study, prayer, discussion, and social justice projects. We meet on Monday for 7-8:30 PM in the "undercroft" (the room directly under the Parish Office.
Thisfirst Y.A.C.H.T. meeting will be called "Owning your Faith" and will explore struggles we face as Catholics in society and the workplace.
For more information, please email .

An online reporting from Time Magazine and CNN on the Dominican Nuns of Summit, New Jersey, and why they chose their vocation:

The Dominican Nuns of Summit, New Jersey is a Roman Catholic cloistered monastic community whose mission is to for the salvation of souls, and to support the preaching mission of the Dominican friars.

THE CRISIS OF HUNGER
On Sunday, March 8th 2009 at JudsonMemorialChurch, from 2:30 to 5:30, join activists throughout New York City to discuss ways to address the growing domestic and international hunger crisis.

Brooklyn Catholic Young Adult has been serving the young adult community in Brooklyn since 2001 providing social, service and spiritual activities for its members. This spring, we are planning to have a Concert & Cocktail event, and will be holding auditions for musically talented 20- and 30-somethings to try out to participate in the concert. The audition is on Sunday, March 8th, at 2pm, please reply with your name, e-mail and contact phone, and let us know which instrument you play.

PLEASE REMEMBER OUR PARISH IN YOUR WILL

No matter what the size of your estate, if you want to provide for relatives, friends and our Parish you will need a WILL. If you die without one, you lose control of the disposition of your assets. The state law in which you reside will tell your family where your money and property goes.

Naming our Parish as a charitable beneficiary in your Will is simple. Through careful review of this alternative you may save further income and estate taxes. For further information, you and/or your attorney may contact

Director, Planned Gifts, The Archdiocese of New York,

1011 First Avenue, Suite I400, New York, NY10022

Telephone: 212-371-1000, E3317

FEAST DAYS, SCRIPTURE CITATIONS

AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

SATURDAY, February 28

Is 58:9b-14/Lk 5:27-32

12:10 PM Emmanuel Israel

5:30 PM In Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

for Marie Di Giglio

SUNDAY, March 1

9:00 AM Luis Salinas

11:30 AM Elizabeth Costello

6:00 PM Carmen Lydia Rivera

MONDAY, March 2

Lv19:1-2, 11-18/ Mt 25:31-46

12:10 PM Peter Duffy

5:30 PM Peter Doino

TUESDAY, March 3Katherine Drexel, virgin

Is 55:10-11/ Mt 6:7-15

12:10 PM Peter Duffy

5:30 PM Laura Payeur

WEDNESDAY, March 4Casimir

Jon 3:1-10/Lk 11:29-32

12:10 PM

5:30 PM Julia Onesti

THURSDAY,March 5

Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Mt 7:7-12

12:10 PM Mary Anne Unanue

5:30 PM

FRIDAY, March 6

Ez18:21-28/Mt 5:20-26

12:10 PM Frances & Alfred Podesta

5:30 PM

SATURDAY, March 7Perpetua & Felicity, martyrs

Dt 26:16-19/Mt 5:43-48

12:10 PM

5:30 PM Carlos Lander

  • 1st. Monday/mo. Pax Christi Bd. Mtg. – 6:30 PM in the PCYMNY office
  • 1st. Fri. of the mo. Novena to the Sacred Heart after the 5:30 PM Mass
  • 1st. Sat. of the mo. Blessings for the Sick after the 12:10 Mass
  • 2nd. Wed. of the mo. Altar Rosary 7:00 PM - Library

PARISH ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK

Please send your announcements and events to be included in the bulletin and web:

Please visit the new website often: washingtonsquarecatholic.org for the latest news on the NYUCatholicCenter, St. Joseph’s Parish and links to lots of Catholic organizations and interests.

MONDAY

6:30 PM Centering Prayer Church

WEDNESDAY

7:00 PM Altar Rosary Library

FRIDAY

6:15 PM St. Egidio Prayer Church

SATURDAY

10:00 AM or 1:00 PM Soup Kitchen Casserly Hall

6:00 PM Alcoholics Anonymous Casserly Hall

SUNDAY

9:15 AM Children’s Religious Instruction Farrell Hall

10:00 AM Sunday Scripture Discussion Library

2:30 PM Roman Forum Lectures Casserly Hall

7:00 PM NYU/Grad Law Dinner Catholic Ctr