Go to This Man in the City and Tell Him, the Teacher Says, My Appointed Time Draws Near

April 17, 2011

Palm Sunday

Mt 21:1-11/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:6-11/Mt 26:14-27;66 or

Mt 27:11-54

“Go to this man in the city and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, my appointed time draws near. I am to celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your house.’ The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover supper.”… “He emptied himself and took the form of a slave… and it was thus that he humbled himself obediently accepting even death, death on a cross.”

The scene is set with striking detail. The place for the meal, the walk to the garden, a period of anguished prayer, the mob scene. The description of events is one thing, their significance and meaning is something else. What was this all about?

Humankind was on the edge of being redeemed by a loving God. We reflect upon the words of scripture, and the story told today is so meaningful that we need to step back, and in the closing days of this week, return and walk step by step through them again.

Theology on Tap-NYC: Christian Persecution in the Middle East: The Untold Story: On May 9, 2011, Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, will address Theology on Tap about the situation in the Middle East and how Christians are being persecuted there. We see some stories about this in the news…but we don’t know everything that is going on over there. He will also talk about how we can help our brothers and sisters over there.ToTNYC is located at Klub 45 Room-Connolly’s Bar, 121 West 45th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Event begins at 7pm and ends around 9pm. For more info, visit

We visit the Cenacle for the supper and learn to serve others as Jesus washes the Apostles’ feet. We remember the First Eucharist and the initiation of the priesthood. We will listen again to Isaiah’s suffering servant account and John’s passion story, venerating the cross of Our Savior. We will assemble to strike a new fire, a spark of hope in redemption for all people in 2011, proclaim the truth of the resurrection, renew our baptismal faith, and then go and tell the others.

There is only one reason to call this Holy Week. I am the one to live the paschal mystery - to make it holy.

HIS WORDTODAYby Rev. William J. Reilly

The collections for April 10rd were$7,703. Please be generous with your weekly contribution to our parish ministries.
We encourage you to enroll via the ParishPay website Select the St JosephWestVillage link. Use the paperless way to help our ministry.
Holy Week Services
Palm Sunday-Vigil 5:30, 9:00, 11:30, 6
Holy Thursday (Mass of the Lord’s Supper)-7:30 PM
Good Friday- Morning Prayer-9 AM
Stations of the Cross-12 Noon
Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion-3 PM
Holy Saturday-Morning Prayer-9 AM
Solemn Vigil of the Resurrection- 8 PM
Schedule of Confessions
Holy Thursday- 5-6PM
Good Friday- 11AM-12 Noon
Holy Saturday-11AM-1PM, 3-5PM

Lenten Penance Service at St. Joseph’s Church

Monday April 18th at 7pm.

The opportunity for individual confessions will be available

Please consider attending this special service of reconciliation.

Events at the Church of St. Catherine of Siena
Seven Last Words - Good Friday
22 April 2011 ~ 12 Noon
Father Romanus Cessario, O.P., teacher, author, editor and renowned theologian will preach the Seven Last Words of Christ.
Pray with St. Gianna - Wednesday, 27 April 2011 ~ 6:30 PM
Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Principal Celebrant and Homilist
An evening of prayer and intercession will be offered for couples struggling with infertility and pregnancy-related difficulties. All are invited to show your prayerful support for couples with difficulty conceiving.
Feast of Saint Catherine
Friday, 29 April 2011 ~ 12 Noon
Dominican Friars Health Care Ministry of New York honors Dr. Thomas J. Fahey, Jr. and Mother Agnes Mary, S.V. during the Fifth Annual Mass Honoring All Men and Women of the Health Professions Who Bring Healing and Hope to the Sick and Dying.

To All Parishioners- If you plan on attending the 11:30 Mass on Easter Sunday, please pick up a reserved seating ticket from the rectory or one of the priests. We also ask that you arrive at Church no later than 11:10; after that time we cannot guarantee seating. Thank you very much!

Way of the Cross over the Brooklyn Bridge

On Good Friday, April 22, 2011, Communion and Liberation will sponsor the Way of the Cross over the Brooklyn Bridge. Participants will congregate for the first station at St. James Cathedral, Brooklyn, at 10:00 am.

After a station on the Brooklyn Bridge, the procession will follow the cross to a third station at City Hall Park in Manhattan, and a fourth station near Ground Zero. The final station will be at St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street, concluding at 1:30 pm.

At each station, there will be readings from the Passion, a meditation, a reflection and hymns. All are invited to participate.

For more information, please call Communion and Liberation at (212) 337-3580 or visit the website at

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

A wonderful tradition has developed at St. Joseph’s Church of continuing to welcomeinto the Church, the women and men Baptized and Confirmed during the Easter VigilMass. A joyful and lively celebration follows immediately in the decorated FarrellHall. All this happens through the generosity of parishioners who donate their time andfavorite, scrumptious, desserts of cakes, cookies, cheese and fruit. Several parishionerseven donate champagne and wine.

We hope you’ll want to be a part of this tradition and donate a favorite dessert for thisspecial occasion. Please bring your dessert to the 3pm Good Friday Service, or toSaturday morning prayers.

Immediately following the Saturday morning prayers, we decorate Farrell Hall withcolorful tablecloths, flowers and candles. Then we arrange the desserts and put thechampagne on ice. We can use help with all this, so if you can join us for about 2 hours after Saturday morning prayers, we would be delighted to have you. Please see me GoodFriday afternoon, or at the Saturday morning prayers. I’ll be ushering in the back of thechurch. Thank you.

-Judy Magida

Our Lenten journey ends this week, the Holiest Week of the liturgical calendar. It is the most intense time to contemplate Jesus’ passion, to mourn, and to repent. Please join Pax Christi Metro New York on its 29th Good Friday Way of the Cross across Manhattan. We start at 8:30 AM on April 22nd at 47th Street between First and Second Avenues. Pray with us as we recall Christ’s passion and his on-going suffering in people today. This Way of the Cross proceeds along 42nd Street and ends between Eighth and Ninth Avenues around noon. For more information, please contact Pax Christi Metro NY: or 212-420-0250

FEAST DAYS, SCRIPTURE CITATIONS

AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

SATURDAY, April 16

Ez 37:21-28/Jn 11:45-56

12:10 PM Gerald & Angela Castellano (living)

5:30 PM Lawrence F. Hickey

SUNDAY, April 17 Palm Sunday

Mt 21:1-11/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:6-11/Mt 26:14-27;66 orMt 27:11-54

9:00 AMGeraldine Ferraro

11:30AMDavid Banks

6:00 PM Rose Arias

MONDAY, April 18 Monday of Holy Week

Is 42:1-7/Jn 12:1-11

12:10 PM Ellen Colett (living)

5:30 PM Narriman Betancourt (living)

TUESDAYApril 19 Tuesday of Holy Week

Is 49:1-6/Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

12:10 PM Catherine Doyle (living)

5:30 PM Mary & Mannus McGeady (living)

WEDNESDAY, April 20 Wednesday of Holy Week

Is 50:4-9a/Mt 26:14-25

12:10 PM Josephine Motto

5:30 PM In Thanksgiving

THURSDAY, April 21 Holy Thursday

Ex 12:1-8, 11-14/1Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15

FRIDAY,April 22 Good Friday

Is 52:13-53:12/Heb 4:14-16;5:7-9/Jn 18:1-19:42

SATURDAY,April 23 Holy Saturday

Gn 1:1-2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a/Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18/Ex 14:15-15:1/Is 54:5-14/Is 55:1-11/Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4/Ez36:16-17a, 18-28/Rom 6:3-11/Mt 28:1-10

MONTHLY PARISH ACTIVITIES

Sunday
10:00 AM / Children’s Religious Studies / Casserly
10:00 AM / Scripture Discussion / Library
2:30 PM / Roman Forum Lectures / Casserly
7:00 PM / Grad Law / Casserly/Rectory
Monday
6:30 PM / Centering Prayer / Church
7:00 PM / YACHT Club for Young Adults / Casserly/Library
Tuesday
7:00 PM / Aquinas Circle of Undergraduates / Casserly/Library
Wednesday
6:30 PM / Korean Catholic Students / Casserly/Library
7:30 PM / Lenten Confirmation Class / 1st Floor Back Parlor
Thursday
6:30 PM 1st /mo / Pax Christi Bd Mtg / PCMNY
7:00 PM / Newman Club / Casserly/Library
7:00PM / Scripture Study / 1st Floor-Back Parlor
Friday
6:00 PM 1st/mo / Novena/ Sacred Heart / Church
6:15 PM / St. Egidio Prayer / Church
Saturday
10:00-3:00 PM / Soup Kitchen / Casserly
12:30 PM 1st/mo / Blessing of the Sick / Church
6:00 PM / Alcoholics Anonymous / Caserly