MAY : THE MONTH OF

OUR BLESSED MOTHER

As we honor Our Lady in a special way this month, you may want to offer this simple prayer. It is an ancient prayer which replaces the “Angelus” during the EASTER Season and is said “when the bells ring” at noon and 6pm.

THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN

Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia!

For He whom you merited to bear, Alleluia!

Has risen as He said, Alleluia!

Pray for us to God, Alleluia!

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!

For Our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia!

Let us pray

God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, was pleased to make glad the whole world, grant we beseech You that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, we may attain to the joys of eternal life through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

MAY CROWNING

Please join us this Monday, May 5^th at 11 am as our school assembles in church to crown Our Blessed Mother. This annual special time of prayer asks that God will help us truly honor Mary by following her example of love and dedication to her son, Jesus.

ROSARY SOCIETY NEWS

On Saturday, May 17^th we will hold our Rummage Sale on the corner of President St. & 7^th Ave. from 10am to 3pm. Kindly bring all items to the corner by 10am. We need Rosarians to help with this sale.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

Today, we observe World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We are reminded of the sacredness of each person’s vocation. We pray that others may respond generously to the call of God.

Prayer for Vocations

Gracious God,

We praise you for your love and compassion.

You gave us your son, Jesus, to be our shepherd

who calls us and guides us along the path of life.

May we be attentive to his voice in our world

and discern how we may follow Jesus.

Bless all who listen to your call

and who dedicate their lives to you.

Strengthen them in their vocational commitment.

Inspire men and women to recognize your call

and to respond with open hearts to your invitation.

May the Church be blessed with an increase of

vocations to the priesthood, deaconate, and

religious life.

With gratitude we offer our prayer through Christ,

our shepherd, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL

Our Diocesan Yearly Appeal provides us with the opportunity to be bearers of Christ’s light to others, a light that reflects Christ’s kindness, compassion and hope. We hope that when presented with the opportunity to participate in the Annual Appeal, you will answer the call to build God’s Kingdom. We urge our parishioners to respond to this appeal. If you did not receive a pledge form, you can find one in back of church. If all of you help, even just a little, our parish will be able to reach its goal. So far our parish has pledged $23,025.00 towards our goal of $ 31,900.00. To those who have already pledged we thank you.

Please make sure that you note St. Francis Xavier as your parish on the appeal form. Thank You.

Scripture Readings: 7^th Sunday of Easter

Acts1:12-1; Ps27:1,4,7-8; 1Pt4:13-16; Jn17: 1-11

Jesus gathers his disciples in prayer as he is about to be glorified through his passion, death, and resurrection. Jesus knows that his “hour” has come, the kairos moment when he will fulfill his mission on earth. Jesus has accomplished the work that has been given to him, that of revealing the one, eternal, merciful, ever-present God who is “Father” of all. Through Jesus’s words and deeds, he has revealed God’s glory to his followers, and now he prays for all who will glorify him by continuing his work on earth.

Before Jesus’s ascension to heaven, he promises his followers that they will receive power from the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Like the apostles, we must wait and pray for the fulfillment of the promise. We gather to pray with Mary, the mother of the church. Filled with the Spirit from the moment of Jesus’s conception, she prays at the birth of the church. Peter reminds us that though we share in Christ’s sufferings, we will rejoice when his glory is revealed. Jesus has entrusted us with the message. Empowered with his eternal presence, we will not fail him.

For Reflection: Do I pray for the Spirit to guide and direct my parish community? How has my work given glory to God?

Next Week: Pentecost

Acts2: 1-11; 1Cor12,3b-7,12-13; Jn20: 19-23

TO THOSE PASSING BY …

Thank you for taking a bulletin today as you pass by.

Last Thursday, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus – his return to God the Father. Next weekend, we celebrate the coming of the promised Holy Spirit – Pentecost. Two thousand years ago, these days were an in-between time when the apostles gathered day after day with Jesus’ mother Mary and others, praying together as they waited for the promised Spirit.

We can have our own in between times. A relative or friend dies and we wait, in deep sorrow, for some measure of healing. We’ve been laid off and have sent our résumé far and wide, and we wait for an answering phone call or e-mail. We wait for a long-wanted child; we wait for peace of mind or forgiveness.

Especially if this is an in between time for you, we invite you to come in and join us in prayer. The church is always open at the Mass times listed in the bulletin. Also, at the upper right side of the church we have a “prayer vessel” for special intentions. The intentions are written down and placed in the vessel, which remains near the tabernacle of our loving Jesus. You are very welcome to come in, jot down your special intention(s) and place the little paper in the vessel.

Today and always, may you feel the gentle presence of God in your life. Blessings to you as you continue on your way.

APRIL BAPTISMS

We welcome into our parish family and pray God’s fullest blessings upon: Andreu Aditya Briskie, Sophia Isabel Eleazar Hopkins, Finnian Jozef Lochard, Liam Charles McCarthy, Dylan Gerard McGrath, Louisa Francesca Skrobela and Mario Curruchiche Mustelier Corso-Winks.

The Rite of Christian Initiation For Adults

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Catholic or in completing initiation into the church by receiving the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, please contact Sister Helene at 718-857-2903 for more information or to sign up to be a part of our RCIA process.

BOXES OF OFFERING ENVELOPES

Your new box of weekly offering envelopes is in the church vestibule. If you have not already done so, please pick them up. If you do not currently use envelopes and would like to, stop in the rectory during office hours to register and receive your box of envelopes. Also, remember to drop us a note if you change your address or phone number or if you are planning to move away so that we may keep our files up to date.

CATHOLIC YOUNG ADULT S

Mark your calendars—our “Explain-a-Mass” talk went so well, we’re excited to announce part 2 of our “Explain” series: “Sacramentals Explained.” Frank Greene will be talking to us about the significance of sacramentals in Catholic worship. Join us for this great advent on Wednesday, May 14^th at 7:30 pm. Check us out on the web at www.brooklyn-cya.org or e-mail us at Info@brooklyn-cya.org.

HOSPITALITY – NEXT WEEKEND

Please join your fellow parishioners for some coffee, cookies, cake and pleasant conversation after Mass next weekend. We hope these regular times of hospitality will help us to strengthen our bonds as God’s family and give us a chance to get to know each other better. May God draw us ever nearer to Himself and to each other. Many thanks to the Hospitality Committee for providing this time of fellowship for us.

PLEASE NOTE: Beginning this Monday, May 5^th our weekday Mass will be celebrated in Church.

TO THOSE PASSING BY …

Thank you for taking a bulletin today. Please feel very free to come in and pray with us, or simply sit in God’s presence, whenever the church is open … and that’s always around Mass times.

Of course, we can pray anywhere. Many people pray as they walk along the street, or at home, as well as in church. There are people who pray on the subway, particularly for the people in the car with them, strangers though they are. So many passengers have left problems behind them at home: a sick child, a lonely parent, a stack of bills. Other riders may be heading to a job that’s filled with stress and anxiety and maybe the possibility of termination. With prayer in the equation, for a few minutes under the East River or on the Manhattan Bridge, everyone in that car is held up to God. Who knows what burden in someone’s heart might be lifted by your prayer!

On the subway, in the park, in the supermarket, in church, on a bike or skates, taking the dog for a run, wherever you are, may you feel the loving presence of God in your life all the days of this week.

And blessings to you as you continue on your way

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Monday, May 5

7:00am: A. A.

11:00am: School May Crowning

2:00pm: After School/OST

6:00pm: Martial Arts

7:30pm: Adult Confirmation Program

8:00pm: A. A.

Tuesday, May 6

7:00am: A. A.

2:00pm: After School/Leadership

2:00pm: First Communion Program

6::00pm: Martial Arts

6:30pm: N. A.

7:30pm: Karate

Wednesday, May 7

7:00am: A. A.

12:30pm: Golden Age /Seniors

12:30pm: After School

3:30pm: First Communion Program

6:00pm: St. Vincent de Paul

6:30pm: Cub Scouts

6:30pm: Baptism Preparation Class

7:00pm: Boy Scouts

7:30pm: Choir

8:00pm: A. A.

Thursday, May 8

7:00am: A. A.

2:00pm: After School/Leadership Training

6:00pm: Martial Arts

6:30pm: N. A.

7:00pm: First Communion Practice

7:30pm: Adult Faith Formation- Bible Study

7:30pm: Karate

8:00pm: RCIA

Friday, May 9

NO MASS; COMMUNION SERVICE AT 9:00 AM

7:00am: A. A.

2:00pm: After School

Saturday, May 10

9:30am: Super Soccer

9:30am: A. A.

10:30am: Celebration of First Holy Communion

11:30am: Girl Scouts

12:30pm: Celebration of First Holy Communion

4:30pm: Confessions

5:00pm: Hospitality after Mass

5:30pm: Women’s A. A.

Sunday, May 11 Pentecost

Hospitality

9:30am: Children’s Liturgy of the Word

10:00am: Gamblers Anonymous

12:15pm: Adult Confirmation

6:30pm: Al Anon

MASSES FOR THE WEEK

Saturday, May 3

5:00 Angeline Baglivio

Sunday, May 4

9:30 John Denaro & Tom Delendick

11:00 Kevin Slavin

12:15 William Greene

Monday, May 5

9:00 Mrs. Ellen Murray

Tuesday, May 6

9:00 Marcel Jouan

Wednesday, May 7

9:00 Sylvia Tedeschi

Thursday, May 8

9:00 James Crepeau

Friday, May 9

NO MASS: COMMUNION SERVICE AT 9AM

Saturday, May 10

9:00 Sally Sicignano

5:00 Teresina Perna

Sunday, May 11 PENTECOST

9:30 Adrian Carney

11:00 Maria DePinzon

12:15 Mae and Patrick Donnelly

THE HOSTS AND WINE are donated this week in memory of Mildred Strazza by Rita D’Amato.

THE TABERNACLE CANDLE Is lighted this week in memory of Kevin Slavin by his wife and son, Krystyna and Charles Slavin.

IN OUR PRAYERS

May God strengthen and give peace to all of our sick parishioners, relatives & friends, especially: Vincent Franca, Sasha Sorachi, Angelo Perna, Carmen Figueroa, Aloyse Schmit, Patrick Hoar, Ismael Coner and Mary Patten.

May the hope of the Resurrection dawn on our deceased relatives and friends, especially: Vincent Hall, Sr. We lift them up to our heavenly Father who heals all ills and gives new life.

“People will forget what you do.

People will forget what you say.

They will never forget how you made them feel.”