In Sunday’s first reading, God promises to raise up a new prophet who will speak God’s word to the people, but God warns against any false prophet who might claim to speak for God, but who does not. True and false prophets were not just for biblical times, but for all times. In WWII, the Nazis tried to speak for God as they strove to exterminate an entire people. At the same time, people like Etty Hillesum spoke to God and all of us with a message of love and forgiveness. Come learn about this remarkable woman on Sunday, February 8th, 2015 when Pax Christi Metro New York hosts ETTY, a one woman play about Etty Hillesum, a young Dutch Jewish woman living in Amsterdam during World War II. Taking from her extensive writings, Etty tells of her loves, her work, her deep faith, and her moment in history. In the process she challenges us to rethink questions of resistance and humanity and to consider our own responsibility in today’s world of fear and struggle. Susan Stein will perform and lead a discussion in St. Joseph Church, Sixth Avenue between Washington Place and Waverly Place starting at 2:30 p.m. Reserve your space now by contacting the PCMUY office at [email protected] or 212-420-0250. Seats are $25.00 in advance, $30.00 at the door, and $15.00 with a student ID.
ARCHDIOCESAN - WIDE FOOD CAMPAIGN
Weekend of January 31st/February 1st.
This year, Blessed Sacrament Parish is participating in Feeding Our Neighbors, an Archdiocesan - Wide Drive to replenish dwindling Food Pantries in our community. You can Feed Our Neighbors by replenishing the Blessed Sacrament pantry for our 15 families, our sister pantry at the Kennedy Center on West 134 St. and pantries across the Archdiocese. It only takes one small action to feed the hungry. Together we can change lives.
Three simple ways to participate in the campaign are: (1)Bring non-perishable foods to Saturday and Sunday Masses between January 24th and February 1st (see the food list) (2)Support by donating money during a Mass collection, make an on-line donation at www.catholiccharitiesny.org/feedingourneighbors or make a quick $10 donation by texting “CCHOPE” to 85944 and (3)Volunteer at a Food Pantry near you.
This weekend members of the parish Social Action Committee and others will be collecting your donated food in the Big White Boxes un front of the two side altars AND at the church entrance. Pick up a flyer and food list for more information.
YOUNG ADULTS RETREAT
Feb.13-15 Marianist Family Retreat Center
Cape May Point, NJ 08212 609-884-3829 or www.capemaymarianist.org
This weekend is for young adults (age 22-35, married or single) who wish to examine their personal faith in relation to God, self, co-workers and others. There will be a time for Eucharist, prayer experiences, faith sharing, social interaction and free time to explore Cape May and Cape May Point.
Price: $125.00 double occ. Financial aid is available
SPECIAL NEEDS MASS AT BLESSED SACRAMENT
Your are invited! Please join us today at 4:00 pm for a Special Needs Mass welcoming families with loved ones on the autism spectrum and other challenging behaviors.
Please send inquiries to [email protected]
COLLECTION
Our collection for January 25th was $11,043. We also received $3,744. for the Feeding our Neighbors Campaign. We are so greatful for your support.
THE JOYJ INITIATIVE : New program for ATRIA WEST 86
In December 2014 JOYJ volunteers have started another program to assist the elderly residents of ATRIA WEST 86 with their weekly spiritual needs. JOYJ volunteers are bringing Communion and reciting the Rosary for them every week. This program follows another similar program for the residents of The Riverside Premier Rehab & Healing Center that has been running for over a year. Thank you to the volunteers for their enormous dedication and commitment!!
ST. FRANCIS RESUME CLINIC
Renew , St. Francis Younger Retiree Program, is sponsoring a day of private sessions to assist unemployed persons as well as others facing layoff or career transition. Volunteers will be available to assist individuals in updating or editing their resumes. Free, private sessions will be held Thursday, February 5, 2015 at St. Francis House, 135 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001. If you are interested, please call in advance to schedule an individual appointment at 212-736-8500, Ext. 357. You may e-mail your resume to [email protected].
OUR Inheritance: Vatican II at 50. The Post-Conciliar Generation Looks at the Next Half Century.
Monday, March 9, 2015 / 4-6 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
12th floor Lounge—E. Corrigan Conference Center
113 West 60th St.—Fordham University, New York
How will Vatican II continue to shape the church and its engagement with the wider world? What are the emerging horizons in politics, society , and the intellectual life toward which Catholic scholars should orient their attention? An impressive gathering of leading Catholic thinkers from the generation that came of age in a post-Councilor world will explore these questions. For complete agenda please visit: Fordham.edu/CRC.
RSVP: [email protected]
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
SLAVE LABOR + CONSUMERISM
You are invited to a workshop on Thursday, February 5th, at Wallace Hall, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Park Avenue and 84th Street at 7:00 pm to learn about the many ways slave labor produces the goods we use in our daily living. RSVP by February 1st to [email protected] or 212-288-3588.
WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY
As our country gets older and the baby boomer population ages, we can see the importance of Social Security and Medicare. Today in America, these programs help to keep the majority of the elderly population out of poverty. According to the Supplemental Poverty Measure of the U.S. Census Bureau , 14.8% of senior citizens would be in poverty (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013). Check out Poverty USA’s Snapshots of Poverty to get a glimpse of the life of an elderly woman in poverty,
Programs like Social Security, Medicare and SNAP are responsible for large-scale reductions in poverty. We must be aware of the limited yet crucial role that government plays in alleviating poverty in the U.S. The U.S. bishops, in the 2007 statement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, state that our policy goals should “encourage families, communities, economic structures, and government to work together to overcome poverty, pursue the common good, and care for creation.”
"Monsignor Quixote" Graham Greene, one of the greatest Catholic novelists of modern times, presents a sincere exploration into the meaning of belief and unbelief, faith and friendship in the modern world. The book is a quick but satisfying read. It's a mixture of entertainment and deep human awareness. The NYT called it "a meditation on faith and doubt and the varieties of human folly."
Join us on Thursday, February 12th at 6:30 pm in the rectory.....for a discussion of this great work.