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A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR, FR. BONIFACE ENDORF, O.P.
Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,
I’ve been out of town this past week seeing my family (I hadn’t left the City for 6 months!), so for this week’s
bulletin here’s a meditation on this week’s Gospel reading:
The story of the «miraculous catch of fish» in the lake of Galilee was widespread among the first Christians. Several
Gospel writers narrate the episode, but only Luke’s story culminates in a moving scene in which the protagonist is
Simon Peter, at the same time believer, disciple and sinner. Peter is a man of faith, fascinated by Jesus. His words
have more power over him than his own experience. Peter knows that nobody goes to fish in the lake at noon,
especially if you have not caught anything at night. But it is Jesus who has told him to do so and Peter trusts him fully,
«Because you say so, I will let down the nets».
Peter is also a sincere man. Surprised by the huge catch before him, «he fell at Jesus’ knees» and with admirable
spontaneity says, «Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man». Peter acknowledges before everyone his sinfulness
and his utter unworthiness to live close to Jesus.
Jesus is not afraid of having at his side a disciple who is a sinner. On the contrary, if he knows himself to be a
sinner, Peter will be able to better understand his message of forgiveness for all, and his welcome to sinners and
undesirable people. «Don’t be afraid. From now on you will catch men». Jesus rids him of the fear of being a disciple
who is a sinner and associates him with his mission to gather and call men and women from all walks of life to take
part in the saving plan of God.
Why is the church so reluctant to acknowledge its sins and confess its need for conversion? The church belongs
to Jesus Christ, but it is not Jesus Christ. It should surprise no one that it has sinned. The church is «holy» because it
is sustained and animated by the Spirit of Jesus. But it is «sinful» because it quite frequently resists the Spirit and is
unfaithful to the gospel. There is sin in believers and institutions, in the hierarchy and the people of God, in pastors
and Christian communities. We all need conversion.
To regularly hide the truth is a very serious matter. It prevents us from engaging in a process of conversion and
renewal. Moreover, is not a fragile and vulnerable church, which has the courage to acknowledge its sin, closer to the
spirit of the gospel, than an institution needlessly insistent on covering up its miserable failings? Are not our
communities more credible when they collaborate with Christ in the task of evangelization by humbly
acknowledging their sins and committing themselves to an increasingly more evangelical life? Do we not have much
to learn even today from the great apostle Peter, who acknowledged his sinfulness at the feet of Jesus?1
God Bless,
Fr. Boniface Endorf, O.P
1 Pagola, J. A. (2012). Following in the Footsteps of Jesus: Meditations on the Gospels for Year C. (R. Luciani, Ed., V. de
Souza, Trans.) (pp. 92–93). Miami, FL: Convivium Press.
February 2nd & 3rd
MASSES TOTAL----------------------------$6,177
WeShare ------------------------------------- $1,421
Faith Street-------------------------------------$540
GRAND TOTAL----------------------------$8,138
PRAYER REQUEST
Please pray for:
Lawrence J. Capici
“Peggy” Mary Milus
Patricia McGuin
Zoila Vallo
Charles Mark Vazzana
If you would like to include someone on our
prayer list, please call the church office to
submit their names.
Names on the prayer list will remain for four
(4) weeks. If you wish to leave them on
longer, please call the church office, weekdays
9am – 5pm.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9
12:10 pm 5:30 pm
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10 9:00 am Gilda Courrier 11:30 am 6:00 pm People of the Parish
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Our Lady of Lourdes 12:10 pm Mary G. McKeveny (Living)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
12:10 pm Mae Burns
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13
12:10 pm Kathleen and Harold Colby
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop 12:10 pm Colleen Carney
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 12:10 pm Carl and Angelo Conetta
RECTORY OFFICE
Office Hours: Monday-Friday
9:00am – 5:00pm (212)741-1274
CATHOLIC CENTER @ NYU
238 Thompson Street New York, NY 10012
UPDATE PARISHIONER INFORMATION
If you have not updated your parishioner
information in the last two years, please log
onto our website and update your
information. Please be sure to include your
sacraments and family information as well.
We have a number of registered parishioners
with outdated or no important information.
If you are not sure you have registered as a
parishioner, please call the office or email
[email protected] to check your
status.
FLOCKNOTES
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FORMED
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SECOND COLLECTION 2/9– 2/10 Peter ’s Pence
Today is the Peter’s Pence Collection, a worldwide collection that supports the charitable works of Pope Francis. Funds from this collection help victims of war, oppression, and natural disasters. Take this opportunity to join with Pope Francis and be a witness of charity to our suffering brothers and sisters. Please be generous today. For more information, visit www.usccb.org/peters-pence.
THE CARDINAL’S ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP APPEAL HAS BEGUN!
We pray that our work opens doors to those who need to hear the message of our Lord. And the doors that matter the most are at the entrances to our parishes. So on its 40th anniversary, we are focusing the Appeal entirely on keeping our parishes healthy and vibrant.
INK & INSIGHT: SESSION FOR EDITORS AND NONFICTION CREATIVES
FEBRUARY 10 @ 3:15PM CASSERLY HALL
Connect with other editors & nonfiction creatives! Seeking imaginative-minded spirits to join us for informal,
convivial meetings. We meet in Casserly Hall (lower level of the church).
Entrance located on the Washington Place side of the church. Invite a friend! We look forward to seeing you!
Potluck: If you can, bring soda or snacks to share!!! Email for more information at: [email protected]
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PROGRAM
Eliza Poehlman, Director, welcomes all who desire to serve in the Contemporary Music Program. No auditions required. Join us in the sanctuary for rehearsal at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings before the 6:00 p.m. Mass. If you have any questions please E-mail me at: [email protected].
50%
30%
10%5%5%
$20 MILLION Assistance for NeedyParishesPastorial andAdministrative SupportFunding for ParishSchoolsFormation of NewPriests
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY READINGS
First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8
Isaiah recounts the awe he felt the first time he saw the Lord, who was surrounded by angels. He began to feel despair because he was a man of unclean lips, until an angel touched an ember to his lips and pronounced them clean. The Lord asked who he should send forth, to which Isaiah replied, "Here I am, send me!"
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Paul reminds the Corinthians that Christ died for us to free us from our sins. He encourages them to remember the importance of Jesus' death and resurrection. He admits that he initially failed to believe, and therefore was very grateful to be called an apostle and preach in the name of Christ.
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 Luke tells of Jesus preaching to a crowd, then joining Peter who was about to end a fruitless day of fishing. He told Peter to lower his net back in, and a great number of fish were caught. Upon seeing this, Peter and his companions, James and John, immediately abandoned their nets to follow Jesus.
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME DAILY READINGS
Sunday Is 6:1-2a, 3-8; 1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11;
Lk 5:1-11
Monday Gn 1:1-19; Mk 6:53-56
Tuesday Gn 1:20—2:4a; Mk 7:1-13
Wednesday Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17; Mk 7:14-23
Thursday Gn 2:18-25; Mk 7:24-30
Friday Gn 3:1-8; Mk 7:31-37
Saturday Gn 3:9-24; Mk 8:1-10
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUNDAY READINGS
HIS WORD TODAY By Rev. William J. Reilly
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 10, 2019
“Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! He touched my mouth…and said ‘See now, that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for me?’ ‘Here I am, I said, send me.’”
The call of the prophet and the new vocation of the fishermen can be the image of the call that Jesus makes for us today. We need to respond to the invitation He graciously gives us, to be sent to announce His message. It is easy for us to make excuses, to hesitate, or even flee.
The ‘unclean lips’ of Isaiah were purified to prepare him for his role. Our own lips are unclean when we use them to criticize, speak ill of others, or complain, or even use bad language. We can use the same tongue to pray, praise and show others His presence in our lives.
Peter speaks for us all as he says: ‘but at your command I will lower the nets.’ What a surprise, leading him to the humble confession ‘depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man.’ Jesus responds with the familiar phrase ‘Do not be afraid…from now on…they followed Him.’
May we identify with Isaiah, seeking what the Lord asks of us. May we leave our tangled nets, acknowledge the Lord’s call and forgiveness, and follow Him.
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