Many of you are aware that we have AEDs located in the church, Parish Life Center and Claussen Center.  An AED is an Automated External Defibrillator.  It is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.  Many of our ushers and staff are trained in the operation of AEDs and can step into action if the need arises.  The Diocese of Venice uses an outside vendor to monitor all of the AEDs located in the parishes to make sure they are kept up-to-date and in good working order.  This past week, the representative was on site for an inspection and told me that two weeks ago at Our Lady of Lourdes in Venice, a parishioner suffered cardiac arrest and was saved by the use of their AED.  We certainly hope that we never need to use ours, however, it is comforting to know that there are competent individuals on hand to save a life if needed.

Quite frequently as our parishioners age, the decision is made to leave Naples and move back north to be closer to children and family.  Such is the case for Bob and Barbara Pollack.  Bob was one of the first parishioners I met after moving to Naples 15 years ago and was of great assistance to me.  Barbara sent me a very nice note, which she graciously allowed me to publish in my column.  On behalf of our parish family, we wish Barb and Bob the very best in the next chapter of their lives.

To say that St. John’s has been the very best parish we have ever belonged to is an “understatement.”  In our 70 + yrs. of being Catholics, and in the 16 yrs. that we have been in Naples, we have never encountered a more caring, spiritual, and tremendously uplifting group of priests, musicians, and support staff.  We will miss all of you terribly, but we are entering a new stage in our lives, once again, when we need to move close to our children.  As you can imagine, even writing this is bringing on the tears!  May God bless you all and keep you in his loving care.

After three rounds of landscaping, our memorial garden is a thing of beauty.  The zoysia grass is perfectly maintained, the many varieties of shrubs are flowering and the ficus hedge buffer creates a private and serene environment.  The only issue that remains is the bronze plaques which are affixed to the granite headstones.  As you may have noticed, roughly six months after installation, the elements (salt air, water and sun) begin to affect the integrity of the finish.  Some of the older plaques are hardly legible.  We have experimented with numerous solvents and cleaners recommended by the manufacturer with very poor results.  In addition, from time to time many of the plaques will become loose because they are affixed to the headstone with a large bolt.  This results in the plaques appearing skewed on the headstone which is very unsightly.  I have certainly had my share of emails and calls regarding these plaques.  As a result, we are considering having the granite headstones engraved directly and eliminating the plaque altogether.  The same vendor that produces our granite benches is fabricating a sample which will arrive in the next few weeks.  Assuming the finished product is aesthetically pleasing, we may begin using this new procedure in the near future.

Did you know that if we exceed our Catholic Faith Appeal goal by no more than 25%, 100% of the overage will come back to the parish free of assessment.  These funds may then be used to bolster reserves or contribute towards one of the many ministry wish lists within the parish.  Thanks for your continued support of the Catholic Faith Appeal.  I am optimistic that this will be a banner year and we will again exceed our goal.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager

Don’t forget that Fr. John will celebrate a special Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16 commemorating the 15th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.  Following Mass there will be refreshments offered in front of the church.  If you are able, we would love to have you join us as we celebrate with Fr. John.

What makes our St. John the Evangelist Vacation Bible School so special?  It is the volunteers who donate innumerable hours.  As mentioned before, we have a team of volunteers within our parish who donate countless hours to create a truly magical experience for our children.  Charlene Youngs (Director of Family Ministry) has recruited the services of her husband Brian (also a finance council member) to create the props for this years “SKY” themed VBS.  Brian will spend numerous hours over the next month to enhance the VBS experience for the children of our parish.  Did you know that our VBS props are so well done that other parishes locally borrow them for their own VBS after we have finished?  Thank you once again to all our volunteers who give so generously of their time and talent.

While writing about the memorial garden a few weeks ago I neglected to reiterate the fact that the sale of space in our memorial garden may cease in the very near future.  Due to the lack of standardized policies and procedures throughout the Diocese of Venice and all the Dioceses of Florida, The Bishops are contemplating discontinuing sales in all parish memorial gardens until such standardized policies and procedures may be adopted.  If you have already purchased space in our garden, your remains may be interred at any time, however, if you have yet to purchase a space, you will be unable to do so once this decision is made.  Space still remains in the memorial garden if you are interested in making St. John the Evangelist your final resting place.  The cost to purchase a plot in the garden is $1,200.00.  This is an all inclusive price which includes the opening, closing, urn, headstone and plaque.  If you care to check pricing locally, you will find that our pricing is nearly 33% of what you would pay elsewhere.  Yes, you may pay for your memorial garden plot with a credit card.  I know this is a difficult decision for many as final planning is not something that you may be comfortable with.  I can assure you that planning in advance is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your family of loved ones as they will not have to deal with this added stress after your death.  Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing space in our beautiful memorial garden.  In order to purchase a plot in our garden, you must be a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist or the immediate family of a parishioner.

We added another 5% to our Catholic Faith Appeal goal this week.  We are now at 54.33% of our goal – $240,666.84 for the 2012 Catholic Faith Appeal.  You have several options for helping us reach our goal.  You may make a pledge by completing a pledge card located in the narthex.  You may also drop a check payable to the Catholic Faith Appeal in the collection basket.  You may also visit the Diocese of Venice website www.dioceseofvenice.org and contribute via credit card. Thank you so much for your generous contributions and remember… If you are a seasonal resident or visitor, please make your check payable to the CFA with St. John the Evangelist in the memo line.  Thank you once again for your continued support.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager

Fr. John will celebrate a major milestone in the middle of the month. May 16 will mark the 15^th  anniversary of Fr. John’s ordination to the priesthood.  Fr. John will celebrate a special Mass on May 16 at 10:00 a.m. to mark this occasion.  Following Mass there will be refreshments offered in front of the church.  If you are able, we would love to have you join us as we celebrate with Fr. John.

Speaking of anniversaries, did you know that May 12 will mark the 15^th anniversary of my tenure at St. John the Evangelist?  As it happens, I ended up at St. John’s completely by accident.  For those who don’t know the story, here is a brief summary:  I was managing a Golf Club in Tallahassee following my graduation from Florida State University.  After meeting with my General Manager at the time, we decided it would be best for me to continue my career in an area more suitable for my development.  He suggested that I consider Naples where he had numerous contacts in the golf business.  He would set up informal interviews with several Golf Clubs (13 to be exact), and I would come down to see what Naples had to offer.  One of these clubs was Quail Creek.  The Quail Creek club manager at the time told my GM that he had nothing available that would fit my qualifications but that he knew of an “athletic facility” that was looking for a manager if I was willing to interview.  I figured that this would be a great way to get my “foot in the door” in Naples, even if it was not initially in the golf business.  I drove to Naples and interviewed at several other clubs before heading to Quail Creek.  After meeting the club manager, we loaded up in his vehicle and headed down Immokalee Road.  Imagine my surprise when we took a right hand turn into a church.  I was confused, but after seeing the baseball field and the new building (PLC) I figured that the two must be affiliated with this athletic facility.  I then sat through a two hour interview with a committee that certainly was not affiliated with an athletic facility.  As it turns out, my GM misunderstood what the Quail Creek club manager was referring to and the athletic facility was actually St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.  After being called back for a second interview, I gladly accepted the position.  And now you know the rest of the story!

On Wednesday, I sent out an email to the entire parish directory regarding the upcoming change in Mass times.  Our email list is now completely updated, therefore, if you did not receive this email then we do not have your email address or you chose not to receive email from St. John the Evangelist.  If you would like to be added to our distribution list, please email me at scotts@saintjohntheevangelist.com to be included.

Did you know that St. John the Evangelist sponsors a Boy Scout troop?  I am sure that many of you have taken part in a pancake breakfast over the years but did not know that the hosting troop is our very own.  Troop 168 has been the chartered troop of St. John’s since before my arrival in 1997 yet there has been very little involvement with the parish in the past 15 years.  We would like for this to change.  I was very involved in scouting from age eight to fourteen starting as a cub scout and graduating to a boy scout.  I learned many positive lessons through my experience in scouting.  There has never been a better time for each of us to be a positive influence in helping shape someone’s life.  For over 150 years, the Boy Scouts of America has provided a positive learning environment for young men to grow emotionally, physically and spiritually into responsible citizens of the community.  Troop 168 is seeking new recruits and is asking your assistance to identify young men who would benefit from all of the things that scouting has to offer.  If you know of someone who you believe would benefit from being a boy scout, please contact Cheryl Brock at 353.1430 for more information.  Troop 168 meets on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in rooms 9 and 10 in the Parish Life Center.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager

The inaugural email was sent to 1,174 parish families.  We have well over 3,000 registered families.   As of Wednesday morning, 642 of these emails had been opened.  This is an open rate of over 57% which is incredible.  Of these emails 58 bounced back, 8 recipients opted out and only 2 were marked as spam.  In addition, over 100 of our families personally responded with their thoughts about the new email system.  There was not one negative response.  Everyone seems to be thrilled with the new form of communication.  The greatest part of this program thus far has been the personal responses I received from you.  In a parish as large as St. John the Evangelist, there are always those who feel disconnected from the mainstream.  It is possible that our new email platform could also help in this area.

Did you experiment with the QR code on the front of the bulletin last week?  I know that some of you did as I received a few calls and emails from those who were unable to figure it out.  If you had problems or simply don’t understand, please give me a call and I will walk you through the process.  If you are on site, feel free to stop by and I will give you a quick tutorial.  We are still working to update our mobile site to include information that you feel is relevant.  This will be an ongoing process.

We have sold seven of the remaining 15 benches on our campus with one more pending.  If you are interested in purchasing a bench to honor or memorialize a loved one, please contact me at 566-1678.  The cost for a bench is $3,000.00.  If you are unable to pay the entire amount up front, I will work with you on terms.

I received a call this week from a parishioner of eight years who was inquiring about the Memorial Garden.  Interestingly, he claimed to be unaware of the existence of the Memorial Garden until last month.  Although I find this amazing, there are many other parishioners that fit into this same category.  I would like to take this opportunity to ask our parishioners (newcomers or long timers) to take a walk through the Memorial Garden following Mass this weekend and see this beautiful space.  The Memorial Garden is located directly in front of the church on the East side surrounded by a very large ficus hedge.  Our Buildings and Grounds committee has worked tirelessly to transform the garden into a true masterpiece.  If you are interested in purchasing a space in the garden, please contact me to make an appointment.  There are approximately 400 spaces remaining.  The all inclusive cost is $1,200.00 and includes the opening, closing, urn, headstone and plaque.  This is a mere fraction of what you would pay at a cemetery.  In addition, your final resting place will be in consecrated grounds right here at your parish.

If you have requested tuition assistance for St. Ann, St. Elizabeth Seton or St. John Neumann and claim St. John the Evangelist as your parish of residence, please pay close attention to the following information.  All families are required to first complete the FACTS financial survey online.  In order to receive financial assistance from the parish of residence, families must be registered in that parish, attend Mass on a regular basis, financially support the parish using church envelopes and participate in the life of the parish.  In some cases, the subsidy requested is substantial.  The finance council will review the aforementioned criteria to ensure that the family requesting assistance is in compliance.

We have successfully blown through the 50% mark with regards to the 2012 Catholic Faith Appeal.  We are now well ahead of where we stood at this time last year.  The good news is that we are just over two months into the annual appeal.  In addition, this statistic does not include the nearly $10,000 generated through the Reverse Raffle. Thank you for your extreme generosity!  Seasonal residents and visitors, please remember to make your check payable to the CFA with St. John the Evangelist in the memo line.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager

Welcome to the Word & Life Series. In this series, Fr. John Ludden will take the Sacred Scriptures offered at Mass each Sunday and apply them to our everyday lives. As you read Fr. John’s reflection, open your hearts and minds in new ways to God’s Holy Word. St. Paul says “The Word of God is living effective“. So as we journey together in the Word & Life, let us allow the wisdom of God to transform our relationship and our outlook on life, inspiring us to love one another as He has loved us. You are now invited to reflect on the Word of God which is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Welcome again to the Word & Life!

March 25, 2012

Fifth Sunday of Lent Year B

2 Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15
Hebrews 5:7-9
John 12:20-33

Inevitability of Death ~ Necessary for Life

As we approach Holy Week, Sacred Scriptures take us into the last moments of Jesus’ public life. There must have been intensity present in the encounters that Jesus had with his disciples those last few days. The intrigue of Jesus’ monologue is intense. The disciples were brought to the harsh reality and inevitability of Jesus’ death. The grain of wheat, which is Jesus’ life, has to die to give life! Following Jesus with loving servitude brings along costly sacrifice. Even Jesus found this part of the journey troubling because he knew His hour was coming. Jesus calls on the Father to glorify His name and to give purpose to the upcoming suffering of the cross. When the voice from heaven speaks, it is clear that the Father in heaven intends to continually give glory to the commitment of discipleship.

The disciples did not fully appreciate the wisdom that Jesus imparted to them until they endured the folly of the cross. Jesus became the grain of the eternal for them and for us. Even as He went forth to celebrate the paschal feast and establish the new covenant in his blood, the violence of his departure must have been overbearing for those who had left everything to follow him. Through his death, he is brought to resurrection. The fruits of his sacrifice lead all of the world to salvation. Jesus’ death opens wide the gate to eternal life for all of humanity.

The Church is great in her wisdom. Every year we are reminded of the events that gave us new life in Jesus Christ. Our scriptures lead us into the reality of sacrifice. Sacred Scripture reminds us of the vast emotions present in Jesus and the disciples. These were real events with real people. God had become flesh to redeem the human condition. The cross takes the burden of sin. As Jesus is raised high on Calvary, so too is the hope that leads us beyond the torment and suffering of the cross and to the glory of the resurrection.

As we complete our Lenten journey, we are invited to meander the byways of salvation and contemplate how salvation is possible for us. This is a sacred time to reflect on the new covenant that inscribes upon our hearts the promise of life eternal. We are called to the same servitude to which Jesus gave witness. The cross of discipleship needs to be embraced every day in order for the Father’s will to be done. The needs around us in our community, country and the world are most certainly the fertile ground of God’s mercy waiting to unfold. We are seed — we are asked to die to self in order that others come to know the bounty of God working through us. Our dying to self ultimately leads us to others. Our sacrifices make the Word given to us in Sacred Scripture. As Catholics, we are called to evangelize the world through the way in which we lead all lives and respond generously to the wisdom of the gospel. The Word of God can come to life through our selfless acts of love.

Prayer

We pray: All that we have is a gift from you, O Lord. We offer you ourselves and our lives to you. Give us the courage to carry the cross of discipleship by serving others. We are grateful for the suffering you endured for our sakes. May we never forget the price you paid for our sin. When we are faced with the inevitability of death, may we be hopeful of the promise that you were willing to gift to us. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What is most appealing about today’s gospel?
2. What sacrifices do you make for God, for others?
3. How are you planting the seed of faith?
4. In what ways do you bring the Word of God alive in your life?
5. What promises have you made to God?
6. Name some of the ways in which you need to let go of certain aspects of your life that are preventing you from reaching your full potential.
7. What cross has been entrusted to your care?

Wisdom of the Fathers

“Above all, the Gospel must be proclaimed by witness. Take a Christian or a handful of Christians, who in the midst of their own community show their capacity for understanding and acceptance, their sharing of life and destiny with other people, their solidarity with the efforts of all for whatever is noble and good. Let us suppose that, in addition, they radiate in an altogether simple and unaffected way their faith in values that go beyond current values, and their hope in something not seen and that one would not dare to imagine. Through this wordless witness these Christians stir up irresistible questions in the hearts of those who see how they live. Here we have the initial act of evangelization.”

~ Pope Paul VI, Evangelization in the Modern World

March 18, 2012

Fourth Sunday of Lent Year B

2 Chronicles 36:14-16
Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
Ephesians 2:4-10
John 3:14-21

God’s Sacrifice ~ Eternal Blessing

Today’s gospel speaks to the heart of the economy of salvation. Jesus’ comment to Nicodemus is one of the most well-known phrases of the gospel and has been preached countless times. God’s initiative for humanity is clear: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” God gives us the blueprint for the way that we are to sacrifice and give. In essence, today’s gospel reminds us of God’s stewardship. He makes the ultimate sacrifice by sending us his only Son to be the vehicle through which we are granted salvation. The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and the Resurrection offer us a covenant that can never be broken. Through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) God enters into a covenant relationship with us, and we with God. Christ becomes the bridegroom and we, the Church, become his bride. In this covenant a pledge of love is given from now and into eternity. This covenant is given through the Trinity. The Trinity represents God’s giving of himself completely to us through salvation history. The Trinity is a model for us to imitate. When we think of how God’s gift to the world brought the blessing of salvation, we can also think of how our sacrifices and the sharing of our gifts can be a blessing to others. Every time we give in the name of God, we participate in his divine nature of the Holy Trinity. The Father gifts us with the Son, the Son bestows the Spirit, and the Spirit encourages us to listen to the gospel and give worship to the Father. The three persons of the Blessed Trinity are teaching us how it is possible to return the gift. This is ultimately about right relationship.

When we look at the experience of Jesus in the gospels, we constantly encounter the generosity of God. Every time Jesus heals another or exorcises evil, God’s gift is outpoured. When Jesus teaches his disciples about God’s mercy and forgiveness, we are given an unfathomable gift. Many times we are faced with the darkness of sin and uncertainty, but God is always present, ready to forgive. When Jesus seeks solitude, his heart is moved with pity at the sight of those who are crying out to him in their need. He is generous in his mercy in the way he abandons his need for solace to provide for God’s people.

Sacred Scriptures shed their light on our human condition, offering us a way out of the darkness of sin. The way of Christ invites us to embrace the life beyond death and the light beyond the darkness. The gospel message always gives hope and challenges the things in our lives that block us from fully experiencing God. Jesus teaches us that an important part of his message focuses on the poor and brokenhearted. Elsewhere, he reminds us if we neglect the needy, we neglect him. As Christians we belong to the mystical Body of Christ. Christ dwells in a community that belongs to him. Our challenge is to recognize that he is always present in the gift of the other. This is why we are called to be one in spirit and truth. Each of us is called to sacrifice and share our gifts with others so that Christ can be experienced through us. We can be truly blessed when we enter into relationship with others in this way.

Prayer

We pray: Even in our darkness, O Lord, you are near. Your light of truth shows us the way. Teach us to give the way that you gave to the world. Let us see that every time we give, we will receive. Help us to move beyond self-interest and embrace others so that in turn we may experience the gift of your blessing. When we come to our journey’s end, may we have accomplished your dream in us and receive your eternal blessing. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What has God given you?
2. How is the sacrifice of Jesus significant in your life?
3. In what ways does the teaching of the gospel enlighten your mind and shape your choices?
4. Name the times you have preferred the works or darkness rather than the works of the light.
5. NWhat are the things in your life that are in need of change?
6. What are you willing to sacrifice for God?
7. How are you going to make sacrifices for the people around you?
8. What choices do you need to make in order that your life becomes a gift to God?

Contemporary Wisdom

“God’s Faithfulness and Ours

When God makes a covenant with us, God says, “I will love you with an everlasting love. I will be faithful to you, even when you run away from me, reject me, or betray me.” In our society we don’t speak much about covenants; we speak about contracts. When we make a contract with a person, we say, “I will fulfill my part as long as you fulfill yours. When you don’t live up to your promises, I no longer have to live up to mine.” Contracts are often broken because the partners are unwilling or unable to be faithful to their terms.

But God didn’t make a contract with us; God made a covenant with us, and God wants our relationship with one another to reflect that covenant. This is why marriage, friendship and life in community are all ways to give visibility to God’s faithfulness in our lives together.”

— Henri J. M. Nouwen (Bread for Journey)

March 11, 2012

Third Sunday of Lent Year B

Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
John 2:13-25

Cleansing Absurdity

The arrival of Jesus as Messiah has a profound impact on our lives as Christians. Jesus is the one who brings salvation. He is the bridge between heaven and earth. The teaching of Jesus challenges the conventional wisdom of his day and cleanses the absurd practices that had become common place in the Judaic faith. In today’s gospel we encounter an angry Christ. The people of Jesus’ day were hungering for intimacy with God as they tried to reconcile their failures. It was common for the people to sacrifice animals in atonement for their sins. The temple traders benefited from the people’s guilt, and the sale of animals for sacrificial offering became a lucrative business. Jesus recognizes the people’s faith. He confronts the abuses of the day traders. The anger that Jesus demonstrates is a justified refusal to allow anyone to fool around with God’s mercy. The temple was a house of prayer — not a place for people to be taken advantage of. Jesus’ sign would be to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. For the discerning Christian we know this means his death and resurrection, the once-and-for-all sacrifice that would bring atonement for sin!

The Christian experience has from time to time bargained with the mercy of God. The Reformation occurred because of the absurd practices that had become the fabric of the ecclesial life. One of the common abuses was that of the sale of indulgences. People believed if they bought and sold indulgences that they could buy their way into heaven and be afforded salvation. The only problem was that the Reformers went too far. The Reformation provoked the much needed reform to the Roman Catholic Church. In many aspects, the reformers threw out the baby with the bathwater. They refused to recognize Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist and also refused to accept the great commissioning of Jesus bestowing authority upon the apostles and their successors. The Counter Reformation provided the people of the Church with a solid tradition in which they could encounter the mercy of God without the trappings of wealth. The mercy of God could be experienced through the Sacrament of Penance.

If we are truthful with ourselves, we have all played games in our relationship with God. How many of us promise God that we are going to walk away from a recurring sin and break that promise? People find it hard to let go of the sin of the past. One of the greatest sins we commit is not allowing God to forgive us. It is absurd to believe that God will not forgive us when we are contrite. The whole project of Jesus’ mission was to reconcile the world to himself by the blood of His cross. We can use the Ten Commandments to see what God expects from us. Each commandment points to the significance of right relationship with God and with one another. Human weakness breaks that right relationship. However, God constantly invites us to come back and to be reconciled with Him. This is the beauty of Lent. We are reminded every time we celebrate Mass, that the once-and-for-all unbloodied sacrifice, that Christ intends reconciliation and intimacy with us. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we can name our sin and allow Christ to forgive us and bring us incomprehensible healing.

Prayer

We pray: Be merciful to us, O Lord, for we have sinned! May our hunger for you bring us to the threshold of eternal life. Enable us to experience your Truth and forgiveness through the gift of the Church. Encourage us in the midst of failure and help us to move on. Create within us a new heart so that we may experience You in new ways. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What are some of the foolish notions in your life that get in the way of God?
2. How have you experienced God’s mercy?
3. Where have you demonstrated mercy and compassion in your relationships?
4. How passionate are you as a disciple of Christ?
5. Name the times in your life when you have made a stand to witness to truth?
6. What needs to be cleansed in your life to enable you to become closer to God?
7. How do the 10 Commandments offer you a blueprint for your choices and a compass for your life?

Wisdom of the Fathers

“Our heart is restless for God and remains so, even if every effort is made today, by means of most effective anaesthetizing methods, to deliver people from this unrest. But not only are we restless for God: God’s heart is restless for us. God is waiting for us. He is looking for us. He knows no rest either, until He finds us. … That is why He set out on the path towards us, to Bethlehem, to Calvary, from Jerusalem to Galilee and on to the very ends of the earth. God … looks out for people willing to ‘catch’ His unrest, His passion for us, people who carry within them the searching of their own hearts. … This was the task of the Apostles: to receive God’s unrest for man and then to bring God Himself to man. And this is your task as successors of the Apostles.”

— Pope Benedict XVI, in a homily on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan 6, 2012

March 4, 2012

Second Sunday of Lent Year B

Genesis 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13
Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
Romans 31B-34
Mark 9:2-10

Alteration & Transformation

In the gospel today we recall that Jesus led Peter, James and John to a place where they would encounter his transfiguration. This was a moment in time when heaven was wedded to earth and humanity was opened to the glory of God. Could you imagine what went through these three men’s minds? The encounter gave Peter, James and John a new insight into Jesus because they glimpsed his divinity. Peter announces, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here!” He is overjoyed with this experience of God. As a Jew, Peter would have held great reverence to the Law and Prophets. On the day of the transfiguration, he witnesses with his very eyes the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Peter wanted to capture the moment by erecting three tents: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. It is obvious to us all that Peter did not want this experience to go away! Mark the Evangelist also recounts that the Father’s voice can be heard, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” The three disciples had listened to the dictates of the Law and the promptings of the prophets, now they must listen to the wisdom of God’s beloved – Jesus of Nazareth.

The Transfiguration is an important event in salvation history. It reminds the Church of the true identity of Jesus, both human and divine. We are called to the Truth of Jesus through listening to his Word and being doers of his Word. We are urged to “Listen to him.” In every aspect of life and in all of our relationships whether they are familial, social, or political, we are asked to listen to the wisdom of Jesus and apply it. During this season of Lent, we should commit ourselves to discerning the truths of the gospel and undergo conversion. Each of us is asked to transform our lives by what we know of God’s message. Peter, James and John had a life-changing experience on the day of Transfiguration. Jesus’ appearance was altered that day as the apostles witnessed his glory. But the faith of these simple men must have been transformed as well. The words of the gospel are the words of everlasting life. If we listen to these words, take them to heart, and act upon them, we open ourselves to this promise of salvation. Sometimes the gospel requires that we alter the way in which we conduct our lives and choose the road less traveled.

As we go through life we experience the highs and the lows in our relationship with God. There are times when we have profound experiences and we are convinced of God’s presence. During these times, most of us wish we could dwell in that moment forever. Many of us have times when we doubt our faith and sometimes feel we are totally alone. During these moments of doubt, we need to recall the moments in which we were totally convinced of the presence of God. The gospel reminds us elsewhere that we are not left alone as orphans. Jesus tells us that he will be with us until the end of the age. The experiences of transcendence within our lives make up our own particular histories — they bring us to the sacrament of the present moment.

Life has a habit of teaching us the truths about God. The Church in Her wisdom gives us the liturgical seasons in which we experience life, death and resurrection. All of us have to experience death in order to come to resurrection. The different events of life can bring us to a deeper reality of God’s presence. Our lives change when we encounter forgiveness and healing. We all become aware of the other side of life when we encounter the death of a loved one. When parents experience the newness of life, they encounter the God of Creation and the innocence of humanity. When we witness great acts of charity and heroism we are made aware that we belong to a larger family of the world and recognized that we are People of God. These experiences transform us and remind us that God is forever with us working through, in and with us.

Prayer

We pray: Lord, it is good that we are here! We thank you for the gift of life! We bless you and praise you for the message of the gospel handed on to us. Let us always remind ourselves in the profound moments of life that you are always journeying with us. When we lose hope, may we have the courage to listen to the voice of your Son, who never abandons us. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. How does the gospel challenge conventional wisdom?
2. What needs to be altered in your way of living to bring you in alignment of God’s plan for you? When have you been absolutely convinced of God’s presence?
3. How do you use your faith to shape your decisions?
4. Name the ways in which you listen to God’s voice in your daily living?
5. How does God reveal Himself to you through people and specific events?
6. Where do you go to discover God?
7. Where do you take others to experience God?

Wisdom of the Fathers

“The Lord Jesus Himself shone bright as the sun; His garment became white as the snow; and Moses and Elijah talked with Him. Jesus Himself indeed shone as the sun, signifying that He is “the true light that enlightens every man come into the world.” What the sun is to the eyes of the flesh, so He is to the eyes of the heart; and what that is to the flesh of men, that He is to their hearts…

And in this glory is fulfilled what He has promised to those who love Him: “he who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him.” … Great gift! great promise! God holds for you nothing less than Himself. O you covetous one; why isn’t Christ’s promise enough for you? You seem to yourself to be rich; yet if you do not have God, what do you have? Another person is poor, yet if he has God, what does he lack?

Come down, Peter! You wanted to rest on the mount. Come down and “preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Persevere, work hard, bear your measure of torture — so that you might possess what is meant by the white garment of the Lord, through the brightness and the beauty of an upright labor in charity …Hear and listen, O covetous one: the Apostle explains clearly to you in another place: “Let no man seek his own, but another’s.” He says of himself, “Not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

— St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

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I am very proud to say that St. John the Evangelist is becoming technologically advanced.  Most of you have visited our website for one reason or another.   Some of you may also have visited our website from your smart phone to obtain pertinent information.  Accessing a website via a smart phone can be daunting as the information which appears on your screen can be very difficult to read because it is intended to be viewed from a much larger screen.  We have developed a mobile application for our website which allows parishioners to view our site in a much more user friendly format.  In addition, beginning this week you will see a “QR Code” on the front of our bulletin.  Many of you may be asking yourselves…what exactly is a QR Code?  For our tech savvy parishioners, no further information is needed.  Upon seeing our QR Code, I am sure that many of you noticed these same codes on anything and everything from literature to consumer products.  Basically, our QR Code is a link to our website.  In order to use the code, you must first download a QR scanner application (app) to your smart phone.  For Iphone users this may be done free of charge via the app store.  For those on the Droid platform, you may visit your marketplace to obtain the free application.  Once the app is downloaded, you simply click on the “QR Code scanner” icon.  A screen similar to your camera will appear.  Position the phone over the QR Code on our bulletin and you will automatically be redirected to our mobile website once the scan is complete.  Upon arriving at our mobile website for the first time, you will have the option of placing our “St. John the Evangelist” app on your smart phone.  I strongly suggest choosing this option as for future visits to our site, you will only have to click the app on your smart phone’s home screen.  If you do not want to download the QR Code scanner app, you may also type our website address www.saintjohntheevangelist.com into your smart phone’s browser.  Our mobile site can automatically determine whether you are using a smart phone to access our website and you will be redirected to the mobile site.  We are still experimenting with which buttons are of most interest to our parishioners on the mobile site.  If there is something that you would like to see that is currently not an option, please contact me and I do my best to make changes that will incorporate your wishes.  For those willing, I encourage you to download the QR Code scanner app.  Everyday, there are more and more vendors using this valuable tool to make it easier for you to access their website.  It is actually a lot of fun and no more difficult than taking a picture with your smart phone.

On April 14, a JOP committee of sorters and packers met for perhaps the last time to pack a 40 foot container bound for our sister parish in Jamaica. Over 1,000 cartons of goods donated by St. John the Evangelist parishioners were shipped.  An additional 231 cartons donated by the good people of Blessed Pope John XXIII parish were placed on board as well.   It was a sight to behold as the crowd of over 70 volunteers scrambled like a bunch of “young guns” to get the job done.  Regretfully, the JOP Board of Directors has suspended this project begun over 12 years ago.  It is being suspended indefinitely for reasons  that have become the norm lately.  The shipping costs, once performed free of charge, now come with a $4,000 price tag.  In addition, long time chairmen, Bill and Rosemary O’Connell are retiring as the leaders and organizers of the project.  Fortunately for us and St. Pius X, they have agreed to stay on as chairmen of our Annual Food Drive. We at St. John the Evangelist extend sincere thanks to the O’Connells and their tribe of cheerful packers for a job well done as they worked in His name and yours for so long.

Did you take a look at the Catholic Faith Appeal statistics in the bulletin?  We have nearly reached 50% of our goal only two full months into the annual appeal.  Thank you for your extreme generosity!  Seasonal residents and visitors, please remember to make your check payable to the CFA with St. John the Evangelist in the memo line.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager

Have you ever attended the Easter Vigil Mass at St. John the Evangelist?  Celebrated on the Saturday evening before Easter, this Mass is the true beginning of the Easter celebration.  Although quite lengthy (just over 2 1/2 hours), it is the most beautiful of all Masses celebrated throughout the year.  Deep-seated in Catholic tradition, the Easter Vigil Mass begins in total darkness with a large fire burning at the entrance of the church.  The church is in total darkness as the celebrant leads a procession to the front of the narthex.  As the procession heads into the sanctuary, the flame is passed from the Pascal candle to all those in attendance creating a beautiful site in the sanctuary with the only visible light coming from the nearly 1,200 candles.  Present on the altar this year was Fr. John, Fr. Len, Fr. Kelly, Deacon Frank Paniccia, seminarians Peter Vale and Michael Scaramuzzo and our lone altar server, Emily Anton.  In addition, Tom Oram provided outstanding music accompanied by our choir and a quintet from the Naples Philharmonic.  The Vigil Mass serves as the platform for which to welcome our new RCIA candidates and catechumens into the church.  This year we had three individuals receiving the sacrament of Baptism and another six receiving their Confirmation.  If you feel capable of sitting through a two plus hour Mass, I strongly encourage you to attend this incredibly beautiful Mass next spring.

The Men’s Club hosted their 6th annual Easter egg hunt on Holy Saturday.  Soaking in abundant sunshine and low humidity, nearly 500 children and adults showed up to gather as many eggs as possible before heading back to the ballroom in the PLC for pizza and ice cream.  So well organized was this event that I received numerous phone calls and emails expressing thanks to the Men’s Club.  On behalf of everyone here at St. John the Evangelist, many thanks to the Men’s Club for hosting another exceptionally well organized event to benefit the children of our parish.  And if they weren’t tired out from the Easter egg hunt, the Men’s Club will also host Parish Appreciation Day this Sunday.

We have finally loaded all of the email addresses into our new database and will begin using this new tool next week.  We will use your email addresses to inform our parishioners of upcoming events, pertinent information and to distribute what we hope will be at least a quarterly newsletter.  I would kindly ask that if you receive the initial email from St. John the Evangelist and have since decided that you do not wish to be on our distribution list, please DO NOT mark the email as SPAM.  Instead, simply send me an email (scotts@saintjohntheevangelist.com) asking to be removed.  If you have yet to submit your email address and wish to be included, please send me an email and I will add you to the list.  Your email address will be used exclusively for parish correspondence and not shared with anyone else.  In addition, your email address will not appear as a CC on any of the parish email blasts.

Did you attend the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday?  Many did and we received numerous complaints due to the fact that there was only one cross for adoration.  Those in attendance know that this took an extremely long time.  The new translation of the Roman Missal explicitly states that only one cross is to be used for adoration (formerly termed veneration.)  Obviously, this directive is a universal directive of the Church and was not something created by the parish or the Diocese.  The rubric suggests if many people are in attendance that the celebrant along with his ministers only venerate the cross.  Those who were involved in the preparation of the Liturgy of The Lord’s Passion thought such an action would take away a treasured practice.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager

Daily Mass Monday through Friday will be at 8:30 a.m. There will no longer be two daily Masses.

Saturday Mass will be at 8:00 a.m. with confessions at 8:30 a.m.

Times for Sunday Masses will change beginning Sunday, May 6

Sunday Masses will be at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. with the Contemporary Mass at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday Vigil Mass times remain the same at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket for the Reverse Raffle.  Believe it or not, we sold all 300 tickets and were actually turning parishioners away the Friday before the event. We had an amazing time this past Saturday. Tom did an amazing job of fielding music requests and had many in attendance occupying the dance floor.  We were also able to televise the final four basketball games on one of the screens so that our sports fans were not left out of the loop.  Over 400 attended the Reverse Raffle, and I believe that everyone was pleased.  I am confident that at least 19 of our guests were very pleased with the end result.  Twelve lucky parishioners received a prize of $100 for being the 1^st and 25^th subsequent ticket drawn.  Six very lucky parishioners decided to split the grand prize of $10,000.00, which left them each with $1,666.67.  One of the final six was a shared ticket which netted them each $833.33.  The six winning tickets belonged to Joe & Kay Reid, Lois Wellman, Dave & Betty Quist, Gail Mulloy, Charles and Ruth Malloy and Janet D’Addario/Violoette Saluan – shared ticket.  As previously mentioned, all proceeds from the Reverse Raffle will be used to reduce our Catholic Faith Appeal Goal. Thank you again to all of our parishioners who endured my begging and pleading for the last month in order to make this event a success.  You really came through and I am very grateful.  Due to an early deadline for the bulletin, we don’t yet have a detailed accounting of the net proceeds, however, I will include in next week’s bulletin.

Do you remember Deacon Matthew Grady who interned at St. John the Evangelist over the summer? Currently, Deacon Matthew is in Rome completing his work in the seminary.  He will be ordained a priest on Saturday, July 14, at 11:00 a.m. at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice.  If you are able, I am sure Matthew will appreciate you presence.  We will have a reception at a date to be announced to recognize Matthew’s very special accomplishment.

Have you considered using “Pledge Connect” to make your weekly, monthly or annual offertory contributions?  Pledge Connect is our electronic vendor which processes credit cards and electronic bank drafts.  Pledge Connect is the same vendor used by the Diocese of Venice.  You may access Pledge Connect through our website by clicking on “ways to give.”  This is a great opportunity for those of you wishing to earn miles or points through your credit card.  It is also a great opportunity to setup recurring transactions so that you may never have to worry about writing a check for Mass each Sunday.  While you are away for the summer, you may also choose to continue contributing to St. John the Evangelist via credit card through recurring contributions.  In addition to regular offertory, you may electronically contribute to a plethora of other entities, including Habitat for Humanity, Jamaica Outreach and St. Vincent De Paul.  You may even purchase your plot in the memorial garden via Credit Card.  Some of you chose to purchase your reverse raffle ticket through credit card as well.  For those who like to place an envelope in the basket weekly during Mass, you may simply write “gave via credit card” on your envelope and drop it in the basket as usual.  The Pledge Connect website is very secure and encrypted so that none of your credit card information will be compromised.  Please take a minute and check it out.  Giving electronically could make your life much easier.

This past weekend at Mass, many of you heard Tom Oram mention the new baby grand piano which now resides next to the organ.  Considering that this is Easter weekend, many more of you in attendance most likely did not hear his comments.  This beautiful piano is not new, although it is new to us.  Tom found a great deal and through the generosity of many of our parishioners, was able to purchase this gently used piano at a fantastic price.  We hope that you enjoy the amazing music that Tom will produce through our new baby grand.  Thanks again to the parishioners that made Tom’s dream a reality.

For those of you planning on attending the Parish Appreciation Day Picnic on April 15, please do not forget our Lenten “Mission Clothe Me” project.  Although there is no charge for admission to the picnic, we kindly ask that you purchase a “new” clothing item for the boys and girls in St. Lucia.  Believe it or not, you can assemble an entire outfit at Target or Wal-Mart for less than $15.  This includes shirt, shorts, underwear and socks.  Thanks in advance for your consideration.

In His work together,

Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager