REFLECTION ON THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

T his First Sunday of Lent is often called “The Sunday of the Lord’s Temptation”, since on

this Sunday we listen to a Gospel of Jesus’ fasting and temptation in the desert. But just as appropriate would be the title “The Sunday of the Lord’s Victory”, for Jesus emerges victorious over Satan and strengthened for a ministry that will culminate in his Passion, Death and Resurrection for our Salvation. Not only in Lent, but throughout life’s journey we know testing and temptation. So we confidently begin our Lenten journey remembering that Jesus’ victory is our victory, too. With Jesus we call on God, who will answer us, de-

liver us by Christ’s Passion and give us glory through his Resurrection. In this years cycle of readings our first reading will present God’s successive covenants offered to the human race; we hear about Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Prophets. Today God enters into a covenant with all living creatures, through Noah, after the great flood. The second reading will link the Old Testament with the Gospel. Peter sees the purifying flood of Noah’s time as foreshadowing the cleansing waters of Baptism, while Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus fasting and being tempted immediately after his Baptism. Through these readings we make the forty days in the Lenten desert a preparation for renewing our own Baptismal covenant, a time of being strengthened to bear more fruitful witness to Jesus in the world.

Our Parish Mission: By the grace of God, we, the people of the Roman Catholic Parish of Saint Frances Cabrini, firmly rooted in the Apostolic Tradition of the Church and the Holy Scriptures, are

called to continue the mission of Jesus Christ to build up the Kingdom of God in the world through our faithful living according to His teachings, our proclamation of the Gospel by word and deed, and the

worship of God in our private prayer as well as in our public celebration of the Sacraments. We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us! (Philippians 4:13)

February 21, 2021

BAPTISM: SATURDAY, MARCH 6TH 12:00 PM

Register in the Parish Office Bring a copy of the Baby’s Birth Certificate

FIRST WEEK OF LENT

Masses & Readings for the Week

2/21 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Genesis 9:8-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15

Saturday Vigil Mass 5:00 PM

Nancy & Leonardo Grassotti (Children) 9:00 AM Thomas Verdillo (Italian Opers Company) 11:00 AM Sr. Jean Albert (M/M Gesualdi) 12:30 PM Anthony Balsamo (Family)

2/22 Monday THE CHAIR OF PETER THE APOSTLE 1 Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 16:1-19

8:30 AM David H. Kim: Birthday .(William & Gloria)

2/23 Tuesday Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 6:7-15

8:30 AM Baby Alyssa (Gabriella & Sophia)

2/24 Wednesday Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32

8:30 AM Maria Calarco (Pat Andriani) & Family) Sr. Margaret Wenzel People of the Parish

2/25 Thursday Esther C:12,14-16,23-25; Matthew 7:7-12

8:30 AM Danny Marra (Wife & Children)

2/26 Friday Ezekiel 18:21-28: Matthew 5:20-26

8:30 AM Frank Iacoviello (Family)

2/27 Saturday Deuteronomy 26:16-19; Matthew 5:43-48

8:30 AM Purgatorial & Collective Intentions

2/28 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Gen 22:1-2,9a,10-13.15-18; Romans 8:31b-34; Mark 9:2-10

Saturday Vigil Mass 5:00 PM

Madeline & Joseph Porcaro (Joan & Diane) 9:00 AM Incognito Family (Theresa Cali) 11:00 AM Salvatore Sciarrino (M/M John Mahoney) 12:30 PM People of the Parish

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED SICK: Luke Peterson, Ralph Valenti, Theresa Gonzalez, Natalie Delga-do, Salvatore Pandolfo, Arthur Malagoli, Thomas Messina, Mary Ann DeForca, Maureen Rivera, Anthony Calabrese, Fred Lesto, Joseph Perrelli, George Cagno, Ariana Mainner, Julia Bruzzese, Rose Dee, Isabel Ayala, Frances Cantone, Venancio Rosado, Vito Pisano, Theresa Mierzejewski, Quintin Leone, Rose Scianno, Gloria Freda, Isabelle Grenier, Helen Scalia, Diana Torres, Joseph Trovato, Marie Virardi, Dorothy O’Reilly, Jerry Cox, Connie Bertolino, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Rose Jung, Frances Pulomena, Josephine Orrichio, Linda Ciancimino, Sally Bell, John Barra

FOR OUR BELOVED DECEASED:

FR. PAUL PALMIOTTO

BREAD & WINE

IN MEMORY OF JOHN GILLEN REQUESTED BY CATHY CORTES

DAILY MASS AT 8:30 AM WEARING A MASK REQUIRED & SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES APPLY

SUNDAY MASS: VIGIL SATURDAY 5:00 & SUNDAY 9:00, 11:00 AM & 12:30 PM WEARING A MASK REQUIRED & SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES APPLY

PARISH WEBSITE: www.stfrancescabrini-brooklyn.org (for the Bulletin & all Parish information) FACEBOOK PAGE: St. Frances Cabrini Dyker Heights YOU TUBE: SFCDykerHeights

ON LINE GIVING IS NOW AVAILABLE GO TO: givecentral.org/sfcbrooklyn DIRECT DEPOSIT IN OUR PARISH ACCOUNT AT APPLE BANK

PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Parish Office Number: 718-236-9165 MONDAY — FRIDAY: 9:00 AM — 1:00 PM CLOSED: SATURDAY & SUNDAY If you need to speak with someone when the Office is closed there will be an answering machine on to take your message and your call will be returned. Or you can email us at: sfcabrini1963@gmail.com

L ENT The word Lent has an obscure origin and is probably a corruption of similar terms in ancient Anglo, Sax-on and Germanic languages, all of which referred to spring, new life and hope. Although it is generally consid-ered to be a time of mourning and repentance, it is also designated as a time of new life and hope because by means of the death of Christ, we receive new life.

The Lenten period is calculated to extend from Resurrection Sunday back for forty days, not including Sundays. Sundays are not included because they commemorate Christ's glorious resurrection on "the day after the Sabbath," "the first day of the week," "the Lord's day". The forty days commemorate the significant "forty" periods in Scripture: including the time of Noah and the forty days and nights of the flood, the forty years the Jews wandered in the desert after they had been rescued by God from Egypt and which did not end until they repented. Jonah preached to Nineveh that God's judgment would come on them in forty days. During that time the people repented and thus were spared God's judgment. Jesus was tested by the Devil in the de-sert for forty days before He began His public ministry, announcing salvation to the repentant and judgment to those who continued to rebel against God. Jesus prophesied that God's judgment would come against Israel for rejecting Him as Mes-siah within the time of His own generation.(Matt. 24; Luke 21; Mark 13) Within forty years of His death, burial and resurrection, Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple was so ravaged that "not one stone was left here upon another".(Matt. 24:2) The Jew-ish Christians, however, escaped this judgment of God by fleeing to “the mountains” before the final Roman siege, just as Jesus had warned them to do. (Matt. 24:16-21) During Lent we are to contemplate our sinfulness, repent, ask God's forgiveness and realize the infinite sacrifice God made on our behalf. It is to be a time of quiet contemplation, but not a time of despair, since it culminates in the commemora-tion of the Resurrection. Traditionally, those who are joining the church spend this period in special instruction regarding Christian doctrine, practice and responsibility. Historically, prospective members ("catechumens") did not participate in the Lord's Supper portion of the Sunday services until they were received into full membership on the Vigil of the Resurrec-tion of Our Lord. For them, this first experience of Ash Wednesday and Lent has special significance as God's eternal plan of salvation is applied to them personally. Some Christians abstain from a normal part of their daily routine during Lent to remind them of the sacrifice of Christ. Some might refrain from eating certain favorite foods or from frivolous entertainment, etc. We ask our parishioners to sacrifice and use the LENTEN COIN FOLDERS and give to the Diocesan Annual Catholic Appeal. In following the disciplines of Lent; of fasting, prayer and almsgiving we are uniting our sacrifice to Christ and renewing our life as we prepare for to focus on the events of Holy Week leading up to the Last Supper, Christ's betrayal, arrest, crucifixion, burial and finally, His triumphant Resurrection.

NEXT WEEKENDS SPECIAL COLLECTION IS FOR THE

CATHOLIC MISSION AMONG BLACK AND INDIAN PEOPLE

(BIMC)

These funds are distributed as grants to dioceses throughout the US supporting and strengthening evangelization programs

Lent is the penitential season of the Church’s year. It began on Ash Wednesday and ends with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. The Lenten Season is a time of penance. It is a season in which prayer, the

reception of the Sacraments, charity and almsgiving are emphasized

ALMSGIVING: LENTEN COIN FOLDERS

& THE ANNUAL DIOCESAN CATHOLIC APPEAL

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY (YAMs) will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM. The Lenten journey will use a seven week series on Formed.org called “AFTER THE SEARCH” exploring topics such as; What Do You Seek? Who Are You? Why A God? What’s Our Story? Who Is Jesus? Am I Saved? Why A Church?

All are welcome to join. For more information contact our Parish Youth Minister, Joanne at joannefusaro@aol.com You need to register on formed.org and need to receive the link to the Zoom meeting. We hope you will take advantage and participate in this weekly reflection with our YAMs

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: SATURDAYS: 4:00 - 4:30 PM

HOLY WEEK: RECONCILIATION MONDAY MARCH 29TH

MORNINGS OF PRAYER FOR LENT AND EASTER SEASONS

MARCH 16 —-JUNE 8:

The 13 Tuesdays in preparation for the Feast of St. Anthony After the 8:30 Mass we will pray the Novena Prayers with a reflection on the Novena theme

REGULATIONS FOR LENT

Abstinence: All of the faithful who have reached the age of 14 years are required to Abstain totally from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, all of the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.

Fasting: All of the faithful who are between the ages of 18 and 59 inclusive are required to Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This practice involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Light sustenance may also be taken on two other occasions during the day. The Church also requests that pastors and parents see to it that young persons, who are not bound to follow the above requirements, are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

Easter Duty: After they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, all the faithful are bound by the obligation to receive Holy Communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled dur-ing the Easter Season. By special indult in the Dioceses in the United States, the time period for ful-filling this obligation has been extended to include the period from Ash Wednesday (February 17th) to Pentecost Sunday (May 23rd).

THE FOLLOWING SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED: By Divine Law, all the faithful are required to do penance. In view of this, the obligation to observe,

as a whole or “substantially” the penitential days specified by the Church, is a serious one. All other Fridays of the year remain as days of penance in prayerful remembrance of the Pas-sion of our Lord Jesus Christ. While abstinence, in a true spirit of penance, is commended, the Bishops of the United States have indicated that each individual may substitute for that tradition

some other practice of voluntary self-denial or personal penance. This may involve acts of prayer or charity.