CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST - sjegoshen.org

1 TTHE CHURCH OF ST. john THE EVANGELIST 71 Murray Avenue, Goshen, New York 10924 (845) 294-5328 - Permit me to begin with a reminder about next weekend s Ministry Fair (weather-permitting; if Mother Nature doesn t cooperate, we ll make it up the following weekend). Representatives of almost all of our parish ministries will be outside after each Mass, and will be happy to share information with those who might be interested in par-ticipating. + + + In your charity, please remember in your prayers Fr. Charles Szivos, one of my seminary classmates, who died in his sleep sometime between Tuesday, September 4 and Wednesday, September 5.

2 Fr. Charlie, who had just cele-brated his fiftieth birthday in July, had served for a little more than a year as the parochial vicar of St. Teresa s CHURCH in Pelham Bay. Among other assignments, he had spent close to a decade at St. Joseph s Seminary, serving first as spiritual director and later as director of pastoral formation. He was a fine man and an excellent priest; his premature death has been particularly difficult on the many younger priests in whose formation he was integrally involved. May he rejoice with the angels and saints in the courts of the Lord whom he so faithfully served in this life.

3 + + + In late August, the Washington Post carried an article about the accidental destruction, earlier this year, of some four thousand eggs and embryos stored cryogenically at the University Heights Fertility Center in Cleveland, OH. An unknown freezer malfunction resulted in a temperature spike, which rendered these potential future children nonviable. The article further referred to them as potential souls lost in one of the biggest mishaps in the his-tory of modern reproductive technology. The article further notes that, not surprisingly, there are many thorny legal complications arising from this episode.

4 One couple who lost genetic material have filed a lawsuit arguing that life begins at conception and seeking per-sonhood status for fertilized eggs. Not surprisingly, the clinic has argued that the loss should be litigated under the state s medical malpractice laws, which place caps on damages and recognize the would-be parents not the lost embryos as the victims. This is because Ohio law does not recognize the embryo as a distinct human entity with rights. Unfortunately, these types of questions about reproductive medicine, which are most serious and have implica-tions of eternal significance, are routinely minimized, brushed aside, or even ridiculed by its practitioners and pro-moters.

5 Yet the reality which even the Post tacitly if grudgingly admits is that we re dealing with much more than genetic material, gametes, or tissue. Countless parents, who have probably already endured emotional, physical, and spiritual upheaval even before taking this step, have placed their own flesh and blood and, probably unwittingly, their faith in the hands of doctors who, no matter how well intentioned they may be, have arrogated to themselves a power that ultimately and solely rests in the hands of the Lord. The loss of these unborn children is tragic enough; the damage done to their parents is just as staggering.

6 I will write more on this topic shortly. Faithfully your priest, Fr. George Hafemann TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 Page 2 - 446 St. john CHURCH of St. john the EVANGELIST 71 Murray Avenue Goshen, NY 10924 (845) 294-5328 The Sunday Eucharist Saturday 5:00pm 6:30pm (Spanish) Sunday 8:00am 10:00am 12:00pm 5.

7 00pm The Eucharist is celebrated on weekdays in the chapel: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 6:30am Wednesday at 5:15pm, followed by adoration until 9:00pm Saturday at 8:00am Sacrament of Penance (Confession) Saturday, 4:00 - 4:45pm Thursday before the first Friday, 4:00 - 4:30pm Sacrament of Baptism The sacrament of Baptism is celebrated on the first and second Sundays of the month at 1:30pm. Couples who are awaiting the birth of a child are invited to contact the par-ish office to schedule an appointment with one of the priests.

8 Sacrament of the Sick The sacrament of the sick is available to anyone who is acutely or chronically ill, or suffering the effects of age. Please speak with one of the priests. Fr. George Hafemann Fr. Anthony Giacona Fr. Joseph Komonchak Fr. Anthony Amponsah Deacon James Faulkner Deacon William Castellane Seminarian Nolan Beahan St. john School Pre-K through Grade 8 Mr. Dustyn Cormier, Principal (845) 294-6434 St. john s Religious Education Program K through Grade 8 Mrs. Cathy Fife, Coordinator (845) 294-6847 Page 3 - 446 St. john SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018 $ 8,719 Thank you for your continued generosity!

9 In your prayers, please remember Peter Rickard and all the souls in Purgatory. Please remember to pray daily for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Schedules for the Week of September 15/16 Extraordinary Ministers Lectors 5:00 M. Albanese M. Giglio 6:30 M. DeLeon 8:00 M. Crawford G. Roeder 10:00 C. Quinn K. Ashman 12:00 M. Lundy G. Whelan 5:00 D. Missalidis Youth Group On Thursday, September 20th in McCaffrey Hall, doors open at 5:45pm and games start at 6:45pm. Team #2 RCIA will begin on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 7:00pm in the rectory meeting room.

10 For more information, please contact Fr. Giacona at 294-5328 or via email at First grade parent orientation meeting in McCaffrey Hall on Wednesday, September 26 at 6:30pm. rade parent orientation meeting in McCaffreWednesdaySeptember26at6:30pm We welcome Jack Killian Danko, Kassidy Ann Morena, Sofia Isabela Roman, and Ralph Thomas Matthew Stanley to the Catholic community of St. john the EVANGELIST . SPONSOR CERTIFICATES If you are a parishioner and are in need of a sponsor certificate, please speak with Fr.