3005 Country Club Road New Bern, NC 28562

www.spccnb.org (252) 638-1984

Office: M-F 8:30-4:00pm

Saint Paul Catholic School (252) 633-0100

Saint Peter the Fisherman Mission Parish in Oriental

(252) 249-3687

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:00 pm Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 am, 11:00 am 1:00 pm (Misa en Español) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday . . . . . . 8:00 am Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9:00 am 6:00 pm Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 am at Old St Paul First Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 am Holy Days of Obligation per announcements

WELCOME

VISITORS & GUESTS!

Welcome, New Parishioners! Please register with the parish office

PASTORAL STAFF

Father Thomas Tully, Pastor

Father Michael Schuetz, Parochial Vicar

Deacon Mike Mahoney, ObISB, Parish Deacon Deacon Rick Fisher, Parish Deacon

Sister Monique Dissen, IHM, Pastoral Associate

Deacon David Kierski, School Administrator

SAINT PAUL ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY APRIL 23, 2017

WEDNESDAY MORNING 9:00AM SCHOOL MASS  

The School childrens choir and homilies adapted for young persons are much appreciated. We welcome home-schooled

children as a shared community for Catholic educa on. All are welcome! Join us!

PARISH STAFF DIRECTORY

NIGHT EMERGENCY CALL: 252-638-4436

PASTORAL STAFF Father Thomas S Tully, Pastor: 638-1984 pastor@spccnb.org

Father Michael Schuetz, Parochial Vicar: 638-1984 frschuetz@spccnb.org

Deacon Rick Fisher: 229-1644

Deacon Mike Mahoney, ObISB: 571-1597

Sister Monique Dissen, IHM, Hospital: 675-0333

Admin Assistant, DeLesa Conway: 638-1984 dconway@spccnb.org

Bookkeeper, Donna Simon: 638-1984 dsimon@spccnb.org

Bulle n: bulle n@spccnb.org

Cemetery: Danny Gennantonio 637-2322

Director Opera ons: Deacon David Kierski 633-0100 dkierski@spccnb.org

Faith Forma on: Joy Harsen 229-2394

Funeral Arrangements: 638-4436 funeral@spccnb.org

Music Ministry: Megan Johnson 633-0100 mjohnson@stpaulcs.org

RCIA Coordinator: Marcelene McLure 633-2539

Catholic Chari es: 638-2188

Catholic Daughters: Belinda Swager 617-0849

Extraordinary Ministers of Eucharist: Mary Spano: 633-4768

Eucharis c Ministers (Home / Sick): Dennis Colbert: 638-1555

Finance Council: Bob Nenni: 635-6716

Knights Third Degree: Phil Nassef

229-9799 Knights Fourth Degree: Patrick Rocco 514-0405

Pastoral Council: pcouncil@spccnb.org

Religious Community Services: 633-2767

Rectory: 638-4436 Sacrament Arrangements: 638-1984

Saint Paul School Administrator: Deacon Kierski: 633-0100

TODAY'S READINGS

First Reading -- All who believed were devoted to the teachings of the apostles, the communal life, the breaking of the bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42-47).

Psalm -- Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlas ng (Psalm 118).

Second Reading -- God has given us an undiminished inheritance, safeguarded for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-9).

Gospel -- The risen Christ comes to his disciples with peace and the Spirit. The absent Thomas doubts (John 20:19-31).

THIS WEEK’S PARISH ACTIVITIES

Sunday 4/23 8:00AM Mass +Jack Tuohey 9:00AM Olive Branch Gi Store open ll 1:00PM 9:30AM Chancel Choir Prac ce 9:30AM RCIA – FLC2 10:30AM Chaplet of the Divine Mercy - SJC 11:00AM Mass +George Tillotson 1:00PM Mass Saint Paul Parish Family 3:00PM Hispanic Prayer Group – FLC3 4:00PM Confirma on - Church

Monday 4/24 8:00AM Mass +William Carolin 11:00AM Hand and Foot Card Games – FLC2 6:00PM St Paul Women’s Basketball - Gym

Tuesday 4/25 8:00AM Mass +Eleanor Mastronado 10:00AM Grieving Group - SJC 12:00PM One in the Spirit Prayer Group – SJC 1:00PM Prayer Shawl Ministry – FLC3 5:30PM Gospel Choir Prac ce – FLC3

Wednesday 4/26 9:00AM Mass 9:00AM Olive Branch Gi Store Open ll Noon 5:00PM Medjugorje Prayer Group – SJC 6:00PM Mass 7:00PM Liturgy Commi ee Mtg – Conference Room 7:00PM Hispanic Choir Prac ce 7:00PM SPRAA Men’s Open Gym Basketball

Thursday 4/27 8:00AM Mass +Bill Winfield 8:35AM Adora on – Church 10:45AM Reconcilia on 11:45AM Benedic on - Church 12:00PM May 7th Bulle n Items Due 12:15PM Research & Resource Commi ee Mtg – Library 7:30PM Folk Choir Prac ce - Church

Friday 4/28 8:00AM Mass (OSP) +Philip Adam

Saturday 4/29 3:30PM Reconcilia on 5:00PM Spanish Bap sm Class – Conference Room 5:00PM Cursillo Servers Mee ng – FLC2 5:00PM Mass Saint Paul Parish Family

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS & LECTORS: See next week’s schedule on the parish website or bulle n board post.

Bulle ns and the en re parish calendar are always available for viewing at www.spccnb.org.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Acts 4:23-31; Ps 2:1-9; Jn 3:1-8

Tuesday: 1 Pt 5:5b-14; Ps 89:2-17; Mk 16:15-20

Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26; Ps 34:2-9; Jn 3:16-21

Thursday: Acts 5:27-33; Ps 34:2-20; Jn 3:31-36

Friday: Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1-14; Jn 6:1-15

Saturday: Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-19; Jn 6:16-21

PASTOR’S CORNER April 23, 2017

Dear Friends at Saint Paul: Please note the important “re-start” of the Tuesday evening program on “Catholicism: The Pivotal Players” this week, Tuesday, April 25 at 6:30 pm in the Narthex of the Church. Over 70 participants in the first series were delighted to learn about St Francis of Assisi, St Thomas Aquinas and Blessed John Cardinal Newman. The feedback was very positive and helpful. Father Michael and I are looking forward to all returning. We will look at the life and influence of Michelangelo, St Catherine of Siena and G K Chesterton. Please join us! For your reflection and prayer today, the following will be helpful: Notes and Quotes for Reflection on Divine Mercy (from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website on Divine Mercy Sunday) From Creation, God has revealed his nature as love itself, in Sacred Scripture and most perfectly in the life, Passion, death and Resurrection of his Son, Jesus. Saints have also borne witness to God’s unfathomable love, e.g., in the writings of Augustine, Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, Margaret Mary Alacoque and Therese of Lisieux. In his second encyclical, Rich in Mercy, Pope Saint John Paul II offers an extended meditation on the mystery of God’s mercy, which he calls “the greatest of the attributes and perfections of God” (Dives in Misericordia, 13). He returned to this theme throughout his pontificate: As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the Risen Lord offers His love that pardons, reconciles, and reopens hearts to love. It is a love that converts hearts and gives peace. How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy! -- -- Lord, who reveals the Father’s love by Your death and Resurrection, we believe in You and confidently repeat to You today: Jesus, I trust in You, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world. ~ Pope St John Paul II, Regina Caeli message prepared for Divine Mercy Sunday, April 3, 2005 What is mercy if not the boundless love of God, who confronted with human sin, restrains the sentiment of severe justice and, allowing Himself to be moved by the wretchedness of His creatures, spurs Himself to the total gift of self, in the Son’s cross …? -- -- Who can say that he is free from sin and does not need God’s mercy? As people of this restless time of ours, wavering between the emptiness of self-exaltation and the humiliation of despair, we have a greater need than ever for a regenerating experience of mercy. ~Pope St John Paul II, Regina Caeli message, April 10, 1994 Pope Benedict XVI called John Paul “a great apostle of Divine Mercy” and echoed his predecessor’s thoughts: In our time, humanity needs a strong proclamation and witness of God’s mercy. Beloved John Paul II, a great apostle of Divine Mercy, prophetically intuited this urgent pastoral need. He dedicated his second Encyclical to it and throughout his pontificate made himself a missionary of God’s love to all peoples. ~Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus message, September 16, 2007 Mercy is the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God, the Face with which he revealed himself in the Old Covenant and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redemptive Love. May this merciful love also shine on the face of the Church and show itself through the sacraments, in particular that of Reconciliation, and in works of charity, both communitarian and individual. May all that the Church says and does manifest the mercy God feels for man. ~Pope Benedict XVI, Regina Caeli address, March 30, 2008

SACRAMENT SCHEDULE

Reconcilia on: Thursdays 10:45-11:45am; Saturday 3:30-4:30pm or by appointment Bap sm Classes: First me parents must a end Bap smal Prepara on Classes. Registra on is mandatory. Contact the church office to register. First Communion/Confirma on: Please call 633-3030 Marriages: Contact Parish Office - 6 month advance no ce is required Anoin ng of the Sick: Contact the Office at 638-1984 Funerals: Call 638-4436 or e-mail funeral@spccnb.org

Help your parish be a sign of hope and unity!

Thursday, May 4th, 2017 is the Na onal Day of Prayer.

People of faith across the na on will join in intercessory prayer for our governmental

leaders, local communi es, and the most vulnerable among us.

As Catholic Chris ans, Jesus invites all of us to be vibrant witnesses of trust in God and love

for one another.

Invite your parishioners to be a part of this landmark day.

The Junior Catholic Daughters invited Tova Hairston, Director of Coastal Women’s Shelter to their mee ng to present her a check from the dona ons collected

during their annual Souper Bowl Sunday.

JCDA welcomes all girls ages 8 to 18 are always invited to help Serve the Lord with Gladness. For more

informa on, contact Paula Hartman at 636-0101

The Diocesan Tribunal seeks

women and men volunteers who are

interested in assis ng people seeking a

declara on of nullity of a prior marriage.

A compassionate ear and the ability to maintain strict confiden ality are the

main requirements. Bilingual skills are helpful but not

necessary. For more informa on or to register,

please call or e-mail Mrs. Vikki Newell (919-821-9759;

Vikki.Newell@raldioc.org) by June 16, 2017

Our diocese has a code of conduct adults must follow to create safe environments and protect children.

Reading and following the code conduct helps create a culture of protec on and keeps our children safer.

Access the Code of Conduct at dioceseofraleigh.org/sites/default/files/files/code-of-conduct.pdf

If you need par cular help responding to a report of abuse, you may call: The Diocese of Raleigh office of

Child and Youth Protec on at 1-866-535-7233.

CHILD SAFETY CLASS Child Safety Classes will be held on the second Thursday of each month in the FLC.

The next class will be on May 11th from 9:00AM to12:00PM?? For ques ons, please contact Dena at 649-5178. To register for the classes, contact

the church office at 638-1984.

FOR SALE - Single Owner Tomb. Only used three days and s ll has that new tomb smell. Reason for sale… resident

was resurrected.

OLIVE BRANCH STORE & LENDING LIBRARY

We have some wonderful new items for you to choose from for First Holy Communion and Confirma on gi s. New Items: Gi -boxed First Holy Communion Taper Candle $2, Ceramic Guardian Angel Holy Water Font $5.

Back In Stock: Plas c Holy Water Bo les. Hurry! Limited Availability: beau ful 9” Sacred Heart figurine rosary holder at a special “closeout” price! Don’t Forget to get your “Golf With The Saints” golf balls – great fun! We Will Be Closed On April 16th, Easter Sunday

Open Sun. 9–1 & Wed. 9–12 in the Family Life Center.

All proceeds benefit St. Paul Catholic Church.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY APRIL 23, 2017

Please join us at Old Saint Paul Catholic Church to celebrate this important

feast day!

3:00PM Exposi on of the Blessed Sacrament

3:30PM Chaplet of Divine Mercy

4:00PM Benedic on

You can receive an Indulgence for receiving Communion that morning, a ending the events of the day,

and going to Confession. Private Novenas begin on Good Friday - Leaflets available

SAVE THE DATE

May 13th at the Conven on Center

SAINT PAUL SCHOOL NEWS

Saint Paul School is dedicated to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social development of each student. As part of our mission to educate the whole child, we

offer team sports for our sixth through eighth grades.

On Thursday, April 6, Saint Paul School recognized our student athletes with an end-of-year Sports "Banquet" consis ng of a fast-paced game of volleyball--where

students took on a team of parents--and a pizza party.

The boys junior varsity basketball team was recognized for winning the second place trophy at the Eastern Independent Conference tournament. Students were

also recognized for their par cipa on in girls and boys volleyball, junior varsity girls basketball, and boys varsity basketball.

Recently, all of our students par cipated in the Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart and raised over $5,000 which was more than twice the school's goal. Our Kindergarten

class is shown receiving a banner in honor of their enthusias c support of Jump Rope for Heart.

Go Knights!

PIVOTAL PLAYERS - PART II

Michelangelo, GK Chesterton and Saint Catherine of Sienna

Tuesday Evenings at 6:30 to 8:00

April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.

In the Atrium of the Church

We hope to see you there!

AN INVITATION TO CATHOLICS WHO WANT MORE

Have you lost focus and joy in your life and want to get back to prac cing

your faith? Are you divorced and/or remarried

and s ll want to grow in your spiritual life with the Holy Spirit in the

Catholic Church? Do you want to learn more?

You are welcome here!!!

Please a end a special gathering, especially for you at 7 pm on

Thursday, May 18th and May 25th at the Family Life Center in Room 2

with Deacon Mahoney and the Come Home Ministry Team.

Informa on brochures are available in the ves bule for your informa on.

Call Peggy Reynolds at 252-635-1957 or Deacon Mike at 252-571-1597

for more informa on.

CARING OUTREACH IS HERE FOR YOU!

Have you had surgery, and need a few meals brought to you? Do you have a doctor’s

appointment, and wished someone would drive

you there? Need transporta on to

church? Feeling lonely? We would love to visit with you. Give us a call at ST. PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, and we will be happy to help. 252-638-1984

9 THINGS YOU NEED TO KKNOW ABOUT DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

1. What is Divine Mercy Sunday? Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter. It is based on the private revela ons of St. Faus na Kowalska, which recommended a par cular devo on to the Divine Mercy. To learn more about St. Faus na, visit va can.va/news_services/

2. When was it made part of the Church's calendar? In 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faus na and, during the ceremony, he declared: “It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church will be called "Divine Mercy Sunday". In the various readings, the liturgy seems to indicate the path of mercy which, while re-establishing the rela onship of each person with God, also creates new rela ons of fraternal solidarity among human beings

3. If this is based on private revela on, why is it on the Church's calendar? In his theological commentary in The Message of Fa ma, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote: “We might add that private revela ons o en spring from popular piety and leave their stamp on it, giving it a new impulse and opening the way for new forms of it. Nor does this exclude that they will have an effect even on the liturgy, as we see for instance in the feasts of Corpus Chris and of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From one point of view, the rela onship between Revela on and private revela ons appears in the rela onship between the liturgy and popular piety: The liturgy is the criterion, it is the living form of the Church as a whole, fed directly by the Gospel. Popular piety is a sign that the faith is spreading its roots into the heart of a people in such a way that it reaches into daily life. Popular religiosity is the first and fundamental mode of “incultura on” of the faith. While it must always take its lead and direc on from the liturgy, it in turn enriches the faith by involving the heart”.

4. What does the Church do to encourage the celebra on of devo on to the Divine Mercy on this day? Among other things, it offers a plenary indulgence: To ensure that the faithful would observe this day with intense devo on, the Supreme Pon ff [John Paul II] himself established that this Sunday be enriched by a plenary indulgence, as will be explained below, so that the faithful might receive in great abundance the gi of the consola on of the Holy Spirit. In this way, they can foster a growing love for God and for their neighbour, and a er they have obtained God's pardon, they in turn might be persuaded to show a prompt pardon to their brothers and sisters. . . . a plenary indulgence, granted under the usual condi ons (sacramental confession, Eucharis c communion and prayer for the inten ons of Supreme Pon ff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affec on for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devo ons held in honour of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!").

5. What is the Divine Mercy image? The Divine Mercy image is a depic on of Jesus based on a vision that St. Faus na had in 1931. There have been a number of pain ngs made of this image. A basic explana on of the image is: Jesus is shown in most versions as raising his right hand in blessing, and poin ng with his le hand on his chest from which flow forth two rays: one red and one white (translucent). The depic ons o en contains the message "Jesus, I trust in You!" (Polish: Jezu ufam Tobie). The rays streaming out have symbolic meaning: red for the blood of Jesus (which is the Life of Souls), and pale for the water (which jus fy souls) (from Diary - 299). The whole image is symbolic of charity, forgiveness and love of God, referred to as the "Fountain of Mercy". According to the diary of St Faus na, the image is based on her 1931 vision of Jesus.

6. What is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy? The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a set of prayers used as part of the Divine Mercy devo on. They are usually said using a standard set of Rosary beads, o en at 3 p.m. (the me of Jesus' death), but with a different set of prayers than those used in the Marian Rosary. For more informa on about the chaplet, including how to pray it, you can go to www.ewtn.com/devo onals/mercy/dmmap.htm.

7. How is the Divine Mercy devo on linked to the Scripture readings for the Second Sunday of Easter? The Divine Mercy image depicts Jesus at the moment he appears to the disciples in the Upper Room, a er the Resurrec on, when he empowers them to forgive or retain sins. This moment is recorded in John 20:19-31, which is the Gospel reading for this Sunday in all three yearly Sunday liturgical cycles (A, B, and C). This reading is placed on this day because it includes the appearance of Jesus to the Apostle Thomas (in which Jesus invites him to touch his wounds). This event occurred on the eighth day a er the Resurrec on (John 20:26), and so it is used on the liturgy eight days a er Easter. (It also, however, includes the appearance of Jesus to the disciples on Easter evening, a week earlier, in which he empowered them to forgive or retain sins.)

8. How did Jesus empower the apostles to forgive or retain sins? That part of the text reads: [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.",,[22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. "He thus gave them a special empowerment with the Holy Spirit to forgive or retain sins.

9. How does this relate to the sacrament of confession? It relates directly to it. Jesus empowered the apostles (and their successors in ministry) with the Holy Spirit to either forgive or retain (not forgive) sins. Because they are empowered with God's Spirit to do this, their administra on of forgiveness is efficacious--it really removes sin rather than just being a symbol of forgiveness a person is already thought to have obtained. Because they are instructed to forgive or retain, they must discern which they are to do. This means that they need to know about the sin and whether we are truly repentant of it. As a result, we must tell them about the sin and our sorrow for it. Hence: confession

h p://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-divine-mercy-sunday