FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER—MAY 10, 2020

ST. JOHN PAUL II REGIONAL SCHOOL 631-727-1650 sjp2regional.org Mrs. Abby Swiatkowski, Principal

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 631-727-2114

stisidorefaithformation@gmail.com Mrs. Adrienne Dillingham

ST. ISIDORE R. C. CHURCH

MUSIC MINISTRY Margaret & Elizabeth Kane

Valentina Danowski John Dautzenberg

631-727-2114

Our Mission Statement Lord, God, all creation is yours, and you call us to serve you by caring for the gifts

that surround us. May the example of St. Isidore urge us to share our food with the hungry and to work for the salvation of mankind. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your son, who lives

and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. Saint Isidore, Pray for Us.

622 PULASKI STREET RIVERHEAD, NY 11901-3038 PHONE (631) 727-2114 FAX (631) 369-3566 EMAIL: sisidore@optonline.net www.saintisidoreriverhead.org

REV. ROBERT KUZNIK, PASTOR REV. PIOTR NARKIEWICZ, ASSOC. DEACON MICHAEL A. BONOCORE

REINA BONOCORE, OFFICE DIANNE MASSIELLO, SPIRITUAL

AND SOCIAL MINISTRIES

MASS INTENTIONS

SATURDAY , MAY 9, 2020

5:00 pm + Anton Condzella (A) + George, Nettie and Elizabeth Gayda and Elizabeth Rykaczewski (A) + Joseph and Tessie Karpinski + Jan Harasimowicz + Sophie and John Kruszon

5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER , MAY 10, 2020

Masses Today For Our Mothers, Living and Deceased

MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020

7:00 am Our Mothers, Living and Deceased (1/9) + Linda Galka

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2020

7:00 am Our Mothers, Living and Deceased (2/9) All Our Sick Parishioners

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020

7:00 am Our Mothers, Living and Deceased (3/9) + Mary Russo

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

7:00 am Our Mothers, Living and Deceased (4/9) 97th Birthday Blessings for Helen Ciesla

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020

7:00 am Our Mothers, Living and Deceased (5/9) Special Intentions of the Stepnoski Families 7:00 pm (PL) All Parishioners of St. Isidore

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

8:00 am Our Mothers, Living and Deceased (6/9) Intentions of Baltera and Errick Families 5:00 pm + Werner Bucher + Fred Koehler + Eva & Edward Piekarski + Priscilla Borthwick The People of the Parish, Living and Deceased Intentions of Deacon Mike on the 11th Anniv. of His Diaconate Ordination

6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER , MAY 17, 2020

9:15 am + Stanley A. Brocki (A) Intentions of Msgr. Andrew J. Vaccari on His 34th Anniv of Priestly Ordination + Emilio Andreotta 10:30 am Our Mothers, Living and Deceased (7/9) (POLISH) + Tomasz and Zofia Czaplak + Anna and Jan Gawoski + Tadeusz Zakrzewski + Stanislaw and Zuzanna Kurzyna + Krzysztof and Dariusz Przestrzelski

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER—MAY 10, 2020

IN LOVING MEMORY

MISSALETTES

Eleanor and Stanley Cichanowicz and Family

BREAD AND WINE

Irene, Jerzy and Malgorzata Aleksandrowicz

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading — To meet their growing needs, the community chooses seven reputable men to serve the new Greek believers (Acts 6:1-7). Psalm — Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you (Psalm 33). Second Reading — We, like living stones, let our-selves be built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-9). Gospel — “Show us the Father,” Philip asks Jesus. To which Jesus replies: “Whoever sees me, sees the Fa-ther” (John 14:1-12).

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Acts 14:5-18; Ps 115:1-4, 15-16; Jn 14:21-26 Tuesday: Acts 14:19-28; Ps 145:10-13ab, 21; Jn 14:27-31a Wednesday: Acts 15:1-6; Ps 122:1-5; Jn 15:1-8 Thursday: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Ps 113:1-8; Jn 15:9-17 Friday: Acts 15:22-31; Ps 57:8-10, 12; Jn 15:12-17 Saturday: Acts 16:1-10; Ps 100:1b-3, 5; Jn 15:18-21 Sunday: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Ps 66:1-7, 16, 20; 1 Pt 3:15-18 or 1 Pt 4:13-16; Jn 14:15-21 or Jn 17:1-11a

PRAY FOR OUR SICK Ron Paland Robert Sproston Mary Khulman Claire Maffei Richard Okula Denise Babinski Michael Alperti Edith Woods Roseanne Murphy Barbara Kozlowski Sr. Angelina Costano, O. Carm James West Agnes Economos Maurice Vianney Lauzier Louise Lejay Jimmy Blomberg Slawek Tom & Elizabeth Farrugia Cecilia Murphy Kelly Wine Jimmy Temperino Virginia Todd Karen Reilly Frances Alec Mary Van Duesen Thomas DeGirolamo William Berenger Daria Quarlena Eileen Borchart Sheila Nolan Tom Wisniewski III Jean Reyes Carroll Lynn Markowski Corinne Clark Grzegorz Radziwonski James Patrick Jaeger Karen Payet Ernest and Alex Aponte Helen Long Michael Miglionico Wieslaw Luniewski Theresa Mannuzza Krzysztof Olszowski Ralph Conforti The Barauskus Family Hope & Brittany Williams John Marion Mary Oleksiak Dan Massiello Emilia Andrychowski Joan & Fred Meister Michael Kielkowski Lee Schoen Linda & Marty Keller

Charles Drowns Marie Pfaff Richard Fehr George Angle Carol Block Marta Andreotta Melissa Alexandra Christian Vidal Reilly Butler Doris Donohue Suzanne & Peter Thompson Anna Grefe Joanne Iovino Julie Zotos Helen Condzella Anthony Mannino Chris & Susan Kane The Curry Family Marcella Frisen Vera Doroski Sister M. Alexeus George & Barbara Jaeger The Huntley Family Mark Raplee Theresa Puglia Brian Darmody Greg Alty Leigh Anne Brown Ann Mickaliger Carol Anne Livingston Dan Modjeska Judy Zakorski Marie & Greg Miley Marcjanna Stolarzewicz John Shuot Maureen Tighe Gene Esposito Patrick Murphy Alex Michaelson Mike Diem Brian Crowley Michael Barker Louise Pampinello Patricia Liebler Jim DeRosa Dee DeGirolamo Barbara Fenn Therese Gigante Johanna Benthal Barbara Kobielski Augie & Georgianna Lucente Theresa Jacobs Philip Schmitt

STREAMING LIVE FROM FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration 12 to 1 PM

and 7 PM to 9 PM—Prayer for Priests

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

English Rosary 7 PM

Friday, May 15, 2020

Feast of St. Isidore 7 PM Polish Mass followed by Rosary

Please keep all those serving in the military and their families in your thoughts and

prayers especially: 1st Lt. Nicholas Santorelli, Christopher Drowns, Thomas Gallo,

Jeffrey Heppner, James Fleming, Justin Kruel, Peter and Shawna Marie Clark, Cole Lamond,

Jonathan Jacobs, Brendan Fitzgerald, Thomas V. D’Auria, Mateusz Marzec

and Andre DeRosa

DONATIONS

Sunday, May 10th—Sunday Weekly and SJPII Regional School

Sunday, May 10th—Sunday Weekly and Debt Reduction

WAYS TO GIVE

• Mail or drop off your envelopes • Call the office...we take credit cards

• Join “Faith Direct” (secure online giving) By visiting faith.direct/NY1048 or

text “Enroll” to 631-212-3366 (Can also be accessed from our website’s “DONATE”

page at www.saintisidoreriverhead.org)

***For parishioners who have signed up for online giving and no longer require envelopes, let us know.

That is an additional savings for our parish!***

Your continued generosity enables us to fulfill our Mission. Thank you!

How Saint Charles Borromeo Fought the Deadly Virus in Milan The Coronavirus is not the first epidemic to strike the world. Yet as churches are closed and the sacraments are difficult to find, the question arises: How did the Church and the saints deal with plagues in the past? In the golden pages of history, we find a holy bishop who faced a virus more deadly than the Coronavirus.

From 1576 to 1578, a plague ravaged through northern Italy killing tens of thousands. The epidem-ic was known as St. Charles Plague because of the heroic response of the Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, St. Charles Borromeo. On August 11, 1576 the plague broke out in the northern quarter of Milan as festivities were being planned for the arrival of the famed Don Juan of Austria. Hearing of the outbreak, most of the secular authorities along with Don Juan fled. St. Charles was attending the funeral of a bishop outside the city when he heard the news. Instead of staying in place or flee-ing, he immediately set forth toward the city. As he entered Milan, many people rushed out crying for mercy.

Without resting from his journey, St. Charles went straight to the cathedral and said a short prayer. After appealing to God for help, he advanced into the epicenter of the outbreak, not even taking the time to change out of his dusty riding clothes. When he finally retired to his episcopal palace, he found a few remaining government officials waiting for him. They asked St. Charles to take com-mand of the city as their leaders, including the governor, had abandoned their posts.

St. Charles accepted the burden, saying: “A long time ago I resolved never to leave undone anything which might be for my peo-ple’s good. I beg you, above all, not to lose heart. Do not be affected by the example of those born and bred in the city who hur-riedly abandoned it by flight at the very moment when it needed help.” Since the authorities out of fear of contagion had already forbid public processions and religious ceremonies, many souls were deprived of the Sacraments. St. Charles said that it was be-cause of this that the wrath of God had been called down upon Milan. Therefore, he told the officials that the only cure was to pray and do penance more piously than before.

To prepare himself for what lay ahead, St. Charles offered himself as an expiatory victim for the sins of his people. He also orga-nized his affairs and made his last will. After this preparation, he went out every day to visit the sick and dying. Profoundly moved by their suffering, St. Charles said: “The dreadful state of these wretched creatures, everything lacking both for soul and body. These unhappy children seem to look on me as the cause of all their ills. Their silence reproaches me for my idleness. I put off holding out a helping hand when by my example I should have moved others to pity. I will delay no longer. By the grace of God, I will do my duty to the utmost.” He redoubled his efforts, focusing mainly on the spiritual welfare of the beleaguered.

Many priests in Milan were in hiding, fearing they might catch the disease. Even among the holy Cardinal’s household, many fled. Of those who stayed some refused to join him when he went into infected houses. However, St. Charles sent out a beautiful appeal to his absent priests, saying: “We have only one life and we should spend it for Jesus Christ and souls, not as we wish, but at the time and in the way God wishes. It would show presumption and neglect of our duty and God’s service to fail to do this.” The saint rebuked his priests: “Do not be so forgetful of your priesthood as to prefer a late death to a holy one.”

Answering the call, many secular priests and Capuchins fathers heroically served the sick especially in the leper house, which dou-bled as an emergency hospital. After the plague subsided, not one of St. Charles companions had perished, but many priests who stayed back and refused to help had been stricken. St. Charles advised his priests not to “neglect human means, such as preventa-tives, remedies, doctors, everything that you can use to keep off infection, for such means are in no way opposed to our doing our duty.” Whenever people urged St. Charles to avoid unnecessary risk, he would reply, “God can replace us.” But at the same time, he was not imprudent. Answering a concern of the Bishop of Brescia, St. Charles affirmed: “From the beginning I resolved to place myself entirely in God’s hands, without however despising ordinary remedies.”

St. Charles issued prudent guidelines. The faithful were told not to gather in crowds and avoid contact with each other. Mass-es were not cancelled but only held outdoors if the church was too cramped. He ordered more Masses said than before. Catechism classes were moved to street corners. He had separate places in Church for the disease-stricken and separate holy water fonts for them. His counsel to the clergy and magistrates was to “take the plague of the soul in consideration more than the contagion of the body which, for many reasons, is less pernicious.” Although the death rate and contagion rate were extremely high, St. Charles insisted on public prayer and penance. Ashes were constantly distributed. Three processions a week were held. In these processions, St. Charles walked barefoot wearing a thick penitential cord around his neck. Bells rang seven times a day for public prayer and the singing of psalms. As those inflicted could not leave their homes to attend Mass or the processions, St. Charles set up nineteen columns throughout the city. At the foot of these pillars, public Masses were celebrated every morning. This allowed the sick to assist at Mass every day and the priests would distribute the Holy Eucharist to all the victims of the plague through their home windows. Even today, these pillars with crosses on top are visible all over Milan.

St. Charles went nearly every day to the leper house to give the Sacraments to the suffering. He baptized newborns and gave last rights to the dying. A certain Capuchin brother, James, who worked in the leper house and saw St. Charles’ good works at the time, said, “He often goes to the lazer [leper] house to console the sick . . . into huts and private houses to speak to the sick and comfort them, as well as providing for all their needs. He fears nothing. It is useless to try to frighten him. It is true that he expos-es himself much to danger, but so far he has been preserved by the special grace of God, he says he cannot do otherwise. Indeed, the city has no other help and consolation.”

However, just as today, not all men fear God or take advantage of suffering to repent. Some young Milanese nobles decided to flee the plague and practice impurity and immorality in a villa far away from any city. They shut themselves up in this villa, which they dubbed the “Academy of Love.” Yet these reprobates soon found out that God is not mocked, even in the most secluded locations. The plague broke out in the villa and few sinners survived.

By Christmas of 1577, the plague had abated. At the end of the plague, 17,000 people had died in Milan out of a population of 120,000. This number included 120 priests (most of these had fled). However, in the smaller city of Venice, 40,000 people died in the same two years. Why had Milan been spared from a greater loss?

St. Charles answers: “Not by our prudence, which was caught asleep. Not by science of the doctors who could not discover the sources of the contagion, much less a cure. Not by the care of those in authority who abandoned the city. No, my dear children, but only by the mercy of God.” In stark contrast to St. Charles, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo – a baptized Catholic – issued a recent statement, mocking and excluding God from the fight against the Covid-19. The pro-abortion Governor congratulated himself during a press confer-ence, saying: “The number [of infections] is down because we brought the numbers down. God did not do that. Fate did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that.”

The crisis of faith is obvious. In this time of great need, most Catholics are spiritual orphans. No Masses. No Confessions. No Last Rights. No Saint Charles Borromeos. The bishop of Springfield, Mass., for example, suspended the Last Rites in all instances in his diocese. At their final hour, the dying are deprived of the Church’s spiritual assistance and consolation.

As John Horvat points out in his column, “The Coronavirus Is a Call to Return to God,” our reaction “reflects a society that has turned its back on God. We face the crisis trusting only in ourselves and our devices.” What the world needs most are more St. Charles Borromeos, more heroic shepherds to restore the faith, promote confidence in God’s Providence and awaken true devotion.

DIOCESE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE

2020 SPRING SEMI-ANNUAL EVENT

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

OUR LADY SAYS

“PRAY FOR YOUR SHEPHERDS

MY SON HAS CHOSEN THEM”

Tuesday, MAY 12, 2020

Streaming LIVE 7:00 PM TO 9:00 PM

ST. ISIDORE R C CHURCH

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT8vduRgZfS6B4x1FH6SvvA

Or go to website

http://saintisidoreriverhead.org/ and click on link to youtube

CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS St. Isidore Church #022299 622 Pulaski Street Riverhead, NY 11901 TELEPHONE 631 727-2114 CONTACT PERSON Reina Bonocore SOFTWARE MSPublisher 2013 Adobe Acrobat 9.0 Windows 7 PRINTER HP Officejet J4580 Transmission Time Wednesday 11:45 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION May 10, 2020 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 8 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS PRINT ONLY 100