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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

MARY’S MONTH OF OCTOBER CREATED, LOVED, REDEEMED BY GOD – An Invitation to Respect ALL Human Life

Most of us may take for granted, at least some of the time, that we are created, loved and redeemed by God.

Distracted as we are by the noise and activity of daily life, we need to take time to reflect on the universal human question: Who am I,

and what am I doing here?

When our ancestors lost their spiritual and moral bearings, Jesus took on our humanity to show us the radical nature of God’s love.

His spiritual love was personal, passionate and self-giving. He showed us what God expects of us. “This is my commandment: Love

one another as I love you” (John 15:12). The model of love by which we will be judged, according to the parable of the Last Judgment

(Matthew 25: 31-46) is that of people who feed, clothe, welcome and care for the needy and strangers.

Even when we slip up on this, we understand the importance of treating everyone with kindness. We understand how important it is

to work with our Catholic Charities serving people in need, by donating our time and financial support. Our Bishop’s Annual Appeal

gift does this.

But our U.S. Catholic bishops explain that we must do more: “The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights

– for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture – is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and

fundamental right and the condition of all other human rights, is not defended with maximum determination.” Talk about the value of

human life and the sacredness of human dignity can become empty platitudes unless we act on our convictions. No good social policy,

like programs to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless – as important as they are – can make up for bad policies about the

protection of life itself. Without the fundamental right to live, the right not to be killed, no other rights are meaningful. Without life no

other rights can safely exist.

So it is up to all of us to defend the right to life by participating directly in public life, helping to enact laws and policies that

respect the lives of all, especially those who have no voice – unborn children, human embryos targeted for destructive research, and

people who are cognitively impaired, disabled, or dying.

God Bless, Father Herb

WORDS OF TITHING FROM THE PEWS:

From the Pastor: When everyone helps, it makes it a lot

easier for everyone else. Prayer, good work, and sharing what

we have go hand in hand and make the Kingdom of God more

present here.

Words of Tithing from the Pews: I was holding tight to the

money and resisting God’s call to trust Him with 5% to

charity. Now I am trusting God more.

Sunday Collections This September (4 Weekends): $67,234

Sunday Collections Last September (4Weekends): $63.458

Faith Direct Parishioners: 97

Thank you for your Tithing sacrifices!

MASS ATTENDANCE

Mass attendance for October 8/9: 1688

ELECTRONIC GIVING WITH FAITH DIRECT

With autumn here now, we invite you to join Faith Direct, our

parish’s electronic eGiving program. Our to-do-lists can get pretty

long in this back-to-school season, but Faith Direct’s eGiving would

give you one less thing to remember each week – no more envelopes

to find and checks to write before you go to Mass. Visit

www.faithdirect.net and use our church code: NJ745 or call 1-866-

507-8757.

97 families are enrolled with eGiving. Our 2016 target is 125. We’re

getting close.

Thank you for your continued support of our parish family!

God Bless You,

Father Herb and our Parish Finance Committee

DIOCESAN SILVER & GOLD WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

MASS

NOVEMBER 6, 2016 -4PM IN OUR CHURCH

Couples, were you married in 1966 or 1991? You are

warmly invited to celebrate your 25th or 50th Wedding

Anniversary with the Church of Paterson. Bishop

Serratelli will be the main celebrant at Mass here for the entire

Diocese, Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 4:00 PM. Arrangements must

be made by contacting the Rectory at 973-334-2090. Registrations

will be accepted through October 24, 2016. Information will be sent

to you from the Office of Family Life once your registration has been

processed. Congratulations on this joyous occasion.

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SCRIPTURE READINGS OCTOBER 17-23

MONDAY Ephesians 2: 1-10

Gospel: Luke 12: 13-21

TUESDAY 2 Timothy 4: 10-17b

Gospel: Luke 10: 1-9

WEDNESDAY Ephesians 3: 2-12

Gospel: Luke 12: 39-48

THURSDAY Ephesians 3: 14-21

Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53

FRIDAY Ephesians 4: 1-6

Gospel: Luke 12: 54-59

SATURDAY Ephesians 4: 7-16

Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9

SUNDAY Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18

2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18

Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14

SANCTUARY LAMPS & FLOWERS

You may have the Sanctuary Candles in the Church,

Chapel or Adoration Chapel burn in memory of a loved

one ($10.00 donation), roses at the Tabernacle ($10.00

donation), or flowers at the altar ($50.00 Donation).

Please call or stop into the rectory office.

October 16-22, 2016

Sanctuary Lamp in the Church is for the Richard Locilento

Sanctuary Lamp in Mary’s Daily Chapel is for The People

of the Parish

Sanctuary Lamps in the Adoration Chapel are In

Thanksgiving and for Edwin lvarado, Gregory Loff, Charles

Hathaway.

Tabernacle Roses in the Church: Betty Birilli

MARTHA MINISTRY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 – TEAM 1

Marge Martin, Dolores Brandao, Jo Byrne

Millie Smith, Carol Patterson

OUTREACH CORNER

A parishioner needs a ride to the doctor.

A woman is in dire need of a car. This is a tall order, but

maybe you can help. Please call the Rectory at 973-334-2090

if you can help. Thank you and God bless you!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST – OCTOBER 30TH

The Parsippany Knights of Columbus, Council 3680, is having

an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast to benefit the Coats for

Kids program, on Sunday, October 30th

from 8:30AM – 12

Noon in the school cafeteria. Pancakes, scrambled eggs,

sausage, donuts, coffee, tea and orange juice. $7/adults,

$5/senior citizens and $3/children 4-10 years old. Children

under 4 - free

CHRISTOPHER DUFFLEY TO PERFORM

NOVEMBER 20 – 3PM – NOTRE DAME

Christopher Duffley, the blind and autistic You Tube sensation

whose video of “Open the Eyes of My Heart” has been shared

and viewed over 13,000,000 times is coming to Notre Dame

of Mt. Carmel in Cedar Knolls for a free concert on Sunday

November 20th

at 3:00PM. Christopher’s life has been a

testament to the amazing grace of Christ. Embracing his gift of

music, he has witnessed to countless people with a message

that every life has mission and meaning. Being blind and

autistic, Christopher can truly echo the words of Saint Paul in

2nd

Corinthians: “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

MASS INTENTIONS FOR OCTOBER 17-23

MONDAY, October 17-St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr

6:45AM – Special Intention for Linda Franchino, Warren & Barbara

Leshner and for Connie & Al Uricoli

8:00AM – Molly & Lenny Stolz

TUESDAY, October 18-St. Luke, Evangelist

6:45AM – Sr. Mary Lucy, Sr. Winifred Denise, Michael Renga,

Connie Uricoli

8:00AM – Edward J. Tuite

WEDNESDAY, October 19-Sts. John de Brebeuf & Isaac,

Jogues, Priests & Companions, Martyrs

6:45AM – Rosario Hicks

8:00AM – Michael Heuler, Rita DiLella (21st Anniv.), Edward Pavel

THURSDAY, October 20-St. Paul of the Cross, Priest

6:45AM – People of the Parish

8:00AM – Josephine Polletta, Christopher Thomas Cortes

FRIDAY, October 21

6:45AM – Special Intention for Msgr. Chris DiLella

8:00AM – Joseph P. Sherlock

SATURDAY, October 22-St. John Paul II, Pope

8:00AM – Special Intention for Noah Lorencovitz

5:30PM – Vincent Tylenda (30th Anniv.), Nellie & Frank

Borkowski, Frank Foti

7:00PM – America Alvarez Ramos, Zoila Rosa Hernandez

SUNDAY, October 23-30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

7:30 AM - Timothy Kulig, Mary Koening (1st Anniv. ), Joey

Kresback

9:00 AM – James Walsh, Christine Thompson, Joan Wilson

10:30 AM – Olga Olsavsky, John Olsavsky, Jr., Kathy Donovan

12:00 PM – John Lukin, T. K. Sebastian, Anna Mathew

7:00 PM – Lynne Guiliano, Natividad Bayan (15th Anniv.), Oscar

Cruz

WE NEED ADORERS - HOW ABOUT YOU?

PLEASE COME TO BE WITH JESUS

“Our communal worship at Mass must go together with our

personal worship of Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration.” “Let

Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament speak to your heart.” St. Joh

Paul II, also said that spending quiet time each day before the

Blessed Sacrament was the secret to his day. Please come into

the quiet of the chapel and let Jesus speak to your heart!

Adorers are needed for 8 AM on various mornings. If you can

help fill one of these hours, please call Kim at 973-402-1289.

SAINT PETER’S GOLDEN AGE-OCTOBER 17-11AM

Saint Peter’s Golden Age will meet at the Community Center

on Monday, October 17, 2016 at 11:00 AM – All are

welcome!

ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY BOOK SALE

OCTOBER 29th

The Rosary Altar Society is sponsoring a Book Sale on

Saturday, October 29th

from 9 AM – 2 PM in our Church Hall.

Stop by and pick up a good book to read!

ALL SOULS DAY ENVELOPES-NOVEMBER 1

We will have All Souls Day Envelopes available in the

Narthex especially for those who are enrolled in the Faith

Direct eGiving program. You may place the names of your

loved ones on the envelope and drop it in the collection

basket. These envelopes will be placed on the altar during the

month of November.

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THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH OCTOBER 16-22

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16TH

Food Pantry Collection – Narthex

Bread for the World Sunday - Church

9:00AM – Children’s Gospel Program – Church Hall

10:15AM – Sunday CCD - School

10:30AM – Food Pantry Client Shopping - School

12:00PM – CYO Basketball – Parish Center

1:15PM – Baptisms – Church

3:00PM – Filipino Mass/Fellowship – Church/Church Hall

5:30PM – Bingo – Parish Center

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17TH

10:30AM – Parish Staff Meeting - Rectory

11:00AM – Golden Age Club – Community Center

4:15PM – Monday CCD - School

6:00PM – CYO Basketball – Parish Center

7:00PM – R.C.I.A. - Rectory

7:30PM – S.I.N.E. – Spanish Room

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18TH

8:30AM – Adult Faith Formation

10:00AM – Peanuts Play Group – Church Hall

12:00PM – Diocesan Training – Church Hall

3:00PM – Diocesan Meeting – Parish Center

4:00PM – Children’s Choir – Church/Church Hall

6:00PM – CYO Basketball

6:40PM – Rosary Society Recitation of Rosary – Chapel

7:00PM – Rosary Society Mass – Chapel

7:15PM – Tuesday CCD – School

7:30PM – Rosary Society Meeting – Church Hall

7:30PM – Bereavement Support Group Meeting - Convent

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19TH

6:00PM – CYO Basketball – Parish Center

7:00PM – Boy Scout Troop 72 – Cafeteria

7:00PM – NJ Child Assault Prevention for Parents – School Library

7:30PM – Spanish Bible Class – Spanish Room

7:30PM – Adult Bible Sharing – Church Hall

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20TH

6:00PM – CYO Basketball – Parish Center

7:00PM – Grace Before Meals – Youth – School Cafeteria/Kitchen

7:30PM – Spanish Choir – Chapel

7:30PM – Adult Choir – Church/Church Hall

8:30PM – Men’s Basketball – Parish Center

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21ST

11:00AM – Care One Mass-Fr. Yojan – Care One

6:00PM – CYO Basketball – Parish Center

7:30PM – Spanish Prayer Group – Chapel

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND

8:30AM – Polish School – School

1:00PM – CYO Basketball -

4:00PM – Confessions – Church

4:15PM – Prayer & Life Workshops – Church Hall

5:30PM – K of C Recruitment – Plaza

5:30PM - Blessing of Expectant Parents

7:30PM – AA – Church Hall

8:00PM – Indian Community Sports- Parish Center

ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY COMMUNION BREAKFAST

OCTOBER 23 AFTER THE 9:00 AM MASS

Communion Breakfast at the Exchange, 160 East Main Street,

Rockaway, NJ. Price: $27.50/person. Time: 10:30 AM. Make checks

payable to St. Peter the Apostle Rosary Altar Society and send to the

Rectory marked “Rosary Altar Society” or place it in the collection

basket marked “Rosary Altar Society” no later than October 16th. The

speaker will be Deacon Al Frank from Saint Ann’s Parish. There will

be no collection of monies for the event in the Narthex so please use

one of the options above. All are welcome to attend (including men).

See the flyer in today’s bulletin.

For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose

under heaven…

…a time to born

…a time to die

Charles Doran

…a time to heal

Fr. William Santeliz, Fr. Leo Carey, Fr. Ron Sordillo,

Joan Franke, Noah Lorencovitz, Chris Seugling,

Giusseppe D’Addario

…a time to love

Catherine Schwarz & Christian Loran

“…and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Our email SPAYOUTHMINISTER@GMAIL.COM

Registration for CCD, grades K through 9 for the 2016-2017

school year began on June 1st. Please visit our parish website –

saintpetertheapostle.org – for a registration form.

Please visit www.facebook.com/spayouthministry

ALTAR SERVERS – OCTOBER 22/23, 2016

5:30PM – Dugan, Vico, Fernandez

7:30AM – Torres

9:00AM – Terhune, Arnold, Chen

10:30AM – Slevin, Torres, Komareddy

12:00PM – Cepe

7:00PM – Ippolito, Yturbe

BINGO – OCTOBER 16, 2016 – TEAM C

TEAM C – MARY ANN CISTARO

POWERBALL #1 $200.00 – Previous Powerball #1 - $500

Was Won On October 9th.

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP-NOVEMBER 11

Caregivers, perhaps at times you feel your labor of love caring

for your loved one becomes stressful. Well, we invite you to

come and join our wonderful group of caregivers who will

meet on Friday, October 11th from 7:30-9:00 PM in the

Convent. If you know someone who would benefit from our

group, kindly share this information with them. If you have

any questions, please contact Sr. Sylvia – 973-334-2090 or Pat

– 973-334-4511 or Jeanne – 973-334-3578.

WEDNESDAYS FOR WOMEN – OCTOBER 19TH

Wednesdays for Women, a new program sponsored by Sacred

Thread Ministries, begins on October 19th

with a program on

Dorothy Day entitled, “Don’t Call Me A Saint”. Sr. Anita

Constance, SC will reflect this disciple’s ability to identify and

connection with the poor. We will discover the underpinnings

of her unusual and generous life. St. Mary’s Abbey Retreat

Center, 230 Mendham Rd., Morristown, NJ from 9:30AM –

12:00 PM - $25. Call Pat Hughes at 908-608-3160 to register.

SAVE THE DATE – BLOOD DRIVE – NOVEMBER 26TH

Every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs blood. Nearly

38,000 blood donations are needed every day. On Saturday,

November 26th Saint Peter’s is sponsoring its annual Blood Drive.

Watch the bulletin for further details. Won’t you help safe a life?

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ALL SAINTS ACADEMY CORNER

ASA Student Thank You

At All Saints Academy, our student stay

connected to our parish communities through

prayers and special activities. Amanda, grade

5, shared: “Thank you for supporting our

school and for being part of our school community. We are

grateful and blessed by your prayers and support. We hope

you will visit All Saints Academy soon!” Indeed, we are a

family of faith and we celebrate the joy of the Gospel message

each day with our students. Contact our principal, Mrs. Judith

Berg, at 973-334-4704, for more information regarding

admission opportunities at All Saints Academy. Visit our web

page: www.allsaintspar.

RESPECT LIFE MASS – NOVEMBER 19 – 10:00 AM

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli will be the main celebrant at the Respect

Life Mass (formerly called the Unborn Mass) on Saturday, November

19 at 10:00 at Saint Margaret of Scotland Parish, 12 Columba Street

in Morristown. The Mass is sponsored by the Paterson Federation

Knights of Columbus Councils. After Mass, there will be light

refreshments.

JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF TO HEALING

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

TUESDAYS – OCTOBER 18 – NOVEMBER 29

We know death is part of life, however, when we suffer the

loss of a loved one it is extremely difficult to accept. Often

sharing with others helps us cope with the many emotions we

are experiencing. Our parish is offering a Bereavement

Support Group to walk with those who are grieving. Our

gatherings will be on Tuesdays for six (6) weeks starting

October 18 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM in the Convent. The purpose of the group is to support, in a warm and caring

atmosphere, those who are grieving and to explore ways to

understand and cope with our grief through sharing and

discussion.

In these sessions we will discuss the grieving process, coping

with feelings and life changes, dealing with the holidays, the

gift of memories and how grief affects our relationship with

God.

If you or someone you know will find our group helpful,

please invite them to join us.

JOIN SAINT ANN’S TO SEE SAMSON THE MUSICAL

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9TH

Join Saint Ann Parish’s bus trip to Sight and Sound’s

production on Friday, December 9th

of “Sampson the

Musical”. The Cost is $125/person which includes shopping at

Kitchen Kettle Village, performance at the Millennium

Theatre, dinner at Shady Maple Smorgasbord and

transportation. To reserve a seat, call Ginny Bissig at 973-884-

1986. Final payment due November 11th

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ALERT!! THANKSGIVING FOOD COLLECTION

THIS WEEKEND – OCTOBER 15/16

“Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine

out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright

as noon.” Isaiah 58:10

In this Holy Year of Mercy the Lord is asking us to be especially

conscious of the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank

you, faithful parishioners, for being that light by your continued

generosity to those whom we serve through our Food Pantry.

Please take notice our Thanksgiving collection is earlier this year –

this weekend, October 15/16. As you know, we are grateful for

whatever you donate, however, we are in need of juice, baking

products, pasta, condiments, coffee, cookies, hot and cold cereal,

cleaning products and laundry detergent (Please no Cheerios or corn).

To ensure that our families enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner,

kindly donate traditional food items such as cranberry sauce, stuffing,

canned white and sweet potatoes, canned gravy and canned carrots. If

you wish to donate a turkey, please bring it to the Rectory. DO NOT

leave it in the Narthex. Along with the above, monetary donations are

greatly appreciated. Kindly put your gift in an envelope marked

“Thanksgiving Donation” and place it in the collection basket.

Thank you! “Feed the hungry…Your light will shine out from

darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as the noon.”

You are that light to so many and we pray the blessings of our

generous God be poured out on you, His generous people.

CATHOLIC VOLUNTEER NETWORK

Would you like to make a difference in your community, the

country or the world? Do you want to serve those in need and

work for social justice? Check out RESPONSE 2017, a free

guide listing nearly 200 faith-based volunteer programs and

thousands of opportunities. Volunteers serve full-time for

periods of 1 week to 1 year or more across the USA and in

more than 100 countries worldwide. Summer and school break

opportunities are also available. Our volunteers are from all

walks of life – from high school to senior citizens and every

stage in between. Positions are available for both single and

married volunteers, including those with children..

Contact Catholic Volunteer Network to receive your free

copy/copies of RESPONSE 2017. Call 800-543-5046 or email

info@catholicvolunteernetwork.org. You can also search

RESPONSE 2017 online at

www.catholicvolunteernetwork.org.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

Does God care about your marriage? You bet! Find out how

much on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. On a

Marriage Encounter Weekend, married couples can get away

from jobs, kids, chores and phones for 44 hours – and focus

only on each other. If you’d like greater depth, growth and

enrichment in your relationship, you’ll like the difference a

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend can make! For more

information, contact Janet and Mike Turco at 973-427-7016 or

609-335-6880, email njwwme@people.com or go to

www.nnjwwme.org.

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Hablando español en San Pedro Apóstol – 16 de octubre de 2016 –

29no

Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

Octubre, mes dedicado al Rosario a María *****

Horario de las Misas: Confesiones: sábado: 4:00 pm a 5:00 pm

lunes a viernes: 6:45 am y 8:00 am

sábado: 5:30 pm y 7:00 pm en español

domingo: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:30 am, 12 m y 7:00 pm

Intenciones de las Misas: Por favor, notificar a la oficina parroquial (973-334-2090) o al sacerdote (Padre Yojan) con

una semana de anticipación. El donativo para las intenciones es de $10.00.

Mensaje del párroco: CREADO, AMADO, REDIMIDO POR DIOS

Una invitación a respetar TODA vida humana

Muchos de nosotros pasamos por alto, al menos algunas veces, que somos creados, amados y redimidos por Dios.

Distraídos como estamos con el ruido y la actividad de la vida cotidiana, tenemos que sacar tiempo para reflexionar en la

pregunta universal humana: ¿Quién soy y qué estoy haciendo aquí?

Cuando nuestros antepasados perdieron su compostura espiritual y moral, Jesús tomó nuestra humanidad para

demostrarnos la naturaleza radical del amor de Dios. Su amor espiritual era personal, apasionado y abnegado. El nos

demostró qué Dios espera de nosotros. “Este es mi mandamiento: Ámense los unos a los otros, como yo los he amado.”

(Juan 15, 12) El modelo de amor por el que seremos juzgados, de acuerdo a la parábola del Juicio Final (Mateo 25, 31-

46) por cuán bien alimentamos, vestimos, acogemos y cuidamos al necesitado y a los extraños.

Aún cuando fallemos en ésto, entendemos la importancia de tratar a todos con amabilidad. Entendemos cuan

importante es trabajar con las Caridades Católicas sirviendo a los necesitados, donando nuestro tiempo o apoyo

económico. Nuestro regalo a la Campaña Anual de Nuestro Obispo es un ejemplo de hacer ésto.

Pero nuestros obispos católicos de E.U. explican que debemos hacer más: “La lamentación común, que justamente se

hace por parte de los derechos humanos – por ejemplo, el derecho a la salud, al hogar, al trabajo, a la familia, a la cultura –

es falso e ilusorio si el derecho a la vida, el derecho más básico y la condición de todos los otros derechos humanos, no se

defiende con máxima determinación”. Hablar sobre el valor a la vida humana y la santidad de la dignidad humana pueden

ser dichos triviales a menos que actuemos en nuestras convicciones. Ninguna buena política social, le gusta los

programas de alimentar al hambriento y albergar al desamparado – así como son de importante – pueden compensar por

las malas políticas sobre la protección de la vida misma. Sin vida, ningún otro derecho puede existir sin peligro.

Así que está en todos nosotros defender el derecho a la vida, participando directamente en la vida pública, ayudando a

establecer leyes y políticas que respeten la vida de todos, especialmente la de aquellos que no tienen voz – niños no

nacidos, embriones humanos destinados para investigaciones destructivas y personas cognitivamente deteriorados,

incapacitados o muriendo.

Dios los bendiga,

Padre Herb

Journey Through Grief To Healing

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

The purpose of the group is to support those who

have experienced the death of a loved one. In a warm

and caring atmosphere we will explore ways to better

understand and cope with our grief through sharing

and discussion. The group meets for six sessions.

DATES: OCTOBER 18 – NOVEMBER 29

DAY: TUESDAYS

PLACE: SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE CONVENT

189 BALDWIN ROAD PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054

TIME: 7:30 – 9:00 P.M.

FACILITATOR: SISTER SYLVIA BERZINSKI, SSC

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 973-334-2090

SAINT LUKE – OCTOBER 18TH

Luke the Evangelist (Ancient Greek: Λουκᾶς, Loukãs) is one of the Four Evangelists—the four traditionally ascribed authors of canonical Gospels.

The early church fathers ascribed to him authorship of both the Gospel according to Luke and the book of Acts of the Apostles. The authorship of

The Gospel according to Luke and The Acts of the Apostles place Luke as having written a plurality of the New Testament, more even than Paul the

Apostle. Prominent figures in early Christianity such as Jerome and Eusebius later reaffirmed his authorship, although the fragile evidence of the identity of the author of the works has led to discussion in scholarly circles, both secular and religious.

The New Testament mentions Luke briefly a few times, and the Pauline epistle to the Colossians refers to him as a doctor; thus he is thought to have

been both a physician and a disciple of Paul. Christians since the faith's early years have regarded him as a saint. He is believed to have been a martyr, reportedly as having been hung in an olive tree, though some believe otherwise.

The Roman Catholic Church and other major denominations venerate him as Saint Luke the Evangelist and as a patron saint of artists, physicians, surgeons, students and butchers; his feast day takes place on 18 October.

Many scholars believe that Luke was a Greek physician who lived in the Greek city of Antioch in Ancient Syria, though some other scholars and

theologians think Luke was a Hellenic Jew. Bart Koet for instance considered it as widely accepted that the theology of Luke–Acts points to a gentile

Christian writing for a gentile audience. Gregory Sterling though, claims that he was either a Hellenistic Jew or a god-fearer.

This Luke is mentioned in Paul's Epistle to Philemon (v.24), and in two other epistles which are traditionally ascribed to Paul (Epistle to the

Colossians 4:14 and Second Epistle to Timothy 4:11).

His earliest notice is in Paul's Epistle to Philemon—Philemon 1:24. He is also mentioned in Colossians 4:14 and 2Timothy 4:11, two works

commonly ascribed to Paul. The next earliest account of Luke is in the Anti-Marcionite Prologue to the Gospel of Luke, a document once thought to

date to the 2nd century, but which has more recently been dated to the later 4th century. Helmut Koester, however, claims that the following part—

the only part preserved in the original Greek—may have been composed in the late 2nd century:

Luke, was born in Antioch, by profession, was a physician. He had become a disciple of the apostle Paul and later followed Paul until his [Paul's] martyrdom. Having served the Lord continuously, unmarried and without children, filled with the Holy Spirit he died at the age of 84 years.

Epiphanius states that Luke was one of the Seventy Apostles (Panarion 51.11), and John Chrysostom indicates at one point that the "brother" Paul mentions in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians 8:18 is either Luke or Barnabas.

If one accepts that Luke was in fact the author of the Gospel bearing his name and also the Acts of the Apostles, certain details of his personal life can

be reasonably assumed. While he does exclude himself from those who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' ministry, he repeatedly uses the word "we" in describing the Pauline missions in Acts of the Apostles, indicating that he was personally there at those times.

There is similar evidence that Luke resided in Troas, the province which included the ruins of ancient Troy, in that he writes in Acts in the third

person about Paul and his travels until they get to Troas, where he switches to the first person plural. The "we" section of Acts continues until the

group leaves Philippi, when his writing goes back to the third person. This change happens again when the group returns to Philippi. There are three "we sections" in Acts, all following this rule. Luke never stated, however, that he lived in Troas, and this is the only evidence that he did.

The composition of the writings, as well as the range of vocabulary used, indicate that the author was an educated man. A quote in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians differentiates between Luke and other colleagues "of the circumcision."

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings.

These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. Colossians 4:10–11,14.

This comment has traditionally caused commentators to conclude that Luke was a Gentile. If this were true, it would make Luke the only writer of

the New Testament who can clearly be identified as not being Jewish. However, that is not the only possibility. Although Luke is considered likely to

be a Gentile Christian, some scholars believe him to be a Hellenized Jew. The phrase could just as easily be used to differentiate between those Christians who strictly observed the rituals of Judaism and those who did not.

Luke's presence in Rome with the Apostle Paul near the end of Paul's life was attested by 2 Timothy 4:11: "Only Luke is with me". In the last chapter

of the Book of Acts, widely attributed to Luke, we find several accounts in the first person also affirming Luke's presence in Rome including Acts

28:16: "And when we came to Rome..." According to some accounts, Luke also contributed to the authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Luke died at age 84 in Boeotia, according to a "fairly early and widespread tradition", Luke's tomb was located in Thebes, whence his relics were

transferred to Constantinople in the year 357.