SSKCFC_Bulletin 2020 - ISSUE 4

ISSUE 4 - St. Stephen’s Knanaya Catholic Forane Church, NY ST. STEPHENS CHURCH BULLETIN INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Vicars Desk 1 Carlo Acutis 2 അന്വേഷിക്കുവിൻ... 4 CCD Updates 5 Infant Ministry updates 5 Teen Ministry updates 6 CML Reflections 7 VICARS Christmas is a time to remember those days when God himself emptying the heavenly glory with DESK a mandate from His heavenly Father to redeem all humanity. Advent is a time of preparation, conver- Dear Friends in Christ, sion and renewal. Jesus came to us to be like any one Season’s Greetings to all…… of us and HE even landed up in a manger in utter stricken poverty. Not everybody welcomed Him but I am very grateful to all parishioners togeth- only few Kings from the East welcomed Him to the er with all the parish council for really supporting earthly kingship by offering Him valuable and recog- our Church in the midst of all these crisis situations. nizable offerings. Having received all those offerings, Kindly continue to do so in the coming days also. even then Jesus was concerned of establishing heav- On all these days of crisis we had zoom meetings enly kingdom for which He was sent for. Let us step and telephonic conversations for all our various on to a new year with all those regulations of our civil activities of the church. I am thankful to you all authorities. who participated on all these meetings and conver- sations. Let us cheer up our new ministries those we Season of Christmas is at our doors. We remember launched and welcome those we are ready to start. those years how we had carol singing and blessings Thus, let us be collaborative in the building up of our of each family. This year we have all restrictions parish community more and closer to God, our heav- and regulations in the celebrations of this amazing enly Father. seasons Christmas & New Year. It is really hard time for all of us. But there is no escape and we Wishing you MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW have to confront it to reach at blossoming days to YEAR. May God bless you all. come. Fr. Joseph Tharackal, Vicar Page 1

St. Stephen’s Knanaya Catholic Forane Church Bulletin An article on Carlos Acutis by CCD10th Grade Life of Carlo Acutis friends with kids who were unhappy at home, de- fended the disabled, and treated girls with respect By Michelle Vanchintharam and purity. In October 2006, Carlo Acutis was 15 years old and was dying from leukemia. When the Carlo Acutis was born on May 3, 1991, in London, doctor that was treating him asked him if he was where his parents were working. Just a few months suffering a lot, Carlo answered: ‘There are people later, his parents Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salza- who suffer much more than me!” He died on Octo- no moved to Milan. Carlo Acutis was a Catholic Ital- ber 12, 2006. Then in 2010, four years after his ian teenager. He loved football, Pokémon, action death, his mother gave birth to his little siblings, a films, and all animals. Carlo had four dogs, two cats, twin boy and girl. Carlo’s mother says God chose and many goldfish as pets. Both his parents were Carlo to be “an example for the young people of not religious people, but he never passed a church this period in history”. without saying hello to Jesus. So his mother re- turned and came to faith as did his father later on. Miracles that led to him being canonized Carlo knew he would die young, even predicting By Mark Vattakalam the cause of his death and his weight at the time. His mother said, “Carlo always had a sense that he Carlo Acutis became blessed after he interceded couldn’t waste time. Most of his time was helping from heaven in 2013 to cure a Brazilian boy who children, the elderly, and the poor. At age eleven, was suffering from a rare pancreatic disease. This he became a catechist. He met and chatted with Brazilian boy, Mattheus, was born in 2009 with a many migrants, standing sponsor for one when he very serious condition that caused him difficulty got baptized. He was popular at school, but was eating and serious abdominal pain. He was unable to keep any food in his stomach and vomited con- stantly. His mother prayed for him every day. At the age of four, Mattheus weighed only 20 pounds and he was going to die soon but his mother kept on praying to Saint Carlos Acutis, and finally one day Mattheus was healed. That day came because a priest friend of Mattheus’s family, Fr. Marcelo Ten- orio, learned online about the life of Carlo Acutis, and he invited people to a Mass and prayer service in his parish. Mattheus and his mom went to the prayer service and Mattheus touched a picture of Page 2

St. Stephen’s Knanaya Catholic Forane Church Bulletin CARLO ACUTIS Carlo Acutis and said “I wish I could stop vomiting places of the saints and where all the Eucharistic so much.” Healing began immediately. On the way miracles occurred, but his leukemia made it impos- home from the Mass, Mattheus told his mother sible for him to travel. He created a website that he was already cured and asked for a ham- months before his death in which he put together burger and french fries. Mattheus ate everything all the Eucharistic miracles that happened around and did not throw up. His mom was so happy and the world. He offered his sufferings for Pope Bene- she told everybody she knew. dict XVI and for the Church, saying “I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, for the Interesting facts about Carlo Acutis Pope, and the Church.” By Francis Thadipuzha Why we admire Carlo Acutis - Carlos never missed a mass when he was little just By Anfy Cherumvamkalayil like his mother. Carlos was interested in gaming and computer programming. He had great devo- Carlo Acutis was a kid just like us. He grew up with tion and love for the Blessed Mother. Carlos often video games and the internet. But unlike most peo- invited his friends d to his home for support when ple he used the internet to make God’s love known they were going through difficult times such as to the world. Most kids nowadays don’t really as- getting bullied. Carlos had asked his parents if he sociate religion with the internet. But Carlos spent could go to the sites of all the known Eucharistic a lot of his free time making a website cataloging miracles in the world but his illness prevented this miracles. Carlo Acutis understood that life was a from happening. Carlos used his gift with technolo- gift from God. Carlo Acutis loved company and was gy to create a website about all the Eucharistic mir- joyful, serene, sincere, and helpful. His generosity acles around the world. He was inspired by Blessed made him interested in everyone, foreigners, the Giacomo Alberione to preach the gospel through handicapped, children, and beggars. the media. When he was battling Leukemia his doctor said if he is suffering much pain and he said “there are people who suffer much more than me”. After Carlos’s death, a traveling exhibition of his miracles began. A book was created explaining Eucharistic miracles that he had fleshed out. Carlo Acutis’s Faith By Akhil Alapattu Even though his parents weren’t really devoted to www.miracolieucaristici.org Christianity, Carlo loved God with all his heart. He had a confession once a week. “As a little boy, es- pecially after his First Communion, he never missed his daily appointment with the Holy Mass and the Rosary, followed by a moment of Eucharis- tic adoration,” recalls his mother, Antonia Acutis. Carlo Acutis was greatly devoted to the Eucharist, had great computer skills, and he was a cheerful person. He asked his parents to take him to the Page 3

St. Stephen’s Knanaya Catholic Forane Church Bulletin Stephen Puthupallimyalil എല്ലാവർക്കും ക്രിസ്സമ ് മുംഗളാശുംസരൾ!. രതല് ഘഹമിൽ\". തൻടറ ജനത്തിന്ടറ നമ്മകടെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ ഒരക ക്രിസ്സമ ് പാപഘമാചനത്തിനകും നിതയരക്ഷയ്കകമായി രൂെി ആഘ ാഷിക്കവാൻ ഉള്ള തടന്നതടന്ന അെമായി ആത്മീയ അനകക്ഗഹും ലഭിച്ചതിനാൽ ആദ്യടത്ത ഘഭാജനമായി നൽരകന്നവൻ ക്രിസ്സമ ിടനക്കറിച്ച് ധ്യാനിക്ാും. \"അെത്തിന്ടറ ഭവനും\" എന്ന വിശകദ്ധ മത്തായിയകടെ സകവിഘശഷും അർത്ഥമകള്ള രതല് ഘഹമിൽ ജനിച്ചത് രണ്ാും അധ്യായത്തിൽ യാദ്ൃശ്ചിരമല്ല. ഘരഖടെെകത്തിയിട്ടകള്ള സവിഘശഷമായ ഒരക സുംഭവമാണ് ഉണ്ണിയായി പിറന്ന അങ്ങടന ക്രിസ്കത ഭൂജാതനായി എന്ന് ഘയശകവിടന രാണാനായി യഹൂദ്ൻമാരായ ഘഹഘറാഘദ്ാസിനകും വിദ്ൂരഘദ്ശത്തകനിന്നക അഘനേഷിച്ചക ക്പധ്ാന പകഘരാഹിതന്മാർക്കും വരകന്ന ജ്ഞാനിരളകടെ സന്ദർശനും. നിയമജ്ഞർക്കും ജറകസഘലും മകഴകവനകും യഹൂദ്ന്മാരകടെ രാജാവായി പിറന്നവടന മനസ്സിലായി. പഘക്ഷ ആര് അഘനേഷിച്ച് അവടരത്തിയത് യഹൂദ് അഘനേഷിച്ചകഘവാ ആ ജ്ഞാനിരളായ പൂജ രാജാവായ ഘഹഘറാഘദ്ാസിൻടറ രാജാക്ന്മാർ മാക്തഘമ ക്രിസ്കത വിടന ടരാട്ടാരത്തിലാണ്. \"അവർ അഘനേഷിച്ചക: രണ്കള്ളൂ. സതയും അറിഞ്ഞിട്ടകും എവിടെയാണ് യഹൂദ്ന്മാരകടെ രാജാവായി അഘനേഷിക്ാടത മകഖും തിരിച്ചവടരല്ലാും ജനിച്ചവൻ ?, ഞങ്ങൾ രിഴക്് അവൻടറ ക്രിസ്കത വിൻടറ ശക്തകക്ളകും അവടന നക്ഷക്തും രണ്് അവടന ആരാധ്ിക്ാൻ വധ്ിക്ാൻ രാരണക്ാരകമായി എന്നത് വന്നിരിക്കരയാണ\"് (മത്ത: 2-2). ചരിക്ത സതയും. ഞാൻ ക്രിസ്കത വിടന ഇക്സഘയലിനട് റ പൗരസത് യ ഘദ്ശും ഇന്ത്യ അഘനേഷിക്കന്ന വയക്തിയാഘണാ ? ഉപഭൂഖണ്ഡും ആണ,് മാക്തമല്ല നിതയരക്ഷടയക്കറിച്ചകള്ള ഘരാധ്യും നക്ഷക്തങ്ങൾ ഘനാക്ി രാരയങ്ങൾ ഉഘണ്ാ? അജ്ഞതയകും അലസതയകും മൂലും ക്ഗഹിക്കന്ന ഒരക ശാസക് ്തും ചൂഘൊ തണകഘൊ ഇല്ലാത്ത (ഘജയാതിശാസക് ്തും) ഉള്ളതകും മഘന്ദാഷ്ാണ വസ്ഥയിലാഘണാ ഞാൻ ?. ഇത് ഇന്ത്യയിലാണ.് ധ്യാനിക്കവാൻ ഉണ്ണിഘയശകവിടന രടണ്ത്തിയ ജ്ഞാനിരളകും, യഹൂദ്ന്മാർ അക്രഹാമിനട് റ രാലും അജ്ഞാനിരളായ ആട്ടിെയരകും, ടതാട്ടക രാത്തിരിക്കന്ന രക്ഷരനായ രാലിടത്താഴകത്തിടല മിണ്ാ ക്രിസ്കത വിന്ടറ ജനനും സമീപിച്ചിരിക്കന്നക ക്പാണിരളകും നടമ്മ ഘക്പരിെിക്ടട്ട. ഘയശക എന്ന് രരകതി രാത്തിരകന്ന ഒരക പറഞ്ഞക, \"അഘനേഷിെിൻ.. നിങ്ങൾ രാലമായിരകന്നക. എന്നിട്ടകും ഘഹഘറാഘദ്ാസ് രടണ്ത്തകും\" (മത്ത: 7 -7). രാജാവ് ഈ സദ്വ് ാർത്ത ഘരട്ട് അസേസ്ഥനായടതന്ത്്?. അവൻ ക്പധ്ാന പകഘരാഹിതന്മാടരയകും നിയമജ്ഞടരയകും എല്ലാും വിളിച്ചകരൂട്ടി. അവർ ഒറ്റ സേരത്തിൽ പറഞ്ഞക \"യൂദ്യായിടല Page 4

St. Stephen’s Knanaya Catholic Forane Church Bulletin CCD UPDATES Lissy Vattakalam virtual participation throughout. Helping me con- tinue our CCD program. A big Thank you to all of Principal, CCD / DRE you on this great occasion. A Special thanks to the Teachers and Volunteers who have taken special St. Stephens Knanaya Catholic Forane Church efforts to make these challenging times more fun and easy. Dear Students, Teachers and volunteers, During this year, we have all learnt to appreciate As we approach the holiday season of 2020, let us family time together, staying at home and playing all get ready to welcome our Lord Jesus into our together with only the close ones. Our parents hearts during this Christmas. 2020 has been a year learnt to become stay-at-home parents, they be- of trials, tribulations, hardships, sufferings, but we came our teachers and friends. We got to spend have all stuck together and fought this pandemic. quality time with our loved ones. It is hard for so When the year began, we were all full of excite- many who are all alone. Christmas is a season that ment and looking forward to another great year. reminds us how blessed we are and that we should However, COVID-19 came as an eye-opener and bless others; we need to make the world a better made us realize that things that we took for grant- place for others. ed was a great blessing from God. When the aca- demic year started, we thought things would This Christmas is a perfect time to put on hold eve- change and get better, but of course things re- rything we are doing and thank God for what he mained the same and we had to move our classes has done for us, for the gifts he has given us and let to virtual through zoom. It is with great pride that I us cherish all the good memories and look forward have to say You all have been great to deal with to a brighter year ahead. Let us all hope to see this situation with all the sacrifices, hard work, and each other in person in 2021. INFANT MINISTRY INAUGURATION Infant ministry was formed at St. Stephen’s Knanaya Catholic Forane Church under the leader- ship of the Vicar Fr. Jose Tharackal, Diana Thadathil and Jiffy Thadathil for all the children from Pre-K to Third grade. The ministry focuses on eight goals - to help children grow powerful in prayer, bold in faith, responsive in worship, biblically fluent, Spirit empowered, actively serving, giving selflessly and living like Christ. The infant ministry was officially inaugurated at St. Stephen's Church on November 21st by Vicar Fr. Jose Tharackal. About 25 children participated in the event. Achan made the kids say the pledge and spoke about the importance of the ministry. The main theme of for the month was Thanksgiv- ing. The coordinators gave a talk about what Page 5

St. Stephen’s Knanaya Catholic Forane Church Bulletin should be we thankful for and gave Thanksgiving col- pectation they enjoyed learning the song and even oring activities to the little children. The older chil- showed interest in singing and dancing on the stage. dren wrote about the list of things they are thankful It was a revelation for everyone to see all the chil- for. The other activities included learning an action dren's perform on the stage. Infant ministry song on God's love and “I am thankful for” related meetings will be conducted every month in person games. They also had goodie bags with treats to take or online on the first Saturday.. home. The children's were very interested in all the - Jiffy Thadathil & Diana Thadathil activities and their participation was beyond our ex- Infant Ministry Coordinators TEEN MINISTRY INAUGURATION Teen ministry was formed at St. Stephen’s Knanaya 19th as their first event. The online class was lead by Catholic Forane Church under the leadership of the Rev. Fr. Jose Thomas Mudakodiyil Pastor, St. Francis vicar Fr. Jose Tharackal and Sabu Thadipuzha. Teen of Assisi Catholic Church Bend, Oregon. The event ministry was Officially inaugurated on December had more than 50 participants from New York Fo- 12th, 2020 at St. Stephens Church by Vicar Fr. Jose rane. The future events will be conducted every Tharackal. During the event, Fr. Jose Tharackal made third Saturday of every month. the Teen Ministry members take oath, Father also spoke about the importance of the ministry and ex- plained the importance of Teens involvement in church activities and community. Coordinators of Teen ministry Mr. Sabu Thadipuzha and Anaha Thozhuthunkal also addressed the Ministry mem- bers on future activities. Teen Ministry conducted a Zoom Seminar on \"Teen and Faith\" on December Page 6

St. Stephen’s Knanaya Catholic Forane Church Bulletin CML INAUGURATION RECOLLECTION On December 5th, 2020, children from 4th grade Catholic Forane Church were elected and took an to 8th grade came together under the leadership oath asserting their responsibilities as role models of Father Jose Tharakel, Pretty Kuzhiparambil, and for the other members. After the formal ceremony, Jopies Methanathu to inaugurated the Cherupush- the children ended the afternoon with a round of pa Mission League. The Cherupushpa Mission Bible Bingo, a game that tested their basic League (CML) is an organization that fosters and knowledge of the Bible and its stories. To further promotes the missionary mentality of God’s chil- CML goals, all members were asked to read a chap- dren all over the world. In his message, Father Jose ter from the Gospel of Mathew every week until Tharakal explained the motto of the mission: the next meeting. In addition, during this month, members were encouraged to pray for another “Love, Sacrifice, Service, and Suffering” which the family or person in their personal prayer to focus organization hopes to uphold through monthly ac- on the self-sacrifice aspect of CML. The entire day tivities, exercises and events. Fr. Tharackal also dis- was a wonderful way to involve the children of our cussed the unity of the CML community with St. church and develop their faith. Moreover, during Therese of Lisieux (Little Flower) as its heavenly this time of covid, the activities of the day allowed patroness and St. Francis Xavier and St. Alphonsa for the children to see one another and take a as its co-patron and patroness. After learning break from their lives to relax in a safe and fun about the origins of the mission league, the mem- way. CML will continue to hold meetings on the bers of CML took an oath affirming that he/she will second Saturday of every month for all its mem- do everything in his/her power to be model Chris- bers and all children in the age range are encour- tian children. In addition, at the ceremony, officers aged to participate. for the mission league at St. Stephen’s Knanaya - Alissa Puthenpurayil, CML Coordinator SSKCFC Bulletin Fr. Jose Tharackal, Vicar EDITORIAL Anoop Mukalel, P.R.O. BOARD Abraham Thervalakattayil, Secretary Simjo Edappara Page 7