On behalf of the clergy and staff of Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. 2013 was a year of many positive changes and many great accomplishments! 2014 looks to be even better. Are you glad the holidays are nearly over? Although the Christmas Season recognizes a very important occurrence in the birth of Jesus Christ, it is difficult to maintain any type of normalcy during this time with all of the extracurricular activities taking place. For those of you who have been traveling (and possibly stranded) over this hectic period and for those who may be arriving in Naples for the first time this season, welcome back. We look forward to an incredibly fun and spiritual filled 2014 at Saint John the Evangelist.
Please see the letter from Bishop Dewane in this bulletin (page 12) expressing his sincere and heartfelt congratulations for meeting (and exceeding) our Catholic Faith Appeal goal for 2013. Since we are on the subject, allow me to also thank you once again for your generosity in allowing us to exceed our goal for the second straight year. Here’s to a third straight year in 2014!
T
he Ladies of Charity Sneaker Drive is officially complete. Due to your extreme generosity, they were able to collect 500 pairs of sneakers. About a third of the sneakers were distributed to deserving students right next door at Naples Park Elementary while the remainder were distributed to students at the Redlands Christian Migrant Association charter elementary school and Our Lady of Guadeloupe, both in Immokalee. I would like to recognize Dr. Maryann Kriger for her gift of 500 toothbrushes and McDonalds and Chik-fil-a for their gift of 500 ice cream cone gift certificates which were included in the sneaker gift bags.
As a reminder, the Ladies of Charity Food Drive continues. Thus far, they have received $4,110.00 of the $10,000.00 goal. The funds from the food drive will be distributed in April to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, St. Matthew’s House and Casa Maria in Immokalee to be used during the summer months when the food pantries are general running low or completely bare.
On Sunday, February 2, we will host our 16th Annual Super Bowl Party in the ballroom of the Parish Life Center. This party has received much acclaim over its 16 year run and this year will be no different. Tickets will be available in the parish office on January 6 for $25 each. We will sell a maximum of 300 tickets and due to the increasing popularity of this annual event; I strongly suggest buying yours early. Please see the flyer in upcoming bulletins for further details.
Did you know that this past Friday (December 27) was the feast of St. John the Evangelist? Below is a little history on the saint for which our parish is named.
St. John the Evangelist, also known as the favorite Disciple of Christ, was Bishop of Ephesus in Asia Minor and died around the year 100. His grave was a goal for many pilgrimages in the early centuries, and countless legends were told about his tomb. People claimed they saw the earth on top of his grave move up and down, indicating his breathing, and believed he did not really die but only slept in the grave. Another legend claimed that his body was taken up to Heaven after he had “slept” in the tomb for some years. All these stories, of course, are traced to the Saint’s own report of what Christ said: “If I wish him to remain until I come, what is it to thee?” (John 21, 23), a statement the Apostles even then had misinterpreted to the effect that John would not die.
St. John’s Day was a general holyday in medieval times, not only as the third day of Christmas but also in its own right (as the feast of an Apostle). The significant part of the traditional celebration was the blessing and drinking of wine, called the “Love of St. John” because, according to legend, the Saint once drank a cup of poisoned wine without suffering harm. The prayer of this blessing can be found in the Roman Ritual (Blessing of Wine on the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist). In central Europe people still practice the custom of bringing wine and cider into the church to be blessed. Later, at home, some of it is poured into every barrel in their wine cellars.
People take Saint John’s wine with their meals on December 27, expressing the mutual wish: “Drink the love of Saint John.” It is also kept in the house throughout the rest of the year. At weddings, bride and bridegroom take some of it when they return from the church. It is also considered a great aid to travelers and drunk before a long journey as a token of protection and safe return. A sip of Saint John’s wine is often used as a sacramental for dying people after they have received the sacraments. It is the last earthly drink to strengthen them for their departure from this world.
In the beginning of his Gospel, Saint John proclaims with great beauty of expression that Christ is the Light of the World. For this reason it was, and still is, the custom in many places at Christmas time, when all the lights in the home express this symbolism, to allow children with the name of John or Joan the privilege of lighting the candles on the Advent wreath and the Christmas tree. Even if the name is taken from John the Baptist, the privilege still holds because the Baptist had been the first one to see the light of divinity shining about the Lord at the baptism in the Jordan.
In His work together,
Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager