Funeral Mass - Virginia Claire Menchen

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Virginia Menchen on Friday, December 18 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for her and for her family.

Reconciliation Monday

All Parishes in the Archdiocese of New York will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday, December 14 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm. Please take advantage of this opportunity to prepare our hearts and souls for Christmas!

Prepare The Way of the Lord!

Doing Christmas shopping – saw Santa, Frosty & Baby Jesus – no JB

On the way to Bethlehem – we must cross the Jordan River.

This is where we meet that unusual figure – John the Baptist

Some consider him the last and greatest of the OT prophets.

Jesus took him very seriously “among those born of women none greater than JB”

Church celebrates 3 birthdays

-          Jesus – Dec 25           Mary – Sept 8      JB – June 24

He spent a great deal of time in desert – no distractions – listening to God.

Here is fruit of his desert time:

1)      Teaches about Humility

“I am not worthy to untie his sandals” & “he must increase and I must decrease.”

Humility – this is not putting oneself down.

Realize – in certain areas of life – things happen that I cannot control  -  Talk with nephew Kevin – you are praying for my Mom, right? Treatments will help & I will be with her next Friday – but you are praying, right?     I Need a Savior.   I need Eucharist  -  I need prayer  -   I need God!

2)      Teaches about Repentance

Elf on the shelf – a scout sent by Santa from the North Pole – helps Santa manage his naughty and nice list -  family adopts – goes to NP each night to make his report about what you were doing.

A tough one – I would not stand a chance  -  see: Baptist knows I will sin, but I also need a place to go so I can be forgiven!

Nothing like a good confession!!!  Reconciliation Monday. Monday 4-8

3) Teaches about Integrity

He was a person of principle & conviction – told the truth with love

Soldiers – nonbelievers – do not practice extortion, do not accuse anyone falsely.

Tax collectors - believers but not practicing – stop collecting more than prescribed

Faithful ones – whoever has 2 cloaks should share with the person who has none. Whoever has food should do likewise.

Walk the walk -   be the same person at church, in school, at home & work.

On our way to Bethlehem – need to stop at the Jordan River.

John will be waiting for us

To teach us about humility -  repentance  -  integrity.

To help us prepare the way for the Lord.

Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception

Tuesday, December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be offered on Monday, December 7 at 5:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and at 7:30 p.m.

Funeral Mass - Zita V. Losey

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Zita Losey on Saturday, December 5 at 12:30 p.m. Please pray for her and for her family.

Wedding - Robert Paone and Victoria Mapes

The Bonds of Holy Matrimony will be exchanged by Robert Paone and Victoria Mapes on Friday, December 4 at 4:00 p.m. Please pray for this couple about to be married.

Back From Sabbatical

I have returned from my Sabbatical! It is good to be home. I am grateful to all of you for your patience and your prayers, and especially to Father Chris, Gary Bartilucci and our entire staff for carrying on in my absence. I am thankful for Father Emmanuel, who is now serving at the Church of St. Patrick in Highland Mills.
I had a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience. I lived in Rome and studied at the Institute for Continuing Education at the Pontifical North American College. I had the opportunity to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain and earn my “Compostella.” I lived in Lourdes, France for one week and served as Confessor. I concluded my time in Scotland with a visit to Iona Island. Thanksgiving Day found me praying at the Tomb of St. Columba.

I now look forward to celebrating with you the Birth of Our Savior and serving you in the New Year of 2016. Please know that throughout my Sabbatical you were never far from my thoughts and prayers. May God bless all of our parish families throughout this Holy Season!