My Dear Parishioners,
During the most difficult days in my life, so many of you were there. You offered your prayers for us. You encouraged me as I made innumerable hospital visits while continuing to heal from my heart procedure. You came to support my family at the wake. You sent Mass cards. You helped with the Mass booklet. You took the time to be at the Funeral Mass. You ushered at the Mass. Some even came to the cemetery. I and my family will always be grateful. You are always in my prayers. See you the week of July 28.
Sincerely,
Father Michael
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Notes from Dad's Funeral Homily - July 17, 2013
Thanks to all for being here
Joan Ferroni, Msgr. Barry, Maryl SJB & Chuck
Brother priests – calls from Card Dolan, Bishop Dominick & Bishop Tim 2nd most favorite priest.
First? Dad would go to daily Mass after he retired – who has Mass – the Saint (Father O'Toole)
Little church has meant so much to so many of us – where Maureen, Susan & Thomas were baptized.
Last time we were together here – celebrated Dad’s 80th Birthday with a Mass.
Faith was always important to Dad & Mom.
For Dad, helped him face life’s many challenges.
We had dad for 87 years – his own father died when he was two.
Because of their poverty – he left home at 14 & went to work
Sally Gap, Coal mines, ships in Newry – lived with Aunt Roseann & Uncle Terry RIP
Their son, our cousin Sean is here from Vancouver Thank you Sean!
His mother Alice worried – spoke to brother in America – Imagine faith needed to leave home and country - not to return for over 50 years?! Uncle Mylie called him “Big Sheridan”
Sister Pat’s dad – put him to work at Sheridan’s Food Store in the village.
Spent time off in Bronx & Manhattan – would meet a girl from Drumahair, Co. Leitrim – and began a life together.
How can you sum up a life? Chose 3 areas:
Hard work – both worked so hard – a man with 6th grade education put 4 children through college. We were not just his children but also his employees! We all worked with him and learned the value of good, honest work.
Family –after mom died, we all naturally began to look out for dad – to the point – my brother said – we all became his best friend and he ours. Love divided is actually love multiplied!
Faith – Mass – Prayer – mom her rosary – dad on his knees.
Faith would be tested – mom’s illness – then his own. Once he questioned : is there something I did? The mystery of the cross!
Tommy Harris once visiting Tom – dad was at work, as usual, fixing or building something – carrying a large piece of wood – Tommy said: "pop-pop, you look like Jesus carrying the cross. Little did we know. Evidence of cross all over house – walker, commode, wheelchairs, medicines, oxygen machine.
Day after he died – We moved it all out of the house – he is done with the cross!!!
He shares in the joy of the resurrection.
He suffers no more
He is with mom again
Thanks to all who cared for him – Ann Marie – special word to NWHC – Dr. Catanese
Thanks to my brother & sisters – you were amazing – no regrets
Final word to his grandchildren – John, Kev, Hayley & Alice – you know how much he loved you.
He was so proud of you - keep in your hearts: hard work, family & faith.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord. . .
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Funeral for Father Michael's Dad
Michael McLoughlin of Chappaqua, New York died July 12, 2013
He was born in Gubaveeney, Co. Cavan, Ireland on May 21, 1926 to Michael McLoughlin and Alice Sheridan. On February 14, 1953 he married Mary T. Harrison at St. Francis deSales Church, NYC. Michael was a former employee of Sheridan’s Food Store, Chappaqua, NY and the former owner of the Peach Lake Market, North Salem, NY. In retirement, Michael was a woodcrafter and was known locally for his hand made crafts. Michael loved his family and his faith. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his children Rev. Michael P. McLoughlin of Warwick, NY, Maureen T. McLoughlin of Valhalla, NY, Susan A. and husband John Enright of Stratford, CT and Thomas F. and wife Kristin of Poughquaq, NY. his grandchildren John M. Enright, Kevin T. Enright, Hayley R. McLoughlin and Alice K. McLoughlin. He is also survived by his sister Roseann McManus of Lanes, England.
Michael is predeceased by his wife Mary, who passed away in 2001, his brother Myles McLoughlin and his sister Minnie Morton.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Memorial Gifts be made to the St. Stephen’s Church Building Fund, Warwick or to Rosary Hill Home of Hawthorne.
Wake
Tuesday, July 16 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Beecher Funeral Home 418 Bedford Rd. Pleasantville NY 10570 914-769-0001
Funeral
Wednesday, July 17 at 10:30 a.m. Church of St. John & St. Mary, 15 St. John's Place, Chappaqua NY 10514
Burial Arrangements
Burial immediately after Mass in the Family Plot at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 10 W. Stevens Avenue, Hawthorne, NY 10532.
Funeral Mass - Joseph Mandracchia
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Joseph Mandracchia on Monday, July 15 at 10:00 a.m. His wife Ann is a Eucharistic Minister at 9:00 a.m. Daily Mass and his son Stephen is a Parish Trustee. Please pray for Joseph and for his family.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Homily Notes - 13th C
A person in charge of a lighthouse along a dangerous coast was given enough oil for one month and told to keep the light burning every night. One day a woman asked for oil so that her children could stay warm. Then a farmer came. His son needed oil for a lamp so he could read. Another needed some for an engine. The guard saw each as a worthy request and gave some oil to satisfy all. By the end of the month, the tank in the lighthouse was dry. That night the beacon was dark and three ships crashed on the rocks. More than one hundred lives were lost. The lighthouse attendant explained what he had done and why. But the prosecutor replied, "You were given only one task: to keep the light burning. Every other thing was secondary. You have no excuse."
Hard decisions. Must you follow your feelings? – no: must not follow feelings: feelings must follow you!!! Eyes fixed on reign of God.
He approaches Jesus – “I will follow you wherever you go” – Foxes have dens, birds of the sky have nests, Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. Rome has occupied Israel and they Lord it over them – be prepared to be powerless and rejected. Yes: you will pay for things you find immoral, like contraception. And, we will tell you what marriage is and is not – and if you don’t accept it – you are a bigot.
Jesus calls another “follow me” – Let me go and bury my father first. Who could be against burying father? Points to excuses Million reasons why not!!! Delay, put off following Jesus. Priorities – what is most important in life?!
I will follow, but (conditions) “first let me say farewell to those at home” If you take your hand or eye from the plow – plow can hit rock and break or go crooked. It can lead to disaster. Demands concentration. Pay attention to what is happening in your life!!!
It is not a simple thing to be a disciple!!!
Three varieties:
Raft – Not really followers at all. They just go with the flow. Just there. They are Christians just because someone took the time to baptism. Not given it too much thought.
Sailboat - follow in sunny weather. But when the weather gets stormy, they will not go against the wind. What is every else doing..
Tugboat – follow not just in sunny weather but stormy as well. They follow him not only when winds and waves serve them but also when they oppose them. They work at it, day and night.
A League of their Own “There’s no crying in baseball”
Dottie want to quit packing husband at war - tension with sister - grind on the road
It’s too hard - It’s supposed to be hard - that is what makes it great!
Hard decisions. Must you follow your feelings? – no: must not follow feelings: feelings must follow you!!! Eyes fixed on reign of God.
He approaches Jesus – “I will follow you wherever you go” – Foxes have dens, birds of the sky have nests, Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. Rome has occupied Israel and they Lord it over them – be prepared to be powerless and rejected. Yes: you will pay for things you find immoral, like contraception. And, we will tell you what marriage is and is not – and if you don’t accept it – you are a bigot.
Jesus calls another “follow me” – Let me go and bury my father first. Who could be against burying father? Points to excuses Million reasons why not!!! Delay, put off following Jesus. Priorities – what is most important in life?!
I will follow, but (conditions) “first let me say farewell to those at home” If you take your hand or eye from the plow – plow can hit rock and break or go crooked. It can lead to disaster. Demands concentration. Pay attention to what is happening in your life!!!
It is not a simple thing to be a disciple!!!
Three varieties:
Raft – Not really followers at all. They just go with the flow. Just there. They are Christians just because someone took the time to baptism. Not given it too much thought.
Sailboat - follow in sunny weather. But when the weather gets stormy, they will not go against the wind. What is every else doing..
Tugboat – follow not just in sunny weather but stormy as well. They follow him not only when winds and waves serve them but also when they oppose them. They work at it, day and night.
A League of their Own “There’s no crying in baseball”
Dottie want to quit packing husband at war - tension with sister - grind on the road
It’s too hard - It’s supposed to be hard - that is what makes it great!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
"A Tragic Day For Marriage"
Supreme Court Decisions on Marriage: 'Tragic Day for Marriage and our Nation,' State U.S. Bishops
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court decisions June 26 striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and refusing to rule on the merits of a challenge to California’s Proposition 8 mark a “tragic day for marriage and our nation,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.
The statement follows.
“Today is a tragic day for marriage and our nation. The Supreme Court has dealt a profound injustice to the American people by striking down in part the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The Court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation of liberty and justice requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth, including the truth about marriage. It is also unfortunate that the Court did not take the opportunity to uphold California’s Proposition 8 but instead decided not to rule on the matter. The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our efforts in witness to this truth. These decisions are part of a public debate of great consequence. The future of marriage and the well-being of our society hang in the balance.
“Marriage is the only institution that brings together a man and a woman for life, providing any child who comes from their union with the secure foundation of a mother and a father.
“Our culture has taken for granted for far too long what human nature, experience, common sense, and God’s wise design all confirm: the difference between a man and a woman matters, and the difference between a mom and a dad matters. While the culture has failed in many ways to be marriage-strengthening, this is no reason to give up. Now is the time to strengthen marriage, not redefine it.
“When Jesus taught about the meaning of marriage – the lifelong, exclusive union of husband and wife – he pointed back to “the beginning” of God’s creation of the human person as male and female (see Matthew 19). In the face of the customs and laws of his time, Jesus taught an unpopular truth that everyone could understand. The truth of marriage endures, and we will continue to boldly proclaim it with confidence and charity.
“Now that the Supreme Court has issued its decisions, with renewed purpose we call upon all of our leaders and the people of this good nation to stand steadfastly together in promoting and defending the unique meaning of marriage: one man, one woman, for life. We also ask for prayers as the Court’s decisions are reviewed and their implications further clarified.”
The statement follows.
“Today is a tragic day for marriage and our nation. The Supreme Court has dealt a profound injustice to the American people by striking down in part the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The Court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation of liberty and justice requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth, including the truth about marriage. It is also unfortunate that the Court did not take the opportunity to uphold California’s Proposition 8 but instead decided not to rule on the matter. The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our efforts in witness to this truth. These decisions are part of a public debate of great consequence. The future of marriage and the well-being of our society hang in the balance.
“Marriage is the only institution that brings together a man and a woman for life, providing any child who comes from their union with the secure foundation of a mother and a father.
“Our culture has taken for granted for far too long what human nature, experience, common sense, and God’s wise design all confirm: the difference between a man and a woman matters, and the difference between a mom and a dad matters. While the culture has failed in many ways to be marriage-strengthening, this is no reason to give up. Now is the time to strengthen marriage, not redefine it.
“When Jesus taught about the meaning of marriage – the lifelong, exclusive union of husband and wife – he pointed back to “the beginning” of God’s creation of the human person as male and female (see Matthew 19). In the face of the customs and laws of his time, Jesus taught an unpopular truth that everyone could understand. The truth of marriage endures, and we will continue to boldly proclaim it with confidence and charity.
“Now that the Supreme Court has issued its decisions, with renewed purpose we call upon all of our leaders and the people of this good nation to stand steadfastly together in promoting and defending the unique meaning of marriage: one man, one woman, for life. We also ask for prayers as the Court’s decisions are reviewed and their implications further clarified.”
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Homily Notes - 12th Sunday in Ord Time
She was not happy.
Stopped at a red light – turned green – and he is not moving.
He’s talking on his cell phone!
Starts honking – yelling – even using bad words!
Finally – he wakes up and starts moving – just as the light turned yellow.
She finally begins to move forward when she sees red light – what did I do???
License & registration please. Comes back, “I just had to check.”
I saw you carrying on – then a saw your bumper stickers - I worship at St. Joseph’s & What would Jesus do? It didn’t add up & I thought: this must be a stolen car!
Who do people say that I am - like the gossip on all the entertainment channel – just keep repeating – costs me nothing & I look like I know something!
Who do YOU say that I am – different Q - personal
Everything we say and do is an answer to this question.
Every decision and choice tells others what we really believe.
Not an easy path – take up your cross
Jesus has many admirers but not as many followers.
We all have crosses: different ones at different stages of life - grass is not always greener - thank God for the life you do have!
- physical - illness, diseases
- spiritual – inner wounds 1/3 women domestic violence at some point
- psychological - that child that cannot seem to put it together.
Different reactions to crosses
1) I don’t want it: feel free to ask Jesus to take it away. Or get help-Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus to carry his. But understand, great mystery – not always taken away – let this cup pass, not my will but your will be done.
2) Avoid it - can’t deal with it – ignore it – let another member of the family deal with the sick parent or begin to self medicate: alcohol or drugs. Understand.
3) Carry it : it needs to be done and I am meant to do it. - Sometimes have good intention and try to do it out of own strength but this can end up “pity party” poor me! - Rather, seek the strength of God – look for God’s health – begin to surrender “let go and let God” Begin to move beyond own sufferings: moved to compassion for others.
Accept cross – not because it is good and not because I like it
But, my call at this time in my life - will allow me to draw closer to God and to one another
Msgr. Paul’s Cross
- “Why should you want anything else, I never did!”
- “This is where you learn everything!”
Stopped at a red light – turned green – and he is not moving.
He’s talking on his cell phone!
Starts honking – yelling – even using bad words!
Finally – he wakes up and starts moving – just as the light turned yellow.
She finally begins to move forward when she sees red light – what did I do???
License & registration please. Comes back, “I just had to check.”
I saw you carrying on – then a saw your bumper stickers - I worship at St. Joseph’s & What would Jesus do? It didn’t add up & I thought: this must be a stolen car!
Who do people say that I am - like the gossip on all the entertainment channel – just keep repeating – costs me nothing & I look like I know something!
Who do YOU say that I am – different Q - personal
Everything we say and do is an answer to this question.
Every decision and choice tells others what we really believe.
Not an easy path – take up your cross
Jesus has many admirers but not as many followers.
We all have crosses: different ones at different stages of life - grass is not always greener - thank God for the life you do have!
- physical - illness, diseases
- spiritual – inner wounds 1/3 women domestic violence at some point
- psychological - that child that cannot seem to put it together.
Different reactions to crosses
1) I don’t want it: feel free to ask Jesus to take it away. Or get help-Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus to carry his. But understand, great mystery – not always taken away – let this cup pass, not my will but your will be done.
2) Avoid it - can’t deal with it – ignore it – let another member of the family deal with the sick parent or begin to self medicate: alcohol or drugs. Understand.
3) Carry it : it needs to be done and I am meant to do it. - Sometimes have good intention and try to do it out of own strength but this can end up “pity party” poor me! - Rather, seek the strength of God – look for God’s health – begin to surrender “let go and let God” Begin to move beyond own sufferings: moved to compassion for others.
Accept cross – not because it is good and not because I like it
But, my call at this time in my life - will allow me to draw closer to God and to one another
Msgr. Paul’s Cross
- “Why should you want anything else, I never did!”
- “This is where you learn everything!”
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