Sunday, December 29, 2013

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

We wish all of our parishioners a very Happy New Year! As we begin a New Year, the church asks us to pray and reflect. Join us for Mass on New Year's Eve at 5:30 p.m. or on New Year's Day at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. 
Note - Church Office Hours
Monday, Dec 30 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec 31 - 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan 1 - Closed

Funeral Mass - Vincent M. Brown, Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Vincent Brown on Thursday, January 2, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for him and for his family.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Masses of Christmas

Holy Mass will be offered on Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and at Midnight.
Masses on Christmas Day are at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and at 12:00 noon.
We wish you a very Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Church Office schedule
Monday - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday - 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday - Closed
Thursday - Closed (Feast of St. Stephen)

Funeral Mass - Grace Marie Arkenbout

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Grace Arkenbout (age 2) on Monday, December 23 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for her mom and dad, her grandparents, and her relatives.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Reconciliation Monday

On Monday, December 16, all parishes in the Archdiocese of New York will open their doors for a continuous offering of the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Come and prepare the way of the Lord in your heart! Come and experience the mercy of God!

Advent Third Sunday - Christmas Tree


Strange thing – you cut down a tree – bring it inside the house – hang stuff on it – put lights on it.

Jesus life connected to trees – carpenter – manger – boat – cross

Evergreen – stays green all winter – sign of life in death

Martin Luther – walking through woods – starlight through trees – put candles on tree – not popular with fire department – Thomas Edison took care of that.

Angel or star on top

Angel – Glory to God in the highest

Star – Star of Bethlehem

JPII first to bring tree to Vatican – with beautiful Nativity in St. Peter’s Square.

 Few years back, Pope Benedict invited to Gubbio to bless a huge Christmas tree.

Made three wishes:

1)    Many look at the bottom of the tree where the presents are – what did I get for Christmas? His 1st wish – look up – toward heaven – toward God.  Baptist said: he must increase, I must decrease – I am not worthy to untie his sandals.

2)    Trees give off light – the light was shining upon the shepherds – we too need that light to show us the path when it is dark, when we are afraid or worried. 2nd wish – see that the baby, born in Bethlehem, is the Light of the World.  Baptist said: Look, the Lamb of God!

3)    Tree is made of many lights, not just one light. 3rd wish that we would not be selfish but would become lights for others – just as JB was a light.  Words written on Newtown bus : Be nice to each other. It’s really all that matters word s by Principal who gave her life.

 Blessing of the Christmas Tree

 God of all creation, we praise you for our Christmas trees which bring beauty and memories and the promise of life to our homes.

May your blessings be upon all who gather around our trees, all who keep the Christmas festival by its lights.

We wait for the coming of Christ, the days of everlasting justice and peace. You are our God, living and reigning, forever and ever, Amen.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Saturday Cancellations

On Saturday, December 14, due to the storm, all parish programs and activities are cancelled. First Penance is cancelled. Religious Ed Classes are cancelled. Basketball is cancelled. The church office is closed.
Only church liturgies will be held as scheduled: 9:00 a.m. Mass, the 9:45 am Funeral Mass for Christine Black, Confessions at 3:30 pm and Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Advent at 5:00 p.m. However, we urge you to take precautions and suggest that you consider coming to Mass on Sunday instead.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Funeral Mass - Eugene E. Cattani

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Eugene Cattani on Monday, December 16 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for him and for his family.

Funeral Mass - Christine J. Black

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Christine Black on Saturday, December 14 at 9:45 a.m. Please pray for her and particularly for her children: Elizabeth and Christopher. (Note Mass time - due to First Penance at 11am & 1pm).

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Funeral Mass - Ruth E. Lucas

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Ruth Lucas on Friday, December 13 at 10:00 a.m. Ruth was a volunteer in our school cafeteria. Please pray for her and for her family.

Closings

Tuesday, December 10 - Due to expected snow, all programs and activities are cancelled.
The parish office is closed.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Intolerance

Found this article by Cardinal Dolan published in the NY Daily News:

Do Courage and EnCourage teach virtue or intolerance?

Pope Francis famously made headlines over the summer when he said in an interview, "If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?" His words made me grateful for the church's ministry, called Courage, which assists and supports people with a same-sex attraction to live virtuous lives, and EnCourage, dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents and relatives of those with same sex attraction.
Here we have a loving, welcoming, community, dedicated to helping those who strive to live as Jesus calls us to live. This is what our gay Catholics have long sought: a home, a welcome, a sense of inclusion in the church they love.
Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I learned of the cancellation of a talk by a retired priest of the archdiocese (a remarkably gentle and holy man, by the way), active in Courage, that was to be given, at their request, to parents of Catholic high school students, intended to help and support those parents whose children may sense a same-sex attraction.
The reaction to the planned lecture at Cardinal Spellman High School is a shame — one that distorts the very meaning of “tolerance.”
It seems that no one can talk of virtue anymore without, at the very least, being labeled out of touch with reality, and in this case, accused of far worse — spreading hatred. But didn't Jesus promise, "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God." (Mt 5:8) A pure heart is a chaste heart, a heart that loves others for who they are and not simply for what they can do or how they can satisfy me.
Is this not the way each of us wishes to be appreciated and desired by another? At the same time, however, we know our hearts are restless, unfulfilled, even in the best of love stories. Some of that restlessness is good — it attracts us to God and to Heaven — but some of it is dangerous, and can make us self-centered, promiscuous, irresponsible and inconsiderate of the good of others.
A pure heart leads to generosity, peace and fulfillment. We are all called to chastity — to keep God's gift of sexual love within marriage — and for married couples to live in faithful fidelity to one another, all in keeping with God's plan. Yes, sex is a beautiful gift from God, but we see the effects of the misuse of this gift all around us, don't we?
The epidemic of pornography, adultery, sky-high divorce rates, human trafficking, treating others as objects and not as people made in the image and likeness of God, all can be traced back to the lack of virtue and purity in our lives.
Which is part of what makes the intolerance of those who seek to drown out the church’s beautiful teaching so alarming. For individuals and groups to bully, to threaten, to protest, when a priest seeks to explain this timeless and timely message to parents who invited him to do so, is a scary precedent. We have gone from the days when the plea from some activists was “all we want is to live our lives in peace” to “you shall not have the right to present your teaching.”
Who is being intolerant here? I am reminded of the recent shameful episode when Police Commissioner Ray Kelly was unable to give a talk after being shouted down by students at a renowned "liberal and tolerant" Ivy League school. Have we really reached the point where only one point of view can be expressed?
One thing must be made clear. Courage is not against anyone or anything. Having been a supporter of Courage for many years, and now serving as chairman of its episcopal board, I know what it is unwaveringly for: for the person, for the faithful expression of God’s love and mercy, for helping people who are seeking Jesus to live full, happy, integrated lives. There is never an intention to impose on anyone, but always to extend an invitation to those who wish to respond.
"Who am I to judge?" Pope Francis asks. How sad that those who claim to be in favor of tolerance have pre-judged and blocked a message of love and acceptance from being delivered, tarnishing the reputation of a splendid group and a school which has as one of its goals to help our youth live out their faith.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/true-meaning-tolerance-article-1.1528660#ixzz2mcSfmcBj