St. Denis St Columba School 50th Anniversary

Here is the Prayer that Father Michael offered Saturday Night at the 50th Anniversary Gala:

Dear Lord and Good Teacher,

We thank you for giving us the opportunity to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of St. Denis – St. Columba School.

We give thanks for all who are present and all those who have contributed to the life and success of our school.

We thank you for our parish priests and parishioners for providing material and spiritual support throughout the years.

We thank you for the Archdiocese of New York for all the support and guidance we have received.

We thank you for the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt and the Sisters of the Resurrection for their leadership and dedication.

We thank you for all the principals, teachers, staff and volunteers for their amazing generosity and countless hours of service to our school

We thank you for parents who have entrusted their children to us.

We thank you for all our benefactors whose generous support assists us in providing the very best for our young.

We thank you for all our current students and for our Alumni who are now offering distinguished lives of service to their families, communities and our country.

We thank you for the lives of those who worked, served or attended our school and now have departed, may they rest in peace. (Pause particularly for Sean Grogan)

Almighty Lord, we ask your continued blessings on us and we pray that students of the present and future generations may learn in this school to know, to love, and to serve You and recognize Your Presence in one another.

We ask the Patrons of our school, St. Denis and St. Columba, to keep us under their special protection and we pray for the Intercession of our Lady. Hail Mary

Together . . .  Bless us O Lord.

Funeral Mass - Sean Grogan

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Sean Grogan (18) on Wednesday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for him and for his family.

Funeral Mass - William Maher

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of William Maher on Tuesday, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for him and for his family.

Easter Vigil

Congratulations to Kimberly, Linda & Pamela, who will be baptized and receive First Communion and Confirmation. Congratulations also to Matthew, Christopher, Jennifer, Hazelmary, Amanda and Carolyn who will complete their Initiation in the Church.

Remember playing Flashlight Tag  -  Red Light, Green Light   -  Freeze Tag?

There are moments in all of our lives that are frozen in time and frozen in our memories. They can be good moments, or bad moments. Moments of utter joy and moments of profound grief.

Remember? (Give time for each to be remembered)

That first kiss.   -   Yes, I will marry you.

A look on the doctor's face.   -   The birth of a child   –    Loss of a job

Graduation  -   The end of a life.

"DEFINING" moments some folks might call them. As we gather on this Easter we celebrate THE DEFINING moment of our Christian faith –

We call it - the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What Is the Resurrection?

-         Some say it is a metaphor – Jesus was still alive in their hearts and minds. He will live on in your memory

-         Some – another way to speak of the rebirth of nature after the death of winter. caterpillars to butterflies and frozen earth to green shoots.

-         Some – his legacy will live on. Jesus will live on, just like the writings of Shakespeare or the music of Beethoven.

Although it is comforting -    THIS IS NOT ENOUGH

First - Understand that Jesus was not asleep. He was dead, really dead. The Romans knew what they were doing.  He died on the Cross. His mother held him in her arms. His body was placed in a tomb.                On the first day of the week they came to the tomb and it was empty – most logical that the body was stolen – what other explanation could there be?

The angel said: “He is not here. He has been raised!”

Something new and overwhelming had happened. The one who was dead WALKED OUT OF THE TOMB. He took on a completely new form of human life. Not a return to normal life – subject to death – but a new life – no longer subject to death. He was truly there, alive. He spoke to them, ate with them – they touched him – yet he no longer belonged to this world.

This DEFINING MOMENT changed them forever –

Peter – crucified upside down, Paul beheaded – almost all of the Apostles martyred – for a metaphor, a nice idea or a worthy cause? – no = Because He is Risen!

Last night, the Pope had the Stations of the Cross in the Coliseum – amazing when thousands of Christians died there 2000 years ago – why – because he is Risen!

Why on earth would you become a priest and waste your life – because He is Risen!

Why do you try to live according to the teachings of Jesus? – because He is Risen!

Why do you do charitable works for your neighbor? – because He is Risen!

Why do you believe that you will live forever?  - because He is Risen!

Tonight – All these adults will complete their Initiation. Why?  Because He is Risen.

Tonight – is a defining moment for 3 women. They will now be known as Catholics, as Christians. And from now on, they will be able to touch, to receive, the glorified Body of Jesus in the Eucharist. Why? Because he is Risen!

St. Augustine once said – I can now catch sight of my homeland from afar> How do I get there? The One who is our Goal came to us. He brought us the plank to make our passage.” And now with St. Thomas we can say – My Lord and My God!”

Easter Sunday Schedule

HOLY SATURDAY
9 a.m. - Tenebrae (Office of Readings & Morning Prayer) @ St. Kateri
10:30 a.m. - Blessing of Easter Food
7:30 p.m. - The Easter Vigil (Includes Blessing of Fire, Baptisms & Confirmations)
NO 5:30 p.m. Mass - NO Confessions

EASTER SUNDAY
Masses at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 noon

EASTER MONDAY
8:00 a.m. Morning Mass
Parish Offices Closed - Adoration Chapel Closed

We wish all of our parishioners a very Blessed Easter!

Reconciliation Monday

Come to Confession today! Experience the Lord's Mercy and Forgiveness! Prepare your heart for Easter!
Confessions available at all Churches here in the Archdiocese of New York from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

So we begin our Holy Week. Once again an opportunity to remember and live the great events of our salvation:

-          Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday

Truly a cast of characters:

The Twelve – All except John abandoned Him.

False witnesses – willing to lie.

Leaders – not open to the Truth

Pilate – knows the truth but washes his hands.

Soldiers – took away His dignity

Judas – betrayed Jesus with a kiss

Peter – three times denies Him – I don’t even know the man.

Sounds like us from time to time – difference between Peter & Judas – Peter knew he could be forgiven – Reconciliation Monday

Others –

Simon of Cyrene – helped to carry the Cross

Veronica – wiped His face

His Mother – stayed close by

Mary Magdalene – remained faithful

Good Thief Dismas – This day you will be with me in paradise!

Centurion – Truly this was the Son of God.

Joseph of Arimathea – gives his own tomb.

Also – sounds like us from time to time – or, what we hope to be?

Most of all – Barabbas – like us, guilty of sin – but the innocent One, Jesus, takes his place – our place!

Do you want to strengthen your Faith?  Make it a Holy Week! – focus on what is most important – avoid frivolous entertainment and unnecessary shopping and try this: Prayer – Fasting – Works of Charity.   Together let us Prepare for Easter!

I Am The Resurrection

Hanover Germany – in a cemetery a huge grave. It is covered with slabs of granite and marble, held in place by steel straps.  Underneith, a woman who said she did not believe in the resurrection. But if it happens, it will not reach her.  Over the years a seed fell, began to grow, slowly but surely moved the granite and marble, a steel strap broke.  Tiny seed.  If nature can move stones, what about God?

Our Friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him!!!

As Jesus arrives in Bethany he experiences two emotions. First is bit of anger – Martha, then Mary: Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  All life we try to gain control, but in the end we are not in control. No amount of money or influence can help.  One minute with us, next minute gone.  And, we get angry.  Some let their anger get out of control. They allow themselves to be consumed by anger and they begin to hate – God and everyone else.   Jesus also become angry -  perturbed – snorted in spirit – a different anger -  anger at what sin and death have done to us – not part of the original plan for us.

Another emotion – tears. When a Jewish person dies, they are buried that same day. Then they sit shiva for 7 days – came to show love and respect – sadness and tears.  “And Jesus wept”  The shortest verse in the Bible.   He wept over the city of Jerusalem and wept over the death of Lazarus.  Wept because he loved.  Compassion – suffered with his dear friends.

I am the Resurrection and the Life -   I am  -  word spoken at the burning bush.  I am God of Abraham, Issac, Jacob.  First glimpse of Resurrection. God of the living, not of the dead!   Where I am – life & light – not death & darkness.

Where have you laid him?   Genesis – Adam and Eve sinned & tried to hide from God: where are you?  How did you get so far away from me?   Look what sin and death have done!  Where is he???

Lazarus – come out – not darkness, no sin, no death can keep us from God – linger no longer in darkness and sin – no hate, bitterness, prejudice and anger – addiction to drugs, alcohol, technology, materialism, money, pornography 

come out – still wrapped in burial bands.   Untie him & let him go free.  Go free –-   Sacrament of Reconciliation – be free – Reconciliation Monday           1 seed, one little seed, slabs are moved, steel is broken. Nature can do it how about God???

Funeral Mass - Grace Fiederlein

A Funeral Mass will be offered for the repose of the soul of Grace Fiederlein on Monday, April 3 at 9:00 a.m. Please pray for her and for her family.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Bishop Dominick Lagonegro, Founding Pastor of St. Columba Parish and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday, April 1 at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Please pray for our Confirmandi.