Sunday Thoughts

Hi All,
Sorry I have not kept up with the blog. Now that my vacation days are over, I will try to do better!
- Thanks again for all your prayers. Over two months have gone by since my dad's death. Some days are still hard.
- Keep praying for our housekeeper - Nellie Fahy. Nellie took ill right before my dad died, and is still doing rehab. She hopes to be back soon. In the meantime, thanks to all who helped with the wash, the cleaning and the cooking. We are surviving!
- Thanks to all who assisted with the Ministry Fair. It looks great!
- Thanks also to all who prepared the "Welcome New Parishioner" Breakfast. The bagels were excellent.
- Thanks to Tony Majewski for not being defeated by our water problems. Tony laid a new water pipe in one day (Saturday). Great job Tony!
- Pray for Mike Derych who took ill at the beginning of the 9am Mass. Mike, you can't blame this one on my homily! Get better!
- Pray also for Mary Goodman, a dear parishioner who is critically ill.
- Looking forward to the Knights Outing on Monday!
- Mariano Day at the Stadium and Andy's last start. The DVR is set to go.

The Assumption of Our Lady - Holy Day

Thursday, August 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be offered on Wednesday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. and on Thursday at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and at 7:30 p.m.

Funeral Mass - Thomas Burger

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for the repose of the soul of Thomas Burger on Monday, August 12 at 11:30 p.m. Please pray for Thomas and for his family.

Memorial Mass - George Minton

A Memorial Mass will be offered for the repose of the soul of George Minton on Monday, August 12 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for George and for his family.

Parish Picnic - September 8

Our annual Parish Picnic will be held on Sunday, September 8. We will begin with an outdoor Mass at 12:15 p.m. followed by our picnic. At the picnic, we will serve, free of charge: hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon and bottled water. You are very welcome to bring other items that you would like to have. Bring folding lawn chairs to picnic on the grounds. Bring softball and soccer equipment to play on our field. The bouncing room will return. In case of rain, Mass will be in church and the food will be served in the cafeteria with additional seating in the gym. Volunteers are needed:

-         Set Up on Saturday, September 7 at 10:00 a.m. (includes shucking corn!)

-         Serving the food after Mass until 3:00 p.m.

-         Organizers of softball game & soccer game on the field.

-         Clean up of kitchen and picnic area beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Volunteers are asked to call the church office and leave your name and phone number

Father Michael Appointed to Planning Group

Cardinal Dolan has appointed Father Michael to serve on the Archdiocesan Advisory Group for “Making All Things New,” the pastoral planning process now underway. The Group is made up of forty members, who are respected clergy, religious and lay leaders from diverse backgrounds and geographic areas within the Archdiocese. People with experience in Catholic schools, catechetical programs, liturgy and human concerns are also represented in the group.  Members will make recommendations to the Cardinal after:

-         Reviewing criteria for assessing parish viability concerning Mission, Demographics and Stewardship.

-         Studying available data about parishes and diminishing number of priests.

-         Reviewing suggestions from Parish CORE Teams and Cluster CORE Teams.

-         Working with the Pastoral Planning Working Group.

 

Father Michael will continue to serve on the Catholic Identity Committee of the Regional Board for Catholic Schools in Orange, Sullivan and Ulster Counties, as well as on the Board for Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County.

CORE Team for Pastoral Planning

Cardinal Dolan has asked each parish to put together a CORE team for Pastoral Planning. These teams will be entrusted with the responsibility of bringing parishioners together, listening to their concerns, and evaluating the parish, top to bottom. Responsibilities will be spelled out in training sessions that will take place beginning in September. Sessions will be coordinated by the Reid Group, which has been hired by the Archdiocese for facilitate this process.

Father Michael has asked four former chairs of our Parish Council to serve as members of our CORE Team. All have generously accepted this responsibility. They are Stephen Mandracchia, Joan Rotar, Mary Ann Knight and Darrell Supak.

We look forward to learning more about this process in the Fall.