Pastor's Corner
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From Pastor's Desk....
Week of October 27, 2019
I always believe that by the Grace of God I can become better every day. Whether it is in my personal life or in my priestly ministry, there is al-ways room for growth. With this belief I search for courses and programs to enhance my knowledge and ability. After I came to our parish I have been looking into many parish development programs to train myself better. The one that really attracted me is “The Amazing Parish” initiative rooted in the culture of prayer, team-work and discipleship. I read the book, "The Better Pastor." published by them and I asked them to give some information on it. This is what they wrote to me:
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR PRIESTS CAN BUILD AND LEAD PARISHES. WE'RE HERE TO HELP THEM MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
We have a dedicated team of parish support coaches committed to helping parishes thrive. Our support team is here for you, every step of the way, as you implement these concepts to transform your parish. The best part about our coaching is that it is included at no additional cost. Our workshop style conference is uniquely designed for a pastor and his parish leadership team to work side-by-side to establish the foundation of an Amazing Parish, which is rooted in a culture of prayer, teamwork and discipleship.
I contacted them to register for the next conference in California and they informed me that it is better to attend with a team of three or four from the parish. I offered the opportunity to some of the deacons and staff and they couldn’t join for the conference at this time. Then I offered it to some of the trustees and Finance Council members. After lot of praying and guidance by the conference coaches, David Anderson, Anne Anderson, Robert Newhard and Ellen Newhard agreed to attend the conference with me and help me. I am grateful to them. The conference begins on October 28th evening and ends on October 30th. Please keep us in your prayers.
Week of October 20, 2019
I received the following letter this week from Very Reverend Msgr. Joe La Morte, Vicar Gen-eral, after he received my letters regarding the settlement of our parish debt.
From the Vicar General:
Dear Father Kalist:
It was disappointing to learn that the par-ish opposed the archdiocese's proposed plan to contribute $5 million to reduce the principal balance of the outstanding loan of $17.2 million (plus funding of the loan interest for a 5-year period) in return for the parish's commitment to fundraise $5 million. The funds that were available for this project have been utilized to assist other parishes in need of financial support. If the community at Saint Ka-teri Tekakwitha Parish decides to reconsider the offer, we can discuss this matter again if funding is available. We Thank you again for your efforts to improve the operations of the parish. The Archdiocesan offices of real estate and energy will continue to provide guidance as the parish moves forward with the installation of solar panels on its grounds.
Rev. Msgr. Joseph LaMorte, VG
It is a small setback in our efforts to reach a favorable agreement. Now I have to begin the process with the new Chancellor and the Archdiocesan Finance Board. I still hope to attain a favorable agreement, sooner or later. I will work with our Parish Finance Council and the new Chancellor and his team. I need all our parishioners to pray that we reach an agreement that is attainable with one or two major campaigns and in a period of time. God will not give us anything less than the best. We can accomplish all things through prayers.
Fr. Pancrose
Week of October 6, 2019
I am happy to announce this year’s Parish Trustees and Finance Council Members and I am grateful to them for their guidance and sup-port in shepherding the parish Finance Council (2019-2020) David Anderson-Trustee, Dolores Avezzano-Trustee, Dave Borges, John Reale, John Meenagh, John Sullivan, Patricia Mackey, Robert Newhard, Rosalice D'Avanzo. Trustees, Finance council and Parish Council members are very important for the Pastor to set short term and long term goals and visions for the parish and to accomplish them. At pre-sent our parish is financially stagnant. Collections are the only source of income for the parish. Out of the nearly 2500 registered parish families, 1900 families receive envelops. Unfortunately only 220 families use them. Another 100 families use online giving. Many just drop a dollar in the baskets. We can’t build the financial stability of the parish in this manner. We need to renew and recommit our financial sup-port to the parish. With a weekly collection average of $10,000, it is not possible to manage all the expenses. Before we begin our financial planning, I plead with all our parishioners to consider an increased financial commitment to the parish. The other day, one of our parishioners came to me with a strange complaint that the parking lot is full of dog poop and I should look into preventing it. I replied, "Please, don't blame the dogs. It is the geese." The next day, when the geese came in the morning, I informed them about the complaint and requested some financial assistance since they are using the land. Without a word, they all flew away. I stood there helplessly. I hope you understand my helplessness.
Week of September 1, 2019
Two weeks ago, one of our parish families informed me that they are moving to another state soon. As any Pastor would feel, I felt sad at the news. This family is always at Mass on Sun-days and they volunteer for many activities in the parish. They consistently provide good finan-cial support to the parish. Though I felt sad, I had to accept their decision and wish them blessings in their new place of living. This brought me memories of the only time my family moved. I was in ninth grade. My father decided to give up our ancestral home and property for the only reason that it was closer to a Hindu temple and all our neighbors were Hindus. He wanted his children to grow up in a Catholic neighborhood, very close to the Church so that he could take us to daily Mass before. We hated this move because we had to gain new friends and get used to the new neighborhood. My fa-ther was the only one thrilled about it and every-thing worked in his favor. In his old age, he used to tell us that this one hard sacrifice brought him the blessing of two of his sons becoming priests.One of the exciting things we did as soon as we settled in our new home was exploring the entire neighborhood. It was lot of fun and we did it with great excitement and reported to mom about everything we saw and did. I am here al-ready one year in this neighborhood. I think, I getting old that I do not show the same type of excitement in exploring the neighborhood. My mind does more exploring than my body. When I drive through Route 82, I see so many roads branching out from it with strange names. The questions that arise in my mind as I read the street names, is this leading to one house or a cluster of houses? Are the houses Catholic homes? When will I get a chance to visit them? Maybe, our Cardinal thinks that I have known all the parishioners and their homes by now. Though I desire to visit people and homes, let him know that I am only moving in snail’s speed. God help me.
Week of August 25, 2019It has been always my joy to meet with parishioners when they call to arrange a wedding or a child’s baptism or to register in the parish or come to the office for any need. I welcome them and make them feel loved to my best. I have to acknowledge that sometimes I have failed. Still, I love to do it as the Pastor of the faith community. I am happy that in our Catholic Church we call our priests Father. Yes, they are fathers to all. If so, as pastor and father I should be happy in the presence of people and welcome them with joy when I see them. The other day I was meeting with a couple who wanted baptism for their second child. They have another child who is probably 2 years old. He was full of energy and was all over my desk trying to pull down files and papers. I looked at the face of the parents as it was happening. The first thought that came to my mind was my own parents who always had a mortified look on their faces whenever they took us to any friends’ houses. I just told them, “Don’t worry. I have nothing more valuable than your child in this room. Let him be.” I saw the joy in their face and we continued.
Many a time we do not realize the priceless gifts God has given us in our children. When I announced last Sunday that we have nearly 800 children in our Faith Formation program, someone asked me after Mass whether it included the children from St. Columba and St. Dennis. No. We have so many children being nurtured in faith in our parish. We need to take pride in it and do everything possible to make it helpful for children to learn the faith and live it. We need more volunteers to offer their time and talent to be Catechists. Please see Deacon McCormack to volunteer for Faith Formation.
I would like to express our gratitude to Ms. Rebecca Campos who served as Sacristian and graduated this year. She has moved away to continue her studies. We are grateful to her for her ministry to us and we pray for God’s blessings on her. Eighth grade altar servers who wish to serve as Sacristian when they join High School can register with me for selection.
Week of August 18, 2019I am always grateful to the celibate priesthood in the Catholic Church. Many of my friends feel that if priests are allowed to marry, it would have solved many of the existing problems in the Church. May be they are right. But I think it would have created other problems. I have lived with some Baptist and Protestant ministers in Indai who were married. I found them unable to render a total commitment to their faithful because of their commitment to their families. As a priest and pastor I feel the need for total commitment for the faithful. The Pastor needs to be focused on every aspect of the parish life and find resources to nurture all. Six months ago I wrote to you, “…next five months we will spend in prayer, planning and finding resources to accomplish our vision on three areas: Spiritual Renewal & Faith Formation, Community Building and Campaign for funds to solve the Church debt. Let us keep knocking at God’s door.” God has guided me to sign up for “The Amazing parish” project. They are helping me to select a core team of 3 to 5 members of Parish Leadership Team to assist the parish to set goals and accomplish it. Please visit the amazing parish website to learn about it. Please pray daily for us to become a vibrant faith family.Everyone in our parish knows the good efforts our beloved Msgr. O’Connor put in, to install a solar farm in our land so that our land could be used to bring in some revenue for the parish. In those days the money that needed to be invested into and many other factors did not help to realize the project. Now it looks like a possibility with the Archdiocese in favor of solar energy projects in schools and churches and solar farms in its cemetery land. Also clean energy incentives from Government and various companies are available. For the last nine months I have been exploring all possibilities. This month, we heard presentations from three different solar companies. We are examining with the help of many to see the possibility of solar energy ether just for our use or to use our extra land to install a solar energy farm. Please keep praying for this effort to succeed if it is God's will.
Week of July 28, 2019This week, I complete one year of my life and ministry in our parish. I count it as a special blessing of God. First and foremost, I came to know and fell in love with a new saint in my life by coming to our parish family. St. Kateri has become very dear to me and she guides me in all my efforts to serve the parish. My heart is filled with gratitude to Fr. Mathew MacDonald who not only assisted me in my pastoral duties but also lived with me as a companion for eleven months. I miss him a lot, especially in the parish house when I am alone. I pray for him every day that he is joyful in serving the Lord and His faithful in his new parish. Next, I thank all our deacons and staff members who work with me so closely in realizing the vision of our Cardinal Dolan, for our parish. He is our chief shepherd and it is his vision that needs to be realized for our parish faith community. Finally, I thank each and every one of you for your love and kindness to me.
From day one I have enjoyed your love and kindness. Do you know even the animals around here extend their love and kindness? In my previous parish I used to collect all the discarded plants after the mother’s day plant sale in our school and plant them in front of the rectory. They produced plenty of eggplants, peppers, tomatoes and so on and I used to invite all parishioners to harvest and enjoy. When I wanted to plant some plants in front of the parish house here everyone discouraged me saying that the rabbits and deer will eat them up unless you put up a fence. I planted two eggplants, four pepper plants and five tomato plants. The deer did not come to know about it but the rabbits began eating the leaves. One morning three rabbits came to munch on my plants. I sat on the steps with my breakfast and had a talk with them. I requested them to go around freely but not destroy the plants. So far they are listening to me and I had my first harvest of a big eggplant and two peppers. All are welcome to harvest from my garden and enjoy them.
I am grateful to all. Your faith and dedication to Christ and His Church truly energizes me. It is a pleasure to be your pastor and nurture you in Christ.
Week of July 21, 2019
Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of St. Kateri Tekakvitha, our patroness. We couldn’t plan well and celebrate in a grand scale. I think it is my fault because I did not know what to plan as it is my first time celebrating the Feast of St. Kateri. I could only plan for the prayer to be recited for ten days after all the masses. I used the bulletin to distribute and make everyone pray at the end of daily mass. Feeling my pitiful gesture, one of our parishioners printed the prayer in laminated cards and helped me. I was truly happy to say the prayer with all and celebrate it in a spiritual way. On Sunday while celebrating 9 AM Mass, I realized that I should have invited the Cardinal to come and offer one Mass with us for the feast. It was too late. Next year, the Feast falls on a Tuesday. I will invite the Cardinal to come and celebrate Mass with us one Sunday close to the Feast. But I was happy to pray and celebrate St. Kateri Feast for the first time in my life. Thanks to Stephen Pfeler who brought the statue from the Faith Formation building to the Church and Mrs. Cathy Verano who decorated it with lilies. Before I came here I never heard of her. In this one year I have learned a little about her and now I have developed a special devotion to her. Every morning after I open the chapel door, I stand before her statue in front of the church and offer our parish, our families and our Archdiocese for her special protection and guidance. I believe St. Kateri will guide us.
Our parish finance council meeting was held on Wednesday, July 10th at 7 pm in the Rectory. The following members were present: Mr. Robert Herberger, Mrs. Rosealice D’Avanzo, Mr. Dave Borges, Mr. Dave Anderson. Mr. John Reale and Mr. John Sullivan were present with me. We discussed the proposed budget for 2020, the spiritual renewal plans for the parish, the financial situation of the parish and running a major Campaign and formation of the various councils to serve the parish better. Concerns like lower Sunday collections, not able to participate in Archdiocesan Campaigns like Renew and Rebuild, Annual Cardinal’s Appeal for last two years. Discussions about installing solar panels for electricity, using the good portion of our land to gain some benefits to pay off the parish debt came up. Spiritual Renewal programs like Christlife, Amazing Parish, Unbound and others were discussed to see which would bring greater benefit to our parish. The meeting ended at 9 pm.
Week of July 7, 2019Once a year, Archdiocese of New York and most of the dioceses in the United States runs a campaign called Missionary Cooperative Plan. It is precisely to help the Mission Dioceses and Religious orders who work in the missions to preach on their missions and make a second collection. This year our parish is assigned Xaverian Missionaries to preach at all the masses next weekend and make a second collection. Xaverian Missionaries was founded by Archbishop Guido Maria Conforti in 1895. On March 17, 1996, St. Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome proclaimed him Blessed. On World Mission Sunday, October 23, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed him a saint.
Today, over 900 Xaverian priests, brothers and sisters bring God’s love to people on four continents in 20 countries around the world including Japan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Burundi, D.R. Congo, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Cameroon, Chad, Mozambique, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and Sierra Leone. In accomplishing these mission works the generous support of the Church in the United States and Europe is essential.
Wherever the missionaries are able to build a church or a seminary, a school or a health care center, it is due to the generous donations of the people of parishes like ours in the developed world. We are truly co-missionaries with these missionaries who are living and working among these people in poverty and dire economic and political situations. Christ and the Good News is preached and lived by these missionaries courageously in the midst of every kind of danger. Our support and solidarity with the missionaries is our obligation as followers of Christ. I invite all of us to share in the mission efforts of Xaverian Missionaries and all missionaries through our prayers and any financial support you can. There is no envelope for this collection but there is a second collection at all the masses for the weekend of July 7, 2019. Checks need to be written to St. Kateri and not to the Religious Order. Please be generous.
Week of June 30, 2019
Once a year, Archdiocese of New York and most of the dioceses in the United States runs a campaign called Missionary Cooperative Plan. It is precisely to help the Mission Dioceses and Religious orders who work in the missions to preach on their missions and make a second collection. This year our parish is assigned Xaverian Missionaries to preach at all the masses next weekend and make a second collection. Xaverian Missionaries was founded by Archbishop Guido Maria Conforti in 1895. On March 17, 1996, St. Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome proclaimed him Blessed. On World Mission
Sunday, October 23, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed him a saint.
Today, over 900 Xaverian priests, brothers and sisters bring God’s love to people on four continents in 20 countries around the world including Japan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Burundi, D.R. Congo, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Cameroon, Chad, Mozambique, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and Sierra Leone. In accomplishing these mission works the generous support of the Church in the United States and Europe is essential.
Wherever the missionaries are able to build a church or a seminary, a school or a health care center, it is due to the generous donations of the people of parishes like ours in the developed world. We are truly co-missionaries with these missionaries who are living and working among these people in poverty and dire economic and political situations. Christ and the Good News is preached and lived by these missionaries courageously in the midst of every kind of danger. Our support and solidarity with the missionaries is our obligation as followers of Christ. I invite all of us to share in the mission efforts of Xaverian Missionaries and all missionaries through our prayers and any financial support you can. There is no envelope for this collection but there is a second collection at all the masses for the weekend of July 7, 2019. Checks need to be written to St. Kateri and not to the Religious Order. Please be generous.
Week of June 23, 2019This weekend we are thanking and honoring our former Religious Education Director, Mrs. Heidi Reale for her long-dedicated service to our parish faith formation program. Code of Canon Law. 776 states, “By virtue of his function, a pastor is bound to take care of the catechetical formation of adults, youth, and children, to which purpose he is to use the help of the clerics attached to the parish, of members of institutes of consecrated life and of societies of apostolic life, taking into account the character of each institute, and of lay members of the Christian faithful, especially of catechists. None of these are to refuse to offer their help willingly unless they are legitimately impeded. The pastor is to promote and foster the function of parents in the family catechesis mentioned in can. 774, §2.
As a pastor I consider the catechetical program as my right arm to serve the parish in the work of evangelization and faith formation to our children, youngsters and families. Mrs. Reale took over from Mrs. Mary Bischiotti when she retired in 2012. For 8 long years she directed the program with the assistance of Mrs. Diane McCoach until February this year. I am not sure how many of our parishioners are aware that our Parish Religious Education program is the largest one in the whole of Dutchess County, with nearly 800 children serving 600 families. Every year nearly hundred or above hundred children receive First Holy Communion and another ninety to hundred ninth graders receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Mrs. Reale has special love for children and families. I have been observing her love and care for every child in the class rooms and during the Joyful Noise she holds at Sunday Masses since I came in August. What a blessing Mrs. Reale is to our parish. She is still part of our faith formation team and helps out in all possible ways. I wish and pray for God’s choicest blessings on her. May the Lord bless her with success and happiness in everything she undertakes.
This program is so successful only because with Mrs. Reale there are more than 75 dedicated volunteer Catechists from our parish who offer their time and talents to teach our children. Children come after spending the whole day in school classrooms. Understanding this factor our catechists make it fun to learn and impart faith formation. I am truly grateful to all of them. I also wish to express my special gratitude to Mrs. DeBellis for her assistance at the faith formation office on a daily basis and all others who help. Deacon John McCormack has taken over as our new Director of Religious Education Program. Congratulations Deacon McCormack!
Week of June 16, 2019
I do not know how many of you are aware that we didn’t have much of spring season this year. I was waiting for three full months of spring flowers and pleasant weather. Instead we moved quickly from winter to summer. Summer never makes Pastors happy because parishioners go on vacation, mass attendance is reduced and collections decrease. But children are thrilled to be done with school for the year and families are happy to travel and enjoy vacation time. As the summer season rolls in, I wish all our families safe travel and restful family time. Let me also take this opportunity to thank you for your presence on Sunday Eucharistic celebrations every week, your involvement in building up our parish faith community and your weekly contributions without which St. Kateri will not be able to thrive as a vibrant faith family in our Archdiocese. Thanks everyone.
Next week we will celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi. It is the celebration of the Body of Christ. In most parishes, before the summer break this feast is celebrated with a procession carrying the Eucharist where children who received first Holy Communion that year attend in their Communion outfits. We will have the Corpus Christi procession next Sunday after 10:30 Mass. Though we take the Eucharist in procession, it is truly the celebration of each one of us who are the Body of Christ. The question is, are we consciously living as the Body of Christ daily because Christ depends on each of us to continue His saving ministry? This is a prayer we sang daily in the seminary after receiving Holy Communion. Sing it or pray it, if not every time you receive communion, at least on Corpus Christi Sunday after Communion.
SOUL OF MY SAVIOUR, SANCTIFY MY BREAST (HYMN)
Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast;
Body of Christ, be thou my saving guest;
Blood of my Saviour, bathe me in thy tide,
wash me with waters flowing from thy side.
Strength and protection may thy passion be;
O Blessed Jesus, hear and answer me;
deep in thy wounds, Lord, hide and shelter me;
so shall I never, never part from thee.
Guard and defend me from the foe malign;
in death’s dread moment make me only thine;
call me and bid me come to thee on high,
where I may praise thee with thy saints for aye.
(Ascribed to John XXII, 13th century)
Week of May 26, 2019
Last Saturday, Cardinal Dolan ordained six men to priesthood in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Five of them will be ministering in the parishes of the Archdiocese of New York and one will live the Franciscan religious life. We included them in our weekend’s prayer of the faithful. I read the details in Catholic New York and couldn’t help thinking about my own ordination and priestly vocation. Feels like, it was just yesterday. They say that you don’t feel the passing of time when you have fun. It is true in my case. Thirty one years, come and gone just like yesterday.
Would anyone consider becoming a priest or religious in modern times when the whole world is submerged in material comfort and worldly pleasures and the Church is steeped in clergy sex abuse scandal? Would any parent even suggest to their children to consider a call from God to dedicate their lives as a priest or religious? We encourage them to consider the vocations of serving the community as firefighters, police officers and so on but do not sufficiently promote vocations to priesthood and religious life. But history proves that in times of rampant corruption, scandals and struggles in the Church God brings up men and women of extraordinary strength to lead the Church.
My own mother discouraged me when I was nurturing a desire to become a priest in fifth grade because she did not find me particularly virtuous. But, my parents prayed hard daily for me when I joined the seminary. My villagers told me loud and clear that I shouldn’t be thinking of priesthood because I didn’t fall into that pious kid category. After I joined the seminary at age fifteen my superiors many a time doubted that I have a vocation to priestly life. Here I am, after thirty one years living a joyful life by the grace of God embracing people of God wherever I am. God calls us and if we respond he will straighten us and make us useful for him. All I can say is pray always for an increase in vocations to priesthood and religious life. Encourage our children to desire it and be open to it. God will take care of the rest. May God bless our parish with many vocations. Pray for all priests and religious to be faithful to their call.
Week of May19, 2109
Month of May is an amazing month. First and foremost, it is Blessed Mother’s Month. The people, who don’t usually pray the Rosary, try to pray it or even pray at the least a decade of the Rosary to honor her during May. We sing special Marian hymns at our churches during liturgies. May-crowning to honor Blessed Mother has become a very beloved practice among children as well as adults. In the month of May most parishes celebrate First Holy Communion for children. We celebrated First Holy Communion for 88 children. Over and above all these celebrations we celebrate Mother’s Day in May. Again, it is Blessed Mother who is the model for all mothers, gets honored. These are the reasons I consider month of May as an amazing month.
In my prayer life as a priest I have developed a habit of praying three Rosaries a day. In fact this is a habit I got from my father and I am truly grateful to him for handing on this good habit. This month, since it is not very cold, I pray my second Rosary every day in our parish prayer garden. As I sit on the wooden bench and pray the rosary, I see the Blessed Mother’s statue and behind it our beautiful Church. I offer the fruit of this rosary to our parish family. In the Catholic Church it is a great tradition that the faithful call their priest as “Father” and I truly enjoy it. But when I think of the whole parish as my family I think of me as its mother. All mothers dream the best dreams and desire the best for their children. That is what all the Pastors do. It is ten months since I came and all this time I have been dreaming and wishing the best things for our parish family. In this month of May I have brought all these dreams, wishes and plans to Blessed Mother for her to take to Jesus. Once I receive some guidance through the Holy Spirit we can work on them together and I am sure she will bless and guide us through. I invite all of you to join me in praying to Blessed Mother to bless and guide our parish family.
I want you to know that all the Pastors are requested to submit their parish budgets by May 31st for the next financial year. I am working with our parish book keeper and accountant. Keep praying that we do it with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to build our parish faith community. God bless you all.
Week of May 12, 2019Jim Gaffigan is one of the comedians I like and when I am bored, I go on YouTube and watch some of the old episodes. Recently I came across an episode where he jokes about the birth of his fourth baby. He says comically and seriously, “…my wife did it. She had four babies in our apartment. She is an amazing woman. Really all women are amazing. I mean that in a pandering way. Women are. Women can grow a baby inside their body and then somehow women can deliver a baby through their body and then through some miracle they can feed the baby with their body.” What an inspiring observation. It really helped me to understood and accept how Jesus could claim to give his body and blood as food for us which troubled the Jewish scribes and Pharisees of his time. Women are amazing for their blessing of Motherhood. It reveals love and sacrifice to the highest level possible. On this Mothers’ Day, I express my gratitude and appreciation to all the mothers in our parish family. We celebrate you. Happy Mothers’ Day!
I lost my mother three years ago. I couldn’t even attend her funeral but I never felt that she left me. She is always there for me even after she had gone home to God. Mothers never leave their children because of the belonging. We all have a mother in our Blessed Mother. Jesus gave his mother to us from the cross. (Jn. 19: 26-27) In the month of May we specially honor her by offering flowers and crowning her statue. I would request all our parish families to pray the Rosary. This is not an external gesture of honor like flower offering or crowning. Praying the Rosary honors her and draws her attention to aid us in all our needs. My father always used to convince us to pray the Rosary as a family every evening. He always said, “The family that prays together stays together.” I believe it because it became true in our family. Mary our mother intercede for us to Jesus her son.
Week of May 5, 2019
Last Sunday and this Sunday our parish children are receiving First Holy Communion. My love, prayers, blessings and congratulations to all of them, their parents and family members. May Jesus who comes to our children for the first time in the Eucharist transform them to fruitful members of His Body, the Church. When I give First Holy Communion to a second grader I often wonder what he or she understands when he or she answers “Amen.” They are in their best behavior and best clothing. They are around the Altar in the Sanctuary. They are so prayerful and pious. Everything is right to receive the Body of Christ. They understand the mystery of the Eucharist to their level and God’s grace and blessings are with them. The parents, Catechists, Deacons, Priests and our faith community has done all that is possible to teach them and prepare them for this day. I feel proud of the ministry our parish catechetical team accomplishes year after year. Special thanks to Mrs. Heide Reale and all her ministry for the years as director of the team. Even though she gave up her position recently, she still is part of our catechetical ministry team and helps. Deacon John McCormack who leads the ministry now has been working hard to continue all the good works. Our Catechists deserve my sincere appreciation for their hard work, dedication and sacrifices for the catechetical ministry of our parish. All of them deserve our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude. I lift them all to the Risen Jesus for His blessings.
These days I have been working with the Archdiocesan teams and our parish leaders and benefactors to frame a vision for the next ten years for our parish. I am happy at the cooperation I get from all. I consider it absolutely essential to set up short-term and long-term visions and plans if we are serious to move forward as a faith community and work hard to accomplish them with the grace of God. I have been spending a lot of time praying for God to help us. I request all our parishioners to pray that God helps us to build up our parish community. Next five months we will spend in prayer, planning and finding resources to accomplish our vision on three areas: Spiritual Renewal & Faith Formation, Community Building and Campaign for funds to solve the Church debt. Let us keep knocking at God’s door.
Week of April 28, 2019
My brothers and sisters in the Risen Lord,Wish you all a very Blessed Easter Season. May the Risen Jesus bless each and every member of our parish family with his gifts of unity, peace, forgiveness and Holy Spirit!
It is now nine months since I am with you. You may be surprised to know that with my appointment as Pastor, there was an attachment saying St. Kateri has a huge debt in building the new Church. I gracefully accepted it as good debt for building a new church and relied on God and your generosity to find ways to solve it. I spent all this time learning the details of it and meeting with all relevant people to resolve it. Finally, on 7thof March, I met with Finance Board of the Arch-diocese and the Parish Assistance Corporation that loaned the money and requested for an agreement in writing that would help us. On 27thof March, the proposal was sent to me for my approval and signature.Here below, I am bringing to your attention some important points of the proposal:
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish PAC (Parish Assistance Corporation) loan balance of $17.2 mil-lion is comprised of three loans.....
1. The three PAC loans will be consolidated into one loan, with a 20-year term and an interest rate of 4%
2. The Archdiocese will contribute $5 million to pay down the loan principal, reducing the balance to $12.2 million.
3. The Archdiocese will pay the interest expense on the PAC loan for a period of five years beginning April 2019 and ending March 2024. At a balance of 12.2 million, the loan will incur interest of $488,931 initially, declining as the principal is paid down.
4. While the Archdiocese absorbs the interest expense, the parish will undertake an extra ordinary campaign to raise $5 million, which will be applied to the loan principal. As such, the $5 million from the Archdiocese would be a dollar-for dollar matching contribution.
5. To assist the parish further, and to ensure that all fundraising efforts are attributed to the repayment of the loan principal, Cardinal Dolan has approved for the parish to be excluded from the Cardinal’s annual Stewardship Appeal for the next 5 years.
These proposals were discussed in detail at the Finance Council Meeting on April 10thand accepted. I signed it on April 11thand returned it to the Archdiocese. At present we are trying to explore the resources from the Archdiocese and from our parish community to run this major campaign and side by side, build up our community. Four months of planning time and we will come up with a concrete short term and long term plans to achieve our vision. My vision is in fifteen years’ time when we gather to celebrate Church’s Silver Jubilee, we must be debt free and become a vibrant faith community. Be generous with your time, talent and treasure and good stewards of your church. Approach me any time to share ideas and help in planning and execution. Above all, pray every day with faith. God will make it happen for us. Our Parish
Trustees: Mr. Thomas Beresford and Mr. Robert Herberger.Finance Council Members: Mr. Dave Borges, Mrs. Lorraine Travia, Mrs. Rosealice D'Avanzo, Mr. Dave Anderson and Mr. John Reale,and Mr. John Sullivan
Forty days ago we began our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday and now we are in Holy Week and Easter. We received ashes on our forehead to remind us of our mortality and decided to repent and turn away from sin. We resolved to live a life of prayer, fasting and alms giving. Some of us followed all our resolutions. Others left them half way through. As a parish family we did many things to make Lent a season of grace. Participation at the weekday and Sunday Masses increased. Many parishioners received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Good number of people attended the fish fry, Lenten reflections and prayed the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. Our children were in the forefront. They all went to confession, through Passport to Easter program participated in various activities to get ready for Easter. Whether we are ready or not, Easter is greeting us. The Lord is Risen!
Resurrection is powerful. No one has ever risen from the dead. Our Lord Jesus conquers death by rising to life. But what happened on Good Friday? Was it weakness that Jesus was crucified and killed as a common criminal? I never gave a thought until recently. Five years ago I was visiting one of my Hindu friends in India. His son was in second grade and his Hindu Religion teacher had taught him that the Hindu gods are powerful whereas the Christian God Jesus allowed himself to be crucified and killed. The little boy asked me, Father Uncle, If Jesus is God why did he allow himself to be killed. How could he claim to be God if he is killed by people? I thought it was a good question and answered him. When I came to visit my friend this boy was wrestling with his Dad and I heard him say, “I win, Dad I win.” So I asked him, “When you wrestled with your Dad, he let you win, Right? Does it mean your Dad is weaker than you or he lost to you to show his love for you?” They all understood. Jesus’ death on the cross is not weakness or failure. It is the revelation of God’s true love for us. Happy Easter