Good evening.
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Jesus, called His mother Mary to share in His sufferings to save the world. Now he calls each of us to do the same for the salvation of all.
Every year by the middle of September we have the Mass for Catechists, orientations and beginning of Classes. This year, it is very different. Given the uncertainties and health guidelines we are going for:
1.Program: A fully online program with printed text books for each student to match the online version.
2. Provider: Sophia Institute. This Friday I will sign the contract for the license for our parish. After the contract is signed they will help set up the working structure among the Administrative, the Catechists and the Family modules
3. Number of Students: So far 191 students have signed up. It will increase considerably by the end of October.
4. When to Begin: The general guideline for all parishes is to begin later. After First Holy Communions and Confirmations, we should be ready to begin during the later part of October. Before the end of October all those who wish can re-register or newly register.
5. Tuition: Since it is online, every student will pay $100.00 for the whole year. Those who have already paid with the previous year tuition rate, it will be reimbursed in November upon request.
6. Role of Catechists: All students will be assigned a catechist to reach out and facilitate the learning process with the parents and students. Catechists and parents can reach out to Fr. Wilson and I during this learning process and we will assist you.
A humble request: Tomorrow online registration will continue and the religious education office will open for in person registration. I want all to be patient and kind because we are running the office all by volunteers and with minimum expenses. Any Catechist or volunteer who has the experience and expertise to assist in the office and registration process please help me out. Thanks a million. God will provide.
Blessings and prayers. Be safe and healthy with all loved ones.
Fr. Pancrose.
Dear Parish Family, May 5/25/2020 Happy Memorial Day. This morning, the following communication was sent from the Vicar General's office to clarify the question in many of our minds and brought to the attention of the Archdiocese. CAN WE CELEBRATE MASS WITH THE PEOPLE NEXT SUNDAY? I am grateful when priests call in to seek clarification, especially with the mixed messages we have gotten from Washington and Albany. Priests and people alike are confused on what to do as we prepare to open up our churches. Cardinal Dolan appreciates the sensitivity of President Trump in acknowledging that churches are essential services and need to gradually reopen, but he also takes very seriously the course of action that the president and governor and their health care professionals have put out to guide us in those decisions. We need to keep everyone safe. So, we are following the carefully-crafted Faith Forward document we published on Thursday. We do anticipate that we will be able to assign dates to our timeline. But as of today, nothing further has changed. Currently, the first phase which is in effect right now, is opening the churches for private prayer and confessions. It is expected that different regions of the archdiocese will begin the process of reopening at different times. The next phase which will commence at a later date, will be the resumption of small religious services (baptisms and marriages, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament) all under the ten-person limit. The third phase will be distribution of Holy Communion without Mass during the week. The fourth phase will be limited weekday Masses and funeral Masses. The last phase will be Sunday Mass with supervised attendance. When the time comes, this approach can be implemented parish by parish with commencement of each phase to be announced in the vicar general’s bollettini. Be safe and healthy with all in the family. Fr. Pancrose |
From Pastor's Desk....
Week of March 29, 2020
Dear Parish Family,
Week of March 22, 2020
In all my priestly life and ministry, I have never felt like as I felt this past Sunday and this week. Last Sunday I stood alone in front of the Altar and celebrated Holy Mass in private, before opening the Church for the people to come and pray. Always I had at least one person with me when I celebrated Holy Mass. Even when I visited my brother during my vacation, he would ask me to celebrate Holy Mass in English privately in his chapel because I couldn’t speak fluently in the language of his diocese. But he would concelebrate and assist me. After he became Bishop of the diocese I used to beg him to be the main celebrant but he would always prefer to assist me. This past Sunday I was all alone. I know that I included all of you, our parish family in my private celebration of the Holy Mass. I know that every time a priest offers Holy Mass he unites the whole humanity with Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross for the salvation of all. But it is not the same without my whole family. I missed you all. After this crisis passes, please do not neglect the Sunday celebration of the Holy Eucharist as a parish family.
We are facing a serious emergency situation due to the deadly virus and entire world is affected by it. We should take all measures to follow guidelines to protect all and remain healthy. Many of you appreciate that the Church is open for prayer. Thank you for visiting and spending time in prayer. This present danger brings us to understand how fragile our life is and how much we need to place our faith in God. It calls for living upright lives as true Disciples of Christ and to gain eternal life. Someone called me to share his reflection on Sunday about the present crisis. He says that people believe that the virus is deadly. If so, why are they forming the longest lines on the supermarkets, not on their knees in the Churches? We all long and hope for living happy lives. Why not make it to eternal life and store up treasures for heaven. Stay home safe. Follow the guidelines. Keep social distancing so that we do not help the virus to spread. Let me urge all to pray the rosary at home, spend time reading the Bible, practice devotions and enjoy family time. May the Lord be with you, may he guide you and give you strength and may he watch over you and bless you always.
Week of March 15, 2020
This week we celebrate two of our great and beloved saints. Though I have a few matters to write on our parish I prefer to commit all of us under these saints. The first is St. Patrick. He is not just a saint for Ireland. You all know every detail of his life and ministry to the people of Ireland. I love these two prayers and I pray them often; one with St. Patrick and another to St. Joseph. Please pray these prayers.
The Breastplate of St. Patrick.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
Prayer to St. Joseph
Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Amen.
Week of March 8, 2020
This weekend is our parish Cardinal’s Appeal in-pew weekend. We began the appeal exactly a month ago. Many of us have not yet responded. Out of 1984 families that are active in our parish, only 87 families have participated so far. That is a poor reflection of who we are. I do not know how many of us really understand the significance of the appeal in accomplishing the various ministries of the Archdiocese. For a long time I did not understand the need for a special appeal like this in the entire diocese. It was only when I became the pastor of a parish which needed every year half a million dollar from the Archdiocese to pay its teachers I understood it. If not for the Cardinal’s Appeal money that school would not have made it.
I always teach people that Christ gave everything for us. If Christ did give all, it must be our priority to give all we can, to His Body the Church to fulfill His mission. Every Catholic fulfils this obligation by offering what he or she can to the Universal Church, to the Particular Church and to the Local Church. Our Monthly second collection is sent to the Holy Father to continue the missionary and charitable works in the Universal Church, especially among the poorest people of the world. Our Annual Cardinal’s Appeal goes to our Particular Church, Archdiocese of New York. Our weekly collection goes to support our local Church and its mission.
This year, Cardinal chose the theme, Teach, Serve, Sanctify for the Appeal. I couldn’t agree more. He writes in his message for the appeal, “The Cardinal’s Appeal is our faith at work in the world, attesting to who we are and the values we represent.” Let me invite everyone to participate in it. It doesn’t matter how much we can. It matters how many of us have the generous heart to be part of it. I wish and pray for all to be in it because it is the mission of Christ.
Week of March 1, 2020
A few weeks back, I made a phone call to find out how an elderly man who was assigned to Hospice care wasdoing. His wife answered me that he was not doing well at all and it may be any moment. I promised her my love and prayers for him and the whole family. She thanked me and requested me saying, Father please pray that God lets him be with us for four more days. I was surprised at the request and asked for the reason. She replied that their granddaughter was in Italy on a class trip and wanted her to be with the family when he passes on. I prayed for her intention and he is still hanging in.” This made me think how important even one moment is in someone’s life. We have already be-gun the season of Lent. Mother Church gives us these special 40 days to pray, to fast and to perform anycharitable work so that we could turn to God and enjoy His love and mercy. Not only that. It is a season when each of us comes closer to our own loved ones. So let us remind ourselves every day that the purpose of all that we do during Lent is to bring us closer in relationship with God and one another. Have a Holy Season of Lent!
I have a brief update on our Amazing Parish Project. After three months of praying and uniting ourselves as a cohesive team, last Friday the Parish Leadership Team members together with me went through an off-site retreat for three and a half hours. It was pretty intense where they directed us to come to a clear un-derstanding of why the parish was created, what are its significant advantages, what is the real purpose of its existence in our local community and what are the ways in which we can accomplish the core purpose. They are preparing a report of the retreat and will in-vite us in two weeks to define a mission statement for the parish and work towards accomplishing it in stages one group at a time. I shared some thoughts during the staff prayer and gathering day this past Tuesday be-cause the group that joins next with the Leadershipteam is the parish Staff. Please pray intentionally for me, the team and our parish family. God’s blessings are in abundance for us.
The newly constituted Parish Catechetical team met for the first time on Tuesday, February 18th and briefly explored the ways and means of effectively serving the children and families of Religious Education Program. Very soon we will form the Parish Council. In God we trust and He provides for all our needs.
Week of February 23, 2020
Can. 531 Although another person has performed a certain parochial funcƟon, that person is to put the offerings received from the ChrisƟan faithful on that occasion in the parochial account, unless in the case of voluntary openings the contrary intenƟon of the donor is certain. The diocesan bishop, after having heard the presbyteral council, is competent to establish pre-scripts which provide for the allocation of these open-ings and the remuneration of clerics fulfilling the same function.Can.
532 In all juridic affairs the pastor represents the parish according to the norm of law. He is to take care that the goods of the parish are administered according to the norm of (cann. 1281-1288.)
Can. 533 §1. A pastor is obliged to reside in a rectory near the church. Nevertheless, in particular cases and if there is a just cause, the local ordinary can permit him to reside elsewhere, especially in a house shared by several presbyters, provided that the performance of parochial funcƟons is properly and suitably provid-ed for
§2. Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, a pastor is permited to be absent from the parish each year for vacation for at most one conƟnuous or inter-rupted month; those days which the pastor spends once a year in spiritual retreat are not computed in the time of vacaƟon. In order to be absent from the parish for more than a week, however, a pastor is bound to inform the local ordinary
§3. It is for the diocesan bishop to establish norms which see to it that during the absence of the pastor, a priest endowed with the necessary faculties provides for the care of the parish.
Can. 534 §1. After a pastor has taken possession of his parish, he is obliged to apply a Mass for the people entrusted to him on each Sunday and holy day of obligation in his diocese. If he is legiƟmately impeded from this celebraƟon, however, he is to apply it on the same days through another or on other days himself.
Week of February 16 2020
Can. 529 §1. In or der to fulfill his office dili-gently, a pastor is to strive to know the faithful entrusted to his care. Therefore he is to visit fami-lies, sharing especially in the cares, anxieties, and griefs of the faithful, strengthening them in the Lord, and prudently correcting them if they are failing in certain areas. With generous love he is to help the sick, particularly those close to death, by refreshing them solicitously with the sacra-ments and commending their souls to God; with particular diligence he is to seek out the poor, the afflicted, the lonely, those exiled from their coun-try, and similarly those weighed down by special difficulties. He is to work so that spouses and par-ents are supported in fulfilling their proper duties and is to foster growth of Christian life in the family.
§2. A pastor is to r ecognize and pr omote the proper part which the lay members of the Chris-tian faithful have in the mission of the Church, by fostering their associations for the purposes of re-ligion. He is to cooperate with his own bishop and the presbyterium of the diocese, also working so that the faithful have concern for parochial com-munion, consider themselves members of the dio-cese and of the universal Church, and participate in and sustain efforts to promote this same com-munion.
Can. 530 The following functions ar e espe-cially entrusted to a pastor:
1. the administration of baptism;
2. the administration of the sacrament of confir-mation to those who are in danger of death, ac-cording to the norm of (can. 883, n. 3)
3. the administration of Viaticum and of the anointing of the sick, without prejudice to the pre-script of (can. 1003, §§2 and 3), and the imparting of the apostolic blessing;
4. the assistance at marriages and the nuptial blessing;
5. the performance of funeral rites;
6. the blessing of the baptismal font at Easter time, the leading of processions outside the church, and solemn blessings outside the church;
7. the more Solemn Eucharistic Celebration on Sundays and Holy days of obligation.
Week of February 9, 2020
As I wrote in last week's bulletin, I am attaching the canonical obligations of a Pas-tor in the Catholic Church so that you will understand the gravity of the Pastor's work and pray for me every day to fulfill these ob-ligations to the best of my ability.
Can. 528 §1. A pastor is obliged to make provision so that the word of God is pro-claimed in its entirety to those living in the parish; for this reason, he is to take care that the lay members of the Christian faith-ful are instructed in the truths of the faith, especially by giving a homily on Sundays and holy days of obligation and by offering catechetical instruction. He is to foster works through which the spirit of the gospel is promoted, even in what pertains to social justice. He is to have particular care for the Catholic education of children and youth. He is to make every effort, even with the collab-oration of the Christian faithful, so that the message of the gospel comes also to those who have ceased the practice of their reli-gion or do not profess the true faith.
§2. The pastor is to see to it that the Most Holy Eucharist is the center of the par-ish assembly of the faithful. He is to work so that the Christian faithful are nourished through the devout celebration of the sacra-ments and, in a special way, that they fre-quently approach the sacraments of the Most Holy Eucharist and penance. He is also to endeavor that they are led to practice prayer even as families and take part con-sciously and actively in the sacred liturgy which, under the authority of the diocesan bishop, the pastor must direct in his own parish and is bound to watch over so that no abuses creep in.
Week of February 2, 2020
Last week I explained a little about the three cultures of an Amazing Parish: the culture of prayer, the culture of healthy team work and the culture of active discipleship. I also gave some ideas for a commitment to Personal Prayer required for developing an amazing parish. I would invite all our parishioners to slowly develop a commitment to every day prayer. There are tons of materials available online, books and CDs and DVDs to help us in this regard. You can use Amazing Parish website to gain considerable knowledge on the model we are trying to implement in our parish with the blessing of the Archdiocese. Next year they will hold the conference for our area.
During my priestly formation in the seminary, professors taught us very elaborately the code of canon law in all aspects of life and ministry of the Church. Since my main focus at that time was to complete the courses and get ordained, what attracted me were priestly obligations. Once ordained and began ministry as a parochial vicar, I slowly realized the importance of all aspects. But when my Bishop appointed me as Pastor of his Cathedral in my previous diocese, I tried my best to relearn the obligations better and they have a deeper impression on me. May be most of you are not aware of these canonical obligations. They are covered mostly by canons 528 to 534, just seven with their sub-categories. I think that you also know about these so that you can understand the gravity of the Pastor’s ministry and help me to fulfil it. The best help is to pray for me and to work together with me. Jesus will take good care of everything because it is His Church. In the coming weeks I will place these canonical obligations in this column.This week, let us pray for our First Communion children and families as they complete their retreat. Also, keep our finance council in prayer as they gather for the monthly meeting with me.
Week of January 26, 2020
It is going to be three months since we went to California for the Amazing Parish Conference with the Parish Leadership Team. In our last monthly Finance Council Meeting, the members asked me, “Is anything happening with it except that we are praying the parish renewal prayer after the Mass?” Probably each of you is also wondering with the same question. The Amazing Parish Movement requests all participants to take at least three months, if not longer to cultivate three cultures among the Parish Leadership Team:
A Culture of Prayer: Team members regularly pray together and invite God into their discussions and decisions.
A Culture of Healthy Teamwork: Team members commit to and practice the Five Behaviors of a Team.
A Culture of Active Discipleship: Team members actively engage and invest in the faith lives of each other and others. Once these three Cultures are formed well in the team they will guide us to unite with the staff in the next stage and then unite all the units of the parish community to form these three cultures. It takes time and hard work. I have been intensely guided to pray and unite with Christ to discern a vision to lead our parish as its Pastor. I shared this vision with our staff in our last staff gathering. I will soon share it with you in this column. Meanwhile the Amazing Parish Movement suggest that we develop a commitment to Personal Prayer:
Commit time every day to prayer.
If you are having trouble thinking of ways to grow in your personal prayer life, here are some ideas:
It 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, 2019
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, 2019
This 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, 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 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, 2019
This 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, 2019
Jim 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