From Pastor's Desk....

Week of March 29, 2020

Dear Parish Family,

Good Morning. Third Sunday now, we could't gather as family to celebrate Eucharist. I did offer for all of us. Through Ezekiel, God proclaims , I will open your graves and have you rise from them. Jesus in the Gospel weeps at the sorrow of his friends Martha & Marry and commands Lazarus to come to life from the grave. With the whole world we pray psalm 130, Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord. Hear our voice and come to our rescue.

My Mom used to pray daily after family Rosary, "Lord, spare my children from all dangers of both body and soul including accidents, plagues and sudden death. Give them enough time to repent for sins and bring them to eternal life" As a teenager I thought she was selfish to pray this lovely prayer just for her children. Today I do the same and mostly all pastors. At the Altar and in all my prayers my thought is, Lord spare all my parishioners. It is not selfishness. Everything begins at home and then extends to all. Pray always. Stay safe and healthy connected to our parish family and all. Fr. Pancrose

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:

• Sign up for a weekly holy hour
• Attend daily Mass
• Learn how to pray with Scripture – here’s a short guide to Lectio Divina (Holy Reading).
• Start a prayer journal
• Read a spiritual book
• Consider getting a spiritual director, someone who can guide you on your spiritual journey
• Receive the sacrament of Reconciliation monthly
  
  Week of January 12, 2020
  
  These days, during my prayer I look back at my Advent journey as well as our Advent journey as a parish family. Twenty four days we journeyed together cultivating one or two virtues, eliminating one or two vices, repenting for the wrongs, embracing the simplicity of John the Baptist’s life and entering into an encounter with the Lord in the quietness of the desert, away from all the worldly noises. Then we celebrated Christmas. Our children came home during Christmas. People who have been away for work or any other reason came to unite with family. It was truly a joyful celebration.
  
  I had a lovely Christmas. Thanks to Fr. McWeeney for helping us with two Christmas day Masses. After the 12:15 Mass one of our parish families took me to join their Christmas celebration. I was so blessed to be part of a family celebration where the great grandparents were married sixty four years and thirty two great grandchildren. Everyone came from all over to celebrate as a loving family. There were children running around all the time. Added to that we had two dogs who were more excited than all of us! So much food, of course! When I thought that this itself is sufficient I got to see Santa appearing on the roof top in his suit from North Pole. What can I say! I had a joyful Christmas this year that I did not miss my family in India. I had to leave them before the children’s piano recital and carol singing. I have no words to thank them. I had a good time.
  
  Time flies. We have already entered the year 2020. New Year celebration and the Solemnity of Epiphany are behind us as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord this weekend. My prayer is, May Jesus continue His presence with our parish family as we journey through the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year!
  
  
  Week of December 22, 2019
  
  Christmas is fast approaching. I realize that this is my last chance to write something to express my Christmas blessings to my beloved parish family. Christmas is truly a joyful season. As a child I used to look forward to Christmas season, Christmas gifts, Christmas meal and Christmas vacation. It was a season filled with expectation of all these elements not realizing much about the true significance of the season. We used to dream a lot during this season and all our dreams have to do with gifts and fun. Even now, it is not very different for children anywhere in the world.
  I feel that for a priest, Christmas and Easter are the most tiresome days. After all the masses, the first thought is to lie down and rest. No more interest in eating or enjoying the company of anyone. Yet all priests are joyful to celebrate Christmas masses with their parishioners as family. It has become meaningful that God gave us the best gift at Christmas, the gift of Himself, that too completely in the way we can handle Him as a human baby. After His death and Resurrection he still gives himself to us every time we celebrate the Eucharist. Christmas is God giving Himself completely to save humanity. Are we willing to give ourselves completely to save our loved ones in our family and in our world? May this Christmas be a blessing of each of us to one another in our day to day living! I was so delighted to attend this year’s Christmas Concert last Sunday. The Adult Choir and the youth choir gave everyone present, one full hour of Christmas peace and joy. Thanks. The Church is so lovely with the manger and all the decorations. Thanks to our decoration team. May Baby Jesus bring His love, peace and joy to all! Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year
   
  
  
  Weeek of December 15, 2019
  
  This past Tuesday two of our priests Rev. Msgr. Gerardo Colacicco and Rev. Msgr. Edmund Whalen were ordained as Auxiliary Bishops for our Archdiocese. I was able to join the Ordination ceremony in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and concelebrate the Holy Eucharist. It was truly an impressive celebration and a blessing to the Archdiocese of New York. Most Rev. Gerardo Colacicco will be stationed in Dutchess County and care for faithful of parishes in our county. We welcome His Excellency and wish him all God’s Blessings in his new ministry. I have extended an invitation to him to celebrate a thanksgiving Mass with us according to his convenience. Keep praying for him.
  Last week was truly a blessing for our parish family. Eighty nine of our youngsters received the Sacrament of Confirmation. His Excellency Most Rev. Peter Byrne administered the Sacrament. I would say it was absolutely a blessing. Some years ago I asked one of the parish staff to attend the parish confirmation and he told me, “Oh, my child is not making confirmation, he is in college now.” I was shocked. Many people think that it is just for those concerned youngsters and their families. That is why I invite the whole parish week after week to pray and celebrate the day as a parish family. Thanks to all of you for your prayers. The ceremony was beautiful. Thanks to all the parish clergy, past and present. Thanks to all the Religious Education Coordinators and Catechists, past, present and all others who worked hard for the celebration. Special thanks to our Music Ministry. It was amazing. Thanks to those Altar Servers who volunteered for the two special masses. Keep praying that these youngsters will constantly grow in Christ and live a life of fidelity to Him and His Church.
   
  
  
  Week of December 8, 2019
  
  I believe that all of you enjoyed thanksgiving. I had a lovely thanksgiving. Like any other day I woke up in the morning and spent time in prayer, meditation and Mass. It was during Mass that I felt how lovingly I am united with each one of you as family in the body of Christ beyond blood relation. Thanksgiving celebration brings everyone home to a lovely meal of abundance. Isn’t it what Christ has left us to celebrate every time we gather for the Eucharist? Thanks to all of you who extended invitation to me to join your families for Thanksgiving meal. I accepted the first invitation. After Mass the family waited for me to join them for the Thanksgiving in their home. It was lovely to spend time with them and enjoy what they had prepared for me knowing that I am vegetarian. It also brought the memories of my home when we all used to gather mostly during my vacation trip to India. There is nothing like mom, dad, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews and all the extended relations as family. Please do not wait for all the members to be perfect to love them and join them. No one is perfect and no family is perfect. God has placed us to become perfect in the context of our families. Love them in all the imperfections. God will do the rest.
  We have begun the season of Advent. All of us know that it is a brief season of less than four weeks and we have so much Christmas shopping, mailing greetings and getting the right gifts for everyone to do. Do them with joy. But let us not forget to prepare our hearts for Christ. Even if each of us tried to get rid of one vice and grow in one virtue during this season, our Christmas would become a huge blessing this year. I am praying that you will try your best to become conscious of one vice in your life and pray every day to be free from it and become conscious of one virtue to grow in it. May the season of Advent be a blessing to all.
  
  
  Week of November 3, 2019
  
  It is good to be home from the Pastors’ conference in Spring Lake, New Jersey. Even though I was in holy company with 87 Pastors and Administrators, 3 bishops and Cardinal, I am happy to be back with my beloved Parish family. It was truly an uplifting experience. As usual I had a late start. I had a plan to leave at 12 noon and arrive at the conference for registration at 3 pm.  I forgot that I had an eye doctor appointment in Fishkill at 2 pm until my phone alarm reminded me. I decided to combine it and headed to Fishkill for the eye doctor. When I finished with him at 3:30 pm, our parish secretary texted me that I forgot sign one of the marriage licenses. So I headed back to the rectory and signed the license to be mailed the next day. I was able to leave by 4:30 pm. With the traffic and the quarrels with the GPS lady to find the best route to Spring Lake, I arrived at the conference after the dinner. I went to the room and rested for the night.
  The highlights of the conference are the three days of praying together the common prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist in St. Margaret Church, the great fellowship and fraternity. Msgr. Charles Fink, the Spiritual Director of the Seminary engaged us for two days to involve ourselves in prayer, spirituality and love with the people God has entrusted to each of us. It was an amazing experience on Wednesday when we celebrated the Eucharist with the Cardinal, the chief shepherd and recited the evening prayer for the priests who went home to God this year. Seventeen of our brother priests went home to God this year. But we are looking forward to only one priestly ordination for our Archdiocese. Please pray for more vocations to priesthood in our Archdiocese.
  
  
  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, 2019

Week of July 28, 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

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

Week of May 5, 2019

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