January 19, 2019
The following is taken from a flyer entitled Church Etiquette. Please read it and keep it on your refrigerator.
Dear Parishioners and Friends Church Etiquette
Please keep the following in mind when coming to MASS:
Dear Parishioners and Friends Church Etiquette
Please keep the following in mind when coming to MASS:
- ARRIVE A FEW MINUTES EARLY-take a few minutes to pray and ready yourself for the celebration of the Eucharist.
- Observe silence before Mass begins-people are trying to pray.
- Please join the rest of our congregation by taking a seat. NO NEED TO STAND IN THE BACK!
- Please bless yourself with Holy Water when you enter and leave the Church. This reminds us of our Baptism.
- Before entering the pew, as a sign of reverence, GENUFLECT (if there’s a medical condition ie age, BOW) to the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the Tabernacle behind the altar.
- TURN OFF ALL CELLPHONES and other electronic devices. Do not text during Mass.
- Please do not chew gum or eat in Church. Do not leave gum underneath the seats.
- Did you fast 1 hr before receiving Holy Communion? Are you in a state of grace?
- Please remember to make a slight bow as a sign of reverence before Holy Communion.
- Did you say “AMEN” as you received Holy Communion? Yes, I believe!
- As the singing finishes, take a few moments after receiving Holy Communion to express
- gratitude in private prayer. Unless there is an emergency, what ARE WE SAYING IF WE LEAVE CHURCH AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION?
- Please PICK UP any tissues, wrappers, and/or water bottles that you may have left in the pew.
- WHAT’S THE RUSH?? Please stay until the priest exits the Church.
- Don’t forget to take the bulletin home with you. ALSO PLEASE READ IT!!
January 5, 2019
THANK YOU to our Liturgical Ministries including our Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors and Ushers , to our musicians, especially Jim Sheehan, Lisa Mischke who directed our choir for Midnight Mass, Wadis Turcios our Cantor , to our Martha’s Guild who decorated our Church so beautifully during the Christmas/Advent Season. Thank you to the Parish Staff and to all who have come to share in the celebration of Mass with us. Your presence makes every bit of effort worthwhile.
THANK YOU to all who have sent Christmas cards, Christmas gifts, Christmas cookies, candies, cakes, foods and other baked goods. May God bless you for your generosity to the priests, deacons, staff and myself.
From all of us at St. Ignatius Loyola Church we wish you the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of God’s love throughout the New Year. May the shinning Star that guided the Magi to the Lord Jesus continue to guide you in your lives until you meet him in the Eternal Christmas of Heaven.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to al- ways do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
PS- As you read this message, I will be traveling through the Orient of Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore experiencing another gift of God’s mysteries of the East. Pray for us while we pray for you.
THANK YOU to all who have sent Christmas cards, Christmas gifts, Christmas cookies, candies, cakes, foods and other baked goods. May God bless you for your generosity to the priests, deacons, staff and myself.
From all of us at St. Ignatius Loyola Church we wish you the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of God’s love throughout the New Year. May the shinning Star that guided the Magi to the Lord Jesus continue to guide you in your lives until you meet him in the Eternal Christmas of Heaven.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to al- ways do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
PS- As you read this message, I will be traveling through the Orient of Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore experiencing another gift of God’s mysteries of the East. Pray for us while we pray for you.
December 29, 2019
Today Deacon Mais tells us about the events of Christmas.
Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year
I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Here we are in the Christmas season both on the liturgical calendar and the calendar on the wall. Liturgically, Christmas runs from Christmas Eve at 4:00 in the afternoon through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which will be celebrated on January 12th, 2020. But for the purpose of this letter I want consider a shorter period – from Christmas day to January 6th, The Feast of the Epiphany; the visit of the Magi (This year the Church celebrates the Epiphany on January 5th)
It is during this time that I enjoy most, listening to Christmas music, especially the religious ones because it helps me focus on the meaning of the season. I don’t have a very large collection of CDs, but I do have some that I enjoy like Handel’s Messiah and some selections from The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.
Among my favorite Christmas carols are “Silent Night”, “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Away in a Manger”, and “The Twelve Day of Christmas”.
I find the lyrics of these songs a wonderful opportunity for meditation. Here is an example of the type of meditation we can see in one of these hymns, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (author unknown). We can see how the author was looking at the 12 days between Christmas and the Epiphany – and look at some of the reasons I see that I am Catholic.
Here is a list of the most common understandings of the meaning of the twelve days:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree – Jesus Christ, Son of God.
Two Turtle Doves – The Old and New Testaments.
Three French Hens – Faith, Hope, and Charity, the Theological Virtues.
Four Calling Birds – The Four Gospels and the Four Evangelists.
Five Gold Rings – The Five Book of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
Six Geese A-laying – the six days of creation.
Seven swans A-swimming – the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Seven Sacraments.
Eight maids A-milking – the eight Beatitudes.
Nine Ladies Dancing – the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Ten Lords A-leaping – the Ten Commandments.
Eleven Pipers Piping – the eleven faithful Apostles.
Twelve Drummers Drumming – the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.
Which brings me to the Epiphany – that day when we celebrate the coming of Magi – manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. The Magi are introduced to us in Matthew’s Gospel and they frequently referred to as Wise Men and even as kings, and we generally assign them names. Melchior – a Persian, Caspar (Gaspar) – an Indian, and Balthazar – a Babylonian. The important point of Matthew’s Gospel is that this is the first introduction of Gentiles in the New Testament; the beginning of the spread of God’s kingdom to all people.
I hope that this message has helped you grow in your understanding of this wonderful season – The Christmas Season.
God Bless you all, Deacon George Mais
I would like to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year and Christmas Season. Fr. Ben will be away through January 30th. I will be away from January 1st to the 18th. I will be visiting Fr. McCabe in early January. Please say a prayer for a safe journey to Asia. Fr. Jim
Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year
I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Here we are in the Christmas season both on the liturgical calendar and the calendar on the wall. Liturgically, Christmas runs from Christmas Eve at 4:00 in the afternoon through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which will be celebrated on January 12th, 2020. But for the purpose of this letter I want consider a shorter period – from Christmas day to January 6th, The Feast of the Epiphany; the visit of the Magi (This year the Church celebrates the Epiphany on January 5th)
It is during this time that I enjoy most, listening to Christmas music, especially the religious ones because it helps me focus on the meaning of the season. I don’t have a very large collection of CDs, but I do have some that I enjoy like Handel’s Messiah and some selections from The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.
Among my favorite Christmas carols are “Silent Night”, “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Away in a Manger”, and “The Twelve Day of Christmas”.
I find the lyrics of these songs a wonderful opportunity for meditation. Here is an example of the type of meditation we can see in one of these hymns, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (author unknown). We can see how the author was looking at the 12 days between Christmas and the Epiphany – and look at some of the reasons I see that I am Catholic.
Here is a list of the most common understandings of the meaning of the twelve days:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree – Jesus Christ, Son of God.
Two Turtle Doves – The Old and New Testaments.
Three French Hens – Faith, Hope, and Charity, the Theological Virtues.
Four Calling Birds – The Four Gospels and the Four Evangelists.
Five Gold Rings – The Five Book of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
Six Geese A-laying – the six days of creation.
Seven swans A-swimming – the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Seven Sacraments.
Eight maids A-milking – the eight Beatitudes.
Nine Ladies Dancing – the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Ten Lords A-leaping – the Ten Commandments.
Eleven Pipers Piping – the eleven faithful Apostles.
Twelve Drummers Drumming – the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.
Which brings me to the Epiphany – that day when we celebrate the coming of Magi – manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. The Magi are introduced to us in Matthew’s Gospel and they frequently referred to as Wise Men and even as kings, and we generally assign them names. Melchior – a Persian, Caspar (Gaspar) – an Indian, and Balthazar – a Babylonian. The important point of Matthew’s Gospel is that this is the first introduction of Gentiles in the New Testament; the beginning of the spread of God’s kingdom to all people.
I hope that this message has helped you grow in your understanding of this wonderful season – The Christmas Season.
God Bless you all, Deacon George Mais
I would like to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year and Christmas Season. Fr. Ben will be away through January 30th. I will be away from January 1st to the 18th. I will be visiting Fr. McCabe in early January. Please say a prayer for a safe journey to Asia. Fr. Jim
December 22, 2019
Last weekend, St. Ignatius celebrated the many gifts that we find in our parish of St. Ignatius Loyola. On Saturday, in our Faith Formation Program, on December 14th we celebrated a special prayer service in honor of our Blessed Mother as Mother of God and Mother of us all. On Sunday, December 15th, we celebrated the Feast Day of our Lady of Guadalupé who revealed herself to a young peasant, St. Juan Diego in Mexico. Many people came representing the local indigenous people of the Mexican countryside and the various Hispanic countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America, showing their great love for Our Lady. We also celebrated our third Ecumenical Advent Prayer Service of Lessons and Carols at Holy Family Parish. What better way to celebrate the coming of Jesus than in our children, our many cultural families in honoring the Blessed Mother and praying in unity with others. We often say Christmas was made for children. The world will tell us that is because we only think of Santa Claus, the presents under the tree, and a child’s joyful face on opening the gifts. Our children can also teach us the real reason and gift for the season; Jesus Christ. They can teach us how to accept Christ more lovingly into our lives and to allow him to be born more into our hearts. Jesus always said “let the children come to me for such is the Kingdom of God”.
What he meant was that we are to be childlike faith in our faith with God and with one another. We do this by opening our hearts, by seeing our God is incarnate around us and in each of us and by letting go of our fears and prejudices. Children often teach us that we need to depend on God as they depend on the love of their parents. This Christmas, may we learn more from St. Joseph and Mary in always thinking about and serving the other. May they be our role models of faith in being more loving, more forgiving, more selfless and more giving toward one another. This is how we make our hearts a home for Jesus. God came as a child for a reason, to remind us of what the gift of innocence and beauty of life is all about and that it can never be lost, if we don’t let it.
On behalf of the Sisters of St. Dominic: Sr Karen, Sr. Kathy, Sr. Mary and Sr. Joan from the Mother House; and our Parish Priests: Fr. Miguel, Fr. Benjamin, Fr. Frank, Fr. Emmanuel (visiting), our Deacons: Mario, José and George; our lay Staff: Colleen, Joe, Tony, Jeanne, Joan, Jim Sheehan and I, we wish you and your families a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. May the light of Christ always glow in your hearts and may He help you to be a true light and gift for all who come into your midst. May the King of Peace help each of us to rise above the negativity, the media bias and the political rhetoric of our country so that we can embrace the objective truths that God has implanted in each of our hearts. Re- member to pray for our Jewish friends who celebrate Hanukkah this week. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Merry Christmas!
Fr. Jim
What he meant was that we are to be childlike faith in our faith with God and with one another. We do this by opening our hearts, by seeing our God is incarnate around us and in each of us and by letting go of our fears and prejudices. Children often teach us that we need to depend on God as they depend on the love of their parents. This Christmas, may we learn more from St. Joseph and Mary in always thinking about and serving the other. May they be our role models of faith in being more loving, more forgiving, more selfless and more giving toward one another. This is how we make our hearts a home for Jesus. God came as a child for a reason, to remind us of what the gift of innocence and beauty of life is all about and that it can never be lost, if we don’t let it.
On behalf of the Sisters of St. Dominic: Sr Karen, Sr. Kathy, Sr. Mary and Sr. Joan from the Mother House; and our Parish Priests: Fr. Miguel, Fr. Benjamin, Fr. Frank, Fr. Emmanuel (visiting), our Deacons: Mario, José and George; our lay Staff: Colleen, Joe, Tony, Jeanne, Joan, Jim Sheehan and I, we wish you and your families a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. May the light of Christ always glow in your hearts and may He help you to be a true light and gift for all who come into your midst. May the King of Peace help each of us to rise above the negativity, the media bias and the political rhetoric of our country so that we can embrace the objective truths that God has implanted in each of our hearts. Re- member to pray for our Jewish friends who celebrate Hanukkah this week. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Merry Christmas!
Fr. Jim
December 15, 2019
REJOICE AND BE GLAD, THE LORD IS COMING
Today is Guadete Sunday, meaning rejoice Sunday. We light the rose colored candle on the Advent wreath and the priest usually wears rose colored vestments to symbolize this time of rejoicing. We are inching our way ever so closer to Christmas, for the Lord is near and is already coming into our hearts. In his Apostolic letter Gaudeate et Exsultate (Rejoice & Be Glad) Pope Francis writes that the source of our joy is being holy, which is an attainable goal for each of us. The Pope reminds us that “being holy is the source of our greatest joy.” In his letter, Pope Francis writes “Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self. To depend on God, sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity.
The Pope gives the example of Saint Josephine Bakhita who was “abducted and sold into slavery at the tender age of seven, she suffered much at the hands of cruel masters. But she came to understand the profound truth that God, and not man, is the true Master of every human being, of every human life. This experience became a source of great wisdom for this humble daughter of Africa”. (Rejoice & Be Glad 32) My question this week is where do I find joy in my life? Is it from the Lord or from something or someone that I think brings me joy but is false? If it is false, pray to rely more on Jesus. How do I bring the joy of Jesus to others? Joy means Jesus, Others and You!
WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND OUR PARISH GROUNDS?
The fire alarm system has been installed in the church by SENTRY. They need to be tested and inspected by the Fire Marshall before it can be turned on. I am grateful to Michael Livingston and Boy Scout Troop 382 for working on
Michael’s Eagle Scout project which will be a shrine to the Divine Mercy. Michael and his team have been working very hard to make the grounds beautiful and prayerful. Please consider donating to this project by putting a loved ones name on a brick or toward the statue of the Divine Mercy. I am very excited that the once empty grounds, after the house was there for many years, are now being put to good use. Check the bulletin for further information ..
Thank you to all who participated in our annual Christmas Tree Lighting and St. Nicholas Night. I am very grateful to Colleen and Mike Tuzzolo, Barbara and Joe Malerba, Ed Sottile and Deacon George Mais for making this a joyful, prayerful and holy night!
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families. May we strive to do all things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Today is Guadete Sunday, meaning rejoice Sunday. We light the rose colored candle on the Advent wreath and the priest usually wears rose colored vestments to symbolize this time of rejoicing. We are inching our way ever so closer to Christmas, for the Lord is near and is already coming into our hearts. In his Apostolic letter Gaudeate et Exsultate (Rejoice & Be Glad) Pope Francis writes that the source of our joy is being holy, which is an attainable goal for each of us. The Pope reminds us that “being holy is the source of our greatest joy.” In his letter, Pope Francis writes “Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self. To depend on God, sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity.
The Pope gives the example of Saint Josephine Bakhita who was “abducted and sold into slavery at the tender age of seven, she suffered much at the hands of cruel masters. But she came to understand the profound truth that God, and not man, is the true Master of every human being, of every human life. This experience became a source of great wisdom for this humble daughter of Africa”. (Rejoice & Be Glad 32) My question this week is where do I find joy in my life? Is it from the Lord or from something or someone that I think brings me joy but is false? If it is false, pray to rely more on Jesus. How do I bring the joy of Jesus to others? Joy means Jesus, Others and You!
WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND OUR PARISH GROUNDS?
The fire alarm system has been installed in the church by SENTRY. They need to be tested and inspected by the Fire Marshall before it can be turned on. I am grateful to Michael Livingston and Boy Scout Troop 382 for working on
Michael’s Eagle Scout project which will be a shrine to the Divine Mercy. Michael and his team have been working very hard to make the grounds beautiful and prayerful. Please consider donating to this project by putting a loved ones name on a brick or toward the statue of the Divine Mercy. I am very excited that the once empty grounds, after the house was there for many years, are now being put to good use. Check the bulletin for further information ..
Thank you to all who participated in our annual Christmas Tree Lighting and St. Nicholas Night. I am very grateful to Colleen and Mike Tuzzolo, Barbara and Joe Malerba, Ed Sottile and Deacon George Mais for making this a joyful, prayerful and holy night!
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families. May we strive to do all things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
December 8, 2019
ADVENT CHALLENGES US TO MAKE CHANGE IN OUR LIVES!
Centuries ago, when a King wanted to make a tour of his region he would send a courier, who would go before him entrusted to bring a message to others to announce the King’s coming and to help prepare them for his arrival. The people would go out into the village and beyond to clear the roads from debris or rubble to make sure that the King had a clear path to follow since there were no paved roads.
We experience the clearing of roadways, much to the chagrin of commuters, when the President or any Head of State comes to visit the City of New York. This has become a way of life for many New Yorkers. Much has to happen in order for the leader or dignitary to reach their destination as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible.
During the Second and Third Sundays of Advent, we will focus on a man whose main job is to help people prepare for the arrival of not just any leader, but the head of all peoples of the world, Jesus Christ. John the Baptist, whose name means favored by God, challenges us to clear out the paths that lead to our heart so that Jesus can enter fully into our lives. He tells us in today’s Gospel from Matthew, that we cannot claim exemption from the work of discipleship or using it as a privilege in God’s Kingdom just because we are baptized.
In order to clear a path for Jesus, John challenges us to repentance and conversion. Repentance means not only to be sorry for our sins and wrongdoings, but also to take the next step to change our actions. This is conversion. What is it that is preventing Jesus from fully coming into my life? What are the mountains and valleys that keep Jesus away from us?
The mountains can be the sins of arrogance, pride, selfishness, over self concern, where we feel we don’t need God in our lives everyday. The valleys in our lives can be that of fear, depression and despair that falsely tell us we are no good and we have no one to turn to. Through repentance and conversion, we experience no more harm or ruin but rather peace and harmony as described by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading. Repentance and conversion also means putting faith in a king, as described by Isaiah, who will lead us in the right direction. A leader who is filled with the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit who will help fill the earth with the knowledge of God. This King is now our Christ who is un- like any of failed kings of Israel who only thought of their own welfare and not that of the people of Israel and Judah.
Repentance and conversion allow us to see that God makes a way where there is no way. This Advent may we be open to the power of the Holy Spirit who renews and refreshes us so that we no longer belong to the shadows of a cluttered world, but to a new way to live in God which will bring us an eternity of light that will last forever.
JOIN US
Please come to Mass on Monday December 9, 2019 for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, if you can. Even though, it is not an obligation, the Immaculate Conception is the Patronal Feast Day for our whole country. Next week, December 15th, please bring your Baby Jesus to church to be blessed. This will take place at all Masses.
Join us for LESSONS AND CAROLS on December 15 at 7:30pm at Holy Family. This is sponsored by all the Christian Churches of Hicksville, including St. Ignatius.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families. May we strive to do all things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Centuries ago, when a King wanted to make a tour of his region he would send a courier, who would go before him entrusted to bring a message to others to announce the King’s coming and to help prepare them for his arrival. The people would go out into the village and beyond to clear the roads from debris or rubble to make sure that the King had a clear path to follow since there were no paved roads.
We experience the clearing of roadways, much to the chagrin of commuters, when the President or any Head of State comes to visit the City of New York. This has become a way of life for many New Yorkers. Much has to happen in order for the leader or dignitary to reach their destination as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible.
During the Second and Third Sundays of Advent, we will focus on a man whose main job is to help people prepare for the arrival of not just any leader, but the head of all peoples of the world, Jesus Christ. John the Baptist, whose name means favored by God, challenges us to clear out the paths that lead to our heart so that Jesus can enter fully into our lives. He tells us in today’s Gospel from Matthew, that we cannot claim exemption from the work of discipleship or using it as a privilege in God’s Kingdom just because we are baptized.
In order to clear a path for Jesus, John challenges us to repentance and conversion. Repentance means not only to be sorry for our sins and wrongdoings, but also to take the next step to change our actions. This is conversion. What is it that is preventing Jesus from fully coming into my life? What are the mountains and valleys that keep Jesus away from us?
The mountains can be the sins of arrogance, pride, selfishness, over self concern, where we feel we don’t need God in our lives everyday. The valleys in our lives can be that of fear, depression and despair that falsely tell us we are no good and we have no one to turn to. Through repentance and conversion, we experience no more harm or ruin but rather peace and harmony as described by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading. Repentance and conversion also means putting faith in a king, as described by Isaiah, who will lead us in the right direction. A leader who is filled with the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit who will help fill the earth with the knowledge of God. This King is now our Christ who is un- like any of failed kings of Israel who only thought of their own welfare and not that of the people of Israel and Judah.
Repentance and conversion allow us to see that God makes a way where there is no way. This Advent may we be open to the power of the Holy Spirit who renews and refreshes us so that we no longer belong to the shadows of a cluttered world, but to a new way to live in God which will bring us an eternity of light that will last forever.
JOIN US
Please come to Mass on Monday December 9, 2019 for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, if you can. Even though, it is not an obligation, the Immaculate Conception is the Patronal Feast Day for our whole country. Next week, December 15th, please bring your Baby Jesus to church to be blessed. This will take place at all Masses.
Join us for LESSONS AND CAROLS on December 15 at 7:30pm at Holy Family. This is sponsored by all the Christian Churches of Hicksville, including St. Ignatius.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families. May we strive to do all things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
December 1, 2019
This week Deacon Mario Gomez tells us about Advent.
ADVENT 2019
The first Sunday of advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year, its time of great anticipation as we await the arrival of Christ on Christmas morning. In fact, the word Advent comes from the Latin word ad- venire that means coming or arriving.
Just as in Lent, the liturgical color of Advent is purple. Both of the seasons prepare for a great feast day in the Church year. The final days of Advent from December 17 to December 24, focus particularly on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas).
The color purple, also connotes the penitential dimension of the season of Advent, is a time of preparing, quieting and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas. The altar is also meant to be decorated in a more restrained manner during this season.
The advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. Right in the middle of Advent, several Marian feast are also celebrated.
They are the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“At Christmas we on earth receive Jesus the bread from heaven, it is a bread that never grows stale, but enables us even now to have a foretaste of eternal life,,, I want to come to Bethlehem, Lord, because there you await me. I want to realize that you, lying in a manger, are the bread of my life. I need the tender fragrance of your love so that I, in turn, can be bread broken for the world.“
(Pope Francis Homily Dec 24, 2019).
May each Christmas , as it comes, find us more and more like Him, who at this time became a little child for our sake, more simple minded, more humble, more holy, more affectionate, more resigned, more happy, more full of God.
During advent, we prepare for Christ’s coming in three ways, as an infant who came into this world over two thousand years ago, as Our Lord and Savior coming into our hearts right here and now, and as the Son of Man who will come into this world again at the end of time. We do not know when the last of these will occur, so this season is a good opportunity to focus on preparing our hearts for Jesus now, perhaps by looking for his face in those we encounter.
God bless you all, Merry Christmas
Deacon Mario
ADVENT 2019
The first Sunday of advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year, its time of great anticipation as we await the arrival of Christ on Christmas morning. In fact, the word Advent comes from the Latin word ad- venire that means coming or arriving.
Just as in Lent, the liturgical color of Advent is purple. Both of the seasons prepare for a great feast day in the Church year. The final days of Advent from December 17 to December 24, focus particularly on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas).
The color purple, also connotes the penitential dimension of the season of Advent, is a time of preparing, quieting and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas. The altar is also meant to be decorated in a more restrained manner during this season.
The advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. Right in the middle of Advent, several Marian feast are also celebrated.
They are the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“At Christmas we on earth receive Jesus the bread from heaven, it is a bread that never grows stale, but enables us even now to have a foretaste of eternal life,,, I want to come to Bethlehem, Lord, because there you await me. I want to realize that you, lying in a manger, are the bread of my life. I need the tender fragrance of your love so that I, in turn, can be bread broken for the world.“
(Pope Francis Homily Dec 24, 2019).
May each Christmas , as it comes, find us more and more like Him, who at this time became a little child for our sake, more simple minded, more humble, more holy, more affectionate, more resigned, more happy, more full of God.
During advent, we prepare for Christ’s coming in three ways, as an infant who came into this world over two thousand years ago, as Our Lord and Savior coming into our hearts right here and now, and as the Son of Man who will come into this world again at the end of time. We do not know when the last of these will occur, so this season is a good opportunity to focus on preparing our hearts for Jesus now, perhaps by looking for his face in those we encounter.
God bless you all, Merry Christmas
Deacon Mario
November 24, 2019
Thanksgiving, is the one holiday (holyday) where all people of our nation of different faiths, color and na- tionalities celebrate and come together as one and give thanks to our God for everything that has been granted to us. I share with you a proclamation given President Abraham Lincoln that resonates strongly, most especially today, in our troubled times. Without God, we are nothing.
PROCLAMATION OF THANKSGIVING BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing Armies and Navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and grate- fully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.
And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union. Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
From all of us here at St. Ignatius Loyola, priests, sisters and staff, have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving. Please do not go to the stores on Thanksgiving Day.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families. May we strive to do all things for the greater glory of God.
St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr.Jim, Pastor
A BIG THANK YOU
Thank You/Gracias from Catholic Daughters
Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Queen of Angels #869 expresses heartfelt gratitude to all who took part in our Military Thank You Project on the weekend of November 9th and 10th. To all who stopped by our table after our English and Spanish Masses or dropped off at the rectory -- thank you for the generous response! We received over 363 cards and letters, 208 of which were cards and drawings from students from our Religious Education classes and local schools. We will forward everything to our New York State Liaison, who will send these cards and letters to servicemen and women around the country and overseas throughout the coming year. Our sentiments and good wishes are sure to bring smiles to their faces! Thank you again for remembering those who serve our country!
PROCLAMATION OF THANKSGIVING BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing Armies and Navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and grate- fully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.
And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union. Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
From all of us here at St. Ignatius Loyola, priests, sisters and staff, have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving. Please do not go to the stores on Thanksgiving Day.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families. May we strive to do all things for the greater glory of God.
St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr.Jim, Pastor
A BIG THANK YOU
Thank You/Gracias from Catholic Daughters
Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Queen of Angels #869 expresses heartfelt gratitude to all who took part in our Military Thank You Project on the weekend of November 9th and 10th. To all who stopped by our table after our English and Spanish Masses or dropped off at the rectory -- thank you for the generous response! We received over 363 cards and letters, 208 of which were cards and drawings from students from our Religious Education classes and local schools. We will forward everything to our New York State Liaison, who will send these cards and letters to servicemen and women around the country and overseas throughout the coming year. Our sentiments and good wishes are sure to bring smiles to their faces! Thank you again for remembering those who serve our country!
November 17, 2019
Thank you Bishop Barres for a beautiful job in celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on Tuesday November 5, 2019. Thank you to our Religious Education Director, Mrs. Colleen Tuzzolo, Mrs. Barbara Malerba her Assistant, Mrs. Michele Byrne, Confirmation Coordinator and all our Catechists who helped prepare our young people for this sacrament. Thank you also to our Mr. Jim Sheehan, Organist, our Cantor, Altar Servers, Ushers and Sacristans for helping to create a beautiful Confirmation liturgy. May God bless you for your service and may God bless and guide all of our Confirmandi on the next step of their faith journey. Fr Jim
November 10, 2019
BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION IS THE CENTER OF OUR FAITH
Last Monday evening, we had our annual All Souls’ Day Mass remembering all those who have died and gone before us this past year. During the Mass, we read each of the names of the funerals that were held here at Church. We also asked our parishioners, whose family member had funerals in other places, to call out their names. While each name was read, a candle was lit from the Easter Candle and given to each family, reminding them that new life from the light of Christ abounds for their loved ones. We do this each year marking the importance of All Souls’ Day and the month of November, a month where the Church marks and prays for all the dead, especially for all those souls who are in purgatory waiting to enter into Heaven. We do this in faith and with faith, not to say goodbye, but until we meet again.
Luke’s Gospel and the reading from the Maccabees this Sunday, is all about death and resurrection. In the Gospel of Luke, the Sadducees ask Jesus a question concerning marriage to ridicule the idea of the resurrection. They unlike the Pharisees, do not believe in the resurrection. The Sadducees follow only the first 5 books of the Bible, known as the Torah. They claim that since the Torah offers no clear teaching on the resurrection, it does not exist.
In his own genius way, Jesus answers them by saying that marriage is an earthly concept. He quotes Genesis 1:28 saying that the main goal of marriage in Judaism is to have children to replace those who will eventually die.
However, in the age to come, replacement is not necessary because all who benefit from the resurrection will never die again. Jesus is also saying that if a spouse loses another spouse, it is okay to marry again. Jesus quotes Exodus 3 where God tells Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who are already physically dead. He implies that God would not say this if they were actually dead. God is invoking their names because these three Patriarchs are alive with God beyond the grave.
As Christians, the doctrine of the bodily resurrection is central to what we believe. St. Paul tells us that if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty (too) your faith” 1Cor 15:14. What else would really motivate our earliest Christian martyrs who went to their graves confident that they will be called back to life. This was the same courage that Jonas Maccabees and his brothers had even before Jesus, in facing the tortuous actions of a murderous king. The fear of death was also conquered when Jesus conquered the grave. Each of us share in this victory over death by our Baptism. For death no longer holds us captive. That is why we can pray with St. Paul when he says to death, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” May each of us lean into these words of comfort this week.
During the month of November, let us pray the early Christian hymn found in Ephesians 5:14 that was usually recited at Baptisms. It reminds us that life does not end at the grave, but only begins in a new way, after death. “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (1 Cor 15:55) I pray that this prayer gives each of us hope knowing that one day we will be with our loved ones and our God for- ever. Amen!
Remember to always act and worship for greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
Last Monday evening, we had our annual All Souls’ Day Mass remembering all those who have died and gone before us this past year. During the Mass, we read each of the names of the funerals that were held here at Church. We also asked our parishioners, whose family member had funerals in other places, to call out their names. While each name was read, a candle was lit from the Easter Candle and given to each family, reminding them that new life from the light of Christ abounds for their loved ones. We do this each year marking the importance of All Souls’ Day and the month of November, a month where the Church marks and prays for all the dead, especially for all those souls who are in purgatory waiting to enter into Heaven. We do this in faith and with faith, not to say goodbye, but until we meet again.
Luke’s Gospel and the reading from the Maccabees this Sunday, is all about death and resurrection. In the Gospel of Luke, the Sadducees ask Jesus a question concerning marriage to ridicule the idea of the resurrection. They unlike the Pharisees, do not believe in the resurrection. The Sadducees follow only the first 5 books of the Bible, known as the Torah. They claim that since the Torah offers no clear teaching on the resurrection, it does not exist.
In his own genius way, Jesus answers them by saying that marriage is an earthly concept. He quotes Genesis 1:28 saying that the main goal of marriage in Judaism is to have children to replace those who will eventually die.
However, in the age to come, replacement is not necessary because all who benefit from the resurrection will never die again. Jesus is also saying that if a spouse loses another spouse, it is okay to marry again. Jesus quotes Exodus 3 where God tells Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who are already physically dead. He implies that God would not say this if they were actually dead. God is invoking their names because these three Patriarchs are alive with God beyond the grave.
As Christians, the doctrine of the bodily resurrection is central to what we believe. St. Paul tells us that if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty (too) your faith” 1Cor 15:14. What else would really motivate our earliest Christian martyrs who went to their graves confident that they will be called back to life. This was the same courage that Jonas Maccabees and his brothers had even before Jesus, in facing the tortuous actions of a murderous king. The fear of death was also conquered when Jesus conquered the grave. Each of us share in this victory over death by our Baptism. For death no longer holds us captive. That is why we can pray with St. Paul when he says to death, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” May each of us lean into these words of comfort this week.
During the month of November, let us pray the early Christian hymn found in Ephesians 5:14 that was usually recited at Baptisms. It reminds us that life does not end at the grave, but only begins in a new way, after death. “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (1 Cor 15:55) I pray that this prayer gives each of us hope knowing that one day we will be with our loved ones and our God for- ever. Amen!
Remember to always act and worship for greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
November 3, 2019
GIVING OPENS THE DOOR TO SALVATION
In today’s Gospel, we hear about the humorous story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector who meets Jesus. Now, Zacchaeus had two strikes against him in his society. First, he was a tax collector. The job of the tax collector was to work for the Roman Government, the enemy of the people of Israel. So, he was taking money from the people and giving it to their ruler. Second, Zacchaeus was rich. Much of it came from his unscrupulous practices. For example, he would often take some of the tax money for himself. So, here we have this outcast who hears that Jesus is coming. He does his best to find Jesus. Being short, he climbs a tree. Then Jesus, who knows he is in the tree, invites himself to Zacchaeus’ house. From that point, Zacchaeus’ heart is changed because he knows that Jesus cares for him despite Zacchaeus’ sinfulness. In response to God’s love for him, Zacchaeus surrenders some of his wealth and restores the injustices he brought onto other people. Jesus replies “today Salvation has come to this house.” Zacchaeus’ grateful heart opened him up to the grace God had for him found in Jesus.
How about us? How grateful are we to the Lord for all the good things God has done for us? One way we can give back to God in gratitude, is through our treasure. We have almost completed our Capital Campaign, and I am grateful to all of you who have given so much to ensure that our debt is substantially reduced and that our infrastructure is strong. We are now in the process of installing a fire alarm for the church. Now, we have to continue to look ahead and keep growing in our daily operations. This is not a sprint, but a marathon that you and I do together with the Lord at our side. Your reflective consideration of your offering to the parish will make all the difference of whether we continue to build God’s Kingdom or struggle in making ends meet. Think about how God has blessed you and your family and then ask what shall I return to the Lord.” I have found that the more I give to my church and others, the more God gives back to me. I have found similar stories from many of our parishioners. St. Paul writes “you will be enriched in every way for your great generosity.” God knows everything about us. It is in our weaknesses that he draws us in so that He can speak to us and direct us to follow his will. Giving opens our hearts to his voice, just like Zacchaeus. While we do not merit salvation, it is in giving that we open our hearts to salvation. As we continue with our Stewardship, how much more is God asking of you to give to St. Ignatius Loyola? How open are you to God’s grace and act of salvation?
WELCOME FR. MIGUEL RIVERA (¡BIENBENUDOS!)
This past Monday I received a call from our Vicar for Clergy Personnel, Fr. Edward Sheridan who told me that we will be receiving a new priest here at St. Ignatius. His name is Fr. Miguel Rivera.
Fr. Miguel has been in the United States since February 2019. He has at least 2 sisters in Brentwood. He is from San Miguel, El Salvador. Please join me in welcoming Fr. Miguel here to St. Ignatius
Loyola. More to come in the future.
Please pray for our 36 Candidates for Confirmation who will be confirmed this Tuesday by Bishop John O Barres. May the Holy Spirit come upon then and enlighten them to be beacons of light for our world.
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER
Congratulations to Mr. Donald (Don) Cleary Jr. on being this year’s recipient of the St. Agnes Medal for St. Ignatius Loyola. Like many of our volunteers, Don has been very faithful to St. Ignatius. He coordinates the parish calendar every week and heads our successful Golf Outing each year. Thank you Don for all of your hard earned work here at St. Ignatius! May God bless you, Don along with Carol and your family.
In today’s Gospel, we hear about the humorous story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector who meets Jesus. Now, Zacchaeus had two strikes against him in his society. First, he was a tax collector. The job of the tax collector was to work for the Roman Government, the enemy of the people of Israel. So, he was taking money from the people and giving it to their ruler. Second, Zacchaeus was rich. Much of it came from his unscrupulous practices. For example, he would often take some of the tax money for himself. So, here we have this outcast who hears that Jesus is coming. He does his best to find Jesus. Being short, he climbs a tree. Then Jesus, who knows he is in the tree, invites himself to Zacchaeus’ house. From that point, Zacchaeus’ heart is changed because he knows that Jesus cares for him despite Zacchaeus’ sinfulness. In response to God’s love for him, Zacchaeus surrenders some of his wealth and restores the injustices he brought onto other people. Jesus replies “today Salvation has come to this house.” Zacchaeus’ grateful heart opened him up to the grace God had for him found in Jesus.
How about us? How grateful are we to the Lord for all the good things God has done for us? One way we can give back to God in gratitude, is through our treasure. We have almost completed our Capital Campaign, and I am grateful to all of you who have given so much to ensure that our debt is substantially reduced and that our infrastructure is strong. We are now in the process of installing a fire alarm for the church. Now, we have to continue to look ahead and keep growing in our daily operations. This is not a sprint, but a marathon that you and I do together with the Lord at our side. Your reflective consideration of your offering to the parish will make all the difference of whether we continue to build God’s Kingdom or struggle in making ends meet. Think about how God has blessed you and your family and then ask what shall I return to the Lord.” I have found that the more I give to my church and others, the more God gives back to me. I have found similar stories from many of our parishioners. St. Paul writes “you will be enriched in every way for your great generosity.” God knows everything about us. It is in our weaknesses that he draws us in so that He can speak to us and direct us to follow his will. Giving opens our hearts to his voice, just like Zacchaeus. While we do not merit salvation, it is in giving that we open our hearts to salvation. As we continue with our Stewardship, how much more is God asking of you to give to St. Ignatius Loyola? How open are you to God’s grace and act of salvation?
WELCOME FR. MIGUEL RIVERA (¡BIENBENUDOS!)
This past Monday I received a call from our Vicar for Clergy Personnel, Fr. Edward Sheridan who told me that we will be receiving a new priest here at St. Ignatius. His name is Fr. Miguel Rivera.
Fr. Miguel has been in the United States since February 2019. He has at least 2 sisters in Brentwood. He is from San Miguel, El Salvador. Please join me in welcoming Fr. Miguel here to St. Ignatius
Loyola. More to come in the future.
Please pray for our 36 Candidates for Confirmation who will be confirmed this Tuesday by Bishop John O Barres. May the Holy Spirit come upon then and enlighten them to be beacons of light for our world.
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER
Congratulations to Mr. Donald (Don) Cleary Jr. on being this year’s recipient of the St. Agnes Medal for St. Ignatius Loyola. Like many of our volunteers, Don has been very faithful to St. Ignatius. He coordinates the parish calendar every week and heads our successful Golf Outing each year. Thank you Don for all of your hard earned work here at St. Ignatius! May God bless you, Don along with Carol and your family.
Other recipients of the St. Agnes Medal have been:
2007 Arthur Schreiber
2008 Connie Clark
2009 Peggy Gill
2010 Julietta McLaughlin
2011 Mary Ann Lang
2012 Joan Cunningham
2013 John and Pamela Flannigan
2014 Mary Spadola
2015 Joan and Al Geitner
2016 Lorraine Mierzejewski
2017 Recipient Declined
2018 Carol Hogan
Congratulations to all of our Religious Education Catechists who received a medal for their service to the parish by the Diocese of Rockville Centre at St. Agnes Cathedral last week. May God bless Samantha Sepkowski (in picture), Nancy Foster (in picture), Kate Cimino and Michele Byrne (25 years of service) for your service in education to our parish of St. Ignatius Loyola. May God bless you!
Fr. Jim
2007 Arthur Schreiber
2008 Connie Clark
2009 Peggy Gill
2010 Julietta McLaughlin
2011 Mary Ann Lang
2012 Joan Cunningham
2013 John and Pamela Flannigan
2014 Mary Spadola
2015 Joan and Al Geitner
2016 Lorraine Mierzejewski
2017 Recipient Declined
2018 Carol Hogan
Congratulations to all of our Religious Education Catechists who received a medal for their service to the parish by the Diocese of Rockville Centre at St. Agnes Cathedral last week. May God bless Samantha Sepkowski (in picture), Nancy Foster (in picture), Kate Cimino and Michele Byrne (25 years of service) for your service in education to our parish of St. Ignatius Loyola. May God bless you!
Fr. Jim
October 27, 2019
Dear friends in Christ and of St. Ignatius Loyola,
Two weeks ago I wrote to give you giving some insight into the plight of our parish Sunday collections. Today I
write to announce that we will be undergoing an Enhanced Offertory Program encouraged by the Diocese of Rockville Centre and sponsored by Cathedral Corporation in Rome, NY.
The Enhanced Offertory program is a 6 week program (that is measured throughout 14 weeks). The program aims to increase the offering of each parishioner by stressing the importance of giving. The program starts with 3 weekends of in-pew talks. Some of our active parishioners, whom you know, our Deacons and myself will speak at the masses to stress the importance of giving as a disciple of Christ, especially giving to our parish.
During this first weekend, parishioners are introduced to the spirituality of giving. The talk will be given by
our parishioners. The second weekend walks us through the program itself. The talk will be given by our deacons and some parishioners. Finally the third weekend is the commitment weekend which will be done by me. Please take the time to open your hearts, minds and ears to listen. Ask the Lord to guide you in the process. Thank you for your great generosity!
Remember to always act and worship for greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim , Pastor
Two weeks ago I wrote to give you giving some insight into the plight of our parish Sunday collections. Today I
write to announce that we will be undergoing an Enhanced Offertory Program encouraged by the Diocese of Rockville Centre and sponsored by Cathedral Corporation in Rome, NY.
The Enhanced Offertory program is a 6 week program (that is measured throughout 14 weeks). The program aims to increase the offering of each parishioner by stressing the importance of giving. The program starts with 3 weekends of in-pew talks. Some of our active parishioners, whom you know, our Deacons and myself will speak at the masses to stress the importance of giving as a disciple of Christ, especially giving to our parish.
During this first weekend, parishioners are introduced to the spirituality of giving. The talk will be given by
our parishioners. The second weekend walks us through the program itself. The talk will be given by our deacons and some parishioners. Finally the third weekend is the commitment weekend which will be done by me. Please take the time to open your hearts, minds and ears to listen. Ask the Lord to guide you in the process. Thank you for your great generosity!
Remember to always act and worship for greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim , Pastor
Real Presence
In a recent PEW Research Center study, nearly seven-in-ten Catholics (69%) said that they personally believed that during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine used in Communion “are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” The survey also tested whether Catholics know what the Church teaches on the subject. Most Catholics (43%) who believe that the bread and wine are symbolic, do not know that the Church teaches that transubstantiation occurs, that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ while not changing their appearance.
Therefore, when we receive Holy Communion at Mass, we are receiving the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus Christ contained in the host which we consume. Transubstantiation has given us the opportunity to be joined with our savior, Jesus Christ; to eat his flesh and drink his blood and remain in him and he in us so that we can be raised up by him on the last day.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in article 1374: “In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.’
The great stumbling block for Dr. Scott Hahn and many other protestants is from the Gospel of John: Jesus said “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.... Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” (Jn 6:51, 53-55)
At the Last Supper, when Jesus had taken the bread, he gave thanks and broke it and said: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise, taking the chalice after supper, saying, “This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Lk 22:19-20) Jesus himself has stated that the bread is his body and the wine is his blood.
This is not the first time this issue surfaced; back in 831 when St. Paschasius Radbertus, a Benedictine monk, wrote a short book on the Eucharist, Concerning the Body and Blood of the Lord to explain that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In 844, a revised copy was sent to the Emperor Charles the Bald (the Holy Roman Emperor) after which the emperor selected Ratramnus Maurus to refute some assertions of Paschasius because there was some misunderstanding of some of the words that St. Paschasius had used in his book. This argument persisted until the 10th century, when Pope Sylvester II stated, in a document of the same title, that St. Paschasius was correct, that the host is the body and blood of Christ. Again, in the 16th century, the Calvinists denied the real presence stating that the host was just bread and the wine was just wine.
Since the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), the Church has taught that transubstantiation occurs during the consecration of the Mass. “Trans-“ means to pass from one thing to the next; thus when the priest says “this is my body” over the bread and “this is my blood” over the wine, the Eucharistic elements still look, feel, smell, and taste like bread and wine; but they are the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
When the Council of Trent met (1545-1563) they declared: “Because Christ our Redeemer said that is was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and his holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.”
The council of Trent based its declaration on the 4th century Fathers of the Church – St. John Chrysostom, and St. Ambrose.
St. John Chrysostom (347-407) wrote: “It is not man that causes the things offered to become the Body and Blood of Christ, but he who was crucified for us, Christ himself. The priest, in the role of Christ, pronounces these words, but their power and grace are God’s. This is my body, he says. This word transforms the things offered.”
St. Ambrose (Bishop of Milan 374-397) wrote: “Be convinced that this is not what nature has formed, but what the blessing has consecrated. The power of the blessing prevails over that of nature, because by the blessing nature itself is changed.... Could not Christ’s word, which can make from nothing what did not exist, change existing things into what they were not before? Is no less a feat to give things their original nature than to change their nature.”
For those of us who understand philosophy, there is this further documentation of the real presence. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), in his Office on the Feast of Corpus Christi, reaffirms the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He wrote that the word substance can have a technical meaning. It means what a thing is beneath its appearance. Philosophically, substance is distinguished from accidents. Accidents are what can change about a substance without changing what it is.
This term accident - sounds strange to us because today we use the term accidents to speak about some- thing happening which was not intended (an auto accident, I spilled the milk); but St. Thomas was using the term philosophically; in philosophy an accident is any entity or event contingent upon the existence of something else. Let me give some examples of accidents: your height, your location, what you are wear- ing, what you are doing. So, accidents really don’t change without some physical action, but substance can change without affecting the accident. This is what happens during Mass when the priest consecrates the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ what the Church calls transubstantiation.
Deacon George A. Mais, Jr.
In a recent PEW Research Center study, nearly seven-in-ten Catholics (69%) said that they personally believed that during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine used in Communion “are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” The survey also tested whether Catholics know what the Church teaches on the subject. Most Catholics (43%) who believe that the bread and wine are symbolic, do not know that the Church teaches that transubstantiation occurs, that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ while not changing their appearance.
Therefore, when we receive Holy Communion at Mass, we are receiving the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus Christ contained in the host which we consume. Transubstantiation has given us the opportunity to be joined with our savior, Jesus Christ; to eat his flesh and drink his blood and remain in him and he in us so that we can be raised up by him on the last day.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in article 1374: “In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.’
The great stumbling block for Dr. Scott Hahn and many other protestants is from the Gospel of John: Jesus said “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.... Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” (Jn 6:51, 53-55)
At the Last Supper, when Jesus had taken the bread, he gave thanks and broke it and said: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise, taking the chalice after supper, saying, “This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Lk 22:19-20) Jesus himself has stated that the bread is his body and the wine is his blood.
This is not the first time this issue surfaced; back in 831 when St. Paschasius Radbertus, a Benedictine monk, wrote a short book on the Eucharist, Concerning the Body and Blood of the Lord to explain that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In 844, a revised copy was sent to the Emperor Charles the Bald (the Holy Roman Emperor) after which the emperor selected Ratramnus Maurus to refute some assertions of Paschasius because there was some misunderstanding of some of the words that St. Paschasius had used in his book. This argument persisted until the 10th century, when Pope Sylvester II stated, in a document of the same title, that St. Paschasius was correct, that the host is the body and blood of Christ. Again, in the 16th century, the Calvinists denied the real presence stating that the host was just bread and the wine was just wine.
Since the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), the Church has taught that transubstantiation occurs during the consecration of the Mass. “Trans-“ means to pass from one thing to the next; thus when the priest says “this is my body” over the bread and “this is my blood” over the wine, the Eucharistic elements still look, feel, smell, and taste like bread and wine; but they are the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
When the Council of Trent met (1545-1563) they declared: “Because Christ our Redeemer said that is was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and his holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.”
The council of Trent based its declaration on the 4th century Fathers of the Church – St. John Chrysostom, and St. Ambrose.
St. John Chrysostom (347-407) wrote: “It is not man that causes the things offered to become the Body and Blood of Christ, but he who was crucified for us, Christ himself. The priest, in the role of Christ, pronounces these words, but their power and grace are God’s. This is my body, he says. This word transforms the things offered.”
St. Ambrose (Bishop of Milan 374-397) wrote: “Be convinced that this is not what nature has formed, but what the blessing has consecrated. The power of the blessing prevails over that of nature, because by the blessing nature itself is changed.... Could not Christ’s word, which can make from nothing what did not exist, change existing things into what they were not before? Is no less a feat to give things their original nature than to change their nature.”
For those of us who understand philosophy, there is this further documentation of the real presence. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), in his Office on the Feast of Corpus Christi, reaffirms the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He wrote that the word substance can have a technical meaning. It means what a thing is beneath its appearance. Philosophically, substance is distinguished from accidents. Accidents are what can change about a substance without changing what it is.
This term accident - sounds strange to us because today we use the term accidents to speak about some- thing happening which was not intended (an auto accident, I spilled the milk); but St. Thomas was using the term philosophically; in philosophy an accident is any entity or event contingent upon the existence of something else. Let me give some examples of accidents: your height, your location, what you are wear- ing, what you are doing. So, accidents really don’t change without some physical action, but substance can change without affecting the accident. This is what happens during Mass when the priest consecrates the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ what the Church calls transubstantiation.
Deacon George A. Mais, Jr.
October 20, 2019
SEÑOR DE LOS-MILAGROS (THE LORD OF THE MIRACLES)
Every year around this time in October, our Peruvian American Catholics celebrate the event of Señor De Los Milagros which translated into English as The Lord of the Miracles. The Lord of the Miracles also known as “Christ of Miracles” is an image painted of Jesus Christ on the cross that is venerated in Lima, Peru. The image was painted in the 17th century by an unnamed African slave taken from what is now Angola to Peru. Its name originated in the 18th century when a large earthquake hit Lima, destroying most of the city except for this image of Jesus Christ crucified. It was the only structure standing after the great quake. This is considered a miracle by many living there. During the month of October, thousands of devotees from all races and different economic backgrounds come and process honoring the religious image through the streets of Lima. Boulevards are decorated in purple on October 18, 19 and 28 to celebrate the Lord of the Miracles. Peruvians also celebrate this feast day here in the United States and across the world. Please join our Peruvian American Catholics for a Mass here at St. Ignatius at 1:45 pm in our Church followed by a large special procession, with an image of the Lord of the Miracles, around our parish grounds beginning at 3:00pm.
The image of Señor de los Milagros depicts the crucified Christ. As you contemplate the mural, you see the painful agony that Christ experiences on the cross. Above the cross, is the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Below and to the right of Christ is his mother, the Virgin Mary with her heart pierced by a metaphorical sword of sorrow. Kneeling and weeping at the foot of the Cross is St. Mary Magdalene. Please come and join us in the beautiful expression of prayer.
INTERNATIONAL FEAST –SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2019
For the past three years, St. Ignatius Activities Committee has sponsored an International Feast. This is to honor all of our cultures that make up St. Ignatius. Please consider coming and bring your families on Saturday, November 2, 2019 for the Mass at 5pm followed by the festival in Msgr. Tarrant Hall. You can come and wear a native costume or bring anything that resembles the richness of where you or your descendants originated. This is an opportunity for us to come together as one community of communities. This will only help us celebrate our identity as St. Ignatius Loyola parishioners. Remember the words Jesus said in John Chapter 17 “I pray Father that they all may be one, as you and I are one” (John 17:21).
Remember to always act and worship for the greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr.Jim, Pastor
Every year around this time in October, our Peruvian American Catholics celebrate the event of Señor De Los Milagros which translated into English as The Lord of the Miracles. The Lord of the Miracles also known as “Christ of Miracles” is an image painted of Jesus Christ on the cross that is venerated in Lima, Peru. The image was painted in the 17th century by an unnamed African slave taken from what is now Angola to Peru. Its name originated in the 18th century when a large earthquake hit Lima, destroying most of the city except for this image of Jesus Christ crucified. It was the only structure standing after the great quake. This is considered a miracle by many living there. During the month of October, thousands of devotees from all races and different economic backgrounds come and process honoring the religious image through the streets of Lima. Boulevards are decorated in purple on October 18, 19 and 28 to celebrate the Lord of the Miracles. Peruvians also celebrate this feast day here in the United States and across the world. Please join our Peruvian American Catholics for a Mass here at St. Ignatius at 1:45 pm in our Church followed by a large special procession, with an image of the Lord of the Miracles, around our parish grounds beginning at 3:00pm.
The image of Señor de los Milagros depicts the crucified Christ. As you contemplate the mural, you see the painful agony that Christ experiences on the cross. Above the cross, is the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Below and to the right of Christ is his mother, the Virgin Mary with her heart pierced by a metaphorical sword of sorrow. Kneeling and weeping at the foot of the Cross is St. Mary Magdalene. Please come and join us in the beautiful expression of prayer.
INTERNATIONAL FEAST –SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2019
For the past three years, St. Ignatius Activities Committee has sponsored an International Feast. This is to honor all of our cultures that make up St. Ignatius. Please consider coming and bring your families on Saturday, November 2, 2019 for the Mass at 5pm followed by the festival in Msgr. Tarrant Hall. You can come and wear a native costume or bring anything that resembles the richness of where you or your descendants originated. This is an opportunity for us to come together as one community of communities. This will only help us celebrate our identity as St. Ignatius Loyola parishioners. Remember the words Jesus said in John Chapter 17 “I pray Father that they all may be one, as you and I are one” (John 17:21).
Remember to always act and worship for the greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr.Jim, Pastor
October 13, 2019
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN-CONTINUING OUR MISSION-ALMOST THERE
As of September 17, 2019 the amount that we have reached in paid pledges of our Capital Campaign is $1,458,073.34. we have reached approximately 97% of our goal. Congratulations and a big thank you to all who have completed their pledges. While we are edging closer to the goal of 1.5 million, much of the pledges have trickled off because many have been completed. I thank those who are still giving and urge to continue to do so. Also, for you who have not given yet to the campaign, you too can still be a part of this. Our campaign is about equal sacrifice, not equal giving! Please contact Jeanne or Dave in the Business Office to sign up and donate. As a reminder, the campaign’s purpose is to 1) severely lower our debt of $2.8 million that has accumulated over many years and 2) help us with improving our infrastructure. During this month, a company called Sentry will be here to install a fire alarm for our church. In addition, they will also place cameras around the front of the church property for our security. This is your dollars at work! I thank you again for your sacrifice and your financial gifts.
While our campaign is still going on, our Sunday collections have tanked. Two weeks ago, our Sunday collection was only $6,251. This is abominably low compared to our average Sunday collection of about $11,000 each week. If we keep operating like this, St. Ignatius will incur another severe debt that will eventually cripple our operations. I am sincerely asking each of you to give to our Sunday collection from your heart to help us pay our bills, employ our employees and to continue to spread the good news of the Gospel. One of my main jobs as Pastor is to keep the doors of St. Ignatius Loyola open. But I cannot do that without your financial help. Later this month and in November, I will speak about an increased offertory program. Here is a scripture passage to reflect upon as you prepare to give each Sunday: “The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH
During this month of October, we mark it as Respect Life Month where we are to focus on the dignity of human life from natural conception to natural death. The theme is Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life.” Bishop Nelson Perez, of Cleveland, writes “Jesus is the anchor of hope to which we all cling”. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said this year’s theme is particularly suited for these challenging times. “While attacks against human life seem to grow ever more numerous and callous, we know that Christ has conquered sin and death. Through our Christian hope in the resurrection, we are given the grace to persevere in faith.” We know the attacks on the pre-born have certainly increased here in the state of New York with the recent passage of the Reproductive Health Care Act which allows abortion within the last three months of the child’s birth. This is our state celebrating DEATH! Do you want this for our state? I certainly do not. Pope Francis reminds us that all life has inestimable value; even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect. Let’s not be a throw away culture. I en- courage you to support life by participating in the Catholic Daughter’s Spiritual Adoption Program begin- ning this Sunday and in the Prayer for Life Rosary Night sponsored by our St. Ann’s Mother’s Prayer Group and Catholic Daughters on Friday October 18, 2019 at 7:30pm in the church. May our efforts to protect life be fruitful as we continue to remember to always act and worship for greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim , Pastor
As of September 17, 2019 the amount that we have reached in paid pledges of our Capital Campaign is $1,458,073.34. we have reached approximately 97% of our goal. Congratulations and a big thank you to all who have completed their pledges. While we are edging closer to the goal of 1.5 million, much of the pledges have trickled off because many have been completed. I thank those who are still giving and urge to continue to do so. Also, for you who have not given yet to the campaign, you too can still be a part of this. Our campaign is about equal sacrifice, not equal giving! Please contact Jeanne or Dave in the Business Office to sign up and donate. As a reminder, the campaign’s purpose is to 1) severely lower our debt of $2.8 million that has accumulated over many years and 2) help us with improving our infrastructure. During this month, a company called Sentry will be here to install a fire alarm for our church. In addition, they will also place cameras around the front of the church property for our security. This is your dollars at work! I thank you again for your sacrifice and your financial gifts.
While our campaign is still going on, our Sunday collections have tanked. Two weeks ago, our Sunday collection was only $6,251. This is abominably low compared to our average Sunday collection of about $11,000 each week. If we keep operating like this, St. Ignatius will incur another severe debt that will eventually cripple our operations. I am sincerely asking each of you to give to our Sunday collection from your heart to help us pay our bills, employ our employees and to continue to spread the good news of the Gospel. One of my main jobs as Pastor is to keep the doors of St. Ignatius Loyola open. But I cannot do that without your financial help. Later this month and in November, I will speak about an increased offertory program. Here is a scripture passage to reflect upon as you prepare to give each Sunday: “The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH
During this month of October, we mark it as Respect Life Month where we are to focus on the dignity of human life from natural conception to natural death. The theme is Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life.” Bishop Nelson Perez, of Cleveland, writes “Jesus is the anchor of hope to which we all cling”. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said this year’s theme is particularly suited for these challenging times. “While attacks against human life seem to grow ever more numerous and callous, we know that Christ has conquered sin and death. Through our Christian hope in the resurrection, we are given the grace to persevere in faith.” We know the attacks on the pre-born have certainly increased here in the state of New York with the recent passage of the Reproductive Health Care Act which allows abortion within the last three months of the child’s birth. This is our state celebrating DEATH! Do you want this for our state? I certainly do not. Pope Francis reminds us that all life has inestimable value; even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect. Let’s not be a throw away culture. I en- courage you to support life by participating in the Catholic Daughter’s Spiritual Adoption Program begin- ning this Sunday and in the Prayer for Life Rosary Night sponsored by our St. Ann’s Mother’s Prayer Group and Catholic Daughters on Friday October 18, 2019 at 7:30pm in the church. May our efforts to protect life be fruitful as we continue to remember to always act and worship for greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim , Pastor
October 6, 2019
As I am writing this column, our Fr Shelton Dias is on his way home to his Diocese of Columbo, Sri Lanka. I want to thank Fr. Shelton for all of his priestly work here at St Ignatius. He has touched many lives here, including my own. I pray that he will be back with us next Summer of 2020. Please pray for Fr Shelton that his priestly ministry will be a continued success!
Being A Faithful Parishioner is its Own Reward
Sometimes my staff and I will often here this phrase “I’ve been a parishioner for 40, 50 etc years in this parish and I deserve what I want.” While a person may be sincere in this statement, this is not a good example of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus speaks about the humility of the Servant. We are all servants of Jesus. In the parable, we find in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says. “'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do” Luke 17:10. In other words belonging to St Ignatius Loyola or any Catholic parish is itself its own reward. We should not be looking for more, otherwise we are defeating the purpose of being a Catholic Christian. We are not Burger King “ have it your way.” May we all pray for the virtue of humility.
May we always strive to live for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola. pray for us!
Fr Jim,
Pastor
Sometimes my staff and I will often here this phrase “I’ve been a parishioner for 40, 50 etc years in this parish and I deserve what I want.” While a person may be sincere in this statement, this is not a good example of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus speaks about the humility of the Servant. We are all servants of Jesus. In the parable, we find in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says. “'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do” Luke 17:10. In other words belonging to St Ignatius Loyola or any Catholic parish is itself its own reward. We should not be looking for more, otherwise we are defeating the purpose of being a Catholic Christian. We are not Burger King “ have it your way.” May we all pray for the virtue of humility.
May we always strive to live for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola. pray for us!
Fr Jim,
Pastor
September 29, 2019
This week’s column was written by Deacon Mario Gomez
I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire community of St Ignatius Loyola for your prayers and support. I will like to share about one of the ministries in which I am serving the Lord and his Church, and it is RICA.
What’s RICA?
It means rite of Christian initiation for adults, a process which unbaptized adults are instructed in the teaching and practices of Catholicism and introduced into the Catholic Church. It consists of various rites that usually take place in Sunday’s Mass. Sometimes in the process, there are involved baptized adults or Catholics who are preparing to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
Our Lord Jesus said: “COME AND SEE” (JOHN 1,39)
Jesus invites people to see him and to see that he fulfills what he promises. Come with me and follow me, is perhaps the simplest definition of our faith. RCIA is a path where we discover our catholic faith. It is difficult to see everything in the beginning, but it re- veals itself as our brothers and sisters as we walk with the Lord and follow him. It is the Lord who guides us in this journey of faith.
This process begins in September and culminates at the Easter Vigil. It has several stages, but it’s important to remember that understanding faith is as important as having faith.
Stage 1:
Questions: In which they want to know about Jesus, what is faith?
Stage 2:
Catechumens: During this period we study sacred scripture, and discuss the main points of catholic doctrine. (Sacraments, Mass, Mary, history of salvation etc.)
Stage 3:
Purification and illumination: This stage takes place in the weeks leading up to Easter, and is a time dedicated to a deeper spiritual preparation to receive the sacraments during the Easter Vigil .Those who had completed their preparation, become members of the church by receiving the sacraments of Christian initiation that are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
Stage 4:
Mistagogia ( post baptismal catequesis) This is the last stage and usually last several weeks from Easter to Pentecost. It’s a time to reflect on the mysteries of the sacraments and to begin to live your new faith in a practical way.
Registrations are now open. We meet every Tuesday, which started September 24 from 7pm to 9pm that is in Spanish, Deacon George does English preparation. Please get in contact with him for time and dates.
I want to thank Migdalia Vasquez and Luis Reyes who work along with me in this program. Without their help, it will be almost impossible to run this program and the invitation is open to anyone who wants to volunteer.
May God bless them in this ministry and others that they perform in our parish.
Brothers and sisters in Christ lets pray for these catechumens that the Lord may accompany then and enlighten them on this path of preparation. Remember our mission statement We believe, We welcome, We worship, We serve.
May the God of love bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Deacon Mario
I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire community of St Ignatius Loyola for your prayers and support. I will like to share about one of the ministries in which I am serving the Lord and his Church, and it is RICA.
What’s RICA?
It means rite of Christian initiation for adults, a process which unbaptized adults are instructed in the teaching and practices of Catholicism and introduced into the Catholic Church. It consists of various rites that usually take place in Sunday’s Mass. Sometimes in the process, there are involved baptized adults or Catholics who are preparing to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
Our Lord Jesus said: “COME AND SEE” (JOHN 1,39)
Jesus invites people to see him and to see that he fulfills what he promises. Come with me and follow me, is perhaps the simplest definition of our faith. RCIA is a path where we discover our catholic faith. It is difficult to see everything in the beginning, but it re- veals itself as our brothers and sisters as we walk with the Lord and follow him. It is the Lord who guides us in this journey of faith.
This process begins in September and culminates at the Easter Vigil. It has several stages, but it’s important to remember that understanding faith is as important as having faith.
Stage 1:
Questions: In which they want to know about Jesus, what is faith?
Stage 2:
Catechumens: During this period we study sacred scripture, and discuss the main points of catholic doctrine. (Sacraments, Mass, Mary, history of salvation etc.)
Stage 3:
Purification and illumination: This stage takes place in the weeks leading up to Easter, and is a time dedicated to a deeper spiritual preparation to receive the sacraments during the Easter Vigil .Those who had completed their preparation, become members of the church by receiving the sacraments of Christian initiation that are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
Stage 4:
Mistagogia ( post baptismal catequesis) This is the last stage and usually last several weeks from Easter to Pentecost. It’s a time to reflect on the mysteries of the sacraments and to begin to live your new faith in a practical way.
Registrations are now open. We meet every Tuesday, which started September 24 from 7pm to 9pm that is in Spanish, Deacon George does English preparation. Please get in contact with him for time and dates.
I want to thank Migdalia Vasquez and Luis Reyes who work along with me in this program. Without their help, it will be almost impossible to run this program and the invitation is open to anyone who wants to volunteer.
May God bless them in this ministry and others that they perform in our parish.
Brothers and sisters in Christ lets pray for these catechumens that the Lord may accompany then and enlighten them on this path of preparation. Remember our mission statement We believe, We welcome, We worship, We serve.
May the God of love bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Deacon Mario
September 22, 2019
WE ARE CALLED TO BE PRUDENT AS JESUS’ DISICPLES
I have to admit that today’s parable that Jesus tells took me for a surprise. At first, it seems that Jesus is praising the dishonesty of the steward who was wasting his master’s goods. However as you read deeper into the story, what Jesus is praising is the stewards ingenuity and prudence. The steward knew he would be without a job and home after his Master fired him. So, he called in his master’s debtors and gave them a discount to help them and give them an advantage. He in return would be cared for by the debtors. Jesus is not judging the steward’s honesty or dishonesty, but is comparing his resourcefulness to the lack of daring motivation on the part of his own disciples. The steward drew on his worldly wisdom and acting cleverly in providing for himself a future and helping those who were poor. Jesus is saying we need to do the same. So many people in our world today use their talents for tear down instead of build up. We can make the difference by asking Jesus for the virtue of prudence. Prudence according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC #1806), is the virtue that uses practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it. The “prudent man (woman) looks where he is going.” It is saying or doing the proper thing at the proper time and in the appropriate manner. It is the ability to know when to do something or nothing at all.
The question we can ask ourselves is how prudent am I with my gifts, talents and resources in advancing the Kingdom of God? How do I use my gifts and my finances to help others? Where do I need to work a little bit more so that I am thinking less of self and more of others?
Please remember our CAPITAL CAMPAIGN-CONTINUING OUR MISSION! We are at 97% of our goal of $1.5 million.
Remember to always act and worship for the greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim , Pastor
ONE-HUNDRED SIXTY YEARS OF St. IGNATIUS LOYOLA-PRESENTATION
This year of 2019, we at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish are celebrating our 160th year of living the Catholic faith and worshipping here in the Hicksville community. What a remarkable event to celebrate and cherish in thanksgiving to God for our church, our people and our faith. In honor of this special time, Mary Ann Lang, one of our former parish trustees, and I will be hosting a presentation on the beauty, the people and the symbolism of the two churches of St. Ignatius Loyola. The presentation will be held here in the church next week on Sunday, Sept. 29th at 3:30pm.
This event is similar to the one we held three years ago in the Hicksville Library. Please join us to see how our forefathers and mothers dedicated and sacrificed their lives to give us the beautiful church we worship in
today. If you were not able to make the first presentation in the Hicksville Library, please join us. We will show pictures of the first church and our current church as well as the Pastors, Priests and religious who served here. We will discuss the rich symbolism that we see every Saturday night or Sunday, but don’t know its meaning and significance. Please join us for this educational and spiritual event.
I have to admit that today’s parable that Jesus tells took me for a surprise. At first, it seems that Jesus is praising the dishonesty of the steward who was wasting his master’s goods. However as you read deeper into the story, what Jesus is praising is the stewards ingenuity and prudence. The steward knew he would be without a job and home after his Master fired him. So, he called in his master’s debtors and gave them a discount to help them and give them an advantage. He in return would be cared for by the debtors. Jesus is not judging the steward’s honesty or dishonesty, but is comparing his resourcefulness to the lack of daring motivation on the part of his own disciples. The steward drew on his worldly wisdom and acting cleverly in providing for himself a future and helping those who were poor. Jesus is saying we need to do the same. So many people in our world today use their talents for tear down instead of build up. We can make the difference by asking Jesus for the virtue of prudence. Prudence according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC #1806), is the virtue that uses practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it. The “prudent man (woman) looks where he is going.” It is saying or doing the proper thing at the proper time and in the appropriate manner. It is the ability to know when to do something or nothing at all.
The question we can ask ourselves is how prudent am I with my gifts, talents and resources in advancing the Kingdom of God? How do I use my gifts and my finances to help others? Where do I need to work a little bit more so that I am thinking less of self and more of others?
Please remember our CAPITAL CAMPAIGN-CONTINUING OUR MISSION! We are at 97% of our goal of $1.5 million.
Remember to always act and worship for the greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim , Pastor
ONE-HUNDRED SIXTY YEARS OF St. IGNATIUS LOYOLA-PRESENTATION
This year of 2019, we at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish are celebrating our 160th year of living the Catholic faith and worshipping here in the Hicksville community. What a remarkable event to celebrate and cherish in thanksgiving to God for our church, our people and our faith. In honor of this special time, Mary Ann Lang, one of our former parish trustees, and I will be hosting a presentation on the beauty, the people and the symbolism of the two churches of St. Ignatius Loyola. The presentation will be held here in the church next week on Sunday, Sept. 29th at 3:30pm.
This event is similar to the one we held three years ago in the Hicksville Library. Please join us to see how our forefathers and mothers dedicated and sacrificed their lives to give us the beautiful church we worship in
today. If you were not able to make the first presentation in the Hicksville Library, please join us. We will show pictures of the first church and our current church as well as the Pastors, Priests and religious who served here. We will discuss the rich symbolism that we see every Saturday night or Sunday, but don’t know its meaning and significance. Please join us for this educational and spiritual event.
September 15, 2019
ONE-HUNDRED SIXTY YEARS OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA-PRESENTATION
This year of 2019, we at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish are celebrating our 160th year of living the Catholic faith and worshipping here in the Hicksville community. What a remarkable event to celebrate and cherish in thanksgiving to God for our church, our people and our faith. In honor of this special time, Mary Ann Lang, a former parish trustee, and I will be hosting a presentation on the beauty, the people and the symbolism of the two churches of St. Ignatius Loyola. The presentation will be held here in the church on Sunday September 29th at 3:30pm. This event is similar to the one we held three years ago in the Hicksville Library. Please join us to see how our forefathers and mothers dedicated and sacrificed their lives to give us the beautiful church we worship in today. If you were not able to make the first presentation in the Hicksville Library, please join us. We will show pictures of the first church and our current church as well as the Pastors, Priests and religious who served here. We will discuss the rich symbolism that we see every Saturday night or Sunday, but don’t know its meaning and significance. Please join us for this educational and spiritual event.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN-CONTINUING OUR MISSION-ALMOST THERE
As of September 3, 2019 the amount that we have reached in paid pledges of our Capital Campaign is $1,455,279.84. What an accomplishment! Congratulations and a big thank you to all who have completed their pledges. Thank you also to all those still giving to the campaign. While we have made great strides, there is still more ground to cover. Remember our goal is $1.5 million dollars. We are approximately 96% to our goal. I encourage each person and family who has signed up to keep giving until your pledges are paid. If you have not yet given, you may still do so. Contact our office. Our campaign is about equal sacrifice, not equal giving! The next projects that we will embark on are a fire alarm system for the church and more outdoor cameras around the church. Due to several problems of vandalism, I have decided to place cameras in front and on the sides of the church. This is to ensure your security and protection. Your dollars will help ensure that St. Ignatius Loyola is around for many more years. Thank you again for your sacrifice and your financial gifts. May God bless you for your generosity.
Remember to always act and worship for the greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN-CONTINUING OUR MISSION-ALMOST THERE
As of September 3, 2019 the amount that we have reached in paid pledges of our Capital Campaign is $1,455,279.84. What an accomplishment! Congratulations and a big thank you to all who have completed their pledges. Thank you also to all those still giving to the campaign. While we have made great strides, there is still more ground to cover. Remember our goal is $1.5 million dollars. We are approximately 96% to our goal. I encourage each person and family who has signed up to keep giving until your pledges are paid. If you have not yet given, you may still do so. Contact our office. Our campaign is about equal sacrifice, not equal giving! The next projects that we will embark on are a fire alarm system for the church and more outdoor cameras around the church. Due to several problems of vandalism, I have decided to place cameras in front and on the sides of the church. This is to ensure your security and protection. Your dollars will help ensure that St. Ignatius Loyola is around for many more years. Thank you again for your sacrifice and your financial gifts. May God bless you for your generosity.
Remember to always act and worship for the greater glory of God! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
September 8, 2019
BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL/PARISH ACTIVITIES
It is hard to believe but once again, the summer has gone by too fast and we are in the midst of our regular school and work activities. I hope your summer was at least refreshing. Please join me in praying for all of our students, teachers, administrators and workers who have begun a new academic year. We have many young people who have now graduated into High School and College. Some have begun elementary and middle school. May the Lord guide and bless them in their new journey of knowledge. May they find that God is always at the center of their lives in whatever subject they learn. May God bless our teachers and administrators to do their best in guiding our students in living a life filled with moral values that ultimately lead them to Christ. May God bless our parents as they continue to lead their children on the next step of their journey in life. We pray that our parents will help our children recognize the importance of living as a disciple of Jesus Christ. One way to help you as parents is to bring your children to church each Sunday. May each of us remember our responsibility in helping our young people learn to put Jesus first above all else, as we hear from the Gospel of Luke today. If Jesus comes first in each of our choices, then we are assured the life of heaven.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS. JEANNE CALHOUN FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA
September 1, 2019 marked an auspicious occasion for our bookkeeper Jeanne Calhoun, who works in our business office. Many of you may not know Jeanne because she works in the lower level of the recto- ry. Like many of our employees, Jeanne works behind the scene. Jeanne has been with St. Ignatius for 25 years. May God continue to guide her in the good work she has done for us in helping us with the temporal needs of our parish, such as paying the bills. I also want to thank each of our employees for the all the service they give to our parish. May God bless and keep you.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
This September 11th marks the 18th anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Like you, I will always remember where I was when I first heard of the news of this terrible day. Our bells here at St. Ignatius will ring marking the times of the attacks. Please take at least 1 or 2 minutes of this day to pray for the almost 3,000 souls that were lost, the families who are grieving and for our nation that we will return to a time of unity, peace and civility.
Please continue your payments to our Capital Campaign. We are almost there, reaching 96% of our goal. Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and
your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
It is hard to believe but once again, the summer has gone by too fast and we are in the midst of our regular school and work activities. I hope your summer was at least refreshing. Please join me in praying for all of our students, teachers, administrators and workers who have begun a new academic year. We have many young people who have now graduated into High School and College. Some have begun elementary and middle school. May the Lord guide and bless them in their new journey of knowledge. May they find that God is always at the center of their lives in whatever subject they learn. May God bless our teachers and administrators to do their best in guiding our students in living a life filled with moral values that ultimately lead them to Christ. May God bless our parents as they continue to lead their children on the next step of their journey in life. We pray that our parents will help our children recognize the importance of living as a disciple of Jesus Christ. One way to help you as parents is to bring your children to church each Sunday. May each of us remember our responsibility in helping our young people learn to put Jesus first above all else, as we hear from the Gospel of Luke today. If Jesus comes first in each of our choices, then we are assured the life of heaven.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS. JEANNE CALHOUN FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA
September 1, 2019 marked an auspicious occasion for our bookkeeper Jeanne Calhoun, who works in our business office. Many of you may not know Jeanne because she works in the lower level of the recto- ry. Like many of our employees, Jeanne works behind the scene. Jeanne has been with St. Ignatius for 25 years. May God continue to guide her in the good work she has done for us in helping us with the temporal needs of our parish, such as paying the bills. I also want to thank each of our employees for the all the service they give to our parish. May God bless and keep you.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
This September 11th marks the 18th anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Like you, I will always remember where I was when I first heard of the news of this terrible day. Our bells here at St. Ignatius will ring marking the times of the attacks. Please take at least 1 or 2 minutes of this day to pray for the almost 3,000 souls that were lost, the families who are grieving and for our nation that we will return to a time of unity, peace and civility.
Please continue your payments to our Capital Campaign. We are almost there, reaching 96% of our goal. Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and
your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
September 1, 2019
Please read the following Guidelines. I am sure you will find them very informative when attending Pro-Life Events.
GUIDELINES for PRO-LIFE PRESENCE at PRO-LIFE EVENTS and ABORTIONIST'S SITE
All public pro-life witnessing MUST BE PEACEFUL. This is legal nonviolent direct action. Public pro-life outreach is a statement on behalf of all of the victims of abortion.
Your participation in a public pro-life awareness event or your presence at an abortion "clinic'. or abortionist's office is an important affirmation of LIFE, exercise of your Constitutional right to free speech and assembly, and a witness against the tragedy of abortion. You are the face of the unborn.
Babies are dying at the hands of abortionists and their staff. Treat the site appropriately. Eating, loud talking and laughter are out of place.
-> Stay on sidewalks (public property). Do not go on the facility's property or parking lot.
-> Do not impede access of cars to/from driveways or pedestrians to doors or along sidewalks.
Your pro-life witness is seen by those contemplating abortion, those who know or will know someone with an untimely pregnancy, and those hurt by a past abortion decision. Your presence is critical in keeping the plight of the unborn on the public conscience and saving lives.
[This is not a legal document; distributor is not liable: it is provided for educational purposes only.]
GUIDELINES for PRO-LIFE PRESENCE at PRO-LIFE EVENTS and ABORTIONIST'S SITE
All public pro-life witnessing MUST BE PEACEFUL. This is legal nonviolent direct action. Public pro-life outreach is a statement on behalf of all of the victims of abortion.
Your participation in a public pro-life awareness event or your presence at an abortion "clinic'. or abortionist's office is an important affirmation of LIFE, exercise of your Constitutional right to free speech and assembly, and a witness against the tragedy of abortion. You are the face of the unborn.
Babies are dying at the hands of abortionists and their staff. Treat the site appropriately. Eating, loud talking and laughter are out of place.
-> Stay on sidewalks (public property). Do not go on the facility's property or parking lot.
-> Do not impede access of cars to/from driveways or pedestrians to doors or along sidewalks.
- Stay with a partner. Carry a camera and cell phone.
- Hold signs so they can be read by vehicle and/or pedestrian traffic. Don't wave signs in front of traffic. Hold signs tightly; larger ones should have handles or string to loop over the neck.
- Carry a pro-life pamphlet/card with pro-life assistance contact info.
- Praying. singing, and Scripture reading should be done without disturbing other pro-lifers who aren't joining your group.
- Do Not Shout — at patients, workers, residents, those driving by, police, etc. Keep an arm's length away from them and step away from potential confrontations. Calling out to abortion-bound parents should be limited and done prudently; even though you're saying something positive, the stressed client may only "hear" negative screaming at her.
- Do not shadow (follow along closely) pedestrians.
- Respond to hecklers gently or not at all. Leave them with a positive life-affirming comment
Your pro-life witness is seen by those contemplating abortion, those who know or will know someone with an untimely pregnancy, and those hurt by a past abortion decision. Your presence is critical in keeping the plight of the unborn on the public conscience and saving lives.
[This is not a legal document; distributor is not liable: it is provided for educational purposes only.]
August 25, 2019
Reverence for the Eucharist
God our Father assembles His people to sing His praise. Gathered around the table of the word and of the Eucharist, we are nourished with His grace and sent forth to make His kingdom come. Each generation of believers has continued to recognize the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread. Listed below are reminders of how we can receive Him more reverently and lovingly.
When you enter the church, please face the tabernacle and genuflect before entering your pew.
How Do I Receive Communion?
EITHER IN THE HAND OR ON THE TONGUE
God our Father assembles His people to sing His praise. Gathered around the table of the word and of the Eucharist, we are nourished with His grace and sent forth to make His kingdom come. Each generation of believers has continued to recognize the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread. Listed below are reminders of how we can receive Him more reverently and lovingly.
When you enter the church, please face the tabernacle and genuflect before entering your pew.
How Do I Receive Communion?
EITHER IN THE HAND OR ON THE TONGUE
|
PREPARE yourself to receive the Body of Christ by opening your heart to Him and building a reverence for the,Sacrament. ' Bow your head before reaching priest.
|
|
|
I. If you receive on the hand---APPROACH the altar and put out your hands to receive the Host. t fold your hands as Cyril of Jerusalem described in the 4th century: "... do not go stretching out your open hands or having fingers spread out, but make...a throne...which shall receive the King".
|
|
|
PRESENTATION Your priest or minister will present the Host to you. He will say, "The Body of Christ," you answer "Amen." Receive the Host reverently with cupped hands.
*Either hand may hold the other; the left hand is usually above the right by custom. |
|
|
COMMUNICATE Yourself by taking one step to the side and then placing the host in your mouth. Use your underneath hand to do this.
|
|
|
RETURN to your place in the congregation.
|
|
|
|
|
II. If you receive on the TONGUE —If you wish to receive the Host on your Tongue After "The Body of Christ," Say "Amen" and accept the Host with mouth open and without extending your hands.
|
|
August 18, 2019
Olga S. Jordan (1932-2019)
Recently, St. Ignatius Loyola celebrated a Funeral Mass for the soul of Olga S. Jordan who died on July 4, 2019. Olga served our parish in many ways, first as a Secretary for our Religious Education Program for many years and then as a Receptionist in our parish office.
Olga had always shared her time and talent in special ways whether it was with hospitality, parish mailings, helping a co-worker with a project or helping me with office work. Olga never thought of her work as just a job, but as a ministry in showing the face of Jesus to all she served. I am grateful to almighty God for Olga’s tenacity, her smile, her zeal and her life of faith.
Olga carried the cross of Christ when she had a stroke two years ago. Since then, she was in and out of different hospital such as Northwell Plainview, Glenn Cove Hospital, Glen Cove and then was moved to the Central Island Healthcare Nursing Home in Plainview.
During this time, Olga faced great odds but did not allow them to define her life. Olga always carried her zeal right to end. Our prayers and sympathy to Olga’s daughters Michele and Ruth and to their families. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren. May Olga now be welcomed into the arms of our Lord who now says to her “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom pre-pared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34).
Rest in peace with God, Olga.
Fr. Jim
Olga had always shared her time and talent in special ways whether it was with hospitality, parish mailings, helping a co-worker with a project or helping me with office work. Olga never thought of her work as just a job, but as a ministry in showing the face of Jesus to all she served. I am grateful to almighty God for Olga’s tenacity, her smile, her zeal and her life of faith.
Olga carried the cross of Christ when she had a stroke two years ago. Since then, she was in and out of different hospital such as Northwell Plainview, Glenn Cove Hospital, Glen Cove and then was moved to the Central Island Healthcare Nursing Home in Plainview.
During this time, Olga faced great odds but did not allow them to define her life. Olga always carried her zeal right to end. Our prayers and sympathy to Olga’s daughters Michele and Ruth and to their families. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren. May Olga now be welcomed into the arms of our Lord who now says to her “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom pre-pared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34).
Rest in peace with God, Olga.
Fr. Jim
August 11, 2019
Thank you to Joan Chwalisz and Ann Murphy for sponsoring our summer outing to the Thimble Islands in Stoney Creek, CT and to the Trolley Museum in East Haven, CT.
A great time was had by all!
A great time was had by all!
Thank you to Colleen Tuzzolo, Barbara Malerba, their leadership team and all the children who participated in this year’s Vacation Bible School 2019! Our theme was Roar, helping our young people to know that God is always with them even in the most challenging of circumstances.
I will be on vacation from August 12th through August 26th.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
August 4, 2019
A LETTER OF FAREWELL - FR. ANDRÉS FERNANDEZ
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
It is with regret that I inform you that I recently received an email from our Associate Pastor, Fr. Andrés. He wrote to me that he will no longer continue serving in his priestly ministry at St. Ignatius Loyola. He stated that after a long and deep discernment, he felt that the Lord was calling him back home to Madrid, Spain. He thanks both English and Spanish speaking parishioners for building such a beautiful parish and community here at St. Ignatius Loyola.
While you are surprised as I am, I am sure it was not easy for Fr. Andres to adjust to American culture being far away from home, especially with his health. The Lord calls each of us in different and various ways. Some to serve abroad and some at home. What matters is, that we serve in the Lord’s name.
While many of us have asked “Where is Fr. Andrés?” I am grateful for the service that he has given to us at Mass, Funerals, Weddings and Quinceñeras. One thing to make clear, Fr. Andres is leaving on his own terms. His leaving has nothing to do with the scandals that have recently plagued the Catholic Church. Please pray for Fr. Andrés as he makes a successful transition back home in Madrid, Spain. We wish him well.
In the meantime, I have been in contact with the Diocesan Priest Personnel Office. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get a substitute priest, especially one that speaks Spanish. I am try- ing my best to work on it. Please pray for our parish that the Lord will send us a good priest who will be willing to work well with all of our people.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
It is with regret that I inform you that I recently received an email from our Associate Pastor, Fr. Andrés. He wrote to me that he will no longer continue serving in his priestly ministry at St. Ignatius Loyola. He stated that after a long and deep discernment, he felt that the Lord was calling him back home to Madrid, Spain. He thanks both English and Spanish speaking parishioners for building such a beautiful parish and community here at St. Ignatius Loyola.
While you are surprised as I am, I am sure it was not easy for Fr. Andres to adjust to American culture being far away from home, especially with his health. The Lord calls each of us in different and various ways. Some to serve abroad and some at home. What matters is, that we serve in the Lord’s name.
While many of us have asked “Where is Fr. Andrés?” I am grateful for the service that he has given to us at Mass, Funerals, Weddings and Quinceñeras. One thing to make clear, Fr. Andres is leaving on his own terms. His leaving has nothing to do with the scandals that have recently plagued the Catholic Church. Please pray for Fr. Andrés as he makes a successful transition back home in Madrid, Spain. We wish him well.
In the meantime, I have been in contact with the Diocesan Priest Personnel Office. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get a substitute priest, especially one that speaks Spanish. I am try- ing my best to work on it. Please pray for our parish that the Lord will send us a good priest who will be willing to work well with all of our people.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
July 28, 2019
Thank you to Robert Renner, one of our ushers at the 11:00am Mass, for designing and building our urn carrier for the cremated remains of all of our loved ones at funerals. This will serve as a transport for the urn of a loved one up to the altar of God. This an effective way that we can respect the cremated remains of a person as we would a body. May God bless Robert for sharing his creative gifts, especially for bereaved families.
Prayer for the Dead and the Living
We give them back to you, O Lord, who gave them to us,
and, as you did not lose them in the giving so we do not lose them in return. Not as the world gives do you give, O Lover of souls. For what is yours is ours also, if we belong to you Life is unending because love is undying, and the boundaries of this mortal life are but an horizon, and an horizon is but the limit of our site. Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further! Strengthen us in faith that we may see beyond the horizon! And while you prepare a place for us, as you have promised, prepare us also for that happy place, that where you are we may be also, with those we have loved, forever.
Father Bede Jarret, O.P.
Please welcome back Deacon José Contreras to service to the ordained ministry of the Deaconate. Deacon José will serve at Mass once again on Saturdays/Sundays and preach at least once a month along with our other deacons. Please continue to pray for Deacon José, his wife Yudith and their family.
On behalf of our parish staff, our sisters and our priests, Happy and Blessed St. Ignatius Loyola Day,
July 31st. May we continue to strive like our patron to do all things for the greater glory of God!
Fr. Jim
Prayer for the Dead and the Living
We give them back to you, O Lord, who gave them to us,
and, as you did not lose them in the giving so we do not lose them in return. Not as the world gives do you give, O Lover of souls. For what is yours is ours also, if we belong to you Life is unending because love is undying, and the boundaries of this mortal life are but an horizon, and an horizon is but the limit of our site. Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further! Strengthen us in faith that we may see beyond the horizon! And while you prepare a place for us, as you have promised, prepare us also for that happy place, that where you are we may be also, with those we have loved, forever.
Father Bede Jarret, O.P.
Please welcome back Deacon José Contreras to service to the ordained ministry of the Deaconate. Deacon José will serve at Mass once again on Saturdays/Sundays and preach at least once a month along with our other deacons. Please continue to pray for Deacon José, his wife Yudith and their family.
On behalf of our parish staff, our sisters and our priests, Happy and Blessed St. Ignatius Loyola Day,
July 31st. May we continue to strive like our patron to do all things for the greater glory of God!
Fr. Jim
July 21, 2019
In continuation from last week, here is our policy for the proper use of cremated remains at a funeral for you or a loved one. Carefully and prayerfully read over this policy. Should you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me here at the parish.
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Jim
Mass with Cremated Remains
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Jim
Mass with Cremated Remains
- The Urn Carrier will be placed in the middle aisle at the first diamond by the Greeter.
- The family will meet in the back of the Church (Broadway) as usual.
- The Urn will be placed on the Urn Carrier by a family member, greeter or Funeral Director.
- The Urn will be blessed by the priest in the back of the Church.
- One family member or the Funeral Director while processing with the Urn Carrier will follow the priest and the altar servers to the foot of the altar, turn the Carrier to face the congregation and rest it over the Cross on the floor.
- Family members will follow the Urn Carrier to the foot of the Altar.
- A picture may be placed on the Urn Carrier by a family member, up to an 8x10 preferred, any larger
and an easel will be needed. - Flowers may be placed by a family member on or in front of the Urn Carrier depending upon the size of the floral arrangement. Please keep the arrangement on the small size such as a small vase, small spray or circlet of flowers.
- A religious object, such as Rosary or Prayer book may be placed on the Urn Carrier.
- The family will then take their seats and the Mass will continue as usual.
- After final Commendation and prayer, the Urn Carrier will be recessed back up the aisle by family member or Funeral Director.
- The family will take the urn to its place of rest.
July 14, 2019
A CATHOLIC GUIDE TO CREMATION
For those of us who have lost a loved one or have participated in wakes and funerals of loved ones, I am sure that we have noticed quite a social change when it comes to death and funerals. Have you noticed that a greater number of people in our country are opting for cremation over the burial of a whole body? The following is a summary of the New York State Bishops guide to cremation as well as an article by Fr. Don Miller OFM entitled “Catholics & Cremation.” My hope is that this article will help you and your family when facing delicate decisions at death.
What is cremation? Cremation is the process by which the body of the deceased is reduced to its basic elements. The Catholic Church permits the cremation of the body as long as it is not chosen in denial of Christian teaching on the Resurrection and the sacredness of the human body.
In 1997, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a letter entitled “Reflections on the Body, Cremation and Catholic Funeral Rites.” In this document, the Church allows for “cremated human remains to be present at a funeral for a good reason.” In the past, Catholics were not allowed to bring cremated remains of a loved one to the funeral mass. Now, however, the church allows for cremated remains at the wake and the funeral mass.
This change came as a result of changing trends of funeral practices throughout the country. According to the Cremation Association of North America, the cremation rate within the United States as of 2015 rose to 48.6%. They predict that by 2020 the cremation rate will reach 54.3% This means that more than half of us will choose cremation as the means by which a body will be buried. The Church’s change on cremation shows her pastoral response in assisting families who chose cremation. The Church still stresses, however, her preference for burial or entombment of the body of the deceased. The reason why is that this is an imitation of the burial of Jesus’ body.
When cremation is chosen for a good reason, the Church asks that the full course of the Order of Christian Funerals be celebrated; including the Wake, Funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal (Cemetery). “The preservation of this order allows for the greater expression of our beliefs and values especially the sacredness of human life, the dignity of the individual person and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the first born of the dead.” NYS Catholic Conference
Often, family members prefer to either have no wake or they skip the church all together, thinking that this is the easier and less expensive thing to do. Even though they may not be religious or have been to church often, please remember that your loved ones may desire a funeral mass. That would be their Catholic right to have one. The funeral mass will help assist the soul of the loved one to get into heaven. Also, the funeral mass, is not just for the deceased, it is for you the bereaved to bring comfort, to remind you that you are not alone and that one day you too will experience the beatific joy of Heaven.
One question that you may ask is “what should become of the cremated remains following the funeral?” Church teaching insists that the cremated remains of a loved one should be treated with the same respect as one would have for the body. The cremated remains of a body are buried or entombed, using the rites pr vided by the Order of Christian Funerals. That means that scattering, dividing and keeping cremated re- mains in the home are not good practices to follow. The remains of a cremated body should be treated with the same respects given to the corporeal remains of a human body. This includes a worthy container to hold the cremated remains. I look at it this way, would I want the body of my loved one in my living room? The same should be for cremated remains. May all of our loved ones who have died rest in the peace and the mercy of God. Amen.
There will be more of this in my article next week on what we do here at St. Ignatius Loyola. In the meantime, I wish each of you a continued safe and enjoyable summer. May it be a time of renewal and prayer for you and your families. This upcoming week I will be on retreat. Please pray for me as I shall pray for you. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always.
St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us! Fr. Jim
For those of us who have lost a loved one or have participated in wakes and funerals of loved ones, I am sure that we have noticed quite a social change when it comes to death and funerals. Have you noticed that a greater number of people in our country are opting for cremation over the burial of a whole body? The following is a summary of the New York State Bishops guide to cremation as well as an article by Fr. Don Miller OFM entitled “Catholics & Cremation.” My hope is that this article will help you and your family when facing delicate decisions at death.
What is cremation? Cremation is the process by which the body of the deceased is reduced to its basic elements. The Catholic Church permits the cremation of the body as long as it is not chosen in denial of Christian teaching on the Resurrection and the sacredness of the human body.
In 1997, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a letter entitled “Reflections on the Body, Cremation and Catholic Funeral Rites.” In this document, the Church allows for “cremated human remains to be present at a funeral for a good reason.” In the past, Catholics were not allowed to bring cremated remains of a loved one to the funeral mass. Now, however, the church allows for cremated remains at the wake and the funeral mass.
This change came as a result of changing trends of funeral practices throughout the country. According to the Cremation Association of North America, the cremation rate within the United States as of 2015 rose to 48.6%. They predict that by 2020 the cremation rate will reach 54.3% This means that more than half of us will choose cremation as the means by which a body will be buried. The Church’s change on cremation shows her pastoral response in assisting families who chose cremation. The Church still stresses, however, her preference for burial or entombment of the body of the deceased. The reason why is that this is an imitation of the burial of Jesus’ body.
When cremation is chosen for a good reason, the Church asks that the full course of the Order of Christian Funerals be celebrated; including the Wake, Funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal (Cemetery). “The preservation of this order allows for the greater expression of our beliefs and values especially the sacredness of human life, the dignity of the individual person and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the first born of the dead.” NYS Catholic Conference
Often, family members prefer to either have no wake or they skip the church all together, thinking that this is the easier and less expensive thing to do. Even though they may not be religious or have been to church often, please remember that your loved ones may desire a funeral mass. That would be their Catholic right to have one. The funeral mass will help assist the soul of the loved one to get into heaven. Also, the funeral mass, is not just for the deceased, it is for you the bereaved to bring comfort, to remind you that you are not alone and that one day you too will experience the beatific joy of Heaven.
One question that you may ask is “what should become of the cremated remains following the funeral?” Church teaching insists that the cremated remains of a loved one should be treated with the same respect as one would have for the body. The cremated remains of a body are buried or entombed, using the rites pr vided by the Order of Christian Funerals. That means that scattering, dividing and keeping cremated re- mains in the home are not good practices to follow. The remains of a cremated body should be treated with the same respects given to the corporeal remains of a human body. This includes a worthy container to hold the cremated remains. I look at it this way, would I want the body of my loved one in my living room? The same should be for cremated remains. May all of our loved ones who have died rest in the peace and the mercy of God. Amen.
There will be more of this in my article next week on what we do here at St. Ignatius Loyola. In the meantime, I wish each of you a continued safe and enjoyable summer. May it be a time of renewal and prayer for you and your families. This upcoming week I will be on retreat. Please pray for me as I shall pray for you. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always.
St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us! Fr. Jim
July 7, 2019
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
While we are now in what used to be the lazy, hazy days of summer, there are some events that I ask all of us to pay attention to so that we are properly prepared when they occur. Recently, Bishop Barres and Mr. Tom Renker, head attorney for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, met with all the pastors of our Diocese to discuss new legislation for victims suffering from sexual abuse. This law could have a profound impact on our parishes and Diocese. There will be more information forthcoming as I receive it from Rockville Centre and will share it with you as best I can.
What is the Child Victims Act?
The Child Victims Act (CVA) is a law that was passed by the NY State assembly and legislature and signed by our Governor that will change the state’s strict statue of limitations on sexual crimes against children. The CVA will open up a one year window to revive past claims of any age.
What doe the CVA Do?
The CVA does three main things: 1) extend New York’s statue of limitations to allow for criminal charges against sexual abusers of children until their victims turn 28 for felony cases, up from the current age of 23; 2) allow victims to seek civil action against their abusers and institutions that enabled them until they turn 55; 3)open up a one year, one time only period, to allow all victims to seek civil action, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
Who will it affect?
This law will affect any organization that works with children and had a child molester as an employee, minister, or volunteer including churches, public and private schools, the Boy & Girl Scouts, day care centers, etc.
When will the CVA go into effect?
The CVA will go into effect on August 14/15 and continue until August 14/15 of 2020.
What else does the CVA mean?
The CVA means that sexual abuse is not only limited to our church. As the Bishops of New York State, the CVA “now recognizes that child sexual abuse is an evil not just limited to one institution, but a tragic societal ill that must be addressed in every place where it exists.”
What can I do?
While we are in the waiting period, the best thing you can do is pray that the passage of the Child Victims Act brings some measure of healing to all survivors by offering them a path of recourse and reconciliation. Please also pray for our church that we too will continue to heal and grow despite the darkness that seems to surround us.
I pray that during this 4th of July weekend we give thanks to God for our founding fathers and mothers who sacrificed their lives so that we can freely live, worship and express our faith whether in church or out in the public square. Please welcome Deacon Mañuel Ramos, who will speak to us about our Diocesan Mission in the Dominican Republic this weekend and Fr. Shelton Dias who has arrived. Fr. Andres and Fr. Frank will be away for the whole month of July.
May this summer be for you and your families a time of prayer and renewal. Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
While we are now in what used to be the lazy, hazy days of summer, there are some events that I ask all of us to pay attention to so that we are properly prepared when they occur. Recently, Bishop Barres and Mr. Tom Renker, head attorney for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, met with all the pastors of our Diocese to discuss new legislation for victims suffering from sexual abuse. This law could have a profound impact on our parishes and Diocese. There will be more information forthcoming as I receive it from Rockville Centre and will share it with you as best I can.
What is the Child Victims Act?
The Child Victims Act (CVA) is a law that was passed by the NY State assembly and legislature and signed by our Governor that will change the state’s strict statue of limitations on sexual crimes against children. The CVA will open up a one year window to revive past claims of any age.
What doe the CVA Do?
The CVA does three main things: 1) extend New York’s statue of limitations to allow for criminal charges against sexual abusers of children until their victims turn 28 for felony cases, up from the current age of 23; 2) allow victims to seek civil action against their abusers and institutions that enabled them until they turn 55; 3)open up a one year, one time only period, to allow all victims to seek civil action, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
Who will it affect?
This law will affect any organization that works with children and had a child molester as an employee, minister, or volunteer including churches, public and private schools, the Boy & Girl Scouts, day care centers, etc.
When will the CVA go into effect?
The CVA will go into effect on August 14/15 and continue until August 14/15 of 2020.
What else does the CVA mean?
The CVA means that sexual abuse is not only limited to our church. As the Bishops of New York State, the CVA “now recognizes that child sexual abuse is an evil not just limited to one institution, but a tragic societal ill that must be addressed in every place where it exists.”
What can I do?
While we are in the waiting period, the best thing you can do is pray that the passage of the Child Victims Act brings some measure of healing to all survivors by offering them a path of recourse and reconciliation. Please also pray for our church that we too will continue to heal and grow despite the darkness that seems to surround us.
I pray that during this 4th of July weekend we give thanks to God for our founding fathers and mothers who sacrificed their lives so that we can freely live, worship and express our faith whether in church or out in the public square. Please welcome Deacon Mañuel Ramos, who will speak to us about our Diocesan Mission in the Dominican Republic this weekend and Fr. Shelton Dias who has arrived. Fr. Andres and Fr. Frank will be away for the whole month of July.
May this summer be for you and your families a time of prayer and renewal. Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
June 30, 2019
As we finished our Easter season with the Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost Sunday, The Most Holy Trinity Sunday and last but not least The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we experience the action of the Holy Spirit in all of those events and as we get ready to enter in what we as a Church call Ordinary Time. Let’s remember that this Holy Spirit is very much active in our lives.
This Holy Spirit is sent at Pentecost to indwell in human persons, but he is sent when those humans beings are gathered in hope and prayer. That through the Holy Spirit is sent to indwell personally, because the love of the father is shared by the Son in a perfect communion and that is the Holy Spirit representing that love.
“For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” {1 John 4:20}. Jesus’ commandment: love one another as I have loved you [John 13:34]. The cross is the intersection of vertical and horizontal beans; all those in Christ must love God and love Neighbor. The horizontal communion we have with one another in the church, especially at Eucharist, is the sacrament [sign and instrument] of our communion with God. If all the members of the church were Christ-like regarding his virtues, attitudes and actions, then we truly would be one in mind and heart, our communion would be sincere and full of compassion, and we would be a convincing sign that Jesus indeed has been sent by the Father [John 17:20-23].
So it is the Holy Spirit that is the soul of the Church animating us as the Body of Christ;
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of communion we share, the source of all gifts, Charisms, offices and work found in the Church; through which the Holy Spirit enables each one of us to help build up the church: these gifts and works are the way we can be charitable to one another. The Holy Spirit makes the Church one, holy, Catholic and apostolic. The Holy Spirit gathers us together at the Eucharist, enabling us to offer, with Jesus the true priest, his offering of himself and us to the father, to share in our Eucharistic communion with God, each other and the communion of Saints, and to go forth into the world bearing and bringing Christ whom we just received.
Peace,
Deacon Mario
This Holy Spirit is sent at Pentecost to indwell in human persons, but he is sent when those humans beings are gathered in hope and prayer. That through the Holy Spirit is sent to indwell personally, because the love of the father is shared by the Son in a perfect communion and that is the Holy Spirit representing that love.
“For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” {1 John 4:20}. Jesus’ commandment: love one another as I have loved you [John 13:34]. The cross is the intersection of vertical and horizontal beans; all those in Christ must love God and love Neighbor. The horizontal communion we have with one another in the church, especially at Eucharist, is the sacrament [sign and instrument] of our communion with God. If all the members of the church were Christ-like regarding his virtues, attitudes and actions, then we truly would be one in mind and heart, our communion would be sincere and full of compassion, and we would be a convincing sign that Jesus indeed has been sent by the Father [John 17:20-23].
So it is the Holy Spirit that is the soul of the Church animating us as the Body of Christ;
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of communion we share, the source of all gifts, Charisms, offices and work found in the Church; through which the Holy Spirit enables each one of us to help build up the church: these gifts and works are the way we can be charitable to one another. The Holy Spirit makes the Church one, holy, Catholic and apostolic. The Holy Spirit gathers us together at the Eucharist, enabling us to offer, with Jesus the true priest, his offering of himself and us to the father, to share in our Eucharistic communion with God, each other and the communion of Saints, and to go forth into the world bearing and bringing Christ whom we just received.
Peace,
Deacon Mario
June 23, 2019
THIS IS MY BODY, THIS IS MY BLOOD
These words were spoken 2000 years ago by our Lord Jesus Christ at the Last Supper on the first Holy Thursday. Ever since that time, Jesus says these same words through the voice of the Priest “this is My body, this is My blood” at every Mass as the priest represents Christ as the head who feeds us with his body and blood each day. Jesus also said “do this in remembrance of Me”. When he said this, Jesus did not just say it might be a good idea, he said doing this, sharing my body and blood, is essential for our salvation. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi highlights that in a special way today.
In the Gospel of Luke today, we have a foreshadowing of what Jesus does at the Last Supper in the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Jesus does the four (4) fold action, the priest does at Mass; the taking, blessing, breaking and sharing of bread which results in the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 people. Before this, however, Jesus tells his disciples “to feed them yourselves.” He is telling them you have enough with the 2 loaves and 5 fishes. Trust in me. They did and they became the source of Jesus’ nourishment for others.
This is what we are called to do with our lives, to offer them as food for others. Sometimes in life when I feel I have less, I don’t have a great job or little resources to work with, I am not sure of what to do. But each of us, like the disciples, are given 5 loaves and 2 fish with the gifts and talents God gave us. All we need to do is trust, continually offer ourselves at Mass, listen to Jesus’ words and open our- selves to the grace of the sacraments, knowing that Jesus will always be with us. Today reminds us that as we receive the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, we are the body of Christ each day as one community and church family.
In his Easter Sermon 227 to neophytes, newly Baptized Catholic Christians, St. Augustine writes: “If we receive the Eucharist worthily, we become what we receive.” And in receiving Christ, we be- come one body in him, and through him, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Through receiving the Eucharist, we enter into a unique and personal relationship with the Trinity and with one another, the Body of Christ. We become what we eat. This is why we are to go to Mass each week. Let’s face it the world is not easy, life is not easy. However, being with Jesus and receiving him each week will make all the difference . If Jesus can take the simple bread and simple wine and make them into his body and blood, [how much more can Jesus do for us if we allow him? What gifts is Jesus asking you to use to help feed the people he sends into your life? Please join us for the Corpus Christi Procession at 12:30pm today (Sunday) It is a great act of evangelization and witness.
WELCOME FR. SHELDON DIAZ
Fr. Sheldon Diaz, from Sri Lanka, is coming to us for July, August and September. More information to follow next week. Fr. Andres and Fr. Frank will be away for the month of July.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
These words were spoken 2000 years ago by our Lord Jesus Christ at the Last Supper on the first Holy Thursday. Ever since that time, Jesus says these same words through the voice of the Priest “this is My body, this is My blood” at every Mass as the priest represents Christ as the head who feeds us with his body and blood each day. Jesus also said “do this in remembrance of Me”. When he said this, Jesus did not just say it might be a good idea, he said doing this, sharing my body and blood, is essential for our salvation. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi highlights that in a special way today.
In the Gospel of Luke today, we have a foreshadowing of what Jesus does at the Last Supper in the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Jesus does the four (4) fold action, the priest does at Mass; the taking, blessing, breaking and sharing of bread which results in the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 people. Before this, however, Jesus tells his disciples “to feed them yourselves.” He is telling them you have enough with the 2 loaves and 5 fishes. Trust in me. They did and they became the source of Jesus’ nourishment for others.
This is what we are called to do with our lives, to offer them as food for others. Sometimes in life when I feel I have less, I don’t have a great job or little resources to work with, I am not sure of what to do. But each of us, like the disciples, are given 5 loaves and 2 fish with the gifts and talents God gave us. All we need to do is trust, continually offer ourselves at Mass, listen to Jesus’ words and open our- selves to the grace of the sacraments, knowing that Jesus will always be with us. Today reminds us that as we receive the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, we are the body of Christ each day as one community and church family.
In his Easter Sermon 227 to neophytes, newly Baptized Catholic Christians, St. Augustine writes: “If we receive the Eucharist worthily, we become what we receive.” And in receiving Christ, we be- come one body in him, and through him, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Through receiving the Eucharist, we enter into a unique and personal relationship with the Trinity and with one another, the Body of Christ. We become what we eat. This is why we are to go to Mass each week. Let’s face it the world is not easy, life is not easy. However, being with Jesus and receiving him each week will make all the difference . If Jesus can take the simple bread and simple wine and make them into his body and blood, [how much more can Jesus do for us if we allow him? What gifts is Jesus asking you to use to help feed the people he sends into your life? Please join us for the Corpus Christi Procession at 12:30pm today (Sunday) It is a great act of evangelization and witness.
WELCOME FR. SHELDON DIAZ
Fr. Sheldon Diaz, from Sri Lanka, is coming to us for July, August and September. More information to follow next week. Fr. Andres and Fr. Frank will be away for the month of July.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
June 16, 2019
THANK YOU ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA & OUR LADY OF MERCY GOLF COMMITTEE, PLAYERS AND PARTICIPANT
St. Ignatius Loyola has sponsored an annual golf outing for the past twenty-two years. We now have co-sponsored the golf outing with Our Lady of Mercy for the past six years. Each year gets better.
Thank you to Don Cleary, Mike Kenny their golf committee and the volunteers from both parishes for a beautiful job well done. You show us what this Sunday, the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity is all about, relationship. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit model for us a relationship of love. Our bi-parish relationship through the golf outing is an example of that love. Thank you also to all of our sponsors and our dinner participants. Your help and presence helped to cap the specialness of the day. A little rain did not dampen our spirits. This is our greatest fundraiser here at St. Ignatius Loyola. If you have not yet sup- ported the outing, please consider doing so next year and in the years to come. Congratulations to Don Cleary for being this year’s honoree. Don has worked many tireless years in making sure the golf outing is a success. May God bless Don, Carol and their family.
St. Ignatius Loyola has sponsored an annual golf outing for the past twenty-two years. We now have co-sponsored the golf outing with Our Lady of Mercy for the past six years. Each year gets better.
Thank you to Don Cleary, Mike Kenny their golf committee and the volunteers from both parishes for a beautiful job well done. You show us what this Sunday, the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity is all about, relationship. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit model for us a relationship of love. Our bi-parish relationship through the golf outing is an example of that love. Thank you also to all of our sponsors and our dinner participants. Your help and presence helped to cap the specialness of the day. A little rain did not dampen our spirits. This is our greatest fundraiser here at St. Ignatius Loyola. If you have not yet sup- ported the outing, please consider doing so next year and in the years to come. Congratulations to Don Cleary for being this year’s honoree. Don has worked many tireless years in making sure the golf outing is a success. May God bless Don, Carol and their family.
|
HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY FR. MICHAEL REID On May 31, 2019, our friend and weekend priest, Fr. Michael Reid, celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination to the ordained priesthood. Fr. Reid has had several parish assignments, but has served for most of his priesthood as Chaplain at A. Holly Paterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale. The residents of Holly Patterson as well as us here at St. Ignatius Loyola, Holy Family, Our Holy Redeemer and many other parishes continue to be blessed by Father Reid’s humble priestly ministry. Fr. Reid often ministers behind the scenes. This reminds me of the passage of Scripture where Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew 6:1 “take care not to preform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.” Fr. Reid declined an invitation for any major parish celebration whether here or at Holy Family. Fr. Reid will celebrate his next Mass here at 5:00pm on Saturday June 22nd. Stop in to congratulate him. Otherwise your best wishes and prayers will be gratefully appreciated by Fr. Reid. May God bless our Fr. Reid! Ad multos Annos! We would like to wish all the fathers in our parish a wonderful, happy and blessed Father’s Day. Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us! Fr. Jim, Pastor |
June 9, 2019
PENTECOST-COME HOLY SPIRIT -OUR MISSION CONTINUES
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHURCH! Yes you, who are the CH-UR-CH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It is on this day that we celebrate one of the main events when the CHURCH was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Originally, Pentecost was a Jewish agricultural feast marking a time when the people would give gratitude to God for the first fruits of the harvest. Then it became a time when Israel celebrated the handing over of the Torah, the Law, from God to Moses and his people on Mt. Sinai. This was God’s way of establishing the covenant, the promise made centuries ago; you will be my people and I will be your God.
For us Christians, Pentecost celebrates the time when the Apostles along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, were huddled in a locked dark upper room. They were still unsure, afraid and riddled with guilt for deny- ing him and walking away from him. They were stuck. However, they prayed with the Blessed Mother for nine days looking for guidance and direction. The Holy Spirit came upon them in what the Acts of the Apostles describes as tongues of fire. Tongues to enable the apostles to speak the words of Jesus in a language that all the people understood no matter their country of origin, and fire, to speak with the passion of burning love. The Apostles were so filled with God’s love and power that they had to share it with the whole world.
We celebrate this day because the same Holy Spirit that inspired the Apostles, is the same Sprit who comes upon us at our Baptism, Confirmation, through the other sacraments, at Mass and whenever we call on Him. The Holy Spirit inspires us to Continue Our Mission as Catholics and parishioners of St. Ignatius Loyola. Too often as one priest wrote, we are more like the apostles on Holy Thursday than on Pentecost. We come to Mass, Jesus prays for us, He feeds us with his body and blood, but when we leave the upper room, our church, we leave him behind, giving into various denials and sins perhaps for comfort like Peter, or maybe out of fear like all the rest.
There is great hope for us, however. If the Holy Spirit can change the lives of coarse fishermen and tax collectors, then the Spirit can do wonders in us as well, if we let Him. When we call upon the Holy Spirit, we too can turn from cowards to heroes, wanderers to apostles, sinners to saints. The key is allowing the Holy Spirit to act. At Mass, in the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest calls down the Holy Spirit in two ways. This is called the Epiclesis. First, upon the bread and wine to become the body and blood of Christ and second, upon us, His people, so that we too are changed and transformed to become Christ for the world. Next time, listen carefully to the words of the Eucharistic Prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to open up the gifts that are found inside you.
As we celebrate this great day, may it be a beginning and not an end of our faith, like a graduation. Too many of us see our growth in faith end after Confirmation. If we wish to leave our Upper Room and carry out our mission as the Apostles of our day, may we beg the Holy Spirit to fill us with tongues of fire, so that with passion, love and great courage we may bring the Gospel to our world, our homes, workplaces, schools and athletic places which so desperately needs to embrace it. Come, Holy Spirit, Fill the Hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!
As we end the Easter Season and enter into Ordinary time, remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHURCH! Yes you, who are the CH-UR-CH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It is on this day that we celebrate one of the main events when the CHURCH was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Originally, Pentecost was a Jewish agricultural feast marking a time when the people would give gratitude to God for the first fruits of the harvest. Then it became a time when Israel celebrated the handing over of the Torah, the Law, from God to Moses and his people on Mt. Sinai. This was God’s way of establishing the covenant, the promise made centuries ago; you will be my people and I will be your God.
For us Christians, Pentecost celebrates the time when the Apostles along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, were huddled in a locked dark upper room. They were still unsure, afraid and riddled with guilt for deny- ing him and walking away from him. They were stuck. However, they prayed with the Blessed Mother for nine days looking for guidance and direction. The Holy Spirit came upon them in what the Acts of the Apostles describes as tongues of fire. Tongues to enable the apostles to speak the words of Jesus in a language that all the people understood no matter their country of origin, and fire, to speak with the passion of burning love. The Apostles were so filled with God’s love and power that they had to share it with the whole world.
We celebrate this day because the same Holy Spirit that inspired the Apostles, is the same Sprit who comes upon us at our Baptism, Confirmation, through the other sacraments, at Mass and whenever we call on Him. The Holy Spirit inspires us to Continue Our Mission as Catholics and parishioners of St. Ignatius Loyola. Too often as one priest wrote, we are more like the apostles on Holy Thursday than on Pentecost. We come to Mass, Jesus prays for us, He feeds us with his body and blood, but when we leave the upper room, our church, we leave him behind, giving into various denials and sins perhaps for comfort like Peter, or maybe out of fear like all the rest.
There is great hope for us, however. If the Holy Spirit can change the lives of coarse fishermen and tax collectors, then the Spirit can do wonders in us as well, if we let Him. When we call upon the Holy Spirit, we too can turn from cowards to heroes, wanderers to apostles, sinners to saints. The key is allowing the Holy Spirit to act. At Mass, in the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest calls down the Holy Spirit in two ways. This is called the Epiclesis. First, upon the bread and wine to become the body and blood of Christ and second, upon us, His people, so that we too are changed and transformed to become Christ for the world. Next time, listen carefully to the words of the Eucharistic Prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to open up the gifts that are found inside you.
As we celebrate this great day, may it be a beginning and not an end of our faith, like a graduation. Too many of us see our growth in faith end after Confirmation. If we wish to leave our Upper Room and carry out our mission as the Apostles of our day, may we beg the Holy Spirit to fill us with tongues of fire, so that with passion, love and great courage we may bring the Gospel to our world, our homes, workplaces, schools and athletic places which so desperately needs to embrace it. Come, Holy Spirit, Fill the Hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!
As we end the Easter Season and enter into Ordinary time, remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
June 2, 2019
PRAYING FOR YOU AND FOR UNITY
One of the most awesome tasks as a priest that my brothers and I have is to pray for people like you. There are many times and circumstances where people will ask me as they pass by, Fr. please pray for my family, relative, friend or me. Recently, at a college graduation, security guards were asking for a blessing, joking that they needed it. I learned recently from my spiritual director that the best time to pray for the prayer request, is to do it right on the spot. This helps me not to forget, and secondly I believe that it gives the person some peace at the moment. Knowing that someone is praying for us brings us comfort, because we know that somehow we are connected to the person praying and to God who is listening.
Today we are given an insiders view of Jesus praying to His Father in John Chapter 17 known as the Great High Priestly Prayer. Recently, I read a reflection on this passage from the American Bible Society. It states that in John 17:6-19 Jesus first prays for his apostles, the ones he has known and trained. He prays that they will remain loyal to one another in this time of imminent crisis. He reminds the Father that he has always protected them from harm. He reveals that he is going to return to the Father, clearing the path for his disciples to make that same journey in the future.
In our reading today, John 17:20-26, Jesus continues to pray, not only for the apostles but also for future believers who will believe in him because of the words of the apostles. This means Jesus is praying for us! He is praying that we who respond to the preaching of the Church will share in the same unity He has with His Father. Jesus concludes His prayer saying that the “love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them” too. The love that Jesus speaks about means an attachment. As Jesus is attached to the Father, He desires the same for us too. We show our love for the Father through our love for one another. The one who can help us reach this unity Jesus asks for, is the Holy Spirit. In these days between the Ascension and Pentecost, we pray that the Holy Spirit will come upon us and help us to live in union and communion with one another by our acts of love. Pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit that you can find in the church or online. Go to EWTN.com. If that is too much, you might just want to pray this prayer between now and next Sunday, Pentecost. “Come Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.”
GOD BLESS OUR RCIA NEOPHYTES AND CANDIDATES
May God continue to bless all of our neophytes who have now recently fully become Catholic Christians and for our candidates who will be confirmed next Sunday at Pentecost. Thank you to Deacon Mario, Migdalia Velasquez and to Deacon George for leading people to Jesus through the Church.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
One of the most awesome tasks as a priest that my brothers and I have is to pray for people like you. There are many times and circumstances where people will ask me as they pass by, Fr. please pray for my family, relative, friend or me. Recently, at a college graduation, security guards were asking for a blessing, joking that they needed it. I learned recently from my spiritual director that the best time to pray for the prayer request, is to do it right on the spot. This helps me not to forget, and secondly I believe that it gives the person some peace at the moment. Knowing that someone is praying for us brings us comfort, because we know that somehow we are connected to the person praying and to God who is listening.
Today we are given an insiders view of Jesus praying to His Father in John Chapter 17 known as the Great High Priestly Prayer. Recently, I read a reflection on this passage from the American Bible Society. It states that in John 17:6-19 Jesus first prays for his apostles, the ones he has known and trained. He prays that they will remain loyal to one another in this time of imminent crisis. He reminds the Father that he has always protected them from harm. He reveals that he is going to return to the Father, clearing the path for his disciples to make that same journey in the future.
In our reading today, John 17:20-26, Jesus continues to pray, not only for the apostles but also for future believers who will believe in him because of the words of the apostles. This means Jesus is praying for us! He is praying that we who respond to the preaching of the Church will share in the same unity He has with His Father. Jesus concludes His prayer saying that the “love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them” too. The love that Jesus speaks about means an attachment. As Jesus is attached to the Father, He desires the same for us too. We show our love for the Father through our love for one another. The one who can help us reach this unity Jesus asks for, is the Holy Spirit. In these days between the Ascension and Pentecost, we pray that the Holy Spirit will come upon us and help us to live in union and communion with one another by our acts of love. Pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit that you can find in the church or online. Go to EWTN.com. If that is too much, you might just want to pray this prayer between now and next Sunday, Pentecost. “Come Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.”
GOD BLESS OUR RCIA NEOPHYTES AND CANDIDATES
May God continue to bless all of our neophytes who have now recently fully become Catholic Christians and for our candidates who will be confirmed next Sunday at Pentecost. Thank you to Deacon Mario, Migdalia Velasquez and to Deacon George for leading people to Jesus through the Church.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
May 26, 2019
Congratulations to our now official Director of Religious Education/Fatih Formation, Mrs. Colleen
Tuzzolo. Colleen recently graduated from St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers, NY with a Master of Arts Degree in Theology. The MA in Theology provides a graduate level understanding of the saving mysteries of Christian Revelation in light of the Catholic Tradition. One must acquire 39 credits in Theology with electives in Scripture, Fundamental Theology, Morality , Liturgy and Sacraments , Church History and Catholic Spirituality. May God bless Colleen as she continues to use her gifts here at St. Ignatius for all of our faith formation programs. Thank you also to Mike, her husband and their children for supporting her through her many years of study.
Fr. Jim
Tuzzolo. Colleen recently graduated from St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers, NY with a Master of Arts Degree in Theology. The MA in Theology provides a graduate level understanding of the saving mysteries of Christian Revelation in light of the Catholic Tradition. One must acquire 39 credits in Theology with electives in Scripture, Fundamental Theology, Morality , Liturgy and Sacraments , Church History and Catholic Spirituality. May God bless Colleen as she continues to use her gifts here at St. Ignatius for all of our faith formation programs. Thank you also to Mike, her husband and their children for supporting her through her many years of study.
Fr. Jim
The Easter Season was filled with many celebrations, particularly the celebration of our First Holy Communicants at St. Ignatius Loyola. Thank you to Mrs. Colleen Tuzzolo, her Admin Asst., Mrs. Barbara Malerba, all of our catechists, helpers, music ministers, ushers and sacristan for a beautiful job well
done. Most of all thank you to our parents and their children for participating. We hope to see you on Saturday night or Sunday each week to continue your reception of Holy Communion.
Thank you to our Mother's Prayer Group for coordinating our annual May Crowning for our First Holy Communicants. May God continue to bless and guide you for all the beautiful work you do for us as a parish.
Fr. Jim
May 19, 2019
CONTINUING OUR MISSION-CAPTIAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE –LOW COLLECTION RATES
As of May 7, 2019, we have reached up to $1,383,658.95 in paid pledges in our Capital Campaign, Continuing Our Mission. Our goal is $1.5 Million. We are only $116,341.05 or have reached approximately 98.6% of our goal.. Thank you to all who have contributed and are contributing to this ambitious campaign. May God bless each of you for your generosity.
Our next two projects for the church are a fire alarm system and leaders and gutters. If you have not yet had the opportunity to contribute to this worthwhile cause, please contact the rectory business office at 516-931-0056 Ext. 118. It is never too late to contribute. Remember no gift is ever too small. The Lord looks at equal sacrifice, not equal giving. Jesus says “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Mt 6:21.
While it delights me that our campaign is going very well, I am saddened by our recent collections over the past seven months. We have had a 80% precipitous drop in our Sunday collections. Why? It could be a number of reasons. One is our capital campaign. Often, we might think that since I am giving to the campaign, I do not have to give so much in my Sunday collection. Unfortunately, this is faulty thinking. These are two separate accounts. It hurts the financial solvency of the parish in the long run if we fail to give to the collection. It is with your help that we can keep our parish vibrant in maintaining its structure, its programs and ministries. Giving to the campaign only, does not help the parish pay its bills.
In John’s Gospel this Sunday, Jesus gives his disciples one last directive in his speech to them before his death on the cross. He tells them to love one another as He has loved them. Bishop Robert Barron writes, “love is actually a great act of the will. It is when you say, I desire your good, not for my sake but for yours. To love is to break the black hole of the ego and say my life is about you.” When coming to church, think about your parish, your church, and say, my life is about you Oh Lord, my life is about my parish of St. Ignatius Loyola. Then make your words concrete in your giving to our Sunday collection. If you have not registered, please do so. What an Easter gift to God! Thank you!
Remember to always live your life for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
As of May 7, 2019, we have reached up to $1,383,658.95 in paid pledges in our Capital Campaign, Continuing Our Mission. Our goal is $1.5 Million. We are only $116,341.05 or have reached approximately 98.6% of our goal.. Thank you to all who have contributed and are contributing to this ambitious campaign. May God bless each of you for your generosity.
Our next two projects for the church are a fire alarm system and leaders and gutters. If you have not yet had the opportunity to contribute to this worthwhile cause, please contact the rectory business office at 516-931-0056 Ext. 118. It is never too late to contribute. Remember no gift is ever too small. The Lord looks at equal sacrifice, not equal giving. Jesus says “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Mt 6:21.
While it delights me that our campaign is going very well, I am saddened by our recent collections over the past seven months. We have had a 80% precipitous drop in our Sunday collections. Why? It could be a number of reasons. One is our capital campaign. Often, we might think that since I am giving to the campaign, I do not have to give so much in my Sunday collection. Unfortunately, this is faulty thinking. These are two separate accounts. It hurts the financial solvency of the parish in the long run if we fail to give to the collection. It is with your help that we can keep our parish vibrant in maintaining its structure, its programs and ministries. Giving to the campaign only, does not help the parish pay its bills.
In John’s Gospel this Sunday, Jesus gives his disciples one last directive in his speech to them before his death on the cross. He tells them to love one another as He has loved them. Bishop Robert Barron writes, “love is actually a great act of the will. It is when you say, I desire your good, not for my sake but for yours. To love is to break the black hole of the ego and say my life is about you.” When coming to church, think about your parish, your church, and say, my life is about you Oh Lord, my life is about my parish of St. Ignatius Loyola. Then make your words concrete in your giving to our Sunday collection. If you have not registered, please do so. What an Easter gift to God! Thank you!
Remember to always live your life for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
May 12, 2019
THE 50 DAYS OF EASTER
Whenever a family celebrates an event such as a wedding, baptism, first holy communion or graduation they usually go all out and mark these special occasions with a party. Though not a part of our culture, some cultures (ie Poland) celebrate the marriage of their loved ones for at least a week. This is because it marks a new event and a new creation not only for the bride and groom, but for their entire families.
The resurrection is such a momentous event for us as Catholic Christians, we need more than just a few days to unpack this Easter mystery of Jesus rising from the dead. St. Paul 1 Corinthians 15:13-14 writes “if there is no resurrection from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”. Since the resurrection of Jesus changed the world and our lives forever, we need to celebrate this event as Church. The Church has given us 50 days to help unpack the power of our Lord’s resurrection in our lives. This year, we celebrate the Easter Season from Easter Sunday, April 21st to Pentecost Sunday, June 9, 2019 with joy and exultation. One sign of the Easter season is the lighting of the Easter (Paschal) Candle. This is located right next to the ambo where our readers read the scriptures for mass. This light represents the light of Christ, which was first brought to us at our baptism and is lit again when we enter into the fullness of eternal life at death. It is also lit when we renew our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday. The candle represents for us that Christ is always with us as our light and that we are to be that same light to one another.
Over the past few weeks, we have heard in the Scriptures how the risen Jesus came to the apostles show- ing them that despite the wounds in his hands and in his side, he is truly alive. He comes to them as a glorified body, something we too will have some day.
The Scriptures tell us that the disciples recognize him only when they believe and have faith. While we hear that “seeing is believing,” we can also say, “believing is seeing.” One strong example of Easter faith, came to my family and me last week while visiting my brother John and his family in Southern California. We were at the San Juan Capistrano Mission in San Juan Capistrano, Ca. This mission is one of 21 churches that was set up by St. Junipero Serra and the Spanish Franciscans. While praying in the main chapel, my brother John lit a candle in honor of my dad who died about 2 years ago. Our dad always lit a candle for someone whenever he visited a church or a chapel. Afterwards, John expressed that we had a sign that dad is okay. After we left the chapel, a large butterfly came flying between my mom and my brother. It landed on John’s shoulder and flew way. Butterflies are signs of resurrection because they are transformed from first being caterpillars . That was our sign that dad somehow was still with us and also with God in heaven. If we did not have faith, we would have thought nothing else but seeing a butterfly flying by us.
Friends, the same Jesus that was present to his disciples is still present to us wherever we are or wherever we go, even if we don’t see butterflies. He always said “I am with you until the end of the world”. Jesus is most especially present to us when we are in church participating in the Eucharist, we call the Mass. He is present to us when we gather with others as the assembly, in the Word read, in the priest, and most especially in Holy Communion. This Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, we will hear how the risen Lord is the Good Shepherd who always takes care of us and would sacrifice his life for us repeatedly just so we can share in God’s life and live it to the full.
During this Easter season, take the time to take some holy water home. You may want your home blessed. Contact us here at the rectory. Read the book called the Acts of the Apostles from the Bible to see how the early Christian community grew after the Lord’s resurrection. Stop by the Easter candle and the cross and say a prayer. Pray for all of our First Holy Communicants who are receiving the Lord Jesus for the first time. This is a special time for all of us to renew our belief in our Lord Jesus that he has come to save each of us and that through faith we have eternal life with him. In all of this, it is important to have faith and believe! If you have difficulty, ask Jesus to help you and he will! What are you doing this Easter season to help you recognize Christ’s presence in your midst and to invite others to do the same?
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL MOTHERS
May is a time where we honor the Blessed Mother as our Mother. As we crown her Queen of Heaven and Earth, may we crown her as Queen of our very lives. May she protect all mothers.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Whenever a family celebrates an event such as a wedding, baptism, first holy communion or graduation they usually go all out and mark these special occasions with a party. Though not a part of our culture, some cultures (ie Poland) celebrate the marriage of their loved ones for at least a week. This is because it marks a new event and a new creation not only for the bride and groom, but for their entire families.
The resurrection is such a momentous event for us as Catholic Christians, we need more than just a few days to unpack this Easter mystery of Jesus rising from the dead. St. Paul 1 Corinthians 15:13-14 writes “if there is no resurrection from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”. Since the resurrection of Jesus changed the world and our lives forever, we need to celebrate this event as Church. The Church has given us 50 days to help unpack the power of our Lord’s resurrection in our lives. This year, we celebrate the Easter Season from Easter Sunday, April 21st to Pentecost Sunday, June 9, 2019 with joy and exultation. One sign of the Easter season is the lighting of the Easter (Paschal) Candle. This is located right next to the ambo where our readers read the scriptures for mass. This light represents the light of Christ, which was first brought to us at our baptism and is lit again when we enter into the fullness of eternal life at death. It is also lit when we renew our baptismal promises on Easter Sunday. The candle represents for us that Christ is always with us as our light and that we are to be that same light to one another.
Over the past few weeks, we have heard in the Scriptures how the risen Jesus came to the apostles show- ing them that despite the wounds in his hands and in his side, he is truly alive. He comes to them as a glorified body, something we too will have some day.
The Scriptures tell us that the disciples recognize him only when they believe and have faith. While we hear that “seeing is believing,” we can also say, “believing is seeing.” One strong example of Easter faith, came to my family and me last week while visiting my brother John and his family in Southern California. We were at the San Juan Capistrano Mission in San Juan Capistrano, Ca. This mission is one of 21 churches that was set up by St. Junipero Serra and the Spanish Franciscans. While praying in the main chapel, my brother John lit a candle in honor of my dad who died about 2 years ago. Our dad always lit a candle for someone whenever he visited a church or a chapel. Afterwards, John expressed that we had a sign that dad is okay. After we left the chapel, a large butterfly came flying between my mom and my brother. It landed on John’s shoulder and flew way. Butterflies are signs of resurrection because they are transformed from first being caterpillars . That was our sign that dad somehow was still with us and also with God in heaven. If we did not have faith, we would have thought nothing else but seeing a butterfly flying by us.
Friends, the same Jesus that was present to his disciples is still present to us wherever we are or wherever we go, even if we don’t see butterflies. He always said “I am with you until the end of the world”. Jesus is most especially present to us when we are in church participating in the Eucharist, we call the Mass. He is present to us when we gather with others as the assembly, in the Word read, in the priest, and most especially in Holy Communion. This Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, we will hear how the risen Lord is the Good Shepherd who always takes care of us and would sacrifice his life for us repeatedly just so we can share in God’s life and live it to the full.
During this Easter season, take the time to take some holy water home. You may want your home blessed. Contact us here at the rectory. Read the book called the Acts of the Apostles from the Bible to see how the early Christian community grew after the Lord’s resurrection. Stop by the Easter candle and the cross and say a prayer. Pray for all of our First Holy Communicants who are receiving the Lord Jesus for the first time. This is a special time for all of us to renew our belief in our Lord Jesus that he has come to save each of us and that through faith we have eternal life with him. In all of this, it is important to have faith and believe! If you have difficulty, ask Jesus to help you and he will! What are you doing this Easter season to help you recognize Christ’s presence in your midst and to invite others to do the same?
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL MOTHERS
May is a time where we honor the Blessed Mother as our Mother. As we crown her Queen of Heaven and Earth, may we crown her as Queen of our very lives. May she protect all mothers.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
May 5, 2019
THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard making Holy Week and our Masses, during the Easter Triduum, so beautiful and joyful.
Thank you to our Martha’s Guild- for the Decorations
Both Choirs
Sacristans-setting up
Altar Servers
Lectors
Ushers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Boy Scouts- The Outdoor Easter Fire
To all who put our Worship Aid booklets together.
I also want to send out a big Thank You to all who helped make our Choral Way of the Cross a beautiful Lenten experience. We received $405.00 in
donations and that will go to our Human Services to help the needy in our parish. You have helped us to experience the risen Christ!!
May God bless you all!
Thank you to all who sent Easter cards, foods and gifts. May God bless you for your generosity.
Fr. Jim
FACEBOOK
The following is an article that was printed in the Times Tribune on February 1, 2019 by Bill Sarnak
Karl Marx declared that religion is the opiate of the masses.
Modern capitalists may have invented a better one, Facebook, the world’s most popular social network with more than 200 million users in the United States and more than 2.27 billion worldwide. Facebook consistently has broken promises about safeguarding user privacy or protecting users from manipulation by malign forces. Facebook exploits a vulnerability in human psychology to addict users. In many ways it’s ripping apart the social fabric of how society works.
Initially, Facebook was supposed to be the great hope for democracy. Facebook has led to less human interaction, not more. It has suppressed human development, not stimulated it. Consequently, American society has regressed.
Face book is an Orwellian surveillance machine. It records, tracks and stores everything users do. “For those who buy or access this information, it provides a comprehensive picture of the individual. Face-book has the ability to access your computer or smartphone, microphone without users’ knowledge. By partnering with data-brokering companies, Facebook has access to an incredible amount of data that has nothing with what users post online. Facebook has information on credit card transactions, where users live, shop, how families spend their time, where people work, what they eat, read and listen to. Information is collected about websites users peruse, outside of Facebook’s platform. This allows Facebook to target users to sell ads.
In order for Facebook’s business model to work, it has to remain a surveillance machine. In short, it’s the ultimate advertising tool. The price is users’ privacy. The United States has no laws governing technologies that utilize the kinds of data collection done by Facebook. My advice is to engage in real time, face-to-face relationships that are full and meaningful that will enrich your life the way God intended.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard making Holy Week and our Masses, during the Easter Triduum, so beautiful and joyful.
Thank you to our Martha’s Guild- for the Decorations
Both Choirs
Sacristans-setting up
Altar Servers
Lectors
Ushers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Boy Scouts- The Outdoor Easter Fire
To all who put our Worship Aid booklets together.
I also want to send out a big Thank You to all who helped make our Choral Way of the Cross a beautiful Lenten experience. We received $405.00 in
donations and that will go to our Human Services to help the needy in our parish. You have helped us to experience the risen Christ!!
May God bless you all!
Thank you to all who sent Easter cards, foods and gifts. May God bless you for your generosity.
Fr. Jim
The following is an article that was printed in the Times Tribune on February 1, 2019 by Bill Sarnak
Karl Marx declared that religion is the opiate of the masses.
Modern capitalists may have invented a better one, Facebook, the world’s most popular social network with more than 200 million users in the United States and more than 2.27 billion worldwide. Facebook consistently has broken promises about safeguarding user privacy or protecting users from manipulation by malign forces. Facebook exploits a vulnerability in human psychology to addict users. In many ways it’s ripping apart the social fabric of how society works.
Initially, Facebook was supposed to be the great hope for democracy. Facebook has led to less human interaction, not more. It has suppressed human development, not stimulated it. Consequently, American society has regressed.
Face book is an Orwellian surveillance machine. It records, tracks and stores everything users do. “For those who buy or access this information, it provides a comprehensive picture of the individual. Face-book has the ability to access your computer or smartphone, microphone without users’ knowledge. By partnering with data-brokering companies, Facebook has access to an incredible amount of data that has nothing with what users post online. Facebook has information on credit card transactions, where users live, shop, how families spend their time, where people work, what they eat, read and listen to. Information is collected about websites users peruse, outside of Facebook’s platform. This allows Facebook to target users to sell ads.
In order for Facebook’s business model to work, it has to remain a surveillance machine. In short, it’s the ultimate advertising tool. The price is users’ privacy. The United States has no laws governing technologies that utilize the kinds of data collection done by Facebook. My advice is to engage in real time, face-to-face relationships that are full and meaningful that will enrich your life the way God intended.
April 28, 2019
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER - “SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY”
The celebration of the Sunday of the Divine Mercy takes place on the second Sunday of Easter. What is it and why is this day so important for Catholics? These are some things we should know about this important day of Divine Mercy:
Sunday of Divine Mercy is based on private revelations
The celebration of this feast is based on the private revelations of St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish religious who received messages from Jesus about his Divine Mercy in the town of Plock, Poland.
It is part of the calendar of the Church since Pope Saint John Paul II
In the year 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II canonized Saint Faustina and during the ceremony he declared: "Therefore, it is important that we fully accept the message given to us by the Word of God on this second Sunday of Easter, which from now on, the whole Church will designate with the name of 'Sunday of the Divine Mercy' ". (Homily, April 30, 2000)
The Church invites to celebrate the Divine Mercy in various beautiful ways
The Church dispenses a plenary indulgence to those who celebrate devoutly: "to make the faithful live this celebration with intense piety, the same Supreme Pontiff (John Paul II) has established that the aforementioned Sunday be enriched with plenary indulgence so that the faithful may receive more abundantly the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit and thus cultivate a growing charity towards God and neighbor, and once obtained from God the forgiveness of their sins, they in turn generously forgive their brothers.
" [Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary of 2002]
The Divine Mercy is linked to the Gospel of the second Sunday of Easter
The image of the Divine Mercy represents Jesus at the moment when he appears to the disciples in the Cenacle - after his Resurrection - when they are given the power to forgive or retain their sins. This moment is recorded in John 20: 19-31, which is the reading of the Gospel this Sunday. That passage is read that day because it includes the appearance of Jesus to the apostle Thomas, in which he invites him to touch his wounds. This event occurred on the eighth day after the Resurrection (John 20:26) and is, there- fore, used in the liturgy eight days after Easter.
Confession is the action of Divine Mercy until the end of time
Jesus empowered the apostles (and their successors in the ministry) with the Holy Spirit to forgive or retain (not forgive) sins. Because they are empowered with the Spirit of God to do this, their administration of forgiveness is effective: it actually eliminates sin instead of just being a symbol of forgiveness.
Let us celebrate and enjoy this wonderful day of Divine Mercy in order to participate in its prizes and blessings that come to us from the open Heart of Jesus.
Fr. Andres A. Fernandez, Pastor Associate
The celebration of the Sunday of the Divine Mercy takes place on the second Sunday of Easter. What is it and why is this day so important for Catholics? These are some things we should know about this important day of Divine Mercy:
Sunday of Divine Mercy is based on private revelations
The celebration of this feast is based on the private revelations of St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish religious who received messages from Jesus about his Divine Mercy in the town of Plock, Poland.
It is part of the calendar of the Church since Pope Saint John Paul II
In the year 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II canonized Saint Faustina and during the ceremony he declared: "Therefore, it is important that we fully accept the message given to us by the Word of God on this second Sunday of Easter, which from now on, the whole Church will designate with the name of 'Sunday of the Divine Mercy' ". (Homily, April 30, 2000)
The Church invites to celebrate the Divine Mercy in various beautiful ways
The Church dispenses a plenary indulgence to those who celebrate devoutly: "to make the faithful live this celebration with intense piety, the same Supreme Pontiff (John Paul II) has established that the aforementioned Sunday be enriched with plenary indulgence so that the faithful may receive more abundantly the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit and thus cultivate a growing charity towards God and neighbor, and once obtained from God the forgiveness of their sins, they in turn generously forgive their brothers.
" [Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary of 2002]
The Divine Mercy is linked to the Gospel of the second Sunday of Easter
The image of the Divine Mercy represents Jesus at the moment when he appears to the disciples in the Cenacle - after his Resurrection - when they are given the power to forgive or retain their sins. This moment is recorded in John 20: 19-31, which is the reading of the Gospel this Sunday. That passage is read that day because it includes the appearance of Jesus to the apostle Thomas, in which he invites him to touch his wounds. This event occurred on the eighth day after the Resurrection (John 20:26) and is, there- fore, used in the liturgy eight days after Easter.
Confession is the action of Divine Mercy until the end of time
Jesus empowered the apostles (and their successors in the ministry) with the Holy Spirit to forgive or retain (not forgive) sins. Because they are empowered with the Spirit of God to do this, their administration of forgiveness is effective: it actually eliminates sin instead of just being a symbol of forgiveness.
Let us celebrate and enjoy this wonderful day of Divine Mercy in order to participate in its prizes and blessings that come to us from the open Heart of Jesus.
Fr. Andres A. Fernandez, Pastor Associate
April 21, 2019
EASTER IS ALL ABOUT REDEMPTION
Recently the sports world witnessed two major redemptions. The University of Virginia Basketball team won the NCAA National Championship and last Sunday, Tiger Woods won the famous golf tournament known as The Masters, in Augusta, Ga. Both had little hope to win anything. Last year after Virginia lost to a 16th seed team, the question was would they ever come back? We saw however, that Virginia through hard work, team effort and a little faith, helped them to win the highest honor in all of college basketball.
Tiger Woods, was a person who lost a marriage, had drinking problems and physical problems where as the Wall Street Journal describes “he was driven to be a bedridden recluse.” The question was whatever happened to Tiger?” Now we see how again hard work, dedication, hope and cooperation brought him an enormous win in the world of golf. The word we use about both Virginia and Tiger is redemption.
Today, Easter Sunday, is a day of redemption for us! We are redeemed not by our own merits but by God, who became human like you and me and took on our sins and defeated them on the cross and by his Resurrection from the dead. The word we use for this event is redemption. The word redemption comes from the Latin redimere, meaning to buy back, or reacquire at a cost. Humankind has been bought back from the grip of sin and death by the love of a God who gave us his only Son, Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross that fateful day, Good Friday, our sins were forgiven and we were reunited with God and one another. When He rose from the dead on Easter, his act of sacrifice on the cross became complete. Jesus is victorious over death by the power of God the Father. We now are given a share in His victory and we are given the liberation to become sons and daughters of God.
Often we are tempted to become discouraged or give up when we face crisis after crisis in our lives. We may feel alone or think we know better than God and we end up in the dark closet obstructing God to restore us with new life. We may fall into despair that is far darker than death. Fr. James Martin in an article “Take Up Your Cross: The Risen Christ and Daily Life” writes that “this is the time to turn to the Resurrection.”
The disciples “failed to realize that they are dealing with the living God, the same one whose Message to Mary Magdalene “Nothing will be impossible with God.” It is because of the Resurrection “we are called not to live behind closed doors of darkness, doubt, fear and death, but to come out of our hiding and accompany Mary Magdalene, Peter and the Beloved disciple (John), weeping sometimes, searching al- ways and ultimately be moved to joy by the dawn of the Resurrection.”
The risen Christ teaches us that we are called to believe what the disciples have seen with their eyes, but we now see with faith. May we never give up because with God everything is POSSIBLE! If God can move a simple stone away, how much more can God do with our hearts and our lives if we trust and have faith in him.
The University of Virginia and Tiger Wood’s story is that in the end they did not win alone. Both had a community where they worked and believed together. Tiger Woods, was no longer the solo sullen fellow. He relied on help from others. This is what we do as an Easter Family in the Catholic Church. We win together because God saves us all together and his desire is that we are one, drawn into the presence of his Son, Jesus Christ. The Resurrection teaches us that as a family, for every Good Friday we experience in life, Easter Sunday always awaits. On behalf of our priests Frs. Andrés, Benjamin, Frank, and our Sisters of St. Dominic, Srs. Mary, Kathy, Karen; and the entire parish staff, I wish you and your family a very Happy and blessed Easter. May the risen Christ dwell in your hearts forever!
I close with a prayer song that the Church prays during these 50 Days of Easter. It is entitled the Regina Coeli (Latin: Queen of Heaven). You can say this prayer at any time; especially at 6am, 12 noon, 6pm or before retiring for the night.
Regina caeli laetare, alleluia:
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia: Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
V. Gaude et ltare Virgo Maria, alleluia. R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia
Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
For He, whom you did worthy to bear. Alleluia. Has risen as He said. Alleluia.
Pray for us to God. Alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia. R. Because the Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us pray
O God, Who by the Resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has been pleased to give joy to the whole world, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE-CONTINUING OUR MISSION
WE ARE ALOMOST THERE! (91% of Goal)
We are inching our way toward our paid pledges of $1.5 Million. As of April 2, 2019 we are at $1,368,628.95. That puts us at $131,371.05 below our stated goal. If you are visiting and would like to contribute, your gift will be greatly accepted. If you have not given yet to the Campaign, no gift is ever too small. This is all about equal sacrifice, not equal giving. Thank you to all who have so generously given and are giving to the campaign. We have used our funds well for the church, parking lot and convent. Our next project is the leaders and gutters on the rectory and a fire alarm for the church. Please contact our business office for more information at 931-0056 Ext. 118.
Fr.Jim, Pastor
Recently the sports world witnessed two major redemptions. The University of Virginia Basketball team won the NCAA National Championship and last Sunday, Tiger Woods won the famous golf tournament known as The Masters, in Augusta, Ga. Both had little hope to win anything. Last year after Virginia lost to a 16th seed team, the question was would they ever come back? We saw however, that Virginia through hard work, team effort and a little faith, helped them to win the highest honor in all of college basketball.
Tiger Woods, was a person who lost a marriage, had drinking problems and physical problems where as the Wall Street Journal describes “he was driven to be a bedridden recluse.” The question was whatever happened to Tiger?” Now we see how again hard work, dedication, hope and cooperation brought him an enormous win in the world of golf. The word we use about both Virginia and Tiger is redemption.
Today, Easter Sunday, is a day of redemption for us! We are redeemed not by our own merits but by God, who became human like you and me and took on our sins and defeated them on the cross and by his Resurrection from the dead. The word we use for this event is redemption. The word redemption comes from the Latin redimere, meaning to buy back, or reacquire at a cost. Humankind has been bought back from the grip of sin and death by the love of a God who gave us his only Son, Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross that fateful day, Good Friday, our sins were forgiven and we were reunited with God and one another. When He rose from the dead on Easter, his act of sacrifice on the cross became complete. Jesus is victorious over death by the power of God the Father. We now are given a share in His victory and we are given the liberation to become sons and daughters of God.
Often we are tempted to become discouraged or give up when we face crisis after crisis in our lives. We may feel alone or think we know better than God and we end up in the dark closet obstructing God to restore us with new life. We may fall into despair that is far darker than death. Fr. James Martin in an article “Take Up Your Cross: The Risen Christ and Daily Life” writes that “this is the time to turn to the Resurrection.”
The disciples “failed to realize that they are dealing with the living God, the same one whose Message to Mary Magdalene “Nothing will be impossible with God.” It is because of the Resurrection “we are called not to live behind closed doors of darkness, doubt, fear and death, but to come out of our hiding and accompany Mary Magdalene, Peter and the Beloved disciple (John), weeping sometimes, searching al- ways and ultimately be moved to joy by the dawn of the Resurrection.”
The risen Christ teaches us that we are called to believe what the disciples have seen with their eyes, but we now see with faith. May we never give up because with God everything is POSSIBLE! If God can move a simple stone away, how much more can God do with our hearts and our lives if we trust and have faith in him.
The University of Virginia and Tiger Wood’s story is that in the end they did not win alone. Both had a community where they worked and believed together. Tiger Woods, was no longer the solo sullen fellow. He relied on help from others. This is what we do as an Easter Family in the Catholic Church. We win together because God saves us all together and his desire is that we are one, drawn into the presence of his Son, Jesus Christ. The Resurrection teaches us that as a family, for every Good Friday we experience in life, Easter Sunday always awaits. On behalf of our priests Frs. Andrés, Benjamin, Frank, and our Sisters of St. Dominic, Srs. Mary, Kathy, Karen; and the entire parish staff, I wish you and your family a very Happy and blessed Easter. May the risen Christ dwell in your hearts forever!
I close with a prayer song that the Church prays during these 50 Days of Easter. It is entitled the Regina Coeli (Latin: Queen of Heaven). You can say this prayer at any time; especially at 6am, 12 noon, 6pm or before retiring for the night.
Regina caeli laetare, alleluia:
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia: Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
V. Gaude et ltare Virgo Maria, alleluia. R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia
Queen of Heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
For He, whom you did worthy to bear. Alleluia. Has risen as He said. Alleluia.
Pray for us to God. Alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia. R. Because the Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us pray
O God, Who by the Resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has been pleased to give joy to the whole world, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE-CONTINUING OUR MISSION
WE ARE ALOMOST THERE! (91% of Goal)
We are inching our way toward our paid pledges of $1.5 Million. As of April 2, 2019 we are at $1,368,628.95. That puts us at $131,371.05 below our stated goal. If you are visiting and would like to contribute, your gift will be greatly accepted. If you have not given yet to the Campaign, no gift is ever too small. This is all about equal sacrifice, not equal giving. Thank you to all who have so generously given and are giving to the campaign. We have used our funds well for the church, parking lot and convent. Our next project is the leaders and gutters on the rectory and a fire alarm for the church. Please contact our business office for more information at 931-0056 Ext. 118.
Fr.Jim, Pastor
April 14, 2019
HOLY WEEK-PALM SUNDAY-LK. 14-23:56
While it’s hard to believe, we have entered into the most sacred time of the year, Holy Week. My hope is that this Lenten season has been fulfilling and grace-filled in helping you journey closer to God.
This period of Holy Week is not only a time for us to weep for our sinfulness, but also a time to be grateful because this is the week that changed and saved the world. Instead of just focusing on Jesus’ sufferings 2,000 years ago, we should focus on the love that underlies this suffering. Jesus died because of his great love for you and me so that we can experience a redemption that brings us an eternal life with God forever. Jesus has shown us how to be obedient to the Father by surrendering his life for the Mission of establishing his Kingdom on earth. He said at the Garden of Gethsemane “Father, not my will but yours be done.” We also need to focus on how Jesus is still suffering today in our brothers and sisters who are poor, sick, addicted, suffering and in need.
Jesus’ journey to Calvary is as much our journey as it is His. Any crosses that we carry in our lives, is helped by the fact that we do not carry them alone. He is right there alongside us. We can shift its weight to Him because we are intimately united with Him through the Paschal Mystery (Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection). Since he overcame the cross, we realize that we too with our trust in Him, can face any obstacles that life places on our path.
There are two images of mercy, only found in Luke’s Gospel to reflect upon. Jesus forgives everyone in the midst of the most painful moment of his life from the cross. No matter if they are the soldiers, the mob spitting at him, Pilate or the Pharisees, he says “Father forgive them they know not what they do.” Then Jesus forgives the repentant thief who asks to be remembered in Jesus’ Kingdom. Jesus says, “today you will be with me in Paradise”. Right upon death, the thief becomes the first citizen of creation reconciled and restored. It also challenges us to welcome all others with the same unconditional unfailing mercy with which Jesus welcomes us. The Holy Week/Easter season is the right time to begin. Take advantage of it!
THE EASTER TRIDUUM
Lent ends on Holy Thursday Evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. At this time, we begin the Easter Triduum (The 3 Days-Holy Thursday Evening, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday).
These are the days where we can best express our thanksgiving to Jesus for his ultimate sacrifice of giving his life for us. We invite you to participate in the following:
Morning Prayer at 9am and a Bi-lingual Mass on Holy Thursday,
Morning Prayer at 9am and the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday,
Morning Prayer at 9am and the Bi-lingual Mass of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, and rise with Him on Easter Sunday at Mass during the day. Please join us and let the crucified and risen Christ speak to your heart!. Please consider taking time out from your regular schedule from work, play and other items on your list to join us and unite yourself with Jesus.
PLEASE BE GENEROUS
We welcome all our parishioners and visitors who have come to worship with us on this Palm Sunday Weekend. This year our collections have gone down. I ask that you be generous in this Sunday’s collection to help us to rebuild our financial foundation.
RECONCILATION MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019
Please join your brothers and sisters across Long Island and New York City in celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation. Here at St. Ignatius, we will offer the sacrament from 3pm to 9pm. What better way to prepare for Holy Week and Easter then by seeking the Lord whose love for us is greater than any sin we can ever commit. The Confession Schedule for our priests here at St. Ignatius Loyola is as follows:
Fr. Jim 3-6pm
Fr. Andrés 3-5pm& 6-9pm(Español)
Fr. Ben 3-5pm & 6-9pm
Fr. Frank 5-6pm & 7-9pm
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
While it’s hard to believe, we have entered into the most sacred time of the year, Holy Week. My hope is that this Lenten season has been fulfilling and grace-filled in helping you journey closer to God.
This period of Holy Week is not only a time for us to weep for our sinfulness, but also a time to be grateful because this is the week that changed and saved the world. Instead of just focusing on Jesus’ sufferings 2,000 years ago, we should focus on the love that underlies this suffering. Jesus died because of his great love for you and me so that we can experience a redemption that brings us an eternal life with God forever. Jesus has shown us how to be obedient to the Father by surrendering his life for the Mission of establishing his Kingdom on earth. He said at the Garden of Gethsemane “Father, not my will but yours be done.” We also need to focus on how Jesus is still suffering today in our brothers and sisters who are poor, sick, addicted, suffering and in need.
Jesus’ journey to Calvary is as much our journey as it is His. Any crosses that we carry in our lives, is helped by the fact that we do not carry them alone. He is right there alongside us. We can shift its weight to Him because we are intimately united with Him through the Paschal Mystery (Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection). Since he overcame the cross, we realize that we too with our trust in Him, can face any obstacles that life places on our path.
There are two images of mercy, only found in Luke’s Gospel to reflect upon. Jesus forgives everyone in the midst of the most painful moment of his life from the cross. No matter if they are the soldiers, the mob spitting at him, Pilate or the Pharisees, he says “Father forgive them they know not what they do.” Then Jesus forgives the repentant thief who asks to be remembered in Jesus’ Kingdom. Jesus says, “today you will be with me in Paradise”. Right upon death, the thief becomes the first citizen of creation reconciled and restored. It also challenges us to welcome all others with the same unconditional unfailing mercy with which Jesus welcomes us. The Holy Week/Easter season is the right time to begin. Take advantage of it!
THE EASTER TRIDUUM
Lent ends on Holy Thursday Evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. At this time, we begin the Easter Triduum (The 3 Days-Holy Thursday Evening, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday).
These are the days where we can best express our thanksgiving to Jesus for his ultimate sacrifice of giving his life for us. We invite you to participate in the following:
Morning Prayer at 9am and a Bi-lingual Mass on Holy Thursday,
Morning Prayer at 9am and the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday,
Morning Prayer at 9am and the Bi-lingual Mass of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, and rise with Him on Easter Sunday at Mass during the day. Please join us and let the crucified and risen Christ speak to your heart!. Please consider taking time out from your regular schedule from work, play and other items on your list to join us and unite yourself with Jesus.
PLEASE BE GENEROUS
We welcome all our parishioners and visitors who have come to worship with us on this Palm Sunday Weekend. This year our collections have gone down. I ask that you be generous in this Sunday’s collection to help us to rebuild our financial foundation.
RECONCILATION MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019
Please join your brothers and sisters across Long Island and New York City in celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation. Here at St. Ignatius, we will offer the sacrament from 3pm to 9pm. What better way to prepare for Holy Week and Easter then by seeking the Lord whose love for us is greater than any sin we can ever commit. The Confession Schedule for our priests here at St. Ignatius Loyola is as follows:
Fr. Jim 3-6pm
Fr. Andrés 3-5pm& 6-9pm(Español)
Fr. Ben 3-5pm & 6-9pm
Fr. Frank 5-6pm & 7-9pm
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
April 7, 2019
TO GOD, THERE IS NO SIN THAT IS UNFORGIVEABLE
In today’s Gospel, we are invited into the drama of the adulterous woman who is about to be stoned to death. Yet, we see how Jesus responds to the men who want to stone her and the adulterous woman. He writes something in the ground that some say could have been the sins of the men who were going to stone her to death. Then he forgives the woman and says “go and sin no more”.
This tells us of the merciful way God responds to us when we sin. While God desires us not to sin, he is all loving and merciful toward us when we sin and challenges us like the adulterous person to change our hearts and our ways. In addition as Pope Francis says ,“God never tires of forgiving us of our sins”. What better place to experience God’s forgiveness than in the Sacrament of Reconciliation also known as Confession and Penance. In a daily homily in 2015, Pope Francis states that “confession is not a judgement nor is it like going to the dry cleaners who remove the stain of sins. It is the encounter with a Father who always forgives, forgives all, forgets the faults of the past and then even celebrates”. In confession not only are our sins forgiven, but it also helps us to be able to get to the root of the sin, where we need healing, so as to prevent more sins in the future. But, we should keep going until we see the Lord face to face in eternal life.
Please take every opportunity next Monday of Holy Week, April 15th when St. Ignatius and all of the parishes in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the downstate counties of New York offer Confessions from 3pm to 9pm. If you feel funny coming to the priests you know here at the parish, then go to the other parishes.
Remember, that anything said in confession is held under a seal that can never be revealed according to Church teaching.
THE BELLS OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA
You may have heard of, or even watched the Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) staring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Berman. In the movie, they even sing a song called the Bells of St. Mary’s. This weekend I am writing about the Bells of St. Ignatius Loyola. Up in our tower, we have two bells, a small one that was brought from the original church and a larger one that was donated in the 1890’s. The larger bells weighs approximately 755 pounds that is next to the older one. The parishioners who donated that bell are William Braun, Henry C. Stolz, Valentine Lotterman, Sebastian Braun and August Schreiber. They convinced Fr. Lawrence Fuchs that a new bell was imperative and that it would give a strong voice to the community.
Since then, we have had a digital carillon for quite some time. Today, you may have noticed a different more fuller sound in our bells. Recently, we purchased a new carillon of bells called The Adagio II Carillon from the Verdin Company. This is a fully automatic digital carrion system providing the traditional sound of real cast bronze bless and bell music. The Adagio II provides a simple convenient way to instantly ring bells or play music. The Adagio II comes pre-packaged with a wide variety of carillon bells, music, hymns, liturgical bell functions, Westminster clock, chime melody, hour strikes as well as general religious music favorites. As we journey toward Holy Week and Easter, please tune your ears to the beautiful music that will come from our tower. I hope the bells will help to lift our hearts more in prayer, knowing that God is always close to us.
PALM SUNDAY AND HOLY WEEK
Please note the schedule for Palm Sunday and Holy Week and the Triduum (3 days). The 9:30am Mass will
begin at 9:15am in Msgr. Tarrant Hall. We will then process from the hall to the front of the church. All people are expected to meet in the Old School building unless you have difficulty walking.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
In today’s Gospel, we are invited into the drama of the adulterous woman who is about to be stoned to death. Yet, we see how Jesus responds to the men who want to stone her and the adulterous woman. He writes something in the ground that some say could have been the sins of the men who were going to stone her to death. Then he forgives the woman and says “go and sin no more”.
This tells us of the merciful way God responds to us when we sin. While God desires us not to sin, he is all loving and merciful toward us when we sin and challenges us like the adulterous person to change our hearts and our ways. In addition as Pope Francis says ,“God never tires of forgiving us of our sins”. What better place to experience God’s forgiveness than in the Sacrament of Reconciliation also known as Confession and Penance. In a daily homily in 2015, Pope Francis states that “confession is not a judgement nor is it like going to the dry cleaners who remove the stain of sins. It is the encounter with a Father who always forgives, forgives all, forgets the faults of the past and then even celebrates”. In confession not only are our sins forgiven, but it also helps us to be able to get to the root of the sin, where we need healing, so as to prevent more sins in the future. But, we should keep going until we see the Lord face to face in eternal life.
Please take every opportunity next Monday of Holy Week, April 15th when St. Ignatius and all of the parishes in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the downstate counties of New York offer Confessions from 3pm to 9pm. If you feel funny coming to the priests you know here at the parish, then go to the other parishes.
Remember, that anything said in confession is held under a seal that can never be revealed according to Church teaching.
THE BELLS OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA
You may have heard of, or even watched the Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) staring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Berman. In the movie, they even sing a song called the Bells of St. Mary’s. This weekend I am writing about the Bells of St. Ignatius Loyola. Up in our tower, we have two bells, a small one that was brought from the original church and a larger one that was donated in the 1890’s. The larger bells weighs approximately 755 pounds that is next to the older one. The parishioners who donated that bell are William Braun, Henry C. Stolz, Valentine Lotterman, Sebastian Braun and August Schreiber. They convinced Fr. Lawrence Fuchs that a new bell was imperative and that it would give a strong voice to the community.
Since then, we have had a digital carillon for quite some time. Today, you may have noticed a different more fuller sound in our bells. Recently, we purchased a new carillon of bells called The Adagio II Carillon from the Verdin Company. This is a fully automatic digital carrion system providing the traditional sound of real cast bronze bless and bell music. The Adagio II provides a simple convenient way to instantly ring bells or play music. The Adagio II comes pre-packaged with a wide variety of carillon bells, music, hymns, liturgical bell functions, Westminster clock, chime melody, hour strikes as well as general religious music favorites. As we journey toward Holy Week and Easter, please tune your ears to the beautiful music that will come from our tower. I hope the bells will help to lift our hearts more in prayer, knowing that God is always close to us.
PALM SUNDAY AND HOLY WEEK
Please note the schedule for Palm Sunday and Holy Week and the Triduum (3 days). The 9:30am Mass will
begin at 9:15am in Msgr. Tarrant Hall. We will then process from the hall to the front of the church. All people are expected to meet in the Old School building unless you have difficulty walking.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
March 31, 2019
Confirmation
What is it, who can receive it, when can it be received, and who administers it? So many questions. Where do we begin?
Confirmation is a sacrament; it is one of the Sacraments of Initiation of the Catholic Church (Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation). The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes Confirmation as a deepening of baptismal gifts. Through the action of these sacraments, we become disciples of Jesus. Baptism and Confirmation can only be administered once. Through Baptism, we begin our journey as Catholic Christians; Confirmation is the deepening of our Christian identity – we assume the responsibility for living our faith as Catholics.
Every Baptized Christian can be Confirmed. Confirmation is usually administered by a successor of the Apostles – the Bishop of the Diocese. The rite is usually celebrated in the context of the Mass. The candidates are presented to the Bishop who first asks the candidates to renew their Baptismal promises. He then asks everyone to join him in silent prayer for the candidates as he extends his hands over them (a symbol of imposition of hands), asking God to grant them the Spirit as Helper and Guide and to fill them with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Then one by one each candidate, with their sponsor, approaches the Bishop who calls them by their chosen name and traces a cross on their forehead with Chrism (blessed oil) saying “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”
I said that the usual administrator of Confirmation is the Bishop. There is one special case each year when the Bishop delegates the pastor of each parish with special authority on Pentecost Sunday, when the Church recalls the first Confirmation of the Apostles. At a specific Mass, the Pastor can confirm adult (persons over 18 years of age) candidates using the same rite.
Deacon George A Mais, Jr
What is it, who can receive it, when can it be received, and who administers it? So many questions. Where do we begin?
Confirmation is a sacrament; it is one of the Sacraments of Initiation of the Catholic Church (Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation). The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes Confirmation as a deepening of baptismal gifts. Through the action of these sacraments, we become disciples of Jesus. Baptism and Confirmation can only be administered once. Through Baptism, we begin our journey as Catholic Christians; Confirmation is the deepening of our Christian identity – we assume the responsibility for living our faith as Catholics.
Every Baptized Christian can be Confirmed. Confirmation is usually administered by a successor of the Apostles – the Bishop of the Diocese. The rite is usually celebrated in the context of the Mass. The candidates are presented to the Bishop who first asks the candidates to renew their Baptismal promises. He then asks everyone to join him in silent prayer for the candidates as he extends his hands over them (a symbol of imposition of hands), asking God to grant them the Spirit as Helper and Guide and to fill them with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Then one by one each candidate, with their sponsor, approaches the Bishop who calls them by their chosen name and traces a cross on their forehead with Chrism (blessed oil) saying “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.”
I said that the usual administrator of Confirmation is the Bishop. There is one special case each year when the Bishop delegates the pastor of each parish with special authority on Pentecost Sunday, when the Church recalls the first Confirmation of the Apostles. At a specific Mass, the Pastor can confirm adult (persons over 18 years of age) candidates using the same rite.
Deacon George A Mais, Jr
March 24, 2019
ARE YOU READY?
These past three years for my family and me have not been easy with the death of my dad, uncle, aunts, parents of friends, with whom we grew up with and now my cousin last week. Upon further reflection, however, these events reminded me that this life is temporary. St. Paul tells us that we live in a tent and that while we live in the body, we are made for the Lord. Jesus says we don’t know the time or the hour of our own death but we must always be prepared. So the question this third week of Lent is, are you ready to meet Jesus today and every day? If not, there’s still time to change and repent. The season of Lent is here to help us change before it is too late. In the Gospel today, Jesus uses a parable of a barren fig tree to describe how God is waiting for us to change. According to Levitical law, you are required to wait four years before you consume any fruit of a new tree (Leviticus 19:23-25).
In the parable, the landowner has looked for evidence of fruit after three years and finds none. He says that since the tree is barren, it should be cut down and replaced by another fruitful tree. Its time is up, judgement must follow. The gardener however, in the parable, a biblical image of God (Isaiah 5:1-7) has a better idea. He suggests that more care, fertilization should take place and give the tree one more year to produce fruit. Then if the tree does not bear fruit (repent for us), then it can be cut down. Jesus uses the parable to connect the death of the Galileans at the hands of Pilate and the accident at Siloam to his story. The time was up for those who died. Those sill alive, however, have time to change and repent, to return to God and begin to produce fruit in their lives so they can live. This is a message of God’s mercy and patience with us, giving us time to change and grow. Even the giver of the law is merciful, providing every opportunity for the tree to produce fruit and remain in the orchard. Let us take every opportunity this Lent to seek forgiveness, to forgive and come back to God before it is too late.
Lent is a season of self-reflection. What would the gardener of your soul suggest to help you produce more fruit in your life? Begin to produce fruit so that they can live. A message of the parable is that even the giver of the law is merciful, providing every opportunity for the tree to produce fruit and remain in the orchard.
VANDALISM AT ST. IGNATIUS
Sadly, last Friday March 15, 2019, our statue of St. Joseph was damaged as well as a bench and some of the garden plants. Like you, I felt violated after hearing this news. We believe we know the man who perpetrated this event. I just ask that you pray for this person that the Lord may heal his mind and heart. Also, please keep your eyes alert while you are on the grounds of St. Ignatius Loyola. If you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately and notify the Police. I am grateful to the Nassau Police Department for all they do for us. They usually park one of their cars here in the back parking lot during the evening.
THANK YOU FR. FRANK DE SIANO & SR. CHRISTINE SAMMONS
Thank you to Fr. Frank DeSiano for a wonderful Lenten Mission to help us begin the first week of Lent. His words were helpful and inspiring reminding us about the importance of prayer, embracing the Word of God in the Bible and living them out in service. Thank you also to Sr. Christine Sammons for a beautiful talk at our annual Lenten Soup Supper. We not only find Jesus in church but in the poor and marginalized who may be at our doorsteps. May God continue to bless both of them for their beautiful ministries of evangelization and hope.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
These past three years for my family and me have not been easy with the death of my dad, uncle, aunts, parents of friends, with whom we grew up with and now my cousin last week. Upon further reflection, however, these events reminded me that this life is temporary. St. Paul tells us that we live in a tent and that while we live in the body, we are made for the Lord. Jesus says we don’t know the time or the hour of our own death but we must always be prepared. So the question this third week of Lent is, are you ready to meet Jesus today and every day? If not, there’s still time to change and repent. The season of Lent is here to help us change before it is too late. In the Gospel today, Jesus uses a parable of a barren fig tree to describe how God is waiting for us to change. According to Levitical law, you are required to wait four years before you consume any fruit of a new tree (Leviticus 19:23-25).
In the parable, the landowner has looked for evidence of fruit after three years and finds none. He says that since the tree is barren, it should be cut down and replaced by another fruitful tree. Its time is up, judgement must follow. The gardener however, in the parable, a biblical image of God (Isaiah 5:1-7) has a better idea. He suggests that more care, fertilization should take place and give the tree one more year to produce fruit. Then if the tree does not bear fruit (repent for us), then it can be cut down. Jesus uses the parable to connect the death of the Galileans at the hands of Pilate and the accident at Siloam to his story. The time was up for those who died. Those sill alive, however, have time to change and repent, to return to God and begin to produce fruit in their lives so they can live. This is a message of God’s mercy and patience with us, giving us time to change and grow. Even the giver of the law is merciful, providing every opportunity for the tree to produce fruit and remain in the orchard. Let us take every opportunity this Lent to seek forgiveness, to forgive and come back to God before it is too late.
Lent is a season of self-reflection. What would the gardener of your soul suggest to help you produce more fruit in your life? Begin to produce fruit so that they can live. A message of the parable is that even the giver of the law is merciful, providing every opportunity for the tree to produce fruit and remain in the orchard.
VANDALISM AT ST. IGNATIUS
Sadly, last Friday March 15, 2019, our statue of St. Joseph was damaged as well as a bench and some of the garden plants. Like you, I felt violated after hearing this news. We believe we know the man who perpetrated this event. I just ask that you pray for this person that the Lord may heal his mind and heart. Also, please keep your eyes alert while you are on the grounds of St. Ignatius Loyola. If you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately and notify the Police. I am grateful to the Nassau Police Department for all they do for us. They usually park one of their cars here in the back parking lot during the evening.
THANK YOU FR. FRANK DE SIANO & SR. CHRISTINE SAMMONS
Thank you to Fr. Frank DeSiano for a wonderful Lenten Mission to help us begin the first week of Lent. His words were helpful and inspiring reminding us about the importance of prayer, embracing the Word of God in the Bible and living them out in service. Thank you also to Sr. Christine Sammons for a beautiful talk at our annual Lenten Soup Supper. We not only find Jesus in church but in the poor and marginalized who may be at our doorsteps. May God continue to bless both of them for their beautiful ministries of evangelization and hope.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
March 17, 2019
TO EXPERIENCE A RESURRECTION, AN EXODUS IS NECESSARY
Every Second Sunday of Lent, we hear the Gospel story of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. Each of the Gospel writers Matthew, Mark and Luke have their own take on the events of that day. While the theme of darkness, resurrection and glory are the same, there are some points that the different authors like to stress. In Luke’s Gospel, we get the sense of the importance of the Exodus. The great Exodus that we all know from the Book of Exodus is the freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This was the most transformative event of their lives. They were in Egypt after hundreds of years in slavery. Now, by God, acting through Moses, they were saved by journeying through the Red Sea and the hardship of the desert only to have a whole new life in the Promised Land of Israel.
For us, Jesus’ death and resurrection is our Exodus from the slavery to sin and death to a whole new life of freedom. The Transfiguration of Jesus, serves as a foretaste of the resurrection of Jesus. This event happened to help the disciples not to be discouraged and to give them a boost to face the suffering of Jesus on the cross to come. We see however, that Peter wants to stay on the mountain. He, and probably the other disciples, want to remain in glory as symbolized by the building of three tents. However, for Jesus, we have to keep moving toward the cross. In order to experience the fullness of the Exodus of the Resurrection, they must journey on with Jesus to the cross just like the Israelites had to journey through the desert to the promised land. Jesus reveals to us that we too have to go through our Exodus of the Cross of our lives in order to ‘”enter into his glory.”
The question we need to ponder during this second week of Lent is, what Cross do we need to face and embrace in our lives? Are we running away from it or are we journeying toward it like Jesus and his disciples. Remember, that no matter the suffering we face in this world, we have Christ who can lead us through it and overcome it. Also, St. Paul tells us (Romans 8:18) that the suffering we experience in this world is nothing compared to the glory that Christ Jesus will reveal to us in Heaven. We just need to take time and listen to the words of Jesus and be open to the moments of glory his presence, like going to Mass.
MY PARISH APP
Last year, each parish in the Diocese was given a gift by being able to subscribe to a smart phone application called MY PARISH APP, for free. This year however beginning in March, the application has a fee. The parish has to pay $105 for its use on a monthly basis. The app is used to help us read the parish bulletins easily on our phones, read about different teachings of the church and to receive messages from the parish about current events. If you use the App, and would like to continue to use it, please consider a donation. I am not sure how long we can continue to have it if the parish has to pay this monthly bill without your help.
THE CREED FOR LENT AND EASTER
During Lent and Easter, after the homily, we will pray the Apostles Creed. This is the original statement of belief that the early Christians used at Baptism. Since this is the season of preparing and receiving Baptism for our catechumens, what better time to pray the Apostles Creed to remind us of the importance of our Baptism.
GUYS AND DOLLS PLAY-AT HICKSVILLE HS
Congratulations to all the young men and women who acted or worked at the play of Guys and Dolls at Hicksville High School last weekend. Your hard work was evident in the fruits of the play. It was nice to see some of our parishioners involved in this play. You brought the presence of Jesus, even if you were not conscious of it. It is also a great sign of hope to see such talent in all of our young people. May God bless you for your gifts and endeavors.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
Every Second Sunday of Lent, we hear the Gospel story of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. Each of the Gospel writers Matthew, Mark and Luke have their own take on the events of that day. While the theme of darkness, resurrection and glory are the same, there are some points that the different authors like to stress. In Luke’s Gospel, we get the sense of the importance of the Exodus. The great Exodus that we all know from the Book of Exodus is the freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This was the most transformative event of their lives. They were in Egypt after hundreds of years in slavery. Now, by God, acting through Moses, they were saved by journeying through the Red Sea and the hardship of the desert only to have a whole new life in the Promised Land of Israel.
For us, Jesus’ death and resurrection is our Exodus from the slavery to sin and death to a whole new life of freedom. The Transfiguration of Jesus, serves as a foretaste of the resurrection of Jesus. This event happened to help the disciples not to be discouraged and to give them a boost to face the suffering of Jesus on the cross to come. We see however, that Peter wants to stay on the mountain. He, and probably the other disciples, want to remain in glory as symbolized by the building of three tents. However, for Jesus, we have to keep moving toward the cross. In order to experience the fullness of the Exodus of the Resurrection, they must journey on with Jesus to the cross just like the Israelites had to journey through the desert to the promised land. Jesus reveals to us that we too have to go through our Exodus of the Cross of our lives in order to ‘”enter into his glory.”
The question we need to ponder during this second week of Lent is, what Cross do we need to face and embrace in our lives? Are we running away from it or are we journeying toward it like Jesus and his disciples. Remember, that no matter the suffering we face in this world, we have Christ who can lead us through it and overcome it. Also, St. Paul tells us (Romans 8:18) that the suffering we experience in this world is nothing compared to the glory that Christ Jesus will reveal to us in Heaven. We just need to take time and listen to the words of Jesus and be open to the moments of glory his presence, like going to Mass.
MY PARISH APP
Last year, each parish in the Diocese was given a gift by being able to subscribe to a smart phone application called MY PARISH APP, for free. This year however beginning in March, the application has a fee. The parish has to pay $105 for its use on a monthly basis. The app is used to help us read the parish bulletins easily on our phones, read about different teachings of the church and to receive messages from the parish about current events. If you use the App, and would like to continue to use it, please consider a donation. I am not sure how long we can continue to have it if the parish has to pay this monthly bill without your help.
THE CREED FOR LENT AND EASTER
During Lent and Easter, after the homily, we will pray the Apostles Creed. This is the original statement of belief that the early Christians used at Baptism. Since this is the season of preparing and receiving Baptism for our catechumens, what better time to pray the Apostles Creed to remind us of the importance of our Baptism.
GUYS AND DOLLS PLAY-AT HICKSVILLE HS
Congratulations to all the young men and women who acted or worked at the play of Guys and Dolls at Hicksville High School last weekend. Your hard work was evident in the fruits of the play. It was nice to see some of our parishioners involved in this play. You brought the presence of Jesus, even if you were not conscious of it. It is also a great sign of hope to see such talent in all of our young people. May God bless you for your gifts and endeavors.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
March 10, 2019
We have begun our Lenten journey and this is our first week. The readings from this first Sunday set the tone of the road we are to take. We see in Luke that Jesus is in the desert that is vast, abandoned and a life- less place. The desert is an image of our inner lives known as a spiritual desert. Jesus shows us that we can turn the deserts of our lives into places where we encounter God.
While for 40 days in the desert, Jesus faces Satan who throws at him three temptations that Satan also throws at us. We can learn from Jesus how to say no to the temptations of life that lead us to sin. What is interesting to note is that Luke tells us that Jesus is already filled with the Holy Spirit from his Baptism in an earlier passion. The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into a confrontation with evil so that Jesus can resist and defeat evil in the power of the Spirit. This shows us that when we receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation, we too have the same power as Jesus to defeat evil.
Satan tempts Jesus in three ways. First Satan tests Jesus to be a divine showoff or a magician. Jesus rebuked Satan by saying that it is in God’s word that we live and not on our own. In the second temptation, Satan offers Jesus the world and to be a hero as the people expected. Jesus refuses Satan by saying that he chooses to live Israel’s greatest commandment to worship and serve God alone. In the third temptation, Satan tells Jesus to be a Messiah of popularity and success. Be a Messiah other than that willed by the Father. Jesus clings to the Father and obeys his mission all the way to the cross. In all three temptations, Jesus relies on God’s Word alone. May this Lent teach us to do the same. When we feel overwhelmed and abandoned, go to Jesus ask him to help you because he knows what temptations are all about. A question we may ask ourselves is, what tactics does Satan use with me to try to get me to sin? How will I overcome and resist him in the power and name of Jesus?
MISSION
I want to take this time to welcome Fr. Frank DeSiano, a Paulist Father, who will be leading us in our Lenten Mission this year. His theme is “Being A Disciple Today.” I met Fr. Frank back in 2003 and I am happy to see him again. Fr. Frank is a talented priest who will help stir our hearts in ways that will motivate us to follow Jesus and encourage others to do the same. Come and join us for our Lenten Mission this week, Monday to Wednesday 9:30am or 7:30 pm, you surely will not be disappointed.
SOUP SUPPER
Join us also for our annual Lenten Soup Supper on Thursday March 14th at 6pm in the lower level of the VEEB (New School Building). Reservations are required. Please see bulletin for further details.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
While for 40 days in the desert, Jesus faces Satan who throws at him three temptations that Satan also throws at us. We can learn from Jesus how to say no to the temptations of life that lead us to sin. What is interesting to note is that Luke tells us that Jesus is already filled with the Holy Spirit from his Baptism in an earlier passion. The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into a confrontation with evil so that Jesus can resist and defeat evil in the power of the Spirit. This shows us that when we receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation, we too have the same power as Jesus to defeat evil.
Satan tempts Jesus in three ways. First Satan tests Jesus to be a divine showoff or a magician. Jesus rebuked Satan by saying that it is in God’s word that we live and not on our own. In the second temptation, Satan offers Jesus the world and to be a hero as the people expected. Jesus refuses Satan by saying that he chooses to live Israel’s greatest commandment to worship and serve God alone. In the third temptation, Satan tells Jesus to be a Messiah of popularity and success. Be a Messiah other than that willed by the Father. Jesus clings to the Father and obeys his mission all the way to the cross. In all three temptations, Jesus relies on God’s Word alone. May this Lent teach us to do the same. When we feel overwhelmed and abandoned, go to Jesus ask him to help you because he knows what temptations are all about. A question we may ask ourselves is, what tactics does Satan use with me to try to get me to sin? How will I overcome and resist him in the power and name of Jesus?
MISSION
I want to take this time to welcome Fr. Frank DeSiano, a Paulist Father, who will be leading us in our Lenten Mission this year. His theme is “Being A Disciple Today.” I met Fr. Frank back in 2003 and I am happy to see him again. Fr. Frank is a talented priest who will help stir our hearts in ways that will motivate us to follow Jesus and encourage others to do the same. Come and join us for our Lenten Mission this week, Monday to Wednesday 9:30am or 7:30 pm, you surely will not be disappointed.
SOUP SUPPER
Join us also for our annual Lenten Soup Supper on Thursday March 14th at 6pm in the lower level of the VEEB (New School Building). Reservations are required. Please see bulletin for further details.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
March 3, 2019
PREPARING FOR LENT
Ash Wednesday is just a few short days away. Please take this time to think about how this season of Lent will be different than any other season. The word LENT means springtime. Usually at springtime we do a spring cleaning of our homes. While we are looking at our physical places, what about on the inside of our lives and our hearts. What steps will you take to open your heart to the Lord?
Don’t look at this as a time to be grim and for drudgery. This can be a time of joy where we see how God is revealed to us in ways we least anticipate. Lent prepares us for the greatest gift we can ever re- ceive and that is our salvation.
We have different opportunities here at St. Ignatius Loyola for you to take advantage to deepen your relationship with Jesus. One such time is to join Sr. Karen Lademann and me for sessions on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The theme of the formation sessions is FORGIVEN. This will begin on Tuesday, March 19th at 7:30pm in the Science Room of the Old School building. It will run for approximately 5 consecutive Tuesdays through April 16th, 2019. This is all through the website entitled FORMED. If you have not yet signed up for FORMED, then go to www.stignatiushicksville.formed.org. There you will be asked to create a password. That password must include letters, numbers and characters. What better way to clear your heart and your life for Jesus and the fruits of his sacrifice, then to learn more about forgiving and being forgiven.
DEACON JOSÉ CONTREARAS
Deacon José Contreras has informed me that he would like to take a leave of absence from his Diaconal duties here at St. Ignatius Loyola. As you know, he has not been feeling well over this past year. So, I have granted a period of time (6 months) for him to recover and look at what the cause is to his ailment. You may see him at Mass, though not on the altar. Please continue to pray for Deacon José and his family for his healing and strength.
May this upcoming time of Lent be for us a time of prayer, fasting and renewal. Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
Ash Wednesday is just a few short days away. Please take this time to think about how this season of Lent will be different than any other season. The word LENT means springtime. Usually at springtime we do a spring cleaning of our homes. While we are looking at our physical places, what about on the inside of our lives and our hearts. What steps will you take to open your heart to the Lord?
Don’t look at this as a time to be grim and for drudgery. This can be a time of joy where we see how God is revealed to us in ways we least anticipate. Lent prepares us for the greatest gift we can ever re- ceive and that is our salvation.
We have different opportunities here at St. Ignatius Loyola for you to take advantage to deepen your relationship with Jesus. One such time is to join Sr. Karen Lademann and me for sessions on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The theme of the formation sessions is FORGIVEN. This will begin on Tuesday, March 19th at 7:30pm in the Science Room of the Old School building. It will run for approximately 5 consecutive Tuesdays through April 16th, 2019. This is all through the website entitled FORMED. If you have not yet signed up for FORMED, then go to www.stignatiushicksville.formed.org. There you will be asked to create a password. That password must include letters, numbers and characters. What better way to clear your heart and your life for Jesus and the fruits of his sacrifice, then to learn more about forgiving and being forgiven.
DEACON JOSÉ CONTREARAS
Deacon José Contreras has informed me that he would like to take a leave of absence from his Diaconal duties here at St. Ignatius Loyola. As you know, he has not been feeling well over this past year. So, I have granted a period of time (6 months) for him to recover and look at what the cause is to his ailment. You may see him at Mass, though not on the altar. Please continue to pray for Deacon José and his family for his healing and strength.
May this upcoming time of Lent be for us a time of prayer, fasting and renewal. Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
February 24, 2019
RCIA
I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire community of St. Ignatius Loyola for your prayers and support. I would like to share a little about one of the ministries in which I am serving God and his church, and it is the ministry of RCIA. What is RCIA?
It means Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is a process which unbaptized adults and other children are instructed in the teachings and practices of Catholicism and introduced into the Catholic Church. Sometimes baptized adults from other Christian denominations or baptized Catholics are also involved in the process in preparing to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
Our Lord Jesus said “COME AND SEE” {JOHN 1:39}
Jesus invites people to see him and to see that he fulfills what he promises, “Come with Me and follow Me,” is perhaps the simplest definition of our faith. RCIA is a path where we discover our Catholic faith. It is difficult to see everything in the beginning, but it reveals itself as our brothers and sisters walk with the Lord and follow him. It is the Lord who guides us in this journey of faith.
This process that began in September of last year and culminates at the Easter Vigil has several stages, but is important to remember that understanding faith is as important as having faith.
Stage 1.- Inquiry: in which they want to know about Jesus, what is faith?
Stage 2.– Catechumens: during this period we study sacred scripture and discuss the main points of catholic doctrine. {Sacraments, Mass, Mary. History of Salvation etc.}
Stage 3.– Purification and Illumination: this stage takes place in the weeks leading up to Easter, and is a time dedicated to a deeper spiritual preparation to receive the sacraments during the Easter Vigil. Those who had completed their preparation, become members of the church by receiving the sacraments of Christian Initia- tion which are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
Stage 4.- Mystagogia: {post bautismal catequesis} this is the last stage, and usually last several weeks from Easter to Pentecost. It is a time to reflect on the mysteries of the sacraments and to begin to live your new faith in a practical way.
This year we have a group of 18 people who are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. We meet every Tuesday from 7 to 9 PM which is in Spanish, Deacon George does the English preparation.
I want to thank Migdalia Vasquez who works along with me in this program. Without her help, it will be almost impossible to run this program. May God continue to bless her in this ministry among others that she performs in our parish.
Brothers and sisters in Christ let us pray for these catechumens that the Lord may accompany them and enlighten them on this path of preparation.
Remember our mission statement - We Believe, We Welcome, We Worship, We Serve
May the God of Love Bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Deacon Mario
I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire community of St. Ignatius Loyola for your prayers and support. I would like to share a little about one of the ministries in which I am serving God and his church, and it is the ministry of RCIA. What is RCIA?
It means Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is a process which unbaptized adults and other children are instructed in the teachings and practices of Catholicism and introduced into the Catholic Church. Sometimes baptized adults from other Christian denominations or baptized Catholics are also involved in the process in preparing to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
Our Lord Jesus said “COME AND SEE” {JOHN 1:39}
Jesus invites people to see him and to see that he fulfills what he promises, “Come with Me and follow Me,” is perhaps the simplest definition of our faith. RCIA is a path where we discover our Catholic faith. It is difficult to see everything in the beginning, but it reveals itself as our brothers and sisters walk with the Lord and follow him. It is the Lord who guides us in this journey of faith.
This process that began in September of last year and culminates at the Easter Vigil has several stages, but is important to remember that understanding faith is as important as having faith.
Stage 1.- Inquiry: in which they want to know about Jesus, what is faith?
Stage 2.– Catechumens: during this period we study sacred scripture and discuss the main points of catholic doctrine. {Sacraments, Mass, Mary. History of Salvation etc.}
Stage 3.– Purification and Illumination: this stage takes place in the weeks leading up to Easter, and is a time dedicated to a deeper spiritual preparation to receive the sacraments during the Easter Vigil. Those who had completed their preparation, become members of the church by receiving the sacraments of Christian Initia- tion which are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
Stage 4.- Mystagogia: {post bautismal catequesis} this is the last stage, and usually last several weeks from Easter to Pentecost. It is a time to reflect on the mysteries of the sacraments and to begin to live your new faith in a practical way.
This year we have a group of 18 people who are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. We meet every Tuesday from 7 to 9 PM which is in Spanish, Deacon George does the English preparation.
I want to thank Migdalia Vasquez who works along with me in this program. Without her help, it will be almost impossible to run this program. May God continue to bless her in this ministry among others that she performs in our parish.
Brothers and sisters in Christ let us pray for these catechumens that the Lord may accompany them and enlighten them on this path of preparation.
Remember our mission statement - We Believe, We Welcome, We Worship, We Serve
May the God of Love Bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Deacon Mario
February 17, 2019
CONTINUING OUR MISSION- CAPTIAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE
As of January 31, 2019, we have reached up to $1,332, 155.83 in paid pledges in our Capital Campaign, Continuing Our Mission. Our goal is $1.5 Million. We are only $167,844.17 shy of reaching this goal. Thank you to all who have contributed and are contributing to this ambitious campaign. May God bless each of you for your generosity.
Our next two projects, for the church are leaders and gutters, and a fire alarm system. If you have not yet had the opportunity to contribute to this worthwhile cause, please contact the rectory at 516-931-0056. It is never too late to contribute. Remember no gift is ever too small. The Lord looks at equal sacrifice, not equal giving.
Jesus says “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Mt 6:21.
Please remember to continue donating to our weekly collections. While I am grateful to each of you who give, our weekly totals have been decreasing. It is with your help that we can keep our parish vibrant in maintaining its structure and building its programs and ministries. Giving to the campaign only does not help the parish pay its bills. Thank you!
Remember to always live your life for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
As of January 31, 2019, we have reached up to $1,332, 155.83 in paid pledges in our Capital Campaign, Continuing Our Mission. Our goal is $1.5 Million. We are only $167,844.17 shy of reaching this goal. Thank you to all who have contributed and are contributing to this ambitious campaign. May God bless each of you for your generosity.
Our next two projects, for the church are leaders and gutters, and a fire alarm system. If you have not yet had the opportunity to contribute to this worthwhile cause, please contact the rectory at 516-931-0056. It is never too late to contribute. Remember no gift is ever too small. The Lord looks at equal sacrifice, not equal giving.
Jesus says “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Mt 6:21.
Please remember to continue donating to our weekly collections. While I am grateful to each of you who give, our weekly totals have been decreasing. It is with your help that we can keep our parish vibrant in maintaining its structure and building its programs and ministries. Giving to the campaign only does not help the parish pay its bills. Thank you!
Remember to always live your life for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
February 10, 2019
WE ARE ALL CALLED
This Sunday, we learn that each of us are called to serve the Lord in some capacity. The interesting thing is that both Isaiah and Peter, who are called, both feel unworthy. That is natural. No one is worthy for the Lord. However, the Lord has made himself worthy for us by being born into the world like us, embracing our humanity and giving us a share in his life.
Isaiah was very young when the Lord called him to serve. Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel. Both states were not following God’s ways. So God chose the young Isaiah to lead the people back to him. Isaiah felt unworthy. Even though he may have felt unworthy, this was not an obstacle to God. God made Isaiah aware of his sinfulness and then cleansed him so that he could carry out his plan. God gave him the strength to speak his word, interpret his will and call his people and leaders to seek forgiveness and return to God’s ways. At every Mass, right before the Gospel, the priest recalls this event by asking God to cleanse his lips or by praying over the Deacon for God to cleanse his lips so that they can worthily proclaim the Gospel.
Peter is similar to Isaiah in that he too was young and sinful. Peter was also probably more stubborn. Yet, after resisting Jesus’ call to drop his nets, he finally listens to his call. That makes all the difference. When we listen to the Lord, great things will happen. We are all called to serve the Lord as Priests, Prophets and Kings from our Baptism. Read paragraph 31 of Lumen Gentium, the Constitution on the Church. There are some of us who are called in a particular way to become an ordained priest, deacon, or religious sister or brother. Jesus may be calling you to share your gifts and talents this way.
Do you know someone who may consider the ordained priesthood?
One special event in March is the retreat for young men ages 16-35 who may have a calling to the priesthood. Bishop John Barres will lead this retreat at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY, March 8th through March 10th. There may be a member of your family or someone you know who may be a possible candidate for this retreat. If you know of someone, ask them to consider attending. Go out into the deep and bring others to Jesus. If we don't invite or encourage someone we know, they may never consider the priesthood. My dream was to serve as a meteorologist like Elliot Abrams of Accu-Weather. However, the Lord called me to serve him as a priest by helping people through the storms of life or to recognize his presence when all is bright. I am grateful to God for that. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact me or one of the priests here at the parish or the Vocations Office at (516) 678-5800 x214 vocations@drvc.org.
Here is a Prayer for us to catch people for Jesus like the disciples: - Father God, we want the hands of the true fisher of men. Lord, help us not to be afraid to go wherever the fish are. Let us not be afraid to get our hands dirty. Father help us not to just “catch and release” new converts, let us also be disciplers of people as well. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR JEANNE CALHOUN
Jeanne Calhoun, our parish bookkeeper, will not be in the office for the next 4 weeks because she had knee surgery last week. Please keep Jeanne in your prayers for a full and speedy recovery. In the meantime, any business you may need with the business office, please contact Dave Fantry (Ext 118) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays or Joan Della Ratta (Ext 117)
Fr. REID IS BACK AND HE THANKS YOU!
I am happy to report that Fr. R. Michael Reid is back! He thanks everyone for their prayers, cards, gifts and concern while he was in the hospital and in rehabilitation. He recently celebrated 7:30am Mass last Sunday, February 3rd. Please continue to keep him in your prayers so that he continues to improve.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
This Sunday, we learn that each of us are called to serve the Lord in some capacity. The interesting thing is that both Isaiah and Peter, who are called, both feel unworthy. That is natural. No one is worthy for the Lord. However, the Lord has made himself worthy for us by being born into the world like us, embracing our humanity and giving us a share in his life.
Isaiah was very young when the Lord called him to serve. Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel. Both states were not following God’s ways. So God chose the young Isaiah to lead the people back to him. Isaiah felt unworthy. Even though he may have felt unworthy, this was not an obstacle to God. God made Isaiah aware of his sinfulness and then cleansed him so that he could carry out his plan. God gave him the strength to speak his word, interpret his will and call his people and leaders to seek forgiveness and return to God’s ways. At every Mass, right before the Gospel, the priest recalls this event by asking God to cleanse his lips or by praying over the Deacon for God to cleanse his lips so that they can worthily proclaim the Gospel.
Peter is similar to Isaiah in that he too was young and sinful. Peter was also probably more stubborn. Yet, after resisting Jesus’ call to drop his nets, he finally listens to his call. That makes all the difference. When we listen to the Lord, great things will happen. We are all called to serve the Lord as Priests, Prophets and Kings from our Baptism. Read paragraph 31 of Lumen Gentium, the Constitution on the Church. There are some of us who are called in a particular way to become an ordained priest, deacon, or religious sister or brother. Jesus may be calling you to share your gifts and talents this way.
Do you know someone who may consider the ordained priesthood?
One special event in March is the retreat for young men ages 16-35 who may have a calling to the priesthood. Bishop John Barres will lead this retreat at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY, March 8th through March 10th. There may be a member of your family or someone you know who may be a possible candidate for this retreat. If you know of someone, ask them to consider attending. Go out into the deep and bring others to Jesus. If we don't invite or encourage someone we know, they may never consider the priesthood. My dream was to serve as a meteorologist like Elliot Abrams of Accu-Weather. However, the Lord called me to serve him as a priest by helping people through the storms of life or to recognize his presence when all is bright. I am grateful to God for that. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact me or one of the priests here at the parish or the Vocations Office at (516) 678-5800 x214 vocations@drvc.org.
Here is a Prayer for us to catch people for Jesus like the disciples: - Father God, we want the hands of the true fisher of men. Lord, help us not to be afraid to go wherever the fish are. Let us not be afraid to get our hands dirty. Father help us not to just “catch and release” new converts, let us also be disciplers of people as well. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR JEANNE CALHOUN
Jeanne Calhoun, our parish bookkeeper, will not be in the office for the next 4 weeks because she had knee surgery last week. Please keep Jeanne in your prayers for a full and speedy recovery. In the meantime, any business you may need with the business office, please contact Dave Fantry (Ext 118) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays or Joan Della Ratta (Ext 117)
Fr. REID IS BACK AND HE THANKS YOU!
I am happy to report that Fr. R. Michael Reid is back! He thanks everyone for their prayers, cards, gifts and concern while he was in the hospital and in rehabilitation. He recently celebrated 7:30am Mass last Sunday, February 3rd. Please continue to keep him in your prayers so that he continues to improve.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
February 3, 2019
Recently, we Catholics were appalled at the passage of the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) and signed by Governor Cuomo. This expands the abortion rights already on the books in New York State, now permitting a woman to have an abortion up to the moment of the birth of her child. Children in the womb have been stripped of their protection under the law. It is now maintained that protection under the law begins at the birth of a child.
Many have called for excommunication of politicians like our governor from the Church.
Here is an explanation offered by Canon Lawyer Ed Peters on the excommunication of politicians:
“To those wanting the immediate excommunication of pro-abortion politicians, I have to say that canon law simply does not read that way. To make a long story short, an excommunication for abortion has to be linked to a specific abortion and, given the structure of American government and medical institutions, one simply can’t link a given legislator’s vote with a specific abortion within the limits of casualty recognized by canon law. Now, I like to think that the words of law generally mean what they say. If we distort the words of penal canon law to the degree necessary to make legislators fall within the present terms of the abortion canon, we would do violence to the text of the law, and that’s always bad; distortions in law tend to come back and haunt us in other contexts.
Of course, maybe it’s time to redraft the canon law in this area, precisely to help the Church deal more directly with the grave scandal and harm being caused by pro-abortion Catholic politicians; but the law itself would need to be changed. I’m certainly open to that, but as I’ve said, the rule of law means that such changes must come about in accordance with the law.
In the meantime, though, as I have also pointed out many times, there are most certainly immediate actions that the Church can take against pro-abortion politicians, and I’m happy to say that some bishops are doing that. I have in mind here, for example, the withholding of the Eucharist under Canon 915 from those whose conduct in government office is objectively gravely evil. Elsewhere, I have argued that Canon 1369 gives us canonical leverage against those who use their public office to spread contempt for the gift of life.”
Many parishioners have asked, “what can we do”? A few suggestions, 1) We can pray for the change of mind and hearts of the citizens of the state of New York. 2) Write letters to our governor and legislators expressing our dismay. 3) Resurrect a Respect Life Ministry that stands on the forefront of any issue that affects life from the moment of conception to natural death. 4) Support the Life Center of Long Island, Catholic Charities , Birthright and the Knights of Columbus. Our support of these organizations will give them the tools to assist in helping moms/dads and also in adoptions so that an unwanted child will be found in the arms of loving parents.
World Day for Consecrated Life
In 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated (Religious) life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. Please pray for the consecrated women who live in our parish. We have three sisters who live in our convent; Sr Mary O’Donnel, Sr. Kathleen Murphy and Sr. Karen Laderman. Other religious sisters live in our parish boundaries and minister in other parishes. Our Sisters have dedicated their lives from serving in a parish as Pastoral Ministers, Liturgists, Directors of Religious Education, Teaches and Advocates for the elderly.
They remind us of the importance of embracing our commitments to the Lord and others. They also remind us of how we are to live as St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; to live our lives and to share our faith in love. May God bless our religious sisters and other religious brothers and priests who continue to serve the Lord with great fidelity and perseverance. In 2019, this day is celebrated in parishes around the world on February 2-3. We have a special blessing at the 5pm mass on Saturday Feb. 2, 2019.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT TO SUPPORT LIFE
Life Center of Long Island 516-798-9100
Catholic Charities of Long Island 516-733-700
Birthright 516-785-4070
New York, Abortion and a Short Road to Chaos
by Bishop Robert Barron January 29, 2019 (Wordonfire.org)
It was the celebration that was particularly galling. On the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, signed into law a protocol that gives practically unrestricted access to abortion, permitting the killing of an unborn child up until the moment of delivery. In the wake of the ratification, the legislators and their supporters whooped, hollered, and cheered, a display depressingly similar to the jubilation that broke out in Ireland when a referendum legalizing abortion passed last year. Of course, all of the rhetoric about women’s rights and reproductive health and empowerment was trotted out, but who can fail to see what was at stake? If an infant, lying peacefully in a bassinet in his parents’ home, were brutally killed and dismembered, the entire country would rightfully be outraged and call for an investigation of the murder. But now the law of New York confirms that that same child, moments before his birth, resting peacefully in his mother’s womb, can be, with utter impunity, pulled apart with forceps. And the police won’t be summoned; rather, it appears, the killing should be a matter of celebration.
An ideology, taken in the negative sense, is a conceptual framework that blinds one to reality. The purpose of any ideational system, obviously, is to shed light, to bring us closer to the truth of things, but an ideology does the reverse, effectively obfuscating reality, distancing us from truth. All of the buzz terms I mentioned above are ideological markers, smokescreens. Or if I can borrow the terminology of Jordan Peterson, they are the chattering of demons, the distracting hubbub of the father of lies. I recall that during the presidential campaign of 2016, Hillary Clinton was asked several times whether the child in the womb, within minutes of birth, has constitutional rights, and this extremely intelligent, experienced, and canny politician said, over and over again, “That’s what our law dictates.” Therefore, by a sheer accident of location, the unborn baby can be butchered, and the same baby, moments later and in the arms of his mother, must be protected by full force of law. That many of our political leaders can’t or won’t see how utterly ludicrous this is can only be the result of ideological indoctrination.
As I watched film of Andrew Cuomo signing this repulsive bill into law, my mind drifted back to 1984 and an auditorium at the University of Notre Dame where Cuomo’s father, Mario—also Governor of New York at the time—delivered a famous address. In his lengthy and intellectually substantive speech, Gov. Cuomo presented himself, convincingly, as a faithful Catholic, thoroughly convinced in conscience that abortion is morally outrageous. But he also made a fateful distinction that has been exploited by liberal Catholic politicians for the past thirty-five years. He explained that though he was personally opposed to abortion, he was not willing to pursue legal action to abolish it or even to limit it, since he was the representative of all the people, and not just of those who shared his Catholic convictions. Now this distinction is an illegitimate one, which is evident the moment we draw an analogy to other public matters of great moral import. “I’m personally opposed to slavery, but I’ll take no action to outlaw it or limit its spread”; “I personally find Jim Crow laws repugnant, but I will pursue no legal strategy to undo them”; etc. But at the very least, Mario Cuomo could declare himself deeply conflicted, anguished, willing to support abortion law only as a regrettable political necessity in a pluralistic democracy.
But in a single generation, we have moved from reluctant toleration to unbridled celebration, from struggling Mario to exultant Andrew. And there is a simple reason for this. A privatized religion, one that never incarnates itself in gesture, behavior, and moral commitment, rapidly evanesces. Once-powerful convictions, never concretely expressed, devolve, practically overnight, into pious velleities—and finally disappear altogether. In Robert Bolt’s magnificent play regarding St. Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons, we find a telling exchange between Cardinal Wolsey, a hard-bitten, largely amoral politico, and the saintly More. Wolsey laments, “You’re a constant regret to me, Thomas. If you could just see facts flat on, with- out that horrible moral squint, with just a little common sense, you could have been a statesman.” To which More responds, “Well...I believe when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties...they lead their country by a short route to chaos.” Abandoning the convictions of one’s conscience in the exercise of one’s public duties is precisely equivalent to “I’m personally opposed but unwilling to take concrete action to instantiate my opposition.”
And this abandonment—evident in Mario Cuomo’s 1984 address—has indeed led by a short road to chaos, evident in Andrew Cuomo’s joyful celebration of a law permitting the murder of children.
Many have called for excommunication of politicians like our governor from the Church.
Here is an explanation offered by Canon Lawyer Ed Peters on the excommunication of politicians:
“To those wanting the immediate excommunication of pro-abortion politicians, I have to say that canon law simply does not read that way. To make a long story short, an excommunication for abortion has to be linked to a specific abortion and, given the structure of American government and medical institutions, one simply can’t link a given legislator’s vote with a specific abortion within the limits of casualty recognized by canon law. Now, I like to think that the words of law generally mean what they say. If we distort the words of penal canon law to the degree necessary to make legislators fall within the present terms of the abortion canon, we would do violence to the text of the law, and that’s always bad; distortions in law tend to come back and haunt us in other contexts.
Of course, maybe it’s time to redraft the canon law in this area, precisely to help the Church deal more directly with the grave scandal and harm being caused by pro-abortion Catholic politicians; but the law itself would need to be changed. I’m certainly open to that, but as I’ve said, the rule of law means that such changes must come about in accordance with the law.
In the meantime, though, as I have also pointed out many times, there are most certainly immediate actions that the Church can take against pro-abortion politicians, and I’m happy to say that some bishops are doing that. I have in mind here, for example, the withholding of the Eucharist under Canon 915 from those whose conduct in government office is objectively gravely evil. Elsewhere, I have argued that Canon 1369 gives us canonical leverage against those who use their public office to spread contempt for the gift of life.”
Many parishioners have asked, “what can we do”? A few suggestions, 1) We can pray for the change of mind and hearts of the citizens of the state of New York. 2) Write letters to our governor and legislators expressing our dismay. 3) Resurrect a Respect Life Ministry that stands on the forefront of any issue that affects life from the moment of conception to natural death. 4) Support the Life Center of Long Island, Catholic Charities , Birthright and the Knights of Columbus. Our support of these organizations will give them the tools to assist in helping moms/dads and also in adoptions so that an unwanted child will be found in the arms of loving parents.
World Day for Consecrated Life
In 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated (Religious) life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. Please pray for the consecrated women who live in our parish. We have three sisters who live in our convent; Sr Mary O’Donnel, Sr. Kathleen Murphy and Sr. Karen Laderman. Other religious sisters live in our parish boundaries and minister in other parishes. Our Sisters have dedicated their lives from serving in a parish as Pastoral Ministers, Liturgists, Directors of Religious Education, Teaches and Advocates for the elderly.
They remind us of the importance of embracing our commitments to the Lord and others. They also remind us of how we are to live as St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; to live our lives and to share our faith in love. May God bless our religious sisters and other religious brothers and priests who continue to serve the Lord with great fidelity and perseverance. In 2019, this day is celebrated in parishes around the world on February 2-3. We have a special blessing at the 5pm mass on Saturday Feb. 2, 2019.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT TO SUPPORT LIFE
Life Center of Long Island 516-798-9100
Catholic Charities of Long Island 516-733-700
Birthright 516-785-4070
New York, Abortion and a Short Road to Chaos
by Bishop Robert Barron January 29, 2019 (Wordonfire.org)
It was the celebration that was particularly galling. On the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, signed into law a protocol that gives practically unrestricted access to abortion, permitting the killing of an unborn child up until the moment of delivery. In the wake of the ratification, the legislators and their supporters whooped, hollered, and cheered, a display depressingly similar to the jubilation that broke out in Ireland when a referendum legalizing abortion passed last year. Of course, all of the rhetoric about women’s rights and reproductive health and empowerment was trotted out, but who can fail to see what was at stake? If an infant, lying peacefully in a bassinet in his parents’ home, were brutally killed and dismembered, the entire country would rightfully be outraged and call for an investigation of the murder. But now the law of New York confirms that that same child, moments before his birth, resting peacefully in his mother’s womb, can be, with utter impunity, pulled apart with forceps. And the police won’t be summoned; rather, it appears, the killing should be a matter of celebration.
An ideology, taken in the negative sense, is a conceptual framework that blinds one to reality. The purpose of any ideational system, obviously, is to shed light, to bring us closer to the truth of things, but an ideology does the reverse, effectively obfuscating reality, distancing us from truth. All of the buzz terms I mentioned above are ideological markers, smokescreens. Or if I can borrow the terminology of Jordan Peterson, they are the chattering of demons, the distracting hubbub of the father of lies. I recall that during the presidential campaign of 2016, Hillary Clinton was asked several times whether the child in the womb, within minutes of birth, has constitutional rights, and this extremely intelligent, experienced, and canny politician said, over and over again, “That’s what our law dictates.” Therefore, by a sheer accident of location, the unborn baby can be butchered, and the same baby, moments later and in the arms of his mother, must be protected by full force of law. That many of our political leaders can’t or won’t see how utterly ludicrous this is can only be the result of ideological indoctrination.
As I watched film of Andrew Cuomo signing this repulsive bill into law, my mind drifted back to 1984 and an auditorium at the University of Notre Dame where Cuomo’s father, Mario—also Governor of New York at the time—delivered a famous address. In his lengthy and intellectually substantive speech, Gov. Cuomo presented himself, convincingly, as a faithful Catholic, thoroughly convinced in conscience that abortion is morally outrageous. But he also made a fateful distinction that has been exploited by liberal Catholic politicians for the past thirty-five years. He explained that though he was personally opposed to abortion, he was not willing to pursue legal action to abolish it or even to limit it, since he was the representative of all the people, and not just of those who shared his Catholic convictions. Now this distinction is an illegitimate one, which is evident the moment we draw an analogy to other public matters of great moral import. “I’m personally opposed to slavery, but I’ll take no action to outlaw it or limit its spread”; “I personally find Jim Crow laws repugnant, but I will pursue no legal strategy to undo them”; etc. But at the very least, Mario Cuomo could declare himself deeply conflicted, anguished, willing to support abortion law only as a regrettable political necessity in a pluralistic democracy.
But in a single generation, we have moved from reluctant toleration to unbridled celebration, from struggling Mario to exultant Andrew. And there is a simple reason for this. A privatized religion, one that never incarnates itself in gesture, behavior, and moral commitment, rapidly evanesces. Once-powerful convictions, never concretely expressed, devolve, practically overnight, into pious velleities—and finally disappear altogether. In Robert Bolt’s magnificent play regarding St. Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons, we find a telling exchange between Cardinal Wolsey, a hard-bitten, largely amoral politico, and the saintly More. Wolsey laments, “You’re a constant regret to me, Thomas. If you could just see facts flat on, with- out that horrible moral squint, with just a little common sense, you could have been a statesman.” To which More responds, “Well...I believe when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties...they lead their country by a short route to chaos.” Abandoning the convictions of one’s conscience in the exercise of one’s public duties is precisely equivalent to “I’m personally opposed but unwilling to take concrete action to instantiate my opposition.”
And this abandonment—evident in Mario Cuomo’s 1984 address—has indeed led by a short road to chaos, evident in Andrew Cuomo’s joyful celebration of a law permitting the murder of children.
January 27, 2019
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - CONTINUING OUR MISSION WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND OUR FACILITIES?
Recently, during the brutal cold weather, work was completed on the roof of our rectory by George Parsons Roofing. 112 pieces of slate that were either cracked or broken replaced by new ones. Other work done included the installation of a new ice and water shield underlayment and installed fabricated copper valleys. We have a 20 year manufacturer warranty and a 15 year workmanship warranty. Our next project will be work done on the inside of the rectory to fix the ceilings and other parts of the building where leaking occurred. These are your dollars at the work from our Capital Campaign.Thank you to all who have given to the campaign. If you have not given yet, there is still time to do so. What a great way to begin the new year by giving to your parish. Remember no gift is too small. Our campaign is all about equal sacrifice, not equal giving. contact the rectory business office.
FIRST RECONCILIATION
Congratulations to all of our children in 2nd Level who have recently received their first Sacrament of Reconciliation (also called Confession and Penance). Thank you to our Director of Religious Education, Colleen, her staff and catechists for their hard work. May the example of our young people inspire each of us to avail ourselves of the sacrament. We offer it here on Saturdays at 4pm and additional times during Advent and Lent. You may also make an appointment with one of the priests who is on call for the day.
THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND
If you know someone who is ill and homebound, please contact the rectory office and let us know so we can visit. Our policy is the priest visits first and then the family has a regular schedule with an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. I want to thank all of our EM”s who faithfully bring the Lord each week to those in need. There have been too many families where a homebound person did not have the opportunity to receive Communion and/or Anointing of the Sick before he/she died. Please keep this in mind.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
On January 22, the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Governor Cuomo signed into law the dangerous “Abortion Expansion Act”. Attached is the official statement just released from the Catholic Bishops of New York State.
A Statement from the Catholic Bishops of New York State
Words are insufficient to describe the profound sadness we feel at the contemplated passage of New York State’s new proposed abortion policy. We mourn the unborn infants who will lose their lives, and the many mothers and fathers who will suffer remorse and heartbreak as a result.
The so-called “Reproductive Health Act” will expand our state’s already radically permissive law, by empowering more health practitioners to provide abortion and removing all state restrictions on late-term procedures. With an abortion rate that is already double the national average, New York law is moving in the wrong direction.
We renew our pledge to offer the resources and services of our charitable agencies and health services to any woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, to support her in bearing her infant, raising her family or placing her child for adoption. There are life-affirming choices available, and we aim to make them more widely known and accessible.
Our Governor and legislative leaders hail this new abortion law as progress. This is not progress. Progress will be achieved when our laws and our culture once again value and respect each unrepeatable gift of human life, from the first moment of creation to natural death. Would that not make us truly the most en- lightened and progressive state in the nation?
Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger
Bishop of Albany
Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio
Bishop of Brooklyn
Most Rev. Richard J. Malone
Bishop of Buffalo
Most Rev. Terry R. LaValley
Bishop of Ogdensburg
Most Rev. Salvatore R. Matano
Bishop of Rochester
Most Rev. John O. Barres
Bishop of Rockville Centre
Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham
Bishop of Syracuse
And the Auxiliary and Retired Bishops of New York State
Recently, during the brutal cold weather, work was completed on the roof of our rectory by George Parsons Roofing. 112 pieces of slate that were either cracked or broken replaced by new ones. Other work done included the installation of a new ice and water shield underlayment and installed fabricated copper valleys. We have a 20 year manufacturer warranty and a 15 year workmanship warranty. Our next project will be work done on the inside of the rectory to fix the ceilings and other parts of the building where leaking occurred. These are your dollars at the work from our Capital Campaign.Thank you to all who have given to the campaign. If you have not given yet, there is still time to do so. What a great way to begin the new year by giving to your parish. Remember no gift is too small. Our campaign is all about equal sacrifice, not equal giving. contact the rectory business office.
FIRST RECONCILIATION
Congratulations to all of our children in 2nd Level who have recently received their first Sacrament of Reconciliation (also called Confession and Penance). Thank you to our Director of Religious Education, Colleen, her staff and catechists for their hard work. May the example of our young people inspire each of us to avail ourselves of the sacrament. We offer it here on Saturdays at 4pm and additional times during Advent and Lent. You may also make an appointment with one of the priests who is on call for the day.
THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND
If you know someone who is ill and homebound, please contact the rectory office and let us know so we can visit. Our policy is the priest visits first and then the family has a regular schedule with an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. I want to thank all of our EM”s who faithfully bring the Lord each week to those in need. There have been too many families where a homebound person did not have the opportunity to receive Communion and/or Anointing of the Sick before he/she died. Please keep this in mind.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
On January 22, the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Governor Cuomo signed into law the dangerous “Abortion Expansion Act”. Attached is the official statement just released from the Catholic Bishops of New York State.
A Statement from the Catholic Bishops of New York State
Words are insufficient to describe the profound sadness we feel at the contemplated passage of New York State’s new proposed abortion policy. We mourn the unborn infants who will lose their lives, and the many mothers and fathers who will suffer remorse and heartbreak as a result.
The so-called “Reproductive Health Act” will expand our state’s already radically permissive law, by empowering more health practitioners to provide abortion and removing all state restrictions on late-term procedures. With an abortion rate that is already double the national average, New York law is moving in the wrong direction.
We renew our pledge to offer the resources and services of our charitable agencies and health services to any woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, to support her in bearing her infant, raising her family or placing her child for adoption. There are life-affirming choices available, and we aim to make them more widely known and accessible.
Our Governor and legislative leaders hail this new abortion law as progress. This is not progress. Progress will be achieved when our laws and our culture once again value and respect each unrepeatable gift of human life, from the first moment of creation to natural death. Would that not make us truly the most en- lightened and progressive state in the nation?
Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger
Bishop of Albany
Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio
Bishop of Brooklyn
Most Rev. Richard J. Malone
Bishop of Buffalo
Most Rev. Terry R. LaValley
Bishop of Ogdensburg
Most Rev. Salvatore R. Matano
Bishop of Rochester
Most Rev. John O. Barres
Bishop of Rockville Centre
Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham
Bishop of Syracuse
And the Auxiliary and Retired Bishops of New York State
January 20, 2019
SIXTY PLUS AND COUNTING AFTER 46 YEARS
This Tuesday, January 22, 2019 the nation will mark the 46th Anniversary of Roe v Wade, which made abortion a legal act across our land. Since then, there have been over 60million pre-born children abort- ed . I have a pin on my jacket that says 60, representing the number killed from abortions. This year the annual March for Life happened on Friday, January 18, 2019. I want to thank Fr. Frank and the parishioners from St. Ignatius who went on the march. They joined Fr. Vincent Schifano and St. Frances De Chantal for this journey. Thank you to Fr. Vin and St. Frances for organizing this day. The march for life brings Catholics and non-Catholic, old and young alike together saying we embrace life, especially at its beginning.
St. Theresa of Calcutta once said “any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion”. “We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is life but for us to kill each other”.
What can we do? As a caring and compassionate people we can:
Pray.
Pray for the intercession of St. Gianna Molla, the patron saint of mothers, physicians and preborn children. Pray for changed minds, changed hearts and a deeper awakening to the sacredness and dignity of all human life.
Provide life-affirming choices for women.
Contact the Life Center located in Massapequa, under the direction of Gloria Schreiber, our parishioner. The Life Center provides support for mothers and fathers who are confused and are either on the fence or have decided not to have an abortion. (515) 789-9100
Also through our Diocese of Rockville Centre, immediate assistance is available for women and families with an unexpected or unplanned pregnancy. In collaboration with Catholic Charities, Catholic Health Services (CHS) has established a one-call outreach program via 1 (855) 301-4CHS with access to re- sources in the community. Services are given both to uphold the unborn baby’s right to life and help sus- tain mother and baby following birth.
Help women and men who have suffered an abortion.
Programs offering hope and healing following abortion are also available. Project Rachel is a network of specially trained, compassionate caregivers, who are prepared to assist those who suffer from abortion loss. Call 1-516-766-2538 se habla espanol | Email projectrachel@drvc.org to begin healing after abortion loss. The Life Center can help too at (515) 789-9100.
Build the Culture of Life
Speak the truth with love. St. Teresa said the mother and father who are thinking about an abortion should be helped to love. Help them respect the life of the child.
Talk the pro-life talk... with your family members, friends, co-workers, schoolmates. We can build consensus and change the culture one person at a time.
Help educate the next generation. We must nurture young pro-life leaders who are unconditionally, unapologetically pro-life, who see the connection between their faith and their politics, and who are willing to put their faith into action.
Walk the pro-life walk...every minute of every hour of every day. Teach people to love and value one another. Our actions and words must reflect our respect and deep appreciation for the wondrous gift of human life.
Walk the pro-life walk...every minute of every hour of every day. Teach people to love and value one another. Our actions and words must reflect our respect and deep appreciation for the wondrous gift of human life.
Write to Our Legislators
Another important action we can take is write our legislators to change their hearts and minds. Don’t be the SILENT MAJORITY! Here in the state of New York the 2019 NYS Senate and Assembly will have a democratic majority of seats. This may ensure the passage of what is called the Reproductive Health Act.
Please read the flyer on the Reproductive Health Act (on the following page) that may be passed by our NY State Legislature. If this legislation is indeed enacted into law this year, there will be a time when in New York it is a crime to be pro-life, as stated by Kathleen Gallagher, director of pro-life activities and the Catholic Action for the NYS Bishop’s Conference.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
The Abortion Expansion Act: Lives in the Balance
Sadly, New York State is the Abortion Capital of our nation, with a rate of 29.6 abortions for every 1,000 women of reproductive age. That’s more than twice the national average.
New York legalized abortion in 1970, three years before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs. Wade. Abortion is legal here for any reason up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, and any time after that if the mother’s life is at risk. So even if Roe were to be overruled, the vast majority of abortions in our state would continue to be legal and available.
The Governor and the Democratic leadership in the New York State Legislature want to go even further, and make abortion less safe and more expansive than it is now. They’ve promised to enact the so- called “Reproductive Health Act” early in 2019.
This bill would:
Take Action Now
Pro-life New Yorkers need to stand up in unison and make their voices heard on behalf of women and their unborn children. Tell your state lawmakers that enough is enough.
Here’s a simple way to do this. Go to the New York State Catholic Conference website at www.nyscatholic.org. Click on “Stop Abortion Expansion.” Enter your home address information, then select “Send Message.” Your message will automatically be sent to your State Senator, State Assembly Representative and the Governor. Please do it as soon as you can. It is so important to register our strong protest at this time.
Tragically, the political reality following the 2018 mid-term elections means that we are unlikely to defeat this measure in the State Legislature. Governor Andrew Cuomo is a strong proponent of the bill, and has promised to sign it into law.
We must also do all we can to ensure that vulnerable women facing unplanned pregnancies do not avail themselves of it.
-New York State Catholic Conference of Bishops
This Tuesday, January 22, 2019 the nation will mark the 46th Anniversary of Roe v Wade, which made abortion a legal act across our land. Since then, there have been over 60million pre-born children abort- ed . I have a pin on my jacket that says 60, representing the number killed from abortions. This year the annual March for Life happened on Friday, January 18, 2019. I want to thank Fr. Frank and the parishioners from St. Ignatius who went on the march. They joined Fr. Vincent Schifano and St. Frances De Chantal for this journey. Thank you to Fr. Vin and St. Frances for organizing this day. The march for life brings Catholics and non-Catholic, old and young alike together saying we embrace life, especially at its beginning.
St. Theresa of Calcutta once said “any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion”. “We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is life but for us to kill each other”.
What can we do? As a caring and compassionate people we can:
Pray.
Pray for the intercession of St. Gianna Molla, the patron saint of mothers, physicians and preborn children. Pray for changed minds, changed hearts and a deeper awakening to the sacredness and dignity of all human life.
Provide life-affirming choices for women.
Contact the Life Center located in Massapequa, under the direction of Gloria Schreiber, our parishioner. The Life Center provides support for mothers and fathers who are confused and are either on the fence or have decided not to have an abortion. (515) 789-9100
Also through our Diocese of Rockville Centre, immediate assistance is available for women and families with an unexpected or unplanned pregnancy. In collaboration with Catholic Charities, Catholic Health Services (CHS) has established a one-call outreach program via 1 (855) 301-4CHS with access to re- sources in the community. Services are given both to uphold the unborn baby’s right to life and help sus- tain mother and baby following birth.
Help women and men who have suffered an abortion.
Programs offering hope and healing following abortion are also available. Project Rachel is a network of specially trained, compassionate caregivers, who are prepared to assist those who suffer from abortion loss. Call 1-516-766-2538 se habla espanol | Email projectrachel@drvc.org to begin healing after abortion loss. The Life Center can help too at (515) 789-9100.
Build the Culture of Life
Speak the truth with love. St. Teresa said the mother and father who are thinking about an abortion should be helped to love. Help them respect the life of the child.
Talk the pro-life talk... with your family members, friends, co-workers, schoolmates. We can build consensus and change the culture one person at a time.
Help educate the next generation. We must nurture young pro-life leaders who are unconditionally, unapologetically pro-life, who see the connection between their faith and their politics, and who are willing to put their faith into action.
Walk the pro-life walk...every minute of every hour of every day. Teach people to love and value one another. Our actions and words must reflect our respect and deep appreciation for the wondrous gift of human life.
Walk the pro-life walk...every minute of every hour of every day. Teach people to love and value one another. Our actions and words must reflect our respect and deep appreciation for the wondrous gift of human life.
Write to Our Legislators
Another important action we can take is write our legislators to change their hearts and minds. Don’t be the SILENT MAJORITY! Here in the state of New York the 2019 NYS Senate and Assembly will have a democratic majority of seats. This may ensure the passage of what is called the Reproductive Health Act.
Please read the flyer on the Reproductive Health Act (on the following page) that may be passed by our NY State Legislature. If this legislation is indeed enacted into law this year, there will be a time when in New York it is a crime to be pro-life, as stated by Kathleen Gallagher, director of pro-life activities and the Catholic Action for the NYS Bishop’s Conference.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
The Abortion Expansion Act: Lives in the Balance
Sadly, New York State is the Abortion Capital of our nation, with a rate of 29.6 abortions for every 1,000 women of reproductive age. That’s more than twice the national average.
New York legalized abortion in 1970, three years before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs. Wade. Abortion is legal here for any reason up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, and any time after that if the mother’s life is at risk. So even if Roe were to be overruled, the vast majority of abortions in our state would continue to be legal and available.
The Governor and the Democratic leadership in the New York State Legislature want to go even further, and make abortion less safe and more expansive than it is now. They’ve promised to enact the so- called “Reproductive Health Act” early in 2019.
This bill would:
- Allow non-doctors to perform abortions.
- Allow abortions for any reason in the third trimester of pregnancy right up to a mother’s due date. -Remove all criminal penalties for abortion, even if it was contrary to the mother’s choice, such as the intentional targeting of an unborn child in an act of violence.
- Remove our state’s protections for infants accidentally born alive in the course of an abortion. This extremism goes far beyond Roe vs. Wade!
Take Action Now
Pro-life New Yorkers need to stand up in unison and make their voices heard on behalf of women and their unborn children. Tell your state lawmakers that enough is enough.
Here’s a simple way to do this. Go to the New York State Catholic Conference website at www.nyscatholic.org. Click on “Stop Abortion Expansion.” Enter your home address information, then select “Send Message.” Your message will automatically be sent to your State Senator, State Assembly Representative and the Governor. Please do it as soon as you can. It is so important to register our strong protest at this time.
Tragically, the political reality following the 2018 mid-term elections means that we are unlikely to defeat this measure in the State Legislature. Governor Andrew Cuomo is a strong proponent of the bill, and has promised to sign it into law.
We must also do all we can to ensure that vulnerable women facing unplanned pregnancies do not avail themselves of it.
-New York State Catholic Conference of Bishops
January 13, 2019
LAST DAY OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
Today, (Sunday January 13th) is the last day of the Christmas Season. So, we may now take down our Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, our secular culture celebrates Christmas beginning in October and definitely after Veteran’s Day. By the time we get to Christmas Day, the culture shuts Christmas down on December 26th. But we, as Catholic Christians, only began celebrating Christmas on the evening of December 24th (Christmas Eve) through the Baptism of the Lord (January 13th). Next year please wait, if you can, a while through ADVENT, so that Christmas will be more meaningful for its 3 to 4 weeks beginning with Christmas Eve.
LIVE OUT YOUR BAPTISM
Jesus did not need to be Baptized because he had no sin. John’s acts of Baptism were for repentance. However, Jesus chose to be Baptized for three reasons:
Today reminds us of our own Baptism, when we first belonged to Jesus Christ and his Church. It is by our Baptism that we share in the Mission of the Christ and his Church to continue to spread the message of the Gospel. Pope Pius XII once said that through our Baptism “we don’t merely belong to the Church, but we are the Church”. The Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus at his Baptism, announcing that he was a Beloved Son of the Father, is the same Spirit that came down upon us reminding us that we too be- long to the same Father who loves us, takes care of us and will guide us.
May we ask ourselves, what has happened to my Baptismal call from years ago? If it has become dormant, this is the time to bring it back to life. It is always there inside us, waiting to spring back. Just call on the Holy Spirit for help. Look up your and your family’s baptismal date, light your baptismal candles on that anniversary day, celebrate the most important day of your life and begin to live it out! Whatever comes and goes in our life, the commission to follow and do the work of Christ lasts as long as we do on this earth!
PRO-LIFE WATCH
Please consider going on the Pro-Life March in Washington D.C. with St. Frances De Chantal on Friday, January 18th at 5am if you are able. More details are in the bulletin. If you are unable to go, then try to make January 18th and January 22nd, Anniversary of Roe V Wade, a day of prayer to change the hearts and minds of those who don’t see abortion objectively as murder.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
Today, (Sunday January 13th) is the last day of the Christmas Season. So, we may now take down our Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, our secular culture celebrates Christmas beginning in October and definitely after Veteran’s Day. By the time we get to Christmas Day, the culture shuts Christmas down on December 26th. But we, as Catholic Christians, only began celebrating Christmas on the evening of December 24th (Christmas Eve) through the Baptism of the Lord (January 13th). Next year please wait, if you can, a while through ADVENT, so that Christmas will be more meaningful for its 3 to 4 weeks beginning with Christmas Eve.
LIVE OUT YOUR BAPTISM
Jesus did not need to be Baptized because he had no sin. John’s acts of Baptism were for repentance. However, Jesus chose to be Baptized for three reasons:
- To show forth to the world that he was the Son of God. This is part of his Epiphany which means to “show forth”. The first Epiphany came when the Magi came, the second is the Baptism and the third will be the Wedding at Cana when Jesus changes the water into wine.
- To publicly announce his Mission/Ministry to the World in the spreading of the Kingdom of God.
- To unite himself with us. To show his solidarity with our human nature.
Today reminds us of our own Baptism, when we first belonged to Jesus Christ and his Church. It is by our Baptism that we share in the Mission of the Christ and his Church to continue to spread the message of the Gospel. Pope Pius XII once said that through our Baptism “we don’t merely belong to the Church, but we are the Church”. The Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus at his Baptism, announcing that he was a Beloved Son of the Father, is the same Spirit that came down upon us reminding us that we too be- long to the same Father who loves us, takes care of us and will guide us.
May we ask ourselves, what has happened to my Baptismal call from years ago? If it has become dormant, this is the time to bring it back to life. It is always there inside us, waiting to spring back. Just call on the Holy Spirit for help. Look up your and your family’s baptismal date, light your baptismal candles on that anniversary day, celebrate the most important day of your life and begin to live it out! Whatever comes and goes in our life, the commission to follow and do the work of Christ lasts as long as we do on this earth!
PRO-LIFE WATCH
Please consider going on the Pro-Life March in Washington D.C. with St. Frances De Chantal on Friday, January 18th at 5am if you are able. More details are in the bulletin. If you are unable to go, then try to make January 18th and January 22nd, Anniversary of Roe V Wade, a day of prayer to change the hearts and minds of those who don’t see abortion objectively as murder.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
January 6, 2019
THANK YOU
THANK YOU to all of our liturgical ministers including our Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers
of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers, Maintenance Staff under our Facilities Manager Tony Condron, our Choir members under the direction of Jennifer Toohey, our Music Director and our organist Jennifer Barsemian. We also want to thank those who counted our Christmas collection and to all of our ladies from our Martha’s Guild for the beautiful Christmas decorations. Thank you to all who have come to participate and share in the celebration of the Masses at Christmas with us. Your presence makes every bit of effort worthwhile.
From all us here at St. Ignatius Loyola, we wish you the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of God’s love throughout the year 2019! Remember to always include God in your calendar of the 365 days of this New Year! One thing you can do, is to be grateful for 7 things each day, as we learned from Pastor Greg Dwyer in his talk during Advent.
A NEW YEAR’S PRAYER TO SAY AND SHARE
God, thank you for a New Year. May everyone in our family be willing to begin anew with a clean slate. We know that you are always ready to forgive us. Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves and to forgive one another.
As we begin a New Year, remind us of our truest values and our deepest desires. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you now, one day at a time. Amen.
To all who have been baptized in 2018 (children and adults) you are invited to attend the 9:30 Mass on Sunday, January 13th for a blessing.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN- MOVING ON UP- YET COLLECTIONS ARE DOWN
As we begin our New Year, we are moving closer toward our Capital Campaign goal in paid pledges of $1.5 Million. Currently as of December 18, 2018, we are at $1,289, 930.33. We are at 86% of our goal. Thank you to all who have given and are giving for your generosity. Please remember to give also to our weekly Sunday collection as you would normally give. If you read our Financial letter, we are 19% down in our collections in comparison to 2016 and 2017. Try giving $1 more this year than last year. If you have not yet given to the campaign, what a great way to begin the New Year by giving to your parish to help us with our capital needs.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
THANK YOU to all of our liturgical ministers including our Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers
of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers, Maintenance Staff under our Facilities Manager Tony Condron, our Choir members under the direction of Jennifer Toohey, our Music Director and our organist Jennifer Barsemian. We also want to thank those who counted our Christmas collection and to all of our ladies from our Martha’s Guild for the beautiful Christmas decorations. Thank you to all who have come to participate and share in the celebration of the Masses at Christmas with us. Your presence makes every bit of effort worthwhile.
From all us here at St. Ignatius Loyola, we wish you the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of God’s love throughout the year 2019! Remember to always include God in your calendar of the 365 days of this New Year! One thing you can do, is to be grateful for 7 things each day, as we learned from Pastor Greg Dwyer in his talk during Advent.
A NEW YEAR’S PRAYER TO SAY AND SHARE
God, thank you for a New Year. May everyone in our family be willing to begin anew with a clean slate. We know that you are always ready to forgive us. Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves and to forgive one another.
As we begin a New Year, remind us of our truest values and our deepest desires. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you now, one day at a time. Amen.
To all who have been baptized in 2018 (children and adults) you are invited to attend the 9:30 Mass on Sunday, January 13th for a blessing.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN- MOVING ON UP- YET COLLECTIONS ARE DOWN
As we begin our New Year, we are moving closer toward our Capital Campaign goal in paid pledges of $1.5 Million. Currently as of December 18, 2018, we are at $1,289, 930.33. We are at 86% of our goal. Thank you to all who have given and are giving for your generosity. Please remember to give also to our weekly Sunday collection as you would normally give. If you read our Financial letter, we are 19% down in our collections in comparison to 2016 and 2017. Try giving $1 more this year than last year. If you have not yet given to the campaign, what a great way to begin the New Year by giving to your parish to help us with our capital needs.
Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
December 30, 2018
OUR FAMILIES - A HOLY FAMILY
A woman was at home doing some cleaning when the telephone rang. In going to answer it, she tripped on a scatter rug and, grabbing for something to hold onto, seized the telephone table. It fell over with a crash, jarring the receiver off the hook. As it fell, it hit the family dog, who leaped up, howling and barking. The woman's three-year-old son, startled by this noise, broke into loud screams. The woman mumbled some colorful words. She finally managed to pick up the receiver and lift it to her ear, just in time to hear her husband's voice on the other end say, "Nobody's said hello yet, but I'm positive I have the right number." (James Dent, Charleston, West Virginia Gazette).
Does this story sound familiar? This is all about family as we celebrate the second Feast of Christmas, with this Sunday being the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Often we confuse holiness with perfection. However, even though Jesus, Mary and Joseph were holy, they still experienced the same challenges, growth pains and imperfections of life as you and my family experiences each and every day. Despite that, they were faithful to the path that God laid out for them. The Holy Family teaches us that we too can be faithful to our vocation as a family in love, unity, forgiveness, peace and service, despite the messiness of family life. All we need to do is open our hearts to God and trust God each day as did the Holy Family.
St. John Paul II, tells us that each of our families makes up a domestic (home) church. In his Apostolic Letter Familiaris Consortio (The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World), he writes that the “Christian family shares in the mission of the Church in building God’s Kingdom here on earth” (49). When we gather around our tables, in our living/recreation rooms, around the television, computer or kitchen, pray together, play together, share and care for another, we act as Church. We go to Mass to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ to renew us and help us become more like the family God plans for us to be. The family is “not only a saved community receiving the love of Christ, but a saving community communicating Christ’s love to others” by how we act and in our words (FC 49). How does your family communicate Christ’s love? We pray especially for all families who experience hardship, dysfunction, addiction and suffering. During this Christmas season and the New Year, invite the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to bring their presence into your home each day binding your family together, healing any rifts and allowing you to give yourself over to a loving God and others. Then your family will truly be God’s Holy Family!
THANK YOU....THANK YOU...THANK YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019
Thank you to all who sent us (your priests and staff) Christmas cards, cookies, cakes, fruit, flowers, edible arrangements, gifts and wine. Your generosity shows how much you love your priests and parish staff. May God bless you!
Happy New Year! As we begin the new year 2019, we give thanks for the past and look forward to the future knowing that God is certainly with us! Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always.
St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
A woman was at home doing some cleaning when the telephone rang. In going to answer it, she tripped on a scatter rug and, grabbing for something to hold onto, seized the telephone table. It fell over with a crash, jarring the receiver off the hook. As it fell, it hit the family dog, who leaped up, howling and barking. The woman's three-year-old son, startled by this noise, broke into loud screams. The woman mumbled some colorful words. She finally managed to pick up the receiver and lift it to her ear, just in time to hear her husband's voice on the other end say, "Nobody's said hello yet, but I'm positive I have the right number." (James Dent, Charleston, West Virginia Gazette).
Does this story sound familiar? This is all about family as we celebrate the second Feast of Christmas, with this Sunday being the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Often we confuse holiness with perfection. However, even though Jesus, Mary and Joseph were holy, they still experienced the same challenges, growth pains and imperfections of life as you and my family experiences each and every day. Despite that, they were faithful to the path that God laid out for them. The Holy Family teaches us that we too can be faithful to our vocation as a family in love, unity, forgiveness, peace and service, despite the messiness of family life. All we need to do is open our hearts to God and trust God each day as did the Holy Family.
St. John Paul II, tells us that each of our families makes up a domestic (home) church. In his Apostolic Letter Familiaris Consortio (The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World), he writes that the “Christian family shares in the mission of the Church in building God’s Kingdom here on earth” (49). When we gather around our tables, in our living/recreation rooms, around the television, computer or kitchen, pray together, play together, share and care for another, we act as Church. We go to Mass to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ to renew us and help us become more like the family God plans for us to be. The family is “not only a saved community receiving the love of Christ, but a saving community communicating Christ’s love to others” by how we act and in our words (FC 49). How does your family communicate Christ’s love? We pray especially for all families who experience hardship, dysfunction, addiction and suffering. During this Christmas season and the New Year, invite the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to bring their presence into your home each day binding your family together, healing any rifts and allowing you to give yourself over to a loving God and others. Then your family will truly be God’s Holy Family!
THANK YOU....THANK YOU...THANK YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019
Thank you to all who sent us (your priests and staff) Christmas cards, cookies, cakes, fruit, flowers, edible arrangements, gifts and wine. Your generosity shows how much you love your priests and parish staff. May God bless you!
Happy New Year! As we begin the new year 2019, we give thanks for the past and look forward to the future knowing that God is certainly with us! Remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always.
St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
December 23, 3018
Last weekend St. Ignatius celebrated the many gifts we find in our parish. On Saturday, December 15, we had our annual Christmas Pageant and on Sunday, December 16, we had our Ecumenical Lessons and Carols at Holy Family Parish. What better way to celebrate the coming of Jesus than in our children and in unity with others. The children who participated in the pageant reminded us of Christmas’ true meaning. We often say Christmas was made for children, maybe because we only think of Santa Claus, the presents under the tree and a child’s joyful face on opening the gifts. Our children can also teach us how to accept Christ more into our lives and to be born more into our hearts. Jesus always said “let the children come to me for such is the Kingdom of God”. What he meant was we are to have a childlike faith when it comes to our relationship with God by opening our hearts and letting down our guard and depending more on Him. Perhaps this Christmas we can think about how we can be
childlike as we welcome the Lord Jesus into our world again by being loving in our relationships, more forgiving, and more giving in our relationships with one another. God came as a child for a reason, to remind us of what the innocence and beauty of life is all about and that it can never be lost, if we don’t let it.
The Ecumenical Advent Lessons and Carols at Holy Family was a prime example of having a child-like faith of unity. Our friends from a variety of Christian Churches took part in this great event. Fr. Gerard Gentleman, Pastor of Holy Family, noted that no matter what church we come from, we all share in this special geographical area we call Hicksville. We all go to same supermarkets, eat at the same restaurants, get gas at many of the same gas stations, bank at the same banks and shop at some of the same stores. We share in many of the same challenges and hardships of life. We also share in the same event that Jesus Christ, the God made human, came to live as one of us on earth, by taking on our very human flesh. How amazing is that? Christmas reminds us that God shows up especially when we live a childlike faith. When we embrace him in a childlike faith as did Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the Magi, then we allow him to use us as his instruments of love, unity, innocence, service and peace; and Jesus is born in us!
On behalf of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Srs. Karen, Kathy and Mary; and our Parish Priests, Frs. Andres, Benjamin and Frank, I wish you and your families a very blessed and Merry Christmas. May the light of Christ always glow in your hearts and may he help you to be a light for all who come into your midst. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim , Pastor
childlike as we welcome the Lord Jesus into our world again by being loving in our relationships, more forgiving, and more giving in our relationships with one another. God came as a child for a reason, to remind us of what the innocence and beauty of life is all about and that it can never be lost, if we don’t let it.
The Ecumenical Advent Lessons and Carols at Holy Family was a prime example of having a child-like faith of unity. Our friends from a variety of Christian Churches took part in this great event. Fr. Gerard Gentleman, Pastor of Holy Family, noted that no matter what church we come from, we all share in this special geographical area we call Hicksville. We all go to same supermarkets, eat at the same restaurants, get gas at many of the same gas stations, bank at the same banks and shop at some of the same stores. We share in many of the same challenges and hardships of life. We also share in the same event that Jesus Christ, the God made human, came to live as one of us on earth, by taking on our very human flesh. How amazing is that? Christmas reminds us that God shows up especially when we live a childlike faith. When we embrace him in a childlike faith as did Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the Magi, then we allow him to use us as his instruments of love, unity, innocence, service and peace; and Jesus is born in us!
On behalf of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Srs. Karen, Kathy and Mary; and our Parish Priests, Frs. Andres, Benjamin and Frank, I wish you and your families a very blessed and Merry Christmas. May the light of Christ always glow in your hearts and may he help you to be a light for all who come into your midst. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim , Pastor
December 16, 2018
This past Tuesday, December 11, 2018, St. Ignatius held a funeral Mass unlike any the church has seen. Two homeless men from our community, James Bolson and Robert Angell, both died in November and a Mass was celebrated for them at 11am. What was special about this service was that most of the people who attended were homeless friends of Bobby's and Jimmy's. In addition, many people from our parish and who volunteer at Human Services were also there to participate in the Mass. The second special part of this service was Rev. Cheri Kroon, Minister of the Plainview Reformed Church, who assisted me in leading the Mass.
Pastor Cheri wrote to me that “St. Ignatius and I provided a beautiful gift to the homeless community; truly being the hands and feet of Christ in a troubled and hurting world. The Mass was beautiful, respectful and loving. It was the same Mass that would have been offered for a rich executive, yet here it was for two men who had lived most of their adult life on the street.”
We invited the congregation to share stories and memories; and they spoke through tears about their love and gratitude for their dear friends.
We gave thanks for the lives of these two beloved children of God. But we also felt a call to repent; repent for the fact that we have homeless neighbors across the street from the church who are cold and hungry and we have yet to find them shelter.
May we not soon forget the tears that were shed in the sanctuary today and may we remember that after this beautiful service, our homeless neighbors went back out into the cold looking for some kind of shelter for the night.
My hope is in following through on the words of John the Baptist in this Sunday’s Gospel, that we can do more here at St. Ignatius along with the other churches in our community. In response to questions, John the Baptist says if you have two cloaks give one to someone who has none. The same goes with food. He tells us that if we want joy in our lives this Advent and always, then we need to open our hearts to the needs of others. They are right here in our backyards. Perhaps as a parish, we need to think about a homeless shelter for sleeping once a week during the winter or a soup kitchen at various times during the week. What are your thoughts? Please let me know. Shoot me an email.
May we remember to always strive to work for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim,
Pastor
Pastor Cheri wrote to me that “St. Ignatius and I provided a beautiful gift to the homeless community; truly being the hands and feet of Christ in a troubled and hurting world. The Mass was beautiful, respectful and loving. It was the same Mass that would have been offered for a rich executive, yet here it was for two men who had lived most of their adult life on the street.”
We invited the congregation to share stories and memories; and they spoke through tears about their love and gratitude for their dear friends.
We gave thanks for the lives of these two beloved children of God. But we also felt a call to repent; repent for the fact that we have homeless neighbors across the street from the church who are cold and hungry and we have yet to find them shelter.
May we not soon forget the tears that were shed in the sanctuary today and may we remember that after this beautiful service, our homeless neighbors went back out into the cold looking for some kind of shelter for the night.
My hope is in following through on the words of John the Baptist in this Sunday’s Gospel, that we can do more here at St. Ignatius along with the other churches in our community. In response to questions, John the Baptist says if you have two cloaks give one to someone who has none. The same goes with food. He tells us that if we want joy in our lives this Advent and always, then we need to open our hearts to the needs of others. They are right here in our backyards. Perhaps as a parish, we need to think about a homeless shelter for sleeping once a week during the winter or a soup kitchen at various times during the week. What are your thoughts? Please let me know. Shoot me an email.
May we remember to always strive to work for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim,
Pastor
December 9, 2018
ADVENT-DO NOT WORRY, THE LORD WANTS US HOME!
Often at Christmas and Thanksgiving we look forward to returning home with our families and friends or cannot wait for our loved ones to return home after not seeing them for a while. They always say “home is where the heart is.” For the people of Israel, their heart was back home in Jerusalem because they were forced out of their home to live in Babylon. They had to serve a hostile King Nebuchadnezzar, who had no love for God. In the Book of Baruch, the prophet who was a secretary of the prophet Jeremiah, gives hope to the people of Israel writing that one day they will return home! He tells the people that Jerusalem, their city, will prosper again and God will bring them back home. Their journey represents our journey to our promised land of Heaven. We need to take the time this advent to listen to the voice of another prophet, John the Baptist to lower our mountains of pride, selfishness and greed and fill in our valleys of loneliness, depression and addiction with his love and grace. We have Christ Jesus, who knows us and wants every day to leads us. All we need to do is trust in him, listen to him and follow him.
As we journey through this 2nd week of Advent, may we ask ourselves two questions:
1) What is needed in my life to make the roads of my journey straighter and easier to travel?
2) Where am I in my relationship to Jesus: wondering, an exile or a disciple? Remember, Advent reminds us that our Salvation is at hand! Mary, the mother of Jesus and our Mother will help us too. Please pray this Ancient Prayer of the Virgin Mary together with family and/or friends.
We turn to you for protection, Holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
Glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.
CHANGE OF SUNDAY EVENING MASS SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 6, 2019
After some study of our Mass attendance, prayerful consideration and consultation with the Parish Staff and Pastoral Council, a decision has been made to discontinue the 5:15 p.m. Sunday evening Mass beginning the first Sunday of January, 2019.
Currently, we have seven Masses each weekend; one on Saturday and six on Sunday. There has been a decline in Mass attendance, at St. Ignatius as in many other parishes, and particularly at the Sunday evening 5:15 pm Mass. The church accommodates 500-600 people, depending on personal size and comfort of seating. We can easily accommodate our average weekend attendance with six Masses each weekend. Therefore, beginning Sunday, January 6, 2019, the Sunday 5:15 pm Mass will be removed. A full church fosters a better sense of community, encourages participation, and conserves resources of priests and maintenance. The Pastoral Council will continue to study Mass attendance and how we as a community can encourage more participation at Sunday liturgy.
People who need to attend Mass on Sunday evening are welcome at the 7 p.m. Mass and at Masses at nearby churches. Thank you for your understanding, especially to all those who have participated at the 5:15pm Mass. Thank you also to Mr. James Sheehan for his music ministry at this Mass. Jim will be play- ing at other Masses on the weekend as needed.
May we remember to always strive to work for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
Often at Christmas and Thanksgiving we look forward to returning home with our families and friends or cannot wait for our loved ones to return home after not seeing them for a while. They always say “home is where the heart is.” For the people of Israel, their heart was back home in Jerusalem because they were forced out of their home to live in Babylon. They had to serve a hostile King Nebuchadnezzar, who had no love for God. In the Book of Baruch, the prophet who was a secretary of the prophet Jeremiah, gives hope to the people of Israel writing that one day they will return home! He tells the people that Jerusalem, their city, will prosper again and God will bring them back home. Their journey represents our journey to our promised land of Heaven. We need to take the time this advent to listen to the voice of another prophet, John the Baptist to lower our mountains of pride, selfishness and greed and fill in our valleys of loneliness, depression and addiction with his love and grace. We have Christ Jesus, who knows us and wants every day to leads us. All we need to do is trust in him, listen to him and follow him.
As we journey through this 2nd week of Advent, may we ask ourselves two questions:
1) What is needed in my life to make the roads of my journey straighter and easier to travel?
2) Where am I in my relationship to Jesus: wondering, an exile or a disciple? Remember, Advent reminds us that our Salvation is at hand! Mary, the mother of Jesus and our Mother will help us too. Please pray this Ancient Prayer of the Virgin Mary together with family and/or friends.
We turn to you for protection, Holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
Glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.
CHANGE OF SUNDAY EVENING MASS SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 6, 2019
After some study of our Mass attendance, prayerful consideration and consultation with the Parish Staff and Pastoral Council, a decision has been made to discontinue the 5:15 p.m. Sunday evening Mass beginning the first Sunday of January, 2019.
Currently, we have seven Masses each weekend; one on Saturday and six on Sunday. There has been a decline in Mass attendance, at St. Ignatius as in many other parishes, and particularly at the Sunday evening 5:15 pm Mass. The church accommodates 500-600 people, depending on personal size and comfort of seating. We can easily accommodate our average weekend attendance with six Masses each weekend. Therefore, beginning Sunday, January 6, 2019, the Sunday 5:15 pm Mass will be removed. A full church fosters a better sense of community, encourages participation, and conserves resources of priests and maintenance. The Pastoral Council will continue to study Mass attendance and how we as a community can encourage more participation at Sunday liturgy.
People who need to attend Mass on Sunday evening are welcome at the 7 p.m. Mass and at Masses at nearby churches. Thank you for your understanding, especially to all those who have participated at the 5:15pm Mass. Thank you also to Mr. James Sheehan for his music ministry at this Mass. Jim will be play- ing at other Masses on the weekend as needed.
May we remember to always strive to work for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
December 2, 2018
CHANGE OF SUNDAY EVENING MASS SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 6, 2019
After some study of our Mass attendance, prayerful consideration and consultation with the Parish Staff and Pastoral Council, a decision has been made to discontinue the 5:15pm Sunday evening Mass beginning the first Sunday of January 6th.
Since I arrived at St. Ignatius Loyola seven years ago, I noticed that we have more Masses than people coming to our church. Currently we have 7 Masses each weekend; 1 on Saturday and 6 on Sunday. There has been a steady decline in Mass attendance at all of our Masses, particularly the Sunday evening 5:15pm Mass. The full capacity of the church appears to accommodate 500-600 people, depending on personal size and comfort of seating. It has been evident that, given this seating capacity, our church is too large for a Mass that averages less than 100 people during the year. We can easily accommodate our average weekend attendance with less than 6 Masses on Sunday. Therefore, beginning Sunday, January 6, 2019, the Sunday 5:15pm Mass will be removed.
A fuller church fosters a better sense of community, encourages participation, and conserves resources of priests and maintenance. People who need to attend Mass on Sunday evening are welcome at the 7 pm Mass and at Masses at nearby churches. Thank you for your understanding, especially to all those who have participated at the 5:15pm Mass. Thank you also to Mr. James Sheehan for his music ministry at this Mass. Jim will be playing at other Masses on the weekend as needed.
ADVENT- BE PREPARED
Happy New Year, everybody! I write this because we are not entering a new secular calendar year, we are entering a new Church liturgical calendar year beginning with this season of ADVENT! So it is appropriate to say “Happy New Year?”
When the Church begins the First Sunday of Advent, she proclaims it a new liturgical year. Since the Second Vatican Council, the Church year is divided into 3 cycles or years, A,B and C. Each cycle focuses on a particular Gospel. During Cycle A we focus on the Gospel of Matthew. During Cycle B we focus on the Gospel of Mark. During Cycle C we will focus on the Gospel of Luke.
The first reading from the weekday Mass readings is divided into Cycles 1 or 2. During Cycle C, we will hear the readings from Cycle 1. Then we alternate to Cycle 2 the next liturgical year. After three years, we will have heard much from all of our Gospel readings.
The word Advent comes from the Latin term “adventus” or coming. During the first two weeks until December 16th, we will focus on the Christ who will come again. From December 17th thru December 24th our focus is on the Christ who came at Christmas in Bethlehem. The Gospel of Luke this Sunday focuses on the end times and Jesus’ coming again in glory.
Jesus refers to the end, not to scare or frighten us, but to prepare us to be ready to meet him face to face. Luke tells us that nothing here on earth lasts forever: whether it is nature, the cosmos, politics, money, our Christmas purchases and even our own bodies. Bishop Robert Barron writes, “don’t expect to find your ultimate fulfillment in any of it” that is, the material world. Our only true happiness is to be found in God.
Jesus, who is God on earth, leads us to the God the Father. Jesus gives us every reason to hope that despite life’s challenges and threats, he will get us through this world and help us to share in his eternal glory in Heaven to come. May we never forget that Jesus is our only source of our sal- vation. May we take this Advent to stop, pray, light the candles of an advent wreath, listen and talk to Jesus so that we discover him as Emmanuel, God with us at all times. As St. John Paul II tells us, “be not afraid” your salvation is at hand. A blessed and Happy Advent to All! I share with you this Ancient Prayer of the Virgin Mary and I invite you to pray it during this season of Advent.
We turn to you for protection, Holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.
May we remember to always strive to work for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
After some study of our Mass attendance, prayerful consideration and consultation with the Parish Staff and Pastoral Council, a decision has been made to discontinue the 5:15pm Sunday evening Mass beginning the first Sunday of January 6th.
Since I arrived at St. Ignatius Loyola seven years ago, I noticed that we have more Masses than people coming to our church. Currently we have 7 Masses each weekend; 1 on Saturday and 6 on Sunday. There has been a steady decline in Mass attendance at all of our Masses, particularly the Sunday evening 5:15pm Mass. The full capacity of the church appears to accommodate 500-600 people, depending on personal size and comfort of seating. It has been evident that, given this seating capacity, our church is too large for a Mass that averages less than 100 people during the year. We can easily accommodate our average weekend attendance with less than 6 Masses on Sunday. Therefore, beginning Sunday, January 6, 2019, the Sunday 5:15pm Mass will be removed.
A fuller church fosters a better sense of community, encourages participation, and conserves resources of priests and maintenance. People who need to attend Mass on Sunday evening are welcome at the 7 pm Mass and at Masses at nearby churches. Thank you for your understanding, especially to all those who have participated at the 5:15pm Mass. Thank you also to Mr. James Sheehan for his music ministry at this Mass. Jim will be playing at other Masses on the weekend as needed.
ADVENT- BE PREPARED
Happy New Year, everybody! I write this because we are not entering a new secular calendar year, we are entering a new Church liturgical calendar year beginning with this season of ADVENT! So it is appropriate to say “Happy New Year?”
When the Church begins the First Sunday of Advent, she proclaims it a new liturgical year. Since the Second Vatican Council, the Church year is divided into 3 cycles or years, A,B and C. Each cycle focuses on a particular Gospel. During Cycle A we focus on the Gospel of Matthew. During Cycle B we focus on the Gospel of Mark. During Cycle C we will focus on the Gospel of Luke.
The first reading from the weekday Mass readings is divided into Cycles 1 or 2. During Cycle C, we will hear the readings from Cycle 1. Then we alternate to Cycle 2 the next liturgical year. After three years, we will have heard much from all of our Gospel readings.
The word Advent comes from the Latin term “adventus” or coming. During the first two weeks until December 16th, we will focus on the Christ who will come again. From December 17th thru December 24th our focus is on the Christ who came at Christmas in Bethlehem. The Gospel of Luke this Sunday focuses on the end times and Jesus’ coming again in glory.
Jesus refers to the end, not to scare or frighten us, but to prepare us to be ready to meet him face to face. Luke tells us that nothing here on earth lasts forever: whether it is nature, the cosmos, politics, money, our Christmas purchases and even our own bodies. Bishop Robert Barron writes, “don’t expect to find your ultimate fulfillment in any of it” that is, the material world. Our only true happiness is to be found in God.
Jesus, who is God on earth, leads us to the God the Father. Jesus gives us every reason to hope that despite life’s challenges and threats, he will get us through this world and help us to share in his eternal glory in Heaven to come. May we never forget that Jesus is our only source of our sal- vation. May we take this Advent to stop, pray, light the candles of an advent wreath, listen and talk to Jesus so that we discover him as Emmanuel, God with us at all times. As St. John Paul II tells us, “be not afraid” your salvation is at hand. A blessed and Happy Advent to All! I share with you this Ancient Prayer of the Virgin Mary and I invite you to pray it during this season of Advent.
We turn to you for protection, Holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.
May we remember to always strive to work for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
November 25, 2018
CHRIST, KING OVER OUR LIVES AND ALL THE WORLD
As we have carved our turkeys and saved some leftovers for Turkey sandwiches, which I like, the Church is looking at the end of the year. Not the calendar year, but the Church year. We always end the year with the Sunday of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, traditionally known as Christ the King, the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Pope Pius XI instituted this feast on February 25, 1925 in an encyclical entitled Quas Primas, meaning the First applying the title to Christ as our Lord and King.
The Pope is addressing the problems of secularism where God is left out of the lives of human beings and society organizes its life as if God did not exist. Pius XI states that where God is thrown out, chaos erupts and man is on a downfall. Sound familiar? His letter was written just as the Nazi, Communist and other Dictator regimes were growing around the world.
This feast was established to remind us of who it is we worship. We worship Christ who is a king that does not lord his power and authority over others or takes others freedoms away. He is a King that uses love, mercy and forgiveness to draw all men to himself. Instead of a crown of jewels, our Christ receives a crown of thorns. Instead of a throne of gold, his seat is the cross. Is this the King we all acclaim to follow? If so, do we allow Christ to be the King over every aspect of our life? Do we allow him to reign in our hearts? Are we faithful to his word and his actions? Is Christ our King on Sunday while we make up the rest of the rules during the week? If we are his followers, then may his grace up us to come to serve and not be served, to love and not hate, to strive for the truth and not follow or make up stories. There are so many pressures in this life that knock us off track. But, today’s feast tells us that we have a God, a King who is all merciful, and always there for us to help us serve and love him better. May we open our hearts now before it is too late.
THE NEW ALLEN ORGAN & OUR CHOIR-CONTINUING OUR MISSION
Here is another, clearer picture of our new Allen Organ. I hope you are enjoying its new sounds and tunes. The Organ is a GENYSIS G330. It has 46 STOPS with A GYNYSIS VOICE. The total cost of the organ is $68,000.
The Organ’s dimensions are
Width 58-5/16” (148cm);
Height 47-5/8” (123 cm);
Depth 31-3/4” (80.6 cm) without pedalboard, 49” (124.5 cm) with pedalboard.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Toohey our Music Director. Jennifer is planning a concert in the near future to demonstrate the capabilities of our new organ. Stay tune! Thank you to all who have given and are giving to the campaign. No giving is ever too small and no sacrifice is ever too big.
May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always! St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
As we have carved our turkeys and saved some leftovers for Turkey sandwiches, which I like, the Church is looking at the end of the year. Not the calendar year, but the Church year. We always end the year with the Sunday of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, traditionally known as Christ the King, the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Pope Pius XI instituted this feast on February 25, 1925 in an encyclical entitled Quas Primas, meaning the First applying the title to Christ as our Lord and King.
The Pope is addressing the problems of secularism where God is left out of the lives of human beings and society organizes its life as if God did not exist. Pius XI states that where God is thrown out, chaos erupts and man is on a downfall. Sound familiar? His letter was written just as the Nazi, Communist and other Dictator regimes were growing around the world.
This feast was established to remind us of who it is we worship. We worship Christ who is a king that does not lord his power and authority over others or takes others freedoms away. He is a King that uses love, mercy and forgiveness to draw all men to himself. Instead of a crown of jewels, our Christ receives a crown of thorns. Instead of a throne of gold, his seat is the cross. Is this the King we all acclaim to follow? If so, do we allow Christ to be the King over every aspect of our life? Do we allow him to reign in our hearts? Are we faithful to his word and his actions? Is Christ our King on Sunday while we make up the rest of the rules during the week? If we are his followers, then may his grace up us to come to serve and not be served, to love and not hate, to strive for the truth and not follow or make up stories. There are so many pressures in this life that knock us off track. But, today’s feast tells us that we have a God, a King who is all merciful, and always there for us to help us serve and love him better. May we open our hearts now before it is too late.
THE NEW ALLEN ORGAN & OUR CHOIR-CONTINUING OUR MISSION
Here is another, clearer picture of our new Allen Organ. I hope you are enjoying its new sounds and tunes. The Organ is a GENYSIS G330. It has 46 STOPS with A GYNYSIS VOICE. The total cost of the organ is $68,000.
The Organ’s dimensions are
Width 58-5/16” (148cm);
Height 47-5/8” (123 cm);
Depth 31-3/4” (80.6 cm) without pedalboard, 49” (124.5 cm) with pedalboard.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Toohey our Music Director. Jennifer is planning a concert in the near future to demonstrate the capabilities of our new organ. Stay tune! Thank you to all who have given and are giving to the campaign. No giving is ever too small and no sacrifice is ever too big.
May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always! St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
November 18, 2018
The following is the Thanksgiving Proclamation as given by President Abraham Lincoln on October 20, 1864. Please take some time with your family to read and reflect over his words. They are as meaningful today as they were back in the 19th Century.
One thing to think about from this Sunday’s Gospel is asking ourselves this questions, in all that I do in my life, am I helping God to build his kingdom or am I standing in the way? God will judge us on that at the end of our time. One great way to build God’s Kingdom is be thankful not just on Thanksgiving Day but every day. An- other way is to celebrate Thanksgiving ! While I realize our cultural circumstances, we have only ourselves to blame if we make this Thanksgiving a shopping day. The stores and websites will be there. Family and friends are temporary. While there are jobs that demand people to be there, I often think of those families who are separated due to our consumer demand. We can set the pace. It starts first with you and me. From all of us here at St. Ignatius Loyola; staff, sisters and your priests, have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families. May we strive to do all things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr Jim,
Pastor
A Thanksgiving Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln emphasized a national day of thanks
It is the duty of the nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the over ruling power of God;
to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance' will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the LORD.
We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subject to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land ,may be a punishment inflicted upon us for-our presumptuous sins; to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.
But we have forgotten God. We-have forgotten the gracious hand-which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union. Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of October, A.D. 1864, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.
One thing to think about from this Sunday’s Gospel is asking ourselves this questions, in all that I do in my life, am I helping God to build his kingdom or am I standing in the way? God will judge us on that at the end of our time. One great way to build God’s Kingdom is be thankful not just on Thanksgiving Day but every day. An- other way is to celebrate Thanksgiving ! While I realize our cultural circumstances, we have only ourselves to blame if we make this Thanksgiving a shopping day. The stores and websites will be there. Family and friends are temporary. While there are jobs that demand people to be there, I often think of those families who are separated due to our consumer demand. We can set the pace. It starts first with you and me. From all of us here at St. Ignatius Loyola; staff, sisters and your priests, have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families. May we strive to do all things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr Jim,
Pastor
A Thanksgiving Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln emphasized a national day of thanks
It is the duty of the nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the over ruling power of God;
to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance' will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the LORD.
We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subject to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land ,may be a punishment inflicted upon us for-our presumptuous sins; to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.
But we have forgotten God. We-have forgotten the gracious hand-which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union. Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of October, A.D. 1864, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.
November 11, 2018
THE WIDOW WHO GAVE HER ALL
Women during Jesus’ time had no opportunity to form an identity on their own. They always had to rely on men, either their spouses or their sons to help them have influence in life. If they lost the men in their family, they had nothing. Without the man, she could not own property, a home or have an income.
Yet in this Sunday’s Gospel, we see a widow who defies all the odds against her. She presents herself in the temple with great courage and humility showing her brave faith. She gives all that she has to the temple collection, because she has such hopes in God’s promise and trusts in His word. The widow gave from her very means and goes beyond her comfort zone. Jesus notices!
What about us? How do we give of ourselves to God? If we want to be his followers, are we willing to go beyond our comfort zones when we give of ourselves like that widow who gave everything she had? Are we willing to follow humility, emptiness, brokenness, littleness, and sacrifice. This means letting go of all that I want or desire and giving to God my time, talent and treasure.
Many of you have been generous in giving to our Capital Campaign. As you can see by the projects we have completed, your dollars are at work. I am deeply grateful for your sacrifice to your parish. However, my great concern is our regular Sunday collection. They have fallen quite dramatically since 2011. They have fallen even greater since 2016 when our Capital Campaign began. While it is important that each of us complete our payments to the campaign, it is equally crucial that we continue our regular contributions to the Sunday collection. This is what helps us with our daily operations here at St. Ignatius Loyola. Without it, we would be at a great economic loss and would have to cut our ministries and programs. Here is an example of our recent collections in September and October 2018 compared September & October 2017.
Women during Jesus’ time had no opportunity to form an identity on their own. They always had to rely on men, either their spouses or their sons to help them have influence in life. If they lost the men in their family, they had nothing. Without the man, she could not own property, a home or have an income.
Yet in this Sunday’s Gospel, we see a widow who defies all the odds against her. She presents herself in the temple with great courage and humility showing her brave faith. She gives all that she has to the temple collection, because she has such hopes in God’s promise and trusts in His word. The widow gave from her very means and goes beyond her comfort zone. Jesus notices!
What about us? How do we give of ourselves to God? If we want to be his followers, are we willing to go beyond our comfort zones when we give of ourselves like that widow who gave everything she had? Are we willing to follow humility, emptiness, brokenness, littleness, and sacrifice. This means letting go of all that I want or desire and giving to God my time, talent and treasure.
Many of you have been generous in giving to our Capital Campaign. As you can see by the projects we have completed, your dollars are at work. I am deeply grateful for your sacrifice to your parish. However, my great concern is our regular Sunday collection. They have fallen quite dramatically since 2011. They have fallen even greater since 2016 when our Capital Campaign began. While it is important that each of us complete our payments to the campaign, it is equally crucial that we continue our regular contributions to the Sunday collection. This is what helps us with our daily operations here at St. Ignatius Loyola. Without it, we would be at a great economic loss and would have to cut our ministries and programs. Here is an example of our recent collections in September and October 2018 compared September & October 2017.
There were only two Sundays where we were over last year’s results. All the other Sunday collections took a loss. So this Sunday and in the future, when you are preparing your envelope, or when the basket comes by, please think of the widow and the coin. She was noticed by Jesus and rewarded the glory of heaven because she gave from her heart. How about you? If you want to be rewarded by Jesus, are you willing to give to God from your heart by giving to your parish of St. Ignatius? Jesus notices!
May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
November 4, 2018
The Saint Agnes Medal of Service
Please congratulate St. Ignatius Loyola’s recent recipient of the St. Agnes Medal for Service, Carol Hogan who has been a parishioner here for many years. The St. Agnes Medal of Service was instituted twelve years ago by Bishop William F. Murphy to recognize members of our local Church who have contributed their time and talent to all of our parishes in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Carol, like all of our past recipients, had been chosen for this honor because of her consistent, generous and meaningful contribution to the life of St. Ignatius Loyola. Carol has served in many ministries in and outside of our parish, including the Martha’s Guild, Parish Activities and Fundraising, the Mercy League which benefits Mercy Hospital, moderator of our parish Adult Altar Servers and the Finance Committee. Carol currently serves as a Parish Trustee. Thank you, Carol, for all your dedicated work and service to our parish of St. Ignatius Loyola. May God continue to bless you and Mary keep you!
Thank you also to all of past recipients for your dedicated work to our parish! You are examples of what Jesus means in the Sunday’s Gospel Mark 12:28-34 to Love God and Love neighbor.
Please congratulate St. Ignatius Loyola’s recent recipient of the St. Agnes Medal for Service, Carol Hogan who has been a parishioner here for many years. The St. Agnes Medal of Service was instituted twelve years ago by Bishop William F. Murphy to recognize members of our local Church who have contributed their time and talent to all of our parishes in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Carol, like all of our past recipients, had been chosen for this honor because of her consistent, generous and meaningful contribution to the life of St. Ignatius Loyola. Carol has served in many ministries in and outside of our parish, including the Martha’s Guild, Parish Activities and Fundraising, the Mercy League which benefits Mercy Hospital, moderator of our parish Adult Altar Servers and the Finance Committee. Carol currently serves as a Parish Trustee. Thank you, Carol, for all your dedicated work and service to our parish of St. Ignatius Loyola. May God continue to bless you and Mary keep you!
Thank you also to all of past recipients for your dedicated work to our parish! You are examples of what Jesus means in the Sunday’s Gospel Mark 12:28-34 to Love God and Love neighbor.
CONTINUING OUR MISSION, THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
As you can see, our new organ was recently installed last Friday, Oct. 19, 2018.
It is an Allan Organ filled with many beautiful sounds and melodies that will en- hance our prayer of song here at St. Ignatius Loyola! Thank you to all who are giv- ing and have given to our Capital Campaign. We are still a little less than $300,000 to reach our goal of $1.5 million. If you have not yet given, it is never too late. We look at equal sacrifice, not equal giving!
I have noticed however that our regular Sunday collections have dropped considerably. My sense is that we may be giving to the campaign but not to the church collection. Please remember that we still rely on our Sunday collections to help run our daily operations and our ministries. This is so important. It is difficult when we rob Peter to pay Paul. I humbly ask each of us to continue to give to our Sunday offerings. Please do not think that if you give to the campaign, that helps us on Sunday. It is for a different purpose.
ALL SOULS’ MASS
Please join us for our All Souls’ Mass on Monday November 5, 2018 at 7:30pm. This is a special time to
pray for and remember all those who died in our parish over this past year. We also pray for those who have died previously and for all the souls in purgatory that will now receive them to enter into the eternal happi- ness of Heaven.
May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always! St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
As you can see, our new organ was recently installed last Friday, Oct. 19, 2018.
It is an Allan Organ filled with many beautiful sounds and melodies that will en- hance our prayer of song here at St. Ignatius Loyola! Thank you to all who are giv- ing and have given to our Capital Campaign. We are still a little less than $300,000 to reach our goal of $1.5 million. If you have not yet given, it is never too late. We look at equal sacrifice, not equal giving!
I have noticed however that our regular Sunday collections have dropped considerably. My sense is that we may be giving to the campaign but not to the church collection. Please remember that we still rely on our Sunday collections to help run our daily operations and our ministries. This is so important. It is difficult when we rob Peter to pay Paul. I humbly ask each of us to continue to give to our Sunday offerings. Please do not think that if you give to the campaign, that helps us on Sunday. It is for a different purpose.
ALL SOULS’ MASS
Please join us for our All Souls’ Mass on Monday November 5, 2018 at 7:30pm. This is a special time to
pray for and remember all those who died in our parish over this past year. We also pray for those who have died previously and for all the souls in purgatory that will now receive them to enter into the eternal happi- ness of Heaven.
May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always! St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
October 28, 2018
During my priestly formation years in the Seminary, we were involved in seminars that are different from our usual studies in Theology. The purpose was to give us a well-rounded experience of priestly ministry in the Church. One such program was on how to work with people with disabilities. During this seminar, we actually got to experience what it was like to be nearly blind. We were given special glasses to wear that made everything very blurry. We had to walk down the hallway and down the steps with these glasses. One certainly could not do this alone. We were given guides. Even though we could not see, the guides were our eyes in helping us not fall or bump into the walls. We needed to trust them.
In Mark’s Gospel today, we see this man Bartimaeus who was blind from birth. Blindness like many other disabilities, was thought to be a curse from God. Those who could not see, could not work. So, Bartimaeus experienced suffering not only with his eyes. but with poverty and hunger. However, even though he was blind, he could see in other ways from his heart. He sensed that Jesus was someone very special in whom he could trust. Bartimaues, who never saw Jesus, makes an act of faith in calling out to the Lord. Not only does he show great faith, but also great perseverance in not allowing others to prevent him from getting Jesus’ attention. Jesus of course, grants him his request and opens him to the fullness of God’s presence because he had faith.
While many of us may not be blind from sight, we are all blind by our sins that prevent us from seeing God in our midst and fully living out our faith. This is shown through our addictions, fears, anger, pride, selfishness and insecurities. Maybe we are just too busy to see the Lord in our midst. But, we must not lose hope because God in his infinite mercy is reaching out to all of us each day to help us to see his loving presence before him. We need not be afraid of him because Jesus who acts as our High Priest, knows what we are going through. He is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15) and take them to the cross. Since he is victorious through the cross, we too share in his victory! But, do we really believe and trust Him or are we ashamed, afraid, and filled with doubt?
Our Catechism of the Catholic Church, tells us that we are “all invited by Jesus to enter the Kingdom of God. Even the worst of sinners is able to change and accept the boundless mercy of the Father. Already on earth the Kingdom belongs to those who accept it with a humble heart” (CCC 541-546, 567). We can form a humble and open heart by talking to God , asking for His grace, participating in the Mass, reading the Scriptures, receiving the sacraments, helping others and looking to others who are role models of faith as mentors. My dad, Stanley, who was an optometrist, helped us to see in more ways than one. He helped us to see life with faith, hope, perseverance and ultimately with love. He was a part of that “greatest generation” who taught us respect for others and self. He also taught us the gift of hospitality. My hope is to continue to follow his ways so that I can be lead closer to Jesus.
Notice that Bartimaeus did not return home. He went and followed Jesus. He shared his good fortune with others, helping them to see Jesus in their midst. We pray that the Lord will deliver each of us from our blindness to sight, in our heart, from death to new life. Once we really see the world and all around us through the eyes of faith, then we can truly find and serve Christ in one another and ultimately we pray, in Heaven.
Congratulations to Carol Hogan, who is this year’s recipient of the St. Agnes Medal for dedicated service to our parish! Please pray for Carol and her family! More to come.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
In Mark’s Gospel today, we see this man Bartimaeus who was blind from birth. Blindness like many other disabilities, was thought to be a curse from God. Those who could not see, could not work. So, Bartimaeus experienced suffering not only with his eyes. but with poverty and hunger. However, even though he was blind, he could see in other ways from his heart. He sensed that Jesus was someone very special in whom he could trust. Bartimaues, who never saw Jesus, makes an act of faith in calling out to the Lord. Not only does he show great faith, but also great perseverance in not allowing others to prevent him from getting Jesus’ attention. Jesus of course, grants him his request and opens him to the fullness of God’s presence because he had faith.
While many of us may not be blind from sight, we are all blind by our sins that prevent us from seeing God in our midst and fully living out our faith. This is shown through our addictions, fears, anger, pride, selfishness and insecurities. Maybe we are just too busy to see the Lord in our midst. But, we must not lose hope because God in his infinite mercy is reaching out to all of us each day to help us to see his loving presence before him. We need not be afraid of him because Jesus who acts as our High Priest, knows what we are going through. He is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15) and take them to the cross. Since he is victorious through the cross, we too share in his victory! But, do we really believe and trust Him or are we ashamed, afraid, and filled with doubt?
Our Catechism of the Catholic Church, tells us that we are “all invited by Jesus to enter the Kingdom of God. Even the worst of sinners is able to change and accept the boundless mercy of the Father. Already on earth the Kingdom belongs to those who accept it with a humble heart” (CCC 541-546, 567). We can form a humble and open heart by talking to God , asking for His grace, participating in the Mass, reading the Scriptures, receiving the sacraments, helping others and looking to others who are role models of faith as mentors. My dad, Stanley, who was an optometrist, helped us to see in more ways than one. He helped us to see life with faith, hope, perseverance and ultimately with love. He was a part of that “greatest generation” who taught us respect for others and self. He also taught us the gift of hospitality. My hope is to continue to follow his ways so that I can be lead closer to Jesus.
Notice that Bartimaeus did not return home. He went and followed Jesus. He shared his good fortune with others, helping them to see Jesus in their midst. We pray that the Lord will deliver each of us from our blindness to sight, in our heart, from death to new life. Once we really see the world and all around us through the eyes of faith, then we can truly find and serve Christ in one another and ultimately we pray, in Heaven.
Congratulations to Carol Hogan, who is this year’s recipient of the St. Agnes Medal for dedicated service to our parish! Please pray for Carol and her family! More to come.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
October 21, 2018
CELEBRATION OF DİA DE LA RAZA The Day of the Races
Every year, our Spanish speaking parishioners celebrate Dia de la Raza, or Day of the Races. It marks the time when Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas on October 12, 1492. His discovery opened the door for many explorers from Spain (Home of Fr. Andrés) including Amerigo Vespuci who gave our continents here the name America. He discovered South America.
On this day, the countries of Central and South America celebrate their traditions and culture with food, dance, traditional clothing and song. Our parishioners come from El Salvador (Home of Deacon Jose), Guatamala (Home of Deacon Mario) Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.
This day reminds me of the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians. He writes may we all “bear with one another in love striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit as you were also called to the one hope of your call one Lord, one faith , one Baptism under one God and Father of all who is overall and through all and in all”. Eph 3-5. May we reflect on these words of Paul to help us in this culture of division, negative politics and selfishness. Fr. Jim Pastor
Every year, our Spanish speaking parishioners celebrate Dia de la Raza, or Day of the Races. It marks the time when Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas on October 12, 1492. His discovery opened the door for many explorers from Spain (Home of Fr. Andrés) including Amerigo Vespuci who gave our continents here the name America. He discovered South America.
On this day, the countries of Central and South America celebrate their traditions and culture with food, dance, traditional clothing and song. Our parishioners come from El Salvador (Home of Deacon Jose), Guatamala (Home of Deacon Mario) Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.
This day reminds me of the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians. He writes may we all “bear with one another in love striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit as you were also called to the one hope of your call one Lord, one faith , one Baptism under one God and Father of all who is overall and through all and in all”. Eph 3-5. May we reflect on these words of Paul to help us in this culture of division, negative politics and selfishness. Fr. Jim Pastor
October 14, 2018
ST. OSCAR ARNULFO ROMERO, PRAY FOR US
Today, Sunday, October 14th Pope Francis will canonize two influential and faithful priests into official Saints of the Church; Blessed Pope Paul VI and Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador. I had the opportunity not only to visit the hospital of the Divine Providence where St. Oscar Romero was martyred, but also to celebrate Mass at the very altar where his blood was spilled. We will have a Mass of Thanksgiving in Spanish at 7pm Sunday, October 21, 2018 in honor of St. Oscar Romero. Join us please!
My visit was with the youth of my first assigned parish of St. Brigid, Westbury. Every year the Youth Minister from St. Brigid held a pilgrimage for youth and adults sponsored by the CFCA (Children’s Foundation for Children and Aging). The purpose of the trip was to see and experience true poverty where many families of St. Brigid originated from and still do today, including our own from St. Ignatius.
When we arrived at the chapel where St. Oscar Romero died while celebrating Mass, I could not help but think about Good Friday and where Jesus spilled his blood on the cross for us out of love.St. Romero did the same out of love for his Church and his Country. I decided to enter the chapel as we would enter our church for Good Friday. I wore red vestments for the occasion. While I prostrated on the floor, all knelt in silence. It was an incredible, indescribable moment in being at the altar where this great man was martyred and thinking about the life of a man who gave himself to Jesus for the souls of his people in need.
Archbishop Romero was born on August 15, 1917. He was ordained a Priest in 1942. After earning a doctorate in ascetical theology, he returned home and became a parish priest and rector of an Inter-diocesan seminary. He was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in 1977.
St. Romero was considered a “safe choice” at the time of the violent Civil War in his country. He refused to make waves against the government in any way, even though it was accused of kidnapping and murdering its own people, for fear of communism. It did not matter if they were guilty or innocent. The Church hierarchy often sided with governing forces at the time, for fear of a communist takeover.
It was not until three weeks after his appointment as archbishop, that Romero was shaken and transformed by the murder of his good friend, Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, a vigorous defender of the rights of the poor. Five more priests were assassinated in the Archdiocese of San Salvador during Romero’s years as its shepherd.
When a military junta seized control of the national government in 1979, Archbishop Romero publicly criticized the US government for backing the junta. His weekly radio sermons, broadcast throughout the country, were regarded by many as the most trustworthy source of news available. St. Romero’s funeral was celebrated in the plaza outside the cathedral and drew an estimated 250,000 mourners. His tomb in the cathedral crypt soon drew thousands of visitors each year. On February 3, 2015, Pope Francis authorized a decree recognizing Oscar Romero as a martyr for the faith. His beatification took place in San Salvador on May 23, 2015.
St. Oscar Romero is called the Model Pastor and the Model Bishop for us all. As one Salvadoran woman described him, Archbishop Romero “is not ours but he is St. Romero of the Americas, now he is going to be St. Romero of the world." Following Jesus always requires choices. Romero’s fiercest critics conveniently dismissed his choices as politically inspired. He shows us how an incarnational faith must be expressed publicly. Pray for the people of El Salvador and all Salvadorans of our parish today. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
Today, Sunday, October 14th Pope Francis will canonize two influential and faithful priests into official Saints of the Church; Blessed Pope Paul VI and Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador. I had the opportunity not only to visit the hospital of the Divine Providence where St. Oscar Romero was martyred, but also to celebrate Mass at the very altar where his blood was spilled. We will have a Mass of Thanksgiving in Spanish at 7pm Sunday, October 21, 2018 in honor of St. Oscar Romero. Join us please!
My visit was with the youth of my first assigned parish of St. Brigid, Westbury. Every year the Youth Minister from St. Brigid held a pilgrimage for youth and adults sponsored by the CFCA (Children’s Foundation for Children and Aging). The purpose of the trip was to see and experience true poverty where many families of St. Brigid originated from and still do today, including our own from St. Ignatius.
When we arrived at the chapel where St. Oscar Romero died while celebrating Mass, I could not help but think about Good Friday and where Jesus spilled his blood on the cross for us out of love.St. Romero did the same out of love for his Church and his Country. I decided to enter the chapel as we would enter our church for Good Friday. I wore red vestments for the occasion. While I prostrated on the floor, all knelt in silence. It was an incredible, indescribable moment in being at the altar where this great man was martyred and thinking about the life of a man who gave himself to Jesus for the souls of his people in need.
Archbishop Romero was born on August 15, 1917. He was ordained a Priest in 1942. After earning a doctorate in ascetical theology, he returned home and became a parish priest and rector of an Inter-diocesan seminary. He was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in 1977.
St. Romero was considered a “safe choice” at the time of the violent Civil War in his country. He refused to make waves against the government in any way, even though it was accused of kidnapping and murdering its own people, for fear of communism. It did not matter if they were guilty or innocent. The Church hierarchy often sided with governing forces at the time, for fear of a communist takeover.
It was not until three weeks after his appointment as archbishop, that Romero was shaken and transformed by the murder of his good friend, Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, a vigorous defender of the rights of the poor. Five more priests were assassinated in the Archdiocese of San Salvador during Romero’s years as its shepherd.
When a military junta seized control of the national government in 1979, Archbishop Romero publicly criticized the US government for backing the junta. His weekly radio sermons, broadcast throughout the country, were regarded by many as the most trustworthy source of news available. St. Romero’s funeral was celebrated in the plaza outside the cathedral and drew an estimated 250,000 mourners. His tomb in the cathedral crypt soon drew thousands of visitors each year. On February 3, 2015, Pope Francis authorized a decree recognizing Oscar Romero as a martyr for the faith. His beatification took place in San Salvador on May 23, 2015.
St. Oscar Romero is called the Model Pastor and the Model Bishop for us all. As one Salvadoran woman described him, Archbishop Romero “is not ours but he is St. Romero of the Americas, now he is going to be St. Romero of the world." Following Jesus always requires choices. Romero’s fiercest critics conveniently dismissed his choices as politically inspired. He shows us how an incarnational faith must be expressed publicly. Pray for the people of El Salvador and all Salvadorans of our parish today. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
October 7, 2018
CONTINUING OUR MISSION-THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE WHERE WE ARE-$1,231,645.28 WHERE WE NEED TO BE- $1,500,000
As we inch closer toward our Capital Campaign goal, work on the parking lot continues. My hope is that by the time you read this column, the project will be completed! Thank you for patience and flexibility during this time. Due to the weather and other conditions in the lot, the project took longer than expected. Doesn’t an issue happen at home, work or school that tries your patience?
In light of all that is going on in our country, our Church and on social media, we can easily lose patience with one another. Jesus said “By your patience you will save your soul”. In an article I read on Catholic Exchange.com by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV, here are 5 simple suggestions that can help us with building patience within ourselves and each other.
FIRST-PRAY
Pray not only for the charming ones we love, but pray also for the person who irritates you or can be a thorn in your side.
SECOND-HUMILITY
When you are tempted to look down on a person, think about your own egregious actions and God’s mercy towards you. This will help you look upon that person with a different set of eyes. We seem to live in a country that points fingers, but has no mercy.
THIRD-ACT CONTRARY TO YOUR IMPULSIVENESS-AGERE CONTRA
In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius Loyola, writes about agere contra. This is a short Latin phrase to go against. The next time you feel tempted to be impatient, unkind, cold, or downright mean to a person who presses your buttons, do the opposite. A smile, kind word, nice gesture-even a small gift is pleasing to God. This conquering of self is difficult. But once done, this is a victory and a sign of God’s grace in your life.
FOURTH-PATIENCE WITH YOURSELF
Sometimes we are so concerned with perfection, that we lose sight of being kind to our- selves. When we are not kind to self, we act out against everyone else. While we all sin, this should not discourage us from starting again. The Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Venerable Bruno Lanteri expressed it in two short words, and these two words say it all: Nunc coepi, meaning now I begin. In other words, after we fall or fail in one way or another, we should get up, dust ourselves off, launch ourselves into the loving arms of God the Father (the image of Saint Therese of Lisieux), and simply start anew! Trust in God’s grace.
FIFTH-PATIENCE WITH GOD
God’s ways are not always our ways. Instead of fighting with God when things don’t go your way, ask him to help you to trust in his infinite love, care and plan for you. Beg our lady, who stayed at the cross watching Jesus suffering and die, to help you to have great trust and patience in God’s plan for your life.
Our next Continuing Our Mission projects are the rectory roof and a new organ! Thank you for your contributions! If you have not donated yet, think of doing so. No gift is ever too small! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
As we inch closer toward our Capital Campaign goal, work on the parking lot continues. My hope is that by the time you read this column, the project will be completed! Thank you for patience and flexibility during this time. Due to the weather and other conditions in the lot, the project took longer than expected. Doesn’t an issue happen at home, work or school that tries your patience?
In light of all that is going on in our country, our Church and on social media, we can easily lose patience with one another. Jesus said “By your patience you will save your soul”. In an article I read on Catholic Exchange.com by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV, here are 5 simple suggestions that can help us with building patience within ourselves and each other.
FIRST-PRAY
Pray not only for the charming ones we love, but pray also for the person who irritates you or can be a thorn in your side.
SECOND-HUMILITY
When you are tempted to look down on a person, think about your own egregious actions and God’s mercy towards you. This will help you look upon that person with a different set of eyes. We seem to live in a country that points fingers, but has no mercy.
THIRD-ACT CONTRARY TO YOUR IMPULSIVENESS-AGERE CONTRA
In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius Loyola, writes about agere contra. This is a short Latin phrase to go against. The next time you feel tempted to be impatient, unkind, cold, or downright mean to a person who presses your buttons, do the opposite. A smile, kind word, nice gesture-even a small gift is pleasing to God. This conquering of self is difficult. But once done, this is a victory and a sign of God’s grace in your life.
FOURTH-PATIENCE WITH YOURSELF
Sometimes we are so concerned with perfection, that we lose sight of being kind to our- selves. When we are not kind to self, we act out against everyone else. While we all sin, this should not discourage us from starting again. The Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Venerable Bruno Lanteri expressed it in two short words, and these two words say it all: Nunc coepi, meaning now I begin. In other words, after we fall or fail in one way or another, we should get up, dust ourselves off, launch ourselves into the loving arms of God the Father (the image of Saint Therese of Lisieux), and simply start anew! Trust in God’s grace.
FIFTH-PATIENCE WITH GOD
God’s ways are not always our ways. Instead of fighting with God when things don’t go your way, ask him to help you to trust in his infinite love, care and plan for you. Beg our lady, who stayed at the cross watching Jesus suffering and die, to help you to have great trust and patience in God’s plan for your life.
Our next Continuing Our Mission projects are the rectory roof and a new organ! Thank you for your contributions! If you have not donated yet, think of doing so. No gift is ever too small! May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God. St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim
Pastor
September 30, 2018
WE ARE ONE IN THE SPIRIT, WE ARE ONE IN THE LORD
In our Sunday Gospel from Mark, we read that the youngest apostle (John, the brother of James) has the loudest voice. Jesus called these two the “Sons of Thunder” (see Mark 3:17) John seems to be moti- vated by a holy zeal to stop others who are doing good without the disciples’ authorization. John tells Jesus that he came across a man casting out demons in the name of Jesus—but he is “not one of us” and John thinks he should be silenced. Exorcists of this sort were common in antiquity. We see in the Gospel of Luke how James, the other brother, shows a similar intolerance toward a Samaritan who refused the hospitality of Jesus and his disciples. James calls for fire from Heaven to come down upon him. In the Book of Acts of the Apostles, the seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva have a rude surprise when they try to cast out demons in the name of “Jesus whom Paul preaches” (Acts 19:11-20).
Jesus does not accept this attitude at all. As their leader, he is certainly aware of the demands on loyal- ty needed to keep his group of Middle Eastern men together. However, Jesus wants to expand the boundaries of loyalty and include those working toward the same goals, like the person working to free another person, from the oppression of the devil. Jesus is telling his disciples that whenever good work is done in service of others, it should not be stopped. This volunteer is on their side and will not be inclined to speak against Jesus and his ministry.
This reminds me of how our Church has changed toward other Christians who worship and serve in our midst. When my parents grew up, you would not even dare to enter into a Protestant church because it was considered sacrilegious.
We felt that the Protestants were on the wrong side of history and were in error in their teachings. The Church has evolved, however, since the Second Vatican Council, where the Church recognizes that Christ is also in the other churches, not only our own. In the Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintgratio, the Church recognizes the wounds caused by historic division between other Christians and herself. The documents states that “large communities became separated from the Catholic Church of which both men are to blame.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC #187) We cannot blame those who are born today for the problems of today, not of their own making. “Those who are Baptized, no matter in what Church, are incorporated into the Body of Christ. They therefore, have a right to be called Christians and with good reason are accepted as brothers (sisters) in the Lord, by the Children of the Catholic Church” (CCC 818). Many elements of holiness and truth are found outside the Catholic Church such as the Word of God, the life of grace, hope, faith and charity; and the gifts of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 819) All of these gifts lead us to Christ and call of Christian Unity.
To honor our perseverance for unity, Joe Samodulski and I take part in an ecumenical breakfast meeting once a month with the pastors and some of the outreach coordinators of Holy Family, Our Lady of Mercy, Trinity Lutheran, St. Stephen’s Lutheran, Holy Trinity Episcopal, Hicksville United Methodist, and the Graffiti Church. We discuss the issues of our community and how best to work together as one body of Christ. We host different Worship Events in Advent, Christian Unity Week and during Lent. Please check the bulletin for announcements and try to come and join us because they are not against us, they are for us! Currently, we are working on a project to have a shelter for the Homeless. More details to come at a later date.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always.
May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God! St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
In our Sunday Gospel from Mark, we read that the youngest apostle (John, the brother of James) has the loudest voice. Jesus called these two the “Sons of Thunder” (see Mark 3:17) John seems to be moti- vated by a holy zeal to stop others who are doing good without the disciples’ authorization. John tells Jesus that he came across a man casting out demons in the name of Jesus—but he is “not one of us” and John thinks he should be silenced. Exorcists of this sort were common in antiquity. We see in the Gospel of Luke how James, the other brother, shows a similar intolerance toward a Samaritan who refused the hospitality of Jesus and his disciples. James calls for fire from Heaven to come down upon him. In the Book of Acts of the Apostles, the seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva have a rude surprise when they try to cast out demons in the name of “Jesus whom Paul preaches” (Acts 19:11-20).
Jesus does not accept this attitude at all. As their leader, he is certainly aware of the demands on loyal- ty needed to keep his group of Middle Eastern men together. However, Jesus wants to expand the boundaries of loyalty and include those working toward the same goals, like the person working to free another person, from the oppression of the devil. Jesus is telling his disciples that whenever good work is done in service of others, it should not be stopped. This volunteer is on their side and will not be inclined to speak against Jesus and his ministry.
This reminds me of how our Church has changed toward other Christians who worship and serve in our midst. When my parents grew up, you would not even dare to enter into a Protestant church because it was considered sacrilegious.
We felt that the Protestants were on the wrong side of history and were in error in their teachings. The Church has evolved, however, since the Second Vatican Council, where the Church recognizes that Christ is also in the other churches, not only our own. In the Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintgratio, the Church recognizes the wounds caused by historic division between other Christians and herself. The documents states that “large communities became separated from the Catholic Church of which both men are to blame.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC #187) We cannot blame those who are born today for the problems of today, not of their own making. “Those who are Baptized, no matter in what Church, are incorporated into the Body of Christ. They therefore, have a right to be called Christians and with good reason are accepted as brothers (sisters) in the Lord, by the Children of the Catholic Church” (CCC 818). Many elements of holiness and truth are found outside the Catholic Church such as the Word of God, the life of grace, hope, faith and charity; and the gifts of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 819) All of these gifts lead us to Christ and call of Christian Unity.
To honor our perseverance for unity, Joe Samodulski and I take part in an ecumenical breakfast meeting once a month with the pastors and some of the outreach coordinators of Holy Family, Our Lady of Mercy, Trinity Lutheran, St. Stephen’s Lutheran, Holy Trinity Episcopal, Hicksville United Methodist, and the Graffiti Church. We discuss the issues of our community and how best to work together as one body of Christ. We host different Worship Events in Advent, Christian Unity Week and during Lent. Please check the bulletin for announcements and try to come and join us because they are not against us, they are for us! Currently, we are working on a project to have a shelter for the Homeless. More details to come at a later date.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always.
May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God! St. Ignatius Loyola, pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
September 23, 2018
CONTINUING OUR MISSION-THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE
WHERE WE ARE- $1,228,029 WHERE WE NEED TO BE- $1,500,000
Here are your dollars at work. Our new parking lot has begun! Thank you to all who are contributing to this worthwhile endeavor. If you have not yet contributed to our Campaign and would like to, please contact our business office at the rectory (516) 931 -0056 Ext. 118. It is never too late. Every dollar that you contribute will be matched by our Diocese up to 1.5 Million Dollar. This is truly a gift.
Thank you for being patient and doing what you can to arrive at church during this time. Perhaps you had to park a little further than usual. When something like this happens, we can make our extra walk into a prayer, like the rosary, offering it for someone in need! Our next capital project will be the roof of the rectory which is in need of repair from all the rain we have been having over this past year. Stay Tune!
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST PIO-PADRE RECEIVING THE STIGMATA OF CHRIST
This past Thursday September 20, 2018, marked the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Padre Pio receiving what is called the Stigmata of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Stigmata are the five major wounds that Christ received on his hands, in his feet and in his side from the experience of his passion, crucifixion and death. A few saints have been given this gift as a sign of their union with the crucified Christ.
St. Pio, as a Capuchin priest, received the Stigmata on September 20, 1918. St. Pio’s stigmata showed how he lived the passion of Christ in a mystical way. The wounds of Christ appeared on his body while he was praying before a crucifix. Padre Pio’s wounds helped him to understand the cosmic power of the Catholic Mass, the unbloody representation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and a relationship between a holy living of the priesthood and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Although painful like Christ’s wounds, the stigmata helped Padre Pio to be a Doctor of Mercy in the confessional and a Doctor of Mercy for all those who faced all types of traumas of life. St. Pio’s wounds gave him a unique understanding of how to heal the wounds of the Church throughout History. As we contemplate his wounds, may we think about what in life has wounded us and ask Padre Pio’s intercession to help heal them. May we also ask St. Pio to help heal the wounds of our Church during this time of hurt and uncertainty. (For More Information See Bishop Barres’ Video on below - Padre Pio – Reflection (English)
We pray: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank you for the Holy Witness of your priest, St. Pio and the gift of the Stigmata you gave him. We ask St. Pio’s intercession that the wounds and traumas of survivors of abuse and the wounds of the entire Church may be touched by the glorified wounds of the risen Christ. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God St. Ignatius Loyola pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor
WHERE WE ARE- $1,228,029 WHERE WE NEED TO BE- $1,500,000
Here are your dollars at work. Our new parking lot has begun! Thank you to all who are contributing to this worthwhile endeavor. If you have not yet contributed to our Campaign and would like to, please contact our business office at the rectory (516) 931 -0056 Ext. 118. It is never too late. Every dollar that you contribute will be matched by our Diocese up to 1.5 Million Dollar. This is truly a gift.
Thank you for being patient and doing what you can to arrive at church during this time. Perhaps you had to park a little further than usual. When something like this happens, we can make our extra walk into a prayer, like the rosary, offering it for someone in need! Our next capital project will be the roof of the rectory which is in need of repair from all the rain we have been having over this past year. Stay Tune!
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST PIO-PADRE RECEIVING THE STIGMATA OF CHRIST
This past Thursday September 20, 2018, marked the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Padre Pio receiving what is called the Stigmata of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Stigmata are the five major wounds that Christ received on his hands, in his feet and in his side from the experience of his passion, crucifixion and death. A few saints have been given this gift as a sign of their union with the crucified Christ.
St. Pio, as a Capuchin priest, received the Stigmata on September 20, 1918. St. Pio’s stigmata showed how he lived the passion of Christ in a mystical way. The wounds of Christ appeared on his body while he was praying before a crucifix. Padre Pio’s wounds helped him to understand the cosmic power of the Catholic Mass, the unbloody representation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and a relationship between a holy living of the priesthood and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Although painful like Christ’s wounds, the stigmata helped Padre Pio to be a Doctor of Mercy in the confessional and a Doctor of Mercy for all those who faced all types of traumas of life. St. Pio’s wounds gave him a unique understanding of how to heal the wounds of the Church throughout History. As we contemplate his wounds, may we think about what in life has wounded us and ask Padre Pio’s intercession to help heal them. May we also ask St. Pio to help heal the wounds of our Church during this time of hurt and uncertainty. (For More Information See Bishop Barres’ Video on below - Padre Pio – Reflection (English)
We pray: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank you for the Holy Witness of your priest, St. Pio and the gift of the Stigmata you gave him. We ask St. Pio’s intercession that the wounds and traumas of survivors of abuse and the wounds of the entire Church may be touched by the glorified wounds of the risen Christ. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May God bless you and Mary keep you and your families always. May we remember to always do things for the greater glory of God St. Ignatius Loyola pray for us!
Fr. Jim, Pastor