Mission Statement. Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 15, 2015 You are my rock and stronghold, O Lord! The Salvation of Souls is the Supreme Law

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1 Roman Catholic Church of Saint Aidan 505 Willis Avenue, Williston Park, New York (Fax) Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 15, 2015 You are my rock and stronghold, O Lord! The Pastoral Staff Rev. Msgr. James M. McDonald, Pastor - ext Rev. Kevin Dillon, Associate Pastor - ext Rev. Michael Edathil, Associate Pastor - ext Rev. Damian Halligan, SJ In Residence Deacon Salvatore B. Villani - ext Deacon Francis J. Love - ext Deacon Rudy Martin - ext Mr. Drago Bubalo, DMA (cand). Music Director ext address drago@staidanparish.org The Salvation of Souls is the Supreme Law Mission Statement We, the parish family of the Church of Saint Aidan, strengthened by the Eucharist and encouraged by the Word of God, welcome all, for we recognize that everyone is a child of God and no one should be excluded. Guided by the Holy Spirit through prayer, we strive as one to build the Body of Christ. We commit ourselves to nurturing life-long faith formation, fostering lay leadership, promoting social justice, engaging our youth in every aspect of parish life, and offering care and compassionate service to all. We invite everyone to walk with Jesus and experience His healing power and love. St. Aidan School (Grades Nursery-3. ext. 9202, 9203) (Grades 4-8, ext. 9302, 9303) Ms. Eileen P. Oliver, Principal Ms. Jo-Anne Rowan, Assistant Principal Faith Formation and Spirituality - ext. 9404, 9405 Mr. James F. Corrigan, Director of Faith Formation ext Mrs. Elaine Smith, Director of Special Needs ext Parish Social Ministry - ext Ms. Rosemarie Cavallaro, Director - ext Youth Ministry Mr. Stephen Loewenthal, Coordinator - ext SaintAidanYouthGroup@gmail.com Pastoral Council - ext Members: Toti Conforti, Cathy Frischmann, Brendan Hickey, Larry McGovern, Bonnie Parente, Erin Flynn, Mary Ellen Testa and Suellen Peterson Buildings & Grounds Department ext Liturgy of the Eucharist Saturday Morning 9:00 AM Saturday Evening 5:00 and 7:30 PM Sunday: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, *10:30 AM, 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM *Liturgy of the Word for Children Daily: 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:30 & 5:30 PM Monday thru Friday Morning Prayer 8:40 AM Monday thru Saturday Baptism Baptism of Children: Each month on the 1st Sunday and 3rd Sunday at 1:30 PM ceremony. Required: Parents class on the 2nd Sunday of each month beginning with the 12:00 Mass. For baptismal information, contact the Rectory office ext Tuesday-Friday between the hours of 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. BAPTISM CLASS FOR NEW PARENTS The required Baptism class for new parents is held the second Sunday of each month beginning with the 12:00 Mass parents are asked to gather at St. Joseph s statue to the right of the main altar. Penance/Reconciliation The Sacrament of Penance is celebrated every Saturday from 12:30-1:30 PM and 4:00-5:00 PM in our church or by appointment. Marriage Arrangements are to be made at the Rectory office at least 9 months in advance. Pre-Cana and FOCCUS registrations must be arranged through the parish. Anointing of the Sick & Communion of the Sick The anointing of the sick takes place after the 12:00 PM Mass on the 4th Sunday of each month. Anyone who is homebound may receive Holy Communion at home on a regular basis. Eucharistic ministers assist the priests in this ministry. Please call the rectory - ext Adoration First and third Fridays of the month 12:45-3:00 PM in the Church. 12:30-1:30 PM on Saturdays in the church.

2 SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME MASSES AND SERVICES FOR THE WEEK MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015 Weekday Gn 4: 1-15, 25; Mk 8: :30 AM Nellie Hourihane 7:30 AM Anne Callery 9:00 AM Genevieve M. Robinson 12:30 PM Blaine R. Emken (Birthday Rem.) 5:30 PM NO MASS-PRESIDENT S DAY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015 The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order Gn 6: 5-8; 7: 1-5, 10; Mk 8: :30 AM Thomas Butler (Birthday Rem.) 7:30 AM Patricia Starr 9:00 AM Felice Borgia 12:30 PM Walter Semelrath 5:30 PM William J. Mahoney (3rd Anniversary Rem.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015 Ash Wednesday Jl 2: 12-18; 2 Cor 5: 20 6: 2; Mt 6: 1-6, :30 AM Marianne & Albert Mayce 7:30 AM Daniel Strachan 9:00 AM Genevieve Robinson 12:30 PM Cheryl Noll 3:30 PM Eddie Leonard 4:30 PM Robert Tobia 5:30 PM Philip Calvin Amico 7:30 PM Eleanor Kelly THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 Thursday After Ash Wednesday Dt 30: 15-20; Lk 9: :30 AM Showky Kaldawy 7:30 AM Joan Durcan 9:00 AM Kathryn Madison 12:30 PM Bob Tobia 5:30 PM Edward Lemeiux FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 Friday After Ash Wednesday Is 58: 1-9a; Mt 9: :30 AM Terry Mahoney 7:30 AM Anthony & Marie Lo Presti 9:00 AM Ellen M. Collins (Birthday Rem.) 12:30 PM For All Souls 5:30 PM John Mulrooney 7:30 PM STATIONS OF THE CROSS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015 St. Peter Damian, Bishop/Doctor of the Church Is 58: 9b-14; Lk 5: :00 AM Kevin Greeley 12:30-1:30 PM Confession & Eucharistic Adoration 5:00 PM Michael Affrunti, Jr. Michael Cahill (Birthday Rem.) Paul Avelli (6th Anniversary Rem.) Marie Romano Mary & John Kennedy (60th Wedding Anniversary Rem.) 7:30 PM Parishioners of St. Aidan MASSES AND SERVICES FOR THE WEEK (continued) SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2015 First Sunday of Lent Gn 9: 8-15; 1 Pt 3: 18-22; Mk 1: :30 AM Kevin Galway 9:00 AM Kitty Forte 10:30 AM Jennie Missewicz (1st Anniversary Rem.) 12:00 PM Peggy Duffy (3rd Anniversary Rem.) Thomas P. Duignan Maureen Dowd Aniello Maggio & Angelo Maggio (Anniversaries Rem.) 5:00 PM Trudie Petrunti (Birthday Rem.) Anointing of the Sick After the 12:00 PM Mass. PARISH LENTEN MISSION The parish Lenten Mission will be held March 8th-11th. The mission will be given by Father Damian Halligan and the Jesuit Collaborative. More details will follow shortly. USHERS NEEDED FOR ASH WEDNESDAY Ushers please sign-up for Ash Wednesday Masses. Sign-up sheet is in the Ushers Room. BREAD & WINE MEMORIAL In Loving Memory of ELLEN COLLINS Requested by Edna, Ken and Jane PLESDE PRAY FOR OUR SICK & DECEASED SICK: Christine Schifaudo, Christine Lucivero, Cecilia Han, Geraldo Peixoto, Kimberly Holmes, Father Brian Dalton, Stacy Test, Owen Hogan, Roseanne Mushorn, John Moore, Rita Amendola, Diana Coscia, Carol White, Joseph Fitzgerald, Virginia Fallon, Charles Procaccini, Dakota Parisi, Debbie Glowinski DECEASED: Reba Killing and for all those who have died serving our country.

3 February 15, 2015 THREE DAYS IN MANCHESTER Several weeks ago I received a surprise phone call from Bishop Peter Libasci, the Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire. You will probably recall that he served as an auxiliary bishop here for four years. Almost thirty years ago he and I were assistant priests at Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Deer Park. The pastor, Msgr. Ted Rooney, was a spectacular priest and created a real home for all of us in the Rectory. It was there that the then Father Peter and I became friends. His reason for calling was to invite me to spend a few days with him in New Hampshire. We found a time that was convenient for both of us and off I went on the Acela Express last Wednesday. He met me at Boston and we successfully escaped the traffic of the New England Patriots parade. I have to tell you that it was a fantastic mini vacation and I saw a great Catholic community. Bishop Libasci is a talented cook and he prepared all our meals. They were delicious and I didn t have to lift a finger. (Believe it or not, I can cook if I put my mind to it the Food Network has helped!) We had some wonderful conversations and he showed me some of the Diocese of Manchester. Our first stop was at St. Joseph Cathedral which is a very impressive church that was recently renovated. Interestingly enough the cathedral has a small chapel in the basement that looks a lot like the bigger upper church. This is used for daily Mass and confessions. We then went over to the Rectory and met Bishop John Mc Cormack, the retired bishop and had a pleasant chat. He was very kind and approachable. Our next stop was at the Church of St. Marie, which was very near to the cathedral. (Incidentally this was Father Dillon s parish church when he was a high school teacher at Bishop Guertin in Nashua.) This church was built by the French community and has a striking beauty and a very strong community that is very active. As we were driving to St. Marie Bishop Libasci told me that every time he goes there to visit there is never a problem. There is always somebody to let him in. The same was true last Thursday. As soon as we got out of the car we were greeted by Guy, a tremendously friendly man who is in charge of maintenance. What struck me was his kindness and how well he knew the bishop and how interested he was in the life of the Church. He told us that he had five children: three girls and two boys. He also told the bishop that he wanted his boys to attend the vocation programs in the Diocese so that they would k now more about priesthood and could make an informed decision. You could tell that while he was not pushing his sons, he would be very happy if one (or even both) had a priestly vocation. Would that there were more parents like him!

4 That evening in the freezing cold we went to St. Anselm Abbey and College. I wanted to go there because the Bishop of Brooklyn when I was growing up, Thomas Edmund Molloy, had attended college there before transferring to St. Francis in downtown Brooklyn. Bishop Libasci and I attended Vespers and the monks were very warm and welcoming. (That is a charism of the Benedictines.) After the service Bishop Joseph Gerry, a former abbot and the Bishop-emeritus of Portland, Maine came over to chat with us. He is a delightful man filled with many stories and couldn t have been kinder. I was particularly interested in the way he always saw God working in his life. Incidentally, one of the monks said if I knew any young men who might be interested in the Benedictine life, I should send them up for a visit. It is a tremendous place and an excellent Catholic college. Our high school students would do well to check it out. I am very grateful to Bishop Libasci for his kindness and thoughtfulness. He gave me a great vacation and showed me the life of the Catholic Church in New Hampshire. What a wonderful three days! For me it will always be a treasured memory. In Jesus and Mary, Monsignor James M. McDonald STEWARDSHIP 02/09/14 $22,155 02/08/15 $26,123 (+17.91%) Thank you for your kind and generous support of our parish. This weekend s second collection is for Parish Snow Removal. Next weekend s second collection is for Church In Need. MINEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION Personal requests for transportation for the Mineola School District must be made by parents of students attending a private school, for the school year The deadline for filing this application is April 1, For more information contact your private school or the Mineola Transportation Department at (516) PLEASE NOTE Please do not park in front of the upper school from 7:00 8:20 AM if you attend the 7:30 AM Telecare daily Mass. There is a safety issue for the school children being dropped off for school. Please use the Bermingham Parking lot.

5 ASH WEDNESDAY, February 18, 2015 Ashes will be distributed at all Masses. Masses: 6:30, 7:30 and 9:00 AM, 12:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 and 7:30 PM Please note: There are no Prayer Services on Ash Wednesday, there will be 8 Masses. Lent is the penitential season of the Church s year. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the Mass of the Lord s Supper on Holy Thursday. Lent has six Sundays. The sixth is called Passion or Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week. On Wednesday, February 18th we begin Lent. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence from meat. Abstinence and Fasting. All Catholics who have reached their fourteenth year are bound to abstain entirely from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. All Catholics between the ages of eighteen and fifty-nine inclusive are also bound to observe the law of fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This means limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Two other light meals, which together do not equal a full meal, may be taken during the day. Those whose work or health would be impaired are excused from fast and abstinence. Individual conscience should decide proper cause for excuse. A more serious reason is required to excuse oneself from Ash Wednesday and Good Friday fast and abstinence.

6 We are off to a brand new Catholic Ministries Campaign for If you have not given in past please consider donating to this year s campaign. Your donation will be helping to feed the hungry, provide clothes and emergency support to the needy, strengthen parishes throughout our Diocese, help form our future priests and deacons and provide funding for Catholic Charities outstanding programs and services. You are also helping to ensure that our ministries bring Christ s light to hundreds of thousands of people in hospitals, colleges and even our jails CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL Serving God By Serving Others CHURCH OF ST. AIDAN 2015 GOAL: $175,500 PLEDGED: $ 29,930 # OF GIFTS: 163 REUNION MEETING FOR THE MEETING CHRIST IN PRAYER GROUP There will be a reunion meeting for the Meeting Christ in Prayer Group with Father Damian Halligan and the Jesuit Collaborative on Friday, February 27th at 7:30 PM in the Rectory. All are welcome to attend. UNITED HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY Join us for an evening of prayer on Friday, February 27th at 7:30 PM in St. Aidan s School Cafeteria, 510 Willis Avenue, Williston Park. Our evening will include Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Mass. Family consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Music by Ria Music Ministry. Refreshments and fellowship to follow. For information please call Tecky at (516) EXERCISE PROGRAM Margo Bores will be holding an Exercise Program which will be held at the Williston Park Village Hall beginning Monday, February 16th. Classes will be held every Monday and Thursday at 9:45 AM. There will be no class on Thursday, February 19th. Classes will run until the end of May. Exercises are approved by the Arthritis Foundation. Come join the fun and be healthy!

7 THE CHURCH IN NEED COLLECTION On February 22, 2015 a collection will be taken for The Church in Need. The monies collected at this time will be shared among three areas of the world where there is particular need for help: Church in Central and Eastern Europe - the Collection provides support for basic pastoral programs and makes scholarships available for students studying to serve their local church. These students become vital participants in the renewal of the Church in the region. The Church in Latin America faces many difficult challenges. Natural disasters in many areas caused lasting damage to the Church, while a significant loss of parishioners to migration and to other faiths, the inability to support itself financially, and a lack of priests and religious to help effectively minister to the large number of Catholics continue to trouble the region. The Church in Africa the funds will go to assisting African countries where poverty, sickness and political strife prevent people from living in dignity. Thank you for your generosity. A STUDY PROGRAM FOR LENT 2015 On February 19, 2015 we will start a Bible study course for adults and mature teen faith formation, presented in six sessions. This new program will answer the questions, What is the New Evangelization?, Why is it worthwhile? and How does one do it? Today, we need a new passion for the mission of offering friendship with Jesus Christ to others. We need new expressions and methods to reach out to an increasingly secular culture, especially in the West. Secularism tries to push God out of the public square and deny his existence. We are called to spread Christ s love universally. The New Evangelization Formation Program is a wonderful way of learning to do little things with great love and to give testimony to Christ by our everyday lives. We will start February 19th-mornings at 10:00 AM and evenings at 7:30 PM in the Convent. Please register by calling Toti Conforti at (516) or toticon@aol.com. Please note: the first meeting on Thursday, February 19th at 10:00 AM will be held in Msgr. Kirwin Hall.

8 CATHOLICS FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION There are more Christian martyrs today than in the early days of Christianity" Pope Francis ( Please don t forget us! From Cardinal Dolan s blog, Jan. 30, 2015: Referring to the millions who marched to protest the savage murders in Paris, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, a brave, sincere, and beloved pastor, who has seen hundreds of his churches, healthcare clinics, and schools burned to the ground, and, dreadfully worse, hundreds of his good, decent, peaceful people cut to shreds by the machetes and machine guns of the Islamic radicals of Boko Haram, also begged, But, please don t forget us! Where are the marchers in Europe and North America condemning the continued massacres of religious minorities, especially Christians, in Africa, (and, he might have added, in the Mideast and Asia)? His plea, Please don t forget us, wakes me up at night, dominates my prayers, and prompts my advocacy. Can I ask you to listen to him as well? "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor & theologian, executed 1945) Lord, the plight of our brothers and sisters is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening. By your grace, we commit to do all our power to preserve religious liberty so that all may serve you freely and openly. Amen INCOME TAX DONATION LETTER If you need an income tax statement for your 2014 Stewardship donations to the parish, please call the Rectory office at (516) x9101 or send in or drop the tear-off into the collection basket and a statement will be sent out in the mail. Name Telephone # (as it appears on your envelopes) Address Envelope Number # (if you know it-not necessary)

9 LIGHTHOUSE CATHOLIC MEDIA This week we are entering the solemn observance of the greatest Christian mystery, the death of Christ on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday which marks the redemption of the human race by Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The beginning of the forty days of penance is marked by the imposition of ashes on the forehead. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent and is marked with the symbol of ashes. On this day, the use of ashes comes from an ancient rite according to which converted sinners submitted themselves to penance. Ashes are blessed during Mass. After the homily, the blessed ashes are then imposed on the faithful as a sign of conversion, penance, fasting and human mortality. Abstinence from eating meat is to be observed on all Fridays during Lent. This applies to all persons 14 and older. The act of putting on ashes symbolizes fragility, mortality and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God. It is not merely external act, the uses of ashes is to symbolize an attitude of internal penance to which all the baptized are called during Lent. From the very early times Christians observed a period of selfdenial, to do battle with the spirit of evil and be protected. Do not neglect to go with your family to receive ashes at Mass. Leave them on the forehead as a witness to your faith and as a reflection on Lent and share with your children all this in terms that they can understand. Encourage your children to reflect on which regular penance they will perform throughout this season of Lent. Each member of the family should perform a personal penance as well as some good act, while the whole family can do something in common (TV, Desserts, etc.) Do something extra (Rosary, Holy Hour, Mass). If it is possible read Pope Francis message for Lent. We have many very good CDs about Lent in the kiosks. Try to listen to as many as you can and then pass them along to many people in need of these teachings. I wish you a Blessed Lent Toti Conforti

10 CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAS COURT ST. AIDAN #1577 FATHER TULLEY AND JOAN P. FOY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS All children of St. Aidan Parish, whether they attend public or private school, are eligible to apply for the Father Tully Memorial Scholarship and the Joan P. Foy Memorial Scholarship. Applicants must meet the following requirements: 1) Student has taken the High School Placement Test in October or November ) Student has been accepted and plans to attend a Catholic High School in September of ) Families must be registered parishioners of St. Aidan Parish. Students who attend St. Aidan School will receive an application from their principal or homeroom teacher. All other interested students please contact the Court Education Chairperson at (516) for an application and further information. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 15, 2015 TO QUALIFY. BEREAVEMENT GROUP SPRING 2015 COPING WITH GRIEF: A DIFFICULT BUT IMPORTANT JOURNEY When a loved one dies, a period of grief usually follows. It is almost impossible for humans to experience loss without feeling some kind of grief. Grief can be painful, confusing and overwhelming. To share with others who are experiencing what you are experiencing can be supportive and healing. A Bereavement Group for people whose loved one has died (parent, spouse, sibling, or friend) will be held in the Peter & Paul Room of the Finamore Parish Center by trained Bereavement Facilitators will meeting: Tuesdays, 9:45 AM, March 24 th, 31 st, April 7 th, 14 th, 21 st & 28 th Thursday, 7:30 PM, March 26 th, April 9 th, 16 th, 23 rd, 30 th (no meeting on Holy Thursday, April 2 nd ) & May 7 th Please call the Parish Social Ministry Office at (516) x9408 to register. The only feelings that do not heal are the ones you hide. Henri Nouwen

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12 SAINT AIDAN S BOOSTER CLUB The Booster Club is administered by The Saint Aidan s School Board. All proceeds will directly benefit the school. $30 Annual Membership runs September August chances to win every month Prizes Weekly Monthly 1 $25 1 $50 4 $20 2 $25 Monthly Bonus Prizes $100 in January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November $500 in March, June and December January Winners $20 Winners Daniel Paris Tom & Pat Mars Susan Rynkar John Marcone Carol Dowd Ann Cronin Vincent Inzerillo Michael & Joyce Rowley Ann MacAvoy Erica Wengenosky John Wengenosky Joe & Eileen Watts Patricia Lorusso Norine Zwiebel Michael & Stephanie D Angelo Kevin & Nancy Kiley $25 Winners Scott & Danny Lenney Gloria Schilter Mary Robesch Jean & John Weber Frank Stigliano Marie & Robert McLaughlin $50 Winner: Barbara Durante $100 Winner: Cassie Manzella Winning checks will be mailed within the next 10 days Name Phone Address City, State, Zip address I would like numbers at $30 each. $ enclosed Make all checks payable to Saint Aidan s Booster Club and return to the Rectory.

13 St. Aidan Rosary Altar Society s Annual St. Patrick s Dance Saturday, March 7, 2015 Msgr. Kirwin Hall (Willis Avenue, Williston Park) 8:00 PM-12:00 AM Music by: Alex Basile-Irish Mist Band Chairlady: Mary McCrain (516) Cost: $35.00 per person (includes soda, beer, wine, sandwiches, salads, chips, set-ups, cookies, coffee) Reservations required. No tickets at the door. Please call Ginny Casey (516) Cut off date is March 4, 2015 Name Phone # # of People Sit With Amount Enclosed $ Return to: Ginny Casey, 113 Fordham Street, Williston Park, NY Join us for an evening of friendship!

14 Church of St. Aidan Bethany Retreat Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace Focus: We will focus on using the Prayer of St. Francis as a model for Christian living. We will explore building the Church of Christ within ourselves as well as around us. This is a time of spiritual refreshment: St. Aidan s Bethany is a place to rest and pray as Jesus did in Bethany at the home of Lazarus. Come together with your fellow parishioners meeting new people in your parish and hearing their stories of how their faith has sustained them through their life. Where will it take place? The place is the convent, on Friday evening, after which you will return to your own homes. You will meet again on Saturday morning. We will end at the 5 PM Mass and then share a meal together. Friday Evening, March 13, 2015 at 7:30 PM & Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 8:30 AM Doors will open at 7:00 PM. We will start promptly at 7:30 AM. Cost: $20.00 per person (Includes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on Saturday) Meals are for Retreat Participants only! Space is limited to 50, please register early! Name Address Telephone Amount Enclosed I Will Will not be having dinner with the group. If you are paying for friends, please list all names & phone numbers attending on the back. Return to St. Aidan s Rectory. There will be no reservations or payments at the door. Please mark the envelope, Bethany Retreat Any questions, call (516) x9581

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18 THE KNIGHT S CORNER (Providing information from the Knights of Columbus) DID YOU KNOW? - The Columbian Squires is an international fraternity of approximately 25,000 Catholic young men, ages 10 to 18. In over 1,500 circles worldwide. Local Knights of Columbus councils and assemblies sponsor Squire circles, which may be based either in a council/ assembly hall, in a parish building, a parochial, private or military school, or on a military installation. The Squires involve young men in programs to benefit the Church, the community, as well as in recreational and social activities. The program strives to provide the spiritual, cultural, civic, social and physical improvement of its members, and the development of their leadership qualities. Corpus Christi Council sponsors a Columbian Squires Circle in our council hall (186 Jericho Turnpike, Mineola). ST. PATRICK PARADE - The annual St. Patrick Parade will be conducted on Sunday, March 1st. The official reviewing stand for the parade will be located on Jericho Turnpike between Minneola Blvd. and Willis Avenue. Corpus Christi Council of the Knights of Columbus (186 Jericho Turnpike) will be open during and after the parade providing food and beverages at reasonable prices. Admission is free. All are welcome to join the festivities. ST. PATRICK S DAY DINNER-DANCE - Corpus Christi Council will hold its annual St. Patrick s Dinner-Dance on Saturday, March 14th from 7:30 PM-12:30 AM at the Council Hall, 186 Jericho Turnpike Mineola honoring Bill & Diane Cassidy as Irish Couple of the Year. Cost of $60 per person includes open bar, shepherd s pie, corned beef and cabbage dinner, dessert and coffee. Music provided by The Switch. For reservations call Jim at (516) HALL RENTAL Corpus Christi Council is available for parties BIG and SMALL. For information on hall rental call Tom at (516) RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ATTENTION ALL VOLUNTEERS: Are you aware that the Diocese of Rockville Centre requires ANYONE IN ANY MINISTRY TO BE VIRTUS TRAINED AND HAVE A BACK- GROUND CHECK? A ministry includes Catechists, CYO Coaches, Ushers, Liturgical Ministers, and all parish organization members. Check the Virus Training Schedule and Register Online for a class being offered by several parishes at 1 st COMMUNION PARENTS MEETING A meeting of parents of children scheduled to receive 1 st Communion this spring will be held at 7:30 PM in Msgr. Kirwin Hall on Monday, February 23rd. This meeting will cover the same material that was covered at the meeting held on Tuesday, February 3rd. Parents are asked to insure that they have attended one of the parent meetings. WINTER RECESS - There will be NO Religious Education classes from February 16th- 19th. The Religious Education Office will be closed on Monday, February 16th in observation of the President s Day holiday. The office will be open February 17th-20th from 11:00 AM- 4:00 PM. TEACHER NEEDED We are in need of a catechist to teach a student with special needs. If you are interested in this position, please contact our Director of Special Needs, Mrs. Elaine Smith at (516) x9406. OFFICE HOURS The Religious Education Office is open Monday Friday from 11:00 AM 4:00 PM. Additionally, the office is open Monday & Tuesday evening from 6:30 8:00 PM.

19 FEBRUARY February 22 nd Meeting MAY May 3 rd Meeting May 17 th - Meeting May 31 st Meeting MARCH March 1 st Meeting March 8 th Meeting March 15 th Meeting March 29 th Meeting APRIL April 12 th Meeting April 19 th Meeting JUNE June 7 th Meeting To be determined events: Volunteer Work, Movie Nights, Bowling Nights, White Water Rafting and other trips. March 8th March 15th April 2nd April 19th May 2nd May 3rd June 9th Meeting 1:00-2:00 PM Convent 10:30 AM Mass Mother/Daughter Brunch-Lucky Duck-12:00-4:00 PM Holy Thursday Egg Coloring 2:00-4:00 PM Birthright/Mommas House Collection 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Meeting 12:15-1:15 PM St. Francis Room Pick-up plants-flynn House (9 Astor Place, Williston Park) 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Bake Sale 9:00 AM-12:30 PM Convent-12:30-1:30 PM Elections JCDA Board Installation and new membership Mass 7:00 PM Reception immediately after Mass.

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21 PARISH SOCIAL MINISTRY As Pope Benedict XVI said in his Encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, Everything has its origin in God's love, everything is shaped by it, everything is directed towards it. Love is God's greatest gift to humanity; it is his promise and our hope. FOOD PANTRY: Thank you to all those who helped refill the shelves in our food pantry this past weekend. If you missed our monthly food drive and wish to donate non-perishable food and personal hygiene items please bring them to the back of the church or across the street to the Parish Social Ministry Office. We also have a refrigerator for eggs, dairy products, sliced bread and a freezer for ground beef, chicken cutlets and frozen pizzas. Items that we still need are individual bags of snacks (chips, cookies or pretzels). PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY Our Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 9:45 AM in the Peter and Paul Room of the Finamore Center to knit or crochet prayer shawls or lap blankets for our sick and homebound parishioners. New members are always welcome. You need not know how to knit or crochet. We have talented parishioners who can teach you. The next meeting will take place on Monday, February 23rd. If you have some wool to donate to this ministry, please bring it to the Parish Social Ministry Office. Please call our office if you would like to receive a blessed prayer shawl or if you know of someone who would like one. If you have any questions, please call Parish Social Ministry (516) x9410. The only feelings that do not heal are the ones you hide. Henri Nouwen PLEASE NOTE: THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH FOR PRESIDENTS DAY. The Parish Social Ministry Office is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM. Please use the Finamore Parish Center entrance (across from the church on Willis Avenue).

22 PROMISE TO PROTECT-PLEDGE TO HEAL If you have been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church please believe in the possibility for hope and help and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. Every arch/diocese/eparchy in the United States now has a victim assistance coordinator who is available to obtain support for your needs, to help you make a formal complaint of abuse to the arch/diocese/eparchy, and to arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative, if you desire. The victim assistance coordinator for your arch/diocese/eparchy is Mary McMahon, LCSW, Director at (516) DIOCESE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE, Vocations Office-Third Fridays-Adoration & Dodgeball February 20th, March 20th, April 17th and May 15th. Each month, young people (13+) throughout the diocese will gather at St. Ignatius in Hicksville for prayer and fellowship. Following a period of Eucharistic adoration, there is a youth social with free food, sports and entertainment. May 15th will be at a location to be announced at a later date. PRO Retreat will be held November 14th-16th. Please join us for a PRO weekend retreat at the Seminary in Huntington. The PRO Retreat is a high school retreat for young men that are interested in growing in their faith. For information please call (516) x214 or vocations@drvc.org. RAINBOWS FOR ALL GOD S CHILDREN-Rainbows is a support group for children and young adolescents who have suffered a significant loss through death, divorce, separation or any other painful transition. Six sessions will begin on Sunday, February 22nd from 10:00 to 11:15 AM. A Parent s Group is offered at the same time. For more information, please contact Notre Dame Social Ministry at (516) ALL YOUNG ADULTS ARE INVITED TO OUR NEXT FAITH ON TAP!-Faith on Tap is a forum engaging young adults in straight talk and honest answers to questions of faith where young adults can meet others who are also living out their faith. The next Faith on Tap will be on Monday, February 23rd at 7:30 PM at Lily Flanagan s, 345 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon, NY 11702, Babylon. Our talk for this evening will be Authentic Empowerment, presented by Peggy Clores, a dynamic and passionate speaker who has been engaged in Catholic Adult Education at Our Lady of Mercy Parish and in the RVC Diocese for almost 30 years. She is passionate about ministering to our young church and furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a talk you don t want to miss! The talk begins at 7:30 PM, but doors open at 7:00 PM come early have something to eat meet new friends catch up with old friends! For more information, please contact Marianne Sheridan, Director for Young Adults at msheridan@drvc.org. ST. GREGORY S THEATRE GROUP-A Karaoke Pizza Party (An Afternoon of Pizza, Laughs and Singing) for years old to be a contestant. Guests of contestants are welcome. All guests under 15 require an adult present. Cost: $10 gets you admission, signing, a slice of pizza and a soft drink, 2 votes and a lot of laughs. Also, The First Karaoke Fundraiser will be held. Both parties will be held on Saturday, February 21st. 1:00-3:00 PM for the Pizza Party and 8:00 PM for the Karaoke Fundraiser. Both will be held in the St. Gregory Oak Room, th Avenue, Bellerose, NY For information please call (718) or go to