Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Church

Transcription

1 Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Church 175 Blue Point Avenue Blue Point, New York Telephone: February 26, 2017 Eighth Sunday in Ordinary time God will never forget you (Isaiah 49:14-150) MASS SCHEDULE WEEK DAY MASSES: Monday Friday 8:30AM in Mother Church WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday 5PM in Large Church Sunday 7:30AM in Mother Church 9AM, and 11:00AM in Large Church SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday 4PM 4:30PM in Large Church Monday 6:15PM 7:15PM in Mother Church EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Monday 6PM 8PM in Mother Church MIRACULOUS MEDAL NOVENA & BENEDICTION: Monday 7:30 8PM Mother Church ROSARY: Feb 27, 4:45pm Mother Church Visit us online! LENT BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY. ARE YOU READY? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

2 The Pastoral Team Clergy Rev. Msgr. Charles Fink, Pastor Rev. John Amoah, Associate Pastor Deacon Edward Karan Deacon Bob Gronenthal Deacon Frank Hartmann Religious Education: Monday Thursday 9:30 a.m. - to 4:30 p.m. Mrs. Patricia Bartoldus, Director of Faith Formation, Mrs. Eileen Mulry, Secretary, ext.115 olsbpre@aol.com Faith Formation for Adults: Mrs. Beth Rivalsi, Director of Faith Formation for Adults olsbeth@aol.com Parish Outreach: a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday - Thursday in the cottage Mrs. Diana Mongan, Director ; Mrs. Patricia Fulco, Outreach Assistant olsoutreach@yahoo.com Director of Music, Mrs. Theresa Martin Parish Office: Fax: Hours: Mon Fri 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Mrs. Lindsay Butler, Parish Asst., ext. 111; Mrs. Loraine Gonzalez,. Asst., ext. 110 ourladyofthesnowbp@gmail.com MEMORIALS FOR THE WEEK Altar Bread and Wine In loving Memory of Our Parishioners Sanctuary Candle in Mother Church In loving Memory of Our Parishioners MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK February 27, 2017, 2017 Monday Feb 27, 8:30AM Benedict Kempinski Tuesday Feb 28, 8:30AM Ed Herting Wednesday March 1, Ash Wednesday 8:30AM (Mass) Benedict Kempinski 4:30 PM (Service) 7:30 PM (Mass) Parishioners Thursday March 2, 8:30AM Bill Blackman Friday March 3, St. Catherine Drexal 8:30AM Santo Maggio Saturday March 4, St. Casimir 5:00PM Terry Hunter Sunday March 5, 7:30AM Parishioners 9:00AM Anthony Quintal 11:00AM John Gronenthal Pray for Our Sick We pray for all who are sick, for their healing in both body and spirit. Zachary Duffield In Sympathy For all who have died this past week, that they rejoice in the heavenly banquet

3 A Message from Father Charles Fink Page 3 My dear parish family, As the cover of our bulletin boldly puts it, Lent begins this Wednesday. Are you ready? What are you going to do about it? Each of us is given only so many Lents in our life, and each is given as an opportunity not just to prepare for Easter, but to make a kind of personal forty day retreat, incorporating prayer, fasting, and almsgiving into our lives in a more intense way that we ordinarily do. In addition we want to examine our consciences and make use of the sacrament of reconciliation, especially if it s been a while since we last did so. Spiritual reading of some sort on a daily basis would also make an excellent Lenten exercise. To let this Lent come and go having done nothing out of the ordinary to make it special and spiritually fruitful will be to have wasted another of God s gifts. Here are some suggestions for making this Lent a memorable one. If you haven t yet gone to FORMED.ORG on your computer or tablet, do so for Lent. All it takes is the parish access code (XZHKBF), your address, and a password of your own devising. A whole world of video and audio material will be opened to you and your children, more than enough to fill up this Lenten season. Last week I recommended the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament with introductions, commentaries, and notes on all the books of the New Testament by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch. With or without the help of this particular New Testament, read a page of one of the gospels each day and spend a little time mulling it over. Ask God to enlighten you with his word, and thank him for any light he sheds. When you think of fasting, expand your definition of it to include not just food and drink but also social media, electronic devices, unnecessary shopping, carrying your cell phone wherever you go (including church). Try giving up some of these if only to see how addicted and dependent you ve become. Addiction and dependence are the opposite of true freedom. If you want to make a new spiritual friend and have a holy Lenten companion, go to and spend some time each day of Lent either reading excerpts from one of his homilies or retreat conferences or listening to one. Both written and audio material are available. Perhaps none of these suggestions appeals to you. Fine, but do something out of the ordinary to make this Lent different. Go to church during the week, either to Mass or to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Pray the Rosary. As I ve noted before, if you download the free app Laudate on your smart phone, you ll have access to podcasts of the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and much else to help you learn to pray them if you don t know how. I hope you all will have a blessed and fruitful Lent. With love and prayers, Fr. Charles Fink

4 PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS Capt. Evan Bernstein Major Meghan Ederle Capt. Kyle Brown Lt. Sean Brown 1/c Midshipman Shannon Brown Army Specialist Justin Brown E3/ACAN Connor Rooney USN Capt. Dr. Kate Desmond-Baker 8 th Annual Women s Retreat BEHOLD THY SON Come ponder Motherhood in your heart after the example of Mary. All women are invited to come pray with Mary for children and for priests. Come and receive strength to become the perfect women we are called to be: Thus the perfect woman (Prov 31:10) becomes an irreplaceable support and source of spiritual strength for other people, who perceive the great energies of her spirit. These perfect women are owed much by their families, and sometimes by whole nations. Mulleris Dignitatem Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ***Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament*** Catholic Marriage for couples married outside the Church If you have a civil marriage but now desire a Catholic sacramental marriage, call the Rectory for more information about a Convalidation.Convalidation is having a couple s marriage recognized and blessed by the Church through the Catholic Rite of Marriage Marriage: Arrangements must be made at least six to twelve months in advance. It is advisable to call the church prior to arranging the reception. Rite of Christian Initiation (R.C.I.A.) Persons interested in becoming Catholic and adults who have not received Confirmation or First Eucharist, please contact Beth Rivalsi at Communion for the Homebound: To make arrangements to have Communion brought to the home, please call the parish office at , ext For emergency sick calls, please call the parish at any time. Time for Our Lord in Silence ***Confession Available***Reflections Friday, 12 May 2017 Saturday, 13 May 2017 Seminary of the Immaculate Conception 440 West Neck Road, Huntington, NY COST: $110 per person Includes dinner Friday, 3 meals Saturday, private room with shower (check in Friday between 1 6 p.m. & ends Saturday 9 p.m.) SEND FORM BELOW AND CHECK PAYA- BLE TO ST. PATRICK PARISH: ST. PATRICK RC CHURCH, 280 E. MAIN STREET, SMITHTOWN, NY ATTN: LE- GION OF MARY For additional information contact Corinne or keepntuch@aol.com Seasonal Choir Rehearsal for our Easter Vigil celebration will begin on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Church. Baptisms Are celebrated on the second Saturday and fourth Sunday of most months. Please visit our website at for complete information

5 WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE; WHY THEY BELIEVE IT 37. INDULGENCES Sin has a double consequence: (1) If it is serious, it severs our relationship to God, and (2) whether it is serious or not, it deforms and injures our soul. Our relationship to God is restored by acceptance of His gift of forgiveness in Christ. This is the only thing bornagain Christians and many other Protestants pay any attention to. They accept Jesus in faith and are thereby saved: case closed. But the case is not closed, for the soul needs to be healed of its deformity and its undo attachment to ways that are not of God. We have all had the experience of sincerely confessing our sins and accepting God s forgiveness, yet still feeling the downward pull of our baser inclinations. In this life, the struggle to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect never ends. Purgatory, as we have seen, is that place or state into which we enter after dying if the process of purifying our souls has not been completed on earth. It is possible, indeed likely, that we will die justified, i.e. saved and therefore heaven-bound, but not thoroughly sanctified, i.e. made holy and perfect. The Church prescribes many kinds of medicine to heal the damage sin does to our souls: prayer, penance, good works, avoidance of occasions of sin. To encourage us and make our task easier, by the authority Christ gave her to loose and to bind, she attaches to certain penitential practices an indulgence. In effect, she puts her entire weight behind these prayers and works, giving them a power to transform us beyond what they would have apart from her stamping them with this special seal of approval. This is not magic. If we are not properly disposed, the indulgenced prayer or work will avail us nothing or less than it should. Assuming, however, that we perform what is prescribed with the right attitude and the requisite preparation and follow-up, the Church guarantees an exceptional reward for our efforts. What is more, we can perform indulgenced works and apply their benefits to the souls in purgatory. All our prayers and sacrifices on their behalf help them. We are like their cheering section, shouting them on to victory; but indulgenced works are that much more efficacious for having the power of the entire Church behind them. You see, membership does have its advantages. As Catholics we do not stand, pray, or suffer alone. Indulgences are a bonus the Church is able to give us for being visibly attached to the communion of saints. True, this doctrine can be treated superstitiously, but if indulgences are accepted with trust and love and gratitude, they have the power to work wonders in our souls, helping us on our way to holiness and the perfection to which Jesus calls us.

6 Believing with Joy! Stewardship - A Way of Life Our Lenten Journey Begins! This week we enter into the great season of Lent. On Wednesday we begin this season by the signing of the cross on our foreheads with ashes, with these words; Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return or Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. Both give us much to reflect on during the season of Lent as we prepare to celebrate Easter. The internet has many Catholic resources to help prepare for Easter. Word on Fire with Bishop Robert Barron offers a daily Lenten Gospel Reflection, for free. The following is Bishop Barron s reflection on Lent. It is worth a read: Friends, Welcome as we journey together toward the great feast of Easter! For many people, the big feast of the year is Christmas, but for Christians, the truly great feast is Easter. Without Easter, without the Resurrection, we would not have the gift of salvation. Jesus had to rise from the dead or else he would have just been another failed Messiah and his birth would be a forgotten footnote of history. That s why Lent is such an important time of year for us. It is the period during which we refocus on the passion and death of Jesus so that we will be ready to embrace the good news of the Resurrection at Easter. So, as we begin with Ash Wednesday and its reminder of repentance, let us resolve to do our best each day, knowing that it is not the destination, but the journey that will ultimately transform us. Peace, Bishop Robert Barron First Friday of Lent Two Ways to Enter the Season of Lent 1.You are invited to share a Simple Lenten Supper with us at 6:30PM in the Mother Church Basement. You are welcome to bring a meatless soup, bread, a salad or a donation of our Outreach Ministry. You need to sign up for this supper; the signup sheets are on the stage or call the rectory. Join us for fellowship with each other and solidarity with our brothers and sisters who live in poverty. 2. Come to our Evening of Social Justice to hear how Terry Martin and our new ministry the BP&J Club help serve the poor in our community. We will also hear from Patty and Peter Pece who work with the Village Fair Trade. You will be able to visit tables of other organizations that are committed to help bring peace and justice to our community and our world such as BULA, Rollstone Foundation, Halo Missions, OLS Respect Life Ministry, OLS Outreach Ministry, Bread for Life and more! Some of our representatives will be selling beautiful items that help others to be self sufficient. We will have CRS Rice Bowls available on Ash Wednesday. Please consider making these bowls a part of your Lenten practice to give alms for others locally and globally. STEWARDSHIP FINANCIAL REPORT For the week of Jan 19, $7648

7 Our Lady of the Snow Parish 100th Anniversary Parish History ( ) by Gene Horton From the PATCHOGUE ADVANCE, June 29, 1917: BLUE POINT CATHOLIC CHURCH DEDICATED The Blue Point Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Snow was dedicated Sunday morning by the Bishop, Rt.Rev.C.E. McDonnell, D.D., with a LARGE CONGREGATION PRESENT, INCLUDING MANY PEOPLE FROM Patchogue, Bellport, Sayville and other villages. Solemn high Mass followed, the ministers being the Rev. Joseph R. McLaughlin of Cutchogue, the Rev. Marco Simonetti, and the Rev. John J. Brennan of Brooklyn, and the Rev. John J. Robinson of Huntington preached. All these ministers are former assistants of the Very Rev. James J. Cronin of St. Francis de Sales Church, Patchogue, who established the Blue Point church and secured the building which was started last summer after services had been held for several years in different places about the village. Father Cronin has been much complimented upon his work in this line. He also established the Bellport Catholic Church and has had the Patchogue Church property greatly improved.

8 OUR LADY OF THE SNOW RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE Office Hours: Mon. to Thurs. 9:30 4:30 or by appointment The ministry of Religious Education strives to bring all into a closer relationship with Jesus THIS WEEK Sun Feb 26-Children's Liturgy of the Word 9 am Mass CLASSES Level 2 Mon & Tues 4:30 Levels 3-6 Mon & Tues 4:30 Levels 7 & 8 Mon 7pm Tues 6pm NO CLASSES Wed. Mar. 1 -Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday March 1 Ashes will be distributed at the 8:30am Mass in Mother Church the 4:30 Ash Prayer Service and 7:30pm Mass in the Large Church Religious Education Class Cancellation In the event that it becomes necessary to cancel all classes because of inclement weather or emergency the Religious Education Office will post the closing on News 12 Long Island-Channel 12 Our Lady of the Snow Face book We will the catechists to notify the families If Bayport Blue Point School District is closed we are also closed. Sun March 5-Children's Liturgy of the Word 9 am Mass CLASSES Level 2 Mon & Tues 4:30 Wed. 6 Level 5 - Mon, Tues & Wed 4:30 Wed 6pm Levels 7 & 8 Mon 7pm & Tues 6pm Level 3 Stations of the Cross Fri Mar 10 Mother Church 7:30pm Children must be accompanied by an adult. Level 4 Reconciliation Level 4 students will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thurs. Mar 9 at 7:30pm or Sat. Mar11 at 9am in the Large Church. Students must be accompanied by an adult. Level 6-Temple Tour Rabbi Moss of the B Nai Reform Temple in Oakdale will give our families a tour of Temple, connecting our Catholic faith to the faith of our Jewish brothers and sisters. Students must be accompanied by an adult. Children Entering 1st Grade-Sept 2016 should be registered in the Religious Education Program. Participation in Level 1 is the first level of the Diocesan mandated 2 year preparation program for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Registration forms should be returned to the Religious Education Office as soon as possible.

9 Parish Outreach Parish Outreach Open Monday Thursday 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM, (631) Outreach provides food, toiletries and household supplies to those who are struggling in this community during this very difficult economy. The Pantry is in need of the following: Coffee, and milk Cereal, hot and cold Crackers Pancake mix and Syrup Jelly Mayonnaise*** Instant and canned potatoes Canned Chicken, Salmon Chili and stew Toilet paper, paper towels and tissue Shampoo and Conditioner Laundry detergent*** Peas Carrots Canned Spinach Mixed vegetables Juice*** Soap Deodorant, men s and women s Tuna Napkins The pantry is located in the lobby of the large church. All donations can be left outside the pantry door or at the Outreach office. 100th Anniversary Dinner Dance May 12, PM 11PM Mansion at West Sayville Pick up your invitation on the stage of the Large church! Please mail back or drop off at the Rectory office with payment ASAP. Limited seating at this event so first come first serve. A Quiet Lent: Listening to St. Joseph Lenten Day of Prayer Sunday, March 19, 2017 Fr. Patrick J. Griffin, C.M., will present a Day of Prayer at the Seminary of the Immaculate Concepon, 440 West Neck Road, Hunngton from 9:30 am to 3 pm. Talks by Fr. Griffin, Quiet Time, Confession, Lunch and Mass. Donaon $30. Sponsored by Friends of the Seminary. Reservaons required: x102 bmalone@icseminary.edu.

10 RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY The greatest human rights violation of our time is legalized abortion on demand RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY: Meetings on 2nd Fridays, 2pm in Cottage (EXCEPT JULY & AUGUST) PRAYER Planned Parenthood on 2nd Saturdays, monthly, on Waverly Avenue, just north of the Sunrise Highway, Patchogue on the west side From 10:30-11:30am WE ARE PRO-LIFE & PRO WOMEN (from conception to natural death) WE WANT TO DE- FUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD because they are the largest abortion provider in this country THEY ARE NOT PRO-WOMEN CONSIDER THIS: Women are being exploited, oppressed, victimized & used Who gets abortions? WOMEN DO!! (side effects to women are physical, emotional, mental & spiritual hurts) Who takes birth control pills? WOMEN DO!! (many studies connect breast cancer to the birth control pill ) Who gives their eggs for stem cell research? WOMEN DO!! WOMEN ALERT!! YOU ARE BEING DUPED Friday: Evening Social Justice Awareness (6:30 PM, Soup-MCB- Program, LC) Friday, Respect Life Ministry General in Cottage Sunday, Pasta Dinner benefit Life Center of LI 1-5PM (call info) Friday, Respect Life Mtg 2pm Cottage RESCHEDULED- CONFLICT - GOOD FRIDAY Friday: Good Friday Pilgrimage from St. Lawrence to OLS 9 AM to12 noon Saturday March 4 Life, New York Brookhaven Town Hall 11AM (more info) Prayer for our Elected Officials Lord Jesus, You are the King of Kings And Lord of Lords, You are the ruler of the Kings of the earth, And the one through whom and for whom All things exist. We pray today for those who have just been elected to public office, Bless, first of all, the men who will serve As our new President and Vice-President, And bless their families. We ask also that those who write and pass our laws May keep their eyes fixed on your law As their ultimate authority. We ask that those who execute the laws May be filled with awe in your presence, As you govern the universe from end to end mightily. And we ask that those who judge in human courts May know they are accountable to you, The Judge of all. Lord, we pray that the tragedy of abortion May awaken the consciences of those in public office, And stir them to action To defend human rights and dignity. Lord, so many have been asleep, And so many public servants Have forgotten the difference Between serving the public and killing the public. Awaken them, enlighten them and heal them. And to those whose eyes are already fixed On your law of life, Give unending courage and perseverance In the task of serving the common good And securing the right to life Which comes only from you And which no government can take away. We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, who live and reign forever and ever Amen.

11 The Church in Need On March 5, 2017 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. A little humor from Father Fink The preacher, having finished reading the gospel began his sermon but got his words mixed up: Today we heard about how Jesus was baptized in the John by Jordan. The Church in Africa the funds will go to assisting African countries where poverty, sickness and political strife prevent people from living in dignity.