HOLY TRINITY PARISH THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION. August 6, 2017 OF THE LORD. Hudson and Germantown, New York. REV. WINSTON BATH Pastor Emeritus

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1 HOLY TRINITY PARISH Hudson and Germantown, New York 429 E. Allen St. P. O. Box 323 Hudson, NY August 6, 2017 PHONE: (518) WEBSITE: THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD REV. ANTHONY BARRATT Pastor DEACON RICHARD WASHBURN Deacon REV. WINSTON BATH Pastor Emeritus

2 THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD Although Apostle Peter had confessed Jesus Christ as Messiah, he and the other apostles were still far away from understanding that the promised Messiah was not only to be a King from the seed of David, but also a suffering servant Who would take upon Himself an ignominious death. For Peter such a thought was so unbearable, so incompatible with everything he knew of Christ, that he began to berate Christ for revealing it, and in response received from Christ an incredibly harsh rebuff. Moreover, the Lord speaks not only of the fact that He must die, but also says that everyone who wishes to be His follower must follow the same course. During the time of Christ s life on earth crucifixion was a death intended for slaves, hardened criminals, and traitors. The cross was a universal symbol of ignominy, torture, and death, and when Christ said that his followers must carry this instrument of execution with them through life, such words elicited horror and protest among His disciples. Speaking of the cross, Christ did not mean that all the small difficulties which we encounter in life represent such a cross. He spoke primarily of the fact that we have to die within ourselves. This is most difficult, more fearful than all suffering, and seems impossible to man. Now, as in those times, many come to Christ to have Him fulfill all their needs and desires, but the Lord turns out to be the Messiah Who requires us to die an ignominious and torturous death within ourselves, killing off our selfish interests. In order to fulfill oneself, one must reject one s own ego and follow Christ. And today the Lord shows us what it means to confess Him as the Messiah and to follow Him, what it means for a person to fulfill himself through self-denial. His Face dazzled, because He became transfigured in front of His three disciples. He revealed His glory, which He had had before the world ever was, as Apostle John the Theologian tells us. And then they saw that there was no one there except Jesus. The Lord was the Divine center from which all rays issued, and He infinitely surpassed both Moses and Elijah the Law and the prophets, although He was united with them. It was revealed to the disciples that the commandment on love, upon which, as the Lord says, hang the entire Law and the prophets, was not simply the most perfect morality, but Divine life itself, without which a person cannot become a person, and for the attainment of which he joyously desires to die within himself, to become dead to the darkness contained within each sin, and to become dead to the egoism which comprises the darkness of the entirety of all sins. It is this Christ s love which shone forth on the Mount of Tabor, because He was the first to love us even to hell and the horror of death. The Transfiguration occurred not so much for the sake of the Lord as for the sake of His disciples: He became transfigured before them, and a voice from heaven spoke to them. Even if they did not fully understand Him then, nevertheless, this was a decisive moment in the revelation to them of the mystery of God and the mystery of man, and although they had to be silent on this subject until by means of His death on the Cross came His Resurrection, for them this always remained the foundation of their preaching of the joy that would envelop the entire world, and which they announced on the basis of having witnessed His grandeur. We celebrate this feast so that our faith would not be incomplete, so that hearing the words of Apostle Peter: Lord, how good it is for us to be here! we would not forget what is good and what is bad, so that seeing this extraordinary light we would always distinguish light from dark. Never yet has it been so bad in the world, never yet has it been as dark as at present. How dark it becomes all around! With each passing year we see with greater realism how the world lies in iniquity, and how darkness thickens in the world. But the light shines in the darkness, and no darkness can overcome it. Christ, the Sun of truth, shines as before in the darkness of our life, and sending us today the sweetness of earthly fruits, as though from the Garden of Eden, He speaks to us of the fact that the world must be transfigured by love, which none of us has within himself, but which He is offering to us. And we understand that the mount of Transfiguration is always sweeter than the daily service, sweeter than the cross. However, the mount of Transfiguration is given to us precisely to imbue us with strength for our daily service, to make us capable of following the way of the cross. This is the radiant light with which the Lord wishes to encompass the entire world. The Holy Church tells us that present suffering is incommensurate with eternal glory, and that our brief and light suffering produces eternal glory in abundance. For our present temporary suffering is worth nothing in comparison with the glory which will be revealed within us, if only we suffer with Him in order to be glorified with Him. Father Alexander Shargunov

3 THE WEEK AHEAD M O N D A Y, A u g u s t 7 Special Appeal this Weekend Alleviating Human Sufferings Please join us in welcoming Fr. James Kariuki (Priest from Kenya, East Africa) who will be visiting our parish this weekend August 5 th and 6 th. Fr. James Kariuki is a diocesan priest from the diocese of Nakuru. Presently, the diocese of Nakuru is involved in pastoral care and promoting human development activities to a Catholic population of approximately 650,000 in the counties of Nakuru and Baringo. In the Northern enclaves of Baringo and East Pokot, drought is ravaging thousands and dangerously leaving many more to be dependent on food aid. There are reports of human and livestock deaths as a result of acute food shortage. There is also an increased migration of pastoralist communities due to depletion of pasture and water for livestock. This situation has sparked off conflict over dwindling pasture and water resources. School drop-outs have increased significantly with kids abandoning learning to become migrant herders. In most of the parishes, priests and nuns are serving hundreds of families with the much needed food, water and medical supplies. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. Mt.25:35 Catholic Daughters Alight Center The Catholic Daughters are going to have a Baby Shower for the Alight Center, this Monday, 6:00 p.m., at the Alight Center. Please bring your gift in a gift bag, They are in special need of layette items, boys clothes 2T to 4T, and diapers. If anyone else would like to donate a baby item, they may drop off donated items in the Church vestibules, and we will get them to the Center. Please understand, only new items can be accepted. TUESDAY, August 8 Christian Service Committee Meeting: 12:00 noon; St. Mary s Academy. Come for food, fellow-ship, and planning for future activities. THURSDAY, August 10 Bible Study: 7:00 p.m. St. Mary s Rectory Rosary Rally 2017 Germantown The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm invite you to participate in their 2017 Rosary Rally, Sunday August 13 th, at St. Theresa s Motherhouse, Avila on the Hudson, 600 Woods Road, Germantown. The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. w i t h a Fatima video; and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. Everyone is asked to bring their own lunch. The Sisters will provide the tables and chairs, and a beautiful view of the Hudson River! At 1:30 p.m. the outdoor procession with the Statue of Fatima begins on Avila s picturesque grounds. At 2:15 p.m. Americo Lopez-Ortiz will speak; and the day concludes with a 3:00 p.m. Mass in the Chapel. Any questions, please call Sister Sean Francis Casey at

4 S A C R A M E N T S The sacraments are wonderful gifts from God to us. Through outward, visible signs; the sacraments are channels of God s love and mercy and so they draw us in to the life of the Trinity. They therefore also continue the saving mission and ministry of Jesus Christ in and through His body, the Church. Below is some information on how to make contact regarding the celebration of the sacraments. BAPTISM: Congratulations! If you would like to arrange preparations and a date for Baptism, please contact the Parish Office. RCIA: For those enquiring about the Catholic Faith or wishing to complete their sacraments: welcome! Please contact the Parish Office and we will be very glad to help you further. RECONCILIATION: Celebrated on Saturdays pm in Hudson, before and after Masses in Germantown, or at anytime by appointment. (Note: it is best to call ahead first to check on the availability of a priest) ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Priests regularly visit the hospitals, nursing homes and the homebound. Please do contact the Parish Office if you or someone you know is in need of the anointing of sick. MARRIAGE:Congratulations! So that proper arrangements (paperwork, preparations etc.) can be made, please contact the Parish Office or Fr. Anthony at least six months before the desired date. VOCATIONS: If you are considering a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate or religious life, please contact Fr. Anthony to share thoughts and prayers further A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE by Bud Ozar The apostles were afraid when Jesus was transfigured in front of them. CHANGE is often frightening, especially in relationships, but inevitable. The child grows up, a parent ages and people mature. The only constant is our commitment to one another. Discount Heating Oil Price The Resurrection Church has obtained the favorable price of $1.899/ gallon of fuel oil from Heritagenergy for the heating season. For plan details, call the parish office at Polish Day Sunday, August 20, 2017 National Shrine Of the North American Martyrs Auriesville, New York Confessions in Polish and English 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Concelebrated Mass in the Coliseum 4: 00 p.m. MAIN CELEBRANT Edward B. Scharfenberger Bishop of Albany Sponsored by: POLISH AMERICAN CONGRESS Central Division of New York State For additional information Please call Sacrificial Giving Only acts of kindness and generosity bring growth and healing to our world. HUDSON Regular Offertory Last Weekend (July 30)..... $6, Peter s Pence... $ GERMANTOWN Regular Offertory Last Weekend (July 30) $1, Peter s Pence $ Utilities $ Seminarian Support. $ 23.00

5 READINGS AND HYMNS (HUDSON) Reading: p. 207 Opening Hymn: # 502 Closing: # 499 Love God, Serve God; everything is in that. Colored pencils School Supplies Needed for Kids Again, here are suggested items for donation: Crayons: small and medium boxes Magic Markers Highlighters #2 Pencils, and fancy pencils Pens: blue, black, red Pencil sharpeners Pencil Bag or Pencil Box Calculators Erasers Glue or Glue sticks Three-ring binder - Filler (loose-leaf) paper Black and white (marble) composition books Ruler: English/Metric Book bags Subject dividers These items may be left in the Church vestibules over the next several weekends. Note: the best time to buy these items is when they are advertised as On Sale. If you have any questions, please contact Catholic Charities at. (518) MASSES FOR THIS WEEK MONDAY: Weekday (August 7) 7:15 AM. Joel Meltz - Sally & Bill Hotaling Thomas M. Cummings - Mr. & Mrs. Robert Donahue TUESDAY: St. Dominic, Priest (August 8) 7:15 AM Deceased Schmitt Family - The Family Butchie Molnar - Janice, Cheryl Chris, Lynne, Jason &.Family WEDNESDAY: Weekday (August 9) 7:15 AM Philip Thulen - Joann Thulen Tom Cummings - Mike & Kathy Nabozny THURSDAY St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr (August 10) 7:15 AM James Marotta - Wife, Dee Marotta Valera M. Butchie Molnar - Mr. & Mrs. Robert Donahue FRIDAY: St. Clare, Virgin (August 11) 7:15 AM Carol Florio - Rosemary, Helene, Tina, Nancy, & Eileen Florence Hamm - Barbara Van Allen 9:00 AM Those in the Military & their families (G TWN) 19 th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SATURDAY VIGIL MASS: (August 12) 4:00 PM Sister Adrian Francis Cuddy - Anne Drew (HUD) Reginald Grener - Vanessa & Jeff Grener Catherine & William Heeney - Maryann & Jimmy 5:30 PM Walter Hull - Tony Liberta (LNLTH) For the Living & Deceased of the Parish SUNDAY MORNING MASS: (August 13) 9:00 AM Genaro Colabatistto - Angela Rapp (HUD) Mary R. Ranzoni - Kathy & Matt Clark Ed Nitsky - Mary & Bill First 11:00 AM John Gunther - Gunther Family (G TWN) Readings for the Week of August 6 Sunday: Dn 7:9-14/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9/2 Pt 1:16-19/Mt 17:1-9 Monday: Nm 11:4b-15/Ps 81:12-17/Mt 14:13-21 Tuesday: Nm 12:1-13/Ps 51:3-7, 12-13/Mt 14:22-36 or 15:1-14 Wednesday: Nm 13:1-2, :1, 26-29a, /Ps 106:6-7ab, 13-14, 21-23/Mt 15:21-28 Thursday: 2 Cor 9:6-10/Ps 112:1-2, 5-9/Jn 12:24-26 Friday: Dt 4:32-40/Ps 77:12-16, 21/Mt 16:24-28 Saturday: Dt 6:4-13/Ps 18:2-4, 47, 51/Mt 17:14-20 Sunday: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a/Ps 85:9-14/Rom 9:1-5/Mt 14:22-33

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