CHURCH OF

SAINT AIDAN WILLISTON PARK

November 17, 2019

LUKE 21:5-19

We invite

everyone to

walk with

Jesus

and

experience

His

healing

power and

love

Baptism Baptisms are held on the 1st Sunday and 3rd Sunday at 1:30 PM. Contact the Rectory office ext. 9101 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. 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 & Communion 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. Call the rectory - ext. 9101. Confession / Reconciliation Reconciliation is celebrated every Saturday from 12:30-1:30 PM and 4:00-5:00 PM in the church or by appointment with a priest. Adoration First and third Fridays of the month 1:00-3:00 PM in the church. Pastoral Council Members Cathy Frischmann, Bonnie Parente, Mary Ellen Testa, Suellen Peterson, Jackie McHugh, Robert Rynkar, Joseph Arralde, Dominic Macedo PARISH E-MAILS Sign up to receive e-mails www.staidanparish.org.

505 Willis Ave.

Williston Park

New York 11596-1727

516-746-6585

516-746-6055 (Fax)

Rectory Office Hours

Monday to Friday

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Saturday & Sunday

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

www.staidanparish.org

lynnp@staidanparish.org

Pastor

Rev. Adrian McHugh

Associate Pastors

Rev. Ken Grooms

Rev. Solomon Odinukwe

In Residence

Rev. Edward Sheridan

Deacons

Rev. Salvatore B. Villani

Rev. Rudy Martin ext. 9412

St. Aidan School

ext. 9202, 9203 Grades Nursery-2

ext. 9302, 9303 Grades 3-8

Principal

Mrs. Julie O’Connell

Assistant Principal

Ms. Barbara Graham

Faith Formation

ext. 9404, 9405

Director ext. 9406

Mrs. Elaine Smith,

Youth Ministry

Coordinator ext. 9403

Mr. Stephen Loewenthal

Music Director

Mr. Drago Bubalo ext. 9130

bdrago@staidanparish.org

Social Ministry, Director

Ms. Rosemarie Cavallaro

ext. 9410, 9408

Buildings & Grounds ext. 9107

THIRTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2019 THE DEDICATION OF STS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES ST. ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE, VIRGIN Fr. Ed 6:30 AM Carol Ann White Fr. Ken 9:00 AM Vic DeLucia (1st Anniversary rem.) Fr. Solomon 12:30 PM Virginia & Joseph Curci Bishop Andrzej 5:30 PM Philip Calvin Amico TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019 WEEKDAY Fr. Solomon 6:30 AM For The Faithful Departed Fr. Solomon 9:00 AM Nellie Sheridan Fr. Ken 12:30 PM Jimmy Ward (Birthday Rem.) Fr. Ken 5:30 PM Debbie Masterson WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019 WEEKDAY Fr. Ed 6:30 AM Georgette Devaney Fr. Ken 9:00 AM Thomas Sullivan Fr. Adrian 12:30 PM James O’Connell Fr. Adrian 5:30 PM Betsy Ehrbar THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019 THE PRESENTAITON OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Fr. Ken 6:30 AM Angela & Frederick White Fr. Ken 9:00 AM Joan Theresa Hunt (5th Anniversary Rem.) Fr. Adrian 12:30 PM William Corbet (1st Anniversary Rem.) Fr. Adrian 5:30 PM Joseph Sayour (5th Anniversary Rem.) FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 ST. CECILIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR Fr. Adrian 6:30 AM Evelyn Reardon (Birthday Rem.) Fr. Adrian 9:00 AM Jane O’Hara (Birthday Rem.) Fr. Solomon 12:30 PM Edith Ciniglio (Anniversary Rem.) Fr. Solomon 5:30 PM Richie Cavallaro (2nd Anniversary Rem.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2019 ST. CLEMENT I, POPE AND MARTYR ST. COLUMBIAN, ABBOT BLESSED MIGUEL AGUSTIN PRO, PRIEST AND MARTYR Fr. Ken 9:00 AM Katherine Haldas (1st Anniveersary Rem.) Fr. Adrian 5:00 PM John Persico (Birthday Rem.) Palma Weber (1st Anniversary Rem.) Diane & Joseph LaBianca (50th Wedding anniversary) Lisa Margaritis Russel Ciolli (8th Anniversary Rem.) Salvatore Gagliardo Fr. Solomon 7:30 PM Parishioners of St. Aidan SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2019 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST KING OF THE UNIVERSE Fr. Solomon 7:30 AM Msg. James M. McDonald Fr. Adrian 9:00 AM Helen Deal (26th Anniversary Rem.) Fr. Ken 10:30 AM Robert James Lovdahl (42nd Anniversary Rem.) Fr. Ed 12:00 PM Suzanne McMahon (14th Anniversary Rem.) Stanley Ogden Josefina Alonso (2nd Anniversary Rem.) Salvatore Giosa (1st Anniversary Rem.) Michael Lopez Fr. Ken 5:00 PM Calogero Villa (14th Anniversary Rem.)

If you take a coin, any coin, what you

see under George Washington's chin,

over Abe Lincoln's hair, and in front of Jefferson's

nose are the words ‘In God We Trust.’ Same

sentiment is expressed on paper money: ‘In God We

Trust.’ Those words (as well as the stuff they're

printed on) are very welcome in St. Aidan’s.

Of course, there are a lot of other places where we

can place our trust today. Depending on who we're

talking to - in 401K's we trust, in human goodness

we trust, in a strong military we trust, in

relationships we trust, in financial markets we trust,

and in politicians we trust.

But we have been let down before by politicians.

The evil of terrorism has made us down-size our

‘trust’ in a peaceful future. We worry jobs that are

never secure enough and a currency that isn’t stable

enough. Trust requires stability.

At the time of Jesus the Temple in Jerusalem was the

symbol of security. Perched high on the mountain

in the city, this was that place where God lived. As

long as the Temple remained on Mount Zion and as

long as people lived a devout life, no one could ever

hurt the people of Israel.

Under Herod the Great this Temple had doubled in

size and was covered with plates of gold. When the

sun light struck its gold, the Temple radiated such a

blinding flash that people could not even look up at

it. But Jesus interrupts our gawking and says, ‘The

days are coming when there shall not be left here

one stone upon another that will not be thrown

down.’

Torn down? Herod's Temple? Impossible! The

historian Josephus informs us that in fact this

temple, which took almost fifty years to construct,

was torn down block by block in AD70. Jesus knew

this would happen. That faith placed in any building,

friend, politician, group or idea will ultimately

disappoint us because the only one who stands

outside of our world, who moves purposefully, is

God. Even though everything else will be shaken —

the earth, the heavens, politics, even our very lives

— we believe in the power of God to make all things

new, even us. That's where our trust is. That's who

our trust is in.

Can we truly entrust our lives and future to God?

How do we know that God won't disappear on us

like everything else that we've placed our trust in.

That's the risk we take. However look around.

Many of us in the congregation today have made a

discovery that if we let God move into the driver's

seat of our lives, we will discover the joy of trusting

in someone who will be with us forever.

So every time you pullout your pocket change take a

moment to read those words under George's chin,

over Abe's head, and staring Jefferson in the face.

Read those words carefully, thoughtfully— ‘in God I

trust.’

What’s Pastor Thinking

In God We Trust

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED Rose Cascio

Richard Holecek Michael J. Fahey, Sr.

Vincenza ‘Jean’ Benassi Phyllis Hanson

FUNERAL

Tuesday, November 19 at 10:00 AM PHYLLIS HANSON

Thursday, November 21 at 11:15 AM MICHAEL J. FAHEY

MARY’S SHRINE FLOWER MEMORIAL

In Loving Memory of CAMILLE GENTILE

Requested by the Gentile Family

BREAD & WINE MEMORIAL In Loving Memory of

MONSIGNOR JAMES M. MCDONALD Requested by The Lyons, Fitzgerald,

McGrath & Fuentes Families

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK Jill Ohl

Lily O’Rourke John Joseph Mulrooney

Steve Pomticello Kay Perro

Mark Cristello Dennis Gilhooly Richard Pearles

Maryann Katkowsky Sean Anderson Monika Baker

Francesca Cacavale Thomas Yorke

Helen Bondurant Jack Groothuis Sharon Devis

Santina Cammariere

WEEKEND COLLECTION 11/11/18 - $25,020

11/10/19 - $ 23,023 (-7.98%)

PARISH SOCIAL MINISTRY COLLECTION

11/11/18 — $5,626 11/10/19 $5,775 (-2.64%)

CATHOLIC MINISTRIES

Goal $169,600 Pledges $120,131 Donors 475

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS Next week, our second collection will be for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Over 43 million people in the United States live in poverty. This collection supports programs to address the obstacles they face as they work to bring permanent and positive change to their

communities.

SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 1:30 PM

Merissa Hertz & Sonny Estabillo

BANNS OF MARRIAGE SECOND WEEK

Linh An, Jackson Heights, NY & John Sinon, St. Aidan

Marissa Longo,

St. Patrick, Huntington, NY & John Rutigliano,

Holy Trinity, Whitestone, NY

THIRD WEEK Amy Steinmann, St. Aidan

& Devin Hasenflue, Holy Spirit, New Hyde Park, NY

Caitlin Gracia, St. Aidan & Owen Shea, St. Aidan

St. Aidan’s Stewardship Appeal 2019

Next weekend we begin our Stewardship Appeal here at St. Aidan’s.

The secret to a successful Stewardship Appeal is that each of us

increase our commitment of time, talent, and treasure. That’s what

we’re all being asked to think about, discuss with our families, and

pray over during the next few weeks.

THANKSGIVING DAY

Thanksgiving Day is on Thursday, November 28th.

Masses are at 6:30 AM, 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM.

Unfortunately, due to budget restrictions, this year

we will not be placing the usual large amount of

fruit and vegetables on the sanctuary. Blessed

bread will be distributed at the 9:30 AM Mass to

take to your dinner table. Please also note that as a

cost saver we will discontinue the publication of

the weekend music program at all Masses

beginning December 1st.

CATHOLICS FOR FREEDOM OF

RELIGION

Please join us in saying the rosary on the church

steps after the 5:30 PM Mass on Wednesday,

November 20th. Everyone is invited to participate.

FALL 50/50 SUPER RAFFLE

The drawing for the Fall Super 50/50 Raffle is

getting close. The drawing will be on December 6.

Send your tickets in as soon as possible, you may

be one of the lucky winners!

COULD YOU USE SOME EXTRA CASH?

Each year the Knights of Columbus of New York

State conduct a Charitable and Benevolent cash

raffle that helps fund various charities. Among the

beneficiaries of past such raffles are Special

Olympics, St. Mary’s Hospital, Sisters of Life, and

various Disaster Relief efforts. Local beneficiaries

have included both St Aidan and Corpus Christi

Parishes, Williston Park Volunteer Ambulance

Service, and the Mineola Volunteer Fire

Department, to name a few. This year’s drawing is

December 7th. The Grand Prize is $ 25,000 with a

total of $ 50,000 being awarded. Raffle tickets will

be available from K of C members after next

weekend’s Masses at a cost of six for $5.

KNIGHTS INTERNATIONAL NIGHT

Corpus Christi Council #2502 will hold its annual

International Night Dinner-Dance on Saturday,

November 23rd at 7:00 PM. Cost per person is $ 60

and includes open bar, international buffet (Italian,

Polish, German food) music and dancing. For

tickets call Dan at (516) 808-5019 or Stu at (516)

275-2169

JUNIOR CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS

December 4th- Build-A-Bear at Roosevelt Field

Mall from 5:30-7:00pm

December 14th- Holiday Cards at Parker Institute

from 12:00-1:00pm

December 14th- Christmas Party at Angelina’s

(Williston Park) 1:30-5:30pm

January 5th- Coat Drive at Finamore Parish Center

from 9:00am-12:30pm. Meeting in St. Francis room

from 12:30-1:30pm

COAT COLLECTION

Keep the homeless warm this winter. Contribute a

used winter coat or jacket to a soup kitchen that

serves 185,000 meals a year. Contact Tecky at

(516) 655-9755 or Cathy at comayu27@ gmail.com

for details please. Pleased help these children and

adults. Please RSVP by December 1st.

HOLY NAME SOCIETY

The next meeting of the Holy Name Society will be

on November 18th at 8:00 PM in the St. Peter and

Paul room. Christmas party tickets will be sold at

this meeting. Our annual Super Bowl raffle will be

kicking off later in November look in the bulletin

later this month for details. The Holy Names

Society is also pleased to announce "Nite at the

Races" will be held on Feb 1st, 2020, save the

date !!!!

THE UNITED HEARTS OF JESUS AND

MARY PRAYER GROUP

Join us for an evening of prayer on Friday,

November 29th at 7:30 PM in St. Aidan’s School

Cafeteria. Our evening will include Adoration of

the Blessed Sacrament, Veneration of St. Padre

Pio’s Glove, Mass, Music: Al Barbarino.

Refreshments and fellowship to follow.

For information please call Tecky at

(516) 477-4486 or Angela at (516) 655-

4429.

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL

SENIORS

Are you the son, daughter, grandson,

granddaughter, great grandson or

daughter of a Veteran who served in the

Military or is presently serving?

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 144 has

scholarship applications

available. Applications can be picked up

at the Williston Park Library or please

contact Dianne Karl for the website to

download the applications. Email

dianneli@ optimum.net or call at 516-

746-2625. Please do not hesitate to call if

you have any questions. Note: We have

had scholarship winners for the last 5

years.

PEANUT BUTTER GANG

Thank you everyone who volunteered to

make peanut butter sandwiches at our

last meeting. We made 1,120 sandwiches

and 61 wash-up kits. The Gang meets on

the second Saturday of every month.

Join us if you can.

SPIRITUALITY FOR SINGLES

The Singles Christmas Gathering & Social

will be held on Saturday, Dec 7, 2019 at

8:30PM,St. Aidan Parish, 510 Willis Ave.,

Williston Park, NY, 11596. This

gathering for singles will be a Christmas

social. We will feature a guest musician

for the Christmas season among other

activities. Cost: $10.00pp Pasta & salad

will be served, along with snacks and

beverages. Contact: Ray (516) 561-6994

or spiritualityforsingles@gmail.com

10:30 AM FAMILY MASS

Today, starts Religious Education Week. The Family Mass

especially welcomes religious education children and their

families. During Mass, the catechists will be commissioned

for the Ministry of Catechesis for this school year. All are

welcome to join us at a reception across the street in the

Rotunda hallway where class projects are displayed.

Refreshments will be served.

November 24th is the next “Being Grateful Sunday.” Paper

leaves will be available on

the Family Mass table in the

Main lobby. Children and

adults are invited to write

something you are grateful

for on a leaf. A special

basket will be brought

forward to the altar during

Mass. The next Family Mass

reception will be also be on

November 24th in Msgr.

Kirwin Hall. Yes, there will

be great door prizes! All are

welcome!

The Family Mass Team is committed to having a Family Mass

that is INSPIRING, INCLUSIVE, and INTERACTIVE for children

and their families each week.

We hope you will consider bringing up the Gifts during Mass

on a Sunday of your choosing. Please use the email below to

let us know if there is a particular week we can count on

you!

Stop by the Family Mass Table in the Church lobby for more

information and a chance to get involved!

Don’t forget to pick up your issue of MagnifiKids, some

coloring pages, and some parent information while you are

there! Email us at staidansfamilymass@gmail.com.

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: If you would

like to donate to our food

pantry, please bring all non-

perishable food/ personal

hygiene items to the sacred

heart chapel in church or to the

parish social ministry office.

Items Needed: gravy, cookies,

vinegar, shampoo/conditioner,

dishwashing liquid, Clorox

wipes and jars of sauce

PLEASE NOTE: The parish

social ministry office hours are:

Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-3:00

PM. Please use the Finamore

Parish Center entrance (across

from the church on Willis

Avenue).

$50 MEMORIALS EXTRA LARGE POINSETTIA _____ Mary’s Altar _____ St. Joseph’s Altar _____ St. Theresa Statue _____ St. Anthony Statue _____ Sacred Heart Shrine $100 MEMORIALS _____ (10) Column Wreaths ____Left _____Right _____ (4) Choir Wreaths _____ (26) Window Memorials-Each window in the church will receive 2 mini Alberta Spruce trees and a “9” flameless candle in the center (trees may be taken home for planting after decorations are removed from the church-candle belongs to the church.)

$200 MEMORIALS (2) Large Wreaths Vestibule of Church _____Left _____Right (2) Large Wreaths Back of Church _____Left ______Right _____ Upper School _____ Lower School _____ Finamore Parish Center _____ Gymnasium _____ Evergreen Roping $300 MEMORIALS (2) Tabernacle Trees _____Left _____Right (3) Large Wreaths Outside Front of Church _____Left _____Right _____Center (2) Sanctuary Wreaths _____Left _____Right $350 MEMORIALS _____ Sanctuary Tree _____Left _____Right _____ Creche in Sanctuary (trees, greenery and poinsettias) $500 MEMORIALS _____ Front of Rectory (includes lights on trees, wreaths on doors, white branches and lights in front of Our Lady of Fatima) Please complete this form and send to the Rectory office with payment. Make checks payable to: Church of St. Aidan. For information call (516) 746-6585 x9101. DONATED IN MEMORY OF:___________________________________________________________________ FROM: NAME___________________ TELEPHONE________________ E-MAIL_______________________ Donations will be published in the bulletin ____ Yes ____No Amount Enclosed $________ ____Cash ____Check #

Church of St. Aidan Christmas Memorials

ST. AIDAN SCHOOL REGISTRATION

SEPTEMBER 2020

Phone Number 746-6585 ext. 9202 or 9302.

Registration of new applicants wishing to attend

St. Aidan School in September 2020 will take place

as follows:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Nursery (3 year olds)

West Campus Building 9:00-11:30 AM

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Pre-Kindergarten (4 year olds)

West Campus Building 9:00-11:00 AM

Re-registration of our present Nursery students

returning for Pre-K will be completed through the

mail. Information will be forwarded to you through

school.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Kindergarten and Grade 1 –

West Campus Building 9:00-11:00 AM

Re-registration of our present Pre-K students

returning for Kindergarten will be completed

through the mail. Information will be forwarded to

you through school.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Grades N-3 West Campus Building and

Grades 4-8 East Campus Building

9:00-11:00 AM

Parents who are unable to make the scheduled registration

times, should call the office for an appointment. Preference is

given to those presently enrolled in our school and to

students who have siblings in St. Aidan School. The following

items are required for all new applicants at registration:

copies of birth and Baptismal certificates (will not be

returned) and complete immunization record with signature

or stamp of physician. There will be a non-refundable fee of

$150 per family for all registrants. The age cut-off date for all

grades is November 30. This registration is an application

process only. Applications will be reviewed thoroughly and

you will be notified as to the status of your child’s acceptance

into our school.

SAINT AIDANS

THANKSGIVING PIE SALE

ST. AIDAN PARISH SURVEY FOR GRADES 6TH, 7TH AND 8TH Please return completed surveys to the Rectory Attn: Stephen Loewenthal

Parent/Guardian Name: __________________________________________________________ Grade your child is in: __________________________________________________________ School your child attends: __________________________________________________________ Would you be interested in our parish having a Youth Group for 6th, 7th and 8th? ____ What day of the week should the group meet: ________________________________________ What time period would you recommend: (Please Circle One) Evening or Afternoon Are you able to volunteer? __________________________________________________________ Email Address to be notified about Youth Group Events: ____________________________ What types of programs/events would you be interested in for the Youth Group: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Comments/Suggestions: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This week is Religious Education

Week. Catechists will be

commissioned at the 10:30AM Mass.

Everyone is invited to view class

projects in the Rotunda area across

the street. Refreshments will be

served. All are welcome!

Catechist Needed! A catechist is

needed for a grade 8 class that meets

on Tuesdays from 7:15PM to 8:30PM.

If you can help, please call us at (516)

746-6585 x9405.

SUBSTITUTE CATECHISTS/

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Please

consider serving the children of our

parish as a volunteer for 2019-2020

school year. We always have a great

need for substitute catechists,

greeters, hall monitors, and office

assistants. We have a particular need

for substitute catechists on Tuesday

and Wednesday nights at 7:15PM. If

you can spare a little time, love

spreading the Catholic Faith, and

enjoy working with children, this is a

perfect opportunity for you to get

involved in the Faith Formation

program. Please contact the Faith

Formation Office for more

information.

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS: The Faith

Formation Office is open Mondays

through Thursdays from 1:30PM to

6:30PM and Fridays by appointment.

DROP BOX: The Faith Formation

Office has a Drop Box for your

convenience. Registrations,

Outstanding Assignments, and any

other Paperwork may be dropped into

the box at anytime. The Drop Box is

located to the left of the Finamore

Parish Center Door directly across the

street from the church.

THE MULTI-SENSORY THURSDAY

PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH

CHALLENGES is looking for students

in grade 8 and high school to serve as

Student Aides on Thursday

afternoons. You would assist

catechists to support the learning

process, provide additional

supervision, and be role models for

the students. If you are looking for a

great service opportunity for the 2019

-2020 school year working with

children, this is the job for you! We

provide service hour documentation

and letters of recommendation for

college, scholarships, awards, and

jobs. Please call the Faith Formation

Office at (516)746-6585 x9406 for

more information.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITY: Grade 7

and 8 Confirmation candidates can

work on their 2019-2020 service

hours by volunteering at the weekly

Family Mass on Sundays at 10:30AM.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Sign up lists with instructions are on

the bulletin board outside the Faith

Formation Office or call (516)746-

6585 x9405 to register. Student

volunteers must be in Church by

10:10AM. Be sure to follow the Dress

Code for Mass! Assisting at the Family

Mass counts toward the Catholic

Setting service hours required in

grade 8.

ATTENTION GRADE 2 PARENTS:

First Reconciliation Parents’ Meetings

will be held on Monday, November

25th and Monday December 2nd for

all grade 2 parents at 7:30PM in the

Upper School Cafeteria. Please use the

Cafeteria Entrance located in the back

parking of the upper school. Parents

are asked to attend ONE meeting.

ATTENTION GRADE 1 PARENTS:

There will be NO 5:30PM classes on

November 18 and November 19th. All

grade 1 Religious Education children

are asked to report directly to the

church at 4PM for the 1st Grade

church Tour. Children should attend

on the day that they ordinarily have

class. The tour will last for one hour.

Children should be picked up in the

back of the church.

ALL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

CLASSES ARE CANCELLED ON

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH, AND

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH.

THE FAITH FORMATION OFFICE

WILL BE CLOSED ON THURDAY,

NOVEMBER 28TH AND FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER 29TH IN OBSERVANCE

OF THANKSGIVING.

In several passages of the

New Testament, the "Day of

the Lord" is used to denote

the Second Coming of

Christ or, in the Old

Testament, a day of judgment that would spell gloom and

doom for those who have not been faithful to the God of

Israel. Either way, there is a sense of judgment in the readings

and the theme for this 33"I Sunday, the next to the last Sunday

in this Liturgical Year. It is a timely message!

The First Reading is from the Prophet Malachi (3:19-20A).

The time is the early part of the 5th century BC when Israel

was in great turmoil after the end of the Babylonian Exile.

There was much corruption and unfaithfulness to God. The

message here is that all humanity must eventually take sides

to choose "good" or "evil" because "a Day is coming" when

there will be a reckoning and all must be judged. Today, we

look upon this "day of reckoning" as the Last Judgment when

the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the "Son of justice" will sit in

judgment over the "living and the dead." This is when all

mankind will be held accountable for their actions and

omissions, their deeds and misdeeds.

In the Responsorial Psalm (98:5-9), the Psalmist represents

God's faithful followers who are singing praises to the One

who sits in judgment. The faithful have no need to worry for

God "will rule the world with justice and equity."

The Second Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the

Thessalonians (3:7-12). At the time this letter was written, it

was commonly thought by some of the early Christians that

the Day of the Lord, the Second coming, was eminent in their

lifetime. As a result, many people just stopped doing every-

day chores, duties and daily work. This became a major

problem for those who saw a need to continue a "normal"

pace. Even St. Paul tells the people to continue working as he

did to earn their "daily bread."

In the Gospel Reading from Luke (21:5-19), we hear Jesus

prophesy about the great destruction of Jerusalem that was

about to happen. All of this came about in 70 AD as a result of

the persecution of the Christians, first by the Jews and then by

the Romans. It was a Day of Judgment for the Jewish people

who did not accept Christ; but it was not the end of the world.

Jesus then goes on to talk about the greater Day of Judgment

that we will all face some day, first when we die and then

again at the end of the world.

www.cffor.org

Escaping Religious Persecution

Still a Longed-for Dream

Around the World

Americans will soon celebrate

Thanksgiving Day and

remember the Pilgrims, who

fled religious persecution

seeking a place to live and

thrive in freedom. They came to this "New World" aboard

the Mayflower and survived the harsh conditions in 1620-

21 with the grace of God and help from the Wampanoag

Indians. At last they were free from persecution.

Sadly, the God-given right to freedom of conscience is

denied to over 3/4 of the world population with many

experiencing extreme forms of persecution from

harassment to torture and death.

For example, on Nov. 1, Chinese priests and parishioners

barricaded themselves in a Catholic Church in northern

China in an attempt to prevent the government from

tearing it down. A Vatican agreement with China was

intended to secure some religious freedom for Catholics

but only state approved churches are now allowed…with

their government spies and more control instead. In

many of these government-controlled churches, the cross

is taken down and pictures of Prime Minister Xi Jinping

are put up instead.

Chinese persecution of religious minorities has also been

the focus of international concern with millions of Uighur

Muslims and others imprisoned and subjected to organ

harvesting for the country's organ trade.

"For the most part, we are aware of the persecution and

martyrdom of (people of faith) around the world, but we

tend to be naive about the threat to religious freedom

right here in America," wrote Rev. Msgr. James

McNamara. There are those who want to deny conscience

rights and freedom to practice closely held religious

beliefs to some small business owners, health care

workers, adoption agencies, military chaplains & officers,

teachers & students, and many more. These citizens are

marginalized, discriminated against, sued, and denied

their First Amendment religious freedom protections.

"May this country (America) and each of you be renewed

in gratitude for the many blessings and freedoms that you

enjoy. And may you defend these rights, especially your

religious freedom, for it has been given to you by God

himself." Pope Francis, December, 2015

The new liturgical year begins on

the First Sunday of Advent

(December 1); cycle A of the

Sunday Lectionary and Year II of

the Weekday Series

The Solemnity of the Immaculate

Conception is transferred to

Monday, December 9th and is not

a holy day of obligation this year.

The Sunday evening Masses on

December 8th are for the 2nd

Sunday of Advent, NOT vigils for

the Immaculate Conception.

The Solemnity of Mary, Holy

Mother of God (January 1, 2019),

falls on a Wednesday and is a

holy day of obligation this year.

The Sunday after Christmas

(December 29) is the Feast of the

Holy Family.

The Solemnity of the Epiphany

will be celebrated on Sunday,

January 5, 2020.

Traditionally, November is a month

where our attention is directed to

remembering our deceased relatives

and friends (All Saints and All Souls

Day) and to our own mortality and

judgment. This is not done in a spirit

of fear; rather, it is done in a spirit of

reparedness when we are reminded

that we are mortals and we will go to

join our relatives and friends

someday. November is also the end of

the Church's Liturgical Year and the

two subjects should be "flags" to our

spiritual lives that say: "Are YOU

prepared?" Something to think about

during your prayer time this week!

We have more documentation about

the development of the liturgy in the

eastern part of the Roman Empire

since that is where most of the early

fathers of the Church preached and

wrote. This is the logical result of the

eastern portions of the Empire, both

before and after the division of the

Empire, tending to be more

developed than the transalpine

regions of the west (Gaul, now France

and more distant regions). This later

led to a formal split between the

eastern and western church, and the

lack of firm centralized control in the

west, which led to the end of the

Roman Empire long before the end of

the eastern Empire, also engendered

a different evolution of the Roman

liturgy resulting in significant

differences from the Eastern liturgy.

These differing paths of liturgical

development start to appear about

the end of the 4th century.

The freedom and subsequent growth

of the Church, beginning with the

Emperor Constantine and the council

of Nicaea in 325, mark the great

turning point in our knowledge of the

development of the liturgy. By that

time, the Eucharistic rites were

universally practiced throughout the

Roman Empire with the exception of

the kiss of peace. From about the late

fourth century complete liturgical

texts are known, the first

Euchologion and Sacramentaries

were written for use in church. The

Euchologion is the liturgical book of

the Eastern Churches containing the

Eucharistic rites, the invariable parts

of the Divine Office, and the rites for

the administration of Sacraments and

Sacramentals, thus combining the

essential parts of the Missal,

Pontifical, and Rituale used in the

Roman Rite. Also around the late 4th

and early 5th centuries,

congregations gathered where the

Bishops were, and the older variable

rites in these centers of Christianity

started to solidify into different

liturgies specific to their locations.

These different liturgies all originally

show traces of their their common

descent and are similar in their

general outline, but differ in specifics.

We can identify five rites to which all

known ancient liturgies can be

traced. Four of them are those of the

old patriarchal cities, Jerusalem,

Rome, Alexandria and Antioch, plus,

later with the split of the Roman

Empire, Constantinople becoming the

fifth center. Essentially, with one

exception, liturgical practice followed

that of the city around which it was

centered, and four of them were

eastern, with Rome being the

exception to both the geography and

following the liturgical direction of

the center. That would have a direct

effect of the development of the

Roman liturgy.

One of the early differences between

east and west was that as the Church

grew, there were not enough Bishops

to conduct all the required liturgies,

which led to the growth of the office

of presbyter, which became our

priests. If no Bishop was available,

the eastern centers gave permission

for priests to anoint (Baptism and

Confirmation together), but western

Bishops retained the final power, so

priests would baptize, but Bishops

had to finish the rite, which led to the

separation of Baptism and

Confirmation in the west as is still the

norm today, while the east still

celebrates them simultaneously. This

may be at least partially due to the

same differences in centralized

control and commonality of culture

that was already affecting the Empire

as well as the church.

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)

594-9063. All volunteers 16 and over must be

background checked and all volunteers 18 and over

must attend the Virtus class.

PREGNANT? NEED HELP?-Birthright, Inc. 24 hour

hot line 1 (800) 550-4900. Wantagh (516) 785-

4070; Hampton Bays (631) 728-8900; Islip (631) 277

-3888; Southhold (631) 876-5138 or Rocky Point

(631) 821-9727.

PROJECT RACHEL HOPE AFTER ABORTION– Do

you know someone who is suffering abortion loss?

Project Rachel is a ministry about finding hope and

healing after abortion. For information call (516)

766-2538 or projectrachel @drvc.org.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God

and to the endurance of Christ." Embrace the love of

God in your marriage by

attending a Worldwide Marriage

Encounter Weekend. The next

Weekends are January 31-

February 2, 2020 in Huntington,

NY and May 1-3, 2020 in

Huntington, NY. For more

information, call John & Toni

Torio at 877-697-9963 or visit

them at https://

wwmenyli.org/.resume to

parishsecretary1@gmail.com

QUEEN OF PEACE RESIDENCE

Turkey and Ham Drop Saturday,

November 16th from 10:00 AM-

3:00 PM at Queen of Peace

Residence. The Sisters and

Residents will accept donations

of turkeys and hams. The Sisters

will tank each benefactor at the

Home’s entrance. Hot cocoa and

cookies will be served. Donations

are used throughout the year for

the holiday meals, lunches and

dinners for our own Residents

and Sisters. For information on

any of the events please call (718)

464-1800.

OUR LADY OF MERCY SCHOOL

Christmas Holiday Fair (520 S. Oyster Bay Road,

Hicksville, NY) Sunday, November 24th from 9:00 AM

-5:30 PM. Holiday gifts for the entire family!

Handcrafted goods, clothing, personalized

ornaments, toys, collectible dolls and much more.

ST. JAMES CHURCH CHRISTMAS FAIR, SETAUKET,

Vendors are needed for the Christmas Fair on

Saturday, December 7th. $100 registration fee per

table. Merchandise must be in new condition. All

proceeds from the rental goes to support the many

programs, services and ministries offered at St. James

Church. For information please contact Megan Peters

or Father Jerry Cestare at (631) 941-4141.

MERCY MEDICAL CENTER

We are happy to report that the bus trip to the Wind

Creek Bethlehem (formerly Sands) Casino Bethlehem,

PA, hosted by Mercy Medical Center Council of

Leagues on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 has been

filled. The ad no longer needs to be run.

ST. FAUSTINA MOVIE

The Movie Love and Mercy, Faustina will be shown at

various locations on December 2nd. For information

on movie locations and times go to www.

fathomevents.com /events/faustina-love-mercy

God is with me when I am afraid.