Holy Week
and the
Easter Season
of Grace
Palm Sunday, April 9: Mass and distribution of Palm at 5pm Vigil (Saturday evening), 8am, 10am,
Noon, and 5:30pm.
Monday of Holy Week, April 10: Mass, 8am, 9am.
Tuesday of Holy Week, April 11: Mass, 8am, 9am.
Wednesday of Holy Week, April 12: Mass, 8am, 9am.
Holy Thursday, April 13: Morning Prayer, 9am. Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 8pm.
Good Friday, April 14: Morning Prayer, 9am. Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm.
Youth ministry Stations of the Cross (outdoors) 5:30pm.
Holy Saturday, April 15: Morning Prayer, 9am.
Holy Saturday Evening, April 15: The Easter Vigil. Vigil and Mass at 8:00pm.
Easter Sunday, April 16: The Masses of Easter: 8am, 10am, Noon, 1:30pm (no evening Mass).
Ascension Thursday, May 25: Masses at 5:30pm Wednesday (Vigil); 8am, 9am, 7:30pm.
Pentecost Sunday, June 4: Masses at 5pm Saturday (Vigil), 8am, 10am, Noon, and 5:30pm.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday, April 8: 4:00 – 4:45pm (Saturday before Palm Sunday).
Monday, April 10: 3:00 – 9:00pm (Monday in Holy Week).
Wednesday, April 12: After 9:00am Mass (Wednesday in Holy Week).
Dying You destroyed our death
Rising You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory!
666 Albin Avenue, West Babylon, New York 11704
Parish Office (631) 587-5185 • Fax (631) 587-1427
Faith Formation Office (631) 661-9353
Day Care Office (631) 422-4681
Parish Social Ministry Office (631) 661-9354
April 2, 2017 • Fifth Sunday of Lent
Worship This Coming Week
Mon.
Apr. 3
8:00
9:00
Tue.
Apr. 4
8:00
9:00
Wed.
Apr. 5
8:00
9:00
Lenten Weekday
Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
Ricardo Vermont
Rosario Gerardi
Lenten Weekday
Nm 21:4-9/Jn 8:21-30
Jonathan Jalbert
Elisa, Giovannia Assalone
Lenten Weekday
Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95/Jn 8:31-42
James McGimpsey
Rosa Castaldo
Thu.
Apr. 6
8:00
9:00
Fri.
Apr. 7
8:00
9:00
Sat.
Apr. 8
8:00
Lenten Weekday
Gn 17:3-9/Jn 8:51-59
Dolores Heintz
Phil McManus
Lenten Weekday
Jer 20:10-13/Jn 10:31-42
Lucia Castrogiovanni (B’day)
Devotees of the Holy Face of Jesus – Living
and Deceased
Lenten Weekday
Ez 37:21-28/Jn 11:45-56
Joan Moebes, Joseph Florenzino-Broccoli
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday, 4:00pm, Presiders: Fr. Gabriel and Fr. Gius
Worship for Sunday April 9, 2017
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Mt 21:1-11 (37)/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:6-11/Mt 26:14—27:66
5:00pm (Sat.)
8:00am
10:00am
12:00pm
1:30pm
5:30pm
Presiding
We pray at this Mass especially for
Fr. Vin
Fr. Vin
Fr. Gabriel
Fr. Gius
Fr. Gius
Fr. Gabriel
Caron Hart
Giovanni Iemma
Tommy Henry
Henry Varas
Mass for Persons With Special Needs
People of the Parish
The Sacrament of Baptism
Baptisms are celebrated throughout the year on most
Sundays and occasionally on Saturday. Call the Parish
Office for more information or to schedule an
appointment for a Baptism interview. This should be
done as soon as practicable.
The Sacrament of Matrimony
First Banns: Christine Celeste – Brent Gaylor
Arrangements for marriage should be made as soon as
possible, but not less than six months prior to the
intended wedding date.
The Sacrament of the
Anointing of the Sick
This sacrament is celebrated each Saturday during the
8:00am Mass for those facing surgery or those with
major disorders. Other arrangements may be made by
calling the Parish Office.
Becoming a Catholic • Completing
Initiation as a Catholic
Any adult, teen, or child older than age seven who is
interested in becoming a Catholic or in completing the
Sacraments of Initiation as a Catholic (Baptism,
Confirmation, Communion), is invited to contact the
Parish Office.
Regular Devotions:
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Mondays from
2pm to 9pm except holidays or when noted.
Miraculous Medal Novena with Rosary: Mondays
following the 8am and 9am Masses.
Centering Prayer: Every Saturday, 4pm, Room 106.
Holy Face of Jesus: Hour of Reparation First Friday
after 9am Mass.
Padre Pio Prayer Group: Second Tuesday of each
month at 7:30pm.
Scripture Sharing: Every Tuesday at 9:30am (except
during July and August).
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Our Parish Communion
This week:
Monday, April 3: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 2-7pm. Parish
Lenten Retreat 7:30 – 8:30pm (See below).
Tuesday, April 4: Scripture Sharing 9:30am. RCIA 7pm.
Youth Ministry 7:30pm.
Friday, April 7: Stations of the Cross 9:30am.
Saturday, April 8: Centering Prayer 4pm.
Next week:
Sunday, April 9: Palm Sunday; regular weekend Mass schedule.
Monday, April 10: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 2-7pm. Holy
Week Confessions 3 – 9pm. Parish Lenten Retreat 7:30 –
8:30pm.
Tuesday, April 11: Scripture Sharing 9:30am. RCIA 7pm.
Youth Ministry 7:30pm.
Friday, April 14: Stations of the Cross 9:30am.
Saturday, April 15: Centering Prayer 4pm.
Upcoming:
Holy Week and Easter: See the cover of this Bulletin for times of
confessions, Masses, and other services.
For Lent:
Parish Lenten Retreat: “Our Sacred Journey to Wholeness,” presented
by Patricia Leonard and James Philipps. Monday evenings,
7:30pm, March 6 through April 10.
Resisting Happiness: Get a daily e-mail with a link to online video,
brief reading, and meditation to guide you through the book we
gave out at Christmas. Sign up at www.resistinghappiness.com.
Lenten Fast and Abstinence: 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. Illness or
other serious reasons excuses a person from these obligations.
Our Pastoral Council
Mr. Joseph Carbonette
Mrs. Karen Elefterion
Mr. Michael Engrassia
Ms. Mary Ellen McEntee
Ms. Maria Russello-Chetti
Ms. Lucy Sanchez
Ms. Haydee Santini
Mrs. Concetta Whelan
Mrs. Annemarie Zaret
Our Finance Council
Mr. Richard Korcz
Mr. Leonardo LoCricchio
Ms. Debra Nicosia
Mr. Joseph Salzone (Trustee)
Mr. Robert Scharf (Trustee)
Mr. Thomas Villella
Our Ministries
Ministries of Worship
Msgr. Vincent Rush, Pastor
Rev. Gabriel Miah, Associate
Rev. Gius Garcia, Associate
Deacon Brian Miller
Deacon Irwin Saffran
Mr. Terence Purtell, Director of
Music
Parish Social Ministry
Mrs. Ann Kristoffersen,
Coordinator
Ministries with Children
and Families
Mrs. Peggy Harnisch, Director
Ms. Jeanmarie Florio, Day Care
Director
Mrs. Tischa Stanley, Angel Care
Coordinator
Ms. Doreen Scalise, Kids of the
Kingdom / Summer Fun
Coordinator
Ministries of
Administration
Parish Services, Finance
Mr. James Pisano, Facilities
Manager
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As I See It
By Fr. Vin
The Lenten Gospels – Fifth Sunday
First, thirst and water. Next, blindness and seeing. Today, death and new life. The church reads these
major Gospels for the Elect each year, and every third year (as this year) we all get to hear them. Today’s
story: The raising of Lazarus from the dead. We’re
meant to learn two things from this Gospel.
First, that Jesus possesses the most amazing
power in human experience: to give new life to the
dead. Cultures and mythologies before and after
Jesus have imagined post-death experiences for
the dead and “presences” among the still-living,
from ghosts and hauntings through elaborate postdeath odysseys of a person’s “spirit” or “soul.” But
no culture ever seems to have made or believed
the easily disproved claim that a person, once truly
dead, could be restored to an “ordinary” sort of life.
That’s the claim this Gospel makes: Lazarus, truly
and fully dead (in the tomb three days), is alive
again in the same body and same sort of life that
he had before. So, the Gospel writer wants us to
understand, the Creator of all is truly at work in
Jesus and is working to overcome our greatest and
universal enemy, death.
But there’s more, when we put the story of Lazarus into the context of the entire Gospel. For the writer
makes clear that what happened to Lazarus is not what happens to Jesus on Easter. Lazarus was
restored to life in his “old-type” body, and (presumably) at some point died again in it. Jesus, on the other
hand, is truly bodily raised – but not to the sort of body and sort of life that He had before.
You might say that the Gospel writer is preparing us, in the Lazarus story, by making a claim about
humanity first; then, in the Easter story, he’s going to make a claim that is not only human but also
cosmic: All creation is shown, in Jesus’s resurrection, to have a dimension that was, until that moment,
hidden: that it, too, was suffering an incompleteness, a frustration of its deepest aims (parallel to the way
death short circuits human hopes); and in Jesus not only was human death and frustration overcome, but
also that of all creation. (Saint Paul will write fuller descriptions of this in his letters; here, we get simply
the dramatic image.)
The Elect are meant to hear in this story that Jesus can and will open the way to the fulfillment of their
deepest hopes and desires, that they have nothing to fear from life’s struggles and even from its physical
ending. We are reminded, as we hear the story, that the restoration of Lazarus’s human life is like a down
payment on what the Resurrection will bring: Not that Jesus will be raised to the same sort of new life as
Lazarus was (that would be mere repetition, however marvelous – not the intimation of something far
greater than it is): but that the entire cosmos is destined through God’s goodness for the same sort of
triumph over every damaging and destructive force that seems to throw it into disarray – war, disease,
even the entropy that will, without God’s saving act, lead to the eventual heat death of the universe.
So listen and be amazed at the story of Lazarus: but also have your eyes opened and your imaginations
stretched to wonder as the Gospel writer desires. If God can do this through Jesus, what might there be
that God cannot do? Until next week, Peace
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Faith Formation
Lent
This is a wonderful time to take stock of where we are in our faith journey. Please ask your children what
they’ve learned about Lent in class. Talk about what you can do as a family this Lent. As people who
strive to live their faith and not simply to learn about their faith, talk about Lent together. This would be a
nice time to pray together as a family, either at meal time or in the evening. Another idea might be to
spend an hour together with no technology on, just spend time being present to each other. In spite of our
busy schedules, we can and should do something different this Lent!
This Week in Faith Formation
Sunday – 4/2/17 – FHC2 and Confirmation Prep 6, 7 and 8 at 1:15pm.
Monday – 4/3/17 – Classes Levels 3, 4 and 5 – Afternoon and Evening Sessions.
Tuesday – 4/4/17 – Classes Confirmation Prep 6, 7 and 8 at 7:15pm.
Wednesday - 4/5/17 – Classes Levels 3, 4 and 5 – Afternoon and Evening Sessions.
Saturday - 4/8/17 – Classes FHC2 at 9:00, 11:00 and 1:30 and
Confirmation Prep 6, 7 and 8 at 9am and 11am.
Clothing
This weekend Confirmation students will be here after all of the Masses to accept old clothing for our
clothing drive. This is our final fundraiser, and we are looking for a lot of clothing to achieve it so clean out
the closets and help us out! This will be the final week that we will be accepting clothing into our office for
this drive!
Peanut Butter and Jelly
One of my favorite Christian Service projects our Confirmation students participate in is the making of
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. These are picked up by Bob Wetter, a parishioner who volunteers at
the Mercy Inn Soup Kitchen. Last night was our largest single night where our Confirmation Students
made 470 sandwiches and put together about 40 bags of personal care items for the homeless. In total
this year, we made 1,220 sandwiches that went to help feed the homeless in our community. Working with
these students is such a joy and lets us see them put their faith into action in following the example of
Jesus. We could not do it without the parents who come to help supervise. In addition, we were able to
donate 40 jars of peanut butter and jelly to our food pantry here in the parish. Thank you, Everyone!
Registration Time
April is the official start to our Faith Formation Registration. Forms are available on the parish website.
Just download and bring in with your deposit in cash, check or WeShare receipt.
S.T.O.P. Stop Throwing Out Pollutants – Saturday, April 8
The Town of Babylon is holding a Stop Throwing Out Pollutants (S.T.O.P.) collection day along with the
Spring and Fall Cleanup Days on Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 8am to 2:30pm.
This program allows residents to take household hazardous wastes to the Town of Babylon Residential
Recycling Center for safe disposal. This program is vital to insure safe drinking water and a healthier
environment for the future. For further information, call the Town of Babylon Residential Recycling Center
at 631-249-9347.
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Parish Social Ministry
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
The US Bishops and Climate Change
In a news release on March 15, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops commented on a new resolution
introduced in the US House of Representatives about climate change.
“The U.S. bishops welcome the commitment of a group of members of Congress to engage in
constructive dialogue to protect our common home and to recognize the impact of climate change.”
“The Catholic Church has consistently been an advocate for environmental stewardship and Pope
Benedict XVI presciently called care for creation a ‘sign of the times.’ Environmental challenges are not
going away and it is a sign of hope to see political leaders rise to meet a challenge that is the common
responsibility of all.”
“It is in the interest of lawmakers in all parties to recognize the protection of the environment as an
important responsibility and to explore the numerous rationales for taking action. This resolution provides
an important avenue toward answering the appeal in (Pope Francis’ encyclical) Laudato si’ for ‘a new
dialogue…which includes everyone’”.
Catholic Charities Parish Social Ministry Report for 2016
Our Lady of Grace Parish Social Ministry (PSM) is one of 84 PSM programs in the diocese that keeps
daily logs on the number of clients assisted and services provided. Listed below is the PSM Report for
Our Lady of Grace listing the Monthly Distribution of Clients and Services from September 1, 2015 to
August 31, 2016.
Average number each month
Percent Distribution
Persons served:
Children 0-18 years
104
38.1%
Adults 19-64 years
152
55.7%
Seniors 65+ years
17
________
273
Total Persons:
Families served:
6.2%
__________
100%
This is an average of 95 families per month.
Direct Services Provided:
1
Food
259
92.2%
2
Housing
2
0.7%
3
Utilities
6
2.1%
4
Basic Needs of living
2
0.7%
5
Other
12
4.3%
Total Services
__________
281
___________
100%
Thank You – Thank You
Thank you to all our parishioners and organizations that continue to support Parish Social Ministry and
make it possible for us to assist our neighbors in need not only with food, but with the necessities to live.
May God bless you and your families for your concern for others.
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Parish News
Let Us Welcome Our Newly Baptized into Our Parish Communion
Joseph Ryan Muesch
Please Pray for Those Who Have Died This Week
Joan Moebes
Ann Wielar
Peter Murray
Thomas M. Wischerth
Finance Council Update - From Fr. Vin:
At its meeting last week the parish Finance Council reviewed the parish accounts for the six months
ending February 28. The parish shows an excess of ordinary income over expenses of $22,988. But
collections are below target (as you see below) and are below last year’s by about $25,000. Your
generosity is vital, and we thank generous parishioners. The Council also approved a contract for
repairing sidewalks between the Center and Convent, and the installation there of a handicap ramp which
will make the Center accessible from the front parking lot. No date has been set for the work to begin.
Cost will be in the range of $12,000.
The Our Lady of Grace Choirs Perform April 22
Celebrate the Risen Christ as The Our Lady of Grace Choirs perform their 11th annual Easter concert,
April 22 at 7:30pm in the church. Fun for all ages!
Parish Concert Series, May 6 at 6:45pm
The Alaria Chamber Ensemble of New York visits Our Lady of Grace as our monthly concert series
continues in the church. The group is coordinated by Jim Kendall, music director emeritus of OLPH in
Lindenhurst. Five dollars suggested donation goes to reimburse these working musicians for music and
travel expenses.
Calendar Raffle Winners
Tickets for the Calendar Raffle from January through June are available in the Parish Office.
4/3/2017
4/4/2017
4/5/2017
4/6/2017
4/7/2017
4/8/2017
4/9/2017
394
472
283
7
377
896
361
Financial Stewardship Report
(reported monthly to include electronic giving)
Since September 1, 2016
Offering target: $14,600 per week
March target: $438,000
Collections total: $412,622
Under budget by $25,378
Many thanks to our generous sacrificial givers!
Your sacrificial giving makes our ministries and our mission from Christ possible. Please be
generous.
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Opportunities to Serve / Share Your Gifts
Come Closer to Christ by Serving Others in His Name:
•
Communications Coordinator: This is a new position for a volunteer who will commit to talking
regularly with parish ministry leaders to collect news about upcoming programs and be sure that
news gets out to parishioners. If interested, contact Fr. Vin: [email protected].
•
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): The RCIA team is looking to expand! Do you like to
share your faith with others? Are you being called to spread the faith? Then the RCIA team may
be the right ministry for you. The commitment is only a few hours each month, but the reward is
helping others develop a lifelong loving relationship with Jesus Christ and our Father in heaven.
No experience is necessary just a desire to help others on their faith journey.
Call the Parish Office at 631-587-5185 or e-mail: [email protected], and a team member
will be ready to answer any questions.
•
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion: Serve the Body and Blood of the Lord to people at
Mass and/or at home and/or at East Neck Nursing Center. Bishop’s appointment required as are
diocesan and parish training. Contact Fr. Vin at [email protected].
•
Lector for Weekend Masses: Consider becoming a lector. Proclaiming the Word of God is not
just reading scripture to the congregation. It’s telling the story of God’s love for humanity. Training
provided. Contact the Parish Office: 631-587-5185 or [email protected].
•
Hall Monitors and Catechists: Have you ever thought about sharing your faith with our younger
Catholics? As a catechist, we will train you and give you all the materials needed for this important
ministry. Our hall monitors ensure the safety of our children each week. Please call Peggy at
631-661-9353 or [email protected].
•
Consolation Ministers: Inviting all to experience the gift of our Ministry of Consolation, as we
assist and support grieving families prepare the Funeral Mass for their loved one. This rewarding
ministry enriches our own Christian discipleship as we help others in their time of need. Anyone
interested, please call the Parish Office.
Religious Article Counter Update
New items have arrived. We now have First Communion Sets which include: Prayer Book, Rosary and
Case, Scapular and Pin. We also have beautifully illustrated Children’s Bibles. Stop by and check them all
out.
Bereavement Support Group
St. Mary’s Parish in East Islip is offering a free, six-week-support group for adults who are coping with the
death of a loved one. Registration is required for this group which begins on Wednesday, May 24, 2017,
and ends June 28, 2017, from 7-9pm. Refreshments are included.
In order to participate in this group, the death must have occurred prior to February 23, 2017. For
information and/or registration, please call the rectory at 631-581-4266 ext. 100.
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Ministries with Children and Families
What is Family Life Ministry?
Family Life Ministry hopes to address the needs of families of all ages and sizes. From those in single-person
families to multi-generational families, we are all part of the parish family of Our Lady of Grace.
Contact Maria at [email protected] or call our Faith Formation Office at 631-661-9353 for more
information.
Join Us!
Our next Family Life Ministry meeting will be on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 7:30pm in Room 107. Everyone is
welcome – please join us!
Our next hospitality breakfast sponsored by Family Life will be Sunday, April 23, 2017, after the 10am Mass in
PES Hall. Come down and join us for bagels and eggs as well as coffee, tea and juice!
Here are some pictures of recent Hospitality breakfasts
Youth Ministry Meeting
Youth Ministry, Tuesdays, 7:30-9pm, Room 212/214. All teens, all faiths, 9th-12th grade invited.
Faith, fun, food, fellowship! Have questions? We can help you find the answer.
“The Youth Ministry brings together the youth community as a whole, allowing them to grow
and mature and just have fun.” Joseph Vincent Paolella, 12th Grade
Youth Ministry Bake Sale Rescheduled
The Youth Ministry bake sale fundraiser has been rescheduled for the weekend of April 23 and 24 before
and after Masses. Homemade Easter chocolates will be available! Proceeds help fund our ministry and a
portion will go to the Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Golden Wedding Jubilee
This spring, couples that have been married fifty years or more will be honored at a special Mass on
Sunday, April 30, at the Church of St. James in Seaford. The Mass will begin at 2:30pm. Registration
forms and complete instructions can be obtained at the rectory. Registration must be received by the
Office of Worship by April 21. If you have any questions, you may call 516-678-5800, ext. 207.
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The Last Good Word
Let’s Talk: by Flo Aubin
Brittany Plansker
Today I want to introduce you to a very bright, ambitious young lady who, at her young age, already has
her own business on E-Bay – Brittany Plansker.
Brittany grew up in Lindenhurst and graduated from Copiague High School. Today Brittany is taking
courses in Fashion Merchandising at Penn Foster College.
Recently Brittany moved to West Babylon from Lindenhurst, and she is now a parishioner here at Our
Lady of Grace. Previously, when Brittany was a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, she taught
Religious Education for two years.
Currently, Brittany has her own business called ‘Sprinkles Jewels.’ It is there that she sells rosary beads,
chaplets and wedding lassos.
Brittany is one of our newest members of the choir. She loves to sing, and she is very grateful to Terence
for his encouragement.
Brittany told me that she is a staunch Mets fan and she also enjoys wrestling and the Cleveland Cavaliers
Basketball Team. We welcome you, Brittany, and we hope that you will continue in the choir and as an
active volunteer here at Our Lady of Grace.
From Fr. Vin:
Summer Schedule: 5:30pm Sunday Mass
I recently received news that the priest we had hoped to have visit us this coming summer cannot be
available. As a result, the 5:30pm Sunday Mass will be suspended beginning June 1 to allow priests on
staff to plan vacations in a way that will have as little impact as possible on vital parish services. Further
changes will be announced if they become necessary.
Adult Confirmation Classes
Is a family member or close friend expecting a baby? Will you be asked to be a Godparent for this
precious child? Do you know you need to have received the Sacrament of Confirmation in order to be a
Godparent? Or do you just feel a yearning to complete your sacraments?
Our Lady of Grace is here to help. An Adult Confirmation Program is being offered to those ages 18 and
older who have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The program entails attending seven classes
being held on the following Wednesdays from 7:15 to 9:00pm.
April 12, 19, and 26, and May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.
Confirmation will be conferred on Pentecost Sunday at the noon Mass.
There is no fee for the program. Parishioners from Our Lady of Grace and from any other parish are
welcome. If interested, please leave your name, telephone number and e-mail address in the Parish
Office.
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