Today brings to a close the Christmas Season as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord.  The lights and decorations find their way back into the attic for another year.  Most of you had already returned to your ordinary daily routines as the New Year began.  The Church also returns to Ordinary Time and we bring back green vestments as a sign of our never-ending hope in Christ.

I wonder how many people just move from moment to moment, season to season, both in the Church liturgical cycle and in their ordinary secular life.  I believe that it is unfortunate that we do not put our lives into a cyclical context to see the beauty of life as we pass from year to year.  In spite of all the problems and disappointments that our ordinary life brings, there are special moments that come every year for us, and that surround us every day.  As 2009 begins, we will celebrate new births and birthdays, new marriages and marriage anniversaries.  We will celebrate First Communions and Confirmations and will do this all in the context of our ordinary lives.  What we all need to do is what the Church does, namely, it celebrates a year of life in the context of God’s great love for us.

Life is ordinary, but living faith makes it extra special.  Our faith, which is shared with us at Baptism makes every moment in time a special opportunity to excel in our ability to become holy and rich in virtues.  The Liturgical Year parallels our ordinary lives.  Advent brings anticipation of the coming of Christ, a parallel to the expected births of all our children.  We cannot wait; we are filled with expectations to see what this birth will bring us.  Truly, the celebration of Jesus’ birth makes our birthday celebrations even more special because we can relate to Christ as one like ourselves.  The fact is, the spiritual life of the Church parallels the ordinary life of the person and makes it so much more authentic.

The Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation (confession), Anointing of the Sick and Dying, Holy Orders and Matrimony are Sacred Moments in Time that parallel and fulfill our earthly needs.  Through these “Sacra Momentum” we encounter God on life’s journey and affirm a covenant with God as He promised, “You will be my people, and I will be your God.”  Our Church Spiritual Life parallels what we want and need in our secular human life.  And that is, to belong to a family we can trust (Baptism, the Church, the Family); to be filled with spiritual gifts as we “confirm” our faith in living the Spirit-filled life of Christ; to be nourished by the very Body and Blood of Christ, as we fail to be nourished by our human life; to know the forgiveness and reconciliation we hunger for when, through sin, we walk away from God and leave others empty of our love; to count on the support and strength of God when we are sick or dying and feel alone even when our loved ones are near; to perpetuate the human race and the mutual growth of spouses through God’s gift of Sacred Love-making in Holy Marriage; and, to perpetuate the spreading of the Gospel of Christ through the Sacramental Priesthood, the Ministry of the Church.

When I arrived here at OLPH I, once again, could not comprehend the absence of Christ from the center of the visible place where God makes manifest these Sacred Moments, the Sacraments of the Church.  My dear people, God is not to be a stranger any longer in our lives.  We are not “ordinary” in His eyes; we are splendid examples of His creative handiwork.  Though most, if not all, of us are still “incomplete works of His hand” we are far from ordinary.  Our lives and the life of the Church go hand in hand to help make this incomplete human being, complete when we return home to God, our heavenly Father.

In our church building, we no longer see God as an “aside”.  He too is not ordinary, He is Extra-Ordinary in our hearts and minds as we enter and bend the knee before Him.  A reverent quiet must now be developed and maintained by all.

On Saturday, February 21, 2009 at the 5:00 p.m. Mass, Bishop William Murphy will consecrate our new Altar during a most exciting ceremony, which will conclude with the celebration of Mass.  More information will be in the bulletin next month as we get our plans together.

              Lent is only ten days away with Ash Wednesday on February 25, 2009.  I would like everyone to begin thinking about this Lent now, and ask you not to wait until the last minute as we all unfortunately do.  To that end I want to give you a preview of this year’s Lenten Mission.

             On Ash Wednesday, you will receive ashes on your forehead as an initial reminder of our immortal nature.  “Remember man that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” You might also be reminded to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”  Whichever formula the priest uses our mission is clear, this life we live is passing and while we are privileged to live it we are challenged daily to live free from the bondage of sin and in fidelity to the Word of God expressed in the Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

             In addition to ashes, you will be given a plain nail to carry with you on your Lenten Journey this year.  This nail will be a reminder, not only of the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, but also of the sacrifices you must do through prayer and fasting, and, expressions of love of God and neighbor.  I hope that on Good Friday, you will lay the nail at the foot of the cross as a sign of your having lived the passion of Christ this Lent.

             Our Lenten Mission will be held on five (5) Wednesdays of Lent.  I am inviting you to join the priests of the parish on this Lenten journey.  I ask that on each Tuesday before the mission, you devote your day to prayerful preparation to attend and hear God speak to you through the heart of one of our priests.  Then on Wednesday, the day of the mission talk, I invite you to spend that day fasting in whatever way is physically possible and spiritually nourishing.  The priest will give the Mission Talk after the 1200 noon Mass and after the 7:00 evening Mass.  Priests will be available after each talk to hear confessions.

             The theme is “The Sorrowful Mysteries” in the Life of Christ".  Here is the schedule:

Wednesday, March 4^th -  “The Agony in the Garden”
            Reflection: Why should we bring our sorrows and pain to God the Father?  Can we not spend one hour with the             Father to gain the strength to carry our crosses.  Recognizing the meaning of Lent.

Wednesday, March 11^th  – “The Scourging at the Pillar”
            Reflection – Why are people without God are so mean spirited and cruel to each other?  How sin affects the             world.  Naming the sins of power over others. 

 Wednesday, March 18^th  – “The Crowning with Thorns”
            Reflection – Why it is wrong to misuse, make fun of and mock the dignity of the human person in each other.              Naming the sins of abuse.

 Wednesday, March 25^th  – “The Carrying of the Cross”
            Reflection – Living our daily lives with success.  Why we need a spiritual life and how do we develop it.  Developing Self-control and Self-denial.

 Wednesday, April 1^st – “The Crucifixion”
            Reflection – “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  The grace of  confession in the Sacrament    of Reconciliation and Healing.  Understanding the need to say “I am sorry”, and hearing the words “I forgive you.”

             Start preparing now and set the time aside to join you fellow parishioners to make this Lent a special time of blessing for you and your families.

What follows is from our Diocesan Office of New Evangelization.  Please use it as a spring board to dive into Lent.  This week reflect on these scriptures with family or neighbors.  Take a chance and gather together once or twice this week.  If you are new to this, start with ½ hour or even just 15 minutes.  Change your approach to prayer.  Open your heart to reflecting on the Word of God in Sacred Scripture.

ENCOUNTER: With the Lord Jesus

“Moving on from there, he went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many (people) followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope." Matthew 12: 9-21

 For your reflection:

I. In these verses, the man with the withered hand follows Jesus’ instruction and is healed while the Pharisees confront the person of Jesus and plot to kill Him. One course of action provides hope while the other destroys it. When you encounter Christ, what is in your heart and mind?

II. Those who encounter the Lord find hope; those who avoid Him find themselves empty. Do you actively seek the Lord or do you hide from Him?

III. What do these verses teach you about maintaining hope?

 CONVERSION: To the Way of the Lord

And, this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. However, his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you,to remain in him. Now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. If you consider that he is righteous, you also know that he begets everyone who acts in righteousness. See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure. 1John2: 25-3:3

 For your reflection:

I. We separate ourselves from God, and lose hope, when we stray from the Lord’s teachings. Conversion

produces hope. What are ways we may use to keep us on the path of conversion of life?

II. Conversion stems from the conviction that we are the beloved children of the Father. Is your hope

in this truth or do you instead seek fulfillment in secular society's image of the human person as not

in need of this Father?

III. Ultimately, all hope comes to us through Christ. In what ways during this yeaar will you try to Him than sin?

The “Observance of Lent” is a spiritual exercise that ALL Catholics are expected to enter into on some level of fasting, prayer and giving to the poor.  The requirements are minimal, to fast, and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of Lent.  I think you will agree with me when I say that Christ deserves to see us doing “more” than the “minimal.”  I hope you pass this on to all in your family.

Our Lenten Mission began this past week with the first presentation of the “Five Sorrowful Mysteries,” “The Agony in the Garden.  Like Christ in the Garden we must prepare ourselves for the fact that suffering is an inevitable part of our life and an ongoing reality in our world.  The question is, how do I deal with suffering?  Does suffering or the though of it together with its ‘pain’ cause me to change my life, to become my suffering, or do I, like Jesus, hold dear to my identity, like Jesus and work through suffering and pain to achieve change and resurrection to new life for myself and the world?  ”This week I offer you another part of the evangelization program of reflections.  Once again, if you are new to this, start with ½ hour or even just 15 minutes.  Change your approach to prayer.  Open your heart to reflecting on the Word of God in Sacred Scripture.  All spiritual growth flows from reflective prayer, that is, meditation.

ENCOUNTER: With the Lord Jesus

For your reflection:

Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, (and) come down from the cross!" Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"  The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.  Matthew 27: 38-44

 I. Those around the cross encounter Jesus on the cross. They not only see a man on a cross; they are forced to encounter Him and the meaning of his cross. To them, this encounter provoked a deep reaction of scorn and ridicule. What sentiments does the cross provoke in you?

II. The cross is often worn today as a piece of jewelry. Some even wear it as they mock all that the Cross stands for. Why do you wear or carry a cross on your person?

III. The cross is often ridiculed and misunderstood when it is first encountered. When it is understood, it is referred to as the tree of life.  How has your encounter with Jesus on the cross led to life for you?

 CONVERSION: To the Way Of The Lord

For your reflection:

Referring to Gentiles and Jews as one, Paul writes: “Now, in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have become near in the Blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of hostility, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, thereby bringing that hostility to an end.  He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2: 13-18

 I. These verses highlight the divisions that is a consequence of sin. The cross of Jesus reconciles all divisions and heals all the effects of sin. What have been the effects of humanity's sinful condition in your life, and in the lives of those you know and love?

II. Acknowledging the effects of sin, how is the cross of Christ able to move people to conversion?

III. Christ’s cross led to reconciliation and peace between God and all humanity. How might we share in His Cross so as to be agents of peace and reconciliation?

For twenty years I served with some of the finest men and women of the nation who placed their lives at risk every day to preserve the traditional families of the world from hatred, terrorism and the destruction of the very thought of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  On this Memorial Day weekend think of what our world would be like if moms and dads did not have sons and daughters born into families who died for the  objective values presented by God and protected by the laws of this great country.

 This past Wednesday evening I met with the men of our Holy Name Society at their installation of new officers “pot luck” dinner.  I accepted this invitation as they begin a new year because I wanted to celebrate with them and to toss out a challenge for the future of ministry to the men of OLPH parish.  What we presently have is a fraternal group of men who meet monthly in support of the church and its needs, and in spiritual and social encouragement.  The challenge I offered and which the men accepted is one of change in their mission.  I want this group to bring together adult men of all ages for the development and support of their personal and communal spiritual life.  This is ministry to men, under the title and history of the “Holy Name Society” whose all encompassing mission is the evangelization of Catholic Christian men.  This will be part of a larger Diocesan effort.

In April, a “Catholic Men’s Ministry” conference was held at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville.  Over 800 men from all over Long Island came together, for the first time, to proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ as Catholic men of Long Island.  They listened to the stories of men, from different walks of life, musician, singer, athlete, Olympic winner, police officer, father, sons, professional, and some now even priest.  Together they prayed, sang, and celebrated Mass, these men of God, men of faith, men with a longing for a better life for themselves, their families, their communities, their nation and the world.  Does any of this sound familiar to you?  Is this something that you want for yourself, your son, your male friends, and maybe even your neighbors?  Then read on and get involved now because this is what is going to happen right here in your parish…very soon!

 “The Catholic Men’s Ministry of Long Island is a group of Catholic men, from all vocations and walks of life, that have come together to make a difference in the in the minds and hearts of the people of Long Island... and that difference, we believe, begins with faith-filled men.

“Founded within the Catholic Church of the Diocese of Rockville Centre our mission is to evangelize, encourage and strengthen Catholic men to live their call to be powerful sons of God and to lead their families and others closer to the Lord. Whether in the home, workplace or society, each man is called to respond to the authentic image of masculinity found in Christ Jesus and examples such as St. Joseph, patron of husbands and fathers, and St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.  [The Holy Name Catholic Men's Society] will gather men in prayer and fellowship to be inspired to go out into the world to fight for the dignity of every human being and to protect those entrusted to their care.

“We will start with Christ and end with Christ. Everything we do is for His Glory.  We will work hard to create bonds between men that will allow them to grow in their Catholic Christian faith and stand together during times of adversity.  We will not compromise on the true message of Jesus and His Church.  We understand that there is a spiritual battle taking place, and we are willing to engage in this battle for our families, our faith and our country.  Finally, we are proud to be Catholic and think it our duty to share this wonderful gift with other men.”

 Ok men, now we need your help to work with the OLPH Holy Name Society to move into this new direction as our response to the need among the men of our parish.  Here is the NEXT STEP after the 2009 Long Island Catholic Men’s Ministry Conference.

We need a few interested young adult and adult men to join with Mr. Bob Little and a few of our Holy Name men to attend an “Information and Exchange of Ideas” meeting at St. Kilian’s Church, 485 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, NY on this Wednesday, June 17^th at 7:30 p.m.  Would you be willing to work with others from other parishes to start one for the men in our parish?  If the answer is “YES” then call the rectory and leave a message for Mr. Bob Little or me.  Just let us know if you will attend the meeting.  If you need a ride, Bob will work it out with you.

            The group at St. Kilian’s will be presenting different formats and ideas to bring back to OLPH.  Men will share their successes, failures and challenges that they have experienced.  Join our Holy Name men to form this new ministry to help men of our Parish and Diocese to become stronger, faith-filled Catholic Men.  Come and learn something, perhaps something you have been thinking about, but have not acted upon just yet.  You’re being called!  Therefore, it is good that you read this week’s “From the Pastor’s Desk” because it was meant for you.

On this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, I pray that we may continue to become “One Body, in Christ.”

Please click here to see the Pastor's Desk substitution for this week.

Also in the area of Health Care (a rather hot issue these days) their perspective is… “Equitable, accessible and ethical health care is an essential safeguard of human life. Health care is a basic human right, and genuine health care reform, recognizing the dignity of persons and the unique needs of the poor, is a matter of fundamental justice. The Catholic Conference remains committed to the right of religious-affiliated organizations to provide health care services according to their missions and to the provision of not-for-profit health care services, the maintenance of not-for-profit health systems, and the provision of services on a charity care basis, consistent with available revenues and responsible stewardship.

The Conference supports measures to expand health care access and coverage for low- and moderate-income individuals; adequate funding for appropriate Medicaid services for low-income New Yorkers and for institutions that provide core health care services in poor and underserved communities; the development of the full continuum of health care services in non-institutional settings, including adult care facilities, and community-based long-term care and home health care services; and support for adequate reimbursement for providers, including maintenance of economically sound reimbursement principles and trend factor rate adjustments that adequately reflect costs of health care services.”

             Kathryn Jean Lopez is a notable editor for National Review Online http:www.nationalreview.com.  In a recent article online she writes warning us of the behind the scenes efforts involved in the development of so called “Health Care Reform”.  She points out that in all the discussions, the question of where abortion fits into this reform is never asked.  The fear and yet the belief is that if it is asked it will be skirted by redirecting everyone’s attention to other issues and viewed, as the President has already done, as a distraction to the work of developing healthcare reform.  We must begin to realize that just because the word “abortion” is limited or perhaps even absent from written legislation, we must require a clear, precise and detailed understanding of the term “reproductive health.”  Reproductive health includes abortion in all its forms.

My dear parishioners, abortion is not a distraction, and it cannot be hidden behind, beneath, or intermingled with other perhaps important, but not as fundamental an issue as the complete and total respect for all human life from conception to natural death.  I bring this, once again, to your attention because I implore you to make every effort to stay on top of this issue.  Get online and go to websites such as The New York Catholic Conference ( nyscatholic.org ) Priest for Life ( priestsforlife.org ) Pro Life Long Island ( ProLifeLI.org ) and be sure to be informed of the FACTS not the “opinions” of people who do not care about unborn children and see them as a waste of money just as they see anyone who is seriously ill as a financial burden and a way to “save money.”

 We cannot be led to believe that anyone who says they believe in God has a RIGHT given by our or any civil government to ignore or tamper with human life as a disposable commodity.  This past week the OLPH Catholic family mourned the death of one of its children, 14 year old Ryan Barrett.  We mourned his death by celebrating his life in all its “Autistic Imperfection” and “Incredible Life-giving Enthusiasm”.  Likewise, I and the other priests here at OLPH attend numerous wakes for elderly members of our families and there too we mourn by celebrating their LIFE in all its marvelous, faithful and even sad moments.  I know that my nephew and his wife would not trade the two days of life they spent with their “premature born” daughter, Ana, for anything.  Ana was never a “distraction” to the few hours of life she shared with our family.  No matter what the circumstances surrounding the conception, birth, life and dying of a person we have a Divine Obligation to treat every moment with total attention, dignity and respect.

 Read, write, e-mail, sign petitions in person and electronically and remember that the fundamental reason to do it is the Divine call you have from God to defend and protect all life.

 We are gearing up for another school year at OLPH Catholic School.  Thanks to the generosity of some businesses and parishioners we are able to support seven families who are experiencing financial hardships.  The School Board and Parents’ Association will continue to build our special “Angel Guardian Program” for this purpose.  Youth Ministry is growing and had a productive summer.  Religious Education is preparing to move its offices to the Convent building which will now be called the “OLPH Faith Formation Center”.  Our Deacons also have office space for RCIA and Sacramental Preparation Programs.  CYO, CCMSA, Boy Scouts now have office space in the Center as does the OLPH School Parents Association.

 I am looking forward to another productive year as we continue to focus our efforts to build the faith community of OLPH with the Holy Eucharist as the focal point and food for the journey.  We are about to continue the work of “Restoring God’s Glory.”

Experiencing the shared responsibility for creation (Cf. 51), the Church is not only committed to the promotion of the defense of the earth, of water and of air, given by the Creator to everyone, but above all is committed to protect man from the destruction of himself. In fact, "when 'human ecology' is respected in society, environmental ecology also benefits" (ibid). Is it not true that inconsiderate use of creation begins where God is marginalized or also where existence is is denied? If the human creature's relationship with the Creator weakens, matter is reduced to egoistic possession, man becomes the "final authority," and the objective of existence is reduced to a feverish race to possess the most possible….” (Translation of Benedict XVI's address at this Wednesday's general audience, which gathered pilgrims in the courtyard of the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.)

Well many of our Lindenhurst youth are off to Colleges and Universities.  A whole new world opens for them and it is a world where they will be challenged not only academically but spiritually.  This is the time when we see the effectiveness of the faith we have shared with our children.  We pray that they will remain faithful to Christ and His Church and that they will continue to attend Mass and make prayer a part of their daily life.  We pray that they will hold on to the moral values that are the foundation of our faith and listen to God speak to their hearts when others speak to or whisper temptation in their ears.

Here are some prayers that you might say each day or share with your children at school.  As we know, prayer is a great weapon and source of strength and protection.  God does listen and will answer our requests.

“Lord be with us and help us to know your will and shape the future in accordance with it. Fill our hearts and minds with a love of learning and a desire to face the world and its challenges with courage and passion. Dear Lord, please guide all of us in making choices that please you and serve your will. In the name of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.”

“Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven.  You are my peace.  You are my salvation.  You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts.  Amen.”

“Heavenly Father, please guide and protect our youth and young adults as they consider different paths for life; may they be open to the calling of Your Holy Spirit; may they desire to serve You in all their ways. May they like Jesus, grow in wisdom and stature and favor before God and man.  Amen.”

“Loving God, we come before you today and thank you for your many blessings in our lives and in particular for the blessing of wisdom. Lord, we lift up the intentions for all who are entering the early stages of adulthood, that they may find their way in the world and be led by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit to find the vocation and the calling you have prepared especially for each one. Lord, the challenges for young adults are enormous in this day and the competition for their attention and their time is fierce. Please help each one of these young people to find their calling in whatever future plan you have for their life, be it college, work, the religious life, or many other possibilities. Please also help each one to keep a firm foundation in their lives through prayer and love for your people, and through love of You, O Lord. Please comfort and bless all who care for, provide for, and lead these young people during these formative times, that we might speak and share Your words and Your plans in the way You would have us do for each of these young people.

We pray in the name of your beloved son Jesus, empowered by your Holy Spirit, who lives and reigns with You, now and forever.  Amen.”

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.  Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.  Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.  Every moment, THANK GOD.

I ask all of us to keep our young people in our prayers each day.  I know they will appreciate it and hope that our example will encourage them to make the sacrifices and time to pray and attend Mass no matter where they are away at school or at home.

This week I attended the opening celebration of the Feast of San Gennaro.  He was the the bishop of Benevento, Italy, and died a martyr in 305 A.D. during the persecution spearheaded by Emperor Diocletian.  In the traditional picture of the saint, the artist depicts Mt. Vesuvius in its smoking active volcano state… and… a fishing boat out for a day’s work on the Bay of Naples.  In his homily to the people, the pastor mentioned this in that piece of art as in many depictions of the saints there are objects or items that are placed there for us to look beyond the saint for a message about his or her life and ours.  In this saint’s case Vesuvius was a reminder for the people of Naples that danger always lies in the world around them, but like the fishing boat, they must move on with their daily lives.  The Saint calls them to ongoing holiness and fidelity to their faith in God and his beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  An so the people live to very day always aware of their mortality and always vigilant to work hard and never forget that God is there to help them in good times and in bad. 

What is behind the word that I type?  What do you see?  The glorious Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.  A vigil is being held Friday night at UF's Plaza of the Americas, where students set up a memorial with 2,977 American flags for each victim of 9-11. Event organizer Jean Morrow, 21, said students were particularly affected by an event that took place in their formative years.  "For my generation, it's like Dec. 7, 1941, for older generations," she said, referring to the Pearl Harbor attack.  "It's something that's burned in memory and I think these individuals should never be forgotten," she added.

When we think of the loss of life that day, it’s easy to get angry with the enemy and then to transfer it onto God.  Remember how packed the church was that day?  God was there to comfort us, to give us strength and courage to deal with the sorrow and suffering, but also to assist us in moving forward with our lives.  It saddens me, however, that so many of those who ran to church that day, never returned once the shock wore off.

Like the picture of Mt. Vesuvius in the background we must never forget that tragedy is often lurking right by us and can happen at a moment’s notice.  And while I’m talking about the reality of 9/11, I’m also talking about the realities of today.  How many times do we take advantage of family members, we presume they are there and always going to be around and so we take advantage and forget them, or ignore them.  Same is true with our health, we take it for granted, presume… wrongly… “I’m healthy, that won’t happen to me”… and so we ignore our health or the health of a spouse.

It should not take a 9/11 to remind us of how important we are to each other.  It should, however, remind us to be alert about the world around us and to keep our awareness of God at the forefront of our daily lives.  The people of Naples were being persecuted because of their Christian beliefs.  St. Gennaro was murdered, along with his companions, because he would not abandon his people and brought Christ to them in spite of the warning of the emperor.  The people lived to see their faith renewed and the persecutions ended, but they continued to stay close to Christ and the Church.

Let us pray today for all who lost their lives on 9/11, for their families who still suffer.  Let us pray for our great nation, the United States of America, that we will, with God’s presence and help, remain vigilant to the sacredness of all of God’s people in this country and in the world.  May our lives be enriched as we remember.

1. Why is the parish looking to conduct a capital campaign considering the economic situation?

It is very easy to use the current economy as a reason or an excuse not to raise money. Moreover, doing nothing is seldom the answer. However, the parish plant faces necessary repairs and renovations that must be addressed in order to preserve the structural integrity of our buildings. Furthermore, the longer we wait to address these needs the buildings will sustain more damage and it will cost the parish even more money.

2. Is there any other way to raise the funds that are necessary for the capital improvements?

A capital campaign, which allows for the opportunity to make a contribution over a 3 year time frame, is the most effective way to raise the capital necessary to repair, renovate and restore the parish facilities. The weekly offertory as well as the various fundraisers throughout the year are a part of the operating budget of the parish and are not enough money to meet the current capital needs.

3. How come we can’t use the money that is in our reserves for the proposed capital projects?

There was money in the parish reserves which were used for: Repairing leaks in the church, school and faith formation center (former convent) Converting the convent into necessary office space for CCD, Adult Faith Formation, Youth Ministries and various other ministries as well as partial upgrading of the HVAC system in the rectory and major window replacements for school annex and auditorium for immediate energy efficiency.  We have used our money in the parish reserves to address items that were necessary at the time. Our parish now faces new challenges and the money we have in our reserves will not be enough to cover the costs of the necessary capital improvements.

4. How was the cost of the Altars and moving the Tabernacle to the center of the Sanctuary covered?

The new Altars were donated by a group of parishioners. Additionally, moving the Tabernacle to the center of the sanctuary was a part of the money donated by the parishioners. Therefore, the renovations to the sanctuary space as well as moving the tabernacle into the center of the space were not done by using the money in the parish reserves.

5. How come we have not had the Feast?

The Feast was not held because of the amount of work involved, difficulties with staffing and the relatively poor profit made on the feast due to high expenses.  The lack of volunteer participation and spirit necessitated the hiring of outside vendors for most of the major elements.  The task of running the feast for the five days was left to the Feast Chairs and Committee Leaders who did the best they could with a minimum amount of help.  This item has previously been addressed in the Pastor’s Desk Bulletin Column.

6. Is there a plan besides upgrading the school to retain enrollment and improve the academics?

The school is in need of repairs, restoration and upgrading to the facility in order to lower the operational cost and improve the quality of the school environment.  Academically, our school was recently accredited by the Middle States School Association on Elementary and Secondary Schools.  We will continue to increase the quality and diversity of education at our Catholic School.  Most of our students perform academically well upon entrance into Catholic and Public High Schools.  The present decrease in enrollment is the result of the necessary increase in tuition, personal economic decisions of families (outside the use of available grants from Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation and our own Guardian Angel Fund), and individual dissatisfaction with the downsizing of the school (one of each class) in order to obtain a balanced budget for the first time in years.  The school has been operating at a deficit which the parish continues to cover, however, with the assistance of our School Board, Parents Association and the Diocesan Education Department we are addressing positive ways to market and advance the enrollment and financial stability of our Catholic School.

7. What is the plan for the Faith Formation Center (former Convent)?

Renovation of the Faith Formation Center has begun on an “as needed” basis. Offices have been made for the Religious Education Department as well as Life Teen and Edge Youth Ministries, CYO, CMSSA, Scouting and Parents’ Assoc. A large meeting area has been provided for our teens as well as an area for early childhood activities such as “Moms and Tots”.  Space has been designated for Adult Faith Formation including RCIA and Baptism Preparation. Offices will be  prepared for our deacons who are principally engaged in these ministries.  Meeting space is being prepared to include a Faith Formation Library, a large meeting/classroom to be equipped with audio visual aids, as well as smaller conference and classrooms.  We plan to add air conditioning to the building and a general restoration of the chapel with the goal of having it available for Adoration, prayer experiences, and other small liturgical functions for both parish and school. Additional office and meeting space will be addressed as the needs of the parish demand.  At this time an extensive top to bottom overhaul of this building is not anticipated.

The projects that have been outlined in the case statement include a significant number of physical improvements to our facilities. These projects will be prioritized according to what is most currently necessary.  

You can still make your pledge and indicate on your pledge card that you want your gift to be put towards a specific item on the case statement. This is called restricted funds. You can still participate in the campaign and have your gift applied towards certain aspects of the project.  

There will be a 3-4 month active phase. Following this phase will then be a 36 month redemption period which consists of the pledges being fulfilled. Those parishioners who wish to make a pledge will be able to do so, on a Monthly, Quarterly or an Annual basis. However, if you would like to make a pledge in any other way or if you would like to make a one time gift you may do so based on what is convenient for you.  

On average, 95% of the money that is pledged is usually received over a 36 month time frame.  

The local businesses in the community will be appealed to. However, since a lot of these local businesses support the church throughout the year in other capacities (i.e. Bulletin Ads, Donating Services) they will not provide the majority of the support we need to reach our goal.  

Any payment, made towards a pledge, is 100% tax deductible for that current tax year.  

If in the unfortunate event that you cannot fulfill your pledge you can notify the rectory and your pledge will be held. Then, in the future if you are in a position to complete that pledge you may do so. Additionally, no person, family member or entity will be held responsible to fulfill your pledge in the case of an accident or death.  

Restoring God’s Glory is a campaign we are pleased to take on because it is good stewardship.  Through the hard work and sacrifices of the many parishioners whose donations built these buildings, God has blessed us.  Now, as good stewards of these gifts we must keep them in a constant state of repair and update to meet the ongoing needs of the ever growing and multifaceted call to evangelization.  Thank you for your input and be assured that everything you have to say is being discussed and will be a part of the final plan as it unfolds.

May God + bless you, and yours, now and forever.