CHURCH OF

SAINT AIDAN

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time—January 26, 2020

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. 101 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. 101. 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. 412

St. Aidan School

ext. 202, 203 Grades Nursery-2

ext. 302, 303 Grades 3-8

Principal

Mrs. Julie O’Connell

Assistant Principal

Ms. Barbara Graham

Faith Formation

ext. 404, 405

Director ext. 406

Mrs. Elaine Smith,

Youth Ministry

Coordinator ext. 403

Mr. Stephen Loewenthal

Music Director

Mr. Drago Bubalo ext. 130

bdrago@staidanparish.org

Social Ministry, Director

Ms. Rosemarie Cavallaro

ext. 410, 408

Buildings & Grounds ext. 107

THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

MONDAY, JANUARY 27 WEEKDAY Fr. Adrian 6:30 AM Henry J. Regan (30th Anniversary Rem.) Fr. Solomon 9:00 AM Miriam Mullally Fr. Solomon 12:30 PM James Bob McEnroe (1st Anniversary Rem.) Bishop Andrzej 5:30 PM Bridget Cronin TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Fr. Solomon 6:30 AM Lv. Ints. of Michael Lee (Birthday Rem.) Fr. Solomon 9:00 AM Miriam Mullally Fr. Ken 12:30 PM Daniel Colelli Fr. Ken 5:30 PM Lv. Ints. of Marion Solomita WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29 WEEKDAY Fr. Ed 6:30 AM Lv. Ints. of Elizabeth Jin (Birthday) & Family Fr. Adrian 9:00 AM Irene Mangan (Birthday Rem.) Fr. Ken 12:30 PM Frank Conte Fr. Ken 5:30 PM Noel M. Ryan (5th Anniversary Rem.) THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 WEEKDAY Fr. Ken 6:30 AM Lv. Ints. of Michael & Michaela Lee (Wedding Anniversary) Fr. Ken 9:00 AM Daniel Nash Fr. Adrian 12:30 PM Thomas Virnig Fr. Adrian 5:30 PM Rose Escobar FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 ST. JOHN BOSCO, PRIEST Fr. Ed 6:30 AM Andrew Taraska Fr. Adrian 9:00 AM Frank Galalis Fr. Solomon 12:30 PM Eithne Doran Fr. Solomon 5:30 PM Lv. Ints of Agnes Chun SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 WEEKDAY Fr. Adrian 9:00 AM Nicholas Amico (Birthday Rem.) Fr. Solomon 5:00 PM Frank & Maria Garibaldi, Michael & Eleanor Carlo, Danial Sacino Lv. Ints. of Like, Mike & Christian Georgeou Helen & Hank Fortune (Wedding Anniversary Rem.) Kevin H. Fortune (4th Anniversary Rem.) John Thomas Rochford Fr. Ken 7:30 PM Parishioners of St. Aidan SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD Fr. Ken 7:30 AM Joseph Delaney Fr. Ed 9:00 AM Deceased Rosarian Connie Blake and Carol Falcone Fr. Adrian 10:30 AM Joseph Senus (2nd Anniversary Rem.) Fr. Solomon 12:00 PM Legion of Mary Nunzio Santangelo Joseph Maggiulli Msgr. Vincent A. Keane & Joseph M. Keane Justin Berry (Birthday Rem.) Fr. Adrian 5:00 PM Thomas Laffey

FAN Follower

Next Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday. Even

if you’re not a big football fan, you might

be married to one, or have to share the

TV with one, so you know just a little bit about it. You

know that the game is at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami

Gardens, Florida, and that there’s going to be a winner

and a loser. You know there are fans, and there are

followers.

Today's gospel tells of Jesus beginning his ministry

with a brief statement to his followers ‘Repent, for the

kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ That phrase ‘the

kingdom of God’ is used no less than 70 times in the

New Testament. It is a summary, a vision statement, of

what Jesus intends to do. It will shape His entire

ministry from this point onward.

Which leads us to ask — what is our vision as a

Catholic community in St. Aidan’s today? As Christians

we try to follow Jesus’ example as He goes out and calls

others to be a part of the kingdom. He reaches out to

those he encounters in everyday life and evangelizes.

The word ‘evangelism’ comes from a Greek word that

means ‘good news.’ It is not about threats and

coercion. It is not about slick ad campaigns and in-your

-face tactics. It is not about programs and pamphlets

and publicity. Evangelism is about proclaiming in word

and deed that the kingdom of heaven has come near

through Jesus Christ, and welcoming others to live as

citizens of that kingdom.

You'll notice that Jesus ‘goes out’ to find His disciples.

We see him in today’s gospel going to the Sea of Galilee

where the fishermen are. Time and again we find Him

in the course of His daily life encountering people,

sharing with them about His vision of the kingdom, and

inviting them to join Him. Some respond. Many do not.

But regardless of the outcome, Jesus remains faithful to

His vision and continues to invite others.

All throughout His ministry Jesus spoke of Himself and

His mission, the kingdom of heaven, in terms that

people could understand. For example, in talking to

fishermen He invites them to ‘fish for people.’ In the

pastoral setting of Palestine, He called Himself ‘The

Good Shepherd.’ To the crowd that he had fed just the

day before using only five loaves and two fish He said

He was ‘The Bread of Life.’ He speaks to everyday

people in a way they can understand.

We ask the Lord to give us the courage to invite others

to join us. As we do, we follow in the footsteps that

Jesus himself set forth.

What’s Pastor Thinking

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK

Jill Ohl Lily O’Rourke

John Joseph Mulrooney Steve Pomticello

Kay Perro Mark Cristello Richard Pearles

Maryann Katkowsky Sean Anderson

Francesca Cacavale Thomas Yorke

Helen Bondurant Ashley Lyons

Judy Kostovick Jack Groothuis Sharon Devis

Blaise DeCario Webber Virginia Fallon

Kathleen Donnelly Carol McKeon

Patricia Tomasone

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED

Nancy K. Brino John Brautigam Tessy Mulligan

STEWARDSHIP 01/27/19 - $22,005 01/26/20 - $26,036

(+18.32%)

ONLINE GIVING 43 parishioners are

currently using Online Giving.

Go to staidanparish.org. Click on DONATE.

CATHOLIC

MINISTRIES Goal $169,600

Pledges $131,350 Donors 494

Thank you for helping the Diocese raise more than

$9.5 million for the Catholic Ministries Appeal

in 2019!

SECOND COLLECTION

This weekend’s second collection is for

St. Aidan School.

INCOME TAX DONATION LETTER If you need an income tax statement for your 2019 Stewardship donations to the parish, please call the Rectory office at (516) 746-6585 x101 or send in or drop the tear-off into the collection basket and a statement will be sent out in the mail. Name____________________________ Telephone #__________________________ (as it appears on your envelopes)

Address_____________________________________________________________________________ Envelope Number # ______________ (if you know it-not necessary)

ANOTHER OPTION IS TO WRITE THE WORD “TAX” ON YOUR WEEKLY ENVELOPE AND WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SEND OUT YOUR STATEMENT.

All Are Welcome

2021 MASS BOOK OPENING The 2021 Mass book will be opened on March 28

from 9:00-11:00 AM in Finamore Parish Center. A limit of three Masses will be permitted. The book will then be closed until April 15th for recording

purposes.

2020 BETHANY RETREAT

The St. Aidan’s 2020 Bethany Retreat will be here before you know

it. If you have not attended before this could be the year that Jesus is

calling you. The retreat is run by parishioners for parishioners. So

mark your calendars for March 20th and 21st.

YOUTH GROUP 2020 SCHEDULE

JANUARY

January 26 Meeting 6:00 PM –7:30 PM

FEBRUARY

February 2 NO MEETING (SUPER BOWL)

February 9 Meeting 6:00 PM –7:30 PM

February 16 Meeting @ Luigi’s Pizzeria

from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

February 21 Ronald McDonald House

Volunteering 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM

February 28 Meeting 6:00 PM–7:30 PM

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. Please

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

for details. Help these children and adults. RSVP by February 21st.

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.

MINEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION

Personal requests for transportaiton for the Mineola School Distric

must be made by parents of students attending a private school for

the school year 2020-2021. The deadline for filing this application is

April 1, 2020. For information contact your private school or the

Mineola Transportation Dept. at (516) 237-2080.

GIRL SCOUT SUNDAY

Girl Scout Sunday is being celebrated on Sunday, March 8th at St.

Aidan Parish at the 10:30 AM Mass. Girl Scouts should attend in

uniform (sashes and vests). Arriave at 10:15 AM to process in with

the celebrant Leaders may obtain patches by sending a check to

“Catholic Committee” at the Catholic Scouting Office, PO Box 9023,

Rockville Centre, NY 11571-9023. If you have questions please

contact Janice Syers at rnjanice@msn.com

SPIRITUALITY FOR SINGLES

The monthly Singles Gathering will be held on Saturday, February

1st at 8:30 PM at St. Aidan Parish, 510 Willis Ave., Williston Park, NY,

11596. Our Monthly gathering for singles; discussion and

socialization. Ages 35+-$5.00 donation - snacks, pizza and beverages

will be served. Contact: Ray (516) 561-6994 or spiritualityforsingles

@gmail.com

HOLY NAME SOCIETY

Save the date for the St. Aidan Holy Name Society Annual Men’s

Retreat May 1-3 at Bishop Molloy Retreat House, Jamaica Estates,

NY.

COLUMBIETTES

Would you like to join a Catholic group in 2020? The Columbiettes

from Corpus Christi Council 2502, invite you to join our group. We

are Catholic women 18 years and over. We meet at the Knights of

Columbus, 186 Jericho Turnpike, Mineola, NY in the lounge

downstairs. Please RSVP to Ruth Ann at (516) 221-6106.

THE ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY

The Corporate Mass of the Rosary Altar Society will be celebrated on

February 2, 2020 at 9:00 AM. This Mass will be offered in loving

memory of Connie Blake and Carol Falcone. Please arrive at 8:45

AM to recite the Rosary.

The monthly meeting will be on Monday, February 3rd at 7:45 PM in

Msgr. Kerwin Hall. At this meeting, Beatrice Bullock and some other

rosarians will teach how to make Rosary Beads. These Rosaries will

be donated to missions, hospitals, churches, schools, those serving in

the military and any others who ask for them. We will be joined by

members of Sacred Heart Rosary Makers who meet in Queens. This

will be a fun activity and we will be sharing our love of the Rosary with

others. Anyone interested in joining the Rosary Altar Society is

welcome to attend a meeting. We welcome new members.

JUNIOR CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS

The next JCDA meeting will be held on February 2nd in the

convent from 12:30-2:30 PM Please bring any merchant gifts

you have already gotten. We are collecting money for the

Mother/Daughter Brunch. Please put in an envelope and give

to Mrs. Lamere. Girls who are doing baskets please think of a

theme. Girls doing baskets put no more than $10 towards the

basket. Any questions please call Mrs. Lamere at (516) 972-

0779.

ST. AIDAN SCHOOL

REGISTRATION New applicants wishing to attend St.

Aidan School in September 2020

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Grades N-3

West Campus Building and

Grades 4-8

East Campus Building

9:00-11:00 AM

Phone Number 746-6585

ext. 202 or 302.

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

CATECHIST NEEDED! A catechist

is needed for a grade 8 class that

meets on Tuesdays from 7:15 to

8:30 PM. If you can help, please call

us at (516) 746-6585 x405.

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 7:15 PM. 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

1:30 to 6:30 PM 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 x406 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

10:30 AM. PRE-REGISTRATION IS

REQUIRED. Sign up lists with

instructions are on the bulletin

board outside the Faith Formation

Office or call (516) 746-6585 x405

to register. Student volunteers

must be in church by 10:10 AM. 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:

There will be a Parent Meetings for

First Communion parents on

Mondays, January 27th and

February 3rd at 7:30PM in the

Upper School Cafeteria. PARENTS

ARE ASKED TO ATTEND ONLY ONE

OF THESE MEETINGS. Please use

the Cafeteria Entrance located in

the back parking lot of the Upper

School Building.

ATTENTION GRADE 8 PARENTS:

Spirit Night will take place at 7:15

PM in the church on Tuesday,

February 11th and Wednesday,

February 12th. St. Aidan School

students have been assigned a

night. Religious Education

Students should attend on the night

they ordinarily have class.

STUDENTS MUST ATTEND WITH A

PARENT. Please contact the Faith

Formation if there are any

questions or concerns.

10:30 AM FAMILY MASS Please take a few minutes to visit the Family Mass

Table in the Main Lobby of the church for some

wonderful materials to help link Sunday Mass with

family life. As always, there are a variety of materials

for children of all ages! Be a great Missionary Disciple

and invite a friend to Mass!

Coming Soon: The Family Mass welcomes the Boy

Scouts and their families on February 9th. All are

welcome to join us!

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.”

MINISTRY OF CONSOLATION LEVEL 1

COURSE: This course, which began last Wednesday,

will run for three more weeks (January 29th, February

5th and February 12th) is being offered by Sr. Mary

Alice Pill for Ministers of Consolation who assist

families with the wake and mass preparations of their

loved ones. This course will also offer suggestions on

ways to offer support to the family members in the

months that follow. See flyer in bulletin for more

information.

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: laundry detergent, dishwashing

liquid, tissues, clorox wipes, sponges and brillo

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: Our Prayer Shawl

Ministry meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each

month at 9:45 AM in the Peter and Paul Room located

in the Finamore Parish Center to knit or crochet

prayer shawls or lap blankets for our sick and

homebound parishioners. The next meeting will be

on Tuesday, January 28th. New members are always

welcome. You need not know how to knit or crochet.

We have talented parishioners who can teach you. If

you have any question please call Parish Social

Ministry (516) 746-6585 X410.

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).

Building Intercultural Competence in Ministry - A workshop addressing the changing cultural landscape in our Faith Formation Programs. St. Frances Cabrini, Coram Thursdays, February 6, 13, 27; March 12, and 19, 2020 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Or Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Roosevelt Mondays, February 10, 24; March 2, 9, and 16, 2020 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Desarrollando Competencias Interculturales para el Ministerio - Se ofrecerá un Taller para abordar el panorama multicultural en los programas de Formación de la Fe. St. Frances Cabrini, Coram Jueves 6, 13, 27 de febrero; 12, y 19 de marzo, 2020 10:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m. O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Roosevelt Lunes, 10, 24 de febrero; 2, 9, y 16 de marzo, 2020 6:30 p.m. a 8:30 p.m.

Basic Religious Studies Course Series St. Mary’s Elementary School Building, Manhasset 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Old Testament Mondays, February 24; March 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2020 New Testament Mondays, March 30; April 6, 20, 27; and May 4, 2020 Christology Mondays, May 11, 18; June 1, 8, and 15, 2020

Divorce & Beyond Support Group St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Melville Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 2020 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Retreat Day for the Elect of 2020 Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington Sunday, March 8, 2020 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Un Día de Retiro para los Electos de 2020 Seminario de la Inmaculada Concepción, Huntington Domingo, 8 de marzo, 2020 2:00 p.m. a 6:00 p.m.

Catechist Training Level II St. James, Setauket Tuesdays, March 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2020 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Bereavement Conference – For the Bereaved and those Ministering to them. St. Frances de Chantal, Wantagh Saturday, March 21, 2020 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bereavement Ministry Facilitator Training Level I & II St. Bernard, Levittown Saturdays, March 28; April 4, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; and June 6, 2020 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Annual Afternoon of Prayer & Enrichment - Ministry of Consolation St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Melville Thursday, May 14, 2020 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information, workshops, or to register online, please visit drvc-faith.org/

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

parish volunteers 16 and over must be

background checked, and all volunteers

18 and over must attend the Virtus class

40 DAYS FOR LIFE Please join us for a

Presentation & General Informational

Meeting Sunday, January 26th, 2020,

7:00 p.m. - Presentation, 7:30 p.m. - Q&A

St. Patrick R.C. Church, 280 East Main

St., Smithtown NY 11787 This 40DFL

Lenten Campaign is fully endorsed by

the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Come

learn what participating can do for you,

your family, your parish or church, and

our community!

“It was an honor and gift for Christ the

King R.C. Church to participate over the

years in the 40 Days for Life campaign,

praying and witnessing to God’s gift of

life in the unborn child.” Rev. Joseph

Davanzo, Pastor of Christ the King R.C.

Church, Commack during Lent 2019

40dflsmithtown@gmail.com

40daysforlife.com

PREGNANT? NEED HELP? Birthright,

Inc. 24 hour hotline 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 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.

DIOCESAN CHOIR

The Diocesan Choir is seeking new

members to join its ranks! As senior

members retire after many years of

service, new members are needed! The

Choir performs at several diocesan

liturgies, such as the Rite of Election, the

Ordination of Deacons, and the

Ordination of Priests. Rehearsals are

held on Monday evenings at 7:00PM. For

more information contact Katrina

Montagna at kmontagna@drvc.org or

call the Office of Worship at (516) 678-

5800 x 504.

RELIGION AND ROCK

Tune into Religion and Rock with Msgr.

Jim Vlaun on Sundays from 7:00-8:00

AM on WBAB 102.3 FM or 95.3 FM on

Long Island’s East End. Listen on

Saturdays at 11:00 PM on Sirius radio,

Channel 159, the Catholic Channel and

at 11:00 PM on XM Satellite, Channel

117. To listen online or receive

information regarding Religion and

Rock go to www.Religionand Rock.com

or at Religion and Rock on ITUNES.

Tune into Catholic Faith Network,

Cablevision Channel 29/137 or Verizon

FIOS 296 or visit www. cfntv .org

BUS TRIP

Bus Trip to Wind Creek Bethlehem

(formerly Sands) Bethlehem, PA.

Hosted by Catholic Daughters of the

Americas, Hicksville, NY. When:

Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Cost: $43

per person, which includes the driver’s

tip. Give back: $35 slot play. Time:

Please arrive at 8:30 am. Return approx.

8:30 pm. Parking: # 999 So. Oyster Bay

Road (on the street in the dead end) .

Reservations: call Barbara at (516) 935-

5576. Please make checks payable to

“CDA”.

SOLEMNITIES AND OTHER DAYS OF

NOTE 2020

January 26, Sunday of the Word of

God (New Feast)

February 2, Presentation of the

Lord (Feast). Since this feast falls

on a Sunday this year, it replaces

the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary

time and the proper rites should

be celebrated at the start of the

Mass per the Roman Missal. Vigil

Masses on 2/1 should be for the

Presentation of the Lord.

February 26, Ash Wednesday

One of the more interesting and

significant observations about the

current GIRM is how much effort went

into it in a relatively short time. The

current GIRM is the third edition of

this document since 1969. When you

consider that the previous instruction

for the Roman Missal was virtually

unchanged for about 400 years, you

realize that three editions in 40 years

is a testimony to another principle

found in the CSL that “sound tradition

be retained and yet the way remain

open to legitimate progress.” This is a

major reason for the revisions. The

early versions had some problems in

that they emphasized the changes and

not the underlying theology of the

liturgy so the focus became what can

we do rather than why. This was

corrected by the time the third edition

was promulgated. We must also be

aware of the fact that the early texts

which the CSL called for in the 1960's

were very different from what came

before as some of us who lived

through the changes may recall. The

reformers could not possibly envision

what would work and what would

need clearer definition. As time

passed, some things become more

apparent and needs previously

unrecognized were discovered and

addressed. And that is why we now

have the third edition of the GIRM.

Another interesting point in the

development of the GIRM is that it,

like all the Vatican II documents, it

was originally written in Latin. And,

when translating from Latin into

English, a heavy emphasis was given

to dynamic equivalence, that is,

translating equivalent thought units.

Experience proved that this approach

was less than satisfactory. Therefore,

the later efforts emphasized formal

equivalence, in which each underlying

Latin word has a corresponding

equivalent word in English. This

change came about in 2001 and very

much affected the GIRM as we see it

today. Here is how this came about.

In 1965, the first Council draft of the

Order of the Mass appeared in Latin.

In 1966, the International Commission

on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), a

commission set up by a number of

episcopal conferences of English-

speaking countries for the purpose of

providing English translations of the

liturgical books of the Roman Rite,

was established. As the Council

documents were revised, each in

Latin, ICEL translated them into

English. The first New Order of the

Mass in Latin was officially released in

1969, and in 1970 the English

translation was released, followed in

1974 with the formal complete First

Edition in English. Then in 1975 the

second Latin edition, followed in 1985

by second English edition. Finally, in

2000 the third Latin version, formally

released as the Third Edition in 2002,

which resulted in the current GIRM in

English promulgated in 2011. You may

wonder why there are such long

delays between the Latin and English

editions. The answer is that much of

the world needs an English edition to

translate into their language since

there is no direct Latin translation

capability to many languages so the

English translation of the Latin

provided the basis for further

translation, and therefore the English

edition not only had to be true to the

Latin edition, but also provide the

depth to be faithfully translated into

many other languages with totally

different culture and language

development behind them.

The history of the development of our

liturgy really brings us full circle. Early

followers of The Way, our Christian

ancestors, gathered in small groups,

shared readings from the Old

Testament (remember, they were

Jews), read the letters sent by St. Paul,

shared the stories later written in the

Gospels, and, most importantly,

shared the Eucharist together. In a

more formalized setting, so do we

today. Getting back to the beginning

has been an interesting trip. In our

early days, most, if not all, members of

the small groups participated. Over

time, that changed. Vatican II brought

that back. Here is one of the critical

goals of Vatican II, as stated in the

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy:

“Mother Church earnestly desires that

all the faithful be led to that full,

conscious, and active participation in

liturgical celebrations which is

demanded by the very nature of the

liturgy, and to which the Christian

people have a right and obligation by

reason of their baptism.” May we all

take advantage of what this offers to

us.

The Readings for today take a turn

away from some of the familiar stories

and give us some background on the

beginning of Jesus' teachings. Did you

ever wonder why Jesus started His

teachings, His public ministry, in the

northern part of Israel? Jerusalem in

the south was the most important city

at that time. Why didn't He start there?

Nazareth and Capernaum were small

hill towns in the north. Even Nathaniel,

one of Jesus' first disciples, said, "Can

anything good come out of Nazareth?

(See John 1:46) In ancient Israel,

Nazareth was located in the land of

Zebulun and Capernaum was in the

Land of Naphtali. These were major

crossroads of trade at one time, and

the area was full of people from all

over the world. Even the Jews of that

region were more cosmopolitan and

open to new ideas than the people of

southern Israel (in the area of

Jerusalem). So the readings for today

tell us about being open to new ideas

particularly when they come from the

Holy Spirit.

In the First Reading, from the Prophet

Isaiah (8:23-9:3), we hear how God,

through the Prophet, chastised the

territories of Zebulun and Naphtali for

their wickedness in abandoning God in

favor of riches from trade. At the same

time, He promises that if they turn

away from their evil ways He will again

shine a "great light upon them" and

"they will rejoice as at the time of the

harvest." Unfortunately, this did not

happen in their lifetime because they

refused to open their hearts and minds

to God. We might say that when Jesus

lived in the region, He was "the light."

Unfortunately, they didn't accept Him

either.

The Responsorial Psalm (27:1-14) is a

prayer of hope and trust in God and

His ways. Left to ourselves we would

surely end up as the people of Zebulun

and Naphtali did, enslaved by the

enemy. This is a prayer that we should

all say frequently.

The Second Reading is from St. Paul's

First Letter to the Corinthians (1:10-

17). In this passage, Paul tells us that

there are many people "out there" who

seem to be intelligent or important in

some way, and they demand our

attention to follow them to riches and

happiness. However, as John the

Baptist does in today's readings and as

St. Paul does in the “Second Reading,”

we should listen for the voice of God in

Jesus Christ through scripture and the

Holy Spirit. This is where the true

"great light" will come from.

In the Gospel Reading, from the Gospel

of Matthew (4:12-23), we hear how

Jesus chose to begin His ministry by

selecting men from the northern

regions who were open to new ideas

and discussions. The people of the

south, around Jerusalem, were too set

in their ways, grounded in the Law of

Moses and controlled by the teachings

of the Pharisees.

Are we also too set in our ways to be

open to Christ’s calling us to something

new or different in our life? So often

we hear good church-going people say:

"I'm not getting anything out of Mass,"

or "I don't know why I go to church. It

is so repetitious and boring.” Perhaps

it is because they forget that

worshipping means giving your time,

your attention and your life to God and

then listening for Him to speak to your

heart. That is when it becomes exciting

and that is when you will realize that

you got “something out” of

participating in the celebration of the

Eucharist. Just something to think

about during your prayer time this

week!

Focus on Religious Freedomwww.cffor.org

President Trump Safeguards the Right to Religious Freedom in Public Schools

"We don't worship government - we worship God." President Trump, 2020

On Jan.16, National Religious Freedom Day, President. Trump said, "This afternoon, we're proudly announcing historic steps to protect the First Amendment right to pray in public schools...It is a sacred principle of our Republic that government must never stand between the people and God. Yet, in public schools around the country, authorities are stopping students and teachers from praying, sharing their faith, or following their religious beliefs.... Tragically, there is a growing ...impulse...that seeks to punish, restrict, and even prohibit religious expression." (1)

For seven years, Catholics for Freedom of Religion has been reporting instances of students denied their right to religious expression in their schools. The Trump administration has updated the guidelines, first issued under President Clinton, and is sending them to every school that receives federal funds. The Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools can be read on the United States Department of Education website at www.ed.gov “These actions by the president should prompt discussions among parents, clergy and educators that will end the too common suppression of students’ appropriate expressions of their faith.” said Barbara Samuells, President of Catholics for Freedom of Religion. To monitor compliance with the guidelines, every public school will continue to certify to their state that they have no policy that conflicts with students' religious freedom rights. As before, a public school's federal funding could be suspended if the school is not in compliance.” (2)

(1) c-span.org, 1/16/20, transcript; ncregister.com, 1/17/20; americamagazine.org, 1/17/20; whitehouse.gov/briefings; (2) independentsentinel.com, 1/17/19

"The Constitution was never meant to prevent

people from praying; its declared purpose