Well, all of us here at the Religious Education Office hope that you had a very Happy Easter! We hope that you were able to get to the Holy Week Services. As we look back at these ourselves, we are so happy to be able to celebrate these days together as the People of God and the parish of St. Brigid.

On Easter each year, all of us get a chance to renew our baptismal commitment. We are now in what is called the Fifty Days of Easter. It is a time to reflect on what the Resurrection of Jesus means in each of our lives.

The sacraments are encounters with Christ, where heaven and earth meet. On Monday, April 23, we celebrated Confirmation with 150 of our 8th grades, with Masses at 11am, 2pm and 4:30pm.
You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit at each celebration. We are truly blessed to be able to witness the reception of this wonderful sacrament with Bishop Felix Macado, from India. When he was a young priest, he resided here at St. Brigid while serving as a chaplain for Hofstra University and studying at Fordham. It was truly a homecoming for him. READ HIS HOMILY HERE.

We look forward to the nine celebrations of First Communion Masses in May and June. Congratulations to all of our children and teens who will be celebrating sacraments this year!

Let’s not forget our Pentecost Celebration on Sunday May 27.  A number of older teens and adults will be receiving Confirmation on that day.Many blessings to you and to your families!

Don’t forget to register for Fall Religious Education Classes. Our registration has begun. Many of you have received the registration forms. Send it in as soon as possible or
take advantage of registration online. Early bird fees are available on or before June 14. Sign up today.

Finally, Adult Faith Formation is booming here at St. Brigid. Father Greg is starting the last unit of the Basic Course entitled Living the Christian Life on Monday, April 30 at 7:30pm in Code Auditorium.
There were over 75 participants in the previous unit, Liturgy and Sacraments.

We have another Adult Faith Formation class beginning Wed. April 25 from 7-9pm with Mr. Michael Caplice. Over 35 people have registered for ” Apocalypse Now? An Introduction to the Book of Revelation.”

Consider how you as an adult can continue your formation in the faith through classes, spiritual reading, and meditation on the scriptures. Our diocese has a wonderful program called the Pastoral Formation Institute. Our very own Estelle Peck is the Coordinator of this extraordinary experience. Call her for more information at 516-678-5800 ext 200.

–Sister Ann

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GREAT NEWS!  Sister Ann Horn is being awarded the “Founders Award” which is awarded each year to a few select religious sisters or brothers for having served and enriched the Diocese through their service in their religious community. Sister Ann is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville and we rejoice with her as she receives this well deserved honor!

Spring has sprung! I look out my office window and see beautiful pink blossoms on the tree. Spring has surprised us all. Our God is a God of Surprises! God is constantly with us each and every moment of our lives. Do we not perceive God giving us new ways to experience God’s all embracing love?

We celebrated Palm Sunday with a palms and processions and with many families participating.

Holy Thursday is this week and we expect to see families at the 3:30pm Children’s Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper in the Church. Experience the beautiful ritual of footwashing…family style!

Then there’s Good Friday, April 6.  Please come to the Children’s Liturgy of the Passion in the Church at 10am

On Holy Saturday, we celebrate a 9am Prayer Service in the Church and pray especially for all those adults and teenswho will be baptized,confirmed and receive their first communion that evening on April 7. We also bless the Paschal Candle that we will use and prepare it in a special way, inscribing the year and also adding the five grains of incense symbolizing the five wounds of Christ.  Many also bring their Easter food  in baskets to be blessed by the priest and eaten at Easter Dinner.

Make a special effort to come to the Celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday April 8.  See the bulletin or click here for Mass times. A mailing has gone out to all registered parishioners as well.

We wish all a peaceful and happy time until we have official class again in the fall. But don’t forget to see us each week at Sunday Mass!

Congratulations to all who will be making Confirmation on Monday, April 23. and to all of our First Communicants who will be receiving First Communion in May and June. See you at Confirmation and Communion Practice!

Congratulations also to the 29 older children and teens who will be baptized, confirmed and receive their first communion on Sunday, April 15.  A lot is happening in the Easter Season!

And remember to check your religious education blog…and maybe contribute a comment or two!

–Sister Ann

‘Tis only fittin’ that the Irish lass from Religious Education. bring you this weeks blog…

May the Blessings of light be upon you,
light without and light within…
And in all your coming and goings,
May you ever have a kindly greeting from them
you meet along the road. 

A top of th mornin to you on this grand day and happy St Patrick’s Day to those who be wearin th’ green – and to those who wish to “begin heaven on earth’ you might

Hoist one or two in honor of St. Brigid…..
(if you get my meanin’)
 and not to give St. Joseph short shrift (whose Feast day is on Monday) – remember to the bless the table your at and the people who sit around it.

–Meg
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 Saint Patrick’s Day Mass • Saturday Morning • 9am at St. Brigid’s Church
followed by refreshments in St Anthony’s Hall (across the street from the church)
Bring the kids!

Saint Joseph’s Day Mass •  Monday Evening • 7pm at St. Brigid’s Church
followed by Italian refreshments in St. Anthony’s Hall.
Bring the kids (again)!

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Attention Level II Confirmation Candidates:  Be sure to show your parents the volunteer sheet Father Ralph gives out in class and then sign up to help with Palm Sunday. 

One week ago we had “Leap Day” in  Leap Year!  It was an “extra” 24 hours that we don’t have when it is not a Leap Year. What did you do with that extra day?  Were you good to yourself and those you love?  Or was it just another busy day.
Even though today isn’t “Leap Day,”  it’s still a new chance to do something good for others and to grow in our love of God.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Last Saturday night the Dominican Sisters were at St. Brigid’s for their annual St. Patrick’s Day Dance.  Someone at Mass last weekend asked, “Who are the Amityville Dominican Sisters?” Being an Amityville Dominican Sister myself, I thought it only right to include my explanation on this blog….

Back in 1853  (three years after the founding of St. Brigid’s parish) a group of German religious sisters volunteered to brave crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a small sea vessel, to come to America to teach the children of the German Immigrants. Although bound for Pennsylvania, when they landed, they ended up at Trinity Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. They were here since before the Civil War!

Since 1853, hundreds of Sisters, have served the people in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties and points beyond. Today, we have about 500 Sisters in our community. Our median age is 76 and we have less than 40 Sisters under 65 years of age. Our Motherhouse is in Amityville, N.Y. We serve God in many ministries, depending on the gifts each Sister brings.

Once a month, we have a special Sunday Vesper Service in our Chapel at 4pm. If you would like to come and bring your family, call me at my office (333-9434) and I will give you further information.  It’s another way of learning about the Liturgy of the Hours and also about the Dominican Sisters.
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PROGRAM REMINDERS:

FIRST COMMUNION:  The last of the first communion retreat will be this Saturday, March 10th from 10-12 noon in the chapel in the school.  If you missed coming last week,  come this Saturday.  This is for first communion candidates and their parents.

CONFIRMATION: For anyone who is a confirmation candidate (7th graders, 8th graders, 9th graders…) who missed the Spirit Session last Fall,  we’re having a catch up meeting THIS SUNDAY,   March 11th in the school chapel starting at 3pm sharp.  Please come a few minutes early.  This is for the young people AND their parents.

LENTEN CONFESSIONS during class time in the school will be held for the following children:
Week of March 5,6,7—-Levels Three and Four

Week of March 12,13, 14—-Levels Five and Six

Week of March 19, 20 21—Levels Seven and any absentees from previous weeks who wish to celebrate the sacrament, as well as First Communion children who have not yet received Reconciliation.

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CATHOLIC UPDATE>>>

Do you remember the question of the catechism: What are the three sacraments of initiation of the Catholic Church?  The three sacraments of initiation are: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Baptism and Confirmation are received only once in one’s lifetime. Have you ever been to the Easter Vigil?  It happens only once a year. Our Easter Vigil here at St. Brigid will occur on Saturday, April 7 at 8pm in Code Auditorium We gether outside first, if it is not raining or snowing, There is the beautiful lighting of the Easter fire, and the baptisms inside in a small garden size pool in the middle of Code Auditorium that has been transformed into “church” for the weekend. Two adults, six teenagers and one child, will be baptized, confirmed and receive their First Communion that evening.

Twenty nine other children will receive the sacraments of initiation at a special Mass for children the following Sunday in the Church. Please pray for everyone who will be receiving the sacraments in the Rite of Christian Initiation.

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The photo album company added a few more dates to have family photos taken for our parish album.
Some families are using this opportunity to have communion photos taken.

But in any case,  don’t get left out.
Call (877) 764-4535 to get an appointment.

It wasn’t such a long time ago that we were celebrating the joy of the Christmas Season, and now we are beginning the Lenten Season with the arrival of Ash Wednesday.  For some reason I associated this time with sadness and gloom.  Perhaps because as a child my family instilled in me that this was a time of sacrifice, repentance, prayer, penance and fasting, which as a child I found these concepts very hard to understand.  As an adult these concepts are understandable, and still hard to do, sometimes simply because of laziness, and indifference,

As this Lenten Season begins, we should make an effort of making it a time for reflection, repentance, soul searching and  taking stock of where our lives are at this point, and what we are going to do about it.  It so easy to make promises, which are never kept, but on Ash Wednesday, as ashes re placed on our forehead and we hear the word, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”, should be signal to begin in good faith and humility to “practice what we preach”, with abundant love and a charitable heart to those who are most in need.

Saludos,
Socorro
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See St Brigid’s Ash Wednesday Schedule Here
NOTE: Children’s Service at 3pm in the Church but you can come to ANY of the services
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Read one mom’s suggestion for Lent Activities with your family on our sister blog,  ”Belonging”.   CLICK HERE. 
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Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet
and so are you…..

I remember how special I felt that Valentine’s Day when i found an annonymous Valentine Card made out of red construction paper cut out in the shape of a heart and placed in my desk.
(back in grammar school).

Valentine expressions of love from those who love us and who we love, what a great way for God to send us a Valentine.   God who is love taught us how to love one another and express that love.  So forget Hallmark and think “God” in that card sent or received.  We know God loved flowers, He made fields full of them, so flowers are good,
and who knows…. God probably loves chocolate….

February 14 is but one day –  we can make any day a day to show our love…. and make someone feel special…..

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Only a few days left to get tickets for the Mardi Gras Party this coming Saturday night, February 18th from 6-10pm in Code Auditorium.  Hope to see you there.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO 

Happy February!  It’s hard to believe considering the rather mild January we experienced.

Lent is just around the corner and we are planning our parish’s annual Mardi Gras celebration for February 18 from 6-10pm.  Tickets are on sale now at the parish center, school and Religious Ed office.  Hope you will join us for the festivities!

At last Sunday’s Youth@SaintBrigid (Y@SB), we were discussing a documentary filmed by four U.S. college students called “Beware of Christians”.  While we have not yet watched this as a group, we were talking about the premise of these four college students embarking on a mission of sorts to see if they could “leave religion behind to follow Jesus.”

The foursome toured Europe and took a closer look at their own Christian habits and that of the various societies they visited as related to materialism, sex, alcohol and entertainment in light of the teachings, as they understood, within scripture – especially the New Testament.

One topic that took on a life of it’s own during our Y@SB session was related to how we present ourselves to others in word, deeds, and how we dress.

One of the teens mentioned how they are bothered, even angered, when people wear religious symbols as nothing more than the latest fad or to make a fashion statement.  She mentioned, in particular, a girl who was wearing a string of rosary beads as a necklace.  The teen admired the strand of beads and mentioned to the girl wearing them that she “really liked her rosary beads”.  The girl thanked her noting she thought they looked good with the outfit and that was why she wore them.

Celebrities have been using religious symbols as fashion for generations now.  From Madonna to The Jersey Shore’s “Situation”,  we can see these sacred symbols of our faith bandied about with what MAY APPEAR TO BE no regard to their significance.

I have been challenged by this as well and, while able to empathize with the Y@SB teen, I offered some thoughts to challenge her (and now all of you)…. the next time we notice a celebrity, teen or any person wearing a religious symbol we could:

1)  see it as God’s reminder to us that he is present in our day – in this case, the person is bringing God to our attention…
or
2)   consider it God’s way of reminding us of his living presence within the other person, whether the recognize it or not…
or
3)  give the person the benefit of the doubt and see it as a “seed planted that could someday produce great fruit”…
or
4)  take it as an invitation to say a quick prayer – for the person, for ourselves, and for our world…

Are you up for the challenge?  There will be plenty of opportunities to exercise these suggestions in your day to day activities.

Peace… Vince

A special feast day on Wed. February 1 is the Feast of the Patroness of our parish, St. Brigid.  St. Brigid lived in Ireland. When her dad was very sick, she wove a cross for him out of straw. When you come to our church on Post Ave , you may see a replica of it on various occasions over the presider’s chair behind the altar. The cross has come to be known as St. Brigid’s Cross.  It is also the parish logo, seen on the Bulletin and the parish website.

St. Brigid is known to have helped others find hope in their life and offering shelter to travelers. She is one of Ireland’s favorite saints.  We love you too!  Pray to St. Brigid for hope in the midst of difficult times for many families and our country.

We are celebrating the Feast of St. Brigid at the 9am Mass on Wed. Feb. 1 at our church on Post Ave. Hospitality will follow at St. Anthony’s Hall across the street.
See photos from last’s years mass.

February 2 has been declared by the Holy Father as World Day for Religious and
Consecrated Life. Who are Religious Sisters and Brothers and Religious Priests?  Well, we still have a few Sisters ministering in our Parish. Sister Marie Patrick SSND (School Sister of Notre Dame) , Sister Bruno FDM, Sister Cecilia FDM, (Daughters of Mary). Sister Ann Horn OP, Sister Liz Gill OP and Sister Julie Thompson OP. (Dominican Sisters).  We also have some Sisters who live in the parish and minister elsewhere or are retired. We have two Priests who are part of a Religious Congregation of the Montfort Fathers: Father Ronel Charelus (“Father Chacha”) and Father Wismick Jean-Charles.

Sisters, Brothers and Priests from Religious Congregations dedicate their life in a special way to God. They live in their respective congregations to bring about the Kingdom of God. They take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to show their love for God . If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask any of them. Maybe you might consider becoming a Sister, Brother or Priest from a religious congregation, someday.
Check out this entry on the family blog about someone interested in being a religious sister.

Upcoming Events:  
Feb. 18, 2012  Mardi Gras at St. Brigid in St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope School
Code Auditorium..6-10 PM. Fun, Games, Raffles, Prizes and Music…Costume Parade, Dinner
Tickets available in Parish Center and Religious Education Office
Prior to Event: Adult $10 Child age 6-12 $5. age 5 and under Free
Tickets at Door: Adult $15  Child age 6-12 $7  age 5 and under Free
See the YouTube video here:

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

General Note: If Religious Education classes are cancelled due to inclement weather (Snow– of course we’ve been VERY blessed without snow for most of the winter) please check Channel 12 News or call our office phone.
Thank you. Sister Ann

 Fifty years ago hundreds of Americans boarded buses in the south in an attempt to integrate a segregated part of our country.  Some were beaten,  many arrested and jailed.  And today this generation of civil rights protestors is beginning to pass away.  While we still have ‘living history’ among us,  we’re happy to welcome four of the freedom riders to Saint Brigid’s this coming Sunday night along with several gospel choirs as we celebrate Martin Luther King Weekend.

We encourage you to bring children (middle school age and up) to be part of this historic night.  It runs from 7pm to 9:00pm in the church.  Refreshments afterwards at St. Anthony’s Hall.

See more information here: http://www.saintbrigid.net/winterindex12/mlk.html

Where can you bring your family for very little money and have a really fun time with the community?   It’s the annual Saint Brigid’s Mardi Gras, to be held on the evening of  Saturday, February 18th.  Save the date and plan on bringing the whole family.

But wait! Are you the kind of person who not only likes to party but likes to plan parties?   Right now the Mardi Gras Committee is looking for some enthusiastic adults to be part of the preparation for this amazing night. Sometimes people know they’d like to get more involved in the church community,  but with all the busy things that go on,  they know they can’t make a long term commitment. But the Mardi Gras Committee is that perfect way to give a little time (only a few meetings before February 18th) and you can make a big difference in making this a successful night.
To let us know you’re interested contact Vince at youth@saintbrigid.net or call him at 334-0021 ext 142.

Want to see pictures from a past Mardi Gras?  Check out:
http://www.saintbrigid.net/pow/album08/mardigras/celebrationedit/celpage.htm

One more idea — Mardi Gras is multi-generational.  If a member of the older generation is living with you (or nearby)  why not invite him/her to come to the planning meeting with you. They’ll get out of the house,  have some fun,   and make a contribution to our wonderful event.  (Of course if you need them to babysit while you’re at the meeting, they could contribute to the cause that way too.)    Looking forward to seeing YOU!

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Later this year over 700 families will get their free copy of the Parish Photo Album.  Will your family be included?   Once the photographers go back home  (they’re from out of state) the photo sessions will be over.  We’ve added some new February photo dates so be sure to call
(877) 764-4535 to book your 15 minutes.  Every family gets a free album and a free 8×10 portrait.  Additional photos are available for purchase but NO purchase is required.  So… how about it?  When the book comes out will you and your children be included?  For information on the available dates go to:  http://www.saintbrigid.net/y_upcoming/photoalbum.html

We’ll be doing our next album in ten years,  so don’t miss out on this opportunity.