May 24, 2003
¡Felicidades Manuel!
Celebrating
Father Jim
Father
Jim is still awaiting word on where his new assignment will be. In the
meantime, we want to celebrate his life and ministry among us.
Our first parish-wide celebration will be this Saturday, May 31at at
a Picnic on the grounds of our school. The celebration begins at 3pm
and ends at 7pm. Please be sure to drop off your RSVP slip (printed
in this bulletin) if you wish to attend so we can prepare the right
amount of food. We’re asking people to bring their own chairs.
If you’d like to bring a dessert to share, please drop it off at
the school library between noon and 1pm.
We will also celebrate a Mass on Friday, June 13th at 7:30pm in the
church, followed by a reception on St. Brigid’s Green. All are
invited.
Away
at College?
We'd
love to stay in touch.
To receive the “letter from home”, take this bulletin with
you to college as a reminder to send in your e-mail address. Just Click
Here!
Technology Ministry
If you’d like to give your time and expertise at helping our parish
connect its telephone systems or work on its website, you can let us
know by filling in our
online form
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
May 18: Twenty Years Later
May 11: Bows for Peace
May 4: Upcoming Ordinations
April 27: One Heart One
Mind
April 20: Amazingly Graced
Days
April 13: Ashes to Palms
April 6:
God Embedded
March 30:
Pastoral Visits
March 23:
Turning Tables
March
16: Transfiguring Imagination
March
9: Beasts and Angels
March 2:
Lent and Imagination
Feb 23: Sorrow
Far and Wide
Feb 16: Saints
Feb 9: Columbia Lessons
Feb2: Giving At A Difficult
Time
Jan 26: Penny Power
& Catholic Schools
Jan19: Yet Another
Year
Jan 12: Stealing Jesus
Jan5: The Wise Still Come
From Afar
Columns from 2002
On Saturday, May 17, 2003, Manuel J. Ramos
was ordained a deacon by Bishop William Murphy at St. Agnes Cathedral.
It was a joyous day for us all and we continued the celebration the following
day at a special Mass of Thanksgiving in Code Auditorium.
Deacon Manuel has served St. Brigid’s parish for years, yet because
has worked primarily in the Spanish-speaking community, much of the rest
of the parish hasn’t gotten to know him. I’m glad that over
the days and months and years ahead, many more people in our parish will
have the opportunity to come to know and experience Deacon Manuel since,
like our other deacons, he is appointed to serve our whole parish.
Manuel and his wife Annie have lived in St.
Brigid’s for many years. He has been a particular help to each of
the pastors and priests of our parish, especially when each of us have
tried to speak Spanish. Often he provided simultaneous translations for
homilies or helped us prepare homilies in Spanish. Two years ago, when
he retired as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Central Islip
School District, the diocese chose him to head the office of Hispanic
Ministry in our diocese. There is a wonderful symbiotic relationship therefore
between our parish and the diocese -- Deacon Manuel brings the experience
of St. Brigid’s to the whole diocese and the support of the diocesan
office brings good resources to our parish.
I’d like to give a quick lesson in pronouncing
our new deacon’s name. Many English speaking people don’t realize
that “Manuel” has only two syllables ("Man-well”.)
They often pronounce it “Man-you-el”. Think of it this way:
A “manual” is the booklet you read when you want to program
your VCR. “Manuel” is our newest deacon and we’re really
glad he is!
Manuel, Gracias por todo lo que has venido
haciendo por este Pueblo de
Dios. Le pedimos a Dios que te siga bendiciendo a través de los
años.
You are Person
