June 22, 2003
Sommer Plans
New
Reporting
Each
week you might notice that we publish the results of last Sunday’s
collection, the amount collected during the same weekend last year,
and the amount we hope to collect in order to meet our budget for that
week. Our parish Finance Council met last week and came up with a more
informative way of presenting this information.
While we can easily provide the amount collected on Sundays in time
for the bulletin, we haven’t been able to include the donations
that are mailed in each week by people who couldn’t make it to
church. Often that adds another $1-2000 to the collection. So starting
next Sunday, we’ll provide how much was mailed in during the previous
week as well as the Sunday’s church collection. This will give
a more accurate picture of the generosity of the people of our parish.
Thank you for your support of the ministries of our parish community
through the weekly collection.
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
June 15: Our Newest Priest
Ordained
June 8: The Feast of Pentecost
June 1: Beyond First Communion
May 24: Felicidades Manuel
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
Summertime is here and things quiet down
a bit in the months ahead. We’ll be blessed with visits from priests
from around the world who will help out for the summer while the rest
of us will have some time for vacation. Father Augustine is here til the
end of July. Father Wismick and Father Giuseppe will come for a month
each. Father Wilson wrote to say that he cannot come this year, but he
hopes to return next summer. Father Gaspar Comillas will visit with us
to minister to the Spanish-speaking community. And of course our very
own NEW priest, Father Kevin Dillon will be around for most of the summer
to get to know this wonderful parish.
Even though I’ve been here for two years
(as of this coming Friday) there are a lot of folks I have yet to get
to know and more folks I’d like to get to know better. So, I’d
like to visit people again this summer in what I call “Sommer in
the Summer”. Here’s how it works: Gather a group of people (around
10-12 works best), make dessert, and invite me over. It will be an informal
opportunity to chat about life at St. Brigid’s, the wider church
or a chance to discuss questions about spirituality or the bible or....well,
you set the agenda.
We can meet in the evenings or the daytime.
In the past I’ve met with groups of families, with seniors, with
young people , with “mixed’ groups-- it’s one of the things
I enjoy most about life in a parish.
I’m available the first few weeks in
July and the first two weeks in August. To arrange for a “Sommer
in the summer” visit,
e-mail me or call 334-0021
ext 115.
I also want to mention that Bishop Murphy
would also like to listen to the people of our diocese. He’s scheduled
three sessions across Long Island for people to come to speak their concerns
to him. I think this is a great idea. So many people tell me of their
concerns for our church on Long Island, their concerns about the bishop
and his administration, etc. Now there is a chance to tell the bishop
directly. These sessions will be held at St. John the Baptist Diocesan
High School, West Islip on Sunday, June 22; at Mercy High School, Riverhead
on Monday, June 23; and at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, Hicksville
on Tuesday, June 24. All sessions will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Bishop
Murphy hopes these opportunities will lead to more understanding on his
part and healing for all.
You are Person
