June 27, 2004
God Bless Father George
Welcome
Fathers
This
week Father Jim Mannion joins the parish family of St. Brigid. Actually,
though he’s moving in this week, you might not get to meet him
right away because we’re sending him off on vacation in July since
we’ll have Father Augustine, Father Giuseppe and Father Wismick
with us in the weeks ahead. And Father George will still be with us
for part of July. But we’ll be sure to enjoy Father Jim’s
ministry among us starting in August .
He has a mailbox at the parish center now so feel free to write a note
of welcome.
Celebrating
Deacon Phil
Deacon Phil Matheis our “deacon emeritus” will celebrate
his 25th anniversary of ordination next Saturday, July 3rd at the 5pm
mass. All are welcome to join us for the mass and a reception on St.
Brigid’s green following the mass..
Sommer
in the Summer
Got some things you’d like to ask a priest? Want to have a nice
conversation about God, the church, the world, the future? Like hosting
gatherings in your home? Got dessert? Then you’re a candidate
to host one of this year’s Sommer in the Summer sessions. Father
Ralph Sommer wants to visit folks throughout the parish throughout the
summer for as chance to hear what people are thinking, wondering about,
or questioning. The process is casual and simple. Pick a date with Father
Ralph (during the day...or evenings). Then invite friends or neighbors
to come. (Twelve people is a good number for this.) Tell them to prepare
some questions or topics they’d like to talk about. Get dessert.
This is a good way for a pastor to get to know folks in an informal
setting.
E-mail or call Father Ralph if you’d like to host.
At
College?
At St. Brigid’s we like to stay in touch through
e-mail “letters from home.”
Once a person has an e-mail address at school (or if he/she uses a personal
address), please let us know what it is so we can include them when
we write.
Here's a handy college link so you
can send this info online.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
June 27: God Bless Father
George
June 20: Our New Priests
June13:Missing you
June 6: Farewell Father
Leonard
May 30: Going & Coming
& Going
May 23: P.O.P.S.
May 16:
Celebrating
Our Parish
May 9: Facing the Future
May2: Resurrection Sequel
April 25: Chapel Design
April 18: Oh what a week!
April 11: Easter Life!
April 4: Palms & Passion
March 28: Plenty Good Room
March 21: More Passion
March 14: Reconciliation
March 7: A sequel from Mel?
Feb 29: Come to
Life!
Feb 22:
An Adventure to Life
Feb15: A rose
by another name?
Feb 8: If at first...
Feb 1: Our Patron Saint
Jan 25:A View From Inside
Jan 18: Our School
Jan 11: Baptism with Fire
Colums from 2003
Columns from 2002
“We
need winter coats.” During the winters months Father George would
put out the word that he wanted some coats to give to the Hispanic day laborers
who often arrived on Long Island with the just the clothes on their backs.
And so before long the rectory hallways would become obstacle courses as
we stepped around the gathering bags of winter coats.“We are here to serve others.” Father George would remind us -- in homilies, on Holy Thursday, and most loudly through his own example. True, he’d tell anyone who would listen that he hated to get up early in the morning. Yet he’d be standing on a corner in New Cassel at 6 in the morning giving out coffee and coats and an invitation to come to church. Father George was instrumental (God’s instrument, you know) in forming a group of young adults -- many of whom live three or four to a rented room -- and gave them a place to share the concerns of their lives, to share faith, to be family to each other. St. Brigid’s was a place to share a meal on Thanksgiving Day, a place to share the Eucharistic meal every Sunday.
Although Father George came to us as the “Spanish priest”, working primarily in ministry to the Spanish speaking parishioners, he was enjoyed by many other parishioners as he celebrated Sunday masses in English once a month. People were touched and challenged by his message. They often requested him for funerals since his genuine care and down-to-earth attitude rang true with many families.
I know that I am going to miss him in the rectory. He was a wonderful brother priest who would take the time to listen and to offer words of support. His passion for the poor was combined with his sense of humor about the struggles of life and I know that I’m richer because of his two years with us. And whether you gave a coat or got a coat -- we’re all richer.
You are Person
