May
6 , 2006
Celebrating
Priests
Easter Continues
We could smell the aroma of Holy Chrism throughout Westbury this week
as hundreds of young people were confirmed by Bishop Emil Wcela and
sent into the world, filled with the Holy Spirit. We are glad to welcome
these young people more deeply into the life of the church.
We are also celebrating with families who are bringing their children
to receive communion for the first times this month. i say “times”
because first communion is just that-- the first time a child receives.
“Second communion” and “third communion” etc.
are even more joyful, for the children now come each week to feast on
Christ’s Body and Blood.
Let’s continue to pray for the young people and their families
at this time of new beginnings.
Census
Continues
Of the approximate 6,000 families we usually send mail to, we’ve
received completed Census booklets from over 2,000. So we’ve got
a ways to go.
Is your booklet in?
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Past Columns:
April30: Baked Fish
April 23: What we hear
April 16: Out of the Tomb
April 9: Jesus, Our Source
of Peace
April 2: NOW, Can you Hear
Me?
Mar 26: Can You Hear Me
Again?
Mar 19: Can You Hear Me
Now?
Mar 12: Now Take 4Steps
March 5: Take A Step
Feb 26:Coming Home
Feb19: Visiting Heros
Feb 12: Passing Pastor
Feb 4: Annual Appeal
Jan 22: Abandoned Nets
Jan 15: Everlasting Life
Jan 8: I'm not going to
jail..
Jan 1: Happy New Year
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns from
2003
Columns from 2002
Did
you know that this year, both Father John and Father Jim will be celebrating
their 25th Anniversary as priests? Did you know that Father Jack is celebrating
his 40th anniversary as a priest? We’re making plans to celebrate
these milestones in the weeks ahead and hope you’ll join us.
Father Jack will be celebrating
his 40th Anniversary on Sunday May 28th at the 11:30am Mass with a reception
afterwards.
Father John will be celebrating
his 25th at a 7:30pm Mass on Tuesday, June 6th with a reception afterwards.
We’ll celebrate with Father
Jim after he recovers from his open heart surgery. (I’m writing
this early in the week, but I’m hoping by the time you read this
Father Jim will be out of the hospital and recuperating here -- keep praying
and check for updates online.)
We are looking for folks to help
with the details of the receptions. If you’d like to be part of
one or both of the “celebration committees”, please leave
a message for Adriana at (516)334-0021 x105 or e-mail her at adriana@saintbrigid.net.adriana@saintbrigid.net
I also ask for your prayers for
those in the diocese who will be making decisions about priests coming
to St. Brigid’s. There are 15 parishes seeking an associate pastor
and only nine priests to fill those positions. We need to fill the place
of Father Jim when he goes to become pastor of Holy Family Parish in Hicksville
and we really need to have a priest assigned for a full term (usually
six years) to minister to the Spanish speaking community. Father Anthony
who has been in residence with us while working full time in Nassau University
Medical Center, will be returning to Ghana in September. Father Wismick
who was assigned here temporarily will be moving to St. Anne’s in
Brentwood this summer. And our beloved seminarian Gonzalo Lopez will soon
be returning to the seminary to finish his studies for the priesthood.
As for Father Cine, Father John and myself -- we’re not going anywhere
-- we’re happy to be here, even though house will seem empty with
out our brothers who are moving on.
