August
20,2006
Wine
or no wine?
Off
to College?
Are you going off to college? Is your child going to college? At St.
Brigid’s we like to stay in touch via occasional e-mails as we
send photos and news from “home”. College students wishing
to be connected through our “Letters from home” can sign
up online here
or you can mail or
e-mail thecollege names and e-mail addresses to Father Ralph and he’ll
put them on the list.
Welcome
Father Francis
We’re happy to welcome Father Francis Twum Barimah to St.
Brigid’s until Labor Day. He will be helping out with masses while
Father Ralph is away on the last part of his summer vacation. Father
Francis is a priest from the diocese of Koforidua in the eastern region
of Ghana, West Africa. He’s the director of the diocesan pastoral
and training center.
Census
Continues
Of the approximate 6,000 families we usually send mail to, we’ve
received completed Census booklets from over 4,000. So we’ve got
a ways to go.
Is your booklet in?
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
August 13: Mangia...
August 6: Mixed News
July 30: Impossibly Little
July 23: Come away!
July 16: Got a Mission?
July 9:Missing God
July 2: Jesus Interrupted
June 25: One Here, One to
Come
June 18: A Father's Gift
June 11: Charity Begins
At Home
June 4: Turning Silver
May 28: Eight Years •
Eight Months
May 21: If Any
May14: Celebrating Mothers
May 6: Celebrating Priests
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
Anyone
can use the bible to prove almost any point he or she is trying to get
across -- even if the points contradict each other! Take the issue of
wine in two of this Sunday’s readings: In the Book of Wisdom we
hear: “Come, eat of my food,and drink of the wine I have mixed!”
But in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians we hear, “And do not
get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”
So which is it? Wine leads to wisdom or wine leads to debauchery? (Hmmm...it
seems this is the question being bantered about in the press after Mel
Gibson was arrested on driving while intoxicated charges -- were his anti-semitic
remarks revelatory of what he really believes or did alcohol cloud his
judgment?)
It turns out, as biologists have
discovered, that some people can drink alcohol without it leading to addiction
or destructive behaviors; others are genetically pre-disposed to alcoholism
and all of the difficult physical and psychological difficulties that
accompany this disease. Years ago people looked at alcoholism as a “moral
weakness” or a lack of self control. Now we know much more about
its physical causes. This knowledge helps many individuals and their families
who are struggling with this disease. Yet countless other lives are still
being shattered because of this alcohol abuse and addiction.
Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous,
Alanon, and treatment programs which specialize in alcohol addiction can
be very effective in helping people and their families. If you or someone
you know needs help, here is a brief reference list.
Catholic Charities (Dioceses of Rockville Centre)
Outpatient Clinic and Day Treatment Center 631-543-6200
Alcoholics Anonymous www.nassauny-aa.org
Alanon -- for families of those struggling with alcohol addiction
www.al-anonny.com/nassau.htm
(516) 433-8003
If you or someone you know are suffering, please don’t wait any
longer to begin the road to healing. That’s real wisdom.
