January 6, 2002

God Bless Father Augustine

Coming Late
Today we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany where Christ is revealed as the savior of all people. Central to the story are the three Magi who are on a journey and find Jesus.
St. Helena once suggested that the Magi are the “patron saints” of church latecomers. Now while I don’t want to encourage showing up late to church, I did want to point out that even if you are running late some Sundays, there’s still time to be with Jesus. (Just don’t forget your gold, incense and myrrh. (On second thought, we already have enough incense and myrrh.)

Phone Fixed
Our “Moment with Jesus” message line was out of commission for about a month. The phone company has finally fixed the problem. If you’d like to hear an inspirational message each week call (516) 333-6094.

Cool Way to Pray
If you’d like to try out a new interactive prayer site online, go to the St. Brigid’s home page and click on the “Church Interactive” link. Lots of people tried it last week.

Away at College?
If you know of a St. Brigid parishioner who is away at college, you can help us stay in touch through our parish’s weekly “letter from home”. Send in their name and e-mail address
just click here.

Today’s Bible Quote
“But upon you the Lord shines and over you appears his glory.”
- Isaiah 60

Read Bob Keeler's
Series on Priests
 Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Technology Ministry
If you’d like togive your time and expertise at helping our parish connect its telephone systems or develop its computer networking or work on its website, you can let us know by filling in our
online form

El Salvador Trip
If you’d like to see the parish’s mission trip to
El Salvador online, you can see photos and a travelogue by
clicking here.

Want to e-mail Father Ralph?



Past Columns:
 Dec 30: A Great Christmas
Dec 23: First Christmases
Dec 16: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dec 9 : Future Priests
Dec 2: A Grateful Thanks
Nov 24: The Grinch Who Stole Advent
Nov 18:Let Me Count the Ways:
Nov 11:Plenty of Rooms
Nov 4: Treat, Definitely Treat
Oct 28: Figuring It Out
Oct 21:Prayers for Our Time
Oct 14: Warring Words
Oct 7: Getting more from the Word
Sept 30: Saying Goodbye
Sept 23: Gray Days
Sept 16: This Week's Tragedy
Sep.9: Summer Vacation
Sep 2: I Used to be an Embryo
August 26: Holy Walking
August 19: Just Like Family
Aug 12:Incredible Forgiveness
August 5: Diocesan Doings
July 29: On A Mission
July 22: Piecing Together
July 15th: Unpacking St Brigids
July 8th: Happy to Be Here
July 1st : First Words

 I first met Father Augustine about a decade ago when he was working as a chaplain to a hospital in Suffolk County. We were so glad for his ministry there and when the hospital closed, I lost touch with him when he moved. Imagine my surprise and delight when I was appointed pastor of St. Brigids and discovered that Father Augustine was here! My joy was short-lived when I found out that he was due to leave for India within a couple of months of my arrival. But we were all given a gift when his stay here was extended and I feel so blessed to have been witness to his ministry for the past six months. Alas, the time has come for Father Augustine to return home to India and this weekend we celebrate the six years he

spent at St. Brigid’s and we ask God to bless him.

It’s hard to summarize a person’s life message but I’ll try... Father Augustine helped us to see that we are on a great journey together: Who we are is constantly changing and we are constantly “becoming” through the relationships we have with each other and God. And we discover truth through relationships. Each of us is broken and hurt in some way and what moves us and heals us is the fellowship of broken and hurt people. In some ways the church is a “hospital” for the sick in which healing doesn’t come as a “package from above” but as a result of our ministry. Sacraments are celebrations of our brokeness in which we experience God’s healing through relationships.

Father Augustine is a man of many gifts. The gifts of compassion and understanding are obvious in him. Father Augustine was very instrumental in ministering to the Italian community here. For years he celebrated the Italian Mass and worked with the leadership of the community. They will miss him very much. He is also an accomplished artist who was not satisfied to only display his art, but he shared this gifts by teaching painting to other budding artists. He is an excellent priest and his brother priests here felt so supported and edified by the ways in which he cared for us and worked so hard to minister to the people of our parish. And as a new pastor I ought to mention: every new pastor should have a Father Augustine to guide him through the first months of a pastorate.

May God bless you Father Augustine. We’ll miss you but will always treasure your presence among us.

 

Have you visited St. Brigid's Presepio?

Find out what it's about: Click Here

Come Visit Our Online Tour of our Youth Group's Trip To El Salvador!

For the Record..

See Father's Ralph's first spoken greeting to the community at St. Brigid..

Italian Mass
(translation provided)

 Spanish Mass
(translation provided)

Haitian Mass
(translation provided)

 Mass in English
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