Here's Mud in Your Eye

Top of the Morning to You
What happened to St. Patrick? One would expect that on the 17th of March, we’d be wearin’ the green and yet this Sunday we find the usual Lenten purple and it’s Lazarus, not Patrick who gets our attention. Well as many of you know, St. Patrick was not forgotten since we had a joyful celebration Saturday morning. But the tradition of the church has it that not even the good St. Patrick can “bump” the Sunday Lenten celebration at mass. And of all people, Patrick would certainly approve of our giving our attention to Jesus today. After all, we honor Patrick for spreading the faith in Ireland. In his honor, let US share our faith with others today.

Own A Father Augustine Original
Outreach is planning on purchasing a bus to be used for transporting Senior Citizens. To fund this project, we’ve been selling mugs. Did you know that the artwork on the mugs (a drawing of St.Brigid’s church) is the work of Father Augustine. Though he has returned to India, his legacy lives on here. You too can own a “Father Augustine” original -- or share this little work of art with others by including it in an Easter basket or two!

Have You Pledged?
We're still collecting pledges for our Bishop's Annual Appeal which supports the work of the church throughout Long Island and in our parish. To pledge online
CLICK HERE!

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.

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
"Then you shall know that I am the LORD,
when I open your graves and have you rise from them,
O my people!
I will put my spirit in you that you may live,
and I will settle you upon your land;
thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD."
-Ezekiel 37
Technology Ministry
If you’d like to givee 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

Want to e-mail Father Ralph?

Past Columns:
March 10: Here's Mud In Your Eye
March 3: Our Local Drought
Feb 24: Welcoming Bishop Murphy
Feb 17: We Will Rise Again
Feb 10: Very Good Now
Feb 3: The Multi Cultural Church
Jan 27: Appealing Words
Jan 20:Our Wonderful School
Jan 13: Changing Times
Jan 6: Farewell Father Augustine

Columns from 2001


		March 17, 2002 Roll the Stone Back
Top of the Morning to You What happened to St. Patrick? One would expect that on the 17th of March, we’d be wearin’ the green and yet this Sunday we find the usual Lenten purple and it’s Lazarus, not Patrick who gets our attention. Well as many of you know, St. Patrick was not forgotten since we had a joyful celebration Saturday morning. But the tradition of the church has it that not even the good St. Patrick can “bump” the Sunday Lenten celebration at mass. And of all people, Patrick would certainly approve of our giving our attention to Jesus today. After all, we honor Patrick for spreading the faith in Ireland. In his honor, let US share our faith with others today. Own A Father Augustine Original Outreach is planning on purchasing a bus to be used for transporting Senior Citizens. To fund this project, we’ve been selling mugs. Did you know that the artwork on the mugs (a drawing of St.Brigid’s church) is the work of Father Augustine. Though he has returned to India, his legacy lives on here. You too can own a “Father Augustine” original -- or share this little work of art with others by including it in an Easter basket or two! Have You Pledged? We're still collecting pledges for our Bishop's Annual Appeal which supports the work of the church throughout Long Island and in our parish. To pledge online CLICK HERE! 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. 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 "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD." -Ezekiel 37 Technology Ministry If you’d like to givee 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 Want to e-mail Father Ralph? Past Columns: March 10: Here's Mud In Your Eye March 3: Our Local Drought Feb 24: Welcoming Bishop Murphy Feb 17: We Will Rise Again Feb 10: Very Good Now Feb 3: The Multi Cultural Church Jan 27: Appealing Words Jan 20:Our Wonderful School Jan 13: Changing Times Jan 6: Farewell Father Augustine Columns from 2001	Lazarus lay dead, tightly wrapped up in the tomb, sealed in by a stone. And then Jesus came by. The Lord wept. He got angry at death and then knew he wanted Lazarus back. And though he was the Lord of Life, he didn’t bring Lazarus back by himself. He tells those around him to roll the stone back. Martha objects. Odd isn’t it, since she has told Jesus that she believes in him as the Resurrection and the Life? “Surely Lord, there will be a stench,” she says. But Jesus insists. They roll the stone back and the expected air of death doesn’t come forth from the tomb....Lazarus does! At Jesus’ call Lazarus comes back to life and comes out to be unwrapped by his family and friends. But what if they hadn’t rolled the stone back? What if they had given up and considered the stone to be the sign of final death? What if they hadn’t believed enough in Jesus to trust that rolling the stone back would lead to new life? These are questions for us too. Many of us have been carrying stones with us this Lent -- some physical stones from the pile of Lenten rubble, some invisible stones too. Now as Lent comes to it’s holy end, we’re invited to roll the stone back. Starting next week there will be a special place in church and in Our Lady’s Chapel to return the stones that we’ve been carrying. By placing these stones, we realize a few things: we’re not alone in carrying burdens in life. We can see that we are in solidarity with each other in struggling against the burdens of our lives. We can “let go” the ways in which the difficulties of our lives can keep life from thriving in us. We can hear Jesus tell us to move away the stones that keep us from death and then hear Jesus call us to come away from death into new life. Just as Lazarus’ family can unwrap him from death, so too we get to be unwrapped from the deadly things we’ve been carrying in our hearts and lives. It’s time to let them go. it’s time to be free. It’s time to rise again. Yes, we will rise again.



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