Pastor’s Desk – August 2024
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The Pastors Desk – August 18th
This September, the parish will conduct a very traditional Eucharistic devotion known as “40 Hours.” Many of you may remember one of these great events from your childhood days in the Catholic school of a lively Parish. Basically 40 hours is a time for individual and group Adoration of our Eucharistic Lord. The name “40 Hours” calls to mind the approximately 40 hours the dead body of the crucified Jesus remained in the tomb. We then joyfully celebrated Christ’s victory over sin and death. The Eucharist is a visible sign of Jesus’s resurrection and his total self-giving on the cross for the sins of all humanity. Many great Saints used the ancient custom of the 40 hours to revive Catholic church life in various countries in Europe. Our immigrant parishes in Brooklyn, Queens, etc. followed these traditions, and they were genuine, local celebrations of the people’s firm belief in Jesus’s real presence in the Eucharist.
On Sunday, September 29th after the 5:00pm Mass we will commence our 40 hours. It will continue until Tuesday, October 1st after the 8:30am Mass. We will have a procession to end the 40 hours. Please consider joining us – there are Prayer books in the rectory. If you are interested in picking one up, please consider a small donation to cover the cost of the book.
The Pastors Desk – August 11th
Fr. Peter returns from Medjugorje this week, and here are two events he would like parishioners to keep in mind.
On Monday, August 12th, Fr. Michael Barry, SS.CC. will preside over a healing Mass at 7:00pm at St. Francis. Fr. Barry is best known for his healing ministries, especially through retreats, Masses, healing the family tree, and spiritual direction. Born and raised in Ireland, Fr. Barry is a member of the congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He is the President and Board Chair of Mary’s Mantle of the Mary Mercy Center in California, whose mission is to restore dignity and purpose to the homeless, the poor, and the marginalized. Please join us for this very special evening.
Also this week, please remember that Thursday, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation. All faithful Catholics should make provisions to attend Mass; at St. Francis parish, the vigil Mass will be on Wednesday, August 14th at 7:30pm, and on Thursday, August 15th Mass will be at 8:30am and 4:30pm.
The Pastors Desk – August 4th
Thinking of you and praying too, you are in our prayers.
The young people on our Medjugorje pilgrimage – believe it or not – are very much aware of how indebted they are to their parents and grandparents for their Christian and Catholic faith. They come for the most part with enough of a sense of living history that enables them to grasp this revival. The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christian faith; they are praying for us in gratitude and we for them in hope.
August 15th is the feast of Our Lady’s Assumption, a holy day of obligation of our faith. All faithful Catholics should make provisions to attend Mass; at St. Francis parish, the vigil Mass will be on Wednesday, August 14 at 7:30pm, and on Thursday, August 15 Mass will be at 8:30am and 4:30pm. Turn to God now! In solidarity with our pilgrims embrace his call to live the Gospel.
May You Be Blessed in the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer
The weather was wonderful, as were the people and pets who gathered for the Blessing of the Animals in honor of our patron, St. Francis of Assisi.
World Mission Sunday
EVERY YEAR, SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENS on the next-to-last Sunday of October. WORLD MISSION SUNDAY joins all Catholics of the world into one community of faith.
St. Vincent de Paul – October 2023
St Vincent DePaul Society is a Catholic lay organization that leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
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Greenlawn, NY 11740
Rectory: 631.757.7435
Fax: 631.757.0469
info@stfrancisgreenlawn.org