16
Masses S Sa at tu ur rd da ay y E Ev ve en ni in ng g: : 5:00 pm S Su un nd da ay y: : 9:00 am, 11:00 am D Da ai il ly y M Ma as ss s: : Monday - Friday 9:00am H Ho ol ly y D D a ay ys s: : 7:00pm (Vigil on the eve) 9:00 (on the day) Confessions S Sa at tu ur rd da ay y: : 3:30 - 4:00 pm (Large Church) or by appointment with a priest Pastoral Team Rev. Msgr. William A. Hanson Pastor [email protected] Deacon Robert Lyon Baptism/ RCIA Coordinator [email protected] Rev. Charles Okonkwo Chaplain, in Residence Fran Bursztyn Religious Education Coordinator [email protected] Mary Pat Lyon Ministry of Consolation Leslie O’Connor Business Manager/Liturgical Music Coordinator [email protected] Alfredo Sobalvarro Parish Maintenance Ellen Sullivan St. Vincent de Paul President [email protected] Tara Turnow Parish Accountant F Fi in na an nc ce e C Co om mm mi it tt te ee e Felix J. Grucci, Jr. Chairman/Trustee Dr. Joseph Graskemper Trustee Fr. Bill Hanson Jim Renehan Tom Derby Frank Lento Patricia Panatier H Ho ol ly y A An ng ge el ls s R Re eg gi io on na al l S Sc ch ho oo ol l P Pr ri in nc ci ip pa al l: : Mr. Michael Connell 631-475-0422 Business Office: 631-475-2641 www.holyangelsregional.org The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate Sunday March 25, 2018 16 Browns Lane, Bellport, NY 11713 www.miparish.net 631-286-0154 / 631-286-2937 (fax) R Re ec ct to or ry y O Of ff fi ic ce e H Ho ou ur rs s: : Monday - Thursday, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Closed 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM) R Re el li ig gi io ou us s E Ed du uc ca at ti io on n O Of ff fi ic ce e / / Y Y o ou ut th h M Mi in ni is st tr ry y: : 631-286-3504 S So oc ci ie et ty y o of f S St t. . V Vi in nc ce en nt t d de e P P a au ul l / / F Fo oo od d P P a an nt tr ry y: : 631-286-3795 F Fo oo od d P P a an nt tr ry y H Ho ou ur rs s: : Wednesday, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    4

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

2 Bayview AvenueMassapequa, NY 11758

MassesSSaattuurrddaayy EEvveenniinngg:: 5:00 pmSSuunnddaayy:: 9:00 am, 11:00 am

DDaaiillyy MMaassss:: Monday - Friday 9:00am

HHoollyy DDaayyss::7:00pm (Vigil on the eve) 9:00 (on the day)

ConfessionsSSaattuurrddaayy:: 3:30 - 4:00 pm (Large Church)or by appointment with a priest

Pastoral TeamRev. Msgr. William A. Hanson Pastor

[email protected] Robert Lyon Baptism/

RCIA [email protected]

Rev. Charles Okonkwo Chaplain, in Residence

Fran Bursztyn Religious Education [email protected]

Mary Pat Lyon Ministry of ConsolationLeslie O’Connor Business Manager/Liturgical

Music [email protected]

Alfredo Sobalvarro Parish MaintenanceEllen Sullivan St. Vincent de Paul President

[email protected] Turnow Parish Accountant

FFiinnaannccee CCoommmmiitttteeeeFelix J. Grucci, Jr. Chairman/TrusteeDr. Joseph Graskemper TrusteeFr. Bill HansonJim RenehanTom DerbyFrank LentoPatricia Panatier

HHoollyy AAnnggeellss RReeggiioonnaall SScchhooooll

PPrriinncciippaall:: Mr. Michael Connell631-475-0422Business Office: 631-475-2641www.holyangelsregional.org

The ParishFamily of

Mary ImmaculateSundayMarch 25, 201816 Browns Lane, Bellport, NY 11713 www.miparish.net631-286-0154 / 631-286-2937 (fax)

RReeccttoorryy OOffffiiccee HHoouurrss:: Monday - Thursday, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM(Closed 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)

RReelliiggiioouuss EEdduuccaattiioonn OOffffiiccee // YYoouutthh MMiinniissttrryy:: 631-286-3504

SSoocciieettyy ooff SStt.. VViinncceenntt ddee PPaauull // FFoooodd PPaannttrryy:: 631-286-3795

FFoooodd PPaannttrryy HHoouurrss:: Wednesday, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PMFriday, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Page 2: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday March 24 5:00 pm Charles Burton by Tim & Cindy Jachlewski

Sunday March 25 9:00 am Deacon Art Dooling by parishioners 11:00 am Mary Jane Mahon by Family Monday March 26 9:00 am No Intention Tuesday March 27 9:00 am No Intention

Wednesday March 28 9:00 am Prayer Service Thursday March 29 9:00 am Prayer Service 7:00 pm Elisa Fini by Family Mary Jane Mahon by Family Friday March 30 9:00 am Prayer Service Saturday March 31 9:00 am Prayer Service & Blessing of Food 7:00 pm Easter Vigil

Bulletin Reflection:

Good stewards strive to conform their lives to that of Christ - emptying themselves of all pride and putting themselves at the service of others. Living Stewardship:

We are grateful this week for all stewards in our par-ish who commit to supporting the vision and mission of Jesus - to build the Kingdom of God - by serving others through ministry. Weekly Collection: $5,000

Faith Direct: $2,200

This Week’s Readings Monday: Is 42:1-7; Jn 12:1-11 Tuesday: Is 49:1-6; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Wednesday: Is 50:4-9a; Mtt26:14-25 Thursday: Ex 12:1-8,11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15 Friday: Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:40 Saturday: Gn 1:1-22; Gn 22:1-18; Ex 14:15-15:1 Is 54:5-14; Is 55:1-11; Bar 3:9-15, 32-4.4; Ez 36:16-171, 18-28; Rom 6:3-11; Mk 16:1-7 Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-14; Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7

March 25, 2018 Palm Sunday

For the Month of March Our Eucharist & Wine & Altar Flowers & Candles are in Loving Memory of

Mary Schlyer

Requested by David & Lin Schlyer

“We have loved them during life, let us not abandon them in death” When we have a Mass said in memory of a friend or loved one, we follow these words of St. Ambrose and perform one of the Spiritual works of Mercy. To have a Mass said for a friend or relative who has passed, con-tact the rectory or stop by the weekend office at the kitchen after all Masses.

Page 3: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

Mary Immaculate Welcomes You!

If you have recently moved into this area, kindly register by stop-ping by the Rectory or visiting the Church Office after any weekend Mass or by con-tacting us at 631-286-0154.

SACRAMENTS

Baptism: Celebrated once a month at 1:00 pm in the Little Church. Registration is required. Parents should call the rectory to schedule an appointment with Deacon Bob at least 3 months before the desired date of baptism. A baptism preparation class is also required. Reconciliation: Confessions are heard on Saturdays at 3:30 - 4:00 pm in the Large Church or by calling the Rectory for an appointment with a priest. Marriage: Couples should make arrangements at least 6 months in advance by appointment with the pastor. No date for a wedding will be set over the phone. Pre-Cana classes are required. Adult Sacraments: (RCIA) Are you an adult who wishes to be prepared for Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Eucharist? RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation by which adults become members of the Roman Catholic Church. All those who would like to begin this journey, please contact Deacon Bob at the Rectory.

Ongoing Programs/Meetings: Parish Library Open weekends after each Mass in Large Church. Children’s Liturgy of the Word 9:00 am and 11:00 am Mass on Sundays. Children are dis-missed to break open The Word on a level appropriate for them. Society of St. Vincent de Paul 10:15 am to 11:15 am on the 1st Sunday of the month in the Cottage. 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the 3rd Wednesday of the month in the Cottage. Rosary Altar Society 7:00 pm every 2nd Tuesday of the month in the Little Church. All are welcome! Ministry of Consolation Please call the Rectory for more information. AA Meeting 7:30 pm on Sundays & 7:00 pm Thursdays in Auditorium. This meeting is open to anyone who desires to stop drinking. Respect Life 6:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month in the Large Church. Icon Painting Class 10:00 am - 3:00 pm on 2nd Thursday of every month in Auditorium. Please call Jim Fuchs at 631-286-1643. Camera Club 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of month in the Cottage except for holidays and scheduled field trips. For more information please call the Rectory: 286-0154.

Page 4: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

Mary Immaculate Parish www.miparish.net

Fr. Bill Hanson

What happens in Holy Week?

Good Friday March 30 + 3 pm

On Good Friday the ministers begin in silence, prostrating before the altar. The readings and the Passion Gospel are read. The Intercessions are sung. The crucifix which has been brought from the Little Church to the Big Church for Lent is carried in

procession from the font to the altar. There it is placed so that all attending may approach and venerate Our Lord on his cross, thanking him for his self sacrifice.

Communion is distributed to all the faithful. The cross is carried back to the Little Church where it hangs all year long.

Page 5: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

Gregory Azzara - Navy Gunnery Sgt. John Scott Dowdell - USMC SSgt Matthew Pica - Army John Paul Redmond - Army PFC Robert Temple - Army SSgt. Shawn Weismiller - Air Force Sgt. Jason Ramos - Army Pvt Jonathan Salvestrini - Army PFC Shane Gibney - USMC Cpl Mark Anthony Barone - USMC Lt. Philip J. Granati - U.S. Coast Guard WO1 Nalita Sellers - Army LC Amanda Knepper - USMC SFC Edward Kusa - Navy Bryan Thurston - Army Sean Thomas Vignato - USMC Mgr. David Matthew Butler -Army Chief Richard J. Vanderhoof -U.S. Coast Guard Thomas C. Lennon - USMC Please pray for the safe return of our troops. The families wish to thank you for your prayers, and ask that you please continue to pray. God Bless you all.

Doris Noehren Emily Magnani Lorraine Schordine Richard Colli Luhur Budiarjo Teimor Tamadon Theresa Venturino Maureen Gjertsen James Leung Thomas Nolan Alice Nolan John Rocco Kevin Williams Therese Hopper Helen May Irene Ball S. Richard Materia

Gina DiMartino Kate Cox Michael Matthews Roz Hassell Nancy Cavaliere Jose Llanes Claudia Horst Philip J. McSweeney Frank C. Harris Joanne Klonoski Vincent Racaniello Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley

Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Meinhold Des Burke Charles Burton Marguerite M. Rauh Clark J. Champney Colleen A. Nicols Mary Jane Mahon Rebecca Roberts Mary Louise Vitale

Mary Immaculate Prays For One Another

PRAYER SHAWLS

will now be available on the second full weekend of every month after every Mass. You may also call the rectory, leave your name and phone number, and a member of the Prayer Shawl Ministry will get back to you.

To our Eucharistic Ministers, the Lectors, Ushers, Altar Serv-ers, Choir Members, and those who serve in the Children’s Lit-urgy of the Word service, We thank you for your service to your parish family. You give your energy, skills, and time to serve at the Table of the Lord. Your tireless devotion to this congregation is such a blessing to us all.

Page 6: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

Lent & Easter Schedule 2018

Lenten Penance Tuesday: March 27 7:00 PM in the Large Church Monday, March 26 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM in the Little Church

Holy Thursday, March 29 Morning Prayer: 9:00 AM in the Little Church Mass of the Lord’s Supper; 7:00 PM In the Large Church Holy Saturday, March 31 Morning Prayer & Blessing of Food 9:00 AM in the Little Church Easter Vigil: 7:00 PM in the Large Church

Easter Sunday, April 1

Ecumenical Sunrise Service: 6:00 AM at Bellport dock

Mass: 9:00 AM in the Large Church

Mass: 11:00 AM in the Large Church

Pray the Rosary

Lent is a time when we can rediscover prayer by picking up our rosaries and meditating with Mary on the mysteries of our Lord’s life. It has been said that the rosary is like an ancient treasure map. It has led countless men and women from all walks of life to the treasures of peace, joy, clarity and greater contentment.

Join us in praying the rosary together

8:30 am Monday -Friday in the Little Church

Good Friday, March 30 Morning Prayer: 9:00 AM in the Little Church Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord 3:00 PM in the Large Church

Page 7: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

Mary Immaculate Religious Ed. News

There are no classes this week and next. Classes resume on Monday, April 9th

HAPPY EASTER

Hello Parents, Please note the following parent meetings and events:

Level 1 Parent/Child Gathering: April 7 at 1:30 pm until 2:30 pm Level 2 Grade Liturgy: April 7 at 5 pm or April 8 at 9 am or 11 am Level 8 Grade Liturgy: April 14 at 5 pm or April 15 at 9 am or 11 am

Service Opportunities For All Levels! If you find yourself short of service hours or you feel called to do more service, here are some opportunities for you: Good Friday—We invite both teens and younger chil-

dren to become part of the procession into the Good Friday Service. The activities will be further explained when you sign up for the community service. There is a rehearsal for this service at Wednesday, March 28th from 4:30pm-5:30pm.

Easter Vigil—We are inviting as many children as would like to help reenact the readings at the Easter Vigil. There will 3 rehearsals for this Mass on Thurs-day, March 1st from 5:30pm –7:00pm, Thursday, March 15th from 4:15pm-5:15pm, and the last re-hearsal will be on Saturday, March 31st from 10:00am –12:00pm (the children are off this Friday). The Vigil Mass will start at 7:00pm, please have the children at the Church at 6:45pm.

If any of these opportunities seem to be of interest to you, please email Fran at [email protected].

Hi Kids of All Ages!

Believe it or not, Vacation Bible School will be here

before you know it!

VBS will be from Monday, June 25th to

Friday, June 29th from 10 am to 2 pm.

We will be having registration for VBS starting the weekend of April 21st.

Thanks to all of you who voted for this year’s theme!

When you come in to register on the weekend of April 21st , you will see for yourself which theme received the most votes and will be

our VBS program this summer!

The nominees are:

Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus

Rolling River Rampage: Experience the Ride of a Lifetime with God

Hero Central: Discover Your Strength in God

REGISTRATION FOR FAITH FORMATION

WILL BEGIN APRIL 22

Page 8: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY

Your donations to St. Vincent de Paul made it possible for us to

provide help to many in need.

Children served: 154 Adults served: 228 Seniors served: 3

Bags distributed: 181 (45 bags per week)

Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of the holiest of Christian weeks. Let us pray for the grace to take up our own cross and to follow Jesus through death to new life.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Tax Statements from SVDP for 2018 Anyone needing a 2018 Tax Statement for their SVDP donations, please contact Jim Renehan, SVDP treasurer, at 770-597-2942 (cell).

40 Cans for Lent 2018

SVDP is asking parishioners to donate 1 can of food for each day of Lent to our Food Pantry. You may drop the cans off on Saturday or Sunday before Mass in our blue wagon located in the foyer of the Large Church. Our food pantry is in great need of spaghetti sauce, pasta, soup, macaroni and cheese, canned yellow vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, and tuna.

Thank You!!

Thank you for your continued support!

Page 9: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

What happens in Holy Week?

Palm Sunday March 25

Saturday 5pm, Sunday 9am and 11am)

This mass commemorates Jesus triumphal entry to Jerusalem. All masses begin with the blessing and procession of palms. Children are welcome to join the procession up the main aisle. The Passion Gospel is read at all Masses.

Holy Thursday March 29 - 7pm

This mass commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples, when he

washed their feet after supper, to show that service is the meaning of his life.

12 parishioner will have their feet washed at this mass, just as Pope

Francis washes the feet of prisoners or refugees each year in Rome.

Children have made luminaries for our procession to the Little Church.

Adoration follows.

Good Friday March 30 - 3pm

The oldest rite of the church replaces Mass this day commemorating Our Lord’s death. There are readings from Scripture leading up to the Gospel of the

Passion and Death of Jesus. We unveil the cross and carry it to the altar for each person to

venerate and thank Jesus for his dying for us. Communion is distributed.

Easter Vigil Saturday March 31 - 7pm

The first celebration of Easter A new fire is lit and blessed and all receive candles. Stories of salvation are read and acted out by students. All bring water from home to fill the font. Baptism and

new members are celebrated. The Eucharist is celebrated by all.

Page 10: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

2018 CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL

March, 2018 Dear Friends, When Jesus gathered His disciples to celebrate the Passover supper that would foreshadow His sacrificial death, He left them a great example of service when He tied a towel about his waist and washed the feet of the Apostles: “As I have done for you, you should also do.” (John: 13:15) Let His words and actions challenge each of us to be the Hands of Christ’s Mercy. Because of your generosity to the Catholic Ministries Appeal, individuals and families experience the merciful pres-ence of Christ through Outreach and Catholic Charities’ programs that serve the basic needs of the poor, troubled, weak and oppressed in our community. Consider the multitude of children who are taught the faith through our Catholic schools and religious education programs. See how the boundaries of our Church extend beyond our own properties to our children benefiting from campus, young adult and youth ministry programs. This Appeal also supports our efforts in evangelization, liturgy and worship while ensuring that we have the funds and resources to support priests and deacons throughout their formation. May we all go forth this Lenten season renewed in spirit and in our commitment to respond wholeheartedly to Je-sus’ call to be His hands and His instruments of Dramatic Missionary Growth. Thank you for your continuing generosity in supporting the good works of our Church. May God bless you with many graces during this holy season of Lent. Sincerely yours in Christ,

“Each of us must respond to the gift of mercy in our hearts by getting up and putting mercy into action” - Pope Francis

Gifts to CMA can be made by credit card by calling 516-678-5800 Ext 296. Checks should be made out to Catholic Ministries Appeal and sent to

CMA, Diocese of Rockville Centre, P.O. Box 4000, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Page 11: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

Create a new family tradition this Easter!

Introduce your children to the wonder of

Easter Story Cookies

Making these cookies together is a unique way for parents to teach their children about Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Bible verses are read while following the recipe, and each ingredient and action represents part of the passion and resurrection of our Lord.

You will need the following: a Bible; 1 c. whole pecans; 1 cup sugar; 1 tsp. vinegar; 3 egg whites; 1 cup sugar; a plastic baggie and tape

Preheat the oven to 300º. Place the pecans in the plastic baggie. While the children break them up into small pieces with a

wooden spoon, explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him. Read JOHN 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar, and explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was giv-en vinegar to drink. Read JOHN 19:28-30

The eggs represent life. Add the egg whites to the vinegar and explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read JOHN 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush it into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sins. Read LUKE 23-27

Add 1 cup of sugar and explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read PSALMS 34:38 and JOHN 3:16

Beat with mixer on high for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eye of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read ISAIAH 1:18 and JOHN 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts and drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper covered baking sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read MATTHEW 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, turn the oven OFF, and have each child seal it with tape. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed, and read MATTHEW 27:65-66

Before heading to bed, they may feel sad leaving the cookies overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read JOHN 16:20 and 22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow!

On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty!

Page 12: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

Ron Rolheiser Column Week of March 25, 2018 Our Need to Pray

Unless you somehow have a foot outside of your culture, the culture will swallow you whole. Daniel Berrigan wrote that and it’s true too in this sense: Unless you can drink in strength from a source outside yourself, your natural proclivities for paranoia, bitterness, and hatred will invariably swallow you whole. The disciples in Luke’s Gospel understood this. They approached Jesus and asked him to teach them how to pray because they saw him doing things that they did not see anyone else doing. He was able to meet hatred with love, to genuinely forgive others, to endure misunderstanding and opposition without giving in to self-pity and bitter-ness, and to retain within himself a center of peace and non-violence. This, they knew, was as extraordinary as walking on water, and they sensed that he was drawing the strength to do this from a source outside him, through prayer. They knew they themselves were incapable of resisting bitterness and hatred and they wanted to be as strong as Jesus and so they asked him: Lord, teach us to pray. No doubt they imagined that this would simply be a ques-tion of learning a certain technique; but as the Gospels make clear, linking to a divine source outside of ourselves isn’t always easy or automatic, even for Jesus, as we see from his struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, his “agony in the garden”. Jesus, himself, had to struggle mightily at times to ground himself in God as we see from his prayer in Gethsema-ne. His struggle there is described as an “agony”, and this needs to be carefully understood. “Agony” was a tech-nical term used at the time for athletes. Before entering the stadium or arena for a contest, athletes would first work their bodies into a sweat, a warm lather, an agony, to make their muscles warm and ready for the contest. The Gospels tell us that Jesus also worked himself into a sweat, except in his case he sweated blood as he readied himself in his heart for the contest, the test, he was about to enter, his passion. And what was that contest? The test he was readying himself for wasn’t as it is commonly believed an agonizing over the decision whether to let himself be crucified or whether to invoke divine power and save himself from this humiliation and death. That was never the issue in his struggle in Gethsemane. He had long before accepted that he was going to die. The question was how, how would he die, in love or in bitterness? In the end, it was a struggle to strengthen his will so that he would die with a loving, warm, forgiving heart. And it was a struggle; a positive outcome was in doubt. Amidst all the darkness, hatred, bitterness, injustice, and mis-understanding that surrounded him, amidst everything that stood unfairly against him and was antithetical to his person and message, Jesus struggled mightily to cling to a source that could give him the strength to resist the hatred and violence around him, that could give him the heart to forgive his enemies, that could give him the gra-ciousness to forgive the good thief, and that could give him the inner strength to turn humiliation, pain, and injus-tice into compassion rather than bitterness. The Gospels put this metaphorically as a struggle to “stay awake”, namely, to stay awake to his inner identity as God’s Beloved, an identity that he appropriated at his baptism and which shaped his very consciousness during all the years of his ministry. In Gethsemane, amidst everything that invites him (and us) into moral amnesia, Je-sus manages to stay awake to his deeper reality and to his identity as God’s beloved. His disciples don’t. As the Gospels tell us, during Jesus’ great struggle they fell asleep and their sleep (“out of sheer sorrow”) was more than physical fatigue. This is evident when, immediately after Jesus has managed to ground himself against hatred and non-violence, Peter succumbs to both and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Peter was asleep, in more ways than one, in a sleep that signifies the absence of prayer in one’s life. Prayer is meant to keep us awake, which means it’s meant to keep us connected to a source outside our of natural instincts and proclivities which can keep us grounded in love, forgiveness, non-retaliation, and non-violence when everything inside of us and around us screams for bitterness, hatred, and retaliation. And if Jesus had to sweat blood in trying to stay connected to that source when he was tested, we can expect that the cost for us will be the same, struggle, agony, wanting in every fiber of our being to give in, clinging to love precariously by the skin of our teeth, and then having God’s angel strengthen us only when we’ve been writhing long enough in the struggle so that we can let God’s strength do for us what our own strength cannot do. Lord, teach us to pray!

Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, and award-winning author, is President of the Oblate School of Theology in San Anto-

nio, TX. He can be contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com. Now on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser

Page 13: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton
Page 14: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton
Page 15: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

Community and Diocesan Events

Communion for the Homebound

If you know someone that is homebound and in need of communion, please contact the Rectory.

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Island in Manorville has many upcoming events. For more information, please visit their website at https://www.ourladyoftheisland.com/

Worldwide Marriage Encounter “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart." Let our eyes be opened to the love of God in our marriages by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next Weekends are Apr 27-29, 2018 in Huntington, NY and Nov 16-18, 2018 in Huntington, NY. For more information, call John & Toni Torio at 877-697-9963 or visit their website at http://www.wwmeli.org. The FAMILY SERVICE LEAGUE in Huntington offers help for many in need, such as school preparedness for tod-dlers, addition recovery programs, help for the elderly and those with special needs, veterans help and assistance for many in crisis. More information is available at http://www.fsl-li.org/programs-services/or call 631.427.3700.

For more information on any diocesan-sponsored events /programs, please visit www.drvc.org.

SAVE THE DATE APRIL 9TH GIRLS NIGHT OUT! PORTERS ON THE LANE 6:00 PM, — $35 PER PERSON

Includes Caesar Salad, choice of tilapia almondine, penne a la Vodka, French cut chicken, or braised BBQ short ribs. Tea and coffee with a homemade cream puff, or ice cream with fudge sauce.

RSVP BY APRIL 1ST TO MADONNA PIDGEON [email protected] 286-2773 or

LINDA PATANJO [email protected] 286-9217 HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US FOR A DELICIOUS DINNER AND A FUN EVENING.

TV MASS FOR THE HOMEBOUND

Is someone you love unable to join us at church during this holy time of Lent and Easter? For the faithful at home or in healthcare settings, the Heart of the Nation Sunday TV Mass brings spiritual comfort and the bless-ings of joy-filled hope in our Risen Savior. Please invite anyone you know who cannot get out to church to tune in Catholic Mass on TV or watch online:

PALM SUNDAY AND EASTER TV MASS

WRNN channel 48 at 8:00 a.m.

ONLINE VIDEO

www.HeartoftheNation.org

The Life Center of Long Island wishes to thank Mary Immaculate parishioners

for donating to their 2017 Baby Bottle Campaign.

$3,223 was raised this year here at Mary Immaculate!

The Center wishes to note a special thanks to Diane Stidd for organizing the campaign.

Page 16: The Parish Family of Mary Immaculate - Parishes Online · Jennifer Lombardi Dana Hertzovitz Linda Sherwood Christine Barden Mary Kinsley Please Pray for Our Deceased Charles Burton

S.C.H.I.C. #[email protected]

Mike’s Ragtime PizzaPizza • Calzones • Hot & Cold

Heros • Dinners • Beer286-2227

2472 Montauk Hwy, Brookhaven

Mount PleasantCemetery

of Center MorichesCome discover the peace of mind

we can offer you & your loved ones.Cemetery Rd. 878-0482

1 First St.E. Patchogue

(631)569-5719

ORTHODONTICSFRANKR. EGAN, DDS, PC250 Patchogue - Yaphank Rd.- Suite 14

E. Patchogue 289-3990www.TeethOnTheMove.com

McPeak’s Adult HomeJames McPeak Jr. - Director286 North Ocean AvenuePatchogue 475-0445

BBeellllppoorrtt CCoouunnttrryy CClluubbLunch • Dinner • Catering

Gift Certificates286-4227www.bellportcc.comU.S.A. AUTO BODYCOLLISION SPECIALISTS

24 HR TOWINGPh: 631.289.5200 Fax: [email protected] Montauk Hwy., E. Patchogue

Learn Sign LanguageThe fun & easy wayReasonable Rates631-775-6627 [email protected] RICHTER

The Bellport VillageDENTIST

JOSEPH P. GRASKEMPER, D.D.S.General/Cosmetic Dentistry

Implant Restoration7 Bellport Lane 286-4243

MAMMALOMBARDI’S

Pizza • Ristorante ~ Neopolitan Cuisine400 Furrows Rd., Holbrook

737-0774

EEiill eeeenn AA.. GGrreeeennREALTY CORP.LIC. R.E. BROKER

ParishionerOffice 1-631-286-3366

153 South Country Rd.Bellport Village

www.eileengreenrealty.com

CCoommpplleettee JJaanniittoorriiaallSSuupppplliieess

JJoohhnn DDeerrbbyy((663311)) 447755--33331111

Home CareSuffolk Providers250 Montauk Hwy

East Moriches, NY 11940631-400-9612

Mary Brickers, OwnerOver 20 Years of Caring

Don’t Let Pain Interfere With Your LifeMerckling Family Chiropractic, P.C.

DR. JOSEPH R. MERCKLING16-2 Station Road, Bellport, NY

Tel: (631) 286-2300 Fax: (631) 286-4615Email: [email protected]

www.bellportfamilychiropractic.com

Dr. Albert J. Esposito Dr. Albert C. EspositoDr. Gerald Murphy Dr. Brooke V. Crowley

PODIATRISTS - FOOT SPECIALISTSHouse Calls Available ~ Most Insurance Accepted

31 Oak Street, Patchogue

FIORI ENTERPRISES, INC.Keeping it Clean Since 1976

We provide Commercial & Residenial CleaningINSURED & BONDED -RESPECTED

[email protected] Teresa Fiori, Parishioner244 Medford Ave., Patchogue 475-3502

Excellence in Catering for any AffairWe have a Lessing’s Location near you.

631-209-9359 631-581-0022 631-589-0022www.lessings.com

OO’’NNEEIILLLLPPAAVVIINNGG && MMAASSOONNRRYY

QQUUAALLIITTYY CCRRAAFFTTSSMMAANNSSHHIIPPFFRREEEE CCOONNSSUULLTTAATTIIOONN && DDEESSIIGGNN SSEERRVVIICCEE

ASPHALT• DRIVEWAYS•PAVING•PATIOS•STEPS•APRONSBRICK EDGES•SIDEWALKS•STONE WALLS•BELGIAN BLOCKSBLOCK WALLS•CONCRETE WALKS•BLUE STONE•GRAVEL

STOOPS•RAILINGS•WALKWAYS•CULTURED STONEPARKING LOTS•STUCCO•DRAINAGE WORK•WATERPROOFING631-605-1047 / 631-612-0208www.oneill-contracting.com

Est. 1961 John T. ShanleyProprietor

JIM’S DELICatering for all OccasionsText Your Order to

631.605.96932554 Montauk Hwy., Brookhaven

(631) 286-2333

Ruland

www.BellportVillageDentist.com

475-0804

PERSONAL CARE - AFFORDABLE

CHOICES85 Route 112Patchogue475-7000

www.swezeyfuel.com(631) 475-0270

for happy heating

Gary Zanazzi

www.mammalombardis.com

#226 FORADVERTISING: THE CHURCH BULLETIN INC., 200 DALE ST., W. BABYLON, NY 11704-1104 (631) 249-4994 • www.thechurchbulletininc.com

FUNERAL HOMECaring for families like yours since 1856

475-0098500 NORTH OCEAN AVE.

PATCHOGUE (JUST NORTH OF SUNRISE HWY.)

No Job Too Small!

51 Rider AvePatchogue, [email protected]

Est. 1919

FFRREEEE EESSTTIIMMAATTEESS Lic/Ins

663311..777766..11001100

ParishionerOwned

of East Patchogue

www.HCPSuffolk.com