St. Augustine Church FALL 2018 VOLUME 32 ISSUE 1 REFLECTIONS PASTOR’S GREETING Dear Parishioners, Sunday, June 3, was a day in the life of the parish of St. Augustine, an historic day. It was the day we celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the beginning of our parish in 1892. Most Reverend John Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre and a native son of our parish, joined us both at the Anniversary Mass and at the festive Parish Picnic that followed. June 3rd just happened to be the 90th Anniversary of the dedication of our English Country Gothic Style Church by Patrick Cardinal Hayes in 1928. June 3rd was also a day to celebrate our successful 125th Anniversary Campaign. A remarkable number of parish families and households joined together to support a campaign to provide for the future of St. Augustine Parish. Contributions and pledges were received at all levels, from under $100 to over $100,000 and from young families as well as our seniors, a true representation of our increasingly diverse community. We exceeded our $2,000,000 pledge goal by more than $173,000 from approximately 280 families. (See page 10-11 for a complete list of donors.) Parish support has enabled us to install a new lighting system in the church and to paint the interi- or walls of the church in the last two years. During the month of June, the St. John the Evangelist Window has been restored. We are working to provide a new handicap accessible restroom off the vestibule of the church. Both pastor and parish owe a special note of recognition and appreciation to our Campaign Committee! The committee was co-chaired by Linnea Holmes, Mark McNally, and Mary Jo Mitchell and assisted by current and former Trustees Rob Gittings, Sally Robling, Carla Porter and Greg Ran- dolph, and parishioners Rita Murray, Shannon Pujadas and John Spollen. I am most grateful for the commitments and financial INSIDE THIS ISSUE sacrifices that have been made by our parishioners. We will endeavor to honor the trust placed in us as we use these RCIA Bringing Faith to Life pg 2 resources to serve the mission of our parish. Profiles: A Priest & A Deacon pg 3,4 In the days ahead, may our parish worship the Lord, minister to the needs of people and teach the Gospel Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve pg 5 in words as well as deeds. Fall Scripture Studies pg 5 Faithfully yours, Msgr. Thomas R. Kelly We Care for Creation! pg 6 Feed the Hungry pg 7 You Are Welcome pg 8 Co-chairs Mary Jo Mitchell, CYO in its 50th Year pg 8 Mark McNally & Our Four Parish Practices pg 9 Linnea Holmes Capital Campaign Donations pg 10-11 RCIA Helps to Bring Faith to Life The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the official process for initiating adults into the Catholic Church. In 2017, we welcomed Eve Cicciu into our family of faith at the Easter Vigil after journeying from inquirer to catechumen to Catholic. Those who are initially seeking information about becoming a member of the Church are called ‘inquirers.’ Below, Chris Ham writes about the three stages and alludes to the process of discussion and learning and the solemn but celebratory ritu- als that mark that process. After the initial inquiry, a person who discerns in themselves the willingness to prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation---Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation---becomes a catechumen [from katekhoumenos, Gr.,one being instructed]. The RCIA process in our Parish is on-going, meaning the individual enter the process at any time during the year in response to hearing God’s call. The three Sacraments of Initiation are received at the glorious celebration of the Easter Vigil.: Becoming a Catholic was never something I expected to pursue in adulthood. While my parents were raised Baptist and Catholic, they chose to raise my brother and I without a church. Though I believed in God, the idea of organized religion never really appealed to me. And, while my wife was baptized and raised Catholic, and received First Communion and was confirmed, she admits she didn’t pay a lot of attention in religious education classes. However, her grandmother, a devout Catholic, was a special role model for her, showing her the importance of prayer and faith in God which has carried her through life. After a crisis in our relationship, we found our way home—-to St. Augustine. While we first sought out the parish in order to baptize our new daughter, we were instantly moved by the love, hospitality and kindness of the parish. We felt called to respond to the feeling in our hearts; we decided to participate together in the RCIA process. I sought out a deeper relationship with God while my wife sought to know more about her religion. We hoped the RCIA program would give us a greater understanding of the history and traditions of Catholi- cism but we were awed at what the program did to our hearts, our souls and our relationship. Each ritual and event fortified our spirituality on every level. From our first Advent and Lenten seasons as a new family to Jen being invited to the foot-washing on Holy Thursday, from the convalidation ceremony that blessed our marriage and strengthened it to the Saturday of the Easter Vigil when I received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation—all along the way, we were loved and supported by Sr. Muriel, the RCIA team and our new parish. It has been one of the best experiences of our lives. Our hearts have never felt warmer and our faith has never been stronger. Through the RCIA process, we have been welcomed home to a place where we truly belong. Joining in Mass and celebrating our faith has become a pillar of our family’s founda- tion. We want to continue to walk on this spiritual path together in all the years to come. Having already been baptized in the name of the Trinity in a Christian church, Tom Fisher wished to make ‘Full Commun- ion’ in the Catholic Church through the reception of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Communion. He also celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.: After several years of attending St. Augustine's parish in Larchmont with my wife, Lynda and our four chil- dren, I decided I wanted to be receive Communion and be confirmed as a Catholic. I was influenced by a prominent Catholic figure, Father Rob Hagan of Villanova University. At the funeral for a dear friend's mother, Fr. Rob gave the eulogy and provided a wonderful reflection of this woman, who lived her life guid- ed by the Catholic faith. It was very inspirational and moving. Having spent 9 years attending St. Augustine Church, I am very familiar with the parish and with the priests. For me and for my family, St Augustine's feels like home. We are proud to be part of the parish. Although a practicing Christian my whole life, there was still a journey that I needed to take to become Catholic. Sister Muriel guided me along my journey, providing context to many of the traditions I knew about but had not formally studied. I learned about living daily as a practicing Catholic. (One of the best insights she provided was on the sacrament of Holy Eucharist. Sr. Muriel quoted Fr. Ron Rolheiser, who said that the Eucharist is “a physical embrace with Jesus.” That really resonated with me.) Following this path has been an enlightening experience and I am happy to be a confirmed Catholic. Do you know someone who might be interested in becoming a Catholic? Have them contact Sister Muriel Cooney at 834- 1220 or [email protected]. 2 Monsignor Robert Larkin In the three years that he has been serving at St. Augustine’s, Msgr. Robert W. Larkin has found a lot to like about the parish and its people. He said that everyone gave him a warm welcome when he arrived, and he noted “the attentiveness of people at Mass, and their real concern for the poor, the needy and the hungry.” Msgr. Larkin has had many years of experience in parish work. He came to St. Augustine’s as an associate in 2015 after serving for two years as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hartsdale. Previously he was pastor of Visitation in the Bronx for 23 years, from 1991 to 2014. At St. Augustine’s, Msgr. Larkin carries out the duties of a parish priest, primarily celebrating Mass and hearing confessions. He said that he finds it particularly rewarding “to try to make things pleasant for people and make it easy for them to talk about something, and to be able to offer advice.” Parishioners at St. Augustine’s “really are believers,” he said, and he is inspired to see them at prayer or stopping to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. “What I like here,” he added, “is that parents of young children will speak to them about God and the Church and teach them to make the sign of the cross with holy water. It’s something that impresses me.” He also said, “People here are very generous. Any cause or need, they’re willing to share. I think they realize that God has blessed them, and they want to return that in some way.” He describes St. Augustine’s as “very well run.” “This place is filled with such talented people,” he said. “They’re very dedicated.” He praised the service of volunteers of all ages in religious education, ministry to seniors, recreational activities and fund raising.