Church of the Blessed Sacrament

201 North Central Avenue Valley Stream, New York 11580 Phone: (516) 568-1027 | Fax: (516) 872-1499 E-Mail: [email protected] | Website: www.bsvs.us

Rev. Lawrence Onyegu Rev. Rejimon Benedict O.I.C. Parish Administrator Associate Pastor April 19th, 2020

Join us at 3pm on Sunday, April 19 for a special livestreamed service with:  Exposition of the Eucharist  Recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and other prayers. Mass Schedule : Suspended until further notice. View us on livestream. Details and more inside. Serve God and Others Unite cultures Make disciples Share the Gospel Parish Membership Parish Ministry Directory Welcome to Blessed Sacrament Parish! We hope that all new residents to the Valley Stream area will feel at home in our parish and strive to be an active part of our faith community. Please take a moment to stop in Evangelization and Administration | Mrs. Randell Hochenberger the Pastoral Center Office to fill out a membership form and to meet a 516-568-1027 ex. 18 | [email protected] member of the Pastoral Staff.

Parish Social Ministry | Ms. Judy Miccio THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS 516-561-8969 | [email protected] Anointing of the Sick Music Ministry | Mrs. Hannah Saint Joy Those who are seriously ill or in danger of death should 516-568-1027 ex. 13 | [email protected] arrange to receive this Sacrament as soon as possible. For Maintenance | Mr. Anthony Raduazzo those able, you may come to the church at any time to 516-568-1027 request to be anointed. For those unable, please contact the

Faith Formation and Parish Life | Ms. Christina Sosa parish office and one of our priests will come to you at home 516-568-1027 ex. 10 | [email protected] or in the hospital. We encourage those who are preparing for a planned Hospital stay to celebrate the Sacrament before

entering the hospital.

Altar Servers Baptism Nicole Alimario ...... 568-1027 Infant Baptisms are celebrated the Third Saturday of the

Baptismal Preparation month at 1:00 PM and on the Fourth Saturday of the month a Fr. Rejimon Benedict ...... 568-1027 ex. 12 1:00 PM in Spanish. Parents & Godparents are asked to

Catholic War Veterans attend a Baptismal Preparation class prior to the Baptism. Peter Rumore ...... 718-341-0452 Please contact Fr. Rejimon Benedict at the Parish Office as

Children’s Music Ministry soon as you find out that you are expecting. Any child over 7 Mike Gittens ...... 568-1027 years old who has not been Baptized should contact the parish office for more information. Extraordinary Ministers Garole Valbrun ...... 568-1027 Marriage Faith Formation Please contact the parish office as soon as you become Randell Hochenberger ...... 568-1027 ex. 18 engaged and not less than six months in advance of your

Homebound Ministers anticipated Wedding date. Please make sure you contact the Jim Cunningham ...... 825-2563 parish prior to making your reception plans. All couples

Knights of Columbus are required to prepare for Marriage by attending a Diocesan

Tom Avallone ...... 880-5397 Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation Program.

Live Christ Share Christ Reconciliation (Penance, Confession) Ron Acosta ...... 568-1027 Confession is available every weekday at 6PM Saturday Lectors between 12:00-1:00 PM. Please feel free to contact the Parish Andrew Walters ...... 872-9180 Office for additional opportunities. Legion of Mary Rose Sciacca ...... 561-7111 Eucharist & Confirmation Inquiries for Eucharist/Confirmation for all school age Living Rosary children must be made through the office of faith Vi Pultorak ...... 791-7587 formation. Please contact our Director of Evangelization Prayer Warriors Randell Hochenberger at the Parish Office. Lilly Gicala ...... 850-3654 Rainbow Club Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.) Gayle Andresen ...... 872-3670 We would be happy to discuss the Catholic way of life and Respect Life Ministry how an adult becomes a Catholic. Please call the Parish Anne Marie Konzet ...... 568-1027 Office for more information. Renovacion Carismatica Holy Orders Olga Mackay ...... 406-7246 The celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is reserved to RCIA the bishop. Any young man who believes he is being called to Christine Vessely ...... 285-5736 serve God as a priest should speak to one of the parish Spanish Ministry priests or contact Fr. Sean Magaldi the diocesan vocations Gustavo Vasquez ...... 568-1027 director, at 631-424-9888. Any married man who believes he Ushers is being called to serve God should consider becoming a George Peers ...... 710-6646 deacon. For those who are considering serving God as a Weddings consecrated sister or brother, please contact the parish office Fr. Lawrence Onyegu ...... 568-1027 ex. 12 or contact Fr. Magaldi. Weekly Scripture Readings

Sunday: Acts 2:42-47 / 1 Pt 1:3-9 / Jn 20:19-31 (43) We will honor ALL mass intentions. Mass that are not livestreamed will be said privately by the priests and the intentions offered then. Monday: Acts 4:23-31 / Jn 3: 1-8 (267) We are sorry that loved ones cannot be present for these masses.

Tuesday: Acts 2:32-37 / Jn 3:7b-15 (268) SATURDAY, APRIL 18: 8:00 AM: Karine Previl Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26 / Jn 3:16-21 (269) ~Requested by: Wienerson Previl

Thursday: Acts 5:27-33 / Jn 3:31-36 (270) 5:00 PM: Pauline & Ralph Avallone, Nicoletta, Jasper, John & Peter Mantione Friday: Acts 5:34-42 / Jn 6:1-15 (271) ~Requested by: Avallone & Mantione Families

Saturday: 1 Pt 5:5b-14 / Mk 16:15-20 (555) SUNDAY, APRIL 19: DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY Next Sunday: Acts 2:42-47 / 1 Pt 1:3-9 / Jn 20:19-31 (43) 8:00 AM: People of Blessed Sacrament Parish Third Sunday of Easter , Cycle A ~ April 19th, 2020 9:30 AM: Fr. Thomas Hynes ~Requested by: Maria Quezada First Reading - Acts of the Apostles 2:14,22-33 11:00 AM: Virgilio Leon Peter and the apostles announce that Jesus has been raised from the ~Requested by: Fe Leon dead. 12:30 PM: Ralph DiCerbo Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11 ~Requested by: Josephine DiCerbo God will show us the path of life. 5:00 PM: Marie-Carmelle Mesidor ~Requested by: Natacha Thiong Second Reading - 1 Peter 1:17-21

You were saved by Christ’s sacrifice. MONDAY, APRIL 20: Gospel Reading - Luke 24:13-35 9:00 AM: Ralph Michael DiCerbo-O’Connor (LVG) Jesus appears to two disciples who are walking to Emmaus. ~Requested by: Nancy DiCerbo

TUESDAY, APRIL 21: The Sanctuary Lamp 9:00 AM: Robert Baloch ~Requested by: Bruce & Anne Weiler for the month of April WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22: 9:00 AM: Mary Cunningham In memory of: ~Requested by: Jim Cunningham

Ralph DiCerbo THURSDAY, APRIL 23: 9:00 AM: Mary Lyons Kane Requested by: ~Requested by: Friends & the Legion of Mary Josephine DiCerbo & Family FRIDAY, APRIL 24: 9:00 AM: Mary Ann Spergl ~Requested by: Bernadette Centineo

If you would like to request an offering for your SATURDAY, APRIL 25: loved one, call the parish office (516-568-1027) or 8:00 AM: Mary L. Kane email to [email protected]. A staff member will ~Requested by: Salley Morton respond to you within a few days to fulfill the 5:00 PM: Eugene Plaskett and Joey Ureña Diaz ~Requested by: Anonymous request. Offerings can be made over the phone by credit card or via mailed checks. SUNDAY, APRIL 26: 8:00 AM: People of Blessed Sacrament Parish Mass (card included): $20 9:30 AM: Ermelina Gutierrez Mass with large card: $25 ~Requested by: Carmen & Gustavo Vasquez 11:00 AM: Florence Lehmbeck-Todaro Altar Candles (week): $15 ~Requested by: Janet Morgan Eucharistic Bread and Wine (Mon-Sat): $25 12:30 PM: John and Julia Losio ~Requested by: their family Eucharistic Bread and Wine (Sat-Sun): $35 5:00 PM: Marie-Carmelle Mesidor Sanctuary Lamp (whole month): $50 ~Requested by: Natacha Thiong Participating in Mass on TV & Online

The Catholic Faith Network At Blessed Sacrament (CFN) We live-stream all daily CFNtv.org (formerly Telecare) masses and the Sunday 11am

St. Agnes Cathedral, mass. These streams can be Rockville Centre, NY viewed either live or later online and on our Facebook. Monday - Friday at 8:30 am & 12:30 pm ET NEW: Sunday masses are also available on Sunday at 11:00 am & 7:00 pm ET our YouTube Channel

St. Patrick's Cathedral, NY Live Times: Sundays: 11am Monday - Friday at 6:30 pm ET Mondays-Fridays: 9am Saturdays: 8am Our Lady of Loretto Church, Hempstead, NY Sunday at 6 pm ET Parish Webpage: https://bit.ly/33u3wJc

Where to watch: Optimum channel 29/137, Verizon StreamSpot Site: https://bit.ly/2TYuPIR FiOS TV channel 296, or Spectrum channel Facebook: www.facebook.com/BSVS.US/ 162/471. 24/7 live stream at CFNtv.org. Roku, Apple Youtube: https://bit.ly/3acY1Rf TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, and iOS mobile app. See the CFN website for detail and additional options. Roku: search Blessed Sacrament, Valley Stream An Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Please Pray for the Sick Helen Costantakos Please pray for the repose of the souls of: Nancy Lynn Fisher Gini Spinelli Mario Salonga, Carmen Cruz, Liam Walsh Nancy Ward and Angelina Lombardi

Raul Mata Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, Margaret Ryan Romy & Joy Agtarap and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. *Names kept on list for 6 weeks Joey Salonga Gospel Meditation ~ MEDITACIÓN DEL EVANGELIO

A person was going through a very dark time, questioning the meaning of life, not feeling very purposeful or worthwhile, and feeling disconnected and unappreciated. Suddenly, they gazed up at the night sky, found themselves in awe of all the stars and constellations, and exclaimed, “I am here on purpose and I am loved!” Having been brought by God to this moment of intense connection and awareness, his life changed from that moment on. If we are always preoccupied with the challenges, obligations, and stuff of daily life, we can easily miss the wonderful opportunities when the resurrected Christ is knocking at our door. If we open ourselves to the fullness of experience, we will find ourselves listening and embracing all that is around us, being caught up in the magnificence of creation’s grandeur and knowing in our heart and soul that God is and I am. While that sounds like a simple, tell-me-something-I don’t-know kind of revelation, it is life changing when it takes root in the depth of a person’s soul. Stumbling upon this awesome truth and internalizing it doesn’t require an assent of the mind. It beckons for a claim on our soul. We find ourselves knowing something profound that cannot be explained or reasoned, but purely is. When we are caught up in an experience and encounter the truth, it doesn’t matter how all of the pieces got put together. Truth is simply truth. The “my Lord and my God” responses we utter are not evoked because all of the pieces of faith and life make reasonable sense. The “my Lord and my God” affirmations come when we are lifted up out of our preoccupations and silliness and are in the presence of mystery and mercy. God is mystery, one who is beyond our grasp but at the same time within our reach, knowable yet unknowable. And when in the presence of mystery, there comes an intense experience of mercy. We know deep within the essence of ourselves — and in the very life of creation — this beating, unconditionally accepting, life-sustaining, profound, mysterious yet familiar presence of love. We have found our peace. “Peace be with you.” Breathe in and breathe out. Peace. ©LPi

“Tomás exclamo: ‘Tú eres mi Señor y mi Dios.’ Jesús replicó: ‘Crees porque me has visto. ¡Felices los que no han visto, pero creen!’” (Juan 20:28-29). La aparición de Jesús y la incredulidad de Tomás tiene una referencia fuerte de fe. Su incredulidad se convierte en una profunda confesión y convicción de fe. Esta escena del Evangelio se repite día a día en la Eucaristía cuando convencidos del amor de Jesús hacia nosotros le decimos desde el fondo de nuestro corazón, Señor mío y Dios mío. También hoy la Iglesia celebra el Domingo de la Misericordia, a ocho días de la Resurrección del Señor. Es como si fuera un solo día de celebración. Pero ¿de dónde viene el celebrar el Domingo de la Misericordia? San Juan Pablo II dio a la Iglesia el decreto Misericors et miserator el 5 de mayo del año 2000. Así fue como quedo establecido el Domingo de la Divina Misericordia en la Liturgia de todo el mundo. Ese domingo fue canonizada Santa Faustina por el Papa San Juan Pablo II. Nos dice la historia que el Papa Juan Pablo II beatificó (1993) y canonizó (2000) a Santa Faustina justamente en el segundo domingo de Pascua de ambos años. “Y tú, Faustina, don de Dios a nuestro tiempo, don de la tierra de Polonia a toda la Iglesia, concédenos percibir la profundidad de la misericordia divina, ayúdanos a experimentarla en nuestra vida y a testimoniarla a nuestros hermanos.” dijo el Papa en la canonización de su compatriota polaca. Jesús resucitado se manifiesta a nosotros en la Eucaristía de cada domingo. ¿Crees esto?

St. Mark the Evangelist — First Century Feast Day – April 25 According to the Acts of the Apostles, Mark’s mother owned the house where the first Jerusalem Christians prayed and where Peter stayed after his miraculous release from prison (Acts 12:1-19). The New Testament also notes that Mark traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their mission to Antioch and that he was associated with both Paul and Peter in Rome. He may have written his Gospel, the shortest of the four, based on Peter’s preaching while in Rome. By tradition, he was the martyred bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, with his relics later carried to Venice by Venetian merchants. In art, he is often symbolized by a lion. He is the patron saint of lions, lawyers, Venice, interpreters, and prisoners. Copyright ©2020, Catholic News Service–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Image: Saint Mark, Malnazar and Aghap’ir, J Paul Getty Museum Divine Mercy Sunday & St. John Paul II

By Thomas Smith (originally posted to Ascension Press on April 3, 2016: https://bit.ly/34GqBJl) For me, the meaning and significance of Mercy is inseparable from the person of St. John Paul II. As a Former Baptist minister received into the Church twenty years ago, I thought I had a good handle on the Mercy of the Lord. But I remember distinctly the first time I read St. John Paul II’s 1981 encyclical Dives Misericordia (Rich in Mercy). I was floored. The holy father guided me through the power and presence of Mercy throughout all of the Sacred Scriptures. He demonstrated mercy in remarkable and concrete ways, like forgiving and meeting with his would-be assassin. In word and deed, St. John Paul II stunned, nourished, challenged and motivated me to become a teacher and practitioner of God’s Mercy. I’m still a work in progress on both counts, but I have experienced the profound impact of the Church’s message Jesus, I Trust in You of mercy on audiences around the world, in spite of being it’s inadequate messenger. I rejoiced with many Catholic when the pope announced the establishment of Divine Mercy Sunday as a new title for the Octave Sunday of Easter, grounding this important characteristic of God in the liturgical consciousness of the people of God. For him, God’s Divine Mercy “is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers humanity at the dawn of the Third Millennium” (Homily on Mercy Sunday, 2001). This amazing gift was unexpectedly announced at the canonization of St. Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy, the first saint of this new millennium, setting the tone for the centuries to come. In retrospect, it isn’t so surprising that by God’s providence, our beloved pope would enter God’s kingdom on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday. It was such a fitting end to an amazing life of mercy incarnate. What many do not know is that St. John Paul II had been anticipating preaching a homily on Divine Mercy Sunday 2005 at a new parish in Albis, Rome. It was dedicated to God, the Merciful Father. We all watched with grief as his health rapidly declined during that Lent of 2005. He began to prepare his homily for the event, what some believe may be the last handwritten lines of our saintly pontiff. He left this world hours before it was to be delivered. It would be his successor, Benedict XVI, who would deliver to that community the pope’s final words. In fact Pope Benedict called them St. John Paul II’s spiritual last will and testament. It’s clear he didn’t intend them solely for a parish in the suburbs but for all of us. It represents his final mercy mandate to the world. “To humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness and fear, the Risen Lord offers his love that pardons, reconciles and reopens hearts to hope. It is a love that converts hearts and gives peace.” Ten years later, with the emergence of unimagined evils perpetrated by groups like ISIS and others, we may be more overwhelmed than ever. Jesus and the Gospel are our only hope. He continued, “How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy!…Jesus I trust in You, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world.” This Divine Mercy Sunday invites us each to evaluate our lives in light of St. John Paul II and the Church’s profound message of mercy. Take a few moments to reflect on the meaning of your life, evaluate your plans and goals. Consider where you spend your attention, energy and affection. Gathered together would a fitting summary of your life be, “Here was one who modeled God’s Divine Mercy in prayer, word and deed. Here was one who loved, forgave, pardoned, reconciled and reopened hearts to hope”? Will you pray that will be said of me? It is my prayer for you, and it is certainly possible by God’s grace and the intercession of St. Faustina and St. John Paul II. DIVINE MERCY on FORMED

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Also visit: www.thedivinemercy.org BSVS.FORMED.ORG Background of Divine Mercy Devotion

Saint Faustina: Mankind’s need for the message of Divine Mercy took on dire urgency in the 20th Century, when civilization began to experience an “eclipse of the sense of God” and, therefore to lose the understanding of the sanctity and inherent dignity of human life. In the 1930s, Jesus chose a humble Polish nun, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, to receive private revelations concerning Divine Mercy that were recorded in her Diary. St. John Paul II explains: This was precisely the time when those ideologies of evil, nazism and communism, were taking shape. Sister Faustina became the herald of the one message capable of off-setting the evil of those ideologies, that fact that God is mercy—the truth of the merciful Christ. And for this reason, when I was called to the See of Peter, I felt impelled to pass on those experiences of a fellow Pole that deserve a place in the treasury of the universal Church. ~ Pope Saint John Paul II, Memory and Identity (2005)

Divine Mercy Sunday: St. Faustina’s Diary records 14 occasions when Jesus requested that a Feast of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday) be observed, for example: My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. … Let no soul fear to draw near to Me. … It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary, no. 699) On May 5, 2000, five days after the canonization of St. Faustina, the Vatican decreed that the Second Sunday of Easter would henceforth be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Image: Jesus appeared to St. Faustina in a vision, with his right hand raised in a blessing and his left touching his garment above his heart. Red and white rays emanate from his heart, symbolizing the blood and water that was poured out for our salvation and our sanctification. The Lord requested that “Jesus, I trust in You” be inscribed under his image. Jesus asked that his image be painted and venerated throughout the world: “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish” (Diary, no. 48) and “By means of this image I will grant many graces to souls” (Diary, no. 742).

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy: The Chaplet was also given to St. Faustina with this promise: “Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you” (Diary, no. 1541). “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. … Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy” (Diary, no. 687). Learn to pray the Chaplet: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet.

The Divine Mercy Novena: Jesus gave St. Faustina nine intentions for which to pray the Chaplet beginning on Good Friday and ending on the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday.

CHRIST’S DIVINE MERCY IS PRESENT, EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD TO SEE (originally posted to Our Sunday Visitor on April 13, 2020: https://bit.ly/3a9DOvl) By Father Scott Jablonski, the pastor of Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish in Lodi/Dane, Wisconsin, and the director of the Office of Continuing Formation of Priests for the Diocese of Madison. I know very little about Sheldon Vanauken, and I have never read his autobiography, but for some years now I have been captivated by the book’s title: “A Severe Mercy.” I couldn’t help but think of it once again recently as I was reflecting upon the situation that we find ourselves in as we approach the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday. For most of us, I tend to think that this year’s celebration will feel more like a Divine Severe Mercy Sunday given the many spiritual, social, economic and personal challenges that we face as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. A year or two ago, the late night television personality Stephen Colbert gave an interview in which he paraphrased a lesson on suffering that he had learned and taken to heart from the beloved Catholic author J.R.R. Tolkien. In response to his own personal losses and setbacks over the years Colbert, echoing the faith- filled thinking of Tolkien, rhetorically asked, “What punishments of God are not gifts?” For him, and for all of us who trust in Jesus Christ, following the example and instruction of St. Faustina, there is but one answer: all of them. All is grace. All is mercy. By this I do not mean to imply that I have some infallible knowledge that the coronavirus pandemic is a punishment from God. It may very well be. But perhaps it is just a test — or something else. In the end, only God himself knows with perfect certainty exactly why he has allowed any of this to unfold. But what I do know with the certainty of faith is this: Unlike us, God always takes an eternal view of things, and in the words of St. Paul to the Romans “all things work together for the good for those who love God” (8:28), and the greatest good that God desires for each of us is an eternal one — namely, perfect union with him in that blessed vision that we call heaven. So, given all of this, and following the logic of Tolkien and Colbert, I think that we can honestly say that whatever we are experiencing right now is, in some mysterious way, a gift of God’s mercy, however severe it might feel in the present moment. Be that as it may, it still stings, and as such it is natural for us to focus on the question of “why?” And so we ask: “Why God?”, “Why now?”, “Why us?”, “Why this pandemic?” But, as I have learned from the writings of Father Jacques Philippe, “why?” is the wrong question to ask if one is truly interested in moving forward and not getting stuck, because on this side of eternity we “see indistinctly, as in a mirror” (1 Cor 13:12). Instead, we do much better to ask the more spiritually productive question of “what?” “What is God asking of me in the present moment?” And, for our purposes, “What is God asking of me this Divine [Severe] Mercy Sunday?” I would like to suggest three answers. First, God wants exactly from us what he wanted from St. Faustina in those difficult years leading up to World War II: greater trust! He wants us to trust in his divine mercy, to trust in his providential plan, and to trust in his unfailing goodness in the face of our sufferings. In her diary, St. Faustina wrote, “Suffering is a great grace; through suffering the soul becomes like the Savior” (No. 57). Jesus, help us to trust that this is true, and help us to trust in you, so that in doing so we might continue to become more like you! Second, God is inviting us to persevere in prayer. So let’s take up the Chaplet of Divine Mercy once again and pray it for those who have died because of the coronavirus and for their loved ones, for those who are working on the front lines to treat and combat the virus, for a swift end to the pandemic, for all those who are struggling with loneliness, anxiety and financial/job concerns, and for those who despair of finding God’s mercy, especially during this difficult time when so much of the Church’s healing ministry is restricted. “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” Last, I believe that God is asking each of us to discover new and creative ways of practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Maybe this means calling a loved one more frequently or sending regular emails to check in on co-workers or on neighbors, or dropping off food for the elderly, or starting a prayer chain, or something else. I’m certain that if you ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you anew this Divine Mercy Sunday — and every day — he will, because as the Book of Lamentations reminds us, “[God’s mercies] are renewed each morning” (3:23). And it is only a matter of time before the severity of his mercy gives way to tenderness once again. Service, Support, and Stewardship during the Covid-19 Pandemic Parish Social Ministry Offices Closed until Further Notice Due to risks to our Outreach staff and volunteers, the food pantry, thrift store, and parish social ministry office (along with the rest of the parish offices) are closed until further notice. However, pre-filled grocery bags have been made available in the Parish Social Ministry hallway for those in need to take. They are accessible during normal hours (approx. 8am-8pm on weekdays and 8am to 6pm on weekends)

People needing further assistance from our parish can contact the parish offices by calling 516-568-1027 and leaving a message (will be checked every few days) or email [email protected] for a quicker response.

With this viral outbreak and the global response, we know the economy has Community Outreach during COVID-19 been hit hard. But amidst all of this, we must remain people of hope. The SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) parish is also reliant on the income generated from our regular collections. From NYS: An additional $200 million in emergency Such revenue supports our facilities, outreach, and ministries. We know food assistance will be available for more than many of you may be impacted by this economic downturn, but hope that you 700,000 low-income households enrolled in SNAP. can continue to be as generous with us as possible so we can continue Those enrolled in SNAP who are not yet receiving the serving you and the community on your behalf. How can I still donate? maximum benefit will receive an additional payment to bring them up to this amount in March and April. The  You can mail your offering to the parish office or put it in the offering supplemental benefits will be issued in April and boxes in the church. delivered directly to recipients' existing EBT accounts.  Give a One-Time Gift (no account needed) or set up a Recurring Island Harvest provides free assistance for SNAP over Schedule via ConnectNow, our online giving platform. the phone, and you do not have to go to the

 Text the word “give” to 516-588-7800, do a quick, one-time set-up and Department of Social Services. Island Harvest can walk then regularly be able to give through texts you through the online application by telephone or complete a short intake and submit the online  Or download the “ConnectNow Giving” App in the Apple Appstore and application for you. Call them at 631-873-4775. Google Play. Make sure to Search for us with zipcode 11580-3198 New Yorkers without health insurance can apply Get started here: https://bit.ly/2UvU58n through NY State of Health through May 15, 2020;

You can learn more about our e-giving service at must apply within 60 days of losing coverage. www.bsvs.us/index.php/join/e-giving New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling. Important Phone Numbers Public charge: The federal government announced  New York State Coronavirus Hotline: 888-364-3065 that testing, prevention or treatment for Coronavirus,  Nassau County Coronavirus Hotline: 516-227-9570 no matter how it is paid for, will NOT be used against  Nassau County Crisis Helpline: 516-227-TALK (8255) - For those immigrants in a public charge test. Additionally, neither experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis. unemployment benefits nor the stimulus cash  Nassau County A.A. Hotline: 516-292-3040 payments will be taken into consideration in a person's  Nassau County Safe Center Hotline: 516-542-0404 - For those public charge test. experiencing abuse, domestic violence, etc. Great resources available at these two links:  VETERANS: Nassau County Veterans in need of assistance including https://www.nslawservices.org/ essential transportation, food pantry access, and counseling services, https://hwcli.com/work-we-do/coalition-grassroots- call: 516-572-6565 organizing/livoad/

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse and cannot get through to the numbers above, please email the parish at For Small Business Owners Affected by COVID-19 [email protected] with your name, phone number, and a brief explanation of  Track your expenses and losses in this period the situation. We will try to get you additional resources for help.  SBA disaster assistance programs are working to Text Updates offer loans to affected businesses. You can reach  Text COVID19NC to 888777 to receive the latest information on them at [email protected] or call coronavirus in Nassau County on your mobile device. 1-800-659-2955.  Envíe un mensaje de texto COVIDNASSAU al 888777 para recibir  For more info about the assistance available, go actualizaciones seguras por SMS con información importante sobre to https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid- COVID19 en el Condado de Nassau. 19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources. Ad info. 1-800-477-4574 • Publication Support 1-800-888-4574 • www.4lpi.com Blessed Sacrament, Valley Stream, NY 03-1208 Pompei Ristorante SCHEURER MONUMENTS Air Conditioning Event Hosting & Catering Available Cemetery Memorials Since 1995 & Heating, Inc. JOEY’S PIZZA 23 Post Ave. Westbury, Nr. Old Country Rd. (516) 485-8620 GUNTHER REAL ESTATE Catering • Party Trays • Frozen Dinners 333-0251 www.pompeiristorante.com COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • INSTITUTIONAL 516-599-2929 Monuments Lettered, Cleaned and Reset (631) 454-8940 • Farmingdale, NY 401 HEMPSTEAD AVE Tony Gunther, Realtor www.joeyspizzalynbrook.com Monuments Erected in All Cemeteries WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY 11552 Proud Vendor of Blessed Sacrament Parish Broker/Agent 5 Huntington Ave, Lynbrook, NY 11563 Home Appointments Available RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL APPRAISALS Everybody Loves Barry’s BRINGING CHRIST’S HEALING MISSION Direct: 516-353-3241 TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. guntherappraisalsinc.com MY CARPET Catholic Health Services has first-class 122 N Central Ave CARPET • LAMINATE Valley Stream, NY 11580 HARDWOOD • CERAMIC doctors and hospitals across Long Island. Lynbrook Restorative VINYL • AREA RUGS For one near you, call 855-CHS-4500. Therapy & Nursing WINDOW TREATMENTS OFFERING PULMONARY Buy Today - Install Tomorrow SUPPORT GROUP & (516) 285-0502 AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP www.barrysmycarpets.com For information, 803 W Merrick Rd, Valley call 516-634-1400 Stream, NY 11580

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Ad info. 1-800-477-4574 • Publication Support 1-800-888-4574 • www.4lpi.com Blessed Sacrament, Valley Stream, NY 03-1208