April 3, 2016
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Church of the Holy Spirit 16 South 6th Street, New Hyde Park, New York 11040 March 27th 2016 OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES GRADES 1 - 3 ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE PASTOR’S PAGE Most people don’t realize that Easter is more than just one day. Easter is a 50 day period, a liturgical season that lasts fifty days! The Easter season continues to the feast of Pentecost. Although Lent seems to go on forever, Easter is actually a longer period of time. During this time, one way the church helps us see how God is present to us is through the reading of the Acts of the Apostles. At all Masses, all through the Easter season, our usual practice of reading from the Old Testament is replaced by reading the Acts of the Apostles. These readings tell the story of the Church’s earliest days, and the beginnings of our faith spreading throughout the ancient world. These stories of heroism, controversies, persecutions and miracles all testify to the continued presence of the Risen Christ in the world, through the lives of his disciples, and the actions of the Holy Spirit. Personally, I find the Acts of the Apostles the most inspiring book of the Bible. These readings should be an encouragement and a sign of hope for us today. Despite war, violence, personal struggles and under-performing economy, God has not abandoned us. The risen Savior is still with us! These 50 days of Easter ask us to reflect on His presence and, even in the face of uncertainty or fear, live with hope. Although, with all sincerity, I thank our entire parish for your support throughout Holy Week, I also want to specifically thank some of our ‘behind the scenes’ parishioners. Loretta Lennox and Maureen Cavallaro were responsible for the design and set up of our Altar of Repose, in the auditorium, which was used for our Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We received many compliments as to how beautiful everything looked. They also set up the sanctuary area for all of Holy Week and the Easter Masses. It took a lot of time and effort but, as usual, they gave so selflessly. Anita Binaso was our volunteer sacristan for all of Holy Week, including the entire Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil). Thank you Anita! Deacon Lachlan worked his usual 24/7 to make sure we were prepared for all of our services and Masses. Honestly, we could not have done it without him. Carolyn Mueller kept the rectory office up and running so I was able to attend to my priestly responsibilities. Many of you reading the bulletin may not know Carolyn, but she is our office manager, and she DOES NOT leave the building until the work is done, whether it is her responsibility or not. I am very grateful to her! Stay well and be assured of my prayers, Happy Easter! Fr. Grieco -2- DEACON LACHLAN “Heavenly Father and God of Mercy, We no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for He is alive and has become the Lord of Life” This prayer refers to Divine Mercy as the key element in the plan of God for salvation, and emphasizes the belief that it was through mercy that God gave his only son for the redemption of mankind, after the fall of Adam. John Paul II, who died in April 2005 on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, was himself beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011, by his suc- cessor, Pope Benedict and was canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014, by Pope Francis. Faustina Kowalska a Polish nun reported visions and visitations from Jesus and conversations with Him. He asked her to paint the vision of His Merci- ful Divinity being poured from His sacred heart and specifically asked for a feast of Divine Mercy to be established on the first Sunday after Easter so mankind would take refuge in Him. Pope John Paul established the feast and also canonized Faustina. Devotion to the Divine Mercy has increased tremendously since then. The painting shown here is the first image painted of the Divine Mercy, based on Sister Faustina’s description of the visions she received. Below is a picture of Blessed Teresa Bracco, who was beatified by John Paul and whose feast we celebrated last Tuesday At her beatification in 1998, John Paul II praised Blessed Teresa for her courage in not betraying all those values that give meaning to life. Blessed Teresa Bracco : Virgin and Martyr Born in the Acqui region of Italy in 1924, Teresa was the daughter of poor farmers. Remembered as a well-mannered and pious child, she attended Mass each day and tried to model her life after the young Saint Dominic Savio. In 1943, German troops invaded the region, focusing their energies on the small town of Santa Giulia, which they believed to be a partisan stronghold. On August 28, 1944, three young women, including Teresa, were taken prisoner in the town. Teresa was dragged to a deserted area by one of the Germans, who attempted to rape her. Resisting her attacker, she tried to escape, enraging the Nazi soldier who choked her and then shot her in the head. At the time of her death, she was twenty years old. As we continue to celebrate this Easter Season it is appropriate that this first week of the season has such a strong link to Pope John Paul who was himself such a great inspiration to so many of us. Saint Faustina and Blessed Teresa also inspire us, as John Paul said ‘to be true to the values that give meaning to life’. May Almighty God bless us, protect us from all evil, and led us into everlasting life. Amen. -3- SCRIPTURE READINGS CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK April 3rd - April 10th SUNDAY ACTS 5:12-16; REV 1:9-11A, 12-13, 17-19; JN 20:19-31 MONDAY: IS 7:10-14 8:10; PS 40:7-11; LK 1:26-38 TUESDAY: ACTS 4:32-37;PS 93:1-2,5;JN 3:7b-15 WEDNESDAY: ACTS 5:17-26;PS 34:2-9;JN 3:16-21 THURSDAY: ACTS 5:27-33;PS 34:2,9,17-20; JN 3:31-36 FRIDAY ACTS 5:34-42;PS 27:1,4,13-14; JN 6:1-15 SATURDAY: ACTS 6:1-7;PS 33:1-2,4-5,18-19; JN 6:16-21 SUNDAY ACTS 5:27-32,40b-41;PS 30:2,4-6,11- 13;RV 5:11-14;JN 21:1-19 OR 21:1-14 Ed Cameron THIS WEEK’S GIFTS AND CANDLES This week the Bread & Wine This week the Candles are in Loving memory of are in Loving memory of Margaret and Joseph Duggen Margaret and Joseph Duggen with Love from their daughter with Love from their daughter LET US PRAY Ninabeth Palces, Brian Woodward Matthew Wargas, Damon Andrade, For Those Who Died in the Lord Jack Baierlein, Janet Rossano, Edna Lavin, Rafael Chiesa Dolores Dragonetti, Joe Sharkey, Neil Duggan,Eileen Hammond, Jean Keegan, Joyce McCabe, Jola Griffen, Chris Hanat -4- LET US PRAY FOR OUR PARISH FAMILY THIS WEEK AT HOLY SPIRIT SATURDAY April 2nd - Vigil Mass Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 5:00PM James Fitzgerald No Activities Monday, April 4th, 2016 SUNDAY April 3rd - Second Sunday of Easter 7:00 PM Rosary Altar Society - 8:00AM Joanne Sharkey GeneralMeeting 9:30AM Theresa Hogan 7:15 PM AA Meeting 11:00AM Mary McCartan 12:30PM Parishioners of Holy Spirit Tuesday, April 5th, 2016 7:30 PM Legion of Mary MONDAY April 4th-Annunciation of the Lord Wednesday,April 6th, 2016 8:30AM Purgatorial No activities TUESDAY April 5th - Easter Weekday Thursday, April 7th, 2016 6:30 PM O.L. of Guadalupe Prayer 8:30AM Margaret Grady Group 7:15 PM AA Meeting Caf WEDNESDAY April 6th - Easter Weekday 8:30AM Robert Michael Pruitt Friday, April 8th, 2016 12:15 PM “TOPS” Meeting 3:00 PM Divine Mercy and Rosary THURSDAY April 7th - Saint John Baptist de la 7:00 PM Holy Spirit Singles Salle 8:30AM Anthony O’Donnell Saturday, April 9th, 2016 7:00 AM AA Meeting FRIDAY April 8th - Easter Weekday 7:30 AM Family Mass Meeting 3:45 PM Confessions 8:30AM Mary Gilhauley Sunday, April 10th, 2016 SATURDAY April 9th - Easter Weekday 2:00 PM Baptisms 8:30AM Mass of Multiple Intentions Deceased: Jesús Mauricio Bermudez 50-50 CLUB SATURDAY April 9th - Vigil Mass 5:00PM Parishioners of Holy Spirit The March winner of the 50-50 SUNDAY April 10th - Third Sunday of Easter 8:00AM Angela Powers Club is Brian and Mary Kelly. 9:30AM Freddy Pacheco 11:00AM William D. Cutter They won $948! 12:30PM Joanne Sharkey -5- CHILDREN’S STATIONS OF THE CROSS -6- ANNUAL SOCIAL MINISTRY LUNCHEON To Our Annual Social Ministry Luncheon Thursday April 14, 2016 12 Noon $20.00 pp payable by check only to Parish Social Ministry th RSVP by April 7 Contact the Social Ministry to respond: 516 358-5339 x137 Please Bring A Non-Perishable Food Item For Pantry Catered By Dominic’s Another Date to Remember: Social Ministry Annual Fishing Trip - June 11, 2016! -7- SOCIAL MINISTRY liturgical celebrations Mass Schedule Sunday: Saturday Vigil Mass 5:00 PM 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM Monday Through Saturday: 8:30 AM Thank you for all that you do! Holydays: As announced Family Mass: 9:30 AM Mass Items needed for this week: Confessions • Saturday: 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM Canned fruit, canned carrots, and jelly • Call for an appointment (call the rectory to arrange a mutually convenient time.) Please remember the Poor Box as you leave Mass today.