Our Lady of Grace Roman March 15, 2020 3rd Sunday of

We change lives through the Risen Christ

By Prayer By Presence

Praying daily for our intentions Joining together at Mass every weekend for and the success of our mission. mutual support and the grace God offers .

666 Albin Avenue, West Babylon, New York 11704 Parish Office (631) 587-5185 Fax (631) 587-1427 Faith Formation Office (631) 661-9353 Parish Social Ministry Office (631) 661-9354 Day Care Office (631) 422-4681 www.ourladyofgrace.net [email protected]

We Celebrate the Eucharist

Vigil of Sunday: 5:00pm Saturday Evening Sunday: 8:00am, 10:00am (Children’s Liturgy of the Word), 12:00 Noon (Choir) Weekdays: Monday - 8:00am and 9:00am - Saturday 8:00am Holy Days: See inside

By Witness By Support Witnessing daily our love for God Sharing our gifts and and neighbor. encouraging one another. Our Parish Communion

Our Clergy Baptism Rev. Joseph Davanzo, Pastor Call the Office for more information or to schedule Rev. Gabriel Miah, Associate an appointment for a Baptism interview. This should be done as soon as practicable. Rev. Martin Adu Gyamfi, Associate +++++++++ Deacon Ricardo Garcia Deacon Brian Miller Matrimony Deacon Irwin Saffran Arrangements for marriage should be made as soon as possible but not less than 18 months prior to the Our Pastoral Staff intended wedding date. Jeanmarie Florio, Day Care Director +++++++++ Peggy Harnisch, Faith Formation Director Confession/Reconciliation Ann Kristoffersen, Parish Social Ministry Every Saturday: 4:00 - 4:45pm in the Church James Pisano, Facilities Manager or call for an appointment. Terence Purtell, Director of Music +++++++++ Doreen Scalise, Kids of the Kingdom/ Summer Fun Coordinator Anointing of the Sick Tischa Stanley, Angel Care Coordinator Every Saturday during the 8:00am Mass for those facing surgery or with major disorders. Our Pastoral Council Call the Office for other arrangements. +++++++++ Lee Abseck Ralph Fiorillo Mary Ellen McEntee James Nevins Initiation as a Catholic Maria Russello-Chetti Lucy Sanchez For adults, teens, or children over age 7 Kathleen Scheid Concetta Whelan who are interested in becoming Catholic or completing their Sacraments of Initiation Our Finance Council (Baptism, Confirmation, Communion) Call the Office. Richard Korcz (Trustee) Joseph Salzone Leonardo LoCricchio Debra Nicosia Robert Scharf (Trustee) Thomas Villella

Banns of Marriage

2nd Banns: Regular Devotions: Margaret Villella - Mathew Riback Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: (St. Kilian, Farmingdale, NY) Mondays: 2:00pm - 9:00pm except holidays or when noted. Miraculous Medal Novena with Rosary: Mondays following 8:00am & 9:00am Masses. Parish Office Hours: Holy Face of Jesus: Monday and Tuesday: Hour of Reparation 1st Friday after 9:00am Mass. 9:00am - 1:30pm; 2:00pm - 9:00pm Padre Pio Prayer Group: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm. Wednesday through Friday: Scripture Sharing: 9:00am - 1:30pm; 2:00pm - 5:00pm Every Tuesday - 9:30am (except July & August) Saturday: 3:00pm - 6:00pm Sunday: 9:00am - 12:00pm From The Pastor Eleven months ago, on April 15th, we saw the terrible images of tremendous flames burning Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. In the horror, the news cameras caught people crying, praying the ro- sary, kneeling, and some singing hymns in French or Latin; but they were all a far distance away. None of us saw the many people inside running out to a park nearby. But one man outside, Catholic priest Fr. Jean Marc Fournier, the chaplain of the Paris fire department, decided to run inside the burning cathe- dral, calling 2 firemen to come with him. As they ran up the main aisle, Fr. Jean shouted, “There’s Je- sus’ Crown of Thorns, break the glass and take it…there’s the cloak of King St. Louis 13th, take it… there are the relics of St. Helen and St. Catherine… take them.” Fr. Jean then ran to the center of the fire in the sanctuary where pieces of the wooden ceiling were falling around him. Miraculously he was not hit. He ran to save the greatest treasure of the all, the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. He re- moved the consecrated hosts and turned to the 2 firemen holding the relics who were yelling that they must get out. He raised the host and blessed them. He then raised Our Eucharistic Lord higher and blessed the cathedral. The love of Jesus in the Eucharist gave Fr. Jean great courage. The cathedral, se- riously burned and with its ceiling gone, did not fall. It’s just as Jesus did for mankind when the world was in ruins with flames of sin destroying souls. The Son of God left paradise and became man. He stepped into the fire of our sins and sacrificed His life so we could be saved from the eternal painful fires of Hell. Jesus came to prepare a place for us in His eternal cathedral in heaven. After the Notre Dame fire, many commented that it was as though the fire was a symbol of Christianity today with the Church on fire with persecutions, divisions, confusion, and a “pick and choose” attitude among those who claim to be Catholic. Today, the decline in Mass attendance is significant. Almost everyone has a family member who no longer attends Mass or believes. We have a generation of young people called the “None” generation because they have no religion and believe in nothing. They have no connection or interest in any faith and a particular dislike or anger toward Ca- tholicism. They want nothing to do with it. Adding to the confusion are those who call themselves Catholic but believe that abortion, same-sex “marriage”, and other sinful behaviors are acceptable. These are the flames consuming the Church today leading many to ask, “is the Church about to fall?” But just as the burning Notre Dame did not fall, the flames of sin will never overcome our Church. Jesus promises that the Gates of Hell will never prevail against the Church even in terrible times. (Mt 16:17-19.) Just as Fr. Jean and 2 firemen ran into the burning Notre Dame, God calls us in times when it looks like everything is about to be destroyed, to run to the Church and into the fire, to help save it rather than watch it be destroyed. Christ’s Catholic Church will always need faithful clergy and lay people committed to going in when everyone else is running out. Though others may lose hope, give up on Christ, and abandon His Church, God never leaves us. He strengthens us to remain, to do even greater works, and inspire others to do the same. May we be the courageous ones who do not run out and away but remain and run in. May we urge others not to be afraid, or to give up or give in to popular culture. May we be the ones, strengthened by the Eucharist and by confessing our sins, to save and strengthen our faith according to the truths of the Church’s teaching and the message of the Gospel. God bless you for all you do for our Church and parish.

Respect Life: Maine and Maryland Accused of Anti-religious Hostility Over 100 towns in Maine don’t have a high school, so families choose a high school and the town pays the bill up to the rate allowed by the state. Families are now suing the state for religious discrimination because the state will pay tuition for a private school but refuses to pay for a religious affiliated school. An attorney for Institute for Justice said, “a state empowering parents to choose the school that is best for their child and then says religious schools are excluded, just strikes at the core of religious freedom.” Maryland revoked the Bethel Christian Academy from participation in a voucher program benefitting low-income students and demanded the school repay more than $100,000. An attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom said, “Government may not discriminate against religious schools simply because it dislikes religious beliefs.” Bethel’s lawsuit is moving forward. (catholicsforfreedomofreligion.org; March 2020) Happening this Week Worship This Week

Monday, March 16: Mon. Lenten Weekday Adoration: 2:00-9:00pm (Church) Mar. 16 2 Kgs 5:1-15b / Lk 4:24-30 Tuesday, March 17: 8:00 Philip Ognibene Bingo: 7:00 - 11:00pm (PES) Youth Ministry: 7:30 - 9:00pm (Rm 212) 9:00 Rev. John James Newell

Wednesday, March 18: Tues. St. Patrick RCIA 7:00– 9:00pm (Room 106) Mar. 17 Dn 3:25, 34-43 Mt 18:21-35 Bereavement class 7:00 - 9:00pm (Rm 109) 8:00 Terry Schubert Friday, March 20: Stations of the Cross 9:30—10:00am (Church) 9:00 Carl Broglie Stations of the Cross 7:30—8:30pm (Church) Wed. St. Cyril Saturday, March 21: RCIA: 5:00 - 6:00pm (Church & Rm 106) Mar. 18 Dt 4:1, 5-9 / Mt 5:17-19 Bingo: 7:00 - 11:00pm (PES) 8:00 Suzanne Mattera (4th Anniv.) 9:00 Antonia & Donato Agostinelli (St. Joseph)

Thurs. St. Joseph Mar. 19 2 Sm 7:4-5a,12-14a,16 / Rom 4:13,16-18,22 /

Mt 1:16,18-21,24a Memorials this Week: March 15, 2020 8:00 Giuseppe, Franco, Mario & Rosa Commisso 9:00 Anna & Antonio Mozzone Fri. Lenten Weekday Mar. 20 Hos 14:2-10 / Mk 12:28-34 8:00 Rev. Paul Rie In Memory of Irene Lomuscio 9:00 Gerry Keller Sat. Lenten Weekday Mar. 21 Hos 6:1-6 / Lk 18:9-14 8:00 Rev. Msgr. John McCullagh

Sunday Worship - March 22, 2020 4th Sunday of Lent 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a / Eph 5:8-14 / Jn 9:1-41 Presider Mass Intention

5:00pm Fr. Joe / Theresa Durante, Gregorio Castellanos, Vito Palazzolo, Tina Dcn. Ricardo Cantone, Salvatore Giambo, Paul P. Federico, Helen Carreras.

8:00am Fr. Joe / Giovanni Iemma Dcn. Ricardo 10:00am Fr. Martin / Joseph DiBartolo Dcn. Irwin 12:00pm Fr. Gabriel People of the Parish Parish Social Ministry CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Pope Francis’ Ash Wednesday Message “Lent is not a time for useless sermons, but recognizing that our lowly ashes are loved by God. It is a time of grace, a time for letting God gaze upon us with love and in this way change our lives. We were put in this world to go from ashes to life. So let us not turn our hopes and God’s dream for us into powder and ashes. Let us not grow resigned. You may ask: “How can I trust? The world is falling to pieces, fear is growing, there is so much malice all around us, society is becoming less and less Christian…” All around us, we see the dust of death. Lives reduced to ashes, rubble, destructions, war. The lives of unwelcomed innocents, the lives of the excluded poor, the lives of the abandoned elderly. We continue to destroy ourselves, to return to ashes and dust. And how much dust there is in our rela- tionships! Even in the Church, the house of God, we have let so much dust collect, the dust of worldliness. In journeying towards Easter, we can make two passages: first, from dust to life, from our fragile humanity to the humanity of Jesus, who heals us. And once we have received his love, once we have wept at the thought of that love, we can make the second passage, by determining never to fall again from life into dust.”

Apply for the Earned Income Pantry: Toiletries, Hygiene and Cleaners Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit For those served by our Parish Social Ministry, personal hygiene products, such According to IRS¸ each year millions of eligible workers do not claim their credit missing out as toilet tissue, soap, shampoo, on millions of dollars. Even if workers don’t paper products, tissues, tooth- earn enough to owe income tax, they can quali- paste and toothbrushes, combs fy for these tax credits. Child qualifications for and brushes, deodorant, talcum workers: son, daughter, grandchild, stepchild, and baby powders, shaving products, laundry adopted child, foster child placed by govern- detergent, cleaning products are a blessing. ment agency. Check it out before it’s too late! Bring these any time to the food bin in the par- ish lobby. Thank you for your generosity!

Stations of the Cross Each Friday in Lent after the 9:00am Mass and again at 7:30pm. Deepen your faith over these holy days: March 20, 27, and April 3.

Act Now: Tell Albany To Support the #3For5 Campaign These are challenging times for Catholic Charities and its 400 affiliate agencies across NYS. With serious financial constraints on Catholic dioceses coupled with federal tax reform that disincentiviz- es charitable giving, the state's investment in the human services programs provided by Catholic Charities becomes ever more critical. Please take action and ask our Albany officials to endorse the #3For5 Campaign, which represents a 3% increase on contracts and rates for the next 5 years in or- der to ensure the survival of the not-for-profit human services sector. By neglecting the human ser- vices community, the state turns its back on the poor and vulnerable, the elderly and infirm, preg- nant women and babies, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, people suffer- ing from mental health issues or addiction, immigrants and refugees, and many more. While hard decisions must be made to balance the state budget, we must not do so on the backs of those with

the most need. Please take a minute and go to the New York State Catholic Conference at www.nyscatholic.org and click to urge our elected officials to support the #3For5 Campaign. Faith Formation Faith Formation Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00AM - 4:00PM. Saturdays while class is in session. Evening and weekend appointments available; call 631-661-9353

Journey: Youth Ministry Program for Students in Grades 6 - 8 Deepen your relationship with Jesus and faith and have fun and build friendships. Journey meets 1-2 Mondays per month through May from 7:00 - 8:30pm in Rooms 210/212 on: Mar. 23, Apr. 6 & 20, May 4 & 28. (Dates are subject to change) Email us at [email protected] for more information. Bring your friends & check out our Facebook Page @ Journey OLOG

Fundraising Pasta Dinner — All Invited! Sponsored by Confirmation Prep 8th Grade Students March 22, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, PES Hall Raffles, Prizes plus a 50/50 drawing! Donation: $5/person or $20/family! Includes pasta with sauce, meatballs, salad, beverages and dessert! NEW THIS YEAR! - Gluten Free Pasta & Meatballs Available!! Tickets available in the Faith Formation Office Mon - Fri, 9:00AM to 4:00PM & after Masses this weekend March 7th and 8th! Call 631- 661-9353 for more info! Our Confirmation students are raising money to help the poor. The Pasta Din- ner is one of our largest events. They serve the community by serving food at the dinner, setting up, cleaning up and selling raffles. Please support our Con- firmation students and have a great meal out!

Abstinence and Catholics who have reached their 14th year are Pantry: Beef, Poultry, Fish & Pork bound to abstain entirely from meat/poultry on For those served by our parish pantry meat such Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. Catholics between 18 - 59 inclusive are also as beef, poultry, fish & pork is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Fri- a blessing. Our Parish Social day. This means limiting oneself to a single full Ministry has a refrigerator & meal and avoiding food between meals. Two oth- freezer, and meat is appreciat- er light meals, which together do not equal a full ed. These items need to be meal, may be taken. Those whose work or health brought to our Parish Outreach would be impaired are excused from fast and ab- Office during office hours, stinence. Individual conscience should decide Monday - Thursday, 10:00am - 2:00pm. Thank proper cause for excuse. For more serious rea- you for your generosity. sons, one can excuse oneself from Ash Wednes- day and fast and abstinence. Ministries with Children and Families

Family Life Ministry If you’d like to help, contact Maria at [email protected]; [email protected] or call the office at 631-661-9353.

Tickets are going fast!!! Come See “Esther” - Oct. 23, 2020 See the L.I. Ducks on June 24 At the Sight & Sound Theater in Pennsylvania Our Children’s & Youth’s Choirs will sing. Tickets: $150 includes bus, lunch at “Good & Tickets: $10.00 Plenty” & ticket plus gratuities. See flyers in the Faith Formation Office or Only 50 tickets available! See flyers in the call 631-661-9353 for details. office or the website or call 631-661-9353!

Summer Camp is Coming! Registration for Kids of the Kingdom Program begins 3/31/2020 from 1:00 - 6:00 pm in Fr. Shanahan Hall. An action -packed experience for children 5 - 12. Includes snacks, enter- tainment or a field trip & lots of fun. Runs for 8 weeks: 6/29/2020 - 8/21/2020. Camp starts 8:30am & concludes at 4:30pm. (We also offer early drop off 7:30 -8:30am & aftercare from 4:30-5:30pm for an additional $5 per session.) For details, contact Doreen at 631-893-6564, Mon. - Fri., 1:00 - 6:00pm or email: [email protected].

Pantry: Nonperishable Food Items Knights of Columbus We need nonperishable food items for our food dis- “Music thru the Decades” Dance tribution: canned soups, pasta sauces, pasta, canned th vegetables, canned tuna, canned Sunday, Apr. 26 2 :00 - 6:00pm PES Hall beans, macaroni & cheese, Pasta- Shake off the Winter Doldrums and dust off Roni, Rice-A-Roni, Tuna Helper & the cob webs of your dance feet. Join us on our similar products, dried rice, dried trip down memory lane. A beans, canned fruit, dried soup or great way to put a little ramen, breakfast cereal, oatmeal, “Spring” in your step. Our DJ snacks, peanut butter, fruit juices, jelly, powdered will play selections from the milk, sugar, pudding, gelatin, flour, cake and 40s thru the 70s: Swing, Bop, brownie mix. These can be placed in the Food Pan- Rock ‘n’ Roll, Doo Wop, Disco try bin in the lobby any time that the Church is for your dancing pleasure. open. Thank you! We’ll have hot dogs, baked beans, salads, great desserts from our Ice The Altar Society Cream “Sunday” Bar, plus beer, wine and soda all for the great price of $25 pp. The Altar Society cares for the al- Tickets and Info: Rob Lodato (631) 747-0147 or tar linens used at Mass. We still Tom Humel (631) 455-3253. need help. If you are able to assist, please call the Parish Office at: 631 -587-5185 or email : [email protected]. Parish News Let Us Welcome Our Newly Baptized Into Our Parish Communion

Luke Declan John Guzman Emmie Sophia Verdesoto Please Pray for Those Who Have Died Robert Dean Heyward, Sr. Mary Lukash

Mass Intentions Unannounced Mass Intentions: offered almost immediately. They do not appear in the bulletin

and are not announced at any Mass. Please come to the Parish Office. Cost: $20

Multiple Mass Intentions: offered weekly alternating between the Saturday, 5:00 pm Mass and the Sunday, 8:00 am Mass.

Paschal Candle OLOG Daycare We invite up to 4 individuals or families to Open enrollment for all ages. memorialize the Paschal Candle Now hiring assistant teachers. Hours available: through a $150 donation. A 8:00 am - 1:30pm; 12:00 - 5:30pm beautiful way to remember your and 3:00 - 6:00pm loved one. For information or to Call Jeanmarie at 631-422-4681 memorialize, please leave your or email name, phone number and name [email protected] of the person/family to be memorialized with the donation at the Parish Office.

Memorial Opportunities to Remember or Honor Loved Ones Sanctuary Lamp: $10 Rose for Life: $10 Bread & Wine: $25 each Prayer Garden Paver: $75

You can also donate to our Altar Fund; cards available in the Office. For information: 631-587-5185.

Be a Winner and Support Our Calendar Raffle $25 ticket lasts 6 months.

3/9/20 3/10/20 3/11/20 3/12/20 3/13/20 3/14/20 3/15/20 385 384 284 390 229 376 92 More Parish News

Low Gluten Hosts Bringing Forth the Bread & Wine Available for those who cannot receive the To carry the offering gifts forward during normal hosts. See our sacristans, Anthony Mass, please arrive early before Mass or Fran, who are happy to accommodate. & let the ushers know.

Adult Confirmation by Joe Salzone Garden Workers Needed The Adult Confirmation Program is for men Planting season is coming, and and women who will be 18 or older on 5/31. we are looking for help in or- The program also satisfies the requirements to ganizing, getting the garden receive 1st Holy Communion for those who prepared, seeding and the con- haven’t already done so. tinuing care of the garden. So if you like getting dirty, this Attendance is required at the following 7 must be the job you are look- classes: 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, & ing for. If interested, please call the Parish 5/27, on Wednesdays from 7:00-9:00pm in Office at 631-587-5185. Room 109 Confirmation will take place on Pentecost Sunday (May 31st) at the 12:00PM Mass. If you know any person who has not been confirmed, please urge them to enroll in this Spring Stewardship in Action Program which begins the Wednesday after 2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal Easter Sunday. Attendance is free of charge. Goal: For more information, contact me the Parish Of- 94 Pledges to Date: .00 fice and leave a message or send an email to Average Pledge: $242.02 [email protected].

Thank you to those who donated to help Furnish a Retreat Center in our Convent! We need 100 - 125 chairs for the chapel and dining room at $30 each. We also need 10 - 12 large round tables at $80 each. Please mark your donation, “Convent,” and bring to it the Faith Formation Office. Another expense is upgrading the exit and emer- gency lighting which will cost several thousand dollars. If you are a business owner or are looking to make a charitable donation, please consider this. Please pray for the success of this exciting new use of our convent! Updates will follow. Any questions call Peggy: 631-661-9353. Please use the tear off below with your donation: Name ______Phone ______Amount ______Email ______Address ______“The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.” - The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, #112

Dear Friends and Parishioners, I am pleased to announce that our Sacred Music Society here at Our Lady of Grace has been a success. I thank those who have already generously contributed to our campaign and invite all to consider still con- tributing to our cause. All contributions will be used to directly support the music program at Our Lady of Grace including Ad- vent Lessons and Carols, concerts, additional brass, woodwind and string instruments for special liturgies for , Easter and Pentecost. Acknowledgments are made in programs for our concerts and special musical offerings throughout the year as well as in our parish bulletin. Contributions can be given at any of the following levels: ♦ St. Cecilia ($350 or more) ♦ Schola Cantorum ($200 to $349) ♦ Cantor’s Circle ($100 to $199) ♦ Psalmist’s Platform ($50 to $99) ♦ Chorister’s Guild ($25 to $49) ♦ Angelic Chorus (up to $24) It will be primarily through the support of the Sacred Music Society that we will be able to continue to pro- duce high-quality music in our church. To contribute, please mail or bring complete form below and a check made payable to “Our Lady of Grace” in an envelope to the Parish Office: Attn - Terence Purtell. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or (631) 587-5185. Please consider being a part of our music history at Our Lady of Grace! God bless you in advance for your generosity and support. - Terence

O L G M S 2019-2020

I wish to support the Sacred Music Society by making a donation of $______(please make checks payable to Our Lady of Grace)

Name:______

Address:______

E-mail:______

Phone#:______

This donation is:

In memory of ______

In honor of ______

Anonymous