Award-winning director, Charles Francis Kinnane and his team of passionate and dedicated film-makers tell the true stories of God's grace through the ministries of the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey in this groundbreaking seven part web series. Called one of the most influential Catholic film series of our lifetime, these short films have inspired more than 1.2 million people worldwide; bringing the light of Christ to the faithful.

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After serving in our parish for the past three months, Fr. George Thomas has returned to his studies in Belgium. This week’s column was written by Fr. George.

“Live before God as if there were no God.” These are the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a famous German pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident. His words quoted above can easily be misconstrued as something profane. However, he was lashing out against the so-called disciples of Christ who remained so without actually doing anything worthy of the disciples of Christ. Such namesake disciples are happy to leave everything into God’s hands without even lifting a little finger to help their fellow beings or trying to bring about any change in the world that they are living in. Bonhoeffer, on the other hand, advocated a radical discipleship which essentially leads to social action and extends to the willingness to die for one’s belief. Hence the words – live before God as if there is no God.

We are all alive because of the goodness and love of our parents and the goodness and love of God who shared His creative powers with and through our parents. As we grow, many people share knowledge, experience, love, and faith with us. There are so many people to be grateful for. Today we celebrate Catechetical Sunday in our diocese and remember and ask God’s blessing on those who are involved in our Religious Education Program as Catechists. Our young people, like all of us, have an inner hunger for God and His love. That hunger is nourished by parents first of all. As children come to school age, we help them to grow in their knowledge and love of God by formal classes. But the most important thing we can do for them is to show by word and example how good God is and how we experience His goodness and love when we come to Mass, pray, and encounter Him in the other six Sacraments. A true teacher is one who not only gives good information, but leads by example. Enthusiasm, commitment, joy, and thanksgiving are essential if our young people are going to experience the goodness and love of God in their lives.

Why won’t my kids listen? How can I be a better spouse? Where can I find a good friend? What can I do about my children’s allergies? How can I find time to pray? Why is my home such a mess? Why can’t I be a better mother. . . like her?

God cares about all of your motherhood matters, both big and small. Jesus tells us that the “very hairs of your head are all numbered” and that God knows when a sparrow falls. “Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7). When you are drowning in diapers or losing arguments to your tweens/teens, God is there with you and he cares about all of these matters.

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One of the challenges we face is to control our tempers. When we lose our temper we might feel smug and superior for a brief time or we might feel awful and sorry. Ironically one of the best things we can do is to lose our tempers in the sense of never allowing them to erupt again. That is not easy. The media and society we live in each have a very angry and violent tone. We have road rage, political hatred, and negative words about so many people and situations. People disappoint us and if they are not close friends or relatives we so easily speak of them in disparaging ways. Today’s Gospel presents us three parable about people who search for and find what was lost. In the first one the shepherd searches for and finds his lost sheep. He is filled with joy. In the second one the woman loses a valuable coin and searches diligently until she finds it. Like the shepherd she is elated. The third parable is the one about the prodigal son. Here we see the ultimate treasure we can lose and find - the loss of a loved one through misunderstanding, greed, or jealousy. When a close relationship is lost and abandoned there are no real feelings of joy. We think, “What did I do wrong?” “Can’t he/she see what went wrong?” “Do I want to work toward reconciliation and reunion?” “What can I do to bring healing and love once again?” The answer is simple but not always so easy to live out: we need humility and love.

In this presentation, Matthew Leonard focuses on the new idea of love proclaimed by Christ and how it gives meaning to human suffering, penance, and ultimately death. Sounds a bit dark, doesn't it? But it's not! By looking at these issues we'll discover the secret to how we can "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Phil 4:4) just like St. Paul, no matter what happens.

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Recently I was reading a book “Simple Happiness” by Jim Ryan, the man who will give our parish retreat this coming October 28th to 30th. Each chapter is brief and offers a lot of food for thought. The chapter that gave me a lot of time to think and be grateful was entitled, “Follow Your Bliss.” Ryan defines bliss as “that which makes you feel most alive.” Playing golf, going shopping, a new car, going to a concert or show are all things that make us happy. But bliss is far more than that. When are we most alive? Simply put, when we are with those we love and those who love us. A few weeks ago I was on vacation for a week with my two sisters and their husbands. We spent time going to a pool, fishing, playing cards, cooking and eating together. Since one sister lives in Maryland and the other in Illinois, it was a special time just to enjoy one another’s company. I felt very happy and grateful for that time with them. To me that is an example of bliss. I had the same experience last week when I went out to Greenport to see my brother and his family. He is seventeen years younger than me and works hard. We just hang out with one another and experience that bond that only family can bring. What is most simple is most profound and blissful - the joy of one another’s presence.

Prayer as a Conversation

Prayer is one of the most basic elements of a life of faith, but sometimes it feels like a one-way "conversation." Dr. Gray shows how the solution to this problem can be found in the Scriptures.

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Msgr. Walden asked me to write a column this week. I have a degree in Biblical Theology from Rome and I would like to share these thoughts with you.

Last Sunday in the Gospel of Luke 13:22-30 someone said to Jesus, “Lord will those who are saved be few? Christ did not give a direct answer to this question as to how many would be saved, nevertheless it was made very clear to him and to all of us that each one’s salvation is in his own hands. All those who accept Christ, his teaching and the help he has made available to them, will enter the Kingdom of God. On the other hand, those who are excluded from that eternal kingdom will have only themselves to blame. God invites all people to heaven. He gives all the help necessary to every person, but, because we have free will which God cannot force, some will abuse that freedom and choose wrongly.

Christ mentions the narrow door through which we must enter into God’s kingdom. This means that we must exercise self-restraint and mortification and this we do when we respect and keep his commandments. When we are called to judgment it will be too late to shout “Sir, open for us.” We should have sought his mercy and his forgiveness during our earthly life, and he would have granted it.

Diversity is part of life. We encounter people who look different, think differently, have different goals, different likes, and different dislikes. As I see our nation today, we are in a state of turmoil because differences of opinion and goals have led to anger, distrust, and hatred, which in turn only divides us further. Diversity is good when we are open to the truth and the goodness in one another.

In the Gospel last Sunday Jesus said, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49-53) What is Jesus, the source and hope of all unity, saying here? Two weeks ago Fr. George wrote a great column here about being judgmental. One of the burdens and challenges of being human is being limited in so many ways. To deny this leads to closed minds and hearts. It is only when we look outside of ourselves that we become educated, enriched, and inspired by others. We are members of the Catholic Church because we look outside of ourselves to Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Those are the very words Jesus uses to describe who He is. To embrace Him and trust that He is the Way, Truth, and Life puts us on the path to unity, not only with Him but also with one another.

In this compilation of three episodes from his classic television program, "Life is Worth Living," Bishop Fulton Sheen delivers his thoughts on various elements of the Catholic Faith with his ever-present humor, animated presentation, and captivating mode of speaking. In the first segment, "Angels," Bishop Sheen explicates the nature of angels and the meaningful role they play in our world. In the second, "The Touch of Your Hand," Bishop Sheen delves into the beautiful truth that through His love, God makes us lovable, and we can effect this same transformation in our neighbor. Lastly, in "Caring," Bishop Sheen insists on the need to love our visible neighbors, and through these caring acts, love our invisible God.

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In this week’s pastor’s column, Peggy Soviero, our Director of Religious Formation for Levels 5-8, shares the story of a young mother and her now grown son who were assisted by our LifeNet program. It is an excellent follow up to Fr. George’s column two weeks ago about making judgments.

“All good works take place when we are open to hear where God calls us, accept his challenge and put it into action.” Twenty-three years ago, I had the opportunity, with the help of the pro-life coordinator here at St. Patrick’s, to put God’s challenge into action by forming a program called “LifeNet.” This program was established to assist and support young girls and their families experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. LifeNet seeks to reveal that there are alternatives to abortion and that the volunteers of LifeNet stand strong and ready to help them bring life to its term. We, in LifeNet, continue to “be there” for those who need us.

Catholic psychotherapist Deacon Dr. Bob McDonald provides a spiritual and psychological prescription for overcoming the sinful anger that poisons the mind of Christ within, causing alienation and division. His practical wisdom shows that only by learning how to forgive can we hope to promote healing and understanding in our relationships and enjoy the blessings of a forgiving heart.

This is a moving, artistic portrayal of the life of Jewish philosopher, Catholic convert, and Carmelite martyr, Edith Stein. It captures the interior struggles of this extraordinary woman, as well as the great conflicts from her decision to convert to Catholicism. Deeply influenced by the writings of St. Teresa of Avila, she joined the Carmelites, took the name of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was put to death in Auschwitz in 1942, and canonized by John Paul II in 1998. This film shows how two worlds, the Jewish and the Christian, were united within her in absolute coherence in her search for truth. She has become one of the most beautiful symbols in a horrifying period of history because she sought to transform her sufferings under the Nazis into a journey through the “interior castle” as the way to mystical union with God. One phrase, “love conquers fear,” embodies her philosophy of life. Shot in a kind of rich expressionist realism, it’s backed by poignant chant music that makes every frame haunting and alive. Actress Maia Morgenstern (The Passion of the Christ) stars in a powerful performance as Stein.

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This week's letter is from Bishop John O. Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre

Dear Brother and Sisters in Christ:
Our Church continues to suffer as a result of past sins of sexual abuse of minors. Victim survivors of abuse and their families also continue to carry the terrible effects of that abuse. We pray that the fire of the Holy Spirit may descend upon the Church to purify and sanctify her. It is also important that we are all aware of recent developments that will cause uncertainty and present serious challenges for us in the months and perhaps years ahead.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Child Victims Act (CVA) into law last February. The CVA suspends for one year any statute of limitations associated with alleged sexual abuse of a minor. This law will allow currently time-barred lawsuits to be brought against individuals as well as public and private institution, regardless of how many years or even decades ago the abuse may have taken place.

This week’s Pastor’s column was written by Fr. George Thomas, who is working in our parish over the summer months.

When Msgr. Walden asked me to write the From the Pastor’s Desk column for the parish bulletin, I was a bit confused about what to write. Then one of my classmates back from Kerala called me up. While we were talking, he asked me to evaluate the cultures of India, Belgium (where I am studying) and the United States. Even though it sounded innocuous, the more I thought about it, the more I was convinced of the complications involved in answering it. This gave me an idea about the subject to write about for the bulletin. But when I started to mull over what to write and how to write, I started feeling like “Oh God, what have I gotten myself into!” On the periphery, it seemed to be like a very simple task, a piece of cake, so to speak. However, as I began to seriously think about it, it dawned on me that there are so many layers to the issue at stake and that I know next to nothing about these cultures. Evaluating these different cultures will necessarily entail some judgements. A judgement needs to be objective for it to have some semblance of authenticity. And in order to be objective, a lot of research has to be done to understand the nuances and subtleties involved. At the very onset, I have to humbly say that I am not qualified to make such a judgement. Nevertheless, I am using my ignorance to prove a point that is very dear to the heart of the New Testament and something that appears time and again in the teachings of Jesus and his apostles – do not judge.

Join Brother Francis in this entertaining and guidance-filled presentation that will inspirechildren to deepen their faith by praying the Rosary! This episode includes:

• The prayers of the Rosary as well as the Apostles’ Creed—each wonderfullyvisualized!
• The Annunciation—an animated portrayal of Mary’s joyful submission to God’s will.Two visualized songs:
• “I Love to Pray”—an energetic, catchy song that will encourage children tocommunicate with God anywhere and anytime!
• “The Our Father”—an uplifting musical rendition that celebrates our Heavenly Father’spresence in our daily lives!

Besides being a lot of fun, Brother Francis: The Rosary is a captivating way to help children use their hearts andminds in prayer.

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