When we don’t like people, we can usually find a reason to justify our thoughts. The current controversy of the process of investigating Judge Kavanaugh as a candidate for our Supreme Court is a clear example of that. One side is convinced that he is guilty of some kind of sexual indiscretion in his past, while those who support him are convinced that he is innocent. Where is the truth? That kind of situation is seen in today’s Gospel. The disciples complain to Jesus that someone who is not part of their tight-knit group is doing what they want to do, he is driving out demons in Jesus’ name. What is Jesus’ response? He simply says that anyone who is driving out demons in His name is doing good.

In response to actual questions many people have asked him about angels and demons, well-known author and philosophy professor Peter Kreeft separates fact from fantasy, and myth from reality, as he answers 100 common questions about these spiritual beings. Based on a very popular college course he teaches on this subject, this book responds to the incredible amount of interest in angelic beings and attempts to clear up some of the misinformation abounding in the numerous books today on what we know about these mysterious spirits.

As much as we seek peace and security in our daily lives, there always seems to be another obstacle to overcome, situation to be resolved, or need that we know we should respond to. In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus seems to complicate the road to inner and outer peace as He says, “the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.”

How do we get from distrust, disillusionment, and disappointment to trust, goodness, and unity? Every day we are bombarded with messages of distrust, disillusionment, and disappointment. That is the work of evil, the devil himself. We are still facing the crisis caused by members of the clergy who abused children. That evil makes the shadow of distrust, disillusionment, and disappointment darker when we think or speak about the Church.

In our technological world, we are constantly being spoken to either verbally or by the written word. Live TV reports, e-mail, texting and a host of other means on the Internet are at our fingertips. But no matter how often we listen to or read a message, the best communication takes place face-to-face, in person.

Fr. Shibi and Fr. Jobin continue to be in contact with the people of their state where so much damage and loss of life has taken place because of the flooding. Their report this week speaks of how their fellow priests are intricately involved in the rescue, feeding and housing their people, and their future efforts and goals. As you read this column I am sure you like me will be touched by such goodness and be part of it through your prayers and donations.

This week I have asked Fr. Shibi to write about the devastation caused by floods in the part of India he is from. If Fr. Shibi and Fr. Jobin were not here they would be in the pictures that accompany this article. They would be with their brother priests walking through the flood waters to rescue their people. Next weekend (September 1st & 2nd), we will have a second collection after Communion to help the victims of this natural tragedy. Lives have been lost, houses destroyed, and roads wiped out. We pray for the victims and have the opportunity to help financially. Fr. Shibi and Fr. Jobin are a gift to us and to their people.

In place of this week's pastor's column, we have a tribute to Fr. Harold Noviello.

In many ways, Fr. Harold Noviello’s life was quite typical for someone raised in Smithtown. He attended St. Patrick School and St. Anthony’s High School, followed by C.W. Post College. He then pursued a successful career in accounting. Life was not without its challenges - in Fr. Noviello’s case, serious health issues. But along the way, there were signs pointing in a different direction and a heart receptive enough to respond.

Life is far more than existence. Just because we are a living breathing being does not mean we are fully alive. The fullness of life comes from loving and being loved. That is so basic. Without people to love us and care for us, without people we can love and care for, life is dull, empty, boring, and pretty much meaningless. On July 25th our Bishop John Barres issued a pastoral letter commemorating the 50th anniversary Pope Paul VI’s encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life).

This week's column was written by Associate Pastor Fr. Sean Magaldi.

The thought of becoming a priest was undoubtedly a daunting one. It was hard enough telling family and friends, but the idea of telling a stranger was slightly terrifying. I remember going to an event with my brother knowing that small talk was inevitable. As a result, I began to think about what I was going to say when they asked me what do I do. I figured I could say school, and hope they didn’t ask me what I was studying. When we arrived, we began talking to a group of people. The self-fulfilling prophecy came true, and someone asked, “So what do you do?” My brother, who did not miss a beat, answered, “He’s going to be a priest.” They gave the polite response, “Oh isn’t that nice.” They asked a few more polite questions like, “How long does that take?” and “Can they send you anywhere in the world?” Eventually, the conversation moved on and I felt like I could take a sigh of relief.

This week's column was written by our Youth Minister Theresa LoCascio and Associate Pastor Fr. Sean Magaldi.

Theresa

I vividly remember, about two years ago, as a junior in college, contemplating the million-dollar question: “What does God want me to do in my life?” After much aggravation with not getting the answer I desired through prayer, I stumbled upon a quote by Fr. Pedro Arrupe that help guide me on the correct way of thinking. He states “Nothing is more practical than finding God than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way…fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.” After reading the quote, it wasn’t that I had a divine revelation, but more of a clear outlook of what needed to happen to know if I was doing the will of God.

This week's column was written by our Associate Pastor, Fr. Sean Magaldi.

In my three years as a priest, one thing I have become even more convinced of is the power of the Sacraments. I have seen this very vividly through my role as moderator of our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program. It has been a great joy for me to welcome dozens of people into the Church, as well as help many Catholics complete the Sacraments of Initiation.

As smart as we are as human beings, which all our technological and scientific advances attest to, we are all too often doomed to repeat mistakes in our dealings with one another and as nations. This past Monday, President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. A key issue is abortion. Will the new Justice be the vote needed to overturn Roe vs. Wade which legalized abortion on January 22, 1973? Critical issues are very divisive at times. This is nothing new to our nation.

This week's column was written by our Associate Pastor, Fr. Sean Magaldi.

As I got into the car, I immediately started to regret my decision. I was trying to think of any excuse I could come up with to back out of my promise. I was on my way to join my cousins at a high school youth group at a neighboring parish. My aunt had spent the last few weeks telling my mother and I that I “need to attend.” In a moment of weakness, I promised my mother that I would go once to try it out. We arrived at the parish, and I exited the car. I said goodbye to my mother and walked down the stairs into the basement of the parish.

There are many demands made on our time, energy, attention, and resources every day. Some we respond to readily while others cause us to take a step back to think about what is involved. Today’s Gospel shows us how willing and ready Jesus is to respond to those in great need. Many times His response in today’s world happens through our efforts to be compassionate, helpful, reconciling, and loving. But where do compassion, helpfulness, reconciliation, and loving stop and begin to change to feelings that unfair and undeserving demands are being made on us? We can close our eyes, ignore the call for concern and help, say we have already done enough, or try to justify not getting involved.