Communities of Prayer

St. Patrick’s is home to the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, known as Court Queen of the Universe #1702, which was established in July 1955. Our CDA members participate in religious, charitable, and educational works in keeping with their motto: “Unity and Charity.”

Our CDA Court is a vibrant one. Parish members meet regularly to discuss upcoming local, State, and National CDA events, plan future activities, and socialize. There is also a CDA Novena Mass at 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of the month.

Our Court hosts fundraisers throughout the year, including a Birthright Baby Shower to help mothers and infants in need. CDA fundraisers make it possible for Catholic Daughters to offer scholarships to Catholic high school students, as well as help support several charitable organizations such as St. Patrick’s Parish Outreach Program, Hope House, Birthright, Habitat for Humanity, our seminarians, and many state and national CDA projects.

For information on becoming a CDA member, please email cdasmithtown@gmail.com.  We look forward to welcoming you as a future member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas!

The women’s arm of the Knights of Columbus is the Columbiettes. At St. Patrick’s the Holy Mother Mary Columbiettes received its charter on February 16, 1966. Rose Brenna was the organization’s first president. There were 24 original members. Today, members give of their time, talent, and treasure in order to give spiritual and material support to Holy Mother Church, to their brother knights, and to their community.

Members become involved for many reasons. Some have been inspired by their husbands’ efforts with the Knights of Columbus.

The Columbiettes hold regular meetings which include planning for annual fund raisers which enable the Columbiettes to support numerous charities. The members also prepare Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for the local outreach programs. Prior to each meeting, the Columbiettes gather to pray the Rosary for the intentions of the membership.

Among St. Patrick’s oldest parish organizations is the Rosary Altar Society. It was established by the founding pastor of St. Patrick’s, Fr. Adam Willman. The Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary was granted by Bishop Thomas Malloy on May 8, 1953.

Throughout the years, members have been dedicated to fulfilling the purpose of the Rosary Altar Society: “To praise and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and to secure her patronage by the recitation of the Rosary for the mutual spiritual benefit of all the members throughout the world.”

The only obligation for members is to pray fifteen decades of the Rosary each week and to include the other members of the Confraternity in their intentions. Confraternity members also volunteer their time caring for the altar and sanctuary in our church and decorating during different liturgical seasons.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal order of Catholic men. The Holy Mother Mary Council #3958 of the Knights was one of the first parish organizations at St. Patrick’s.

The Council was established in 1954 and chartered in 1955. Initially the Council had members from Smithtown, Hauppauge, Stony Brook, Commack, and Nissequogue, since many of the parishes in these areas had yet to be formed.

The purpose of the Knights of Columbus is to bring Catholic gentlemen together in a fraternal atmosphere for God, Church, and country, and to assist, whenever possible, people in distress. To become a Knight, members achieve different degrees or steps, with emphasis on God and Church, in conjunction with area councils.

The Holy Mother Mary Council is a very active one, sponsoring the annual Memorial Day Parade in Smithtown, holding fund raisers for families in need, serving breakfast to those traveling to the March for Life in Washington D.C., giving monetary contributions to seminarians, displaying “Keep Christ in Christmas” signs in Smithtown, awarding scholarships, delivering food to St. John of God and St. Joseph parishes on a weekly basis, serving hamburgers and hot dogs after our annual Beach Mass, and much more.

The Knights also have an excellent insurance program that brother Knights can participate in at a rate they can afford.

The purpose of the Legion of Mary is two-fold: The spiritual development of its members and advancing the reign of Christ through Our Lady. At St. Patrick’s, members of the Legion of Mary meet weekly on Tuesday mornings.

The Legion of Mary participates in the life of our parish in many ways. These include:

• Visits to the sick, elderly and homebound in our parish
• Rosary Maker groups
• Rosary prayer at local nursing homes
• Pro-Life efforts
• Hosting First Saturday Devotions
• Coordinating the Blessing of the Newly Baptized
• Home visitations with the Pilgrim Virgin Statue
• Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in homes
• Hosting special events such as the Night of Prayer for our country and investiture in the Brown Scapular

For more information on the Legion of Mary, email legionofmary@stpatricksmithtown.org

The Nocturnal Adoration Society is an association of Catholics dedicated to prayer before the Eucharist for the praise of God and for the needs of the world. Membership requires one thing only; to spend one hour, once a month during the hours of the night, in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed in church.

At St. Patrick’s, Nocturnal Adoration takes place on the third Saturday of each month beginning at 9 PM. Nocturnal Adoration offers an opportunity to respond to the plea of Jesus on the night before He died: “Could you not spend one hour with me?”
The Society is one of the oldest in our parish. St. Patrick’s became a parish in July of 1952. The Nocturnal Adoration Society was organized in October of 1953.

Nocturnal Adoration offers a unique opportunity to be in the presence of Jesus at a time when there are no distractions; to meditate on His passion, death and resurrection; to pray with Him to our Father; and to receive the strength of the Holy Spirit to continue His mission of love and compassion. Members pray for the intentions of society members worldwide, for world peace, for pro-life issues, vocations, victims of war and natural disasters, and our departed brothers and sisters.

All are invited to come and pray on the third Saturday night of the month.
For more information on the Nocturnal Adoration Society, please call Pat McDonnell at 631-265-5352 or email Pmac79@aol.com.

This message from Pope John Paul II’s Gospel of Life is one that St. Patrick’s Pro-Life Family is working to promote. They host a Pro-Life Holy Hour on the third Tuesday of the month which includes praying the Rosary, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. Many members also gather peacefully in front of the Planned Parenthood facility on Maple Avenue to pray the Rosary to end abortion.

Pro-Life Family Ministry also sponsors a breakfast on Pro-Life Sunday in October and many members participate in the Stand Up for Life event held in the afternoon on Pro-Life Sunday. Members also participate in the annual Night of Prayer for Life with other parishes across the country. Members also keep abreast of legislation affecting life issues and write letters to elected officials.

While it may seem that the fight to end legalized abortion is an overwhelming one, Pro-Life Family Ministry is making a difference. Through vigilance and hard work, legislative battles have been won. And through their prayerful presence at the Planned Parenthood facility, lives have been saved.

For more information on St. Patrick Pro-life Family Ministry contact Ignatius Rienzo at 631-265-1081.

Do you feel compelled to pray for your family? Do you have a heart for all the suffering in our world today? Do you have a desire to pray with other women for these intentions? Then maybe God is calling you to join our St. Anne Women’s Prayer Group.

Join us every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00-2:00pm in the Parish Center (formerly the Convent).

For more information, contact Ann 631-724-4749 or Joan 631-379-7438.

If you are between the ages of 21 and 35, please consider taking part in our Young Adults gatherings. Our Young Adults at the Knights of Columbus Hall located at 199 Smithtown Blvd. in Nesconset for socialization and faith sharing. Please watch our bulletin or website for future meeting dates.