Dear Parishioners:
As you know, priests are given a certain amount of time to serve in a given parish. When I was first ordained, the newly ordained priest was given a five-year assignment. However, in 1984, one did not become a pastor until he was ordained for almost 25 years. Times have changed and now priests become pastors within 8 years! Because of this, the bishop wants to give the newly ordained priest two different pastoral assignments before he is named a pastor. Nowadays, newly ordained priests are usually given a three-year assignment in their first assignment.
Having said that, I have some difficult news to announce. Fr. Louis Cona will be transferred to Our Lady of Victory Parish in Floral Park, effective Wednesday, June 24th. Fr. Daniel Opoku-Mensah from Our Lady of Victory Parish in Floral Park, will become our new associate priest here at St. Patrick Church on June 24th as well.
Fr. Cona arrived here in June 2023, and, believe it or not, it has already been three years since his arrival here at St. Patrick’s. I understand this is very sad news for us at St. Patrick’s, but we also need to remember the larger view of the diocese. Fr. Cona will be a pastor in the next few years, and it is important for him to have another assignment before that occurs. I am sure that we all want Fr. Cona to be as prepared as possible when he is named a pastor and this new assignment will help that take place.
We will be having a “Farewell Mass” for Fr. Cona on SUNDAY, JUNE 14th at the 12:00 PM Mass. A reception in Canning Hall will follow. I hope you will plan on being there.
Happy Memorial Day! As I write this letter, it is 78 degrees and sunny and I hope the weather holds for the weekend – and the parade, of course! Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day” and it began after the Civil War. After the Civil War, General John Logan called for a nation-wide day to honor those who had died in war to defend their country. Memorial Day did not become a federal holiday until 1967. While today, Memorial Day, signals the start of the summer season and is a weekend filled with sales in stores, barbecues, etc.— let us also spend some moments of reflection to pray for those who have died in defense of our country and for our freedoms, especially the freedom of religion.
One of the customs associated with Memorial Day is the wearing of red poppies. In 1915, Moina Michael, touched by reading the poem, In Flanders Fields, began the idea of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day to remember those who died in the war. This custom quickly spread not just in the United States but around the world. Money donated for the red poppies was used to help veterans in need, war orphans, etc. In 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), became the first veterans’ organization to sell the poppies. In 1948, the Post Office honored Moina Michael for her role in the national red poppy movement by issuing a red three-cent stamp with her likeness on it.
During this weekend filled with sales in stores, barbecues, etc., let us also spend some time of reflection and prayer for those who have died in defense of our country and for our all our freedoms!
Remember: Together, we can do something beautiful for God.
In Christ,
Fr. Brian