St Patrick's of Smithtown
Welcome to the Parish
This year, the winner of the Car Raffle (our parish’s major fundraiser for the year) will take home a fuel-efficient hybrid car:
The 2008 Toyota Prius!
(or $15,000 cash)
Raffle tickets will go on sale after Masses on the weekend of May 17th & 18th. Second prize is a seven-day stay at any Wyndam Time Share Resort and two Southwest Airlines tickets. Third prize will be $1,000 Cash for Gas.
R C I A ?
- Are you a baptized Catholic who was never confirmed?
- Are you someone baptized in another faith, but interested in becoming Catholic?
- Are you someone who was never baptized?
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is a process for individuals who desire to complete their sacraments or who would like to enter into the the Catholic Church. Over the years, St. Patrick’s has welcomed Baptists, Lutherans, Jews, Methodists and Muslims into the Church, through this program. Those who complete their sacraments and those entering the Church have one thing in common, they are touched by the Holy Spirit. The program starts in September and ends at the Easter Vigil. Are you or is someone you know interested in entering into the Church? If so, please call Fr. Patrick or Becky at the Rectory at 631-265-2271.
Adult Faith Formation Presents:
St. John in Exile
Wednesday, May 28th
at 7:30 PM
in the Emmaus Room
As part of the Adult Faith Formation Program , all parishioners are invited to a showing of the film "St. John in Exile", with Dean Jones as Saint John in this intimate, inspiring one-man presentation of John in exile on Patmos. Full of humor, strong in spirit, and resolutely committed to Christ, John shares his account of the events that changed the course of human history---and challenges us with his last words before his death: "Little children, love one another."
Please call Becky at the rectory (631-265-2271)
to reserve your seat.
St. Patrick School
would like to thank all
who particpated in supporting our
Third Annual Spring Car Show Fundraiser
Please view the complete list of excellent sponsors and participants who deserve our thanks and support.
Hospitality Sunday
Sunday, May 18th
At 10 AM, after the 9 AM Mass
St. Patrick’s will celebrate Hospitality Sunday. Please join with fellow parishioners in Canning Hall for coffee and cake. We look forward to seeing all of you there. Cost: $2.00. For information, call Gail at 360-1860.
St. Patrick Photo Gallery Updated
The parish photo album has been updated with pictures from life in our Parish during this past Advent and Christmas pictures from life in our Parish during this Lent and Easter seasons. It includes photo albums dedicated to the services and ceremonies celebrated in the Parish; events at St. Patrick School, events at our Faith Formation program; other youth and sports events; Pro-Life events, the St. Patrick’s Day Dance and more.
There is so much happening in our parish that it is difficult to
cronicle it all.
If anyone in the parish has any good photos of parish and/or community
related events or people that you would like to see included in this
photo gallery, please send them to us along with related information on
the time, place, people and events. You can drop them off at the
rectory or email them to:
2008 Catholic Ministries Appeal
The Hands of Christ-supporting the Community Around Us
Catholic Minististries supports many activities and programs in the
church, the communitity and the world. These include Education in our
various elementary and high schools; Formation for religious
instruction and guidance for our children, adult parishioners, those
newly entering our faith and our various Seminarians; our Parishes;
Catholic Charities; and Pastoral Outreach.
Please consider making a gift to this program that supports our church,
our faith, our community and our world.
IN GRATITUDE
We are grateful to all who gave so generously
to our church in our time of need.
The fire was devastating to all who worship and work here.
With God’s help, we will rise from the ashes
as we continue in our commitment to help the poor in Wyandanch.
Fr. Bill Brisotti, Pastor
The Staff at Gerald Ryan Outreach
and
The Staff and Parishioners of
OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL PARISH
Reflections on Pope Benedict XVI’s Visit to the United States
Pope Benedict XVI clearly made an impact on our country with his visit last week. Here are reflections from two from our parish who attended events during the Holy Father’s six-day sojourn.
Defensive Driving Class
A Defensive Driving Course will be held at St. Patrick’s Monday and Wednesday, May 12th and 14th from 7 to 10 PM in St. Patrick School Room 108. Participants must attend both nights to receive credit. The fee is $45. Please remember to bring a pen and your driver’s license. To register or for more information, please call Bill Owens at Safety Education, 845-756-2481.
Monday & Wednesday, May 12th & 14th
at 7 to 10 PM in Room 108
Something for Seniors
is of to
Belmont Raceway
Meet in St. Patrick’s Parking Lot at 10AMPrice of $60 per person
Trip is open to all parishioners.
Call Joanna at 439-0551 for details.
Something for Seniors
It will be here before you know it. Sign up now with some of our St. Patrick Youth Summer Programs and enjoy some summer fun, fellowship and faith!
visit the St. Patrick Youth website
www.stpatsyouth.com
or call 631-360-0185
Scholarships Being Offered
6th Annual Donald J. Burns Scholarship
The family of the late Donald J. Burns, Past Grand Knight of Holy Mother Mary Knights of Columbus Council and Assistant Fire Chief F.D.N.Y. has again granted permission to the council to award four $500 academic scholarships in his name. Mr. Burns was among the fallen heroes of the F.D.N.Y. who gave their lives at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 (learn more...) .
Happy Birthday! Today we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Once the followers of Jesus received the Holy Spirit they went out and shared their faith with others. The Church went from being a closed gathering of believers who had to struggle with the pain of Jesus’ crucifixion to being a community that opened its doors, minds and hearts to all people. They had the joy of the resurrection appearances which ended when Jesus ascended into heaven. Now on the Feast of Pentecost they experienced the fulfillment of his promise to send the Holy Spirit. No longer were they a closed group gathering in hope and fear. They began sharing the good news of Jesus with more and more people. Their faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives built up their community into the Church. They continued Jesus’ work of spreading the kingdom. That is why we are here today and why we are the Church today. Pentecost was the birth of the Church and it has grown over the 2,000 years of its existence.
The presence of the Holy Spirit is very hopeful and encouraging in our lives. The Spirit is the hope and encouragement that is so needed and longed for in our world. Last weekend we celebrated the sacrament of the sick at the 10:30 Mass and on Monday at the Nesconset Nursing Home. The Holy Spirit inspires those who are carrying the burden of sickness and suffering through life to come and experience the life-giving presence of Jesus in this sacrament of healing. Many times people who are going in for an operation or procedure come to one of the priests after Mass and ask for a blessing. They are invited at that time to come and receive the sacrament of the sick. It is always an inspiring and awesome experience to celebrate this sacrament. The prayers are all about healing: “Lord Jesus Christ you shared in our human nature to heal the sick and save us all. Mercifully listen to our prayers for the physical and spiritual health of our brother/sister who we have anointed in your name. May your protection console him/her and make him/her well. Let him/her find hope in suffering for you have given him/her a share in your passion. For you are Lord forever and ever. Amen.” Previous to that their forehead and palms of their hands are anointed with the oil of the sick. There always seems to be an atmosphere of peace,comfort and hope each time I celebrate this sacrament. The Spirit of God’s goodness and love is present.
Another area where we see the presence of the Spirit is in our Parish Outreach Ministry. So many people are touched and helped in their time of need. That is due to the goodness and love of our Outreach Staff and your goodness and generosity. The Spirit constantly sends someone who wants to help and is generous. No matter how much we give through our Outreach Office, the well never runs dry. That is because the Spirit of God is leading and guiding us. When good is being done it inspires us to get involved. I thank all who run our Outreach Office and all those who support this life-giving ministry in our parish through their time, talents and resources. Your simple gifts of food and donations to the Hungry and Homeless collection are very helpful. We “preach” the good news not so much with our words, but with our actions and attitudes. That is the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of joy and optimism is encouraging as we continue our efforts in our major fundraiser for the year. This year we will have an Irish Pub Night on Friday, June 27th with Andy Cooney as the entertainer. We are also raffling off a car as the Grand Prize that evening. I ask for your support with the chance books that have been mailed to you. Whatever you can do is a great help. This year we are “going green” as the car is a hybrid, a Toyota Prius, that gets 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. Yes, the sticker says it does better in local driving. There is also the added bonus of being able to drive in the HOV lane of the LIE with a Clean Pass Vehicle sticker. Only one person will win, but we are all winners in the parish through the funds that are raised through this raffle. It will be a great help in paying off our debt for the new church which at this point is just under $700,000. The second prize is due to the generosity of a family in our parish that has given us a week at any one of 70 time shares. The third prize is very practical - $1,000 cash for gas, something we can all use as the price of gas keeps increasing. I ask for your support and thank you for all you do throughout the year.
Father Walden
The Roman Catholic Community of St. Patrick, Smithtown sees itself as:
- The People of God, The Body of Christ.
- Enlightenment by the Word of God.
- Nourished by the Life of Christ in the Sacraments.
- Supported by our love for and our forgiveness of each other.
- Empowered to bring the love, justice and peace of Christ to our families, our neighbors, our friends, our enemies, the poor and the powerless.
- Called to reach out to the unchurched and the non-practicing members of our community and to assist in the spiritual, intellectual and social growth of all whose lives we touch.
