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.
Calling all
St. Patrick School Alumni
St. Patrick’s School has been preparing children to maximize their potential and to lead a life firmly anchored in their belief and trust in Christ for about 40 years. As we think back on those years, one thought keeps coming to mind, We miss you! St. Patrick’s would love to be able to inform you of the latest happenings at the school and special alumni events.
If you were a student of St. Patrick’s please consider sending us your contact information (Name, Address, Phone & Email). Or if you have a family member or friend who attended the school, please let them know that we are "Calling All Alumni".
Please drop off or mail your contact information to the rectory. You can also call at 631-265-2271 or email stpatrick@stpatricksmithtown.org
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...) .
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.
Tickets go on sale this weekend for St. Patrick’sIrish Pub Night!
Friday, June 27that 7:30 PM
St. Patrick’s gym/auditorium
Tickets: $50 per person
(This event is sure to sell out quickly!
Buy your tickets early!)
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Irish Heritage on our first
Irish Pub Night
featuring recording artist & entertainer
Andy Cooney!
Enjoy great food and fellowship as well as the talents of gifted musician, songwriter, vocalist and entertainer, Andy Cooney. Dubbed by The New York Times as " Irish America’s favorite son," Andy is making his mark not only with Irish music, but also on the country music scene. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Andy Cooney, right here at St. Patrick’s!
The winner will receive a 2008 Toyota Prius (Hybrid)
or $15,000 cash
Corned Beed & Cabbage
Roast Beef & Mashed Potatoes
Chicken Dish
Garden Salad
Dessert
Coffee & Tea
Open Bar
Join us in saying thank you toSister Patricia Ann Kenney
Friday, June 6that the 9 AM Mass
After 49 years of teaching first grade, 34 of them here at St. Patrick’s Sr. Patricia Ann Kenney will retire at the end of the school year in response to God’s call. She will leave behind many enduring memories: The saint speeches by her first- grade students in celebration of All Saints Day, the spelling tests for St. Patrick’s Day (Can you spell shillelagh and leprechaun?), and the many, many Bible stories geared for young minds (as well as a few Irish stories). Her impact on her young students is a testimony to the power of a Catholic school education. Sr. Patricia has been a Sister of St. Joseph for 52 years. Her teaching career began at Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park where she taught for ten years. She then taught for five years at Sacred Heart in North Merrick before coming to St. Patrick’s. If you or one of your children was fortunate enough to have Sr. Patricia in first grade, or if her presence in our school and parish has impacted you in any way, come and show your appreciation!
St. Patrick’sSays a Fond Farewell to
Seminarian John Ryan
Sunday, June 1stat the 10:30 AM Mass
Reception to follow
in Canning Hall
It has truly been a pleasure to have Seminarian John Ryan in our parish for his pastoral year. He has touched many lives in his work in St. Catherine’s Hospital, RCIA, Religious Formation, Adult Education Class, Baptism Class, the Legion of Mary, conducting wake services, delivering Tuesday morning homilies, and his presence at many, many Masses. Join us in saying thank to John as he moves on in his priestly formation:
Don’t Miss our Special
After Confirmation Celebration
Friday, May 30th
from 7 to 9 PM
Meet in the Youth Office
Join us for a fun and exciting evening
with our Youth Community!
Music - Games - Activities
Come and Bring a Friend!!!!!Please RSVP to Religious Formation at 724-7454
Knights of Columbus Fraternal Benefits Night
Holy Mother Mary Knights of Columbus will hold an open house for all parish families on Friday, May 30th at 7 PM at the Council Hall, 130 Lake Ave., Nesconset (just north of RTE. 347). The evening will include door prizes, coffee and refreshments. Come and learn in a fun and interactive way about all the Fraternal Benefits the Knights have to offer to Catholic families. For more information, call Tom Keane at 882-7755 or Eric Izzo at 734-2850.
Saturday & Sunday
May 31st & June 1st
Sisters & Brothers who have been involved in educational, healthcare and social ministry in the Diocese of Rockville Centre need your help. Stipends earned by young members of religious communities of Sisters and Brothers no longer provide enough income to support elderly members of their communities. The number of elderly Religious in assisted living or nursing facilities continues to rise, and, as we all know, healthcare costs also continue to soar. Please come prepared on the weekend of May 31st & June 1st to assist the elderly Religious with a once a year gift, as generous as your means will allow. These gifts will be distributed among the 30 religious communities that serve our Diocese. Contribution envelopes are included in your monthly envelope packet or are available in the back of the church. On behalf of the Religious who serve in our parishes and hospitals, thank you for your generosity.
Something for Seniors
is off to
Belmont Raceway
Wednesday, June 11th
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 631-724-1261
I am who I am and I am where I am because of the grace, love and goodness of God. Each one of us is unique and part of the world. It is awesome to realize that as individuals we are part of human history in our world. We made no request to be conceived or born. Life is a pure gift. We had nothing to do with or say about the creation of the world. That too is a pure gift. It is so easy to take our life and to take the world we live in for granted.
In the meditation book, Christ in a Grain of Sand, the author Neil Vaney says, “Being moved to see with God’s eyes also allows an objectivity to accept that I was not, or never will be, the center of the world or universe. God’s love extends to all history and all creatures. My part in that is unique, but limited.” Simply because we are alive, we are part of God’s plan of creation and love for those he created in his own image and likeness. And just as we are part of the world we live in, so we are called and destined by God to be part of his life and his people forever in the world to come.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. We celebrate the gift of Jesus himself to us in the Eucharist. Not only did he become one with us in our humanity and part of human history as we are, he gave his life on the cross for us. That act of love has changed the course of human history and put God’s plan for us and our world back on track. In Jesus we are given a new perspective, God’s perspective, on our lives and the world we live in. Most importantly we are given a new way to see one another and all other human beings. All people, past, present and future, are part of human history. Jesus came to make us one with him, bring us into the intimacy of his life with the Father and sent us his Holy Spirit. Today we give thanks for his presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. As we eat this bread which is his Body and drink this wine which is his blood, the life, love and presence of Jesus becomes part of who we are in our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual humanity.
Our immediate preparation at Mass to receive communion is: “Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” Not one of us is worthy of such a gift of love. So often the knowledge of our sinfulness in the past and present makes us feel anxious, fearful and guilty. Jesus did not come to gloss over our sins but to raise us above them and to shower the merciful, life-giving love of God upon us. It is this love that nutures us in the Eucharist and enables us to live in the image and likeness of God. That means becoming what we receive - the merciful, life-giving love of God.
When we celebrate the feast of a saint who is a virgin we read this passage from the Song of Songs (8:7) in morning prayer in the breviary: “Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away. Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love, he would be roundly mocked.” God’s love, as the life we live, is a pure gift. Sometimes from hard work and dedication we get a false sense of entitlement. Love by its very nature cannot be earned or demanded. For then it is not love, but payment for services rendered or giving in to pressure. We have been born into the Body of Christ through baptism and are now far more than part of the history of the world. We are part of God’s people, the Church, invited, called and destined, all as a gratuitous gift on God’s part, to life with him and all his people in the kingdom of heaven. Everyday we say, “Thy kingdom come.” We are part of God’s kingdom and entrusted by him to continue to build up the kingdom with the love he pours into us each moment of our existence. In God we have life to the full and our joy is on the way to perfection. There is no other way to such life and joy.
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.
