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Statue of St. Patrick in the Church

St. Patrick's R.C. Church

Memorial Biography for Father Vincent Liu

July 19th, 1926 - August 15th, 2007

After 19 years at St. Patrick's and 53 years in service to God as a priest Father Vincent Liu went home to be with God on Wednesday, August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption.  Fr. Liu fell ill during a trip to Iceland and was not able to recover.  His warmth and compassion will be long remembered by our parish and by the many, many people who loved him.

Below you can find the text of a short biography as originally published in 2002 in the Parish 50th Anniversary Journal. 

Also, a copy of this sites original home page marking Fr. Liu's passing can be seen by clicking here.

Father Vincent Liu
1926 - 2007
Father Liu

 

St Patrick's of Smithtown

Biography of Father Vincent Liu

Originally Published in the

St. Patrick's 50th Anniversary Journal

 

Father Vincent Liu

Father Vincent Liu is a retired priest in residence at St. Patrick's.  He first came to our parish in 1988 and served as associate pastor until his retirement in 1998.

Fr. Liu with St. Patrick's Parish Priests

Unlike most of us, who only experience religious persecution in the form of mild ridicule, Father Liu knows what it is like to pay a heavy price for practicing your faith.

Father Liu was born on July 19th, 1926 in the Province of Hopei in Northern China.  he was the third of five children, and the only son.  Father Liu entered the seminary at the age of 14.  When he began his studies, Northern China was under Japanese control.  While the Japanese made life difficult for the seminarians, it was not unbearable, according to Father Liu.  In the late 1940s, however, things went from bad to worse as the Communists began to overtake China.  In the years to come, Father Liu and his fellow seminarians would be forced to make several moves in order to stay one step ahead of the Communists - literally fleeing for their lives.

Fr. Liu, Portrait - the early years The first move was from his home province to Beijing.  It was accomplished by moving at night with falsified documents.  After a year and a half of studies there, the Communists captured Beijing City.  Father Liu and approximately 30 seminarians escaped by borrowing a plane from a Protestant Church and taking off from what is today Tian-an-men Square in the heart of Beijing.  The plane took them to Shanghai, where they arrived on New Year's Day, 1949.  After a very brief stay in Shanghai, they traveled by boat to Hong Kong.  It was a treacherous trip during which they very nearly lost their lives.  In April of 1949, another boat took the seminarians to Manila in the Philippines.  Father Liu was ordained in the Philippines in 1954.

After his ordination, Father Liu attended St. Thomas University in Manila where he received a B.A. degree in Administration and an M.A. degree in English Literature.

Fr. Liu, celebrating  Mass in the Philippines He was then put in charge of a new school in Manila - Sacred Heart School - for six years.  He then traveled to the United States for the first time.  he attended Columbia University's teacher college and finished his master's degree there.  his first work as a parish priest in this country was at St. John the Evangelist in Riverhead.  Father Liu went there as a summer substitute priest and was asked to stay.   He did, for four years.

Fr. Liu at the Golden Gate Bridge In 1976, Father Liu traveled back to Manila to start another school - St Peter the Apostle.  He ran the school for six and a half years and then returned to the United States to work at Notre Dame Church in New Hyde Park for five years.  He then served at St. Elizabeth's in Huntington for two years, before coming to St. Patrick's.

Fr. Liu, Family group photo in China While Father Liu did escape China with his life, his call to the priesthood meant leaving his family behind.  Back home, his father was harassed by the Communists, simply because his son was a priest.  It was 30 years after he left that Father Liu was finally able to reenter China.  By that time, only his oldest and youngest sisters remained alive, along with nieces, nephews and a brother-in-law.

Fr. Liu, 50th Anniversary Ordinization Party Regarding St. Patrick Church, Father Liu says that two things that distinguish it from other parishes are its friendliness and its many programs for young people.  "People in this parish are friendly. It's different.  It makes the parish personable," Father Liu said.

"Think of the activities we have for young people - the movie night, boy scouts, girl scouts, rosary makers, catechism classes.  So many adults focus their attention on young people - their recreation, entertainment, and religious interests," he said. "This is the hope of our parish. This is the strength of our parish.

While away from his home at St. Patricks, visiting Reykjavik, Iceland Father Liu passed away on August, 15th 2007.  His Mass of Transferral at St. Patrick's of Smithtown was celebrated by Msgr. Robert Brennan, vicar general.  Father Frederick Hill delivered the homily.  On August 20th, Fr. Liu's funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Paul Walsh, former pastor of St. Patrick's, and Msgr. Ellsworth Walden, the current pastor of St. Patrick's, delivered the homily.  Afterwards, Fr. Liu was laid to his eternal rest at St. Patrick's Cemetery. Father Liu touched not only many lives in the local parishes and diocese in which he served, but his influence, care and joy spanned the globe. 

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St. Patrick R.C. Church
280 East Main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787

Mass Times

Today's Mass Readings
Weekdays:
6:45am, 9:00am, 12:10pm
Saturday:
9:00am, 5:00pm, 8:00pm
Sunday:
7:30am, 9:00am,
10:30am, 12:00pm
5:00pm
Main Rectory Phone #: 631-265-2271
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Updated information on the schedule for times & events for your child's class.  And a complete calendar for the current school year.

Parish Social Ministry

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Social Ministry

What is Parish Outreach

A helping hand when you can’t cope with an emergency; food, financial assistance, housing, employment in crisis situations when resources are available;  A smiling visitor when you are shut-in for an extended period;  ....(read more)

We are only a phone call away. Please call 265-2668, Monday - Friday, 9 AM to 3

If you know adults who: Can’t care for themselves - Are at risk of harm - Have no one to help . . . . . You can help.  Please call: Adult Protective Services Bureau - Suffolk County Dept. of Social Services at 654-3195, 3196, or 3197, RESPONSE 24 Hour Hotline at 751-7500, VIBS at 360-3606.  Your information will be kept strictly confidential. ....(read more)

Mass For The Dead
As the 6:45 AM Mass will be celebrated during July and August, there are a number of Mass intentions now available.
Stop by the Rectory to order Masses for your departed loved ones.  Please note that the Mass Book fills quickly.
 
Friday, August 1st
First Friday of the Month
From the 12:10 PM Mass until 3:30 PM.  The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited at 3:00PM.  Please join us as we adore our Lord Jesus.
 
Saturday, August 2nd
8:15 AM

Join us in praying the Rosary.

Pro-Life Family Hosts A

Monthly Holy Hour

Sacred heart of Jesus Sacred Heart of Mary
Adoration - Thanksgiving
Reparation - Petition

Tuesday, August 19th
7:30 to 8:30 PM in the church

Gift From God Baby
Pro-Life Family
Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, August 26th
St. Patrick School
Room 103 at 7:30 PM
St. Patrick's Pro-Life Family invites you to join us for our monthly meeting.  Please come and unite with us as we witness to the sanctity of Life.
Nocturnal Adoration Society

Saturday, August 16th
after the 8 PM Mass.

Join us for a night of prayer in front of the Sacred Sacrament. 

All singles are invigted to refreshments & conversation
Sunday, July 20th
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
(after the 9 AM Mass)
Cost: $2.00
Happy Anniversary
Married in August?
Please join us at the
Sunday, August 3rd,
Noon Mass.
All couples are invited to renew their vows and recieve a special blessing. 
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Don't Forget
Your Bottle Money

The 4th Weekend of the Month

Please recycle your bottle and cans and donate the money to the worthy cause of helping mothers and their babies in need.  Look for the Pink Baby Bottle banks at the church exits.
Collection Box

The first weekend of the month, we will have the offering for the Hungry and homeless.  Please look for the Hungry & Homeless boxes at the church exits and be generous in sharing God’ blessings.

Cathoic Schools - Characters, Compassion, Values

Are You Considering Catholic Education?

St. Patrick School serves students and their families in nursery school through eighth grade.  The mission of the school is to provide for the safety, education, and gradual growth of the whole child; spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically. 
For more information, call 724- 0285, visit the St. Patrick School web site at www.sps-smithtown.org or mark your calendar for the school’s open house on Sunday, January 27th from 1-3 PM.
 

© 2008 St. Patrick's Parish
280 East Main Street, Smithtown, NY 11787
(631) 265 - 2271