Saint Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, 135 East 96th Street, New York City, Priest's Diary by Father Victor Muzzin

(20 de Mayo 2012: Septimo Domingo de Pascua)

God’s Plan For Giving

Last week’s Sunday Collection May 13, 2012
Colecta Dominical de la Semana Pasada May 13, 2012

A Building Report

This past Tuesday I met with a representative of the Archdiocesan Building Commission and the firm O’Dea, Lynch and Abbattista to discuss the air conditioning in the church. As many of you know our system that served the church for almost fifty years is beyond repair. Working with the Archdiocesan Building Commission we have contracted with O’Dea, Lynch and Abbatista to design the specifications for a new system. Given the size of the building and the complexities of modern technology this is not as simple as installing a unit in a wall. Currently the engineering firm is working on the specifications. The next phase will be bidding out the project, and finally the installation of the unit. Concurrently we are working with the same firm to do an extensive upgrade and re-wiring of the church. Much of the wiring in the church is original as is the service coming into the building. As we install a new air cooling system we have to be extremely careful of the electrical load and current wiring. This is a project long overdue while at the same time not something we can rush into, but must do with the utmost attention to detail. We are looking for ways to allow for air flow into the church as our windows are all sealed on the outside with protective glass. In a perfect world we would not be dealing with a tremendous amount of deferred maintenance but alas that perfect world eludes us!

Presently we are calling on one and all to be good stewards as we embark on a number of much needed repairs and updates to the infrastructure of our beloved St. Francis.

We will continue to map out the work that needs to be done here and to keep you updated as to our progress and our needs. Let us thank God generously for all that has been given to us and ask for the grace to return in kind the gift given.

First Communion

This Sunday at our 9:00AM liturgy we welcome for the first time to our Eucharistic banquet our parish children who have prepared themselves over the course of the year. We want to thank especially Alice Kearney-Alwin, Shawn McDermott, Danielle Ngo, Guillermo Vallejo-Rodriguez and the Marymount School for having worked so generously with our children in preparing them for so wonderful a day. Please pray for them all!

Welcome

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Monsignor Peter Smith as a Sunday Associate here at St. Francis. Msgr. Smith a native of Glasgow Scotland, is the former Chancellor of the Diocese of Glasgow. Presently he is working at the Holy See’s Mission to the United Nations. We are blessed in having Monsignor Smith as a member of our parish family. I know that you will join me in giving him a warm welcome. Speaking of warm welcomes, I would like to personally thank everyone here at St. Francis who gave Eric Stiles such a warm welcome this weekend past. In particular members of our twenty thirties group who hosted him on Saturday night for what I heard was a wonderful outing. Thank you one and all for stepping up to the plate and “being church”.

Women in church

As announced last week we are forming a discussion group for and by women to address issues particular to women in the church. If you are interested in participating on some level please leave your name and e-mail on the form at the back of the church. We will announce shortly the time and date.

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(6 de Mayo 2012: Quinto Domingo de Pascua)

God’s Plan For Giving

Sunday Collection (Easter Sunday) May 6, 2012
Colecta Dominical de la Semana Pasada May 6, 2012

STEWARDSHIP APPEAL

Please remember the neediest people of the Archdiocese of New York by prayerfully considering a pledge to the 2012 stewardship Appeal. Thank you

THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We have a unique episode in the Acts of the Apostles today. A whole roomful of people are baptized with the Holy Spirit before they are baptized with water! The verb used—“the Holy Spirit ‘fell’ on them” (Acts 10:44)—is characteristic of the way the Spirit works throughout the book of Acts: powerful and surprising. Though this “baptism” is not the normative way the New Testament describes baptism, it is still a good reminder today that the Holy Spirit is not controlled by whether or not we pour water, but rather that our sacramental signs reveal the presence of the Spirit at work among us. And we have a double reinforcement of how this work is accomplished from a Letter and a Gospel bearing John’s name. It is love, self-sacrificing and self-giving love, that manifests the Spirit of Jesus in our midst. It is love that is the greatest of commandments. The Spirit is manifested equally through those who live in that love.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Hospital Ministry

Fr. Francis Iroot chaplain at Mt. Sinai Hospital is looking for volunteers to act as Eucharistic Ministers. If you can assist Fr. Francis in this work of mercy, please contact the rectory or speak to one of the priests after mass.

The 911 Remembrance Rosary

The design of the rosary is inspired by the Cross that remained in the rubble at Ground Zero and by the coincidence of the total number of the fifty states of the United States of America with the number of Hail Mary beads of the five decades of the rosary. If you are interested in purchasing the 911 Remembrance Rosary please go to the dedicated website: www.rosary911.com or go to the main website of Ghirelli Rosaries USA, www.ghirelli.com. These rosaries have been blessed by Pope Benedict.

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES

Sunday: Sixth Sunday of Easter; Mother’s Day

Monday: St. Matthias

Tuesday: St. Isidore

Thursday: The Ascension of the Lord (unless transferred to Sunday)

Friday: St. John I

Saturday: Armed Forces Day

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