From the Pastor
June/04/2011
As you may know, over the past four plus years, we have enjoyed the presence of an organization of Catholic men in our parish that promotes charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, viz., the Knights of Columbus. Last weekend, I participated in the 107th Annual Florida State Convention of the Knights of Columbus. There we elected the new state leadership for Florida’s 50,000 Knights; and Florida’s head Knight (District Deputy-elect Christopher Kernan) selected me to be the new State Chaplain for the next two years. I’m deeply honored by this selection, and awed by the prospects of having some additional responsibilities that this entails within this fine Catholic men’s organization.
The Knights of Columbus is the largest men’s organization of its kind in the Church and throughout the world. At the present time, I still hold the position of Palm Beach Diocesan Chaplain of the Knights and, as such, I invite the men of our parish, who are not yet a Knight of Columbus, to consider becoming one in order to help us all in building up the Body of Christ in our midst. There are membership forms available at most doors of the church, or just ask an usher to provide one for you. Several of them are Knights, too.
The Knights of Columbus is expanding its ministry in our parish by introducing and sponsoring a new chapter of the
Columbiettes (an auxiliary association of women, who will work hand-in-hand with the Knights, generally giving them
major support in their charitable, spiritual and social efforts). We have just installed our first set of officers and are welcoming new members. I extend congratulations to President Christine Herrnreiter, Vice President Audrey O’Reilly, Recording Secretary Kathi Mueller, Financial Secretary Denise Zupo, Treasurer Elaine Roehrig, and Sentinel JoAnn McCort. By the way, you don’t have to be married to a Knight to be a member of the Columbiettes.
I offer my thanks to Chris and Susan Grant for their past years of service as coordinators of the Altar Servers of St.
Vincent Ferrer.
They have provided excellent training and scheduling for our young altar servers in a seemingly thankless job (though no work for the Lord is really thankless). Their successors in these roles are John and Sharon Lynch, who took on this awesome responsibility a few weeks back. Our parish truly appreciates the hours of work involved in preparing our youngsters to enjoy the privilege of serving at God’s altar, and the time expended in coordinating the serving schedule.
With school closing for the summer this past Thursday, we thank and bid farewell to these teachers who will be “moving on to other pastures” next year: Sister Dorothy, Angela Gilbert-Garcia, Nancy Godden, William Grummer, Jeanine Mannweiler and Peggy Rabenstine. I’m grateful for the splendid efforts they made during their stay in advancing the growth of our students and the promoting the good name of our school. May God watch over them and bless them in their new settings. May our children, who have been taught to know, love and serve their God in this world, continue their faith formation by weekly attendance at Mass, especially with their families. They know there is NO vacation from God!
Next week, we will have the opportunity to bid a fond farewell to our weekend associate of many years, Monsignor Stephen Bosso. Monsignor has been a good friend ever since I came to Florida, and did a brilliant job in preaching my 40th anniversary Mass. His homilies were deep and reflective, yet very down-to-earth, and his personal involvement in our parish life, when he could afford to do so, was an additional gift to us. May he continue in that spirit in his new pastorate near Pensacola. I invite you to join us in a reception for him in our parish Family Life Center, immediately after the 11:30 AM Mass. Here is your chance to let him know how much you have appreciated the wonderful work he has done for our parish and our seminary.We will sorely miss him.
Also, at the end of this month, our new Parochial Vicar (Assistant Pastor) will arrive to assist me in ministering to our
parish. He has served these last few years as the “left hand” of his bishop (in his capacity as Vicar for Clergy); and his
bishop, with great reluctance, graciously has allowed him to come to serve in our diocese, for a time. It was two years
ago that I was promised additional help in the way of another Parochial Vicar, but at that time, because of an acute shortage of priests (until now), we were unable to secure the assistance of a full-time parish priest. Thank God, and your
prayers, for an increase in vocations, that three priests were ordained for our diocese this year.
For the past nineteen months, we had been fortunate to have in residence, Father Michael Parrotta, to help us with Confessions, Mass and other pastoral duties. Our new parish priest will assume these and additional duties as a full-time associate, along with Father Danis. We sincerely thank Father Michael for all his help, and wish him God’s choicest blessings and continued improved health in his new undertakings. Please continue to pray for your priests, and ask God to send more of them into His vineyard, for “the harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” Just another reminder: there is NO Saturday 7 AM Mass during the months of June, July and August.
Have a great summer, and stay close to Jesus!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
The Knights of Columbus is the largest men’s organization of its kind in the Church and throughout the world. At the present time, I still hold the position of Palm Beach Diocesan Chaplain of the Knights and, as such, I invite the men of our parish, who are not yet a Knight of Columbus, to consider becoming one in order to help us all in building up the Body of Christ in our midst. There are membership forms available at most doors of the church, or just ask an usher to provide one for you. Several of them are Knights, too.
The Knights of Columbus is expanding its ministry in our parish by introducing and sponsoring a new chapter of the
Columbiettes (an auxiliary association of women, who will work hand-in-hand with the Knights, generally giving them
major support in their charitable, spiritual and social efforts). We have just installed our first set of officers and are welcoming new members. I extend congratulations to President Christine Herrnreiter, Vice President Audrey O’Reilly, Recording Secretary Kathi Mueller, Financial Secretary Denise Zupo, Treasurer Elaine Roehrig, and Sentinel JoAnn McCort. By the way, you don’t have to be married to a Knight to be a member of the Columbiettes.
I offer my thanks to Chris and Susan Grant for their past years of service as coordinators of the Altar Servers of St.
Vincent Ferrer.
They have provided excellent training and scheduling for our young altar servers in a seemingly thankless job (though no work for the Lord is really thankless). Their successors in these roles are John and Sharon Lynch, who took on this awesome responsibility a few weeks back. Our parish truly appreciates the hours of work involved in preparing our youngsters to enjoy the privilege of serving at God’s altar, and the time expended in coordinating the serving schedule.
With school closing for the summer this past Thursday, we thank and bid farewell to these teachers who will be “moving on to other pastures” next year: Sister Dorothy, Angela Gilbert-Garcia, Nancy Godden, William Grummer, Jeanine Mannweiler and Peggy Rabenstine. I’m grateful for the splendid efforts they made during their stay in advancing the growth of our students and the promoting the good name of our school. May God watch over them and bless them in their new settings. May our children, who have been taught to know, love and serve their God in this world, continue their faith formation by weekly attendance at Mass, especially with their families. They know there is NO vacation from God!
Next week, we will have the opportunity to bid a fond farewell to our weekend associate of many years, Monsignor Stephen Bosso. Monsignor has been a good friend ever since I came to Florida, and did a brilliant job in preaching my 40th anniversary Mass. His homilies were deep and reflective, yet very down-to-earth, and his personal involvement in our parish life, when he could afford to do so, was an additional gift to us. May he continue in that spirit in his new pastorate near Pensacola. I invite you to join us in a reception for him in our parish Family Life Center, immediately after the 11:30 AM Mass. Here is your chance to let him know how much you have appreciated the wonderful work he has done for our parish and our seminary.We will sorely miss him.
Also, at the end of this month, our new Parochial Vicar (Assistant Pastor) will arrive to assist me in ministering to our
parish. He has served these last few years as the “left hand” of his bishop (in his capacity as Vicar for Clergy); and his
bishop, with great reluctance, graciously has allowed him to come to serve in our diocese, for a time. It was two years
ago that I was promised additional help in the way of another Parochial Vicar, but at that time, because of an acute shortage of priests (until now), we were unable to secure the assistance of a full-time parish priest. Thank God, and your
prayers, for an increase in vocations, that three priests were ordained for our diocese this year.
For the past nineteen months, we had been fortunate to have in residence, Father Michael Parrotta, to help us with Confessions, Mass and other pastoral duties. Our new parish priest will assume these and additional duties as a full-time associate, along with Father Danis. We sincerely thank Father Michael for all his help, and wish him God’s choicest blessings and continued improved health in his new undertakings. Please continue to pray for your priests, and ask God to send more of them into His vineyard, for “the harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” Just another reminder: there is NO Saturday 7 AM Mass during the months of June, July and August.
Have a great summer, and stay close to Jesus!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
May/28/2011
Our school children are finishing up their current school year, and are gearing up for their summer vacation. The graduation ceremonies for 8th grade, Kindergarten and pre-K were very well-done, thanks to our Principal, Mrs. Vikki Delgado, Sisters Maria and Dorothy and our teachers. I thank all of the staff, too, for a wonderful year in which our school, and individual students within it, achieved several honors. I think that if you could have been there, you would have especially enjoyed the younger Pre-K and Kindergarten observances. The kids were precious, and sang their hearts out and performed so well from all that they had learned in their respective classes. They were moments we will cherish! Some of our faculty will also graduate from St. Vincent Ferrer School and move on.
We thank God for giving them to us as His gifts over the past several years. They are: Sister Dorothy, Mrs. Garcia-Gilbert, Mrs. Godden, Mrs. Mannweiler, Mrs. Rabenstine, and Coach Grummer. May they enjoy the many possibilities that God can offer them if they keep their hearts and minds united with His! We’ll miss them, and will pray for them. Sister Dorothy will return to Poland to be near her family. She will be replaced by two sisters! We will miss her spirit and energy, but know that she’ll be happy near home.
A number of our 8th grade graduates were awarded scholarships: Ms. Kathryn Ricciardelli Memorial Scholarship for 1 year @$ 1250 to Anthony Beck; St. Katherine Drexel Scholarship for 1 year @$1000 to Sara Wolfarth; Pope John Paul II Presidential Scholarship for 4 years @$2000 to Kevin Brammer; The Snow Scholarship @$1,000 for 4 years each to Travis Hughes and Heather Hey; The Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Distinguished Scholars Program @$9000 for 4 years to Travis Hughes and Emma McNamara; The Andrew Skiko Student Athlete Award to Julia Duca. Most of these students will attend Pope John Paul II H.S. in Boca Raton, except Heather Hey, who will attend Cardinal Newman H.S. some additional grants have come from Community Blood Bank Scholarships for 1 year @ $617.00 to the following: Alena Costanian, Peyton Edwards, Kelsey Grant, Heather Hey, Emma McNamara and Alexandria Shumway.
This Monday, we celebrate the first of our summertime’s three national holidays --Memorial Day. As a child, I remember the emphasis placed on the commemoration of the deceased men and women who served our country well, especially the ones who gave their lives in the process. Then, we also knew it as Decoration Day, an occasion when we observed the holiday with a procession or parade to the local cemetery, decorated the graves of the veterans, and sometimes marked the occasion with speeches in honor of those beloved men and women. Now it seems to be just another picnic type of holiday that has forgotten the real meaning behind the celebration, and has little to do with those deceased veterans.
In our parish, we will have Mass at 7 and 8:30 A.M., but NO AFTERNOON MASS that day. Our Bishop will offer the annual Memorial Day Mass at Queen of Peace Cemetery on Southern Boulevard in Royal Palm Beach, this Monday, at 10:00 AM. You are most welcome to join in that observance, and if you do, bring along a lawn chair, as seating is limited. In a “typo” (that none of my staff caught last week), I mentioned that our farewell reception for long-time weekend assistant, Msgr. Stephen Bosso, would be held on Sunday, June 11th. Sunday is the 12th! So, it will be held on Sunday, after the last morning Mass. I am so grateful that he will be able to offer the Mass beforehand, and celebrate with us, before he has to catch a flight later that day.
Next Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lord’s Ascension into heaven. Up north, some of the dioceses maintain the traditional Thursday observance (which would be this Thursday for them), but in 80% of the country, we celebrate it on the following Sunday, a day of the week on which more people would likely come to church. The option to move that celebration lies in the competency of the bishop, and our Florida bishops have agreed to coordinate that solemn feast day’s celebration. So, there is no obligation to attend Mass this coming Thursday (and much of the country except the Northeast). This weekend’s 2nd Collection is turning out to be a very important one for the U.S. because of the spate of recent floods and tornados over the past few weeks. So many victims were left without homes, cars, family, and livelihood. Your generous response to the 2nd Collection will allow Catholic Charities USA to get into those areas in most need of our help. Your gift may help someone make a real turn-around in his/her life. Thank you in advance for your generous response to this need in America!
Vacation Bible School is “just around the corner.” Our leadership team, under the direction of Julie D’Addio, has really put together a great program for the spiritual enrichment of our little children, and we’ll have a number of teens helping additional parents carry out the summer fun and learning about the Bible opportunities.If the success of the previous programs we’ve had is any indication of where we’ll be going this summer, the kids are really going to enjoy it all the way. We congratulate Sister Eileen Sullivan, Principal of Pope John Paul II High School, on the occasion of her 50th (or golden) anniversary as a religious woman. Her dedication and boundless energy has already endeared her to many students and their families. May God bless her with good health.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
We thank God for giving them to us as His gifts over the past several years. They are: Sister Dorothy, Mrs. Garcia-Gilbert, Mrs. Godden, Mrs. Mannweiler, Mrs. Rabenstine, and Coach Grummer. May they enjoy the many possibilities that God can offer them if they keep their hearts and minds united with His! We’ll miss them, and will pray for them. Sister Dorothy will return to Poland to be near her family. She will be replaced by two sisters! We will miss her spirit and energy, but know that she’ll be happy near home.
A number of our 8th grade graduates were awarded scholarships: Ms. Kathryn Ricciardelli Memorial Scholarship for 1 year @$ 1250 to Anthony Beck; St. Katherine Drexel Scholarship for 1 year @$1000 to Sara Wolfarth; Pope John Paul II Presidential Scholarship for 4 years @$2000 to Kevin Brammer; The Snow Scholarship @$1,000 for 4 years each to Travis Hughes and Heather Hey; The Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Distinguished Scholars Program @$9000 for 4 years to Travis Hughes and Emma McNamara; The Andrew Skiko Student Athlete Award to Julia Duca. Most of these students will attend Pope John Paul II H.S. in Boca Raton, except Heather Hey, who will attend Cardinal Newman H.S. some additional grants have come from Community Blood Bank Scholarships for 1 year @ $617.00 to the following: Alena Costanian, Peyton Edwards, Kelsey Grant, Heather Hey, Emma McNamara and Alexandria Shumway.
This Monday, we celebrate the first of our summertime’s three national holidays --Memorial Day. As a child, I remember the emphasis placed on the commemoration of the deceased men and women who served our country well, especially the ones who gave their lives in the process. Then, we also knew it as Decoration Day, an occasion when we observed the holiday with a procession or parade to the local cemetery, decorated the graves of the veterans, and sometimes marked the occasion with speeches in honor of those beloved men and women. Now it seems to be just another picnic type of holiday that has forgotten the real meaning behind the celebration, and has little to do with those deceased veterans.
In our parish, we will have Mass at 7 and 8:30 A.M., but NO AFTERNOON MASS that day. Our Bishop will offer the annual Memorial Day Mass at Queen of Peace Cemetery on Southern Boulevard in Royal Palm Beach, this Monday, at 10:00 AM. You are most welcome to join in that observance, and if you do, bring along a lawn chair, as seating is limited. In a “typo” (that none of my staff caught last week), I mentioned that our farewell reception for long-time weekend assistant, Msgr. Stephen Bosso, would be held on Sunday, June 11th. Sunday is the 12th! So, it will be held on Sunday, after the last morning Mass. I am so grateful that he will be able to offer the Mass beforehand, and celebrate with us, before he has to catch a flight later that day.
Next Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lord’s Ascension into heaven. Up north, some of the dioceses maintain the traditional Thursday observance (which would be this Thursday for them), but in 80% of the country, we celebrate it on the following Sunday, a day of the week on which more people would likely come to church. The option to move that celebration lies in the competency of the bishop, and our Florida bishops have agreed to coordinate that solemn feast day’s celebration. So, there is no obligation to attend Mass this coming Thursday (and much of the country except the Northeast). This weekend’s 2nd Collection is turning out to be a very important one for the U.S. because of the spate of recent floods and tornados over the past few weeks. So many victims were left without homes, cars, family, and livelihood. Your generous response to the 2nd Collection will allow Catholic Charities USA to get into those areas in most need of our help. Your gift may help someone make a real turn-around in his/her life. Thank you in advance for your generous response to this need in America!
Vacation Bible School is “just around the corner.” Our leadership team, under the direction of Julie D’Addio, has really put together a great program for the spiritual enrichment of our little children, and we’ll have a number of teens helping additional parents carry out the summer fun and learning about the Bible opportunities.If the success of the previous programs we’ve had is any indication of where we’ll be going this summer, the kids are really going to enjoy it all the way. We congratulate Sister Eileen Sullivan, Principal of Pope John Paul II High School, on the occasion of her 50th (or golden) anniversary as a religious woman. Her dedication and boundless energy has already endeared her to many students and their families. May God bless her with good health.
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
May/20/2011
Thank you! Thank you! Thanks you! Last weekend was filled with many memories for me, and for those who were able to join in the celebration, I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did. The Mass and the reception that followed were truly fantastic moments that I shall cherish.
Thank you to all of the energetic people who helped to make the 40th anniversary of my Priesthood such a superb occasion! The Jubilee Committee did splendid work on preparing for the occasion and carrying it out so well! The members include: Karen Turnbull, Mrs. Vikki Delgado, John Krolikowski, Mel and Colleen Shaffer, Wanda Skinner and Linda Flood. Thank you to Father Ridore for arranging the dance troupe to come that performed beautifully at the reception. Thank you to our own little children who lovingly sang their songs of appreciation and joy. I am especially grateful to Monsignor Stephen Bosso for his eloquent homily at the Jubilee Mass. He has the uncanny ability to capture the essence of the moment and to bring to our hearing some profound thoughts and spiritual insights, often in a humorous way. I also thank Bishop Barbarito for graciously coming to honor us, for his kind words, and for spending so much time with us. His presence always makes an event even more special.
I express my thanks, also, to Bill Stafford, Mickey Polulack, Joe Crisco, Jay Flood, Rick Marino, Joe Zupo, Chris Somerville, Jerry Bishop, Kim Weber, Lola Swanson, Don and Lorraine MacLaren, the Knights of Columbus and our Parish Choir, Ushers and Lectors – all of whom made this jubilee the fantastic celebration it was. Please note: As has been listed on the front of our weekly parish bulletin since last October, during the months of June, July and August, there will be only one Saturday morning Mass: at 8:30 A.M. After that Mass, Confessions will be heard, as usual. There will be NO 7:00 AM Mass on Saturday mornings during the summer months.
We welcome our parishioner, Corrine Hahn, who has taken over as the new director of the Gift Shop. I also thank
Audrey O’Reilly, who graciously assisted us during the transition period and, who along with Joan Klattenberg, continues
to volunteer in this ministry. If you do have the time and the willingness to volunteer during the week to work in the shop, Corrine and her team would be glad to hear from you. In response to the recent widespread natural disasters throughout several of our southern states, precipitated by tornados and floods, causing tragic loss of life and devastation, Bishop Barbarito has asked all parishes to take up a special collection to assist with immediate needs as well as long-range recovery. The funds from the Tornado Recovery Collection will be used to support the efforts of Catholic Charities USA, the national office for local and nation-wide Catholic Charities agencies and affiliates to respond to emergency needs for such necessities as food, water, shelter and medical care.
Also, please pray for those who have lost so much, and for those who are coming to their aid. The collection in our parish will be taken up next weekend, May 28th and 29th. Though we get a lot of requests for additional collections for the relief of the those suffering, we know how generous our people are, how much their faith is imbued with the virtue of charity, and how time after time they have responded to Jesus’ call to love their neighbors.
This past Wednesday evening, we had our Academic Awards and Recognition Night, marking the many achievements of our parish school youngsters. Our eighth grade, deservedly, swept away many awards, and left behind them a beautiful legacy of stewardship of time, talent and treasure. They have received scholarships for high schools in this area that are worth over $ 24,000!! Now they present the upcoming 8th grade with some challenges to continue the good work and go even farther. I congratulate them, their parents and their teachers, as well as our Principal, Mrs. Delgado, all of whom continue to promote the blue ribbon workings of our school. Thank you, too, to all of the leaders and donors to our Ferrer Fund; your efforts to promote our school and students is really paying off! MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
Congratulations to all of our graduates of our parish at their different levels of education. What you have been sowing for years, you are now able to reap its rewards. Our 8th Grade celebrated a beautiful Mass marking their graduation this past Friday evening. I hope that this will not be their last occasion to participate in Mass this year; rather let them set a good example of expressing gratitude to God for all they have received from Him by worshipping Him weekly. The previous Friday, Pope John Paul II High School Seniors, along with their families, gathered in our church for their annual Baccalaureate Mass. It, too, was a beautiful celebration of thanksgiving for God guiding them thus far along the path to life.
Monsignor Stephen Bosso, our vivacious weekend associate for many years at St. Vincent Ferrer, will be leaving us in June for his return to his diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. There he will have a new assignment as pastor of a parish near his family roots. We will surely miss him, his valuable help on the weekends, as well as his wonderful homilies -- full of rich, yet very understandable scriptural analysis and usually sprinkled with anecdotes and good humor from his personal experiences. We will hold a farewell reception in his honor on Pentecost Sunday, June 11th, following the last morning Masses, in Kellaghan Hall. Here’s your chance to come and thank him for the many years of spiritual help he’s given us, and to wish him the best for his new assignment back home!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
Thank you to all of the energetic people who helped to make the 40th anniversary of my Priesthood such a superb occasion! The Jubilee Committee did splendid work on preparing for the occasion and carrying it out so well! The members include: Karen Turnbull, Mrs. Vikki Delgado, John Krolikowski, Mel and Colleen Shaffer, Wanda Skinner and Linda Flood. Thank you to Father Ridore for arranging the dance troupe to come that performed beautifully at the reception. Thank you to our own little children who lovingly sang their songs of appreciation and joy. I am especially grateful to Monsignor Stephen Bosso for his eloquent homily at the Jubilee Mass. He has the uncanny ability to capture the essence of the moment and to bring to our hearing some profound thoughts and spiritual insights, often in a humorous way. I also thank Bishop Barbarito for graciously coming to honor us, for his kind words, and for spending so much time with us. His presence always makes an event even more special.
I express my thanks, also, to Bill Stafford, Mickey Polulack, Joe Crisco, Jay Flood, Rick Marino, Joe Zupo, Chris Somerville, Jerry Bishop, Kim Weber, Lola Swanson, Don and Lorraine MacLaren, the Knights of Columbus and our Parish Choir, Ushers and Lectors – all of whom made this jubilee the fantastic celebration it was. Please note: As has been listed on the front of our weekly parish bulletin since last October, during the months of June, July and August, there will be only one Saturday morning Mass: at 8:30 A.M. After that Mass, Confessions will be heard, as usual. There will be NO 7:00 AM Mass on Saturday mornings during the summer months.
We welcome our parishioner, Corrine Hahn, who has taken over as the new director of the Gift Shop. I also thank
Audrey O’Reilly, who graciously assisted us during the transition period and, who along with Joan Klattenberg, continues
to volunteer in this ministry. If you do have the time and the willingness to volunteer during the week to work in the shop, Corrine and her team would be glad to hear from you. In response to the recent widespread natural disasters throughout several of our southern states, precipitated by tornados and floods, causing tragic loss of life and devastation, Bishop Barbarito has asked all parishes to take up a special collection to assist with immediate needs as well as long-range recovery. The funds from the Tornado Recovery Collection will be used to support the efforts of Catholic Charities USA, the national office for local and nation-wide Catholic Charities agencies and affiliates to respond to emergency needs for such necessities as food, water, shelter and medical care.
Also, please pray for those who have lost so much, and for those who are coming to their aid. The collection in our parish will be taken up next weekend, May 28th and 29th. Though we get a lot of requests for additional collections for the relief of the those suffering, we know how generous our people are, how much their faith is imbued with the virtue of charity, and how time after time they have responded to Jesus’ call to love their neighbors.
This past Wednesday evening, we had our Academic Awards and Recognition Night, marking the many achievements of our parish school youngsters. Our eighth grade, deservedly, swept away many awards, and left behind them a beautiful legacy of stewardship of time, talent and treasure. They have received scholarships for high schools in this area that are worth over $ 24,000!! Now they present the upcoming 8th grade with some challenges to continue the good work and go even farther. I congratulate them, their parents and their teachers, as well as our Principal, Mrs. Delgado, all of whom continue to promote the blue ribbon workings of our school. Thank you, too, to all of the leaders and donors to our Ferrer Fund; your efforts to promote our school and students is really paying off! MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
Congratulations to all of our graduates of our parish at their different levels of education. What you have been sowing for years, you are now able to reap its rewards. Our 8th Grade celebrated a beautiful Mass marking their graduation this past Friday evening. I hope that this will not be their last occasion to participate in Mass this year; rather let them set a good example of expressing gratitude to God for all they have received from Him by worshipping Him weekly. The previous Friday, Pope John Paul II High School Seniors, along with their families, gathered in our church for their annual Baccalaureate Mass. It, too, was a beautiful celebration of thanksgiving for God guiding them thus far along the path to life.
Monsignor Stephen Bosso, our vivacious weekend associate for many years at St. Vincent Ferrer, will be leaving us in June for his return to his diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. There he will have a new assignment as pastor of a parish near his family roots. We will surely miss him, his valuable help on the weekends, as well as his wonderful homilies -- full of rich, yet very understandable scriptural analysis and usually sprinkled with anecdotes and good humor from his personal experiences. We will hold a farewell reception in his honor on Pentecost Sunday, June 11th, following the last morning Masses, in Kellaghan Hall. Here’s your chance to come and thank him for the many years of spiritual help he’s given us, and to wish him the best for his new assignment back home!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
May/13/2011
THE BEAUTIFUL HANDS OF A PRIEST
We need them in life’s early morning,
we need them again at its close;
We feel their warm clasp of true friendship,
we seek them when tasting life’s woes.
At the altar each day we behold them,
and the hands of a king on his throne
are not equal to them in their greatness;
their dignity stands all alone.
And when we are tempted and wander
through pathways of shame and of sin,
the hand of a priest will absolve usnot
once, but again and again.
Now when we are taking life’s partner,
other hands may prepare us a feast,
But the hand that will bless and unite us
is the beautiful hand of a priest.
God bless them and keep them all holy
for the Host which their fingers caress;
What can a poor sinner do better
than to ask Him, “who chose thee to bless?”
When the hour of death comes upon us
may our courage and strength be increased,
By seeing raised over us in blessing
the beautiful hands of a priest!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
From the Pastor
April/23/2011
This great Feast of Easter, which we celebrate, is the greatest feast of our Catholic faith. It outranks even Christmas, and is the centerpiece of our Christian belief. Because of it, we can rejoice in the Lord, for He has conquered sin and overcome death by His Resurrection, and has given us new hope for a new life through His actions! With it, we celebrate all those who have made their new profession of the Catholic Faith and are received into its fullness.
The special 2nd collection this Easter Sunday is set aside to help us reach our goal in the annual DSA drive. So far, we have 519 pledges and donors for the annual Diocesan Services Appeal (we trust that these pledges will be honored). But, there are many more families and individuals who claim membership in this parish, who have not yet made their commitment (and some of them have been beneficiaries of the Catholic Charities of our diocese). My hope is that each registered family will make a pledge (no matter how small or large) this year and help us toward our parish goal, as well as help the Diocese of Palm Beach sustain the beautiful network of charitable works done through this appeal.
If each registered family gave just $16, we would make our goal! Considering our spendthrift ways on so many insignificant items, a sacrifice of that amount should be possible for all of us; then we can truly appreciate what Christ’s sacrifice of the cross was for all of us. If you are a visitor to our parish (whether seasonal or otherwise), or a part-time resident, you, too, can help. Special envelopes for your pledge are always available by the doors of the church, and there are more envelopes being provided for this 2nd collection.
Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. It was a new feast created by soon-to-be Blessed Pope John Paul II a few years ago, as the high point great feast of Easter. It was through the efforts of St. Faustina Kowalska that the message of Our Lord’s Divine Mercy began to be spread around the world. Many parishes observe it in different ways, and I invite you to join in our own parish celebration of that feast, and to listen to the spiritual riches that can be drawn from this occasion.
More information about our Divine Mercy Sunday celebration is found elsewhere in the bulletin.
In Rome, appropriately on the feast day of Divine Mercy, John Paul II will be beatified, and then known as Blessed John Paul II. It will be my privilege to be there as a witness to this great event. Our friendship goes back a long way to the day in Rome when he became a Cardinal (June 29, 1967 - I was a young seminarian). I still remember so much of it, as if it happened yesterday. I treasure all those pictures and memories, some of which are still so vivid in my mind. The city and its hotels will be filled (I’m so glad I have friends there!) with many pilgrims and tourists for that occasion and at this time of year. I pray that nothing goes wrong to mar this blessed event.
This coming Saturday morning, April 30, some of our little children from our parish school and our PREP (parish religious education program) will receive their First Holy Communion. They will have the privilege of taking Jesus into their heart for the first time, and what joy should fill their hearts! Though I will be in Rome that day, their intentions certainly will be in my Mass and prayers; and I encourage their families to join them in that reception, and to keep them close to Jesus by the frequent reception of the Eucharist and required attendance at Mass each week.
I offer my thanks to Deacon Lee Levenson, and his wife, Alice, as well as our soon-to-be-deacon Rusty Skinner, and John and Sharon Lynch, and Michael and Sandra Spall for their year-long efforts with our RCIA program, and in bringing into the Catholic Church (Faith) this Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil the following adults: Linda Breslot, Gloria Obenland, and Shamus Oliver Smith (catechumens and elect); Kathryn Beggs, Gerald Campbell, Stephen Massey, Kaysie Smith (candidates) and Eva Hodgens and Chase Navellier (just confirmed). I welcome these newest members into the fullness of the Catholic Faith, and pray that their love of God will lead them to even greater service to Him and His Church. Charles Stanley Chanquian Murphy, newest member of the family of Jim and Lisa Murphy, was also baptized at the Vigil. “Kudos” are extended to Kit Johansen and Sister Maria Liber for their work in preparing our youngsters for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, along with the wonderful assistance of our several superb catechists. These wonderful volunteers faithfully teach the youngsters of our parish in the sacramental preparation program. This is an outstanding labor of love: to teach and to lead the little ones closer to Jesus. God bless them all!
Thank you to all those parishioners who made our 70th anniversary as a parish such a delightful occasion. The Knights of Columbus also celebrated the blessing of their Ten Commandments and Eight Beatitudes monument at the end of the Mass. Our cantors and choir provided splendid music for the occasion, and, considering it was “Passiontide,” the program was not overdone (but the food at the reception was great!). Thank you all for a memorable celebration!
Thank you for your kindness and patience in moving about the parking lot on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Your cooperation with the police and the staff is greatly appreciated to alleviate some of the jam-up problems that can occur on these occasions. May you, our parish family members and our visitors, enjoy a happy and blessed Easter!!
Very Rev. Canon Tom
The special 2nd collection this Easter Sunday is set aside to help us reach our goal in the annual DSA drive. So far, we have 519 pledges and donors for the annual Diocesan Services Appeal (we trust that these pledges will be honored). But, there are many more families and individuals who claim membership in this parish, who have not yet made their commitment (and some of them have been beneficiaries of the Catholic Charities of our diocese). My hope is that each registered family will make a pledge (no matter how small or large) this year and help us toward our parish goal, as well as help the Diocese of Palm Beach sustain the beautiful network of charitable works done through this appeal.
If each registered family gave just $16, we would make our goal! Considering our spendthrift ways on so many insignificant items, a sacrifice of that amount should be possible for all of us; then we can truly appreciate what Christ’s sacrifice of the cross was for all of us. If you are a visitor to our parish (whether seasonal or otherwise), or a part-time resident, you, too, can help. Special envelopes for your pledge are always available by the doors of the church, and there are more envelopes being provided for this 2nd collection.
Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. It was a new feast created by soon-to-be Blessed Pope John Paul II a few years ago, as the high point great feast of Easter. It was through the efforts of St. Faustina Kowalska that the message of Our Lord’s Divine Mercy began to be spread around the world. Many parishes observe it in different ways, and I invite you to join in our own parish celebration of that feast, and to listen to the spiritual riches that can be drawn from this occasion.
More information about our Divine Mercy Sunday celebration is found elsewhere in the bulletin.
In Rome, appropriately on the feast day of Divine Mercy, John Paul II will be beatified, and then known as Blessed John Paul II. It will be my privilege to be there as a witness to this great event. Our friendship goes back a long way to the day in Rome when he became a Cardinal (June 29, 1967 - I was a young seminarian). I still remember so much of it, as if it happened yesterday. I treasure all those pictures and memories, some of which are still so vivid in my mind. The city and its hotels will be filled (I’m so glad I have friends there!) with many pilgrims and tourists for that occasion and at this time of year. I pray that nothing goes wrong to mar this blessed event.
This coming Saturday morning, April 30, some of our little children from our parish school and our PREP (parish religious education program) will receive their First Holy Communion. They will have the privilege of taking Jesus into their heart for the first time, and what joy should fill their hearts! Though I will be in Rome that day, their intentions certainly will be in my Mass and prayers; and I encourage their families to join them in that reception, and to keep them close to Jesus by the frequent reception of the Eucharist and required attendance at Mass each week.
I offer my thanks to Deacon Lee Levenson, and his wife, Alice, as well as our soon-to-be-deacon Rusty Skinner, and John and Sharon Lynch, and Michael and Sandra Spall for their year-long efforts with our RCIA program, and in bringing into the Catholic Church (Faith) this Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil the following adults: Linda Breslot, Gloria Obenland, and Shamus Oliver Smith (catechumens and elect); Kathryn Beggs, Gerald Campbell, Stephen Massey, Kaysie Smith (candidates) and Eva Hodgens and Chase Navellier (just confirmed). I welcome these newest members into the fullness of the Catholic Faith, and pray that their love of God will lead them to even greater service to Him and His Church. Charles Stanley Chanquian Murphy, newest member of the family of Jim and Lisa Murphy, was also baptized at the Vigil. “Kudos” are extended to Kit Johansen and Sister Maria Liber for their work in preparing our youngsters for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, along with the wonderful assistance of our several superb catechists. These wonderful volunteers faithfully teach the youngsters of our parish in the sacramental preparation program. This is an outstanding labor of love: to teach and to lead the little ones closer to Jesus. God bless them all!
Thank you to all those parishioners who made our 70th anniversary as a parish such a delightful occasion. The Knights of Columbus also celebrated the blessing of their Ten Commandments and Eight Beatitudes monument at the end of the Mass. Our cantors and choir provided splendid music for the occasion, and, considering it was “Passiontide,” the program was not overdone (but the food at the reception was great!). Thank you all for a memorable celebration!
Thank you for your kindness and patience in moving about the parking lot on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Your cooperation with the police and the staff is greatly appreciated to alleviate some of the jam-up problems that can occur on these occasions. May you, our parish family members and our visitors, enjoy a happy and blessed Easter!!
Very Rev. Canon Tom