OUR LITURGY

The tension between the Gentile Converts and the Mosaic Law is eased by the elders in Jerusalem when they acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is in their decision. The Gospel promises that the Advocate will come from the Father to teach the disciples all they need to know. They are assured of real peace, beyond anything they could ever imagine

Lturgical Commission Publishings, Diocese of Lansing, Lansing, MI

Altar Bread And Wine

The gifts offered at our Masses this weekend
are donated in Memory of:

Robert Mucha

Requested by: The Vogelsburg Family

REMEMBER OUR DEAD

Helen McAvoy-Sutphen,Brian Cudnik, Olga Fawcett, Catherine D’Achilli, Joseph Rufino, and for our deceased soldiers, and all of our deceased relatives and friends.

REMEMBER OUR SICK

For this week, please pray for the sick, especially:

Angela Aponte Rob Barello Frank Belsito

Maureen Ann Berdo John Bickel John Biglin

Jean Boland Matthew Boland Mary Ellen Bowers

Charles Bratisax James Butler Kathy Butler

John Cannizzano Jennifer Carlisle Alex Cintron

Josephine D'Agostino EmmanuelCoby Al Croce

Joan DeCicco Edward Delprete Dylan DiLauro

Theresa Donnelly Wendy Eilers Maggie Errico

Anna Esposito Louis Fava Robert Filce

Mary Ellen Flynn Michael Flynn Mary Forsythe

Joseph Fortier Catherine Gracey Ed Hansen

PattiHunt Warren Johnson Wayne E. Kalish

Robert Lang Ashlee LaRocca Georgianna Lopez

Kevin McCollum Juliana McLarney Brett Meyers

Marie Minto Rosann Moscato Anita L Nanry

Tom Nanry SamNettles Timothy M. Nigro

Salvatore Romagnuolo Michelina Raia Joyce E.Ryan

Robert Safarian Louise Schaaf TheresaSchiano

William Schmelzer Phyllis Stewart Linda Stultz

StacieTizzard GeorgeTizzard,Jr. Marlene Urban

MckaylaVilsant Rose Russo

PLEASE NOTE: To keep our prayer list current, we will keep names on the sick list for two months. We ask families to return the bulletin cut-out to include names of those who are ill for another two months.

OUR PRIEST-CELEBRANTS

(Subject to last minute changes)

This Sunday Next Sunday

Saturday

5:00 pm Fr. Maffeo Fr Butler

Sunday

7:00 am Fr. Butler 7:00 am Fr.Rieder

9:00 am Fr. Liu 9:00 am Fr.Fr. Boyle

10:30 am Fr.Boyle 10:30 am Fr Liu

12:00 pm Fr. Maffeo 12:00 pm Fr Butler

5:00 pm Fr. Devaraj 5:00 pm Fr.Maffeo

MASS INTENTIONS

Sunday, May 16- Sixth Sunday of Easter

7:00 Dolores Turner requested by Mary & David Robinson

7:00 Theresa D. Ferony
requested by Patricia & Enyard & Bill Brandi

9:00 Kathleen Vesting requested by Josephine and Charlie Hafner

9:00 George Buechner requested by Loving Wife

9:00 Giovanna Melomo requested by The Romano Family

10:30 Margaret Long requested by Mary Verardi

10:30 Geraldine DuBritz (living)
requested by Thomas DuBritz & Son

10:30 Nicholas Santo requested by Julia Johnson

12:00 Margaret Kolibash requested by Claire & Jim

12:00 Mother’s Day Novena

12:00 Margaret Mary Gabriel requested by The Halagarda Family

5:00 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Considine
requested by Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Grippo

5:00 Patricia Eimer requested by The Kitterle Family

5:00 For The People of The Parish

Monday, May 17

7:00 Those included in the Mother’s Day Novena

7:00 Candy Henry requested by The Boy Scout Troop 272

9:00 Bernard Jones, Sr. requested by The Fiore Family

9:00 Dorothy Stiefel requested by Bill & Louise Schaaf

Tuesday, May 18- St. John I, pope

7:00 James J. Reilly requested by loving family

7:00 Cathy Clemmens requested by Hiedi Vetrano

8:45 Nicholas Santo requested by The Keller Family

8:45 Mother’s Day Novena

Wednesday, May 19

7:00 Vee Franco requested by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Koenig

7:00 The Intentions of the Celebrant

9:00 Gerard Sternweis requested by Margaret & Chris Marshall

9:00 Dolores Seus requested by Thomas & Linda Dunphy

7:30 For Our Beloved Dead

Thursday, May 20- Ascension of the Lord- St. Bernadine

7:00 Mary Manna requested by Geri & Mike Devenney

7:00 For Our Beloved Dead

9:00 Dorothy Stiefel requested by Geri & Mike Devenney

9:00 For The Intentions of the Celebrant

12:10 Rev. Donald Shane requested by Geri and Mike Devenney

12:10 Agnes & Eileen requested by Loving Sister Peggy & Family

5:00 Daniel Antignano requested by Jeff, Tina & Family

5:00 For The Intentions of the Celebrant

7:30 Henry &Frances Delvin and family requested by Tim Cleere and family

Friday, May 21- St. Christopher Magallanes and companions

7:00 Mass of Thanksgiving requested by Dolly Samuels

7:00 For Our Beloved Dead

9:00 Dorothy Stiefel requested by Josephine Valsechi

9:00 Panagiota Bogadis requested by Jean Koenig

Saturday, May 22- St. Rita of Cascia

8:00 In Memory of Our 50th Wedding Anniversary

requested by Joan Mitchell

8:00 For Our Beloved Dead

Anticipated Mass for Sunday

5:00 Frank Domon Requested by Angelo & Andrea Quagliata

5:00 Dominic D’Angelis requested by Loving Family

5:00 Mary & John Rigney requested by Loving Family

Sunday, May 23- Seventh Sunday of Easter

7:00 For The People of The Parish

7:00 For The Intentions of the Celebrant

9:00 Knights of Columbus & Columbiettes

9:00 Knights of Columbus & Columbiettes

9:00 Christopher Gilardi requested by the Troccoli Family

10:30 Gary Gonzalez requested by Carl & Rosanne Andersen

10:30 Carmine Somma requested by Loving Family

10:30 Nicholas Santo requested by the Peters Family

12:00 Elizabeth Rea requested by Ann Harrington

12:00 Deceased members of the Midura and Margas families

12:00 Janet Gossweiler requested by Ed & Marilyn Cordero

5:00 Walter Pazner requested by the Xinis Family

5:00 Theresa Giossi (living) requested by Thomas DuBritz & Son

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THE GIFTS AT THE MASSES ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE USHERS WHEN YOU ARRIVE FOR MASS.

FROM THE DESK OF FR. MIKE

“You heard me tell you, I am going away and I will come back to you. If you loved me you would rejoice that I am going to the Father.” Today’s Gospel reading continues John’s account of the events and words spoken at the Last Supper. Today Jesus tells the Apostles that soon He would be taken from them and will be returning to the Father in Heaven. You can guess that they did not want to hear this news, and they certainly wanted Jesus to remain with them-to keep things the way they were! However, they did not realize that the paradox in this is if He does not return to the Father then He truly will not be with them. If Jesus remains with them, He could not stay with them forever, nor could He be here with us right now. For when Jesus returns to the Father, He and the Father send down the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the third person of The Blessed Trinity who constantly communicates to the Church and the world CHRIST! It is through the Holy Spirit that Jesus is made present in the Blessed Sacrament (and all of the Sacraments of the Church), the Word, and in each member of the Church the Living Body of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit given to us in Baptism and Confirmation that joins us together in unity, love and faith. If Jesus remained with the disciples, as they wanted, then he would be in only one place and time, and He could not be present to us, to all people and all generations.

The Daughters of St. Paul, an international community that was founded to evangelize through the media, will be with us next weekend, after all of the Masses, having a book and media exhibit. This is a wonderful opportunity to get some good Catholic Reading for the whole family.

The Saint Joseph’s Home School Association will be sponsoring its 5th Annual Golf Outing on Monday June 28, 2004 at the Timber Point Country Club. The day includes a 12 Noon Bar-B-Q Buffet Lunch, a 1:30 pm Shotgun Start and a great Buffet Dinner at the Timber Point Club. All of this for only $135 a player, where else can you have a great round of golf and support at the same time something so wonderful as our St. Joseph’s School? I hope to see you there, for more information please read further in this bulletin or call Brian Sanders, the event coordinator, at (631) 475-9575 or (516) 815-1884 after 6pm.

The FAMILY SUMMER FESTIVAL IS ALMOST HERE-and there was great rejoicing! That’s right before you know it, it will be July, and that means its Summer Family Festival Time. I know you have been looking forward to this event since last summer. After all where else can you go for a great time, wonderful food, and so much more? We have the rides, the games, the nightly 50-50 raffles, and the wonderful baskets that raffled off every night. And if this were not enough (and we know that it's not), we have the LIMITED RAFFLE WITH IT'S EXCITING GRAND PRIZE! We just cannot say enough about this annual FUN AND FUND RAISER. Come one come all and come often. As always for this to be a truly successful event we need the help of many volunteers. If you can help us now is the time to let us know-please fill out the form found in this bulletin and return it to the rectory. THANKS!

Bishop Murphy has designated Friday May 21, 2004 as a Day of Repentance and Prayer for the whole Rockville Centre Diocese. We have all on some level shared in the sufferings caused by the terrible hurts of the sexual abuse crisis and we need to experience the mercy of God and seek God’s continued healing. This time of repentance and prayer offers each of us an opportunity to support one another and with prayer and understanding. To that end, we will celebrate a special Mass for Repentance and Healing this Friday May 21st at 7:30 PM, followed by an hour of prayer before the Exposed Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. Please come for the Mass or The Holy Hour or both-whatever you can attend and pray for healing and true faithfulness in the Body of Christ. There will also be Diocesan Prayer Services on Monday May 24th at 7:30 PM at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, and on Wednesday May 26th at St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead-also at 7:30 PM.

Let us invoke the Holy Spirit to come upon us as we pray, “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your love, that the face of the earth and the face of the Church might be renewed.” Amen.

God Bless you always.

Fr. Mike

SAY A PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please continue to remember them in your prayers.

Cpl Jason Bertran Cpl. Michael Bruno

Cpt. Kevin Connolly Capt Edward Cuevas

Sgt Ryan Delaney Pvt. Matthew DiNardo

Capt. Keith Flick SSG Jeremy Garcia

SFC Raymond J. Fulton Spc. Tristin Mortensen

Capt. Evan Gotkin Sgt. Stephen G. DiGirolamo

Capt. Jennifer Gotkin Sgt. Steven Knight

Pfc. Brian Lane Spc. Adam Mackey

PFC Brian Lawson

Andy Mezador Cpt. Gregory Mueller

SSG Joey Napolitano COP Jonathan Norris

Spc. Brian Pacella Sgt. Rudy Schoverling

Ensign 3 Lucy P. Padro Navy Seal Paul M. Padro

PFC Christopher Reid Sg.t. Edwin Rivera, II

PO2 Roger Schoverling Pvt. James Stanek

SR. Andrew J. Szynaka SSG Thomas J. Valentino

SRA Jason M. Schiavo SSG Dusty Williamson

(If you would like to include a soldier from your family who is serving, place their name and rank on a piece of paper in the collection basket)

NB: We will be adding to our military wall of honor display before Memorial Day, please bring any photo you would like added to the rectory (we will return your photo).

RESTORATION FUND—We are always accepting pledges to our parish fund drive to carry on the work of rebuilding and restoring. To date, we have used over $960,000 to pay for various parts of the parish infrastructure. Thanks to all who are making regular payments and to those who have increased their pledges.

St. Joseph’s School News

You are invited to St. Joseph’s School Technology Fair on May 17th from 7-8:30pm in the school gym. Our students have incorporated technology in the academic subject areas. All projects were completed during school time under the direction of the teachers. The projects are truly remarkable!

A big “Thank You!” to Mrs. Challenor for encouraging St. Joseph’s School to take time out for a walk through Long Island’s history of transportation. On Thursday, May 6th grades 3 through 6 had the opportunity to take part in the Newsday presentation of History In Motion. This interactive experience allowed each class to learn more about almost 100 years of Long Island history, from the races at the Vanderbilt Motor Speedway the Grumman F14 and Lunar Lander. Inside the vehicle the children experienced five interactive displays, which allowed them to touch, see and hear history. The exhibition included artifacts, several outside kiosks, featuring different presentations, and hundreds of photos. In addition, the students were given a scavenger hunt to help them focus on some of the little details. Everyone reported back that this was a wonderful and worthwhile adventure.

Home School Association

St. Joseph’s Home School Association invites you to our monthly McDonald’s Night on Monday May 17th between the hours of 5-7PM. Don’t forget 15% of all the sales including the Drive-Thru are donated to St. Joseph’s School. Come spend some time with the family and friends.

Religious Ed News

The Religious Ed office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Registration forms for 2004/2005. Although our deadline for early registration has passed, we are still accepting applications. Please mail them in as soon as possible. Any child entering Grade 1 in the Fall should be registered for Level 1 this is the first year of our two year Communion prep program. Call the office for registration forms.

Reminder to Parents of Level 1 Students – Please call the rectory and make an appointment with one of the priests for your child to recite his/her prayers. Please also remember to send in your registration forms for level 2.

For those students in levels 2 and up who were on home study, the year end test will be held on Wednesday May 19th at 4:15 p.m. in the Auditorium. Please call our office and let us know which date you will be coming on.

Congratulations to all our students in St Joseph’s parish who received their First Eucharist this year.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

St. Joseph’s Church invites children to Lava Lava Island: Where Jesus’ love flows.

St. Joseph’s Lava Lava Island program will provide fun and memorable Scripture learning activities for children ages 4-10. Each day kids will sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, nibble Tropical Treats, take on a Daily Challenge to let Jesus’ love frow home, experience electrifying Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of God’s word, and create Bible Point crafts they’ll take home and play with all summer long.

Lava Lava Island begins on July 12, 2004 and continues through July 16th, from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm. Cost $30 per child, $50 per family. For information, call Mary Lu during the evening hours at 981-9314.

“THE DAUGHTERS OF ST. PAUL, an international community that was founded to evangelize with the media will be with us next weekend having a book and media exhibit. It is a wonderful opportunity to get some good Catholic reading for the whole family. The sisters have 19 book and media centers across the country and have outreached like this to the parishes whenever possible. They also have a website at www.pauline.org for more information.”

Banns of Marriage

(Third Time)

Jaclyn Garcia of St Joseph &
Michael Lyon St. Joseph, Garden City

Melissa Crisci of Our Lady of Ostrabrama &
Thomas O’Connell of St Joseph

Michele Tohill of St Joseph &
Adam Connolly of St Elizabeth Ann Seton

Amy Marie Woerner of St Joseph &
Joseph Rufino III of St Joseph

Allison Drew of St. Sylvester &
Michael Beaudry of Sacred Heart, Bayside

Candice Ganci of the Church of the Resurrection &
John J. Barry of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Jennifer Hoos of St Joseph &
Bradford Hughes of St. Thomas Moore

Marianne Laudadio of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel &
Peter Muschter of St. Patrick, Bay Shore

Christine Schnepf of St Joseph &
Michael R. Powell of St. Frances de Sale

Kelly Vogt of St Joseph &
Brian Quirk of Lake Grove

Parish Outreach

PREGNANCY CRISIS HOTLINE—We are here to help you. Please call 981.6888.

FOOD SUPPORT—Your donations of food and staple items is always appreciated. Kindly leave them in the front of Mary’s statue in the Church before or after Mass.

Thank you for your generous support of the Feinstein Corporation matching gift program. It all gets used to help the people of the Ronkonkoma area who at the moment are in need of assistance.

Help Needed Desperately ! !

The Family Festival is only 2 months away. We need the help of every parishioner to make it a success. We are looking for able-bodies to help with the set up and take down. We need chefs to help cook. Gregarious types to man (or woman) our game booths. We need entrepreneurs to help sell the limited raffle tickets (this year’s grand prize, a Caribbean Cruise). The strong silent type can help with security. There is plenty of room for counter people in the food and beverage booths. Won’t you please mark your calendars and return the tear-off. This is the single largest fund raiser we hold each year.

Come Join Us ! !

Music Ministry Concert

. Our combined choirs will present a Spring Concert on Saturday June 5th at 7:30PM in the Church. Save the date.

Stewardship

Today’s reading from Revelation offers a vision of the City of God, the new Jerusalem. “But,” the bishops pastoral on stewardship reminds us, “that “life to come” is in continuity with this present life through the human goods, the worthy human purposes, which people foster now.”

Weekly Offering

Sunday’s Collection $ 15,609

Same collection last year 16,564

Poor Box last weekend 306

For The Month of April the Parish operating expenses amounted to:

LIPA for electricity $4,133.22

Keyspan & Metromedia for gas $6,397.90

We thank you for your continued and generous support!

Restoration Fund

Pledged to date $1,120,210

Paid to date 988,514

Scrip Corner

Scrip sales last week $ 18,495

Same period last year 23,475

Gross Profit 874

New Scrip Additions

Houlihan’s $10 denomination

JoAnn Fabrics $20 denomination

Starbucks Coffee $10 denomination

Calendar Club

Congratulations to this week’s winners!!!

May 02 $50 #508 Maureen Clahane

May 03 $25 #486 Sal Errico

May 04 $25 #559 Charlotte Clark

May 05 $25 #153 The Fitzmaurice Family

May 06 $25 #174 Ann & Peter Kelly

May 07 $25 #415 Robert Pavinski

May 08 $50 #405 Fred Amerino

Respect Life

CHEMICAL ABORTION and the SIXTH COMMANDMENT

The shift by the abortion rights movement toward chemical abortion (RU-486) is aimed at moving the issue out of public scrutiny and placing abortion’s victims beyond the reach of the pro-life community. It Is difficult to picket, sidewalk counsel, or protest in front of every woman’s residence. The undeniable goal is to make medical abortion legal, private, and safe for the woman, and as lethal as possible for the baby.

What seems to be lost on so many is t hat abortion by whatever means is killing, an act directly prohibited by the sixth Commandment. Scripture makes it clear that the only killing authorized is t hat which is under direct divine command. Scripture expressly prohibits private killing, regardless of its form.

Christians in particular should be alert to new encroachments on the lives of pre-born children. Questioning physicians about their positions on the use of abortifacient drugs like RU-486 and their views concerning abortion generally is the least we can do. We cannot be silent while the lives, health, and well-being of tens of thousands of women are placed in jeopardy by the misguided utopian dreams and political aspirations of abortion’s loudest advocates. We cannot stand idly by while the culture of death does all it can to make killing seem less like killing. Blocher, At The Center, Volume 5

NOTE; Extra people are needed to help with the June mailing of LIFE NEWS. Please consider giving some time for this worthy project. Confirmation service hours honored for doing this work. Complimentary lunch served.