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St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church

OUR LITURGY
Today’s first reading and psalm tell of God’s power and wisdom manifested in the magnificence of creation. Paul tells us that justified by faith in Christ, we have peace, hope and love from God. Paul urges us to be strong in the face of affliction. Jesus speaks of the Spirit which will come through faith and guide us to the truth that glorifies God.

ALTAR BREAD & WINE
Angelo Pantaleo
Requested by
Loving Daughter

OUR PRIEST-CELEBRANTS
Fr Boyle 5:00 PM Fr Maffeo
Fr Boyle 7:00 AM Fr Thomas
Fr Thomas 9:00 AM Fr Maffeo
Fr Maffeo 10:30 AM Fr Boyle
Fr Thomas 12:00 Noon Fr Descoteaux
Fr Maffeo 5:00 PM Fr Thomas
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.

Feast of
Corpus Christi
Procession
Saturday, June 9th
Witness to your Catholic faith and join in the walk with Christ on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The procession will take place immediately following the 5PM Mass.
The priests of our parish will lead the procession, carrying the Monstrance starting from our church after the 5PM mass. The procession will travel along Church St to the Knights of Columbus Hall on Pond Rd then we will proceed on to the Outreach Office, then the Lower School making a final stop at the front of the rectory.
Join in the hymns & prayers along the route.
The procession will culminate at the Main Altar with Solemn Benediction & reposing of the Blessed Sacrament.

MASS INTENTIONS
Sunday, June 3, Trinity Sunday
7:00 Sebastian Platania requested by Annette Platania & Children
7:00 Richard Odgen requested by Jamie Palazzo
9:00 Jeffrey Fey requested by Kerrie & Kay Bove
9:00 George Schuster requested by Dr & Mrs Joseph A Parisi
10:30 Santa Catanzariti requested by Frank, Kelly & Children
10:30 Louis Monaco requested by Richard Affenita
12:00 Joanne Letzeisen requested by Loving Friends
12:00 Robert Hennick requested by The D’Agostino Family
5:00 Marie Palladino requested by Grace Palladino
5:00 Josephine Galfano requested by Doreen Owen
Monday, June 4
7:00 Linda Feeney requested by Ellen & Bernie
7:00 Anne Clemmens requested by Jackie, Heidi & Robin
9:00 William J Kelleher requested by The Kelleher Family
9:00 Peter & Richard McQuillan requested by Claire & Jim
Tuesday, June 5, St Boniface
7:00 Elizabeth Dereta requested by Louis & Kim DeQuatro
7:00 Robert Titza requested by Carol & Edward Michaels
8:45 Elizabeth Brooks requested by Leona Arpino
8:45 Alfred Saronka requested by The Wimpelberg Family
Wednesday, June 6, St Norbert
7:00 Anita Concessi requested by The Wittemann Family
9:00 Kathi Pagliuca requested by Loving Husband
9:00 Norma Brown, USN requested by Sally & Bob Burnes
Thursday, June 7
7:00 Conrad Scanlon requested by Loving Family
7:00 Antonio Ibarrola requested by Alvin Ibarrola & Family
9:00 Isabella Lore requested by Mitch & Yolanda Schwartz
9:00 Marjorie Rivera requested by Gabriel M Divone Jr
Friday, June 8
7:00 For the People of the Parish
9:00 William Hughes requested by Loving Family
9:00 Matteo Guiliano requested by The Barr Family
Saturday, June 9, St Ephrem
8:00 Frank & Marie Mooney requested by Jim & Family
8:00 John McCullagh requested by Barbara & Ralph Schoenfeld
Anticipated Mass for Sunday
5:00 Deceased members of Religious Education Family requested by
The Relegious Education Department
5:00 Thomas Joseph D’Attario requested by Loving Daughter
Sunday, June 10, Body & Blood of Christ
7:00 Cornelius J Dunleavy requested by Loving Wife Anne
7:00 Patrick & Mary Dineen requested by Loving Family
9:00 For an End to Abortion requested by St Joseph Respect Life
9:00 Al Czak requested by Manuel Lago
10:30 Mr & Mrs LoBrutto & Lilly requested by Loving Family
10:30 Peter Rafferty requested by Richard Burns
12:00 For the People of the Parish
5:00 James Whalley requested by Mary & Louis Scotti
5:00 Laurinda Correia requested by Lisette & Aires Goncalves

****The 2008 Mass Book is now open. Please stop at the rectory to schedule your memorial Masses for next year.****

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Sunday, December 31, 2006

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FROM THE DESK OF FR. MIKE

FROM THE DESK OF FR. MIKE

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
This common and very old prayer of the Church, in its simplicity tells us about the great mystery we celebrate today on this Trinity Sunday. Trinity Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost as a way of highlighting the salvation won for us by God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If someone were to ask which part of God was responsible for our salvation, the answer would not be Jesus alone, no, the answer would be the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. In short, all of God is responsible for our salvation, and that is what we celebrate today. On this special day we do not focus on one event like the Resurrection or Pentecost, rather we focus on the reality of how God exists - One God in Three Divine Persons. The Dogma of the Blessed Trinity (which is accepted by The Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Churches, and by the Main Stream Protestant Churches) is one of the most fascinating teachings of the Church, but it is not the Church that came up with the teaching. No, it is God who revealed Himself to us as existing in this unique way. We see this in today’s Gospel reading where John tells us how Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and the special unity that the Son has with the Father. We also see it in Paul’s letter today as well. Yes, it is God, who over the period of time, revealed this about the Divine Existence and even today we are still receiving the Revelation about this great mystery of our faith.
Remember, by mystery we do not mean a riddle, rather we mean that the Trinity is a reality above our human comprehension, but we are able to understand it in part through worship, prayer, and faith. What this great mystery tells us is that there is more that is unseen than can ever be seen. This Solemnity helps remind us that God is present and at work in more ways than we can ever fully grasp. This Day is not meant to tie us into theological knots; it is here to remind us of the wonder of God’s mysterious and loving presence. It also challenges is to be inspired by and imitate the unity of the Trinity-the love of the 3 Divine Persons
who exists in perfect harmony. After all the Blessed Trinity is a seamless unity of persons, a community of total and pure Love! The Father is the one who loves, the Son is the one who is loved (and spreads that to us), and the Holy Spirit is the very act of loving (who continues to communicate to us the love between the Father and the Son and the love the Father has for us by sending us the Son). As we bless ourselves today, something we have been doing since childhood, let us remember that we are signing ourselves in love and so let us live accordingly.
Next Sunday at the 12 Noon Mass, Fr. Lee Descoteaux will celebrate his First Mass of Thanksgiving for the gift of Priesthood. Fr. Lee will be ordained next Saturday at 11 AM at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre (all are invited). Following the 12 Noon Mass on Sunday, a parish reception will take place in Carew Hall-again all are invited. Please keep Fr. Lee in your prayers as he begins his 1st Priestly Assignment at the end of this month. Also at the 9AM Mass our St. Joseph’s School Graduating Class will be present in their caps and gowns; please keep them and all who are graduating this year in your prayers too. In addition, next Saturday Evening following the 5 PM Mass we will have our Annual Procession with the Blessed Sacrament for the Solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ. Remember it is almost Summer Family Festival Time and we are now selling our Grand Raffle Tickets at the front of the Church as well as in the mailing you received; remember we will have 4 early bird drawings which could get you an additional $100 prize. So send them in, sell them to your friends and relatives and mark your calendars for July 18-22nd for the Festival-come out and enjoy the fun, food, games, and rides.
God Bless you always
Fr. Mike

Fellowship

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REMEMBER OUR SICK
Paul Ahearn Rosemarie Aiello
Michelle Altonji Michael Ambrosio
William Barry Marie Behling
Oliver Bouchard MaryEllen Bowers
George Brennan John Ciullo
Ryan Delaney Joseph DeMaro
Michael DePinto Anthony Diubaldo
Marie Diubaldo Richard Fahey
Sal Farrugia Robert Filce
Sr Kathleen Francis, OP Frank Gaeta
Dominick Golio Sonny Grosso
Elaine Halpin William Hausner
Thomas Horvath Lois Johnson
Jack Kelleher Cecelia Keller
Joseph Liguori Paul Liguori
Betty Limov Agnes Ludwigson
Alexander Muhall Joanora O'Donnell
Grace C Peshkur Baby Rebecca Petrellese
Nicole Ramaglia Betty Reddington
Joan Reilly John Reynolds
Elizabeth Ross Dawn Saporito
Linda Savage Lucille Shaver
Joyce Smith Stacie Tizzard
Lloyd Turnier
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.

REMEMBERING THE SICK
Please include the following in the bulletin sick list:
______________________________
Name of person who is ill:
_____________________________ ____________________
Person making this request: Relationship to ill person
Your Phone #: _____________________
(Please place in collection basket or return to Church Office)
(Friends can be placed on the silent prayer list only)

PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS
Please continue to remember them in your prayers.
SGT Deborah Alfieri
PFC Matthew Altonji Tech SGT Louis Barletta
2LT Stephen Bartoszak PFC Justin Browne
SGT Michael Bruno LTCOL James Cersosimo
CPL Glenn Clacher SPC Thomas E. Corcoran
SPC Jason Crawford PFC John B Cuneo
SGT Ryan Delaney TSGT Timothy Dermody
LTCOL Kurt Diehl SGT Stephen Gene DiGirolamo
LT John Kenneth DiNero SSGT Tony Elliott
LT Kelly Fletcher PFC Adam Franciosa
CPT Evan Gotkin PVT2 Edward Johnston
E1 J.R. Kay SGT John W Keohane
SSGT Steven Knight CPL Andrew Kochman
LCPL Marshall PVT Thomas B McGinn SGT Patrick McNally PFC William Meyer SGT Glenn Miller 2LT Heather Miras SGT Daniel Montville SSGT Brian Moran CPT Gregory Mueller LCPL Thomas Napolitano LCPL Michael Napolitano Pvt Todd Nelson LCPL James Neubauer LCPL Anthony Notaroberta PVT James Notaroberta SGT Brian O'Leary SGT Brian Pacella N/Seal Paul Padro ENS3 Lucy Padro CPT Michael Parisi 2LT Anthony Parisi MAJ Paul E Pinaud CTR2 Matthew Pistritto SGT Edwin Rivera, II LCPL William R Rodgers LCPL Anthony M Sbrocco SSGT Jason Schiavo LCPL W.Mason Shehan SPC James Stanek PVT Erica Sweeney PFC Greg Terrish SSGT Nick Vicale SGT John Thomas Vogt LCPL Brandon Waldon SGT Randolph Weaver 2LT John Wolven
If you would like to include a soldier from your family who is serving, place their name and rank and branch of service on the cut -out and put it in the collection basket.

REMEMBERING OUR TROOPS
Please include the following soldier in your prayers :
______________________________
Name, Rank and Branch of Service
_____________________________ ____________________
Person making this request: Relationship to Soldier
Your Phone #: _____________________
(Please place in collection basket or return to Church Office)
(Friends can be placed on the silent prayer list only)

REMEMBER OUR DEAD
Patrick J Woods, Sam Dascoli, Dennis Sheahan, John Sclafani, Dora Viserto, Sabastian Ingrassia, Ronald J Amend, LCPL David Lindsey, for our deceased soldiers and all of our deceased relatives and friends.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen

Sunday, June 3, 2007

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Avalanche Ranch!!
An exciting Vacation Bible School here at St Joseph Parish from July 9th-12th
We need volunteers to be group leaders and assistants – ages 12 to ?
If you are interested please attend the meeting for training volunteers on
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 from 7:30 – 8:30 pm in Carew Hall.
Please call Sister Anne Marie at the Religious Education Office, 981-1805, if you have any questions.

Mackenzie Brooke DelaRaba
Alessia Maria Malandruccolo
Amanda Justine Suarez

St Joseph’s School
school@stjoronk.org
Congratulations to our Nursery and Pre-kindergarten students. They had
a trike-a-thon for St. Jude's Hospital and raised $305! Way to go!
Field day for grades 1 - 8 was a great success. Thanks to all the parents who volunteered that day to help us. Thank you to the Wallace and Szwech families who helped us with lunch. Students in Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten will have their field day on Friday June 1st.
Congratulations to St.Joseph's School! We were the recipients of the Best of Long Island 2007 Gold Certificate of Excellence Award. This award is presented by the Long Island Advertising Club for our Educational Website. Our website was among 1,500 entries! Thank you to the hard work of Mrs. Arpino, Mr Walter Poggi, the St. Joseph School Board and Jamie Stanco and The Progressive Marketing Group.
Bravo to Mrs. Rich, Mrs. Guerriere and the 4th and 5th grade students. Their presentation of International Day was excellent. Students prepared posters, displays, costumes and presentations of their selected countries. They all shared foods from their country as a closing activity. Thanks to all who helped to make this day a great success.

Feast of St Anthony
June 13th
Mass Celebrating his feast day will take place at 7:30 PM. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Religious Education
reled@stjoronk.org
Our Religious Education Office hours are:
Monday through Thursday 9 am to 4 pm
Registration for the 2007/2008 year is now taking place. Please return your forms as soon as possible.
Any child entering grade 1 in September should be registered for the first year of Religious Ed. Our communion program is a 2 year preparation. Please call our office for further information.
All level 1 students should have completed their visit to the priests to say their prayers. All books should be returned to the Religious Ed office.
Anyone interested in being a Catechist or a hall monitor, please call the Religious Ed office at 981-1805

St. Vincent de Paul
As we celebrate the mystery of the Trinity we also realize the mystery of how much God loves and cares for us each day. Believing in this our lives can then overflow in thanksgiving and praise.
Your gift in the St Vincent de Paul Poor Box will help the poor to believe in the mystery of God’s love for them.

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Sunday, June 3, 2007
, 2005

RESPECT LIFE
Although here we usually speak of abortion, there is another aspect to respecting life - and although society should protect the unborn from abortion, we also have an obligation to protect the dependent elderly, persons with disabilities, and very sick persons. We believe that societies are judged by how they care for and treat those who are unable to take complete care of themselves.
>Denying life saving or life sustaining medical treatment against the will of a patient just as surely kills a patient as a lethal injection; it is involuntary euthanasia.
>Health care providers should provide treatment based on whether the treatment will work, not based on the provider’s value judgments of a patient’s perceived “ quality of life,” “happiness,” or whether the patient’s life is “worth living.” These value judgments constitute discrimination.
>Providers and insurers should not be in the business of deciding who “deserves” treatment based on what they perceive is the patient’s “usefulness”. It is a form of tyranny of the powerful over the weak. All kinds of death making have been unleashed throughout history by those who subscribe to the usefulness model of life.
>Hospital “futility” policies should not be used as clandestine vehicles for rationing health care. “Futility” should address physiological futility (whether the treatment would work), as opposed to the new view that a treatment is considered “futile” if it will help a patient whom the doctor believes is “better off dead.”
>Good, active pain management techniques, which are available today, need to be promoted and used to relieve a patient’s suffering.
>Food and water, however provided to a patient, should never be considered “treatment.” All members of the human family deserve the basic sustenance needed to live.
>If the Family Health Care Decisions Act passes without protective amendments, a hospital will be able to legally override a family’s wishes and deny treatment. Providers will also be able to refuse to treat a patient until the patient is transferred to a willing provider. If the bill is intended to respect families’ decisions, then the bill must also protect patients by honoring family members’ decisions for life sustaining and life saving treatment.
> New York law currently provides for a doctor to place a “Do Not Resuscitate” order upon a competent patient, if the doctor believes a discussion of CPR refusal will be sufficiently upsetting for the patient (Section 2964 subdivision (3) of Article 29-B of the Public Health Law). A competent patient must always be involved in, and give informed consent to, any order to withhold life saving treatment. This law should be repealed. NYS Right to Life Committee, Inc.
“Prayer is saying hello to God.” Christopher Finch, 8
PREGNANCY CRISIS HOTLINE - We are here to help you. Please call 981-6888.

Weekly Offering
Sunday, May 27, 2007 Offerings $16,254
Same collection last year 14,826
Number of envelopes 582
Poor Box last weekend $554
Diocesan Collection for Catholic Communication $692
Same collection last year 654
Fuel Collection to date $13,656
Last year this time 14,488
Thank you for your generous response to the appeal for
increased giving.
God Bless You Always, Fr Mike
Banns of Marriage
(Third Time)
Octavia DeCarlo and James H Penn
both of St Joseph’s
Lauren Vetrano and William J Kennedy
both of St Joseph’s
Andrea Baatz and Timothy Mollick
both of St Joseph’s
Erin Kempel of St Sylvester’s and
Anthony Aiello of St Joseph’s
CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS NEWS
Court St. Joseph, CDA, will meet on Tuesday, June 5th at 7 p.m. in Carew Hall. All members, please plan to attend this meeting; plans for summer and fall events will be discussed, in particular, the annual Catholic Daughters Memorial Mass, which, this October will be concelebrated here in St. Joseph’s Church. A great honor! Our next meeting will be in September.
Have a happy and safe summer!
C. West, Regent. 585-1719
M. Flood, Vice Regent, 585-5352

Mark Your Calendars
June 3 Unity Sunday
June 9 Corpus Christi Procession
after 5 PM Mass
June 10 Rev Lee Descoteaux 1st Mass 12:00
Reception to follow in Carew Hall
June 13 Feast of St Anthony Mass 7:30 PM
July 18-22 St Joseph Annual Festival

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Rev. Lee Descoteaux
That sounds great doesn’t it ?
Well, our very own Seminarian, Lee, will be ordained a priest on June 9th at 11AM at St Agnes Cathedral. He would like to extend an invitation to everyone here at St Joseph’s parish. Seating is first come first serve so please arrive early.
On Sunday, June 10th Fr Lee will celebrate his 1st Mass here at St Joseph at 12:00 Noon. Immediately following Mass please remain in the Church if you would like a blessing from Fr Lee.
Once Fr Lee has finished giving blessings he will be honored at a reception in Carew Hall. EVERYONE is welcome to come and spend some time with Fr Lee.
Tickets and invitations are NOT necessary for any of these three events.

PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN
For all new Parish Volunteers and St Joseph School parents, the Diocese requires that you complete a background check and attend a Virtus training session. The Diocese will be offering a VIRTUS TRAINING session at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Hall on Wednesday, June 13 at 7PM. To reserve your spot or to check on other locations/dates, please go to www.virtus.org. Thank you for all you do for our beautiful parish.

Hear Ye Hear Ye!
We need your help!
Tickets for this year’s Festival Grand Prize Drawing went on sale Memorial Day weekend. This is a big portion of the festival income and we need your help. If you are able to sell the tickets at the weekend masses, please call the rectory, 588-8456, and leave your name and phone number and someone will contact you. Thank you.

On the weekend of June 16th & 17th, Al Babarino will sing and speak at each of the Masses. Al is a Lay Franciscan of the Padre Pio Shelter, in New York; operating under the direction of Fr Benedict Groeschel, of the Community of the Francisan Friars of the Renewal. He is also an active member of the Knights of Columbus. Over the past 16 years he has recorded 7 albums (CDs/Tapes) of spiritual and Inspirational music and video, which helps support the poor and the homeless of the Shelter, Croatian Relief Services, as well as for the needy families of the parish in which he sings. He has traveled throughout the world. Al works in the New York City Prisons for Youth (9-18) as a counselor. At the end of each Mass his CDs will be available. Your support will help the needy of our parish as well. Al’s mission is to evangelize and help the poor.

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A NOTE ON RECEIVING JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
My Dear Parish Family,
Recently it has been brought to my attention about some problems with the distribution and receiving of Holy Communion, so I thought it would be a good idea for all of us to review the proper procedures on how to receive Holy Communion. Remember that the Eucharist is not a symbol for Jesus or something that just reminds us of Him, nor is it just blessed bread and wine; no it is truly the BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, and DIVINITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHIRST! When the bread and wine are consecrated at the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass, they truly become Jesus’ Body and Blood even though they may look like and taste like the bread and wine that were changed. The elements were changed by the power of The Holy Spirit, and as St. Thomas Aquinas tell us the appearance, taste, color, etc of the bread wine are the accidents left behind, but none the less the bread and wine have truly changed into Jesus’ Body and Blood until they are consumed by a member of the faithful. We call this Transubstantiation, and this belief is shared by our Eastern Orthodox Christian Brothers and Sisters and by some branches of the Anglican/Episcopal Church.
With this in mind, we should always approach the Eucharist with great reverence, respect and most importantly love; for this is truly our Divine Lord that we are about to receive in our hearts and souls. Therefore, we should prepare our souls to receive Jesus through a period of silent prayer and reflection and a prayer of thanksgiving after receiving the Blessed Sacrament. We should try not to be distracted as we approach the minister who is offering us communion, so this is not the time to talk with others or extend greetings (save that for after Mass outside the Church), and we should not have anything in our mouths like candy or gum as we approach the minister-believe it or not it does happen.
Communion may be received either in the hand or on the tongue; the decision belongs to the individual communicant, not to the minister distributing communion. A communicant receiving on the hand should remove gloves, and hold up the hands to receive with the left hand cupped and open supported by the right hand (a left handed person can rest the right upon the left) and then taking the right hand bring the Eucharist to his or her mouth. As St. Cyril of Jerusalem taught that in this way our hands form a throne to receive our King. As the communicant approaches and stands in front of the minister, the minister holds up the host and the communicant bows the head and the minister says, “The Body of Christ”, to which the communicant responds, “Amen.” The response “Amen” is an expression of the person’s belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. These words should not be altered; they are the universal ritual practice for Catholics throughout the world. Likewise it should be noted, that the saying of “Amen” is not optional, it must be said to acknowledge our full belief and sad to say too many people do not say it. Also one does not walk away with the Eucharist to their seat or any other place in the Church, no the Eucharist should be placed immediately into ones mouth. Likewise, when we are receiving in the hand, we do not reach out and take the host from the minister with out fingers; for we never take the Eucharist we receive the Eucharist!

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and take the host from the minister with our fingers; for we never take the Eucharist we receive the Eucharist!
Once again do not take the host to your seat or leave it in the pew (so should you get on the Communion Line and then feel that you can not receive, please give the host back to the minister or simply get off the line, do not show disrespect to the Eucharist by leaving it somewhere or putting into you pocket-this is no way to treat our dear Lord! Also do not take the Eucharist with the purpose of bringing the Eucharist to someone else-only Ordained Ministers or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are authorized by the Church to take Communion to the homebound or sick-the only reason we take communion to someone outside of the church- and if you have need of this you should call the rectory so we can meet any other needs the person may have. Likewise please do not break off a piece of the host and give it to small children who are not of an age to fully understand who it is they are receiving. While, you may think this is an act of kindness or you don’t want the child to feel left out, you are actually cheating that child from the great joy and anticipation of receiving Jesus for the 1st time when they are of age. The best way to handle this would be to tell the child now is not the time, but soon, and to explain why they have to wait and how great it will be when they too are ready to receive.
One thing to those who receive on the tongue, please fully stick out your tongue not just a little of it, and since we are no longer receiving at the Communion Rail and you are not kneeling down, please do not tilt you head back as it makes it very hard to give you the host and please wait to feel the host securely in your mouth before you retract your tongue- I have had more incidents of the Eucharist falling on the floor from people receiving on their tongues than in the hand, because they retract their tongues too soon!
Remember the Eucharist truly is the Body and Blood of Christ, it is not just a symbol, and it should not be received lightly or by those who do not fully understand what they are doing and who they are receiving. Additionally, when you come into the Church during the Celebration of The Mass (even if you are not attending the Mass) and the Eucharistic Prayer is being said, you should kneel during the words of consecration [“This is my body…” “This is the cup of my blood…”] and when the Tabernacle doors are open-you should remain kneeling until the doors are closed. In this way we show proper and true respect for Jesus present in the Eucharist. If by chance you can not kneel then please stand or sit respectfully with you head bowed.
Thank you, for your kind attention to this letter and I hope it has been of some help to clarify what are some of the proper procedures to follow, so we can all fully participate and show the proper respect for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and each other.
God bless you always
Fr. Mike

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My Dear Parish Family,
Perhaps you have heard Con Ed’s slogan “Pardon our dust, but dig we must, for a better New York”. I would like to borrow that slogan and change it a little to describe what is going to happen here at St. Joseph’s. Here we go, “Pardon our dust, but demolish we must, for a better St. Joseph’s!” Many wonderful projects have been completed since Msgr. Midura began the Restoration Fund eight years ago: new doors installed in the Church, the Altar/Sanctuary Area and the Choir Section redesigned and renovated, a new Pipe Organ added and, a new restroom added to the Church. Thanks to your contributions to the Elevator Fund, an elevator was finally added to the Church and Carew Hall. Once again my thanks to all of you who fulfilled or are currently completing your pledges. Your help has been invaluable.
While much was accomplished, we were forced to postpone the reconstruction of the old convent into the new Religious Education Office due to an unexpected and very costly repair to the Rectory heating system. This project, which required a total rebuilding of the plumbing, radiators, and thermostats, cost over $100,000. While we have not been able to undertake any major projects, we have not been idle during the past four years. Thanks to the remaining pledges from the Restoration Fund and help from the Catholic Daughters and the St. Regis Council of the Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes, we have accomplished some smaller projects and repairs. These projects include: fixing the façade on the Church and Rectory, improving the air conditioning, and new lights for the Church grounds. The improvements to the air conditioning system in Carew Hall and the Church lobby were designed to extend the life of the main system. We have also repaired the Church roof due to your overwhelming response to my direct appeal. I have been putting any remaining Restoration Fund money into a savings account to complete future projects.
At this time the current Religious Education Office is barely habitable, as it has been ravaged by carpenter ants and the building is filled with mold and mildew. Sr. Anne Marie and the entire staff are getting sick. Likewise, the old convent has been without heat for the last 7 1/2 years and it is filled with so much mold and mildew that the only, and cheapest, option we have is to tear it down. Even though we do not have enough money to fully complete this project, we have to act now! This spring we will begin by tearing down the Religious Ed Office and the old work shed/garage, and later we will tear down the old Convent. We hope to be able to do this as quickly as possible without any major disturbances (but you know how these things go). We will temporarily move the Religious Ed Office to a classroom in the upper School building. We will be taking every step to protect the security and the safety of our St. Joseph School Children and Staff. The maintenance department will be moved to the old library under the stage in the upper School. After demolition is complete, we will work on the Convent’s foundation and complete the necessary site work to erect two modular buildings to become our new Religious Education Center. We are purchasing these buildings at a very good price from our sister parish, St. Catherine of Sienna, in Franklin Square.
It is our hope that this work will be completed in late summer or early fall. I am writing this letter in the bulletin to keep you informed of our plans. As always, please keep our beautiful parish in your prayers so that all we plan to do can be quickly accomplished. In a month or so, I will be speaking at all of the Masses to give you an update on the progress and to discuss with you how each parish family can help make a difference to the future of our beloved St. Joseph’s.
Thank you for all you do for St. Joseph’s and God bless you always.
Fr. Mike

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$ $ $ $ $ $5000.00 $ $ $ $ $
St. Joseph’s Family Festival 2007 Raffle
How would you like to win $5,000? Simply buy a ticket for the Family Festival 2007 Raffle and you could win. It’s that easy. Increase your chances by purchasing six tickets for $100, that’s like getting one free so you are already a winner. There are six prizes to be awarded:
$5000. First Prize
$2000. Second Prize
4 Early Bird Prizes of $100 each
Drawing to be held at the Festival on Sunday July 22nd, winner need not be present.
Tickets are available as you leave mass, during the week at the rectory office, or by mail. Watch your mail for them and for more info about this year’s festival. Mark your calendars for Wednesday July 18th through Sunday July 22.
Plan to join us for the fun and consider which night you would like to volunteer to help in one of our booths. The more the merrier and many hands make for light work.
We hope to see all of you there.
Bring your family and friends
Because the fun never ends!

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A Look At Our Progress
Diocese of Rockville Centre - PO Box 4000, Rockville Centre, NY 11571-4000
P 516-379-5210 ext. 2 F 516-379-5043 e-mail catholicministries@drvc.org
Thank you for your support. Please make checks payable to: Catholic Ministries Appeal
Pledge $_____________Payment $______________Balance $___________
Name:___________________________________________________________
Address:________________________________________________________
City:_________________________State:_________Zip:_______________
Telephone:________________________ Parish: 146-St Joseph
Every Gift Counts!
Can we count on you?

Catholic Ministries Appeal 2007

Catholic Ministries Appeal Update
We are getting very close, so close in fact, it would be a shame not to reach our reach our goal. As of may 29th, we are just $8,000 shy of the goal set at $83,700. That may sound like a lot of money, but consider this: a quick check of last year’s pledges shows there are 100 families who pledged $100 or more totaling over $18,000 that have not made a pledge yet. And that’s not to mention the countless other gifts and pledges from last year which were smaller in size but helped us to surpass our goal last year and enabled us to realize the maximum rebate. Maybe we can ask all of you who have not made a pledge yet to please do so, and once you do, we will go past the goal again this year. We really need your help. It could make the difference between a $7,000 Rebate as opposed to almost a $17,000 rebate to our parish. Please make your pledge today. And remember, you can pay your pledge over time. All pledges must be paid in full by Dec 31,2007 for the parish to get credit for the rebate. If your pledge is $200 or more, you’ll be entered in a raffle to win dinner for two with the parish priests.

Our Goal Is $83,700

Pledges as of May 29, 2007

$75,700

We’ve
Reached
90% of our Goal !!!!

2007

Touching the lives of many through
Diocesan & Parish
ministries and
services.

A GUIDE TO GIVING
Other $_______

Pledge
$5000
2500
1500
1000
500
300
200
100

10 Payments $500
250
150
100
50
30
20
10

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And the Winners Are….

May 2007

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
$50 / William Romano / # 782	$25 / Marie Kubicsko / # 410	$50 / St Joseph the Worker / Anne DiGregorio / # 793 / Anne DiGregorio	2 $25 / Rosemarie Rubenbauer / # 385	3 $25 / June Schaum / # 271	4 $25 / James Gracey / # 551	5 $25 / Mr & Mrs K. Aiello / # 83
6 $50 / Thomas McCann / # 748	7 $25 / Christine Kammerer / # 862	8 $25 / Melissa Boerner / #136	9 $25 / Lisa Naldrett / # 618	10 $25 / Geraldine Loughlin / # 568	11 $25 / Christine Kammerer / # 821	12 $25 / Tina Donegan / # 717
$75 / Mother’s Day / K & B O’Keefe / # 791	14 $25 / Rosemarie Rubenbauer / # 385	15 $25 / Vita O’Keefe / # 803	16 $25 / Mr & Mrs Chris Liberti / # 63	$50 / Ascension / Mary T Biglin / # 242	18 $25 / Amy Scannella / # 396	19 $25 / Jack Hough / # 547
20 $50 / Jane Aragones / # 820	21 $25 / Paul Deo / # 442	22 $25 / Mary Donohue / # 333	23 $25 / John & Dee / O’Keefe / # 761	24 $25 / James H Gracey / # 534	25 $25 / Tom & Evelyn / Bourguignon / # 2	26 $25 / Alex Scannella / # 153
$50 / Christine / Kammerer / # 821	$25 / Mary Ann Olivieri / # 418	$25 / John Weber / # 121	$25 / Mary Johnson / # 47	31 $25 / Debbie Ambrico / #765	June 1 $25 / Rich & Leslie / Maynard / # 622	$25 / Mary T Biglin / # 673

The Calendar Club
Everyday for the next year we will draw one number. The owner of that number will win the prize for that day. Then the number is put back into the mix for the next day’s drawing, giving you another opportunity to WIN! $25 buys you 1 number & 362 chances to win. $100 will buy you 1,810 chances to win !!!!
Your donation must accompany this form. We ask you to return your request as soon as possible so you can get in on the winning. Thank you and Good Luck!
MAIL TO: St Joseph Church, 45 CHURCH STREET, RONKONKOMA, NY 11779
MEMBERS NAME: ____________________________
ADDRESS: ____________________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER: ________________________
NUMBER OF CALENDARS: X $25 = $ ______ 5 FOR $100 TOTAL ENCLOSED $ __________

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Cub Scout Pack 272
Why should I involve my son in Cub Scouting?
Today's world is complicated. Work, school, family, religion, sports, and extracurricular activities seem to pull parents and children in several different directions. As a parent, you want your son to grow up to be a self-reliant, dependable, and caring individual.
Cub Scouting achieves these outcomes by combining fun with educational activities and lifelong values. It also helps parents strengthen character, develop good citizenship, and enhance both mental and physical fitness in young boys. Additionally, Cub Scouting provides boys with positive peer groups and tools to shape their future.
In Cub Scouting, boys learn ideals like honesty, bravery, thrift, and respect. These values help boys make constructive decisions throughout their lifetimes and give them the confidence they need to grow and develop.
In Cub Scouting, boys, families, leaders, and our parishes work together to achieve the following objectives:
Influence a boy's character development and spiritual growth.
Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.
Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.
Improve understanding within the family.
Strengthen a boy's ability to get along with others.
Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills.
Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best.
Prepare him to be a Boy Scout.
Scouting, as a worldwide brotherhood, is unique and different. It is based on the principles of loving and serving God, human dignity and the rights of individuals, and recognizing the obligation of all members to develop and use their potential. It is a movement dedicated to bringing out the best in people; one of the few left in the world where the emphasis is not on winning as an end result, but on the far more demanding task of "doing one's best."
Educators tell us that an increasing number of young people find they cannot make friends and feel lonely, even in a crowd. They have had thousands of words spoken at them by television, and they have never learned to play, to laugh, to develop their imaginations, and to express their feelings. If we can help nurture courage and kindness, allow boys to play, to laugh, to develop imaginations, and to express their feelings, then we will have helped them grow.
We want them to become useful and stable individuals who are aware of their own worth. Helping a boy to learn the value of his own worth is the greatest gift we can give him.
We're proud of our Cub Scout Pack and what it offers to young people and their families. We believe you will feel the same way as you begin to see just what it's all about.
Pack membership is open to boys as follows:
Tiger Cubs - first grade, (or age 7); Grade K Grads eligible for the summer!
Cub Scouts - second or third grade (or ages 8 or 9);
Webelos Scouts - fourth or fifth grade (or age 10 and 11).
Grade levels refer to Sept. 2007
Pack 272 is chartered to St. Joseph R.C. Church, Ronkonkoma, NY

For info about enrolling your son in the Pack or the Troop
e-mail Scouting@StJoRonk.org or call 656-8428 (Dr. Louis Scotti).
Visit our website: Pack272.StJoRonk.org

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Boy Scout Troop 272
Why should I involve my son in Boy Scouting?
As a parent, you want your son to grow up to be a person of worth, a self-reliant, dependable, and caring individual. Boy Scout Troop 272 has these same goals in mind for him. Since 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has been weaving lifetime values into fun and educational activities designed to assist parents in strengthening character, developing good citizenship, and enhancing physical fitness in youth. These values help your son make good decisions throughout his lifetime and give him confidence, as he becomes an adult leader of tomorrow.
Boy Scouting, one of the traditional membership divisions of the BSA, is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award in Cub Scouts or have completed the fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old. Our Troop achieves the BSA’s objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities, fun and purposeful troop meetings, and youth leadership skills development.
The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the “Aims of Scouting.” They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to emphasize the equal importance of each.
Ideals. The ideals of Boy Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. The Boy Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes.
Patrols. The patrol method gives Boy Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where members can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through elected representatives.
Outdoor Programs. Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. In the outdoors the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world around us. The outdoors is the laboratory in which Boy Scouts learn ecology and practice conservation of nature’s resources.
Advancement. Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.
Leadership Development. The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership role of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.
Cub Scout Pack 272 is also taking new members.
(7 to 10 year olds)
Troop 272 is chartered to St. Joseph R.C. Church, Ronkonkoma, NY

For info about enrolling your son in the Troop or the Pack
e-mail Scouting@StJoRonk.org or call 656-8428 (Dr. Louis Scotti).
Visit our website: Troop272.StJoRonk.org

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St. Joseph’s Venturing Crew 272
Meets twice a month on Sundays after the 5:00 PM Youth Mass.
Women & men who are age 14 through 20 & have completed the 8th grade are eligible to join.
What Is Venturing?
Venturing is a youth development program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20. Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth, adult leaders, and our parish. Local community organizations establish a Venturing crew by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens. Our Venturing Crew will specialize in youth development in parish ministry.
Goals
Young adults involved in Venturing will:
Learn to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling positive values.
Experience a program that is fun and full of challenge and adventure.
Acquire skills in the areas of high adventure, sports, arts and hobbies, and religious life.
Experience positive leadership from adult and youth leaders and be given opportunities to take on leadership roles.
Have a chance to learn and grow in a supportive, caring, and fun environment.
Methods
Leadership. All Venturers are given opportunities to learn and apply proven leadership skills. A Venturing crew is led by elected crew officers. The Venturing Leadership Skills Course is designed for all Venturers and helps teach them in an active way to lead effectively.
Group Activities. Venturing activities are interdependent group experiences in which success is dependent on the cooperation of all. Learning by "doing" in a group setting provides opportunities for developing new skills.
Adult Association. The youth officers lead the crew. The officers and activity chairs work closely with adult Advisors and other adult leaders in a spirit of partnership. The adults serve in a "shadow" leader capacity.
Recognition. Recognition comes through the Venturing advancement program and through the acknowledgement of a youth's competence and ability by peers and adults.
The Ideals. Venturers are expected to know and live by the Venturing Oath and Code. They promise to be faithful in religious duties, treasure their American heritage, help others, and seek truth and fairness.
High Adventure. Venturing's encouragement of high adventure, outdoor activities helps provide team-building opportunities, new meaningful experiences, practical leadership application, and lifelong memories to young adults.
Teaching Others. All of the Venturing awards require Venturers to teach what they have learned to others. When they teach others often, Venturers are better able to retain the skill or knowledge taught, they gain confidence in their ability to speak and relate to others, and they acquire skills that can benefit them for the rest of their lives as a hobby or occupation.
E-mail: Crew272@StJoRonk.org Phone: Advisor Mike Keller (631) 467-6468
Visit us online: Crew272.StJoRonk.org
Adults, 21 and over, are invited and welcomed to help advise and assist. Training is provided.

High School & College Age Men & Women
What did you do this weekend?
Join our Venturing Program, part of our parish’s
Youth in Ministry initiative.

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For the Young at Heart

YOUTH IN MINISTRY
Every Sunday at 5:00 PM, St. Joseph’s Parish offers a modern, upbeat, worship experience designed
especially for youth and their families.
Everyone in grades 7-12 is invited to participate.
We’re looking for: Lectors Ushers Musicians/Singers Altar Servers
Eucharistic Ministers (Eucharistic ministers must be over 18)
For more information about joining Youth in Ministry, contact YIM@StJoRonk.org

Venturing Events
In Carew Hall after 5:00 PM Mass
Open to all young men & women from 9th grade to age 20. Join Crew 272 as they venture into a great summer !!
June 3
Venturing Dinner party for
St Joseph School Class of 2007
June 17
Business Meeting
July 1
Project Planning for Festival Café
July 15
Project Planning for Festival Café
August 5
Meeting & Fun
August 18 & 19
Suffolk County Venturing Beach Blast
In Mattituck on LI Sound
August 19
Meeting & Fun
E-mail: Crew272@StJoRonk.org Phone: Advisor Mike Keller (631) 467-6468

Sport for all Seasons
ST. JOSEPH CYO CYO

Travel Soccer:
Tony B (737-5159
Intramural Soccer:
Joe (737-6299
Track
Karen (588-8636
Chairman: Henry
Baseball:
Gene (588-1879
Girls Basketball:
Christine (275-8321
Boys Basketball:
Frank (585-6921
Melchiona (467-6091

St Joseph's Play Group
Calling all babies, toddlers and pre schoolers - Come meet new friends at the St Joseph’s Playgroup! Bring your Mom, Dad, Grandparents or caregiver to Father Carew Hall on Thursday’s at 9:30 AM. There you’ll meet other St Joseph’s families and spend an hour of fun with other children from birth to age 5. For more information please call Sally Miller at 737-5120. Hope to see you there!

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Courtesy Announcements
Charismatic Renewal Center - Monday, June 11th at 8PM in the St Barnabas Holy Family Chapel in Bellmore. Charismatic Prayer groups in Nassau county will sponsor an evening of Prayer & Praise followed by a sharing given by Anthony Fuina on the miracles of Padre Pio. Anthony himself is a product of some of those miracles. Everyone is welcome. For more information call 516-785-0054.
Children’s Learning Services Summer Reading & Math Tutoring Program - Twenty five parishes & St John’s University, will house the 34th Annual CLS Tutoring Program. The sessions are as follows:
Summer Session I: Monday-Friday for 2 weeks (20 hrs) from July 9– July 20
Summer Session II: Monday-Friday for 2 weeks (20 hrs) from July 23-August 3
Summer Session III: 8 consecutive Saturdays (16 hrs) from July 7-August 25
There will be 5 or fewer children in a class taught by a NY state certified teacher. For further information or to register please call 631-243-2503. (Please do not call the rectory or school)
Lake Nutrition Meals on Wheels provides food to elderly and homebound Monday thru Friday two meals a day. Hot meals & cold meals for a charge of $6 for both meals. Call 467-8948 for more information.
American Sign Language Classes will be offered at Cleary School for the Deaf . Summer Session runs from July 2 through August 8th. Both children (age 10 & up) and adults are welcome. Call Carolyn Kelly at 588-0530 or email her at asl4ck@cs.com for more info.
Smithtown Central School District Adult Basic Education Program–Free Classes ! Learn English, Earn your GED (High School Equivalency Diploma, Prepare for Citizenship, Gain Basic Computer Skills (Seniors & ESL Students) & Receive Career Counseling! For more info call 382-2181 or www.smithtown.k12.ny.us
Professional Therapy & Counseling provided by NYS licensed psychologists are available to our parish. You may be seen at any of the other 70 participating parishes. This program has been conducted in the diocese for the past 34 years for the convenience of parishioners. It is provided by the Catholic Counseling Center which is independent of and not controlled or supervised by the parish or diocese. Most insurance policies are honored. For confidential information and appointment, call Dr Giuliani at 243-1550.
Wanted! Rosary Makers for the Cause of Our Blessed Mother. The need for rosaries is great & urgent. Become a missionary by making rosaries for missions in the US, the military & around the world. Please call Our Lady’s Rosary Makers at (502) 968-1477 or write 4611 Poplar Level Rd, PO Box 37080, Louisville, Kentucky 40233-7080.
.

We’re Looking For…
BOX TOPS - from cereals for Educational purposes are always welcomed. Please drop them in the collection.
DEPOSIT BOTTLES AND CANS- Please place them in the baskets that are located on the school side of the Church on weekends or behind the rectory during the week.
CELL PHONES - Please bring your no longer used or needed cell phones and deposit them at the Scrip table in the Church lobby.
INKJET CARTRIDGES - Drop them off (in a plastic baggie) when you come to mass. We will send them to a company who reuses them and gives the parish a bounty for each. One note, to clear confusion, if it is larger than a fist, it is not an inkjet cartridge!!!

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