St. Augustine R.C.Church

A Welcome Note from Our Pastor

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Parish of St. Augustine in Ossining New York. Our lovely parish has served the Catholic community of Ossining and the surrounding area since 1853. We continue to be a vibrant parish, active in our prayer life, spiritual development, social ministries, and education. Please take a moment to peruse our website to see all that we are and all that we do! And please feel free to come and worship Almighty God with us!

With prayers and best wishes, I am,

                                           Faithfully yours in Christ,

                                       Fr. McSweeney

WELCOME!!

 
Our parish family of Saint Augustine welcomes

Fr. Lorenzo Laboy

as our new Weekend Assistant.  Ordained in 2013, Fr. Laboy has graciously agreed to help our parish, and we are very grateful!

Ministry Sunday – What is it?


 

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article on the concept of Labor Day and what St. James called Faith without works being dead (cf. James 2:24-26).  I would like to touch on that point and speak about an upcoming event in the parish that will help many of us to heed the words of the apostle.  
 
We are blessed here at our parish to have so many groups that reach out to every corner of our community but many times the same people are intricately involved in the work, making many of them ‘burnt out’ or weary of what their purpose in the ministry actually is.  On the other hand, there are also some people who are weary of getting involved for fear of ‘not having enough time’ to complete their primary focus – raising their families.  Again, a valid concern and absolutely priority but they too are ‘burnt out’ from a gnawing feeling of ‘I could be doing more…. but I do not.’ 
 
So, after much prayer and consultation with our Pastor, Fr. McSweeney, our clergy and the Parish Council we have agreed to host Ministry Sunday on November 3^rd, 2019.  What will this entail? After mass on Sunday as you walk out of the vestibule you will have an opportunity to approach representatives from every ministry in our parish – yes, EVERY ministry.  They will have a small setup in our church vestibule explaining what their particular group does, what their mission is, and what event(s) they do to help the community.  All we ask of you, the parishioners to pray about in the coming weeks is not only for its success but ‘how can I participate?’  Maybe you’ve always wanted to participate in a Midnight Run, but you never knew how or felt that it would take up too much time.  Here is an opportunity to not only learn how it works but also how you can get more involved – it may not take up as much time as you actually think!   They along with all of our groups can only benefit from your time and talent.  We as a parish community have a lot to be grateful for but we can always give so much more to a community that demands so much of us.  It is time for us to once again re-double our efforts in putting our ‘faith into action’ and this Ministry Sunday is a perfect opportunity for us to springboard into the month of ‘thanks’ by giving thanks for what we have, and giving more of ourselves to assist those in our community who beg for our generosity.  Please be attentive to announcements in the next couple of weekends that will give more details on this event and know of the prayers of your priests, deacons, and all staff as we move towards this vital and exciting time in our parish community!
Fr. JP
 

POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS EUTHANASIA AS UTILITARIANISM, NOT FREEDOM

 
VATICAN CITY --- The Catholic News Agency reported that Pope Francis said that Euthanasia is a way of treating the human person as an object; while it may appear to give freedom, it is really a rejection of hope. “The practice of euthanasia, which has already been legalized in several countries, only apparently aims to encourage personal freedom,” he said. “In reality,” he continued, “it is based on a utilitarian view of the person, who becomes useless or can be equated to a cost, if from the medical point of view, he has no hope of improvement or can no longer avoid pain.” “If one chooses death, the problems are solved in a sense; but how much bitterness behind this reasoning, and what rejection of hope involves the choice of giving up everything and breaking all ties!” he declared. Pope Francis stated that medical technology is not being used for its right purpose, the service of the human person, when it “reduces him to a thing,” or makes distinctions between who is not deserving of treatment because of supposedly being “a burden” or “a waste.” The contrary approach is a commitment to accompany a patient and his loved ones at all stages, trying to alleviate suffering through palliative care, or the family environment of hospice, he argued. This “contributes to creating a culture and practice more attentive to the value of each person.” The countries with legal euthanasia are the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Luxembourg, and Canada. Assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, and in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Hawaii, Vermont, Montana, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, California, and Maine (starting January 1, 2020). Pope Francis encouraged medical personnel to “never lose heart for the misunderstanding you might encounter, or before the insistent proposal of more radical and hasty roads,” adding that their work includes raising awareness in a society “which is not very aware and is sometimes distracted.” Francis described a sort of “Pandora's box,” in which everything is explained except hope. “And we have to go look for this,” he said. “How to explain hope, indeed, how to give it in the most limited cases.” In the audience, the pope praised the association’s focus on providing the best care for each individual patient, according to his or her unique biology, calling it “an oncology of mercy,” because personalizing care puts one’s attention on the individual, not only the illness, he argued.  He encouraged medical workers to take Jesus as their example, also stressing the importance of Christ for those who are sick. Jesus, he said, “helps them to find the strength not to interrupt the bonds of love, to offer their suffering for brothers, to keep friendship with God.” “Inspire everyone to be close to those who suffer, to the little ones above all, and to put the weak in the first place, so that they can grow a more human society and relationships marked by gratuitousness, rather than opportunity,” he urged. 
 

  RESPECT LIFE MONTH
 
ABORTION TIED TO SHARP DECLINE IN WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
 

A report from CBS News in 2011 is still relevant today:
A provocative study shows that women who have an abortion face an increased risk for mental health problems including substance abuse, anxiety, and depression. "Results indicate quite consistently that abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure," the authors wrote in the study, published in the September 1 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry.
For the study, researchers analyzed data on 877,000 women, including 164,000 who had an abortion. They found women who had an abortion experienced an 81 percent increased risk for mental problems. Women who had an abortion were 34 percent more likely to develop an anxiety disorder, 37 percent more likely to experience depression, 110 percent more likely to abuse alcohol, 155 percent more likely to commit suicide, and 220 percent more likely to use marijuana. Nearly 10 percent of the problems could be attributed to abortion, the authors concluded. "There are in fact some real risks associated with abortion that should be shared with women as they are counseled prior to an abortion," Dr. Priscilla Coleman, professor of human development and family studies at Bowling Green State University, told the Daily Telegraph. About 827,000 women have an abortion in the U.S. each year.
 
Previous research hasn't found a definitive link between an abortion and a woman's mental health. In 2008, the American Psychiatric Association charged a task force to review scientific evidence on the link between abortion and mental health. They acknowledged women may experience sadness, grief, depression, and anxiety following an abortion, but could not find evidence abortions - and not other factors - caused these effects.
 
Post-Abortion Retreats
 
Entering Canaan: A Sacramental Journey to an Inheritance of Mercy, is a post-abortion ministry developed by the Sisters of Life and Theresa Bonopartis. In the Bible, the Israelites set out for Canaan seeking a new life of peace and joy. A fulfillment of Gods promise to them. The Entering Canaan Ministry reflects that journey to the Promised Land.
 
Contact Information
If you are interested in attending a day of prayer and healing, please call (866) 575-0075, or email postabortion@sistersoflife.org.
 
 
Project Rachel
 
Sisters of Life - (866) 575-0075  hopeandhealing@sistersoflife.org
 
Lumina - (877) 586-4621 lumina@postabortionhelp.org

RESPECT LIFE MONTH
 
BABIES BORN ALIVE AFTER ABORTION
CAN BE LEFT TO DIE IN 16 STATES
 

Lifenews.com reported that the Family Research Council released a first-of-its-kind set of maps showing the strength of born-alive abortion survivor protection laws and the legal status of late term abortion in every state. Protections for born-alive abortion survivors became a national conversation when New York and Illinois walked back their protections earlier this year, removing existing protections for infants born alive during failed abortion attempts. According to research conducted by Family Research Council, only fifteen states provide strong protections for born-alive abortion survivors, and only eight require reporting on infants who survive abortion. The maps also show which states have no laws protecting born-alive abortion survivors, which states allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, and some surprising differences between those lists. Sixteen states have no laws protecting born-alive abortion survivors: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. Twenty-two states allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, either directly or indirectly: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Quena González, Director of State and Local Affairs at Family Research Council, said this was a direct result of what he called the “wave election” of 2010:  “The 2010 election cycle saw a record number of state-level Republicans elected. Many of them were pro-life, and as their majorities in legislatures and statehouses across the country continued to increase throughout the Obama administration, they enacted pro-life laws at a record pace. “One pro-abortion group estimates that more than a third of all pro-life state laws enacted since Roe v. Wade were enacted in the last nine years. These maps are a testimony to the dedicated work of pro-life state policymakers over the past decade to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us, and to the importance of elections,” concluded González. Connor Semelsberger, Legislative Assistant for Pro-life Issues at Family Research Council, remarked: “The patchwork of state laws protecting abortion survivors will not suffice. That is why it is necessary for the U.S. Congress to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Republicans in both chambers have taken the lead in pushing this bill through Congress, but due to Democrat obstruction this bill can’t even get a hearing, let alone a vote, in the House of Representatives. “Family Research Council is committed to delivering 90,000 baby hats to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to send a clear message that babies that survive abortion must be protected. Now is the time for all elected officials to decide if they are going to stand up for the most vulnerable members of our society or to enable infanticide,” concluded Semelsberger.To see what protections your state provides for born-alive abortion survivors, view the maps at:frc.org/prolifemap

CHAPEL

Food for thought...After much prayer and thought, I believe the Rectory needs to construct a small Chapel for our Priests. The ability to visit our Lord at any time, day or night, to pray with Him and just be with Him would be a great source of solace.

I will be seeking advice for the cost of a 10' X 12' (or thereabouts) Chapel, and will then need to seek some generous donors to make our dream a reality. Benefactors will be remembered in the prayers and Holy Masses offered in the Chapel.

                                                                     Fr. McSweeney
 

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PARISHIONERS TARGETED

BY TEXTING SCAM POSING
AS LOCAL PASTORS

 

There’s a new scam involving local churches and their parishioners in New York. According to the Brooklyn diocese, thieves are targeting churchgoers and getting away with thousands of dollars.  The scammers have reportedly stolen about $3,000, and that’s just from the victims they know about.  It started a couple of weeks ago. Church members were getting text messages from someone posing as their priest, asking for donations in the form of gift cards.
 
Some have tried to scam parishioners of Saint Augustine claiming to be the pastor. Please do not respond to such claims of emergency funds needed.

 

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PREPARING FOR THE STORM

 
“He hushed the storm to silence, the waves of the sea were stilled. They rejoiced that the sea grew calm, that God brought them to the harbor they longed for.”                                                                                
                                                                                                              PSALM 107: 29
 

Following the lead of a priest friend, I would like to address a difficult topic in anticipation of the perceived “storm” expected on August 14 of this year. As you are most likely aware, New York State has enacted the Child Victims Act lifting the statute of limitations on previously time-barred sex abuse claims allowing claimants to file a lawsuit for money damages against any party they claim to be responsible for the abuse. This Act goes into effect on August 14 and provides a one-year window for claimants to file a lawsuit for money damages for sex abuse regardless of how long ago the abuse is alleged to have occurred. It is expected that abuse claims will be filed against some of the churches, schools and religious entities within the Archdiocese of New York. I make you all aware of this because it will raise difficult topics in the press and in conversations with friends and family. And although this new law covers individuals or institutions, the Catholic Church will certainly be the focus of many articles and media reports. Remember that child sex abuse happens in families, in public and private schools, in churches and synagogues and in many other institutions and places. We must not get discouraged or disheartened when these stories come. Rather we, as Catholics, must be a source of healing for those sexually abused and work to eliminate sex abuse in all its forms in our society and in our Church. Let us pray that truth prevails and abuse ends in families, schools, places of worship, organizations and institutions. Lord, please hear our prayer!

                                                                     Fr. McSweeney & Fr. JP
 

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PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
 

O Jesus, I pray for Your faithful and fervent priests;
for Your unfaithful and tepid priests;
for Your priests labouring at home or
abroad in distant mission fields;
for Your tempted priests;
for Your lonely and desolute priests;
for Your young priests;
for Your dying priests;
for the souls of Your priests in purgatory.
But above all I recommend to You the priests dearest to me;
the priest who baptized me;
the priests who absolved me from my sins;
the priests at whose Masses I assisted and

who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;

the priests who taught and instructed me;
all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way. 
O Jesus, keep them all close to Your heart,
and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity. Amen.

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BISHOP BARRON’S BOOK AVAILABLE

 

In this stirring manifesto, Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, explains why this is not the time to leave, but the time to stay and fight. Reading the current crisis through the lenses of Scripture and Church history, Bishop Barron shows that we have faced such egregious scandals before; that the spiritual treasures of the Church were preserved by holy men and women who recommitted themselves to fighting evil; and that there is a clear path forward for us today. For Catholics questioning their faith, searching desperately for encouragement and hope, this book will offer reasons to stay and fight for the Body of Christ.

 
Thanks to the generosity of a donor…free copies are available in the Church Vestibule.

 

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RCIA CLASSES WILL BEGIN SOON…
 

Are you someone or do you know someone who…
· Has expressed an interest in becoming Catholic?
· Has a child over the age of seven who has not been baptized?
· Was baptized Catholic as a child, but has not celebrated the Sacraments of        Confirmation and Eucharist?
 
At St. Augustine’s, we offer an opportunity to come together in a small group to learn more about our faith.  Sessions focus on the teachings and experience of Church and prepare individuals to celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharistic and Confirmation during the Easter season.  You are welcome to participate in the process with your questions, your insights and your faith story in a warm, accepting setting.
 
For more information, please contact Patricia Barbera at (914) 941-6663 or Deacon John Barbera.
 
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is not a program, it is a process for life that begins now.
 

 

RCIA Inquiry Classes will be starting in September/October.

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FATHER JP'S PAGE 
 

Westchester County Young Adult Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 

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PARISH RESOURCE LIST