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A BLESSED THANKSGIVING
DAY
TO ALL
This website is updated daily.To see the latest information, please refresh this page.VATICAN SECRETARIAT OF STATE
Thank you.
Is your group having a Parish event?
Please send your information and/or a flyer
to
StAugOssWebmaster@gmail.com
and it will be announced
on our
SAVE THE DATE page.
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
HYMN AIDE FOR MASS
NOVEMBER 22ND, 2020
SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE
KING OF THE UNIVERSE
(CLICK HERE FOR HYMNS)
HYMN AIDE FOR MASS
NOVEMBER 29TH, 2020
1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(CLICK HERE FOR HYMNS)
Please download it to your phone
or
print it and take it to Mass with you.
If you take it to Mass,
please take it home with you and discard it there.
Thank you.
PROVIDES CONTEXT OF
POPE FRANCIS
CIVIL UNION REMARK
The Vatican’s Secretary of State has asked papal representatives to share with bishops some clarifications regarding comments on civil unions made byRECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION
Pope Francis in a recently released documentary, according to the apostolic
nuncio to Mexico. The clarifications explain that the pope’s comments do not
pertain to Catholic doctrine regarding the nature of marriage as a union
between one man and one woman, but to provisions of civil law. “Some
statements, contained in the documentary ‘Francisco’ by screenwriter Evgeny Afineevsky, have provoked, in recent days, various reactions and
interpretations. Therefore, some helpful points are offered, with the desire to
present an adequate understanding of the Holy Father's words,”, the apostolic nuncio said, The nuncio said, that the content of his post was provided by the Vatican Secretariat of State to apostolic nunciatures, in order to be shared
with bishops.
The post explained that in a 2019 interview, unpublished parts of which were
aired in the recent documentary, the pope commented at different times on two distinct issues: that children should not be ostracized from their families
because of their sexual orientation, and on civil unions, amid discussion of a
2010 same-sex marriage bill in the Argentine legislature, which Pope Francis,
who was then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, opposed. Pope Francis has
affirmed that ‘it is an incongruity to speak of homosexual marriage,’ adding
that, in the same context, he had spoken of the right of these people to have
certain legal coverage: ‘what we have to do is a law of civil union; they have
the right to be covered legally. “The Holy Father had expressed himself thus
during an interview in 2014: ‘Marriage is between a man and a woman. The
secular States want to justify civil unions to regulate various situations of coexistence, moved by the demand to regulate economic aspects between
people, such as ensuring health care. These are coexistence pacts of a
different nature, of which I would not be able to give a list of the different
forms. It is necessary to see the various cases and evaluate them in their
variety,” the post added. “Therefore it is evident that Pope Francis has referred to certain state provisions, certainly not to the doctrine of the Church, reaffirmed numerous times over the years,” the statement said.
ON THE TONGUEUnderstandably, everyone is eager to return to normalcy, and one day it will
come, but the threat of the coronavirus is still very much with us. Even now,
some areas of the country continue to experience new cases and increased
fatality rates. This will certainly impact the way we worship and the rituals
which are a vital part of our faith. Communion on the tongue is permissible,
but we are hoping that for the foreseeable future, our parishioners will comply
with the church’s request and receive on the hand for the safety and protection
of the priests and the people. Perhaps if personal piety lead one to still
receive on the tongue, they might try to receive towards the end of the line.CANCELLATION
The St. Augustine’s Parish annual drive,
sponsored by our Youth Group, for the
THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKETS
has been canceled this year due to Covid-19.
A reminder to everyone that
Masks MUST be worn
while in church for Mass and other services.
The wearing of masks is a courtesy to your fellow parishioners
St. Augustine on You Tube
Now you can participate at Masses,
and the Stations of the Cross
with our priests.
(click to go to link)
Improve Your Singing Voice!
The archdiocesan Vocalist Training Program is designed to help
parishioners receive musical training and develop the skills needed to
to serve as a cantor or choir member.
Lessons are taught
in person or online
by members of the archdiocesan Music Commission
and
other highly qualified teachers.
For more information: nyliturgy.org/vocalisttrainingprogram
Contact: Archdiocese of New York Office of Liturgy: liturgy@archny.org/914.968.6200, x8177
Holy Mass will be celebrated on
Saturday at 5:00pm;
Sunday at 8:00; 10:00; 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm.
The 10:00 and 12:00 Masses will be live-streamed.
The church is limited to 25% capacity.
Please wear a mask, maintain social distancing,
purify hands and
FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF THE USHERS
to maximize seating.
For those who can receive the live-stream
from their vehicles...
Holy Communion will be available
in the parking lot at the appropriate time.
Please be patient as we all adjust...
Fr. McSweeney
MUCH THANKS AND GRATITUDE
TO OUR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND PARISH USHERS
FOR ALL THAT THEY DO TO PREPARE OUR CHURCH
TO CELEBRATE PUBLIC MASS.
THEY ALL HELP GREET, SEAT, AND
SANITIZE OUR CHURCH
AFTER EACH WEEKEND MASS.
THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!
ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT
‘THE DOGMA LIVES
LOUDLY IN YOU”
When Sen. Dianne Feinstein grilled federal circuit court nominee—and now Supreme Court nominee—Amy Coney Barrett three years ago, she fretted
that “the dogma lives loudly within you. And that’s of concern.” Given the
senator’s obvious prejudices, she should indeed be concerned. Ms. Barrett’s
life story suggests that she actually believes and seeks to live what her
Catholic faith teaches. Worse, she has a superb intellect, a deep grasp of the
law, and an excellent record as a jurist. In other words, she’s a nightmare for
a certain kind of political tribe. Let’s put aside for a moment Sen. Feinstein’s
Know Nothing-style vulgarity. After all, she’s hardly alone in her bigotry.
Disdain for vigorous religious convictions, especially the Catholic kind, is a
virus that’s going around. It seems to infect a number of Democratic senators, including Sen. Kamala Harris, Feinstein’s California colleague and vice
presidential nominee, who saw looming peril in that dangerous national
conspiracy otherwise known as the Knights of Columbus. Sen. Feinstein’s
words help us see clearly how some in our political class now view Catholics
who are more than merely “nominal” in their faith. It’s true that anyone
baptized as a Catholic is, in fact, a Catholic. In the eyes of the Democratic
party, that’s not a problem. If you’re photographed piously with your rosary
beads at prayer—even better. The cultural loyalty of many Catholic voters to
a once heavily Catholic, working-class party dies hard, no matter how
different that party is today. As an elected official, you may even get an award from a major Catholic institution. But if you’re the kind of Catholic who seeks to discipline his or her life around Catholic beliefs regarding marriage and
family, religious freedom, sex, and abortion—well, that’s a different matter,
as Democratic Congressman Dan Lipinski discovered when his own party
dumped him in a primary earlier this year. In Bill Maher’s immortal words, a
woman like Amy Coney Barrett, whatever her professional credentials, is
just “a [expletive] nut.”
In a sane age, these kinds of attacks, more appropriate to a restroom wall
than discourse in a nation of laws, would be seen as loathsome. But we don’t
live in a sane moment, as Sens. Feinstein and Harris, and Mr. Maher, have
helpfully demonstrated.
Catholics in this country spent more than a century fighting their way into the American mainstream. The cost has been high. To the degree that self-
described Catholic political leaders are indistinguishable in their views and
actions from their colleagues with no faith at all, the cost has been far too
high. Millions of Catholics have served and died defending this nation, its freedoms, and its institutions. In the last century, all of the military chaplains awarded the Medal of Honor were Catholic priests. A politics of democratic pluralism requires that differences of belief must be respected. Catholics
cannot, and don’t, expect those with different convictions to agree with their religious beliefs. But Catholics do rightly demand civility and respect for the teachings of their Church, especially from a Senate supposedly informed by
a spirit of service to the whole nation.
Today’s hostility toward those who support Catholic teaching should concern every practicing Catholic—and anyone who values the First Amendment. If attacks
on belief are an acceptable standard by which to impugn judicial nominees
today, then tomorrow they’ll be used on the rest of us who uphold the
teachings of our faith. What’s been playing out in Senate confirmation
hearings and public debates over judicial nominees is a harbinger of future
attacks on the Church herself and on any Catholic who holds with her
enduring moral witness. Over the past decade, we’ve already seen the
Catholic Church— and many of her ministries and institutions—targeted specifically for matters of belief.Those who value our First Amendment right to religious freedom should
realize that tests about belief are attacks on religious liberty. And positioning dissenting Catholics as “mainstream Americans” and believing Catholics as “extremists”—now a common and thoroughly dishonest culture war
technique—is a particular affront to the free exercise of religion. It puts the
rights of far more Americans at risk than will ever be nominated for the court.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., is the archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia.
VATICAN REAFFIRMS EUTHANASIA IS
‘INTRINSICALLY EVIL ACT,’
CALLS CATHOLICS TO ACCOMPANY THE DYING
VATICAN CITY --- The Catholic News Agency reported that, a new
document released Tuesday, the Vatican’s doctrinal office reaffirmed the Church’s perennial teaching on the sinfulness of euthanasia and assisted
suicide, and recalled the obligation of Catholics to accompany the sick and
dying through prayer, physical presence, and the sacraments. The
document, Samaritanus bonus, also addressed the pastoral care of Catholics who request euthanasia or assisted suicide, explaining that a priest and
others should avoid any active or passive gesture which might signal
approval for the action, including remaining until the act is performed. The
letter presents Catholic teaching on a range of end-of-life issues, affirming
the intrinsic value and dignity of every human life, especially for those who
are critically sick and in the terminal stages of life. The document’s
introduction noted that “it is widely recognized that a moral and practical clarification regarding care of these persons is needed.”
Pastoral accompaniment of those who expressly request euthanasia or
assisted suicide “today presents a singular moment when a reaffirmation
of the teaching of the Church is necessary,” Samaritanus bonus said.
Media Fail To Report Bible BurningAugust 4, 2020
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Bible burning in Portland:
On August 1, sometime after midnight, anarchists in Portland once again burned
the American flag. But this time they did something different: they engaged in
book burning. The book they chose was the Bible. They burned boxes full of them.
We've waited a few days to see how many media outlets would report on what
happened. One did. There was not a single mention of it on any of the broadcast
or cable TV news shows. And aside from the New York Post, no newspaper in the
nation covered it. The only mention of it was on the internet; a few TV
commentators noted it as well.
Had it been the Quran that was burned, it is a sure bet the media would have been
all over it. Burning Islamic holy books would be considered intolerant. But
burning the Bible is not, and in some quarters may even be seen as meritorious.
Besides the media blackout, the larger issue for Americans is what the Bible
burnings represent. What happened last weekend in Portland was a mini-Hitlerian
event, plain and simple.
On May 10, 1933, 40,000 people gathered in Berlin to hear Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels instruct university students to burn books deemed offensive to the regime. They proceeded to burn 25,000 volumes, including those written by
Brecht, Einstein, Freud, and Hemingway.
During Mao's Zedong's Cultural Revolution, 1966-76, the Communists went on a
tear burning books that undermined their efforts at thought control. That was then.
Now book burning is back with a vengeance: books were burned last December
and as recently as last month. Reports have surfaced saying the Communists are
"burning books and burying Confucian scholars."
Why are the young people, most of whom are white, burning the Bible in
Portland? For the same reason fascists and communists burn books—to cleanse
society of any thought that is contrary to theirs.
Rebecca Knuth is the author of two books on this subject. Books are burned, she
says, because they "are an embodiment of ideas and if you hold extreme beliefs
you cannot tolerate anything that contradicts those beliefs or is in competition with them." She says that by burning books, "you are destroying your enemy and your enemy's beliefs."
The enemy of the Portland Hitlerians is American society, which is why they burn
the flag. They also hate the Judeo-Christian ethos upon which it is based, which is
why they burn the Bible.
What do they offer as an alternative? Nothing. They are intellectually spent,
morally bankrupt and culturally deracinated. That is why they resort to nihilism.
The only thing they have going for them are their allies in the media.
A PRAYER FOR POPE BENEDICT XVI
Lord, source of eternal life and truth,
give to your shepherd a spirit
of courage and right judgment, a spirit
of knowledge and love.
By governing with fidelity
those entrusted to his care,
may he, as successor to the Apostle
Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your
Church into a sacrament of unity, love
and peace for all the world.
Amen.
Come let us adore Him!
Eucharistic Adoration
Spend a little time with Our Lord
Every Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm
Holy Hour (Morning Prayer, Rosary,
Chaplet of Divine Mercy) from 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Compline and Solemn Eucharistic Benediction at 6:30 pm.
While we can continue to remain safely at home for our sake and for
the sake of others,
we can still participate in the traditional services at
10:00 am and 12:00 Noon every Sunday.
A Dispensation from Sunday Obligation is still in effect for those
who are not comfortable returning at this time.
Please stay connected via:
FLOCKNOTE
Flocknote.com
WEBSITE
Staugny.org
FACEBOOK
Augustine Saint
YOU TUBE
Saint Augustine’s Ossining
"You Are Not Alone On Your Grief Journey ..."
St. Augustine Bereavement Support Groups continue to be conducted
via Zoom from 7:00 - 8:30 pm twice monthly for individuals grieving the
loss of a loved one.
A schedule of the Bereavement Support Groups include:
Monday, Westchester Addiction Bereavement Support Group
Tuesday, Spousal/Partner Loss Bereavement Support Group
Wednesday, Parent Loss Bereavement Support Group
Thursday, Covid-19 Bereavement Support Group
Group is a safe space to share & seek support. Members offer a caring, nonjudgmental presence as normal grief reactions & emotions
are explored. The Group experience provides comfort on your grief
journey towards hope & healing.
An intake interview is a prerequisite to attend Group.
For more information, contact Gae Savino, LCSW, CT at (914) 391-5966
or ghsavino@aol.com.
All faiths welcome.
Individuals over 21+ are invited.
No fees to attend.
EVIDENCE SHOWS MASS IS SAFE WHEN
GUIDELINES ARE FOLLOWED, DOCTORS SAY
The Catholic News Agency reported that evidence suggests that church
services following public health guidelines do not present a greater risk of
spreading the novel coronavirus than other similar activities, doctors said
last week. Washing hands, social distancing, and mask requirements have
helped prevent the spread of COVID-19, even in cases when contagious, pre-symptomatic parishioners took part in church events, three members of the Thomistic Institute Working Group on Infectious Disease Protocols for
Sacraments & Pastoral Care concluded. Doctors authored an article for
Real Clear Science on Mass attendance and COVID-19 Aug. 19. “For Catholic churches following [the] guidelines, no outbreaks of COVID-19 have been
linked to church attendance, even though we have examples ... of
asymptomatic, unknowingly infected individuals attending mass and other
parish functions,” they wrote. “Their attendance could have led to an outbreak
if appropriate precautions were not followed, yet in each case, we found no
evidence of viral transmission.” “This encouraging news should inspire
confidence that the guidelines in place - based on CDC recommendations - are working to decrease COVID-19 transmission,” the doctors continued. “While
nothing during a pandemic is risk-free, these guidelines mean that Catholics
(and public officials) may be confident that it’s reasonably safe to come to
Church for Mass and the sacraments.”
Over the last 14 weeks, they said, approximately 17,000 parishes have held
three or more Masses each weekend, as well as daily services, combining to
equal more than 1 million public Masses celebrated across the United States
since shelter-in-place orders were lifted. By following public health guidelines,
these Masses have largely avoided viral spread, the authors suggested.
Para leer este mensaje en español, haga clic aquí. Click here to read this message online.Dear Family of the Archdiocese of New York,
May I intrude on what I hope is a relaxing summer with a not-so-pleasant subject?
Last week, the Associated Press published a scurrilous article, heavy on innuendo, about
Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools, charitable organizations, and other institutions that
rightly received assistance from the federal government to pay their employees during the
Covid-19 crisis. Many news outlets picked up the story, which implied that there was
something amiss in Catholic institutions receiving paycheck protection money. Many of you
have called or emailed me, wanting to know if the story was true. My answer, quite simply,
is absolutely not! It was misleading at best, outright false at worst. Here’s why.
First, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was designed to help employers continue to pay
its employees when the economy went into lockdown in response to the coronavirus. The
purpose was to keep employees employed during these difficult times. Religious institutions
were invited and permitted to participate, as they employ large numbers of people across the
country. Here in the Archdiocese of New York, if you combine the number of fulltime employees
in our parishes, schools, agencies, and central administration, there would be 6000 fulltime and
4000 part-time employees. Without assistance from the PPP, many of our employers would
have had no choice but to lay-off their employees, reducing the church’s ability to assist people
in need, and forcing our people to seek unemployment. That means your parish’s secretary,
or the teachers in your child’s Catholic school, for instance, could easily have lost their jobs.
So, the money did not go to “the archdiocese” but to our workers. The USCCB released a
statement Friday which touched on many of these themes. You can read their statement here.
A second problem is that the article tries to make some sort of connection between the sexual
abuse crisis that has haunted the Church, and the Paycheck Protection Plan assistance. Make
no mistake, the money that the Archdiocese of New York received was used solely for the
purposes outlined in the law, that is to continue to pay employees their salaries and benefits.
Not one penny of that money was used in any way to settle lawsuits or pay victim-survivors of
abuse. We have none of this money left. It has all be distributed to our workers, and the
government is carefully auditing it.
Third, the AP article focuses solely on the Catholic Church, making it seem as if Catholics are
unique in participating in the Paycheck Protection Plan. In fact, religious organizations
representing all faiths participated in the program, as it was intended. Nationally, the Small
Business Administration approved over 88,000 loans for religious organizations, supporting
more than 1 million jobs. Why then focus solely on the Catholic Church, unless the reporters
had some animus towards the Church (which we suspect they do)?
Let me be clear: I am a fervent supporter of a free press, and have made it a priority of my
tenure as Archbishop of New York to be open and available to the men and women of the
media who seek to interview me. The overwhelming number of reporters with whom I have
interacted have been dedicated to their craft, seeking to get the story right, and by and large
the coverage of the Church has been fair – critical and honest when reporting on my mistakes,
willing to report on positive developments as well.
This AP story, however, did neither. It invented a story when none existed, and sought to bash
the Church.
Forgive me for “venting” in this way. I usually take the advice of those who counsel me to not
pick a fight in the press with someone who buys printers ink by the barrel – or, in today’s
parlance, I guess, someone who has unlimited bandwidth. But this story was so inaccurate, and
left such a damaging impression I felt it was important to set the record straight with you.
With prayerful best wishes, I am,
Faithfully in Christ,
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
ATTACKS ON CATHOLIC STATUES CONTINUE
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Catholic News Agency reported that several
Catholic churches in the United States reported vandalism and other
damage to statues over the past weekend, the latest in a spate of church
vandalism over recent weeks. Recent weeks have seen acts of
vandalism and destruction at Catholic churches across the United States,
including arsons, decapitations, and graffiti. In addition to the most recent
attacks, in the last two weeks statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary have been attacked in Florida, Tennessee, New York, and Colorado. Other Catholic
religious statues in California, Missouri, and other places have been
toppled or vandalized by protestors, including several of St. Junipero Serra.
While some attacks on statues, most notably in California, have been
committed in public by large groups with clear political affiliations, the
perpetrators of other acts, including those against the images of the Virgin
Mary and Christ, have not been identified.
The 2021 Mass & Sanctuary Candle Book
is open.
Please mail your requests with your offering of
$15 per Mass Intention
and/or
Sanctuary Candle
to Joan Pires in the Parish Office
or
email me at: joan.pires@staugny.org,
along with a phone contact.
~ “In Loving Memory” of someone
or
“For a Special Intention”
for a loved one or friend who may need special prayers.
SANCTUARY LAMP
Because of the honor
given to Christ’s body and blood,
a red votive candle,
known as the Sanctuary Lamp,
is traditionally lit beside the tabernacle
and reminds Catholics that
Jesus is present in the tabernacle,
and parishioners often pray before the tabernacle
and reflect on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.
The Sanctuary Lamp can be reserved
from a Monday to a Sunday
in “Loving Memory” of someone
or
“For a Special Intention” for a loved one or friend
who needs special prayers.
The cost is $15.
Please do not leave any donations
for the Midnight Run
in the blue bin
until further notice.
During the pandemic,
we had to remove our Missalettes from the Church.
Some parishioners have been asking where they can purchase
a Missalette to use during Mass.
Here are some suggestions:
https://www.catholicgiftsandmore.com/product/
st-joseph-sunday-missal-complete-3-yr-cycle-edition-41701
OR
https://www.comcenter.com/product/TWEN-855310/
Living-with-Christ-Sunday-Missal-2020-2021/
RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES ANNOUNCEMENT
Archdiocese of New York Faith Forward
guidelines for the re-opening of Churches
(Click here for document)
Alleluia Based upon the good reports from around the
archdiocese today with the reopening of weekday Mass, baptisms, weddings and funerals, Cardinal Dolan would
like to announce that, in the Hudson Valley counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and
Westchester, Sunday Mass will resume on June 14, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, including the anticipated Mass on Saturday evening at 25% of the
capacity of the church provided that physical distancing
and other guidelines are followed. All precautions must
be taken (wearing of masks, maintaining a six-foot
distance, no physical contact except for communion,
frequent washing of hands, and sanitizing surfaces).
Our first priority is the safety of the clergy and
people, and self-care of all ministers.
The second priority is to resume in-person worship.
A Dispensation from Sunday Obligation is still
in effect for those who are not comfortable
returning at this time.
Fr. McSweeney
COMPUTER CHALLENGED???
Step-by-step instructions to join FLOCKNOTE.
FLOCKNOTE.COM
You will be connected to our FLOCKNOTE page.
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Sign up for FLOCKNOTE to receive important updates
from our Parish at:
staugny.flocknote.com.
This will be our main source of communication
with our Parishioners.
FLOCKNOTE IS FREE
A Prayer to Combat the Coronavirus Pandemic
Most merciful and Triune God,
We come to you in our weakness.
We come to you in our fear.
We come to you with trust.
For you alone are our hope.
We place before you the disease present in our world.
We turn to you in our time of need.
Bring wisdom to doctors.
Give understanding to scientists.
Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity.
Bring healing to those who are ill.
Protect those who are most at risk.
Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
Welcome those who have died into your eternal home.
Stabilize our communities.
Unite us in our compassion.
Remove all fear from our hearts.
Fill us with confidence in your care.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Amen.
Praised be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!
Just a note of thanks to all who have kept the parish in mind during
Fr. McSweeney
this time of separation.
For those who have contributed through We Share,
or have dropped their envelopes off at Church,
or have mailed them into our Parish Office,
many thanks.
Your kindness and generosity is a great blessing to our parish!
A Note from Our Pastor
Fr. McSweeney
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
These are trying times for us all. Our spiritual loss at not gathering as a parish family for Sunday Holy Mass has hit us all. Combined with that will be the loss of the collections that keep our parish running. Perhaps, if you haven’t already, you might consider enrolling in WeShare:
WeShare is an alternative means of support for St. Augustine Parish instead of using envelopes. In lieu of weekly collections, the WeShare program will collect monthly contributions via your checking, saving, or credit card account. There is NO cost to you to participate in the program.
How do I enroll?
To safeguard your personal information, enrollment can be done directly at the WeShare website: https://staugny.churchgiving.com or
by calling
WeShare Customer Care at
1-800-950-9952.
The process takes less than 5 minutes.
OR --
Mail a weekly check to our
PARISH FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR: Mary Anne Dempsey
St. Augustine Parish Office
381 North Highland Avenue
Ossining, NY 10562
AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Plenary Indulgence for the Sick with Coronavirus, Health Agents, Caregivers, and Faithful
The Sign of Peace
is an optional part of the Holy Mass.
There may be times
when we will suspend it for health reasons.
Otherwise remember a nod or a wave
suffices in flu season.
VIRUS AND FLU SEASONSickness is a valid reason not to attend Mass and other church gatherings.
Anyone who is ill or has flu-like symptoms should be urged to stay home.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is broadcasted on several television channels; the
sick can make “spiritual communion” until they
return to good health.
Sunday Mass In the Event of Severe Weather
Please do not feel obligated to participate at Sunday Mass during severe snowstorms. Please use good judgment. We do not want you to place yourselves at risk.
All baptized Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. However, there are particular circumstances or conditions that may excuse a Catholic from this obligation. If you are ill, homebound, or if there are severe weather conditions that make attending Mass dangerous to your safety or that of others, you are excused from the obligation. In such cases, if you are unable to attend Mass, the Church recommends making a spiritual Communion and spending time in prayer.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
ABORTION was the Cause of Death
Worldwide in 2019, Killing 42 million PeopleMore human beings died in abortions than any other cause of death in 2019, a new report indicates. A heartbreaking reminder about the prevalence of abortion, statistics compiled by Worldometers indicate that there were over 42.3 million abortions world-wide in 2019. The independent site collects data from governments and other reputable organizations and then reports the data, along with estimates and projections, based on those numbers.
When contrasting the abortion numbers to other causes of death, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, traffic accidents and suicide, abortions far outnumbered every other cause. By contrast, 8.2 million people died from cancer in 2019, 5 million from smoking, 13 million from disease, and 1.7 million died of HIV/AIDS. Deaths by malaria and alcohol are also recorded. Worldometers estimates about 58.6 million deaths world-wide in 2019, but that number does not include unborn babies’ abortion deaths. Unborn babies are not recognized as human beings even though biology indicates that they are unique, living human beings from the moment of conception and they die brutal, violent deaths in abortions. The abortion number is incomprehensible, but each of those 42 million abortions represents a living human being whose life was violently destroyed in their mother’s womb. Each unborn baby already had their own unique DNA, making them distinct from their mother. That DNA indicated if the child was a boy or girl, their eye and hair color, their height, possible genetic disorders and other disabilities, and much more. In most cases, the unborn babies’ hearts are beating when they are aborted, too. In America, just under 1 million babies are aborted every year. Though abortion rates have been dropping in the past decade, abortion remains the leading cause of death in the United States as well. An estimated 61 million unborn babies have been killed in abortions in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade in 1973. In January, pro-life advocates will gather for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. to remember the anniversary of that infamous decision and call for restored protections for the unborn.
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My husband, George, is a combat Viet Nam Veteran and has had kidney disease, as a result of the war, for 20 years. He is on dialysis, which is keeping him alive; but a transplant would give him the ability to live a longer, healthier life. You only need one kidney to live a normal life, so PLEASE consider sharing your kidney with him. His blood type is O+; however, you can donate your kidney no matter what blood type you have.
You can learn more about donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/living donation or by calling (855) 653-2273. If you want to talk to someone who has already donated a kidney, NKF can also help or ask me (I donated a kidney to my son in 2000).
If donating your kidney to him is something you would consider, please call me at the Parish Office at (914) 941-0067. Please help us by sharing his story with everyone you know.Thank you, Joan Pires.
Webmaster note: Joan is our Parish Office Administrator
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"The Lord invites all of us to conquer resentment with love and forgiveness, and to live the Christian faith with consistency and courage."
Pope Francis
POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS EUTHANASIA AS UTILITARIANISM,
NOT FREEDOM
(Click to read)
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
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 andwho 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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Organizations
Lectio Divina ~
in the Church and every other Wednesday.
Gather for Prayer and Meditation.
St. Genesius Cinema Circle ~
Help plan Movie Nights Monthly meetings and showings.St. Joseph's Men's Group ~
St. Joseph’s Men’s Group meets the 2nd and last Friday of each month.
Pray, Support, Organize and Play.
St. Monica Women's Adoration
and Divine Office Guild~
Thursdays 9 AM- 10:00 AM Recite Morning Prayer,
pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
St. Veronica Altar Linen Society ~
Assist in keeping the cloths used at Mass immaculate.
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The Holy Rosary
(click on title to go to Holy Rosary website)
Rosary Prayers
The Prayer,
We Fly to Thy PatronageWe fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.
May the Divine assistance remain always with us!
Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle,
Be our protection against the
malice and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we
humbly pray.
And do you, O Prince of the
heavenly host, by the divine
power, thrust into hell Satan
and all evil spirits who prowl
about the world, seeking the
ruin of souls.
Amen. -
To learn more about St. Augustine School
follow the link below to see informative video:
http://staugustineschool.org/school-video
**********
· Registration Forms and $100 Fee accepted now.
· PreK birth dates must be 3, 4 by 12/1/2020 to enter PreK3 or PreK4
· Kindergarten birth dates Must be 5 by 12/1/2020
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Bring a friend to Church
Let us remember relatives and friends who may have strayed
from attending Mass and the Sacraments.
Consider asking someone you know to come with you to Mass.
Your encouragement may be all that they need.
Attend Daily Mass
Do you sometimes wonder what you are going to do during the day? Have you ended your day feeling that you really did not accomplish much? Perhaps you have time on your hands? Have you asked yourself: how can I make a difference in the lives of family, friends, strangers, even the world? Well, have you ever thought about attending Mass daily or a few times a week? If you think about it, there is no better way to spend part of your day; no better way to praise God; no better place to pray for yourself or anyone for whatever intentions, including your own! Join fellow parishioners, along with people who work in the area, in adoring, praising and petitioning God in his house and at the table of the Lord. Here at St. Augustine’s, we have two daily Masses at 6:30 and 8:30 AM. Give it some thought.
How (and Why) to Return to Sunday Mass
and on the bottom of the same Page is:
How (and Why) to Return to Confession
“To fall in love with God
is the greatest romance;
to seek him the greatest adventure;
to find him, the greatest human achievement.”
― Saint Augustine of Hippo
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Join Us On Our Official Facebook, Twitter, and Flocknote Pages.
The Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church Facebook
page is not our parish's official Facebook page.This is our official Parish Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/augustine.saint.7The Facebook logo link at the top of this page will
connect you with our Official Facebook page.Our other official pages are:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/StAugustineNY
Flocknote:
https://archny.flocknote.com/
Website:
http://www.staugny.org
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Today's Readings
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cancellation information
Dealing with Coronavirus Anxiety
(click on title to open article)
Prepared by: Gae Savino LCSW, CT, St. Augustine Parish, Bereavement Support Groups & Catholic Charities’ Parish Counseling Network service.
Contact us at:
914 -391-5966
or
ghsavino@aol.com
for further support.
Please refer to Home Page and Organization pages for latest cancellation information.
Do not refer to Calendar below.
Thank you.
LET YOUR MINDS BE RESTFUL
The company that cleans our church and school have been trained and certified by Mount Sinai Hospital on how to deal with the coronavirus.
OUR CHURCH WILL REMAIN
OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER
DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.
ADVENT / CHRISTMAS
SPIRITUAL READING
Thanks to a donation from a generous parishioner, we have an early Christmas Present for our families. Two books from DynamicCatholic: Matthew Kelly’s “I Heard God Laugh” and “Do Something Beautiful for God: The Essential Teachings of Mother Teresa” Books will be available on the table at the entrance to Church.
If you know a veteran who is in need of food from the Montrose V. A. food bank, please have them contact the Knights of Columbus Council #311 @ stephencalcuttiknights311
@gmail.com.
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Praised be
Jesus Christ,
now and forever!If you haven’t already, you might consider enrolling in WeShare. WeShare is an alternative means of support for St. Augustine Parish instead of using envelopes. In lieu of weekly collections, the WeShare program will collect monthly contributions via your checking, savings, or credit card account. There is NO cost to you to participate in the program.
How do I enroll?
To safeguard your personal information, enrollment can be done directly at the
WeShare website:
(click on this link)
https://staugny.churchgiving.com
OR
by calling WeShare Customer Care at 1-800-950-9952, press #3 and then press #2 . The process takes less than 5 minutes.
OR
--mail a weekly check to
Mary Anne Dempsey,
our Parish Financial Administrator,
at St. Augustine Parish Office,
381 North Highland Avenue,
Ossining, NY 10562.
If you have already signed up for WeShare and you do not wish to receive the weekly donation envelopes, please notify the Parish Office.
For those parishioners who make their donations through WeShare, please know that the “donation slip” that can be put into the collection basket may be found on our website (www.StAugNY.org) under the Donate/WeShare tab on thIs page (Home Page), or on your donation page at the WeShare site.
If you have any questions regarding the WeShare program, please contact: mary.anne.dempsey@staugny.org
or
call her at
(914) 941-0067, Ext. 102.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS -- CLICK FOR LIST
The Archdiocese of New York takes stewardship of your donations seriously. If you have knowledge of or reason to suspect misconduct, please report your concerns via a toll-free hotline at 877-820-0541
or on the
internet http://www.reportlineweb.com/ADNY. Both are available 24 hours per day.
PLEASE REMEMBER ST. AUGUSTINE’S ENDOWMENT
IN YOUR WILL.Suggested wording: “I give
St. Augustine Church,
381 N. Highland Avenue,
Ossining, New York 10562
the sum of $_________________
for general purposes”.
Thank you.
RESPECT LIFE:
END OF LIFE DECISIONSHEALTH CARE
PROXY FORM
(Click here for form.)
The Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal serves our spiritual communities across our 10 counties. If you have not yet made your pledge to the Cardinal’s Appeal, please make your commitment today. Remember, you can pledge your gift now and make payments in the coming months.
To date, $106,843 has been received from 200 donors. Please join them in order for us to meet our goal of $175,000.
AMAZON SMILEShop at Amazon.com, using our custom link:
https://smile.amazon.com/
ch/13-1740331
and a portion of your eligible purchases will be donated to our parish.
Please bookmark this link as your starting point for your visits to Amazon.com to ensure we receive credit for all of your eligible Amazon purchases.
An overview of this program is available via our custom link (above) or directly via: http://smile.amazon.com/
gp/chpf/about/ -
Parish E-Mail AND NOTICES
Parish E-Mail List
A WORD OF WELCOME
TO OUR NEW PARISHIONERS!Please introduce yourself to
Fr. McSweeney, Fr. J.P.,
and/or
Deacons Tim, Steven, Cliff or John
so that we may better serve you.
We hope that you
will become involved
with our parish
and we look forward
to your presence and
participation each week!!
THE 2021 MASS &
SANCTUARY CANDLE BOOK IS OPEN.
Please mail your requests with your offering of $15 per Mass Intention and/or Sanctuary Candle to Joan Pires in the Parish Office or
email me at: joan.pires@staugny.org, along with a phone contact..
MANY 6:30 AM AND 8:30 AMWEEK-DAY MASSES
ARE AVAILABLE FOR 2021.
PLEASE CALL THE PARISH OFFICE TO SCHEDULE SOME MASSES
FOR YOUR LOVED ONES
ADULT SINGLES
50+
We currently try to gather our families to events, we try to work with our Youth Group for our High School student and now the Young Adult Group in the region for the College/ Post-college age, and our Golden Eagles for our seniors.
We were wondering if there is a desire to have our singles 50+ have an outlet, celebrate Mass, have a social hour. If you are interested, please leave your name with the Parish Office.
YEAR-END CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS
Thanks to all of our parishioners who so generously gave their financial support to our parish during this past year. If you desire a statement of your envelope contributions, please email Mary Anne Dempsey at
mary.anne.dempsey@staugny.org
or call her at (914) 941-0067 X 102 with your name, address, envelope # and phone number so that she can send the statement to you. Please note that a statement will be mailed only if you request one.
PLEASE KEEP IN
YOUR PRAYERSPlease keep in your prayers
our parishioner,
Joseph Servello,
who has begun his studies as a
candidate for the
Permanent Diaconate.
Our parish support for his vocation and discernment are strengthened by our prayers, as we also
pray for vocations to the
Priesthood and Religious Life. -
St. Augustine is
wheelchair accessible.We have ten seats in the back
of the Church marked for handicapped parishioners. Others may use them if they are not needed for the elderly or the handicapped.
If you have Celiac Disease, please stop by the Sacristy prior to Mass to let the priest know that you would like to receive a gluten free host during Mass.
If you wish to bring up the gifts for a Mass being said for your loved one(s), please see the Usher before Mass.
The Sign of Peace is an optional part of the Holy Mass. There may be times when we will suspend it for health reasons. Otherwise remember a nod or a wave suffices in flu season.
CHILD-LEVEL
HOLY WATER FONT
In the Church atrium we have a Holy Water Font at a small-child level. Our small children have the Sacramental at their own level.
ARE YOU A REGISTERED PARISHIONER?
From time to time people come in or call the Parish Office asking for a Sponsor Certificate, which states that they are members in good standing of this parish, who worship here on a regular basis. The only way we can comply with this request is if the individual is, indeed, a registered member of the parish. The registration process takes only a few minutes. Just call the Parish Office at 941-0067 during office hours or stop by in person.
We pray to the Lord that God may hear the cry of the unborn threatened by abortion.
Birthright’s hotline is
1-800-550-4900
or
(914) 737-0344.
PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPSPlease God…
Grant them courage
when times are bleak.
Grant them strength
when they feel weak.
Grant them comfort
when they feel all alone.
And most of all, God,
please bring them all home safely
PLEASE DO NOT PARK AROUND THE CIRCLE IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH.
Emergency vehicles need access to our property at all times. Parking around the circle not only ruins the grass, but might prevent emergency vehicles from getting through to an emergency. Please be considerate, lives might be at stake.
PLEASE DO NOT FEED THECANADIAN GEESE
THAT ARE ON OUR PROPERTY.
Declaration on the Rights of
Children and their Families
ANNULMENTS ~Pope Francis overhauled the process of obtaining the Church Declaration of the Nullity of a Marriage that took place in a Catholic Church: the NY Archdiocese can now handle the procedure, no matter where in the world the Marriage took place; the process is reduced to one step rather than a second review that was formerly required; the application form to begin the process may be downloaded from the internet! If you were married in the Catholic Church and, regrettably, the Marriage has broken up, you are invited to speak with one of our priests or the deacon. Please call the Parish Office for more info.
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FATHER JP'S PAGE
♦♦♦
PARISH RESOURCE LISTThe Parish is interested in creating a Parish Resource List, as a reference for referrals, and parish needs. When the parish office is asked for local referrals, we sometimes scramble to come up with some. Our first source is those who advertise in the bulletin, but a secondary source would be a Parish Resource List. So drop your business card in the collection basket, or a note regarding your business or specialty, so that when we are looking for someone or someone asks,…we will have a list to give them.
♦♦♦Need of Assistance of A Personal Matter?
If you are or know a parishioner who is in need of assistance of a personal matter, please contact Deacon Steven DeMartino at (914) 330-3727. All calls will remain confidential.
♦♦♦
ANNULMENTS ~
Pope Francis overhauled the process of obtaining the Church Declaration of the Nullity of a Marriage that took place in a Catholic Church: the NY Archdiocese can now handle the procedure, no matter where in the world the Marriage took place; the process is reduced to one step rather than a second review that was formerly required; the application form to begin the process may be downloaded from the internet! If you were married in the Catholic Church and, regrettably, the Marriage has broken up, you are invited to speak with one of our priests or the deacon.
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HELP WANTED
JOIN ST. AUGUSTINE'S
ADULT CHOIR!Music enhances a beauty of the Holy Mass and provides joy, comfort and inspiration and musical prayer for our liturgies.
If you can carry a tune and want to learn how to sing, come join us. Don't miss the opportunity to become a member of such a unique ministry.For more info, please contact our
Choir Director,
Bozena Romano,
at
(914) 739-3527.
You CAN Help!
The Ministry of the Usher needs volunteers like you. There will be an interest and planning conference call for the Christmas season soon, and regular weekly help is needed at several Masses. Interested? Join us! Many thanks to all current Ushers and helpers! Any members of the community that are able to step up and pitch in - simply contact us at usher@sterlingsolved.com and let us know.
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Our Lady of Fatima will visit YOU! Members of the Legion of Mary will bring a parish statue of Our Lady of Fatima to your home and they will pray the rosary with you. Our Lady will stay with you for one week. Spending time with our Lady in your home, praying the rosary is filled with many blessings for you and your family. To schedule a visit, please call Patty Barbera at (914) 310-0558.
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