Helping local emergency shelters

We will be collecting toiletry items (shampoos, soaps, razors, shaving creams, deoderants) for various Emergency Shelters in our area. To give not only a warm and safe place for the night, but to care for the personal hygiene is a blessing to those in need. You may bring items on Sundays and they will be distributed immediately.

Bible Study for the Third Week of Christmas
  • 1/10 – Luke 9 – How is the story of Jesus a new exodus, and new deliverance from the bondage of the slavery of sin? Prayer starter: Jesus, may we see your glory as Peter, James, and John did on the mount of Transfiguration, and may we always hearken to the voice from Heaven that challenges us always to listen to you.
  • 1/11 – Luke 10 – Is my life so full of business and distractions that I easily become anxious like Martha instead of peaceful like Mary? Prayer starter: Lord of time, give me peace that comes from listening to you rather than the anxiety that comes from listening to the noise of the world.
  • 1/12 – Luke 11 – When I pray, do I ask God as a beloved child or with the attitude of a servant or stranger begging? Prayer starter: Lord, may I always ask, seek, and knock for the grace to live the divine life you have called me to. Oh Father, give me the desire to seek the good gift above all others, that of your Holy Spirit.
  • 1/13 – Luke 12 – What do I seek most in my heart, material security or the Kingdom way of Jesus? Prayer starter: Lord, help me be rich towards you, free my heart from attachment to things I may selfishly cling to, give me a generous heart like yours.
  • 1/14 – Luke 13 – Do I look at Christ’s teaching as a burden and bondage or as a source of liberation and freedom? Prayer starter: Christ, set me free from all the things that weigh me down and burden my heart; give me an experience of your new exodus liberation.
  • 1/15 – Luke 14 – How can I focus more on Jesus’ Kingdom way of service and humility? Prayer starter: Jesus, help me to host those who cannot repay me. Help me to serve rather than seek to be served.
  • 1/16 – Luke 15 – Is my attitude towards the excluded one of mercy and inclusion? Prayer starter: Oh Good Shepherd, come and find me, save me from being lost in this confusing world and bring me home to the Father who loves me.

Bible Study for the Second Week of Christmas
  • 1/3 – Luke 4 – What does it mean for me to be a “Christian” in terms of the Holy Spirit? Prayer starter: Jesus, anointed with the Spirit, please grant me the power of your Spirit that wherever l go I may live in you.
  • 1/4 – Luke 5:1-26 – Do I let my past sins and shortcomings block my relationship with God? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, you are calling me into a deeper relationship with you. Cast away my fears so that I may move closer to your loving heart.
  • 1/5 – Luke 5:27-39 – Do I rejoice in the presence of God in my life? Prayer starter: Lord, help me to answer your summons to follow you, and may your mercy widen my heart to have mercy for others.
  • 1/6 – Luke 6 – Am I quicker to judge or to forgive? Prayer starter: Lord of Love and Life, help me to imitate the Father’s mercy toward me by showing mercy to those around me, especially in my own family.
  • 1/7 – Luke 7:1-35 – Am I open to seeing goodness and potential friends from all races and peoples? Prayer starter: Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter my heart and life, but only say the Word and I shall be healed.
  • 1/8 – Luke 7:36-50 – Do I realize that God notes the smallest gestures of my love and gratitude? Prayer starter: God, may I love you more, because you have forgiven me so much and loved me so much. May my love for you be great.
  • 1/9 – Luke 8 – How much of a transforming encounter with Christ is my experience of the sacraments and liturgy? Prayer starter: Jesus, when I encounter you in the Eucharist may I touch you with the faith of the hemorrhaging woman, and experience your power.

Caring for God’s creation

Our Parish family came together to assist Hannah Bilinski in her Scouting project. Her work and the Parish’s generosity are on display at the Spring Farm CARES website.

Food and homemade flannel blankets were delivered to Spring Farm CARES a not-for-profit organization that goes well beyond the typical definition of a shelter or animal resure organization. They are the world’s first “public center for animal communication.”

Bible Study for the First Week of Christmas
  • 12/27 – 1 John 2:18-27 – What can strengthen my sense of belonging to my community and to Christ? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, I truly believe that you are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Come and bring reconciliation and peace to this world.
  • 12/28 – 1 John 2:28 – 3:10 – How can I take some time today to pray and recollect so that Christmas will take its deep spiritual meaning for me? Prayer starter: Glory to you, O God, in the highest, and may your love for humankind be celebrated everywhere on earth on this day.
  • 12/29 – 1 John 3:11-24 – How can I tell that my love is not a question of “Words or speech” but of “truth and action”? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, I want your love to abide in me and to rule over all of my dealings with others.
  • 12/30 – 1 John 4:1-21 – What does the statement “God is love” mean to me and how does it affect my way of looking at life and at people? Prayer starter: Lord God, we thank you for giving us messengers of your love like John. We pray to you for all those involved in the study, research, and teaching of theology.
  • 12/31 – 1 John 5:1-21 – After reading this first letter of John, what have I gained in my perception of God and in my understanding of faith? Prayer starter: We give you thanks, O Lord, for the gift of eternal life through your son, Jesus. Strengthen our faith in him, so that we can share in his victory over evil.
  • 1/1 – 2 John 1-13 – If I were to write a short note like John’s to express my own faith in Christ, what would be the key Words or phrases? Prayer starter: Help us, O Lord, to walk in your commandments and to find complete joy in the keeping of your word.
  • 1/2 – 3 John 1-15 – What can l do in my community to foster greater enthusiasm and to spread the Good News of Christ? Prayer starter: Lord Jesus, may your joy abide in us and, through our lives, reach out to the world.

Thank you!

Sincere thanks and deep appreciation are extended to the parish family concerning the collection of items during the Advent season. The economic recession had not diminished your giving:

  • Thirty-one (31!!!) (2.5x the amount of last year) bags of food were donated and collected. These were taken to the Schenectady Inner City Ministry.
  • Twenty-two (22!!) (more than double of last year) pairs of mittens, gloves, and hats (mostly child size) were collected. These were taken to the Northeast Parent and Child Association.
  • Two (2!!!) blankets and two toys were collected. These were also taken to the Northeast Parent and Child Association.

There are many needy families in our area that are being blessed this holyday season. May God bless you for your kind concern and gracious generosity!!!

And too, with sincere and heartfelt recognition of offerings and God-given talent…

  • to all those who had stayed to prepare the parish church for the Nativity holydays; and to those preparing the hall for the “coÅ› do chÅ‚eba” and to Marilyn for providing the food with David and Rose Petrosky (Deborah’s parents) for providing the kielbasa for the after mass repast;
  • to our choir director/organist, Liz, for her work in preparing for the Nativity liturgies and for her invaluable help in preparing our parish youth for the musical part of their presentation in the Nativity production; for all the voices aiding our prayers to praise God’s gift, Jesus;
  • to the acolytes, veteran and novice, for their service in God’s House.
  • to our SOCL teachers and students providing the Christmas keepsake we have traditionally come to treasure; and
  • to all who have gathered to worship and praise the Father for sending to us His most precious Gift, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christmas reflection

Wesołych Świąt, Bożego Narodzenia!
Happiness on the Feast of Christ’s Birth!

”In the fullness of time, God sent His son“. These words are found in Holy Scripture, announcing the change of earthly rule over to that of the Son of God. We shouldn’t miss this too fine of a point – “fullness of time” – as an indication of God’s plan unfolding for His creation.

Many arguments have arisen over the years – why then? Why in the latter years of a growing Roman Empire? Why at a time when social ills were in no way comparable to those we face today? Why not now?

Intriguing, no? If one would speculate on time itself, what would be a good time for God to appear on earth in human form? Would there be a better time in the future? If one could anticipate a better world, wouldn’t one be able to have a bit more faith in humanity? Wouldn’t there be time to correct some mistakes in preparation for a better time to come?

Do you see the beauty of the plan God devised and carried out in the manger in Bethlehem some two thousand+ years ago? You see, we have the possibility of a better future; we have the opportunity of correcting mistakes in anticipation of a better world. That’s why the plan of God sent His Son to us at a time that would make our day today more hopeful, more blessed, more with the chance to live a life worthy of the Gift.

God knew what He was doing in this plan. Time was of the essence. One could argue that the miracle of Bethlehem set the world on a path that would lead to the more perfect world God had in mind on the day(s) of creation. However, just as strong an argument could be made that all was just setting the stage for the world today!

Presumptuous? Perhaps, but what can one do with the reality of the presence of God on this world, in the form of a human baby, Who for us, in this present day, is the only source of true happiness, blessing, love and grace?

As we are united in prayer this Holy Season, may our families, our friends, celebrate our Messiah; His love shall remain forever. Believe that, and that will bring true “peace on earth“!

–Fr. Stan

Boże Narodzenie

Boże Narodzenie przynosi nam wiele wrażeń Niektórzy odczuwał w sercu niewytłumaczalne ciepło, nawet ci, którzy są sterani codziennym życiem. Dla innych jest brzmieniem kolęd, jest czasem spędzonym wśród rodziny i przyjaciół przy choince ze światłami i ozdobami. Inaczej przezywają to dzieci, które z szeroko otwartymi oczyma wyglądają przyłcia św. Mikołają. Dla nas pochodzenie polskiego to wigilia z opłatkiem i pasterka.

Tak, Boże Narodzenie oznacza to wszystko, albo i więcej. Wrażenia, które odczuwamy mogą nawet się różnią ze względu na nasze pochodzenie, ale są, Jeśli sięgniemy w przeszłość, wszystkie zawierają się w prawdzie ogłoszonej światu w dniu narodzenia Pana i Zbawiciela naszego Jezusa Chrystusa: “a na ziemi pokój ludziom dobrej woli.”

Boże Narodzenie jest także czasem dziÄ™kczynienia za to, za żyjemy w tym kraju. To może dla nas nie ma tak wielkiego znaczenia poniewaÅ‚ przyzwyczailiÅ›my siÄ™ do tego. To jest dar na który nie zasÅ‚ugujemy. ChcÄ…c bardziej zrozumieÅ‚ ten dar, zechciejmy siÄ™ zatrzymaÅ‚, aby sobie uÅ›wiadomiÅ‚, że nawet w tym dniu Bożego Narodzenia, sÄ… tacy na Å›wiecie, którzy dąża do zniszczenia ostatnich śładów: “Ludzi dobrej woli.”

W czasie narodzenia się Zbawcy w Betlejem, jednym z najbardziej potężnych władców rzymskich był cezarz August. Ewangelia przytacza, za “wyszło rozporządzenie. Cesarza Augusta, żeby przeprowadził spis ludności w całym pastwie.” Zgodnie z tym, Maryja i Józef zmuszeni byli odbył tą uciśliwa podróż do Betlejem, gdzie narodzi się Księże Pokoju przetrwała blisko dwa tysiące lat.

Kiedy klękamy przy stajence betlejemskiej, kiedy klęcząc przystole paskim pryzmujemy chleb anielski, niech nowo-narodzony Chrystus Zbawiciel zamieszka w sercach i duszach naszych. My wtedy staniemy się wierni jego wezwaniu miłości Boga i bliżnego.

Niech Dziecię Boże was i wasze rodziny błogosławi. Błogosławionych świąt Bożego Narodzenia.

+Ks. Stanisław

Christmas 2009/Święto Bożego Narodzenia 2009

Dearly Beloved In Christ,

How fortunate we are if we can as little children approach the Christmas holydays, only with this difference: Children look to Christmas as a time for receiving presents. We in turn should be mindful of the great gift almighty God has given us – His son, our Lord and Savior.

In this spirit may this holy season bring us abounding joy. May it make us grateful for the blessings of life and Christ’s sharing our hardships and tears. O how hard it would be without Him.

Let us join in worship and prayer in making this a glorious and blessed Christmas. Thank you, dear Friends, for sharing with us this happiness! May the Holy Infant richly bless you!

Yours in Christ,
The Administrator and Parish Committee

Wielce Umiłowane w Chrystusie,

Jacy szczęśliwi jesteÅ›my jeÅ›li możemy jak dzieci zbliżyć siÄ™ do Å›wiat Bożego Narodzenia, tylko z tÄ… różnicÄ… – dzieci cieszÄ… siÄ™ za Å›wiat, bo to czas kiedy otrzymajÄ… prezenty. ZaÅ› my powinniÅ›my być Å›wiadomi tego Daru, co Bóg WszechmogÄ…cy nam daÅ‚ – Syna Swego, Pana i Zbawiciela.

W tym duchu niech ten sezon przyniesie nam niesłychana radość. Niech uczyni nas wdzięcznymi za błogosławieństwa w życiu i ze Jezus dzieli się z nami w naszych trudnościach i łzach. O jak trudno byłoby bez Niego.

Przyłączmy się w nabożeństwie i modłach, aby to było wspaniale i błogosławione święto. Wyrażamy dzięki drodzy
Przyjaciele, za życzliwość okazany. Oby Ta Święta Dziecina pobłogosławiła wam obficie!

W Chrystusie oddani,
Ks. Adm. i Komitet Parafialny

Schedule of Services for Christmas
  • Thursday, December 24th, Vigil if the Lord’s Nativity: Pasterka/Shepherd’s Holy Mass at Midnight with a festive repast to follow.
  • Friday, December 25th, Solemnity of the Lord’s Nativity: Holy Mass of the Solemnity at 10am. Festive repast to follow Holy Mass.
  • Sunday, December 27th, Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds, Holy Mass at 9:30am.