Bread & Wine
The Eucharistic bread and wine for this week is in memory of Ruth T. Coleman from Tom Antorino.

Family Life Committee - Help Needed!
As we begin a new school year, we look forward to a new calendar of fun-filled parish family nights. To help make these gatherings enjoyable for all, we need help from many, many volunteers. We will be having a planning meeting to discuss and schedule upcoming parish socials on Wednesday, September 29th at 7:30 PM in the rectory meeting room. Anyone who can help out in any way is very much welcomed to attend this meeting. For further information, call Rosemary Pettei at 785-0130.

Altar Flowers
The flowers on the Blessed Mother’s Altar for this week are in memory of Sr. Frances Mary Page from Jeannette & Charles Cottone.

The flowers on the Shrine of St. Anthony for this week are in thanksgiving for answering our prayers from Marie & Anthony Forte.

St. Barnabas Web Site
Have you seen it? It’s back and better than ever. The St. Barnabas the Apostle web site is up and running again. Out thanks to Steve and Jennifer Castro, parishioners of St. Barnabas. Please visit the site at stbarnabasny.org and see the bulletin, information about the sacraments, parish events and a lot more.

Food Pantry Weekend
October 2nd & 3rd
This month we are most in need of cereal, pasta sauce, chicken & vegetable soups, macaroni & cheese, dish & laundry detergent, juices, and paper goods, but all donations are gratefully accepted. Please leave your pantry donations on the lobby benches in church next weekend. We are also happy to accept them in the rectory during the week. The Ten-Minute Club also meets on Pantry Sunday. We’ll need you to take this month’s food donations over to the rectory basement. Please meet our St. Vincent de Paul Society members in the Church lobby after Mass. Your generous support of our Pantry, as always, is deeply appreciated. Thank you so much.

Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp Candle will be lit this week in memory of Ruth T. Coleman from Pat & Tom Reilly.

Second Collection Next Week
The second collection next week is a special Respect Life Collection.

Small Christian Community Facilitators
The October and November issues of “Exploring” are available in the Outreach Office. Please stop at the rectory, and pick up enough for your group.

Please Pray for the Repose of the Souls of the Recently Deceased
Michael J. McNiff, Baby Robert James Cirigliano, Fr. Chester Diadia,
Evelyn O’Brien and Olga Podolski

Defensive Driving Course
Saturday, October 23rd - 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
School Cafeteria - $45 per person
To register call 631-360-9720. This course is for point and insurance reduction.

Youth Group News
Calling all 9th - 12th graders for the Youth Group Kickoff Pizza Party on Sunday, September 26th at 7:00 PM in the Youth Ministry Room located in the basement of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School. Don’t miss out on this great event, sure to be filled with lots of fun and laughter. For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Linda Rhoads at 516-314-5242.

Hurricane Help
This seems to be the year of the hurricane and many have suffered tremendous losses. Many of the organizations that provide vital services to the victims are in need of donations to sustain relief operations. If you would like to help, the agencies listed below are currently serving the victims of the hurricanes and accepting donations:

American Red Cross
1-800-HELPNOW
Florida Interfaith Networking in Disaster.
Donations may be made through
www.floridadisaster.org

The Salvation Army
1-800-966-ARMY
Thank you for whatever you can do!

Irish History Writing Contest
The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians are sponsoring an Irish History Writing Contest for students in grades 6th - 8th and 9th - 12th. Cash prizes will be awarded for the winning entrants. For information, please call Gladys Hirten at 826-3675.

Banns of Marriage
Robert Alessandro & Christine Augello
Daniel Bruzzo & Lisa Keane

Rosary Society
Our Annual Investiture Mass will be held on Monday, October 4th at 7:00 PM in the Church. Immediately following the Mass, dinner will be held at the Knights of Columbus. Tickets are $21 per person. Our guest speaker for the evening will be Rev. Kevin Creagh, C.M. from St. John’s University in Jamaica. For reservations, please contact Barbara Merget at 221-1726 or Tecla Curcio at 781-0237 by September 29th. Anyone wishing to be invested into the Rosary Society, please call Marie Scheibeler at 826-3974.

Faithful Citizenship
What Kind of Nation and World Do We Want to Shape?
Saturday, October 2nd, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
St. Anthony’s High School, Melville
Are you tired of simplistic, 30 second negative campaign commercials?
Do you want to hear what’s best for the community interest rather than special interests?
Do you seek guidance in forming a Catholic conscience amid the campaign commotion?
As we approach the elections of 2004, we renew our call for a new kind of politics - focused on moral principles not on the latest polls, on the needs of the poor and vulnerable, not the contributions of the rich and powerful, and on the pursuit of the common good not the demands of special interests. If interested, call Margaret Pariseau at 785-6243.

Social Justice Committee Meeting
New Members Welcome
The Social Justice Committee will have its first monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 28th at 7:30 PM in the rectory basement and welcomes any parishioners. Catholic Social Teaching, which is based on Old Testament scriptures, Jesus’s teaching in the Gospels and various papal encyclicals, calls all Christians to address questions of social justice. In addition to developing our own understanding of social justice teaching and concerns, in the last three years the Committee has sponsored an Advent Vespers service, a Lenten Liturgy, Operation Rice Bowl, the parish Soup Supper and legislative advocacy letter writing. If you wish to speak with someone before this meeting, please call Nicholas Naccari at 679-8479 or Margaret Pariseau at the Parish Outreach Office.

Annulment Information Workshops
Thursday, October 28th - 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
St. Frances de Chantal, Wantagh
Cost: $10 per person
For information contact the Diocesan Office of Laity and Family at 678-5800.

Bellmore Knights of Columbus
Italian Night
Our Annual Italian Nite Dinner/Dance will be held on Saturday, October 2nd, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM. The cost is $34 per person and includes a five-course dinner, open bar and live band. Reservations call Bob Felice, 221-7875 or Vinny Vinticinquo, 783-6795.

What’s Up, Up There?
It would be fun to take the interested parishioners up the scaffolding for a bird’s eye view of the new roof but that isn’t possible. You can get an idea of the new look by standing in the parking lot of the library and facing the Church. The slates are beautiful, the work is progressing and even with the wild rain last weekend, we had no leaks either in the Church or Chapel. Let’s hope when the roof is completed we can say the same.

Girl Scouts
The Annual Girl Scout Day of Recollection will be held on October 2nd at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island. Activities, open to 3rd grade Brownies, Juniors, and Cadette Girl Scouts begin at 9:30 AM and conclude with Mass at 3:30 PM. Cost is $7.50 per participant which includes a 2004 patch and craft. Pre-register by September 27th and deduct $1.00 for all paid registrations. For information, contact the Catholic Scout Office at 678-5800, ext. 245.

In Your Prayers Remember the Sick
Patricia Birbiglia, Patti Fischer, Marcia Toole, Megan
Drum, Jane Deyette, Daniel Murphy, Helen Rowe,
William Quinn, Florence Johanson, Ginny Lewis,
Eleanor Murphy, and all the sick of the parish.

Diocesan Synod
Well over a year ago the Diocese of Rockville Centre sponsored the first stage of preparation for a Diocesan Synod including a Listening Session with the people of the parishes. Beginning this Sunday fliers entitled “Synod Focus” outline the various issues presented by parishioners throughout the diocese. For those interested in the Synod this will certainly bring you up to date on what is happening. The fliers will be weekly until November 17th.

Blessing of Animals
On Monday, October 4th, the Church honors St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved personalities in Christian history, known especially for his joyful acceptance of radical poverty, and his delight in God’s creation. In celebration of Francis’ feast, we will have a Blessing of Animals at 1:30 PM on Saturday, October 2nd in the parking lot behind the church. “All creatures, great and small” are welcome, with their human friends. If you do intend to bring your pet(s), please be sure they will not be able to get away from you during the brief service! This event is weather permitting.