Masses for New Year’s Day - 2005
The Feast of Mary Mother of God
This Feast is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation
Saturday, January 1st, New Year’s Day
9:00 AM and 10:30 AM

There will be NO evening Masses on December 31st,
New Year’s Eve and January 1st, New Year’s Day.

Rectory Closed
The Rectory Office will close at 12:00 Noon on New Year’s Eve.

Bread & Wine
The Eucharistic bread and wine for this week is in memory of Lillian Nesfield
from Florence Martini.

Dear Friends of Outreach & St. Vincent de Paul
The poor among us, whom Jesus has said will always be here, are really a reminder of our own need, each for the other, no matter what wealth we may have. Sharing our lives with each other, however we can, is truly the only choice we’ve got. From the very beginning, that was The Plan! Thanksgiving and Christmas this year were made a whole lot brighter for many of our needy neighbors in the Bellmore area by your generous donations of food and gifts. Because of them and countless other kindnesses extended, we were able to provide Thanksgiving Baskets for some 280 people in 70 families, and Christmas Baskets with Gifts for an additional 75 families of almost 300 people. No words can ever describe how much it meant to them. May the New Year be as much of a blessing on you as you have been on those who need you during these Holy Days. With deep gratitude - Margaret Pariseau for Outreach and Cathy Onufrey for St. Vincent de Paul.

New Year’s Overnight of Prayer
Come and spend New Year’s Eve at The Cenacle in Ronkonkoma. Start your new year on a spiritual note! Dinner begins at 5:45 PM on December 31st to after breakfast on January 1st. Rev. Joe Diele & Sr. Madeline Birmingham, R.C. Call 631-588-8366.

A Special Word of Thanks
Annually the Rosary Society sponsors our Holiday Vendors Fair. Once again this year they cornered the market on pre-Christmas shopping. Thanks to all the Rosarians whose hard work made it so successful! A Special thank you is due to the chairladies Sheila Whelan and Terry Clarke….Father Peter

Thank You
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who helped to make our 2004 Holiday Vendor Fair a huge success. It would not be possible for us to run this Fair every year without everyone’s assistance and cooperation. Thank you!
Sheila Whelan and Terry Clarke

Please Pray for the Repose of the Souls of the Recently Deceased
John Bernard Fox and Al Schuster

Cub Scouts
Cubs, dens and packs are welcome to the Cub Scout Fun and Faith Day on Saturday, January 15th at St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hempstead. A day of prayer, song, games and craft are planned. For further information contact the Diocesan Catholic Scouting Office at 678-5800, ext. 245 or www.scouting@drvc.org.

Defensive Driving Course
Saturday, January 22nd - 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.

Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp Candle this week will be lit in memory of Rita Ang
from the Quartararo Family.

Retreat for Single Women
January 28th - 30th
Mount Manresa, Staten Island
This will be a retreat for single women seeking a deeper spiritual life. There will be a time for prayer, to listen, to reflect and to share your experience. The cost is $150. For details, call Sister Susan Dean, S.C. at 741-0718 or e-mail srdean2424@aola.com

Adult Faith Formation
Monday, January 10th, 7:30 PM, Upper Church
Ms. Pat McDonough, LI Columnist and Director
of Religious Education, St. Ann’s, Garden City
How can parents living in this very busy, third-millenium raise faith-filled kids while deepening their own relationship to God and others? Join Pat as she explores this and other questions concerning the spiritual, psychological and intellectual development of children and some practical ways in which parents can nurture their children’s relationship to God and the Church.

In Your Prayers Remember the Sick
Patti Fischer, Tom Bidell, Marcia Toole, Baby Noah Pickus, Vincent Lovaglio,
Dominick Graziano, William Quinn, Vincent DiCanio, Christine Sarnicola,
Ginny Lewis, Eleanor Murphy, Sal Pitti, Florence Johanson, Julia Wiener, Richard Klein,
Deanna Berry, Ed Douglas, Marie Calandriano, Baby Danielle, Kathleen Pierce,
and all the sick of the parish

Knights of Columbus
New Year’s Eve Party
8:00 PM - 1:00 AM - $64 per person
Cocktail Hour - Dinner - Live Band
Information and reservations: Jack Falci 804-2850

Ireland
Join the Knights for a 12 day tour of Ireland, departing on June 27th. Call Pat Neville at 221-2826 for information.

Our Lady of Grace Center
Our Lady of Grace Center, Manhasset offers days and evenings of prayer, weekend retreats, holistic spirituality and wellness services and workshops, space for groups to meet, and a hermitage for private days of prayer. For brochure call 627-9255 or e-mail www.olgcenter.com

Retrouvaille
A program for marriages that are in trouble. It offers a lifeline to couples suffering with relationship problems. No group discussions. Six post-weekend sessions provide continued support. The next weekend will be held at Montfort Retreat House in Bay Shore on January 14th - 16th. For more information or to register, call 1-800-470-2230.

Diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Young People
This office, created in an effort to ensure the safety of our young, can be reached by calling 678-5800 ext. 216 or 573. Any person wishing to contact a member of the Pastoral Intervention Team can call Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. The dedicated number for reporting allegations of sexual abuse, 594-9063, continues to be available.

Food Pantry Weekend
January 1st & 2nd
We could use everything especially pancake mix, syrup, sauce, macaroni & cheese, soups, juices, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, canned vegetables, canned fruit, tuna, jello, pudding, salad dressing, sugar, cookies, shampoo, hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, paper towels and toilet paper. Please leave your donated food on the benches in the front lobby of the church. We are happy to accept your food donations anytime at the rectory. Thank you for your generosity.

Volunteer Your Time
Madonna Heights Services is a residential care agency servicing adolescent girls. We are seeking Mentors/Visiting Resources - families and single women to provide residents with a special relationship by being a positive role model. Also needed are volunteers to share special skills and interests such as crafts, cooking and music. Any time you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Kerry Balletti, at 6311-643-8800, ext. 286.

Support Group
The Support Group for Catholic Parents of Gay and Lesbian Children meets monthly in Nassau County. For more information please contact Lillian at 785-9169 or Eddie at 679-3051.

God's Turn
God,
it’s your turn to turn me:
turn my pain into wisdom;
turn my anger into patience;
turn my tendency to see faults
into seeing someone trying;
turn my tight fists into dropped rocks,
becoming open hands.
- Andrew Costello