SALUS INFIRMORUM Father Richard Adams, Father Harry Burke, Father Patrick Carney, Father Patrick Curley, Father John Fanning, Monsignor John Farley, Monsignor John Ferry, Monsignor William Foley, Monsignor Walter Kenny, Father Andrew Kurzyna, Monsignor Anthony Marchitelli, Monsignor Robert McCabe, Father Philip Quealy, Monsignor William Reynolds, Monsignor Edward Weber
REQUIESCAT IN PACE Monsignor Joachim Olendzki
INFLUENZA VIRUS AND VACCINATIONS The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting vaccinated to help reduce the risk of serious illnesses or hospitalization. For most of us who need only one dose of vaccine for the season, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against influenza. It is also important to consider getting vaccinated against the most recent Omicron variants of COVID. Flu shots also help protect the people around us, especially important for those who are vulnerable to serious complications. If you are using our United Health Care plan and live in the New York region, you may present your insurance card at the pharmacy departments at Costco, Duane Reade, Rite Aid or Walgreens. Those living in other parts of the country may also visit Albertson, Kmart, Kroger, Publix, or Safeway, pharmacies. You may also check in with your primary care physician or at a nearby EHE health clinic. So many of us use CVS Caremark to get our prescriptions filled. However, CVS medical has withdrawn from the UHC system and is not an option for vaccinations unless a priest has Medicare-B or pays out-of-pocket. Having lived through the coronavirus pandemic, we are aware of the need to practice good hygiene. For it to be effective, it involves washing hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before Mass and when visiting parishioners in their homes, institutions, hospitals, and nursing facilities. It is also wise that this be done prior to and after other sacraments and religious and social functions. Alcohol-based antibacterial hand sanitizer should be available in every sacristy and near the credence table. Stay safe and healthy. Get vaccinated today.
THE FIFTIETH ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE is scheduled for Friday, January 20, 2023 on the National Mall in Washington, DC between the Washington Monument and 12th Street. The pre-rally concert will begin at 11:00 followed by the rally at noon. The march begins immediately following the rally at approximately 1:00 and ends in front of the US Supreme Court. As he has done in the past, His Eminence will offer Mass at St. Patrick Church on Tenth Street at 10:30 am before the opening rally.
THE KENEDY OFFICIAL CATHOLIC DIRECTORY (OCD) Each pastor will receive correspondence from the OCD by email requesting updates for the 2023 edition of The Official Catholic Directory by the end of October through mid-November. Visit ocdedits.com/login to review and update your organization’s information. If you have not received this, contact Dorothy at dorothy.francke@archny.org or (646) 794-2908.
STATUS ANIMARUM From the Latin meaning state of souls, this accounting is a register of people living in a parish and events related to them. It is also called the annual sacramental report. Every year, we collect Mass attendance numbers, sacramental figures, religious education and regional or parish school enrollment, staffing and volunteer personnel data for each parish church and worship site. Since we are in the “culture of planning” throughout the archdiocese, be as accurate as you can with your report. The Mass attendance numbers will be reported for Sunday, October 16, 2022, the Twenty-Ninth Sunday of the Church Year, including the anticipated Masses on Saturday evening. For the sacramental and other data, report for the period requested. The information that you provide is helpful for parish planning in the archdiocese and for responding to the reports that are required by the Holy See and the Episcopal conference. We will be grateful to receive your statistics by Monday, November 14, 2022. For assistance, contact Fred Scialabba at fred.scialabba@archny.org; or 646-794-3405 (office) or 347-387-2638 (mobile).
CURIA REPORT The revised, streamlined and renamed curia report, with information about the activities of the archdiocesan curia and the pastoral and administrative offices that serve you is now included in the monthly combined mailing. Refer any questions to the office of the vicar general. [Updates: Curia Report].
IMAGES OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE AND ST. JUAN DIEGO These have been traveling throughout the archdiocese for the past year and will be received at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Monday, December 12 at 10:00 am Mass. Priests are invited to concelebrate with Cardinal Dolan when the images will be enthroned.
LINE OF DUTY DEATH In the unfortunate event of the death of a parishioner who is serving in the United States military or those in uniform on the police or fire departments who die in the line of duty, pastors are asked to notify the office of the vicar general with funeral arrangements.
MASS AT THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD IN NEWBURGH The 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart AB needs the services of a Catholic priest for its drill weekends, usually on the first Sunday of each month, to hear confessions at 7:15 and celebrate Mass at 7:45. Compensation is provided. Of course, a letter of good standing must be produced. If you can help, contact Chaplain Bob Tilli, wing chaplain at 845-542-9877 or bobtilli@gmail.com.
LIVEONNY November has been designated as National Donor Sabbath by the organization LiveOnNY, the federally designated organ procurement organization for New York City, and is dedicated to elevating the power of faith-based communities to bring hope to those waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Here in New York, there are nearly 10,000 children and adults on the organ transplant waiting list. Being a registered organ donor gives us the opportunity to provide our vulnerable brothers and sisters with a second chance at life. Some of them are our own brothers in the priesthood. Thanks to LiveOnNY, the organization that oversees organ donation in the greater-New York area, for reminding us about how precious life is and how we can help extend that preciousness to others.
TRANSITIONAL DEACONS ORDAINED Two students at St. Joseph’s Seminary will be ordained to the transitional diaconate for the archdiocese on November 5 by Bishop Robert Brennan. With the help of God, they are expected to be ordained to the priesthood at the end of May. They are the Reverend Messrs. Collins Ashu and Carlos Germosen. May Christ the Good Shepherd continue to accompany, bless, guide and shape their hearts after His Sacred Heart with great pastoral zeal in the service of the Church.
RECONCILIATION MONDAY DATES Observed since 2011, Advent Reconciliation Monday will be held on December 19, 2022. After the experimentation of two sessions last year, we announce the times of 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the archdiocese and the Diocese of Brooklyn. Lenten Reconciliation Monday will be observed on April 3, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 9:00 PM in the archdiocese and the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre, in every parish from the east end of Long Island to the Catskills. Promotional material from the office of communications will be available as we get closer to the date.
SAFEGUARD THE PARISH MASS STIPEND ACCOUNT We priests have a heavy responsibility to properly maintain the parish stipend account. We owe it to our people to satisfy Mass intentions as expeditiously as possible, usually within one year. Since this is an official parish account which is used for the $15 stipend attached to a Mass intention, it must be available for audit upon request. It can be used for nothing more. Donations for baptisms, weddings and funerals perquisites and are deposited in the parish checking account #5104. Whenever a priest celebrates more than one Mass on a particular day, he may retain for personal use only one stipend. Any stipends which were accepted for the celebration of additional Masses must be disposed of in accord with archdiocesan policy (c. 951) and sent to St. Joseph’s Seminary. In addition, every pastor is mandated to offer the Mass for the people of his parish on Sundays and holy days. This Missa pro populo is the personal obligation of the pastor. He may delegate it to a visiting priest or a parochial vicar; then, in justice, tender the current stipend of $15 to the priest satisfying the Mass. Remember also to maintain a register of announced Masses in the parish office; and a personal Mass stipend book for the unannounced requests you receive.
OFFICE HOLIDAYS The Catholic Center will be closed for All Saints’ Day on Tuesday, November 1; Veteran’s Day on Friday, November 11; and the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25. You may always leave your message in the department’s voice mailbox and it will be returned on the next business day. To reach the chancery after hours and on weekends, call Community Answering Service at 877-582- 2996. Add this number as “Chancery Emergency” to the list of contacts in your mobile telephone.
EXECUTIVE HEALTH EXAMS (EHE) In the interest of overall bodily wellness, we want to remind all priests to schedule their 2022 annual comprehensive physical through Executive Health Exams (EHE). The American Medical Association has frequently stated that a comprehensive physical performed annually is extremely important for ongoing wellness and for detecting/mitigating latent health conditions at an early stage. If you have not yet scheduled with EHE, you may contact their office directly at 212-332-3700, or 800-362-8671; or online at EHEIntl.com/Enrollment. All EHE facilities also undergo a deep cleaning on a regular basis.
CATHEDRAL COLLEGE/CATHEDRAL PREP ANNUAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS MASS on Thursday, December 1 at 6:00 will be held at the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 59 East Main Street, Elmsford. Dinner will follow at Casaletto Ristorante, 15 South Central Avenue at 7:00. Donation for the Mass and dinner is $70 (plus $20 annual dues). Nominations are open for president, secretary, treasurer, and members of the executive board. Visit the Internet resources at http://stlukes-parish.org/cathedral; https://www.facebook.com/groups/1031291000372044/; and http://www.cpcc555.org. [Events: Cathedral College Mass]
ALL SOULS’ DAY MASSES AT OUR CEMETERIES By tradition, we honor our beloved dead on November 2, with Masses celebrated at the allied cemeteries of the archdiocese: Gate of Heaven, Hawthorne [Westchester County]; St. Mary, Rye Brook [Westchester County]; Ascension, Airmont [Rockland County]; (First) Calvary, Long Island City [Queens]; Resurrection [Staten Island]; and St. Ann, Kingston [Ulster County]. Family and friends are encouraged to visit the cemeteries to remember and pray for those whose rest in these beautiful, sacred grounds.
COMMITTEE ON DIVINE WORSHIP NEWSLETTER for June, July and August are included in this month’s combined mailing. [Updates: CDW Newsletter]
SURVEY ON THE PERMANENT DIACONATE Have you taken the time to complete this important survey asking for an appraisal of selection, formation, and ministry? Please do so today. [Initiatives: Permanent Deacon Survey].
FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Renew + Rebuild rebates are disbursed on a quarterly basis and are calculated on cash received, not pledges. Since the archdiocesan fiscal year operates from September to August, the disbursement schedule reflects the fiscal year calendar. “September” rebates have been disbursed for money raised in the months of July and August; “December” rebates for money raised in September, October, and November; “March” rebates for December 2022, January 2023 and February 2023; “June” rebates for March, April and May; and “September” rebates for the months of June, July and August 2023.
ST. JOSEPH’S SEMINARY AND COLLEGE ALUMNI EVENING Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Massa invite all priests to this year’s Alumni Evening on Thursday, November 3 for solemn vespers at 4:30 followed by hors d’oeuvres at 5:00 and dinner in the refectory at 6:00. Annual dues are $100 per person. Checks are payable to St. Joseph’s Seminary and College (memo line – alumni). We are asked to send a reply by October 24 to sjs.events@dunwoodie.edu or visit priestalumnievening3nov2022.eventbrite.com. For dietary restrictions, contact Father Bill Cleary, Danielle Pizzola or Sandra LaBlanc at 914-367-8201.
CHRISTMAS 2022 Since Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on a Sunday this year, parishes are in risk of “losing” one of the weekly collections. Pastors may wish to consider scheduling two collections on December 25 and January 1 – one for Sunday and one for the holy day. Remind parishioners that often, these holiday collections help with the end of year payment of consolidated invoices, red bills, insurance and pension costs.
SHARE THE WORD Kindly give access to all your priests and staff members to the material which is pertinent to them, enclosed in the monthly mailing from the office of the vicar general. For it to succeed, we recommend that this Some Things to Know be posted in the public area of the parish office.
FLOCKNOTE Currently, there are 414,325 subscribers throughout the archdiocese who receive FlockNote emails. We are considering another Sign-Up Sunday again in December and are hoping for full participation. Stay tuned.
JUST ONE MORE THING Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. “Wake up, son. It’s time to go to school.” From under the covers, he replied, “But why, mom? I don’t want to go.” His mother replies, “Give me two reasons why you don’t want to go.” He explained, “Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too.” “Oh, that’s no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready” the mom said. Her son asked, “Give me two reasons why I should go to school?” Finally, she said, “Well, for one, you’re 52 years old. And for another, you’re the principal!”