Text Box: RELIGIOUS EDUCATION We are happy to announce that our Religious Education Program will begin on Sunday, September 21st. Grades Pre-K, K, 1, 3, 4, and 5 will meet at 11:00 A.M. Grades 2, 6, and 7 will begin on Monday, September 22. Grades 2 & 6 at 3:30 P.M. Grade 7 (Confirmation Class) will meet at 4:45 P.M. If you know of any child in the 1st Grade who would like to enter our Religious Education Program, please contact Mr. Gary Cushing at 718-625-1161. On Sunday, September 21st we celebrate “Catechetical Sunday.” Our teachers will be commissioned at the 10:00 A.M. Mass. SUGGESTIONS/IDEAS/QUESTIONS?! As we begin a new calendar year for our parish, there are sometimes ideas, suggestion, or questions that can be addressed by the pastor and the Pastoral Council. All our parishioners are invited to email any questions, suggestions, etc. – macarrano@juno.com Text Box: LITURGY COMMITTEE The Liturgy Committee will meet on Monday, September 22 at 7:30 P.M. in the rectory. Anyone who would like to join this committee is cordially invited to this meeting. CHRISTMAS GALA We are ready to plan our Annual Christmas Gala. There will be a meeting of the Gala Committee on Wednesday, September 24th at 7:30 P.M. in the rectory. Anyone who is interested in assisting with this great event is invited to the meeting. PASTORAL COUNCIL INSTALLATION The new members of the Pastoral Council - Marianne Belllucci, Kristin Erickson, Alex Gallardo, Mary Macchiarola and Patrick McEntee - will be installed on Sunday, October 5 at the 10:00 A.M. Mass. Text Box: Exaltation of the Holy Cross Text Box: BVM Text Box: Assumption Text Box: From the Pastor’s Desk Dear Friends: Do we believe Christ struggled? If He didn’t, how could He ever understand us? Did He only pretend to suffer? It is fascinating that one of the earliest temptations among those who heard the Gospel, one of the first Christian heresies, was Docetism (from the Greek word meaning “to seem”). This was the belief that the Son of God only pretended to suffer and die on the cross. Christians continue to be tempted to this view. How human was Jesus? So human He could die. How connected was Jesus to us humans? So connected He would rather die than give up on us or separate Himself from us. Why not give up all this pain and frustration? Why not change stones to bread? Why don’t you use your power? That was not the route Jesus, the Son, took. He refused to exploit equality with God. He refused to exploit divine power. Instead, Jesus emptied Himself. No matter how weak, how empty, how deeply we are caught up in trouble, even caught up in death, Jesus has been there. Jesus is there. The Good News of Christ risen means this: God would not - will not - let death be the final word. Yours in Christ, Rev. Michael A. Carrano