News - January 2024 RSS Feed

As we have sought to reclaim a more traditional awareness of the full Christmas season with the end being on February 2nd (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord), we seek the help of parishioners and people of good will to help break down and store the indoor and outdoor creches and manger scenes at both Presentation and Sacred Heart Churches. Please call the following persons to coordinate with either or both: (Sacred Heart) JOHN AFFRONTI at 845/625-9227 (Presentation) CARLOTTA RIKER at 336/554-6214. Many thanks and blessings to all of you in advance who will help us with this task.

Although Mass is not offered on Mondays usually at our parish, in light of the National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be offered on Mon., Jan. 22nd at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 1055 Broadway, Esopus. Confessions will be heard from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. All Catholics and people of good will are urged to keep Monday as a day of penance as well as prayer in reparation for the ongoing horror of abortion-on-demand (notwithstanding the "Dobbs v. Jackson" ruling returning the abortion issue to the states) and for the conversion of our beloved country. KYRIE ELEISON + LORD, HAVE MERCY. Find out more about the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee at www.ulsterdeaneryrespectlife.org Our parish proudly cooperates with the Committee!!!

For Catholics and others who hunger for the written Word of God, we are blessed by Fr. Marc Oliver's readiness to help us start 2024 well with his Bible Reflection session on the Gospel according to Saint Mark on Saturday, January 13th from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon at Sacred Heart Church (basement), 1055 Broadway, Esopus. There is no charge for the encounter. If you can, please bring your Bible. Families as well as individuals of good will are welcome.

On Fri., Jan. 5th (Vigil of the traditional date of the Epiphany as well as most of the world in the Ordinary Form) at 6:30 p.m. at Presentation Church, 209 Hoyt St., Port Ewen, EPIPHANY WATER AND CHALK will be blessed in the Extraordinary Form. Kindly bring your bottles of clean water and chalk for this once-a-year event. Sheets with instructions to laypeople on blessing homes with Epiphany water and chalk will be distributed. Although there is no charge for the blessings, a free will donation is appreciated. On Sat., Jan. 6 at 11:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart Church, 1055 Broadway, Esopus, Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be offered for the Feast of the Epiphany. In the Ordinary Form, both churches will follow the calendar (Vigil Mass, 1/6, 5 p.m. at Sacred Heart and Presentation, 1/7, 9 a.m. for Sunday of the Epiphany). Parishioners and all Catholics of good will, whether you attend Mass in Ordinary or Extraordinary Form, are welcome to the blessing ceremony on Jan. 5 and the Masses on Jan. 6 and 7.