News - June 2024 RSS Feed

Our parish provided one of the largest components of the delegation from the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Conference today to the New York State March for Life from the Children's Memorial through the Empire State Plaza to the grounds of the New York State Capitol. As always, our parish's pre-eminent participation in the local pro-life cause was grounded in prayer, as exemplified by Mass in the Ordinary Form offered by our pastor, Fr. Arthur Rojas, at 8:30 a.m. at Presentation Church (Port Ewen) before the U.D.R.L.C. bus left for Albany. The prayer of our parish was amplified by Fr. Marc Oliver's confessions and Mass in the Extraordinary Form later that morning at Sacred Heart Church, Esopus. (Picture thanks to Fr. Rojas)

May the memories of today's sacramental rebirth in body and soul of baby Josephine Willis be as sweet for her parents and godparents as the cookies made for the reception afterwards downstairs at Fr. Grohe Hall (see picture). Fr. Rojas, our pastor, was only too happy to baptize the newborn daughter of Christian and Stephanie Willis today after the 11:30 a.m. Mass. Thanks to the Willises for allowing Mass-goers to stay for the baptism and to enjoy the reception afterwards. Picture taken by Fr. Arthur F. Rojas.

As the first parish in the Archdiocese to welcome the Seven Sisters Apostolate (www.sevensistersapostolate.org) and its associated Fasting Brothers, it was truly proper for the annual renewal or making of promises by these special supporters of our priests and bishops to occur on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is the patronal feast of Sacred Heart Church, Esopus. At both Extraordinary Form and Ordinary Form Masses there, dozens of Catholics enhanced the liturgical and social celebrations with their commitment to pray (Seven Sisters) for H.E. Bishop Gerardo J. Colacicco, Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, Fr. Marc K. Oliver, Fr. John Kearney, and the late Fr. Eugene Grohe, C.Ss.R. Led by Dcn. Timothy L. Dean, a team of Fasting Brothers is supporting the prayers of the Seven Sisters team for Fr. Rojas with fasting and abstinence. Delegates from St. Catherine Laboure-St. Colman's Parish (Lake Katrine-East Kingston) also participated in the ceremony on behalf of their pastor, Fr. Miroslaw "Mirek" Pawlaczyk. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You! Picture by Mrs. Barbara Totman.