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PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL

INDEPENDENCE STRENGTH FREEDOM

U.S. Air Force:

Staff Sgt. Andrew D. Simpson

Master Sergeant Scott Moller

Tech. Sgt. Francisco J. Velasquez

Master Sgt. Jeremy Salaver

U.S. Army:

Private Angelique J. Rosado

Master Sergeant Jill Agront

Sgt. Hisnard Cadet, Jr.

Staff Sgt. Misael Exantus

PFC Zaymery Villalobos

Special Force Kareem Inniss

Spc. Richard Aquilar

Captain Gavin Campbell McMahon

LTC Douglas Boltuc

Sgt. Andrew Gandolfo

PFC Francisco Fuentes Melinium

PFC Stefan Saindoux

PFC Luc-Ambert Saindoux, Jr.

PFC Betty Piquion

U.S. Marines:

1st Battalion Carlos Fuentes

CPL Daniel C. Monroe

RCT Eric Joel Vazquez

Sergeant W. Jason Ferris

L. Cpl. Alfonso Rodriquez

U.S. Navy:

Airman Herbert J. Alvarado

JE-4/CS3 Jesus Ron

Chief Petty Officer John V. Sparkowski

Lt. Joseph A. Baugh

Cpl. Eric Omar Matos

Lt. John R. Esposito

AG2/Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael McGee

Msgr. Francis Caldwell, Pastor ........... Ext. 302

Cheryl Nicholson ....................................... Ext. 301 Parish Assistant

Mrs. Kathy Day ......................................... Ext. 304 Bookkeeper

Mrs. Marlene Jean-Baptiste Director of Social Ministry 292-1603 or 481-2550 Ext. 320

Cheryl Nicholson ....................................... Ext. 312 Bulletin Editor

Voice Mail Only: Must Leave a Message

Mr. Richard Lee ........................................ Ext. 345 Counseling & Marriage Preparation

Deacon Hernst Bellevue ............................ Ext. 346 Director of Adult Faith Formation English/Creole Baptismal Program

Mr. Alvin Ingram ....................................... Ext. 347 Liturgy Chairperson

Mr. Tom Gould ......................................... Ext. 348 Facilities Manager

Mrs. Dulce Sepulveda ................................ Ext. 349 Spanish Baptism Program

Elissa Hanson ............................................ Ext.350 Choir Director & Organist

Ms. Lisette Joachim .................................... Ext 351 Ministry of Consolation

Deacon Evenou Saint-Louis Webmaster & Parochial Archivist ................ Ext. 352

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Deacon Trevor Mathurin, Director of Religious Education ........................ Ext. 311

Mrs. Imogene Regan, RCIA Director ................................................. Ext. 314

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER — MAY 8, 2016

“I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord. I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.”

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Saint Martha Roman Catholic Church 546 GREENGROVE AVENUE, UNIONDALE, NEW YORK 11553-2145

Phone: (516) 481-2550 info@saintmartha.org

www.saintmartha.org

THE PASTOR’S WEEKLY LETTER – May 8th 2016

~ Seventh Sunday of Easter ~

Dear Parishioners, Queridos Feligreses, Chers Paroissiens:

WELCOME: This week St Martha’s Parish Family welcomes Deacon Daniel Rivera who will be preaching at the Eng-

lish Masses. Deacon Daniel is currently at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie and will be ordained a priest of our diocese on June

25th! His family resides in Hempstead and he is well known to our parish! Welcome back Deacon Danny!

NEXT WEEK: Next week is Pentecost, the bir thday of the Church! We will be distr ibuting Holy Water Bottles to each family

as the Easter Season ends. We will also be hearing about a great work of the Church – through the Order of Malta – at Holy Family

Hospital in Bethlehem. Please see the introductory information in this bulletin. Instead of the Second Collection going towards parish

maintenance, a special collection will be taken up for the Bethlehem Hospital.

UNBOUND: Two weeks ago Father Michael Rieder , pastor of St. Joseph’s Ronkonkoma was here to preach about the out-

reach of UNBOUND. St. Martha’s parish adopted two folks – Anna Marie Almendarez (age 61 from Honduras) and Ema Mamani

(age 11, from Bolivia). Please see more information about them in this bulletin. We will keep supporting Ana and Ema and praying

for them. I have asked Cheryl to post updates and letters from them in the bulletin and on our website. Welcome Ana and Ema to St.

Martha’s across the miles.

MOTHER’S DAY: The Memorial Book for Mother’s Day is at the center of the church.

RECEPCIÓN: Esta semana La Familia Parroquial de Santa Martha da la bienvenida a el Diácono Daniel Rivera el cual predica en

las misas en inglés. El Diácono Daniel se encuentra actualmente en el Seminario San José en Dunwoodie y será ordenado sacerdote

de nuestra diócesis el 25 de Junio!Su familia reside en Hempstead y él es bien conocido por nuestra parroquia! Bienvenido de nue-

vo Diácono Danny.

PRÓXIMA SEMANA: La próxima semana es Pentecostés, el nacimiento de la Iglesia! Vamos a distribuir botellas de agua bendita

a cada familia como termina el tiempo de Pascua. También estaremos oyendo acerca de una gran obra de la Iglesia - a través de la

Orden de Malta - en el Hospital de la Sagrada Familia de Belén. Por favor, vea la información introductoria en este boletín. En lugar

de la segunda colección que va hacia el mantenimiento de la parroquia, una colección especial se tomará para el Hospital Belén .

UNBOUND: Hace dos semanas el padre Michael Rieder, pastor de Ronkonkoma de San José estaba aquí para predicar sobre el al-

cance de UNBOUND. La parroquia de Santa Marta adoptó dos personas - Anna Marie Almendárez (61 años de Honduras) y Ema

Mamani (11 años, de Bolivia). Por favor, vea más información sobre ellos en este boletín. Vamos a seguir apoyando a Ana y Ema y

orando por ellos. He pedido a Cheryl para publicar actualizaciones y cartas de ellos en el boletín y en nuestro sitio web. Bienvenido

Ana y Ema a Santa Martha través de la distancia.

DÍA DE LAS MADRES: El Libro Conmemorando el Día de las Madres esta en el centro de la iglesia.

BIENVENUE: La Famille Paroissiale de Ste. Mar tha accueille cette semaine le Diacre Daniel Rivera, qui prêchera à toutes

les messes en anglais. Le Diacre Daniel est actuellement au Séminaire de Saint Joseph à Dunwoodie et il sera ordonné prêtre dans

notre diocèse le 25 juin prochain! Sa famille habite à Hempstead et il est bien connu dans notre paroisse! Bienvenue encore, Diacre

Danny!

LA SEMAINE PROCHAINE: La semaine prochaine, ce sera la Pentecôte, l’anniversaire de l’Eglise! Nous allons distr ibuer

des bouteilles d’eau bénite à chaque famille, à la fin de cette saison de Pâques. Nous entendrons aussi parler d’une grande œuvre de

l’Eglise – par l’intermédiaire de l’Ordre de Malte – à l’Hôpital de la Sainte Famille à Bethléem. Veuillez consulter les informations à

ce sujet dans ce bulletin. Au lieu d’utiliser la deuxième quête pour l’entretien de la paroisse, nous aurons ce jour-là une collecte spé-

ciale pour l’Hôpital de Bethléem,

UNBOUND: Il y a deux semaines, le Père Michael Rieder , curé de Saint Joseph à Ronkonkoma, était ici pour nous par ler du

travail de UNBOUND. La paroisse de Sainte Martha a adopté deux personnes – Anna Marie Almendarez (âgée de 61 ans, de Hondu-

ras) et Ema Mamani (âgée de 11 ans, de la Bolivie). Vous trouverez plus de détails à leur sujet dans ce bulletin. Nous continuerons à

soutenir Ana et Ema et à prier pour elles. J’ai demandé à Cheryl de publier les nouvelles et les lettres que nous recevrons d’elles dans

le bulletin et sur notre site. Bienvenue à Sainte Martha, Anna et Ema, à des kilomètres de distance.

FETE DES MERES: Le livre commémoratif pour la Fête des Mères est au centre de l’église.

Fr. Frank Padre Frank Pere Frank

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Pastor’s Homily – 6th Sunday of Easter – May 1st 2016

So, what do think? Are you comfortable? How do you like the new kneelers and (for the first time ev-

er) pew cushions which will (protect the benches and) provide a little comfort for extra-long homilies?

Some people are now suggesting pillows too!

Being comfortable in church isn’t a bad thing. It can help facilitate the desire that Jesus speaks about

in today’s Gospel of His dwelling (‘indwelling’) within us, softly and gently. Being comfortable in

church can offer a little peace in our troubled world and within our sometimes heavy hearts. Being

comfortable in prayer we can experience Jesus’ admonition “do not let your hearts be troubled,” I’m

at your back with you. “Do not be afraid.”

But just being comfortable isn’t what the Christian faith and community has been or is about. Yes,

Jesus comes to give us His peace and comfort and strength. He sends us the Advocate to “teach us

everything and to remind us” of what we’ve been told. But he also goes away, back to the Father and

he leaves us here in the world to work together as a church. And that’s where the discomfort (and dis-

sentions and disunity) can enter – even with our comfortable surroundings. So, this homily is about

“comfort” and “discomfort.” And that’s why I’d like to focus today on the first reading from the Acts

of the Apostles (Chapter 15), the all-important First Council of the Church in Jerusalem.

A lot of folks have trouble with authority. Some of that is leftover stuff from childhood, when parents,

teachers, or other authority figures may have misused the power vested in them and made the idea of

an overseer repulsive long after childhood. But no matter how we feel about it, authority is here to

stay. Most of us will have a boss or superior in adult life.

Even if we become “top dog” in our sphere of influence, there are legal limits and governing bodies to

which we must answer. Natural laws, too, govern our fate, bringing their constraints to bear on our

lives. Sooner or later, we have to eat, sleep, seek shelter, or see a doctor. Even for popes and presi-

dents, there is the Almighty to whom we’ll all render an account. Authority isn’t always an irritation,

of course. In many circumstances, it helps to appeal to some final arbiter of truth, whether that be

Holy Writ, scientific principles, or some in-contestable force – like Mom.

So too in the early church, as we hear in the passage from Acts. Paul & Barnabas, acknowledged

apostles today, were in their times merely two voices among many styling themselves as representa-

tives of God’s honest truth. When these two breezed into town and started talking gospel to their fel-

low Jews at the synagogue, it’s no wonder many responded with the first-century equivalent of: “Says

who?” or: “who do you think you are?” Even fellow Christians were known to take exception to the

missionaries’ rulings on matters like circumcision, Eucharist, dietary laws. Its times like these that

Jerusalem (that head-quarters; that some voice of authority) came in handy.

While Paul himself was critical of Peter, James, and John, Paul had his own problems with authority.

Still, when he needed back-up, Jerusalem’s elders were the final court of appeal for Jews and Chris-

tians alike. The ruling of the Council of Jerusalem was so significant that they even sent out Judas

Barsabbas and Silas along like twin seals of authenticity on the decisions they delivered. Jerusalem

had spoken: the case was closed.

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Page 2 – Pastor’s Homily – 6th Sunday of Easter – May 1st 2016

Where do we go today to find that caliber of authority in our discernments and to liberate our logjams

of opinions? The pronouncements of government officials are popularly mocked, and even popes

(which one? my favorite or yours?) don’t have the final say (anymore) for Catholics worldwide.

Scripture can be proof-texted to say anything you want it to say. Charismatic figures all have their

boutique revelations, but only their partisans are listening.

So, while we may feel the comfort beneath us with our new pew pads, it’s important to realize that our

faith isn’t meant to merely bring us comfort or an “easy peace.”

The Gospel is meant to challenge us and all our leadership, with courage to speak the truth in love; to

discern the important matters of the day; to comfort the afflicted, yes, and at the same time to chal-

lenge and afflict the comfortable. However, as St Augustine said: “in essential things unity; in non-

essentials liberty; and in all things charity.”

So where do we go today to find truth, clarity and charity? Two places: we go to dialogue (encounter

with others), and we go to the Holy Spirit – to private and collective prayer. That’s what the early

church did. That’s how we continue to build the “City of God,” as we sang in the opening song for

Mass. That’s what Pope Francis keeps advising the church today. Life is difficult enough. Don’t

make it even harder.

Jesus offers the church a timeless source of authority that will teach us everything, and remind us

what we already know. Our Spirit Advocate won’t leave us rudderless in the land of half-truths and

complete fictions. So we have one more reason to stay close to the gathering, (this assembly one an-

other) because the Spirit is best discerned in faithful community.

Jesus gives us His Spirit and His peace. Yet I think he’d also add today (as we sit on these cushions):

“Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” – but, don’t get too comfortable, either! Amen

Msgr Frank Caldwell

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5:00PM - Lector: Serge Napoleon

Eucharistic Ministers: Phyllis Droessler, Josephine Ferrier, Marlene Laroche, Leandre Magloire, Barbara Powell, C. Nicholson

Ushers: Rosemarie Allen, Thomas Maddox, Jim Downey, Jennifer King, Mario Cadavid, Alejandro Apresa

7:30AM - Lector: Joanne Williams

Eucharistic Ministers: Martha Ann Brady, Monica Brown, Teri Caruso, Francesca Delle, Paul Delle, Dolores Spagnoli

Ushers: Jim Capriotti, George Leonard, Carmen Charles, Genevieve Charles, Joseph Gedeon, Alex Apresa

11:00AM - Lector: Audric Mathurin

Altar Servers: Kidist Allonce, Justin Gray

Eucharistic Minister: Maggie Austrie, Mary Bediako, Winston Delpesh, Beverly Gray, Hannah Nelson, Teresa Sanders Davis

Ushers: Bennett Paul, Agnes Duclairon, Wilner Nestor, Frantz Denis

If thou love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, ... and with all thy soul, ... and with all thy mind, ... and with all thy strength, ... thou shall serve Him well.

May 8, 2016

Monday May 9

8:30 AM ............. Mother’s Day Novena

Tuesday May 10-St. Damien de Veuster, Priest

8:30 AM ............. Mother’s Day Novena

Wednesday May 11 8:30 AM ............. Mother’s Day Novena

Thursday May 12-Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs; St. Pancras, Martyr 8:30 AM ............. Mother’s Day Novena

Friday May 13 8:30 AM ............. Prayer Service

Saturday May 14 5:00 PM.............. Mother’s Day Novena

Sunday May 15

7:30 AM Mother’s Day Novena

8:45 AM ............. Luis Manuel Arrieta

11:00 AM ........... Parishioners of St. Martha

12:30 PM............ William & Exeme Josma

5-8-2016 - Seventh Sunday of Easter

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY

May 15, 2016

Acts 2:1-11 Ps. 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13

John 20:19-23

The Bread and Wine for the Week of May 8 to May 14, 2016

are offered in Thanksgiving for

Marthe M. Desdunes

Requested by

Lourdes Desdunes

Thank you for your generosity to St. Martha’s Parish!

May 1, 2016

Total English Masses ......................................................... $5,135.00 Total Spanish Mass ........................................................... $2,863.00 Total Haitian Mass ............................................................. $1,026.00 Poor Box ................................................................................. $66.00 This information does not reflect the Faith Direct weekly/monthly deposits.

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Vocation Prayer

Merciful Father, you sent your Son into the world to

free us from the power of sin and evil.

Grant that, through the intercession of

the Virgin Mary, our Mother of Mer-

cy, many young men will respond to

your call to give of themselves in imi-

tation of Christ the Redeemer. Fill them with the

light of your Holy Spirit that they may renounce the

power of the world, proclaim truth and freedom, and

bring consolation and relief to oppressed Christians.

Bless our family of Mercy with numerous holy

priests and brothers who will offer our world the tes-

timony of your faith and love. We ask this through

Christ our Lord. AMEN

I am Daniel Rivera. I am 32 years old and I immigrated to the United States when I

was eighteen years old. I am the fourth out of five children. Both of my parents are

deceased. . I joined the Hispanic Young Adult Group in Our Lady of Loretto,

Hempstead (my home parish). It was in that group that I discerned a possible voca-

tion to become a missionary priest. I came to live on Long Island, New York. To be

honest, when I left El Salvador I did not intend to become a priest.

During an intense period of prayer and spiritual direction I entered the discernment

house of the Vincentians on August 2006. I did not speak a word of English at that

time and I had the challenge to learn the language, which was not easy. A year lat-

er, I began my philosophy studies at St. John’s University. I graduated in the year

2011, with a bachelors in Liberal arts, with a double major in Philosophy and The-

ology. Four years later, I was sent to the Dominican Republic for my novitiate. After the novitiate, I studied

my first year of Theology at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California.

Having in mind that I am called to serve and minister to God’s people as a priest, I discerned, with the help of

my spiritual director, to leave the Vincentians and join the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Last Friday I finished

my fourth year of Theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary. I was ordained a transi-

tional Deacon on November 7th 2015. God willing, I will be ordained a priest

on June 25th, 2016 at St. Agnes Cathedral. For me, the priesthood will be the

way that I will continue growing in my relationship with the Lord and serve

God’s people in this beloved diocese. I know that the vocation comes from God

and wherever the bishop will send me for my first assignment, I will go, with

an open heart and trust in the Lord. I am also thankful for the many good peo-

ple, who during these years of formation, helped me in many ways, with pray-

ers and friendship. What a blessing to be part of the Catholic Church and to

know that we are all seeking to be close to Jesus.

LORD of the Harvest,

BLESS young people with the gift of courage to respond to your call.

Open their hearts to great ideals, to great things.

INSPIRE all of your disciples to mutual love and giving— for vocations blossom in the good soil of faithful people.

INSTILL those in religious life, parish

ministries, and families with the confidence and grace to invite others to embrace

the bold and noble path of a life consecrated to you.

UNITE us to Jesus through prayer and sacrament,

so that we may cooperate with you in building your reign of mercy and truth, of justice and peace. Amen.

— POPE FRANCIS

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Living Stewardship

We are grateful this week for all stewards in our parish

whose giving - whether of alms or of service - will be an

expression of both spiritual and corporal works of mercy,

making them missionaries of mercy to a world in such

need of it.

Bulletin Reflection

Today’s reading contains the somber warning that Jesus

is coming soon and will bring to each person the reward

that his or her conduct deserves. Has my stewardship of

the blessings entrusted to me been such that I could

respond joyfully, “Amen!”?

THE NAME OF GOD IS MERCY

“Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instils in us the courage to look to the future

with hope.” Pope Francis, “Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy” During these

days of Easter joy and in the spirit of the Resurrection let us come together to pray and share and

deepen the gifts of mercy that we have been given.

Please join us each Wednesday beginning April 13th from 1:00 pm to 3:00pm or in the evening from

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in Bethany Hall. Let us respond to the invitation of Pope Francis as he says, “May

the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of

God is already present in our midst!”

~MRS. EVELYN SHEEHAN

Meet 11 year old Ema Vianka

Quispe Mamani of Bolivia..

Ema is nice, happy, kind and out-

going. At school, Ema most likes

to study social studies and sci-

ence. Ema lives under the supervi-

sion of her mother. Ema lives with

one brother and one sister in the

family home. The home has elec-

tricity, and they use a gas stove for cooking. The

family has access to water in the home and has ac-

cess to a latrine outside of the home. Her sleeping

arrangement is a cot and wool mattress.

The family’s income is seasonal. Ema’s mother sup-

ports the family. She sells cleaning supplies on cer-

tain days. Ema’s father helps with some money, but

it’s not enough. Her mother wants her kids to keep

studying.

Visit www.unbound.org

Meet Ana Maria Almendarez of

Honduras, age 61. Ana enjoys

washing clothes, visiting her

neighbors. Due to Ana’s pov-

erty, she rarely eats something

of good quality. She is very hon-

est, friendly and sweet. Her cur-

rent occupation is a house maid.

She does not know how to read

or write. Her health is poor; she is malnourished. She

suffers depression and stomach aches.

Ana lives in her own home. It does not have electric-

ity, and they use a fire stove for cooking. The family

has access to water from a river or stream and has

access to a latrine outside of the home. Her sleeping

arrangement is a roll away bed.

Ana lives in extreme poverty. Her brother, Lazaro,

works as a farmer. They live together to support each

other.

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Pilgrimage to the

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Saturday, September 24, 2016

In celebration of the Year of Mercy, the Diocese of Rockville Centre offers this Pilgrimage to the Basilica of

the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC. Please join us together with faithful

from all across our diocese for a day-long experience filled with opportunities for prayer, reflection, reconcili-

ation and fellowship. Seats are limited. For more information contact our Parish Coordinator Mrs. Yanick

Bellevue or call (516) 481-2550, Ext. 301

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The Mass Intentions Book...

is now open until the end of June

&

The Bread and Wine Calendar...

is now open until the end of July

he list of names that will appear under this column will reflect ONLY those who are CRITICALLY ILL. The

individual or family member must contact the Parish Cen-ter in order to be placed on the Sick List. Please note the new email address the Parish Center at cnicholson@saintmartha.org (“PRAY FOR THE SICK” MUST APPEAR IN YOUR EMAIL’S SUBJECT LINE); or come by the Parish Center with your request in writing, no later than Monday. This list will be updated on a monthly basis.

Omnipotent and Eternal God, the everlasting Salvation of those who believe, hear us on behalf of Thy pitying mercy, that, with their bodily health restored, they may give thanks to Thee in Thy

church. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Helen Zeiser Nathan (Nate) Harkin

Josephine Esposito Frances Rasmussen

Paul Peisel John Muller

Desiree Venegas Edith Lucchi

Bernadette Hoffman Sophia Kyriakakis

Peter Johns Margaretta Smith

Laura-Jean Mauro Leopold Johnson

Richard Lee Barbara Tranfaglia

Gregoria Aguirre .......................................................... +April 11, 2016

Ferdinand Mancusco ................................................... +April 19, 2016

Eileen C. Hand ............................................................. +April 23, 2016

Vincent LoBianco ......................................................... +April 27, 2016

THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to my medical fund thus far. I found out my initial campaign (not run by me) has been shut down for an unknown reason. The first campaign helped cover my household bills from missed work, as well as smaller hospital bills. This new campaign is set up in hopes of paying back some of the $90k+ I owe as of now. (This is only one of the two surgeries I have had so far.) It is very possible I will have to claim bankruptcy if I can-not make a good dent. That is a very frightening thought as a single parent. For those of you who either have donated already, or cannot afford to, please do not feel obligated. I ask for prayers for myself and for my family. It has been a very rough couple of months. The new link is www.gofundme.com/lishanson. You can also leave donations at the Parish Center. Every little bit helps, and has helped. God bless and thank you so much. St. Martha’s has been incredible with your generosity.

~Elissa Hanson, Music Director

Sixth Pastor of St. Martha’s….

FATHER CHRISTOPHER COSTIGAN grew up in

nearby Oceanside, NY and attended Saint

Christopher's Parish and School. He entered Chaminade

High School and after graduation attended the University

of Notre Dame. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in

Government and International Studies, Philosophy, and

Theology. Following college he worked for one year as

an Emergency Medical Technician for a local fire depart-

ment. In 2003 he entered the Seminary of the Immacu-

late Conception in Huntington to study for the priesthood

for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He was ordained to

the priesthood on June 14, 2008 and was assigned to the

parish of Saint Bernard in Levittown. In 2013 he was

assigned to Saint Mary in Manhasset, and in June 2016

will become pastor of Saint Martha in Uniondale. Father

Chris has also been a member of the Oceanside Fire De-

partment since 1998 and was appointed Department

Chaplain in 2008. In 2015, Fr. Chris was appointed as a

diocesan chaplain to the Nassau County Fire Service. In

addition to the Fighting Irish, he is also a fan of the New

York Yankees, New York Jets, and the New York Is-

landers. Father Costigan has pursued advanced studies in

liturgy at Notre Dame and for several years was an in-

structor in Liturgical Studies.

10

Love – A Projection and a Reality

By Fr. Ron Rolheiser—Week of April 10, 2016

The famed Jungian writer, Robert Johnson, makes this observation about falling in love: “To fall in

love is to project the most noble and infinitely valuable part of one’s being onto another human being.

… We have to say that the divinity we see in others is truly there, but we don’t have a right to see it

until we have taken away our own projections. … Making this fine distinction is the most delicate and

difficult task in life. “

And indeed it is. Sorting through what is genuine in love and what is projection is indeed one of the

more delicate and difficult tasks of life. When can, and do, for instance, sometimes fall in love with

persons who are utterly wrong for us and know from experience that once our initial infatuation is

over our passion can very quickly turn into indifference or even hatred. For this reason we might ask:

Whom or what are we really loving in those magical moments of infatuation when we see so much

goodness and divinity inside of another person? Are we really in love with that person or, as Johnson

suggests, are we simply projecting some of our own noble qualities onto that other so that, in effect,

this is more self-love than real love?

The answer to that, as Johnson highlights, is complex. The goodness and nobility we see in the other

person are in fact there, normally at least; however, until a certain projection, an idealization within

which we envelope the other, is stripped away we not yet really loving and valuing that other.

As an example: Imagine a man falling in love with a woman. At that early stage of love, his feelings

for her are very strong, obsessive even, and his eyes are open mostly only to her good qualities and

blind to her faults. Indeed, at this stage, her faults can even appear attractive rather than problematic.

Of course, as bitter experience teaches us, that won’t be the case once the infatuation wears off.

And so we are left with an important question: Are those wonderful qualities that we so naturally see

in another person in the early stages of love really there? Yes. Absolutely. They are there; but they

may not be what we are actually seeing. As Johnson highlights, and as spiritual writers everywhere

attest to, at this stage of love, there is the ever-present possibility that the beautiful qualities we are

seeing in someone are more of a projection of our own selves than actual gifts we see inside him or

her. Though the other person actually possesses those gifts, what we are really seeing is a projection

of ourselves, an idealization with which we have enveloped the other, so that in effect, at this stage,

we is not so much in love with the other as we are in love with certain good qualities that are inside of

ourselves. That’s why we can fall in love with people of very different temperaments and virtue and,

at an early stage of our love, still always have the same feelings.

That’s also why falling love is such an ambiguous thing and needs the discernment offered by time

and the counsel of wise friends and family. We can fall in love with many different kinds of people,

including some who are very wrong for us. The heart, as Pascal asserts, has its reasons, some of which

are not always favorable to our long-range health.

What’s the lesson here? Simply this: In all of our intimate relations we should be aware of our natural

propensity to project our own more-noble qualities onto the other person and to be aware too that we

do not truly love and appreciate that other person until we have withdrawn that projection so that we

are actually seeing the other person’s goodness, not our own. The same holds true as regards hatred of

11

BELIEVING IN THE LIGHT

It is Jesus himself who takes the initiative and calls people to follow him. His call is addressed first to

those with the Twelve; but it is also clear that every believer is called to be a follower of Christ. Fol-

lowing Christ is thus the essential and primordial foundation of Christian morality: just as the people

of Israel followed God, who led them through the desert towards the Promised Land (cf. Ex 13:21), so

every disciple must follow Jesus, towards whom he is drawn by the Father himself (cf. Jn 6:44).

This is not a matter only of disposing oneself to hear a teaching and obediently accepting a command-

ment. More radically, it involves holding fast to the very person of Jesus, partaking of his life and his

destiny, sharing in his free and loving obedience to the will of the Father. By responding in faith and

following the one who is Incarnate Wisdom, the disciple of Jesus truly becomes a disciple of God (cf.

Jn 6:45). Jesus is indeed the light of the world, the light of life (cf. Jn 8:12). He is the shepherd who

leads his sheep and feeds them (cf. Jn 10:11-16); he is the way, and the truth, and the life (cf. Jn 14:6).

It is Jesus who leads to the Father, so much so that to see him, the Son, is to see the Father (cf. Jn 14:6

-10). And thus to imitate the Son, the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15), means to imitate the Fa-

ther.

SAINT JOHN PAUL II (+2005) reigned as pope from 1978 until 2005.

Love – A Projection and a Reality Cont’d

By Fr. Ron Rolheiser—Week of April 10, 2016

someone else. Just as we tend to idealize others we also tend to demonize them, projecting our own

dark side onto them and enrobing them with our own worse qualities. Thus, by Robert Johnson’s log-

ic, we don’t have a right either to hate anyone, until we have withdrawn our own dark projection. We

over-demonize just as we over-idealize.

In his classic novel, Stoner, John Williams describes for us how his main character understands love:

“In his extreme youth Stoner had thought of love as an absolute state of being to which, if one were

lucky, one might find access; in his maturity he had decided it was the heaven of a false religion, to-

ward which one ought to gaze with an amused disbelief, a gently familiar contempt, and an embar-

rassed nostalgia. Now in his middle age he began to know that it was neither a state of grace nor an

illusion; he saw it as a human act of becoming, a condition that was invented and modified moment by

moment and day by day, by the will and the intelligence and the heart.”

Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, and award-winning author, is President of the

Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. He can be contacted through his website

www.ronrolheiser.com. Now on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser

12

To thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

2O my God, in

thee I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

3Yea, let none that wait for

thee be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4Make me to know thy ways,

O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5Lead me in thy truth,

and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long.

6Be mindful of thy

mercy, O LORD, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

Right after 911, I had this vision; a man dressed in white told me, “You see what happened?” I said yes. He said “You know why this is happening? It’s because they don't have love for one another like we have.” He said “Go and tell the whole world to recite Psalm 25. I asked him how was I to do that? He said “Go tell Oprah.” I know myself as a shy and timid person; I could never tell Oprah or tell anyone. But after what happened in Boston, I felt such guilt and disobedience in not doing what I was told. The same way that the Lord

loves us, so we must love one another. Please help me to tell the world to recite Psalm 25 and maybe the world will be a better place.

Thank you, Marie FanFan

Scripture Readings May 9—May 14

Monday, May 9 Acts 19:1 -8

Psalm 68 John 16:29 -33

Tuesday, May 10 Acts 20:17 -27

Psalm 68 John 17:1 -11

Wednesday, May 11 Acts 20:28 -38

Psalm 68 John 17:11 -19

Thursday, May 12 Acts 22:30; 23:6 -11

Psalm 16 John 17:20 -26

Friday, May 13 Acts: 25:13 -21

Psalm 103 John 21:15 -19

Saturday , May 14 Acts 1 :15-17, 20-26

Psalm 113 John 15:9 -17

Dear Lord, As my life declines and my energies decrease,

more than ever hold me by

Your Power, that I may not offend You, but daily increase in Your Love.

Give me strength to work in Your Service till the last day of my life.

Help me to ever have an increasing dread of venial sin,

or whatever would cause the

slightest withdrawal of Your Love; all day long,

and at night keep me close to Your Heart; and should I die, ere the morning breaks,

may I go rejoicing

in that vision of Your entrancing beauty, never to be separated from You. Amen.

13

PADRE MIGUEL ÁNGEL RIVERA: Cel. 516-939-7165 /

E-mail: frammm@hotmail.es – Se encuentra a su disposición

cada martes y miércoles, a partir de las 7:30 PM hasta las

10:30 PM en el Centro Parroquial, al costado de la Iglesia,

para dirección espiritual y confesiones. Tengan la bondad de

apuntarse con el Padre en el Salón Betania, después de la

misa.

INTENCION DE LA MISA: Por los Feligreses de Santa

Marta.

GRUPO DE ORACION: Miércoles, 7:00 PM, en el gimna-

sio de la Escuela.

ULTREYA: Domingo, 11:00 AM en la Capilla.

ESCUELA DE DIRIGENTES: Cada lunes, 7 a 10 PM en la

Escuela Marianista.

MOVIMIENTO FAMILIAR CRISTIANO CATÓLICOS:

Se reúne cada 15 días.

Para información llamar al 516-554-4503 o al 516-965-7311.

JUVENTUD SIN FRONTERAS: Cada jueves, 7:30 PM, en

el Salón Betania.

CORO HISPANO: Ensayo cada viernes en la Iglesia, a las

8:00 PM.

MINISTERIO DE ACOGIDA: Ministros que extienden la

bienvenida y entregan las hojitas de canto.

CENACULO DE LA DIVINA MISERICORDIA: Pr imer

martes, 7:00 PM en la Capilla.

ESCUELA DE LA PALABRA: Martes, 7:30 PM en la Igle-

sia de San Ladislaus.

MISA DE NIÑOS Y JOVENES: Segundo domingo del mes.

LOS NIÑOS: Se reúnen cada domingo en el Salón Betania

para escuchar y meditar las lecturas dominicales.

MINISTERIO SOCIAL: Lunes, mar tes, jueves, viernes,

10:00 AM a 2:00 PM. en el sótano del convento. (516) 481-

2550, Ext. 320 o (516) 292-1603 (se habla español).

EL SACRAMENTO DEL BAUTISMO: Cada tercer do-

mingo del mes, 2:30 PM en la iglesia. Los interesados consul-

ten con la Sra. Dulce Sepúlveda después de la Misa.

LA IGLESIA: Per manece abier ta diar iamente de 7 a 3 PM.

LECTURAS PARA: El Domingo de Pentecostés, 15 de Ma-

yo.: Primera Lectura: Hechos 2, 1-11. Salmo 103, 1 y 24. 29-

31 y 34. Segunda Lectura: 1 Corintios 12, 3-7. 12-13. Evange-

lio: Juan 20, 19-23.

St. John of Avila

Born in the Castile region of Spain, John was sent at the age of 14 to the University of Salamanca to study law. He later moved to Alcala, where he studied philosophy and theology before his ordination as a diocesan priest. After John’s parents died and left him as their sole heir to a con-siderable fortune, he distributed his money to the poor. In 1527, he traveled to Seville, hoping to become a missionary in Mexico. The archbishop of that city persuaded him to stay and spread the faith in Andalusia (southwestern Spain). During nine years of work there, he developed a reputation as an engaging preacher, a perceptive spiritual director and a wise confessor. Because John was not afraid to denounce vice in high places, he was investigated by the Inquisition but was cleared in 1533. He later worked in Cordoba and then in Granada, where he organized the University of Baeza, the first of several colleges run by diocesan priests who dedicated themselves to teaching and giving spiritual direction to young people. He was friends with Sts. Francis Borgia, Ignatius of Loyola, John of God, John of the Cross, Peter of Alcantara, and Teresa of Avila. John of Avila worked closely with members of the Soci-ety of Jesus and helped their growth within Spain and its colo-nies. John’s mystical writings have been translated into several languages. He was beatified in 1894, canonized in 1970, and declared a doctor of the Church on October 7, 2012. Comment: St. John of Avila knew that the lives of Christians can contradict the Good News of Jesus Christ (for example, thinking racism is OK), implicitly encouraging Christians to live their faith-halfheartedly and causing obstacles to non-Christians who might accept Baptism. In 16th-century Spain, those who advo-cated reforming the Church were often suspected of heresy. St. John of Avila held his ground and was eventually recognized as a very reliable teacher about the Christian faith. Quote: At the Mass after John of Avila and Hildegard of Bingen were declared Doctors of the Church, Pope Benedict XVI described him as “a profound expert on the sacred Scripture . . . gifted with an ardent missionary spirit.” The pope continued: “He knew how to penetrate in a uniquely profound way the mysteries of the redemption worked by Christ for humanity. A man of God, he united constant prayer to apostolic action. He dedicated himself to preaching and to the more frequent practice of the sacra-ments, concentrating his commitment on improving the for-mation of candidates for the priesthood, of religious and of lay people, with a view to a fruitful reform of the Church.” Feast Day: May 10th.

Saint of the Day Lives, Lessons and Feast

By Leonard Foley, O.F.M.; revised by Pat McCloskey, O.F.M.

14

FREE FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED: For further information and income guidelines please call:

631-491-4166 in Suffolk or 516-623-4568 in Nassau

BABY ITEMS NEEDED: Diapers, diaper wipes, strollers and car seats that meet current standards.

ITEMS NEEDED: individual boxed milk (i.e., Par-malat); toilet tissue, paper towels, personal care items, gift certificates.

SHOPPING BAGS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED

FOOD STAMPS First & Third Thursdays!

11:00 AM—2:00 PM Representative: Pat

Social Ministry/Outreach Office Hours

Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10:00AM—2:00PM (516) 292-1603 or (516) 481-2550, Ext. 320

(English/Spanish/French/Creole)

An Immigration Consultant...

will be available at the Parish Social Ministry the second Wednesday of each month.

The next date will be on:

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 10:00AM - 1:00PM

Give us our daily bread

We are currently in need of the following items:

Peanut Butter! Any variety of rice

Any variety of meats (1-2 pounds) Any variety of beans

Help keep our pantry stocked. Please remember to keep us in mind when you do your grocery shopping. It is only through your generosity that we are able to help those in need.