ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY / ST. JOSEPH PARISH Roman Catholic Church

November 11, 2018 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

WIDOWS

T he memory is fresh of my mother’s funeral almost forty years ago. I was trying my best to hold it together at the little

Presbyterian Church where my Jewish mother Ruth was being buried from. My grandmother sat behind me. She was inconsolable at the loss of her eldest daughter and her sobs steadied me. She was not a widow in the strict sense of the term. She and my deceased grandfather had been divorced for many years for good reason. However, she suffered the pain I often associate with widows who’ve lost their loved ones before their time. Her remaining years were the most difficult of an already tough life; at the time, I did not know what I could do for her. I pray for her often. In my years as a priest, I have known many widows. In Manhattan and the Bronx, they were often the wives of hard working men who died too young. They found jobs with companies like MetLife and supported their families, and like my grandmother, saved everything they could in event of the unforeseen. Later on, grateful for what I suppose was the faith they had that the light of eternal life which had shone on their children at baptism, the assurance that loves that were given them in this life were meant to be forever, they gave in extraordinary measure to their parishes, their diocese, religious orders, and so on. I think of them when I hear the words of this Sunday’s gospel given to us by Saint Mark. Saint Mark’s gospel about the widow’s offering (known also as the widow’s mite) recounts how Jesus, sitting opposite the treasury where collections were taken for the support of the temple, notices over and above the poor woman’s generosity. The temple precincts were always busy, and the treasury crowded with people. He praises her generosity in giving all she had, though only a

few cents, and his reference to those who “devour the houses of widows [while reciting] lengthy prayers” might describe an aspect of her poverty. The law of Moses taught very strongly about the care of widows and orphans and Jesus upbraids the scribes and pharisees for their hypocrisy. Widows prominently appear in the Gospels. St. Luke tells us that not so long after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Anna prophesied about him to his mother and Saint Joseph when the new born savior was presented in the temple. She had been widowed for eighty-four years, having been married a mere seven years to her husband. Devoted to the Lord’s presence in the temple, she visited it every day, saying prayers throughout, and fasting as well. Like Simeon, her counterpart in the temple that day, the revelation was a reward to a good and faithful servant before her own departure from life. Saint Luke also writes of the widow at Nain, in northern Israel, who Our Lord met as she accompanied her only son’s body to a burial place outside the city. Not content to see the widow deprived of the joy his followers shared, he raises the young man from death and “gives him back to his mother.” Jesus’s love and appreciation for widows had to have been most evident in the care for his most faithful disciple, his own widowed mother, Mary. Ancient and traditional accounts of Jesus’s life as a child speak of how Saint Joseph died well before Jesus began his earthly ministry. We can imagine, particularly in our concern for the widows among us, his compassion for his own dear mother, bereft of the good man who had helped her raise and care for the Savior of the world. It is often, when speaking with families preparing for baptism, that I’ll hear them speak of a widowed grandmother who by prayer or encouragement led them and their newborns to the light of life.

Veterans Day 2018 is on Sunday, November 11th, 2018 and designated as a Federal Holiday on Monday, November 12th, 2018. 2018 marks the Centennial Commemoration of the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. The theme for the 2018 Veterans Day Poster is: “The War to End All Wars” and features a poppy and barbed wire. Read more at https://militarybenefits.info/veterans-day/#ixzz5VwCkQfKq

THE PASTOR’S CORNER by Fr. Rees Doughty

OFFERTORY Oct. 27/28: $8,418.08 Special Projects: $2,816.55; Shrines: $256.02 All Saints: $2,580.00 Online Giving (Oct. 29-Nov. 4): $1,252.00 We thank you for your generosity and continued support of the parish! Have You Considered Donating To The Parish Through Online Giving? Online Giving is safe and secure, and you set up when your gift is made, for how much, and for which collection. Visit the parish website, ststhomasjoseph.com, and under the “News/Events” tab, click on “My Own Church” for information on giving. “Protecting God’s Children”: The mission of the Archdiocese of New York’s Safe Environment program is to prevent and respond to incidents of child sexual abuse. Upcoming classes at St. Thomas/St. Joseph Parish will be held in the St. Thomas School Gym on Sat., Nov. 17, 5:30-8:30 pm and on Wed., Nov. 28, 6-9 pm. Parish staff and volunteers will be taking a Virtus class. All parishioners are also invited to join us and learn how to create safer spaces for our children. To register, go to virtusonline.org or come Nov. 17 or Nov. 28 if you would like to observe and know more.

Join us for a Fellowship Breakfast on Sunday, November 11 in the St. Thomas School gym after the 9 am Mass!

Blood Drive in November: The STAR Youth Group will hold their annual Blood Drive on Sunday, November 18, 8 am-2 pm in the St. Thomas School Gym. No appointment necessary!

Your Dollars At Work… Recently, a stone was thrown (with great force) through one of the stained glass windows at St. Joseph Church. It broke the protective glass on the inside and damaged the ventilator window. Our insurance carrier, Catholic Mutual, will cover the repairs, except for a $2,500 deductible. Our fifty-year-old HVAC system in St. Thomas Church is showing its age. Remember the knocking and rattling all through last winter? We just had the blower unit that distributes both heating and cooling to St. Thomas Church retooled, an expense of $18,000. With a new compressor for the air conditioning unit, the bill came to $28,000. (St. Thomas School also required extensive work on its furnace.) At the moment, we’re in the process of trying to fix the analog control unit so that the church doesn’t feel like a sauna! The monies from these repairs come from our first Sunday of the month Second Collection for Capital Expenditures. Thank you for your generosity (and patience)! Mass Intentions For 2019 * Beginning November 1st, parishioners may submit up to four intentions for SUNDAY Masses and six intentions for WEEKDAY Masses for a total of ten Masses. As of December 1st, there are no restrictions on the number of Mass requests. * Up to two separate intentions will be accepted at the Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 pm and at the Sunday 9 am Mass. The Sunday 11 am Mass intention will only be designated “Pro Populo” (for the intentions of the people of the parish). * The Offering for an announced intention is $15; $10 for an unannounced intention. All intentions are scheduled through the Parish Office and are subject to the Pastor’s approval.

Your Parish Office Is Open: Monday-Friday: 9 am-3 pm www.ststhomasjoseph.com

Pastor: Rev. Rees Doughty

frdoughty@stt-stj.com Parochial Vicar: Rev. John Kwaku Sah

Weekend Assistant: Rev. Robert Phelps Deacons: Leonard Farmer, Anthony Ferraiuolo,

John Hanley, Joseph Lieby, John Pelella Parish Office 845.534.2547 · office@stt-stj.com · FAX 845.534.1357 Faith Formation Office 845.534.9393 · reled@stt-stj.com Faith Formation Coordinators: Annmarie O’Connor and Mary Ellen Tiernan RCIA/T 845.661.8586 · metiernan@stt-stj.com Coordinator: Mary Ellen Tiernan

St. Thomas Church 340 Hudson St., Cornwall on Hudson, NY 12520

Sunday Masses Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am Weekday: Monday-Saturday: 8:30 am Confession Saturday: 9-9:45 am (or by appointment) Miraculous Medal Novena Monday after 8:30 am Mass Rosary: Monday-Saturday after 8:30 am Mass

St. Joseph Church

4 Saint Joseph’s Pl., New Windsor, NY 12553

Sunday Mass Sunday: 12:30 pm Weekday: Wednesday, 6:30 pm Mass Confession: Wednesday, 6-6:30 pm Adoration: Wednesday, 5:30 pm

The Knights invite our Parish and Community Senior Citizens to their annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday, November 17 at 12 noon in the St. Thomas of Canterbury school gym. There is no cost to attend this delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. In addition, there will be raffles with lots of great prizes. Knights of Columbus, Council 7460: Coats for Kids: The Knights will be selling raffle tickets for $10 until Friday, November 30. Tickets will be available after select Masses in November. To make a contribution to the “Coats for Kids” Campaign, mail a check made payable to “K of C Coats for Kids” to 340 Hudson Street, Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY 12520. 12 Months of Christmas Raffle: Get warmed up for the holidays with a Gordon Ramsey by Royal Doulton Tea Set. This maze white set includes a ceramic teapot, cream jug, covered sugar bowl, and four maze white 14 oz. mugs. A box of holiday teas from Simpson and Vail (one of the oldest tea companies in the USA and a family-owned business dedicated to offering quality teas from around the world) is included! MSRP: $187.00.

The Choir, Folk Group, and Young People’s Choir are looking for new members to enrich the Advent and Christmas liturgies. For information, contact Music Director Vincent Mateo at music@stt-stj.com. Our Food Pantry is in need of paper goods, jelly, tuna, soup, and laundry detergent. Thank you for your continued support! Would you like to learn how to help women in unplanned, crisis pregnancies choose life at the abortion center? Sidewalk Advocates for Life offers a peaceful, prayerful, law-abiding sidewalk advocacy method that seeks to reach that woman’s heart and fill her needs so she can confidently choose life! Training will be held on Monday, November 12 and Monday, November 19, 6-9 pm in the Cardinal O’Connor Hall at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Newburgh. For info: contact Wendy at 845.820.4366. Touring Tuesdays in the Archdiocese of New York are universal open houses scheduled during the school day so prospective families can see Catholic schools in action. At each school, Parent Ambassadors are on hand to greet parents and potential students and share their experiences. Upcoming Touring Tuesday Events for 2018 are November 13 and December 4, 9-11 am. Visit CatholicSchoolsNY.org for an appointment.

MASS INTENTIONS

ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY / ST. JOSEPH PARISH

Mon, Nov 12: St. Josaphat 8:30 am +Thomas & Joan Sullivan by Peter Costella Tues, Nov 13: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini 8:30 am Special Intention of Sharon Bywater Wed, Nov 14 8:30 am +William & Julia O’Sullivan by Margaret Hennessey 6:30 pm +Emilio Gonzalez by Centeno family Thurs, Nov 15: St. Albert the Great 8:30 am +Edward & Agnes DelRoss by Elizabeth Congelli Fri, Nov 16: St. Margaret of Scotland 8:30 am +John Sweeney by family Sat, Nov 17: St. Elizabeth of Hungary 8:30 am +Pasquale Landro by John and Kathy Landro 4:30 pm +Margaret Gilchrist by Rich family; +Thomas DiDonato by Rose DiDonato

Sun, Nov 18: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30 am +Joseph Hines by Doris Hines 9:00 am +James Kelly by family 11:00 am Pro Populo (For the Intentions of the People of the Parish) 12:30 pm +Iris & Owen Campbell by Jennifer Doughty

ALL Masses are celebrated at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church,

except for the Sunday, 12:30 pm Mass and the Wednesday, 6:30 pm Mass,

which are celebrated at St. Joseph Church.

“Lord, if your people still have need of my services, I will not avoid the toil. Your will be done. I have fought the good fight long enough. Yet if you bid me continue to hold the battle line in defense of your camp, I will never beg to be excused from failing strength. I will do the work you entrust to me. While you command, I will fight beneath your banner.”

St. Martin of Tours (336-397) Patron Saint of Soldiers. Feast Day: November 11

Source: mercifulred

eemer.org