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Back to Infant Jesus This Week's Bulletin: Masses & Readings |
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Come, Holy Spirit! Today is the great Solemnity of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church! We come to the end of the Easter season with this extraordinary day. And it is also Mothers Day! So we have spiritual and physical birthing being recognized and celebrated. It is truly the day of the Holy Spirit, coming upon the apostles and building up the Church for the sake of the world. By extension we, the baptized and confirmed, continue this work in our everyday lives. The mission entrusted to the apostles is solidly grounded in the one entrusted to Jesus by the Father.
Here's What You Said!
"As a member of my parish, I know what is expected of me". and Question #2 "In my parish, my spiritual needs are met". Post-communion "secular announcements" ruin Eucharistic reflection. Important, perhaps, but wrong time. Listen to Jesus and Mary in a quiet place; they will speak and you will know where your spiritual strengths and weaknesses are. Frequent attendance at daily Mass. Would like to hear how the parish encourages young generation (teens & young adults) to participate. Preaching often not understood because of poor quality or foreign accents. Fr. Prem and Fr. Andy seminars were/are very worthwhile. More needed using seminary/university scholars. A spirit of joy for being Resurrection people is lacking in Eucharistic rites. This disappoints. Extension of Legion of Mary to Infant Jesus to emulate our Blessed Mother. (editor's note: Infant Jesus has a newly formed Legion of Mary that meets on Saturday mornings.) Evangelize your spiritual experiences to broaden our mortal expectations for God on earth to earn our eternal reward in heaven. Affinity within the Mystical body of Christ. Establish a parish lending library of Catholic literature. Is there a general listing on the internet on schedules for other churches Mass, Confession, Adoration schedule? (editor's note: go to www.drvc.org, the Diocese's website. On the pull down menu on the right, click on parishes to find out Mass & Confession schedules for local churches. For Adoration schedules go to pull down menu on the right on the home page. Click on Office of New Evangelization, then click on Renewal Services, then go to "Check here weekly for updates and events." Hope this helps!)
Gallup Member Engagement Survey
Here's What You Said!
Question #3 "In my parish, I regularly have the opportunity to do what I do best". and Question #4 "In the last month, I have received recognition or praise from someone in my parish". Some impediments to volunteers might include Diocesan background check. I have home responsibilities that I feel come first at this time. Mostly I wonder how to know which thoughts are coming from God and perhaps Satan not wanting us to serve God and imposing obstacles. Volleyball group for mid-aged people. Home visitations to evangelize those people who live in the parish but do not participate at Mass, etc. Publicize in bulletin & from altar when assistance is needed for ministries. New people will come if asked. How about 1 Mass per weekend in Latin. Are Deacons really needed? I think the priest through training/education are most capable to perform the rites of the Catholic Church rather than a parishioner. Dances/Social for young couples. Recognition of the elderly. Only 1 ministry should be exercised at Mass. Too many people on the altar. Are ministers assigned? Priests need English lessons. Each ministry I am involved with is a spiritual food that I need daily to help me grow, to bring peace & wisdom, to be ready spiritually to help others. One thing that holds me back is family & working full-time, being a guardian for an aunt. Several parishioners would like to see the tabernacle back in the center of the altar. Have a Divine Mercy portrait of Jesus in both the Church & Chapel. Run social events via bus with parish members. I feel we need more personal and group prayer; that God in His way brings people back to Him. We can't do anything alone. Just let us know how we can help Him do it. It is always something I've noticed that there are Youth & Senior copportunities and groups. Why isn't there mid-aged opportunities for this group of people to meet others of the Catholic faith. Why can't someone arrange this? I guess I am just not the out-going type. If I were, I know I could find friendly folk in my parish. Many of my interactions happen after daily Mass, or through choir & Women's Group. I've begun to look forward to Hospitality Sunday, too. Free Store, Barn Sale, Craft Festival, Irish Nite, International Dinner are great ways to interact. I LOVE IJ! Thank you. It is important for parishioners & priest to know you & for you to know them. We are family. It is how we spread God's love & share & support each other in our journey together. I think we have a very vibrant & very alive parish. We are fortunate in our pastor, Fr. Chuck & you have my vote for a group of people trying to make our parish better and better. Keep up the great work! No conversation inside Church where loud talk ALWAYS prevents prayer, especially after Mass. Why can't we have penance regularly in the evening? It is important that we share our spiritual thoughts and experiences with others. This is evangelization. We help each other by speaking about the blessings & joys God gives us, and by sharing with everyone the unity of the Church will grow. People will become enlightened. I don't go to Mass or participate to be noticed. I do it for the love of God. I don't feel it is practical to be known by name as there are so many parishioners.
Gallup Member Engagement Survey
Here's What You Said!
The community is very clanish - there are few who reach out. There is nothing for senior citizens of the community. I like Father Chuck. His homilies are extremely inspirational. I do not feel that I can approach him for a spiritual need. Many times I've thought about it, but the opportunity to ask is not present. I've been having problems with my spiritual needs lately and I feel I have nowhere to go. I feel Father Chuck is unapproachable. I feel money is mainly on his mind. This is very important, but I think he'll get more money if he becomes more friendly with parishioners. I don't belong to this parish, but I am Roman Catholic. I visit many parishes. I see an absence of attendance in the 16 to 25 years old age group. I would just like to suggest activities and incentives to bring them in (maybe rap/talk groups, hospitality parties, pizza and movie night, family night, etc.) Without the necessity of a "Sick Call" would it be possible for a priest to visit our shut-ins semi-annually or annually? I would like to see the tabernacle back in the center of the altar. Have a Divine Mercy portrait of Jesus in both the Church and Chapel. Great Spirituality is a part of our Covenant Community. I think our parish is very unique, healthy, and full of life. Please continue to offer spiritual events, presentations, and opportunities for prayer throughout the year and plug them a little more from the pulpit as well as in the bulletin. I like the fact that we are being asked for our opinions. We are truly a parish family and together we can continue to grow. Each Tuesday when you visit our facility (Port Jefferson Health Care Facility) they enlighten and brighten my faith stronger every week. Also, my life in the nursing home, they show love, compassion, and respect to each and every one of us here. We have just recently started attending the Church here since Palm Sunday. We would like to see more Spanish Mass services. The "no's" are more due to me but I am trying slowly to get more involved. Father Chuck and Infant Jesus were there for me when my family needed it and even afterwards. I've gained insight from the Masses and Father Chuck's Corner in the bulletin. Some of the talks are hard to understand. They speak broken words. Let Deacons speak more. Our visiting priests need to learn our American ways and language. All sermons are not meeting my needs. I would like to hear a sermon on our needs of everyday life, not Gospel of past. Other than Father Chuck's homilies at 12 o'clock Mass, I find it very hard to understand homilies from the other priests. I hope they speak slower and more clearly in the future. Their attitude and demeanor however, are very sincere and caring. Most homilies at the 12 o'clock Mass on Sundays are very difficult to understand the message. The spoken language is hard to comprehend. I suggest handouts of the message or have the Deacons deliver the message. Also, the organist should lower the output so the parishioners can overcome the loud sound of the organ. Tone it down. I feel always welcomed and that I am definitely a part of the Covenant Community. My spiritual health is being fulfilled by the priests, the Masses, and the many spiritual people I have seen and met in our parish of Infant Jesus. I love our parish. I really appreciate how Father Chuck has always been there to help me when I needed support or spiritual guidance. I think it is crucial that our parish gets 1-2 more permanent priests when Father Andy retires. While the visiting priests have always been nice, they're not here long enough for us to get to know them very well. I'm not comfortable discussing spiritual matters with a priest I don't know. Too many times you can't understand the priest. Speak clearer English. Find it difficult to understand the Nigerian priests. Tabernacle at center of altar in position of respect and saving travels of celebrant during Mass. Never see pastor. Can't understand priests' speech most of the Mass. Seek and receive spiritual guidance in another parish. There is a need to address vocations and the unchanged tenets of our faith in the homilies. Need for instruction, even on Ten Commandments. When our family was given a heavy cross to bear, Father Chuck, our priest, deacons, ministry leaders, and fellow parishioners all reached out to support and strengthen us with their love, compassion, and prayers. They actually came to us before we even had a chance to ask. Their response to our needs was overwhelming and went beyond anythiing we might have expected. We definitely feel "welcomed, loved, nurtured, and affirmed" by the spiritual leaders, staff, and fellow believers at Infant Jesus. We continue to thank God for sending these people into our lives to bring His light and love into our darkness. When I first registered at Infant Jesus, I said, "I have nothing to give", being bankrupt, etc. and Therese said, "We only need you." I have felt loved and supported ever since. Father Chuck is a kind, concerned, caring man. You definitely feel his love/God's love whenever you have a problem. Give him a try. He's great! Infant Jesus Church's needs are mostly their school and Diocesan directed programs that all require more $$ than most parishes and denominations. The "house" priests/staff must produce for the bosses way over in Nassau. William Murphy was rewarded with his new position as the former Boston Archbishop after their callous, unforgivable attitude and bungling on behalf of Church matters over the life-damaged youngster.
WOMEN’S GROUP
The next meeting of the Infant Jesus Women’s Group will be on Wednesday evening, May 14, at 7 p.m. in the Lower Convent Meeting Room. We will view the film, Away from Her, starring Julie Christie. Ms. Christie was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in this film about a woman with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Ginny Tanner will lead a discussion of the film and other issues related to companioning those with Alzheimer’s. Dessert and Coffee will be served. Also — Suggestions for a summer book discussion group are invited. For more information call Nancy at 928-2746.
MOTHER’S DAY NOVENA
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