The Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood Mission Fund has been able to offer grants to two important community organizations this year, one at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal in Wyandanch, and the other at Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen at St. Anne’s Brentwood. Sister Nancy Fackner, who has been volunteering at the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen for the past 12 years,…
Reflection Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And…
Reflection Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12;1-2 Paul does not define worship in terms of rituals or ceremonies performed by Christians when assembled together, and therefore segregated from routine life.True worship is offered through the believer’s daily life by means of a noble ethos practiced openly…
Reflection Jesus inspired his disciples with the courage, faith and love to go into all the world and share the good news. Today we are part of this same mission. In order to carry it on, we need courage to cross the barriers of religion, politics, and language and witness to the good news by our lives. We need a…
Reflection Words come to life within a person. It is easy to speak in pious language but usually our listeners carry away no long term convictions. Yet, being in contact with another whose presence reveals an inner spirituality which meets our own desire can be truly inspiring. In one of his reflections. Thomas Merton describes a person who is centered…
Reflection The whole world is my family. Pope John XXIII Although the ancient traditions tell the same story, science has discovered that all life had its origins in the same cosmic explosion that occurred approximately 14 billion years ago. We are all made of the same elements; we are all related. We are made from stardust and the whole world…
Reflection The song of the crickets is ceaseless. The trees already have a tinge of yellow in their leaves. The tomatoes are ripe and the garden is losing its luster. It is hard to believe that this is the last week of August. Yet it is. Soon another summer will have passed. It seems we just greeted the awakening of…
Reflection For who has known the mind of God or who has been God’is counselor? Romans 11:31-36 This is an interesting question to ponder. Religion has been a major feature in many historical conflicts. God has been used to justify almost any cruelty, from religious wars, to burning heretics and stoning adulterers, to crucifying Jesus. Yet, we forget that religion…
Reflection Life is our greatest gift. Although life has its difficult times, it is also filled with love and beauty. We have been gifted by God with vitality, passion and awareness. It would be a tragedy if we missed living each day aware that God is revealed in the beauty of creation- in the life of each creature and the…
Reflection Who do you say that I am? Matthew 13;16-20 It’s a question we have to answer for ourselves. It asks us to go beyond the pat answers we have learned or the cultural Jesus stereotype with which we are surrounded. Who is this Jesus for us in our personal lives? How does his life impact ours? Do his words…