1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Our Lady
Queen of Martyrs
53 Prospect Road, Centerport, NY 11721
631.757.8184
www.olqmparish.org
December 21, 2014
PASTORAL STAFF
Pastor
Father John D. Gilmartin
[email protected]
Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Msgr. T. Peter Ryan
Christmas Mass Schedule
listed on page 4
Please note that the 4pm
Christmas Eve Masses in both
the Church and the Community
Room
have
historically
been attended by over 700
parishioners. The 8pm Mass on
Christmas Eve and the 8am and
10am Masses on Christmas Day
are usually less crowded.
Deacon
John Rieger
[email protected]
Pastoral Associate
Sister Eileen Corcoran
[email protected]
631.757.6250
Children’s Faith Formation
Ninette Euler, Director
[email protected]
631.757.0720
Parish Social Ministry
Kevin Blum, Director
[email protected]
631.754.9045
Please
remember
the
parish offices will be closed
on Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day.
Holy Ground
Administrator: Mary Martin
[email protected]
Assistant: Judy Smith
[email protected]
Youth Minister: Bill Leone
[email protected]
Parish Facilities Director
Alexei Korenevski
Music Coordinator
Deirdre Kupka
Weekend Assistant
Fr. Dowling, Fordham University
We pray that God will bless
you and your loved ones in
this Christmas season and
throughout the New Year.
CELEBRATE THE SACRAMENTS
Baptism
Marriage
Second Saturday of each month at 1pm
Contact rectory to make preparations.
Preparation class required.
Anointing of the Sick
1st Saturday of every month at 9am.
Please call the rectory if you are
hospitalized or homebound.
Reconciliation
Saturdays 9:30 -10am and 4 - 4:45pm
Anytime upon request.
Additional information on our website.
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs welcomes persons with disabilities.
Special seating and wheelchair area reserved at all Masses. Hearing devices available.
~Our Lady Queen of Martyrs ~
~ 2014 ~
AROUND
THE
PARISH
IN
PHOTOS
Dear Parishioners,
On behalf of the entire staff of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a New
Year filled with peace and joy.
A Message of Welcome from the Parish
One of the many defining qualities of this parish I have consistently experienced since arriving is that OLQM
is a place of welcome and community. The message of “All Are Welcome” is not only on our signs but
written on our hearts. I truly hope that is a message you experience when you come to us. To welcome is
essential, to engage and invite each other to become involved builds and sustains this faith community. We
are so grateful for the many who over the years have made this parish such an important part of their lives and
invite all who come to help build this community for the future.
A Special Message of Welcome from Pope Francis
For me, and I know for many, Pope Francis has given a very clear and ‘welcoming” message to those who
have not always felt welcomed. I quote from the Tablet (the Brooklyn Diocese Newspaper) “Pope Francis
said that the Catholic Church must consider various ways to integrate the divorced and civilly remarried in the
life of the Church – not merely allowing them to receive Communion, but letting them serve as Eucharistic
Ministers and godparents – and to make it easier for Catholic families to accept their homosexual members”.
It is so evident the message he wants to give is welcome, “let us open the doors a bit more” recognizing we
are all God’s people.
An Invitation to Deepen your Faith
Our varied and excellent adult education programs in the parish deepen the faith of those who take a step in
faith to become involved. It is wonderful share the Eucharist with all who gather for mass each day and the
many who gather at the Eucharist on the weekends. We invite you to think about becoming more involved in
one of the Parish’s programs offered this year in addition to our liturgies as an opportunity to come to know
each other in prayer and service more deeply.
A Message from your Pastor
It has been about three and a half years since I arrived at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs. I have begun a process
of meeting with individual parishioners and have met with over 60 members of families in the past few
weeks. I want to continue the process and welcome anyone who might want to come and talk to do so. I
value your perspective and want to listen. You are the parish and I am here to serve, if there are areas we are
not addressing it is good to hear about, if you have felt a distance from the church for any reason, perhaps its
time to reconnect. Of course, if you are pleased with what we are doing it is always good to hear that as well.
I welcome the opportunity to know you and serve you.
A Thank You
The generosity of this community is inspiring. Your support of the many ministries allows us to serve you.
We are called to reach out, to care for those who have the greatness needs and your support allows us to do
that. Thank you for the Adult Education programs, the vast extent of our Children’s Adult Faith Formation,
our Parish Social Ministry, and our Administration here at the rectory.
A Request
Our needs and programs are expanding and like your own homes the costs continue to increase. If your means
allow you to make small increase in your donations this year it would make a great difference. Thank you for
all you do and know of the appreciation of all you help by your generosity and support.Merry Christmas and
God’s blessings in the New Year!
Father John and the Staff of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs
~ All Are Welcome ~
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 2014
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24TH
CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES
3:30 PM Concert of Christmas Music with the Children’s Choir
4:00 PM Family Mass of Christmas in the Church
4:00 PM Mass of Christmas in the Community Room
6:00 PM Mass of Christmas
7:30 PM Concert of Christmas Music with the Contemporary Choir
8:00 PM Mass of Christmas
10:00 PM Concert of Christmas Music with the Adult Choir
10:30 PM Solemn Mass of Christmas
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25TH
CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES
8:00 AM and 10:00 AM in the Church
12:00 PM in the Church and the Community Room
Please note that the 4pm Christmas Eve Masses in both the Church and Community Room
have historically been attended by over 700 parishioners.
The 8pm Mass on Christmas Eve and the 8am and 10am Masses on Christmas Day
are usually less crowded.
When parking your car, please be respectful of our neighbors on Prospect Road.
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs welcomes
persons with disabilities.
Wishing you
and your family
a blessed Christmas.
Our upper parking lot has a number of spots
designated for handicapped parking. We have
automatic doors to assist those with walkers
and wheelchairs and we reserve seating in the
front rows for the comfort and security of the
disabled and elderly. Earpieces are available for
the hearing impaired. Please speak with an usher
before Mass.
~ Stories
ofSocial
Faith, Hope
& Love
~
~ Parish
Ministry
~
Christmas Thoughts
~Anonymous ~
“It’s sharing your gifts, not purchasing gifts;
It’s not wrapping presents, its being present
and wrapping your arms around the ones you love;
It’s not getting Christmas cards out on time,
It’s sending any card, anytime, at the right time;
It’s not having the biggest and best Christmas light display,
It’s displaying the Christ light that comes from your heart;
It’s not Santa coming down the chimney,
It’s Jesus coming down from heaven,
and giving us the gift of eternal life.”
The events and daily tasks of the holiday season can disguise the
true meaning of Advent, the coming of Jesus.
Take some time for yourself during the Advent season
to slow down;
Let there be silence, let there be peace.
Calm your mind and let your inner voice
re-emerge from the silence, and you may hear
the voice of God reaching out to you.
Re-Foccus~ Marriage Enrichment
This special program concentrates on communications and how to focus on your relationship.
A special candle lit dinner was hosted on Saturday December 13th. Chef Jeff Cohen pampered all the
guest’s palates with a tasty array of food. Maryann and Andrew Mank did a wonderful job ensuring all the
details were covered. During the dinner, couples reflected upon how powerful the impact of the Re-foccus
program has been. The couples appreciated the insight they gathered, strengthening the foundations of
their marriages.
~the giving season~
Touching Lives.....
The Giving Season continues, as Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish Social
Ministry and Faith Formation classes “Wreath Brigade” delivered over
thirty beautiful wreaths, wreath holders, cookies and cards decorated
by the children, to patients at Carillon Nursing Home the weekend of
December 12th.
The recipients were deeply touched, as were the “elves”, the Faith
Formation students and Parish Social Ministry volunteers. The gifts
brought some residents to tears, as they expressed their gratitude and
shared how deeply this touched their lives. One woman decided she
wanted to wear her wreath around her neck like a scarf! While the visit
was expected to last fifteen minutes, time flew by, and two hours quickly
passed!
Our Christmas “elves” also made special deliveries to homebound
parishioners. We received a letter from one of the recipients saying that
the visit made her day, and she felt cared for. It reminded her of how
self sacrificing others can be. She shared how blessed she feels to be a
member of our parish and welcomed as a valued part of this great faith
community. She hopes to see the kids and families again soon.
Parish Social Ministry continues to provide hope and caring through
its numerous ministries and greatly appreciates the support of all who
volunteer to share the joy of the Christmas Season and throughout the
year.
TWITTER @PONTIFEX
“Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this
faith is to see what we believe”
~Contact Kevin Blum or Maria Ryan at 754-9045~
[email protected] ~ [email protected]
~the giving season~
The “Giving Season” continues with support of Faith Formation, Parish Social Ministry,
Youth Ministry and our parishioners. We plan on expanding the “Giving Season”
throughout the year.
Contact Maria Ryan for more information and additional events.
Adopt a Family
Families in need are still reaching out to
Parish Social Ministry for help this holiday
season.It is heartwarming to see the
number of parishioners who want to help
by “Adopting a Family”. Over 25 families
have been assisted by this program and
we are most grateful for your continued
supported.
The Giving Tree
We are blessed to have such generous parishioners.
Parishioners have donated over 275 gifts placed
under our “Giving Tree”.
This will help us provide a beautiful Christmas
those who have asked for our help.
The Joy You Give
John Greenleaf Whittie
A Special Thank You
to all the volunteers and families that
supported the The St. Vincent de Paul
Food Drive this past weekend.
Whether you donated your time as a
volunteer, or filled a bag with items
for the needy, please know that your
participation was much appreciated
“Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to you glad.”
~Youth Ministry~
This year our Youth Ministry program has continued
to grow and develop. Not only are more high school
students attending events, but we are also having more
opportunities for teens to get involved. In addition
to our regular meetings that meet every other week,
Youth Ministry has also been getting involved with
the HIHI program.
On Saturday January 31st, we will be working with the group to help make emergency preparedness
kits to distribute to the homeless. We look forward to working with HIHI and assisting them
in their dedicated mission to reach out and support those who are struggling in our community.
On December 5th and 6th, we held our first parish retreat of the year on the theme of discernment,
inspiring teens to think about how God is calling them in their lives. We are looking to have our
next retreat in the spring at Camp Alvernia.
This Sunday December 21st, at the 10:00 Mass we are having the first of our teen Masses. We
hope these Liturgies provide our teens with more opportunities to be involved in the Mass and
to take on ministerial roles within the parish as Eucharistic ministers, lectors and altar servers.
It certainly has been a great start to the year for Youth Ministry. It’s been a real joy to work with
so many of our faith-filled kids who are very dedicated to doing God’s work. With the help of so
many, I know our program will continue to grow and live out the mission of our Church.
Bill Leone
Suggestions...Questions....Comments....
Feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Mark your calendars. The next few youth group dates:
Tuesday January 6, 7-8:30 Meeting
Thursday January 22, 7-8:30 Meeting
Saturday January 31st, Service Project - working with HIHI to make and
distribute emergency preparedness kits.
Our Faith Formation classes have been busy
Preparing the Way for Jesus’ Coming!
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Operation Christmas Child
Our students and their families filled and decorated over 100 shoeboxes to be
distributed to deserving children in our own country and around the world.
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Class Service Projects
Each grade level worked with our Parish Social Ministry Office
to help fellow parishioners celebrate the holidays by making
centerpieces, wreaths, trees, cards, and cookies.
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Toy Drive
Thanks to the generosity of our parish family, we collected
45 bags of new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to
Pronto of Long Island, Suffolk County Child Protective Services,
Dominican Sisters Ministries & and our own Parish Social Ministry Office.
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Grade 2 Caring Celebration
Our 2nd graders, preparing to receive Holy Communion in the spring,
celebrated the caring people in their lives and
learned how they can care for others.
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Grade 1 Advent Celebration
Our 1st graders learned about the signs of Christmas and told the
Nativity Story with pictures and poems.
The Children’s Faith Formation Office Staff
wish all of our parish families a
Blessed and Merry Christmas!
A CHRISTMAS GIFT
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Pope Francis Room
10:00-11:30
th
Date:
January 20
Book:
Sabbath – Rest, Renewal
A WOMEN’S RETREAT
“STOP! I WANT TO
BREATHE
GOD’S
CREATION”
A weekend to enjoy the
beauty of God’s creation all
around –
no cell phones, no iPads –
to enjoy God and you.
A weekend to JUST STOP!!
May 15-17, 2015
Cormaria Retreat House
Sag Harbor
Fee: $180 ($50 deposit)
Limited number of participants
To register, please contact:
Cormaria Retreat House
P. O. Box 1993
Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Tel: 631-725-4206
Information, please contact
S. Eileen 757-6250 or
[email protected]
By:
Date:
Book:
By:
Call:
& Delight in Our Busy Lives
Wayne Muller
February 17th
Annie Freeman’s Fabulous
Traveling funeral
Kris Radish
Mary Ellen Mack
757-3492
ADVENT
By day and by night,
and through the circle of the
seasons,
you keep watch over us,
God Most High.
We praise you for this Advent
wreath.
It is the evergreen crown
of your royal people.
Soon it will grow bright
and scatter the darkness.
Around this shining wreath
we shall keep watch for your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who comes to comfort our fears
and to make new this waiting
world.
All glory be yours,
both now and forever. Amen.
~ Bill Ayres: Reflections on the Readings ~
December 21, 2014
Fourth Sunday of Advent
A reading from the second book of samuel
God made a series of promises to his people throughout the Old Testament that are called covenants.
This one is the Davidic covenant because it is with King David and the whole people. God says it will
endure forever.
The Responsorial Psalm
This psalm refers to the previous reading about the promise to David. The response that we sing is
“Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” Saint Benedict said that when we sing our prayers it is
like praying twice. That is something to be aware of when we sing hymns or psalms.
A reading from Saint Paul to the romans
Paul talks about “the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages.” This is a MYSTERY in the
deepest sense of the word, not like a mystery story where there is an answer even though it may take a
while for the detective to find out “who done it.” This MYSTERY is the continual unfolding of God’s
love for us in Jesus and it is this MYSTERY that you and I live every day.
REFLECTIONS ON the holy gospel according to luke
This reading is preceded by Luke’s account of the birth of John the Baptist. John is seen as the end of a
whole series of Old Testament prophets through whom God visits his people. Jesus is someone entirely
different. “The child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God.” He is descended from the line of
David from his father Joseph but by the power of the Holy Spirit, he is born of his mother Mary, a poor
teenage girl. That is all we know. A remarkable person is born in a remarkable way through the power of
God. It is just the beginning of a remarkable life that has an even more remarkable conclusion. CNN
or the New York Times were not there to record it. For us, it is part of our Journey into the Mystery of
God’s AGAPE, unconditional love.
May you have a joyous Christmas and know that the Spirit of God is always within you.
~ Stewardship ~ A way of life ~
In this season of Advent, we
are continuously preparing
ourselves for the celebration
of Christ’s birth into this
world. Why not help our
own parish prepare for the
coming new year by signing
up with Faith Direct? By supporting Our Lady
Queen of Martyrs through Faith Direct, both
you and our parish can more easily project your
future contributions.
You can sign up online at www.faithdirect.net
using our church code: NY229, or by mailing
a paper enrollment form available in the parish
office.
Already using Faith Direct? Don’t forget to add
your Christmas or End-of-Year contributions
to your account this fall.
Thank you in advance for your support and
for using Faith Direct!
STEWARDSHIP SHARING
Current Previous
Fiscal Year
Fiscal Year
December 14, 2014 December 15, 2013
Collection $14,894
$14,912
Collection Budget $17,450
$17,020
Envelopes
320
230
Faith Direct
Collection amount does not
include Faith Direct this week
Cumulative To Date
Sunday Collections $ 269,033
$290,797
Budget $ 261,750
$272,320
Thank you for your continued support.
Poor Box
last week
$287
CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL
2014
December 21—Fourth Sunday of Advent:
Imagine how Mary felt at the birth of
Jesus: excited, awed, frightened.
Deep faith was her light in the darkness,
for Jesus was born during the night of the
year when darkness is the longest. In faith is found
the real, lasting, and deep joy of Christmas.
This month, through your gifts, the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul was able to bring Christmas to the
hearts of the poor, by assisting families, and providing
food and gifts.
Thanks!
PARISH GOAL:
$106,200
PLEDGES TO DATE: $138,378
PAID TO DATE: $130,805
NUMBER OF PLEDGES:
297
Thank you for your support
of the 2014
Catholic Ministries Appeal
LIVING GOD’S WORD
We ask God to continue to save us in our own day
from all that would lead us away from God. We
ask God to continue to help us to know Jesus as
Emmanuel, God with us, so that our faith may be
rooted in the wisdom and power of God.
~Praying for and Supporting One Another~
Mass intentions
DATE TIME
OFFERED FOR
12/20 5:00 PM 12/21 8:00 AM
Josephine Felice Giovannotto
PRAYER REQUESTS
L
et us especially
remember those who
have asked for our prayers.
Parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs
10:00 AM Joseph Geiss
Thomas Launi
Joseph M. Schorn Sr.
Colleen Mary Elizabeth and Kevin Matthew
12:00 PM Robert Kinney
12/22 12:00 PM
Elizabeth Nolan
John Cadden
12/23 12:00 PM
Harry McCormick
Stephanie McCormick
Thomas Noonan
12/24 4:00PM
6:00PM
8:00PM
10:30PM
Mary Forestiero , Maureen Roberts
Donald LaMere & Nancy Fielding
Patrick McCourt
Eleanor & Joseph Dieringer
Joan Lawless - 1st Anniversay
12/25 8:00AM
10:00AM
12:00PM
Sal Terillo
Christine Bandl
Natalie & Daniel Carriero
Majdallah Shorize
Michael El - Khazen
Hortense Schwafel
Luigi Giacomo
Jenny & Rocco Suriano
12/27 9:00 AM
5:00 PM Peter Mitchell
Patricia Rupprecht
Susan Martinson Zucher Paul Zohorsky
James Duggan
Brian Clermont
Frank Viccaro
Louise Ammirati
Robert Caputi
Anthony Grimaldi
Laura Oliveri
Glenn Crisafi
Evelyn Darby
Jim Hartnett
Donald Kuntz
Tom Corbett
Colette Rielly
Lina Gallo
Fr. Edward Dowling
Alice Shatzle
Patrick Enright
Mark Borstelman
Jacqueline Rousseau Tom Smith
Concetta Daurio
Rita Deluise Alicia Bunyan
Jane Schiano-Wigutow
Karen Larson
Thomas Mulhern
William Clarke
Dolores Reichle
Armand Qualliotine Brenda McCusker Deacon Rodger Miller Neil King
Allison Kerr Franklin LaBarbara
Betty Brennen Nancy Naughton
Maria King
Joseph Finneran Jamie Wrede
Brian Dowling
Alice Gabrielle
Patricia Zvokel
Matthew Ingrassia
for the peaceful rest of all our beloved
and friends especially
Prayparishioners
Rita Liotta.
ay all those who have gone
before us share the joys of
Meternal
life .
Patricia Siniscalchi
BANNS OF MARRIAGE
First Announcement:
Kaitlyn Fazio
St. Gerard’s
Damon Pombano
Coram, NY
Christmas 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
This past year I found myself twice in the Holy Land, first in my role as a member of the Board of
Catholic Near East Welfare and second as part of a Pilgrimage of Prayer for Peace by eighteen United
States bishops. Both visits brought home to me in a vivid way what all of us see and hear in the media:
the land made holy by the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior is anything but a land
of peace, joy and fraternal love. If we were to stop there it would be very difficult to be hopeful.
Yet we know that the Feast we celebrate on December 25th is the very reason why the worrisome facts of
today’s world are not the end of the story. They are the context into which the Lord enters in order to
reverse the spiral of violence and death and to found a new order, “the new heaven and the new earth”
that are the fruit of the Son of God Who came into the world to reveal God’s plan of salvation.
He is the true history of humanity because He alone is the Word through whom the world and human life
are created. And that Word, the eternal Son of the Father, becomes flesh so that we might be saved from
all the darknesses that lie hidden in human hearts. He is the true light that dispels the darkness. He is the
one sure hope of the world. And He comes to become part of the human condition so that He and He
alone can reverse the destiny of humankind by giving us a new destiny, life in Him, life in the Spirit
which is the gift of God’s love.
This Christmas I greet you all in the light of that love that came into the world that first Christmas in a
Bethlehem stable. This Christmas I invite you all to join with me in a pilgrimage of the heart to that very
place where Mary brought forth Jesus into a world that so needs the gift of divine life that He is and so
yearns for the peace that only He can give.
My prayer for each of you and all of you is that we might let Him transform any of the darknesses that
control our lives and endow us with the newness of life that His birth has made possible. May the light of
His life shine on us all, without exception. May the example of Mary and Joseph be the model for all our
families. And may we be found with the shepherds adoring the Prince of Peace while angels sing and all
the world rejoice for Unto us a Son is given, unto us a child is born and He is Savior, Mighty God, Prince
of Peace.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Bishop of Rockville Centre