Dr Geetha Yeruva and her husband Tom Chitta were both very moved by the extreme generosity of Queens parishioners in support of the July 26-27 Mission Cooperative Appeal to support their Foundation for Children in Need in India.  As of last count, our mission collection was closing in on $22,000!  Once these dollars are converted into Indian rupees, they can save many lives and change and improve others, stretching the money much further there can would ever have been possible here in the U.S.  It is not too late to make your gift.  Use the link below.  On behalf of the Foundation for Children in Need, ‘Thank you’ to everyone who made a gift to support the work they’re doing. 

This Friday August 15^th is a Holy Day of Obligation, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, the 4^th Glorious Mystery of the rosary.  As Roman Catholics we believe that Mary was conceived without sin, remained ever Virgin and did not suffer the decay that comes with death.  She went to sleep on earth and woke up in Heaven.  Mary’s example teaches us to trust completely in the Will of God and to grow in holiness by means of fidelity and humility.

This is the Holy Day schedule for Queens:

Thursday August 14^th:  5:30pm Vigil Mass

Friday August 15^th:  6:45am, 9am and 5:30pm

“On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass” (Code of Canon Law, par. 1247). 

THE INFALLIBLE PROCLAMATION OF THE DOGMA OF THE ASSUMPTION:  “For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory” (Pius XII; Munificentissimus Deus, 1 November 1950).

At Baptism, parents and godparents make a solemn promise to raise the child in the faith.  This should include Mass as a family every Sunday and holy day, prayers before meal and bedtime, AND a program of religious instruction either in Catholic school or Faith Formation.

Queens offers Sunday morning Faith Formation for public school students (and home school) in Pre-K thru 8th grade.  These classes are required to receive 1st Communion in 2nd grade or to be Confirmed at the start of freshman year.  For anyone not enrolled in parochial school, Faith Formation should NOT be looked upon as optional. 

Each year we reach out to every family in the parish that is not attending Catholic school, and each year, hundreds of children in the parish are not being enrolled in either program.  We can’t expect children to stay in the faith as adults if they have not been trained to practice it as children.

Classes begin September 7th.  Contact Betsy Koval at bkoval@queenschurch.com for more information or to volunteer.  There is a modest cost and financial aid is available.

Visit the link below to sign up for Sunday Faith Formation or scan the QR code:

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults or OCIA is a process, not a class.  It is the means by which non-baptized adults become Catholic, along with Christians coming home to the Catholic Church from other denominations, and for those who were baptized Catholic but never completed the other sacraments of initiation to get caught up. 

The OCIA meets in Seton Hall in the lower level of the Queens Parish Office on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 starting August 27th.  It is free and open to the public, no strings attached.

All of us know someone who is not Catholic but open to the possibility of converting to the faith.  It could be a spouse, relative, coworker, golf buddy or neighbor.  Have you ever broached this topic with them?  One thing Catholics don’t excel at is the willingness to share our faith story and accompany someone else on their faith journey, perhaps leading them to the sacramental life of the church.  Maybe this is you.  Maybe this is the year where you can dare to step out in faith and talk to someone about it.  We won’t know if we don’t try.  

If you know someone who may be interested in OCIA, talk to them about it or let us know and we will be happy to.  Betsy Koval directs the program and she does a fine job year after year introducing newcomers to the doctrine, history, mysteries and morality contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.  

OCIA inquiries:  bkoval@queenschurch.com

The Coming Home Network tells the inspiring stories of conversion of those who have joined the Church from all walks of life.  If there is someone on your radar, why not share the link below with them so they can see what the OCIA journey was like for other people.  Everyone has a story.  We can help others find faith when we become comfortable sharing that story.

At the 9 and 11am Masses during the school year Queens is pleased to offer Children’s Liturgy of the Word for children ages 4 thru 4^th grade.  This is an actual part of the Mass that fulfills the obligation for the children and the adult volunteers.  It is a post Vatican II addition to the Mass that was specifically addressed in the 1973 Directory for Masses with Children: “if the place itself and the nature of the community permit, it will be appropriate to celebrate the liturgy of the word, including a homily, with the children in a separate, but not too distant, room. Then, before the Eucharistic liturgy begins, the children are led to the place where the adults have meanwhile celebrated their own liturgy of the word” (par. 17). 

This is not arts & crafts or play time, the children are actively engaged in the Scripture brought down to their level of learning, engagement and comprehension. 

New volunteers are needed each year to keep this afloat.  I always recommend that parents with children who attend children’s liturgy take turns leading it, but that is a preference not a rule.  Grandparents and people who have no kids can also help.  Please contact the twice-mentioned Betsy Koval if you want to know more or you would be willing to help.  Training and lesson plans are provided and you sign up for the dates you can help rather than us assigning them to you. 

Make your portrait appointment now for the new Queens Parish Directory.  Nearly 400 persons or families have already signed up! New September dates are now available! 

Whether you plan on buying a photo or not, please come and sit for a portrait so you will be included in the directory.  This is a valuable resource that can help us all to become better acquainted and put names with faces.  

To make your portrait appointment, visit: 

www.ucdir.com. 

Enter the church code mi1901

password:  photos 

No longer will we sign you up after Mass.  Feel free to call the parish office or stop by during the week and we will help get you on the schedule. 

Knights of Columbus Council 609 will initiate 10 new members after the 11am Mass this Sunday August 10th!  This brief ceremony is open to the public and all parishioners are welcome to come and support these new Knights and to find out what Knighthood is all about:  charity unity, fraternity and patriotism.   

If you are a practicing Catholic male, age 18 or above, you are eligible for membership.  If you have been inactive, come back.  If you belong to a different council, transfer.  You can sign up at anytime using this link:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching” (Heb 13:8-9).

Fr. Tim MacDonald

Pastor