THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
WE WISH TO ALERT AND APOLOGIZE
to any visitors in the Church of St. John the Evangelist that our magnificent organ has fallen silent, pending replacement of its console. We appreciate your understanding.
VISIT US ON THE WEB
THE PARISH OF
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST & ST. JOSEPH
$4,982
PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION
$556
YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED
Please remember in your prayers Mary Spath, Phil Smith, Rita Sninchak and Marge Davitt Call the parish office to update this list.
IN MEMORIAM
We remember the families of Palma Ladd and Cecile Farrell on the first anniversary of their deaths. We honor our beloved deceased as treasured members of our faith family.
MEMORIAL FEAST DAY MASS
The church “obliges” us to attend the Eucharist every Sunday (or Saturday in anticipation of Sunday) as well as on certain feast days that are central to our identity within the Roman Catholic Church. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15 is an obligatory feast. It has become our custom of late to celebrate these feasts on the calendar day and not in vigil prayer the night before in anticipation of that feast day. This year our sole Mass for the Assumption will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15 at the Church of St. Joseph. This Mass will also be a special Memorial Eucharist, remembering Sister Mary André Becker, R.S.M. on the 30th day after her death. A light reception will follow in the parish hall.
PLEASE SIGN UP
We are seeking boys and girls (4th grade and up), and adults who wish to serve at the Lord’s Table as an acolyte. If interested, please call the parish office.
SPECIAL EMERGENCY COLLECTION
Bishop Hubbard has made an urgent request of all parishes for a special collection to be taken on behalf of our brothers and sisters who have been affected by the most recent flooding in our own region of the state within our diocese. This includes residents of Delaware, Otsego, Fulton, Montgomery and HerkimerCounties. Please be prepared next weekend, August 12 and 13 to contribute to this special appeal for those affected by the ravages of flooding and its aftermath.
PARISH MERGER NEWS
On Monday, July 31st, trustees Bill Mahar and Dan Lioi, together with our pastor, Father Forno signed in the presence of Notary Public Bev Ryan the necessary legal documents seeking a Certificate of Incorporation as “The Parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph in Rensselaer”. Once granted by the courts we will receive a new tax identification number that will allow us to merge our finances.
Much of the month of August is being spent reorganizing office space at the McManusCenter. The former office of St. Joseph will house the parish office of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph (Room 201). The former conference room (202 A) is the newly created office for David Vredenburg, Director of Music. The former office of St. John’s (Room 202 B) will be the location of our Pastoral Care/Christian Service Office (Linda Banker), our Parish Nurse (Judy Wainman) and Joe Curro, Director of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. The Office of Faith Formation (Linda Remington – Room 203 B) and Fr. Forno’s office (203 A) remain the same. Staff is also creating a new offertory envelope as well as a new bulletin cover, stationary letterhead and business cards.
A NOTE FROM OUR PASTOR
It is still hard to believe that Sister Andre will not one day show up at the McManus Center, ready to resume her responsibilities in service to the parish and the cemetery office. Barbara Bennett assumed Sister’s responsibilities for the cemetery while Sister was ill, and will continue to do so. A replacement for Sister’s position has not been provided for in our new budget. To help balance our budget, we also decided not to provide in the new budget for the position of a parish housekeeper, and had to inform with regret our beloved and faithful “Buji” (Ann Subuyira) of this decision. Although Buji worked only six hours a week, she accomplished an extraordinary amount of helpful tasks in keeping the parish house clean and tidy. We now need to find volunteer help for this work.
This week Janice Presti received news that she has received a position in the Pastoral Center in Albany as full-time Administrative Assistant to our diocesan Superintendent of Schools, Sr. Mary Jane Herb, IHM, Ph. D. We extend to Janice and her family our most sincere congratulations, and thank her for her invaluable help in the parish offices these past three years, particularly as editor of the weekly parish bulletin. We will miss her presence in the office and are delighted that, as one of our parishioners, she will continue to be a member of our Pastoral Council and exercise her liturgical ministries as lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. Present office staff will absorb her 16 hours of weekly work.
IN THE DIOCESE OF ALBANY
MONTHLY CHARISMATIC MASS & HEALING SERVICE TheRev. Charles Anene will preside on August 9 for prayer and praise at 7 p.m. with music by Joyful Hearts. The Mass and healing service will begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information call Ruth (785-1084).
COMMUNITY NEWS
FREE CONCERT Every Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Riverfront Park the Rensselaer Senior Center hosts a concert. This Wednesday, August 9 the entertainment will be “The Rizzos”, sponsored by Rockefeller Funeral Home. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be held at the Rensselaer Senior Center on East and Herrick Streets.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT On Sunday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Spirit, East Greenbush Fr. Bob Longobucco, campus minister at Chapel House, SUNY at Albany, will speak with young adults about “Where do I fit in now?” This is a wonderful opportunity for a very entertaining presentation. Bring a friend or two! Following the presentation, stay for “make your own sundaes” and desserts. If you plan to attend, please call Kathy (479-4017).
THE ACADEMY OF HOLY NAMES
The school is sponsoring a trip to New York City to see “Drowsy Chaperone” on Saturday, October 14 at the 2 p.m. matinee. The cost is $135.00 per person, which includes mezzanine seats and bus transportation. For more information, please contact Allyson Shea (438-7895).
THE NATIONAL
KATERI TEKAKWITHA SHRINE
THE CONVERGENCE OF HOPE AND HISTORY - Sustainable solutions for a Peaceful World: Join together with others to restore and renew our spirits and our planet. On Friday, August 18 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, August 19 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the shrine on Route 5, Fonda there will be a variety of workshops. You may ride a vegetable oil diesel bus to a nearby home completely powered by its own solar and wind energy system. For more information and carpooling, call (453-6695 or 869-6674).
BEREAVEMENT STUDIES COURSES
ACCOMPANY THE DYING: Former chaplain Jean Roche, R.S.M will be teaching. Attending this course will help to allay fears of being with a person with a life threatening illness, as well as teach psycho-spiritual interventions like the use of story, expressive arts, life review, guided meditation, innovative prayer, journaling and creative ritual. The course is Monday, August 28, 6-9 p.m. and is worth 3 CE credits. Some additional courses are Death, Dying and Bereavement, Care for the Caregiver, and Soul-Searching. For more information, call or email Jean Roche at Maria College (438-3111, ext. 233 / ).