From the Desk of the Pastor
September 6, 2026
Dear Parishioners,
We all would agree with this statement: “Where has the summer gone?” As summer comes to an end and our children and grandchildren enter the world of academia, may they work diligently and do well.
This weekend we celebrate Labor Day. I encourage you to pray the following prayer and litany:
Prayer for Labor Day
O God, we hold before you the dignity of our labor. We remember those who work tirelessly, often in difficult conditions, to provide for their families and communities. As the sun rises to bring in the new day, we remember those who labor in darkness, pulling resources from the earth, and those who work in harsh elements. We pray for those who are struggling to find work and for those who cannot work due to illness or circumstances beyond their control. Amen.
Labor Day Litany
This litany focuses on blessings for workers and addresses various challenges they may face:
• For all those who toil and labor: Lord, bless the work of their hands.
• For those who have lost their jobs, who are unemployed or underemployed: Lord,
bless the work of their hands.
• For those who work in hazardous conditions without sufficient protection: Lord, bless the work of their hands.
• For those who face discrimination, harassment, or abuse in the workplace: Lord, bless the work of their hands.
August 30, 2026
WHAT YOU SAY vs WHAT GOD SAYS
You say: It's impossible
God says: All things are possible (Lk.18:27)
You say: I'm too tired
God says: I will give you rest (Mt. 11:28-30)
You say: Nobody loves me
God says: I love you (Jn 3:16)
You say: I can't go on
God says: My grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9)
You say: I can't figure things out
God says: I will direct your steps (Prov.3:5-6)
You say: I can't do it
God says: You can do all things (Phil.4:13)
You say: I'm not able
God says: I am able (2 Cor. 9:8)
You say: It's not worth it
God says: It will be worth it (Rom. 8:28)
You say: I can't forgive myself
God says: I forgive you (1 John 1:9)
You say: I can't manage God says: I will supply all your
needs (Phil. 4:19)
You say: I'm afraid God says: I have not given you a
spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7)
You say: I'm always worried and frustrated
God says: Cast all your care on me (1 Pet. 5:7)
You say: I'm not smart enough
God says: I give you wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30)
You say: I feel all alone
God says: I will never leave or forsake you (Heb. 13:5)
August 23, 2026
THE LORD’S HOME RUN
Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named “Love.” Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because “Love never fails.” The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were now loaded.
The Lord turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Freddy said, “He sure doesn’t look like much!” Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking there was no way he could lose, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! However, Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; the crowd went wild as the ball continued over the fence for a home run!
The Lord’s team won! The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn’t win the game. Freddy answered that he didn’t know why. The Lord said, “If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you did it by yourself. Love, Faith, and Wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you Home.
August 16, 2026
On the Vigil of the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene, our Parish Feast Day, July 21, the Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal office sent us their Weekly Report. The numbers were extremely favorable. As Mary Magdalene announced the good news of Jesus’ resurrection to the disciples, so I, too, announce good news: We are above target!
As per the Archdiocese, “Congratulations on surpassing your Cardinal’s Appeal goal for at least 13 consecutive years.”
$77,470 PLEDGED
$74,000 RAISED
My sincere thanks to the 118 families who have supported this year’s appeal. Due to your generosity, you are assisting Archbishop Hicks in continuing the mission of Jesus. May God bless you, and please be assured of my continued prayers.
Fr. Tim
August 9, 2026
Saturday, August 15 - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (also known as the Assumption) is a Catholic holiday announced on 1 November 1950 by Pope Pius XII. It celebrates the day when the Holy Virgin Mary ended her earthly life and was taken to heaven together with her soul and body. However, already in earlier centuries, it was believed that Jesus glorified the body of his mother and took it to heaven making it similar to his and stressing the role of Mary in the history of salvation.
In many countries the Assumption is marked as a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church and as a festival in the Anglican Communion. Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos (the falling asleep of the Mother of God) on the same date.
In the United States Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation unless it falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, in which cases the precept to attend Mass is abrogated. This was decided by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States of America on December 13, 1991 (Canon 1246) and is effective as of January 1, 1993. Nevertheless, all the faithful are encouraged to attend mass on this day but are not obliged.
In honor of Mary’s assumption, Mass will be offered at 8:00 am.
August 2, 2026
What’s going on with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) – a traditionalist group dedicated to restoring the pre-Vatican II church?
Before answering this question, the following five terms (taken from the Encyclopedia of Catholicism) must be defined:
- Schism is a formal break in the unity of the Catholic Church. It occurs when a person or group rejects the authority of the Pope, whom Catholics believe is the successor to St. Peter, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles.
- Excommunication derives from the Latin for “out of communion” with the Church. It is the harshest penalty in the Catholic Church because it bars a Catholic from receiving sacraments, getting married, or holding Church office, among other measures.
- Illicit is a canonical term describing the status of a sacrament vis-à-vis the law of the Church. A sacrament is licit or legal if the provisions of the law regulating its celebration have been followed; it is illicit if the opposite is true.
- Validity is the quality of an act that determines whether it is recognized as legal.
- Consecration is a deeply symbolic religious ritual which confers the Holy Spirit from one bishop to another.
On July 1, 2026, the SSPX consecrated four new bishops without papal consent and against the express desire of Pope Leo XIV in Econe, Switzerland, attended by an estimated 16,500 faithful followers.
In a decree issued on July 2, the Vatican’s doctrinal office said the bishops involved, along with priests and lay members who knowingly adhered to the breakaway movement, had been excommunicated. It warned that the Swiss-based group’s celebration of the sacraments is now considered illicit and that any Mass celebrated by an SSPX priest is illicit and does not fulfill one’s Sunday obligation, and that marriages and confessions officiated by them are invalid.
Pope Leo XIV, who now faces the largest internal crisis of his young papacy, made a last-minute appeal on June 30, warning in a letter that carrying out the consecrations without his approval would amount to a ‘sin of extreme gravity '. The SSPX dismissed the resulting penalties because they felt they were justified as a necessary “sacred duty” to defend the traditional Catholic faith against modernizing reforms.
Today, the SSPX operates around the world with its own bishops, hundreds of priests, seminaries, and religious communities. While it considers itself authentically Catholic, the Vatican has long maintained that it has no canonical (officially recognized) status within the Church.
The current crisis closely mirrors events of 1988. That year, archbishop Lefebvre, the founder of the SSPX, consecrated four bishops without the permission of Pope John Paul II. Although Pope Benedict XVI lifted the 1988 excommunications in 2009 to encourage dialogue and reconciliation, the SSPX never obtained legal status within the Catholic Church.
In the words of Winston Churchill, “United we stand. Divided we fall.” This unfortunate development is sad indeed, causing division within the Catholic Church. We need to pray for our brothers and sisters who are understandably shaken by these recent developments.
Anyone is free to prefer the Tridentine Latin Mass, but you cannot call the Church apostate and still say you are Catholic. While excommunication does not condemn anyone to hell, it does clearly state that the SSPX is now outside the full visible communion of the Catholic Church.
(The information is taken from: Elizabeth Melimopoulous and the Associated Press.)
July 26, 2026
Dear Parishioners,
Here we are well into the summer season with increased travel plans, pool visits, beach openings and outdoor gatherings. This season of sun and fun carries both profound joy and genuine risks. Children are out of school and require full-time supervision and entertainment.
Water safety, sun protection, and bicycle safety require greater vigilance and should be a top concern. Crowded tourist venues will occur with long lines. When tensions rise in close quarters, remember the purpose and see them as opportunities rather than obstacles. Don’t let your blood pressure exceed the temperature during a heat wave.
This is also a time to enroll kids into camps, attend family reunions, religious feasts and carnivals as well as visit and explore our beautiful trails here in Sleepy Hollow & Pocantico Hills, movies at the Kensico Dam or visits to the “ice-cream paradise,” King Cone in Somers.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, please do not forget the Third Commandment: Remember to keep the Sabbath. For Catholics, this means to attend Mass. By visiting new churches and experiencing different liturgies, may you appreciate other faith communities, and if you see something interesting and new, please let me know. I’ll take your ideas, but not a signed bulletin from the Celebrant.
Stay safe!
Fr. Tim
July 19th, 2026
Dear Parishioners,
Mary Magdalene is one of the first witnesses to the resurrection. She comes to the tomb in the early morning hours but does not know it is the Lord; instead, she believes she is speaking to the gardener. Because of her great sorrow, she is weeping but she is still seeking the
Lord. It is not until he speaks her name that she is able to recognize him. She is given her mission to go to Peter and the other disciples and tell them that she has seen the Lord.
In recognition of Mary Magdalene's feast day on July 22, we are excited to announce plans for a special presentation of our Patron Saint this fall. Mary Magdalene in the Ministry of Jesus: Seeking and Proclaiming Resurrection. The exact date will be shared with you in a future bulletin.
We are thrilled to welcome our presenter Rita L. Houlihan, a respected advocate for the study of Mary Magdalene’s roles in the canonical gospel, her contributions to our faith, her significant role in the ministry of Jesus, and the significance of her name. The
presentation will address why it is important to restore our memory of her as a disciple and witness, and touch on how the denigrating legends evolved. Artwork that reflects Mary Magdalene’s importance as the first to proclaim the Resurrection will be highlighted. Rita draws on the work of many scholars, providing much that is known of our Patron Saint.
Mary Magdalene’s story continues to inspire our community, and we hope this event will deepen our understanding and appreciation of her role in our faith tradition. We invite you to join us for this meaningful occasion and encourage you to share the event with
friends and family who may be interested.
St. Mary Magdalene, prayer for us!
Fr. Tim
July 12th, 2026
Dear Parishioners,
The month of June marked four events here in the Parish. We celebrated Corpus Christi with an indoor procession at the 11:00 Mass. A most delicious brunch with 75 guests followed. Later in the afternoon, we hosted our Tapestry of Sound concert, which was extremely enjoyable with fine artists and local talent. Fathers, grandfathers, godfathers and father-figures were honored at all the Masses on Father’s Day.
Throughout the month, institutions of learning held their annual commencement ceremonies. Students and the faculty were dressed in caps and gowns. Universities like Oxford and Cambridge mandated that graduates wear caps and gowns as a symbol of unification. The tossing of caps symbolizes the readiness to embrace new challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities beyond the academic realm. This time-honored tradition, celebrated worldwide, symbolizes academic achievement and the transition from student to graduate. Students walking across the stage, receiving their diplomas, and changing the tassel from left to right also symbolize the culmination of years of hard work. The stage is festive and Pomp and Circumstance by Sir Edward Elgar is played. This is a wonderful sight to behold and hear. Parents are proud and family and friends are happy. Then… the student debt that had accrued now needs to be paid! The job search and interviews begin with great hope and expectation while some graduates will continue to seek additional or higher degrees.
Fifty-five years ago, I graduated from kindergarten. Forty-four years ago, I graduated High School. Forty years ago, I graduated from college. Twenty-four years ago, I was ordained. With each of these academic events, I received a diploma, marking the completion of the work. The diplomas are stored in a fire-proof file cabinet. Surprisingly, they are not hung on my office walls. Why? I do not have a good answer to this question.
Yes, graduations on many academic levels are a special time in our lives, marking that occasion for students who have graduated from kindergarten to post doctorate studies. Congratulations to each of you!
Lord, we ask for Your clear guidance and direction for all graduates. Show them Your path, O Lord, and teach them Your ways. As they navigate new opportunities and decisions, let Your wisdom illuminate their steps. May they always seek Your will above their own and trust that Your direction leads to a life of fulfillment. Guide their thoughts, their words, and their actions according to Your plan for their future. Amen.
God’s blessings,
Fr. Tim
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
July 5th, 2026
Dear Parishioners,
This weekend America celebrates its 250th (semi quincentennial) birthday/anniversary, or as historians refer to as, the Signing of the Declaration of Independence (freedom) from Great Britian on July 4, 1776. This document formally announced the colonies’ break from Britain and articulated the foundational ideals of the United States: equality, unalienable rights, and the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. May we strive more to be united, as UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
Our celebration of the “Fourth of July” should cause us to reflect on freedom and the great price that was paid to win it. This is not the degree of outer freedom that determines our happiness or fulfillment, but the inner freedom that comes from the presence of the Spirit in our lives. This coincides with St. Paul’s view of life in the Spirit. It is the extent of our inner freedom that determines the fullness of our lives.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on the gift of freedom that we enjoy. How do we use this gift to make our world a better place? How do we show our Catholic faith? We continue to live in a climate of diminished respect and tolerance for differences. Civil discourse and dialogue seem to be less regarded as a value for building consensus.
Independence Day provides us with an opportunity to give thanks for the many and varied sacrifices of those who have gone before us in our country. It is also a wakeup call for us to consider how we are advancing the values that have long characterized the United States of America.
Let us continue to pray for all those who have given their lives to ensure our freedom and those who continue to work to keep that freedom, complete and true. This celebration causes us to build a just and peaceful society in our own nation and to be a shining example for other nations.
Enjoy your all-American favorite classics: hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans; German potato salad; Texas chili; Italian sausage and peppers, BBQ ribs, California guacamole, New England clam bake, Mexican corn---and don’t forget the ice-cream, the watermelon, and of course, FIRE WORKS!!! Happy Independence Day! God Bless America, the land that I love!
Fr. Tim
June 21st, 2026
Dear Parishioners,
I wish all fathers in the parish a Happy Father’s Day! You are to be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother’s Day. Hallmark, American Greeting, Shoebox and many other card companies will produce nice Father’ Day cards with secular and religious message, including perhaps:
Sirach 3: 1-8 and 12-14.
1 Listen to a father’s warning, children, and act accordingly so that you may be safe.
2 The Lord gives pride of place to a father above his children and establishes a mother’s judgment above that of her offspring.
3 Those who honor their fathers will make up for their own sins,
4 and those who praise their mother are like people storing up treasure.
5 Those who honor their fathers will be made happy by their own children, and they will be heard when they pray.
6 Those who praise their fathers will live a long life, and those who listen to the Lord will give rest to their mothers,
7 and they will serve their parents as their masters.
8 Honor your father in action and word so that a blessing will come from him to you,
12 My child, help your father in his old age, and don’t give him grief during his life.
13 And if his understanding fails, be tolerant, and don’t shame him, because you have all your faculties.
14 Taking care of one’s father won’t be forgotten. It will be credited to you against your sins.
The flowers placed in front of the altar this weekend are for all fathers in our parish, living and deceased.
Fr. Tim
June 14th, 2026
Dear Parishioners,
GREEN is the liturgical color as we begin Ordinary Time in the Summer and Fall. The palette of green tones and hues is extensive. This portion of Ordinary Time is the longest season of the liturgical year. It is interesting how a season titled ‘ordinary’ would take up the majority of the year. The word ordinary might seem to suggest boring, standard, or average with no unique features or anything particularly extraordinary.
Ordinary Time, however, is not defined in the way we would normally define the word ordinary. Rather, Ordinary Time is defined by the radical hospitality, prophetic witness, and missionary discipleship that Jesus calls us to daily. It is a time in which we focus on discipleship and what it means to be a true follower of Jesus—to be extraordinary. This long season allows us all to sink deeply into Jesus’ life and ministry.
The overall thrust of the Ordinary Time message is how to live as disciples building God’s kingdom. The readings and psalms are like gems reflecting images found in the kingdom of God parables; images of grain, weeds, the mustard seed, yeast, buried treasure, the pearl of great price, the net in the sea, vineyards, a bountiful wedding feast, rich foods, choice wines, wise and foolish virgins. Throughout the Gospel readings of this season, we hear metaphors used to illustrate or define the kingdom of heaven. They depict a kingdom that is like no other we have on earth.
There are special feasts and solemnities during the period of Ordinary Time such as the solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity, Body and Blood of Christ, Assumption of Mary, and All Saints as well as the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed on All Souls’ Day. This makes Ordinary Time anything but boring, standard, or average. It is indeed an extraordinary time, especially during the ordinary everyday routine of our lives.
[2026 Sourcebook: For Sundays, Seasons, and Weekdays, Liturgical Training Press]
June 7th, 2026
Dear Parishioners,
Today, as we celebrate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), we come to the basic source of our union with Jesus Christ and the bond of charity with other Christians. We are summoned to think about the gift which Jesus gave to us, to remind us of His Paschal Mystery and provide us with his Sacrament of Salvation. We come with frequence to receive the Eucharist. We pause for a moment to acknowledge this gift. This was not always the case in the Church. Pope Pius X encouraged the frequent reception of the Eucharist and allowed younger persons to be fed with this Sacrament. We are the beneficiaries of his decision.
As we approach the altar today, may we acknowledge more sincerely the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. In our prayer of Thanksgiving, may we express gratitude for this gift we sometimes take for granted. In our devotion, appreciating Christ’s abiding love in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood, may we pray for those whose faith is less strong, for those who have abandoned accepting the Sacrament, and for those who are unable to receive the gift. May we remember the priestly prayer of Jesus who asked that we “all may be one.”
Unity is achieved through Christ in the Eucharist. There is no bond as strong as the communion we share in Christ Jesus. The Eucharist is the sacrament of the Lord’s presence in our midst. In our com-union, we are united with Jesus and in Jesus, we are united with one another.
(A note about some ‘little things”) —
When receiving Holy Communion, the response to “The Body of Christ is “Amen,” not, “Thank you.” The Amen is an act of faith that means, “Yes, I believe.”
Communion in the hand: we RECEIVE.
Communion in the palm of the hand is distinguished from TAKING Communion with our fingers.
Communion on the tongue remains OPTIONAL.
God Bless You!
Fr. Tim