Category: Uncategorized

FATHER ABEL’S COLUMN – MAY 15TH, 2016

schoolI want to give you an update on our Catholic School’s transitioning into an Academy in September. As you know Bishop DiMarzio has asked that every Catholic School to become an Academy by 2017. St. Sebastian Catholic School is in the process of becoming an Academy in September. Our Principal, Mrs. JoAnn Dolan and I have been working very hard with the diocese in making sure that this will be a smooth transition and to be perfectly honest, all is going extremely well to date.

Let me say very clearly that our school is strong and healthy on so many different levels. We are blessed by a wonderful facility and staff who are very much dedicated to our student body and all that our school has to offer. Academically we are strong and are students are well prepared as they grow intellectually over time.

A board has been put together to oversee the general operation of the academy. The members of the Board are: Margaret Baxter(chair), Jeanne Martin, June Parodi, Robert McKenna, Richard Drake, David Crimmins and Tom Casey. I am very impressed already with our board. We have met a number of times already and I assure you they truly are dedicated to the mission of St. Sebastian Catholic Academy and has the student’s interest at heart!

One of the first things the board voted on was the re-hiring of our principal and faculty / Staff. I am very happy to inform you that the board has unanimously decided to re-hire Mrs. JoAnn Dolan to remain on as principal for the near future. I am happy to say that Mrs. Dolan gladly said yes and look forward. It is no secret how lucky we are to have her as principal.

Our school now is excellent because of her leadership and presence and I know going forward our Academy will be just as great, if not better, because of her. Also, all of our facility has been invited to return next year and I am happy about this as well. Our faculty is the best and this is seen on the word done with our students in the classroom.

I will periodically update you on what is happening with our Academy. I wanted to begin by saying this with all of you!

Thanks for your support.
Rev. Kevin P. Abels
Pastor

FATHER ABEL’S COLUMN – MAY 8TH, 2016

Last Tuesday night’s re-dedication of our Parish Chapel was absolutely beautiful! It’s amazing what we can do together as a parish family, I felt that it’s important that we update and improve our worship space, as best we can. That gives our Lord the glory and honor he rightly deserves! Again, my thank you to all who made his liturgy so beautiful and prayerful!

I want to thank Fr. Carlos for putting the liturgy together and to Scott Bataglia, our director of music, for providing uplifting music for our celebration. From now on we will be using the chapel every day (when something comes up) during the year including during Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. This includes Wednesday! The only time Mass will be celebrated in the Church is at the 7PM Mass on Wednesday nights due to the beautiful novena that we offer in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Congratulations to our second graders from our Catholic School of Excellence as they received Jesus for the first time in Holy Communion. A special thank you to the parents for their example and for encouraging their children to receive the Lord often in their lives.

I encourage you to take part in our parish mission this week after the 9am and 7pm Masses. What a wonderful opportunity we have to spend some time in prayer and refection as we strive to deeper our relationship with the Lord!

FATHER ABEL’S COLUMN – MAY 1ST, 2016

Please join us this coming Tuesday, May 3rd at 7pm, as Bishop Chappetto will re dedicate our beautiful Parish Chapel. Tickets have already been given out to those parishioners who will be invited to attend in the Chapel. Everyone else is invited to gather in the Church where the Mass will be televised live.

Next Thursday, May 5th is the feast of the Ascension of our Lord. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Please check the Bulletin for the Mass Schedule.

Next Saturday our children from our Catholic School of excellence will be receiving their first Holy Communion. Please keep them in your prayers.

FATHER ABEL’S COLUMN – APRIL 24TH, 2016

chappetto
Bishop Chappetto

Please note that I have made some minor renovations to our bathrooms in the Church. We have now designated the bathroom in the church vestibule for men and the bathroom closest to the chapel,  for women. Also, please notice the addition of the door by the chapel to create a bit more privacy for those using it. The total cost of the job was $9,900.00.

I am happy to let you know that Bishop Chappetto will re-dedicate our beautiful chapel on Tuesday, May 3rd at 7pm. Now I have done a lot of praying and thinking about this with the priests and staff and have decided on the following: The church will certainly be open to everyone! However, the Mass will be celebrated in the Chapel.

Tickets will be given out to certain parishioners who attend daily Mass to be seated in the chapel for Mass, I will determine who those people will be. Everyone else will be able to gather in the Church where they will be able to watch the re-dedication live with the help of DeSales Media, our Catholic Television Network for the Diocese. I think this is the best and fairest way to approach this. Please be patient and I do encourage all of you to attend.

Rev. Kevin P. Abels
Pastor