Saint Columba RC Church

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From the Bishops of New York State

‘We Give Thanks to God’

We give thanks to God for today’s decision of the United States Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This just decision will save countless innocent children simply waiting to be born.

On this historic day, our gratitude extends to the millions of heroic Americans who have worked tirelessly toward this outcome for nearly a half-century. Women and men, children and adults, believers and non-believers, people of every culture and background have advocated for life. They have been a charitable and compelling voice for the voiceless, and today, their voice has been heard.

As Catholics, we have prayed and fasted, held vigils, offered Masses, and peacefully witnessed in these last five decades. We have joined others in educating schoolchildren, opening pregnancy care centers, walking with mothers, offering post-abortion counseling, and marching, year after year, to the United States Supreme Court to witness for life. Today, our voice has been heard.

With the entire pro-life community, we are overjoyed with this outcome of the Court. However, we acknowledge the wide range of emotions associated with this decision. We call on all Catholics and everyone who supports the right to life for unborn children to be charitable, even as we celebrate an important historical moment and an answer to a prayer.

We must remember that this is a judicial victory, not a cultural one. The culture remains deeply divided on the issue, which will be evidenced by the patchwork of state statutes pertaining to abortion across the country. To change the culture and build a culture of life, we need to enact family-friendly policies that welcome children, support mothers, cherish families and empower them to thrive. We outlined our vision for a pro-life New York in our recent statement, available here, and we rededicate ourselves to helping every expectant mother to carry her baby to term.

Building a culture of life is not solely the responsibility of the government or those heroic individuals working on the front lines, in crisis pregnancy centers and other ministries. All of us need to respect the dignity and sanctity of human life in everything we do: in how we treat our children, spouses and parents; in the way we behave in our place of work; in sum, how we live Jesus’ two great commandments to love God and love our neighbor.

Love, charity and reverence for human life from the moment of conception through natural death – these will build and sustain a culture of life.

Millions of Americans have worked tirelessly for almost 50 years towards this outcome. We thank them with every fiber of our being. Their vital work continues, and we commit ourselves to it.

(Signed)
The Bishops of New York State)

SUMMER PRIEST – FATHER JOHN BENNET
I am Fr. John Bennet Elias, hail from Tamil Nadu, India. I have my parents, a brother and a sister. After my secondary school, in the year 1998, I joined the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier commonly known as Pilar Fathers. My society is an Indian Society with Pontifical right and it's Generalate is in Goa, India. We have 370 priests in the society. I took my temporary commitment in the year 2002 and my final commitment in the year 2011. I was ordained a deacon in October 2011 and was ordained a priest on 05/05/2012. After that I was appointed as an assistant parish priest for two years and then in the year 2015, I was appointed as a headmaster of a nursery school and was the bursar for three years. In the year 2018, I was appointed as the director of the Minor seminary. In the year 2020, I was deputed for higher studies. At present I am doing my licentiate in Sacred liturgy in the University of Saint Anselmo in Rome. My hobbies are reading and playing different games.
Father John arrives on July 1 and will spend three months with us. Please give him a warm welcome to St. Columba. His presence will allow your priests to take some vacation time (our first weekends away in three years!). 

ARRIVEDERCI SISTERS!
Both Sister Marie Pappas and Sister Kathleen Marie Gerritse leave today (Sunday) for Roma, Italy. They have been asked to participate in community chapter meetings that will last one month. It sounds like a lot of work and no play, but here’s hoping they will escape once and a while for a gelati! Safe travels sisters and may your meetings be a success! We will miss you!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE SUMMER CLOSING
Our Religious Education Office will close for one month on Friday, July 15 and open again on Tuesday, August 16. Now is the time to make sure your children are registered for 2022-23!

DUTCHESS CATHOLIC CHARITIES ANNUAL DINNER
Thankfully we are able to resume our annual fund-raising dinner for Catholic Charities here in Dutchess County! The Spirit of Service Awards Dinner will be held on Thursday, September 29 at the Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls. Honorees are the Sisters of St. Ursula/Linwood Spiritual Center, the Knights of Columbus St. Martin de Porres Council 7551 and McHoul Funeral Home. Journal advertising is available. Call Kim at 845-451-4299.  Father Michael is putting together at table of ten from St. Columba. Tickets are $125.00. Call him if you are interested – 845-227-8380. 

THE CARDINAL'S APPEAL 2022
We have begun the Cardinal’s Appeal for 2022. The funds that together we will give to this year’s Appeal will be used for the following needs in our archdiocese:
(1) Assistance for Financially Vulnerable Parishes
(2) Charitable Outreach and Pastoral Support
(3) Evangelization, Communications, and Catholic Education
(4) Formation of New Parish Priests
(5) Care for Retired Priests
Many parishioners already faithfully participate in the Appeal every year, and we are most grateful. Those who did not participate last year or that have never participated, we ask you to please seriously consider this invitation. Our goal as a parish is for every family and parishioner to participate in some way.
Our parish goal for the Appeal this year is $124,500.00. The overall goal for all parishes in the archdiocese combined is $21 Million dollars. Last year our parish raised $134,000.00. If all of our parishioners participate we will easily reach our goal this year.
You should have received a letter from our Archbishop, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, with a pledge card to make your gift. Thank you and God bless you for your generous response.

THE CARDINAL'S APPEAL 2022 as of June 17, 2022
We are getting closer! - thank you!!!
Goal - $124,500.00
Pledged - $113,320.00
Number of Gifts - 437
Average Gift - $259.31
Thank you and God bless you!!!

ABOUT LAST RITES AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK
If possible, please do not wait until the last minute to request these Sacraments. Both Vassar Hospital and Mid-Hudson Regional have Pastoral Care Departments with Catholic priests assigned to them. They can easily and quickly offer the Sacraments.  Please call them first. The Anointing of the Sick is available every day after Mass or by appointment. Speak to a priest before or after any Mass. Your priests also administer Last Rites at home. Again, if possible, do not wait until the last minute especially after hours. Of course, emergencies cannot be planned, and we will do our best to help.

SPONSOR AND GODPARENT CERTIFICATES
These can be obtained by calling the Parish Office and ask for a priest or deacon. They are not done after Mass or in person, only over the phone.

RENEW AND REBUILD LOAN
Thanks for keeping up with your Renew and Rebuild Pledge. Our last major project is the replacement of all the school windows and with the addition of new blinds. This project is on target for this summer. Your donations will make a difference. Thank you!

RENEW AND REBUILD as of June 10, 2022
Pledge Goal - $1,709,000.00
Amount Pledged - $1,767,675.27
Paid - $1,544,095.91
Balance - $223,581.36
Number of Gifts - 534

St. Columba LIVESTREAM - Sundays at 10:30 am - Daily Mass Livestream Wednesdays 7:00 am - Click here: http://www.facebook.com/stcolumbahj
Videos also archived on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/saintcolumbahopewell

VIDEO OF OUR CHURCH - Produced by Baker Liturgical Art - https://youtu.be/pr5Sr0e3nIU

TRAVELING AND LOOKING FOR A CATHOLIC CHURCH? Churches Open Near Me

PLEASE CONSIDER REMEMBERING St. COLUMBA PARISH IN YOUR WILL - For more information go to - https://plannedgiving.archny.org/

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