PNCC

Photos from St. Francis’ Annual Animal Blessing

Community Events, Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

St. Francis was passionately devoted to God. His every action was motivated by his love for God. He adopted a simple lifestyle. Because all his trust was in God, and not in possessions. He believed every man and women was his brother and sister. It was easy for him to embrace a love of nature and for all God`s creatures – because he understood everything was created by God and thus everything is good.

In honoring St. Francis, on Saturday, October 6,2012, St. Francis Church set aside a day for the blessing of animals and invited and welcomed all to enter the Church for a special service and a blessing for each creature. Like St. Francis, we try to be humble and believe every action is performed not to bring glory to our services, but to God.

Hear our humble prayer, O God,
for our friends the animals,
especially for animals who are suffering;
for animals that are overworked,
underfed and cruelly treated;
for all wistful creatures in captivity
that beat their wings against bars;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted
or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put death.
We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them
we ask a heart of compassion
and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,
and so to share the blessings of the merciful. – Albert Schweitzer

Photos from St. Francis’ Annual Animal Blessing Read More »

Annual Blessing of Animals

Community Events, Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

St. Francis parish will hold its annual Blessing of Animals in Commemoration of our patron, St. Francis of Assisi on Saturday, October 6th at 1p.m.

Bring your dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, birds, fish, ferrets, turtles, lizards, etc. for a special St. Francis blessing…

Blessed are you, Lord God, Maker of all living creatures, On the fifth and sixth days of creation you called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all animals his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this animal. By the power of your love enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.

Directions to St. Francis: Take Southern State Parkway to exit 25N (RT-106 N) toward EAST MEADOW for about a half mile. Turn LEFT onto E. MEADOW AVE for approx. 1 mile. Turn LEFT onto HARTON AVE. HARTON AVE. is off EAST MEADOW AVE between Pietro’s Pizzeria and Best Kitchen Chinese.

Call 516-794-5189 for information.

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50 aniversario de bodas – Jorge y Consuelo – Dios le bendiga siempre!

Community Events, Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

Con una inolvidable velada fue como celebraron sus 50 años de feliz matrimonio, Jorge y Consuelo.

La celebración dio inicio con una misa de acción de gracias en la Iglesia de San Francisco, en donde renovaron sus votos y fueron testigos familiares y amigos más cercanos.

Sus familia fueron los encargados de organizar y cuidar cada uno de los detalles para que la emotiva celebración fuera todo un éxito.

50 aniversario de bodas – Jorge y Consuelo – Dios le bendiga siempre! Read More »

Celebrate Holy Week and Easter with St. Francis Parish

Community Events, Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

All are welcome—as always!

  • Sunday, April 1st at 9 am – Palm Sunday Procession & Mass
  • Thursday, April 5th at 7 pm – Holy Thursday Mass
  • Friday, April 6th at 7 pm – Good Friday Liturgy
  • Saturday, April 7th at 1 pm – Blessing of Easter Baskets. Bring your eggs, cooked foods, uncooked foods, baskets or not, covered with a white linen cloth (or not)… Father Andrew will bless your Easter foods in a short, cheerful service.
  • Sunday, April 8th at 9 am – Easter Resurrection Mass




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Cornerstone blessing at Holy Cross PNCC, Commack, NY

1 Comment / Community Events, PNCC /

Pictures from the blessing of the cornerstone for the new Holy Cross PNC Parish in Commack, New York. The Parish, formerly of Brooklyn, moved to Commack several years ago and has been worshiping at the Parish Cemetery’s Chapel. The blessing was conducted by the Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, Prime Bishop of the PNCC in the presence of the Very Rev. WisÅ‚aw Pietruszka, Pastor, clergy from the New York-New Jersey Seniorate, and honored guests on Sunday, May 29th.

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Celebrate Easter with St. Francis Parish

Community Events, Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

All are welcome—as always!

Sunday, April 17, 2010 at 9:00 am – Palm Sunday Procession & Mass

Thursday, April 21 at 7:00 pm – Holy Thursday Mass

Friday, April 22 at 7:00 pm – Good Friday Liturgies

Saturday, April 23 at 1:00 pm – Blessing of the Baskets

Bring your eggs, cooked foods, uncooked foods, baskets or not, covered with a white linen cloth (or not)… Father Andrew will bless your Easter foods in a short, cheerful service.

Sunday, April 24 at 8:30 am – Easter Resurrection Mass
Easter Celebration Breakfast follows our Resurrection Holy Mass

Come, you are invited, family and friends of St. Francis Parish, to attend our traditional “Easter Celebration Breakfast” held in the Parish Hall, after Easter Sunday Mass. Come, let us REJOICE together!

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Christmas Holy Mass Schedule

Community Events, Liturgical, Parish Life, PNCC /

Christmas Eve, Vigil of the Nativity Shepherd’s Mass will be held on Friday, December 24th at 9:00 p.m. Come Rejoice!

Our Christmas Tradition continues. Please join us in the Parish Hall after Shepherd’s Mass for our special time to share a meal together, listen and care for one another. Let us know what food/dessert item you’d like to contribute (so far we’ve got: cold cuts, rolls, kielbasa, sausage bread, borsch soup, babka & chrusciki).

Christmas Day, Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord, December 25th… Holy Mass will be held at 9:00 a.m.

Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds, Sunday, December 26th… Holy Mass will be held as usual at 9:00 a.m.

Christmas Holy Mass Schedule Read More »

Pet Blessing memories

Community Events, Parish Life, PNCC /

Check out this article from the Neighborhood Files at EastMeadowPatch along with some great photos by author, Kim Plummer: Animal Instincts: Pets Receive Blessings at St. Francis Church

Residents and parishioners gather at St. Francis Church with their cats, dogs and fish for the annual blessing of the animals.

Residents, parishioners, cats, dogs and fish gathered at St. Francis Catholic Church on Saturday for the blessing of the animals.

Saint Francis of Assisi is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. Traditionally, Catholic churches hold ceremonies to bless animals during the Feast of St. Francis on Oct. 4.

“Saint Francis referred to all animals as brothers and sisters, and it was reported that wild animals had no fear of him,” Thomas Kompa, parishoner, said during the ceremony.

St. Francis Catholic Church holds the annual event on the weekend so that more community members can attend. The church has held the blessing annually for the past 20 years.

Father Andrew Koterba said a prayer for all of the animals in attendance, as well as blessings for sick animals. In the spirit of St. Francis, Father Koterba encouraged those in attendance to help animals and our environment however they can: build a bird feeder, donate to an animal shelter, grow a garden or recycle.

For Joan McGratti of Wantagh having their cats blessed with her husband and daughters has become an annual tradition. Joan, her husband, Bill, and their two daughters, Lana and Laura, as well as each of their cats have been attending the ceremony for the past six years.

“It’s a beautiful and inviting Church, and it’s great that our cats are invited to be here, too, inside of the Church,” said Joan McGratti while holding her black cat, Raven.

For other pet owners it was their first time having their animals blessed. Jiselle MacDonald and her daughter Natalie brought their cat, Vinnie. Vinnie was dressed appropriately with a collar and black bow tie for the event.

“Vinnie is like a member of our family,” said Jiselle MacDonald, an East Meadow resident who moved here two years ago. “This morning my daughter was asking me if this was his Christening.”

Like MacDonald, most pet owners consider the ceremony an important way to strengthen bonds between a family and their pet. Carlo and Carla Calabrese, with their daughter Adrianna, brought their 2-year-old dog Daisy to be blessed for the third time.

“We want her to be protected fully. This is kind of like her baptism,” Carla Calabrese said. “Daisy is a major part of our family.”

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