Happy Easter/Wesołego Alleluja to all parishioners and friends of the parish.
Included are photos from Holy Week, our Annual Holy Saturday Liturgy and Basket Blessing and Easter Sunday
Happy Easter, WesoÅ‚ego Alleluja Read More »
Every year on Easter Sunday, groups of people from different Churches join in morning prayer at Jones Beach on Long Island. This year’s service will be held on Easter Sunday, April 20th at 6 am.
Our service will be held at Jones Beach State Park, off Parking Field 6 east of the East Bathhouse. Dress warm and bring beach chairs and blankets.
2014 Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service at Jones Beach Read More »
We invite you to journey with us through Lent and Holy Week, and celebrate with us on Easter at St. Francis in East Meadow.
Lenten Holy Mass and Stations of the Cross every Sunday
After each 9 a.m. Holy Mass during Lent we will observe Stations of the Cross followed by Breakfast in the Parish Hall.
Palm Sunday
Procession & Holy Mass on Sunday, April 13th at 9 am
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of “Holy Week.†On this day we com memorate the last triumph of Our Lord Jesus Christ on earth. On this day we celebrate the triumphant entry of our Lord into Jerusalem; when the multitudes, going before and following after Him, cut off branches from the trees and strewed them in His way, shouting, “Hosanna, to the Son of David. Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.†This Palm Sunday triumph of our Lord only led to His death. But we know that this death was not a failure. It was through His passion and death that He conquered the world and entered into His Kingdom. So the faithful join in this triumphant celebration in an act of homage and gratitude to Christ our King!
Paschal Triduum
For Christians the Paschal Triduum (“Three Daysâ€) is the focal point of the entire year. During these days, covering the period from the evening of Holy Thursday through the evening of Easter Sunday, we celebrate our faith in the paschal mystery of Christ with the greatest fervor and intensity. In the liturgy we commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Christ as the means of our salvation. Through our baptism, we share in the death of Christ and so hope to share in his resurrection. The liturgy of the Paschal Triduum then invites us to reflect on where we are in our own Paschal journey in Christ.
Maundy Thursday – The name Maundy comes from the Latin word which means ‘command.’ It refers to the new command Jesus gave his disciples on the Thursday be fore he was crucified. On that night, long ago, he served the “Last Supper†of bread and wine, washed his disciples’ feet and said, “A new command I give you; Love one another.†—John 13:13. Church bells fall silent on this day and are not heard again until Easter morn ing. Instead of tinkling altar bells, wooden clappers are used during divine services. The altar will be stripped at the end of the service to symbolize Christ being stripped of his power. The holy sacrifice is interrupted and will not be offered again until Holy Saturday.
Good Friday – Good Friday used to called God’s Friday because it was the day Jesus was crucified. This is the most solemn day of the year, as we recall the suffer ings and death of Jesus. We take this time to journey the ‘Stations of the Cross,’ Christ’s road to Calvary. The Bible says that when Jesus hung on the cross, the sky became dark from noon until 3:00 p.m.. During those hours, traditionally, the faithful may meditate on the sufferings of Our Lord on the cross and remember the words He spoke on the Cross…Take time to remember, read the Passion, read a psalm, meditate, say a prayer. We share now in sorrow, grief and pain.
Holy Saturday – Holy Saturday is liturgically a day of deepest mourning, a day which the Church spends at our Lord’s sepulchre, meditating on his sacred Passion and death. There is no mass and the altar is bare. As we end the Lenten penitential period in pious preparation for a festive Paschal season. We have the Blessing of our Easter Foods on Saturday, April 23rd at 1:00 p.m., a token of gratitude to God for all his gifts of both nature and grace. A reminder that the Lord is part of our daily life and is always among us! Please bring a family member or a friend; help make this old but significant tradition new again!
Solemnity of the Resurrection – Easter
Procession & Resurrection Holy Mass on Sunday, April 20th at 9 am followed by our famous Easter Breakfast.
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!
Lent, Holy Week, and Easter in East Meadow Read More »
My brothers and sisters in Christ, today, all three readings from the Holy Scriptures echo that Jesus suffered for the forgiveness of sins.
During the First Reading, we heard the words, “God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”
During the Second Reading, we heard, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Today`s Gospel tells us:
“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
My dear brothers and sisters, today Holy Scripture and the Church tell us that Jesus came to this world to suffer and through His suffering destroyed death, sins and evil. He came to suffer and forgive our sins and sins of the whole world. He came to give salvation and open the gate of heaven for all people in the past and in the future.
My friends today`s world is not different from of our ancestors. It is not easy for us to admit that we are sinners and that there is sin in the world. Today people speak of mistakes, of faults, of misunderstandings – but sin is a reality that is still unpopular, even though we are all sinners. It is not easy change people and to tell them that they are in sin and need to repent. But, the Church proclaims that Jesus and the Holy Spirit can change us and people around us. With God’s grace true repentance is possible.
My sisters and brothers, today we are invited to look into our hearts and to know that we need salvation. We are invited to recognize that we are sinners and we need repentance. We are invited to accept that Jesus came to die for us and for our sins and that in Him we are redeemed. We are invited to proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins throughout the whole world. We are invited to follow Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives.
This is not an easy road! This calling can only be achieved by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit in the Most Holy Name of Jesus. As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us keep in mind that Jesus suffered in our place for the forgiveness of our sins. That is an incredible message of hope and love.
Let us rejoice because Christ is risen!
Reflection for the Third Sunday of Easter – 2012 Read More »
Every year on Easter Sunday, groups of people from different Churches join in morning prayer at Jones Beach on Long Island.
Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service at Jones Beach Read More »
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed!
As you know our country and the entire world lives in a very difficult times when moral values and human life itself is in a danger. Economic and financial crisis is very serious. People are concerned and afraid about future, what is going to happen next day.
My friends, God is stronger than any difficulties and any evil forces.
On first Good Friday, many believed that everything has ended with the crucifixion of Jesus. They lost faith and hope, but only for few days. On Sunday morning the women returned from the tomb and told the Apostles that Jesus had risen, as He had promised. They told them and the whole world that Jesus is alive and He conquered death.
As we approach joyous Easter let us not forget how important and significant is Lent as a preparation for the Feast of Resurrection. Lent and Easter is a good opportunity for renewal of our faith, for deepening unity with our Savior, and also for deepening our love for God and people.
Easter Season reminds us that Jesus has redeemed all people. The message of Easter is that we too will experience a resurrection and live in eternal happiness with God. This is the truth and mystery which may be difficult to comprehend, but we know that it happened, because we have the testimony of the witnesses, the Apostles.
On Easter Sunday let us rejoice with the Risen Lord. Jesus is our Lord, our truth and our hope in the time of happiness and difficulties.
Best wishes for a Blessed, Holy and Joyous Easter Season.
Fr. Andrew Koterba
Message for Easter Season 2012 Read More »
All are welcome—as always!

Celebrate Holy Week and Easter with St. Francis Parish Read More »
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!
Celebrate Easter with St. Francis Parish Read More »
