Tablet TALK

Updated 14 October 2011

 

Animal Blessing Is a Howling Success

 

Numerous dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters and birds received a sprinkle of holy water and had special prayers said in their honor at St. Andrew Avellino, Flushing, during the annual blessing of animals on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology. Msgr. Michael J. Brennan conducted the ceremony in front of the parish school. The event was timed to coincide with school dismissal so parents brought pets from home to greet their children and have them blessed.

(Photo courtesy St. Andrew Avellino)

 

Tablet TALK Event of the Week: Faith and Film at St. Matthias Church, Ridgewood, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Workshop. The featured film is… the 1939 drama “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Discussion and refreshments follow the film. For more details, call the parish rectory, 718-821-6447.

  • Two nights of  Theology on Tap are coming up next week! Catholic Trivia is the topic on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7-10 p.m. at Eamonn’s, a great Irish restaurant at 174 Montague St. in Brooklyn Heights. Event is sponsored by St. Charles Borromeo parish. And on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 7:30- 10 p.m., have a beer and hear Father Jim Cunningham talk about the Internet and You — Our Catholic Responsibility at Most Precious Blood Youth Center, Bath Beach. For details regarding either event, call Paul Morisi, 718-965-7300.
  • October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Raise awareness and funds by supporting the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Oct. 16, 10 a.m. at the Ninth St. Bandshell in Prospect Park. To register, go to http://makingstrides.acsevents.org.
  • Polish delicacies and hidden treasures are waiting for you at St. Josephat, Bayside, this weekend at the parish’s Flea Market and Ethnic Polish Bake Sale, Oct. 16, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the parish hall. Free parking. Call Steve, 224-3052.
  • The traveling Papal Monstrance for Vocations will be visiting St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Gertrude Church, Far Rockaway, Oct. 19-25. For more information, contact Joanne Murray, 718-327-1133, ext. 16.
  • The Speech and Hearing Center at St. John’s University, Jamaica, is offering free speech and hearing screenings and free hearing aid help through Dec. 7. Call 718-990-6480 to schedule an appointment. Center is located at 152-11 Union Turnpike, Flushing, N.Y.
  • Supplies at the food pantry at Our Lady of Grace, Gravesend, are running dangerously low. Needed items: Peanut butter, jelly, tuna, cereal, pasta and pasta sauce and packaged snacks for children. Donations may be brought to the church after any weekday or weekend Masses. For more details, call 718-627-2020.
  • Quote of the Week: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Our Lady of Angels School and Holy Angels Academy, Bay Ridge, will have their Halo of Fame Induction Ceremony, Oct. 22. Meet for 5 p.m. Mass followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. This year’s inductees are: Father Francis Labita; John Gray ’72; Jane Robinson; and Joe Moran ’45. Register or pay online at www.olaalumni.org, or call Liz Lang, 917-748-5714, or Eileen Long, 718-440-1970.
  • Our Lady of Hope parish, Middle Village, is seeking a group of single adults, ago 30 and over, to arrange events for the social and spiritual harmony of single parishioners. If you’re interested in attending the first meeting, Oct. 26, call the rectory, 718-429-5438.
  • This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to Shannon Ryan, a parishioner at St. Mark’s Church, Sheepshead Bay, and Coral Russo, who attends Resurrection Church, Gerritsen Beach. The girls worked hard to collect can tabs and create pink and white bracelets, which they sold at a Making Strides Against Cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser at Larry Veling Field, Gerritsen Beach, Oct. 1. Ryan, who attends St. Saviour H.S., Park Slope, and Russo, a student at Marine Park J.H.S., Marine Park, raised over $200, which they donated to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The event raised $10,500 overall and every cent wase also donated to the ACS. Way to go!
  • If you have a knack for plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, painting and anything in between — the Sisters of Life could put your good skills to use at their new Motherhouse in Montebello, N.Y. They need help repairing plaster and painting from water damage, designing and finishing two chapels and installing almost 100 light fixtures — and doing a lot of basic clean-up. Lunch will be provided to all volunteers. If you are interested in lending a helping hand, contact Sister Maria Agnus Dei at volunteers@sistersoflife.org.
  • If you have recently lost a loved one, Our Lady of Angels parish, Bay Ridge, invites you to attend its new Bereavement Support Group. For details, call 718-836-7200.
  • Al-Anon meetings are held on Monday evenings, 8 p.m. at St. Camillus Church, Rockaway Park, in the rectory basement. Call 718-634-8229 or e-mail camillusrc@aol.com.
  • If you’re a former parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle, Woodhaven, get yourself a copy of the 100th Anniversary Journal, which is now available for just $10. Call the rectory at 718-847-1353.
  • Sacred Heart, Cambria Heights, is gearing up for its 75th Anniversary Dinner Dance on Nov. 11 in Antun’s Catering Hall. The gala begins at 8 p.m. and runs through 1 a.m. For tickets and more details, call 718-528-0577.
  • Too early to think about Christmas? Not at Our Lady of Grace, Gravesend. They’re already planning the parish Christmas Fair, which is scheduled for Nov. 18-20 in Father Cutrone Gym. Vendors are needed. For table information and prices, call the rectory, 718-627-2020.
  • Free, confidential mental health services are available to past and present military personnel and their families at the Center for Psychological Services at St. John’s University, Jamaica. The program, called the Military Services Initiative, is the university’s way of thanking unformed men and women who have served this country. Contact Dr. Richard Morrisey at 718-990-1900 or psychcenter@stjohns.edu to learn more. Or go to www.stjohns.edu/psychservices.
  • Reminder: If you aren’t registered at the parish where you regularly attend Mass, take the time to do one weekend. When you’re registered, the parish can issue sponsor letters for baptism and confirmation and provide letters of recommendation for employment.
  • Holy Cross Church, Maspeth, is gearing up to celebrate its centennial anniversary next year. The parish is looking for photos from the past 100 years to include in a souvenir journal and on the parish website. If you have any snapshots you’d like to share, call 718-894-1387. All pictures will be returned.
  • The Sunday Mass, produced by the Passionist Fathers and Brothers, is now airing on the ABC Family channel, 6:30-7 a.m. on Sunday mornings. You can always see the Sunday Mass on The NET, 6 p.m. Saturdays and 12:30 p.m. Sundays (Time Warner Channel 97 and Cablevision Channel 30). Or visit thesundaymass.org/video to see the Mass or review the homilies.

SFX Celebrates 125 Years

On Sept. 18, St. Francis Xavier parish, Park Slope, celebrated the opening Mass of its 125th anniversary year. Among the events planned for the quasquicentennial year are a parish artifact display, Nov. 12-13; evening of art and music focusing on our Lord’s Passion, March 26; a dinner-dance, April 21; church tour, May 6; and closing Mass, May 20. Log onto www.stfxbrooklyn.org for more details.

 

 (Photo courtesy St. Francis Xavier)

 

 

 

 

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