Saint A’s News of Saint Athanasius Roman Catholic Church Bensonhurst Brooklyn

Saint A’s News
of Saint Athanasius Roman Catholic Church
Bensonhurst Brooklyn
Volume 1 Issue 1
May 2, 2003 Feast of St. Athanasius
1913 Celebrating 90 years of Faith and Family 2003
Saint Athanasius Church
2154 61st Street
Brooklyn, New York 11204
Phone: 718.236.0124
Fax:
718.236.4960
E-mail: StA@Broadviewnet.net
Parish Web Site:
http://StAthanasiusNY.tripod.com
Saint A’s Mission Statement
We, the Parish of St. Athanasius,
are a faithfully worshiping Roman Catholic
community, where Jesus Christ is
recognized as Lord and Savior in our
journey and made present through our joyful
celebration of the sacraments, our
proclamation and living of the gospel,
and our loving outreach and service,
especially to those in most need.
We acknowledge the need for God's grace in
our unfinished lives. We acknowledge our
incompleteness and pledge our faith lives to
work for the creation of a community where
the equality of God's people that flows from
Baptism is celebrated with hope and
passion. We pledge our commitment to the
creation of a community where seekers and
questioners are welcomed, where the
forgotten and marginalized are recognized,
where God's people are refreshed,
reconciled and renewed.
St. Athanasius School
6120 Bay Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11204
718.236.4791
St. Athanasius Religious Education
6120 Bay Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11204
718.331.8811
From Our Pastor
My Dear Parishioners;
It is certainly a joy to be present with
you as Pastor to celebrate our 90th Anniversary.
Anniversary years are always very special in any
parish. Many times “The Tablet,” our Diocesan
Newspaper, contains many articles about Parish
jubilees. This year promises to be filled with
special hope and joy.
Imagine: our Church has been a stable part of the history of this
Bensonhurst community for 90 years. Looking back over this time, it is
easy to see that the one key factor that has made our parish so
successful has been the gift of being inclusive. Reflect on the roots of
our Parish; it was originally established as a Parish for immigrants.
People began to come to this neighborhood from Ireland, and later on,
from Italy. It was during these years that the homily and novenas were
first established here in Italian, under the careful direction of then
Pastor Msgr. Elwood Purick.. The changes of Vatican II eventually led
to the establishment of mass in Italian.
New immigrants were further welcomed here under the tenure
of Msgr. T. David Dougherty. That is when the Korean Mass was
established, to meet the growing needs of a growing Parish community.
Then Msgr. Fernando Ferrarese introduced the first Spanish
mass; and it is on this groundwork that we are now reaching out to our
Polish brothers and sisters in our neighborhood.
A parish is people! A parish is all people – thus, a Parish must
open to all people. It is by embodying this theme that Saint Athanasius
has become a very thriving Parish; it has always been open to all!
May the 90th year’s celebration help us to continue to include all
of the arriving people here in Bensonhurst. May God bless Saint
Athanasius Parish.
Lovingly,
St. A’s News
-2-
A Message from Fr. Richard Long
St. A’s News Staff
There are many Christmas stories, but few of us realize
that there are also Easter stories. One of my favorites
concerns the tale of Mother Bunch, whose name evokes
images of abundance and new Easter life. Mother Bunch
was a well-known innkeeper of late 16th century London.
And when she laughed, “she was heard from Aldgate, to
the monuments of Westminster. She sold good, strong
ale...and lived a hundred and seventy and five years, and
two days and half a minute.”
Editor-in-Chief
John S. Fruner
Pastoral Associate
Associate Editor
Paula Lobello-Raiola
Contributing Editors &
Writers
Fr. Richard Long
Parrochial Vicar
Alice Friedman
James Russo
Elaine Sarcona
Contributing Writers
Msgr. David Cassato
Pastor
Joseph Barbieri
Ecclesial Lay Minister
Lorraine Garone-Tesoro
Principal
Sr. Barbara Lynch, CSJ
Lillian Brienza
Amalia Anzalone
Joseph Riccio
Anna Cali
Claire Chiccarone
Brittany Connors
Jonathan Fronterre
Brian Long
Trishia Long
Robert Rabka
St. A’s News is a publication of St.
Athanasius
Roman
Catholic
Church. Any letters or articles
submitted become property of ST.
A’s NEWS. All letters must be
signed by the writer. We reserve
the right to edit and/or shorten any
letter or article. All inquires or
letters should be addressed to:
ST. A’s NEWS
Attn: Editor
2154 61st Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204
E-mail:
StAthanasiusNews@aol.com
Spring 2003
It’s the “half a minute” that is especially intriguing. What a zest-filled woman was
this Mother Bunch to have her life measured and savored down to the last halfminute! Are our lives filled with that same zest and relish? Truly during Easter, we
are very aware of the promise of Jesus: “I have come that you might have life and
have it to the full” (John 10:10).
But it seems that we usually regard such divine promises as forms of burial insurance
rather than look at them as life insurance. Life insurance that is intended to yield an
abundance of life both now and in the future. Many times, it is not so much a lack of
faith as it is feelings of fear that hinder our ability to experience the fullness of life
that Jesus spoke of so often. We fear a host of things: “What will people say? What
will the neighbors think? What will I look like to others?” In fact, our fears come in
as many flavors as Baskin-Robins ice cream.
Mother Bunch, whose laughter rocked her city, was a woman fully alive and not just
each day, but each minute – each half-minute of life.
If we were to look at the most repeated admonition in the Gospels, beginning with the
message of the angels who appeared at the birth of Jesus right up to those who were
present at the tomb, that admonition would be “Fear not!” And if, in our day-to-day
lives, we are to look for the fullness of life promised by Jesus and sealed by his rising
to new life, we will, like Mother Bunch, have to forget our fears and be ourselves.
A Special Thank You to One of our Sponsors
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OFFICE:
WEB:
2076 East 61st Street
www.WeTeachAll.com
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234
(718) 209-4599
BENSONHURST:
6120 Bay Parkway
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IN ST. A’s SCHOOL.
St. A’s News
-3-
Spring 2003
From our School Principal, Mrs. Lorraine Garone-Tesoro
Dear Parishioners,
As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we look to our patron for inspiration in the quest to develop in
our students Christian attitudes and behaviors, and to convey an understanding of our faith. It is our
goal at St. Athanasius School to nourish the conviction that Christ encountered all in every aspect of
our lives. We believe that through active participation in the Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist, we
bear public witness to our faith; through our life of Christian service, we demonstrate gospel values.
Here at St. Athanasius School emphasis is placed on the spiritual growth of our students. A sequential
religion program inculcates knowledge of the truths of our Catholic faith. Frequent participation in
liturgical celebrations is part of our school program. Prayer and meditation is an integral part of our
daily school life. Christian values are fostered through the atmosphere provided by adult role models. As Christians we
strive to recognize the dignity of each person. Although spiritual and academic growth are paramount here at St. A’s, our
children have the ability to interact socially. There are many activities such as school dances, breakfasts with Santa and
the Easter Bunny, social trips, retreat days, and school assemblies.
Our school is continuously blessed in many ways, our enrollment continues to increase and the benevolence of so many
extremely generous people has enabled Catholic Education to thrive here at St. Athanasius. Msgr. David Cassato works
with me and our educated, dedicated faculty and staff to provide the children of our parish school with a quality Catholic
Education.
On this our 90th anniversary, may St. Athanasius continue to pray for us as we continue to serve those who come through
our doors.
Mrs. Lorraine Garone-Tesoro
Lay Ministry and the Role of “Ecclesial Lay Minister”
This year we saw two additions to our parish staff. One addition was that of Ecclesial Lay Minister. Mr.
Joseph Barbieri, a parishioner of St. A’s, chose to serve here, in his own parish. Mr. Barbieri was asked
to reflect on his theological and spiritual preparations as he now can focus more of his time on pastoral
service.
The pilot program for the formation of Lay Ecclesial Ministers was begun by the Diocesan
Pastoral Institute in January of 2001 and concluded on Dec. 14, 2002 at a commissioning ceremony of
some 40 participants by Bishop Daily. The 130 hours of course study over four semesters also included
days of prayer and reflection. The aim of the courses was to broaden theological preparation and to
prepare the participants for leadership roles in particular parish ministries.
The curriculum encompassed studies in Theology of Lay Ministry, Ecclesiology, Liturgy and
Sacraments, Moral Theology, Old and New Testament, Christology, Ecumenism, Inter-Faith Relations
and Pastoral Studies. There were required readings in each course as well as the preparation of
reflection papers. The classes were taught by priests, religious and lay people.
Each student was encouraged to reflect on which ministry he or she would like to serve and to discuss this with the
parish staff or mentor. In addition to the continuing class work, this was a focus of the third and fourth semesters.
I attended classes in the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Astoria. The majority of students were from the borough of
Queens. However, this was an excellent opportunity for the sharing of mutual experiences and to develop new
friendships. We learned much from one another and we have already had one reunion and plan another one in May of this
year.
Joseph Barbieri
Lay Ecclesial Minister
Mr. Barbieri works with Fr. Long in preparing new altar servers. Additionally, he rehearses with
servers for major Liturgical Celebrations, schedules servers with Alessa LaSalla, plans Liturgy with
Pastoral Associate John Fruner, is a catechist, lector and eucharistic minister. Mr. Barbieri also
serves on the Pastoral Council and Liturgical Committee.
St. A’s News
A Message from G.I.S.A.
-4-
Spring 2003
LA G.I.S.A. E I SUO LAVORI
Grupo Italiano di Sant’Atanasio
Mercoledì, 19 Marzo: mentre tante persone seguivano con il cuore in gola gli eventi che si sarebbero sviluppati
alle ore otto pomeridiane, Monsignore Cassato celebrava una Messa in Italiano in onore di San Giuseppe (il Santo patrono
d’Italia). Durante questa Messa si pregava per la pace, ma non solo negli Stati Uniti ma per tutto il mondo. Dopo la
Messa Monsignore benedi’ il pane e i taralli (donati dai nostri amici pugliesi) e li distribui’ a tutti i parocchiani presenti
nella chiesa, con la speranza che San Giuseppe avrebbe aiutato a mettere pace dappertutto. Ma chi pensa che questa
Messa sia stata l’unico tributo a San Giuseppe, non conosce la G.I.S.A. (Gruppo Italiano San Atanasio) che e’ il grande
lavoro del comitato dedicato a lavorare per la nostra communita’. Solo pochi giorni prima circa 300 persone avevano
partecipato ad un dinner-dance sempre in onore di San Giuseppe, dove per tutta la serata ci si e’ divertiti con musica e
buon cibo. Anche i nostri cari sacerdoti (che usualmente celebrano la Santa Messa in Italiano ogni Domenica), Padre
Steven Aguggia, Padre Bryan Patterson, Monsignore Cassato e le suore di San Giuseppe hanno partecipato e trascorso una
bella serata. Un certificato di merito dall’assemblea di NYS fu presentato dal nostro assemblyman Peter Abate alla
signora Maria Porcu’ per il suo lavoro come consigliere della G.I.S.A. Un secondo certificato di merito fu presentato al
comitato G.I.S.A. dal Assemblyman Colton per il loro lavoro.
Dopo la festa di San Giuseppe la G.I.S.A. era nuovamente impegnata per i preparativi religiosi della Santa
Pasqua. Durante la Quaresima ogni Venerdi’ alle ore 8:00PM gruppi di fedeli si sono riuniti nella Chiesa di sopra per
recitare il rosario e seguire la Via Crucis. Arrivata la settimana santa inizia un Triduum sempre in lingua Italiana. Il
Lunedi’, Martedi’ e Mercoledi’ Santo, Padre Giuseppe Fugolo, Padre scalabriniano prega e predica con i fedeli Italiani e
infine celebra la Messa. Padre Fugolo e’ stato anche disposto ad ascoltare confessioni prima e dopo la Santa Messa.
Arrivato Giovedi’ Santo i fedeli Italiani si sono riuniti davanti al Sepolcro per l’ora santa per pregare.
L’evento di questa settimana che e’ aspettato da tutti e’ “la processione del Venerdi’ Santo” di cui partecipano
non solo i fedeli della nostra communita’ Italiana ma anche di altre. Questra processione iniziata oltre vent’anni fa con
l’accordo di tre parrocchie, ha man mano coinvolto ben otto parrocchie nella zone di Bensonhurt. Come al solito il punto
di partenza e da Shallow Middle School a 65th Street e si cammina per le strade della nostra communita’ e ogni anno la
destinazione e’ in una chiesa diversa. Quest’anno la meta e’ stata la Chiesa St. Francis Cabrini sulla ottandaseiesima
strada e 16th Ave, dove il Vescovo con i Sacerdoti aspettavano i fedeli per pregare. Quello che colpisce l’attenzione di
chi guarda questo fiume di persone che scorre per le strade della nostra communita’ (cantando inni di Venerdi’ Santo) e’
la candela accesa che ogni fedele porta in mano. Questa candela rappresenta il simbolo di fede verso il Figlio di Dio e la
speranza che la sua Resurrezione possa aiutare tutti coloro che implorano il Suo Santo aiuto. A fine della fiaccolata e le
preghiere gli autobus sono pronti davanti alla chiesa per riportare le persone indietro alla nostra parrocchia.
Dopo la Santa Pasqua la G.I.S.A. e’ di nuovo a lavoro per preparare il pellegrinaggio per Domenica, 25 Maggio
a West Havestraw, NY nella Chiesa di Don Bosco. Questo pellegrinaggio viene organizzato ogni anno e molti dei nostri
parocchiani Italiani colgono l’occasione per visitare questa chiesa dedicata ad un santo tanto amato da noi Italiani.
Sono dunque tanti i lavori della G.I.S.A. per la communita’ Italiana della parocchia di San Atanasio!
Amalia Anzalone
WHERE’S MONSIGNOR? Ilustrated by Gina Sarcona, Beata Samosiuk & Tiffany DeRusso.
Editors’note:
Gina Sarcona, Beata
Samosiuk &
Tiffany
DeRusso, students in
St. A’s School, noticed
Msgr.
Dave
quickly
going from place to
place. Many of us who
come to the rectory ask,
“Where is Msgr?” The
reply usually is: “Well…
he was just here a few
seconds
ago…”
Although we don’t have
color copying capability,
you can view this picture
in the Narthex & try and
find Msgr. Dave.
St. A’s News
THE BOY SCOUT CORNER
-5-
Spring 2003
Brian Long
The Scouting Program is composed of 1.3 million
volunteers working together for the sole purpose of helping
its 5 million youth members succeed in life. The Boy
Scouts of America's 93 year history is a testament to the
enduring values of Scouting.
This quality scouting program now resides at St.
Athanasius Parish. Troop #99 was organized in 1916 and
sponsored by St. John's Lutheran Church in Park Slope
and, for 87 years, has always been associated with quality
Scouting. The boys enjoy many activities like camping
trips (including Ten Mile River at summer camp this
year!), Halloween and Christmas parties, bowling, fishing,
trips to the zoo, aquariums, movies, amusement parks and
so much more! Scouting builds strong values and
character, respect and leadership. In fact last fall, we had
the privelage of having our first Eagle Scout since 1972;
his name is Anthony Faga and he is the 25th Eagle Scout
from Troop#99 and St. A's first Eagle Scout. We have a
Cub Scout Pack serving the youngest boys of our parish
and, this year, we started a co-ed venturing program for our
parish youth, ages 14 - 20 years old which features high
adventure and community service.
Scouting is time well spent, so please join us every
Wednesday at Saint Athanasius School from 7PM until
8:30PM and be part of the fun! If you would like more
information, feel free to contact Brian Long at
(718) 837-9594.
am still of proper age, I make sure I handle all tasks with
quality and appropriate haste.
As a result of this beneficial influence, I have
become more of an orderly concerning the ways in which I
go about my current day’s affairs. Also, as a Boy Scout, I
am confident in my abilities to do almost anything! I have
become more alert; I am now equipped with the knowledge
and awareness to be of aid in the event of a life threatening
emergency. In such ways, Boy Scouts and my school
involvement have interlocked in a complex way. I will
always have the edge when it comes to life’s various
lessons.
Joseph Riccio
A REFLECTION FROM A BOY SCOUT
I became active in Troop 99 during the month of March.
Troop 99 is held at Saint Athanasius School, every
Wednesday evening. Each assembly begins 7:00 at night.
Immediately, I have noticed many ways in which this has
affected my life. I became involved with the Boy Scouts of
America through the intervention of a friend of mine. He is
an Eagle Scout: he helped me file for application, secure
the proper uniform and other various camping necessities.
Ironically, it is now one of my duties to file the records.
Unfortunately, there exists a relatively short
amount of time until I reach the age of 18, at which I am no
longer considered a Boy Scout. Consequentially, while I
THE GIRL SCOUT CORNER
Trishia Long
Competent, silly, giggly, energetic, shy, and
enthusiastic; these adjectives and many others describe the
girls in our Girl Scout Troop at St. Athanasius. For those
who think that Girl Scouting is just arts and crafts, there is
so much more! Girls gain knowledge, explore careers and
enjoy the feelings of pride and accomplishment that come
from completing a badge from a wide variety of areas from home repair to the arts, from wildlife to sports, from
the sciences to global awareness.
Girl Scouting promotes self-acceptance and unique
self worth by offering opportunities to learn new skills,
experiences and challenges which develop a meaningful set
of values to guide their actions and to provide the
foundation for sound decision-making. The breadth and
depth of these values and goals make Girl Scouting
different from other youth-serving organizations.
It
encourages girls to develop sensitivity to others and respect
for their needs, feelings and rights. It fosters the ability to
build friendships and working relationships and encourages
them to help improve society through the use of their
abilities and leadership skills, working in cooperation with
others. It teaches girls to understand how the quality of
community life affects every member of society.
We invite you to join us and discover for yourself
the rewards that Girl Scouting has to offer. Please contact
Tricia Long at (718) 837-9594. We meet on Friday
afternoons at 3Pm at St. Athanasius School. We now have
two troops; Brownies, Grades K - 3 and Juniors, Grades 4,
5 and 6. Hope to see you there!
St. A’s News
-6-
Spring 2003
A MESSAGE ABOUT THE ACADEMIC ADVANTAGE PROGRAM HERE AT ST. A’s
The Academic Advantage is Brooklyn's premier learning center. We have been
successfully serving the Brooklyn area for over twelve years. Our services are offered in several
convenient locations. One of our centers is located in Saint Athanasius School.
The Academic Advantage has successfully prepared students for COOP, PSAT/SAT and
Regents Exams. Last year, we began a program to provide resource services to students with
IEP's. (Individual Education Plans) These students receive free tutoring sessions, three times a week at Saint
Athanasius.
This summer, our program will include all of the above and classes on study skills, a first grade reading
course, programs to fulfill summer school requirements and private tutoring for enrichment and remedial
purposes.
The Academic Advantage is committed to providing quality tutoring services in a pleasant and caring
environment. It is our aim to build our students' confidence while arming them with the skills necessary to
succeed.
Ms. Lillian Brienza
718.209.4599
FOR OUR POLISH SPEAKING PARISHIONERS
90 lat temu parafia „St. Athanasius” rozpoczynała swoje funkcjonowanie. Początkowo większość parafian
stanowili Amerykanie irlandzkiego pochodzenia, stopniowo jednak pałeczkę pierwszeństwa przejęli emigranci
z Włoch. Obecnie w parafii istnieją cztery mocne grupy językowe: angielska, włoska, hiszpańska oraz
koreańska. Od października 2002 r. do tych grup dołączyła jeszcze jedna, która na razie znajduje się w fazie
organizacji: wspólnota polska. Nowy proboszcz, Msgr. David Cassato, pragnął stworzyć dla coraz liczniej
napływających do parafii emigrantów z Polski możliwość uczestniczenia przynajmniej dwa razy w miesiącu w
polskiej Mszy św. Przed polskimi parafianami stoją duże trudności natury organizacyjnej: nie ma na razie w
parafii stałego kapłana posługującego się jęz. polskim, a ci, którzy celebrują Mszę św., dojeżdżają z
Greenpoint; Polacy mieszkają w rozproszeniu i często nie znają się nawzajem; nie ma jeszcze żadnych polskich
organizacji w parafii, itd. Dlatego też uważamy, że obchody 90-lecia parafii mogą być świetną okazją do
poznania się, jak również do zorganizowania zaczątków mocnej Polonii w parafii. Przede wszystkim pragniemy
zaprosić wszystkich Polaków mieszkających w parafii „St. Athanasius”, jak również tych, którzy są w inny
sposób z nią związani, do wziącia udziału w uroczystościach z okazji 90 rocznicy istnienia parafii. Wszelkie
wiadomości dotyczące bierzących uroczystości, modlitw oraz imprez, znajdziecie Państwo w parafialnym
cotygodniowym biuletynie. Informacje będziemy powtarzać także w jęz. polskim podczas polskiej Mszy św.
Planujemy stworzenie polskiej scholi, która mogłaby uczestniczyć w nabożeństwach, także ogólnoparafialnych.
Chcielibyśmy także otworzyć coś w rodzaju polskiego klubu katolickiego, gdzie można by porozmawiać na
tematy religijne, pooglądać dobre filmy, spotkać się przy herbacie lub kawie... Do rozpoczęcia takiej
działalności potrzebujemy jednak pomocy chętnych, potrzebujemy odzewu z Państwa strony. Prosimy
kontaktowaę się z p. Robertem Rabką, tel.: 718/ 331 11 50., najlepiej po niedzielnej Mszy św. w jęz. polskim.
Robert Rabka
THE CHALLENGE OF FEWER PRIESTS
When most young people who are about to graduate high school and move onto to college are considering to be
an accountant, artist, actor, writer or enter the military, why do most not think about priesthood or religious life? Believe it
or not a panel discussion on one of the news shows covering the war in Iraq stated that there were plenty of professional
men and women who wanted to join the armed forces even after the recent conflicts. In fact, the armed forces are
overwhelmed with new applicants and are turning away anyone who doesn’t measure up.
But what about the priesthood ? As our new 2003 high school graduates shop around for which university to
attend, how many are considering the priesthood ? This shortage of priests was recently addressed in a meeting given by
Msgr. John Brown , Director of Clergy Personnel for the Diocese of Brooklyn. Msgr. John Brown was joined by Msgr.
David Cassato and several St. A’s parishioners as well as dozens of their counterparts from other parishes in Brooklyn
West at St. Anselm’s.
St. A’s News
-7-
Spring 2003
Of the 4 million people in the Brooklyn and Queens area, 1.8 million are Catholic. These 1.8 million are currently
served by a handful of priest totaling 379. The 217 parishes in the Brooklyn Queens area will lose half of their active
priests within the next 10 years, primarily due to retirement.
Msgr. Brown, Msgr. Cassato, as well the attendees of the meeting discussed several solutions to help alleviate the
stress this shortage is causing and is sure to cause in the city’s parishes in the coming decade. These short term solutions
included allowing priest to concentrate on sacramental ministry, which is their key role, and have many of the
administrative duties of the church turned over to paid lay people. Other solutions were to have sacramental guidelines
issued through the Diocese so all parishes do things the same way as well as having parishes work in clusters so that the
burden of a shortage of priests can be more evenly distributed.
A issue of equal importance to dealing with the coming priest shortage is keeping the priests that the parish
already has. Currently, many priests live alone and this not healthy for them neither physically, emotionally, nor
spiritually. The committee laid out long term plans to ensure the physical and emotional health of priests by managing
expectations and demands and through support and recognition.
As Msgr. Brown said, “the Catholic Church constantly renews itself to remain vital and alive.” All of us can help
in this struggle by praying for an increase in priesthood vocations, supporting the changes in the parish, and , most
importantly, inviting and encouraging young adults to become lay leaders.
James Russo
St. Athanasius 11:30a.m. Choir
The Choir of St. Athanasuis has been under the direction of
Steven Laplante for the past three and a half years. Steven began his
training on the pipe organ at McGill University in Montreal. He
started winning competitions within three years, including Second
Place Winner in the 1996 National Competition in Canada and
subsequently becoming a finalist at the Bach International
competition in Switzerland. You may have heard just how talented
our Steven is if you attended his Lenten Organ Recital on March 8th.
If you missed it, there will be another opportunity to hear his glorious
playing of the pipes next fall. Steven came from a religious family,
being exposed to liturgical ministry as Altar Server, Cross Bearer and
now being a Choirmaster. Being the Choirmaster, Steven enjoys
interacting with various people. Steven also finds involvement in the
choir to be a spiritual journey that the choir shares, creating a special
bond between its members. Steven also feels that music brings an important dimension to the service, “It’s the most
abstract form of art, it’s nothing we can touch or see... music brings life to the service, it’s a wonderful symbol of God’s
presence amongst us”.
You may know Choir Member Michael Panecali from the 10am or 6pm Sunday Mass. Michael plays keyboards
beautifully, and sings angelically for these services. MaryAnn Gonzalez and Michelle Villalta do an excellent job
alternating as cantors for the 11:30am mass. Other choir members and their special talents are: Tom Dalton, George
Escalante, Marissa Iocullo, Theresa Marinelli, Denise Mulero, Gina Sarcona, Michael Sarcona and Phyllis Micillo. They
are always seeking new choir members, so if you enjoy singing, please contact Steven at the rectory at 718 236 – 0124.
Elaine Sacrona
St. Athanasius Basketball
St. Athanasius BCBA (Brooklyn Children's Basketball Association) directed by Jim McCaffrey, is a vision to
behold. The excitement and decibel volume emanating from the gym is that of utter happiness, and that's just the parents.
The kids seem to be having a good time too!
Registration for the "wee ones" starts the Saturday after Labor Day and every Saturday through September. The
program itself begins Mid-October. There are many levels of expertise available in a fashion. Instructional is for children
ages 4 through 7, Intramurals - ages 8 through 14, Gym Rats - ages 9, Sub-Novice - 10 years old, etc., (basically ages 4
through 13/14 years old).
There are also traveling/outside teams, where St. A's children play against children in other parishes and parents
become overt cheerleaders!!!
St. A's also provides a delectable, delicious and reasonably priced concession stand; a gastronomic delight for all
your repasts. The "chefs" also double as our coaches and referees; as so some parents as well. It is truly a warm,
wonderful family atmosphere that provides endless rewards for young and old. Come, be a part of it!
Claire Chiccarone
St. A’s News
-8-
St. Athanasius’
Golden Jubilee Celebration
You may have noticed a slight change in St.
Athanasius church in the last few weeks. Colorful banners
adorn the inside of the nave and a huge banner with the
words, “St. Athansisus Golden Jubilee 1913 – 2003’ hangs
on the front of the church to greet parishioners as they walk
up the steps. There are other changes as well. Every month
a committee of parish and neighborhood volunteers meets
in the Rectory to discuss plans to celebrate this
momentous occasion. Volunteers are walking the beat in
Brooklyn asking local businesses to buy space in a journal
that will distributed at the 90th anniversary festivities. Other
volunteers are planning the arrangements for the
celebration which is set to be held at Brooklyn’s own, El
Caribe catering hall. Prizes, games, raffles, and other
surprises are all being worked on the Jubilee committee
carefully and stealthily.
However, as we move headlong into the upcoming
Jubilee celebration it is important to look back on the rich
and robust past of our parish and accompanying school.
The beautiful two-level, air conditioned structure which
our parishioners celebrate mass in traces its roots to
Sunday December 7, 1913 when mass was first celebrated
in a single-level private house on 62nd Street. St.
Athanasius’ founder was Father Eugene J. Donnelly who
pastored the church for eighteen years and chose St.
Athanasius as the patron saint of the parish.
The building and grounds, which we know now as
St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church, was purchased in
1914 by Father Donnelly. Over the years and through the
decades, this humble plot of ground purchased for $15,000
would grow into a thriving Catholic parish with thousands
of parishioners and several support groups. In addition to
the Church building on Bay Parkway, St. Athanasius would
purchased additional property in the coming years and
opened a new rectory and convent. In June of 1937, Father
Kelaher who took over after Father Connelly, opened St.
Athanasisus school with the help of the Sisters of St.
Joseph, who were actually already in the parish running the
Religious Education Program. The school which now
teaches children from Kindergarten through the eight
grade, originally opened to handle the burgeoning number
of young people in need of an academic education after the
Great Depression.
In the years after 1937, the St. Athanasius School
would grow to include a baseball program in 1959
complete with a field and clubhouse, an auditorium which
provided the setting for countless events such as disco
nights, vaudeville, Broadway shows, cake sales, Christmas
sales, prom nights, as well as opera nights.
In 1961, Monsignor Purick would oversee a
tremendous project to build a new church. Through parish
funds, memorials and a Diocesan loan, Msgr. Purick was
Spring 2003
able to give St. Athanasisus parish a new church with a
unique sanctuary, one with an unobstructed view no matter
where you are seated. The new church included mosaic
art and stained glass windows.
As the 1970’s came on, St. Athanasius School and
Church would both continue to grow and expand both
physically and spiritually. Dozens of spiritual and self help
groups would be added over the years including the TeenAge Club (TAC) the Gruppo Italiano St. Atanasio (GISA),
as well as the Golden Age Club. The annual bazaar would
expand into an exciting and vibrant Spring weekend
featuring casino-style games in the gymnasium, Picaddily
Circus style games in the Auditorium, amusement rides in
the parking lot as well as 50/50’s, raffles and other
drawing.
Presently, the Jubilee committee is working on a
90th anniversary celebration that will easily thwart the
biggest of the annual bazaar’s. Msgr. Cassato and long
time friend of St. Athanasius Michael DeLuca are
spearheading a committee made of up dedicated
individuals who are planning
the 90th anniversary
celebration down to the finest of details. As you walk up
the steps of St. Athanasius church on your way to Mass and
see the banner, think back to your own special memories of
St. Athanasius School and Church and cherish those
memories as we prepare to celebrate Father Donnelly’s
vision on its 90th birthday.
James Russo
Help & Prayer is not far away:
Parish Social & Devotional Ministries
In addition to the many services St. Athanasius has for
parishioners, the most important are the various help and
support groups which provide spiritual and religious
guidance to those in need. One of the times we are most in
need of emotional strengthening is when a loved one
passes on. When a loved one dies, this may be followed by
feelings of shock, denial, sadness, anger and depression.
Often these emotional symptoms may be accompanied by
physical symptoms like a lack of energy, knotted stomach,
loss of appetite, and feeling disoriented. The parish of St.
Athanasius offers several bereavement groups to help
individuals in the community deal with these feelings.
The Martha & Mary Open, Ongoing Bereavement
Support Group is for anyone who has experienced the
death of a loved one. The group meets once a month on the
first Wednesday of each month 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The Lazarus Structured Bereavement Group provides
education and sharing to facilitate the healing of grief in a
group format. Journal writing is an integral part of the
Structured group, although the participant is not expected
to share the contents of his/her personal journal. The group
meets from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Mondays.
St. Athanasius parish is committed to supporting
people through times of grief and loss. “Praying through
Grief and Loss” provides time and space to recognize the
St. A’s News
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Spring 2003
reality of grief in a safe and nurturing environment. Through prayer, reading from the Psalms and quiet song, we
acknowledge our vulnerability before God and allow ourselves to be touched by grace. The group meets three times this
year for three sessions on Thursdays from 8-9:30 p.m.
Another of St. Athanasius’ help groups is The Homeless Outreach Ministry which is dedicated to serving the
homeless and the poor in the Coney Island area. The group goes out every Saturday morning and makes two stops at
designated locations. Donated clothing and hot food, sandwiches etc. are distributed. There are currently over thirty
people who have volunteered to provide hot food when scheduled. On the average, about forty people a week are served.
Mary Cerami is the director of the Charismatic Prayer Group which is celebrating its 28th anniversary this year.
The Charismatic Prayer Group which is about a 100 people strong gathers every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. Mary stresses
that the group meets rain or shine and that anyone who attends the group is allowed to speak.
The Rosary Society is a women’s society that promotes the devotion to the Blessed Mother through prayerful
recitation of the Rosary. Spiritual activities included Advent and Lenten evenings of reflection, Communion breakfasts
and social opportunities such as a Christmas Fair and a Chinese Auction. The society’s mission is to integrate the call of
service into social action, benefiting the parish and community. Interested? Call Palma Parmese at 718.837.1752.
Devotion to the Name of God is fostered through the ministry of the Holy Name Society. The Holy Name
Society is a men’s society that meets once a month, after celebrating 8:30a.m. Mass. One of its foci is to encourage
frequent celebration of the sacraments. Additionally, like the Rosary Society, Holy Name members are committed to
service in the parish and community. First Friday prayer, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, has become an
integral part of the Society’s mission. All men are encouraged to join the society. Watch the bulletin for the
James Russo
announcement of the next monthly mass and meeting.
Sr. Barbara Lynch, C.S.J., Parish Advocate for Persons with Disabilities
My friend, due to a car accident, has been disabled for many years.
When her Pastor chose her to attend the Catholic Charities workshops which
would enable her to be the Parish Advocate for Persons with Disabilities, she
convinced me to volunteer for St. A’s. That was almost ten years ago and I
have been advocating ever since. At times it has been a lonely, yet often, a
successful journey.
We have a Eucharistic minister who distributes Communion from
her wheel chair; a gentleman in a motorized chair who, since the gate leading
to the accessible ramp is now always open for Church services, no longer
needs to be lifted into Church; a blind parishioner, elderly and others on
walkers and canes who faithfully attend Mass; ministers of the Eucharist and
ushers who move toward those who are unable to move quickly to the front
for Communion; and a better lighting and sound system, thanks to the awareness of our Pastor.
I have not accomplished all of the above, but I rejoice in the AWARENESS, There is so much more to be done
and thanks to the Bulletin announcements, people are coming forth to get involved. Being an advocate does not mean
solving all the problems, but having information as to resources and where to find answers.
Most important is to continue to raise awareness and to increase INCLUSION in the Parish. My dream is that
when we complete the database of the Parishioners who are forced to be homebound because of lack of transportation, we
may find a core of “chauffeurs” to bring people to Church. With the team that is forming, I believe the elderly, hard of
hearing, mobility challenged, visually challenged, and developmentally disabled will find St. A’s to be truly the “Family
Parish” we are proclaiming it to be in this 90th Anniversary Year.
Sr. Barbara Lynch, C.S.J.
Blowing our own SCHOOL horn
Mrs. Karen Hayes, our 5th grade teacher, directs an after-school program which is free & funded by the ItalianAmerican Federation. It benefits working parents. Want more information? Call our school & ask for Mrs. Hayes. The
Student Council at St. A’s School went to Maimonodes Hospital & decorated the pediatric ward for
Passover & Easter & did you notice those yellow ribbons with messages on the school and rectory fence?
Students wrote prayers & good wishes to our troops serving in the Middle East and Iraq. Even the younger
children had a lot to say & expressed their feelings to teachers & staff. Children as young as nursery school
age were able to voice their fears & words of appreciation for the women & men fighting to ensure our
freedom here in the States. Anna Cali tied all the ribbons on the fence, making sure that we could read their
messages. Stop and read them!!
St. A’s News
-10-
Parishioner Profile
ELAINE MARIE SARCONA
Elaine Marie Sarcona was
born on October 8th in Brooklyn to
John and Theresa Tobish. One of
five children (two brothers, Drew
and Stanley and two sisters,
Jeannette and Mary) she attended
St. Brendan's Elementary School
for eight years and then went on to
John Dewey High School. For the next 3 years, she
continued her education at Brooklyn College. Her path led
her to work for The Associated Press in communications
for 15 years and Telecom for several years, including
Worldcom and Level 3 in sales support.
She married Michael Sarcona on June 22, 1985.
You may remember Michael, who wrote the song "I Miss
You" which touched everyone's heart at the September
11th Anniversary Tribute Mass. They have been blessed
with two beautiful children; Christian Stanley, 15 years
old, who attends Xaverian High School and Gina Marie, 11
years old, who attends St. Athanasius School. Elaine feels
her children are her greatest accomplishment.
Elaine lost her 2 older brothers in 1980 and 1981.
Stanley battled Hodgkins disease for 7 years and died at the
age of 25. Almost one year later, the family lost Drew in a
tragic accident and during this time, she was very
impressed with the faith of her parents. They never lost
their faith, even after the loss of both their sons. Years
later, she took notice of an article printed in the St.
Athanasius Bulletin, asking for people to assist others
through their grief. Her inspiration came from her own
personal experience and she continues to be a source of
hope for people who have experienced such a loss in their
lives. Elaine believes that "church people are good people"
and encourages our parishioners to reach out and get to
know one another.
If you or someone you know has suffered a loss of
a loved one, you don't have to suffer alone. Please contact
Pastoral Associate John Fruner at (718) 236-0124 on
extension 17.
Paula Lobello-Raiola
What is the Role of a Deacon?
Interview with Deacon Frank Rasati
Deacon Frank has been a Deacon for over twenty-five
years and he is now 85 years old. He was always active in
activities at St. Athanasius. At first, he wanted to be a
priest but God had other plans for him. The reason why he
did not become a priest was because his sister died when
she was fifteen years old and his mother wanted him to
stay and be close to her, so he did. Later on, he married
Evelyn Galante and had five children; John, Anthony,
Spring 2003
Mary, Ann and Robert. His desire to be in ministry
persisted. When the call came that men could be deacons,
he applied and was ordained on December 3, 1977. The
first Deacons were servants of the apostles.
Here are some questions we asked Deacon Frank:
Q. -What challenges did you face when you were
ordained?
A. – It is difficult for people to understand why we need
deacons and what their purpose would be in the ministry of
our church.
Q. - Did people accept married Deacons?
A. - No, not at first. Today people have accepted deacons
after learning the roll that they play in the ministry of the
church and the responsibilities they have.
Q. - What can Deacons do?
Deacons can witness weddings, bless religious
articles, distribute the ashes on Ash Wednesday, bless
throats at the Mass of Saint Blaise, bless palms and can
perform funerals as well as conduct wake services in the
funeral parlor. Deacons also visit nursing homes, lead
prayer services, preach, bring communion to the sick and
shut ins and teach.
Q. - Does a Deacon receive Holy Orders?
A. - Yes, a Deacon receives Holy Orders.
Q. - Do you think that we will ever see a married
priesthood?
A. - Yes, I believe that we will see a married priesthood,
but not right now. If it is God's plan, then it will happen.
Q. - How has your wife, Evelyn, been involved in your
formation?
A. - Evelyn was there for me, all the way, in full
cooperation and support. I’m proud to say that she helps
me in the nursing home and was with me there for the past
25 years. She attended meetings when I was preparing for
ordination and I am very proud that she is a partner in
ministry with me.
We learned alot about Deacon Frank and about what the
ministry of Deacons. We had alot of fun doing this
interview. More interviews to follow. Stay tuned!
Brittany Connors and Jonathan Fronterre
St. A’s News
-11-
Spring 2003
PARISHIONER PROFILE: GEORGE CESARANO
If you have ever attended a 10AM Mass on Sunday at St. A's, then I'm sure you have had
the pleasure to see this handsome fellow who has been one of our dedicated ushers for the last 15
years. He was born George John Cesarano on February 22, 1922 and baptized at Our Lady of Peace
Church on Carroll Street in South Brooklyn, where he went to school, received communion in 1929
and was confirmed in 1935.
George was drafted into the army in 1941. He did his
basic training in Camp Adair, Oregon and was a member of
the 104th Infantry Division (known as the "Timberwolves).
He fought in Normandy, Belgium, Holland and Germany to
the end of the war and came "home sweet home" in 1946.
He married Louise on June 15, 1947. His first job was working as a fruits
and vegetables peddler in this area of Bensonhurst and he liked it so much, that he
bought his house on 59th Street in 1950 and has been here ever since. They have 3
children (two daughters, Maria and Pamela and one son, Richard). They have also
been blessed with 5 grandchildren; Jennifer, Melissa Laura, Nicole and Salvatore.
George and his family are proud to say that they have been part of the St. Athanasius
family for 53 years. God Bless You, George!
Paula Lobello-Raiola
Editor’s note: Can you guess which soldier is George?
GETTING TO KNOW THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH WHO LIVE IN OUR PARISH
St. Athanasius Convent
S. Nora T. Ashe is currently Principal of St. Ephrem School. S. Nora taught at St.
Athanasius School from 1975 to 1987.
S. Joan Dillon for the past thirteen years has been an Academic Guidance Counselor
at Bishop Kearney H.S.
S. Rosemarie Figlia has been involved in both elementary and secondary education.
From 1968 to 1974 Sister taught at St. Athanasius. She then served as a DRE in the
Rockville Center Diocese. Presently, she is the Campus Minister at Bishop Kearney
H.S.
S. Mary P. Hurley has been an art teacher and Chairperson of the Fine Arts Department in Bishop
Kearney H.S. Sister has lived in St. Athanasius Convent since 1985. During these years she has been a
Eucharistic Minister in both St. A’s and Bishop Kearney and has been privileged to visit and bring
Communion to the homebound in the Parish.
S. Yolanda Kinsella is a Social Worker at the Henry Street Settlement. She is also
the Coordinator of the Laryngectomy Support Group hosted monthly in St.
Athanasius Convent.
S. Yolanda Kinsella
St. A’s News
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Spring 2003
S. Barbara Lynch taught in St. Athanasius from 1968-1976, coordinated the
Junior High Religious Ed program, Children’s Choir, and the elementary, high
and college level Young Christian Students. Since her return in 1988, Sister has
taught English and is now Librarian at Bishop Kearney H.S. She is a lector and
the Parish Advocate for Persons with Disabilities.
S. Mary Godfrey Majka taught first grade in St. Athanasius School from 1979
to 1985. She was also involved in the Parish as First Sacraments Coordinator,
Principal of CCD, Eucharistic Minister, member of the Finance Committee and
Parish Council. At present, Sister is a Financial Officer/ Bookkeeper at Bishop
Kearney H.S.
S. Barbara Lynch
S. Mary Godrey Majka
S. Kathleen McGonigle taught in St. Athanasius School from 1985 –1990.
Currently. She works in the Catholic Migration Office as Director of Educational
Services. Here at St. A’s, Catholic Migration Office offers English classes for
adults to help them learn the basic skills of the English language.
S. Anne Mollica grew up in the neighborhood, went to Regina Pacis and
Fontbonne Hall. She taught grade school and French, mostly in Queens schools.
Sister celebrated her Jubilee this year and is presently working in
Fontbonne Hall.
S. Anne Mollica
S. Kathleen McGonigle
S. Barbara Murtha has resided in St. Athanasius Convent since August 1987.
From 1987 until 1995, her ministry to the Parish was as Principal of St.
Athanasius School. After resigning as school Principal, Sister returned to work
with the elderly. At present, she is housing coordinator for two of the Catholic
Charities senior housing programs. She is also present to the parishioners who
attend our Parish Bereavement Ministry.
S. Mary Charlotte Ryan has been a Sister of Saint Joseph for sixty-four years.
She has ministered as an Elementary School Teacher and Principal, a Chaplain,
Parish secretary and Chauffeur. Sister is retired and
S. Mary Charlotte Ryan
happy to be a member of the St. A’s Community.
S. Barbara Murtha
S. Elizabeth Schroeder (“Sister Betty”) ministers in the field of education.
She has worked on the elementary and secondary school level as a teacher
and administrator. Sister was Principal in St. Athanasius School and is now
the Principal of Our Lady of Angels in Bay Ridge. Sister serves St. A’s
Parish as a Eucharistic Minister.
S. Dorothy Zachorowski is a Religion teacher at Saint Joseph High School,
Downtown Brooklyn.
S. Dorothy Zachorowski
S. Elizabeth Shroeder
Editor’s note: A special thanks to the “St. A’s Sisters” for providing these short “bios” & to Sr. Barbara Lynch
for coordinating, gathering & typing them for an easy “paste up.” SEE HOW BLEST WE ARE HERE!
St. A’s News
INSERT
AROUND THE PARISH
In preparation for Lent, Fr. Bryan celebrated a new
ceremony, the Burning of Palm & the Burying of the Alleluia.
Students in the Religious Education Program colored “alleluia”
banners & placed them in a box made by Nick Cagliuso. The
children anxiously waited until Easter Sunday to sing alleluia as
part of the Blessing of Children’s Easter Baskets at the 10 &
11:30am Masses. The Narthex displayed the children’s alleluia
banners for the Octave of Easter.
During Lent Msgr. Dave provided us with a video series
exposing us to the spirituality of John of the Cross & St.
Maximilian Kolbe. Additionally he showed a video on the
Passion of Jesus. Mary Genusso, one of our parishioners, led an
evening Bible reflection on the Mercy of God. Mary helps train
new Pastoral Associates for the Diocese and is completing her
PhD studies in the Philosophy of Religion. Next year she will
work with Pastoral Associate John Fruner in offering adult
education through the Nazareth Institute. In Lent, The Xavier
Company performed “No Greater Love,” a musical on the
Passion.
Fr. Long & Fr. Patterson continue to teach some
theology classes at St. John’s University. Fr. Long continues his
studies for a Master of Science degree in Educational
Administration while Fr. Patterson is putting finishing touches on
his thesis for another degree in Theology. If you remember,
Msgr. Dave was awarded a Master of Science degree in
Educational Administration from Mercy College last may.
John Fruner, our Pastoral Associate, was inducted into
Phi Kappa Phi, an international honor society for graduate &
doctoral students, at Fordham University on March 5. John will
graduate Fordham in May 2004 with a Master of Arts in
Theology & a Master of Clinical Social Work. He has been able
to maintain a 3.95 grade point average & plans on continuing his
theological studies after graduation.
Joanne Bruccoleri was installed as one of our new
Eucharistic Ministers. She began serving in February. Joanne,
along with Pat Deasy, worked on the Jubilee Committee,
coordinating the fellowship hour under the Tent for the May 2
Anniversary Mass. Additionally, Joanne is completing her first
year of the Bensonhurst Cluster Lay Formation Program. She is
joined by James Sweeney, Palma Parmese & Peggy Flanegan.
Msgr. Dave hopes to encourage 10 parishioners to begin the new
class in September. After this program, parishioners participate
in the Pastoral Formation Program, leading to diocesan
appointment as Lay Ecclesial Minister, as Joseph Barbieri
functions here at St. A’s. Lay Ecclesial Minister is a volunteer
Parish Staff position.
Congratulations goes to Anthony Faga, our high school
seminarian, as he was accepted into Cathedral Residence
Seminary. Anthony will be attending St. John’s University and
majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy to prepare
him for ministry and graduate theological studies.
The Respect Life Ministry, led by Rosemary Mangino,
arranged a powerful evening of prayer in Lent entitled “Night of
Hope & Healing.” The Office of Family Ministry provided
reflections on God’s healing. Fr. Long and Fr. Patterson joined
the service to hear Confessions.
The Polish Community is rapidly growing and the
average attendance is almost 100. First Communion classes are
provided in Polish by Robert Rabka and a Polish Choir is being
Spring 2003
formed. A parishioner plays the organ and Robert is brushing up
on his guitar skills. Robert has a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
(which is a Master of Divinity here in the U.S.) and a Licentiate
in Sacred Theology from Rome.
His concentration was
spirituality.
Steven LaPlante, our Music Director, provided us with
an organ concert on March 8, performing Widor’s 6th Symphony.
On March 9, Theresa & William Marinelli celebrated
their 25th Wedding Anniversary at the 10a.m. Mass. Theresa is
one of the cantors & has been involved in Music Ministry here
for many years. Theresa Panical has been cantoring at the
Sunday 6pm mass while her brother Michael continues to play
piano.
Sal Iucullo provided the Holy Name Society with a first
class Carnavale Celebration, Tuesday March 4, preparing the
antepasta himself. That previous Sunday, Sal coordinated a
blood drive. Sal’s grand daughter Marisa has joined the
11:30a.m. Choir.
Fr. Long continues to work with parishioners in
providing “In home Pre- Cana” as well as providing religious
education to parents, guardians & godparents baptizing their
children.
Lay Ecclesial Minister Joseph Barbieri trained new altar
servers and preached for the first time on Holy Saturday Morning
Prayer.
Angie Maffe continues to provide clean altar linens,
along with her dedicated team of parishioners who can be seen
each Friday polishing the marble, candle sticks, and decorating
the church environment. A new look for our Christmas Crib and
Holy Thursday Altar of Repose was due to Angie’s creativity.
Of course, Tina Giaquinta sewed these two new altar backdrops.
Nick Cagliuso built the supports for these backdrops.
Dana Franco, a member of the Folk Group who plays
flute, will graduate Brooklyn College with a Master’s in
Elementary Education. Unfortunately, Dana will be moving after
the school year. She has been with us for 3 years & taught 2nd
grade in Holy Spirit school.
G.I.S.A. provided the parish with a dance in honor of its
patron, St. Joseph.
Wonderful company & fine food
characterized the celebration. Good Friday was prayerful as
G.I.S.A. labored to coordinate our Cluster’s Procession. This
October’s Italian Apostolate Mass will be held here at St. A’s.
On March 11, Msgr. Ferrarese came back to deliver a
Lenten message as a “kick off” to an intense preparation for Holy
Week. He focused on Jesus’concern for those suffering.
Louis Guida, son of Joan Guida who is a first grade
catechist, played the lead in St. Edmund’s production of
GREESE, during the first week of April.
Luis is an
accomplished hockey player and what an actor- and he can sing
& dance. Now to get Luis to sing in the choir!!! (We know you
can hold a note Luis- Steven is going to seek you out!!!)
Nick Cagliuso is the “St. Joseph of St. A’s” as he
recently completed a new church sign, is working on a new
school sign, restored original 1914 consecration & benediction
bells, & is putting final touches on to a Presider’s Chair used in
our original church. Nick installed our new hymnal racks &
made the cantor stand, Paschal Candle stand, pews in the
sanctuary & recently restored some candle stick holders.
Alice Friedman
Got any news for me? E-mail me:
StAthanasiusNews@aol.comPlease
St. A’s News
INSERT
Spring 2003
A Message from our Pastoral Associate John Fruner
WHY GOD? WHY?
Tragedies smack us in the face too quickly and unexpectedly, even when we are
trying our best to serve God. It just doesn’t seem fair! At some point we all find
ourselves asking life’s most troubling questions, “Why?” and “Why would God permit
this to happen to me?”
We believe that not only did God create the universe, but God maintains an active
relationship to the created. This is called God’s Providence.
Scripture is full of places where we are taught that: “No one knows the thoughts of
God,” (1 Cor 2:11) and as “we know not the path of the wind, or how the body is formed
in a mother’s womb, so we cannot understand the work of God.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5)
Additionally, God’s judgments are “unsearchable” and God’s ways “past finding out!”
(Romans 11:33) Unless God chooses to explain these events, they will remain beyond our understanding.
What this means is that many of our questions, especially those that begin with why, have to remain
unanswered. We have been given too few facts to explain the heartaches in our world. Paul, in 1 Corinthians
13:12 reminds us that we will not have the total picture until we meet God, and he implies that we must learn to
accept this partial understanding. Basically, there are times in our life when circumstances don’t add up and
God doesn’t seem to make sense.
One thing we can be sure of is that God’s heart is especially tender towards our sufferings. God knows
every tear we shed. God feels our intense pain and suffers along with us. Isaiah tells us: “Do not fear, for God
is with you. He will strengthen you and help; he will uphold you with His hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
We know that Jesus experienced human emotion. We see this when Jesus wept for Lazarus his friend.
So the pain we go through, is not a pain that God doesn’t understand. Additionally, it is not a pain that was sent
to us by God. Many times we interpret pain as our victimization by God, and this causes disillusionment.
While this is a normal human response, we have to be careful that these feelings don’t lead to despair. If we
hide this pain, if we bury the pain, we usually become consumed with anger and resentment. We might avoid
others so we don’t have to be reminded of our own losses and we stand the chance of losing them as well. We
must rely and demand the support of our family and friends. This is the meaning of God’s Providence. God
placed people with us, in order to support and help heal us.
Interestingly enough, even after the events of 9-11 and during this war, all of us have a sense of God’s
Providence that helps make sense of life. Those of us who are here today may wonder why we have been
spared if we work in Manhattan. Most of the time, our regrets come out of unreasonable expectations of
ourselves. We need to recognize these feelings but also admit, after a review of the event, that our “survivor’s
guilt” creates additional sorrow and the demand for yet another answer. There is no answer.
In the book of Lamentations, in the Hebrew Scriptures, Jeremiah says: “I have been deprived so I say,
‘My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.’ I remember my affliction and my wandering, the
bitterness. I remember well and my soul is downcast within me.” (Lamentations 3:17-20) Although Jeremiah
opens his heart in a gut-wrenching fashion, he later on looks for the wisdom beyond his struggles. He sees how
God’s concern affects his life. After time, and much healing Jeremiah says: “Therefore, I have hope because of
the Lord’s great love and His compassions never fail.” (Lamentations 3:21-22) The grief, anguish and pain led
to healing, over time which allowed Jeremiah to say: “We are not cast off by the Lord. Though life’s events
bring grief, God shows us compassion. So great is God’s unfailing love.” (Lamentations 3:31-32) Facing
sadness, then, on a daily basis, no matter how severe it is, will enable us to grasp Jeremiah’s understanding of
God’s compassion so that we can have a life worth living.