St. Patrick’s, Bay Shore – “FORTUNATE US”

This past weekend, Fortunatus Mugisha and I visited and spoke at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Bay Shore. For me, it was a homecoming of sorts. I lived and worked in West Islip my entire life. Spending the weekend at St. Patrick’s allowed me to return to an area I am very familiar and comfortable with and to meet many wonderful individuals and families – some familiar and some brand new.

It was great travel to St. Patrick’s with Fortunatus (photo, right). He is actually a local celebrity at St. Patrick’s. Last Christmas break, Fortunatus lived in the parish during his Christmas break. The day before we arrived in St. Patrick’s, Fortunatus and the parish learned that he would be spending his pastoral year (Fall 2010 and Spring 2011) in the parish. As St. Patrick’s pastor, Fr. Thomas Coogan (photo, below left) said, it is “fortunate us” for having Fortunatus in the parish. If you met Fortunatus, who comes from the Diocese of Kabel in Uganda, you’d quickly agree.

Each parish I have visited offers so much to the people they are called to serve. Of course, they have many things in common. In addition, each parish has opened my mind and heart to new possibilities for ministry and service. In addition to Fortunatus’ celebrity status :), St. Patrick’s holds a monthly Mass for Children with Special Needs on the third Saturday evening of every month. I had the chance to meet some of the children and families who attended that Mass as the liturgy ended on Saturday evening.

What a tremendous outreach St. Patrick’s offers to these families! Once a month a special liturgy is help in the Coffey Center. It is a smaller space and allows families to come together to hear God’s Word and pray together. For some, the formal experience of Church can be tough and sometimes too structured. For others there may be fear of embarrassment or of being distraction. For sure – all are welcome at God’s table! This is just another way that St. Patrick’s puts that into action. Celebrated traditionally by Msgr. Emmett Fagan (who lives here at the Seminary), the Mass is a tremendous service to God’s people at St. Patrick’s!

The parish also provides respite for parents. Children can stay with trained volunteers on Saturday nights. This gives the kids time to play with one another and give their parents some time together too!

So the speaking tour continues…next week, St. Mary’s in Manhasset. In some small way I hope we are able to invite others to think about priesthood and religious life. In some large ways, we are gaining much more than we can ever hope to offer. Indeed, “FORTUNATE-US!”