A Sacramental Saturday

                For seminarians, Saturdays are our day off. It’s up to use them as we wish – for catching up on studies, meeting up with family and friends, carrying out some pastoral work or anything that is a bit of a break from the rhythm and routine of Seminary life.  From reading this blog, I have had the opportunity to be involved in pastoral work at St. Anne’s R.C. Church in Brentwood and Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.  This past Saturday provided many experiences  and actually brought together various parts of my previous ministerial life and, perhaps, provided a glimpse of the ministerial life to come.

                The day began at St. Anne’s.  Here I was able to visit the Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen and met some members of the youth group at Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in West Islip (my home parish). Then, I had met with a few families hoping to have their child baptized. It is always so hopeful to meet with families excited to have their son or daughter baptized.  This week, I met a former student who brought his daughter to be baptized.  These are always great experiences and challenges. As St. Anne’s is a community of communities, many who immigrate to this area can sometimes struggle with acquiring original paperwork, documentation, etc. Helping to manage some of these issues is challenging for them and a good lesson for me.

                I left St. Anne’s for a little while to attend the funeral of Alyssa Acquafredda. Alyssa graduated from St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in 2004. She worked on many projects and activities in Campus Ministry during her time in the school. Approximately two years ago, Alyssa was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. If you met her over the past two years, you probably wouldn’t know she was sick. Her spirit, enthusiasm, and sense of humor ministered to others, including me. In her illness, she touched so man with her spirit of service, compassion and justice. (Click here for an example.) The funeral on Saturday was terribly sad but also a great sign of hope. She brought together many people as SS. Cyril and Methodius R.C. Church showed. Fr. Lee Descoteaux, the presider at the Mass, called on all of us to consider our response to Jesus’ question – “Do you believe?” to Martha and Mary in John 11:17-34. Alyssa knew and lived the answer to that question – YES!

                After returning to St. Anne’s, I later served at the Celebration of Matrimony for another former student, Alicia Pellegrino, at St. Frances de Chantal Church in Wantagh. Here, again, I was reminded of the power of community as so many family members and friends came together to support and encourage Alicia and her husband, Johnny.

                As Diaconate approaches, I continue to see and recognize the power of the sacramental nature of the Church. Whether it be working with those who want their children to be baptized, praying and finding comfort at the loss of a loved one or celebrating the new life in Matrimony - all are sources of encouragement and strength.  Ultimately, I guess it is this encouragement and strength that the Church provides to all who gather in prayer.