The Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County

En la sociedad actual hacen falta personas que den testimonio de tu Evangelio en medio del mundo, y si surgen algunos que se arriesgan, tienen miles de trabas para demostrarlo. Las amenazan, las desaparecen y, en muchas ocasiones, les quitan la vida. Sin embargo, la invitaci6n sigue en pie para anunciar tu Pala bra: "Siempre debemos orar al duefio de la mies, que es Dios Padre, para que envTe obreros a trabajar en su campo, que es el mundo. Y cada uno de nosotros lo debe hacer con un coraz6n abierto, con una actitud
misionera; nuestra oraci6n no debe limitarse solo a nuestras peticiones, a nuestras necesidades: una oraci6n es verdaderamente
cristiana si tambien tiene una dimension universal"
(Papa Francisco, 7 de ju lio de 2019).

Qué estoy dispuesto a hacer por las vocaciones sacerdotales y religiosas de mi diócesis? Qué hago por los laicos comprometidos
de mi parroquia? Todos debemos cooperar para que el Reino de Dios crezca; todos somos pueblo de Dios y ovejas de su rebafio (Salmo 99). "Ustedes lo recibieron sin pagar, denlo sin cobrar'' (Mateo 10:8). Es la gratitud de la fe la que nos mantiene en pie de lucha. Dios nos da a manos llenas; su misericordia se manifiesta de diferentes maneras: en la familia, en el trabajo, en la universidad, y, en fin, en cada amanecer El esta con nosotros. Por lo tanto, urge que colaboremos con Dios de alguna forma: "Rueguen, pues, al duefio de la cosecha que envTe trabajadores a recoger la cosecha" (Mateo 9:38). °"'
Amen

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I love You with all my heart. Stay with me always, and keep me close to you. Amen. 

Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Te amo con todo mi corazon. Quedate siempre conmigo y mantenme cerca de Ti. Amen

Congratulations to our 11 CCNCC young ladies who were recently Confirmed at St. Mary's church in Hudson!

A Mass of celebration - this past Sunday, our Faith Formation families gathered at St. John's for a final Mass. meal, and faith sharing (the games were great!) It was a beautiful celebration of our 2026 graduates and all those who received Sacraments this year.

MANY THANKS to all the families who formed the 2025-26 CCNCC Family Faith Formation community! Together we created a blessed environment to demonstate for our youth, the value of sharing faith with our collective parishioners, and our neighbors throughout the region and the world. It is wonderful to share as we each develop on our journy of drawing closer to Jesus. There are many people who lend their time and talents - look out for special thanks to them in the next bulletin and please take time to thank them for strengthening our Family Faith Formation program. Many summer blessings to all our CCNCC network friends and families!

FAMILY SUMMER SERVICE - Check the next few bulletins for a listing of summer service events taking place  on either Wednesday or Thursday of 3 seperate weeks beginning in mid July. Our Teen Council is beginning to plan service events as well, and will be reaching out to the greater community to join in!

Please contact Ann Valley at (W) (518) 759-1828, (C) (518) 227 1025 or ccnccformation@gmail.com for more information about any of our programs. 

Congratulations to all our first communicants during the month of May, and congratulations and blessings to our Confirmandi - those
who received their Confirmation this past Sunday by Bishop Mark! (Pictures will be in a future edition of the bulletin.)

Those who have received their confirmation and all teenagers are invited to join our Tri-Parish Teen Council, who meet about once-amonth to plan and implement initiatives to help others in our community who are less fortunate than we are. Come tonight to the
5pm mass and to the picnic afterwards and ask questions. We'll announce the next meeting date and if you are open to joining,
maybe Fr. Steve will buy you pizza at the upcoming meeting. Congrats and Blessings and please join us!

When I was a young altar server, I once overheard two very different comments about the Eucharist. One person asked, "Is Father
distributing the bread or the wine?" Later, another asked, "Can you go get Jesus from the tabernacle?" Same parish, same Mass, but
two very different ways of speaking. I pondered: So, is it bread that we pretend is Jesus? Or is Jesus a tiny white thing in a box? I was
utterly confused.

This Feast of Corpus Christi is an excellent time to think about how we should speak about the Eucharist. In today's Gospel, Jesus
declares: "My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink." (John 6:55) His words scandalized his listeners, who feared cannibalism,
and even today puzzle many, who reduce them to metaphor. Both miss the truth.

The Church gives us better words that honor Jesus' words in the Gospel. After the consecration, we do not call it "bread" or "wine."
Nor do we say, "a piece of Jesus" or even "Jesus." We say: the Eucharist. We say: the Body and Blood of Christ. We say: the Real
Presence. We say: the Most Blessed Sacrament. These words safeguard the astonishing reality that Christ himself is truly present, whole and entire, under the appearances of bread and wine.

If we speak well about the Eucharist, we will think more clearly and believe more deeply. And if we believe more deeply, we will adore
more truly the On

Dear Jesus, as You ascended into heaven, You promised to be with us always.
Help us share Your Love in the world. Querido Jesus, al ascender al cielo,
prometiste estar siempre con nosotros. Ayudanos a compartir Tu Amor en el mundo 

Upcoming Events: 

Congratulations to our 11 CC NCC young ladies who were Confirmed this past weekend at St. Mary's church in Hudson! Many blessings for: Kaylee, Jocelyn, Anali, Lucy G. Esmeralda, Grace, Keira, Flor, Dolores, Lucy T, Logan. More details and pictures in next week's bulletin! 

Join us for these celebrations! Family Faith Formation end-of-year picnic, June 7, for all Family Faith Formation families at St. John's beginning with 5pm Mass. It will end with sharing by our older teens on their faith, journeys, and inspiration to continue participation after Confirmation. All friends and family welcome! 

Meet our new Teen Council members at the June 7 Family Faith Formation picnic; grade 10 and older, consider joining! 
All high school and college 2026 graduates (and Dec. 2025) are invited to a Mass to honor their accomplishments and bless them as they take the next step in their journey-June 7 at St. John's 5pm Mass. 

Please contact Ann Valley at (W) (518) 758-1828, (C) (518) 227 1025 or ccnccformation@gmail.com for more information about any of our programs 

EL CUERPO Y LA SANGRE DE CRISTO - JUAN 6:51-58 

Gracias, Jesus. Nos das tu Cuerpo y tu Sangre para alimentarnos; nos lo has dado todo, no te has quedado con nada para ti, hasta la ultima gota de tu sangre: "Pero al llegar a Jesus, vieron que ya estaba muerto, y no le quebraron las piernas, sino que uno de los soldados le abrió el costado con la lanza, y al instante salió sangre y agua" (Juan 19:33-34). Nos diste al Padre, para que sea nuestro Padre; nos enviaste al Espíritu Santo, para que nos guíe en la vida; nos diste a María como Madre al pie de la cruz. Nos lo has dado todo, por eso solo me queda decir: Gracias, Senor, por todo tu amor por nosotros. 

¿Como responder a tanto amor? Qué debo hacer en particular yen comunidad? Acudamos cada domingo con un coraz6n agradecido, para dar gracias y alabar al Senor por la Eucaristía. El Catecismo de la Iglesia CatóIica (numero 1324) explica: "La Eucaristía es fuente y cima de toda la vida cristiana. Los demas sacramentos, como tambien todos los ministerios eclesiales y obras de apostolado, estan unidos a la Eucaristía ya ella se ordenan. La sagrada Eucaristía, en efecto, contiene todo bien espiritual de la Iglesia, es decir, Cristo mismo, nuestra Pascua." Es bueno que, durante la semana, meditemos en las palabras del Evangelio de este domingo. Jesus dijo: "Yo soy el pan vivo, bajado del cielo. Si uno come de este pan, vivira para siempre ... el que come mi Carne y bebe mi Sangre, tiene vida eterna ... permanece en mí y yo en el" (Juan 6:51-56; CIC 1406). 

iSigamos unidos a Cristo por medio de su Cuerpo y de su Sangre! 
Amen 

Two questions about Trinity Sunday that are worth noting today: first, where does it state in the Bible that there is the three-in-one and one-in-three entity; and second, is Trinity Sunday part of the Easter Season or not? Let’s look at the second question, first since that is a question that I always wondered why we celebrate this important Feast on the Sunday after the Easter Season ended. Could it have been during the Easter Season? Of course, the answer is that it could be scheduled at any time during the year – but when does it make sense to schedule it?

The reason for the 50 days of Easter Season is all about Jesus’ life after His Resurrection and His time here on earth. Secondly, Trinity Sunday is about the theology that Jesus taught about His (and our) Father and that the disciples and us had to wait for the third person – the Holy Spirt - to come to us. We, of course, know that it happened on Pentecost, which we celebrated last Sunday. Since we-“know” about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we now can celebrate the three-in-one and one-in-three of the Trinity. Therefore, the
Church has decided it is appropriate to celebrate it on the first Sunday after the Easter Season has concluded. What about the question, where in the Bible… as far as I know, the use of the word “trinity” may not be in there, but in Matthew’s Gospel (see below) and in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (chp. 2), as well as a few other places, there is an indication about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We have heard the quote of Jesus in Mt 28:19 a number of times recently: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

And then in Matthew 3, we know the description of Jesus’ own baptism where the Spirit descends upon him in the appearance of a dove and the words of the Father from Heaven, “This is my beloved Son...” 

While this doesn’t explain the theological concept of the Trinity, it does point to the source – the Bible – specifically, the New Testament (Christian Scripture), specifically the Gospel according to Matthew. May Our Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit continue to bless you and your loved ones today and always! Fr. Steve

------------------------

Hoy vale la pena plantearse dos preguntas sobre el Domingo de la Trinidad: en primer lugar, ¿en qué parte de la Biblia se afirma
que existe una entidad «tres en uno y uno en tres»?; y, en segundo lugar, ¿forma parte el Domingo de la Trinidad del tiempo pascual o
no? Veamos primero la segunda pregunta, ya que siempre me he preguntado por qué celebramos esta importante fiesta el domingo
después de que haya terminado el tiempo pascual. ¿Podría haber sido durante el tiempo pascual? Por supuesto, la respuesta es que
podría celebrarse en cualquier momento del año, pero ¿cuándo tiene sentido celebrarla?

La razón de los 50 días del tiempo pascual tiene que ver con la vida de Jesús tras su resurrección y su tiempo aquí en la tierra. En
segundo lugar, el Domingo de la Trinidad trata de la teología que Jesús enseñó sobre su (y nuestro) Padre y de que los discípulos y nosotros tuvimos que esperar a que la tercera persona —el Espíritu Santo— viniera a nosotros. Nosotros, por supuesto, sabemos que
ocurrió en Pentecostés, que celebramos el domingo pasado. Puesto que «conocemos» al Padre, al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo, ahora podemos celebrar el tres en uno y el uno en tres de la Trinidad. Por lo tanto, la Iglesia ha decidido que es apropiado celebrarlo el primer domingo tras la conclusión del tiempo pascual.

¿Qué hay de la pregunta de dónde aparece en la Biblia…? Por lo que yo sé, puede que la palabra «trinidad» no aparezca allí, pero en el Evangelio de Mateo (véase más abajo) y en la segunda carta de Pablo a los Corintios (cap. 2), así como en algunos otros lugares, hay una indicación sobre el Padre, el Hijo y el Espíritu Santo.

Hemos escuchado varias veces recientemente la cita de Jesús en Mt 28,19: «Id, pues, y haced discípulos a todas las naciones, autizándolos en el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo».

Y luego, en Mateo 3, conocemos la descripción del propio bautismo de Jesús, donde el Espíritu desciende sobre él en forma de paloma y las palabras del Padre desde el cielo: «Este es mi Hijo amado...». Aunque esto no explica el concepto teológico de la Trinidad,
sí apunta a la fuente —la Biblia—, concretamente al Nuevo Testamento (las Escrituras cristianas), y más concretamente al Evangelio
según San Mateo. ¡Que nuestro Dios Trino —Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo— siga bendiciéndoles a ustedes y a sus seres queridos
hoy y siempre! P. Steve

“El Señor, Dios, compasivo y clemente, paciente, misericordioso y fiel” (Éxodo 34, 6)

Si tuvieras que describir a Dios en unas pocas palabras, ¿que dirias? En la primera lectura de hoy, Dios pasa por delante de Moises y así nos da su propia respuesta: dice que es “compasivo y clemente” y “paciente, misericordioso y fiel” (Éxodo 34, 6). Por eso, en esta fiesta de la Santísima Trinidad, celebramos que Dios se ha manifestado de un modo tan conmovedor y elevemos una oración diciendo: “Padre celestial, te alabo porque siempre tienes el control de todo. Tus planes no pueden ser impedidos por los planes de ningún enemigo. Yo soy tu hijo, amado y querido, llamado y apartado para ti y sé que puedo descansar en ti. Confío en ti, te alabo y te doy gracias por acercarme a mi y a mis seres queridos a ti.

“Señor Jesús, tú manifestaste la humildad de Dios cuando te hiciste un niño y te sometiste bajo la autoridad de una madre y un padre aquí en la tierra. Por eso, yo no tengo miedo de reconocer mi debilidad y pequeñez. Tu me mostraste lo importante que es obedecer a tu Padre celestial cuando te quedaste atrás en Jerusalén como un preadolescente independiente. De nuevo mostraste humildad cuando te sometiste al bautismo de Juan, resististe las tentaciones del diablo y te vaciaste en la cruz. Gracias a ti, puedo decir si a mi Padre. Gracias a ti, puedo resistir la tentación del pecado e incluso puedo ofrecer tu amor y sanación a aquellos que me rodean. “Espíritu Santo, tu eres la gloria de Dios que ha sido derramada para mostrarnos un adelanto de la gloria del cielo. Tu eres el que
nos transforma y nos consuela . Estoy muy agradecido porque tu estas conmigo y moras en mi corazón mientras vivo en la tierra.
Gracias por llenarme, por habitar en mí, por enseñarme y guiarme todos los días de mi vida. ¡Ven y lléname nuevamente!

Amén

Dear Jesus, as You ascended into heaven, You promised to be with us always. Help us share Your Love in the world.

Querido Jesús, al ascender al cielo, prometiste estar siempre con nosotros. Ayúdanos a compartir Tu Amor en el mundo.

Upcoming Events:

Confirmation at St. Mary’s church in Hudson, NY—May 31 at 3 pm, with rehearsal on Thursday, 5/28 at 6 pm (candidates only)

Join us for these celebrations! Family Faith Formation end-of-year picnic, June 7, for all Family Faith Formation families (only
one combined event this month) at St. John’s beginning with a 5 pm Mass followed by a picnic celebration; pizza and tacos will be provided. Please bring a small side or dessert to share (email Ann Valley at CCNCCformation@gmail.com to let her know what you can bring!) It will end with sharing by our older teens on their faith, journeys, and inspiration to continue participation after Confirmation (including question and answer times with both youth and adults). This is a wonderful way to celebrate the year and the accomplishments of our youth and families.

Ideas for summer service will be shared! All friends and family welcome! 

Meet our new Teen Council members at the June 7 Family Faith Formation picnic; grade 10 and older, consider joining! All high school and college 2026 graduates (and Dec. 2025) are invited to a Mass to honor their accomplishments and bless them as they take the next step in their journey—June 7 at St. John’s 5 pm Mass.

Congratulate our 11 young ladies who are being Confirmed this Sunday at St. Mary’s in Hudson (3pm). Thank you for your prayers as they have prepared for this blessed event! Anali, Dolores, Esmeralda, Flor, Grace, Jocelyn, Kaylee, Kiera, Logan, Lucy G. and Lucy T.

Please contact Ann Valley at (W) (518) 758-1828, (C) (518) 227-1025 or ccnccformation@gmail.com for more information about
any of our programs.

“He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.’” (John 20:22–23) 

For those of us who go to confession regularly, there is often a familiar frustration: “Why do I keep confessing the same sins?”  It can feel like a loop, cleansed but unchanged.

Pentecost reveals a hopeful perspective. When the Risen Jesus breathes on his ashamed and fearful disciples and gives them the Holy Spirit, he echoes Genesis, when God breathes life into Adam. This is not just primarily the removal of guilt, but new creation. 

In confession, we receive more than forgiveness. We receive a fresh outpouring, the breath of the Spirit, and a renewed mission. Jesus does not say to us, “You’re forgiven, now go back to your old life.” He says, so to speak, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21) 

That is why penance is not just saying a few prayers. It is reorientation. It is the Spirit summoning us to live differently: with mercy and healing. 

Just as Adam was sent into the world, and the Apostles were sent out after Pentecost, so too we are sent from the confessional — not just clean, but consecrated. 

Pentecost Challenge: After your next confession, ask the Holy 
Spirit for one way you can participate in Christ’s healing will for 
you. Then take one small, concrete step, and do not look back. 
-Father John Muir ©LP