The Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County

We ask your continued support in the Diocesan Collection on February 17 and 18 for Black, Native American & Latin American
Missions. Funds from this combined collection support projects and are used to help fund catechesis and evangelization programs throughout the United States and the Church of Latin America and the Caribbean. Your gifts will fund catechesis, pastoral programs, marriage and family life projects, seminarian education, and many other necessary programs. The Black and Native American Mission Office provides grants for projects that promote Native American and Black evangelization efforts throughout North America including programs in the Diocese of Albany. By contributing to next week's collection you will provide seeds to grow the faith for years to come. Please support the Black and Native American Missions of the United States and the Church in Latin America.

Mass cancellations:  We make every effort to communicate to all our registered parishioners when Masses or other events are cancelled.  If you did not receive the email(s) send this past weekend, please reach out to your parish office (see inside front cover) and provide us with your updated email, and check our website ccnccparishes.org and parish Facebook pages for the latest news and updates from our parishes.  

Cancelaciones de misas: hacemos todo lo posible para comunicar a todos nuestros feligreses registrados cuando se cancelan misas u otros eventos. Si no recibió los correos electrónicos enviados el fin de semana pasado, comuníquese con la oficina parroquial (ver el interior de la portada) y proporciónenos su correo electrónico actualizado. Tambien puede consultar nuestro sitio web ccnccparishes.org  y páginas de Facebook or Snapchat para conocer las últimas noticias y actualizaciones de nuestras parroquias. 

Thank You! ¡Gracias! Thank you to all who helped in any way to prepare for the Christmas Liturgies as well as all the ministers who helped at those masses.  A special thanks to Fr. Gary, Fr. Bill and Fr. Tom for all the extra masses and confession help (during Advent).  We could not have offered all the masses and services without you!  Additionally, I offer my sincere appreciation for our musicians - singers, instrumentalists, etc. for all the beautiful sounds provided at the Longest Night Service as well as at all the Christmas Liturgies! Thank you to all our volunteers and staff who helped in any way during Advent or during these 12 days of Christmas! Lastly, thank you to all who came and/or encouraged others to come to mass or any of the Advent offerings!  Let us continue to pray for all our sisters and brothers in need.  Merry Christmas Day 12 and Happy Feast of the Three Kings and Epiphany!

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Gracias a todos los que ayudaron de alguna manera a preparar las Liturgias de Navidad así como a todos los ministros que ayudaron en esas misas.  Un agradecimiento especial al P. Gary, al P. Guillermo y al P. Tomás por todas las misas extras y la ayuda en las confesiones (durante el Adviento).  ¡No podriamos haber ofrecido todas las misas y servicios sin ustedes!  Además, ofrezco mi sincero agradecimiento a nuestros músicos - cantantes, instrumentistas, etc. por todos los hermosos sonidos proporcionados en el Servicio de la Noche Más Larga, ¡así como en todas las Liturgias de Navidad! ¡Gracias a todos nuestros voluntarios y personal que ayudó de alguna manera durante el Adviento o durante estos 12 días de Navidad! Por último, ¡gracias a todos los que vinieron y/o animaron a otros a venir a misa o a cualquiera de las ofrendas de Adviento!  Sigamos rezando por todos nuestros hermanos y hermanas necesitados.  ¡Feliz Navidad Día 12 y Feliz Fiesta de los Reyes Magos y Epifanía! 

Strengthening the Church at Home Our s cond collection this week will be for the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. Right now, over 40% of dioceses in the United States are considered mission territory because they are unable to fund essential pastoral work in their communities.

Your support of this appeal eases the struggle and assists in forming vibrant faith communities. Please prayerfully consider how you can support this appeal.

    Second Collection July 29/30:

2023 Peter's Pence Collection

for the Holy Father

Next week we will take up the Peter’s Pence Collection to support the Universal Church and the work of the Holy See, including helping Pope Francis to carry out his charitable works. These works benefit our brothers and sisters on the margins of society, including victims of war, oppression, and disasters. Please be generous. For more information, visit www.obolodisanpietro.va/en.html.

La próxima semana realizaremos la Colecta Peter’s Pence, para apoyar a la Iglesia universal y la labor de la Santa Sede, incluyendo la ayuda al papa Francisco para que pueda llevar a cabo sus obras de caridad. Estas obras benefician a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en la periferia de la sociedad, incluyendo a las víctimas de guerra, de opresión y de desastres. Por favor, sean generosos. Para más información, visiten www.obolodisanpietro.va/es.html.

Missionary Cooperative- As part of the Universal Church, we are called to pray and support missionaries throughout the world. Next week, we will be hosting Father Sulllivan, from the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. He will be saying and preaching at all Masses. (Fr. Gary and I will be off to different parts of the world.) Please welcome our visitor warmly! - Fr. Steve

Cooperativa Misionera- Como parte de la Iglesia Universal, estamos llamados a orar y apoyar a los misioneros en todo el mundo. La próxima semana recibiremos al Padre Sulllivan, de Las Misioneras de Nuesta Señora de La Salette . Estará diciendo y predicando en todas las Misas. (El Padre Gary y yo viajaremos a diferentes partes del mundo.) ¡Por favor, demos una calurosa bienvenida a nuestro visitante! - Padre Steve

Please join us in welcoming Alison Jansen, who has just been appointed the CCNCC’s new Director of Music Ministry. She previously spent 2 years as a parish musician in rural Washington state. As well as performing on keyboard instruments and leading the congregation in song, she is an avid woodwind player. She has been actively teaching in public and private schools in NC, GA, and WA for the past 20 years. 

Alison is very happy to have returned to NY after a long absence, along with her husband Dan, their cats Gemma and Lord John, and their dog Dobby. She is excited to have joined such a welcoming and vibrant Catholic community here in Columbia county. She looks forward to growing the current music program, and welcoming all who wish to raise their voices in song to join her. Please stop by after Mass and give her a warm welcome or email her at musicdirector@ccnccparishes.org .

As announced last weekend, the ministers of Holy Communion at mass will no longer be required to wear masks. They will continue to sanitize their hands before beginning distribution.

Also mentioned last week, the distribution of the Precious Blood of Jesus will resume at the masses on Pentecost.  Please note that receiving from the cup is not mandatory and you should not feel obligated to receive from it, just because it is being offered.

Lastly, we ask those of you who might have a cold, flu or worse to please keep a mask on and avoid shaking anyone’s hands (except for your immediate family). 

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping us all safe and healthy.

Nine adult members of our tri-parish family were formally welcomed into the Catholic faith at our recent Easter Vigil service on  Saturday, April 8th at the  Church of St. Joseph in Stuyvesant Falls. Samantha, Elda, Alberto, Alejandro, Itzel, Maria, Diana, Joselin, and Roberto, accompanied by their sponsors, received the sacraments at this beautiful Easter Vigil Mass.

What is RCIA? The RCIA, which stands for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is a process through which non-baptized men and women enter the Catholic Church. It includes several stages marked by study, prayer, and rites at Mass. If you or someone you know is discerning whether to become a Catholic or would like to “catch up” on your sacraments, please email Ruth Ellen Berninger or Roxana Moran (by clicking on their names) for more information.

Please join us in congratulating them and welcoming each of them into our Catholic faith family!

On Saturday, April 15 our Confirmation candidates along with others from Columbia and Greene counties, spent a day on retreat at St. Mary’s Academy in Hudson. The following day, April 16, 18 of our young people received the Sacrament from Bishop Edward Scharfenberger at Holy Trinity Parish. Congratulations to Christian A, Gavin, William, Addison, Olivia H, Sophia, Rose, Holly, Sasha, Christian L, James, Olivia M, Daisy, Blaise, John, Samuel, Lauren, and Taylor. May God bless them and their families as they go forth with
increased grace to serve God and others. 

A video of the ceremony is available at St Mary's-Hudson-Mass for the Conferral of Confirmation April 2023 - YouTube