Fourth of July: Rare that it falls on Sunday but as is the custom here we’ll have our usual First Sunday coffee hour – in red white and blue. The prayers we raise today are of gratitude for the many blessings of living in America and another prayer for Peace, which is our daily custom at the Shrine. It is a hope that during the great American cookout on Monday, amidst all the discussions about oil spills, Supreme Court appointments, state budgets, Afganistan, the economy, Al Queda, immigration and the MTA we each will remember "God Shed His Grace on Thee." With that hope and prayer we recall the spirit of 1776 among the leaders in Philadelphia – and pray our civic leaders of today may find the graces they need to persevere in their civic duties for the common good amidst the complex issues that face our country. God Bless America.
Diocesan Stewardship Appeal: Thanks to your generosity, the parish achieved its goal and raised more than $10,000.00. Each year we hold our breath, because the work of the diocese and parishes together face daunting challenges and needs in our faithful service to the Lord. The effort of our untypical parish is remarkable and the generosity is inspirational as we remember the right side of the saying: "Charity begins at home" as we work in unison to meet pastoral needs in the New York Archdiocese that no one parish can provide itself.
Baptisms: We have had even more baptisms since the last newsletter! The population of lower Manhattan is indeed growing and the children’s presence on Sundays is always welcome. Sometimes the infants sing – which gives us hope for an eventual choir. We welcome Avery Rose Gilligan, Dante Ellis Cowan and Ryan James Paterson and their families into our parish community of faith at Our Lady of the Rosary.
Historic Preservation Of The Parish House: The parish has spent $323,198.50 so far. Façade work on brickwork, window flashings and the roof proceeds. In next 10 days application will be made for our preservation grant. Our grant is a matching reimbursable one so the work will continue. The windows: some to be repaired, others replaced are big budget items. The tycoon search and other fundraising continue for the completion of the project. Keep your eyes and ears pealed.
Thanks: Each summer towards the end of the fiscal year if there’s a balance in the November Appeal Fund we think of church appointments. Thus we ordered much needed altar linens, two new sets of green and purple vestments and a church processional banner. As reported earlier, the fund also paid for the upgrade of the basement sound systems and a new elevator motor for a total of over $11.000.00. Those things could only happen with your generosity last November. Many many thanks.
Heads Up News: "Pathways to Excellence," is the name of a project Archbishop Dolan will launch by the fall throughout the diocese. Even though it has been outlined in a number of articles in the Catholic New York and other media, attention should be paid. It is a widespread consultation on many levels of parishes, institutions and schools "to prune the diocese for future growth." Consultations will begin in the fall and initial decisions will be forthcoming a few months later. Since the context will be changing demographics, aging institutions, personnel –clergy and lay, economics, present resources and future funding it is an awesome undertaking which will require good will and cooperation. The considerations will be the founding of new parishes, regionalization of parish schools and the realignment and closing of parishes all based on wide consensus and consultations. There is even the topic of consolidating seminaries with Brooklyn and Rockville Centre dioceses. It’s unlikely our own parish is to have dramatic effects, but we are connected and will be part of all the consultations in our neighborhood" Vicariate" i.e. the area below 14th Street to which we belong.
Some Dates to Remember:
- AUGUST 23, 2010: Church Misson Co-Op Program Visit: Worldwide faith concerns get renewed in our parish every time we welcome a missionary from far away to tell us of the church work there and to solicit our prayers and support. This year Fr. Claudius will join us for Mass and speak of the church in Tanzania, East Africa. It provides the opportunity for solidarity with faithful in other parts of the globe and the visit is a grace to us all.
- AUGUST 28, 2010: Mother Seton’s birthday. You are invited to a walking tour of Old New York beginning at 10:00am at the shrine. Buy tickets online at www.WallStreetWalks.com or call "Zerve" at 212.209.3370. It is led by two shrine friends Annaline Dinkelmann and Marie Beirne.
- OCTOBER 16, 2010: The Sisters of Charity will have a special Saturday evening Mass, after their own tour and program on Ellis Island and we are invited to join them.
- NOV. 6, 2010 :"WOMEN&SPIRIT" -PARISH HERITAGE Mark your calendar. The parish event will be a group tour to Ellis Island (in our parish!) to visit the exhibit about the history of nuns in America. Lunch on your own, followed by a conference in our church hall. Two nuns will make presentations and a panel of nuns will share insights on the meaning of their life, and faith and work today –from 2-4pm. Evening Mass that day may be included. Details will follow.
Help Wanted: If you know someone who is experienced with modest skills for computer graphic design the parish needs a volunteer occasionally to help prepare items for publication and printing. These days everyone asks for us to present files on discs or ports, and we are all thumbs. Software makes camera- ready copy gone with the wind. You may call Fr. Meehan.
New Mass Schedule: The Daily Masses are at 8:05 and 12:15 each weekday. Sundays remain the same. Mass at 11:00am. Saturdays have no services except for weddings, tour groups and special events.
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News & Bulletin 
