St. Patrick Parish News

The St. Patrick School Chorus sang Christmas caroles during the lighting of our Nativity scene and Christmas trees.Fr. Jilson presides at the Nativity and Tree Lighting.

More photographs are available at the parish photo album.

The "prophet Isaiah" returns to speak with the children at the Saturday 5 PM Family Mass during the Advent season.

More photographs are available at the parish photo album.

The parish tradition of lighting the candles of the Advent wreath in the sanctuary continues this year.

More photographs are available at the parish photo album.

Our Reach for a Star program is underway again this year. There are a large number of families in need, which parishioners assist by taking one of our stars and purchasing the requested gift. The wrapped gift is then placed by the altar and distributed before Christmas by volunteers at our Parish Outreach center.

The Catholic Daughters held their Advent religious articles sale during the first two weekends of Advent.

Happy Anniversary! Sister Eileen Kelly, one of our Sisters of St. Joseph, is celebrating her 60th anniversary in religious life this year. Her life and work as a sister have taken her many places among many people.
If you wanted to sum up Sister Eileen Kelly’s 60 years in religious life in one word, you could use the word diverse. Sister Eileen adds another adjective “wonderfully” diverse.
Sister Eileen is one of seven Sisters of St. Joseph currently residing in the convent at St. Patrick’s. Her work within our parish has included instructing new parents in the Baptism Program, teaching in the Religious Formation
Program, and serving as a Eucharistic Minister. For the most part, however, her ministry has taken place outside of our parish.
Sister Eileen, her three brothers and one sister grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn -- the children of Michael and Bridget Kelly. She graduated from St. Joseph High School and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1948. Her first assignment as a sister was as a Kindergarten teacher. She then moved on to teach first grade. Sister Eileen’s next move was to Puerto Rico where she worked for six years. She finished her business degree while there (not an easy task since all classes were taught in Spanish) and taught first grade. She also became fluent in Spanish and eventually received a master’s degree in Spanish. Upon returning to the United States, Sister Eileen taught Spanish at her alma mater, St. Joseph High School, and later at Holy Family in South Huntington.
At the time of the Vatican Council, realizing the needs of the time, Sister Eileen, decided to move from teaching into parish work. She lived in a small group in Bohemia and did parish work for ten years. Next Sister Eileen went into service of the Mother House in Brentwood. Her next ministry was in the Suffolk County Office for Aging where she worked for 14 years before “retiring.”
Since retiring Sister Eileen has worked as the Social Service Coordinator for a senior citizen complex in Brentwood. She also helps at a soup kitchen in Ronkonkoma one day per week.
Looking back on the past 60 years, Sister Eileen says it has been a “wonderful journey.” She says she appreciates her congregation of Sisters and how they have educated her and led her to meet so many different people and
lead such a diverse life.
“Sometimes you think you are the one giving but you are actually receiving,”Sister Eileen said. “There has been a lot of receiving.”

Giving Thanks by Giving to Others - Many in need in our area were able to celebrate Thanksgiving as baskets containing all the makings of a Thanksgiving meal (from appetizers to dessert) were delivered to 75 families. Many thanks to our Parish Outreach volunteers and our generous parishioners for their donations.

Participants in our RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults and RCIA Adapted for Children program participated in the Rite of Welcome the 10:30 AM Mass on Sunday, November 23rd, 2008. Following the 10:30 Mass, candidates and sponsors and families gathered in the Emmaus Room for a breakfast hosted by the RCIA team.

More photographs are available at the parish photo album.

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving - When Abby, a first-grade student at St. Patrick School, celebrated her 7th birthday, it was also a happy occasion for several children her age she has never even met. After celebrating with friends at an ice cream party, Abby brought the gifts she received to Parish Outreach. Parish Outreach will distribute the gifts to families in need.

On Friday, November 21st at the St. Martin’s Knights of Columbus Council in Amityville, Chris Barrella and Anthony Germano were knighted at the 3rd degree. Pictured above (from left) are Ed Masak (DGK), Tom Fauls (PGK, FS), Chris Barrella, Anthony Germano and Ignatius Rienzo.

Deacon Fred Jackman, a deacon for 29 years and a dedicated servant of God and the people of our parish, died on Saturday, November 15th. He will be sorely missed by family, friends, and the people of St. Patrick’s he served so well.

“But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”
Luke 8:15

Obituary from the Long Island Catholic
Smithtown — Deacon Frederick Jackman, who served at St. Patrick’s Church, Smithtown, died November 15th, 2008.
Deacon Jackman, 84, a member of the first ordination class of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, was ordained to the permanent diaconate June 9, 1979. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1945 and subsequently taught world history at Regis High School, Manhattan (1945-1946) and history and English at Fordham Prep in the Bronx (1946-1947). From 1962 until his retirement, he worked for the Suffolk County Department of Social Services as a supervisor of case workers in the housing unit in Babylon Center. He was a certified social worker.
During his ministry at St. Patrick’s, Deacon Jackman served as a hospital chaplain. He assisted retired priests at the bi-monthly Mass at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, and he performed burial services for the Diocese of Brooklyn, St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Charles Cemetery, usually every third Friday. As sacristan at St. Patrick’s, he worked with members of the Rosary Altar Society to maintain all aspects of the sacristy.
The Mass of Transferral on Monday evening, Nov. 17 at St. Patrick’s was celebrated by Msgr. Ellsworth R. Walden, pastor; Deacon Vincent Abrahams was homilist. Msgr. Walden also celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial on Nov. 18. Deacon Jackman was interred at St. Patrick’s Cemetery here.
Deacon Jackman is survived by Mary Anne, his wife of 52 years; three children, Jeanmarie Romero, Michael, and Lisa Marie Asendorf; a sister, Delores Donato; and four grandchildren.


More photographs are available at the parish photo album.

Joe and Debbie Sowa, along with daughters Stephanie and Allison, were recently named the Holy Mother Mary Knights of Columbus Family of the Year. The Sowa family has devoted countless hours to the Knights and the many causes supported by the council. They have spearheaded many committees including Family Movie Night, the Advent Service, the Children’s Christmas Party, the Halloween Party, the Council Picnic and the council’s Installation Dinner entertainment committee. Congratulations!

Students in Level 8 of our Religious Formation program gathered in Canning Hall on Monday night, November 24th, 2008 to help with various community service projects. Thank you to all our students!

More photographs are available at the parish photo album.

St. Patrick’s celebrated Veterans’ Day on the weekend of Sunday, November 9th, 2008, by asking our veterans to come forward, praying for them, and presenting them with a special lapel pin. To all our veterans, thank you for your courageous and unselfish service to our country!

(From left): Laszlo Girhiny, Dan Burns, Caitlin Burns, Bob Bienemann, John Vigliante and Tom Keane (PGK) sell C&B (Charitable & Benevolent) raffle tickets after Masses.