St. Patrick’s welcomed five new altar servers. Congratulations to Bryan, Samantha, Frankie, Jarrett, and Kathleen! Thank you also to Brandon and Onofrio, two experienced servers who helped with training our new servers.

Catechists from our Religious Formation program were treated to an Evening of Prayer on Monday night. Fr. Walter Kedjierski, associate pastor at Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park, celebrated the Novena Mass. The evening continued in the Emmaus Room where he led catechists in a reaffirmation of their commitment to “echo the word of God” to our youth. Fr. Walter is the son of St. Patrick’s Director of Religious Formation for levels 1-4, Elaina Kedjierski (pictured left.) The evening was also sponsored by Peggy Soviero (pictured right), the Director of Religious Formation for levels 5-8.

On the morning of Saturday, May 16th, 2009, children who received their First Holy Communion this year assisted in the crowning of our Blessed Mother.

This years Spring Concert at St. Patrick's School was a great success as students performed, sang and played musical instruments.

This May, St. Patrick School student artwork (matted and framed) was proudly displayed and sold during the school’s art show.

Two little words, yet they contain so much more than they say. Hidden within is my gratitude, and appreciation for all the prayers, get-well-cards, Mass Offerings, flowers, fruits, and candy, that arrived during my recent hospitalization, and recuperation. To all the school children, teachers, parents, priests, Religious Ed staff and parishioners “Thank You!”

I am deeply humbled by your loving compassion and concern. It is good to be home. Be assured of my love and prayers. If to think of me is to pray, think of me often.

Sister Charlotte Maria Shinnick, C.S.J.

The Catholic Daughters held their Mother’s Day Flower Sale after Masses on Mothers Day weekend, May 10th.

If you attended the 12 noon mass during the past couple of Sundays, you were in for a treat as some very talented parishioners (photo taken on May 10th, from left) Lenny Scotto, Frank Thompson, and Joe Sowa provided the music.

Parishioner John Kennedy was recently honored by the Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation C for his work in founding the Catholic Middle Schools’ Athletic Association. The CMSAA enables middle-school-aged Catholic school students to represent their school in athletic competition against other Catholic schools. Students at St. Patrick School, for example, compete in cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball and baseball. The mission of Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation is to ensure the excellence as well as the continuance of Catholic Schools on Long Island by increasing awareness and by providing scholarship and program funding for the needs of students and schools.

Fr. Peter blesses the family of a newly baptized child at the 5 PM mass on Saturday, May 9th, 2009.

St. Patrick’s concluded its celebration of First Communions on Saturday, May 9th, as second grade students from St. Patrick School received the sacrament. A total of 15 First Communion masses were held with 308 children receiving their First Holy Communion this season. Congratulations to all our First Communicants and their families!

St. Patrick School students celebrated School Pride Week the week of May 4th, 2009 by coming to school in different attire each day. Wednesday was Pajama Day for children in nursery through third grade.

Level 2 students continued the celebration their first communions on Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 at St. Patrick’s church.

261 children from our Religious Formation Program celebrated their First Holy Communion during the weekends of April 18 th & 19th, April 24 th & 25th, and May 2 nd & 3rd. All who participated in our liturgies were full of joy, which was captured in the many photos taken each day. Our St. Patrick School children are receiving the sacrament on Saturday, May 9th, and our prayers are with them for a blessed and beautiful day.

We wish to offer congratualtions to all our First Holy Communion families, and many thanks to all who prepared our children for the sacrament and made our celebrations memorable.

Countdown to Graduation: Members of the St. Patrick School Class of 2009, many of whom have attended the school for 11 years, are counting down the days until graduation. The students will then be off to several different high schools.

St. Patrick School named its Students of the Month during First Friday Mass in May. Students are selected for demonstrating qualities of good citizenship.

Congratulations!