St. Mary's Cemetery, Rye Brook, NY

05/07/2026

Memorial of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As the flower of May opens, we honor the Patron Saint of theologians who was also a Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Saint Athanasius was a young deacon at the great Council of Nicaea in 325 who championed what every Christian heart whispered in prayer: that Jesus is God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God — consubstantial ("of the same substance") with the Father.

When the A***n heresy swept the empire, Athanasius stood firm through five exiles, earning the most beautiful of titles: Athanasius contra mundum — Athanasius against the world. His luminous "On the Incarnation" remains one of the most radiant meditations ever written on why the eternal Word clothed Himself in our flesh — so that we might be clothed in His divinity. He is a Doctor of the Church, a Father of Orthodoxy, and a shepherd who loved his flock far more than his own safety.

Let the witness of this holy bishop remind us that Truth is always worth defending — gently, lovingly, but with absolute conviction — even when the whole world presses against you. Let us ask him to intercede for our own courage and clarity of faith, and our willingness to stand, with grace, for the One who first stood for us on the Cross.

May peace be with you, beloved — the peace that Athanasius sought not in the approval of the powerful, but in the silent, unshakeable embrace of Christ. 🕊️

05/07/2026

The Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As we begin May, we honor Saint Joseph, the gentle and mighty guardian of the Holy Family — a man chosen by God not for his eloquence or power, but for the quiet holiness of his calloused hands and faithful heart. Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, teaches us that all honest labor is sacred, that every task done with love and integrity is, in truth, a prayer offered to the Father. In Joseph, we see the profound dignity of work — not as mere toil or burden, but as a participation in God's own act of creation. It is no accident that Jesus, the Word made flesh, learned to shape wood beneath Joseph's patient guidance.

Joseph is the patron of fathers, of families, of the dying, of the universal Church herself. He who sheltered the Christ Child and protected Our Lady is ever near to those who carry heavy responsibilities in silence, who provide without praise, who protect without recognition. When you feel unseen in your labors, remember Joseph — Heaven's eyes were always upon him, and they are always upon you.

May peace be with you, today, and always...

05/05/2026

Misa del Día de los Caídos, lunes 25 de mayo.

Por favor, únase a nosotros para la Misa del Día de los Caídos para honrar a los valientes hombres y mujeres que dieron sus vidas al servicio de nuestra nación. Por favor, visite la página de eventos en nuestro sitio web para direcciones exactas: https://calvaryandalliedcemeteries.com/events/

Cementerio Calvary, Woodside, NY: Sacerdote: Rev. Robert J. Llyod de la Sociedad Maryknoll, Hora de la Misa: 11 AM

Cementerio Gate of Heaven, Hawthorne, NY: Sacerdote: P. Sebastian Pandarathikudiyil de Holy Rosary, Hora de la Misa: 10 AM

Cementerio Resurrection, Staten Island, NY: Sacerdotes de St. Joseph/St. Thomas: P. Eric Rapaglia, P. Neil A. Kelly, P. Anthony Umeh, P. Myles P. Murphy, Hora de la Misa: 10 AM

Cementerio Ascensión, Airmont, NY: Sacerdote: Padre Michael Rafferty de la Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, Hora de la Misa: 11 AM

Al comenzar el mes de mayo, nuestra Iglesia nos llama a volvernos hacia Nuestra Bendita Madre, la Reina del Cielo, que ella misma estuvo al pie de la Cruz y conoció el peso de la pérdida. Ella no es ajena al dolor. Ella es la Mater Dolorosa — la Madre Dolorosa — y camina con cada familia que alguna vez ha dado descanso a un ser querido. Confiamos en nuestros héroes caídos a su tierna intercesión. Al visitar las tumbas de aquellos que aman durante el fin de semana del Día de los Caídos, te invitamos a orar con nosotros. Enciende una vela. Deja una flor. Y confía en que bajo el cuidado de la María y a través de la victoria de Cristo sobre la muerte, aquellos a quienes honramos están en paz eterna.

05/01/2026

Memorial Day Mass on Monday, May 25th

Please join us to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. Mass begins at 10 am at St. Francis of Assisi in Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 10 West Stevens Avenue, Hawthorne. Father Sebastian Pandarathikudiyil from Holy Rosary will be the celebrant.

As we begin the month of May, our Church calls us to turn to Our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Heaven, who herself stood at the foot of the Cross and knew the weight of loss. She is no stranger to grief. She is the Mater Dolorosa — the Sorrowful Mother — and she walks with every family who has ever laid a loved one to rest. We entrust our fallen heroes to her gentle intercession. As you visit the graves of those you love on Memorial Day weekend, we invite you to pray. Light a candle. Leave a flower. And trust that in Mary's care and through Christ's victory over death, those we honor are held in eternal peace.

04/29/2026

The Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena

Today our Church honors Saint Catherine of Siena—a humble daughter of the Church whose life became a living flame of prayer, charity, and courageous truth. Named a Doctor of the Church, she is counted among those rare souls whose words and witness continue to illumine the heart of Catholic faith across the centuries.

From her earliest years, she was drawn into intimate union with Christ—receiving heavenly visions, consecrating her virginity at a tender age, and later entering into that profound “mystical marriage” which sealed her life entirely to Him. Yet her holiness did not remain hidden. It poured forth in tireless service to the poor, in bold counsel to princes and popes, and in her ardent longing to call the Church back to purity, unity, and love.

As co-patron of Italy and of Europe, Saint Catherine reminds us that the communion of saints is not bound by time or death. In the quiet sanctity of our cemetery, heaven and earth gently meet; there, the living and the faithful departed remain united in prayer, in love, and in the sure hope of the Resurrection.

Take a moment today to commend to God a beloved soul who has gone before you. Entrust them to the mercy of Christ, who is Life itself.

May Saint Catherine's radiant example draw us ever deeper into the peace of God—both in how we live, and in the rest for which we hope. 🕊️

04/28/2026

The Feast of Our Lady of Montserrat: Our April Rose

Each year on April 27, our Holy Mother Church lifts her eyes to the heights of Catalonia and celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Montserrat. Amid the jagged splendor of the mountains near Barcelona, the Blessed Virgin is venerated in a loving image: Mary, crowned and enthroned, bearing the Christ Child upon her lap with quiet majesty. According to ancient tradition, the statue was fashioned by Saint Luke the Evangelist and carried to Spain by Saint Peter in the earliest days of the Church. During the turmoil of invasion, the sacred image was hidden within a mountain cave, only to be wondrously rediscovered by humble shepherds, drawn by heavenly lights and angelic music emanating from the mountainside.

How fitting, then, that her feast unfolds within the radiant season of Easter — that great 50-day hymn of Resurrection. In her title, Rose of April, creation itself seems to rejoice: springtime blossoms, light returns, and the earth awakens. So too does her story mirror the Paschal mystery — what was hidden is brought forth into glory, what lay concealed is revealed in light. In Our Lady of Montserrat, we glimpse a maternal presence who gently leads her children from darkness into the dawn of Christ’s victory.

04/27/2026

Good Shepherd Sunday: April 26, 2026

Watch the Holy Mass from Saint Patrick's Cathedral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ0uoMcsaBE

Good Shepherd Sunday falls on the Fourth Sunday of Easter and it is one of the most beloved and theologically rich Sundays of the entire liturgical year.

What Is Good Shepherd Sunday?
The name comes from the Gospel of John, Chapter 10, in which Jesus declares "I am the Good Shepherd." This Sunday shifts the Easter focus from the appearances of the Risen Lord to His ongoing, personal, and protective presence in the life of each believer. Jesus is presented as both Shepherd and Gate — He guides the flock not through force but through relationship, calling each sheep by name. He also contrasts Himself with "hirelings" and false shepherds who abandon the flock in danger.

The rich echo of Psalm 23 — "The Lord is my shepherd" — runs through the entire day, connecting Old Testament imagery to its fulfillment in Christ.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Good Shepherd Sunday is also designated the World Day of Prayer for Vocations by the Church. The Good Shepherd calls his own by name, just as God calls men and women to the priesthood, religious life, and lay service. Parishes worldwide are encouraged to pray specifically for more shepherds — priests and deacons — who will lead God's flock with the Heart of Christ.

The entire fourth week of Eastertide deepens the Good Shepherd theme through daily Mass readings, continuing in John 10. The week invites the faithful to reflect on:

The voice of Christ — learning to recognize and trust it amid competing voices in the world.

The abundance of life Jesus promises: "I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

The communal nature of faith — there are no "lone sheep"; to wander from the flock is to be exposed to danger.

The soul as a temple of the Holy Trinity, adorned with grace received through Baptism and the Sacraments.

This week is a beautiful midpoint of the 50 Days of Easter (50 Días de Pascua) — a season that began at the Easter Vigil and will culminate in the great feast of Pentecost. The Church is, at her core, an Easter people, and the fourth week calls us to live that resurrection hope with courage and trust in the Shepherd who knows us each by name.

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04/24/2026

50 Días de Pascua

Los 50 días de Pascua (Tiempo Pascual) representan una celebración sostenida y gozosa de la resurrección de Cristo, su victoria sobre la muerte y su ascensión, que dura desde el Domingo de Pascua hasta Pentecostés. Conocido como los "Grandes Cincuenta Días", este período simboliza una "semana de semanas" (siete semanas) que refleja la alegría de la resurrección y marca la transición del ayuno de Cuaresma a un tiempo de celebración, culminando con el descenso del Espíritu Santo y el nacimiento de la Iglesia.

Simbolismo y Significado

Victoria y Nueva Vida: Los 50 días simbolizan el triunfo de la vida sobre la muerte, enfatizando que la resurrección de Jesús permite a la humanidad participar en la vida eterna.

La Presencia Resucitada: Es un tiempo para reflexionar sobre la aparición de Jesús a sus discípulos, enseñándoles y ofreciendo paz después de su resurrección.

Celebración Alegre: A diferencia de los 40 días de Cuaresma dedicados al ayuno, los 50 días de Pascua están diseñados para reflejar una "temporada de festín", simbolizando que la redención trae mayor alegría que el dolor de la penitencia.

El Camino a Pentecostés: Los días representan los 40 días que Jesús pasó en la tierra antes de su ascensión y los 10 días posteriores que conducen al empoderamiento de la Iglesia por el Espíritu Santo en Pentecostés.

Una "Nueva Semana": Los 50 días representan aproximadamente una séptima parte del año, de manera similar a cómo el domingo es una séptima parte de la semana, haciendo efectivamente de toda la temporada un "domingo" del año, como lo describe Catholic Digest.

Comunidad y Misión: Es un período para celebrar la nueva forma de vida de los creyentes—"muertos al pecado y vivos para Dios"—y la comisión de la Iglesia de salir y vivir el Evangelio.

04/22/2026

Eastertide: The Great 50 Days!

The 50 Days of Easter (Eastertide) represent a sustained, joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection, victory over death, and ascension, lasting from Easter Sunday to Pentecost. Known as the "Great Fifty Days," this period symbolizes a "week of weeks" (seven weeks) that mirrors the joy of resurrection and marks the transition from Lenten fasting to a time of celebration, culminating in the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.

Symbolism and Significance
Victory and New Life: The 50 days symbolize the triumph of life over death, emphasizing that Jesus' resurrection enables humanity to share in eternal life.

The Risen Presence: It is a time to reflect on Jesus appearing to his disciples, teaching them, and offering peace after his resurrection.
Joyful Celebration: Unlike the 40 days of Lent used for fasting, the 50 days of Easter are designed to reflect a "season of feasting," symbolizing that redemption brings greater joy than the sorrow of penance.

The Journey to Pentecost: The days represent the 40 days Jesus spent on earth before his ascension and the subsequent 10 days leading to the empowerment of the Church by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

A "New Week": The 50 days represent roughly one-seventh of the year, similar to how Sunday is one-seventh of a week, effectively making the entire season a "Sunday" of the year.

Community and Mission: It's a period to celebrate the new way of life for believers—"dead to sin and alive to God"—and the commissioning of the Church to go out and live the Gospel.

Happy Eastertide everyone!

04/21/2026

‘Impressions of Joy’ by Diane Monet Brings Vibrant Landscapes to the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture through April 30. The Center is located at 18 Bleecker Street at the corner of Bleecker and Elizabeth Streets. The venue is easily accessed by several subway lines, including the R, W, 6, B, D, F, and M.

Watch The Good Newsroom report here: https://thegoodnewsroom.org/impressions-of-joy-by-diane.../

Ms. Monet is a romantic impressionist painter and a descendant of the legendary Claude Monet — her grandfather Alexandre Monet emigrated from Paris to the United States and was proud to claim kinship with the great master. Carrying on that lineage, Diane channels her faith and a deep love of nature into vibrant oil-on-canvas works depicting luminous landscapes, blooming gardens, and sun-drenched villages, guided by the scriptural call of Philippians 4:8 to dwell on whatever is true, lovely, and admirable. Her current exhibit, Impressions of Joy, on display at the Sheen Center in New York through April 30, 2026, arrives at a profoundly fitting moment — Easter season — as her canvases burst with the same spirit of renewal, light, and radiant life that the Church celebrates in the Resurrection. Just as Easter proclaims that darkness gives way to glory, Diane's brush transforms seemingly simple images into visons of warmth and kaleidoscopes of light, offering viewers a beautiful encounter with what she calls "God's simple blessings here on Earth."

Showcasing the classic impressionist style of the Monet lineage, Diane Monet delivers colorful depictions of God’s world around us.

04/13/2026

Sunday of Divine Mercy: Unconditional Love and Divine Mercy

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Imagine someone who has carried the weight of failures and shame for so long that they have forgotten what it feels like to be loved. Divine Mercy Sunday exists precisely for such a person. At the close of the Easter Octave, Jesus says once more: "Peace be with you." Through St. Faustina Kowalska, He asked that the world know His mercy is not a reluctant pardon, but a torrential love that rushes toward sinners the way a river rushes toward the sea.

What makes this Sunday so breathtaking is the promise He attaches to it. Go to Confession and receive Holy Communion with a contrite heart, and He promises something almost too wonderful to comprehend, and that is complete forgiveness of sins and all punishment due to them — a grace so total that the Church compares it to Baptism itself. You come to Him broken, and He returns you whole.

And so Divine Mercy Sunday is not just about receiving — it is about becoming! Forgive the ones who hurt you. Visit the lonely. Comfort the suffering. Every act of mercy you extend is a ray of divine light passing through you into a world desperately in need of it. This is the feast of the second chance, and the millionth, for it tells us — with the full authority of the Risen Christ — that it is never too late to come home.

May peace be with you...