Dear Parishioners,
Let me give you the parish updates for this week:
Parish Outreach
The Parish Outreach Office is open for the collection and distribution of food from the food pantry. Volunteers are making deliveries. As of now, our pantry has been able to service anyone who requests help, regardless of residence. We are very grateful for the constant donation of food for the pantry.
Some requests have come in for assistance with paying bills because of unemployment caused by the pandemic. Financial support is being limited to residents of Floral Park or registered parishioners. If you would like to contribute to this specific fund, checks can be made to OLV, with the notation “Pandemic relief.” Thank you for your generosity!
Mass on YouTube and Facebook
Sunday Mass and Daily Mass from Our Lady of Victory continue on our YouTube channel. It’s a great way to bring faith directly into your homes – making them “the domestic churches” that they were always meant to be.
Many people expressed their appreciation for the Masses for the Sick and the Masses for the Recently Deceased that we prayed this past week. Our prayers will continue.
Seminarian Paul Pileggi
Seminarian Paul Pileggi has been with us at OLV since September. He has gotten involved in all aspects of parish life:
- Teaching in the Faith Formation Program
- Visiting the School
- Working in Parish Outreach
- Serving and Lecturing at Masses and funerals
- Visiting the sick
- Entertaining us in the rectory
- And most recently, recording and uploading our Masses to YouTube and Facebook!
- And so much more …….
May 8th will be Seminarian Paul’s 30th birthday! While the celebration may have to be subdued because of our current situation, our wishes for a happy birthday and many more to come are not subdued!
Paul’s Pastoral Year assignment is coming to a conclusion on May 10th. We certainly wish him well and hope that he knows he is always welcome back at OLV! He is waiting to hear where his summer assignment will be.
Vocations need encouragement, so let me encourage you to write Paul a note of appre- ciation for his ministry here at OLV and a word of encouragement as he continues to discern his call to the priesthood!
Parish Finances
Thank you for your generosity to the Easter collection. Parishioners have been very faithful in sending in their parish envelopes, and many have signed up to make their donations through on-line giving. Parishioners are also making up for missed weekends. As a result, by the time it is completed, our Easter collection will match last year. Thanks to your generosity to the parish currently, and in the past, OLV Parish remains financially secure.
Parishioners have also been generous in donating specifically to assist families who are in temporary financial difficulty due to the pandemic. If you need one-time assistance please contact me directly through email (tfusco@olvfpny.org). And as I mentioned earlier in this letter, donations to this fund can be made to OLV—Pandemic Relief.
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker – May 1st
This Friday, May 1st, is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. We will be remembering in prayer all those people whose employment has been affected by our current situation.
We pray we will be together again soon!
Praised be the name of Jesus Christ now and forever!
Fr. Tom