For Freedom, Christ Has Set Us Free!
What will you do with your freedom?
In the Church calendar of saints, July 4th celebrates Pier Giorgio Frassatti who died on July 4th, 1925. A young Italian man, Frassatti developed a deep spiritual life, joining the St. Vincent de Paul Society at the age of 17 and dedicated much of his spare time to serving the sick and the needy, caring for orphans and helping servicemen returning from World War I.
Pier Giorgio loved climbing mountains and giving what little money he had to the poor. He eventually died of polio at the age of 24 and the homeless whom he served flooded the streets of his funeral. Now a "Blessed" on the road to formal sainthood, Pier Giorgio Frassati shows us what a life lived generously looks like.
To follow the example of Christ and live that witness generously is to use your freedom for its highest end. "For freedom, Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1)
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassatti, pray for us!
"Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."
Prayer
Holy Spirit,
Grant all of us Your freedom
so that by putting aside the love of self
and bringing all earthy resources
into the service of human life,
we can devote ourselves to that future
when humanity itself will become an offering
accepted by God.
Amen
so that by putting aside the love of self
and bringing all earthy resources
into the service of human life,
we can devote ourselves to that future
when humanity itself will become an offering
accepted by God.
Amen
UPDATES JULY 2-3, 2022
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE – July 4, 1776.
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their resolve resulted in great suffering for themselves and their families. Of the fifty-six men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed
At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson's home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.
There was a great cost in signing the Declaration of Independence. Let us rejoice in our freedoms and never take them for granted.
On Monday, July 4, Morning Mass will be at 8:00 am. The Parish Office will be closed and there will be No Adoration. The church will be closed after Morning Mass. Have a wonderful holiday!
SUMMER PRIEST – FATHER JOHN BENNET
I am Fr. John Bennet Elias, hail from Tamil Nadu, India. I have my parents, a brother and a sister. After my secondary school, in the year 1998, I joined the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier commonly known as Pilar Fathers. My society is an Indian Society with Pontifical right and it's Generalate is in Goa, India. We have 370 priests in the society. I took my temporary commitment in the year 2002 and my final commitment in the year 2011. I was ordained a deacon in October 2011 and was ordained a priest on 05/05/2012. After that I was appointed as an assistant parish priest for two years and then in the year 2015, I was appointed as a headmaster of a nursery school and was the bursar for three years. In the year 2018, I was appointed as the director of the Minor seminary. In the year 2020, I was deputed for higher studies. At present I am doing my licentiate in Sacred liturgy in the University of Saint Anselmo in Rome. My hobbies are reading and playing different games.
Father John arrived on July 1 and will spend three months with us. Please give him a warm welcome to St. Columba. His presence will allow your priests to take some vacation time (our first weekends away in three years!).
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE SUMMER CLOSING
Our Religious Education Office will close for one month on Friday, July 15 and open again on Tuesday, August 16. Now is the time to make sure your children are registered for 2022-23!
VACATION TIME
Father Michael will be on vacation July 3-10.
Father Walter will be on vacation July 10-24
DUTCHESS CATHOLIC CHARITIES ANNUAL DINNER
Thankfully we are able to resume our annual fund-raising dinner for Catholic Charities here in Dutchess County! The Spirit of Service Awards Dinner will be held on Thursday, September 29 at the Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls. Honorees are the Sisters of St. Ursula/Linwood Spiritual Center, the Knights of Columbus St. Martin de Porres Council 7551 and McHoul Funeral Home. Journal advertising is available. Call Kim at 845-451-4299. Father Michael is putting together at table of ten from St. Columba. Tickets are $125.00. Call him if you are interested – 845-227-8380.