Saint Mary

Parishioners have been inquiring about sending their weekly donations to us.

We are encouraging the use of our On-Line Parish Giving Program:   
Electronic Funds Transfer enables    you to have your Sunday offering   automatically debited from your checking account or credit card.  
 
You choose how much to give, how often to give, and what method of payment is to be used. You can     also make contributions to the     second collections and special events.  

Please click the Parish Giving logo above to enroll online
or you can call: 1-866-307-7140

OR

You may leave your donation envelope in the Poor Box in the church or
mail any contribution to us at the Parish Office, P.O. Box 780, Fishkill, NY 12524

Any questions, please call us (845-896-6400).  Leave a message  and we will get back to you at our    first opportunity.
                                     
Your generous support, as always, is greatly appreciated.

God bless us all during these trying times and days ahead.

                  

ST. MARY FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/stmarysfishkill/

We are currently posting both audio and video from St. Mary's (Mass, Rosaries, Stations of the Cross, etc.) on our Facebook Page. The Facebook Page is going to be one of our central means of communication, so we would encourage you to sign up. Creating an account is easy to do. Please follow these steps: 

1. Go to Facebook.com
2. Enter name, e-mail address, birthday, and gender.
3. Create a password.
4. Click "Sign Up"
5. Check your e-mail for the security code sent by Facebook. 
6. Go back to the Facebook tab and insert the security code. 
7. Once registered, type in "St. Mary Mother of the Church" in the search bar on Facebook and begin following St. Mary's page. 
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The Fishkill Food Pantry re-opened Monday May 4, 2020 for those in need ...
You must call to schedule an appointment to visit them -
845-896-4546
 (Hours - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
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St. Mary Sunday Bus
There is a Sunday bus made available
to those parishioners who have no
other way to get to Mass on Sunday.
Please let your neighbors, friends,
and family members know that they
can attend the 11:15 a.m. Sunday Mass
by utilizing this service.

Contact Manny Rodriguez (897-2306)
or Rita in the Office (896-6400)

We encourage ridership!  

*until further notice there are no public celebrations of the Mass.  Daily Mass: may be viewed at 7:30 am Monday - Saturday on our parish facebook page.
Sunday Mass:  may be viewed as a Vigil Mass Saturdays at 4 pm on facebook live and then it will be posted here on the parish webpage.

Saturday

9 AM and 5:30 PM (Sunday Vigil)

Sunday

Weekday

Holy Days

Vigil Mass 5:30 PM

Sign Up

View Larger Map / Get Directions

In this time of need, I invite all the faithful to seek together the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I share this prayer with you:

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones,
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,
we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms,
help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

“I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life.”
  John 8:12

Picture compliments of Steve Petruccio

TO SEE ALL UPDATES,
CONTINUE TO SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE
 

NOTE: 

Please be sure to read all of the latest updates - The Archdiocesan Faith Forward Information,
and Notes from Fr. Joe!

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THE RECTORY OFFICE IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
WORK BEING DONE REMOTELY.
PLEASE CALL AND LEAVE MESSAGE: 845-896-6400
YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL US: contactstmarys@gmail.com
IF SOMEONE IS IN DANGER OF DEATH, PLEASE CALL & SAY THAT IN MESSAGE.

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Archdiocesan Faith Forward

Dear Parishioners,

Cardinal Dolan held a press conference today (5/21/20) at 11:00 AM to speak about our gradual return to the full sacramental life of the Church. Reopening parishes in the Archdiocese of New York will be a GRADUAL PROCESS. (As of today, St. Mary’s church building is open for private prayer and we will have scheduled and announced confessions as we have been doing. We have not been given the green-light for public celebration of the Mass or other sacraments yet. When that happens we will notify you).

The Archdiocese has outlined 6 phases for a gradual reopening. Dates and descriptions of each of these phases will be forthcoming. Different regions (and therefore different parishes) will begin the process of reopening at different times. Given that parishes vary in size and resources, each individual parish will develop plans that are suitable for the particular parish situation.

It will take lots of time, effort, and patience for us return to the full sacramental life of the Church. Thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation as we move forward. Thank you especially for your prayers and know of our daily prayers for you, the wonderful people of the Parish of St. Mary, Mother of the Church.

Please know that we will communicate all official news to you ONLY via Facebook and the parish website.

This is the general outline of the 6 phases:
Phase 1: Churches open for private prayer and confession.
Phase 2: Celebration of Baptisms and Marriages (limited to 10 attendees)
Phase 3: Celebration of the Rite of Distributing Holy Communion Outside of Mass
Phase 4: Celebration of Daily and Funeral Masses with limited attendance.
Phase 5: Celebration of Sunday Mass with limits on attendance (25% of church)
Phase 6: Resume full Sacramental life.

Some other notes from the Archdiocese:
+ The obligation to attend Sunday Mass is suspended until further notice.
+ Those who are at a higher risk for COVID-19 (i.e., those who are older than 65 or who have underlying health conditions) are urged not to come to church for Mass. Those who cannot attend Mass may be encouraged to spend time daily reading the Scriptures, praying with their families, watching a broadcast or livestreamed Mass, and making an act of spiritual communion.
+Those who feel in any way sick or who are worried about attendance should not enter the church.
+ In accord with current state policy, the faithful (over 2 years old) must wear cloth face coverings when in public, including when they come to church.
+Attendees should sanitize their hands at the entrance of the church via sanitizer stations.
+All present at Mass should sit 6 feet or more away from others. Families may sit together.

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Archdiocesan Guidelines for Faith Forward HERE

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Message from Fr. Joe – Memorial Day Reflection
 (Posted May 22, 2020)

Dear Parishioners,
We as a community, and nation, pause to celebrate Memorial Day. This year, Memorial Day has a different feeling to it. As I reflect on Memorial Day, I would like to share with you some of my thoughts and remembrances.

When I was a Senior at Yorktown High School, I was also a Boy Scout who recently earned his Eagle Scout award. Our troop was lining up to participate in that year's Memorial Day parade when I was approached and asked if I would carry the American Flag and lead the entire parade through town. I was so proud to be chosen for the honor and as I carried the flag, I thought of all the men and women who served in our country's armed forces and how many of them paid the sacrifice of their lives so that we could truly be the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." I never forgot that Memorial Day and have tried to remember why we celebrate Memorial Day.

In one parish I served, Memorial Day weekend was celebrated with great respect. On the Friday of the weekend, one of the local cemeteries hosted a special prayer service. Men and women from the American Legion would attend and people from different faiths, Catholics, Christians and Jews alike. Myself and a minister would lead the service by reading from the Scriptures and saying prayers. We would remember those who had served, and gave their lives in service of our country. The town historian would tell the story of one of the soldiers from the town who served from one of the wars, and the American flag would be lowered to half staff for the rest of the weekend.

On Monday morning, the town would have its annual parade. I would march with the American Legion. We would gather in the center of town for another prayer service and after the service, the American Legion would host a picnic for the entire town. It was a beautiful way to remember what Memorial Day is all about …that freedom isn't free that someone died for our freedoms.

Here in Fishkill, on Memorial Day itself, there is a beautiful service at Fishkill Rural cemetery and the town now has it's parade on Monday as well. When we visit the cemetery, it is easy to recognize the grave of a Veteran, the Boy Scouts come and place a flag on it.

This year Memorial Day is different, no parades, no services and the Boy Scouts are not allowed to place a flag on the graves. The celebration may be different but the reason why we celebrate Memorial Day will always be the same. We as a Nation need to pause, pray, and remember. Remember that freedom isn't free. Some one died in the line of service for our freedom.

Many years ago I came across this prayer that was found in the pocket of a deceased Confederate soldier on the battle field of Gettysburg, the words which were simple then
are more profound today:

"I asked God for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might have the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered, I am, among all men, most richly blessed."

As we celebrate Memorial Day let us remember what it is that we are celebrating and thank God for the gift of the freedoms that we share.

Happy Memorial Day!
God Bless and Be Safe,
Fr. Joe
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Message from Fr. Joe – Feast of Ascension Thursday (May 21, 2020) CLICK Here
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We wish all of our Graduates Gods many blessings on their future plans -

Click here to see our beautiful parish graduates

Loving God, we thank you for all who graduate
from grade school, high school and college this time of the year.
You have blessed them during their years in school with wisdom, friendships,
and skills.
You continue to challenge them to make this world a better place because
of their education.
Amen

Registration for the  school year 2020-21 has begun! 

We invite you to experience St Mary School in action by
visiting us any time of the year.
See our high quality Pre-K through Grade 8 classes  for yourself.
 St. Mary School offers a full-day Pre-Kindergarten for 3 year-old and 4 year-old children.  Our Pre-K is a Kindergarten preparatory instructional program taught   
by a NYS certified teacher. We also have a before-school program which begins
at 6:30 AM and our after-school program extends until 6:00 PM.  
  
To book a visit please call the  school at 845-896-9561 or go to www.ApplyCatholicSchoolsNY.org  to apply online.

See how our Families are
Celebrating Their Faith Together at Home While We Are Apart HERE

Crowning Mary at Home Photo Gallery HERE

For all updates regarding St. Mary's Parents and Children's Ministry Programs in the time of the Coronavirus pandemic when we cannot gather together in person, including:

CLICK HERE FOR PARENTING MINISTRIES
CLICK HERE FOR BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY AND GRIEF COUNSELING SUPPORT GROUP