Visit Catholic Faith Network (click here) to watch Bishop Barres celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week live from St. Agnes Cathedral:   Wednesday, April 8 Chrism Mass at 11:00AM   Holy Thursday, April 9 Morning Prayer at 9:00AM Mass of the Lord's Supper at 8:00PM   Good Friday, April 10 Morning Prayer at 9:00AM Celebration of the Passion and Death of Our Lord at 3:00PM   Holy Saturday, April 11 Morning Prayer at 9:00AM Easter Vigil at 8:00PM   Find Bishop Barres' Pastoral Letter on Holy week by clicking here. 

Read More >

Join Deacon Jacques and George & Debbie Nieves for communal prayer by phone throughout the week: Saturday, April 4 at 7:00PM: The Rosary and a brief talk from Deacon Jacques Sunday, April 5 at 4:00PM: A Spiritual Communion Prayer Service (Sunday's Readings, Gospel, Spiritual Communion Prayer and Homily by Deacon Jacques) Monday, April 6 at 7:00PM: The Holy Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet*, and special Holy Week prayers Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00PM: The Holy Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet*, and special Holy Week prayers Wednesday, April 8 at 7:00PM: The Holy Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet*, and spec...

Read More >

Pastors have received the following instruction from the Diocese: "Do not plan to distribute Palms or make them available. There is no way to safely do this and guarantee that crowds will not form or that the virus will not be passed on amidst the palms. If possible, hold the blessed palms for possible distribution after the crisis has ended." In this parish we have canceled our order of palm. We plan if possible to bless palm and distribute it in September in connection with the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  

Read More >

To assist the Faithful who may be struggling during this crisis, Bishop Barres has issued a general dispensation from the law of abstinence (refraining from eating meat) for Good Friday 2020.  All are reminded however, that Good Friday remains a day of fasting and penance.

Read More >

Bishop Barres has transferred Msgr. Alesandro to the St. Pius X Enhanced Living Facility for Senior Priests in Amityville as of Friday, March 27. Soon after the diagnosis of the condition which has caused his upper body weakness, Msgr. Alesandro shared the news with the Bishop who has regularly kept himself informed on Msgr. Alesandro's condition. Given the current worldwide health crisis but not solely because of it, the Bishop decided to make this transfer. I know we all wish Msgr. Alesandro well in his new residence. When the current health crisis is passed we look forward to celebrating with him a Mass of Thanksgiv...

Read More >

Click title (above) to view Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Thomas the Apostle.

Read More >

Many of us have been praying Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours on Tuesdays before the 9:00 Mass for the past 11 years.  In an effort to continue this practice, I will email a booklet for Morning Prayer for that day to anyone who would like it, whether or not you've ever attended at church in the past.  Just send me an email telling me that you'd like to receive a booklet, and I will email it to you on Monday evening.  (Booklets do not need to be printed out.)  If there is enough interest, I'd also do this for Sundays. Send the email to: DeaconJohnFord@yahoo.com We need all t...

Read More >

The Vatican has announced special indulgences for those infected with COVID-19, for those in quarantine, for medical personnel, and for all who are praying for them.  Click here for full details.

Read More >

As of Sunday, March 22 at 8:00PM, no further liturgies will be permitted until further notice. This includes funerals, weddings, baptisms, and any other cause for gathering people together in the Church, other than private prayer. Emergency sacraments are permitted, as always, but while exercising the proper health precautions outlined in previous memos. Burial services may be offered if possible, while observing all safe distance precautions, and should be done at the grave site. Wake services should no longer be conducted. Both wakes and funeral (memorial) Masses can be postponed.  Confessions may not be advertis...

Read More >

(Click here for additional instructions received on March 21, 2020) Diocesan Episcopal Vicars offer this advice to pastors: Each of us as Vicars has received inquiries about ideas/adaptations. Permit us to offer some observations. The purpose of the extraordinary decision to cancel all public Masses, devotions, meetings, etc., is to respond to the directives of medical professionals and government officials to slow transmission of the virus and permit them time to prepare and cope with large numbers of very sick people. Our sacrifice is an act of the most basic charity in the defense of vulnerable human life, espe...

Read More >

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, “In case of necessity, any person, even someone not baptized, can baptize, if he has the required intention.  The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1256).  Baptism must be administered by pouring the water three times over the head of the one being baptized while saying, "(Name), I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Read More >

I remember, when I was a child in elementary school, how terrifying polio was. According to Wikipedia, the U.S. experienced severe outbreaks of 58,000 cases in 1952 and 35,000 cases in 1953, just as I entered first grade. Deaths in those years numbered 3,200 and 1,400. I don’t need Wikipedia to remind me that even for those who survived, the recovery often took a very long time with effects that looked like they would last a lifetime. Pictures of children my age quarantined in huge iron lungs made the disease a horrible reality to me, as did my parents’ fear of my ever using a public pool or swimming hole....

Read More >

There is such a great need for service in the life of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and often a huge number of young people who want to help those in need.  This Service Corps is one way to make this connection. Here’s how it works: 1. ANY middle school, high school and college aged students send their contact information to Bridget Jordan at bjorda5@pride.hofstra.edu. 2. As requests for help come from or come into our parish, you’ll be contacted to see if you can help. 3. If you can help with a particular project, great!  If not, no problem.  You’ll be contacted for the next o...

Read More >