I am happy to let you know that we will be resuming some Masses in our church and chapel this weekend, June 13-14.  In looking forward to this, I can truly say in the words of St. Paul, “How I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” We are restarting by scheduling three Masses this weekend: 5:00PM Saturday evening and 10:00AM on Sunday in the church; 11:00AM on Sunday in the chapel. Each Mass will have limited capacity.  To avoid turning away anyone, please make a reservation for the Mass you choose on our parish website (click here) or by calling the parish offic...

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Msgr. Maniscalco is celebrating a new Mass for all those in our community who have died since the parish has not been able to have funeral Masses.  The Mass will be on our website as of Thursday, May 28 at 10:00AM.  Please view the Mass and pray for those we will remember by name and also those whose names we do not yet know.  Those who will be remembered by name can be found by clicking here.  Call the Rectory at 516-489-8585 if you would like to add the name of your loved one.  Please provide your contact information so that we can follow up with you. The new Memorial Mass is also available...

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Join Deacon Jacques and George & Debbie Nieves for communal prayer by phone throughout the week.  You are invited to call in at 7:00PM every evening (Sunday through Saturday) to participate in the Holy Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.* To participate, call 1-425-436-6397 and use the access code 296094# (If you have difficulty with this, first dial 1-209-399-9053, then Backup conference number: 425-436-6397, and finally the access code: 296094#) *The Holy Father has granted a Plenary Indugence for those who say the Divine Mercy Chaplet with the Intention, "to implore Almighty God the end of the ep...

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Bishop Barres will celebrate a White Mass this Sunday, May 17 in St. Agnes Cathedral offering prayers in thanksgiving for all health care workers and for their safety and well-being.  You can view the White Mass on Catholic Faith Network (click here), beginning at 11:00AM on Sunday.  It is also found on Optimum channel 29/137, Verizon FiOS TV channel 296 and Spectrum channel 162/471.  The Mass can be viewed any time after 11:00AM on cfntv.org and drvc.org.  Msgr. Maniscalco will also offer Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle in thanksgiving for our health care workers.  This Mass will appear on ...

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Crisis Helplines and Support Resouces: If your situation is urgent, please call the 24/7 Response Hotline at (631)751-7500. The Mental Health Association of Nassau County (click here) The peer support “warmline” is open 24/7 and can be reached by calling (516)489-0100 ext. 1. Please click here for information on ongoing peer support groups offered by MHANC. Association for Mental Health and Wellness (MHAW) Mental Health Helpline (click here) Click here for a variety of resources available through the MHAW website, including information about their ...

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On Mothers Day, May 10, mothers of our parish came to the parking lot behind St. Thomas the Apostle Church to receive a blessing from our priests and deacons.  Nearly 200 cars brought moms to participate in this special event.  We thank Haydee Torres and Mike Durso for capturing the occasion in photos and video.  If you would like to see these images, click here to view the photos and here to view the video.

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In separate interviews, Msgr. Maniscalco speaks with Mary Ann Pellegrino, our director of religious education, Irene Peplinski, our director of Human Services and Dr. Valerie Serpe,  our school principal, about how the current health crisis is affecting their ministries and their future plans.  Click the links below to view these three conversations. Mary Ann Pellegrino, Director of Religious Education Valerie Serpe, School Principal Irene Peplinski, Director of Human Services

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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 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 (deaconjohnford@yahoo.com) telling me that you'd like to receive it, and I will email it to you on Monday evening.  Since the pandemic, I am also sending Morning Prayer for Sundays, sending that out on Saturday evenings. Deacon John

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We have begun an online prayer list for Frontline Responders and Essential Workers.  If you or your family member is an Essential Worker who would like to be included in this list, please send your/their name and occupation to Cindy.StThomas@live.com.  If you would like, you might also send a picture of yourself at work (or elsewhere) so that we can put a face with your name - but this is not required.  To view the list, click here.  We thank you and pray for your good health and safety as you continue your important work during these challenging days.

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Msgr. Maniscalco offers Mass for all those in our community who have died since the parish has not been able to celebrate funeral Masses. The Mass will be on our website starting Thursday, April 30 at 10:00AM. Please view the Mass then and pray for those we will remember by name and also those whose names we do not yet know.  The Mass  will remain on our website and in our video archive for viewing at other times as well. 

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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...

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

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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.

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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."

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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....

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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...

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