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CHAPLAIN’S MESSAGE
Winter 2025
Dear Brother Knights,
“Six years ago, I was able to go to the Holy Land with Father Peter James Alindogan and the parishioners of St. Barnabas and St. Veronica's parish. Of course my wife Judy was with me.
On of the places I attended was Bethlehem. Bethlehem was, and still is, under control of Jordan in the West Bank, so we had to have a separate Palestinian guide with us which we passed through the checkpoints.
When entering Bethlehem, we want to the site of the Nativity. It is in a Greek Orthodox Church covered with decorations and icons of the Holy Family. Under the altar is the site where the nativity is said to have taken place. You have to bow down underneath the altar and kiss the spot, if you are so moved. I was.
At present, due to the new Holy war between Israel and Hamas, the site is forbidden to tourists of any type. It is said that there is no Christmas this year because of this. The answer to this statement is a definite NO. There is Christmas, but that site has the potential to be hit by a missile causing more bloodshed.”
The message above is what I said last year at this time. Things haven’t changed very much, and have only gotten worse. There was a report that tourism hasn’t returned in Bethlehem, and they don’t know when it will resume.
But for us back home, Christmas and the holidays are still a big thing. There is HOPE back home. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, Our counsel has brought Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas gifts to those who have not. Blankets went to the residents of the two nursing homes we minister at. St. Vincent DePaul also gave the residents gift bags with a homemade Christmas card and snacks to eat. Kevin McMahon and our Knights set up a manger scene on Route 9 at the entrance of our church to remind the tens of thousands of drivers that Christmas is still being celebrated here in Bayville.
We decorated our homes more than ever, to remind all who drive by that Christmas is alive in our hearts back home. We all celebrated Mass, including a showing of Knights at Midnight Mass, to give praise to Jesus and to be thankful for all we have been given by the Lord.
I am very hopeful that peace will return to the war torn regions of the world someday. But in the meantime, please pray the Rosary, or any prayer at all, that the Peace of Christ reaches out to those who need it. They need it now more than ever.
As Knights, we are charged with spreading the Good News of the Gospel and spreading the word that God still exists, even if it may be only in your heart.
May we all share in the Good News of the Gospel, and pray for all of our members and their families during this holiday season.
Deacon Bob
If You Look for Me at Christmas
You won’t need a special star-
I’m no longer just in Bethlehem,
I’m right there where you are.
You may not be aware of Me
Amid the celebrations-
You’ll have to look beyond the stores
And all the decorations.
But if you take a moment
From your list of things to do
And listen to your heart, you’ll find
I’m waiting there for you.
You’re the one I want to be with,
You’re the reason that I came,
And you’ll find Me in the stillness
As I’m whispering your name.
Love, Jesus
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Prayer for the Canonization of
Father Michael J. McGivney
God, our Father, protector of the poor and
defender of the widow and orphan, you called
your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to
be an apostle of Christian family life and to
lead the young to the generous service of their
neighbor. Through the example of his life and
virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ,
more closely, fulfilling his commandment of
charity and building up his Body which is the
Church. Let the inspiration of your servant
prompt us to greater confidence in your love
so that we may continue his work of caring
for the needy and the outcast. We humbly
ask that you glorify your venerable servant
Father Michael J. McGivney on earth
according to the design of your holy will.
Through his intercession, grant the favor I
now present (here make your request).
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father Hail Mary Glory be to the Father
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