Fr. Tom’s Letters

Each week Fr. Tom writes a letter to parishioners in our bulletin. Every letter is comprehensive, including current information about the Parish, an explanation of Scripture for that Sunday, and an invitation to become more engaged in the life of the parish.

September 14, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

St. Anne’s has a strong volunteer tradition and there is an immediate need for volunteers over the next few weeks.

1. SPIRIT DAY: Spirit Day plans are well in place. What is needed is additional volunteers to help make Saturday, September 27 a great day for the parish. Some volunteer needs include:

a. Security: Parishioners who can give about two hours during the day to help keep an eye on the arrival gates to the parking lot and keep an eye on the perimeter of the property and inside the parking lot.

b. Selling Chances: We look to sell 1000 raffle tickets for the Big Bucks raffle; volunteers sit at the raffle table to assist parishioners with their purchase.

c. Selling Children’s Passes for Rides: Volunteers sit at the table with bracelets as families purchase those for their children.

d. Setting Up: On Friday evening and Saturday morning, parish volunteers do the setup of tents, lights, tables, and chairs. About two hours on Friday evening and the same Saturday morning.

e. Cleaning Up: After the conclusion of Spirit Day, an initial clean up takes about one hour.

A complete volunteer group consists of about 80 parishioners. You can help make Spirit Day a success by volunteering at it. Please let us know how you can help by contacting the rectory at 516-352-5904 and speak with Michael.

2. FAITH FORMATION CATECHISTS: We are in need of faith formation catechists, especially for Wednesday evenings, the 7^th and 8^th grades. Classes meet every other week, about 10 times a year. We have many high school catechists from many high schools for the daytime classes. We need adult catechists for the evening classes. This is a volunteer opportunity to assist our young people in their religious formation. You will be given all that you need for class. Classes are one hour and are geared for preparation for Confirmation. Please help us if you are able. You can do so by emailing Vivian Flood at vflood@stannesgc.org.

Please consider these two requests.

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS

Today we interrupt the normal flows of Sunday celebrations to celebrate the Feast of the Triumph (Exaltation) of the Cross on September 14. The Cross is a central sign of our faith. Most of our praying begins with the Sign of the Cross. The Cross has so many meanings. Of course, the Cross represents for us the death of Jesus. The Cross is at the heart of our Good Friday liturgy and prayer.

At the same time, the Cross is sometimes referred to as the tree of life. The Cross is a sign of our redemption, our entrance into eternal life. I try to look upon the Cross and remember all that it suggests. The positioning of the Cross in our church allows the priests to view the Cross all during Mass. Over the years, I have come to regard the Cross as a sign of death and as a sign of life and redemption. What is the connection of these seemingly opposite signs? I have come to recognize the Cross as a sign of love, most particularly the love of Jesus. It is the love of Jesus on the Cross that allows the Cross to be both a sign of death and a sign of life.

We bring that connection into our own lives as well. The crosses that we carry can be burdensome, painful, and bring suffering. Yet, at the same time, the experience of the cross in our lives often promotes and elicits love.

So today’s Feast of the Triumph of the Cross is not so much a day of opposites. The Cross suggests death and life, suffering and love. The Cross doesn’t suggest opposites and division. The Cross invites us to see Jesus’ love in all of life’s experiences.

Have a blessed week.

Fr. Tom

About Our Parish