When it comes to protecting human life from the womb to the tomb, New York's policymakers behave more like a "Vampire State" than to serve the Empire State. That is where you and I come into the picture. Let's remind our state legislators that our elderly, frail, and disabled deserve more than DEATH as a prescription to their disabilities and problems. Kindly visit www.nyscatholic.org/action-center to send your objections to our legislators because New York is the Empire State, not the Vampire State!

On this feast day, also known as Candlemas and to many Catholics of traditional spirituality or Hispanic background as the end of the Christmas season, Holy Mass in the Ordinary Form will be offered at 8 a.m. at Presentation Church and at in the Extraordinary Form at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. At each Mass, our priest-celebrants would be only too happy to bless candles and reverent images of the Baby Jesus for Mass-goers. All people of good will are most welcome at our Masses and blessings.

In concert with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, our parish kept the National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on Mon., Jan. 23 since this year the anniversary of "Roe v. Wade" (Jan. 22) fell on a Sunday. Holy Mass in the Ancient Use was offered at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Flags at both churches were flown at half-mast in mourning and protest over abortion on demand and its millions of victims. Our parish continues to work with the Ulster Deanery Respect Life Committee.

We join our Archdiocese and the world to pray for the soul of Pope Emeritus BENEDICT XVI. Consistent with guidelines provided to us, we have erected memorial spaces at Presentation Church and at Sacred Heart Church. After the 8 a.m. Mass today, the Presentation church bells were rung 95 times for the age of His Holiness at death. We thank God for the dozens of people who attended our End-of-Year Holy Hour on the night of December 31st, including praying for the late Benedict XVI. May he rest in peace! Amen.

As announced previously on this website, our parish bulletin, and announcements at Mass, in 2023 we hope to see you and your family at Mass on Sundays as follows: PRESENTATION: 9 a.m., with confessions heard from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. SACRED HEART: 11:30 a.m. (Extraordinary Form), with confessions heard from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. VIGIL MASS ON SATURDAYS: The time remains at 5 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church. 4:15-4:45 Confessions

Building on the success of last year's inaugural End-of-Year Holy Hour at Presentation Church with dozens of participants, we invite you anew to join us in adoration of the Eucharistic JESUS, the Lord of all time, from 11:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. All people of good will are welcome to join us for this hour of Solemn Eucharistic Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction. Families are most welcome too. Sat., Dec. 31, 2022, from 11:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., Sun., Jan. 1, 2023. No preregistration required. Come with your faith!

At the festivities of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12) at St. Mary-St. Andrew Church at Ellenville, on behalf of our parishioners and their donations on Thanksgiving Day, Fr. Rojas presented a check to the pastor of St. Mary-St. Andrew with the collections as help to hos parish's Food Pantry, which helps dozens of the poor and hungry every week in the most economically distressed part of Ulster County. The check of $2,113 is more than triple the amount collected last year from our parish. Truly an Advent work of mercy!