YES TO LOCAL LAW 13 and NO to weed stores and pot lounges in our town!

In concert with the public policy stance taken by the Catholic bishops of New York State against the legalization of recreational marijuana, Fr. Arthur F. Rojas, our administrator and spiritual father, has led our parishioners in support of the  Local Law 13 bill proposed by Hon. Jared Geuss, our current Town Supervisor, to spare our town from the indignity and the woes of having retail sales and consumption sites allowed in our town. 

Let us pray too for our brethren at St. Mary-St. Andrew Church at Ellenville, whom also are appealing similarly to local authorities to act while they still can under Article 4 of the  New York State Cannabis Law.

At public hearings on November 18th and December 2nd, undeterred by openly  anti-Catholic remarks at the hearings,  almost 20 parishioners led by two of our clerics, Fr. Rojas and Dcn. Tim Dean, have made their presence felt and their voices heard to urge the Town Board to resist the siren song of promised tax revenue from the normalization of narcotics.  Together, we have argued - in concert with Catholic social teaching - that true economic development respects the dignity of the human person as well as the common good, that our children, youths, and families matter more than the profits and taxes promised from the normalization of narcotics in our neighborhoods. 

From the first and second rounds, we appeal to our parishioners and all people of good will in Esopus to keep praying and to come once more to the final hearing and the Board vote on the  Local Law 13 bill on Thursday, December 16th at 7 p.m. at Esopus Town Hall, One Town Hall Way (just off Route 9W/Broadway).  May God be glorified by our steadfast, prayerful witness for virtue against vice, to keep Esopus a FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACE TO LIVE. 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of the Hudson, pray for us. 
Saint Ambrose and Saint Oscar Romero, pray for us.