Letter from the Pastor
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September 17, 2023Ever since 1935, the bishops of our country designated the third Sunday of September as Catechetical Sunday. It is established to show the great importance of religious education for children, and adults as well. This year’s theme is from St. Matthew’s gospel: Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. It is an invitation of the Lord to follow Him and the promise that faith does not add burdens but lightens the burdens of daily life. To know we can always turn to the Lord who will help us carry the load. The more we know of a person, the more we can love the person. To deepen our love for God, we need to learn more about Him. Our learning about God doesn’t end in this life or even the next.
Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that everyone has in handing on the faith and being a living witness to the Gospel. The word “catechetical” comes from the Greek word meaning “to echo or resound.” Catechesis is the act of echoing or resounding or bringing the Church’s teachings to the world.
Last week, I wrote about the importance of Catholic schools, today I would like to reflect on the importance of the religious education of Public School children, known in our parish as PREP (Parish Religious Education Program), or for the older folk, CCD.
Just as we are so proud of our school, we are as proud of our PREP. We have so many dedicated people who share their time and talent to pass on the Faith to our children. Catechetical Sunday allows us to recognize and thank those who give generously of their time and gifts in the work of catechesis.
And it begins with leadership. We are blessed to have two exceptional people who direct our program. Mrs. Brenda Lattuca, the Director of PREP and Mrs. Lori Horgan, Administrative Assistant. We wouldn’t have the innovative program, which we do, if it wasn’t for these two ladies. We are so grateful to them and their love of the faith, the catechists and the children.
Every child, first grade to 8th grade, who attends public school, should be enrolled in PREP. It is imperative for children to grow up knowing and loving God. Like school, PREP is an aid to the parents’ rights of educating their children. We supplement not substitute the responsibility of parenting and educating.
Numerous studies have strongly indicated the importance of religious education in the life and formation of a child; it is not just an ‘add-on.’ Religious education improves brain development, helps the children to develop psychologically, helps them to develop a true and healthy sense of who they are, proper values, and teaches them the truth about reality.
Religious education is vital to the child. If not already, your child should be enrolled in a PREP program. Our PREP program has approximately 450 students with 35 catechists. There is still time to register your child, and if you think you want to help teach the faith to the children, we are always in need of more catechists and aides. Mrs. Lattuca and Mrs. Horgan will help and guide you through the lessons. Please call to register or volunteer 845-735-5489 or email at smprep@hotmail.com.
As we reflect and pray for a holy year of catechesis, we invoke the Holy Spirit on our students, their families and our catechists.
St. Joseph’s Seminary Collection
Next Sunday, there will be a special second collection for the education of our future priests in the Archdiocese. For over 127 years, St. Joseph’s Seminary has been educating and forming priests for the Archdiocese of New York, and other dioceses in the area. We need to pray for vocations to the priesthood. We are facing a priests’ shortage. The numbers are frightening. We know God will always take care of His Church until the end of the world, but we must do our part for praying and ENCOURAGING young men to answer God’s call.
