March 13, 2016 -- There were shamrocks and pots of leprechaun gold, corned beef and cabbage and soda bread, Irish step dancers, and the "wearin' o' the green" -- and, best of all, good company -- as young and old of St. Ann's parish came together to honor St. Patrick and all things Irish (and St. Joseph, too) in the cafeteria after the 11:30 mass on Sunday.
For more photos of the "good craic" (Gaelic for "good times"), click here. Then click on a photo to enlarge it, and use the arrow to scroll through the slide show. Photos by Marie Olivier and Liz O'Brien.
March 4, 2016 -- The St. Ann's basketball team won the boys' 6th grade West Championship with a 44-42 victory over St. Anthony's on Friday night at Kirkbride Hall in Letchworth Village in Thiells. The team started with a slow first half but fought back hard in the second half. With 1.7 seconds left on the clock, Adrian Branch scored a buzzer beater to tie the game and take the boys to a 44-42 win in OT. The team closed out the season participating in the Mary Nagle Charity Tournament.
Lent 2016
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless You
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world
Dating back to the 15th century, this devotion leads us on a spiritual pilgrimage to the places (the stations) where Christ endured his passion and death. By meditating on the sufferings of His last hours on earth, we attempt to grasp more fully His absolute love for us.
During Lent, the Stations of the Cross are prayed on Fridays at 11:30 AM (before the 12:10 mass) and at 7:30 PM.
Here is a link to a short video (3 min.) about the Stations of the Cross that is well worth watching.
Lent 2016 -- It gets your attention. The purple fabric draped over the crucifix and the processional cross in the sanctuary of St. Ann's reminds us the Lenten season is here.
"This old custom of veiling religious images is a way of focusing on the penitential aspect of this liturgical season. It reminds us in a visual way that our faith is made possible only through the work of Christ in his suffering and death," says blogger Laura Jean Rabiipour. For more on the history and meaning of this Lenten tradition, please click here.
Christmas 2015 --The children of St. Ann's Parish retold the story of the birth of Jesus in a Christmas pageant performed at the 11:30 AM mass on Dec. 20. All the traditional scenes -- the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Shepherds in the Fields, and the coming of the Magi -- were presented with hymns and carols sung by the Children's Choir accompanied by Kathryn O'Connor, piano, and Janet Fenton, guitar.
After mass, everyone was invited to the school cafeteria for holiday refreshments -- along with a visit from St. Nicholas (Deacon Luke)!
For more photos, click on the link to the "Photo Albums" page above, in the column to the right. Then double-click on a photo to enlarge it and scroll through the resulting slide show.
If you have photos of this event that you'd like to contribute to this collection, please email them to [email protected] or text to Liz O'Brien at 201-739-4413.
Christmas 2015
Christ was born on Christmas Day,
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay;
Christus natus hodie
The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary -- traditional German carol
For more photos, click on the link to the "Photo Albums" page above, in the column to the right. Then double-click on a photo to enlarge it and scroll through the resulting slide show.
A list of the generous donors of these flowers may be found here
Jan. 31, 2016 -- At St. Paul's School, Catholic School Week 2016 began with Sunday mass celebrated in the gym for the students, faculty, families, and community. A breakfast reception followed with the opportunity to tour the school building and see the classrooms, student projects, and art displays.
Among the guests were the Bosquet family from Nanuet who came to visit the school where Nylania and Sulxana (4th and 5th grade, respectively) are students. Ms. Bosquet praised the school for being exceptionally welcoming and family- and community-oriented. "Everyone knows everyone here," she said.
Academic excellence is a tradition at St. Paul's, which offers pre-K, kindergarten, and grades 1-8, as well as before- and aftercare programs for students of working parents. It provides a value-infused Catholic education in a safe and nurturing enviroment with small class size. The students celebrate their faith through daily prayer, monthly mass, and community service activities. They receive whole-group, small-group, and individualized instruction, with literature explored throughout the day. Cultural diversity is celebrated through music and art, and there are seasonal family activities and an afterschool theater program.
The school is located on King's Highway in Valley Cottage, and busing is provided by the local school districts.
To reserve a space for your child in September or for any additional information, please contact the school office, 845-268-6506.
For more photos, click on the link to the "Photo Albums" page above, in the column to the right. Then double-click on a photo to enlarge it and scroll through the resulting slide show.
Jan. 29, 2016 -- In a very close game Friday night, St. Ann's defeated St. Paul's in overtime, 36-30, at their home court, Nyack Boces -- the old high school. The teams are part of the CYO Basketball 6th-grade boys' division.
CYO basketball returned to St. Ann's three years ago. The 6th-grade team is coached by Tre Beaman, assisted by Karl and Baylen Rodriguez. The top picture above shows Karl Rodriguez (St. Ann's parishioner), Quinn Connor (St Paul's parishioner), and Noah Kronberg.
The season is winding down now, said Colleen Hauser, who works closely with the team, but there will be playoffs. We'll let you know when they are. If you've ever been involved in CYO basketball, you know how great it is for the parish and community. Bring your family and cheer on the new athletes of St. Ann's!
Jan. 18 -- Last week saw the completion of another phase of the St. Ann's Renovation Project -- the installation of new doors at the entrance of the church.
The old, solid metal doors were replaced with glass-paneled doors that repeat the pattern in the stained glass arches above the triple entrance. Oak was used for the inner side of the doors.
The new doors followed extensive repairs on the foundation and brick work of the church, designed by Marshall Emery and consecrated on June 16, 1895.
The work was made possible through the generosity of parishioners who contributed nearly $725,000 to the Renovation Campaign.