FOOD FOR FAMILIES COLLECTION

JUST A REMINDER: NEXT WEEKEND is our monthly non-perishable grocery collection for FOOD FOR FAMILIES. Please be especially generous as many families will be depending on food for this Thanksgiving.

(In order to provide the highest quality service to those who seek our help, we may only accept freshly bought, unopened non- perishable items. If this is not convenient, we also accept monetary donations)

MAKING ALL THINGS NEW

Important Changes Announced Based on the input Cardinal Dolan received from the 368 parishes in the Archdiocese and 75 parish clusters; a 40 person advisory committee comprised of clergy, religious men and women, and the faithful from across the archdiocese; the priest council; other close advisors and key staff, he has decided that: All parishes will work together more collaboratively within their clusters in providing services and ministries. 48 parishes will merge with a nearby parish, resulting in 24 new parishes, with Masses and sacraments celebrated at both churches. There will be an evaluation every two years of these newly merged parishes, and every parish throughout the archdiocese. To accomplish this, the archdiocese has established a parish planning office, to be directed by Eileen Mulcahy. 64 parishes will merge with a nearby parish, resulting in 31 new parishes, and while this new parish will have two churches, Masses and sacraments will only be celebrated on a regular basis at one church as of August 1, 2015. For more detailed information visit archny.org. BlessedSacrament Church is not closing or merging. Please pray for those parishes affected by these mergers.

VISITING FRIENDS PROGRAM

Blessed Sacrament Church is starting a new and exciting ministry called The Visiting Friends Program. Volunteers will visit the homebound (the elderly, disabled, ill) in the neighborhood to provide the comfort of company and social interaction. To start, we’ll be visiting only people confined to their homes rather than those in nursing homes. If you know of someone (relative, friend, neighbor) who might benefit from and would welcome such a service, please contact us by email at the following address: [email protected]. Be sure to put “Visiting Friends Program” in the subject box. Please include your name, address, phone and email address as well as the same information of the person you’re referring to us. If you prefer, you can leave this information at the Rectory, noting it’s intended for the Visiting Friends Program. Referrals need not necessarily be parishioners, but we request that they live within the geographic confines of our parish. This program is provided with the assistance of JoyJ members.

VETERAN'S DAY

Tuesday, November 11th is Veteran's Day. Our office will be open only from 10am-2pm. Originally this day was celebrated as Armistice day. It marked the end of World War I, which ended on Nov. 11, 1917 at 11am. Unfortunately, we fight on. So we remember all of our war dead in prayer.

BLESSED SACRAMENT YOUNG ADULTS GROUP

Monthly Second Sunday Social will be held today, Sunday, after the 5:30 pm Mass. In the Rectory. Parishioners in their 20's and 30's are welcome to come for a get-together with others in the area over food and drink. Please join us!

COLLECTION

Our collection last Sunday came to $13,105. We also received $1,500 from ParishPay bringing that total to $14,605. In addition, we collected $2,543 for our Soup Kitchen. Thank you for your continued support.

VOLUNTEER FESTIVAL

Thank you to the Ministry Volunteers and to everyone who stopped by last month's Volunteer Festival. We had a great response with 58 parishioners signing up to get involved within the Blessed Sacrament Community. We are always looking to welcome more people to participate in the numerous Ministries we serve and become a true part of our community. If you haven't returned your form, or would like to know other ways to get i n vo l ve d , s e nd us an em ai l [email protected] or stop by the rectory where volunteer forms are still available.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS TO THE HOMEBOUND NEEDED

Do you feel called to become a Eucharistic Minister to the home bound, Riverside Nursing Home, or 74th Street assisted-living facility? Any parishioner interested in learning how to serve our elderly neighbors who cannot attend mass, please contact the people below.

For the West 74th Street Assisted Living facility (bringing communion Sunday mornings from 11:15 to 11:45 am) e-mail Andrew Jenkins ([email protected]). For the Riverside Nursing Home (85 street) on Wednesdays from about 1-3 pm (bringing communion) and/or Tuesdays (to pray the rosary), e-mail Helena Maria Lim ([email protected]).

For bringing communion to the homes of individual parishioners, please contact Joan Tedeschi ([email protected]). For those who do not have access to e-mail, leave a message for one of us at the rectory.