Transfiguration Parish

  We  are a Catholic community united by love, illuminated by the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We gather as a People of God seeking unity through the Holy Spirit to Worship through the Sacred Liturgy, Prayer and Sacraments, and to proclaim the Christian message which promotes Justice, Reconciliation and Service through Evangelization, Faith Formation and Discipleship

Transfiguration Parish is committed to continual growth in the Catholic Faith through a lifelong union with Jesus Christ, and in service to others through the ministry of the Church. We spread the Good News of His love and promote His Word through evangelization, education, reflection, and daily witness. As faithful stewards we pledge to direct and develop the spiritual, human, financial, and material resources of the Church. We respond to His love with gratitude and prayer, with compassion-ate service, generous sharing, reconciliation and equality for all.

Transfiguration Parish – South Site, Speigletown (Administrative Offices)
50 Hillview Drive, Troy, NY 12182
Phone: 518-235-0337
Fax: 518-235-8726
Office Hours: Monday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Transfiguration Parish – North Site –
17 South Main Street, Schaghticoke, NY 12154
Phone: 518-753-4554  
Fax: 518-753-0456
Office Hours: Monday and Thursday,  9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Friday - Closed

Parish Life Director:
Deacon Christopher Keough
Deacon_Chris@transfigurationparish.net

Assisting Priest:
Fr. Dominic Ingemie:
dingemie1@nycap.rr.com

Deacon Charles Valenti: Deacon_Charlie@transfigurationparish.net

General Office Inquiries: general_office@transfigurationparish.net

Office Support:
Mary Clemente M.Clemente@transfigurationparish.net

Bonnie Coraldi:  B.Coraldi@transfigurationparish.net

Bulletin:  B.Coraldi@transfigurationparish.net

Baptismal Preparation: (contact office )
Phone: 518-235-0337 (So.Site)
Phone: 518-753-4554  (No. Site)
general_office@transfigurationparish.net

Director of Religious Education:      E.Thayer@transfigurationparish.net

Parish Nursing and Pastoral Care: P.Hebert@transfigurationparish.net

Special Activities and Fundraising: E.DeBonis@transfigurationparish.net

Knights of Columbus:
Bryan Purtell, Grand Knight
BryanP78@hotmail.com

• Alzheimer's Suport Group
• A Rosary Ministry
• Two by Two Faith Action Team
• Parish Nursing Program
• Prayer Chain Tree

WELCOME

 No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church; no matter what your current family and martial situation; no matter what your personal history, age, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, physical condition; no matter what your self-image; you are invited, No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church; no matter what your current family and martial situation; no matter what your personal history, age, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, physical condition; no matter what your self-image; you are invited, welcome, accepted, loved, and respected here at Transfiguration Parish.

“Believe what your read; Teach what you believe; Practice what you teach..”

Rite of Diaconate Ordination

PILLARS OF TRANSFIGURATION PARISH

    The reading for the day on October 10, 2018 came from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and he wrote about going up to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus to meet with what he called the pillars of the early Church. Certainly, we could agree that Paul himself was a pillar of the early Church to the Gentiles, and that the first apostles would be pillars of the early church.
     When I think about pillars, I think about huge cathedrals I have seen which have massive pillars that support the weight of the building. The pillars come in all shapes and sizes, and they are often beautiful works of artistic design. In addition to their majestic beauty, these pillars form the structural foundation of such aweinspiring houses of God.
      I thought about pillars, and decided we are the pillars of Transfiguration Parish. In our own ways, each of us supports our parish by generously giving of our time, our talent, and our treasure. Of course, we could take this description of pillars to the universal Church which we are all members of as members of the Body of Christ. For the purpose of this article, I want to focus on our own parish in the context of our “Re-Igniting Our Faith” Capital Campaign.
      I am fully aware that our campaign goal of $ 385,307.00 is a lot of money. What makes me so excited about Re-Igniting Our Faith is the fact that 70% of the money raised is designated for use by Transfiguration Parish. If we reach our goal, we will have $ 269,500.00 that we can use for programs, evangelization, and building improvements that will greatly enhance our parish life. Please remember that our goal is not an assessment. There is no penalty if we do achieve the $385,307.00. I believe that we make our goal, but whatever amount we raise will greatly benefit all of us.
      Back to my point about us being pillars of Transfiguration Parish. I guess it is possible that one individual could write us a check for $ 385,000.00, but I do not think that is very likely. Of course, I would accept such a tremendous contribution, but I would much prefer if 385 people were able to contribute $ 1000.00 each. We would achieve our goal either way, but it would feel like more of a parish accomplishment if we all contribute. The idea of having 385 pillars is much more appealing than having only one pillar.

God Bless   

Deacon Chris 

“RE-IGNITING OUR FAITH CAMPAIGN”
 

    Last summer, Bishop Edward Scharfenberger announced the launching of the “Re-Igniting Our Faith Campaign.” The purpose of the campaign is to help strengthen our parishes for the future. In the coming weeks there will be more informa-tion and opportunities for every household within our parish to hear about the campaign. The funds raised will focus on the needs of our parish, as well as some diocesan-wide initiatives, mainly being, support of the priests’ retirement, increased vocations, and addressing new innovative ways of promoting evangelization within our parish and in our community.
    We hope that every parishioner will take the time to learn about the campaign to help fulfill our parish mission and vision.
    Recently a letter from Deacon Keough was mailed to every registered family/parishioner at our parish introducing the “Re-Igniting Our Faith Campaign.” More information will follow regarding this exciting opportunity to benefit our parish and its programs.
    For more information on the overall campaign, please visit the “Re-Igniting Our Faith” Foundation’s website :
https://re-ignitingourfaith.org/

 

RE-IGNITING OUR FAITH CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

There are four receptions scheduled in October to give parishioners information about the “Re-Igniting Our Faith Campaign.” The sessions will provide an outline for the campaign along with information regarding the use of the funds raised during the campaign. Seventy percent of all the money raised will be returned to Transfiguration Parish. All registered parishioners/families will be provided a packet of information to help them prayerfully consider the level of their participation. The Receptions are scheduled for the following dates:
 

   Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 pm in Speigletown
   Tuesday, October 23 at 6:30 pm in Schaghticoke
 
   Please RSVP for the reception you will attend at 518-235-0337.

Sacrament of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Sick conveys several graces and imparts the gifts of the strengthening of the Holy Spirit against anxiety and fear for those who are ill or who for those who have the potential for illness (e.g. the elderly). IT IS NOT ONLY FOR THOSE AT THE POINT OF DEATH. If you or a loved one would need the benefits of this great Sacrament, please contact the Parish Offices or any of the Parish Clergy to make arrangements.
 

The Daily Prayer for PriestsThe Daily Prayer for Priests

By St. Therese of the Child Jesus
 

O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
For your unfaithful and tepid priest;
For your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields.
For your tempted priests;
For your lonely and desolate priests;
For your young priests;
For the souls of your priests in Purgatory.
But above all, I recommend to you the priests dearest to me:
The priest who baptized me;
The priests who absolved me from my sins;
The priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;
The priests who taught and instructed me;
All the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way (especially …)
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart,
And bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.

Amen.

I found this in a book written by Father Ronald Rolheiser titled, “Sacred Fire, A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity.”  This begins chapter six in the book which is titled, “Drawing Strength From Prayer.”  I think it is worth sharing.

     Deacon Chris

The Difference
 
By Grace L. Naessens
 
I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish, I didn’t have time to pray.
 
Problems just tumbled about me and grew heavier with each task;
Why doesn’t God help me, I wondered; He answered, “You didn’t ask.”
 
I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me – He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
 
I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”
 
I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.
 

Prayer for Persecuted Christians
 
O God of all the nations,
the One God who is and was and always will be,
in your providence you willed that your Church
be united to the suffering of your Son.
Look with mercy on your servants
who are persecuted for their faith in you.
Grant them perseverance and courage
to be worthy imitators of Christ.
Bring your wisdom upon leaders of nations
to work for peace among all peoples.
May your Spirit open conversion
for those who contradict your will,
that we may live in harmony.
Give us the grace to be united in truth and freedom,
and to always seek your will in our lives.
 
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

     I found this in the book, “Everything Starts from Prayer, St. Mother Teresa’s Meditations on Spiritual Life for People of All Faiths.”  In the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta:     

     “Wherever they are, the Missionaries of Charity start the day’s work with the same prayer from their community prayer book: 
 
Dear Lord, the Great Healer, I kneel
before you, since every perfect gift
must come from you.  I pray, give skill to
my hands, clear vision to my mind,
kindness and meekness to my heart.
Give me singleness of purpose, strength
to lift up a part of the burden of my
suffering fellowmen, and a realization
of the privilege that is mine.  Take from
my heart all guile and worldliness, that
with the simple faith of a child, I may
Rely on you.
Amen. 
 
A good prayer to start our days.  God bless   
 

Deacon Chris  

2018 BISHOP’S APPEAL
“SPREADING THE JOY OF THE
GOSPEL – IT STARTS WITH YOU!”

This Appeal supports all the vital ministries and programs through-out the Diocese of Albany. It is our opportunity to reach out in sup-port of all the people of God beyond the boundary of Transfiguration Parish. You can make a one-time gift or make a pledge that you can pay in installments throughout the year. Your gift directly helps our parish to pay its share of the important work of the diocese. Let us strive for 100% participation: not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice!

The 2018 Bishop’s Appeal is our opportunity to unite together as one Catholic family, to answer the challenge given to us by Jesus Christ to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the afflicted, and to promote justice for every person. In these next two weeks, please take the time to prayerfully reflect on the gifts that you have been given by God and respond to the Bishop’s Appeal as generously as you possibly can.

REMINDER

The site of the Saturday Mass will alternate each month. In October it will be in Schaghticoke the entire month. In November the Mass will be in Speigletown.

 
          Saturday Vigil Mass – 4:00 PM (Alternate Sites by Month)
Sunday Masses – 8:30 AM in Schaghticoke
                           10:15 AM in Speigletown     

          As you know, the Church is experiencing a shortage of priests. As a result, there have been times when priests have not been available to celebrate Saturday Vigil Masses or Sunday Masses. 
   
          In order to address the needs of the faithful in light of the shortage of priests, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved a liturgy known as the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest. This liturgy is based on the Liturgy of the Hours which has been prayed by the faithful for centuries and it includes the regular Mass readings. It may also include the distribution of the Holy Communion, depending on availability of consecrated hosts. It is important to note that the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest fulfills the obligation of the faithful to attend the Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass. This liturgy can be conducted not only by a deacon, but also by a trained layperson.    

          While the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest liturgy is not a Mass, it is a practical solution to the priest shortage. Yet it is more than that. This liturgy is another opportunity for the laity to share their gifts and talents with others. It is another opportunity for the laity to fulfill the privileges and responsibilities which they assumed at their baptism. The Church has been enriched by the many ways the laity has taken part in the life of the Church.   
 
          Attending a Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest may not be as spiritually fulfilling as attending a Mass, but we must accept the fact it is a part of our prayer life in today's Church. Let us not forget that God is present in this liturgy, as well as He is in the Mass.
      
          Let us pray for an increase in vocations, but let us also pray that God sends His grace upon both clergy and laity during this time of challenge.
 

FAITH FORMATION

Faith Formation Sessions for 2018 – 2019 have begun. If you have not yet registered it is not too late! See Beth Thayer after the 8:30 or 10:15 Mass to register your child. If you have questions call Beth at 518 235 0337.

ALTAR SERVERS

Training for NEW altar servers will be on October 27 at 1:00 at the Schaghticoke Site. The training will be about one hour in length. 

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is a program to assist the youngest members of our congregation in hearing the Word of God. This program is open to children who are Pre-K, K and First Grade age. When a child is in the Second Grade they need to be fully participating in the Mass as they are preparing for First communion.

 
CAN AND BOTTLE DRIVE CONTINUES

Thank you for your continued support of our Bottle and Can Drive. Please consider asking neighbors and family members to collect for our youth ministry. 

Thank you for support in the past and your continued support in the future.
Contact Beth Thayer 235-0337 or e.thayer@transfigurationparish.net