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.

Parish Offices will be closed Fridays in June, July and August.

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, welcome, accepted, loved, and respected here at Transfiguration Parish.
 

The site of the Saturday Mass will alternate each month.
In August the Mass will be in Schaghticoke.
In September 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

  Tuesday Communion Service – 9:00 AM in Schaghticoke
Thursday Communion Service – 9:00 AM in Speigletown

     

“Mary, who is the Virgin Most Pure,
is also the Refuge of Sinners.” 
She knows what sin is, not by the experience of its fall, 
not by tasting its bitter regrets, 
but by seeing what it did to her Divine Son.” 

~Venerable Fulton Sheen 

THE CONCLUDING RITES: NOT JUST AN ENDING 

The celebration of the Holy Eucharist is the single most important thing we do as Catholics, and we are obliged to, “Keep Holy the Lord’s Day.” That means we have an obligation to attend Mass every Sunday or Sat-urday evening, and anytime we intentionally miss Mass we commit a serious sin as we break the Fourth Commandment. The entire Mass is full of thanksgiving to God including the very last response that we make following the dismissal as we all reply, “Thanks be to God.” I want to focus on the words we hear at the dismissal, and suggest they do not merely end the Mass, but also give us a mis-sion to follow in our everyday lives. 

• “Go forth, the Mass is ended” – The message is quite clear. Even though the Mass has ended, we are sent forth by God to continue the mission of Jesus on earth. What is that mission? Jesus clearly defined it for us; our mission is to love God and love one another. 
• “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord” – We are told to go and share the “Good News” of Jesus Christ. We are sent forth to share His life, His teachings, and His Paschal Mystery as he suffered, died, and rose again so we can inherit the promise of eternal life. Jesus loves you, and everyone you meet; Just share that love. 
• “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life” – This is the dismissal we often hear, as we are sent to live in the peace of Christ. We give honor and glory to God by the way we live our lives in loving ser-vice of God, and one another. 
• “Go in peace” – This dismissal is beautiful through its simplicity. In a way, it might be the best dismissal because the celebration of the Mass brings us the grace and peace of Christ. We are instructed to go forth in that peace which is a peace that only Jesus can give us. Our mission is to share that peace of Christ with everyone we meet. 

At every Mass, as you receive the final blessing and are sent forth, give some prayerful thought and consideration of your mis-sion as a disciple of Jesus. There are 168 hours in a week, and you are obliged to spend just one hour a week at Sunday Mass. For you mathematicians, that is .60 % of the week. Less than 1% of the week! Considering that, maybe your prayer could be, “The Mass is ended, how am I going to fulfill my mission as a disciple of Jesus in the upcoming 167 hours?” 

God Bless.

Deacon Chris 



 

 A PRAYER FOR DIVINE MERCY
 
     O greatly Merciful god, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy— to Your compassion, O God: and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of this earth’s exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You: anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will through our life and at death’s hour.
 
     Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation’s enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children, await Your final coming—that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: Through His merciful Heart as through an open gate we pass through to heaven. Amen.
 
     Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1570

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  

REGISTRATION FORMS for Faith Formation have been mailed. If you have not received a form please call the Faith Formation office at 518-235-0337. 

***CATECHISTS MEETING—MONDAY, AUGUST 26 AT 6:30 PM IN SCHAGHTICOKE.**** 

CALLING ALL COOKS

LAST OPPORTUNITY!!  The deadline for having your recipe include in the Transfiguration Parish Cookbook is fast approaching. Please share a recipe with us so that we can include you in the cookbook. Recipes can be submitted on line at https:// forms.gle/qwQG6abtkYRSdcie69 or using the forms available in the gathering areas of either site. Thank you for your support. 

SUMMER CONCERTS 

We will have a booth at the Schaghticoke Summer Concerts. Please support our youth preparing for the trip to Indianapolis.
Baked goods are needed each week. If you would like to donate a baked good they may be dropped off at the Speigletown Site between 9AM—2PM on any Thursday. 

CONFIRMATION 2020

Yes! It says 2020!!! Youth who are in the 10th grade or are 15 years old are eligible to make their confirmation. If your youth is eligible and has not been registered in our FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM please e mail Beth Thayer at e.thayer@transfigurationparish.net so that you will receive all information pertaining to sacramental preparation.

UPCOMING PARISH ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY THE YOUTH 

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 Eucharist.
 

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

BACKPACK PROGRAM

Summer vacation is almost here and the children will be out of school—
The ongoing Backpack Program supplies at risk children with food for the weekend. We aid Turnpike, Rensslaer and Hoosic Valley Schools.

Suggested items: mac & cheese (boxed, singles, microwaveable ones), pasta, soup, spaghettios, single serve meals for microwave, fruit snacks, fruit cups, single serve cereal. Boxes are at the church entrances.

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/

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.

  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.