My Dear Parish Family:

Have you ever thought - I would like to go on retreat, but I have no time to go away somewhere for retreat! Going on retreat is a wonderful and beautiful experience, but you do not have to go away.

In fact, you can go on retreat in your own home! Cardinal Dolan is encouraging every parish to embrace 33 days of prayer for our Archdiocese. He is suggesting that every parish does a Consecration to Our Blessed Mother Mary. We have approximately 160 booklets in the back of Church (I can get more if needed) with an explanation of the Consecra- tion to Mary.

The booklet is entitled “ 33 Days to Morning Glory.” Ideally, the Consecration should end on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. How- ever, the retreat (a.k.a - the Consecration to Our Blessed Mother Mary) could end on some other special day of Our Blessed Mother, like January 1st, the feast of the Mother of God. The retreat (Consecration) is for 33 days and ends with a consecration of our lives, our priests and our Church to Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I plan to begin the Consecration to Mary on Wednesday, November 6th and conclude 33 days later on Sunday, December 8th. I will then pray the Consecration after the 9:30 A.M. Mass, but before the 11 A.M. Mass begins in the Church. All are welcome to join me for this special prayer of Consecration on Sunday, December 8th.

Kindly remember me and all who will be embracing this 33 days of retreat. Ask Our Blessed Mother to help us remain faithful to the prayers of the Consecration.

If you are not able to commit to doing the Consecration to Mary now it is fine! There are always opportunities to begin the Consecration. You may ask me anytime to help you begin the Consecration to Our Blessed Mother.

If you begin the consecration, but forget to do the prayers or must stop doing the Consecration during this upcoming 33 days, do not be discouraged! There is always time to begin the Consecration and Jesus is always pleased with our attempts at prayer.

Until next week, peace and prayers! St. Benedict and Cardinal Cooke, Servant of God, pray for us!

Fr. Stephen P. Norton