Anastasi

A
church
saint

45-14 245th Street

Douglaston, NY 11362-1135
Phone: (718) 631-4454
Fax: (718) 631-1774
Email: info@stanastasia.info

Douglaston-Little Neck
Salus Animarum Suprema Lex

www.stanastasia.info

December 14, 2008

Third Sunday of Advent

Rev. Msgr. George J. Ryan, Pastor

Rev. William A. McLaughlin
Rev. Chris J. Piasta, OFM
Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Cantley, S.T.D.,

Pastor Emeritus

Rectory Office Hours:

Monday to Friday 9:15 AM to 8 PM
Saturday 9:15 AM to 1 PM
Mrs. Betty Harris, Secretary
Mrs. Ann Larkin, Accounting Admin.
St. Anastasia School:
45-11 245th Street
Mrs. Lucy Mihulka, Principal
Mrs. Cindy Roma-McCann, Assist. Princ.
Phone: (718) 631-3153; (718) 631-3155
Email: school@stanastasia.info
Religious Education & CCD Office:
Mrs. Janine Kramer, Directress
Phone: (718) 225-5191
Email: dre@stanastasia.info
Music Minister:
Mr. Joseph C. Extejt
Weekend Masses:
Saturday Vigil at 5:30
Sundays 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM & 5 PM
Weekday Masses:
Monday thru Saturday at 8:30 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Saturdays 44:30 PM
Holy Days and Special Liturgies:
Mass schedules will be printed in the
Bulletin at the appropriate time.
Devotions:
Miraculous Medal Novena:
Mondays after 8:30 AM Mass

PARISH MEMBERSHIP:
All new families are welcome to the Parish and every family should be properly registered.
Registration forms are available at the Rectory.
Use of the electronic giving (Faith Direct) or envelope system is required if statement of
contribution is sought for tax purposes. All parishioners should use either one of the donation forms. If you move or change your address, please notify the Rectory by mail.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM:
First Sunday of each month at 1:30 PM only. Parents should make arrangements by calling the Rectory no later than 2 weeks before the Baptism.
Parents must attend the Baptism instructions before Baptism
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY:
Time available: Saturday 11 AM-3 PM; Sunday 2:30 PM-3 PM
Couples must make arrangements six months prior to the selected date of their marriage
and fully participate in the Pre-Cana Parish at home.
R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
It is the process for adults wishing to become Catholic, complete their sacramental initiation, or attain full membership in the Church. For further information, please contact
Ms. Janine Kramer

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

omeless men living under

Flushing Meadow
Bridges need clothing
For a number of years now and
thanks to the generosity of our
parishioners; every Sunday
morning during the winter
months, we bring hot chocolate, a sandwich and some
warm clothes to a group of
homeless men living under the
bridges and surrounding areas
of Flushing Meadows Corona
Park. These are men who for
different reasons have given up
on life and seen unable to cope
with it. As the cold weather
approaches, once again we are
preparing to start our mission
and we need clothing. If you
have warm clothes and blankets that are clean and in good
condition and would like to
donate them please call us and
we will pick them up. For more
information call Jorge at (718)
224-8187 or (718) 423-5988.

Annual Coat Drive

he coats are dropped off to

needy parishes in Queens
and Brooklyn, visiting Nurse
Early Head Start program in
Rockaway, St. Johns Bread
and Life Ministry, and other
spots that are in need of help.
The coats can be left at my
office at Bryce Rea Associates,
or if you cant come to me I
will go and pick them up; just
call my cell phone: Carolyn
Meenan at (917) 796-2990.
Thank you again for your generous help by keeping someone
warm this winter.

Need a ride to Church?

entury Car Service is offering a special rate to

parishioners who need a ride to
Sunday Mass. This offer is
only available to get to St. Anastasia Church for Sunday
Mass. The fee is $5.00 plus
any gratuity they choose to

give. (This is a 16% reduction

in their usual rate. Just advise
the dispatcher that you are going to St. Anastasia Church in
Douglaston in order to get the
discount.) Century Car is located at Springfield Blvd and
Union Turnpike in Bayside
Call: (718) 740-6600 or (718)
428-1010.

Christmas Giving Tree

he Giving Tree which has

gift tags is once again a
Reminder of the rapid approach of Christmas. It is very
important to remember that we
would like to get the wrapped
gifts back by Monday, December 15th, so that all those people that you are helping will
get the gifts before Christmas.
Please remember that you are
doing a good thing giving a
part of yourself by shopping,
wrapping, & returning back to
us. You will be blessed for
your kindness. The tree is located in the hallway next to the
Church please stop after Mass
to pick up your tag(s).

Annual Catholic Charities

Collection

ishop DiMarzio invites all

to join him in this years
Annual Catholic Charities Collection. The collection takes
place at all Christmas Masses.
Please return the special Catholic Charities Envelope from
your envelope packet with your
gift. If you did not receive a
printed envelope we ask you to
use your own blank envelope
and mark it for Catholic

Add a Soldier to your

Christmas Card List

hen doing your Christmas Cards this year,

take one card and send it to this
address. If we pass this on and
everyone sends one card, think
of how many cards these wonderful, special people who
have sacrificed so much would
get. On your card list please
include: A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed
Army Medical Center, 6900
Georgia Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20307.

Leisure Club News

rip to Atlantic City on

Monday, December 15th,
$30 pp., For more information,
call Peg McKeon at (718) 4282833.

ST. ANASTASIA BULLETIN

www.stanastasia.info

Help the Homeless

December 14, 2008

Where do sick ships go?

To the dock.

Charities. Bishop DiMarzio

urges all to join in sharing
Gods love with families and
children in need by giving generously to this years Charities
Christmas collection.

Good News from the School Principal

Honor Students and Christmas Concert
By Lucy Mihulka, Principal

he annual Christmas Fair was

a great success. Thank you to
all who worked so hard to
make this event such a joyful way to
begin the holiday season.
Report cards were distributed and the
Honors Assembly for grades 5 to 8
was held on December 12th. Any
student who achieved 90% or greater
in each subject area with no special
subject less than satisfactory was
eligible for the 90% honors club.
Congratulations to the following
Honors students:
Grade 5: Daniella Colletti, Erica
Cooper, Mary OByrne, Sophia
Thompson, Carla Valenti, Gabrielle
Vennitti, Rosemary Wolf and Brendan Zhang.
Grade 6: Angelica Carpenter, Joseph
Mattone, Kathryn McCabe, Janet
Narain, Erin Pellegrino, Jessica
Russo and Robert Spitz.
Grade 7: Sophia Huber, Shana Mar-

ino, Danielle Morelli and Julia Vennitti.

Grade 8: Christina Coleman, Anastasia Gaspar, Benjamin Hong, Danielle Martini, Brendan McCann,
Daniel Song, Stefanie Wolf and Jasmine Zhang.
The following students were recognized for their exemplary effort:
Grade 5: John Bekios, Victoria Martini, Kimberly Mayo and Manuel
Ritoe.
Grade 6: Jon Caballero and Tanina
DiLeo
Grade 7: Sabrina Bekios and Yuji
Choi.
Grade 8: Caroline Gawlik, Roisin
Higgins, Nicholas Hurley, Deubola
Lee, Angela Sirinic, Scott Stoner and
Amy Yang.
Our second graders received the sacrament of First Penance on Saturday,
December 13th. Please keep them in

your prayers.
All are invited to the St. Anastasia
Christmas Concert at the Church on
Thursday, December 18th at
11:30AM. We are starting at an earlier time this year because our talent
continues to grow each year! Mrs.
Roccia and Ms. Izzo are directing
this years Christmas Concert which
is themed, Snowed in at St. A.s.
Ms. Tracy Pratt will be directing the
bands performance. This show is a
great Christmas treat for all.
Christmas recess begins at noon on
Friday, December 19th. School reopens on Monday, January 5, 2009.
The Faculty, Staff and Administration of St. Anastasia School wish you
and your families a very Merry
Christmas and a happy and blessed
New Year.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 2008

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
Monday December 22, 2008
7:30 PM Communal Penance Service

CHRISTMAS EVE MASS

Wednesday, December 24, 2008
4:00 PM
6:00 PM

CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS

December 25, 2007
Doors will open at 11:15 PM
St Anastasia Choristers will sing Christmas Music before Mass

CHRISTMAS DAY
Thursday, December 25, 2008
8:00 AM
10:00 AM
12:00 Noon
No Evening Mass

Saturday, December 27, 2008

5:30 PM Vigil

Sunday, December 28, 2008

8:00 AM
10:00 AM
12:00 PM
5:00 PM

NEW YEARS Eve

5:30 PM Vigil

NEW YEARS Day

9:00 AM
12:00 Noon
No Evening Mass

Helpful travel tips to those

who are traveling abroad (1)

CHRISTMAS POEM
This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan
and submitted by Brother Jim Kelly a Korean Veteran:
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE.
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL,
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

CHIRSTMAS TOYS FOR KIDS

St. Anastasia Council #5911 will donate approximately 45 gifts for
boys and girls to the Jamaica Outreach Program. The gifts were
collected from the membership at the Annual Christmas Party.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
If anyone you know is interested in joining our Council, have them
come to the Annex on any Tuesday evening at 8:00PM or call
August Randazzo at 718-279-9096. We will be happy to discuss
the benefits of membership. Visit us on the web:
www.geocities.com/kofc5911.

The most effective means of protecting yourself

and your property is the liberal use of common
sense reinforced with a high state of security
awareness. Do not give anyone the opportunity
to exploit vulnerabilities. Stay alert and exercise
good judgment.
Do research on the country you will be traveling to before you go. Talk with friends, family
or business associates who have visited the
country. They can usually give you some good
tips for your trip. Also, for any travel warnings
or other conditions that you should be aware of,
check with the U.S. State Department, Bureau
of Consular Affairs.
Travelers should discuss with their travel
agents, which airlines, hotels and car rental
companies are recommended.
Obtain information from U.S. Customs regarding any special requirements for the country
you are visiting.
Request from the embassy of the country you
plan to visit a copy of any list or pamphlet describing customs restrictions or banned materials. This is a hint designed to minimize the possibility of an encounter with the local authorities.
Choose an airline with a good safety and ontime record. Try to book a non-stop flight, as
these have fewer takeoffs and landings. Try to
make your stopovers in airports that have a
high security standard and good security screening. Choose a window or center seat. This will
keep you away from any action that may be
happening in the aisle.
Many U.S. corporations have hotels abroad
that are owned by local businessmen and
staffed by local workers but managed by first
class U.S. hoteliers. You usually can expect
levels of safety and security that are consistent
with U.S. standards. Check with the Regional
Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy for a list of
hotels utilized by officials visiting the area.
Kevin Devlin
Kevin Devlin is St. Anastasia parishioner; he is retired Captain from the Port Authority Police Department and was commanding officer of the Port
Authoritys Emergency Services and Canine unit.

MASS INTENTIONS

Bread & Wine

December 1320, 2008

Memorial
SATURDAY

WEEKDAY

5:30 PM Michael St. John

SUNDAY

IN THANKSGIVING FOR

*** Dr. Robert Hard ***

DECEMBER 1420, 2008

{ Remember }
Please remember in your prayers all the sick of our
Parish Community, especially:

Ruth Marchese
Annette Montello
Mary Ann Inguagiato

and those who have died, especially:

Mary Cacciola
Robert P. Roma
Joseph Lacalamita

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

8:00 AM
10:00 AM George Proto
12:00 PM Richard Lynch and Arthur & Madeline Guest
5:00 PM

MONDAY

ADVENT WEEKDAY

8:30 AM Patrick Hagan

TUESDAY

ADVENT WEEKDAY

8:30 AM Irene Krusziewski

WEDNESDAY ADVENT WEEKDAY

8:30 AM Anthony Cerulli and Timothy Larkin

THURSDAY

ADVENT WEEKDAY

8:30 AM Anthony Orgera

FRIDAY

ADVENT WEEKDAY

8:30 AM Irene Krusziewski and Marie Kurtz

SATURDAY

ADVENT WEEKDAY

8:30 AM Raymond J. OConnor

and Sante & Adalgisa Scarapicchia

Were Here
Where Are You?
Have You Heard
What We Do?
Need A Lift To The Doctor
Call Outreach 347-481-5477
Need To Get To The Store
Call Outreach 347-481-5477
Want Some Company..
Call Outreach 347-481-5477
Need A Ride To- You Name It
Call Outreach 347-481-5477
Were Here: Call Us Well Be There!
The next recipe section will be published in the December 21 edition of our Bulletin. This time we will
focus on Christmas recipes. If you would like to
share your secret formulas, leave them at the
Rectory or email us at info@stanastasia.info by
December 18.

This week:

Leisure Club on Tuesday

Spiritual Advent Reflections on Tuesday
Religious Education Classes on Wednesday
RCIA on Wednesday
Spanish Prayer Group on Thursday
Coffee & Donuts after 12 PM Mass
Youth Group on Sunday
Christmas Recipes in the next Sunday Bulletin