Monday, December 15, 2025

On Monday evening, our parish gathered for a quiet and grace-filled Advent Night of Recollection & Reconciliation, an opportunity to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.

The evening began prayerfully with the proclamation of the Magnificat, Mary’s great song of praise. Her words set the tone for the night—inviting us into humility, trust, and joyful surrender to God’s will.

We were then blessed to hear a deeply moving reflection from Sister Marilyn Vassallo, CSJ, whose decades of ministry in education, parish life, and canon law have shaped a faith marked by wisdom, honesty, and compassion. Drawing from Scripture and lived experience, Sister Marilyn spoke of Mary as the true model of Advent: one who waits, listens, asks honest questions, and ultimately trusts God without needing all the answers.

Her reflection reminded us that:

• Mary’s “yes” opens the door between the divine and the human, inviting all of us into God’s saving work.
• Faith does not eliminate questions; rather, it gives us the courage to ask them and the patience to wait.
• Advent is not passive—it is an active season of discernment, hope, and trust.
• When we truly believe we are loved by God, peace becomes possible, even amid uncertainty and suffering.

Following the reflection, priests were available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the stillness of the church, many took the opportunity to receive God’s mercy and healing—an essential gift at the heart of priestly ministry and a powerful way to prepare for Christmas.

This evening was a gentle but profound reminder that Advent calls us to slow down, to be still, and to place our lives—joys, wounds, and unanswered questions—into God’s hands.

Come, find stillness. Come, be reconciled. Come, let the Lord renew you.

The Catholic Bishops of New York State have released an important statement on immigration titled “For You Too Were Once Aliens…”, issued on the Feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patroness of immigrants.

The statement calls all Catholics to welcome the stranger, uphold human dignity, and follow the Gospel mandate to love our neighbor — especially those seeking safety, opportunity, and hope.

To help parishioners read and reflect on the message, we are providing both the English and Spanish versions of the flyer.

Download the Flyers

• English PDF:
  👉 Bishops’ Immigration Statement – English
  Download PDF
  
• Spanish PDF (Español):
  👉 Declaración de los Obispos sobre la Inmigración – Español
  Descargar PDF
  

The Bishops also encourage the faithful to sign the Cabrini Pledge — a commitment to pray, advocate, and work for the welcome, protection, promotion, and integration of immigrants and refugees.

Learn more & sign the Cabrini Pledge:
https://www.usccb.org/cabrinipledge

Please note that tonight’s Faith Formation meeting (6–7 PM) for middle school and high school students has been canceled.

Thank you for your understanding, and please help spread the word to other families. 

My dear families of Our Lady of the Assumption,

As we travel into a new year of Discipleship Formation, we thank you for prioritizing your family’s faith. There is great energy at OLA for all of the wonderful things happening! If you have not heard, the Vietnamese Community will be joining us as of
this Sunday, and having their masses at 10:30 on the 1 st and 3 rd Sundays of the month.

We welcome our new parishioners with great excitement and hope they find their home here with us to be one of caring and welcome. As with any growth, there will be adjustments, so please bear with me if schedules change or rooms get moved at times. We will thoroughly enjoy the busyness of our beautiful building and community space!

As we will hear in this week’s Gospel reading on Sunday, there are many things that can get in the way of being a disciple of Jesus. We all carry crosses, but as one family in faith we can help each other along the way. I fully understand the pressures on families in today’s society and have great empathy for the decisions you are called to make day by day, and even moment by moment at times. But know this, we are here FOR you, and with you, every step of the way. Our faith exists because of the
LOVE the Lord has for us, just as your family exists because of the love that brought it to life. I pray that we all spend this year getting to free ourselves of what the world says, and go back to the unconditional love the Father has for us. Isn’t that the world we want our children to know and grow in?

So as we enter into the next few months, let’s do our best to prioritize loving and caring for one another as Christ cares for His church. When your child is struggling, trust that we care why. When your family is going through challenges, let us walk beside you and support you. When your family is experiencing great joy, allow us to celebrate with you! We understand you are doing your best, and please know that we are too. Communication is KEY to us all working together! If you have not already,
please add youthola@olalatham.org, and ffadmin@olalatham.org to your address book so our emails do not wind up in spam. Also, if you prefer a text rather than an email, please let us know that too. I am hoping to utilize that as often as possible so communication is not lost.

Things are a little different in the office, and every day brings a new challenge. So, if I don’t get it right the first time, or if you need to share something with me twice, or I ask you to kindly put it in writing instead of telling me in the hallway, please understand I too am doing my best to balance it all with God’s help! I love this parish family as my own, and I pray you all feel that when you think of OLA. Do not ever hesitate to reach out about anything. Like I said at the beginning of this letter, we are here FOR you. If you can support us by being here a few times a year, so we can offer safety and security to our families and children on Sundays and Mondays, we appreciate any assistance you can give. We have a special place in our hearts for our volunteers! Look for the SignUp Genius coming your way soon via email. Blessings to all as you begin a new school year. We are holding you all in prayer.

Peace and blessings,

Rosemary Gavin

Pastorial Assoc. for Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

Starting this weekend before and after all Masses—and again at our Parish Picnic on Sunday, September 21st—our teens will be selling tickets for their Basket Raffle to support their journey to the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis this November.

🎟️ Ticket Prices

• $2 for 1
• $5 for 3
• $10 for 10
• $20 for “A Dave Loffredo Arm’s Length!”

✨ Winners will be drawn at the Parish Picnic. (You do not need to be present to win!)

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Why It Matters

Nine of our parish teens are preparing to attend NCYC, a powerful gathering of young Catholics from across the country. This conference offers them the chance to grow in faith, deepen their relationship with Christ, and bring that energy back to our parish community.

We invite you to stop by the Gathering Space after Mass to read their inspiring biographies and to check out the dozens of amazing raffle prizes on display.

💡 Special News: Pope Leo XIV will be joining NCYC virtually this year to deliver a personal message to all participants—including our OLA youth!

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🙌 Thank You to Our Sponsors

This raffle would not be possible without the generosity of our local business community. When you visit these establishments, please thank them for their support of OLA Youth!

76 Diner • 110 Grill • All4Fun/Control Tower • All Star Wine & Liquors • Applebees • Bare Blends Smoothie Shop • Bella Napoli • Cardona’s • Casa Flora • Dave & Buster’s • Dom’s Pizza & Subs • El Charro • Fresh Market • George’s Market • Gretchen’s Hallmark • Hoffman’s Car Wash • Icy Point (Rolled Ice Cream & Bubble Tea) • King Pin Bowling Alley • Lainey’s Cafe • Las Margaritas • New Panda • Nothing Bundt Cakes • O’Connor’s Church Goods • On the Farm • On the Hill Cafe • Otis & Oliver’s • Outback Steakhouse • The Works Cafe • Valley Cats • Whalen’s Automotive

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💙 Thank you for supporting our teens as they grow in faith, fellowship, and service. Your generosity helps make this life-changing pilgrimage possible!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With hearts full of joy and gratitude, we are honored to share a very special moment in the life of our parish. On Sunday at 10:30 AM, we will celebrate the First Vietnamese Mass ever held in our community. This historic celebration is a sacred occasion of unity, faith, and cultural richness.

Following the Mass, all are warmly invited to join us for a Community Reception at 11:30 AM. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine will be served, and we look forward to gathering together in fellowship and joy.

This celebration is more than an event—it is an opportunity to embrace the beauty of Vietnamese heritage and to strengthen the bonds of love and hospitality within our parish family.

🙏 Your presence will be a true blessing.

With peace and joy,
Fr. Joseph Tuan Pham

Thank You for Supporting Vacation Bible School!

Our spirit-filled Vacation Bible School has come and gone, yet the joy, love, and faith sown during that sacred week continues to bloom in our hearts. We are overflowing with gratitude to everyone who made this cherished experience possible.

To Our Parish Family

Your generous donations, prayers, and joyful support rooted this ministry in love. Because of you, our campers enjoyed a week filled with laughter, learning, and God’s love. Year after year, your unwavering kindness lifts us higher and reminds us what it means to be “One Family in Faith.”

To Our Incredible Volunteers & Teens

Your time, energy, creativity, and love brought this program to life. From imaginative decorations to meaningful activities, every detail carried your fingerprints of care. The behind-the-scenes dedication—late nights, early mornings, and quiet sacrifices—did not go unnoticed. You truly made a lasting impact on our children’s faith journey.

To Our Families

Thank you for the blessing of allowing us to share in your children’s spiritual growth. Special thanks to the Liberty’s, Garbaini’s, Uncle Rich D’Ambrosio, the Hunter’s, the Chiappone’s, the McCormick’s, and so many other wonderful families not mentioned here by name—you formed the foundation on which this week stood.

To Our Youth Ministry

A heartfelt thank you to our Youth Ministry, especially Mrs. Rosemary Gavin. Your passion, leadership, and heart are the soul of this journey. The seeds of joy, hope, and faith you have planted will continue to flourish for years to come.

About True North

This year’s VBS was powered by True North, a dynamic Catholic Vacation Bible School program designed to help children discover that Jesus is the ultimate guide for their lives. Through engaging Bible stories, uplifting music, creative crafts, and meaningful activities, True North points children toward Christ — their “true north” — teaching them that He is always with them, leading them in the right direction.

Because of each and every one of you, VBS was more than a program—it became a sanctuary where children encountered the love of Jesus in unforgettable ways. We are so grateful for your part in this beautiful ministry.

With hearts full of gratitude,
Bethany Liberty & the VBS Team

Feast of Our Parish – A Celebration of Faith, Family, and Eternal Communion

Each year, our parish family gathers with reverent joy to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—our beloved patroness and spiritual mother. Observed on August 15, this sacred solemnity is more than tradition: it is a profound encounter with mystery, grace, and the hope that animates our Catholic faith.

Mass Schedule – Join Us in Prayer

• 9:00 a.m. Mass (Livestreamed for those unable to attend in person)
• 5:30 p.m. Mass

We encourage all parishioners, near and far, to unite in prayer as we honor Our Lady. Whether in person or online, your presence is a blessing to our community.

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Our Vietnamese Tradition – A Feast for the Soul and the Senses

In the Vietnamese tradition, feast days are not only moments of prayer—they are joyful reunions overflowing with warmth and celebration. Friends and relatives from nearby parishes, and even distant regions, come together in faith and fellowship.

The atmosphere is electric—people wear their finest clothes, children laugh and play, and families unite in joy. Together, we offer prayers to St. Joseph, our patron saint, seeking his protection and intercession. (Fun fact: in our home village, most of the men are named Joseph—call out “Joseph” and nearly everyone will respond!)

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The Mystery We Celebrate

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin affirms the truth that, at the completion of her earthly journey, Mary was taken—body and soul—into the fullness of divine glory. Far from being an escape from the world, this mystery points to the transfiguration of life through divine love, and it prefigures the destiny of every soul who longs for God with an undivided heart.

Under her patronage, our parish stands like a vineyard under the gentle sun. She intercedes, consoles, and guides us, listening to the whispers of our hearts.

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Feast Day Dinner – All Are Welcome!

After the 5:30 p.m. Mass, we invite you to join us for a traditional potluck community picnic on the parish grounds. Bring your favorite dish to share, enjoy live music, play games, and spend time in fellowship with your parish family.

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As we celebrate this great feast, may our hearts be filled with the joy of the Magnificat, our eyes lifted toward heaven, and our lives renewed in faith.

Happy Feast Day to the beloved community of Our Lady of the Assumption!

Fr. Joseph Tuan Pham

WAYS TO HELP TEXAS FLOOD VICTIMS

“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
— Matthew 20:28

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In the wake of deadly and devastating flash floods in Texas, many in our Diocese have asked how we can help. At least 120 lives have been lost, and more than 100 individuals remain missing. The road to recovery will be long and difficult.

Catholic Charities USA has established a relief fund to aid those impacted. You can donate directly at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. They have confirmed that 100% of donations go directly to helping survivors.

If you prefer to contribute by check, please send your donation to:

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany
40 North Main Ave.
Albany, NY 12203
(Please write “Texas” in the memo line.)

Your generosity is deeply appreciated. Please continue to pray for the families affected by this tragedy. As we reflect on our call to be Remade for Mission, let us open our hearts to the needs not only within our community, but across the nation and the world.

May the world meet Christ in each of us.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger

On June 18, our liturgical ministers gathered for an evening of prayer and formation. Father Patrick Butler, pastor of St. Edward’s in Clifton Park, offered a powerful reflection on the meaning of ministry and the transforming grace of the Eucharist.

Father Patrick Butler delivered a rich and deeply theological reflection focused on the sacred nature of liturgical ministry and the Eucharist. Drawing from his personal journey and the prayers of the Mass, he called all present to recognize not only their responsibility as ministers, but their divine identity and calling in Christ.

Core Themes:

1. Ministry Is a Reflection of Christ
Fr. Butler began by thanking liturgical ministers—lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers, and parish volunteers—for being the hands, voices, and hearts of Christ. He reminded them that ministry is not merely duty, but participation in Christ’s mission to love and serve.

“Let us remember that our ministry is not just a responsibility, it is a sacred privilege. We are called to be another Christ.”

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2. The Forgotten Prayer: Sharing in Christ’s Divinity
He reflected on the quiet prayer said when a drop of water is added to wine:

“May we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”

Many people have never noticed this prayer, but Fr. Butler emphasized it as a core truth: we are called to share in the divine life of Christ.

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3. The Structure of the Mass Reveals God’s Grace First
Reflecting on the old Latin Mass and the Saint Joseph Daily Missal, Fr. Butler explained how the Church’s liturgy begins not with sin, but with God’s goodness and joy.

“The Mass doesn’t start with us—it starts with God.”

Only after proclaiming God’s mercy and love do we acknowledge our own sinfulness.

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4. The Offertory: Offering Ourselves in Union with Christ
He invited the assembly to rethink the offertory not as symbolic ritual but as a real self-offering:

• We offer ourselves to God
• In union with Christ’s sacrifice
• For the salvation of the world

“If we’re not changed when we’re here to be sent back out there, then we’re missing something.”

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5. Bread and Wine Represent the Community
Bread and wine are chosen because:

• They are made from many parts (grains of wheat, grapes)—just like the Church
• They symbolize sacrifice and transformation (wheat is crushed, grapes are pressed)

“They no longer bring bread and wine to Mass, but they bring the equivalent—our lives, our sacrifice.”

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6. The Consecration: We Die and Rise with Christ
Fr. Butler drew on writings from a leading Catholic theologian to describe the consecration not just as a change in bread and wine, but a transformative moment for us:

“In the offertory, we present ourselves. In the consecration, we die with Him. Through communion, we rise with Him.”

He emphasized that we must not attend Mass passively but enter fully into this mystery—offering our lives to be changed and sent.

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7. The Mass Sends Us on Mission
The final challenge was clear:

“Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” isn’t a dismissal—it’s a commission.

We are sent out to be the presence of Christ in the world, having been nourished, challenged, and transformed.

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Closing

Father Butler’s talk was both catechetical and pastoral—rooted in Eucharistic theology, rich in personal insight, and filled with inspiration. He called ministers to recognize their dignity, reflect deeply on their identity as “another Christ,” and allow the Mass to transform them into vessels of grace in the world.

“We offer ourselves in union with Christ—for the salvation of the world.”