Wappingers Falls Parish Hosts Homeschool Family Day

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St. Mary’s parish in Wappingers Falls hosted a picnic day for homeschool families on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16.   

Nearly 200 people attended the gathering, which featured Holy Mass, games for the children and a barbecue lunch. A choir directed by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, an associate professor and the director of sacred music at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, and composed of children from some of the families provided music for the Mass, together with Father Jon Tveit, administrator of St. Mary’s, and Father Michael Connolly, who is in residence at the parish.

Bishop Gerardo Colacicco, pastor of St. Mary and episcopal vicar of the northern counties of the archdiocese, celebrated the Mass, with Father Giuseppe Siniscalchi, C.F.R., concelebrating. At the end of Mass, the bishop invited the families to take turns each week hosting in their homes two special relics from Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the chair and kneeler which she personally used in her chapel. The families will pray with these relics daily for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Mother Cabrini, who was canonized in 1946, became the first U.S. citizen to attain sainthood. The patron saint of immigrants, she emigrated from Italy to New York City in 1889 to serve the many Italian immigrants here. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

Another Family Day is being planned for Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 10, at 12 noon. The day will include a Rosary procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed by a luncheon. For more information, call the parish at (845) 297-6261.