TIME TO SAY GOODBYE Sooner or later, those words issue from the lips of everyone of us, or in the case of death, for us. Such

was the case this past week when at the Altar of Our Holy Redeemer they rang true at a Mass of

Christian Burial for no less than five people: Omar Arana, Barbara Jagnow, Ann Jackson, Kylon N.

Bruce, and Maria F. Garcia. Please pray that their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the Mercy of God; may rest in Peace. Please pray too that those who mourn their departure

may find rest in that same Peace.

On Wednesday, 26 August, those words will

issue from the lips of one of Our Holy

Redeemer’s two Associate Pastors: Father

Andrés F. Vélez. With permission from his

Bishop in Columbia, our Bishop in Rockville

Centre, and at the request of our own Father

Carlos, Father Andrés arrived from Columbia

at the end of February with the intentions of

being assigned to another parish in the

Diocese of Rockville Centre shortly

thereafter. Well that was his intention, but

as the saying goes: “Man proposes. God

disposes.” Covid-19 related executive orders

and Diocesan instructions kept Father Andrés at Our Holy Redeemer for six months! Thank You

God!

“Yes, thank You God for calling Father Andrés to the Priesthood

and for sending him home to Our Holy Redeemer in Freeport.

He has served You and the Church here well; at both the Altar of

our absolutely beautiful church and on the Waterfront, in the

Confessional, at the Funeral Home, at the Baptismal Font, and in

the Rectory where he has been a welcomed presence for all of

us!”

We will miss you Father Andres. And while it may be time to say

goodbye, please know that you can always come home and say

hello … and even stay for “a little while”.

The new “temporary residence” to which Father Andres has been officially assigned is:

Saint John of God Roman Catholic Church

84 Carleton Avenue

Central Islip, New York 11722

(631) 234 – 6535

A MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR 23 AUGUST 2020