Father Ken's Corner
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Parish of the Good Shepherd,
Many of you who read this column will remember the days before the Second Vatican Council when Catholics over the age of reason (about 7 years old) were obliged to fast from meat on ALL Fridays of the year, not just, as present, during the Season of Lent. It was a really ‘big deal’ which everyone hoped and waited for when bishops throughout the country would formally announce that they would give a dispensation from the fast on the Friday after Thanksgiving, lest good food from the day before be wasted.
Most Americans wouldn’t be aware of this, but back in September of 2011, bishops in England and Wales announced that they would call Catholics in that area to revive the centuries old tradition of fasting from meat on Fridays. In the ensuing years, research shows that although only about 28% of the country’s population followed through on shifting their dietary habits at the bishops’ request, 55% of the those following the request said that they ate meat at only one meal on Fridays and the remainder swapped meat for other staples like fish or cheese. As you can imagine, the take-out pizza industry saw a large increase in sales.
There was another benefit as well. A study by the University of Cambridge indicated that by cutting out or reducing meat from their diet one day during the week, those Catholics involved, saved the equivalent of more than 55,000 tons of pollution each year according to Phys.org. That was compared to roughly the pollution produced by 82,000 people flying from London to New York.
Certainly, it would be difficult to evaluate those claims. Yet, even not relying on those particular findings, if there was a definite and substantial positive impact on the environment, would YOU consider fasting from meat on Fridays throughout the entire year? Pope Francis has already highlighted the acute need for all the people of the world to have a greater awareness of what each person is personally able to do to contribute to protecting the environment. In his words, there “is a moral imperative for action on the climate emergency and the important role of civil society in achieving sustainability through lifestyle change.”
Consider the claim above about cutting pollution through one day of fasting in England and Wales being extended to the more than one billion Catholics around the world. Researchers claim that if only American Catholics upheld the same meatless Friday tradition, we’d see more than TWENTY TIMES the environmental impact compacted to the U. K. study.
As you probably know, way back in the “Medieval Ages” (starting about the 12th century), the church IMPOSED a mandatory fast on Fridays so that Catholics would unify themselves with the suffering of Christ on Good Friday. In reality, this first was aimed more at the upper classes who could afford to have meat whenever they wanted. Nonetheless, as economic conditions improved for the vast majority of people who were working class, all Catholics continued to be obliged to fast on Fridays. Today, although popularly and almost universally ignored, the conditions set by the bishops’ conference for eating meat on Fridays IS STILL IN FORCE by performing another sacrificial act in place of fasting from meat.
Many would argue today, that most Catholics under the age of 75 have lost (or perhaps never had) that sense of sacrifice in their daily lives. I can remember as a child accidentally having meat on a Friday and having to confess it as a serious sin before receiving Holy Communion the next Sunday; or even as the meat was still in my mouth, spitting it out before swallowing – that’s how seriously this sense of sacrifice was seen. The bottom line is simple – fasting from meat on Fridays is not only a personal way of sharing in the sufferings of Christ, but apparently a societal means of helping to save the planet. Talk about one action having a Double Positive Effect!!
DEAR PARISHIONER AND FRIENDS – NO COLUMN NEXT WEEK – GOING AWAY – LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO MISS ME – BUT NOT LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU REALIZE YOU DON’T NEED ME. Fr. Ken
Many of you who read this column will remember the days before the Second Vatican Council when Catholics over the age of reason (about 7 years old) were obliged to fast from meat on ALL Fridays of the year, not just, as present, during the Season of Lent. It was a really ‘big deal’ which everyone hoped and waited for when bishops throughout the country would formally announce that they would give a dispensation from the fast on the Friday after Thanksgiving, lest good food from the day before be wasted.
Most Americans wouldn’t be aware of this, but back in September of 2011, bishops in England and Wales announced that they would call Catholics in that area to revive the centuries old tradition of fasting from meat on Fridays. In the ensuing years, research shows that although only about 28% of the country’s population followed through on shifting their dietary habits at the bishops’ request, 55% of the those following the request said that they ate meat at only one meal on Fridays and the remainder swapped meat for other staples like fish or cheese. As you can imagine, the take-out pizza industry saw a large increase in sales.
There was another benefit as well. A study by the University of Cambridge indicated that by cutting out or reducing meat from their diet one day during the week, those Catholics involved, saved the equivalent of more than 55,000 tons of pollution each year according to Phys.org. That was compared to roughly the pollution produced by 82,000 people flying from London to New York.
Certainly, it would be difficult to evaluate those claims. Yet, even not relying on those particular findings, if there was a definite and substantial positive impact on the environment, would YOU consider fasting from meat on Fridays throughout the entire year? Pope Francis has already highlighted the acute need for all the people of the world to have a greater awareness of what each person is personally able to do to contribute to protecting the environment. In his words, there “is a moral imperative for action on the climate emergency and the important role of civil society in achieving sustainability through lifestyle change.”
Consider the claim above about cutting pollution through one day of fasting in England and Wales being extended to the more than one billion Catholics around the world. Researchers claim that if only American Catholics upheld the same meatless Friday tradition, we’d see more than TWENTY TIMES the environmental impact compacted to the U. K. study.
As you probably know, way back in the “Medieval Ages” (starting about the 12th century), the church IMPOSED a mandatory fast on Fridays so that Catholics would unify themselves with the suffering of Christ on Good Friday. In reality, this first was aimed more at the upper classes who could afford to have meat whenever they wanted. Nonetheless, as economic conditions improved for the vast majority of people who were working class, all Catholics continued to be obliged to fast on Fridays. Today, although popularly and almost universally ignored, the conditions set by the bishops’ conference for eating meat on Fridays IS STILL IN FORCE by performing another sacrificial act in place of fasting from meat.
Many would argue today, that most Catholics under the age of 75 have lost (or perhaps never had) that sense of sacrifice in their daily lives. I can remember as a child accidentally having meat on a Friday and having to confess it as a serious sin before receiving Holy Communion the next Sunday; or even as the meat was still in my mouth, spitting it out before swallowing – that’s how seriously this sense of sacrifice was seen. The bottom line is simple – fasting from meat on Fridays is not only a personal way of sharing in the sufferings of Christ, but apparently a societal means of helping to save the planet. Talk about one action having a Double Positive Effect!!
DEAR PARISHIONER AND FRIENDS – NO COLUMN NEXT WEEK – GOING AWAY – LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO MISS ME – BUT NOT LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU REALIZE YOU DON’T NEED ME. Fr. Ken
Mass Intentions
Sunday - September 24
7:00 a.m. Mary Lynaugh 8:30 a.m. Angelo Uliano 10:00 a.m. Mass Guild Members 12 Noon Ana Suarez 5:00 p.m. People of Good Shepherd
7:00 a.m. Mary Lynaugh 8:30 a.m. Angelo Uliano 10:00 a.m. Mass Guild Members 12 Noon Ana Suarez 5:00 p.m. People of Good Shepherd
Monday - September 25
9:00 a.m. Williams Perkins
9:00 a.m. Williams Perkins
Tuesday - September 26
9:00 a.m. Jaime Samia
9:00 a.m. Jaime Samia
Wednesday - September 27
9:00 a.m. Pat McDermott
9:00 a.m. Pat McDermott
Thursday - September 28
9:00 a.m. Louis Catro
9:00 a.m. Louis Catro
Friday - September 29
9:00 a.m. Frank Zankiewiski
9:00 a.m. Frank Zankiewiski
Saturday - September 23
9:00 a.m. Anna Cacece 5:00 p.m. Rosetta Miranda
9:00 a.m. Anna Cacece 5:00 p.m. Rosetta Miranda
Mass Guild Members
September 24, 2023
In Memory of:
Stephen J. McManus Michael Frustaci Alexis Lamb Concetta Savona William Perkins Ronald Mincio Maria “Tina” Messina Victoria Versoza Joan Lang
Stephen J. McManus Michael Frustaci Alexis Lamb Concetta Savona William Perkins Ronald Mincio Maria “Tina” Messina Victoria Versoza Joan Lang
Gifts of Bread and Wine
If you would like to have your loved one remembered in this
special way, please contact the Main Office at 631-588-7689
If you would like to have your loved one remembered in this
special way, please contact the Main Office at 631-588-7689
Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp, which burns near the Tabernacle in our Daily Chapel, is the reminder of the Lord's Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist.
In Loving Memory of:
Robert Salatti
Donated by:
Loving Children
If you would like your loved one remembered in this special way, please contact the Main Office at 631-588-7689
In Loving Memory of:
Robert Salatti
Donated by:
Loving Children
If you would like your loved one remembered in this special way, please contact the Main Office at 631-588-7689
Reading and Saints of the Week
Monday
Saints Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin
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Tuesday
Saint Paul VI
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Wednesday
Saint Vincent de Paul
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Thursday
Saint Wenceslaus
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Friday
Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
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Saturday
Saint Jerome
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Sunday
Saint Therese of Lisieux
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