Today we are guided by one pastor and two associate pastors. While there are fewer priests within the diocese we do have visiting priests during the summer. Our parish has had Deacons that also serve today and in the past. Currently two are serving our faith community, Deacon Joseph Bennicasa and Deacon Frank Gonzalez. In addition, the need for more assistance includes lay leadership provided by the Pastoral Staff Team in Business Administration, Faith Formation, Social Outreach and Music Ministry along with volunteer leadership of our Parish Trustees, Finance Committee and Pastoral Council.
Today we have over 4,895 households/families in our parish-wide family composed of residents in Franklin Square, Elmont and surrounding towns. We are a Faith Community serving God by serving others through the many good works of mercy and ministry offered within our parish. In addition to the celebration of the Eucharist – the Mass – our work in parish ministry encompasses liturgy and prayer, outreach to those in need, preparation for sacraments, family activities for various ages and a variety of spiritual and social activities and events – all part of the spirituality of parish life.
The core of any Catholic Church and parish is centered on the celebration of the Eucharist – the Mass. Today nearly 150 volunteer lay liturgical ministers serve the Lord through their serving and participation before, during and after weekday and weekend Masses; and bringing Holy Communion to those in senior and assisted living residences, local hospitals and to parishioners that are homebound. The parish hosts a Parish Mission/Retreat annually with special activities during the Seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter — all are welcome!
Saint Catherine of Sienna Faith Community has deep commitment to prayer through Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel with opportunity for prayer in the Real Presence of Christ for 12 hours a day Sunday through Friday (8:AM - 8:00PM, closed Saturdays). There are also special liturgical events with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction in our Church and Saint Catherine of Sienna Chapel throughout the year. In addition, Prayer-Devotion-Scripture Study and faith sharing groups meet regularly under the leadership of lay ministry leaders. And, a team of faithful ministry volunteers assist in our ‘In-Home’ Parish Prayer Program. This initiative includes a ‘Cup of Prayer’ focused on daily prayer in the home praying for vocations to the priesthood and the ‘Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima’ focused on daily recitation of the Rosary and family prayer; both travel separately on a weekly basis to different homes with the parish.
Our Faith Formation serves nearly 500 children traditionally in classrooms Mondays thru Thursdays; and designed a new blended program with virtual classrooms to meet challenges. We support adults in their formation through a variety of programs such as Mary Matters, Faith Conversations for Parents, and Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. We also have adults serving those preparing for their sacraments including baptism preparation classes for parents of children they wish to be baptized and Pre-Cana for those to be married.
Our parish ministry touches thousands including senior citizens, parents, married without children, singles, young adults, teens and children through a wide variety of parish social family style events. We have hosted an annual festival for over three decades. Music, dinner and dancing was heard and seen at Carnevale for the beginning of Lent for many years. Volunteers in our parish social ministry reach out to those with special needs, those in need of assistance, and help many in our local community through our parish food pantry. We have an active youth ministry for children, teens and young adults served through a variety of programs such as our Youth Ministry and Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports programs including basketball under the guise of volunteer adult sport leaders.
Our parish social life has spiritual roots and brings families, friends and neighbors together throughout the year with the Community-Wide Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service and other parish-wide family and community oriented activities.
Much may have changed through the years — the buildings may be a bit different, the leadership may consist of new faces, the people are more diversified in culture and ethnicity; but one thing remains the same — the parish of Saint Catherine of Sienna is still an active, vibrant and essential part of the community with THE EUCHARIST at its center, the source and summit of life.
