We had a great march in support of my church yesterday

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/05/07/news-mrstmarymarch-05-07.html

<snip> Crowd estimates ranged from 500 to 1,000, and the latter figure might be closer if you factor in the senior citizens and others who followed the marchers in a bus and several shuttle vans, and another crowd waiting at the church on South Street.

<snip> They included not only parishioners, but also members of other churches - Catholic and non-Catholic - Teamsters, city officials, members of community-based organizations and more.

<snip>One pedestrian on Broadway wondered what all the fuss was about. When told, he said, "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. They better not (close it), that's a good church."

On the steps of St. Mary, tenor Osvaldo "Ozzie" Cicchetti sang "Ave Maria," the Bishop Dunn Memorial School Troubadours sang a medley including "We Shall Overcome" and "What a Wonderful World," and Kazi Oliver and the African Drummers & Dancers performed.






THANK ALL DU'ers that emailed the POPE in support of keeping my church open! Y'all are great!:yourock:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1086501

to the POPE? The email could just say "Please keep St. Mary's in Newburgh, NY open". The Pope's email address is benedictxvi@vatican.va

It would be very helpful. Peace!

makes it okay for women to have some mix of reproductive health and protection from AIDS.

I used to hate being a catholic until I met Father Bill. To many, Father Bill and Saint Mary's Church are more of a community resource, and less of an institution that is affiliated with a religious dogma.

Father Bill-
-lets the free basketball program (Zion Lions) operate out of the gym.
-runs a food bank for the inner city. This is not just for the parish, it is for the community (some churches, especially in the inner city, will only assist their own parishoners... not Father Bill and St. Mary; they are open to all).
-runs a thrift store that helps furnish many low income families with furniture and clothes.

peace

of course, I would never have found this church without reading Joe Campbell and HH Dali Lama. <-They lead me back to the church, Father Bill helped me to stay.

:~)
peace!

from MidHudson News

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/StMary_rally-07May06.htm

Good luck. You have a great church.

peace.

:hi: