Greetings from River City. I hope that your Thanksgiving is all you hope it to be with family and friends, or even if alone that you have happy memories to comfort you. God bless you, each one—and all those who are with us in spirit. Whether the meal is simple or sparse, or even grand, may it be filled with peace and harmony and love. Happy Thanksgiving! 
 
The City of Newburgh has announced its annual search for a Christmas tree to display on Lower Broadway! The tree must be a Blue Spruce that is at least 35 feet high. Any interested party who may be willing to donate a tree is encouraged to contact Omar Balbuena, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, at (845) 569-7380 or by email at obpalma@cityofnewburgh-ny.gov.

Once a tree is selected, the City of Newburgh Department of Public Works will cut down and transport the Christmas Tree to City Hall. Trees from past years have originated from within the City limits as well as from other Hudson Valley communities including New Windsor, Town of Newburgh and Marlboro. 

 In observance of Thanksgiving, the City of Newburgh’s non-emergency departments will be closed on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25. The Sanitation Collection schedule is affected, and changes are as follows: There will be no sanitation collection on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday pickup are not affected. If you have questions or concerns, please call the Sanitation Line at (845) 565-1082. 

 
Please be advised that a contractor working for the City of Newburgh is installing steel piles along the waterfront to support a new facility that is being constructed at the wastewater treatment plant. This pile driving operation will generate a repetitive impact noise that may be heard along the east side of the City.  

This operation will be limited to normal business hours to limit the amount of noise disturbance in the City. Pile driving operations are expected to be completed by November 30. The City of Newburgh appreciates the public’s patience during completion of this critical infrastructure project.  
 
Barbara Albrechtsen, GUMC publicity assistant and Pastor Carlos Figueroa invite you to Grace United Methodist Church of 468 Broadway, to  their annual Hanging of the Greens Service on Sunday, November 27 at 10:45 a.m. All are welcome to attend this service.  

 
Please add Kathy Tarabochia, Carol Galla, and my dearest sister Maurena Luzi to your prayers, if you will. They are each recuperating from serious operations and need your precious prayers. In addition, please add John Clark an 85 year-old who fell 25 feet from a roof and miraculously survived without spinal or head injuries. That he was in excellent health before that is helping him to recover. He has now gone into a rehab and his spirit is awesome! 
 
Sacred Heart is looking for ushers to help at all three masses on the weekend: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at 10 a.m. and noon.  If you are interested, please contact Rob Ruchdeschel at (845) 562-7858. 

The rosary will be recited daily after the 9 a.m. Mass and on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (before 10 a.m. Mass) every week at Sacred Heart for the intentions of Ukraine. 

Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry Hours: Friday, 9 a.m. - noon; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – noon. Located at Sacred Heart School Gym, 240 South Robinson Avenue. “In your goodness, please bring canned vegetables and peanut butter to Church next weekend to be distributed to the less fortunate in our area. 

 If something is on sale and of good value, please feel free to donate that as well. Also, thank you for your donation of egg cartons, we now have enough. If your child needs volunteer hours, the Food Pantry will coordinate service hours; however, you must preregister with Curt Bourdage at (845) 863-6504. 
 

On the First Friday of each month, Adoration will be at follows: Sacred Heart Church following the 9 a.m. Mass until 11 a.m.; at St. Francis Church from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is recited every Sunday at 8:10 a.m. at St. Francis Church. The Rosary is recited daily at St. Francis Church after the noon Mass.  
 

Sacred Heart Donations for Mary’s Hope is BACK and accepting donations again!  They need pancake mix and syrup, tomato sauce in a jar, vegetable or tomato soup, and canned Chef Boyardee beef ravioli.  They also need plastic bags (yellow or white) and paper bags with handles, as well as help in the Food Room.  

Please contact Suzanna Campora at (845) 561-5162 and keep her in your prayers as she continues to recover. Please note, they cannot give out expired food or cans with dents to our clients. Please bring donations to Sacred Heart church. They thank you for your continued generosity. 
 
The Christmas season is approaching quickly. This year as we have in the past, we will have the opportunity to make Christmas a little brighter for a family, an adult or a child in need. The Giving Trees at Sacred Heart will be in place on November 26 and 27. Please take the time before or after Mass to choose a tag that will have the name of an item you would like to donate to this worthy cause. As always, you are thanked you for your continued generosity and support.   

The Christmas Giving Tree at St. Francis of Assisi Church: The Christmas Giving Tree is located by the main entrance of the Church. Please take an angel with the name of a gift, purchase a gift and bring it to Church by Dec. The Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry will be giving out the Christmas gifts to registered clients’ children on December 16 and 17. They thank you for your generosity with this project; you will have made many children happy this Christmas Season.  

The St. Vincent de Paul Society operates a Baby Outreach Center every Tuesday morning in a new location – The Valastro Activity Center located across from the Sacred Heart School. At this time, they are only accepting baby diapers sizes 4, 5 and 6; baby wipes; and size 3T and 4T clothes. 

The Presentation Sisters invite you to a Morning Retreat on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9:30 - 11:30 a .m. at the Presentation Administrative Center, 84 Presentation Way in New Windsor. Sister Virginia Wilkinson will present “Waiting for the Dough to Rise,” a morning of reflection in which you are invited to return to Bethlehem to take a fresh look at the Jesus who nourishes us and asks us to be “bread blessed and broken” for others. To RSVP, or if you have any questions, contact Kelly at (845) 564-0513 x101 or kellyr@sistersofthepresentation.org. 
 
Sacred Heart St. Francis Missalettes are Back! These books will be for the Liturgical year. Keeping COVID PREVENTION in mind, we are asking you to take one book. This will be YOUR BOOK to keep and bring with you when you attend mass at any of our four churches. You may want to put your name in it. Books will be available in Church after each Mass. 

The Rectory will be closed on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 in observance of Thanksgiving. 

“This world is a battlefield of good and evil, truth and falsehood... Each of us faces a choice.” - Cardinal Stanislaw Dzivisz.  

To do away with the spiritual aspect of the human being lessens their humanity. In this day, we must be on guard against all that seeks to leave us soulless. As always, I close with my prayers for God’s blessings on your heads my dears, and for all those in peril.