Bartimaeus
Bartimaeus
In Sunday's Gospel we have the wonderful story of the healing of Bartimaeus, the blind man by Jesus. This is a story that appeals to everyone. It is a well structured story with three parts: The Beggar's Request, The Lord's Response, and The Cure. We can all identify with the poor beggar man who was blind, the underdog, the Lord reaching out to him in his compassion, the blindness that darkened his life being driven away. We have the classic happy ending that everyone loves. It would make a great bedtime story for a child, who would then go off happily to sleep.
Let us look a bit more deeply at the story. Bartimaeus did three significant things in that story. He made an act of faith in Jesus, as the Saviour. He called him Son of David, which is a messianic title. He was effectively saying: You are my Messiah, the Savior of the World. It was an extraordinary thing for a blind man to say.
The second thing he did was, despite being told by the people about him to shut up, he persevered in prayer. The more they told him to be silent, he only shouted all the louder. He gave a great example of perseverance. There was no way he was going to quiet down on the praying.
The third significant thing he did was, after he was cured, he didn't go off like the nine lepers ion the other direction; he followed Jesus down the road. It would seem that he followed in the way of Christian discipleship.
You know each of us can also become another Bartimaeus. Let me pray like the blind man whom Jesus cured:
Lord cure me of my spiritual blindness. Help me to see my sins and be sorry for them, to see my faults and overcome them, to see the needs of suffering people and respond to them.
Lord help me persevere in prayer. Help me to believe even when I see no results that you are listening. Don't let our noisy world shut you out or shut me down.
Lord help me to be your disciple. Help me to follow you down the road. help me to become like Bartimaeus in my journey through life.
Holy Ghost Missions Dance
I am sure you all know by now that the 41st Annual Holy Ghost Missions Dance takes place on November 10th at St. Mary's Parish Hall, Woodside. There will be dancing from 8pm to midnight to Rumor Has It with a hot buffet, a beer, wine and sodas, and refreshments. Tickets cost only $45 for a great night out. We have three great honorees at the dance that I would like to introduce:
(a) Mary Coyne is a native of Woodside, with a deep love for and respect for her Irish heritage. She is the sixth of seven children born to Patrick Coyne (Tourmakeady, Co Mayo) and Catherine Coyne (of Brooklyn). Mary attended St. Mary's School, Winfield; Queens Vocational HS; and Queens College, before pursuing a career in travel. She is currently a corporate travel agent for JTBUSA, NYC. Her career in travel has made it possible for Mary to make many visits to Ireland and to forge connections with family and friends there. In addition to her professional life, Mary devotes a great deal of time in support of people in need, raising money for many charities and for neighbors. She is a great advocate for keeping Irish traditions alive in New York. She is past president of the Mayo Society of New York and a Board member of the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens. Mary is a great supporter of the Holy Ghost Missions Priests who are proud to honor her at their dance.
(b) Betty Mcloughlin was born to Pat and Kate Irwin in Glenamoy,County Mayo, one of five children. Both her sisters, Mary Cunningham and Nora Noone are deceased, and her two brothers are George living in Kildare and Philip living in Glenamoy. Betty came to the USA via Philadelphia in July 1962; however the nightlife in Philadelphia was no match for the great fun of New York. After a year of weekend trips Betty relocated to the Bronx to her cousins Teresa and Maurice Reynolds. She worked at Patricia Murphy's and moved to Brooklyn, where she met a great man from Drumkerrin. Co. Leitrim, Jim McLoughlin. They were married in September 1966, and were blessed with four children: Mary (RIP), Francis, Seamus and Breda. They moved to Bayside in 1972. Francis lives in Manhattan, Seamus lives in Floral Park with his wife Christine and two children, Chase and Carlee. Breda lives in Bayside with her husband Seamus Mulvey and their four children, Kayleigh, Aiden, Emily and Jack.
Betty worked for the Board of Education from 1995 until 2008. She had 38 wonderful years with her darling Jim before he passed away in 2005. Betty is very much involved with her parish, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Bayside and serves on the Board of the Altar Rosary Society.
She became a member of the Irish American Society (IAS) in 1983 and took an active role after Jim's passing. She is past president of the IAS and also on the Board of Directors. Betty was a great president of the IAS and she was renowned for her care and concern for everyone involved in that great society. Betty is also involved with the United Counties Association of New York, as well as the County Mayo Society of New York. She has been a great supporter and friend of the Holy Ghost Missions, who feel proud to honor her at their dance.
(c) Thomas P. Giblin of Montclair ,New Jersey, has a lifetime dedication to the Labor Movement, to Government, and to Irish-American causes. Tom's father, John J. Giblin came from Tibohine, Frenchpark, County Roscommon, to the USA in 1927. His maternal grandparents came from Cos. Mayo and Sligo. Tom was President of the Co. Roscommon Society of New York, and is a frequent visitor to Ireland. Tom was raised in Newark, New Jersey and graduated from Seton Hall Prep. and Seton Hall University. He later attended graduate classes at Rutgers and Seton Hall.
Tom has been a member of Local 68 Operating engineers since he was 17 and has served in various offices such as Business manager, president and Treasurer. Local 68 IUOE represents Stationary engineers and Building Maintenance Mechanics throughout New Jersey. Tom is very involved as Vice Chairman of the Higher Education Committee in New Jersey's General Assembly. Mr. Giblin is also serving as President of the ESSEX-West Hudson Labor Council, AFL-CIO since 1997. He is also an Essex County Freeholder, Essex County Surrogate and now is the Chairman of the Regulated Professions Committee. Tom is active in many Irish American Organizations, many local NJ St. Patrick's Day Parade Committees, a prominent member of the AOH in New Jersey, and also a prominent member of the United Irish Counties Association in New York, He has been Grand Marshal of many St. Patrick's parades He is prominent in promoting many worthy charities, and we are proud to have him associated with and a great supporter of the Holy Ghost Missions.
Tom Giblin is the father of five children and a grandfather of seven.
So there you have it, if you are interested in coming to the dance please contact me at: 917 226 8237.