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| Knights of Columbus |
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In February 1901, a group of Catholic men of Haverstraw gathered together for the purpose of organizing a council of the Knights of Columbus. The required number of applications was received and a charter was issued on May 30th, 1901, listing a membership of 50. Haverstraw Council #581, being the first council of the Knights of Columbus instituted in the present 49th District of New York, is now known as the mother council of this district. Through the years meetings have been held in various locations, but we presently meet on First Street. The knights have enjoyed much activity and many enjoyable moments of fraternal friendship. Our council has grown to become one of the most outstanding and active groups in the area. With ensuing years from 1938 to the present time our council has been fortunate in having very able Grand Knights and subordinate officers whose enthusiasm for Columbianism helped to imbue the membership with a new spirit. We have had a semi-pro baseball team, special masses at St. Peter's, annual breakfasts and barbeques, a basketball team, our own council bowling league, bingo games as fundraisers, and dinners. Through it all, we have strived to remain true to the high principles of our order: Charity, Fraternity, and Unity. These days, the world needs more knights.
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| Catholic Daughters of the Americas |
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In October 1920 Brothers Gregory W. O'Keefe of Grassy Point and John J. Heffern of Haverstraw, members of Haverstraw Council 581, Knights of Columbus and Mrs. Estelle M. Shankey of Haverstraw met to organize a local court of the Daughters of Isabella, which became the Catholic Daughters in 1921. The institution of Court Joan of Arc No. 604 admitted 98 members. Mrs. Shankey was elected Regent and our first chaplain was the Rev. Edward Lewis of St. Peter's Church.
Catholic lay and religious women, 18 years or older, who love and support the Church and wish to participate in social and charitable activities make up our court. We support scholarships and education contests, and pray for vocations to religious life, evangelize, discuss and act on issues affecting church, family and society. With our motto of Unity and Charity our court has flourished through the years and presently has 95 members.
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| Cornerstone |
The Cornerstone ministry at St. Peter's Parish provides a unique opportunity for men and women to deepen their relationship with God and become more involved in their Parish community. An annual overnight retreat for women and one for men is organized and presented by St. Peter's parishioners with the help and support of our clergy as a first time experience to this form of worship, after which participants are invited to become part of a community of believers that meet on a monthly basis to pray, discuss Scripture, experience Christian fellowship, and prepare for the next retreat. Since 1996, hundreds of men and women at our parish have had their lives enriched by Cornerstone.
For more information please call Todd McGowan at 845-429-5535 or the St. Peter's Rectory.
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| Journey |
The Journey ministry at St. Peter's Parish begun in 2004 continues and expands on the opportunities for spiritual growth afforded by Cornerstone. Complete weekend retreats with a slower, relaxed pace for personal reflection are organized and presented by St. Peter's parishioners on separate dates for men and women at the Marian Shrine in West Haverstraw. The Journey retreat is designed for those who have participated in Cornerstone or a similar experience and wish to renew the joy of encountering Jesus in a special way. Journey participants are invited to join with St. Peter's parishioners who meet on a regular basis to continue prayer, discussion of Scripture, Christian fellowship and service to the parish or to form their own groups for this purpose.
For more information please call Todd McGowan at 845-429-5535 or the St. Peter's Rectory.
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| God's T.Y.M. - Total Youth Ministry |
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The St. Peter's youth ministry offers high school and college-aged youth of the parish an opportunity for deepening their relationship with God and one another and lots of fun! The Youth Ministry group called God's T.Y.M. meets weekly on Sunday nights for two hours. Meetings include discussion and reflection on living as Catholic Christians in our world today, group prayer, guest speakers and outreach projects. New members are invited at all times. Our Youth Minister is Marco De Leon.
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| Troop 19 |
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In 1944 a charter was issued to St. Peter's church and Troop 19 began with 16 boys and 10 adults. For over 60 years St. Peter's boy scouts have met in the church basement on Tuesday evenings. The church has graciously given the troop a place to meet, a place to store our camping equipment and most of all a place to call home. Over those 60 plus years thousands of boys have been a part of Troop 19. The impression scouting made on many of these boys as they grew to manhood motivated them to give something back. Many are active in their local communities in various ways; some have gone onto serve their country in the military. There are those who scouting left such an impression on they stayed with the program as adult leaders, some remained here at St. Peter's and others became leaders in other troops. The troop meets at 7:30pm Tuesdays evenings from September to June. The first Sunday in February is Scout Sunday. Troop 19 celebrated by attending mass together then the family's gather in the school gym for breakfast cooked by the troop committee. It is a day filled with fellowship and reminds everyone a scout is reverent.
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| CYO |
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St. Peter's School comes alive at night during the fall and winter months. The parish CYO Basketball Program encourages boys and girls in third through eighth grade to participate in an athletic program that emphasizes good sportsmanship, team spirit, and Catholic values.
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| Homeless Ministry |
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In October 2005, St. Peter's was one of a number of churches and organizations that agreed to offer space for homeless persons in Rockland County. The sponsoring group is Helping Hands of Rockland. Each month from December 2005 through April 2005, from 15 to 25 homeless persons were sheltered in our church basement. Volunteers from St. Peter's and some other organizations transported homeless persons to our church, helped bring their belongings and bedding into the basement, prepared and served meals for them, spent time speaking with them and playing board games with them, remained in the shelter overnight to provide security and in the event of emergencies, helped them with breakfast and departure. Shelter was usually three nights consecutively; occasionally there were one night programs. St. Peter's plans to participate in this shelter program as long as it is needed. The parishioner coordinator was Mr. Thomas McCabe.
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| Homebound Ministry |
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St. Peter's has many parishioners who are not able to come to church for Sunday Mass because of weakness or disability due to age or illness. Special Ministers of the Eucharist bring Holy Communion to them on Sundays or during the week. Each First Friday of the month priests from St. Peter's visit parishioners who are homebound. Priests from St. Peter's go to Northern Riverview Nursing Home every Monday afternoon at 2:00 PM to celebrate Mass and to visit those who may be confined to their rooms. On the first Thursday of each month a priest from St. Peter's offers Mass at Green Hills Home for Adults with Mental Illness.
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| Choirs |
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There are four music ministries at St. Peter's: our parish cantor and organist; our 9:30 AM Folk Group; our 11:15 AM Choir; our 12:45 PM Spanish Choir; and our 5:00 PM Sunday Jammin' With Jesus Group. In addition for Christmas Midnight Mass and for the Easter Triduum members of each of these groups come together as a combined music ministry. Catherine Ramirez coordinates all the music ministries of St. Peter's as well as working with the combined group for Christmas and the Easter Triduum.
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| Jammin' With Jesus |
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Jammin' with Jesus Music Ministry started as a small group to lead music for the 5:30pm Sunday night God's TYM mass. The group has grown over the past 7 years and the mass has turned more into a rockin' family mass. Jammin' currently has approximately 25 members including: guitars, keyboards, percussion, cellos, flutes and a violin. The group consists of ages from eight years old to seniors. The music of Jammin' is a mixture of Catholic songs, contemporary Christian music and original music. The group is led by Ed Luisi. All are welcome to join the group (preferably teens & twenties). You can contact Ed at 914-629-7398 or jamminwithgsus@aol.com or stop by after mass Sunday nights at 5pm. We gather each Sunday at 4pm for rehearsals prior to mass. Jammin' with Jesus Music Ministry also produced a CD in the fall of 2004. Copies are still on sale at the rectory. Not only was this CD a fundraiser for the parish, but more importantly a "spirit raiser!"
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| School Guild |
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Parents of St. Peter's School Children form an association called the St. Peter's School Guild. They work to bring parents together and to work with the principal to support the school. They sponsor a number of activities each year to help with fundraising for the school. Meetings are usually held one Thursday evening each month from September through May.
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| Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) |
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The rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process by which people either come to study about or opt to become members of the Roman Catholic Church. The process is concerned with the total formation of the person into believing with the Church community (practical formation), praying with the Church (liturgical formation), and serving with the Church community (apostolic formation). This gradual development culminates in the celebration of the initiation sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist at Easter time. The Faith Formation RCIA members meet in St. Peter's Rectory basement every Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:30pm beginning with the last Wednesday of September until Wednesday of Holy Week.
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| O God, who hast given unto Thy blessed Apostle Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and the power to bind and loose: grant that we may be delivered, through the help of this intercession, from the slavery of all our sins: Who livest and reignest world without end. |
| Amen. |
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