Greetings from River City. I hope you had a chance to read Mary McTamaney’ s column last week. It offered a bit of nostalgia of Newburgh in 1953, when out of all the cities of its size, it won the All American City award. The story concerned the  visit of a distinguished visitor to the city and the memory of a saner, more civil time in our nation. Thank you, Mary.    

Newburgh Open Studios is one of our favorite weekends of the year, showcasing the creativity, talent, and ingenuity of our city. Safe Harbors’ campus will be buzzing from the Gallery to the Green to the Cornerstone all weekend—make sure to stop by as you’re touring studios around town!

At The Cornerstone: Flowers For Our Grandmothers – Sept. 27 – Oct. 11 in the Cornerstone Lobby.  Flowers for Our Grandmothers is a community-based collaborative creative project to represent and honor lives, beauty, and wisdom of Newburgh’s Black and African-American grandmothers, led by Gabrielle Burton Hill, Francois Deschamps, and Jesse Flaitz.

On Safe Harbors Green - Last Saturdays on the Green on Saturday, Sept. 28 on Safe Harbors Green. The last Saturday of the month is extra special, when the weekly Newburgh Farmers Market is joined on the Green by wellness classes offered throughout the morning and special musical guests in the afternoon: Wellness Last Saturdays on the Green -In partnership with Wellness Shines on Newburgh, do something good for yourself and for Safe Harbors! 30% of class donations collected will be donated to Safe Harbors. Open to all levels.

Newburgh Yoga Shala at 9:30 a.m.; APG Pilates at 10:30 a.m.; Azure’s Bleus and Spirituals Yoga at 11:30 a.m.; Newburgh Farmers’ Market: Musical Market - They are excited to welcome West Point’s Rhythm and Blues Band as September’s featured Musical Market guest!

Farmers Market from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Live Music begins at 1 p.m. Transforming lives and building community through housing and the arts Safe Harbors of the Hudson is a dynamic arts and housing nonprofit located in the City of Newburgh, New York. Safe Harbors plays an integral role in Newburgh’s continuing revitalization through innovative redevelopment projects that co-locate supportive and affordable housing with visual and performing arts spaces and programming.
 
Upcoming Bagel Hours: St. Francis Oct. 6 after 8:30 a.m. Mass.
On Oct. 18, The Letters is scheduled. A 2015 movie based on the true story of Mother Teresa, who was one of the greatest humanitarians of all time. The story is told through a series of personal letters she wrote to her longtime friend and spiritual advisor. The film shows the faith, courage, and compassion of this incredible nun who devoted her life to the poor and established the Missionaries of Charity. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the movie will start at 6 p.m. Pizza, drinks and snacks will be served along with some good old fashioned fellowship. “Hope to see you there! Call Judy at (845) 527-9807 for pizza ordering purposes.

St. Francis of Assisi Church and Sacred Heart Church Adult Faith Formation Activities Committee members include: Presidents: Peter Biolsi and Larry DeGregorio. Members: Fr. Fernando Hernandez, Joe Bilello, Donna Bilyou, Joanne Accolla, Sue Connor, Elaine DeCrosta, Judy Grehl, AnnMarie Healey, Grace Profaci, Tony Sculley, Ruth James, Peter Zawistowki, and Joseph J. Saffioti.

 
The Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited daily after the 9 a.m. Mass and on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (before 10 a.m. Mass) and 11:30 a.m. (before the Noon Mass) every week at Sacred Heart for the intentions of Ukraine.

Sacred Heart Donations for Mary’s Hope: They need of Medium size boxes of cereal, canned corned beef, tuna, chicken and chili, fruit, packages of mashed potatoes and gravy mix (no jars). Contact Suzanna Campora at (845) 561-5162 with any questions. Please note: they cannot give out expired food or cans with dents to their clients. Please bring donations to Sacred Heart Church. “Thank you for your continued generosity.”

Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry Hours: Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 Noon, Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 12 Noon at Sacred Heart School Gym, 240 So. Robinson Ave. “In your goodness, please bring one pound packages of rice to Church next weekend to be distributed to the less fortunate in our area. We are experiencing a great increase in the client families coming to the Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry.

 If your child needs volunteer hours, the Food Pantry will coordinate service hours. However, you must pre-register with Sister Gloria Perez at (845) 670-7630. 

 
Newburgh Young Adult Group meets on bi-weekly basis from 7-9 p.m. in the Valastro Center. For questions, contact Joseph Saffioti at josephjsaffioti@gmail.com.

The Dominick Casadone Chapter of Saint Vincent de Paul Society operates the Baby Outreach Center every Tuesday morning at the Valastro Activity Center located across from the Sacred Heart School. The hours are 9:30 a.m.-12 Noon. They need of diapers sizes 4, 5 & 6, baby wipes, boy’s clothing sizes 24 months to 5T and girl’s clothing sizes 9 months to 5T.

Checks can be made payable to “Society of St. Vincent de Paul” and dropped off at the rectory.

“Don’t ever forget that you’re a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit, things that are easy, things that are free, things that you can do every day: civility, respect, kindness, character.” Aaron Sorkin’s uncomplicated yet profound observation, the practice of which doesn’t weaken, but rather strengthens us.  As always, I close with prayers for God’s blessings on your heads, my dears.