News & Events (updated weekly)
Click HERE to see the parish calendar at the bottom of page.
NEW! Click HERE to see the latest MINISTRY SCHEDULE for altar servers, lectors, ushers and Eucharistic ministers.
Click HERE to read minutes from the pastoral council meetings.
Make PRAYER REQUESTS: HERE.
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Remember to scroll to the bottom of the page for our calendar and list of events around Broome County's Catholic community.
[Updated May 20, 2013]
Ministry Schedule posted: The schedule for ministries from June 1-Sept. 1 are posted HERE.
Parish Pastoral Council: The next council meeting is Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in Msgr. Carey Hall. Minutes for the March 21 meeting are posted HERE.
Annual HOPE Appeal: You have received a letter this past week from Bishop Cunningham asking for your support of the HOPE Appeal. Please be generous with your pledge. We ask that all pledge forms and gifts be returned by the weekend of May 25-26 to the parish. You can also make a secure online gift or pledge at www.syrdio.org. Your support helps many in our diocese.
Recognition Weekend: Our next celebration on June 15-16 will honor graduates from grammar school, high school and college. Please submit a photo of your family's graduate before June 10 so that we may honor them with a display. Please include a card with the graduate's name, school and post-graduation plans.
Blessing of the Children: On the weekend of June 15-16, children will receive a special blessing at all of the Masses plus learn about the saint for June.
Photo provided by Marianne Allen
First Holy Communion: On Sunday, May 5, parish children received their First Holy Communion. We congratulate Madison Allen, Carmen Jorgensen, Nathalie Judkiewicz, Julia Maher, Liliana Masso, Anna Miller, Natalie Pirich, Stanton Ramil, Tyler Sprague, Sean Taylor and John Volpe.. May God bless the children!
Thank you to our catechists! With the celebration of First Communion, we have reached the end of the catechetical year. We thank our dedicated catechists who lovingly and caringly share the faith with the children: Irene Fiacco, Maureen Sanguinito, Diane Brunner, Lisa Miller, Amy Gonzales, Emily McNierney, Patti Sergent, Cathy Saraceno, Erin Singleton and Joey Singleton.
Ambrosian Café:
Ambrosian Café update: Join us Tuesday, May 21 for a Springtime Tea. We'll serve finger sandwiches and assorted desserts. You're invited to wear fancy hats and elegant dress if you care to do so. Please make your reservation by Friday, May 17.
Cana Retreats Presents A Catholic Family Retreat Vacation: This is a time to gather as a family with other Catholic families to rest, recreate, and share our common Catholic experiences. The retreat/vacation is located at the Watson Homestead in Painted Post, NY. It is held in a somewhat rustic setting with plenty of time for family activities. Retreat Directors: Deacon Ed & Rose Blaine. For more details and registration, check our website: www.canadced.com or send an email to dcnedb@aol.com.
MOTHER TERESA'S CUPBOARD UPDATE (5/8/13): This week's pantry needs for Mother Teresa's Cupboard include a special need of pasta sauce & toilet tissue. Paper bags are always in great demand. During the month of April, we served 1441 people and it's because of the faithful people of St. Ambrose who make it possible. Your weekend food donations help supply the pantry shelves abundantly for the week ahead. God bless you all!
Saint of the Month: In April we celebrated St. Catherine of Siena whose feast day is April 29. A doctor of the church, St. Catherine was afflicted with the stigmata. You can read more about her on our NEW saints page HERE.
Important hospital visits reminder: According to privacy stipulations in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (known as HIPAA), hospitals can no longer contact churches to let them know when members of their parishes are patients. That means it is left up to the family or the patient to contact the parish and advise them that a visit, anointing and/or holy communion is wanted. Please call the parish office, 754-2330, after your loved one is admitted to the hospital. If you are being admitted to the hospital, make sure to answer "St. Ambrose" when asked about your church affiliation.
VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED: The parish needs both altar servers for the 7 p.m. Mass on Sunday and people to help out at the soup kitchen on the third Wednesday of the month (Team C). Working time slots available at the soup kitchen include food prep from 3-5 p.m., serving from 5-6:30 p.m. and cleanup from 6-7 p.m. If you can help with either ministry, please call the parish office at 754-2330.
ALSO NEEDED, volunteers to help with refreshments after Masses on Recognition Weekends. You can help out after the Mass you attend or whenever it is convenient. This is not a big commitment and it's a great way to get to know other parishioners. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact the parish office at 754-2330.
Counseling Program through Catholic Charities: Is life a struggle or do you need help with personal and family relationships? No-cost counseling services are available. A certified clinical social worker will provide short-term counseling or crisis assistance. Referral to other services will be made as needed. For more information, call 607-584-7800.
Ongoing
Scripture Study Sessions: The Tuesday morning group meets from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Msgr. Carey Hall. Our focus is on the weekly Sunday readings. You do not need to register—join the sessions at ANY time.
Knitting Group needs your help: Do you have any leftover skeins of yarn? The knitting group needs donations to help fulfill their ministry of knitting and crocheting blankets for the newly baptized and lap covers for the homebound. Please bring donations to the parish office during hours. If you'd like to join our group, stop by Msgr. Carey Hall every Thursday at 12:45 p.m.
Legion of Mary: Meets every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Msgr. Carey Hall.
Help Needed
Volunteers needed for Mother Teresa's Cupboard: If you can help out at the food pantry, call Mary Roma at 741-0011.
Cleanup Help for the Soup Kitchen: If you are interested in volunteering, contact the rectory (754-2330) so you can be worked into the schedule.
Bereavement Ministry volunteers needed: Are you available to help occasionally during the day with our funeral luncheons? If so, please call the rectory, 754-2330.
Of Interest to Our Parishioners
Military Prayer List: We are praying continuously for our parishioners who are serving in active military duty. Please contact the rectory to have your family member added to the list on our new web page.
Are you registered? If you are new to the parish or a longtime attendee but not officially registered, please take a few moments to stop by or call the rectory (754-2330) to register.
Are you gluten intolerant? We now offer those who suffer with this issue gluten-free hosts. Please contact Father Don for more information.
Baby crying and you don't want to disturb Mass? Did you know that there are speakers in the main vestibule at the back of the church so you can hear the Mass as you comfort your child? Also, you can sit in pews within the small vestibule off the church elevator and still hear Mass.
Recent News
Mother Teresa's Cupboard 2012 statistics: Here is how your donations have helped in 2012. The Cupboard served a total of 232,575 meals (the highest number in the history of the pantry and an increase of 11.6% over last year). Out of 15,505 people served, 41% were children or the elderly. An average of 1,292 people and 19,381 meals were served ach month. God bless our wonderful volunteers and "parish partners." ~ Mary Roma, Anne Isles, Kathy Pfaffenbach and Dann Yeager.
We are the champions! Congratulations to St. Ambrose's CYO Boys Grammar Squad who won the Community Division Playoffs. Congratulations, champions!
Welcome back! St. Ambrose welcomes back Father Cleophas Oseso Tuka. Father Cleophas served previously at St. Ambrose from April to December 2004. He will be with our parish through Easter. Confirmation: Congratulations to our parishioners who received the sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, March 3: Mandy Maria Esposito, Christopher Thomas Fabian, Jonathan Michael Hranek, Christopher Christopher Jackson, Brittany Cecilia Miller, Jennifer Elizabeth Milspaw, Michael John Murray, Courtney Marie Ray, Zachary Ezekiel Riley, Christine Isabella Swartz, Sarah Phoebe Swartz and Garrett Anthony Veruto.
Canonization of St. Marianne Cope: On Oct. 21, Mother Marianne Cope became the first person from the Diocese of Syracuse to be canonized. She was a woman who not only brought improvements to healthcare in upstate New York, but also assisted the lepers of Molokai, Hawaii. Her feast day will be January 23. Bishop Cunningham led a group of pilgrims from Hawaii and the Diocese of Syracuse to Rome for the special Mass. To learn more about St. Marianne, visit blessedmariannecope.org/
Congratulations, Fran DeGregorio: St. Ambrose Church congratulates parishioner Fran DeGregorio who was awarded the Immaculata Medallion by Bishop Cunningham for her years of service to our parish. The presentation was made during a ceremony at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse on Dec. 9. See photos of Fran DeGregorio as she is awarded the medallion of the Syracuse Diocese by Bishop Robert Cunningham. Click HERE.
Prayers for the shooting victims: We pray for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Connecticut on Dec. 14, 2012. Our thoughts are especially with the family of Mary Greene Sherlach (pictured above left) who was a student at St. Ambrose School in the early 1960s. May she and all the victims rest in peace and may God bless their families, friends, schoolmates and coworkers who mourn their loss so deeply.
New pastor named: As we bid farewell to Father Currie, we congratulate Father Don Bourgeois who has been named pastor of St. Ambrose Church. Father Don has been the parochial vicar at St. Ambrose since September 2009. Best wishes on your new post, Father!
Recognition Dinner for our pastor, Fr. Charles Currie: Almost 300 people gathered on Friday, June 29 at Brothers 2 Restaurant in Endwell for a dinner in recognition of Fr. Currie's decade of service to St. Ambrose Parish. You can see photos from the dinner and June 24 reception on our Parish Photo Album page. Thanks to all who made the evening such a success! If you'd like to send Father Currie a letter, his new address is Immaculate Conception Church, 1180 State Highway 206, Greene, N.Y. 13778-1193.
Upcoming Events
May 18-19, Recognition Weekend, cake and refreshments after all weekend Masses in Msgr. Carey Hall to recognize parishioners with birthdays and anniversaries this month.
May 18-19, Blessing of the Children, at all weekend Masses.
May 21, Ambrosian Cafe, 12:45 p.m. in Msgr. Carey Hall.
May 21, Pastoral Council meeting, 7 p.m. in Msgr. Carey Hall.
Across Broome County's Catholic Community
Every 1st. & 3rd Thursday of the Month, Support Group for Divorced & Separated, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Church of the Holy Family.
May 17, Blood Drive in memory of Donald McManus, 1-6 p.m. at St. Anthony's Church basement. Call the Red Cross at 800-733-2767 to schedule an appointment.
May 18, St. Anthony's Holy Name Society Golf Tournament, 9 a.m., Pheasant Hills. Cost is $65/golfer and includes greens fee, cart, dinner and prizes. registration is due Friday, May 10. Call Nick Diles at 748-8686.
May 23, Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner fundraiser for CHOW, 5-8 p.m., Endicott Elks, Nanticoke Avenue. $8 in advance (754-0335) or $8.50 at the door. Food donations accepted. Door prizes, raffles and bake sale are available.
May 26, Mom's House Benefit at Sweet Frog, 1-10 p.m., Town Square Mall. Get your voucher at www.momshouseny.org or mention Mom's House at purchase.
May 31-June 2, St. Joseph's Parish Bazaar, 6-10 p.m. Friday; 4-11 p.m. Sat.; noon-4 p.m. Sun. Free admission, games and ethnic foods.
May 31, Rummage Sale, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. with a bag sale on Sat., June 1 from 9 a.m. - noon, Ancient Order of Hibernians hall, 148 Main Street, Binghamton.
Centennial information can now be found HERE.