Greetings from River City. As I take a break from writing the column, I am getting ready to do the yams for Thanksgiving dinner, an annual endeavor. Family and friends will gather at Chris’ and Jen’s home for the happy day. Chris’ and Nicholas’ birthdays and in two days Thanksgiving 2019, will be past and all will be turned to thoughts of and preparations for Christmas beginning with the First Sunday of Advent on Dec. 1.

Here’s a Snapshot of Safe Harbors Impact on our Community: 128 individuals housed at The Cornerstone; 45 families housed at East End Apartments; 40 informational tours; 113 people learned to fly!; and 3,380 visitors to Ann Street Gallery.
In addition, 125 runners raced for a Strong Community; 600 people danced salsa; 3,800 enjoyed live performing arts; 35 tons of garbage collected off Newburgh streets; and 2,100 volunteer hours. Safe Harbors is the big building with the theater marquee at the corner of Liberty St. and Broadway.

Mount Saint Mary College’s service of lessons and carols will be presented at the free, public Annual Christmas Vespers music program on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary in the Dominican Center on campus, 330 Powell Ave. Seating may be limited and may be standing room only. Durward Entrekin, Professor of Music, serves as director of the Mount’s choir.

The seasonal aroma of holly-festooned rooms greets you as you enter the parlor of Edmonston House on Saturday, Dec. 14 and 21 from 5 – 8 p.m. Walk through rooms enveloped in the warmth of a crackling fire, the charm of 18th Century music, and the sweetness of some holiday fare.
All of this awaits you during your visit to the Edmonston House, the headquarters of Major Generals Gates and St. Clair. For this event, the house will be decorated for the holiday season, as it would have looked during the final years of the Revolutionary War. You are invited to this holiday event, which has free admission; however, donations are most gratefully accepted.

Upcoming programs at the Newburgh Free Library
Attend Coffee 101: Introduction to Coffee on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. and learn from Rob Popper of Newburgh’s Rob’s Roast Coffee about different styles of coffee preparation such as drip, French press, and espresso. After this class you’ll be able to understand common terms used in coffee shops and appreciate different styles of bagged coffee such as roasts, grinds and beans.

On Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m., learn how to play video games at the Game On program. Compete, challenge and just have fun with friends playing with the Library’s Nintendo Switch and PS4.
The library is offering an informative presentation from the Alzheimer’s Association on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 4:30 p.m. Early diagnosis gives people with Alzheimer’s disease the chance to make key decisions about treatment, care and planning and the power to make choices about their own health and future.
On Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., join Librarian Chris Morgan for Books & Brews at the Newburgh Brewing Company at 88 S. Colden St. The book being discussed is “Tenth of December” by George Saunders. Copies of the book are available at the Main Library.
Local Family Court attorney Maria Patrizio will discuss her new book, “Successfully Navigating Family Court in New York” at the library on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. Patrizio will explain the Family Court process and provide tips and strategies for getting through what is often a stressful and emotional experience.

First Friday Prayer Meeting: Come encounter Jesus in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Join the Franciscan Friars every first Friday of the month, 7 - 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 180 South St., (914) 963-0250, Newburghfriary.org.

All Youthful Singers are invited to participate in Saint Francis’ Choir for the Dec. 24 Family Mass at 4 p.m. There are three practices for the 4 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass at St. Francis Church. Practices are on Tuesdays: Dec 3, 10, and 17 from 6 – 7 p.m. They will meet in the St. Francis Choir loft.
For more information, call or text Desiree Abbruscato at (845) 541-0769 or email Desiree atabbruscator@aol.com. This is a great experience for students of all ages!

The next Senior meeting is on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 12:30 p.m. in O’Connor Hall. They will have an early Christmas celebration with a potluck luncheon. Bring your favorite dish for all to enjoy as well as a gift for a child to be donated to the Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry. All are welcomed to attend.
There will be no January meeting. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. in O’Connor Hall.
Sister Anna will be selling Advent and Christmas wreaths at Sacred Heart Church.

The Women’s Craft Group at Newburgh Ministries will be selling there beautiful jewelry at Sacred Heart Church after all masses on Dec. 7 and 8.
The Annual Christmas Giving Tree will be decorated in the back of St. Francis of Assisi Church with Angels. Please take an angel, bring your unwrapped gift for the child and place it under the tree. These gifts are for the children of the clients of the Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry. Gifts will be distributed the weekends of Dec. 14-15 and Dec. 20-21. Thank you for helping to make a Merry Christmas for many unfortunate children.
Living our faith—the Giving Trees at Sacred Heart Church will be up by the weekend following Thanksgiving. They will provide gifts for Sapphire (Elant), Newburgh Ministry, Catholic Charities, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Sr. Alba and Sr. Anna who minister to families in our community. Please be as generous as you have in past years.
During Cardinal Dolan’s visit on Dec; 21, he will celebrate Mass at 4:30 p.m. at Saint Francis of Assisi Church to honor Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta as our new parish name. There will be no 4 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. Mass that night. A reception will be held at Gallo Hall located in the Sacred Heart School immediately following the Mass. All parishioners and friends are invited.

The Society of St. Vincent DePaul of Sacred Heart/Saint Francis sponsors a Baby Outreach Center in Gallo Hall on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Diapers, hygiene, baby clothes, and layettes are given to those in need. New and gently used baby/toddler clothes are welcomed. Call S. Conner at (845) 562-3947 for drop off information.

Monthly meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month. They welcome new members. To learn more, please visit our website at SVDPNewburgh.org.

Belated birthday greetings to Jill Nibe who celebrated a Nov. 16 birthday and Ellen Mann who celebrated Nov. 17. I hope your birthdays were all you would have hoped them to be and with a happy year ahead for you both.
A thoughtful question of writer William A. Ward, “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say, “thank you’”?
As always, I close with my prayers for God’s blessings on your heads, my dears and on the heads of all our brothers and sisters in this world, from the youngest in the womb to the oldest on earth.