Church guide

ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES are as follows: 8:30AM and 7:30PM. There will also be prayer services at 12 NOON, and 4:00PM.

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Deepest gratitude to the students from the 8th grade at St Martin of Tours School and Ryan from St John the Baptist, West Islip who came to help out at the thrift shop during our Spring Turnover process on April 14th. Your presence, energy, and dedication are very much appreciated. Our gratitude goes to the parents and to the School Administration and staff. Thank you again. Spring is here! We hardly feel it yet but Spring is here! And our Thrift Shop (Corner of Oak and Broadway) is ready to give you your “Spring look”! Stop by. Our volunteers are ready to help you find something that fits you at an affordable price. Items needed now: Soup, Tuna, Canned beans & dry beans, Mashed potato mix, Gravy, Cooking oil, Juice Need of volunteers: We are in need of volunteers to help in the Outreach Office (front desk and intake) and at our thrift shop (corner of Oak Street and Broadway); Days: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Soup Supper: If the storm is over and the roads are passable tomorrow night, please try to make it to the soup supper. Thank you!

The St. Martin's Blood Drive will be this Thursday, January 18th from 4:00PM to 10:00PM. If you are interested in donating, please call Mary Buschman at 631-691-5881

FAREWELL! After almost twenty years in Social Ministry, the last twelve here as St. Martin of Tours Social Ministry Director, the time has come for me to move on to the next part of my life’s journey. It has been an honor to serve the people of our greater parish community. I cannot express the gratitude for all of the support I have received over the years from staff, parishioners, locals, and especially the dedicated volunteers I have had the privilege to serve with. I hope I have made a positive difference in people’s lives and that I was able to be an instrument of God’s love in this complicated world, whether to the single mother, unemployed veteran, homeless person, the critically ill, victim of a storm, or the countless others who have found themselves in need of compassion. I pray that the parish and larger Amityville community will continue to support the many programs of Social Ministry: Outreach, Employment Ministry, Citizenship Program, Cloak Room Thrift Store, Blood Drives, Holiday Ministry, & Social Justice. I wish many blessings on my successor knowing the volunteers, the true angels among us, will do their very best to ensure a smooth transition. Please keep me in your prayers as I begin a new adventure. Thank you! -Keith Mainhart

This Sunday.

TOILETRIES DRIVE: Parish Outreach is very short on toiletries to give to the less fortunate among us. Donations of items such as shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, detergent, etc. can be brought directly to the Outreach Office during operating hours.

PANTRY NEEDS: Outreach's Food Pantry is running very low on the following items to give to families in need: Tuna, jelly, & soup. Donations can be brought directly to the Outreach Office during operating hours or left in the Lobby of the Church this weekend. Thank you!

PANTRY NEEDS: Outreach's Food Pantry is running very low on the following items to give to families in need: Tuna, jelly, & soup. Donations can be brought directly to the Outreach Office during operating hours. Thank you!

SALE!: St. Martin's Cloak Room Thrift Store (227 Broadway, Downtown Amityville) is having a seasonal Falling Leaves Sale. Prices have fallen like leaves on Green-marked merchandise and jewelry by HALF! All proceeds go to support the many services of the Outreach Program. Come browse for bargains!

BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN: Did you take a Baby Bottle this weekend to benefit The Life Center of Long Island? The Life Center is a crisis pregnancy center that counsels women and men who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Did you know that they provide: o free pregnancy tests o maternity housing with eligibility requirements o medical care o referrals o cribs o car seats o diapers o …and all other baby items that may be needed PLEASE RETURN THE FILLED BOTTLES TO THE CHURCH ON November 11th & 12th. Thank you!

BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN: St. Martin of Tours Parish will be hosting a Baby Bottle Fundraiser to benefit The Life Center of Long Island. The Life Center is a crisis pregnancy center that counsels women and men who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Did you know that they provide: o free pregnancy tests o maternity housing with eligibility requirements o medical care o referrals o cribs o car seats o diapers o …and all other baby items that may be needed We are asking that you pick up a baby bottle from the Church this weekend and fill it with your donation. (Make checks out to the Life Center of L.I.) PLEASE RETURN THE BOTTLES TO THE CHURCH ON November 11th & 12th. Thank you!

SALE!: St. Martin's Cloak Room Thrift Store (227 Broadway, Downtown Amityville) is having a seasonal Falling Leaves Sale. Prices have fallen like leaves on Green-marked merchandise and jewelry by HALF! All proceeds go to support the many services of the Outreach Program. Come browse for bargains!

SALE!: St. Martin's Cloak Room Thrift Store is having a Columbus Day Sale. All Blazers, Sweaters, Light Jackets, Books, Ladies' Pants, & Children's Clothes are 1/2 Price! Come browse for bargains and help support the many services of the Outreach Program.

PANTRY NEEDS: Parish Outreach's Pantry is in short supply of the following items: Pasta SAUCE (not pasta itself), jelly, juice, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, diapers. Donations can be brought directly to the Outreach Office during operating hours. Thank you!

SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK: Keep Them Safe- How – First of all, it’s good for everyone to be on the same page. After the “Ask” step, and you’ve determined suicide is indeed being talked about, it’s important to find out a few things to establish immediate safety. Have they already done anything to try to kill themselves before talking with you? Does the person experiencing thoughts of suicide know how they would kill themselves? Do they have a specific, detailed plan? What’s the timing for their plan? What sort of access to do they have to their planned method? Why – Knowing the answers to each of these questions can tell us a lot about the imminence and severity of danger the person is in. For instance, the more steps and pieces of a plan that are in place, the higher their severity of risk and their capability to enact their plan might be. Or if they have immediate access to a firearm and are very serious about attempting suicide, then extra steps (like calling the authorities or driving them to an emergency department) might be necessary. The Lifeline can always act as a resource during these moments as well if you aren’t entirely sure what to do next. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes that reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal means (or chosen method for a suicide attempt) is an important part of suicide prevention. A number of studies have indicated that when lethal means are made less available or less deadly, suicide rates by that method decline, and frequently suicide rates overall decline. Research also shows that “method substitution” or choosing an alternate method when the original method is restricted, frequently does not happen. The myth “If someone really wants to kill themselves, they’ll find a way to do it” often does not hold true if appropriate safety measures are put into place. The Keep Them Safe step is really about showing support for someone during the times when they have thoughts of suicide by putting time and distance between the person and their chosen method, especially methods that have shown higher lethality (like firearms and medications).

SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK Ask: How – Asking the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” communicates that you’re open to speaking about suicide in a non-judgmental and supportive way. Asking in this direct, unbiased manner, can open the door for effective dialogue about their emotional pain and can allow everyone involved to see what next steps need to be taken. Other questions you can ask include, “How do you hurt?” and “How can I help?” Do not ever promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret. The flip side of the “Ask” step is to “Listen.” Make sure you take their answers seriously and not to ignore them, especially if they indicate they are experiencing thoughts of suicide. Listening to their reasons for being in such emotional pain, as well as listening for any potential reasons they want to continue to stay alive, are both incredibly important when they are telling you what’s going on. Help them focus on their reasons for living and avoid trying to impose your reasons for them to stay alive. Why – Studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts. In fact, studies suggest the opposite: findings suggest acknowledging and talking about suicide may in fact reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation. Be the 1!

Flu shots available too. Now until 1:30pm.

Come and get a check up! In the Parking Lot outside the Outreach Office.