Bishop John Oliver Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre said mass at Our Lady of the Magnificat Roman Catholic Church in Ocean Beach on the morning of Sunday, July 30. Every pew was occupied in the church’s historic century-old building as sun streamed through the stained glass windows and a breeze cooled the hallowed space. Village officials and business owners were among the parishioners and visitors in attendance.
Our Lady of the Magnificat’s volunteer committee with Frs. Eric Fasano and Ed Sheridan and the Bishop.
Bishop Barres greeted those attending before mass on the church grounds. Father Eric Fasano, vicar general of the Diocese, and Father Ed Sheridan, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in East Northport, both of whom split responsibilities at the summer-only church here, assisted with mass.
The homily for the day was based on the parable of the pearl of great price found in Matthew chapter 13. Bishop Barres spoke on the need to have patience and follow God’s guidance in how we treat and react to others. The congregation was attentive to every word spoken. The bishop blessed and distributed the Holy Eucharist at the culmination of the mass.
“It was so beautiful to see and meet all the vibrant families that make up this community,” Bishop Barres said. “The importance of Catholic theology as it relates to vacation and pauses of refreshment in the Lord, and the idea that all things work together for the good of his people, come to mind as we look out at the Atlantic. It gives us a new perspective on who the Holy Spirit and God are to us.” He added that this was his first time saying mass at Our Lady of the Magnificat, and that July 30 was the 14th anniversary of his consecration as bishop. Barres has served as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre since January 2017, after serving in the same capacity in the Diocese of Allentown in Pennsylvania since 2009.
