Letters To The Editor

A Cornerstone

To the Editor:

The next G.C. Board of Trustees meeting on December 15th will hear the hired consultant's report on "building options". Money will be an important factor.

St Paul's School is one of the cornerstones Garden City has built its life on. Its noble presence at 295 Stewart Avenue adds beauty and character to a wonderful community.

Alex Turney Stewart painted a picture in his mind. The Garden City Hotel and St. Mary's School are already missing from this picture. The Cathedral, and St Paul's are still with us. If it is possible let's try to preserve history.

I would like to express my sincere wishes for the board to please consider what will be lost forever if this structure is not restored.

I attended St Paul's from 1980 - 1986. It is difficult to describe the valuable experience St. Paul's has given me. I am now a parent with two boys ( 1 & 3 yrs old ). I feel it's important to make St. Paul's part of their life. It's a place our grandchildren should experience. If it is destroyed or broken down to a facade that will not be possible.

St. Paul's gives Garden City stability. It represents the vision of A.T. Stewart had for Garden City, and all things that go with education, culture, discipline, and success.

I spent six years of my life there and from my perspective Garden City is a better place with a functional St. Paul's than without.

If any residents feel the same don't be silent. Please convey it to the board members.

Happy Holidays to all,

Edward Castagna - St.Paul's '86

Response Astounding

To the Editor:

St. Joseph's parish would sincerely like to thank all who so generously contributed gifts to our 15th annual Spiritual Adoption Prayer Program's Baby Shower last weekend.

The response from parishioners and village residents was astounding. This year's donations were more numerous than ever before! Several carloads of donated gifts included beautiful, handmade blankets, sweaters, hats, and booties. Also donated were many lovely newborn outfits and countless layette items that will surely help the babies.

We are so grateful to all our parishioners and area residents who helped make this Christmas so special. Thanks to your outpouring of love, many mothers who have said no to abortion and yes to God's precious gift of life, will - with God's grace - experience a joyful Christmas. They now know that there are strangers whom they may never meet who - for the past nine months - prayed for them and their babies. We are often told by mothers who struggled with crisis pregnancies that they felt our prayers help them through a difficult nine months.

Our next Spiritual Adoption Prayer Program which will be our 16th will begin in Spring 2006. We will once again spiritually adopt and pray for unborn children who are in danger of abortion, and pray also for the babies' mothers and fathers.

In the meantime, please continue to pray for an end to abortion in our land.

Merry Christmas.

St. Joseph's Respect

Life Society

Will Be Missed

To the Editor:

During this busy Holiday Season, on behalf of the parishioners of St. Anne's, we would like to take the time to thank Deacon Jack McGowan for his dedication to his fellow Garden City residents in the both the Religious and Civic worlds. These were evidenced by serving as a Village Trustee and Mayor of Garden City and then making such a great personal sacrifice and becoming a Deacon in the Catholic Church which is a truly unique accomplishment in Garden City annals.

Deacon Jack served us very well at St. Anne's. He was always well prepared for his role, giving insightful sermons centered on religious doctrine and serving the people with great dignity in all of his duties. He had the courage to stand for his beliefs as a Catholic and the integrity to do what was necessary to uphold them in both the Civic and Religious worlds. Bishop Murphy facilitated Deacon Jack's own request for a transfer, which will allow him to serve as a Deacon for Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Hicksville. Our loss is Our Lady of Mercy's gain!

Deacon Jack will be sorely missed by all of us. St. Anne's has lost yet another fine religious leader. Many thanks to Deacon Jack for all of his great service to the Garden City Community and May God Bless him in his life mission this Christmas season and for many years to come.

Donald and Eileen Pfail

Support The Troops

To the Editor:

Every time I watch the news I think how lucky we are to have such wonderful and committed troops living in harms way. My heart also goes out to the families with loved ones overseas. The Garden City postal workers have been working tirelessly to support our troops and their families by selling $75,000 of phone cards for Operation Phone Home. It came as no surprise to hear that the GC Post Office was the best in the country. What surprised me most was that the number two post office sold $35,000 of phone cards.

The fact that GC Postal workers sold more phone cards than any other post office in the country speaks volumes for their commitment to our troops and their families. I ask that all residents purchase at least one phone card for Operation Phone Home at the GC Post Office. Your $10 plus contribution will make a big difference in the lives of individuals who have given so much to our country.

William & Diane Keegan, Jr.

A Christmas Thank You

To the Editor:

Last weekend, St. Joseph's Church completed our 2005 "Sponsor a Family" program. Because of the generosity of so many people, we were able to provide Thanksgiving dinners to more than 250 families, Christmas gifts and dinner for 133 families from Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Roosevelt, and another 75 Christmas dinners for Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Hempstead. We are so grateful to all of you who made the effort during this busy time of year to remember those who are less fortunate, and put into practice the true meaning of this holy season. We urge you to remember that the food pantries in these two parishes, and all across Long Island, are always in need of donations; in fact, our friends at these outreach ministries tell us that right now, their reserves are at an all-time low.

We also want to thank all the parishioners who helped us in running this program - many of you volunteered to stuff envelopes, make phone calls, or deliver and distribute gifts and groceries. Dozens of Confirmation candidates were with us on each of the delivery days, loading groceries and gifts into cars to be transported to the receiving parishes, and we have a core group of loyal volunteers who brave the cold weather every year working in the school parking lot. Finally, the St. Joseph's School Religious Education staff provides us with the administrative support essential to successfully manage this program.

Each of us feels truly blessed to know that there are so many generous and giving people in our village. Thank you so very much!

Sr. Marie Flaherty,

Lita Reilly and Meg Dooley

Congratulations

To the Editor:

Congratulations to the Garden City postal workers for their outstanding success with operation phone home.

This is a great plus for our troops and families especially at this time of year when they are separated. Please don't forget our troops and stop by the Post Office and become a meaningful part of Operation Phone Home.

John J Watras

Goal Achieved

To the Editor:

Congratulations to the staff and patrons of the Garden City Post Office for achieving the goal of selling the most phone cards to our sons and daughters who are serving our country in Iraq.

This message tells them how much they are appreciated and of our concern for their safety and happiness.

May all of our sisters and brothers enjoy a happy and holy Christmas, Chanuka, and Kwanza.

George and Theresa Browne