Literacy Course Completed

Nineteen women completed coursework at the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center, Jamaica, in June. Thirteen earned GED preparation certificates and others, above, completed basic literacy and math skills training.Teacher Sister Margaret Forsyth, SSND, center, poses with, from left, Nellie Guthrie, Leonie Dacres, Lea Charaley-Monk and AnnMarie Hill. For information on classes, call 718-738-0588.

Make plans to travel to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA, on Saturday, Sept. 1, for the annual Polish-American Festival.

A bus will leave at 8 a.m. from St. Adalbert. Elmhurst. Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Czestochowa at 11:30 a.m.

Cost is $35 per person and includes festival admission, rides, stage shows and special events and exhibits.

Contact Linda Gatti for reservations at 718-639-0212 or 917-887-8325.

The St. Padre Pio Prayer Group of Our Lady of Hope, Middle Village, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special Mass. Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano was the guest celebrant.

The group meets once a month at the church. All are welcome.

Call Anna Dagri at 718-476-1443 for more information.

A prayer campaign for priestly vocations has taken place at St. Clare, Rosedale, throughout the year.

It featured “Vocation Talks” at Sunday Mass during which relatives spoke about growing up with a brother who became a priest, including Fathers Thomas Pettei, Marc Swartvagher, and Kevin Sweeney.

Jacintha Gill, a parishioner, spoke about her brother, Bishop Vincent Darius, Bishop of Saint George’s in Grenada.

This Week’s Tip of The TabletTalk Top Hat goes to Frank Sellitto of Our Lady of Grace parish, Gravesend, who was given a plaque recently by his fellow members of the Holy Name Society for his dedicated fund-raising services to the parish.

Father Dominick Cutrone, pastor emeritus and Father Elvis Elano, parochial vicar, joined friends in presenting him with the honor.

David Risley of Mary Queen of Heaven parish, Flatlands, has a featured singing role in CenterStage’s production of the Secret Garden, Aug. 2-5 at Mercy First School Theatre Center, Syosset, L.I.

Performances are 8 p.m. on Aug. 2-4 and 2 p.m. on Aug. 5. Tickets are $15 with discounts for seniors and children.

The theatrical group is associated with St. Paul the Apostle parish, Brookville.
Call 516-931-3260.

When considering where to send your children to school, check out St. Bernadette School, Dyker Heights. Computer literacy classes there begin with children in the pre-kindergarten program. First-graders use laptops in their classroom! Call the school at 718-236-1560.

If you attended Blessesd Sacrament School in Valley Stream, they would like you to come to their 50th anniversary celebration Oct. 20-21. A Dinner/Dance will be held on Oct. 20 and Mass on Sunday, Oct. 21.

Call the school’s alumni office at 516-825-7334.

If you had a chance to enjoy the Giglio Feast at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg this month, you will enjoy hearing Salvatore Primeggia’s lecture, “The Giglio Feast of Brooklyn,” July 28, along with music and dancing from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Christ the King R.H.S. in Middle Village.

Sing Italian American folk songs along with Fernando Caruso. Enjoy wine, cheese, coffee and soda.

Members, $5 and non-members, $7. Free parking. Air conditioned.

For more information, e-mail bellaitaliamia@mail.com.

Bulletin Humor: While at the mall, I saw an elderly couple holding hands while they were walking. As they approached, I commented on how romantic they appeared.

He replied, “We have been holding hands when we go out in public for over thirty years. I have to. If I let go, she shops.”

Send news, jokes, photos or suggestions for

Tip of Top Hat to lbusetti@thetablet.org.

Missionary from Haiti

Father Dr. Rick Frechette, C.P., a Passionist missionary, who has labored for many years in Haiti, visited Immaculate Conception Church, Jamaica Estates. He was accompanied by volunteer workers from Haiti. Following Mass there was a presentation by the Forgotten Children of Haiti organization. Students from Immaculate Conception School presented Father Rick with $2,500 to support his humanitarian work. Students had also collected a vast amount of school and medical supplies that Father Rick will take back to Haiti.