WAPPINGER FALLS, NY - On Thursday, November 4, while undergoing surgery to mend a broken hip, our brother, Fr. Sebastian R. Buccellato, OFM, 85, died of heart failure.

Robert Anthony, the son of Anthony and Celeste (Nicastro) Buccellato was born on February 14, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York.  He was received into the novitiate on July 14, 1944 and made his first profession on July 15, 1945.  He was admitted to solemn vows on July 15, 1948 and ordained priest on June 17, 1951.

Fr. Sebastian served as assistant pastor at the Church of the Assumption in Asuncion Mita, Guatemala from August 1951-February 1954; as teacher at Christopher Columbus High School in Boston (February-June 1954); as chaplain at Saint Vincent Pallotti Hospital, Morgantown, WV (June-October 1954); as assistant pastor at Saint Mary of the Angels Church in Toronto, Ontario (October-June 1955).

Sebastian returned to Central America in June 1955, serving for two years as assistant pastor at Holy Trinity Church, Sonsonate, El Salvador.  In April 1957 through January 1964, Fr. Sebastian served as rector of San Agustin Church in Guatemala City.  He was then named Delegate Provincial of the Missions (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) serving in that position until September 1, 1967.

Fr. Sebastian was assistant pastor at Saint Sebastian's Church in New York (1967-70).  In May 1969, in addition to his parochial responsibilities there, Sebastian was appointed regional director of the SFO English-speaking Fraternities and served as chaplain at the Manhattan Rehabilitation Center.

In September 1970, Fr. Sebastian was appointed assistant pastor at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Brooklyn, working predominantly with the Spanish-speaking, in addition to serving as spiritual assistant for the SFO Fraternity in Mahopac, New York.  On August 3, 1976, Sebastian was named pastor, an acknowledgment, I believe, of his dedicated and caring ministry there.

Fr. Sebastian, who moved to Saint Clare Friary, New York in June 1983, worked as part-time chaplain at the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, Staten Island and Saint Clare's Hospital Secure Unit in New York until November 1992.

Sebastian was appointed chaplain of the Correctional Facility in Otisville, New York (November 1992-April 1995), and from September-December 1995 provided weekend assistance at Saint Mary's Church, Long Island.  Fr. Sebastian also served as assistant pastor at Saint Francis of Rome Parish in the Bronx from April 1996-July 1997.

Sebastian transferred to Padua Friary in July 1997.  He ministered to our Secular Franciscan sisters and brothers and helped out in area churches and hospitals as needed, in addition to working with Fr. Marion Cascino in promoting the good works of the Franciscan Missionary Union.

In December 2005, Fr. Sebastian moved to Mount Alvernia Friary, Wappingers Falls, where he provided indispensable pastoral care to the Spanish-speaking of the area.  "The thing about him I admired was his complete dedication to serving the Hispanic People.  He was single minded in loving them and serving them..." (Fr. Larry Dunham, OFM).

Visitation was held at Mount Alvernia, Wappingers Falls, on Wednesday, November 10 and the Mass of Christian Burial was on Thursday, November 11, with burial in the Friars' Mausoleum.

"Friars must remember to offer suffrages for every deceased friar of the province, professed or novice.  In particular, each priest shall offer the Eucharist twice."  "When news of the death of a friar is received, a concelebrated Mass in his memory should be scheduled in the friaries of the province and the foundations."  On the thirtieth day after and on the first anniversary of the death of a confrere, professed or novice, the Eucharist shall be celebrated for him in the house to which he was assigned at the time of death" (PS-8, 1-3).

Heavenly Father...we commend to your mercy Fr. Sebastian and our brothers who have embraced Sister Death and we thank you for the gift of their lives.  United in faith and prayer, through the intercession of our Immaculate Mother Mary, Our Holy Father Saint Francis and Our Holy Mother Saint Clare, keep us ever steadfast in your love as we strive for your vision of a world made new. 

Jason Dymek

And, from November 2-5, they participated with over 50 formation directors and postulants from a variety of Franciscan communities for a four-day workshop at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center.  

The program was presented by Fr. Michael Crosby, OFM Cap., and focused on "Franciscan Prayer and Contemplation." Participants included postulants and novices from the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchins, TOR men and women, Poor Clares and the Order of Servant Franciscan men and women.

BOSTON - Several people have made inquiries regarding variations in the liturgical celebrations during the Season of Christmas in a year like this year when Christmas falls on a Saturday.  The USCCB Secretariat for Divine Worship recently issued directives to clarify the celebrations of Christmas and Holy Family (December 25-26, 2010), as well as Mary, Mother of God and Epiphany (January 1-2, 2011). 

Christmas and Holy Family (December 25-26, 2010)

This year, the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) falls on a Saturday.  Because Christmas is a Solemnity, ranked at number 2 on the Table of Liturgical Days, Mass on Saturday evening, December 25, is that of the Nativity, and Evening Prayer II of the Nativity is prayed.  The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph follows on Sunday, December 26; Evening Prayer I of the Holy Family is not prayed, and any Mass celebrated on the evening of December 25 is the Mass of Christmas, not the Holy Family. There is no Vigil Mass celebrated for the Holy Family on Saturday, December 25.

As a practical matter, pastors and other priests should not feel obliged to schedule a Mass with the people on Christmas evening, even if a Saturday evening Mass is usually on the parish schedule.  On a night when families (and many priests themselves) gather at homes for Christmas dinner, a Christmas Mass on Saturday evening would likely not be attended by many people.  Moreover, it would be difficult to find sufficient liturgical ministers (altar servers, musicians, lectors, etc.).

Mary, Mother of God and Epiphany (January 1-2, 2011)

Saturday, January 1, 2011, marks the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, which in 2011 is not a holy day of obligation because it falls on a Saturday.  The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord follows on Sunday, January 2.  Although both are ranked at number 3 in the Table of Liturgical Days, as a Solemnity of the Lord, the Epiphany outranks the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (a Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary).  Just as the Mother of God points the way and leads us to her Son, her Solemnity gives way to the Epiphany.  Therefore, Mass on the evening of January 1 is the Vigil of the Epiphany, and Evening Prayer I of the Epiphany is prayed.