Every year, on the second or third Sunday in September, parishioners at St. Patrick’s get a chance to celebrate a very special Mass that celebrates our great local geographical heritage and the wonder of God’s great beautiful and wonderous creation. A noon Mass is celebrated at Schubert’s Beach, part of of Long Beach by the Smithtown Marina on the shore of the Long Island Sound.
An altar is set up at the shore-line, along with accommodations for the youth choir, lectors, sound system and all the other necessary furnishings for the mass. The people attending the mass spread out between the altar and the bluffs on beach chairs and blankets on the sand, just as they must have done during the Sermon on the Mount almost 2000 years ago.
After the Mass, the Knights of Columbus sponsor a picnic of hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings, sides, chips, and beverages. The Columbiettes provide wonderful deserts and snacks for our youth. Many other groups and people also help with the staging of this well loved event.
The Annual Beach Mass for the 2011-2012 was another great success. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who continue to make this one of the landmark events on the St. Patrick Parish calendar. A special thank you goes out to all those who attended the mass and the fellowship of the picnic afterwards. We look forward to seeing everyone in September of 2012!
