October 13, 2002

Dear Alumni and Friends of St. Mary Star of the Sea,

        I am very happy at this time to have the opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is Father James Cunningham and I was appointed in February of this year to replace Father Sean Ogle as the new pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea. Father Ogle was asked by Bishop Thomas Daily to be the Episcopal Vicar of North Queens in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Since my arrival here I have heard from so many wonderful former parishioners of their great love for our parish and for St. Mary Star of the Sea School. Your dedication and love for St. Mary’s is greatly appreciated. Our alumni association boasts a membership of over 1200. I am particularly grateful to Julia Waldron and Lillian Matlock Higgins for their help in reaching out to our alumni and friends.
         I write to you today to thank you for your support and to extend an invitation to you to join us for a Special Mass for Deceased Alumni. This special celebration will take place on Saturday, November 30, 2002 at 12:10 P.M. After Mass we will have some light refreshments in the Mahon Auditorium of St. Mary’s School. I invite you to please extend this invitation to your family and friends and other alumni that we might not have on our list yet. I also invite you to visit our new parish web site: www.stmarysos.org. Our new site is maintained by a seminarian of the Diocese of Brooklyn, Michael Gelfant, who is in his third year of theological studies. On our web page you can visit a special alumni section to update your information. Information may also be sent to Lillian Higgins at STAROFSEAALUMNI@aol.com.
In the next few months we will begin some major repairs on our church, school and rectory. Included in this effort will be a Giant 50/50 raffle and a pledge drive to replace the shingles on the rectory roof. Information about these special fundraisers will be posted on the web page as well.
        Please know that each one of you is remembered in a special way in our prayers and Masses. Please remember in your prayers our beloved former pastor, Monsignor James J. McKenna, who passed away on May 3rd, 2002 after serving St. Mary’s for so many dedicated years. May God bless you all and may Mary Our Mother, The Star of the Sea, watch over us!


                                                                                                            Sincerely in Christ,


                                                                                                            Rev. James K. Cunningham
                                                                                                            Pastor
                                                                                                            FRJIMSTMARY@aol.com