The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Boniface
November 24, 2020
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Welcome August Mendes who was baptized this past weekend at St. Boniface. Congratulations to his parents Suzanne Seymour and George Mendes!
Irene Mendes (godmother) Erin Braden (godmother), Suzanne Seymour (mother), George Mendes (father).
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Welcome Simone Blair Onyiriuka who was baptized on Saturday November 21 at Assumption Parish. Congratulations to her parents Jonathan Onyiriuka and Tiffany Gudaitis. |
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From Our Pastors
As we approach our national Thanksgiving Day celebrations, this year is different from most of those that have gone before. Many of the trappings of the holiday are disrupted and impossible. There will be no throngs to see the filling of the balloons for the Macy’s parade, which will be only one block long and with no spectator along the way. Many families will not be together in ways they have previously as we face the second wave of the pandemic. Our horizons are filled with uncertainties in economics, education and social needs. We have lost friends and family members this year, while some have survived the coronavirus and other serious health threats. Struggles in life can cause us to become indifferent, something that Pope Francis has spoken to frequently since the beginning of the pandemic. In the compilation of his thoughts from March through the Easter season entitled: Strong in the Face of Tribulation Francis teaches us: “Indifference is the tragedy of being well-informed but not feeling the reality of others.” He warns us not to fall into the chasm of indifference that seems to be a parallel global pandemic along with the virus. StrongintheFaceofTribulation
With Thanksgiving Day on the horizon, we choose gratitude as the way to keep from falling into the chasm of indifference. Gratitude is not simply good manners, rather, Francis reminds us: “It is a simple but genuine sign of the kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of gratuitous and grateful love.” (June 28 Angelus) So we share some of our gratitude’s with you.
We are grateful for our home in the Oratory; our parishioners who keep faith with us; the technology that keeps us connected even when we feel zoomed out. We are grateful for our staff and parish leaders who have helped us imagine and re-imagine as we have adjusted over these months. We are grateful for the courage to look inside ourselves and our communities to see where we contribute to injustice and for the desire to be more just and to do the hard work of justice. We are grateful for those who want to learn and share our faith, who gather in small groups, RCIA and Family Faith Formation. We are grateful for the financial and material generosity of our core communities that has allowed us to make it thus far despite all the disruptions experienced this year. We are grateful for all who provide care and support in medicine and social services and in research and vaccine trials to help protect and save lives. We are grateful for the promising vaccine trials and the possibility of one day being able to embrace you all again. We are grateful for chocolate, and pumpkin pie, and good coffee and that laughter offsets the tears most days. We are grateful that our God is sovereign and will see us through.
We encourage you in the days ahead to share your gratitude with those you love as a way to amplify and spread the kingdom of God in our midst. Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours from the Fathers and Brother of the Oratory.
Fr. Michael Callaghan, c.o. and Fr. Mark Lane, c.o.
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Stewardship Appeal 2021
Thank you for your continued stewardship which makes it possible for us to provide the essential ministries we do each day.
Click here for a presentation by Tom Amon, Assumption, Trustee
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Thank You for your generous response!
Thank you for the tremendous and generous response to the Food Drive for Hour Children and The Newman Food Pantry. The Heights Players collected food to join to our efforts and we are grateful for their support and participation. Along with the food pictured we have also collected $2600.00 so far to purchase bulk food for pantries. Thank you all for responding to this year’s drive with such generosity.
Food collection ends tomorrow, Wednesday November 25 at the 6 pm Mass at Assumption. At the Mass we will bless the food and any you bring for your Thanksgiving table and pray for those it will help feed.
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Thanksgiving Mass Schedule
Assumption
Wednesday, November 25, 6:00pm Mass with Blessing of Food.
The church is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 27.
St. Boniface
Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 26, 10:00am Mass.
The church is closed Friday, November 27.
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Centering Prayer Introductory Program via Zoom
Led by Jim Connell
Centering prayer is a receptive method of silent Christian prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer – prayer in which we experience God's presence within us. This digital workshop will introduce the concepts and methods of Centering Prayer to those who are new to the practice or those seeking a refresher. Discover a way to "Be Still and Know that I am God. " Please register at https://bit.ly/3fZnmBH. If you have any questions, contact Jim Connell at connell.jim@verizon.net.
Saturday, December 5, 2020, 12:30pm to 3:30pm
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Oratory Christmas Greens and Poinsettia Sale
Last Call to Order Christmas Wreaths and Poinsettia.
Please use the instructions to order and pay for your Greens.
Please don't pay with a credit card.
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2020 Has Been Tough
OWC/SJA Would Like To Help “Sweeten” Your Holidays. The Oratory Womens’ Committee and Social Justice Action would like to help...a phone call, a plant, a meal, a virtual visit? More Zoom instruction to help you connect? Or would you like to help? Know someone struggling with the holidays this year? Let us know how we can help you or someone you know.
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St. Boniface Social Justice Action suggests supporting Black owned businesses for your Friday shopping on Nov. 27. Enjoy a day of free online shopping with Black Businesses from 65 cities around the country in one place.
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Honoring St. Mark’s Parish, Turkana
In spirit, let us join our brothers and sisters in St Mark’s Parish, Turkana, Kenya as they honor the patron saint of their parish. Their celebration was postponed from April until Nov 29 due to restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. We ask that God bless them with life and livelihood, faith and community, and the strength to persevere in these trying times. May we add our prayerful good wishes and friendship to their celebration.
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Celebrate the Living Legacy of Dorothy Day on the 40th Anniversary of Her Death
Organized by Americamedia.
Join the Dorothy Day Guild and America Media, via Zoom, as we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of Servant of God Dorothy Day.
Panelist Include:
David Brooks, Op-ed Columnist, The New York Times
Anne Snyder, Editor in Chief, Comment magazine
Paul Elie, Senior Fellow, Georgetown University
Convener: Robert Ellsberg, Publisher, Orbis Books
Interviewer: Colleen Dulle, Assistant Producer, America Media
Sunday, November 29, from 6-7:30pm
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The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Boniface
Roman Catholic Communities in
Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights
Both parishes operate from one office:
64 Middagh Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.875.2096
718.625.1161
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