The Link
The newsletter for The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes

"I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons."
-St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, C.O.
 The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Boniface
August 7, 2020
Visit our website for more information: www.oratorychurch.org
From Our Pastors

Many aspects of our community life have been changed because of Covid, including the celebration of sacraments. In the coming weeks at both parishes we will celebrate the delayed sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. We cannot do the usual larger single celebrations for obvious safety reasons but we can celebrate them in smaller numbers and with shortened rites. At some of the masses in coming weeks some of our youngsters, who have been preparing all year, lately on Zoom, will receive first Eucharist. Later, we will confirm the teenagers who have prepared the last two years for their Confirmation, as the Bishop has given delegation to Pastors to administer this sacrament in the local parishes. We will do all this following appropriate safety guidelines and protocols. But just as importantly, we will celebrate them with dignity and joy. We will try to share these happy occasions with you in the Link, as we are doing this week, with some photos. these are surely signs of life and vitality. Please keep our first communicants, the newly confirmed, married and baptized in prayer.

Fr. Mark Lane, C.O. and Fr. Michael Callaghan, C.O.













Margot Frances was baptized at St. Boniface this past Sunday.
Joseph (confirmed Nicholas) Tommaso receiving the sacrament at St Boniface on Sunday, August 3. His father, Joe Tommaso Sr. his sponsor.
We were delighted to celebrate First Eucharist this past week with Amaya Valtz and her family at Assumption. Maya and her family were excited to have family from around the country and her grandparents in France participated via the LiveStream.
We wish Sashi, Maya and Xavier well as they begin a new chapter of their life in London in the coming weeks!
We also welcome Frances James Campbell to our community who was baptized into the Catholic faith. She was a delight and loved the water and didn’t fuss once! Congratulations to her parents Erica and Paul and her extended family who joined in remotely!
Please keep our Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist families in your prayers as we celebrate these sacraments in the weeks to come.
Parishes Discuss Racism
If you were unable to join in the discussions recently, or if you want to hear again the excellent and moving talks from our parishioners Tracy, Nicole and Eugene, please click on the link below. We continue to process the feedback and will announce the actionable and accountable goals in coming weeks, the first of which is the establishment of a joint parish Anti-Racism Committee that will occupy a seat on the Parish Pastoral Councils alongside long-standing committed such as Youth, Social Action, Communications, etc. Here is the link to the three videos. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ehp96jbclzqcif2/AAAkYK_3s54eHQmUlctEYS7ta?dl=0
Don't Forget Oratory Coffee Hour

Oratory Coffee Hour continues after Mass on Zoom. Whether you attend Mass in- person or livestream, don’t miss the opportunity to gather as a community online. Bring your own coffee (or tea). Conversation will be provided.











Topic: Coffee Hour Sunday August 9 11:30AM
Time: Aug 9, 2020 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 460 014 6818
One tap mobile
+16465588656, 4600146818# US (New York)
Assumption and St. Boniface participate in Mission Appeal next weekend.

Marantha Caring Mission
As we do each year, we will have the opportunity to support the Catholic mission work. On the Weekend of August 15/16 an appeal will be offered on behalf of Maranatha Caring Mission at St Boniface and the Diocese of Bomadi at Assumption. Because of Covid the missionaries will not be able to present themselves so Fr’s Michael and Mark will present their charitable works.

Maranatha Caring mission works in Nigeria among peasant farmers. They provide otherwise inaccessible eye as well as hernia, appendix and other surgeries. There are currently 210 patients awaiting these life transforming surgeries. $100 for cataract surgery. $20 a month follow up care. $50 for Appendectomy or Herniorrhahy.

Our Sisters and Brothers in Bomadi need Clean Water
The Diocese of Bomadi, in the South of Nigeria, is an area where the faith is growing. The people are abjectly poor, and the people struggle to have potable water. Oil exploitation has significantly polluted the main river from which the people draw their water for drinking, cleaning and livestock. Their Bishop, Hyacinth Egbebo, MSP, has written to ask our help to bring clean water to communities through our support of the summer mission appeal on August 15/16. Having been given to drink from the well spring of eternal life and living with ready access to clean water, I urge you join to add your support to my $50 gift to the appeal to help the church in Bomadi bring essential water to our sisters and brothers there.

PushPay

Save the Date
A Concert to Celebrate the
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 14 @ 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Assumption Church, 55 Cranberry Street
&
Livestreamed on the BrooklynOratory YouTube Channel

Featured Artists include:
Leah Gale Nelson, Maureen Kelley, Joseph Vanderpool

Works include:
Allemande from Suite No. 1 in G Major, J.S. Bach Theme and Variations based on "Sing Of Mary” Trio Sonata in G Major, J. S. Bach
Please keep the sick of the community in your prayers:
Brian and Robbie Lynch, Helen Knepple, Kathleen Folan, Pat Lally, Judy Murphy, R. Maley, Mary Storms.

Rest In Peace:
Paul Newton, Herbet McLaughlin, Fr. James Bucaria, Raymond Muhs, Florence Hong, Dr. Joseph Costa, John Lewis.

If you would like add someone to the prayer list email the parish office at info@oratorychurch.org or go to the website https://oratorychurch.org/contact-us and complete the information there.
Stewardship
Please remember, if you are able, to keep supporting our parishes as we try to maintain staff, clergy and operations during this time.
You can make your donation online through PushPay by clicking on one of these links:



Or mail checks to:
The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes
64 Middagh Street
Brooklyn NY 11201
Attn: ABVM or St. Boniface
Mass Times and Church Hours for the Oratory Parishes

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekday Masses: 9:00am
Tuesday-Friday: Open 8:45am-noon
Closed Mondays

Weekend Masses: Saturday 5:00pm and Sunday 9:00am
Weekend Hours: Saturday 4:15pm-6:00pm
Sunday: 8:45am - 10:00am

Confession: Saturday 4:15pm - 4:45pm at the St. Joseph’s Altar
First Saturday of the month: Mass with Rosary, Meditation & Benediction, 9:00am


Updated Church Hours at St. Boniface
Weekday Masses: 12:10pm
Monday-Friday: Open 11:30am -1:00pm
Confession: Wednesday 11:45am & Sunday 5:30pm
Benediction: Wednesday following the 12:10 Mass

Sunday, 10:00am & 6:00pm
Weekend Hours: Open Sunday 9:30am – 11:00am
& 5:30pm – 7:00pm

   Closed Saturdays
Parish Offices

The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes of
Assumption & St. Boniface
64 Middagh Street
Brooklyn NY 11201

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