The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Boniface
November 20, 2020
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From Our Pastors
At the Oratory parishes we have a vision of Church that animates our mission. That vision is of an active and vibrant community coming together to create a spiritual home of love and service. We have long held that what we are doing is worth giving our all to. The work of our community, in and out of the church buildings, matters and makes a difference. We are constantly seeking, in all we do, to uplift, to include, to challenge, to aid healing, and promote understanding, peace and ever greater compassion.
Everything we do – be it preaching, music, art, social action, study, service or prayer – we try to do with as much excellence and grace as we can muster. We seek that generosity with which our God loves us - holding nothing back in order to give us life to the full.
This past week is another example of this vision and mission. You should have received in the mail – the snail-mail variety! – a note from our parishes outlining our financial situation. For those NOT on the mailing list here is a copy of the budget and an explanatory report for both parishes.
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THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU to all who have given so generously and consistently to support our work and keep alive a vision of a vibrant Catholic parish. Thank you to all who have faithfully continued their support during these last months when church participation has been suspended or reduced.
We remain amazingly active and engaged. Committees are working, groups are meeting, and sacraments are being celebrated and broadcast. We are reaching out to, and ensuring, that members of the community are safe and well during these days – especially the sick and homebound. We continue to advocate and work for the poor and needy, and support our sister parishes in Turkana and Haiti – where things are even harder than ever. We are offering concerts, lectures and discussions. We are particularly proud of our community’s response as we continue our efforts to build inclusivity, openness and racial justice.
And the development project at St Boniface and the upgrading of facilities at Assumption are consuming a lot of time and attention, but are progressing and promise to be tremendous resources for years to come.
As we do each year, we are inviting you to share in this mission and participate in our vision. Please take a moment to read the report and accompanying budgets. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. And please take a moment to renew or make a pledge of support.
“Fundraising is a very rich and beautiful activity. It is a confident, joyful, and hope filled expression of ministry. In ministering to each other, each from the riches that she or he possesses, we work together for the full coming of God’s kingdom.” Henri J. M. Nouwen
Special thanks to the expert and engaged oversight of the Finance Committees of our parishes, and the respective chairs of each - Bill Weigel (St Boniface) and John Morgan (Assumption) - for invaluable help in pulling these budgets and reports together. Thanks also to Tom Levy, our ever knowledgeable and generous accountant, for the endless hours ensuring we are accurate, transparent and accountable. And thanks to our now sole full-time staff person, Carole Fabrizio,
and those who volunteered to get the mammoth mailing out and supporting a safe environment for our volunteers. Thank you.
Fr. Mark Lane, C.O. and Fr. Michael Callaghan, C.O.
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Fiscal Report
This weekend, there will be reviews of our fiscal report at each of our parishes. In the coming weeks, members of our communities will share their experience and ideas for stewardship. These talks will be available through the Link, and our YouTube Channel BrooklynOratory. 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 Bill Weigel, St. Boniface Finance Committee Chair. Bill Weigel is unable to present at Masses this weekend. Tom Amon’s talk will be available next week.
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Assumption Mass Schedule
11/21 5pm...Antonio Acerra
11/22...9am...The People of the Parish
11/23...No Mass
11/24...9am...Lucille Macchiarola
11/25...9am...Moises Abad
6pm...Thanksgiving & Blessings - Cho Family
11/26 & 11/27...No Mass
St. Boniface Mass Schedule
11/22...10am...Margaret Fissinger
11:15am...The People of the Parish
6:00pm...Kevin Brian White
11/23...12:10pm...Gloria Seo & Lou Martone (Anniversary-Wedding)
11/24...Priest’s Intention
11/25...Priest’s Intention
11/26...10am...Thanksgiving Day - Priest’s Intention
11/27...No Mass
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Please keep the sick of the community in your prayers: Barbara Dowd, Mary Corral.
Rest In Peace: Beryl Stanislaus, Helen Jernigan, Vincent Ferrara, Derek Buchner.
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Assumption Mass Times
We will return to a 10am Mass on Sundays. We will make this change on the first Sunday of Advent, November 29th. The 5pm Mass remains unchanged.
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Baptism Preparation
The next Baptism Preparation Session for Infant Baptism will be Thursday, December 3 at 7 pm via Zoom. Please email us at info@oratorychurch.org to register within two weeks of the scheduled date. We will send you materials and the Zoom link.
Dates for 2021:
Wednesday January 20, 2021
Thursday March 25, 2021
Wednesday April 28, 2021
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Thanksgiving Food Drive
Supporting the families of Hour Children and local college students through our Newman Ministry.
Collecting through November 25
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The Social Justice Action Committee and Antiracism Task Force are proud to sponsor 'Fit the Description"
Through this screening and discussion, we will begin to understand the lenses through which we see and experience the world, and how those lenses can be tinged with unconscious, implicit bias.
We will explore practices that interrupt the bias through various opportunities to connect and develop proximity with others. Brooklyn Oratory Parishioner Art Jones will share his personal journey of connection to the men of Network at Woodbourne Correctional Facility.
Register and find our Zoom link on Eventbrite:
Friday, November 20, 7-8:30pm via Zoom.
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Thanksgiving Concert at Assumption
Join us for a concert of Thanksgiving. You are invited to bring food for the food drive and enjoy a 40-minute concert of classical music under the theme of Thanksgiving. It will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend. Visit the Oratory YouTube channel BrooklynOratory for more info.
Sunday, November 22, 3pm
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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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Oratory Christmas Greens and Poinsettia Sale
Deadline to order is Tuesday, November 24th
Please click here for instructions:
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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 the links below.
November 22 - Special Diocesan Collection to benefit the Campaign for Human Development. Donations for the campaign can be made on Pushpay.
Or mail checks to:
64 Middagh St
Brooklyn NY 11201
Attn: either ABVM or St Boniface
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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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