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
January 18, 2022
Construction Update - St Boniface
The development project is still proceeding. Complications around COVID and the developer’s need to go back out to market to secure the needed financing has pushed our project back about a year.

We expect to hear any day that the major part of the demolition of the Willoughby Street buildings has begun. The scaffolding is in place. The asbestos remediation has been completed. Most of the internal demolition is finished. Verizon have been in and are set this Monday to relocate wiring that once traversed our buildings. This will ensure that service can be maintained for some of our neighbors. We have continued to receive rental income form the developer since June last year.

Over the past two years we have ensured we can continue to operate during the construction period. Water and electricity were both relocated form Willoughby Street to Duffield Street. Both were time consuming and expensive. We upgraded the lighting and sound systems at the same time because the operational mechanics of both had to be relocated. We also recently relighted the Stations of the Cross and the Sanctuary “Rose Window”.

This past week we completed construction of a boiler room and upgraded drainage in the church basement. This work will continue with further floor repairs, improved drainage, storage and a general cleanup and organization of the space. Last year we removed two large dumpsters of stuff that had accumulated in the basement over the 150 years since the building was constructed.

We have relocated the sacristy to inside the church as we await a new sacristy in the development. This involved providing new storage, plumbing and electrical work. We installed a bathroom and a kitchenette at the back of the church as we await new facilities in our four and half floors in the new 43 story building.

We set up a shed on the ramp for chairs and other items we can no longer store in the church. We have repaired doors and installed handicap accessible controls on the northern side door and safety bars on the front side doors. The choir room was dismantled and essentials moved to the choir loft, again awaiting new facilities in the new building. There have been many other minor repairs and preparations made including fixing the steps in the form to of the church, repairing the heat registers in the narthex.

We are working on plans and a signed agreement to protect the stained glass on the courtyard side of the church during construction, as well as maintain access to the basement for storage and utilities. National Grid have been upgrading the gas service on the Duffield Street, replacing low pressure piping for a high pressure service. We are next in line after several weeks of negotiating details.

This past week we had the first of several meetings about installing Air Conditioning in the church so that we are ready for summer and the for lack of access to the courtyard during the development.

The development project has been ticking away for many years. During the early days of which we held a number of meetings about the space requirements. All the feedback from staff and parishioners was given to the architects and engineers two years ago and from that was developed a scheme, which needs to be focused enough to establish parameters for future use but loose enough to respond to the needs when the project is closer to fruition. We will be provided with a “white box” that we will need to fill out according to our developing plans.

Once the developer can assure us the financing is fully in place and secure, we will make a presentation to the whole parish about the envisaged uses of our space in the larger building. Keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks.

The larger building will be primarily rental apartments with a 30% affordable component. There will also be a small retail space on Willoughby Street.

This month we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the actual church building of St Boniface. Since this is the only building that will survive the development, we decided to commemorate that milestone with a series of events in May and June, holding a rededication Mass on the feast of St Boniface, Sunday June 5. We will publish a commemorative booklet, hold a concert highlighting music that honors the German foundations of the parish, and celebrate vespers at which Fr. Anthony will give a talk on the history of the parish. Hopefully we can have a repast afterwards, COVID permitting.

This is an exciting year in the life of the parish community and we look forward to journeying together as we begin the next chapter in St Boniface’s long history of worship and service. Grateful for your support. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Fr. Mark Lane, c.o. and Fr. Michael Callaghan, c.o.
Baptism Preparation for Parents
If you are expecting your first child or are new to our communities and would like to have your child baptized in our parishes, please register for the next Baptism Preparation Session.

Preparation sessions on Zoom, 7pm. Email info@oratorychurch.org.
Winter/Spring schedule:
Preparation dates: 2/9, 3/9, 5/11.
Baptism dates: 2/27, 4/24, 5/15.
Mass Intentions
If you would like to request a mass for someone living or deceased, mass intentions are available for the weeks or months ahead. Email info@oratorychurch.org. The offering is $20. Please pay by using Pushpay or by mailing a check to 64 Middagh St. Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please include the name of the deceased or a special intention request.
Oratory Young Men’s Group
In its ninth year, the Oratory Young Men’s Group (newly rebranded as OMG) allows young men (21-35) in the Oratory parishes and beyond to connect for prayer, service, and social activities. If interested in learning more, contact Fr Anthony, andreassi.anthony@gmail.com.
Candle Offering
If you would like to make an offering for the weekly (8 day) sanctuary candle at either parish please email info@oratorychurch.org Eight Day candle - $10 and Votive candles (1.00) can also be arranged on your behalf.
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