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
July 7, 2020
Visit our website for more information: www.oratorychurch.org
From our Pastors,

It was wonderful to see some of you at liturgies this past weekend and to share Word and Sacrament together in the same space. The gospel of this past Sunday had some key elements we might consider over the course of the week: burdens, humility and rest among them.

All of our lives have burdens of varying degrees. Some carry the burden of grief. Others bear the care of aging family members or chronic illness themselves. Some among us bear the burden of being diminished by those who do not know us or interpret our lives through limited perceptions and understanding. Sometimes, we add to one another’s burdens in defensiveness, anger or fear. Jesus invites us to entrust those burdens, whatever they may be, to his accompaniment each day. The yoke that is Jesus’ love binds us to the path of healing and wholeness, albeit not without surrendering control of our lives to that love – no easy task. This is where humility comes in.

Humility is the virtue by which we do not esteem ourselves above others, as more important than others, as more deserving to a share in God’ grace. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that the practice of humility always esteems other above self. Imagine doing that with someone with whom you don’t agree! There is a meekness in this, but not weakness. Rather, to walk humbly with God and one another elicits fortitude and perseverance. And along the way it makes us stronger together.

Humility doesn’t appear like morning dew or winter frost. It requires practice – the inner work of the heart and the mind listening to the voice of God and to the voice of Jesus that echoes through the people God places in our lives. Perhaps if we are able to do the work that leads to humility, we can take the yoke of Jesus more fully as we journey onward with burdens eased and hearts ennobled to do justice.
 
Jesus knows that the burdens of life can exhaust us. He knows we are tired and need to rest not only at the end of our lives, but along the way. What might we do this week to be refreshed in Jesus? Maybe we can name one of our burdens and be consciously yoked to Jesus in it? Maybe we can listen without judgment to another? Perhaps join our series to Open Wide Our Hearts (see information below). Maybe step away from social media and exhale? Maybe take a nap or a walk? “Learn from me” Jesus tells us. What might we learn from Jesus this week?

Fr. Michael Callaghan, c.o. and Fr. Mark Lane, c.o.
The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes Look at Racism
Begin the conversation! 3 Tuesdays in July. 7/7, 7/14, 7/21
6pm via Zoom

Our speaker for session one is Tracy Garrison-Feinberg. She will base her reflections on being a seventh-generation American descended from enslaved people. Tracy is a long standing member of St Boniface, currently serving on the Parish Pastoral Council. You may also recognize here as a member of the choir and a cantor.

In preparation for the session, Tracy asks that you read Caroline Randall Williams' NYT opinion article and "Georgetown and the Sin of Slavery" and pages 1 - 8 of “ Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love - A Pastoral Letter Against Racism" by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops ( USCCB) 2018.  http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/upload/open-wide-our-hearts.pdf

These are the reflection questions we will address in the breakout groups:

  • How has your own experience/family history been affected by the legacy of racism in this country?
  • What role do you hope the Catholic Church takes in working to end systemic racism? And what can the Oratory parishes do to support and sustain that work?

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 868 7943 4804 Password: 043028


Contact  oratoryconversation@gmail.com , to register or if you need assistance with Zoom.
Our third virtual Coffee Hour
Sunday, July 12 at 11:30 AM. Details and Zoom link on Friday. 
Annual Catholic Appeal 
Every year the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) solicits the support of parishioners throughout the diocese for the charitable outreach of the local Church to feed, shelter, and sustain the vulnerable and poor in our communities. With the severe impact of Covid19 on the economy, many people who have not needed assistance previously need our help now.

More than 100,000 residents of Brooklyn and Queens have contracted the virus, many of them live from paycheck to paycheck, have lost income or employment and have limited capacity to meet essential needs. The diocese is making extraordinary efforts to address this suffering on many fronts. One example is a program of emergency food “Pop-ups” to provide 100,000 meals daily, both staples and fresh produce, to Brooklyn and Queens residents in need: 
Each parish is given a goal for its members to meet in the Annual Catholic Appeal. 
* * *
The goal for Assumption is $24, 370.00. To date we have received pledges of $19,735.00 Consider helping us complete this Appeal that helps so many. We need an additional $4,365 to complete the appeal. All dollars over the goal are returned to the parish to support our activities for outreach and justice. 
You can make your gift online by going directly to the parish PushPay site: 
https://pushpay.com/pay/oratorychurch or text ASSUMPTIONPARISH (all caps) to 77977 and selecting the Annual Catholic Appeal Fund.

Or at the diocesan site www.annualcatholicappeal.org.

Or text ACA to 917-336-1255 or call 718-965-7375 ext. 1602 to check mailing options.

Make sure you note you are a parishioner of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Brooklyn.
* * *
St. Boniface is substantially short of its goal, $56,028 (thank you to those who have contributed $30,003). If you have been looking for a way to help in these extraordinary times this would be a worthy option.

You can make your gift online by going directly to the parish PushPay site:
https://pushpay.com/g/oratorychurchbrooklyn?src=hpp and select the Annual Catholic Appeal Fund. Or text ACA to 917-336-1255 or call 718-965-7375 ext. 1602 to check mailing options.

Or at the diocesan site www.annualcatholicappeal.org

Make sure you note you are a parishioner of St. Boniface, Brooklyn. 
New Address for the Parish Office of the Brooklyn Oratory Parishes

Please direct all letters, checks, and inquiries by postal mail to:

The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St. Boniface
64 Middagh St.
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