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
October 19, 2021
Visit our website for more information: www.oratorychurch.org
From Your Pastors
In May of 2015, Pope Francis issued his prophetic and challenging encyclical Laudato Si (English version) (Spanish version) which calls on the Catholic faithful and all people of good will to make fundamental changes in our approach to the care of our earth and all God’s creation. Since that time, a number of initiatives have begun, including our own efforts to enhance recycling and composting in our communities. The Global Catholic Climate Movement has recently been renamed the Laudato Si Movement. This groups aspires to serve the worldwide Catholic family as we strive to turn Laudato Si into action for climate justice as we undergo our own ecological conversion in our lifestyles and public policies. The encyclical calls us to be a church that prays, acts, leads, and advocates for our common home and its preservation for future generations.

As part of our Oratory parishes action, we will be participating in Ring Out For Climate Change on Saturday Oct 30. from 6 to 6:30 pm. This is done on the eve of the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Church bells have historically been rung to call us to worship, as we celebrate joyous occasions and to ring out warnings in times of distress. Edward Gildea, a Christian Aid climate campaign organizer from Essex, England initiated the idea of churches to ring their bells at 6pm for thirty minutes on Saturday October 30 as a warning of the climate emergency and to mark the start of the conference.

We are inviting all our families and youth, particularly in Confirmation Year 1 and Year 2 to gather for the 5 pm Mass at Assumption where we will focus on Laudato Si and our role to act, pray, lead, and advocate for God’s creation. At the conclusion of Mass, we will gather on Cranberry Street to ring our bells. You can bring your own bell or use one of the bells we will have available. The bell at St. Boniface will also ring during this time as we pray in solidarity with Pope Francis and Catholics around the world for a conversion of our environmental stewardship. If you can’t join us at Mass, perhaps you might ring out on your own stoop or take some other action, like signing up for composting in your neighborhood. Or you might pray the prayer with which we will conclude the Universal Prayers which will be published in the Link next week.
We extend a warm welcome to Patti DeBonis our new Youth and Family Minister who is working to organize our youth and families to join in the Ring Out activities. Patti has been working with children and families in the field of education for over a decade. After studying fine arts at Millersville University and completing a B.A. in theology at Eastern University, she worked has worked in a variety of educational settings in the greater Philadelphia area and Connecticut. Since having her own three children, she continues to write project-based, emergent curriculum for cooperative homeschool groups, nonprofit organizations, and private schools that aim at cultivating social and emotional wellness, aesthetic sensibilities, and relationships with the natural world through the lens of faith an community. We are excited about the energy and vision Patti brings as she ministers and worships with us in our parishes!

Fr. Michael Callaghan, c.o. and Fr. Mark Lane, c.o.
November 1 All Saints' Day Mass
8:00am Mass Assumption
12:10pm Mass St. Boniface

November 2 is All Souls' Day
8am and 6:30pm Mass at Assumption
12:10pm Mass at St. Boniface

We invite you to send in the names of loved ones to be remembered in the Novena of Masses that begins that day at our Parishes. Email info@oratorychurch.org. We will include the names of your loved ones to the Books of Prayer on our altars.
Save the Date
Sister Marion DeFeis, CSJ 70th Anniversary/Jubilee

Celebrate Sister Marion, a pivotal woman in the spiritual development of many members of our Oratory community. She has joyfully served 70 years in religious life as a Sister of St. Joseph.

Outdoor coffee hour to follow.

Please email Pat Vitacco at pbvitacco@gmail.com if you would like to contribute or help with this celebration and coffee hour.

November 7, St. Boniface 11:15am Mass
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. Send your inquiry to: info@oratorychurch.org and we will follow up to register you and send you the print materials.

November 10 via Zoom
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 2022 Mass book is now open. The offering is $20. Please pay by using Pushpay or by mailing a check to:
64 Middagh St. Brooklyn, NY 11201.
Curbside Composting
Residents can sign up to receive curbside composting service via 311 or nyc.gov/curbsidecomposting. Service will start on a rolling basis so please encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up as well!
Mass Times

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekday hours: 7:45am - 12:00 noon Tuesday through Friday. Weekday Mass 8:00am Tuesday through Friday.

Weekend Masses
5:00pm Saturday and 10:00am Sunday
The church is closed on Mondays.
Confessions Saturday: 4:15pm - 4:45pm at the St. Joseph’s Altar.
First Saturday of the month - 9:00am Mass with Benediction to follow.

St. Boniface
Weekday hours 11:30am - 1:00pm
Weekday Mass at 12:10pm Monday - Thursday
Sunday Masses: 9:00am, 11:15am and 6:00pm Mass
Sunday hours 9:30am - 12:30pm & 5:30pm - 7:00pm
The church is closed on Fridays.
Confessions during Eucharistic Adoration (12:30 - 1:00pm) on Wednesdays and before Mass on Sunday 5:15pm - 5:45pm.

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