A DAY OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

A DAY OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

Contemplative prayer is the opening of the mind, the heart and our whole being to God. It is a process of interior transformation initiated by God, a process that leads, if we consent, to friendship, trust, love and deeper union with God, and to ongoing conversion from our false self into our true self, the self which is God’s image and likeness.

This daylong program, recommended for new and long-time practitioners, will include periods of instruction as well as the actual experience of traditional forms of contemplative prayer.

Instructor: Teresita Pia, M.A.
Saturday: February 26, 2022
10:30 AM – 4:30 PM; Clare Room;

Fee: $40.00

Help for the Philippines devastated by Super-typhoon Odette

On December 16, 2021, the Philippines was massively devastated by Super-typhoon Odette.  More than 600 hundred people died and many more were unaccounted.  The structural destruction caused over 5 Billion pesos (about $100 million USD) and many families were displaced.

Our sisters & brothers in the Philippines need our help!

Use the form below to make a donation to support the relief efforts or you may make a check payable to: The Church of St. Francis of Assisi with:  “Philippines relief” in the memo.

Below is a letter from Bishop Alberto Uy from the most affected diocese in the Philippines, expressing his gratitude for all assistance.

Here is a video on Facebook showing some of the devastation: https://fb.watch/alObTirmx3/

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Schedule

On Monday, January 17, 2022 our nation will commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We will have only one Mass.

Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 PM. (also available on Livestream) 

There will be no confessions, and the church offices and adult education center are closed for the day.*

(*please note: when the church offices are closed all ministry meetings, classes and self-help groups are suspended)

Updated Covid safety measures for January 2022

In response to the current Covid surge in New York City and surrounding areas the Church of St. Francis of Assisi is implementing the following Covid regulations for January 2022.  If your ministry or group has any questions how these affect your particular group, please contact your staff liaison.

Mass:

  • Masks continue to be required at Mass and Communion continues to be only given in the hand.
  • Holy Water basins remain empty.  Holy Water is available in individual bottles in the church lobby.

Confession:

  • Masks must be worn in Confession and the door to the confessional will be left open for air circulation.

Ministry and Group Meetings:

All groups and ministries are asked to meet remotely for the month of January.

Exceptions:

  • Self help and 12 step groups may continue to meet in person
  • groups that hold liturgical celebrations (First Friday Mass, etc.) may continue to have their gathering for prayer, but social gatherings after the liturgical celebration is suspended for January
  • volunteers whose work cannot be done remotely (breadline volunteers, Franciscans delivers, etc.) are not affected by this regulation

The staff is hopeful that these restrictions will only be needed for January 2022 and that normal in person activities will resume as soon as this surge starts to recede.

 

 

Save the Date: St. Francis Volunteer Retreat

February 11 – 13
Loyola Retreat Center in Morristown, NJ

We are bringing back our annual St. Francis Volunteers retreat for members of our St. Francis of Assisi Community for a weekend away at the beautiful Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, New Jersey.  This has been a popular event and a great opportunity to get away to refresh your spirit with a weekend full of prayer, reflections, and sharing of our faith.  And it is a great way to get to know others in your church community better.

The weekend is structured around the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours:  Night prayer on Friday, Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer on Saturday, and Morning Prayer and Mass on Sunday.  Between the times of prayer are 5 reflections on different aspects of our faith and we leave free time for individual reflection and prayer as well as time on Saturday evening for a social.

Proof of vaccination will be required to attend.

Registration will open on Sunday, January 16, 2022

Happy Three Kings Day!

Today, January 6th, is the traditional Feast of the Epiphany, also called “Three Kings Day.”  We would like to wish everyone who celebrates the Epiphany today a very happy feast day!

Why isn’t the feast celebrated today in Church?

This is a good question.  In the United States, and some other countries, the bishops have moved the celebration of this feast to Sunday.  They did this because the Epiphany is such an important Christmas feast that our bishops wanted to make sure that people would attend the Mass.  In countries like the US, where the secular society does not recognize the Epiphany as a holiday, the bishops felt that too many people would miss the celebration if it fell during the work week.  And so the feast was moved to Sunday.  In many countries around the world the Epiphany is still celebrated on the traditional date of January 6th.

For people from those countries where this is an important holiday – with celebrations with family and friends – this can cause some confusion how to celebrate.

While we can’t move the Liturgical celebration of the feast back to the 6th, there is nothing wrong with gathering with family and friends today to continue to celebrate the Birth of Christ.  It is still the Christmas season and with the Wise Men, wise men and women today still seek the King.

May the Light that they traveled far to find enlighten those who believe today and everyday.

Happy Three Kings Day!

 

© St. Francis of Assisi 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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