Holiday Schedule for Tuesday, July 4, 2023:
Mass: 12 Noon
There are no confessions; the church offices and the St. Francis Adult Education Center will be closed.
Our regular schedule is in effect for Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 5th.
Below are photos of our United in Love Pre-Pride Festive Mass and rooftop BBQ which took place Saturday, June 24, 2023 at our regular 4:00 PM Saturday Mass. It was a wonderful celebration of our community and our faith that God calls all people and everyone is welcome in the Father’s house. Thank you to our LGBT+ Ministry for hosting the festivities and to all of our volunteers who helped make the day a wonderful celebration. A special thank you to Keith Kemp for taking the photos.
A note on why this day is important:
In the Gospel of St. John, at the last supper the Lord prayed to the father that his flock “might be one” as He and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). Yet, sadly, some members of the Church are made to feel by other members that they don’t belong, or that they are not welcome. This has happened to divorced Catholics, it has happened to people who disagree with the church’s teaching on birth control and it happens to LGBT people.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Catholics have recently been particularly singled out for vitriolic, uncharitable, and frankly, unchristian, attacks by some members of the Church. In one photo you will see a small protest which took place outside of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi before and during our Mass which underscores this point. This attitude is completely against the teaching of the Church and does not bear witness to Christ who said “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 22:34-35)
At the Church of St. Francis we try to combat this hatred and division with love and inclusion. We strive to build a community that is welcoming to all people. Love, unity and inclusion are values we cherish and they are rooted in our faith in Christ and His teachings.
Our United in Love Pre-Pride Mass is not only attended by members of our LGBT+ ministry. This is a community event and all members of our parish who are committed to proclaiming our faith that God loves all people celebrate this love of God for God’s children in all of our glorious diversity.
If you didn’t make it this year, join us next year on the Saturday afternoon before NYC’s annual Pride celebration.
-Joseph Nuzzi, Director of Evangelization
Photos by Keith Kemp, all rights reserved.
Dear Community and Friends of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, May the Lord give you peace.
I thank everyone who participated in the Pre-Pride mass last weekend. It was a great celebration of the Lord’s love for all. Special thanks to the musicians, dancer, lectors, Ministers of the Eucharist, and Ministers of Hospitality. The participation was beautiful. We are indeed blessed by the richness of our community.
We have been asked to raise $73,000.00 for the Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal. We have pledged $40,000.00 to date. Please consider your means and be as generous as you are able. This appeal supports Catholic Charities and the Gospel’s mission in the Archdiocese.
Last week we hosted a Job Fair. Thank you, Fr. Julian, and all who made this possible. The line outside of San Damiano Hall was amazing. I hope that the folks seeking employment will be successful. I met with a man last Sunday who is struggling to find work. He has moved from city to city and has been unsuccessful in finding anything. Please keep all who are seeking employment in your prayers.
The Gospel this weekend reminds us of our care for the homeless and all who are in need. The Lord recognizes as blessed all who gives even a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty. In recognizing the humanity of the person, we receive Christ. As surely as we receive the Lord in the Eucharist, we receive him in the person who is in need. We are blessed indeed.
I visited St. Petersburg last week and met with the friars there. Frs. Jerome Massimino, Joseph Hertel, Anthony Carrozzo, Kevin Tortorelli, and Vincent Laviano send their best. I do not yet have a departure date. I thank you for this short time that I have been with you. You have blessed my life.
Peace and all Good,
Fr. Tom, ofm
Summer Stretch: A Poetry Workshop
Meetings on ZOOM
Mondays 6:00 – 8:00 PM
July 10-August 7
Instructor: Sr. Fran McManus, RSM
This five-week workshop will provide practice in using tools of the poetic trade. Rhyme and meter, figurative language, point of view and line length will be among course topics. We will consider recent trends in narrative poetry, but writers will not be restricted to that genre. We will also discuss ways to generate and revise poems. Beginning with the second class, students will have the opportunity to present their work to the class. Beginners and long-term practitioners are welcome, but enrolment is limited in order for each student to have the opportunity to present their work for a class response.
Enrollment is limited to 15 students.
Fee: $50.00
(financial assistance is available, please email Joseph Nuzzi at jnuzzi@stfrancisnyc.org for information)
A Certain Slant: Faith-Informed Fiction
Meetings on ZOOM
Thursdays 12:30-1:30 PM
June 29th -July 27th
Instructor: Fran McManus, RSM
In this five-week course we will examine how faith is portrayed as practice and shaping influence of the characters of three short novels. The first class will introduce the three authors and provide an overview of the Catholic imagination in literature. We will discuss the works in chronological order, devoting two sessions to The Diary of a Country Priest.
Required texts:
Mr. Blue (1928) by Myles Connelly, the biography of a modern fictional character who like St. Francis of Assisi commits himself to Lady Poverty.
The Diary of a Country Priest (1932) by George Bernanos, the story of a young French priest working to understand and serve his congregation.
The Ninth Hour (2017) by Alice McDermott focuses on the work of group of nursing nuns and the individuals they serve in Brooklyn.
Fee: $50.00
(financial assistance is available, please email Joseph Nuzzi at jnuzzi@stfrancisnyc.org for information)
Join us for our annual
United in Love Pre-Pride festive Mass
Saturday | June 24 | 4:00 p.m.
“Inspired by our faith in Jesus Christ,
and rooted in the charism of St. Francis of Assisi,
we actively welcome all people.”
This is the first declaration in our parish mission statement. It is how our community at St. Francis thinks and acts.
We are again celebrating this welcome to all people at our United in Love Pre-Pride Festive Mass.
This is a Weekend of Prayer for and with our LGBT Brothers and Sisters.
We take this opportunity each year for our whole parish community to remember that the Lord invited all people to follow him, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic background, gender or sexual orientation.
It is also an opportunity when we can invite to Mass any of our friends who many not feel welcome at the table of the Lord for whatever reason, but especially if they are gay or lesbian. Take the opportunity to bear witness to the unconditional love of God by reaching out and inviting back a brother or sister who hasn’t been home in a while.
Dear Community and Friends of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, May the Lord give you peace.
Months ago, as we reflected on our conversations regarding the Synod and then read the report, we noticed that concern for the LGBTQ community was clearly expressed. Our community raised the concern and was affirmed to see it in the Report from Pope Francis.
This Saturday at 4:00 PM, we host our annual Pre-Pride Mass. This inclusive celebration precedes the Pride celebrations in the city. We are blessed to be home to many LGBTQ members. Last week’s New York Times noted that we, together with the Jesuits of St. Francis Xavier and the Paulist Fathers at St. Paul’s, recognize the grace of the Body of Christ that is welcoming and affirming of God’s many gifts. Please join us in this celebration. We are indeed blessed by all who pass through our doors.
It is always interesting to consider the Gospels after we have been immersed in the Easter/Pentecost experience. In Matthew’s Gospel today, we hear Jesus proclaim that he will deny anyone who denies him. And then we remember Peter, who denied Jesus on the eve of his death, and then Peter is charged to continue the mission. Paul’s letter this weekend says, “But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one, the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many.”
God’s grace transforms us all. The gift of Jesus is reconciliation and healing for all. In his resurrection, Jesus affirms God’s love. There is no condemnation. He offers healing and a charge to continue the mission of proclaiming the Gospel. It is all the more pressing that having been reconciled or, as Paul noted last week, justified, we deepen our commitment to discipleship.
As I write this, I am in Florida getting acquainted with the ministry here and the many people who help to support our senior friars. It is hot! I will keep you posted on the timeline for the arrival of Fr. Joe and my departure. It has been a privilege to have had this short time with you. I thank you.
Blessings and peace,
Fr. Tom, ofm
