Advent Soup and Scripture
Ready or not, the kingdom of God is upon us.
Love is set to come to life in our world and change everything! So, shake loose the cobwebs, wipe the weary from your eyes, and get set to open you mind, your heart, your soul, and your bellies.
We all take our daily physical nourishment from the foods we eat, and we take our spiritual nourishment from the Word of God. Join us as we combine these nourishing practices every Monday in Advent
Monday, November 28
Monday, December 5
Monday, December 12
Monday, December 19
6:30pm in the Clare Room.
The Soup is on! Join us for one, two, three or all four reflections.
Since soup is being served, please let us know that you are coming….  ALL ARE WELCOME!
Sponsored by the LGBTQ+ Ministry and CONVERGE @St. Francis
  
The Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, December 11, 2022
Dear Community and Friends of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi,
May the Lord give you peace.
This is Gaudete Sunday! It is a time to rejoice in the experience and the presence of God. Our Advent reflections invite us to the joy of the Gospel. With the community and friends of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, we rejoice!
We light our third candle this weekend. We are halfway through our Advent journey. How are you doing? The dynamic energy of this season draws us out of ourselves and opens us to greater time spent with family and friends. It also invites us to consider more intimately the presence of God within and among us. Parties, shopping, decorating, and festive meals are wonderful opportunities for us to gather. Reflecting on our experiences can lead us to prayer.
We also see ourselves among homeless people, migrants, and refugees. Wars continue throughout the world, and division is our daily experience. We are invited to reflect on our world and culture as we pray. The text from Isaiah states, “say to those whose hearts are frightened, be strong, fear not.” We ask ourselves, how can we be the strength and the hope for all whose hearts are frightened? The transformation of this Advent is both celebrating the goodness and grace of gathering with friends and family as well as working toward a reconciliation that gives hope to all who struggle.
Isaiah says, “be strong, fear not.” Paul writes, “be patient.” Jesus tells the disciples of John to “Go and tell John what you hear and see.” Once again, we are encouraged to reflect on our giftedness. We are strong, hopeful, patient, and aware. These wonderful gifts are ours through the presence of God’s Spirit lovingly dwelling within us. In a season of gift sharing, we share God’s presence. We share the grace of God among our family and friends. That same gift is ours to share with all we encounter along the way.
Mark your calendar! We still have two Mondays for Soup and Scripture. The Simbang Gabi novena begins on December 15th, and our Carols with the Choir is on December 18th. We have opportunities for reflection together, prayer, and musical celebration. I hope you can find time to participate.
Blessings,
Fr. Tom, ofm
Immaculate Conception Schedule
For the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Thursday, December 8, 2022. Our normal Mass schedule is in affect as follows:
Wednesday, December 7:Â Vigil Mass at 5:30 PM
Thursday, December 8:Â Masses at 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM (in person and on livestream) and 5:30 PM.
Click HERE For the worship aid for this Mass.
Advent and Christmas at St. Francis
JOIN US FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
“Soup and Scripture”
Warm your heart and your belly!
Mondays • Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12, 19 • 6:30pm
click here for more details
“Holy Land”
An Advent Day of Reflection
with Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, PhD professor, poet, and writer at Fordham University
Saturday • December 3 • 9:30am
click here for more details
Simbang Gabi
The UGNAYAN Filipino Ministry will be sponsoring the 9-day Novena Mass (Simbang Gabi) as part of their Filipino tradition.
December 15 to 23 6:15 PM (1:30 PM on weekends) in the Lower Church. (Available also on livestream)
Our pastor and friars will be celebrating the Masses and all are welcome to attend.
For more information, please email: filipinoministry@stfrancisnyc.org
“Carols with the Choir”
Come and sing with us..
Sunday • December 18 • 3:00pm
click here for more details
Christmas Eve Masses
4:00pm • 5:30 pm • 8:00pm (Korean) • Midnight
Christmas Day Masses
8:00am • 9:15am (Korean) • 11:00am • 12:30pm
please note there is no evening mass
Church Closures after Christmas
Monday, December 26 – Mass at 12:00 PM
No Confessions
Church offices are closed
Tuesday, December 27 – Mass at 12:00 PM
No Confessions
Church offices are closed
New Year’s Day Masses
4:00pm (Vigil)
8:00 am • 9:15am (Korean) • 11:00am • 12:30pm • 5:00pm
Church Closures after New Year’s
Monday, Januayr 2, 2023 – Mass at 12:00 PM
No Confessions
Church offices are closed
Christmas Flower Donations
The Christmas trees, the wreaths and the poinsettias will again adorn our sanctuary this Christmas. We offer them to honor the birth of Christ and to glorify God.
It is also a way to remember your loved ones and share the beauty of the season with the whole community. We invite you to memorialize members of your family, friends or other loved ones with a donation for our Christmas decorations. Donations and the names of those received by December 20th will posted on our parish website for Christmas.
Annual Korean Community Concert
The Annual Love Concert by the St. Francis Korean Community
Sunday, December 5, 2022 • 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Tickets $20 at the reception desk
Advent Day of Reflection “Holy Land”
Our Advent Day of Reflection this year will be led by author Dr. Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, who will invite us to reflect on themes of the Advent season through a selection of poems from her new book Holy Land.
Join us to enter this sacred season with prayer, inspiration from Dr. Alaimo’s poetry, mediation and discussion.
Breakfast will be provided.
Copies of the book will be available to purchase that day and Dr. Alaimo will sign books at the end of the event.
Join us:
Saturday, December 3
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
San Damiano Hall
This event is free and open to all.
About the author:
Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, PhD is a professor, poet, and writer at F
ordham University in New York City and serves as Associate Director of Fordham’s Curran Center for American Catholic Studies. Her publications include two chapbooks and seven collections of poems, most recently, Andalusian Hours (2020), a collection of 101 poems that channel the voice of Flannery O’Connor, and Love in the Time of Coronavirus: A Pandemic Pilgrimage (2021). In addition, O’Donnell has published a prize-winning memoir, Mortal Blessings (2014) and a book of hours based on the practical theology of Flannery O’Connor, The Province of Joy (2012), and her biography Flannery O’Connor: Fiction Fired by Faith (2015) was awarded first prize for excellence in publishing from The Association of Catholic Publishers. Her new critical book on Flannery O’Connor, Radical Ambivalence: Race in Flannery O’Connor was published by Fordham University Press in 2020. Â
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