The Pastor’s Corner – August 12, 2018
This is the third Sunday that the Gospel comes from Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. We hear: “I am the bread that came down from heaven… and I am the bread of life… whoever eats this bread will live forever.” This “Bread” is our Eucharist that we celebrate frequently and that we receive often. When you receive the Eucharist, the consecrated host is presented to you with the words “the Body of Christ” and you respond: Amen! We have to be careful that we not forget what we are receiving, and neglect to say “Amen” or say a half-hearted “Amen” or are too casual in the way we receive.
The beautiful gesture of presenting your hands, one under the other, is a profoundly respectful way of receiving the Eucharist. I encourage those who receive on the tongue to make sure that you open your mouth so that the consecrated host can be placed on your tongue. I find that a number of people even kneel which is a hazard to those behind them and it distracts the focus from the Eucharist to the person kneeling. The gesture of reverence – a simple bow – before receiving should be done while the person in front of you is receiving, not while you are receiving. These readings can renew within us our respect and love for the Eucharist.
The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) will begin next month, but Joe Nuzzi, the Director of the RCIA, is interviewing people now who may be interested in participating in this great introduction to the Catholic faith. It is also open to adults who haven’t completed their Christian Initiation: have never received their First Communion or been Confirmed. Check the announcement about the RCIA elsewhere in the bulletin.
Don’t forget: we celebrate the Assumption of Mary this week with Vigil Masses at 4:30 and 5:30 on Tuesday, and the regular Mass schedule on Wednesday.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.
Evangelii Gaudium: Chapter 5, Spirit-Filled Evangelizers
“Jesus is the model of evangelization… How good it is for us to contemplate the closeness which he shows to everyone! If he speaks to someone, he looks into their eyes with deep love and concern: ‘Jesus, looking upon him, loved him.’
We see how accessible he is as he draws near the blind man and eats and drinks with sinners without worrying about being thought a glutton anda drunkard himself. We see his sensitivity in allowing a sinful woman to anoint his feet and in receiving Nicodemus at night. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is nothing else than the culmination of the way he lived his entire life. Moved by his example, we want to enter fully into the fabric of society, sharing the lives of all, listening to their concerns, helping them materially and spiritually in their needs, rejoicing with those who rejoice, weeping with those who weep; arm in arm with others, we are committed to building a new world. But we do so not from a sense of obligation…but as a result of a personal decision which brings us joy and gives meaning to our lives.”
The Pastor’s Corner – August 5, 2018
Last Sunday the Gospel told us about Jesus feeding the large crowd with a few loaves and fishes. What an amazing event! Yet, in today’s Gospel, the same crowd asks Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do?” What more could they ask for? It is not an everyday occurrence that you are part of the feeding of a large crowd with so little. There were so many “signs” that Jesus performed so that “seeing should help them believe.” Today, we have to be careful that we don’t miss the “signs” that Jesus continues to perform through our acts of charity, our concern for the poor and neglected, our speaking up for those who have no voice, our ability to heal. These “signs” are not done on a big stage, but in our day to day contact with our sisters and brothers. Jesus is the bread of life that gives us the ability to do “the works of God.”
Next Saturday, August 11, is the Feast of St. Clare of Assisi. She lived from 1194 to 1253 in the town of Assisi and knew St. Francis even though they came from different classes – she from nobility and he from the merchant class. All through her life, she lived a simpler life than other noble women. She was inspired by St. Francis’ preaching and we remember her quiet, but dramatic departure from her family to live a simple life in the style of life that St. Francis was showing so clearly. A woman who had more than most people wanted to live a life with less than most people had at that time. Her sisters and mother soon joined her and the Poor Clare way of life continues today. In our desire to live a simpler life today, she can be our inspiration.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.
New Franciscan Novices Received
Fourteen men were recently received into the Franciscan Interprovincial Novitiate in Santa Barbara, California. Among them is Loren Moreno, a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi (third from the left in the top row.)
Let us join together in prayer that he and his fellow novices will have a novitiate year filled with God’s love in the spirit of St. Francis.
Solemn Vespers – Tonight
On Thursday, July 26, the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, we invite you to join the participants of our summer course, “The Psalms: Sing a New Song to the Lord,” for a special Solemn Vespers in the upper church.
We will begin at 6:15 PM with an orientation to the liturgy led by Fr. Bill Beaudin, and then we will celebrate the beautiful, ancient Evening Prayer of the Church.
Solemn Vespers
6:15 PM in the Upper Church
Piyestang Pinoy Filipino Festival!
Celebrating the Culture & Cuisine of the Philippines
SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2018 1:00-5:00 PM • SAN DAMIANO HALL
Tickets are $20 each and are available at the reception desk in the lobby of the St. Francis Parish House
They will also be available at the door.
For more information contact filipinoministry@stfrancisnyc.org,
or Princess (347-850-3558) or Carla (718-503-4637).
Proceeds will benefit the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and its ministries.
The Pastor’s Corner – July 29, 2018
Thousands are fed on a few barley loaves and a couple of fish in today’s Gospel. What an outpouring of compassion and love upon the huge crowd of people that was following Jesus and this wasn’t the only great sign of his concern for the crowd. Earlier, he and his disciples had been taking care of the sick who were following him and the crowd kept growing. It is remarkable how several of the apostles joined with Jesus in taking care of a crisis that was about to happen because of the lack of food. It is also remarkable that after all had eaten, there were 12 baskets of fragments left over. Jesus couldn’t be outdone in his generosity and deep concern for thousands of hungry people. The apostles with him were a great help in turning this situation from a crisis to an experience of how God takes care of us.
Speaking of food and the feeding of a large crowd, our Filipino Community is holding their annual Festival of Food and Culture this weekend. It takes the work and dedication of many people to organize the event: those who cook, decorate, serve, entertain, and clean up to make this not only a success but a memorable day for all who attend. Many thanks to all who worked so hard to make this day possible. This is part of our Filipino Commuity’s 35th Anniversary of being here at St. Francis. Congratulations!
This Thursday, August 2, we Franciscans celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Porziuncula. This small chapel is our Mother Church in Assisi and it meant so much to St. Francis and continues to be a place of blessing for all who visit it. A Blessed Feastday!
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M
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