SING A NEW SONG TO THE LORD! – Summer Workshop on the book of Psalms
SING A NEW SONG TO THE LORD!
These words, from the beginning of Psalm 149, are echoed throughout the other 149 poems/prayers that make up the Book of Psalms. For nearly 2500 years, the psalms have played a central role in the lives of Jews and Christians alike. They have been sung in public worship and prayed in private devotion. They have been meditated upon by saints, commented upon by scholars, and set to a variety of musical styles ranging from Gregorian chant to Bach and Brahms, Ives and Stravinsky. The Book of Psalms is not only a treasury of prayers. It is a school of prayer in which the inspired Word of God teaches us how to pray just as Jesus, God’s Word made flesh, taught his disciples when he introduced them to the Our Father.
St. Francis Adult Education Center is pleased to offer an intensive summer workshop on the psalms. This course will meet twice a week for three weeks in July. For the first five classes, participants will have the option of registering for the noon session (12 – 1:15 p.m.) OR the evening session (6:15 – 7:30 p.m.). Taught by three members of St. Francis of Assisi’s parish staff—Mr. Joseph Nuzzi, Fr. Bill Beaudin and Fr. Timothy Shreenan—the course will cover the following topics:
Week 1 (July 11, 12) The Psalms: Hymnal of the Jerusalem Temple
Joseph Nuzzi will introduce participants to the various types and major themes of the psalms, the characteristics of the Hebrew poetry in which the psalms were written, and the role of the psalms in the religious life of Israel.
Week 2 (July 18, 19) The Psalms: Prayer Book of the Christian Church
Fr. William will explore the influence of the psalms on the New Testament, the Church’s liturgy, and Christian spirituality, and will discuss what it means to find Christ in the psalms and to pray the psalms with Christ.
Week 3 (July 25) The Psalms: Muse for Artists and Musicians
Fr. Timothy will demonstrate how the psalms have been the inspiration for some of the western world’s finest artistic creations in images and sounds.
The workshop will conclude on the evening of July 26 in St. Francis of Assisi Church where the various themes of the course will be brought together in an introduction by Fr. William and a celebration of Solemn Sung Vespers by the workshop’s participants.
INSTRUCTORS: Joseph Nuzzi, Fr. William Beaudin, Fr. Timothy Shreenan
Wednesdays and Thursdays: July 11, 12; 18, 19; 25, 26
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM OR 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM; San Damiano Hall
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DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM HERE
or click HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE.
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Help Sponsor ‘Sundae Sunday’
We host ‘Sundae Sunday’ once / month from June to September, and we’d like to invite our parishioners to help sponsor our Sundae Sundays at any gift level.
For more information, please email Edward Trochimczuk at etrochimczuk@stfrancisnyc.org or call him at 212-736-8500 Ext. 361.
Evangelii Gaudium: Chapter 5, Spirit-Filled Evangelizers
“The missionary is convinced that through the working of theHoly Spirit, there already existsin individuals and peoples an expectation, even if an unconscious one, of knowing the truth about God, about man and about how we are to be set free from sin and death. The missionary’s enthusiasm in proclaiming Christ comes from the conviction that he is responding to that expectation.
Enthusiasm for evangelization is based on this conviction. We have a treasure of life and love which cannot deceive, and a message which cannot mislead or disappoint. It penetrates to the depths of our hearts, sustaining and ennobling us. It is a truth which is never out of date because it reaches that part of us which nothing else can reach. Our infinite sadness can only be cured by an infinite love.”
The Pastor’s Corner – July 8, 2018
Today we hear St. Paul say: “That I might not become too elated… a thorn in the flesh was given to me… to keep me from being too elated.” There have been many theories about the meaning of the “thorn in the flesh.” Was this an illness or a disability or depression or a constant temptation he had to deal with? Does it refer to a person or those who opposed him?
He is showing his humanness here and it is easy to identify with his “torn in the flesh” because we can have many “thorns” in our lives. Paul is not defeated by this, but shows how this allows himself to be open to the power of Christ to dwell within him. This is a helpful passage from St. Paul when we are dealing with something that might be a real “pain.”
Take a look at the advertisement for the workshop on the Psalms that begins this week. This program will be presented over the course of three weeks and will conclude with Solemn Vespers on Thursday, July 26. The Psalms are an important part of our worship both at Mass and at the Liturgy of the Hours. They are also beautiful prayers that can enhance anyone’s prayer life. Understanding their history and theology can help us appreciate why these prayers from our Hebrew roots have had such a significant role in the church over the years. Sign up now!
Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.
Evangelii Gaudium – Chapter 5, Spirit-Filled Evangelizers
“Jesus’ whole life, his way of dealing with the poor, his actions, his integrity, his simple daily acts of generosity, and finally his complete self-giving, is precious and reveals the mystery of his divine life.
Whenever we encounter this anew, we become convinced that it is exactly what others need, even though they may not recognize it: ‘What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.’
Sometimes we lose our enthusiasm for mission because we forget that the Gospel responds to our deepest needs, since we were created for what the Gospel offers us: friendship with Jesus and love of our brothers and sisters. If we succeed in expressing adequately and with beauty the essential content of the Gospel, surely this message will speak to the deepest yearnings of people’s hearts. ‘The missionary is convinced that , through the working of the Spirit, there already exists in individuals and people an expectation, even if an unconscious one, of knowing the truth about God, about man, and about how we are to be set free from sin and death.”
Help the Children!
Nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their parents in the past several weeks at the U.S.-Mexico border. Help aleviate this humanitarian crisis!
The Franciscan Friars at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas are asking us to help them help these children by donating to the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley office which is providing humanitarian assistance during this crucial time.
Go to their website to make a donation: catholiccharitiesrgv.org.
The Pastor’s Corner – July 1, 2018
Today’s Gospel is a story of healing. Jesus encountered a crowd of people after he “had crossed… in the boat to the other side.” First a synagogue official came forward and pleaded with Jesus to lay his hands on his daughter who is at the point of death. As Jesus moves on, a woman who had suffered with hemorrhages for twelve years approaches Jesus. She touches his clothing with the hope of being cured. Jesus responds by telling her that her faith has saved her. He finally gets to the house of the synagogue official and people are weeping and wailing. This doesn’t stop Jesus. He goes into the room where the young girl is and takes her hand and tells here to “arise.” She gets up immediately. What a day for Jesus! What a day for this woman and this young girl!
Wednesday, July 4, is Independence Day. We have one Mass at 11:30 and the Parish Offices are closed for the day. This is a day to thank God for the bravery of our ancestors who worked to make us a country free from control by another country. It is our responsibility to appreciate this gift of freedom and to work to preserve it. Although the holiday is in the middle of the week, I hope that you will have some leisure time to enjoy it.
Happy 4th of July!
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.
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