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Our phone system is currently down and we are awaiting technicians to repair it.  Our offices are still open and our schedule of Masses, Confessions, Adoration and adult education classes are in effect.

Click here for our complete schedule: https://stfrancisnyc.org/mass-schedule/

The staff can be reached by email.  All email addresses are published in our bulletin.  Here is a link to our latest bulletin: https://stfrancisnyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/11_05_17.pdf

Jesus, speaking about the Scribes and Pharisees in today’s Gospel, says: “…do not follow their example.” The example of anyone’s life is something of importance. We may not think much of this, but when we were growing up, our parents reminded us that certain people’s example was not to be followed, while others set a good example. The Scribes and Pharisees knew the law and what they were supposed to do, but were far from setting a good example. As difficult as it may be, we try to have our words, and our deeds flow from what we believe. Are you concerned about setting a good example?

While you are reading this, I am on a pilgrimage with 54 people from St. Francis to Fatima, Spain and Lourdes. Each day we pray for you at one of the holy shrines. On Saturday we drove to the famed Santiago de Compostela, visiting the holy cities of Coimbra and Braga on the way. Queen Saint Isabel is buried in Coimbra and in Braga is the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception of Portugal. Today we have a tour of Santiago de Compostela with its magnificent cathedral where the remains of the apostle, St. James, are housed. Tomorrow, we will drive through the countryside to the university town of Salamanca. Everyday there is so much to see that is inspiring. We will be going to Avila and Madrid and finally, we will end up in Lourdes, France. You are in our prayers.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

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Today, as the church seeks to experience a profound missionary renewal, there is a kind of preaching which falls to each of us as a daily responsibility. It has to do with bringing the Gospel to the people we meet, whether they be our neighbors or complete strangers. This is the informal preaching which takes place in the middle of a conversation, something along the lines of what a missionary does when visiting a home. Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others, and this can happen unexpectedly and in any place: on the street, in a city square, during work, on a journey.

In this preaching, which is always respectful and gentle, the first step is personal dialogue, when the other person speaks and shares his or her joys, hopes and concerns for loved ones, or so many other heart felt needs. Only afterwards is it possible to bring up God’s word, perhaps reading a Bible verse or relating a story, but always keeping in mind the fundamental message: the personal love of God who became man, who gave himself up for us, who is living and who offers us his salvation and his friendship.

Join Fr. Julian S. Jagudilla, O.F.M.on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Petra in Jordan
April 14-24, 2018

Your life-changing journey begins with us today!

For more information and to register, please contact Fr. Julian Jagudilla at 212-736-8500, Ext. 377,
or [email protected]

Register soon!

The LGBT Ministry’s Coffee and Cocktails scheduled for this Sunday has been canceled.

To get updates on the LGBT Ministry’s other upcoming events, please sign up for the ministry’s emails HERE (please select LGBT Ministry), and/or LIKE the ministry’s FaceBook page HERE.

In today’s Gospel, a scholar of the law tested Jesus by asking: “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” The answer is very familiar to us. The way we ful ll this is not always easy and yet we know that this is what we must work at doing our best to ful ll. Our attentiveness to God can get lost in our day to day activity and list of obligations that we have. Loving our neighbor can be extremely challenging, but we don’t have to have the same “love” for each person. Some people are easy to love and are an important part of our lives. Other people expand our ability to “love” and will never have the same place in our lives as others do. They require more understanding and tolerance than others, but we can’t just “write them off” even if we would like to. They will never make of list of “friends” and they don’t have to. This remains a challenging question for us.

It is with sincere gratitude that I thank you for your generous response to the recent hurricane appeals. The first response was $8,000 for Catholic Relief Services and the second was $22,000 for Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez, O.F.M. in Puerto Rico. I have also heard of people o ering to take in children from Puerto Rico so that they won’t miss school for the remainder of the year. We will be sponsoring more projects.

This week we begin the month of November with the Solemnity of All Saints, and throughout the month we remember our deceased sisters and brothers. There are envelopes in church where their names may be listed for remembrance.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.