Advent Soup and Scripture 2024
Come encounter God through the Word this Advent.
Break bread, drink soup, and open the Sunday Advent Gospels together! Join us for one, two, three or all four reflections.
• ALL ARE WELCOME •
November 25
December 2
December 9
December 16
We will be anticipating the Sunday Gospel this Advent since Christmas falls on a Monday. So please read the reading for the upcoming Sunday Mass.
• TIME •
6:30pm
• LOCATION •
The Francis Room
This is a free event, but since soup is being served, we are asking for free will donations to offset the costs of the meal. Please register below to let us know that you are coming.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Thursday December 12 — Special Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Join us Thursday, December 12 at 5:30pm for a special Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Mass will be held in the Upper Church.
In addition to being the patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a special importance for our parish. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is an urban ministry center staffed by the province of Our Lady of Guadalupe and their partners in ministry.
Last fall, nearly 700 Franciscan friars came together to form the new Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a historic moment for Franciscan life in the United States. The Province chose Our Lady of Guadalupe as our patroness because of her ties to North America. Her compassion and advocacy for people who are oppressed and suffering calls us to live in solidarity with people who have been marginalized.
At this Mass, we will pray a special liturgy together in English, Spanish, and Korean. Join us!
Jueves 12 de diciembre — Misa Especial para la Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Los invitamos cordialmente para que se una a nosotros el Jueves, 12 de diciembre, a las 5:30 p.m. para una Misa especial en honor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. La Misa se llevará a cabo en la Iglesia de arriba.
Además de ser la patrona de las Américas, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe tiene una importancia especial para nuestra parroquia. La Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís es un centro ministerial urbano atendido por la Provincia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y sus socios en el ministerio.
El otoño pasado, casi 700 frailes franciscanos se reunieron para formar la nueva Provincia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Este acto fue un momento histórico para la vida franciscana en los Estados Unidos. La Provincia eligió a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe como nuestra patrona debido a sus vinculos fuertes en America del Norte. Su compasión y defensa a las personas oprimidas y que sufren, nos llaman a vivir en solidaridad con las personas marginadas.
En esta misa, celebraremos y rezaremos juntos una liturgia en inglés, español y coreano.
¡Venga a celebrar con nosotros este gran dia!
Advent and Christmas at St. Francis
LIGHT OF THE WORLD, CARE FOR CREATION — JOIN US FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
This year, we will be continuing some of our Advent and Christmas traditions:
“Carols with the Choir”
Come and sing with us… with a guest performance from the renowned Empire City Men’s Chorus!
Sunday • December 1 • 3:00pm
click here for more details
“Soup and Scripture”
Warm your heart and your belly! Join us as we break bread, drink soup, and open the Sunday Advent Gospels.
Mondays • Nov. 25, Dec. 2, 9, 16 • 6:00pm
click here for more details
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
We will observe the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday, December 10. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception usually falls on December 8th. This year, December 8th is the Second Sunday of Advent. In general, when a solemnity falls on a Sunday, the observation is moved to Monday. Because we will observe the feast of Saint Juan Diego on Monday, December 9th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will be observed on December 10.
Tuesday, December 10
Mass times: 7:30am • 12:00pm • 5:30pm
Simbang Gabi
The UGNAYAN Filipino Ministry will be sponsoring the 9-day Novena Mass (Simbang Gabi) as part of their Filipino tradition.
- Sunday, December 15 to Monday, December 23
- Weekdays at 6:15 PM Lower Church
- Weekends at 3:00 PM Lower Church
Our pastor and friars will be celebrating the Masses, and all are welcome to attend.
Christmas Eve
Confessions: 8am-9am • 11am-12pm
Masses: 4:00pm • 5:30 pm • 7:00pm (Korean) • 12am Midnight
Christmas Day Masses
8:00am • 9:15am (Korean) • 11:00am • 12:30pm
Please note there is no evening Mass.
No Confessions
Church Closures after Christmas
The Feast of St. Stephen
Thursday, December 26 – Mass at 11:00am
No Confessions
Church offices are closed
Christmas Flower Donations
The Christmas trees, wreaths and 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.
Laudato Si Circle — “Beware That Your Hearts Do Not Become Drowsy”
“Beware That Your Hearts Do Not Become Drowsy”
Here are five things to remember about the climate crisis:
- IT IS REAL. Conspiracy theories offer an easy way out, but don’t be fooled by them.
- IT IS US. Human beings, with our lifestyles of dependence on things and fossil fuels, are measurably the cause.
- IT IS BAD. Sea levels have risen and the oceans are warmer and more acidic, causing more frequent and catastrophic extreme weather. Millions of people have been displaced because of it.
- SCIENTISTS AGREE. There is near-unanimous consensus among scientists that the climate is changing and that it is a result of human activity.
- THERE IS HOPE. It’s not too late to set things right again. We have the know-how. What we need is the will of the people. We are who we’re waiting for.
Twenty-five years ago, people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse. — Desmond Tutu
To learn more about what you can do, email us at [email protected].
The next in-person meeting of the Laudato Si Circle will be Thursday, December 26th 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the 1st Floor Conference Room of the St. Francis House. All are welcome.
Laudato Si Circle — Zero is a Positive Number
Zero is a Positive Number
What does “Net Zero” mean? Why is it a goal and how do we achieve it?
Net Zero means that the scales are balanced — the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon, methane, others) that we emit into the atmosphere equals the amount we re-absorb. Right now, the scales are tipped and an excessive build-up of gases is at the heart of the crisis. To achieve Net Zero, we need to reduce what we put out there but also increase our re-absorption. Consuming fewer products, using public transportation, and planting more trees and plants will all help us get to Zero.
It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees. — Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize
If you have a question or something you’d like to share, please email us at [email protected].
Laudato Si Circle — Part of God’s Plan-et
Part of God’s Plan-et
We are all a part of God’s plan and climate change is not a partisan issue — it is a human and moral issue. The effects of the climate crisis are devastating no matter who you are or where you live. Storms will cross party lines and reach across divides. As Catholics we have a unique opportunity to unite around our history of teaching on creation, ecology, and the most vulnerable.
On November 6th, the Catholic Climate Covenant and the Laudato Si Movement issued a joint statement on the results of the recent election. Read the statement here and understand the position for yourself.
We pray that the Trump Administration, in consultation with both scientific experts and faith-based communities, will find pathways to promote environmental sustainability and secure justice for future generations. — from the statement
If you have something you’d like to share, or if you’d like more information about the Circle, please email us at [email protected]
November Month of Remembrance and Thanksgiving
Dear sisters and brothers,
Greetings!
May I introduce myself as the new Franciscan pastor of this iconic parish! I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. In fact, I am the first native New Yorker to be pastor here since Father Boniface Hanley, OFM served here from 1982 to 1985. He was also from Brooklyn. I served here some years ago as a parochial vicar and I am acquainted with the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. I arrived in July of this year, and I look forward to serving you as pastor in the spirit of Franciscan hospitality and pastoral ministry.
Please permit me to share this reflection about the month of November. On the Catholic calendar, November 2 is the Feast of All Souls. We offer prayers and celebrate Memorial Masses for all our loved ones and friends who were called to God to what we Franciscans call “Sister Death.” St. Francis coined the term “Sister Death” since it is a deeply personal experience when we feel the loss of a loved one. The body may die but our souls will always exist. The “soul” is the immortal spiritual part of a person; the soul does not die with the body at death, and it is reunited with the body in the final resurrection.
I vividly recall December 26, 2022. It was the day after Christmas, and I received a phone call that my oldest brother Richard died from a fire that consumed his home. He was relatively young, and his sudden death was shocking and painful for all my family members. It was a sad but poignant funeral Mass. Five weeks later, February 1, 2023, my father died of a long illness at age 98. He was a decorated World War II Navy veteran and part of “The Greatest Generation.” His funeral Mass was solemn but joyous as we celebrated his long life as a devout Catholic family man. My siblings and I supported and continue to support one another. We expected our father’s death. We were shocked at our brother’s death. All this happened within five weeks.
I encourage all who have lost loved ones whether tragically or by natural causes to attend a bereavement group for at least a short time. My siblings and I can attest to the healing effect of that fellowship.
The Feast of All Souls helps us to remember and honor our beloved dead. The ancient Roman poet, Cicero, once wrote “Memory is the treasurer and guardian of all things.” The body of our loved one may have died but our memory of that person will always live within us. Please fill out the form below to send us the names of your loved ones to be remembered during the month of November. You can also use this form to submit photos. The Franciscan priests of the parish will remember all these intentions at all Masses throughout November.
Finally, the true American holiday, Thanksgiving, will be celebrated on Thursday, November 28. Many residents of America celebrate Thanksgiving as part of our national heritage for giving thanks for what we have in this great country. As Catholics, Thanksgiving has special importance.
The word “Eucharist” means “giving thanks.” We give thanks not only what we have, but also for what God has provided us in our life together in the Church. I encourage all parishioners and friends of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi to be generous in this appeal. Your generous giving will help us fund our music ministry and the needs in our sacristy, such as Communion hosts, altar wine, purificators and new vestments for the priests and altar servers. We are truly thankful for your generosity!
On behalf of the Franciscan friars and our pastoral staff, we share our prayers on All Souls Day and give thanks to God on Thanksgiving Day!
Blessings to all,
Father Brian Jordan, OFM
Pastor
Laudato Si Circle Welcome to Creation Corner
Welcome to Creation Corner
Each week we’ll bring you news and information from the Laudato Si Circle here at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. We hope that it will interest, inform, and inspire you.
In commemoration of All Souls, let us pray for our environmental martyrs, the many brave souls who lost their lives in speaking up and protesting social and environmental injustice in their communities, sometimes at the hands of their own governments.
Let’s also remember the many species we’ve lost, especially the Bramble Cay melomys, the first mammal to go extinct as a result of rising sea levels, and the Golden Toad who relied on the right amount of rain in order to reproduce.
To sense each creature singing the hymn of its existence is to live joyfully in God’s love and hope. — Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan 2000
If you have something you’d like to share or if you’d like more information about the Circle, please email us at [email protected]
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Sunday Bulletin - March 16, 2025 March 11,2025
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Please Support our Church at Lent and Easter March 11,2025
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