Let’s Talk About Racism Zoom Event
“Racism still profoundly affects our culture, and it has no place in the Christian heart. This evil causes great harm to its victims, and it corrupts the souls of those who harbor racist or prejudicial thoughts.”
– United States Council of Catholic Bishops
Join parishioners from Franciscan parishes in Boston, New York, and New Jersey in a six-week long Zoom conference to educate ourselves and discuss ways to recognize our privilege, confront racism, and enact change in our society as faithful Catholics in the world.
This program is open to anyone 18 years and up.
This is a free event.
Pre-registration is required.
The group meets on
Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m.
from Oct. 15 to Nov. 19.
Please email Maria Hayes at mhayes@hnp.org to join this free program.
RCIA 2020 Meeting in Person
Are we preparing people for Baptism and Confirmation during the Coronavirus pandemic?
Yes we are and it’s not too late to join.
The pandemic has caused so many problems in our nation and around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people have died. Many more are mourning the loss of their loved ones. People are out of work. Kids and young adults are out of school. People are distanced from people they love. Life is not easy right now.
The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic is part of our life’s journey whether we like it or not.
But God is not taking the pandemic off.
God is not quarantining far away
God is not keeping socially distant from us.
God is always with us, even in a pandemic, and God might even use this difficult time to call us to something new.
How do we prepare adults for Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion?
God calls people all the time, even in a pandemic. When God calls people to the Church, it is the Church’s responsibility to welcome them and prepare them to be disciples of Jesus. The main way we do this, is through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. You will often see this referred to simply as the “RCIA.”
Why do people ask about our RCIA program?
People give all different reasons for exploring Catholicism. Some people come to the Church because they fall in love with someone Catholic and they are interested in exploring their partner’s faith. Some people come from a nominally Catholic family but were raised by their parents to have no religious affiliation and they are looking to reconnect with a lost family tradition. Some people move to the US from a country where religious practices are surpressed and they want to learn about spirituality. People give all kinds of reasons for expressing interest.
But why do people decide to convert to Catholicism?
This is a different question than why people call or email about a program. People actually decide to convert because they feel closer to God in the Church. That is it. That is why they join and why they stay.
What is it that makes them feel closer to God here? The anwer to that is probably the same given 2000 years ago in the Acts of the Apostles:
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
(Acts 2: 42)
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles – in other words to the Gospel. They learned about Jesus and Jesus’ teachings directly from the people who knew him, who listened to him and who ate with him, the people who were there when Jesus died. They heard the witness of the people who first experienced Jesus’ resurrection. They felt close to God in the message.
They devoted themselves to the communal life – in other words they joined the community of people who gather to live out Jesus’ commandment to love one another. Community is an integral part of the Catholic experience of spirituality. During this pandemic we were all given a painful reminder of how important community is to all of us when we were been forced to socially distance ourselves to stop the spread of the virus. Ancient Christians felt closer to God in the community.
To the breaking of bread – this is an ancient reference to the ritual celebrations of the church (what we call the “sacraments”) and specifically to the Eucharist. In other words, they felt closer to God in the Church’s rituals.
…and to the prayers. So many people who ask about the RCIA express that they do not know how to talk to God. In other words, they don’t know how to pray. That is OK. It’s part of what we teach. Ancient Christians felt closer to God in their personal prayer life and in the communal prayers of the Church.
These reasons reaons for becoming Catholic, which were given by the first generation of Christians, are the same reasons given today by people who convert.
Are you interested in exploring Catholicism or completing your Confirmation?
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- If you or someone you know is not Catholic but is interested in learning about our believes and practices, feel free to contact us. There is no pressure whatsoever to join. You are welcome to ask questions, learn, investigate and then choose to either stay or go.
- If you are already Christian but raised in another Christian community and are interested in possibly becoming Catholic, call us.
- If you are an adult Catholic who never received Confirmation or First Communion and are thinking about completing your sacraments, we can prepare you for that.
If any of these apply to you, feel free to contact us.
How will the Program work in 2020 with the pandemic?
First: we will absolutely have our program this year. It is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA for short). We will work as best we can to keep people safe. We will observe all recommendations from the medical and scientific communities.
Right now, we are planning on holding our classes in person, with appropriate social distancing and safety measures in place. If the recommendations change and we can not to hold the classes in person, we will hold them on zoom.
What is the Schedule?
Our RCIA will begin Tuesday, September 15th. We meet every Tuesday from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
The RCIA at St. Francis of Assisi is free of charge.
If you would like to find out more about our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, please contact:
Joseph Nuzzi
Director of Evangelization
212-736-8500 x365
jnuzzi@stfrancisnyc.org
Census Sunday!
DUE TO A DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE COUNTING FOR THE CENSUS WILL END 6:00 AM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16.
THIS EVENT IS THEREFORE CANCELLED.
Take part in the Census 2020!
As you may know, national census happens only every 10 years. If you have not completed your Census form there will be Census volunteers at the 32nd street entrance of the church who can help you next Sunday:
Sunday, October 18th
from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Numbers are important; therefore it is important to be counted!
The Pastor’s Corner – Sunday October 11, 2020
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis of Assisi,
May the Lord give you peace.
I thank you for your participation in our celebrations of the Feast of St. Francis last weekend. They were wonderful opportunities for us to remember our Holy Father St. Francis and to recommit ourselves to living the Gospel in love. Your presence, in person or via live stream, was a gift for all. We thank our friars, lectors, servers, musicians, camera persons, and ministers of hospitality for the ministry that made the celebrations joyful and enriching. We are indeed blessed in so many ways.
While there is a new normal coming to life during this pandemic, there are many opportunities for us to connect as we deepen our life in Christ. We have Scripture Sharing Groups available via Zoom with some new opportunities in the planning stages. Our RCIA, the process for becoming a member of the Catholic Church or completing initiation sacraments, is active and welcomes interested people. Our Bereavement Ministry Support group is scheduled and encourages anyone who has experienced loss to participate. We are also starting a new support group for people who are recently unemployed. (See links for RCIA, Bereavement and Unemployed Together for more details.) We will also soon resume our devotional prayers at the end of the masses. We cannot pass out copies of the prayers at this time but will make a link available for you to print from home and your participation through live stream.
We are just weeks away from our national elections. Please be sure that you are registered and prepared to cast your vote based on the love of God, which we have come to know through the Spirit in Jesus. On October 3rd, 2020, Pope Francis signed an encyclical entitled Tutti Fratelli. In this document, the Holy Father invites us to a broad world view that embraces each person as sister or brother. This encyclical speaks of love. Rooted in the realization that God is love and all who love live in God and God in them, he calls us to be bridge builders recognizing the inalienable rights of human dignity inherent in all children, women, and men. He challenges us to move from a culture of walls built in fear to a life-giving transformation for all. Pope Francis speaks of a politics of charity, not as a handout but as one would nurture a sister or brother, respecting their dignity, engaging their gifts, and delighting in their success. As we prepare to vote, not on just a single issue, but the broad spectrum of life issues, homelessness, unemployment, children, migration, refugees, education, human sexuality, care of the sick and elderly, those suffering or grieving during this pandemic, and the death penalty, pray for guidance. I suggest consideration St. Francis’ Prayer before the Crucifix (1205/1206).
Most High,
glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me right faith,
certain hope and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge Lord,
that I may carry out Your holy and true will.
Peace and all good,
Fr. Tom
Columbus Day Holiday Schedule
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi will observe a holiday schedule on Columbus Day:
Monday, October 12th with one Mass ay 12:00 PM.
There will be no confessions.
The church offices will be closed for the day, including the St. Francis Adult Education Center.
Celebrating St. Francis
Novena to St. Francis of Assisi
(virtual)
Join us daily on our Facebook page for a virtual novena to our patron saint.
Friday, September 25th to Saturday, October 3rd
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Week of Prayer in honor of St. Francis
(in church and livestreamed at 12:00 Noon daily)
Monday, September 28, to Friday, October 2, at all of our daily Masses: 7:30 am, 12:00 noon, and 5:00 pm
In an era of doubt and uncertainty, let us pray for the grace to be instruments of peace in our world.
Click here for the Novena prayers.
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Transitus
(virtual)
LIVESTREAM Only – Saturday, October 3, at 7:00 PM (see our livestream on our homepage or our Facebook page)
The commemoration of the Passing of St. Francis from earthly life to Eternal Life.
Click here for Worship Aid for the Transitus
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Blessing of Animals
(in church)
Sunday, October 4, at 1:00 PM
Please gather with your pet near the entrance of the church on W. 31st Street.
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Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
(in church and virtual)
Festive Masses on Sunday, October 4, at 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM (in person and on livestream)
Click the image to go to St. Francis Live to watch all liturgies and special events.
Blessing of Animals
Do you love your pet? Well, God does too!
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and it’s part of our Franciscan tradition to bless our furry or feathered friends on or near Francis’ feast day.
So bring your cat or dog, fish or frog, or any pet you have to get blessed.
Sunday, October 4, at 1:00 PM
Please gather with your pet near the entrance of the church on W. 31st Street.
Don’t forget your mask!
Recent News & Events
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Welcome Fr. Brian! July 24,2024
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주보 July 23,2024
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Farewell celebration for Fr. Joe July 17,2024
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Lector Workshop "The Art of Storytelling" July 15,2024
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