This Sunday the church returns to what is called “Ordinary Time.” This season lasts through summer and autumn and concludes with the beginning of Advent. The Gospel that we will hear each week is from St. Luke. Today’s Gospel is a very human one, showing how individuals are willing to follow the Lord, but…not yet. Jesus wants a firm commitment from those he calls to be his followers and the people he encounters are willing, but…not yet. In the midst of everything in our lives, we must continue to remember that we have been called and have said “yes” to the Lord to be a disciple, a follower now, today. In all the events and happenings of
our lives, we want to show forth that Jesus is the heart and center of our lives. He makes a difference in our lives so that we can make a difference.

This week we celebrate the 4th of July. Recently, I have been reading about Thomas Jefferson and our founding Fathers and how difficult it was for them to finally break from England and become an independent country. Thank God for their determination and bravery to lead us in that direction. It was not an easy period of history and so we are grateful for what they did and also for the values that they set forth as the foundation of our country. Let us
always treasure these values.

I hope that you have an enjoyable week. The Big Apple will have its traditional fireworks as will cities and towns throughout or country. If you are traveling, have a safe journey.

Happy 4th of July!

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

Below is a table comparing May 2018 collections to our current May 2019 collections.

As you can see our collections have gone down and we are not making our budget.

We need everyone to do their part to keep St. Francis on firm financial ground.  The best way to use this is to make your offering using our online giving system.

You can sign up for online giving HERE.

We ask all of our members and visitors to offer the equivalent of ONE HOUR of their weekly salary per week to support the mission of the church.  This comes to a tithe of 2.5%

Thank you to all of you who are already doing your part.

175th Anniversary Raffle

$1,000 First Prize
$500 Second Prize
$250 Third Prize

Tickets are $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00

On sale at the reception desk in the lobby of St. Francis House

The drawing will be held at the Gala on September 20

You do not have to be present to win.

St. Augustine said: “Believe what you see, see what you believe and become what you are: the Body of Christ.” When we say “Amen” we are saying “Yes, I believe this is the Body and Blood of Christ and that I will be the Body of Christ to others.” Every week and, for many, every day we gather to celebrate the Eucharist. This is what nourishes us; this is what strengthens us to be Christ in our world today. In the same way that we cannot survive without physical nourishment, we cannot fulfill our vocation without the nourishment and strength we receive from the Eucharist. It binds us together as brothers and sisters with Christ as the “heart” of our faith community. Let us be grateful to God for this great gift.

This Thursday, June 27 at the 5:30 PM Mass, several Friars will be celebrating their 25th and 50th Anniversaries of first profession of vows. Fr. Brian Smail from our community celebrate 25 years, and Fr. Vincent Laviano, who used to be here at St. Francis, will celebrate 50 years. We congratulate them and pray for them on this great occasion! Ad multos annos!

Tickets are on sale for the 175th Anniversary Raffle at the Front Desk. The prizes are $1000, $500 and $250 and you don’t have to be present to win. The drawing is September 20th. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.

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

We wish all fathers a very Happy Father’s Day!

From Sunday, June 16, through Monday, June 24, we will remember all fathers, living and deceased, enrolled in our Father’s Day Novena of Masses.

We take this special occasion to say “thank you” and pray that God will always guide and bless those who gave us life.

A Blessed and Happy Fathers’ Day! Thank you for your Fatherly care!

“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” How many times have we made the sign of the cross in our lives? It is such a basic, yet important prayer that we learned at a young age along with “Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.” This describes not only the relationship between the Three, but it describes a relationship of love, of giving, and of sharing this with humanity. You and I are recipients of the outpouring of love that comes from the Trinity. Be mindful today as you worship and throughout the week when you make the Sign of the Cross that you pray the words with gratitude.

Television programs and news articles on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day make us aware of the bravery and sacrifice our young people showed in destroying the evil powers that were taking over Europe in the 1940’s. If you have ever been to the cliffs and beaches where our troops landed, you are overcome with admiration for what was done there. On June 19, 1944 one of our young Friars, Fr. Dominic Ternan, was killed in action. Fr. Dominic had served here at St. Francis Church before going into the service as a chaplain. We will honor the 75th Anniversary of his death at the 5:30 PM Mass this Wednesday, June 19. All are invited.

A special thanks to all those who worked on the Feast of St. Anthony! Thank you so much for the time you gave and the love that you showed the many people who came here that day. God bless you!

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

Chapter 4: Signs of Holiness in Today’s World

Growth in holiness is a journey in community, side by side with others…Each community is called to create a “God-enlightened space in which to experience the hidden presence of the risen Lord.”  Sharing the word and celebrating the Eucharist together fosters fraternity and makes us a holy and missionary community. It also gives rise to authentic and shared mystical experiences.

Let us not forget that Jesus asked his disciples to pay attention to details: that wine was running out at a party, that one sheep was missing, noticing the widow that offered her two small coins, having spare oil for the lamps should the bride-groom delay, asking the disciples how many loaves of bread they had, having a fire burning and a fish cooking as he waited for his disciples.

A community that cherishes the little details of love, whose members care for one another and create an open and evangelizing environment, is a place where the risen Lord is present, sanctifying it in accordance with the Father’s plan. There are times when, by a gift of the Lord’s love, we are granted amid these little details consoling experiences of God.

On Pentecost Sunday, St. Paul says: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” God cannot be outdone in the way He bestows gifts on everyone. We admire the way that God has made each person different: unique personalities, talents, abilities, intellects. Working together rather than competing with one another can make wonderful things happen. Look at the church over the centuries and consider what it has done for humanity: creating educational institutions, health care facilities, care of the poor, reaching out to the unbelievers, being sensitive to those who are marginalized. Understanding the differences among us and learning to listen with the heart allows us to know that there continue to be many “spiritual gifts.”

We welcome Fr. Jim Martin, S.J. who will be speaking here at St. Francis on Monday evening, June 10. Fr. Martin has challenged the way we look at our brothers and sisters and how we easily categorize them. He has been criticized for this, but he has begun many of his talks with a quotation from the Catechism of the Church that can open many doors. Come and hear Fr. Martin. We are happy to have him here at St. Francis of Assisi, the saint who had an open and challenging approach for his day and age.

And now, I am happy to announce our…

175th Anniversary Raffle

$1,000 First Prize • $500 Second Prize • $250 Third Prize
Tickets $5 each or 5 for $20, available at the Reception Desk
The drawing will be held September 20.
You do not have to be present to win. Good luck!

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

In 1892, the newly built Church of Saint Francis of Assisi was a unique expression of the Roman architecture of the Renaissance period. Down through the years, many changes have been made within the sanctuary and the church, but Fr. Ludger Beck’s creation remain basically intact. The original cost of the project was estimated at $60,000, but Fr. Ludger had to borrow an additional $15,000 from Archbishop Corrigan to complete the jewel of ecclesiastical art in mid-Manhattan.

Fr. Ludger left his missionary mark on the people of Saint Francis Parish. His care of the poor and the afflicted was outstanding. Anyone who suffered mental or physical distress found in Friar Ludger a never-failing friend. His generosity had no limits and he is said to have given alms with such kindness that the poor considered him their own saint. Fr. Ludger spent a great deal of time and energy with the laboring men of the city. He was the spiritual director of the New York Catholic Mechanics’ Society, a group of German working men struggling to make it in the new world.

Upon completion of his work at Saint Francis Church in 1902, Fr. Ludger was assigned to the headquarters of the new established Holy Name Province in Paterson, New Jersey. In 1904 he was appointed Guardian of Saint Bonaventure Friary there and served until his death on August 10, 1909. He had hoped to be relieved of his responsibilities and had asked to return to 31st Street – his beloved parish of Saint Francis of Assisi, and the church he had erected. Perhaps he wanted to hear again the four church bells he had procured and had installed on December 20, 1891 – the bells he had named “Immaculate Conception,”“Saint Francis,”“Saint Clare,” and “Angelus Domini” – over six thousand pounds of bells which chime out “Pax et Bonum” to all people of goodwill in New York City.

–

This series of articles on the history of our parish is adapted from the writ-4 ings of Fr. Flavian Walsh, O.F.M., Pastor from 1985-87.

Chapter 4: Signs of Holiness in Today’s World

Holiness is also… boldness (parrhesia in Greek), an impulse to evangelize and to leave a mark in this world. To allow us to do this, Jesus himself comes and tells us once more, serenely yet firmly, “Do not be afraid.”“I am with you always, to the end of the world.” These words enable us to go forth and serve with the same courage that the Holy Spirit stirred up in the apostles, impelling them to proclaim Jesus Christ.

Boldness, enthusiasm, the freedom to speak out, apostolic fervor, all these are included in the word boldness (parrhesia).” The Bible uses this word (parrhesia) to describe the freedom of a life open to God and to others.

Saint Paul VI… spoke of a lack of fervor… Yet the Lord calls us to put out into the deep and let down our nets. He bids us spend our lives in his service. Clinging to him, we are inspired to put all our charisms at the service of others. May we always feel compelled by his love…