On Thursday we sent you an email asking for your input. The staff is discussing the the best times for daily Masses and we would like input from you. CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY.
Your input will help us create a schedule that best serves the people who come to St. Francis for the daily Mass.
We will also soon be adding back the 12:30 PM Mass on Sunday starting in Advent.
We continue to build back as we continue to emerge from the pandemic.
The Church has a long tradition of remembering those who have died, to the love and mercy of God. We do this in a special way on the All Souls Day, and throughout November. In many churches around the world, there is a Book of the Names of the Dead, as a continuing reminder of our prayer.
We share in this tradition at St. Francis. We have placed our Book of Names of the Dead in the Pieta Chapel at the rear of the church for everyone to inscribe the names of our beloved deceased family and friends. It will remain there until the beginning of Advent.
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Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5)
Join us as we honor St Joseph in this his special year. We will look at St Joseph from a variety of perspectives, such as scripture, early connections in church history, what the saints said about St Joseph, the development and spread of devotions to St Joseph such as the litany to him and various prayers, his characteristics, special feast days, as well as the writings of various popes on St Joseph, particularly the most recent Patris Corde, written by Pope Francis on the 150th Anniversary of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. Finally, we will wrap up by considering how to deepen our devotion and patronage to St. Joseph in our current lives.
Recommended: Patris Corde – easily available to download, as well as the Litany to him
Instructor: Mary J. Gennuso, Ph.D.
Saturday Oct 16th this lecture has been rescheduled to Saturday October 23rd.
Time: 1PM-3:00PM
This is a ZOOM Meeting only
Fee: $20.00
A Look Back at Francis Week: great talks, celebrations and fun
Francis Week 2021 was full of amazing talks, celebrations, remembrances and fun! Despite our continuing struggles with the pandemic, life feels more and more like it’s getting back almost to normal at St. Francis of Assisi. Here is a look back at the events that made our celebration of our patron saint so special this year:
Two authors came to present their work. On Thursday, September 30th we opened Francis Week with Love in the time of Coronavirus. Dr. Angela Alaimo O’Donnell from Fordham University, came to share some of her poetry from her book of the same name. The poems were written in first year of lockdown right here in New York and they beautifully capture many of the experiences we all shared during this difficult time. Even people who don’t normally attend poetry events were moved by the feelings and memories that Angela’s poems evoked.
The festivities culminated with our liturgical celebrations in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. On Sunday evening we celebrated the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi. Friars around the world gather on the evening of October 3rd to remember the passing of St. Francis. Our Transitus this year was opened with a talk by Sr. Marie Puleo, MFIC who talked about the legacy of St. Francis and the challenge to work for peace and justice inspired by his example and life. Click the video below to watch this beautiful and moving prayer.
Then finally on October 4th we celebrated the feast itself. We celebrated the Mass in honor of St. Francis at all of our daily Masses and in the evening we had two special celebrations. At 5 PM Fr. Kevin Mullen, OFM, Provincial Minister of Holy Name Provice presided at the Mass. Then at 6 PM we had a special festive Mass presided over by our pastor Fr. Tom Gallagher, OFM. Below are some photos and the video of the 6 PM Mass. Photos were taken by Keith Kemp, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi and member of our RCIA ministry team.
Thank You for joining the festivities!
The Provincial Minister of the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province has asked that the following letter be published on our parish website. More information can be found on the Province website at hnp.org. If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by a Holy Name Province friar, immediately report it to your local law enforcement authorities and contact Ms. Angelica Jochim, LMFT, the Province’s Survivor Assistant, at 1-800-770-8013.
In 2021 it’s time to come together again
In NYC we are lucky that the risk of the virus has been significantly diminished and our vaccination numbers continue to go up. We keep in prayer all the parts of the world that are still devastated and suffering greatly because of Covid-19, and yet we are grateful for how much of normal life we are able to resume.
The pandemic has reminded us how important the simple things of life are: time with family and friends, shaking hands, giving a hug, being together. The first comment God makes about his new human creation in the book of Genesis is “It is not good for the human being to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) We need each other. Social distancing was necessary but it was a huge sacrifice for people. We are creatures designed to be in community.
Becoming a Christian, getting baptized, and being part of the Church is not a private affair. It’s all about community and love.
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 suppressed and they want to learn about spirituality. People give all kinds of reasons for expressing interest.
Some people are looking for meaning. Some people are looking for spirituality. And some people don’t really know why at first, but they just feel like they feel good coming to church.
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 answer 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 through 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.
They devoted themselves 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, especially Communion.
…and they devoted themselves 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 reasons for becoming Catholic. They were the reasons given by the first generation of Christians, are the same reasons given today by the faithful.
If any of these apply to you, feel free to contact us.
Our RCIA will begin Tuesday, September 14th. 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
James Joyce is considered to be one of the greatest prose writers of the modern period. His fellow Irishman and 1923 Nobel Laureate, William Butler Yeats, was hailed by T. S. Eliot as “the greatest poet of the 20th century.” This course will focus on Joyce’s short story collection, The Dubliners, and on Yeats’s works. A viewing of John Huston’s 1987 film classic, The Dead, will supplement the readings.
Instructor: Edward Kent, O.S.F., M.A.
Wednesdays: October 13th to November 17th
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Classroom 1B
Covid regulations: we ask that participants wear masks during class
fee: $60
THE FLOWERS THAT ADORN OUR SANCTUARY IN HONOR OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI HAVE BEEN DONATED IN MEMORY AND FOR THE SPECIAL INTENTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING:
In loving memory of our parents Margaret and David McBriar, deceased and Betty Myers – deceased
offered by Agnes M McLoughlin
Healing, meditations and prayer to you St. Francis and your gracious church of St. Francis of Assisi NY with a novena and flowers
offered by andrea alampy
Conversion of Brian Putong, living, my pending retirement
offered by Araceli Limbaga
Special Intention for my Daughter Tricia.
offered by Barbara A Sonntag
your friends from pennsylvania
offered by cheryl spager
In memory of my parents, William and Marie Cipriani and my brother, Billy.,
all deceased
offered by Clare Amoroso
For the happiness and peace of my daughter. For peace and love everywhere.
offered by Daisy Zeluck
improved health for David
offered by David Taylor
for deceased family and friends and for those in special need of help and inspiration
offered by Debra Colozzi
Helen and Philip Castellano, deceased
offered by Elena Castellano
Candida Rose, deceased; Gerchow Rose, deceased, L. Lloyd Grant, deceased
offered by Elizabeth Rose
Albertina Hidalgo Olmedo, deceased
offered by FlordeMaria Valle
Mariano Legaspi – deceased
Glezie Legaspi – special intention
Kristina Layos – special intention
Liza Aguilar – special intention
Norminda Ramos – special intention
offered by glezie Legaspi
Iliana DePaz Telon, living; for her health and speedy recovery
offered by Iliana DePaz
Jane R. and Charles Janiak, deceased
offered by Jane M. Janiak
For my boys in the Healy Family
(special intention)
offered by Janet Healy
Pray for my family, health always. Thank you. Amen
offered by Jenevy DeJesus
Eida Oriz – Deceased
offered by Lucy Ortiz
Maria Guia Cabillon, deceased
offered by Magdalena del Castillo
Jessie Q. Sotto, deceased
offered by Maria C Sotto
In memory of
Regina & Edward Trochimczuk, Deceased
offered by Maryann Trochimczuk
Michael Boyle – Special Intention
offered by Megan E McMahon
Michael and Eileen Richter Sabol, deceased
offered by Michael J Sabol Jr
For the deceased members of the Harlan and Lediger family.
offered by Michael J. Harlan
Miri Vela G
offered by Miriam America Garcia Ruiz
Maggie Rittler, deceased
offered by Ms Mary C Havey
Honor of St. Francis’ feast and
blessing of animals
offered by Myrna C. Pinchinat
Peace and quiet in my neighborhood
offered by Norma Ponce
Special Intentions
offered by Patricia Bishop
Families Tavarez, Mejias, Cruz, Castillo
offered by Pedro A. Tavarez
Patrick & Maya Garvey-Mitchell, living; Michael Mitchell, living Peggy and
John Garvey, deceased
offered by Peg Garvey-Mitchell
Dear St. Francis of Assisi:
For Special Intention, for the Health of Rita Ocasio (me), my daughters: Rita Gonzalez and Maritza Gonzalez and friend Maricelis Vega.
Provide Health, Blessings and Safety for our Cats, Dogs and Chickens,
THANKS St. Francis of Assisi
offered by Rita H. Ocasio Ortiz
Pray for my sister whose leg has been amputated. She is in South Africa.
offered by Rosalia L. Motloenya
RoseMarie Azzaro, deceased
offered by Rosemary Azzaro
Don Lavende, Deceased
Leslie Caci, Curt Johnson, Lincoln Jobes and Clem Aleong
And special intension for
Agnes Lavende recuperation
From the Lavende-Ordorica family
offered by Sandra Lavende
Cassie Sonntag, deceased
Tricia Rumola, Special intention
offered by Tricia A Rumola
Victor A. Green, Deceased
offered by Vanessa N Washington
Thank You
In this seven-week course we will introduce the first have of the Pauline epistles. We will proceed in roughly chronological order and cover those letters generally accepted to be written by St. Paul himself. We will study the letters to understand Paul’s understanding of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, of salvation and of the nature of the Church. In the process we will also discuss live in these early communities, Christian living and the relationship between Christianity and it’s parent religion: Judaism.
We will be studying: First Thessalonians, Galatians, First and Second Corinthians, Philippians, and Philemon. The rest of the Pauline letters will be covered in Part 2 next semester.
Instructor: Joseph Nuzzi, M.A.
Wednesdays 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (in person only)
and 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM (in person and on zoom)
October 13 to December 1, 2021 (no class on Nov. 24)
Fee: $70.00
This course is offered in person and on zoom.
