Reflections from the RCIA Ministry
Under normal circumstances our two elect and six candidates for Confirmation and Full Communion would have received their sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil as the culmination of their long process of preparation and after and intense week of prayer and reflection during Holy Week. But, this year that didn’t happen. The pandemic and the shutdown meant that even though they are fully prepared, our elect and candidates have had to be patient and wait. We continue to pray for them each week and with our RCIA Ministry team, we continue to meet with our candidates online every Tuesday for classes and every Sunday for Breaking Open of the Word. We must be patient too awaiting for the time when we can safely return around the table of the Lord together.
Today I thought it would be nice to hear from one of our Candidates for Full Communion on her journey of faith and what is means to her in light of this pandemic. Here is a short reflection from Brooke McGowen, who was baptized in another Christian community and is seeking full Communion in the Catholic Church and Confirmation.
Please continue to pray for her, and for all of our elect and candidates who have been so patient awaiting their sacraments.
-Joseph Nuzzi
Director of Evangelization
———————————-
From Brooke McGowen:
Every Tuesday since September and nearly every Sunday since November, I’ve been attending classes & mass with the RCIA program at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. There’s a much longer story here as to the exploration, decision, and journey I’ve been on over the last few years. Our small group has met without end, now through the pandemic, through livestream mass, through uncertainty, through illness, through fear, through trust. I had been incredibly selective about sharing this information. However, I think while the pandemic has revealed some of the highest levels of fear in me, it’s also given me more courage in other ways – to be vocal about causes I support, people & leaders I support, or don’t support. And now faith. As an artist, this type of silence is deadly. As a human, the silence is stifling. I’ve learned there’s also a place to keep some things private.
But tonight, after our online class, I am moved to break my silence and share something that has become very close to me. In all of this turmoil and change, this has been a constant. I originally went to check our the RCIA, uncertain if I’d feel it was right. Soon, I eagerly awaited the class and the community each week, and that hasn’t changed. We weren’t able to celebrate the sacraments on the Easter Vigil together, but we continue to meet from now until we do. And in a way, our distance from each other and the church and processing faith in such terrifying times has actually made us closer. Tonight is a reminder to me of the importance of community, faith, trust and love. Be well, everyone. And through fear and anger, I hope our faith, love and trust can be stronger most days.
-Brooke
The Via Lucis invites us to contemplate the crowning event of salvation history as we walk the way of Light.
We invite you to make this devotion part of your prayer during the Easter Season.
This prayer was pre-recorded at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, April 19, 2020.
Daily Musical Meditation
Welcome to our daily musical medication during this time of the Coronavirus. We invite you to take a few moments each day to slow down, listen, mediate and pray.
[/tatsu_text]With the church closed, our in pew collections have gone down to zero. We still need to pay our bills. If you can help, please make a donation to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi here:
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: You’ve Got A Friend. Social distancing is difficult and for many of us this is dragging on and on. And during this time, people are suffering in so many ways. We have lost tens of thousands to this terrible virus. People are mourning. People have lost their jobs. Kids can’t go to school. The very times in life when we need our friends and family close, we have to stay apart. We need to do our part to stop the spread of this virus, but we also need to be there for each other. We must not forget to make that phone call, get in that zoom meeting, send a note. We need to reach out to those we love now more than ever. Let someone you love today know that they have a friend.
Song: You’ve Got A Friend, Carol King
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: By the Waters of Babylon. Why were the Israelites crying by the waters of Babylon? They were a defeated people who found themselves captives in Babylon. They longed to return to Jerusalem and sing there the praises of God. They were heartbroken, crushed, and afraid. They thought that God had abandoned them. But God did not. God came to Babylon with his people to be with them in their hardship, and God helped them find their song in captivity. As this pandemic drags on we can feel crushed and abandoned also. We might wonder where God is in all of this. But God is with us. God is with the sick, with the dying, with the mourning and with those suffering loneliness, depression and economic hardship. God is always with us. We can complain to God and that is OK. But God wants us to cling to Him and trust Him even as we raise a lament to Him. God will help us to find our song again, even by the waters of our Babylon, and like the Israelites of old, God will lead us out of this to freedom one day.
Song: By the Waters of Babylon, Paul Tate
www.giamusic.com
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Monday, May 18, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: I Can Only Imagine. We can only imagine what eternal life with the God will be like. Or better… we probably can barely imagine this. Cartoon images of the afterlife are filled with fluffy clouds and harps, white togas and gold wings. But let’s face it, we can imagine that this will be boring after a while. Eternity is a long time! But that’s a cartoon image. What we are really promised is to come face to face with Love itself. To have love unfiltered. Love forever. This pandemic has caused us to be far from those we love. We long for the kiss of family members and the hugs of friends. Maybe we needed this devastating time of separation to remind us of what is truly important and what our heart really hungers for. Our deepest desire is for Love and God is love. Maybe we can almost imagine what eternity will be like – and it will be amazing.
Song: I Can Only Imagine, Bart Millard
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Friday, May 15, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: “Love Changes Everything.” Nothing in the world is the same when there is love. Some people might hear these words and think that they are sweet but frivolous. Some might even think that the idea that love changes everything is naive. But we know that it is true. Love does change everything. Real love always has the good of the beloved at heart. It is important to love one another with that kind of love now more than ever. We will make it through this if we offer that love and accept that love from each other. Expressing that love, even from a distance, through a phone call, a text, a card, a FaceTime, or if necessary helping someone in need, is good for us, for the person we love and for the world. That kind of love can change our day. It can change how we make it through this pandemic. It can change everything.
Song: Love Changes Everything, Andrew Lloyd Weber
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: “Over the Rainbow.” In this pandemic, we may wish upon a star to wake up where the clouds of this disease are far behind us. We might dream of going somewhere over the rainbow and escape the difficulties we are facing. It’s a beautiful dream, but we will not get out of this so easily. We will probably have to walk through the valley of darkness for a time before we emerge to skies of blue and clouds of white and the brightness of day. But we know that God is with us in the valley even as he is leading us to the mountaintop. We will make it over the rainbow, but before we do, the Lord who created the rainbow is with us in the storm.
Song: Over the Rainbow, Harold Arlen
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” What do we need to make it through this pandemic?? A vaccine? Yes. Medical care? Of course! Assistance for those in economic peril? Definitely! But what do we really need to make it though these troubled times? We need love. We need to love one another. We need to love the sick and the dying. We need to love those mourning. We need to love our doctors and nurses, our police and firefighters, or grocery workers and mail carriers. We need to love our neighbors and our friends and family who may need our help. And we need to love of God. But this is not just true now because we are in a pandemic. We always need love, because God is love and we always need God. And God, who is love, calls us to love one another as God loves us.
Song: What the World Needs Now, Burt Bacharach
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: The Servant Song. The life of faith is not a life where the believer sits idly by waiting for God to fix our problems. No, being a disciple of Christ means to be filled with His Spirit and to join him in his mission to bring life, healing, comfort and salvation. We must be Christ for one another. What else does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be members of His body. In this pandemic we must reach out to those suffering illness, those mourning, those who don’t know how they will pay their bills, those working in our hospitals or groceries or pharmacies – often in real fear – and those who are just worn down by the loneliness of staying at home. We must bear God’s light into this darkness and we must allow others to bring that light to us. That is the way the God wants it… we must love one another as we have been loved.
Song: The Servant Song, Richard Gillard
www.giamusic.com
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Monday, May 11, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The storm we are walking through is powerful, destructive and frightening. It is lasting a long time and we don’t know how much further our journey will be through this storm. How can we make it through? We make it through with hope and love. We know that God is with us in the storm and we know that He will lead us out of it. We are not walking through this storm alone. The Lord who carried the cross is with us. We will make it through to see the golden sky when this is over.
Song: You’ll an ever Walk Alone, Rodgers & Hammerstein
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Friday, May 8, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: By Name I Call You. This pandemic can strain even the most fervent believer’s faith. There is real fear all around us: fear of us or our loved ones getting sick, fear of the economic impact, and fear from not knowing where all of this is going or when it will end. It is difficult to hear the Lord say, “Do not be afraid.” But God has called us each by name. God has his eye on all of us and we are precious to him. He is with us always, and God will see us all through this. Let us cling to God and support one another in love.
Song: By Name I Call You, John Angotti
www.giamusic.com
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: People. People who need people are the luckiest people in the world. There are voices in our world and culture that would tell us the opposite. Some people think that you shouldn’t need anyone in life; that strong people are those who can be completely independent. But that is not what humanity is all about. The first assessment God makes about Adam in Genesis is that “it is not good for Adam to be alone.” We are designed for each other. We are designed for community. “Love one another as I have loved you.” We need people because we need to be loved and we need people to love. Allow yourself to be loved and reach out today to someone you love and connect with them.
Song: People, Jule Styne & Bob Merrill
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Meredith’s musical mediation: The Covenant Hymn. Wherever we go God makes His home with us. We often think that the spiritual life is mainly about us seeking God. But many of the great saints remind us that we may have that wrong. It is God who seeks us fervently. God who is like a mother protecting her children. God who is like a shepherd seeking out the sheep. God who is like a lover passionately pursuing us. It would be too difficult for us if we needed to do all the work. But we don’t have to. God does most of the work, we just need to surrender to God who is always with us. We need to just be at peace in the knowledge that the Lord will be in us always, even in this pandamic, in fact, even to the end of the age.
Song: Covenant Hymn, Gary Daigle & Rory Cooney
www.giamusic.com
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Mediation— “Climb Every Mountain.” How can we climb every mountain or ford every stream or follow every rainbow until we find our dreams when it seems that the pandemic has shut down all of our pursuits? Is following our dreams put on hold right now? Maybe not. Life has a way of trapping us in our routines. The busyness of our days can eat up time so that we don’t pause to consider whether we are on the right path or not. Well, now we have the time to dream. We have the time to assess where we are and where we want to go. And maybe it’s OK that the economy is severely slowed down, because as people of faith we know that the best dreams, and the only dreams worth climbing mountains for… are those dreams that cannot be bought with money. “Seek first the Kingdom…” says the Lord. Maybe this time of isolation is a gift to us to ask ourselves if we are seeking for the right things.
Everyone has been amazing with their donations. We are so grateful. As you know, with the church closed, our in-pew collections have gone down to zero. We still need to pay our bills. If you can help, please make a donation to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi at:
https://stfrancisnyc.org/giving/
Song: Climb Every Mountain, Rodgers and Hammerstein
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Monday, May 4, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation: Here I am Lord…. The hand of God is always ready to save us. But God seems to prefer that his creatures have a hand in their own salvation. Throughout history God has called forth his servants, men and women, children and the elderly, rich and poor, and he has sent them out to fulfill his mission of love and care. Today we see so many people hearing God’s call to serve and responding. We see this most clearly in our medical care workers who are making huge sacrifices to care for others. We see it also in our first responders, and we see it in those who continue to grow food, carry it to our cities and sell it in our stores. God is hearing our cries in this pandemic and we can see his love shining forth in the love we have for each other. Who is God calling you to reach out to today?
Song: Here I Am, Lord, Dan Schutte
www.ocp.org
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Friday, May 1, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Mediation— “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” – Like a bridge over troubled waters, I will lay me down. We all need those people who stand by our side through thick and thin. Whether it’s a significant other, a family member or a friend, we all need those people who help us through when we cross troubled waters. And we need to be that for others. We need to bear one another up when times get rough. During this time at home, maybe you can make a list of the people in your life that are there for you. And maybe you can make al list of the people that could use a call or message from you, and then reach out. We can’t be together in person right now, but we can still be bridges for one another.
Song: Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Paul Simon
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Daily Musical Meditation: There can be miracles when we believe. Or maybe we should say, we will see the miracles that are already here when we believe. There are miracles all around us that can give us hope and inspiration in this time of pandemic. There is the miracle of creation itself, with all of its beauty and diversity. There is the miracle of life all around us. There is the miracle of love. And, at this time when disease and death fill our vision, we must remember there is also the miracle of resurrection. All of these miracles swirl around us every day of our life. We who believe see them.
Song: When You Believe, Stephen Schwartz
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Mediation—The Lord’s Prayer. This prayer needs no introduction. We know it is the prayer that unites all followers of Christ. It is a prayer that changes those called to pray it. Through it we recognize that as God is our father so too are we all brothers and sisters to one another: no matter what language we speak, the color of our skin, our economic level, our gender, our nationality, our sexual orientation, or our political views. We are all children of the One God who calls us to be united with Him and with each other in love, mutual concern, peace and justice.
Song: The Lord’s Prayer, Albert Hay Malotte
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Mediation— I Am Not Alone. As we shelter in place there are many people who are alone. It can be difficult to stay home with people we love. Let’s face it, tight quarters and a lot of time spent together can lead to quarrels and petty annoyances can get overblown. Lockdown even with people you love very much can be tough. But it is worse for the many, many people who are home alone away from family and friends. We must be mindful of each other and reach out with a call, or facetime or a zoom gathering. We must also remember that God is always with us. God’s Spirit dwells within us and His love envelopes us whether we are together or apart. We may be isolated, but we are not alone. “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Song: I Am Not Alone, Bex Gaunt & Adam Tice
www.giamusic.com
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Monday, April 27, 2020
Daily Musical Mediation: In every age, O God, you have been our refuge. The faithful for millennia have put their trust in God. Since Abraham and Sarah ventured forth at God’s call without knowing where He would lead them, the faithful have put their hope and trust in God. And the faithful of our age are in a pandemic. Why is it so hard to be at peace and put our faith in God? Maybe in our age of such great technological advances we have lost sight of this perennial truth: we must put our trust in God. This pandemic is dispelling the delusions we may harbor that we are in control. In that sense it might be good medicine for our souls. Like Abraham and Sarah, we don’t know where God will lead us through this. We don’t know when it will be over and we don’t know what the recovery will be like. That is scary. But what do we know? We know that God will be with us and He will guide us. We need to rediscover the truth our ancestors knew: God will be our refuge and our peace.
Song: In Every Age, Janèt Sullivan Whitaker
www.ocp.org
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Friday, April 24, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Mediation— The Prayer – “Lead us to a place, guide us with Your grace, to a place where we’ll be safe.” God will guide us to a safe place, but not alone. God always guides us as a community and calls us to walk the journey of life together. As we ask God to guide and lead us, we must also ask ourselves where God wants us to be to help guide and support others: is there someone I should reach out to today? Have I shown my support for those caring for others in our hospitals and clinics? Have I prayed for the sick? Have I reached out to a neighbor or friend who is in financial trouble right now? God’s grace is never a private affair. God’s blessings are meant to be shared.
Song: The Prayer. David Foster & Carole Sager
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Mediation— We pray for God’s blessings, maybe now more than ever, during this pandemic. We pray especially for blessings on those who have died, for those who are sick and for those who courageously take care of them. We may be praying for a quick end to this, and a return to what we think is “normal.” But what if God is shedding blessings on us through this pandemic? What if the blessings will come through what we are called to in this time? What if the blessings come through worldwide human solidarity as we face this challenge? What if God’s blessings come in the pause, and call us to something new, not “normal.” We ask for God’s blessings but are we ready to be open to see that they might come in unexpected ways? Are we ready to receive what God may send?
Song: Blessings. Laura Story.
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Wednesdasy, April 22, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Mediation— You Raise Me Up: We are in the season of the Resurrection. The Easter Season is our time of joy and celebration. This Easter we find ourselves in a pandemic with people dying, with our medical professionals stretched beyond their limits, and with the rest of us doing the best we can to stay home to stem the spread of the virus. It may not seem like a season of celebration, but the joy of Easter is not like a simple, earthly happiness. The joy that Easter brings comes from overcoming the cross first. It comes from knowing that no matter what we face, God is with us, and no matter what happens, God will raise us up. Even in a pandemic, this gives us reason for celebration and a deep-seated joy in our hearts.
Song: You Raise Me Up. Brendan Graham & Rolf Lovland
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Daily Musical Mediation: What happens when we put our hope in God? We cannot be disappointed! But it’s hard to place our trust in God. We are so used to trying to control everything and being the masters of our own destiny. It is difficult for many of us to really accept that we must trust in God. We prefer to rely on our own ingenuity, or our hard work, or our abilities… and all of this is good, in the right context. But maybe this pandemic is reminding us of how much we must rely on God and on each other. Maybe as we stay home we can contemplate how much we actually don’t control and how much we need to find shelter under God’s wings.
Song: Shelter Me, O God. Bob Hurd.
www.ocp.org
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-70052
Monday, April 20, 2020
Meredith’s Musical meditations resume for the Easter Season with this timely reflection: From a Distance. We can find beauty even in this time of social distancing and isolation. We may be suffering the ache of missing loved ones, of wanting the simple comfort of a hug, or a cup of coffee with a good friend. But this time of distancing can be a time to see and appreciate the amazing gift we have each day in our ordinary life. In the rush of our busy days, we often take for granted the gift of life God has given us. Maybe this time is given to us to meditate on God’s great love and the profound happiness that can come from the simple pleasures of everyday life.
*** I do not own the rights to this music
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Come back to me, says the Lord. Return with all your heart. Don’t let fear keep us apart. The virus is keeping us from one another but we don’t have to let it keep us from God. God is with us during this pandemic and we can spend this Holy Week with Him. Let us cling to our God who loves us tenderly and seeks for us no matter where we go.
Song: Hosea. Come Back To Me.
By: Gregory Norbet, OSB.
www.OCP.org, G-90880
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
We may feel like lonely little sparrows these days, cooped up in our quarantine cages, especially those of us who may be spending this time alone, away from family or friends. We may wonder if God’s eye is on us in our isolation. Are our petty frustrations, or impatience, our annoyance of any concern to the Lord who must also watch over this sick, the dying and the heroic medical professionals who are attending to the sick? The answer is… YES. God’s eye is on each of us. We may feel like little sparrows of no account, but not to God. His eye is on us, He is with us through it all.
Song: His Eye is on the Sparrow
Monday, April 6, 2020
Meredith’s Musical Meditation today comes from Irish composer, Ian Callanan. Ian composed this song two weeks ago, as a prayer of comfort in the Covid Pandemic. He sent the music to Meredith and asked her to sing it. We hope you find comfort in this song. The words are based on a prayer of St. Francis.
Song: Keep Us Safe, O God. Ian Callanan Music
www.iancallanan.com
Streamed with permission.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Today, in Meredith’s Musical Meditation, she reminds us that hope never disappoints. We are going through a very difficult period right now. Our ancestors in the faith faced many challenges before us, and they kept faith and hope alive. They trusted in God to see them through and we must do the same. Even in this time we can let the witness of the saints throughout history inspire us to cling to hope and even find joy and patience as we face this pandemic. Let us chose life even in the face of disease!
Song: Hope. Paul Tate.
www.giamusic.com, G-9096
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Friday, April 3, 2020
Sometimes it is difficult to not be afraid. We can be afraid for our health, or our economic well being, or the health and wellbeing of those we love. Right now so much is outside of our control that it is natural that we are afraid. And that is OK. The Lord comes to alleviate our fear and he calls us to trust him. He is the way, the truth and the life and he will be with us through this pandemic and will see us beyond it.
Song: And Jesus Said. Tony Alonso.
www.giamusic.com, G-7075
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Thursday, April 2, 2020
What kind of shepherding do we need during this time of pandemic? Like the psalmist sang long ago, today we long for God to lead us through this valley of darkness, disease and uncertainly to the green pastures of health and being reunited with those we love. The Shepherd will lead us as he always does.
Song: Shepherd Me, O God. Marty Haugen.
www.giamusic.com, G-5402
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
We are a people of the resurrection and Holy Week and Easter are quickly approaching. The Lord’s passion teaches us that no matter how heavy the cross is, God will help us carry it and, with Christ, we will rise again. As we prepare to enter Holy Week let us meditate on the Lords passion and resurrection and remember that God never abandons us.
Song: We Will Rise Again. David Haas.
www.giamusic.com, G-3454
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
In a time of social distancing we can hunger for the touch of our loved ones. But God is never distant from us. God stands by us to lift us up. And God calls us to stand by one another in our isolation: at stand up for our medical professions, the sick, the unemployed, the lonely. Even from afar we can stand up for one another.
Song: Stand By Me. Tom Kendzia
www.ocp.org, 91793
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-70052
Monday, March 30, 2020
The first days of social distancing and quarentine were new and different. They were probably a little easier. But by now many of us are feeling the strain of missing our family and friends. We miss hugs and handshakes and human contact in person. A lot of people are sad or depressed. But the Lord tells us to not be afraid. He is with us and he will see us through this.
Song: Be Not Afraid. Bob Dufford,SJ
www.ocp.org, 9527
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Saturday, March 28, 2020
The fourth week of Lent we reflect on the blind man who was given sight. He waited a long time for the light and for that transformation. We are experiencing something very unfamiliar right now. Our immediate future is hidden from our sight because events are so outside of our control. God will transform us and we may see things in surprisingly new ways. Let us pray for patience to be open to where God will lead us through this difficult time.
Song: God, Our Source and Life, Unite Us. Trevor Thomson.
www.ocp.org, 30136226
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Friday, March 27, 2020
Meredith’s musical meditation today is called, “In Beauty We Walk.” It is adapted from a Navajo Prayer. Life is a journey. As Christians we walk this journey with Jesus and with one another. None of us expected a pandemic to be part of our journey, but here we are. But this does not change that we walk it with Christ and that we walk it with beauty, with kindness and with peace.
Song: In Beauty We Walk. Ian Callanan.
www.giamusic.com, G-8230
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Thursday, March 26, 2020
The first words Meredith sings are: “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear?” This is the foundation of our strength as believers. God is our salvation. This virus and the its impact has made us face the reality that we are not in charge of everything. For most of us it is frightening to think about how much is outside of our control. Many of us are facing this reality right now, but it is always true… God is in control and we belong to him. Let us take this time to contemplate that we are all in the hands of the Lord who loves us and is watching over us all.
Song: Belong. Chris DeSilva.
www.giamusic.com, G-7576
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Today’s musical meditation needs no introduction. Catholics around the world find immense inspiration in this beautiful rendition of the Hail Mary. We invite you to relax, enjoy and honor our greatest saint!
Ave Maria!
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Where is God in a pandemic? Where is God when we are suffering? Where is God when tragedy hits? In today’s musical mediation Meredith sings the ancient faith of the church: God is near. God knows when we sit and when we stand. We are never abandoned. God will see us through this pandemic. Let us trust him, patiently doing what me must and helping those we can
Song: You are Near, Dan Schutte.
www.ocp.org, 9503
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Monday, March 23, 2020
Today’s musical meditation, “On Eagle’s Wings” is based on Psalm 91 and contains a beautiful image of God: God is like a powerful mother bird, sheltering her young under her wings. We can rely on God to be with us, protecting us with love, throughout our lives. Even in this face of this pandemic, we can rely that God will see us through this safely. We must trust and confront our fear with faith.
Song: On Eagle’s Wings, Fr. Jan Michael Joncas. www.ocp.org, 97843
Streamed under Onelicense.net A-700527
Saturday, March 21, 2020
In today’s musical reflection Meredith sings for us “Give Me Jesus.” This song echos the longing in our hearts on the eve of another Sunday when we will not have access to the Lord in the Eucharist. As we ponder our longing, let us take this time to reflect on how blessed we are to have the sacraments and the community of the Church, which we must do without for now, for our good and the good of our neighbors.
Friday, March 20, 2020
For today’s musical medication we bring you a timely and beloved piece of our Franciscan tradition: the Peace Prayer. We need peace in our hearts todayto face what we must face: to slow down, to support those who are sick and those who care them and for those suffering financially from the impact of this virus. If we are sick, may the Lord bring us his healing and peace, if we are well, may we be channels of His peace.
Preparation for the Sacraments continues at St. Francis despite Coronavirus
The coronavirus is not keeping our Elect and Candidates for Confirmation from preparing to receive the sacraments this year. The RCIA ministry is still going strong. To do our part for the common good we too are staying home.
Our RCIA community is physically apart but we are virtually together, and more importantly, together in spirit. Our candidates continue to meet at our regular time on Tuesday evenings with Joseph Nuzzi, our Director of Evangelization, and with the RCIA Ministry team. We follow the same format we would in class, with prayer, lecture, small group discussions and large group discussion.
On Sunday we continue to meet online for the Breaking Open of the Word where we study and discuss the Sunday scripture readings together. The ministry team and the candidates are committed to continuing their formation and preparation to celebrate the sacraments at Easter.
Please continue to pray for those preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist.
The Church Responds to the Coronavirus
The Archdiocese of New York and other dioceses throughout the United States have implemented precautions in response to the spread of the Coronavirus, urging that we should prepare for its spread in communities across the country. These are the guidelines that are given by archdioceses and dioceses:
- Washing our hands thoroughly, not coughing near one another and not touching our mouth, nose or eyes without first washing them are the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of disease.
- We will not be offering the Blood of Christ from the cup until further notice.
- Parishioners are strongly encouraged to receive Communion in the hand to prevent saliva from possibly touching the minister’s fingers and being passed onto the next person. This happens very frequently.
- The sign of peace will be given by waving, bowing, a nod of the head. We recommend no physical touching.
- Those who have symptoms such as coughing, a runny nose or feeling unwell are asked to stay home from Mass. Missing Mass when you are sick is not a sin; coming to Mass when you are sick is a sin. You may be spreading your illness to others.
- Please sanitize your hands before coming to Mass. All priests and Eucharistic ministers already wash their hands before Mass.
We will observe these precautions during until further notice. We offer prayers for those have come down with this virus, for health care personnel, and for those working to find an antivirus.
Stewardship: Collections for February 2020
Below is a table comparing February 2019 collections to our current February 2020 collections.
Our collections are up from last year, which is great, but as you can we are still 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. We want to thank everyone who supports the Church of St. Francis throughout the year. Our income comes only from our members and visitors who financially support our community. Click here to read some FAQ’s about our finances.
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%
Remember your loved ones with a gift of flowers at Easter
The flowers and plants that will decorate our church at Easter are a sign of our joy in the Resurrection of Christ and our hope in the resurrection of those who have gone before us.
We invite you to remember deceased members of your family and friends with a donation for our Easter decorations.
Please fill out this form and return it with your offering to the reception desk.
The names of those received by Friday, April 3 will be included in the Easter bulletin of April 12.
You can also offer an Easter Flower Memorial donations online HERE.
Please print clearly.
In Memory of: _______________________________________
From: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
Email (phone no. if no email) _______________________________________
Donation: ___$20 ___$50 ___$100. Other:_______
Querida Amazonia: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis – 1
The following is from the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis following the recent synod on the Amazon. These are the Holy Father’s Four Dreams for the Amazon region.
• I dream of an Amazon region that fights for the rights of the poor, the original peoples and the least of our brothers and sisters, where their voices can be heard and their dignity advanced.
• I dream of an Amazon region that can preserve its distinctive cultural riches, where the beauty of our humanity shines forth in so many varied ways.
• I dream of an Amazon region that can jealously preserve its overwhelming natural beauty and the superabundant life teeming in its rivers and forests.
• I dream of Christian communities capable of generous commitment, incarnate in the Amazon region, and giving the church new faces with Amazonian features.
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