The Church of St. Francis of Assisi will observe Columbus Day on
Monday, October 14th with one Mass 11:30 AM.
There will be no confessions.
The church offices will be closed for the day, including the St. Francis Adult Education Center.
Below is a table comparing September 2018 collections to our current September 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.
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.
A very strong corrupting factor in cultures throughout history is the presence of racism. We just have to take a quick look through history to see its destructive power. In 2018 the US Bishops’ Conference responded to the power of racism by writing and publishing a pastoral letter against this “persistent form of evil”: Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love. The letter opens with the Scripture from St. John that says: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.” The letter continues to address: What Is racism?
Racism arises when – either consciously or unconsciously – a person holds that his or her own race or ethnicity is superior and therefore judges persons of other races or ethnicities as inferior and unworthy of equal regard. When this conviction or attitude leads individuals or groups to exclude, ridicule, mistreat, or unjustly discriminate against persons on the basis of their race or ethnicity, it is sinful. Racist acts are sinful because they violate justice. They reveal a failure to acknowledge the human dignity of persons offended. To recognize them as the neighbors Christ calls us to love (Mt. 22,39).
The Gospel today is about Jesus curing ten lepers. What a horrible disease and what a horrible life for those who had it. You have to admire these lepers for encountering Jesus and for Jesus paying attention to them and eventually curing them. Lepers were not allowed to make contact with people outside the leper colony. They must have been shocked when they realized they were cured, so shocked that all but one went back to thank Jesus. Even in our day to day life, we take things for granted and may not pause to give thanks to God for minor or major miracles. They do happen. What was the last miracle that you experienced?
This week we begin a series of excerpts from the United States Bishops’ Letter: Open Wide Our Hearts on racism. Racism is a destructive and powerful force, and their Pastoral Letter has much to say about this evil. There is some racism in each person and to recognize it gives a person the opportunity to chose a different course in life and to embrace more strongly and fervently the val- ues of Jesus. As a church we need to stress that we are all “children of God” and that we are “sisters and brothers in Christ” and temples of the Holy Spirit. I hope that the weekly excerpts will help us lessen the power of this evil.
Our 175th Commemorative Journal is a great testament to the long history of St. Francis Church. The Journal contains history and photographs and much to enjoy. Copies are available at the reception desk of the Parish House.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.
Top: Fr. Cronan Kelly, O.F.M. Bottom: Fr. Philip Levere, O.F.M.
Fr. Cronan Kelly was appointed pastor and guardian at 31st Street in 1961, and directed the ministries of the church for the next three years. Shortly after he became pastor, one of the friars, Fr. Philip Lavere, asked for permission to undertake a new ministry, The Good Word. Fr. Philip and Fr. Cronan worked together on project and The Good Word was underway.
As of February 3, 1962, people could dial PEnnsylvania 6-9233 and hear an inspirational message from
the Franciscans. The project started with only three answering units, and within two months ten units were in operation. Two days after the ten units were in use, the telephone company recorded 1,358 busy signals. It was estimated that 3,000 calls were handled daily. So many persons were calling from the offices of Consolidated Edison that the company recorded the friar’s message from the phone and reproduced it over their intercom system each day.
A new era of unexpected change was felt throughout the entire Roman Catholic Church during Fr. Cronan’s tenure as pastor. Pope John XXIII convoked the Second Vatican Council to “open some windows” and renew the life of the Church. Pope John opened the first of four sessions from October 11 to December
8, 1962. The friars at St. Francis Church responded immediately, and offered a series of sermons with appropriate prayers to highlight the Council throughout the week of October 8. At least four sermons a day, sometimes more, were preached. A different friar spoke each day on topics such as “What Is the Council?”; “The Peoples’ Part;” “Towards Unity;” “Why Have a Council?”; and “Prospects and Problems.”
The friars realized that a major event was happening in the Church, and they began early to prepare their people for the changes the Church was calling for throughout the Roman Catholic world. To a Church community that had not experienced change in four centuries, new developments produced confusion, consternation and upheaval in the lives of many Catholic people.
Fr. Finian Kerwin, who had served a small mission in the southwest corner of Georgia, succeeded Fr. Cronan as pastor in 1964, when the latter friar was elected to serve on the Provincial Council. Fr. Finian struggled to turn change into challenge fro the friars at 31st Street. His task was not an easy one, but he worked patiently as pastor to implement the essential changes called for by the Church.
Fr. Finian served as guardian and pastor from 1964 until 1967, when he was elected Minister Provincial of Holy Name Province, and Fr. Cosmas Timlin was appointed pastor. The three short-term pastors – Fathers Cronan, Finian and Cosmas – concentrated on the implementation of the external changes called for by the Council. The necessary renovations in the upper and lower churches were carried out so that the Mass could be celebrated in accord with the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. The altars of both churches became free-standing, facing the congregation. The sound systems were replaced with modern units so everyone could participate with the priest. Two organists led the people in song at the 16 daily Masses, and Folk Masses for the young were introduced in the lower church. On September 14, 1964, the Sacrament of Reconciliation was administered in English for the first time, a symbol of the many changes which were to follow during the next ten years.
Left: Fr. Finian Kerwin, O.F.M., Right: Fr. Cosmas Timlin, O.F.M.
This series of articles on the history of our parish is adapted from the writings of Fr. Flavian Walsh, O.F.M., Pastor from 1985-87.
This Fall treat yourself to a St. Francis of Assisi Adult Education class or day of reflection. Topics range from faith and theology, spirituality, the Franciscan tradition, literature and the arts. Courses range from one day, to semester long series. These are reasonably priced and taught by talented instructors very knowledgeable in their field.
You will find brochures at the entrances of the church that describe the many different programs the Center will offer between October and December.
Course and registration information is also available online here.
Online registration is now open.
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is just not an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.
From Pope Francis in Laudato Sí: A true ecological approach becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor…Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society.
From Pope Benedict in Caritas in Caritas in Veritate: The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole.
In his second letter to Timothy, St. Paul says: “I remind you, to stir into flames the gift of God given you…” In today’s gospel we read: “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to a mulberry tree, ‘be uprooted and planted in the sea’ and it would obey you.”
Both St. Paul and Jesus tell us that we have received a great gift from God and it is not a small gift, but a gift with great potential. If faith can uproot a mulberry tree and be planted in the sea, St. Luke tells us what we possess, but as St. Paul says, sometimes we need to “stir” it into flames. So often people comment that they wish they had more faith, but here are two writers who tell us that we already have it – we just need to stir it up and get it going. These are two good Scripture quotes for us.
For several weeks I have been including in the bulletin “Seven Themes of Catholic Teaching.”These themes stress Catholic values in society and in our day-to-day lives as Catholics. Many people are unaware what these Themes are and the fact that they are built on the Gospel and Jesus’ teaching. When we return to Scripture and Papal documents for the past 100 years, this is where we find these values. Next week, I will begin including sections from the document “Open Wide Our Hearts.” This is a Pastoral Letter against racism from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This is very timely and important, so I encourage you to read the sec- tions each week.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.
The pastors who followed Fr. Lucian Gallagher continued his efforts to respond to the needs of the people in the post- World War II era. Fathers Terence McNally, Emmanuel Duffy and Bernard Tobin were extremely conscious of the changing times in New York City.
The Provincial Chapter of 1949 appointed an equally eloquent preacher to succeed Fr. Lucian in the person of Fr. Terence McNally. He had served as pastor of St. Stephen of Hungary parish in the Yorkville section of New York for 15 years, then moved to midtown Manhattan to be the guardian and pastor of St. Francis on 31st Street. He inspired something approaching awe in the young friars during his six years at St. Francis Church, and proved to be the capable administrator such a multifaceted ministry required.
In June 1955 Fr. Emmanuel Duffy was appointed pastor of St. Francis for a brief three-year term. He began immediately to concentrate on the physical needs of the church and friary. For many decades, hundreds of friars had mounted the pulpit in the nave of St. Francis Church to preach the Word of God. Fr. Emmanuel replaced the familiar pulpit in 1956, and then removed the side- aisle benches. The space gained by both removals made the church appear much larger. At the same time, he installed marble around the bases of the pillars and along the side walls. The following year, because of the constant use of the parlors for counseling, he renovated them and added air conditioning.
Early in June 1957 the construction of a new entrance on 32nd Street was undertaken by Fr. Emmanuel. Many people were unaware of the lower church, while others did not know of the existence of the upper church! They were accustomed to one or the other. When the 32nd Street entrance was closed, it took some of the regular worshipers a while to adjust themselves to the walk around the block. The new entrance opened in June 1959. People could now walk in from 32nd Street or 31st Street to the covered vestibule which leads to both the lower and the upper churches.
A large stone crucifix over the doors marks the entrance to the church on 32nd Street, and a bronze statue of St. Francis, kneeling with his eyes cast upward to the crucifix, was designed for the newly-created courtyard by Betti Richard of Vienna, Austria. Ms. Richard’s husband was the ambassador to the United Nations from Austria, and they were living in New York City. Brother Cajetan Baumann, O.F.M, the friar architect responsible for enlarging and beautifying the 32nd Street entrance, desired to have a statue of St. Francis of Assisi for the courtyard. Ms. Richard responded to the challenge in 1957 and created one of the most popular images of St. Francis in the world, lovingly caressed by hundreds of people as they pass day after day. When she was affiliated to Holy Name Province in 1986, Ms. Richard told the friars that the St. Francis statue on 32nd Street “came from within her own heart much as a child comes forth from the womb of a mother.”
On May 9, 1961, Bishop John Maguire, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York, consecrated three new altars in the church: the main altar and two side altars dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anthony of Padua. The latter two featured white marble statues which were also created by Betti Richard. The dedication marked the end of five years of construction and renovations at St. Francis Church. New entrances on both 31st and 32nd Streets, three new outdoor shrines, new floors, pews and pulpit, newly designed confessionals, and the air-conditioning of the upper and and lower churches were finally accomplished.
This series of articles on the history of our parish is adapted from the writings of Fr. Flavian Walsh, O.F.M., Pastor from 1985-87.
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.” The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
Sollicitudo rei Socialis (“The Social Concern”; encyclical of Pope John Paul II, 1987): Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are really responsible for all.
Economic Justice for All (Pastoral Letter from the U.S. Bishops, 1986): We have to move from our devotion of independence through an understanding of interdependence, to a commitment of human solidarity… Love implies concern for all…
