“On Sunday, our participation in the Eucharist has special importance. Sunday, like the Jewish Sabbath, is meant to be a day which heals our relationship with God, with ourselves, with others and with the world. Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, the ‘first day’ of the new creation,whose first fruits are the Lord’s risen humanity, the pledge of the final transfiguration of all created reality. It also proclaims ‘man’s eternal rest in God.’  In this way, Christian spirituality incorporates the value of relaxation and festivity.

We tend to demean contemplative rest as something unproductive and unnecessary, but this is to do away with the very thing which is most important about work: its meaning. We are called to include in our work a dimension of receptivity and gratuity, which is quite different from mere inactivity. Rather, it is another way of working, which forms part of our very essence. It protects human action from becoming empty activism; it also prevents that unfettered greed and sense of isolation which make us seek personal gain to the detriment of all else.”

What is our value or importance as Christians? St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians says: “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise…and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong…” In our day-to-day lives, the way that we are to do this is shown in the Beatitudes, which we hear in today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:-12). Read through this list and you immediately recognize that they are not qualities that many people would choose, but they are at the heart of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Aren’t these characteristics of Jesus?  We see him showing these publically throughout the Gospels. The Beatitudes present to us a way of life that has changed the world and continues to do so. Spend some time this week reading slowly this Gospel.

The Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal has begun. Many of you may have received a letter from Cardinal Dolan asking for your support in this year’s appeal. Our church’s goal was set at $98,500 by the Archdiocese. Last year, you contributed nearly $67,000 and I am grateful to all of you who helped reach this amount. While we did not reach our goal of $100,000, I am happy that this much was contributed through your generosity. Thank you! You will be hearing more about this year’s appeal and will be receiving a letter from me soon.

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

“It is in the Eucharist that all that has been created finds its greatest exaltation. Grace, which tends to manifest itself tangibly, found unsurpassable expression when God became man and gave himself as food for his creatures. The Lord, in the culmination of the mystery of the Incarnation, chose to reach our intimate depths through a fragment of matter. He comes not from above, but from within, he comes that we might find him in this world of ours.

In the Eucharist, fullness is already achieved; it is the living center of the universe, the overflowing core of love and of inexhaustible life. Joined to the incarnate Son, present in the Eucharist, the whole cosmos gives thanks to God. Indeed the Eucharist is itself an act of cosmic love: ‘Yes, cosmic! Because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world.’”

We know that today many people don’t carry too much cash.  Many of us pay for our coffee or our cab with our cell phone!  The is the electronic world we live in.

Now you can TEXT your donation to St. Francis.

It’s easy, quick, secure and uses your credit or debit card.

Here’s how:

1) Type this number into your text app: 917-983-3911

2) Type the amount of your donation in the text field.

3) Hit “SEND”

4) You will receive a text confirming your donation

It’s that easy!

The first time you use the system, it will ask you to enter your credit card information.  But after the first time, you will be in the system and you can simply type the amount and save the number.

You can even add this phone number as a contact as “St. Francis Donation Number” so you will have it saved on your phone.

Give it a shot!

Hope in a Time of Anxiety, a prayerful encounter of one other’s experiences, voices, anxieties, hopes and dreams, took place in San Damiano Hall on Monday, January 16, the holiday honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Provincial Minister Fr. Kevin Mullen, O.F.M., began the evening by framing the event on the three essential reasons why the Catholic Church engages with the social order: respect for human dignity, the defense and protection of human rights, and the responsibility to make human activity meaningful.

With ample time and well-designed group instructions provided by Joseph Nuzzi, participants engaged with each other by listening to the concerns and hopes of their table mates as well as sharing their own anxieties and sources of hope as they confront the difficulties that have arisen in our country during the past eighteen months.

At the end of the discussion period, Fr. Kevin responded to questions posed by the participants. A prayer service concluded the evening during which readings were proclaimed from the prophet Micah and St. Paul. Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M. read an excerpt from Pope Francis’ address to the United States Congress. Prayers were offered for those in government, for those who serve, and for the citizens of our nations, especially the poor and disenfranchised.

Meredith Augustin led the assembly in song, and Fr. Andrew Reitz,O.F.M. gave the final blessing to conclude the evening.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

The books, Prayers for Difficult Times and Devotions for Difficult Times have a companion in Prayers for an Anxious Heart.

This book has something written for 186 days to help the person who is anxious or worried. Each day has a theme, a short passage from Sacred Scripture (both the Old and New Testaments) and then a meditative prayer for the remainder of the page.

Such topics as: When I Feel Overwhelmed, a Peaceful Heart, Give Me Sure Footsteps, Help My Unbelief, Keep Calm and Do Nothing are a sampling of the topics that are treated daily. It is a good companion to have when times are challenging and even when things are going well. It is available in the Lobby of the Parish House.

Happy New Year to Our Korean Brothers and Sisters!

We hear the calling of the first apostles in today’s Gospel. What strikes me is the response that came from them. Peter and Andrew’s response was “at once they left their nets and followed Him.” When Jesus called James and John, the response was “immediately they left their boat and their father…” There is much to be done and Jesus needs others to help Him accomplish this. What made them follow Jesus “at once” and “immediately”? John the Baptist had told them about the coming of the Messiah and recognizes Jesus as the Messiah. Now, there is an urgency to get the message out: “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” There is an urgency today to have the message get out there and penetrate society. The message of Jesus is an ongoing call – even for those who have already accepted it.

We realize that many people do not carry cash with them or not much cash. As a result, our Stewardship Committee has discussed other ways that people may give to St. Francis. We have had Online Giving for a while and the One Hour Program. For those who do not participate this way, we now have a way that you can TEXT your donation to St. Francis. The number is 917-983-3911. If you have any problems, email Joe Nuzzi at jnuzzi@stfrancisnyc.org. This should make it easy for you to do your share in supporting our church. We are grateful for your doing this.

Yes, there is a Pilgrimage from the church this year. Check the ad elsewhere in the bulletin for November’s 100th Year Anniversary Pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, Santiago de Compostela, Madrid, Salamanca and more. The cost is $2,749 which includes roundtrip airfare, bus transportation, tour guide, most meals, hotels, sightseeing and $100,000  flight insurance. To reserve a spot, a copy of your passport and check for $400 are needed. For a brochure online, email areitz@stfrancisnyc.org.

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

“The Sacraments are a privileged way in which nature is taken up by God to become a means of mediating supernatural life. Through our worship of God,we are invited to embrace the world on a different plane.

Water, oil, fire, and colors are taken up in all their symbolic power and incorporated into our act of praise. The hand that blesses is an instrument of God’s love and a reflection of the closeness of Jesus Christ, who came to accompany us on the journey of life. Water is poured over the body of a child in Baptism is a sign of new life.

Encountering God does not mean fleeing from the world or turning our back on nature… For Christians all the creatures of the material universe find their true meaning in the incarnate Word, for the Son of God has incorporated in his person part of the material world, planting in it a seed of definitive transformation.”

On Monday, January 16, 2017 our nation will commemorate the birthday of Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr.

Masses will be celebrated at 8:00 and 11:00 AM, 4:30 and 5:30 PM.

There will be no confessions, and the church offices and Adult Education Center will be closed for the day.

The San Damiano Hall will be open in the evening where we are hosting “Hope in a Time of Anxiety” at 6:30 PM.  The Hall will open at 6:15.

The friars and staff at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi offer our sincerest condolences to Patti Ann and Conor McDonald on the death of NYPD Officer Steven McDonald.

Steven’s life was very much connected to us. Fr. Mychal Judge ministered to Steven in the days and months following the shooting incident in Central Park in 1989 that left Officer McDonald paralyzed for the rest of life.

Steven came to St. Francis often for prayer or to attend Mass. He also came here for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the Friars and staff were always moved by his courage, humility and compassion for others.