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From our Pastors
Dear Friends,
As Holy Week is soon upon us, we are experiencing the advance of the pandemic and its impact on our communities, families, colleagues and region. We hold in prayer many who have asked for our prayers for loved ones. We remember those who have died and for whom we cannot provide the usual Christian burial. We lift up in prayer our medical professionals, emergency workers, those who deliver the mail and packages, pharmacists and all whose show up each day and serve us in so many ways. Please keep hanging together in prayer and support as we move forward in Holy Week. Thank you to those who have offered to assist others in getting groceries and medications.
We continue to reach out among our households. Please let us know where you may need assistance as the weeks unfold.
We have a resource for you to access, developed by Fr. Michael in collaboration with Erica Tighe Campbell of Be A Heart Design. Here is a link to Erica’s blog page where you can download the zip file for each day: https://beaheart.com/blogs/blog/holy-week-at-home-free-resource
We will put this information on our Website and Facebook pages. We hope that this provides you with daily encouragement and prayerful support this Holy Week.
We continue to pray with and for you. Be strong, be courageous, be kind and find something to make you laugh each day – St. Philip insists!
Fr. Michael, c.o. and Fr. Mark, c.o.
Holy Week
on YouTube BrooklynOratory Channel (please subscribe)
The following Liturgies will be on YouTube for our Oratory Parishes.
April 4 First Saturday Devotions from ABVM 8:00am
April 5 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord 8:00am
April 7 Tuesday of Holy Week Weekday Mass 6:00am
April 9 Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper 5:00pm
April 10 Good Friday Liturgy 12:00 noon
April 11 Abbreviated Easter Vigil 6:00pm
April 12 Easter Sunday 8:00am
Please keep the sick of the community in your prayers:
Sr. Angela Case, SSJ in quarantine, David M in quarantine, Ralph Gismondi, Billy Walsh, Enissa Surez, Kevin Duffy, Regis O’Neil, Sandy Levine, Connie Schiane, Larry Kelly, Alina Gonzalez, Fay Milea, Gabriel Turiello, Roberto Correa.
Rest In Peace:
Fr. Edward Brophy, John Verel, John Hennigan, Miguel Fernandez Nunez, Alban Okoro, Bonnie Barnard, Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay of the Brooklyn Diocese, Jerry Foyster, Fr. Joseph O’Hare, SJ, Katharina Geuchen, Matthew Messina.
If you would like add someone to the prayer list, email the parish
office at info@oratorychurch.org or go to the website.
Prayer to Our Lady of the Oratory
Holy Mary, Mother of God we turn to you in this time of uncertainty. Help us to walk in trust and security as we care for one another. Keep the bonds of charity strong among us when we are apart. Watch over our communities and families with your maternal care. May health and wellbeing surround the Oratory parishes and all people. Teach us to say yes to God, yes to love in our hearts, yes to the Incarnate Word in our flesh. To affirm in our minds only what is true, good and beautiful. And with our whole strengthen teach us to live as true disciples of Christ. Our Lady of the Oratory intercede for us to God that the transforming grace we need may bring us peace and joy. Amen.
Stewardship
Please remember, if you are able, to keep supporting our parishes as we try to maintain staff, clergy and operations during this time.
You can make your donation online through PushPay by clicking on one of the links,
Assumption https://pushpay.com/g/oratorychurch?src=hpp
St. Boniface https://pushpay.com/g/oratorychurchbrooklyn?src=hpp
Or mail checks to:
64 Middagh St.
Brooklyn NY 11201
Attn: either ABVM or St Boniface
There are a number of scams going around where people get personal information and impose on your generosity and affection. Please know that the fathers and brothers of the Oratory will never ask you for personal assistance. Delete all requests that look suspicious.
Words of Encouragement
To use a metaphor that once made sense to me: we are all going to be in different parts of the vineyard for a while. Through prayer and keeping connected we will not seem so far apart. – Cathie Srour
Do you have words of inspiration to share with fellow parishioners? Send that to us at info@oratorychurch.org
Follow us on Facebook and post pictures of God’s Beauty for Palm Sunday.
The Census still needs you to be counted!
Right now, the easiest way to make sure residents are counted is through self-response online, by phone, or by mail. Emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic are precisely why our government needs accurate census data. We must all do our part by making sure we self-respond and encourage others in our networks to do so as well.
Residents can self-respond to the census online at www.my2020census.gov or speak to a Census worker live by calling 844-330-2020 for English or 844-468- 2020 for Spanish.
MYTH: The Census won’t affect my day-to-day life and won’t solve the issues in my community.
FACT: The Census will determine how $675 billion worth of federal funding will impact essential daily resources – from schools, hospitals, public transportation, local government representation, and so much more – in our communities for
the next 10 years.
MYTH: The Census Bureau will use my information to cut off my benefits or will put my immigration status at risk.
FACT: Your responses to the 2020 Census are protected by law and used for statistical purposes only. Personal information collected by the Census cannot be released to any other agency.
MYTH: The Census form will ask for my Social Security number or my Medicare ID number.
FACT: The Census will never ask for your Social Security or health insurance information. It only collects basic demographic information such as your name, date of birth, racial/ethnic background and how many people live with you.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel:
BrooklynOratory for Masses, devotions and inspiration. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQ7KbyiPQ2mPUaAZcpxOig
Please continue to pray for first responders, medical staff, pharmacists, delivery people, supermarket staff, utility workers, transportation workers, and all keeping us alive and our city and country working.