Brooklyn Oratory Parishes
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Boniface
2023-2024 Opportunities for Prayer and Reflection

Save the dates!

• Small faith-sharing groups begin meeting the week October 1
The Brooklyn Oratory Small Groups continue to explore our Catholic faith and spirituality as an important mechanism for adult faith formation at Assumption and St. Boniface parishes. This year the 6-week fall season will be divided into two 3-week sections. Most groups will meet on Zoom, and a few in-person.

Part 1: Eucharist, Bread of Life
God feeds his people. In the desert, God’s covenant with Israel was sealed through sacrifice and a meal. On the altars of our churches, God continues to feed us with the bread and wine of the new covenant—the food and drink that is Christ himself. During the first 3 weeks we will explore Scripture passages and rediscover the enduring mystery of the Eucharist.

Part 2: Ponder, Contemplative Bible Study accompanies us during the next 3 weeks as we pray and reflect on the Sunday readings in a rich experience of lectio divina, informative biblical commentary, and engaging reflections. The 6-week fall season will meet through the week of November 5.

Eucharist, Bread of Life will also be offered in-person for three sessions on Sundays, October 8, 15 & 29 in-person at St. Boniface at 4:00 pm.

Meeting Christ in Prayer is an 8-week program modeled on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  By means of prayer, reflection, and faith sharing, Meeting Christ in Prayer introduces participants to various ways of praying, helps them form regular habits of prayer, and provides them with an opportunity to meet Christ anew and to experience support in the Christian life in a new way. It can also inspire a profound sense of mission that urges participants to a new level of discipleship. Fr. Vin Biagi, SJ will facilitate the group in-person for eight weeks on October 8 to November 19 and December 3 at Assumption. Enrollment is limited to ten people who can commit to attending all sessions.

Please join us! Sign up at https://forms.gle/Xw8bDpib6W9F1xHW6
Groups will meet on Zoom and several will meet in-person.

• Synod 2021-2024. Among the issues being discussed at the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October is women’s roles and access to the ordained permanent diaconate. To support those discussions we celebrate St. Phoebe during the month of September and distribute St. Phoebe prayer cards at each parish. We pray together:

That the Church, through reflection and discernment in the upcoming Synod, foster ways of appreciating and promoting the giftedness of women in service to the Church; Lord, hear our prayer.

• Holy Hour: First Sunday of the Month at St. Boniface begins October 1
A Holy Hour is a time for appreciating the gift of Christ's Body and Blood given to us in the Eucharist through our private and communal prayer. You are invited to spend a quiet and contemplative time preparing to celebrate the Sunday evening Mass at St. Boniface. We'll gather on the first Sunday of the month from 5:00 to 5:45 pm.

• Oratory Evening Prayer: First Monday of the Month in Assumption Hall begins October 2
Come and join in the prayer of the Fathers of the Oratory. We will listen to the Sunday scriptures, reflect, share, and encourage one another in the spirit of St. Philip Neri. We will gather on the first Monday of the month from 6:15 to 7:15 pm.

• Eucharistic Adoration continues on October 7, 2024 and each month after the First Saturday 9:00 am Mass at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• Advent Retreat on December 9, 2023
Fr. Michael Holleran, Parochial Vicar of The Parish of Corpus Christi and Notre Dame in NYC will lead the Advent retreat through Contemplation: its nature, necessity, practice, and consequences, with a focus on Centering Prayer; in the Assumption parish hall.

• Centering Prayer Introduction and Practice on January 20 and 27, 2024
Jim Connell will lead the sessions in the Assumption parish hall.

• Lenten Retreat on March 9, 2024  Ms. Kaija Dewitt-Allen, Director of Campus Ministry at Xavier High School will lead the Lenten retreat focused on Ignatian Spirituality and forms of prayer; in the Assumption parish hall.