Our Sunday faith sharing is back for the summer. We join together to pray, reflect on the Sunday readings, and discuss our faith. It is a low-key gathering and there’s no need to read in advance or join every week.
We meet each Sunday at 5 PM on the parish Zoom channel through the end of August. All are welcome, especially first time participants.
Author: St. Charles Borromeo
Governance Committee for Parish Leadership Structure
Shape the future of our parish! We are recruiting volunteers to participate in an ad hoc Governance Committee to decide issues regarding parish leadership. In particular, the committee will meet just a few times on Zoom between now and September 30 to develop a plan regarding the number of members of the Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council, the term limits of those members and our lay Trustees, and how to apply the limits to the current membership.
If you are willing to serve in this important, but not time-consuming, role, please contact the rectory by this Friday, July 2.
The Watermark: Open House Weekend
The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights invites us to tour its new spaces and learn more about independent living, assisted living and memory care.
To arrange a tour during open house weekend, please contact Ann Murtagh at 347-343-4900 or [email protected]. Tours will be offered between 10 AM and 6 PM on June 12 and 13.
The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights is located at 21 Clark Street.
About the Watermark at Brooklyn Heights
The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights is a historic landmark. Our modernized 1920s-era building features an art studio and gallery on the mezzanine, showcasing work from local artists; you’ll also find a theater, programs and activities from our award-winning Watermark University, a heated indoor pool; as well as a range of mind/body wellness programs at the fitness and wellness center.
Updated COVID Safety Protocols
The Diocese of Brooklyn has issued new COVID guidelines for Masses. We will implement the following changes beginning this Sunday at St. Charles:
- Churches can return to 100% capacity. We will no longer be roping off pews, but we ask you to maintain social distance from those not in your household.
- Mask mandates are still in place as not everyone in church has been vaccinated.
- The regular Communion procession will resume directly up the center aisle. After receiving the host in your hand, please step to the side to the marked area, remove your mask, consume the host, then replace your mask.
- We ask that you continue to sanitize your hands as you enter the church.
- Sunday obligation will resume on June 6 (Corpus Christi Sunday). We will continue to stream the 11:15 AM Mass.
- 7 PM Mass will resume on June 6.
As always, we appreciate your continued help in keeping us all safe. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the rectory.
3rd Sunday of Easter – Building a Diverse Community of Faith
The Appearance of Christ at the Cenacle, James Tissot, 1886-1894, Brooklyn Museum
(About this Image)
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
3rd Sunday of Easter
1 John 2:1-5a
April 18, 2021
Often if we look at a mountain on a cloudless day it will seem extremely close, yet it might be a walk of several days. The clarity itself may bring on what is in effect an illusion. This is an effective way of looking at the relationship between the Gospel of John and the Epistles. The Evangelist saw some things more clearly than he could express to the less gifted and complications ensured. This is most likely us.
Continue reading “3rd Sunday of Easter – Building a Diverse Community of Faith”Annual Catholic Appeal
Response to 2020 Appeal – Thank you very much for your generosity to last year’s appeal. Not only did we support many wonderful ministries, but we went so far over goal that we received $12,075.50 back for the needs of the Parish.
Contributing to 2021 Appeal – We ask you to be as generous this year. Please remember that the money collected for the Annual Catholic Campaign does not support the administrative needs of the Diocese, but specific and necessary ministries that help the people of Brooklyn and Queens. Do you want to be part of a Diocese that does not adequately provide Chaplains for Hospitals and High Schools or care for elderly Priests? We will look at these ministries over the coming weeks but ask you to think and pray about it now.
We encourage all to watch the brief 2021 video to learn about the faith of the Church at work in Brooklyn and Queens. You can access it online at: https://catholicfoundationbq.org/ACAVideo/#. The work and services made possible through your donations to the Annual Catholic Appeal help people in Brooklyn and Queens in ways that no one parish can do alone.
You can donate by going to https://catholicfoundationbq.org/annual-catholic-appeal/ or texting ACAto 917-336-1255. Please remember to select our parish, St. Charles Borromeo – Brooklyn (1043), from the alphabetized list of parishes when making your donation.
Black Americans on Their Way to Sainthood: Fr. Augustus Tolton
Father Augustus Tolton (1854-1897), Ex-Slave, Priest, and Devoted Servant of God
By Alicia Washington
The story of Father Augustus Tolton is a twist on the classic rags to riches story. Though born into slavery (“rags”), he grew to be rich beyond compare. His riches did not come from monetary wealth, though; instead, he was rich in faith, an unrelenting faith that has led him to the road to sainthood.
Continue reading “Black Americans on Their Way to Sainthood: Fr. Augustus Tolton”