Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-730437.
Author: St. Charles Borromeo
Collection to Support Catholic Charities Food Assistance
One of Catholic Charities’ services is providing nutritious meals to seniors. Because of the state of emergency in New York City, the Catholic Charities Centers are unable to have guests enter to receive meals. Take away baskets of healthy food are being provided instead. Catholic Charities has also expanded its outreach efforts to meet the growing need caused by the coronavirus outbreak. As a result, Catholic Charities is facing substantially increased demands on its resources.
We support Catholic Charities in its ministry. If you are able to contribute financially, we encourage you to donate online at https://stcharlesbklyn.weshareonline.org/CatholicCharitiesFoodCollection.
Sunday 3/15 Masses – Live Stream
Sunday 3/15 9 am, 11:15 am, 7 pm masses are still being held today. [Zoom meeting details removed from website for security reasons]
Eucharist Adoration will continue Monday-Friday 9 am – noon in the Church.
Beginning Monday 3/16 there will be no weekday or Sunday public Masses until further notice. Arrangements for online worship will be posted here and on our email list.
Urgent Update From the Diocese of Brooklyn 3/15/2020
Given the continuing and growing concern about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Bishop DiMarzio has determined that all public masses be cancelled in the Diocese of Brooklyn beginning Monday, March 16th, until further notice. This includes weekday masses as well as Sunday. Funerals and Weddings will be permitted but should be limited to family members only. Parish baptism celebrations should be limited to family only, if they cannot be postponed. Confirmations should be celebrated with the Rite of Confirmation without Mass, if need be, and in consultation with the Bishop scheduled to celebrate the Confirmation.
The faithful of the diocese are reminded that the Bishop has already issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. The obligation to keep the Lord’s Day holy can be fulfilled by maintaining a prayerful attitude and through personal and family prayer. The faithful are urged to watch the celebration of the Eucharist on TV, as well.
The celebrations are scheduled as follows:
Saturday at 6 pm: Vigil pre-recorded from Immaculate Conception in Jamaica (English)
Sunday at 11 am: Live from St. James Cathedral in Downtown Brooklyn (English)
Sunday at 1:30 pm: Pre-recorded from Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights (Spanish)
NET-TV can be seen in the New York City are on Spectrum (Channel 97), Optimum (Channel 30) and FIOS (Channel 48). Viewers can also tune in online at www.netny.tv.
In light of the continuing crisis, the situation is being monitored carefully and updates will follow. Let us continue to pray, especially through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for those who are sick, for medical personnel and for all people as we confront this challenge.
Corona Virus Emergency Action Plan – 3/15/2020
Dear Parish Family,
We want to let you know that the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), together with Fr. Bill, is taking the coronavirus emergency very seriously. The PPC met virtually on Friday evening March 13 and outlined below are the plans we have put into place to safeguard our parish community.
Your Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Francis Chin, Kerin Coughlin, Carol De Santis, Josephine Dongbang, Mike McGowan, Phil Murray, Jane Olson, Donna Whiteford
Masses and Church Events
As per the parish email sent on Friday afternoon March 13 to all parishioners for whom we have email addresses, healthcare professionals and the diocese have provided guidance on how to manage during this emergency so that we all do our part to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
In summary, the Bishop has 1) Dispensed with the obligation of attending Sunday Mass until further notice, 2) Public Masses, sacraments, and funerals will continue to be held with caution to protect personal health, 3) To limit large public gatherings the Family Faith Formation, RCIA, and other group activities and events are suspended in person; where feasible, St. Charles will be organizing opportunities to continue these activities online, and finally 4) Diocesan schools and academies will be closed beginning next week.
We recommend that all parishioners use common sense when deciding whether or not to attend mass. Continue reading “Corona Virus Emergency Action Plan – 3/15/2020”
3rd Sunday of Lent – The Wisdom of Knowing We Are Loved
Christ and the Woman of Samaria, Rembrandt and student, c. 1655 (Met. Museum of Art, New York)
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Exodus 17:3–7
March 15, 2020
The passage that we read today was quoted in the Gospel for Sunday in the first week of Lent. St Matthew, following the rabbis of his day, saw the irony of the passage. The Israelites thought that they were testing God, but He was testing them.
What exactly happened in the book of Exodus is unclear. A mass migration of hundreds of thousands of people is most unlikely. The theory that there was no migration at all, but a revolution of tribes within Canaan, was popular for a decade or so but is now losing its appeal. Some scholars believe that there was an Exodus from Egypt by a Semitic group which we could most likely identify with the tribe of Levi. This clan by both military prowess and a more attractive theology was able to attract other tribes to join them and eventually settled in Canaan. This would fit the reality of today’s situation: Continue reading “3rd Sunday of Lent – The Wisdom of Knowing We Are Loved”
Message from the Pastor on Coronavirus
Note: The below letter from Fr. Bill was posted on March 13. Since that time, the Diocese of Brooklyn has suspended public Masses. Please refer to the more recent postings for the most up-to-date information on the steps that St. Charles Borromeo is taking to respond to the coronavirus outbreak.
Sunday’s Gospel admonishes us to worship in “spirit and truth.” We should also add common sense. With the spread of the coronavirus, common sense will be very important. The parish has implemented the preventative measures recommended by the Diocese. Beyond that, the Church will be thoroughly cleaned again on Saturday by a professional cleaning company. Please note that our church is large enough and our attendance small enough that we should be able to provide the recommended social distance space for everyone.
Common sense however also is necessary to decide if you should attend Mass. Bishop DiMarzio announced today that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is suspended until further notice. People in the at risk groups, senior citizens (parishioners over 70 and certainly those over 80), people with underlying conditions, e.g. diabetes, or less than robust immune systems are encouraged to stay home. This does not mean that you should not worship especially on Sunday but that you should explore other means. Continue reading “Message from the Pastor on Coronavirus”