There was good turn-out and lively discussion at Thursday’s discussion group about Flannery O’Connor’s short story Revelation. Several people have requested copies of Fr. Smith’s remarks. The remarks are below and the program used on Thursday can be found here. Continue reading “Discussion Materials for Flannery O’Connor’s Revelation Story”
Author: St. Charles Borromeo
Trip to the Theater for “Building the Wall – La Construcción del Muro”
This Sunday, join Sergio Sandi, our music director, and a group of parishioners for the 3 PM matinee performance of “La Construcción del Muro” / Building the Wall.” If you are interested in joining in, please email Sergio, [email protected]
More information about the play, which is running through March 15, is below: Continue reading “Trip to the Theater for “Building the Wall – La Construcción del Muro””
1st Sunday Lent – 9 am (Fr. Smith)
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license A-730437.
1st Sunday Lent – Fr. Smith Homily
Moses is the hidden presence behind Matthew’s Gospel. His name may not be often spoken but there are passages in the Gospel which can only be fully understood by a reference to him. During the Christmas season we read about the slaughter of this innocents. (Mt 2:13-18) Understanding that and indeed the entire story of the flight into Egypt clearly depends upon knowing the details of the birth of Moses. Less obvious, but just as important, are the references to Moses in the visit of the Magi. (Mt 2:1-12) As we read the Gospel of Matthew throughout the year, we will find the presence of Moses hidden in plain sight. Nowhere is this more important than in today’s reading of the testing of Jesus.
Let us look at the background. In the section before today’s, Jesus has emerged from the baptismal waters of the Jordan just as the Israelites had gone through the waters of the Red Sea and both find themselves in the desert. Jesus spends 40 days in the desert; the Israelites 40 years, but it is a time of testing for both. Matthew tells us that Jesus was led by the Spirit and the book of Exodus (Es 13:31) relates that the Jews were led by the “pillar of cloud and fire”. The great difference is that the Israelites were in the desert because of their sins. Although they had been the beneficiary of deliverance by God from the Egyptians, they rebelled – even fashioning a golden calf for worship. Therefore, they would not receive the promised reward of possession of the land that flowed with milk and honey until they made penance for their sins. They were given a mission from the LORD and for them to be His people, they would need to embrace it. The route from Egypt to Canaan would have taken no more than a few months to complete if distance were the only issue, but it would take 40 years because of their attitude. Continue reading “1st Sunday Lent – Fr. Smith Homily”
Flannery O’Connor for Lent: It’s Complicated
Inter-Faith Lenten Program
Once again, St. Charles is partnering with Grace Church for a four-part discussion series during Lent. This year, we will discuss several short stories by Flannery O’Connor. Join us for this inter-faith fellowship on:
• Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 PM at St. Charles Borromeo to discuss Revelation
• Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 PM at Grace Church (254 Hicks Street) to discuss You Can’t Be Any Poorer than Dead (first chapter of the Violent Bear it Away)
• Thursday, March 19 at 6:30 PM at St. Charles Borromeo to discuss a Good Man is Hard to Find
• Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 PM at Grace Church to discuss a Temple of the Holy Spirit
• Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 PM at St. Charles Borromeo to discuss Revelation
• Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 PM at Grace Church (254 Hicks Street) to discuss You Can’t Be Any Poorer than Dead (first chapter of the Violent Bear it Away)
• Thursday, March 19 at 6:30 PM at St. Charles Borromeo to discuss a Good Man is Hard to Find
• Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 PM at Grace Church to discuss a Temple of the Holy Spirit
Each evening will include:
6:30 – Soup dinner
7:00 – Opening prayer and brief introduction
7:10 – Small group discussion
7:45 – Continued discussion with everyone
8:00 – Closing prayer
6:30 – Soup dinner
7:00 – Opening prayer and brief introduction
7:10 – Small group discussion
7:45 – Continued discussion with everyone
8:00 – Closing prayer
First Sunday of Lent – What Follows from Obedience to the Will of God
The Rebuke of Adam and Eve, Domenichino, 1626, National Gallery of Art (Washington)
(About this image)
FIRST READING
Genesis 2:7–9; 3:1–7
March 1, 2020
Our first reading today is from the book of Genesis. It is often called the story of the creation of Adam but is more accurately depicts the formation and then dissolution of the perfect community.
This creation story is one of two in Genesis and, although placed second, was written earlier. The narrative we read first was written by priests and is concerned with how the Jewish people were to connect to the Cosmos. (Ge. 1) Today’s passage however describes the relationship that God wishes to establish with us and assures us that it was forged at the very beginning of time. The first version of this text was most likely written at the beginning of the Davidic Dynasty. (c. 1,000 BC) and is a call to the king to restore the God-given order. It then became part of the expectation of the Messiah.
This section begins with a desolate world while “as yet there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the field had sprouted.” (Ge. 2:5a) To be fruitful, it needed rain and someone to care for the land. First came the water “but a stream was welling up out of the earth and was watering all the surface of the ground” (Ge. 5:6) then, the point where we begin today: Continue reading “First Sunday of Lent – What Follows from Obedience to the Will of God”
Update on Church Restoration
St. Charles Borromeo, Renato F. De Araujo, November 2009.
Below is an update on the church renovations prepared by Nick Strachovsky, our client representative at K.O.W. ARMA:
As spring approaches, our exterior renovation project is nearing completion. With warmer weather arriving in the upcoming weeks, some work that has been held can get started.
Work above the sidewalk bridge is well advanced. Masonry restoration work is nearly complete with some minor areas to touch up once the weather is on our side. All work at the top of the church is complete which is why the scaffolding was removed. Roof work is complete at the rear low roof on the north side of the church. Slate repair is in progress on the south side low roof. Gutter replacement work is almost done with minimal leader work remaining. All details have been worked out for the protective window system.
Stained glass repair is still in progress. Once complete the glazing system will follow. After the protective glazing is installed we should be looking toward removal of the sidewalk bridge. Once down there is some restoration work that remains at the 1st floor. The entry steps to the church are slated to be reset and straightened. As many have noticed, some of the fencing along Aitken Place has been restored. The remainder of the fencing along that side will be removed shortly to be restored as well. This is being coordinated with some repair work that is needed on the ramp.
We are awaiting a schedule update from the contractor so we can share some more precise timing on work being fully complete. We are coming into the home stretch. Bathroom work is now being coordinated for the interior. We are days away from Landmarks’ approval. There is still a bit of time left for review by the building department, but our team is ready to get started as soon as permits are in hand.