Author: St. Charles Borromeo

Scriptual Commentary

4th Sunday of Advent – Preparing for the Lord’s Birth

| St. Charles Borromeo

Mary and Elizabeth Meet, Moretto da Brescia,
early 16th century, Nationalmuseum (Sweden)

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
(Luke 1:41–43)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Hebrews 10:5–10
December 19, 2021

We are now in “late Advent” when the focus is clearly on the birth of Jesus. The first line of our opening prayer reminds us that through God’s grace an angel had made known to us “the incarnation of Christ your Son”. The preface of the Mass says that:

all the oracles of the prophets foretold him,
the Virgin Mother longed for him
with love beyond all telling,
John the Baptist sang of his coming
and proclaimed his presence when he came.

Our first reading from the prophet Micah tells us that Bethlehem is more than just a small insignificant village:

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.

(Mic 5:2)

Our gospel relates the story of Mary’s Visit to her elderly cousin Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39–45) Yet I find the second reading today from the letter to the Hebrews more interesting as it urges us to contemplate the meaning of the second part of today’s opening prayer that in the Eucharist we are “brought to the glory of his Resurrection.”

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Parish Financial Report

| St. Charles Borromeo

The parish annual financial report is available on the parish website.

As Francis Chin summarized recently at Mass, our parish has been able to maintain its financial health during the pandemic and during extensive repairs and renovations of the church and rectory.

While the parish financial situation is positive, our current collections do not cover our weekly operating expenses. This means we must use rental monies to cover our costs, which is not a sign of a vibrant parish community. The rental monies the parish earns from leasing the school and rectory are earmarked to maintain and renovate the church building and the parish house which we would not otherwise have the funds to do. The renovation work is still very much in progress. That is why we need to bring in sufficient parishioner contributions to cover the costs of running the church, the parish house, and our spiritual and other programs. And these costs (heat, AC, cleaning, salaries, benefits) do increase each year.

Consider pledging to increase your financial support of the parish if you can by completing the stewardship form available online, www.cfbq.org/psr, or in the pews. You can also contribute online through our parish e-giving site, https://stcharlesbklyn.weshareonline.org/

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The Meaning of Chanukah

| St. Charles Borromeo

A message from your church’s Jewish friend,
Chaplain Barry E. Pitegoff, BCC

The Jewish celebration of Chanukah begins tonight at sundown and continues for eight nights and eight days, ending at sundown on Monday, December 6.  “Isn’t Chanukah early this year?”   The answer is actually “no.” Chanukah is set on the Jewish Calendar and begins at sundown at the start of the 25th day of the month of Kislev every year.  That day overlaps onto the Gregorian Calendar, the January-December calendar, differently every year.  The reason is surprisingly simple.  The Gregorian calendar is Solar, it is based on the earth’s rotation around the sun, which takes about 365 and a quarter days each year.  The Jewish calendar is lunar.  It is based on the moon’s rotation round the earth, which takes about 28 or 29 days.  In the Jewish calendar, a new moon is the start of a new month.

Continue reading “The Meaning of Chanukah” →
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Gift Cards for St. Vincent Scholars

| St. Charles Borromeo

For the fourth year, we are working with HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services to provide gift cards for young people leaving foster care. This is especially important for those who have children themselves. You can give online or drop off a check in the collection box or with the rectory.

The American Dream Program provides students in foster care with robust academic, social-emotional, and career development supports from middle school through age 26.  The ADP Scholars have big dreams, and our one-on-one coaching model helps them make plans for their futures and provides them with the tools they need to be successful.  Navigating adulthood without a supportive family can be devastating. The American Dream Program is there to fill in gaps and help our young people reach their full potential.

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Give Joy! Adopt one of HSVS’s neediest families

| St. Charles Borromeo

HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services has:

  • 120 families currently living in shelter;
  • 500 families who are at risk of losing children to foster care;  and
  • 400 children living away from their parents in foster care. 

Their everyday struggles are hard to comprehend. Let’s come together and bring joy to as many families within our community as possible this December.

Join us, and sponsor one of our families. 

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Advent Faith Sharing, Sundays at 5 PM

| St. Charles Borromeo

Our Sunday Bible study group recently finished the Book of Isaiah and will be doing something lighter and festive during the Advent season.

We will share our favorite Christmas art, music, and poetry. Please join us.

The group meets on the parish Zoom channel on Sundays at 5 PM. The Advent sessions will occur on December 5, 12, and 19 (there is no session this Sunday).

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World AIDS Day, Dec. 1

| St. Charles Borromeo

Fr. Tumino, pastor at St. Augustine – St. Francis Xavier invites our parishioners to attend the annual World Aids Day commemoration on Dec. 1 at 7 PM at St Augustine’s (116 6th Ave. in Park Slope).

*** Below are the details about the event ***

Our annual World AIDS Day Prayer Service will be held on December 1 at 7 PM, at the St. Augustine worship site. Every year we remember friends and family who have died of AIDS by placing red ribbons with their names on the church fence in November. Then those names are read as part of the prayer service.

For those who may wish to remember a loved one, not included already, please contact the St. Augustine – St. Francis Xavier Parish Office at (718) 638-1880.