Please download the worship aid to participate in Friday’s evening prayer, which will begin at 5 PM.
Instructions on how to join are available here.
Homily – Christ the King (Fr. Smith)
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. It was created by Pope Pius XI, Achille Ratti, in 1925 and to understand the feast you will need to know the Man. Let me tell you a story about him that occurred earlier that year.
The dust had settled from the First World War and revealed a changed world, every institution including the church was uncertain how to proceed, indeed, how to connect with people. Since the 1890s the Popes had realized that the rise of industrialism and the form of capitalism that supported it as well as the socialism and communism that opposed it had created unprecedented problems for a church that depended upon monarchial government and agricultural production. Pope Leo 13th in 1891 recognized the need for a just wage and the right of working people to organize to provide for a dignified and productive life. He sought to bring the church to accept this new reality and to embrace clerks, merchants and most importantly factory workers.
His call was not heeded by most bishops in the world and indeed was at some times and places actively resisted. The split widened between working people and the Church. One exception to this not very benign neglect was a young Belgian Priest, Joeph Cardijn. He not only saw the need to minister to young workers but to minister with them. He formed groups which eventually became the Young Christian Workers not only for catechetical instruction and prayer but for education and social action. He believed that they should control their own funds and decide on their own projects and causes. The motto of the group, which was taken up by Pope St John 23rd in the Second Vatican Council and Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti was “See, Judge Act.”
Continue reading “Homily – Christ the King (Fr. Smith)”World AIDS Day, Dec. 1
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.
Catholic Professionals Pre-Christmas Party
Pre-Christmas Party– Our Catholic Professionals are having a pre-Christmas party at the Rectory on Saturday, December 11 at 5 PM.Please let us know if you can attend and fill out the questionnaire here by December 4.
Name Change– A word about the name change. We decided to change the name of group from “Young Professionals” to “Catholic Professionals” to make it more reflective of the group and inclusive since many of us have different definitions of what young is.
Feedback Wanted – We would like to involve more people and want to hear what you are interested in. Please let us know by responding to a survey before December 11.
Christmas Gifts for Children
Our parish has several opportunities to give gifts to children this upcoming Christmas season:
Toy Drive: In what has been a strong eleven-year tradition, we are partnering with the Custom House, to support the Catholic Charities toy drive. The toys and baby items collected will be brought together in a “toy store” for parents to choose which toys they think best for their children. Please place your toys in the rear of the Church.
Gift Cards: For the fifth 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.
Monks’ Bread Christmas Gifts
Fr. John Gribowich (now known as Fr. Philip Neri), who was in residence at St. Charles Borromeo for several years, is now a Trappist monk. His abbey’s specialty is bread and baked goods.
If you are interested in ordering any of their gift boxes for Christmas, Fr. Philip passed on a tip that their annual sale will be on “Cyber Monday” (the Monday after Thanksgiving). Please note you will need to sign up for their special offer emails in advance as the deals will available exclusively by email (you can do so by entering your email address in the Special Offer Emails sign-up on the bottom-right of monksbread.com).
Monks’ Bread and Monks’ Specialty Bakery are works of the Trappist monks of the Abbey of the Genesee in Western New York. Manual work is an integral part of Trappist life. The bakery supports the monastery’s primary mission of prayer.
Monks’ offers a wide assortment of delicacies, including hand-baked Biscotti and Biscottini, rich Fruitcakes, savory Cheese Crisps, wholesome Fruit & Nut bars, Jams and Preserves, premium Nut Butters, and of course their famous Monks’ Bread.