Next Sunday, July 11, we will be visited by a missionary from the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. Their ministry focuses serving those in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, especially the homeless, street children, the orphans, children with disabilities, children living with HIV-AIDS, refugees, elderly, youth, single mothers and those affected by the pandemic, which is currently surging in Africa.
The Little Sisters ask for our prayers and financial support of their ministry for the marginalized children who have been impacted greatly by COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to contribute, you can do so through our online giving site, https://stcharlesbklyn.weshareonline.org/ws/opportunities/LittleSistersofSaintFrancis.
Below is more information about the Little Sisters of St. Francis.
Letter to the Ephesians: Focus of Fr. Smith’s Commentary This Summer
Last summer, the Parish Scripture Commentary in our weekly emails examined St. Paul’s “Letter to the Romans.” This year, the Second Reading from next week to the end the summer will be from his “Letter to the Ephesians.” This is an interesting letter with many insights for today.
Discussion of End of the Modern World Begins this Thursday
This Thursday, July 8 at 7 PM, we will begin discussing Romano Guardini’s The End of the Modern World, one of Pope Francis’s favorite works. For this session, we will discuss through Chapter 2.
The Brownstone Brooklyn and Beyond book group meets weekly on Thursdays at 7 PM. It is comprised of parishioners from various churches in the Brooklyn Heights/Park Slope area. The book club was the subject of a short video that was presented at the recent World Communications Day virtual conference. The video includes an interview with Fr. John and some familiar shots along Sidney Place. Please join in the discussion on our parish Zoom channel.
14th Sunday Ordinary Time – Homily (Fr. Smith)
Many Christians believe that if we knew Jesus in the flesh, we would have immediately understood him and believed in him. We would certainly not join the crowd that cried for his execution nor his disciples who abandoned him to the cross. I am not certain about myself, and Mark is skeptical about everyone. Let’s see why.
We find Jesus today on a roll. Last week we saw him cure the sick and raise the dead. Before that he cast out demons, cleansed lepers and performed a host of other miracles. He taught the first parables and calmed the sea itself. What could stop him? His own people.
Continue reading “14th Sunday Ordinary Time – Homily (Fr. Smith)”Learning from Our Priest/Prophets
Jesus Unrolls the Book in the Synagogue (detail),
James Tissot, 1886-1894, Brooklyn Museum
(About this Image)
When the sabbath came
he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor
except in his native place…”
(Mark 6:2, 3-5)
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ezekiel 3:2-5
July 4, 2021
Priests and prophets are both important in the history of the Jews. They fulfill separate roles. Ideally, they work together, but as often as not, there was conflict. Before and during the exile in Babylon, we see the extortionary situation when priests became prophets. This is a sign of crises and has occurred in our own times.
The principal responsibly of the Jewish priest, as indeed the Catholic or Orthodox priest today, is to offer sacrifice. Originally, this was the privilege of the head of the clan or tribal group. We several times see Abraham offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Over the centuries this developed into the professional and hereditary priesthood. With Moses, this process was codified into Law and with Solomon, sacrifice not only needed to be performed by a hereditary priest but only at the Temple in Jerusalem.
Continue reading “Learning from Our Priest/Prophets”Community Mass – 14th Sunday Ordinary Time
Please join us to celebrate the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time on Sunday, July 4th.
Our current Mass times are:
- 9 AM EDT – Morning Mass – in person, not streamed
- 11:15 AM EDT – Community Mass – in person and streamed online
- 7 PM EDT – Evening Mass – in person, not streamed
Instructions to view the Mass are available here. You can also watch the video via YouTube Live in the window above.
The Gather 3rd Edition Hymnal/Missals are now available for use in the church – pick one up as you enter and return it after Mass. Instructions on how to use the hymnal missal are available here: https://www.stcharlesbklyn.org/hymnal-missal/
Entrance: There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy – 644
Readings and Responsorial Psalm – 1132
Offertory: Open My Eyes – 651
Communion: Taste and See – 930
Closing: Let There Be Peace on Earth – 829
Today’s readings are also available to download here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070421.cfm
- Please follow the instructions of the ushers, and observe all of the posted health precautions so that we can continue to worship together safely.
- Support our Parish – Please contribute to our General Collection online here.
- Help us support Catholic Charities Food Pantries in Brooklyn and Queens online
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.