Homilies, Videos

All Saints – Homily (Fr. Smith)

| St. Charles Borromeo

I wish to congratulate our parishioners who have been reading the Pope Francis’ latest encyclical “Fratelli Tutti”. It is a deep work and will be well worth reading several times. With something as profound as this I like to have a key, a phrase or an idea which will put the entire work into perspective. I had trouble finding one until I heard a comment by a Franciscan friar who summed it up with “it doesn’t have to be like this”. This not only helps to interpret Fratelli Tutti, but also today’s gospel reading and feast.

Beatitude is usually translated as “blessing”: something which puts us in a good situation.

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Messages from the Pastor

All Saints’ Day – Seeing the Face of God in the Poor

| Fr. William Smith

All Saints I, Wassily Kandinsky, 1911, Lenbachhaus
(About this Image)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Psalm
Solemnity of All Saints
Psalm 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
November 1, 2020

This Sunday we celebrate All Saints’ Day and both non-gospel readings are from the New Testament. This provides the opportunity to look at the Psalm for the day. It is Psalm 24 and is one that has a universal meaning and appeal but one which also speaks powerfully to our time.

The Psalms are the church’s great songs. Like many of the Psalms, we are unsure when Psalm 24 was written. It is called a Psalm of David (Ps. 24:1) and some scholars think it could have been written in the early monarchy. Whether it does or not, the psalmist begins with a bold statement of the LORD’S power in the world:

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Bulletin

Missionary Collection Next Sunday

| St. Charles Borromeo

Due to the pandemic, the visiting missionaries were not able to make their traditional in-person appeals this year. To support the missionary groups, which desperately need our help, Bishop DiMarzio has requested each parish take up a second collection on November 8. The proceeds will go to the 42 missionary groups supported by the Brooklyn Diocese.

Bulletin

National Black Catholic History Month Events

| St. Charles Borromeo

November is National Black Catholic History Month. Ordinarily, we would have had a celebration commemorating National Black Catholic History Month here in the Diocese of Brooklyn, but because of the current restrictions we are unable to do so this year.

Instead, we invite you to join the upcoming online events hosted by the US Catholic Bishops. The series will focus on the soon to be Black Saints of our Church. It is entitled, “Celebrating the Cloud of Witnesses: Race, Resilience and Renewal”. It will take place over 3 Saturday afternoons, November 7, 14, and 21. The last Saturday will conclude with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington DC (who was appointed to be cardinal by Pope Francis last weekend). For more details and to register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cloud-of-witnesses-grant-funding-by-nbcc-daniel-rudd-fund-tickets-122107178859.

Messages from the Pastor

Follow-up on Faithful Citizenship

| Fr. William Smith

Last week we posted online, the Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship document from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Many of our parishioners read it and have made positive comments but also asked many questions. It is not a voter’s guide. It very clearly does not attempt to distill the candidate’s ideas on important issues and then compare them. Several Dioceses have created voter’s guides for their residents, but our Bishop has not. Also, many organizations that call themselves Catholic have issued them, but none are official. Indeed a few of these groups have only tenuous connections with the Church.

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Events, Videos

Community Mass – All Saints

| St. Charles Borromeo

Please join us for Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints – Sunday, November 1. Note that Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 AM on November 1.

  • 9 AM EST public Morning Mass celebrated at the Church (not streamed)
  • 11:15 AM EST Community Mass at celebrated at the Church and also streamed online. Instructions to view the Mass are available here. You can also watch the video via YouTube Live in the window below.
  • Today’s readings and hymns are available to download here: November 1. Hymnals, bulletins, and other handouts will not be available at the church. Please download on your phone or tablet, or bring your own missal.
  • Please follow the instructions of the ushers, and observe all of the 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
  • Annual Catholic Appeal – Contribute online here. Select “St. Charles Borromeo R.C. Church – Brooklyn” as the parish.