Messages from the Pastor

Message from the Pastor on Coronavirus

| St. Charles Borromeo

Note: The below letter from Fr. Bill was posted on March 13. Since that time, the Diocese of Brooklyn has suspended public Masses. Please refer to the more recent postings for the most up-to-date information on the steps that St. Charles Borromeo is taking to respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

Sunday’s Gospel admonishes us to worship in “spirit and truth.” We should also add common sense. With the spread of the coronavirus, common sense will be very important. The parish has implemented the preventative measures recommended by the Diocese. Beyond that, the Church will be thoroughly cleaned again on Saturday by a professional cleaning company. Please note that our church is large enough and our attendance small enough that we should be able to provide the recommended social distance space for everyone.

Common sense however also is necessary to decide if you should attend Mass. Bishop DiMarzio announced today that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is suspended until further notice. People in the at risk groups, senior citizens (parishioners over 70 and certainly those over 80), people with underlying conditions, e.g. diabetes, or less than robust immune systems are encouraged to stay home. This does not mean that you should not worship especially on Sunday but that you should explore other means. Continue reading “Message from the Pastor on Coronavirus” →

Front Page

Praying at Mass While Being Smart About the Coronavirus

| St. Charles Borromeo

Below is guidance from the Diocese of Brooklyn to parishes and parishioners about the coronavirus. We have implemented all of the precautionary measures recommended below at St. Charles Borromeo. Please also see Fr. Smith’s message about the other steps being taken at our parish.

BEFORE LEAVING HOME

1. Ask yourself how are you feeling? Use common sense, if you are not feeling well you should not come to Mass. If you are genuinely sick you are not obligated to participate in the Sunday Celebration of Mass. You should stay home and rest so as not to risk getting yourself even sicker or spreading germs to others in their church. If you are sick you also should not go out to a mall or movie theatre.
2. Wash your hands. Health care professionals are consistent persistent that washing one’s hands is the best practice during flu season as well as this period of concern about the Novel Corona Virus.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. Continue reading “Praying at Mass While Being Smart About the Coronavirus” →

Messages from the Pastor

Update from the Diocese on Coronavirus

| St. Charles Borromeo
The Bishop has sent a statement for the entire Diocese in regards to the coronavirus emergency – the full text is below.
In summary:
1. The Bishop has dispensed with the obligation of attending Sunday Mass until further notice.
2. Public Masses, sacraments, and funerals will continue to be held with caution to protect personal health, with the goal of limiting large public gatherings.
3. Family Faith Formation, RCIA, and other group activities and events are suspended in person. We will be organizing opportunities to continue these activities online.
4. Diocesan schools and academies will be closed next week.
Further details about how we working to keep everyone safe and continue our ministry will be sent out in our regular Saturday email.
Please exercise caution in preserving the health of yourself and each other.
With our prayers,
Fr. Bill

Continue reading “Update from the Diocese on Coronavirus” →

Events

Ability to Attend Tonight’s Flannery O’Connor Meeting Remotely

| St. Charles Borromeo

Flannery O’Connor for Lent

Tonight is the second in our four-part discussion series with Grace Church on Flannery O’Connor’s short stories. We will discuss You Can’t Be Any Poorer than Dead (first chapter of the Violent Bear it Away). Tonight’s meeting will be held at Grace Church (254 Hicks Street).

There is an option to join tonight’s meeting remotely via your computer, tablet, smartphone, or by dialing in: [Zoom meeting details removed from website for security reasons]

We’ll open the online meeting at 7 PM. The full schedule is:

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

We continue to monitor the evolving impact of the coronavirus in New York City. Currently, all our weekend Masses and activities are planned to proceed. Since some of us may not be able to attend Mass in person, we have an option to stay connected to the parish by streaming the Mass from a computer, tablet, or phone, or by dialing in. More information will follow in the weekly email.

Homilies

2nd Sunday Lent – Fr. Smith Homily

| St. Charles Borromeo

The scripture readings for Lenten Masses are well chosen and effective. They are listed in the parish bulletin and I suggest that you read them beforehand. This is a wonderful way to enrich your experience of Mass. The prayers, however, are also beautiful and can teach us a great deal. Today in the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer, that is the prayer said immediately before the Holy, Holy, Holy, we will hear: ‘for after he had told his disciples of his coming death, on the holy mountain he manifested himself to them in his glory… to show that the Passion leads to the glory of the Resurrection”. This refers to the passage before today’s selection. They are connected by a common theme, the same characters but also by the experience of fear. Let us look at the last item. 

We come upon Jesus and the disciples at a rather frustrating time for Jesus.  He has been preaching to large crowds, but they have failed to understand his message. This is understandable. I doubt I would have understood Him in their place. Jesus was self-consciously fulfilling all the requirements of the Messiah but in completely unexpected and for most people incomprehensible ways. It is therefore remarkable that when he asked the disciples who they thought He was Peter, always the spokesman, responded “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” Jesus recognized that this insight came from the Father and told his disciples that he “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised”. (Mt 16: 21)   Continue reading “2nd Sunday Lent – Fr. Smith Homily” →