February 19th, 2026

A Note from the Director of OCIA

Happy Lent!

Last Sunday—”Alleluia Sunday” as we’ve come to call it—we had the grace of celebrating the first of many OCIA initiations as we celebrated the Rite of Reception of a Baptized Christian for Mackay MorganArmstrong. She has been undergoing formation since last summer, and will soon be relocating for work. So we decided to celebrate her Reception, Confirmation, and first Communion as a Catholic a little early. It was a beautiful celebration that gives us a wonderful preview of what to expect as we begin our Lenten journey and prepare for Easter.

One down, forty-three more to go! And that’s just the English-speaking OCIA side. If we count our Spanish-language OCIA, our Adult Confirmation process, and Religious Education, I would hedge that we will initiate over one hundred people in various ways. 

We hope you enjoy our OCIA video column above, which shares the following updates and invitations in more detail:

• This Friday at 6:30 PM, several of our Catechumens and Candidates will lead our "OCIA Stations of the Cross."
• This Sunday will be a major milestone as we begin the Rite of Sending of Catechumens for Election during our 10 AM mass. Our group will then head over to St. Patrick's Cathedrail for the Rite of Election alongside almost 1,000 other initiates.
• On March 1, we will hold the Penitential Rite (Scrutiny) during our 5 PM Mass for our 23 Baptized Candidates, both Catholic Candidates who are preparing to complete their initiation, and Candidates for Full Communion.
• Then on the following Sundays, we will celebrate the Scrutiny Rites. They are simple yet profound, dramatic, and enriching. 

While Christian Initiation involves the particular responsibility of the pastoral staff, all the faithful share in this responsibility. Our catechumens depend on our prayerful support, and I guarantee that you will be renewed by sharing this journey. Join us in person or online as much as you can to exercise your baptismal priesthood. Whenever you can, stop by the Annunciation Altar to say a special prayer for all who are journeying to the Easter sacraments. Know that we are praying for you, too.

Thank you for all that you do by showing up, by praying and singing with gusto, and by infusing our magnificent church with joy, faith, and hope. 

Dr. Dave de la Fuente

Director of OCIA, St. Paul the Apostle

PRÓXIMAMENTE: Boletín informativo por correo electrónico en español

Estamos trabajando para ampliar nuestro alcance y mejorar la accesibilidad de nuestras comunicaciones parroquiales para todos los feligreses. En las próximas semanas, esperamos ofrecer nuestros boletines semanales completos por correo electrónico en español para quienes se sientan más cómodos leyéndolos de esa manera. Como parte de este proceso, esperamos evaluar el interés y comenzar a crear nuestra lista de correo. Por favor, complete el formulario a continuación con su nombre y el correo electrónico desde el que recibe actualmente nuestro boletín para asegurarse de estar incluido en estos correos en español.

Gracias y que Dios los bendiga!

This week's donation item: Boxed Mac and Cheese

Next Meeting March 1st

Support The Paulist Appeal:

Building Bridges Through Charity

Thank you to everyone who has made a gift to the Annual Paulist Appeal for 2026: "Building Bridges Through Charity." We are blessed by your support!

The appeal raises vital funds for vocations outreach; housing and graduate school tuition for our seminarians; health care for senior Paulist Fathers; Mission Impact Grants in support of our mission priorities; and more.

Learn how to contribute to this year’s Paulist Appeal by going to www.paulist.org/apa, or by clicking the button below:

Regardless of your ability to make a financial gift at this time, please keep us in your prayers!

Together with the Holy Spirit, you enable everything we do!

Yesterday during Ash Wednesday, we saw thousands of New Yorkers come through our doors to receive ashes and begin their Lenten journey of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Every candle rack throughout the church is full of the prayers of all who joined us. We look forward to journeying with you during Lent in hopeful anticipation of Holy Week!

Before Lent began, we gathered as a parish for one final Fat Tuesday celebration - complete with pancakes, bingo, music, raffles, crafts, and a whole lot of fun! Check out the video linked above for a brief recap of the festivities.

Pictured above are the winners of our Mardi Gras mask-making competition! From right to left, the three categories were "most spirit-filled," "most Paulist," and "most over-the-top!"

Thanks to everyone who helped organize the event and for parishioners for bringing so much enthusiasm to the evening.

Congratulations to Mackey for entering into the Catholic church! At last Sunday's 5PM mass, we celebrated the Rite of Reception of a Baptized Christian, the means through which an OCIA candidate is confirmed and makes their first communion. Please keep her in your prayers in the coming weeks.

Grant eternal rest to Ben Allen, Jack McKenna, Ronald Miller, Solange Bricourt, Elsa DeCarli, Jose Humberto Rodriguez, Tatiana Schlossberg, Margaretha Mueliani,Freddy Sutjiawan, and Tommy Mazzone.

Grant health and healing to Barbara Abady, Denise Abady, Larry Danziger, Diane Sheedy, Ronald DeCarli, Patrick Hagan, Joyce Joseph , Doris, Finkelstein, Jim Zepeda, Kelly Small Casler, Anne Guerbe, Susan A. Seigle, Shelly Greene, Luz Maria Baquera, Chelsea, and Michael.

Grant peace and well-being to John J. Kenny, Anne Guerbe, Jennifer and Lola DeCarli, Christopher Henderson, and Matthew Martorana.

Have someone you would like our parish to pray for? You can submit prayer requests through our online form below. The names in your intentions will be shared with the parish here and will remain in our virtual newsletter one month after submission.

Click the button below to fill out our prayer request form:

Church Hours

Monday-Tuesday, Thursday - Friday

7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday

7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Saturday

8:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Sunday

7:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Mass Schedule

Daily Mass 


Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

7:30 AM and 12:10 PM

Wednesday

7:30 AM, 12:10 PM, and 6:30 PM

Saturday

8:30AM 


Sunday Mass


Saturday

5:00 PM (Vigil)

Sunday

8:00 AM - Mass Without Music

10:00 AM - Mass With St. Paul's Choir

12:30 PM - Misa con Coro en Español

5:00 PM - Mass With Inspirit Ensemble



Help Us Make 2026 Our Biggest Year of Outreach

Your generous donations enable us to serve the people of St. Paul's through our ministries, events, outreach programs, and so much more - not to mention the cost of keeping the church warm during these brisk winter months!

We've put some information below about how you can give back if you are able to. Please note that you can direct your donations to the ministry of your choice, whether that be to our food pantry, your favorite community-building ministry, or more!

To donate online go to www.stpaultheapostle.org and click on "Make a Donation" in the top right corner. Please remember that you can have your donations go directly to the ministry of your choice!

Or with the Faith Direct Text-TO-GIVE platform, you can text a donation to make a quick gift to help support The Church of St. Paul the Apostle.

Just text NY539 to the number (646) 859-1860 to enroll.

You can also find us on Venmo. Just scan the QR code above, or search for @stpaulsnyc to donate now!

Our services, along with the readings and hymns for weekends, can be found on our SPA app - you can download it by scanning the relevant QR code above! Our app also has an online "copy" you can access through your phone's browser in case you have difficult accessing it. Find it at https://stpaulny.web4uapps.com.