November 6, 2025

On November 1, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV proclaimed St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church, honoring his profound theological insight and spiritual wisdom. In commemoration of this moment, click here to watch an illuminating interview on the enduring influence of Newman’s thought with Fr. Richard Smith—Newman scholar and director of last year’s Advent retreat at the Oratory.

🙏 Pope Leo's Intentions for November

Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.

📰 News

Submitting Names for the Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful)

To ensure that the names of your loved ones are spoken clearly and respectfully during Mass, please email the names of the sick or deceased to Carole Fabrizio at cfabrizio@oratorychurch.org by Wednesday at 12:00pm. This procedure allows us to prepare a clean, typewritten list for the lectors, ensuring that every name is included accurately and read with care and reverence. Your cooperation in this process is greatly appreciated

Support for the Oratory in Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa has devastated large areas in the northeast of Jamaica, where the Oratory of Port Antonio cares for four rural parishes. Many families have lost their crops (which represent their main source of income), and the small weekly offerings that help keep the parishes running have dried up also.

The Oratory is a vital presence in these communities: it provides food vouchers for struggling families, assists with medical and educational expenses, and runs a remarkable children’s symphony orchestra program that offers music instruction, mentorship, meals, and hope to young people. The Oratory’s priests and lay leaders are also expanding outreach to neighboring communities that suffered even greater damage in the storm.

A special collection in support of the works of the Jamaica Oratory will take place at all weekend Masses. To make a donation online, please use PushPay on the parish website and select the dropdown "Jamaica Relief."

Please Volunteer for Warm Clothing Distribution at Assumption

The Brooklyn Oratory SJAC will be working with the Brooklyn Heights Interfaith Network to host a series of warm clothing distributions in Brooklyn Heights for our neighbors in need. Our parishes will be hosting on Sunday, November 16 and December 28 in Assumption Hall. Setup is the day before, and lots of volunteers are needed for setup and the running of the Little Shop of Kindness. We are in particular need of Virtus-trained adults or teenagers to mind children while their parents shop. While no language skills are needed to volunteer, if you speak a second language please let us know when you sign up. We hope to see you there! Click here to sign up.

Saturday, December 6, 2025, 9:00am–12:00pm, Assumption

Advent Retreat

Join together with other parishioners from the Oratory Parishes for a prayerful start to the Advent season. We will begin with Mass in the Church, followed by time for personal reflection, communal prayer, and meaningful conversation. This retreat offers space to step away from the busyness of life, meet others on the journey, and prepare your heart for the coming of Christ. All are welcome. Click here to register.

2025 Baronius Lecture

The 2025 Baronius Lecture "St. John Henry Newman: Why a Doctor of the Church?" can now be viewed on the Oratory’s YouTube page. Click here to watch.

Veterans Day Holiday

No weekday Masses will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 11 for the Veterans Day holiday. In addition, the parish office will be closed.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

We invite you to join us in spreading warmth and kindness through our Thanksgiving Food Drive. All food collected will be donated to Hour Children. Food will be collected through Sunday, November 23. Non-perishables may be left in the rear of either church in the areas marked “Food Drive.” Click here for a list of items being collected.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Thursday, November 6, 6:00pm, Assumption Hall

📽️ SJAC Film Screening of Souleymane’s Story (2024)

Please join the Social Justice Action Committee (SJAC) for a screening of Souleymane's Story (2024), in which a Paris food delivery cyclist and asylum-seeker from West Africa has two days to prepare his story for a make-or-break interview to secure legal residency. Potluck dinner followed by facilitated conversation with Oratory parishioners Julius Lang and Lou Kuhlmann. Please bring a dish or beverage to share.  

Friday, November 7, 7:30pm, Randolph Beer

🪶 Oratory Young Adult Social: Feather Bowl Social

Randolph Beer is known for having New York City's first and only Feather Bowling courts, so come out and try your hand at this unique Belgian game that's a mix of shuffleboard and bocce. What to expect: feather bowling, great company, good drinks, and a social night out. Click here to RSVP.

Sunday, November 9, 8:15am, Assumption

✝️ First Communion Class

Sunday, November 9, 9:30am, Assumption

🙏 Baptism Sunday

Saturday, November 15

🍂 Oratory Young Adult Community Event

The OYA is heading up to the Bronx to visit Abraham House. Run by Thrive for Life, this amazing organization supports formerly incarcerated individuals through housing, scholarships, and education. We will join the community for Mass at 11:30am, followed by a Thanksgiving-themed lunch. A few of us will also be sharing about our careers and callings. It’s a meaningful day of connection, reflection, and community. For more information, email Joe O'Brien at jobrien@oratorychurch.org

Sunday, November 16, after 9:30am Mass, Assumption

☕ Coffee Hour 

Sponsored by our St. Mark’s Sister Parish Turkana Committee.

November 19, 7:00pm, Assumption Community Room

📖 Adult Faith Formation: Scripture Study

We invite you to join us for a monthly Lectio Divina and Scripture Study series led by Fr. Kishore Nagothu, focusing on the Gospel of Matthew, which will be the main Gospel for the upcoming liturgical year (Year A). All sessions meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00–8:00pm in the Assumption Community Community Room, from November 2025 through May 2026. You are welcome to attend as many sessions as you are able. Please save the dates: November 19, December 17, January 21, February 18, March 18, April 8, and May 20. Please click this link to register or email Fr. Anthony Balakishore Nagothu at knagothu@oratorychurch.org

Sunday, November 23, 9:30am, Assumption

👪 Family Faith Sunday

Thursday, November 27, 9:00am, Assumption

⛪ Thanksgiving Day Mass

Celebrate Thanksgiving Day Mass at ABVM along with our friends from St. Charles Borromeo and St. James Cathedral.  

Saturday, December 6, 9:00am, Assumption Hall 

🕯️ Advent Retreat

More information in the News section above or on the Oratory website event page.

Friday, December 12, 7:00pm, Assumption Hall

🎄 Christmas Pageant

Get ready for the 2025 Assumption Parish Christmas Pageant! This isn’t your grandmother's event! Kids will learn Christmas carols and fun dance steps while rehearsals provide parents with free babysitting (don’t forget to send a water bottle for them to stay hydrated). If any parents can help with pizza for Friday rehearsals, it would be greatly appreciated. Don't miss out—be there or risk the naughty list! For more information, contact info@oratorychurch.org

Saturday, January 24, 9:00am, Assumption Hall

🗓️ Ministry Morning: Save the Date

⛪️ Weekly Mass Intention Schedule

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Weekly Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/readings

ASSUMPTION

ST. BONIFACE

Mass Intentions

It has been a long tradition in the Church to offer Masses for people to pray, especially for the dead, seeking God’s grace, mercy, and spiritual benefits through Christ’s sacrifice. Usually a modest donation is given for this. In the coming weeks we have several Masses with no particular intentions. If you would like to have a Mass offered for someone (living or deceased), email the parish office at info@oratorychurch.org or click here.  



🙏 Prayer List

Please keep the sick of the community in your prayers

Ellen Papa, Steve Molitor, Donald Neuman, Cinara Navarro, Hilda Concepción, Joe DeLeo, Geri Kirsling, Carl Weisser, Stanley Adolphus, Zhiguang Gao, Elizabeth Hooper, Eileen Acheson Bohn, Mary Cella, Janice Clarke, Alice Mulholland, Mary Simon Charles, Kim Manzi, John Michael

Rest in Peace

Eileen Gormley, George Mayer, Louis Srour, Nicola Tanzi, Josephine Brattoli, Marjorie Srour, Danielle Santos, W. Richard Rohde, Frank Pizzo, Marie McNamara, Brandon Warden, Marie Turley, Arlene Vinicombe, Antonio Lisboa

If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, email the parish office at info@oratorychurch.org or click here.



🕯️ Assumption Candle Dedications

• Sanctuary candle offered by Connie Leone
• Blessed Mother candle offered by Kathy Reynolds
• St. Joseph candle offered by Connie Leone
• St. Jude candle offered by Kathy Reynolds

👋 Get Involved

Become a member of the Oratory community by joining some of our many volunteer groups and ministries. Learn about opportunities to connect here.



🏙️ Beyond the Oratory

Thursday, November 13, 6:30pm, St. Ann’s and the Holy Trinity Church (Brooklyn Heights)

Sanctuary of Sound: An Evening of Immersive Music for Strings and Choir

You are invited to a fall concert presented by Opportunity Music Project, which provides full-scholarship music education to children in NYC. The program features singers from our Oratory community and OMP faculty and students performing works by Palestrina, Byrd, di Lasso, Bach, and Vaughan Williams. Tickets are $30. Click here for tickets and more information. Proceeds will help support all of OMP's music education programming.

Opportunities for Children

The Oratory Parishes have been renting space to various music and after-school programs. These groups would welcome new participants, especially our parishioners. Feel free to contact them:

A Piano Grows In Brooklyn

Individual piano lessons for adults and children, weekday afternoons/evenings at St. Boniface.

Violin Lessons with Deborah Nixon

Individual lessons for adults and children, weekday afternoons/evenings at Assumption. For more information, please reach out to Deborah at violindeb@gmail.com

McManus Irish Dance

Children through high school age, Friday afternoons at Assumption.

Nory STEM Science Camps

Day-long sessions at Assumption for elementary school age, various dates.

Soccer Stars 

Children under 6, weekdays and Saturdays at Assumption.

Super Stars Tennis

Children under 8, weekdays and Saturdays at Assumption.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

55 Cranberry St.

Brooklyn Heights

Church of St. Boniface

190 Duffield St.

Downtown Brooklyn

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Mass Times, Adoration, and Novenas

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Sacraments