April 16, 2026

📰 News

Saturday, April 18, 9:00am, both parishes

We need volunteers to make bologna sandwiches for the hungry, clean and tidy up in the church, and plant at Assumption. We will meet at 9:00am for a bagel breakfast at Assumption Hall and St. Boniface Church.

Note: Sandwich making is at Assumption Parish Hall.

Whether you can lend a hand for one hour or three hours, your support is needed! Please click here to sign up.

Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Openings

The Brooklyn Oratory Parishes Pastoral Council (Assumption & St. Boniface) is seeking a diversity of candidates to run as new members. The two-year term begins in September 2026. The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body that advises parish priests on parish issues and events. Members are expected to attend monthly meetings (primarily by Zoom) between September and June. The only experience necessary is a love for our parishes. Self-nominations are quite normal, so don't be shy. To nominate yourself or a fellow parishioner, please send a one-paragraph bio with a headshot photo to Fr. Anthony at aandreassi@oratorychurch.org by April 23.

Welcome Maria Trizzino

Recently, the Oratory Parishes welcomed Maria Trizzino to the staff as a part-time office assistant. Maria is a parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Dyker Heights, where she has lived her entire life. She serves there as a holiday decorating assistant. She also sometimes attends the Shrine of St. Bernadette and the Basilica of Regina Pacis. With more than twenty years of experience in Catholic schools, Maria is delighted to join the Brooklyn Oratory Parishes community as an administrative assistant. She looks forward to meeting parishioners and becoming part of parish life. Parishioners may also spot her walking along the promenade, enjoying the beautiful scenery. Maria will work at the parish office on Wednesdays and Fridays. Carole Fabrizio will be off on Fridays.

Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA)

We would like to thank all the generous individuals who have made pledges to the 2026 Annual Catholic Appeal in our parish. We are asking each family to consider making a tax-deductible gift today, if you have not already.

As you know, funds from the ACA support critical programs, institutions, and ministries that further the Church’s mission in Brooklyn and Queens, including Catholic Charities, Catholic Migration Services, Catholic chaplaincies in hospitals and prisons, and faith formation for young people and seminarians. A full description of the organizations and people helped by the ACA can be found by clicking here.

Assumption	$28,139	Parish ID #1019
St. Boniface	$71,183	Parish ID #2034

If you are on PushPay, you can participate by selecting the ACA fund.

For Assumption, click here to donate.

For St. Boniface, click here to donate.

Once we exceed our goals, we receive 100% of all funds above this back directly to the parishes. Thank you as always for your generosity!

Saturday, May 2, 11:00am, corner of Henry and Pineapple Streets

Pineapple Street Becomes "Dorothy Day Way"

On Saturday, May 2 at 11:00am, join fellow Oratory Parishioners, the Dorothy Day Guild (for her canonization), and the Dorothy Day Center of Manhattan University on Saturday, May 2 at 11:00am at the corner of Henry and Pineapple Streets for this honorary street naming. Light refreshments will follow in Assumption Hall. Dorothy Day was born on Pineapple Street in 1897.

October 9–16

Pilgrimage: Rome in the Footsteps of St. Philip Neri

Come join Fathers Mark Paul and Anthony, together with fellow Oratory parishioners and friends, for a grace-filled pilgrimage to Rome in the spirit of St. Philip Neri. More than a visit to the Eternal City, this journey offers the opportunity to pray where St. Philip prayed, walk the streets he walked, and visit the churches and sacred places where his joyful witness shaped the life of the Church and gave birth to the Oratory. Celebrating Mass together in Rome, especially in the places so closely connected to our Oratorian heritage, promises to be a deeply moving spiritual experience.

This pilgrimage will be a beautiful time of prayer, fellowship, history, and renewal in the heart of the Church, allowing us to deepen our faith as we walk in the footsteps of our spiritual father, St. Philip. Click here for detailed information on the itinerary and to register.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 18, 9:00am, both parishes

🧹 Community Day of Service

Details in the news section above or on the parish website.

Sunday, April 26, following the 11:15am Mass, St. Boniface

☕ Sister Parish Feast Day Coffee Hour

April 25 is the feast day of St. Mark’s Parish, our sister parish in Turkana. In joyful solidarity with the St. Mark’s community, we invite you to a Coffee Hour at St. Boniface as we celebrate this special day together. For the first time in several years, a small group from St. Boniface will travel to Turkana to visit our sister parish in person. During the visit, they will join Father Edwin in traveling to the parish outstations to distribute food to those in need. The food will be purchased in Nairobi and brought to the parish by the group. To support this effort, a collection jar will be available at the Coffee Hour on April 26 and again at the St. Philip Neri Picnic in May. Any contribution, large or small, will directly assist our sister parish community. Thank you for your generosity and for helping us strengthen the bonds of friendship and faith with our brothers and sisters in Turkana.

Sunday, April 26, 2:00pm, Union Square

🚶 Dorothy Day Walk

The Oratory Social Justice Committee (SJAC) and the Oratory Young Adults are co-sponsoring a Dorothy Day walk in Manhattan. Please join us as we walk in the footsteps of this quintessential New Yorker and Catholic Social Teaching icon and visit locations that were formative to Dorothy Day's life and ministry. The walk begins at Union Square at 2:00pm and will last approximately 2.5 hours. Please reach out to Julie Fissinger at juliecfm@msn.com or Colin Pugh at c.pugh9@gmail.com for more information. All are welcome! Click here to sign up.

Friday, May 1, 6:00pm, Assumption Hall

👋 Oratory Teen Group Meeting

PULSE, the new Oratory Teen Group, will have its monthly meeting on Friday, May 1 at Assumption Hall at 6:00pm. Whether you've been at the parish forever or you're just checking things out, you belong here. For more information and to RSVP, have your child join our BAND group by clicking here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Joe O'Brien at jobrien@oratorychurch.org

Saturday, May 2, 11:00am, corner of Henry and Pineapple Streets

✝️ Pineapple Street Becomes "Dorothy Day Way"

Details in the news section above.

Sunday, May 3, 12:45pm, St. Boniface

⛪ Annual Joan Sexton Memorial Women in the Church Presentation

We are delighted to welcome Sr. Jenn Schaaf, OP, Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Dominican University, in conversation with Oratory parishioner Ginny Woods on the graces and challenges of ministry and leadership in the Church today. We hope many will remain after Mass for this timely and important conversation.

Tuesday. May 5, 6:30pm, Assumption Hall

📕 Book Talk: Painting Prayer: Why Faith Needs Art—and Art Needs Faith

Come to hear author and parishioner Alfonse Borysewicz in conversation with Erin McAtee from ArtHouse2b about Alfonse's new book. The event will be followed by a book signing. Some of Alfonse's works are permanently installed in the Church of St. Boniface.

Wednesday, May 6, 7:00pm, Zoom

🙏 End-of-Life Decision-Making

Few of us enjoy thinking about end-of-life decisions. Yet advances in modern medicine mean that we are living longer than ever, making it especially important for us, no matter our age, to reflect on our values and to share our wishes with those we love. These conversations can be difficult—but they are also an expression of care, faith, and responsibility. The Catholic Church offers clear and compassionate guidance on end-of-life care, helping us honor the dignity of every human life while making prudent medical decisions. Do you have questions about what the Church teaches? Are you unsure how those teachings apply in real medical situations or under New York State law? Join retired chaplain and healthcare ethics consultant Sarah Spieldenner, BCC, HEC-C, for a thoughtful, practical, and interactive presentation on Catholic principles for end-of-life care, what to look out for, and what you need to know legally in New York State. Come away better informed—and with greater peace of mind. Please click here to register.

Sunday, May 17, Joy-Us Together Mass, following 10:30am Mass, Assumption

🎊 St. Philip Neri Picnic at Assumption

Both parishes will have a joint celebration of Mass on Sunday, May 17 at 10:30am at Assumption Church. We will all gather after Mass in front of Assumption Church on Cranberry Street to celebrate our Saint of Joy. There will be delicious food, exciting children's activities, cotton candy, a dog dress-up contest, and more. This year, we will have a GameTruck for the children. The success of our picnic greatly depends on the efforts and dedication of volunteers like you. We need volunteers to help with setup and breakdown, grilling, baking, food transport, and more. To volunteer, email Bill Vinicombe at williamvinicombe@mac.com

Note: No 11:15am Mass at St. Boniface on Sunday, May 17.

⛪️ Weekly Mass Intention Schedule

Third Sunday of Easter

Weekly Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/readings

ASSUMPTION

4/18	5:00pm	Antonio Acerra
4/19	9:30am	Benjamin Sloane-French
4/20	8:00am	People of the Parish
4/21	8:00am	Thomas Sattie
4/22	8:00am	David Campbell
4/23	8:00am	Giuseppe Soru
4/24	8:00am	David Kalafarski

ST. BONIFACE

4/19	11:15am	Frances Alferman
4/19	6:00pm	People of the Parish
4/20	12:10pm	Tom Anderson
4/21	12:10pm	Open Intention
4/22	12:10pm	Prayer Service
4/23	12:10pm	Nancy Baggs
4/24	12:10pm	Open Intention

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

Maryanne Muhs, Kristen Jordan, Msgr. Don L. Fischer, Cian Morales, Alexander Endacott, Michelle Falcone-Wolf, Debbie O’Connor, Cathleen Harvey, Margaret Slattery, Thomas Medurga, Elizabeth Hooper, Eileen Acheson Bohn, Mary Cella, Janice Clarke, Alice Mulholland, Mary Simon Charles, Kim Manzi, John Michael

Rest in Peace

Sammy Matthews, Joseph DeLeo, Anita Bello, Mary Jean Tindor, Sr. John Rose, OP, Dorothy Carricola, Benjamin Sloane-French

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

🙏 Pope Leo's Prayer Intention for April

Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.