March 20, 2025

Erick Breckenridge, our candidate for full communion in the Catholic Church, along with his wife and sponsor, Jennie, participated in the Rite of Continuing Conversion last Sunday at Our Lady of Angels Church in Brooklyn. Bishop DiMarzio presided at the prayer service, asking God’s blessing on all diocesan candidates preparing for confirmation and Eucharist at Easter. Let’s continue to pray for Eric and those preparing for the reception of the sacraments this Easter.

📰 News

Been a while? Tips for Going Back to Confession

Lent is a time when many people think about returning to the sacrament of reconciliation. But if it’s been a while, that can be kind of a daunting idea. What are the words I’m supposed to say exactly? And what happens if I don’t do it right? Learn more.

2025 Holy Week and Easter Schedule

As we continue to prepare for Easter, connect with the Oratory community on retreats, vespers, the sacraments, and Holy Week Masses. See the full schedule here.

Social Justice Action/St. Mary Star of the Sea (SMSS) Donation Request

St. Mary's Star of the Sea pop-up shop for recently arrived migrants is very grateful for the generous support from the Oratory community. There is still a need for the following items at this time:

Fall & winter clothing in Small or Medium sizes for adults, or for school-aged children
Spring/summer clothing for all groups EXCEPT infants
Toiletries, new underwear, and sneakers
Ready-to-eat, non-perishable food such as granola, cheese & cracker packs, fruit bars, trail mix; please NO food that needs refrigeration or cooking
(Also, please no book donations!)

Donations can be dropped off Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues from 8:30am to 12:00pm at 467 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231. If you'd like to arrange an alternate drop-off, or have a question, please contact Mary Carriero at mcarriero19@gmail.com. Due to limited space at the pop-up shop, please only donate the noted needed items at this time. Thank you!

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Saturday, March 22, 9:00am–12:00pm, Assumption

🙏 Lenten Retreat

Join us for our annual Lenten retreat which will be led by Sr. Alice Feeley, a Sister of the Divine Compassion and a longtime friend of Fr. Anthony. We will start with a Mass at 9:00am in the church, followed by hospitality before the retreat begins. We hope to see you there! Register here.

Saturday, March 22, 9:00am, Assumption

⛪ Lenten Pilgrimage

Assumption Parish is hosting a day in the Lenten Pilgrimage of Brooklyn and Queens which invites people to visit a different parish each day, except Sundays, during Lent. This year, forty parishes are designated for specific days on the itinerary where people can visit different parishes to experience the church’s beauty and the community’s beauty. Visit the Pilgrimage website to download the app and view the pilgrimage itinerary. At each stop, pilgrims can join local parishioners at Mass, or in Eucharistic Adoration, prayer, reflection, and more. Learn more.

Sunday, March 23, 8:30am, Assumption Hall

📖 First Communion Class

Click here for more information.

Sunday, March 23, both parishes

🤲 Lenten Second Collection for Homeboy Industries

Founded by Jesuit priest Fr. Greg Boyle, Homeboy Industries provides training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community. Donations can be made on Pushpay. Your generosity is appreciated.

Sunday, March 23, following 9:30am Mass, Assumption

☕ Coffee Hour

Friday, March 28, 6:00pm, Assumption Hall

🍿 Popcorn With The Pope

The Social Justice Action Committee will be hosting a potluck and screening of Cabrini (2024), a beautiful film about America's first saint who fought fiercely for the immigrants of her day. Click here to RSVP.

Sunday, March 30, 4:00pm, St. Boniface

🙏 Oratory Vespers

Let’s pray together at the Oratory Vespers on Laetare Sunday and so enter more deeply into the Lenten season. Participating in Vespers can be a perfect way to slow down and prepare for Easter. We’ll mark the halfway point of Lent through prayer, scripture, song, and reflection. Patrick O'Reilly, longtime parishioner and member of the RCIA team, will reflect on the Sunday’s reading from 1 Samuel 16. Learn more.

Saturday, April 12, 8:30am–12:30pm, Assumption

👪 Family Faith Formation (F3) Class

Click here for more information.

Saturday, April 12, 9:00am, both parishes

🧹 Community Service Day

Join us for a day of service as we beautify our churches for Easter. This year the F3 religious education children will join us by preparing bologna sandwiches for those in need. We hope to make 500 sandwiches! Check your email for updates from Fr. Kishore. Please sign up here.

Monday, April 14, both parishes

✝️ Reconciliation Monday

As we prepare for Easter, in addition to our regular weekly times for confession, churches throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn, Rockville Centre, and the Archdiocese of NY will offer extended periods for the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation (also known as the sacrament of “confession” or “penance”). Click here for the full schedule.

👪 Family Faith and First Communion Resource Guide

Click here to learn more about the Oratory Parishes' Family Faith Formation (F3) and First Communion Classes.

💐 Easter Flower Offerings

If you would like to dedicate altar flowers in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone, please send in the name(s) to info@oratorychurch.org or include the names on your parish giving envelopes. We will print the names and remember them at Mass on Easter Sunday. The suggested donation for altar flowers is $20.00. You can make your payment on Pushpay by selecting the appropriate dropdown menu.

⛪️ Weekly Mass Intention Schedule

Third Sunday of Lent

Weekly Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/readings

ASSUMPTION

3/22	5:00pm	Intentions: Sharon Bagley
3/23	9:30am	People of the Parish
3/24	8:00am	Healing: Treva Taylor
3/25	8:00am	Dimas G. Navarro
3/26	8:00am	Dr. James P. Fairbairn
3/27	8:00am	Pina Gallaro
3/28	8:00am	Isagani N. Genabe

ST. BONIFACE

3/23	11:15am	People of the Parish
3/23	6:00pm	Patrick Irons
3/24	12:10pm	Priest's Intention
3/25	12:10pm	Norma Amedee
3/26	12:10pm	Community Prayer
3/27	12:10pm	Healing: Msgr. Don L. Fisher
3/28	12:10pm	Maureen McLaren

If you would like to request a Mass for someone living or deceased, Mass Intentions are available. Email info@oratorychurch.org. The offering is $20. Please pay by using Pushpay or by mailing a check to 64 Middagh St. Brooklyn, NY 11201.

🙏 Prayer List

Please keep the sick of the community in your prayers

Msgr. Don L. Fischer, Eddie Graves, Tom Janczys, Treva Taylor, Walter Buesner, Lisa Gatlig, Nicholas Paccione, Susan Rehberg, Elizabeth Valenti, Mary Cella, Riley Forelli, Laurie Rising, Janice Clarke, Maria Fusco, Alice Mulholland, Mary Simon Charles, Kim Manzi

Rest in Peace

William Gould, Janine Curran, Isabel Alvarez, Angelo Norelli, John Gargano, Stephen Janove, Pina Gallaro, Ayako Saji, Henry Cortes, Elaine Grygo, Mike Hawkins, Michael McComiskey, Sharon Anderson

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

🏙️ Beyond the Oratory

March 31, 7:00–9:00 pm, St. Ignatius Church (Manhattan)

Lecture: The Long Pilgrimage of Dorothy Day

As part of the “Pilgrims of Hope” lecture series, Robert Ellsberg, publisher at Orbis Books, will reflect on Dorothy Day's long life "on pilgrimage" and the way her faith was tested by daily life and the challenges of history. Click here to learn more.