November 13, 2025

Blessings to our newly baptized!

📰 News

Increased Offertory Program

All registered parishioners should have received a letter about our Increased Offertory Program. We are asking every household to prayerfully consider its regular financial stewardship of the Oratory Parishes of Assumption and St. Boniface. Your regular commitment helps sustain our liturgies, ministries, and programs, especially those that support faith formation. Your generosity makes our parish life possible. Click here to begin or increase your electronic giving.

Advent Small Groups

Oratory Small Groups are a way to meet other parishioners by coming together to discuss and share their faith. Often based on the Sunday scripture readings, it's a supportive environment where folks walk with one another on their faith journey. There are several groups that are open to new members. Interested? Click here to check out the groups that are open to new folks.

Please Volunteer for Warm Clothing Distribution at Assumption – November 15–16

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.

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.

Diocesan Collection November 16

This weekend, November 15–16, we will have a second collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, which provides pastoral care to Catholic men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Your generosity is appreciated.

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.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

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

Saturday–Sunday, November 15–16, Assumption

❄️ Warm Clothing Distribution at Assumption

For more information, see the News section above, or click here to sign up.

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

☕ Coffee Hour 

Sponsored by our St. Mark’s Sister Parish Turkana Committee, hosted in the back of the church.

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

🎄 Ornament Making

The Family Faith Program is hosting an ornament-making craft after Mass. These ornaments will be hung on the Oratory's Annual Giving Tree. If you are interested in attending, please contact Mr. Joe O'Brien jobrien@oratorychurch.org for more information.

November 19, 7:00pm, Assumption Community Room

📖 Adult Faith Formation: Scripture Study

Join us for a monthly Lectio Divina and Scripture Study series led by Fr. Kishore focusing on the Gospel of Matthew, which will be the main Gospel for the upcoming liturgical year (Year A). Please click this link to register or email Fr. Kishore 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

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

🗓️ Ministry Morning: Save the Date

All lectors, eucharistic ministers, ministers of ceremony, and hospitality ministers from both Oratory Parishes are invited to a gathering to renew and invigorate our liturgical ministries.

⛪️ Weekly Mass Intention Schedule

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Margaret Slattery, Thomas Medurga, 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

Firefighter Patrick Brady, 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.



🙏 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.

🕯️ 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. Proceeds will help support all of OMP's music education programming. Click here for tickets and more information.

Saturday, December 6, 8:00pm, Carnegie Hall

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

"He is the King of Glory, He is the King of Glory!" Come hear the full uncut Handel's Messiah in a captivating reading of this grand and beloved masterpiece that highlights the intensity of its drama and beautiful melodies. Is there ever a time we need this holy music more than now? Some members of both our communities (including singers in the St. Boniface and Assumption choirs) are singing in the 150-strong Cecilia Chorus with full orchestra and wonderful soloists in the hallowed Carnegie Hall, on Saturday, December 6 at 8:00pm. Reach out to Torkil Heggstad at torkilheggstad@gmail.com or 718-490-1694 soon for the best seats and ticket discounts or for more information. We would love to see you there!

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