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Advent Giving Tree
You can help make Christmas brighter for a child in need by participating in our annual Giving Tree project. Hour Children, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, provides care and support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children in Brooklyn and Queens. Pick up a tag from the Giving Tree at Assumption or the Giving Basket at St. Boniface and bring your unwrapped gift with the tag attached to the narthex of either church.
Gifts can be dropped off during weekday and Sunday Mass times, or shipped to:
ABVM Parish Office
Attention: Hour Children
64 Middagh St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
We hope to provide at least 125 gifts to children and youth served by Hour Children.
We will collect gifts through Sunday, December 21.
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.
Sunday, December 7, 2025. 12:30pm, St. Boniface
🎗️ World AIDS Day Commemoration
The LGBTQ Faith Sharing Group invites you to join us for the Oratory's annual commemoration of World AIDS Day. On display will be the Brooklyn Oratory's AIDS Quilt Panel featuring the words, "Their Hearts Speak to Our Hearts, Remember the Joy." At this year's commemoration, we hope to remember the joy that those we lost brought to us. Click here for more information, and if you would like to add a name(s) to the list of those we commemorate, please email John Linder at jhelpato@gmail.com
Monday, December 8, 2025, both parishes
Holy Day Schedule of Masses for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8:00am – Assumption
12:10pm – St. Boniface (with music)
SJAC Hosts Advent Collection for SMSS
The Oratory Social Justice Action Committee (SJAC) will be hosting an Advent collection for the pop-up shop at St. Mary's Star of the Sea (SMSS) in Carroll Gardens. Please be on the look-out for a "wish list" that will be included in next week's Oratory Connection and will include the most urgent needs of our migrant neighbors. There will be an option to order items online for delivery, or instructions as to how donations can be dropped off directly at SMSS before Christmas. Thank you very much for your support!
SJAC Seeking Mentors
The Social Justice Action Committee (SJAC) is seeking mentors for 18–20 year old asylum seekers. These incredible—and incredibly vulnerable—young people benefit greatly when supported by trusted adults who can help them navigate life in a new city. Several parishioners are already serving as mentors, and there are opportunities to meet potential mentees at various locations and at different times of the day. Online training is also available. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Lou Kuhlmann at lrkuhlmann@gmail.com. Thank you very much for your consideration.
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.
Message from our Sister Parish in Turkana
“Peace and goodness to all of you, our dear sisters and brothers of our Sister Parish. We received your warm greetings and extend our greetings to the entire Christian community of St. Boniface. As is our tradition, we have dedicated a whole week each month to you, and this message finds us in full spiritual communion with you, our Sister Parish. We have always felt blessed, cherished, loved, and greatly cared for by you, and we are grateful for your prayers and material support. We send blessings to all of you.”
Turkana Christmas Cards
The Sister Parish Committee will be selling Christmas Cards made in Turkana and other crafts from Kenya to support programs at St. Mark’s in Turkana. Find beautiful cards to share your Christmas message with the special people in your life. Or select from other handmade items. Check out our table after the morning Masses on December 7 at St. Boniface and December 14 at Assumption. We appreciate your interest and support of our Sister Parish. Purchases by cash or check only.
Holiday Gift Basket Raffle at St. Boniface
While remembering Christmases past and thinking about Christmas present, check out the Holiday Gift Baskets at the back of St. Boniface Church on December 14 and 21. Then purchase raffle tickets for the basket of your choice—as a gift for yourself or to give to a friend!
Raffle tickets will be available on
- December 14 before and after both Masses
- December 21 before and after 11:15am Mass
The winning tickets will be drawn a short time after the end of the 11:15am Mass on December 21. All proceeds will go toward creating our community space in the new building. Purchase your raffle tickets with cash or check only.
OWC’S 2025 Annual Sweeten the Holidays
Help the Oratory Women's Community spread joy in our community! You can volunteer to help by sending an e-card or Christmas card to a parish member who has moved or by making a phone call to someone who may be homebound. Are you available to deliver a plant to someone who is not feeling well? If you can volunteer to connect with one or two people, or if you know someone who would appreciate a contact at this time of year, email us at sweeten2025holidays@gmail.com or click here to volunteer.
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