April 17, 2025

On a rainy yet joy-filled Saturday, April 12, more than 80 parishioners came together to clean and beautify both churches in preparation for Holy Week. With the enthusiastic help of many young people, 550 sandwiches were also prepared for the Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen on the Lower East Side. Special thanks go to the planning committee—Fr. Kishore, Meghan Duffy, Carole Fabrizio, Arnie and Jack Mascali, and Fr. Anthony—as well as the entire Mascali family, whose support helped make the day’s activities and expenses possible.  



Join us at our parishes during the Triduum this Holy Week


Holy Thursday, April 17

6:30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Assumption


Good Friday, April 18

12:00pm Stations of the Cross at St. Boniface

3:00pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at St. Boniface


Holy Saturday, April 19

8:00pm Vigil Mass of Easter at Assumption

—No 5:00pm Mass at Assumption

Bring your bell to ring at all Easter Masses ♪ 


Easter Sunday, April 20

9:30am Mass at Assumption

11:15am Mass at St. Boniface

—No 6:00pm Mass at St. Boniface

Bring your bell to ring at all Easter Masses ♪ 


📰 News

A Brighter Easter

This week, Joe Vanderpool, former organist at Assumption Parish, changed the lightbulbs in Assumption Church, and the transformation is nothing short of remarkable. Thanks to Joe, the church is now glowing with warmth and brightness. Working like Spiderman, he tackled the challenge with skill, determination, and acrobatic skill. We are so grateful to Joe for sharing his time, effort, and talent! Volunteers like Joe make a difference in our community, turning simple tasks into extraordinary contributions. 



Stewardship and Giving at Lent and Easter

A special note of thanks to all who contributed to the Lenten Second/Loose Change Collections in support of organizations that offer direct aid to those in need and Palm Sunday's collection for the music ministry in both parishes. As with Christmas, Easter Sunday's collection has traditionally been a significant part of annual parish stewardship. There will also be a second collection for support for retired priests. Again, your generosity is deeply appreciated.



Communion Under Both Kinds

During the Mass of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday) and the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday), we will offer Communion under both kinds, the bread and wine, as a fuller sign of participation in the Eucharistic banquet. We must be careful about the misconception that the reception of both species of Holy Communion is necessary. It is not. When receiving only the host, we receive the whole Christ—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. However, receiving Communion under both forms (when practicable and safe) is laudable and important because it signifies the fullness of Christ's sacrifice and the complete offering of his Body and Blood as mandated by Jesus at the Last Supper.


We will not be offering Holy Communion by intinction (the practice of dipping the consecrated host into the Precious Blood and then receiving the "intincted" host in Holy Communion). Only a priest or deacon may administer Holy Communion by intinction, and never done by a communicant or an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Each of us must decide whether to receive one or both species. If someone is immunocompromised, has respiratory symptoms, or believes they may have been exposed to COVID or flu, it may be best to receive only the host.


We hope that restoring this practice will enhance participation in the Sacred Triduum.



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), please contact the Parish Office.  

 


No weekday 8:00am or 12:10pm Masses at both parishes on:

  • Holy Thursday
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Monday


In addition, the parish office will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.



🗓️ Upcoming Events


Sunday, April 27 following 11:15am Mass, St. Boniface

☕ Coffee Hour

Join us for coffee and fellowship after Mass, sponsored by the Friends of Turkana.



Saturday, May 3, 10:00am, Assumption

⛪ Memorial Mass for Gertrude Conway

Join us to celebrate the life of the longtime Assumption parishioner and volunteer. The memorial will be followed by a light reception.



Sunday, May 4, following 9:30am Mass, Assumption Hall

☕ Coffee Hour

Join us for coffee and fellowship after Mass.



Sunday, May 4, following 11:15am Mass, St. Boniface

🎊 ☕ Oratory Women's Community: Women Who Built the Way – Special Coffee Hour of Celebration and Gratitude

Join us as we celebrate the women whose strength, vision, and love helped shape our Oratory church family.  



Monday, May 5, 2:00pm

♻️ SJAC Visits Sunset Park Recovery Facility

The Social Justice Action Committee (SJAC) is organizing a visit to the Sunset Park Materials Recovery Facility on Monday, May 5. Participants will gather at the site at 2:00pm for a tour, which will last 1.5 hours. Please consider joining SJAC for this behind-the-scenes look at a recycling education center right in our backyard! Please RSVP to Julie Fissinger at juliecfm@msn.com if you are interested in joining us!


👪 Family Faith and First Communion Resource Guide


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



⛪️ Weekly Mass Intention Schedule


The Resurrection of the Lord



Weekly Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/readings

ASSUMPTION

4/19

8:00pm

Easter Floral Decorations

4/20

9:30am

People of the Parish

4/21

8:00am

No Mass

4/22

8:00am

Maria Soru

4/23

8:00am

Elaine Vekassy

4/24

8:00am

Gertrude Conway

4/25

8:00pm

Prayer Service


ST. BONIFACE

4/20

11:15am

People of the Parish

4/21

12:10pm

No Mass

4/22

12:10pm

Robert Forsberg

4/23

12:10pm

Open Intention

4/24

12:10pm

Dr. Jerry Shey

4/25

12:10pm

Prayer Service


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

Lou Acerra, Ann McDoughal, Dawn Hewitt, Msgr. Don L. Fischer, Robert Nixon, Mary Cella, Laurie Rising, Janice Clarke, Maria Fusco, Alice Mulholland, Mary Simon Charles, Kim Manzi


Rest in Peace

Fran Alferman, John Dalton, Eddy Graves, Gertrude Conway, Ron Swierski, Tim Cronin, Jorge Civico, William Gould, Janine Curran, Isabel Alvarez


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



🕯️ Candle Dedications at Assumption


  • 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.



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




Help Sustain Our Communities


Thank you for your faithful stewardship


Donate to Assumption
Donate to St. Boniface