May 1, 2025

Join us on Saturday to celebrate the life of Gertrude Conway, longtime Assumption parishioner and volunteer, and pray her home to Christ in heaven. See the "Upcoming Events" section for more information on her memorial Mass, reception, and memorial fund.

📰 News

Parish Pastoral Council Openings

Both St. Boniface and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Pastoral Councils are seeking a diversity of candidates to run as new members. The two-year term begins in September 2025. 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 May 16.

May – A Month dedicated to Mary Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church

May is one of the months traditionally dedicated to the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

During this month we will have our Novena of Masses for our mothers, living and

deceased, starting on May 11, Mother’s Day. Please send in your names to the office at info@oratorychurch.org this week. On Sunday, May 11, we will have a May Crowning at the 9:30am Mass at Assumption and the 11:15am Mass at St. Boniface.

Easter Message from Turkana

Dear Sister Parish,

Happy Easter, happy Easter, happy Easter.

He is risen as He said, Alleluia.

May the good Lord bless and keep you. May He in His abundance of mercies show His countenance upon you and May He give you peace.

Let us pray for the peaceful repose of our holy father Pope Francis and ask God to again grant us another good shepherd.

Blessings,

Fr. Edwin Tumuhaise, FMH (Pastor)

St. Mark Parish

Lokitaung Kenya

Your Sister Parish

🗓️ Upcoming Events

Friday, May 2, following 8:00am Mass, Assumption

🙏 First Friday Prayers

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 with food provided by Jim Montemarano, the former owner of Cranberry’s on Henry Street.

In recognition Gertrude's six decades of service to our parish, we are establishing a "Gertrude Conway Memorial Fund" for the continued upkeep and beautification of the church, hall, and parish grounds. Checks can be made out to "Assumption Church" with "Gertrude Conway Memorial Fund" in the memo or using PushPay (with either parish).

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

☕ Coffee Hour

Join us for coffee and fellowship after Mass.

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

✝️ Baptisms

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 (472 2nd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232). 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!

Monday, May 5, 6:15pm, Assumption Hall

🙏 Oratory Evening Prayer

Saturday, May 10, 5:00pm Mass

✝️ The Sacrament of Confirmation

Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., Emeritus Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall in Canada will be conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation on a group of 35 young people from Assumption, St. Boniface, and St. Charles parishes.

Saturday, May 17, 4:00pm, Assumption

✝️ Sacrament of Reconciliation

The youth of our parishes will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. First Communions will take place on Saturday, May 31 at the 5:00pm and Sunday, June 1 at the 9:30am and 11:15am Masses. We are so proud of our children.

Sunday, May 18, 11:15am, St. Boniface

🎊 Mass Together & St. Philip Neri Picnic

Both parishes will have a joint celebration of Mass at St. Boniface. We will all gather after Mass in front of the church on Duffield Street to celebrate our Saint of Joy. There will be delicious food, exciting children's activities, a rock climbing wall, cotton candy, dog dress-up contest and more. 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. If you are able to assist, please email Bill Vinicombe at williamvinicombe@mac.com

Note: No 9:30am Mass at Assumption on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Tuesday, May 20, 7:00pm, Assumption Hall

🕊️ Dealing with Stress and Anxiety

Please join clinical psychologist Dr. Ralph Nofi for an opportunity to reflect on the many ways we can maintain our optimism, faith, and values in the face of rapid and uncertain changes in our city and society. Good self-care, healthy habits, and loving kindness can continue to sustain us through most difficult times as we draw strength from each other. Click here to register.

Wednesday, May 21, 6:00pm, Merkin Hall

🎼 Concert in Support of Opportunity Music Project

Assumption Music Director Maureen Kelly also runs a nonprofit called Opportunity Music Project, where children from low-income families are provided with full scholarship, pre-professional level music training. The organization has a season finale concert on May 21 at Merkin Hall that is also part of its spring fundraiser. A cocktail reception with drinks, light bites, and a performance by a Latin Grammy award-winning artist will be followed by a concert featuring three student orchestras. All the proceeds from the ticket sales directly fund the organization's mission. Tickets can be purchased here (be sure to choose an orange highlighted seat!) Read more about the event here.

👪 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

Third Sunday of Easter

Weekly Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/readings

ASSUMPTION

5/3	10:00am	Gertrude Conway
5/3	5:00pm	Bob and Anna Holder
5/4	9:30am	People of the Parish
5/5	8:00am	Lenore Richards
5/6	8:00am	Intentions: Girlie Genabe
5/7	8:00am	Prayer Service
5/8	8:00am	John and Elaine Vekassy
5/9	8:00am	Clayton Walden

ST. BONIFACE

5/4	11:15am	Jesus Antonio Garcia
5/4	6:00pm	People of the Parish
5/5	12:10pm	Open Intention
5/6	12:10pm	Open Intention
5/7	12:10pm	Open Intention
5/8	12:10pm	Peter Kozak
5/9	12:10pm	Ron Swierski

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

Lisa Williams, Br. Gary Gaynor, James J. Carney, 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

Pope Francis, John Hayes, 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.