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Second Sunday of Lent

March 5, 2023

From the Pastor

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults/OCIA

Running concurrently with Lent, those preparing to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, as well as those completing their initiation with Confirmation and Holy Communion, and those being received into full communion with the Catholic Church, all enter a time of more proximate preparation.

At Saint Augustine—Saint Francis Xavier those who participate in this process (formerly known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA) are participating in a two-year program of prayer, reflection, and catechesis. Participants who are ready to receive sacraments at the Easter Vigil are usually presented to the Bishop of the Diocese on the First Two Sundays of Lent. Last weekend, those seeking Full Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion) were formally presented to Bishop Brennan at the Rite of Election and are now referred to as Catechumen. This week, those who will be completing their initiation by receiving Confirmation and Holy Communion or by being received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church from other Christian Churches, will be presented to the Bishop at the Call to Continuing Conversion. After receiving the recognition of the Bishop and those present, they will then be known as Candidates.

Sunday morning, at the 9:30 AM Mass, we will present Alexander Azcuy, Eric Kim, and John Watson to be affirmed by this community before being presented later today to the Bishop at the Call to Continuing Conversion. Please join me in praying for our Candidates and for all those currently participating in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

2023 Annual Catholic Appeal

Last weekend information on the Annual Catholic Appeal seeking funding for the various ministries and services of the Diocese of Brooklyn was sent to all those who generously participated in this Appeal in the past. Unfortunately, a challenging task was made more complicated in that the Company responsible for sending this information printed it incorrectly. An apology is being sent to all those on record as donors, assuring them that the Annual Appeal for which they are seeking your support, is because of your participation with the Parish of Saint Augustine~Saint Francis Xavier. The requests were being made for the Parish Community of Saint Augustine~Saint Francis Xavier not just Saint Augustine.

The theme of the Campaign this year is that we are “United in Communion and United in Charity” which is interesting, at least to me, as we continue to work at the unity of being one parish with two separate histories and traditions amidst a variety of approaches.

“Last year, through the generous response of our 152 parishioners and friends, and in addition to their usual weekly generosity, $74,985 was contributed toward the various programs of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Our 2023 required goal remains at the quite ambitious $69,821. I am grateful to all those who consider the leadership gifts requested in these mailings of $1,000 and greater to help us support the many programs and services provided by the Diocese of Brooklyn. Please do not be discouraged by the large numbers requested, but instead prayerfully consider your participation at any level.

As usual, after these first phases seeking your participation, the wider parish population of those at Mass will be asked to consider making either a one-time donation or a pledge to be paid by the end of the year.

Thank you to all those who have already made pledges despite the confusion, and those praying over their participation in such an important Diocesan fund raiser. For more complete information on the Annual Catholic Appeal and who it serves, please see: https://catholicfoundationbq.org/annual-catholic-appeal/

Fr. Frank C. Tumino

Pastor

Stations of the Cross

Join us For Stations of the Cross during Lent. We pray with “The Way of the Cross” by St. Alphonsus Liguori

Stations of the Cross Each Saturday after 5:00pm Mass at Saint Francis Xavier

225 6th Avenue - Brooklyn, NY

Eucharistic Adoration

How do I Go To Confession?

Eucharistic Adoration Pilgrimage

Join us for the 2023 Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage February 22 to April 9

The pilgrimage will visit 42 churches throughout Brooklyn and Queens for a celebration of the gift of the Holy Eucharist.

Every day (excluding Sundays) a different parish will host Eucharistic Adoration for all the faithful of our diocese.

Journey with hundreds of Catholics and experience the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

For complete details an a list of participating churches, visit by clicking the link below.

LENTEN FAITH SHARING GROUPS

Lent begins this year on February 22nd. Once again, we will have opportunities during Lent to participate weekly in small Faith Sharing groups, reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures. Groups will be available on Zoom at the following times: Saturdays at 10 am, Sundays at 2 pm, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm. If you would like to participate in a group, please fill out form below and e-mail it to hacreled@aol.com or call the Faith Formation Office at 718-857-2903 and leave the information. You can also sign up in the back of the church.

Name

________________________________________________________________

E-mail

_________________________________________________________________

Phone #

_______________________________________________________________

Choice of day and time

___________________________________________________

Lent 2023

Lent began on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd, and there are many resources available to enrich your experience this year. Here are a few:

Sign up for daily email reflections in the Best Lent Ever series available for free at dynamiccatholic.com.

Creighton University's Online Ministries website offers daily prayers, Lenten audio retreats, various reflections and essays, and archival messages from Pope Francis. Go to onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/

Living Lent Daily is an email series of reflections based on Bible verses from Loyola Press's 3-Minute Retreats. Sign up at loyolapress.com under "Lent."

The Sisters of St. Joseph website provides daily reflections. Go to brentwoodcsj.org and go to Ministry Areas>Spirituality to find them. And be sure and check out their Spirit Alive Institute, an ongoing webinar symposium series to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Vatican Council, available on Zoom. The next webinar is "Being the Church in the World: Joys and Griefs, Then and Now," on Feb 15. To register for $10, go to brentwoodcsj.org/spirit-alive-institute/

Fearless: A 7-Week Lenten Video Series is available for free beginning on Feb. 22nd when you sign up as a parishioner at formed.org

The FORMED team walks through all that is available on FORMED throughout the holy season of Lent.

Register for your free account

1. Go to FORMED.org/signup

2. Enter 11215

3. Enter your name and email

FORMED Daily Reflections

Sign up at FORMED Daily to receive these daily reflections directly to your inbox.
Start your day off right. Be inspired and renewed each morning with a short video from Dr. Tim Gray.

https://watch.formed.org/formed-daily-reflections

Mentioned in this video:

- Whole 40: Making a Spiritual Plan for Lent
- The Art of Living
- A Sign of Contradiction: On Retreat with Karol Wojtyla
- Holy Week Bible Conference
- Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage
- St. John Henry Newman: Excerpts from The Tears of Christ
- Lent with Brother Francis
- FORMED Daily Reflections
- The Shroud of Turin
- Glimpses Along the Way
- Brother Francis: The Stations of the Cross
- My Beloved Son: Meditations for Lent by Bishop Robert Barron
- Living Lent As a Family

Second Collections for March

3/12: Easter Mass Remembrance

3/19: Catholic Relief Services

3/26: Easter Flowers

When paying online for a mass remembrance, please add the name of the deceased in the Name box that you would like to have the mass remembrance for.

Those need of donation envelopes please call or email the parish office @ 718.638.1880.

Donations can also be made online by going to sasfx.org/giving or clicking on the links below.

Thank you so much for your generous donations!

SUNDAY’S READINGS

First Reading: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-4a

Responsorial Psalm: “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.” Psalm 33

Second Reading: “Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” 2 Timothy 1:8b-10

Gospel: “Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” Matthew 17:1-9

Scripture Readings for the Week

Weekly readings 3/6-3/12

Monday: Dn 9:4b-10; Lk 6:36-38

Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20; Mt 23:1-12

Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20; Mt 20:17-28

Thursday: Jer 17:5-10; Lk 16:19-31

Friday: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Mt 21:33-43, 45-46

Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Sunday: Ex 17:3-7; Rom 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

Daily readings and reflections can be found at https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

SAVE THE DATE FOR CLEAN UP DAY

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Come and help us clean and the church and get it ready for Easter! Please sign up or call the office to let us know that you will be helping.

You may notice some things have already been moved around and picked up in the vestibule in an attempt to make the church more welcoming and organized. Our staff has been working diligently to organize the vestibule and clean the statues.

We ask that you no longer put tape on any wood or marble surfaces. This has caused damage to the marble. We are hoping that we are able to clean this up on clean up day.

Our goal is to be a welcoming and hospitable parish. We want to encourage all to visit our website and social media pages.

Safe Environment Training - Mandatory

Safety is our priority! For the last 20 years the Diocese of Brooklyn and all dioceses in the United States have put together a plan to protect children and vulnerable adults in our parishes and schools. Their plan consists of mandatory child sexual abuse awareness training, background checks, and reviewing and signing a code of conduct.

This training is required for all those involved in Parish Ministry, volunteers, and parish employees. These are offered all throughout our diocese.

We are offering in-parish sessions on the following dates:

Saturday, March 25th at 10am at Lyceum (SFX)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTERING ON-LINE FOR VIRTUS

GO TO: www.virtus.org

CLICK: Yellow link labeled “REGISTRATION”

CHOOSE: DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN THEN: SELECT

(Many people choose Archdiocese of New York – this is incorrect)

CREATE: A User ID and Password you can easily remember.

(If you do not pre-register an ID and Password, one will be created for you.)

CLICK: CONTINUE

Enter: All requested personal information

CLICK: CONTINUE

SELECT: Choose your Primary location from the drop down menu

CLICK: CONTINUE THEN: CLICK: NO or YES

SELECT: Choose the role that applies to your ministry

(Catechists and Coaches – Select Volunteer and add title in box)

SELECT: Additional Roles

ANSWER: Questions THEN: CLICK: CONTINUE

CLICK: Code of Conduct - Read and then check that you have read and understand.

If you are pre-registering:

CLICK: No-Have you already attended…

SELECT: From the list of upcoming sessions choose the session that

you want to attend by clicking on the circle

If you are registering after attending:

CHOOSE: From the drop down menu, the session you attended

You will now be prompted to complete your Background Check

CLICK: Begin Background Check

You will be directed to the Fastrax website

Follow the directions to complete.

Those encountering difficulties should contact Ms. Natalia Parra at dre101065@diobrook.org or 718-857-2903

Mass Intentions

Week of 3/4/2023 through 3/9/2023

Saturday, March 4, 2023

5pm The Krieger & Hippert Families. Melissa Gonzalez, The People of Saint Augustine~Saint Francis Xavier Parish

Sunday, March 5, 2023

9:30am Lenor Ortega, Judge Matthew, Helen Fagan

12pm The Dethill Family, Phonyin Tim, Joanne DeSantis The people of Haiti and for St. Andre Parish Dufort, Haiti

Monday, March 6, 2023

9am The Lembo & Marmo Family

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

9am Parish Benefactors Saint Augustine~ Saint Francis Xavier

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

9am John T. Lembo

Thursday, March 9, 2023

9am For those bearing heavy burdens

2023 Mass Intentions are Available

The 2023 Mass Book is open to schedule daily Mass Intentions. The offering for a Mass intention at Saint Augustine and/or Saint Francis Xavier is $15. Call the parish office to schedule mass intentions for your loved ones or for a special intention.

In Our Prayers

May God strengthen and give peace to all of our sick parishioners, relatives and friends, especially for:

Peter Sun Woo, Silbert Hinds, Raymond Bouchard, Trinidad Siara, Christine Grochocki Myrin, Flavia Langan, John Garone, Kenneth Leger, Edward McCrory, Marge Miller, Robert Schlegel, Daniel Joseph, Matt Speicher, David Harrison, Maritza Arroyo, Aida Cuin, Kris Suares, Dasan Broadnax, Anne M. Thompson, Andrew Quinn, Angel Rosa, Luna Victoria Pena, John Hurtado, Jose Pagan, Estella Chan, Ann Gucwa, Joe Guzman, Sylva Svajian-Yahiayan, Samuel Wiener, Dominick Votto, Sylvia Garland, Conor Skelding, Olga Matinsen, Helen McCann & those in Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Rehabilitation facilities.

And for all those who have entered eternal rest, especially Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI.

Weekly Memorials

Parishioners may request these memorials at either Saint Augustine or Saint Francis Xavier, for one week, in memory or in honor of a loved one. Intentions will be published in the weekly bulletin and on the email blast. Please contact the parish office to schedule. 718/638-1880 or email info@sasfx.org. Checks can be mailed to our parish office 225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215.

• Bread and Wine Offering $25 – Loved ones can be remembered weekly with the bread and wine consecrated at Mass.

• Altar Candles $20 – The Altar Candles also serve as a reminder of Christ our light and of our call to pray to God without ceasing.

• Sanctuary Lamp Offering $20 – The Candle above the Tabernacle reminds us of Jesus’ constant presence in the Eucharist.

• Daily Mass - The offering for Mass intentions at Saint Augustine and/or Saint Francis Xavier is $15.

PARISH INFORMATION

Reflection Garden - Saint Francis Xavier

We want to welcome you to our "Reflection Garden" between Saint Francis Xavier Church and the parish office. Please keep in mind that for your child's safety, you must accompany them at all times. While we are in the midst of construction our staff is still working diligently to achieve our weekly goals. The main goal for this garden is quiet reflection. Please keep this in mind when you visit. As our office window is right next to the garden, please keep in mind that your cell phone conversations are not private.

We apologize but will have to ask that cell phone use be prohibited in this space.

Please limit bringing classes to this garden. You must contact the parish office if you are planning on visiting the garden with your students so we can set up a time that is appropriate. We ask that you walk through in a very quiet manner as there are others praying in the Reflection Garden.

Please for the safety of the children do not let them climb the trees or walk in the flower beds.

Construction at the Church Parish Office

3-3-2023

Please note: Due to the nature of the ongoing construction, we cannot allow parishioners inside of the Parish Office at this time. If you have any needs or questions please call the office.

There is so much excitement in the parish office. Construction and cleanup has started to move into the “copy room” area. Things are being hauled upstairs and out the door. Progress is heard, seen and felt throughout the parish office.

Thank you to our wonderful staff and parishioners for trusting us during this project. Thank you to Fr. Frank Tumino for putting so much effort into creating a space for future generations. We have no doubt that it will be beautiful and very functional.

Please pray for continued patience and success of this particular mission. We want to welcome you all back to a safe space where we could all gather and continue the mission of this parish. We can’t wait to have our very first event here when it is all said and done!

May God be our guide.

Floors are being removed to get to the beams that were infected by termites. Not a small task.

Front area where copier and offices were Hallway to the kitchen

All beams have been replaced and sub floors are going down.

Middle area where Fr. Tumino’s office was.

All beams have been replaced and sub floors are going down.

Kitchen

Copy machine and other things have been moved into the Parish Secretary’s office until work is complete in the front room.

Secretary Office

We can’t wait to welcome you back once all of the construction is complete!

We miss you!

Sponsor form

When requesting a Sponsor form, this is the form we use in our parish. Your portion must be filled out by you and emailed to the parish office. info@sasfx.org. One of the most important things is being a registered member of our parish, having an active faith based life, by attending weekly mass and supporting our parish. As a parish we are being asked to verify that you have a relationship with our church parish. We require that you have been a registered parishioner and have been attending mass for at least 3 months.

We cannot, in good faith, sign these forms and verify that you attend mass here, unless you are a registered parishioner and come to mass on a regular basis. Please register, attend mass and introduce yourself and your family to our pastor.

If you are new to our parish and have had a relationship with your last parish, please reach out to them to help you with this form.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth”. 3 John 1:4

Register with our parish

Why do we encourage you to register with the Parish and use your envelopes?

• They demonstrate your commitment to the Church and that you are a member.

• They are one of the references we can use to verify your eligibility to be a sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation, as they can indicate your participation at weekly Mass and commitment to the Church’s mission.

• Envelope contributions are tax deductible; but proof is needed each year of contributions to Church.

• Weekly giving helps us better prepare an annual budget to meet expenses in the year ahead.

Your Parish needs your support—not only financially, but spiritually and physically (volunteering) as well. Without your consistent weekly support, none of the existing ministries, or new ones are possible. We want to know who our parish members are so we can serve them better. In the same way, we need to plan and prepare a budget for a vibrant present and even more rich future.

Without your commitment of prayers and support we are limited in what we can do. Please take the time to register online at

If You Need:

• A sponsor form signed and/or

• A letter of recommendation and/or

• To have your child baptized or prepared for Holy Communion or Confirmation.

As a Parish we need you to register and use your weekly contribution envelopes with your sacrifice to support our works.

**Please note that we can not, in good faith, sign a sponsor form if you have not registered and established a relationship with our parish.

SASFX Book Club

Please join us on Sunday, March 26th at 10:45 am (right after the 9:30 Mass) to talk about our next selection, Lent in Plain Sight: A Devotion Through Ten Objects, by Jill Duffield. We will meet in the Faith Formation office (enter the St. Francis garden by the gate and take the path to the first door on the left, then ring the bell). You can also join us via Google Meet--that link will be sent out a couple of days before our meeting. You do not need a gmail account to participate.

Looking forward to seeing you!

BROOKLYN BROWNSTONE

&

BEYOND BOOK CLUB

The Brooklyn Brownstone and Beyond Book Group meets on Thursday evenings from 7-8PM via Zoom. Our current selection is The Case for God, by Karen Armstrong. The link to join in the discussion is: stcharlesbklyn.org/zoom (The meeting ID is: 849 0802 1688 and the password is: 1584). Please feel free to join us!

BROOKLYN BROWNSTONE

&

BEYOND BIBLE STUDY

The Psalms

We are currently working on the Psalms using Psalms I—Study Set by Little Rock Scripture Study. The course will focus on hymns, psalms of trust, and wisdom psalms. We have two meetings remaining in this series – February 26 and March 5. Please feel free to join us! We meet on Sundays at 5 PM on Zoom. The book can be purchased here. The link to join is: stcharlesbklyn.org/zoom (The meeting ID is: 849 0802 1688 and the password is: 1584).

Diocese of Brooklyn

Follow Bishop Brennan on Facebook

We invite all our followers to show their continued support for Bishop Robert Brennan by following him on Facebook.

Save The Date

Brooklyn Quilts! Celebrating 30 Years
Brooklyn Quilters Guild Quilt Show

APRIL 29 - 30, 2023
Saturday 10 am–6 pm; Sunday 10 am–4 pm

ADMISSION:
$10 Advance / $12 Door, Children 12 and under FREE

PURCHASE TICKETS

LOCATION:
BKLOFT26
163 26th Street, between 3rd and 4th Aves, Brooklyn, NY

•Hundreds of Quilts on display
•Vendors
•Raffles
•Silent Auction
•Demonstrations
•Kids’ Activities

For more information email: guild@quiltbrooklyn.org

Faith & the City

The Rev and the Rabbi Live at the Sheen Center: Conversations About Faith & the City and Faith & Celebrity.

Fri. Feb 24 11 am. Mayor Eric Adams talks about his faith journey. Free. For info call 212-219-3132

Taking a Chance on God film screening.

Mon Feb 27 at 7 pm at Fordham University Lincoln Center. Documentary about pioneer priest John McNeil and his work with LGBT Catholic group Dignity, his ministry during the AIDS crisis, and friendship with peace activist Dan Berrigan. Followed by discussion with filmmaker Brendan Fay. Free.

Hearts Aflame: Lectio Divina (reading sacred scripture) for young adults ages 18-35. Beginning Feb 6, Tuesdays 8-8:30, recurring. To join, text 860-368-0826. Sponsored by Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Midday Retreat With the Mystics: the Hesychasts. Conference talk on the Hesychasts contemplative movement followed by guided meditations. Sat Feb 18 12-3 pm. Series about mystics takes place 3rd Saturday of the month. No RSVP required. St. Catherine of Siena church, 411 E. 68th St., NYC. 212-988-8300

St. Francis of Assisi adult education courses:

Catholicism 101. Weds Feb 8-Apr 12 (no class Feb 22 or Apr 5) 12:30-1:30 or 6:30-7:30 in person or by Zoom. $80

A Deeper Look at Catherine of Siena: Her Dialogue, Prayers, Spirituality, and Life. Sat. Mar 11 9 am-12 pm on Zoom. $30

Elizabeth of the Trinity: Her Life, Letters, and Spirituality. Sat. Mar 11 1-4 pm on Zoom. $30

Franciscan Short Stories, a 5-week series on the life and times of St. Francis Assisi. Sundays Feb 26-Apr 2 (no class Mar 5) 4-4:45 pm. Free

Great Music Inspired by the Old Testament. Tuesdays Feb 28-Apr 4 12-1:30 pm. $60

"I Shall Pour Out Water Upon the Parched Land": Second Isaiah as Story and Promise. Tuesdays Feb 28-Mar 28 12-1 pm on Zoom. $50

To register, go to https://stfrancisnyc.org/courses/

Catholic Pilgrimage to Fatima/Lourdes/ Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona

March 13 - 25, 2023 $4,299 per person and includes airfare, all sightseeing, daily Mass with breakfast and dinner daily. For a flyer or more detailed information please call Mike Milano at 1-800-773-2660.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Members of the St. Augustine - St. Francis Xavier Prayer Shawl Ministry knit/crochet/quilt shawls, lap blankets, and baptismal shawls while praying for the person who will be the recipient. Prayer shawls can be given for all occasions: birthdays, holidays, as a comfort after a loss, in times of stress, or while undergoing medical treatment.

Currently we work at home, but we can offer an occasional Zoom or in person meeting. The Ministry can provide knitting needles, crochet hooks, yarn, and patterns to anyone who would like to participate.

For more information – or should you, or someone you know, be in need of one of our items - you can email Marge Danser at: prayershawls@sasfx.org

Donations to feed the hungry

The work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is the Gospel message in action: I was hungry, I was thirsty, I was a stranger, I was naked, I was sick - and you cared.

Our St Vincent de Paul ministry here at Saint Augustine-Saint Francis Xavier has been ongoing at Saint Francis Xavier since 1892. Over those many years, parishioners have responded to the needs of the poor in our community through two World Wars, the Spanish Flu epidemic, and the Great Depression. We have helped people with issues such as paying rent, finding an apartment, dealing with legal matters, completing applications for assistance, assisting with funeral costs, and assisting with holiday gifts through the annual Christmas Giving Tree. The distribution of food to those who need it is probably the most visible function to parishioners, as they generously provide donations for the pantry. The people who come to us know that their needs and requests will be kept confidential.

Please contact us if you need help or have questions. svdp@sasfx.org

To make a donation please follow the click the link below to donate.

The Helping Hands Food Pantry

Volunteers Needed!

Mailing Address

Although the consolidation to one Parish is still not complete —it is critical to continue the mission of these historic Catholic Parishes in Park Slope.

Parish Office Address

The Parish Office for Saint Augustine~Saint Francis Xavier is located at 225 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

Since there are no longer two staffed offices, please do not leave envelopes, offerings or donations of any kind at Saint Augustine Rectory.

Weekly Offering

While we rely on the generous weekly sacrifice of those who call Saint Augustine~Saint Francis Xavier their spiritual home, please remember that until the consolidation into one parish is complete, donations in check form, as well as online, need to be made to either Saint Augustine or Saint Francis Xavier Church.

Diocesan Collections

In order to facilitate the transfer of funds collected in the 2nd collection for various collections of the U.S. Bishops or the Diocese of Brooklyn—those using checks are reminded to make the check payable to Saint Augustine OR Saint Francis NOT the collection taken (as in The Bishop’s Overseas Aid Appeal).

Thank you for your patience while we work out all of the details of building maintenance and repairing damage to our buildings.