Working from Home Today, we begin our tenth week of quarantine, praying that all remain safe from the COVID-19 virus, that God will deliver those who are infected, and that he will grant eternal rest to our brother priests who have died.
Ordination to the Priesthood The class of 2020 for the Archdiocese of New York was scheduled to be ordained to the sacred order of priest at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday, May 23 at 9:00 AM. Since we are living on the timetable of the coronavirus, this has been postponed. On behalf of His Eminence and Father William Cleary, interim rector, remember these men who continue their spiritual preparation. They are
For the Archdiocese of New York
- Reverend Mr. Luis Silva
For the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
- Reverend Brother Oisin Matrin, CFR
- Reverend Brother Malachy Napier, CFR
For the Institute Id of Christ the Redeemer (Idente Missionaries)
- Reverend Brother Roland Pereira, M.Id
Trinity Automotive Services Many may be unaware of this service which is offered through ICS. Sal Ervolino (516-658-6009) and Michael Chapman (917-748-4902) are available to the priests of the archdiocese who may need service or repair of their vehicles. In addition, a coupon is attached which offers a substantial saving on the replacement or purchase of a new or previously-owned vehicle. You may share this information who may also like to participate in this program.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WEEK 2020: For the Good of All The days from June 22 (the feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More) to June 29 (the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul), Catholic people across America are asked to participate in this great hymn of prayer for our country. Our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power: St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, Ss. Peter and Paul. This special period of prayer and public action would emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty. People of faith are committed to serving others in God’s love in healthcare, child welfare, migration and refugee resettlement, education and more. To all our fellow Catholics, we urge an intensification of your prayers and fasting for a new birth of freedom in our beloved country. Learn more at www.usccb.org/religiousfreedomweek.
Satisfying Mass Intensions While many parishes are live streaming Masses on Sundays and weekdays, there may be additional intentions from the normal Mass schedule which are not being offered. The priest who accepts the offering for a Mass ($15 for an announced Mass or $5 for unannounced) for a particular intention is bound ex justitia to satisfy personally the obligation assumed or to commit its fulfillment to another priest. It is good to allow each donor to decide how this is to be done.
- Some pastors are transferring the intention from 2020 to the same date in 2021.;
- Others have elected to return the stipend;
- Another option is to give the intention to the priest who is your Sunday assistant;
- Send the intention to the chancery for distribution to a retired priest.
As a reminder, every pastor is mandated to offer the Mass for the people of his parish on Sundays and holy days. This Missa pro populo is the personal obligation of the pastor. He may delegate it to a visiting priest or a parochial vicar and give him the appropriate stipend to satisfy the duty for him.
For years, it has been the practice to have only one intention per Mass. In recent times, many bishops have appealed to the Holy See for clarification about the celebration of Masses for what are called collective intentions. In such cases, the faithful are free to combine their intentions and offerings for the celebration of a single Mass for these intentions. In 1991, the Congregation for Clergy in Rome permitted priests to accept several offerings for a “collective intention” for one Mass. Since 1997, within the archdiocese, it was stipulated that:
- the donors must be informed of and consent to the combining of offering before the Mass for the collective intention is celebrated;
- the place and time must be announced;
- the practice may not be observed more than twice a week;
- it is licit for the celebrant to keep the amount of the offering established by the diocese.