Salus Infirmorum Father Richard Adams, Father Harry Burke, Father Edwin Cipot, Monsignor Charles Coen, Father John Fanning, Monsignor John Farley, Father Francis Gorman, Bishop John Jennik, Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, Monsignor Robert McCabe, Monsignor John Meehan, Monsignor Walter Niebrzydowski, Father Edward O’Neill, Father Philip Quealy, Monsignor Edward Weber, Monsignor Joseph Zammit
Transitional Deacons Ordained Three students at St. Joseph’s Seminary were ordained to the transitional diaconate for the archdiocese on June 3 by Bishop Edmund Whalen. With the help of God, they are expected to be ordained to the priesthood at the end of next May. They are the Reverend Messrs. David Birkdale, Vincent Castaldi and Paul Kucharski. May Christ the Good Shepherd continue to accompany, bless, guide, and shape their hearts after His Sacred Heart with great pastoral zeal in the service of the Church in New York.
Half Day Fridays at the Catholic Center When contacting one of the departments for someone to help you with an important matter, we want you to be aware of the custom of closing early at 1:00 pm on the ten Fridays of the summer, from June 30 through September 1. The general number at the Catholic Center is 212-371-1000; the phone at the vicar general’s office is 646-794-2900. Yesterday, Monday, June 19, the Catholic Center was closed in commemoration of Juneteenth Emancipation Day and the end of slavery in the United States. On Tuesday, July 4, the Catholic Center will be closed in commemoration of Independence Day and on Tuesday, August 15 for the feast of the Assumption, a holy day of obligation. You may always leave your message in the voice mailbox, and it will be returned on the next business day. To reach the chancellery after hours and on weekends, call Community Answering Service at 877-582-2996. Add this number as “Chancellery Emergency” to the list of contacts in your mobile telephone.
Lay Trustee Nomination Form Every year in June, we seek your help with the annual election of two lay trustees to serve your church. We are hoping to receive these names from you by Friday, July 28. It is six weeks away. In case you misplaced it, one is included in this monthly mailing; or you may call Dorothy (646-794-2908) for another copy. Help us as we try to comply with the New York State Religious Corporation Law. Once we receive your nomination, the original will be returned to you with the authorized signatures of His Eminence and the vicar general. You may file it in the parish corporate minutes’ book. A copy will be retained in the chancellery files.
Increased Offertory Program We express appreciation to our colleagues in the development office who have been assisting parishes with this wonderfully successful initiative for several years. At the conclusion of the program, pastors have been reporting a substantial increase in their weekly collection, including an upsurge in online giving. Additional revenue raised has been beneficial in supporting educational and faith formation opportunities; addressing unpaid expenses; or reengaging the community in the vision of the parish. We applaud all who took advantage of this opportunity to strengthen resources in their parishes and encourage others to do so. The program is free of charge, with all costs covered by the archdiocese. Contact Justine Carroll, director of the cardinal’s annual stewardship appeal at [email protected].
XXXVIII Annual Convention of Pastors 2023 Reserve four days during the week of October 2 for this popular gathering of priests who are serving as pastors of parishes. It will be conducted again at the Breakers Hotel in Spring Lake, New Jersey. The essentials of the program are still being prepared and will be sent in early September.
June 24-25: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist and the Twelfth Sunday of the Church Year On Saturday evening, Evening Prayer II of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist is used. At regularly scheduled anticipated Masses, priests should celebrate the Mass of the Twelfth Sunday. At Masses outside that usual schedule, the Mass of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist may be used. A ritual Mass is permitted on the Twelfth Sunday, and a funeral Mass is permitted on either day.
Catholic Telephone Guide For more than 80 years, the Catholic Telephone Guide has served the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut tristate area as the only complete and up to date directory of churches, schools, hospitals, and thousands of other Catholic organizations. Most of the listings change from year to year. Be sure to keep the information current and accurate. The deadline for submitting your revisions was June 15. Use the form and the self-addressed envelope that churches and schools received earlier this month.
Religious Freedom Week 2023: Pray-Reflect-Act 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 https://www.usccb.org/committees/religious-liberty/religious-freedom-week.
Upcoming National Collections The collection for Catholic Missions Among Black and Indian People will be on July 9 and Pastoral Solidarity for the Church in Africa will be on August 6.
Courage and Encourage International is an apostolate which offers support for those who experience same-sex attractions, and for their loved ones. To participate in the Manhattan chapter, contact Father Giles Maria, CFR at [email protected] or visit www.couragerc.org.
Archdiocesan Vestments In preparation for the 1995 pilgrimage of Pope St. John Paul II, 1,000 vestments with the archdiocesan coat of arms were manufactured by Slabbinck under the name “Stadelmaier Collection” and were worn by concelebrants at the Mass at the 50-acre Great Lawn in the middle of Central Park. Initially, each priest purchased his own; and later given to each ordination class as a gift. They are usually worn at archdiocesan functions, like concelebrated Masses and funerals. We recently learned that there are some classes who never received vestments. If you would like to order one [sizes small, medium, large, or extra-large], contact Dorothy in the office of the vicar general and include your ordination class. [646-794-2908 or [email protected].]
Committee on Divine Worship Newsletter for April is included in this month’s combined mailing. [Updates: View USCCB Newsletter]
XLVI Columbus Day Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Monday, October 9 at 9:30 am and reflects the millions of men, women and children who came to America in pursuit of freedom and opportunity, and the faith that helped them endure hardship and adversity. You may wish to promote this Mass with your parishioners in your upcoming bulletins. The parade celebrating Italian American heritage will begin at 11:30. Admission is free, but tickets are required to enter the cathedral until 9:15 at which point it becomes general admission.
Stipend for Binated Mass Intentions This is a reminder prompting us that whenever a priest celebrates more than one Mass on a particular day, he may retain for personal use only one stipend. Any stipends which were accepted for the celebration of additional Masses must be disposed of in accord with archdiocesan policy (c. 951). The custom in New York is for the support of our archdiocesan seminary. These may be payable to St. Joseph’s Seminary (with “binated Mass intentions” noted in the memo of the check), and sent to 201 Seminary Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704. In addition, 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; then, in justice, tender the current stipend of $15 to the priest satisfying the Mass.
Letters of Good Standing This is required for any ministry outside the archdiocese. Incardinated priests and deacons will need to complete the request form by clicking on this link here and submitting the completed form to the office of priest personnel ([email protected]). Request the letter well before the event. While this may not always be possible with funerals, immediate responses are difficult, as there is an internal process to authorize and produce the letters. Priests of religious institutes or from other dioceses working in New York must request the letter of good standing from their proper provincial or ordinary. Similarly, extern priests should procure a letter of good standing from their proper ordinary.
World Youth Day 2023 If you are planning to participate in World Youth Day in Lisbon in August, you will need attestation for registration. The required form may be obtained through online registration. Send the form, with your personal information completed, to [email protected] as soon as possible before you begin your travel.
Eucharistic Revival This Fall The dioceses of the New York province will observe the Eucharistic Revival with a Congress at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville on the weekend of October 20 – 22. It will take the form of forty hours devotion; however, the “main” day will be Saturday, October 21. Cardinal Dolan will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass at 11:00. The day will feature speakers, devotions, confessions, adoration and a Eucharistic procession. Priests, deacons and religious are encouraged to participate with their parishioners. Visit the website for more information and to register: nyseucharisticcongress.org. Priests will be needed for confessions, so indicate your availability when you register. Confessors and concelebrants will need to present a letter of good standing, so if you are planning to attend, make your request early. All must register, so do so as soon as possible. There is no charge for attending any of the events at the shrine, however, there will be food available for purchase. Buses from deaneries or parishes are encouraged.
Archived Library There is a new feature in the monthly combined mailing which may be of help to many. Recurring publications and forms will be retained in one place each edition for you to access as you need them. Visit this folder from time to time.
National Collection Calendar for 2024 was published on June 13 and sent to each pastor and parish secretary. Both We Share and envelope companies have already been notified. You may wish to give your parishioners another reminder of the importance of online donations to maintain their offertory and provide assistance to them on how to register for WeShare. The Missionary Cooperative Appeal, at the direction of Cardinal Dolan, is obligatory and is to be arranged on a date selected by the parish. Pastors will be notified directly by the office for the propagation of the faith in the new year.
Salute The spring edition of this quarterly publication from the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA is included in this month’s combined mailing. [Updates: Salute]
Curia Report The revised, streamlined and renamed curia report, with information about the activities of the archdiocesan pastoral and administrative offices that serve you is included in this mailing. Refer any questions to the office of the vicar general. [Updates: Curia Report]
Man Up New York The office of adult faith formation will be hosting its biennial men’s conference, Man Up New York on October 7 at Iona University in New Rochelle. Now is the time to get involved. Spread the word and encourage men at your parish to attend. The sacrament of reconciliation will be made available to the attendees from noon to 2:00. Would you join the cardinal in offering the gift of God’s mercy to these men? If so, please let our adult faith formation office know? Call 646-794-2581 or email [email protected].
Time Away from the Parish this Summer Priests engaged in a full-time assignment in the archdiocese are entitled to four weeks of vacation (either continuous or interrupted) which, generally, are taken during the summer months. Those days which are spent once a year in spiritual retreat are not computed in the vacation. Time away from the parish ought not interfere with the priest’s pastoral ministry and/or the spiritual needs of the parish, office, institution, or agency to which he has been assigned. To be absent from the parish for more than seven days, however, the local ordinary is to be informed. For our purposes, local ordinaries include the vicar general or the priest’s regional bishop/episcopal vicar.
Priest Alumni Evening On Thursday, November 9 at Dunwoodie. More information will follow soon. Be sure to join us.
Share the Word Give access to all your priests and staff members to the material which is pertinent to them, enclosed in the monthly mailing from the office of the vicar general. For it to succeed, we recommend that this Some Things to Know be posted in the public area of the parish office.
Just One More Thing These were my childhood punishments: 1. Going to bed early. 2. Not leaving my house. 3. Not going to a party. Now they have become my adult goals.