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December 20, 2020 ♥ FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
St. Gregory the Great
224 Brooklyn Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Tel 718- 773-0100
Fax 718- 773-4198
Email: [email protected]
Mass Schedule:
Mon.– Fri 8:30am; Sat.Vigil-5pm
Sunday 11:30am
Saturday: Reconciliation-4:00 pm
Office Staff
Secretary: Rosanne Barber Ext.100
D.R.E: Monica Flemmings
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:00am-4:00pm
St. Matthew
1123 Eastern Pkwy.,
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Tel 718- 774-6747
Fax 718- 953-4895
Email: [email protected]
Mass Schedule:
Monday-Friday 7:30am & 9:00am
Saturday 8:00am & 8:00pm
Saturday: Reconciliation-7:30 pm
or by appointment
Sunday:
English-7:30am & 11:30am
Spanish 9:30am; Kreyol 1:30pm
Office Staff
Secretary: Sharon Andrews
D.R.E.: Gloria Gonzaga
Office Hours:
Monday:10:00am-4:00pm
Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday Friday & Saturday:
10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am-4:00pm
Our Lady Of Charity
1669 Dean St.,
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Tel 718- 774-5100
Fax 718- 778-3335
Email: [email protected]
Mass Schedule:
Sunday: Rosary 9:00am
9:30am-Praise & Worship
10am-Mass
Office Staff:
Secretary: Patricia Romain
D.R.E.: Ethel Andoh-Menson
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday:10am-6pm
Catholic Cemeteries–
80-01 Metropolitan Ave.
Middle Village, NY 11379
Tel:718 – 894-4888
Pastoral Staff Pastor
Fr. Frank Black
In Residence Bishop Guy Sansaricq
Priests
Fr. Thaddeus J. Abraham
Msgr. Pierre Andre
Pierre
Fr. Ralph Theodat
Deacons
Roy George
Nickie Colon
Website: www.stmatthewrc.org
St. Matthew Parish
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4th Sunday of Advent: Behold!
The end of Advent has us in a state of eager expecta-tion.
Christmas is only a few days away. There is not much time left to
prepare for the wonder about to take
place. The Fourth week of Advent is not a week at all, just a
few days, a few days for us to reflect one last time on the events
leading to the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord. The Eternal
Word of God is about to become one with us
and one of us.
Today’s Gospel takes us to that most familiar scene. There is
Mary, usually depicted as praying with a book by her prie-dieu. The
Angel appears, Gabriel, and
Mary is rightly astonished. He does not call her Mary. He says,
“Hail, Full of Grace.” We say, “Hail Mary, full of
grace,” but the angel just says, “Hail Full of Grace.” Mary
wonders, why would he call her that? What does this
mean? The angel assures her that she is the favored one, she has
found favor with God. She is to be a mother, the
mother of Jesus, the Son of the Most High. Of course, any woman
would wonder how this is going to happen. Even
more, a virgin, perhaps 16 years old or younger, betrothed to a
man whom mostly likely she had merely met, that be-ing the extent
of their relationship. The angel explains that
the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most
High will overshadow her. He tells her about her
kinswoman, Elizabeth, who has conceived in her old age.
Then the angel waits. The world waits. All are wait-ing for
Mary’s response. Will she allow salvation to begin
within her? Will God’s special presence come upon earth? Will He
become one of us? The world waits in ea-
ger expectation. And Mary humbly responds, “Behold.” That word
Behold is used again. The angel be-
gan his explanation for his presence with that word, “Behold”
...you will conceive and so forth. Behold. He used that word a
second time when he told Mary about Elizabeth, “Behold Elizabeth
your kinswoman has con-ceived.” Behold. The word Behold means
Witness the
power, and wonder at the glory of God. Behold. Now Mary uses
that word. “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord,
be it done unto me according to your word.” Mary’s Behold
follows the meaning of the an-
gel’s Behold. She says, “Behold the power, the wonder and the
Glory of God will take place within me
And the Word Becomes Flesh. It is at the Annunciation, at Mary’s
“Behold,” when the Holy Spirit comes upon her and
the Power of the Most High overshadows her. It is then that a
baby is formed within her. This is not just a zygote
that eventually become an embryo which soon becomes a fetus.
This is a baby. In fact, every pregnancy begins with
a baby. Mary’s baby is different though. Her baby is the Word
Become Flesh. God became One of us within Mary at the Annunciation.
Later in the great story of salvation, under the cross, Mary would
become a mother again, our
mother.
The world waited for her answer. Finally she said, “Behold.”
“Hail, full of Grace,” Gabriel’s greeting could be directed to
each of us after our baptism. At our baptism, we received the Life
of God. At our baptism, we received the grace of God. Did we
receive the Grace of God to the extent that Mary receive Grace? No,
we were not conceived totally
united to God as Mary was at her conception. We were not
immaculately conceived. It was after our conception and after our
birth, and for some after a number of years that
we were brought to the Church and received God’s grace.
We were given the Grace of God. In a way we also were
overshadowed by the Holy Spirit so that we, like Mary, can fulfill
the mission the Lord has for each of us. This mission is certainly
not as momentous as Mary’s, infinitely less, but it is still a
mission from God. Our mission is to proclaim to the world that the
spiritual has become physical, that God is One of Us and One With
Us, that the evil one has been conquered, and the ransom price for
human beings has
been paid with the Body and Blood of the Christ. We are called
to tell the world that those who believe that Jesus is
the Christ will have life in his name.
The world waits. It waits for our answer. Will we accept the
mission God has for each of us? Will we spread the
Kingdom of Justice, the Kingdom of Peace, the Kingdom of Love?
Will we have the humility and the courage to join
Mary and say, “Behold.”
ST. MATTHEW
DECEMBER 24th –CHRISTMAS EVE: MIDNIGHT– Church opens @ 10 PM.
Recitation of the Rosary
DECEMBER 25TH – CHRISTMAS DAY: 11:00 AM
DECEMBER 31ST - NEW YEAR’S EVE: MIDNIGHT-- Church opens @ 10 PM.
Recitation of the Divine Mercy
JANUARY 1ST – NEW YEAR’S DAY: 11:00 AM
ST. GREGORY
DECEMBER 24TH – CHRISTMAS EVE: MIDNIGHT; DOORS OPEN AT 11 PM.
PRELUDE BEGINS AT
11:30 PM
DECEMBER 25TH – CHRISTMAS DAY: 10 AM
DECEMBER 31ST - NEW YEAR’S EVE: 9 PM
JANUARY 1ST – NEW YEAR’S DAY: 10 AM
OUR LADY OF CHARITY
DECEMBER 24TH – CHRISTMAS EVE: MIDNIGHT; Caroling at 11:30 PM
followed by Mass @ midnight,
DECEMBER 25TH – CHRISTMAS DAY: 11 AM @ St. Matthew
DECEMBER 31ST NEW YEAR’S EVE: 8 PM followed by Watch Night
ST. MATTHEW CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
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BREAD & WINE, CANDLE, BLESSINGS MASS INTENTIONS
ST. MATTHEW: MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday December 19
8:00pm– In loving memory of Juan Collado on the 1st anniversary
by Ivonne Collado
Sunday December 20 4th Sunday of
Advent
7:30am– St. Matthew Group of Hope
9:30am– Birthday blessings Agustin Garcia by Teofila Briones
11:30am– 75th birthday blessings for Judith George
1:30pm–Birthday blessings & thanksgiving to God by Adelyne
Louis
Monday December 21
7:30am— Happiness, health, strength, prosperity & a new home
for Letitia 9:00am – Birthday blessings Jayden Delauney by
family
Tuesday December 22
7:30am – Blessings on all priests of St. Matthew by St. Matthew
community
9:00am – Messe de remerciement in honor of St.Anthony & St.
Matthew by Anne Marie Charles
Wednesday December 23
7:30am– Birthday blessings Matthew Boye by aunt, Myrna Mendez
9:00am– Birthday blessings Joseph Henwood by Elizabeth Fraser
Thursday December 24
Midnight – Thanksgiving to God by Evelyn Barreau
Friday December 25 The Nativity of the Lord(Christmas)
11:00am– Merry & joyous Christmas to all our
parishioners
Saturday December 26
8:00am– Healing of mind, body soul & spirit for Lydia &
Euril
WEEKLY READINGS
Sun Dec 20 2 Sm7:1-5,8-12,14,16;Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38
Mon Dec 21 Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18; Lk 1:39-45
Tue Dec 22 1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1:46-56
Wed Dec 23 Mal 3:1-4,23-24; Lk 1:57 –66
Thu Dec 24 2 Sm 7:1-5,8-12,14,16; Lk 1:67-79
Fri Dec 25 Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5,9-14
Sat Dec 26 Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59; Mt 10: 17-22
In loving memory of Dennis Ruffin requested by wife, Catherine
Ruffin
OUR LADY OF CHARITY: MASS INTENTIONS
St. Matthew Candle December 20–26
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS: M. Roger Holland ll, Shawn Lancester, Meneik
Culley, Takisha Bailey,
Noah Gittens, Raymond Jorsling, Alvin Barnett, Kalla King/Boyd,
Christopher Blaize, Jamar Williams,
Elizabeth Alexander, Joan Merius, Ernesha Noel, Odette Lewis,
Janelle Bradford, Lianie William/
Mitchell, Sabriyan Guess
We pray to the Lord.
TODAY’S MASS : TODAY’S MASS : Thanksgiving
mass for the Penny & Cooper families,
requested by Hannah Penny, We pray to the Lord.
PARISH PRAYER: For our parish, that the three communities of St.
Matthew, St. Gregory the Great and Our Lady of Charity, learn how
to merge and grow together spiritually and become financially
sound as three and yet one, We pray to the Lord.
RECTORY CLOSING
The rectory will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25th and
Boxing Day, December 26th. We will also be closed on New Year’s Day
and the day
after January 2nd.
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WEEKLY MEETINGS - St. Matthew REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS
For the homebound, hospitalized and sick Komi Adjakey, Carmen
Allen, Armelle Amilcar,
Marie Augustin, Monica Belfon, Patricia Bowen, Silvestre
Brathwaite, Ismay Brewster, Yolande Cadet, Vilma Carter,
Delcia Charles, Jemma Christian, Enide Clarke,Maria Clouden
Cecilia Clovie, Nelia Collins, Virginia Cox, Maurice Earl
Cunningham, Veronica Dale, Angelia Daniels, Shirley
Daniels, Calvert Davis, Christopher DeSouza, Stephen Duncan,
Dorothy Edwards, Josephine Elize,Stella
Emmanuel, Carrie Frasier, Cynthia Gairy, John Gale, Nelida
Gavrilon, Ryan Gee, Muriel Gomez, Trina Gonzalez, Gwendolyn
Harding, Pierre Hinds, Joan Hudson, Danielle
Huie, Enid Huntley, Kerlyne Hyppolite, Serge Jabouin, Marie Rose
Jabouin, Donna James, Fernando James,
Judith Joseph, Elfreda Kedroe, Albert Kirton, Peter Kirton,
Deacon James Lacy, Kanelle Lang, Percival Lewis, Rhoda
Lewis, Sampson Lewis, Luis Manuel Lorenzo, Madelin Lorenzo,
Vivian Boykin Lott, Norberto Lovell, Yvonne Lovell, Jean Lubin,
Barbara Manuel, Virginia
Marcellin, Judith Matthew, Pearl Matthews, Laura
McDon-ald,Leticia McDowell, Vernita McDowell, Isai Munoz, Marta
Munoz, Nelson Munoz, Suzanna Neil, Mother Dolores Olff,
Ronaldo Nano Paul, Chung Peters, Marie Pierre, Sonia Prescot,
Ryan Ramsroop, Dorothy Irons Reid, Catherine
Richards, Carlos Roberts, Carlos Rudas, Elizabeth Sampson, Lidia
Saunders, Rachel Saunders, Carl Serrette, Pearl Shaw, Frances
Smith, Pamela Smith, Pema Smith, John Spellman Sr., Lisa Scott
Spencer, Kevin St. Clare,
Basil Suarez, Brenda Talango, Angela Thomas, Edris Thomas, Ethel
Thompson, Mother Margaret Thompson, Lyonette Tribie, Janet Throne,
Carmen Valen-tine, Martel Vendryes, Yvonne Warner, Kenron
Williams,
Leandro Wilson, Elodia Zuniga, Vilma Zuniga
SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR : Vaughn Haynes, Roberta Jennings, Dorothy
Briggs, Dean Jackson,
Pauline Marcelle, Margaret Otumba, Yolande, Taveri & Logan
Cadore, Kerry Mills, Lisa Scott/ Spencer, Clare Theodule, Damien
Thomas, Byron Murrain,
Karhi Fuban, Vivian Boykin / Lott, Stephen Duncan, Marcella De
Sandies, Georgeann Campbell, Voulda Edmondson, Ford , St. Rose
& Amorosa families, all
families represented here today.
All students, teachers and principals, President Donald Trump
& family, President elect Joe Biden & his family, Vice
president elect Kamala Harris & her family, our Government,
prayers and petitions in our prayer basket, for the all Priest
especially those who serve here at Charity, Religious Vocations,
and an
increase in Religious Vocations, all men and women serving our
country, the elders, all who are incarcerated, and unexpressed
prayers, for
immigrants, a successful and safe solution to the pandemic, the
mentally sick, the unemployed, end to
gun violence and for world peace,
We pray to the Lord.
St. Matthew and Our Lady of Charity weekly
meetings are all postponed until further notice.
Please check our website for further updates.
Stay safe.
WEEK OF SUNDAY 12/20/2020 @ ST. GREGORY
+ 9:30 AM - Sunday school OPEN for First Holy
Communion & Confirmation Classes
+ 10 AM Marcus Garvey Manor Postponed until fur-ther notice
+ Senior Choir Rehearsal – Cancelled
+ 11:30 AM Mass - Church
+ CREDIT UNION OPEN – After Mass in Work
Sacristy + GIFT SHOP CLOSED
MONDAY 12/14/20
+8:30 AM Mass – Church
+ Cantor Rehearsal
TUESDAY 12/15/20
+ 8:30 AM Mass – Church
+7 PM Bible Study with Bishop Sansaricq (see
info for details below)
WEDNESDAY 12/16/20
+ 8:30 AM Mass - Church
THURSDAY 12/17/20
+ 8:30 AM Mass – Church
+ Senior Bible Study & ARISE English Speaking
Prayer Group with Dolores Sykes – Cancelled
FRIDAY 12/18/20
+ 8:30 AM Mass - Church
SATURDAY 12/19/20
+ Private Confessions – OPEN
+4 PM Vigil Choir Rehearsal - Cancelled
+ 5 PM Vigil Mass – Church
+ 6:30 PM Light Fest Prayer Group – (Now
Online-see info under upcoming Mtgs. And
Events)
WEEKLY MEETINGS—St. Gregory
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UPCOMING MTGS. & EVENTS ST. MATTHEW
There is ongoing Registration for Sacramental Classes ONLY -
First Holy Communion and
Confirmation. Registration Fee: $50.00
Classes are in session at 9:30 A.M. Please contact Ms. Monica
Flemmings, Director of Religious
Instructions @ 646-415-3305 +++++++++++++++
St. Gregory the Great’s BIBLE STUDY with Bishop Sansaricq on
Tuesday, November 10th, 2020 7 PM
Eastern Time (US and Canada) Every week on Tues, until Dec.
29th, 2020, 8 occurrence(s)
Nov. 10, 2020 @ 7 PM Nov. 17, 2020 @ 7 PM Nov. 24, 2020 @ 7 PM
Dec. 1, 2020 @ 7 PM Dec. 15, 2020 @ 7 PM Dec. 22, 2020 @ 7 PM
CHRISTMAS BREAK-Bible Study will RESUME on Tuesday, January
22nd, 2021 at 7PM
To Join Zoom Meeting please use Meeting ID:854 9887 5775
Passcode:374738 On tap mobile
Dial 929 205 6099 using Meeting ID and the passcode
ALL ARE WELCOME! +++++++++++++++
PARISH UPDATES FROM THE DIOCESE
COVID19 remains on the rise we will continue Temperature taking
and Hand Sanitizing before entering the Church and before receiving
Holy
Communion in the hand. Parishioners must wear a face mask.
Also, please remember to Sanitize your hands before use of the
rest room and after and also upon leaving
the Church. +++++++++++++++
Once again as we prepare for the coming of the Lord, we want to
enhance the beauty of the Church during the Advent/Christmas
season. You can find the 2020 Advent/Christmas Wreath Memorial form
to honor a friend or to remember a deceased loved one in the
back of the church. Ushers will have forms available if you need
one. There are several memorial options. Choose the one most
suitable to your
circumstances. Your memorial wreath will be placed on a pillar
in Church or in the Sanctuary starting Saturday, December 19th. If
you wish to get your
memorial plaque before Christmas the deadline date is Monday,
December 21st. 2020.
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Mass
En-
velo
pes
Envelope
Collection
Loose
money Totals
8 PM 19 538.00 35.35 573.35
7:30 AM 46 2,344.00 196.00 2,540.00
9:30 AM 49 672.00 197.00 869.00
11:30 AM 37 821.00 291.00 1,112.00
1:30 PM 30 492.00 71.00 563.00
L.I.R. 155 7,353.50 — 7,353.50
TOTAL 336 12,220.00 790.35 13,010.85
Mass
Enve-
lopes
Envelope
Collection
Loose
money Totals
5:00 pm 12 335.00 57.00 392.00
11:30AM 21 701.05 156.21 857.26
Total 33 1,036.05 213.21 1,249.26
Mass Enve-
lopes
Envelope
Collec-
tion
Loose
money Total
10am 36 2,656.00 — 2,656.00
ST. GREGORY
OUR LADY OF CHARITY
COLLECTION 12/12– 12/13/2020 ST. GREGORY THE GREAT
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SCHOOL OF RELIGION @ ST. MATTHEW
SACRAMENTS & REGISTRATION
PARISH REGISTRATION
We urge everyone to register in the parish. Any letter
concerning sponsorship for the sacraments or testi-monial letters
will only be issued to registered pa-rishioners of 6+ months.
Please register @ the rec-tory, you can fill out the form on the
left and bring to
the rectory
BAPTISM: .
To have your child baptized in St. Matthew, you must
pick up a list of requirements in the rectory
MARRIAGE:
Marriage sacrament requires a time of spiritual
preparation. Therefore, couples should make ar-
rangements six months to a year before the planned
date, by making an appointment with the parish priest
ANOINTING OF THE SICK:
If you or a loved one is near death or very ill and need
a priest , we encourage you to call the chaplain of the
hospital or call our rectory
PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY
If anyone is interested in joining the Pastoral Care Homebound
Ministry please leave your name and
telephone number in the rectory.
RCIA
RCIA stands for RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
OF ADULTS and is composed of a series of sessions
bringing people together to experience the prayer life
of the church as well as learn about its doctrines and
teachings. Using the readings from the Bible which
we hear daily at Mass, the Sacred Liturgy as well as
the Catechism of the Catholic Church, teens and
adults who have not yet done so prepare themselves
to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation &
Holy Eucharist.
RCIA is offered in Spanish, Kreyol & English and
is for people who:
Were baptized in the Catholic Church but have
not received the sacrament of Confirmation,
First Holy Communion or First Confession
Were baptized in another Christian denomination
and wish to join the Catholic Church
Were never baptized & wish to fully worship in the
Catholic Church
Wants to know more about what it means to be
Catholic?
The sessions begin in September 27. If you are inter-
ested in knowing more, please contact the rectory.
School of Religion @ Our Lady of Charity
Registration for school of religion is now CLOSED.
School of Religion @ St. Gregory
Registration for Sacrament classes is now CLOSED.
However, there will be ongoing
registration for all Non-Sacramental classes
School of Religion @ St. Matthew
Registration is now CLOSED.
Full Name
______________________
Address 1
_______________________
Address 2
_______________________
Telephone Number _________________
Email Address ______________________
Were you registered before ____________
If yes, registration # __________
Today’s Date____________________
PARISH REGISTRATION
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Mary and Joseph gaze on their child lying in the man-ger. They
are filled with wonder at the beauty of this new creation, this new
person. But they are not just filled with wonder. They are also
filled with awe. Mary knows that the child came from God, from the
overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. God has worked His wonders in
her. Joseph knows that this is the child of his dream, the child
that the
angel told him would come. He was not the physical father, but
the angel assured him that he would raise the child as his own. In
the Gospel of Matthew, he was even
given the grace of naming the child. So Mary and Joseph gazed at
their child, overwhelmed that this child was the Son of the Most
High. They gazed at Him with
wonder, with reverence, with veneration, with awe.
Then the shepherds came. They had heard about this child. They
came not just to see a baby, but to witness the fulfillment of the
angel’s message, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, a
savior has been born for you
who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you
will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a
manger." This child is to be the Savior. His very name, Jesus,
means Savior. The shepherds are the first witnesses outside of the
Holy Family to know
that the Savior had come to the earth as a baby.
Jesus was born, and everything changed. Mankind was no longer be
in the grips of evil. The devil would be
defeated through the sacrificial love of the one born in
Bethlehem. Pride would be defeated with humility, disobedience with
obedience, and hatred with love.
The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas: Everything
Has Changed!
And just as the young mother and young father look at their
infant and know that their lives have to change, and just as the
shepherds looked at the infant in the manger knowing that somehow
through this child the world was
changing, so we look at the baby in the manger and agree,
“Everything must change. We are Christians. We
must walk in the Presence of the Lord.”
With the birth of Jesus, the spiritual has become physical and
the physical has joined the spiritual. This is a very hard concept
for us to grasp, in fact, it is a mystery, one
of the great mysteries of our faith. The Word became flesh and
dwelt among us. The world has rejected him, but “To those who did
accept him, he gave power to become children of God, to those
who
believe in his name who were born not by natural generation nor
by human choice not by man’s decision
but of God.”
We have been called to accept the Eternal Lord into our lives.
If we have the courage and the humility to do this,
then we ourselves will become children of God.
Everything must change in our lives. We need to bring the
spiritual into the physical. We need to be counter cultural, people
who value the spiritual over the mate-
rial. We need to join the Lord in creating a new culture, one
where the work of the Kingdom takes precedence
over the work of the world. We need to be kind. We need to be
loving. We need to
be Christian. We need to be Catholic.
Mother Teresa, St. Teresa of Calcutta, summed this up in a
beautiful prayer she would say every day:
Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance every-where I go.
Flood my soul with your Spirit and
love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all
my life may only be a radiance of your life.
Shine though me and be so in me that every soul I come in
contact with may feel your presence in my soul. Let
them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus. Stay with me
and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so
to shine as to be a light to others. Amen.
We need to join that first Nativity scene, with Mary and Joseph
and the shepherds, and later on with the three kings. We need to
join them and with wonder and awe
proclaim with our lives: Everything has changed.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
FELIZ NAVIDAD
JOYEUX NOEL
