April 5, 2020 ♥ PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

St. Gregory the Great

224 Brooklyn Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11213

Tel 718- 773-0100

Fax 718- 773-4198

Email: faithcommstgreg@aol.com

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

Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Academy

Spiritual & Academic Excellence

Principal: Mr. Lawrence Cooke

2520 Church Ave.

Brooklyn N.Y.11226

Tel 718-282-2770;

Fax 718-774-3332

St. Matthew

1123 Eastern Pkwy.,

Brooklyn, NY 11213

Tel 718- 774-6747

Fax 718- 953-4895

Email: stmatthew1123@aol.com

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:9:30am-4:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

& Friday: 9:30am-7:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am-7:00pm

Sunday: 9:00am-4:00pm

Our Lady Of Charity

1669 Dean St.,

Brooklyn, NY 11213

Tel 718- 774-5100

Fax 718- 778-3335

Email: OlcharityRC@aol.com

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. Jean–Augustin

Francois

Fr. Thaddeus J. Abraham

Fr. Apollinaris Anyomi

Deacons Roy George

Nickie Colon

Website: www.stmatthewrc.org

St. Matthew Parish

FROM OUR PASTOR FR.BLACK

It is my sincere hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy during these difficult times. In the 8th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, we learn of the apostle’s fear and panic when confronted by a great storm while in a boat with our Blessed Lord. Yet, once called upon Jesus for help, their prayers were answered and the storm subsided. In these times when the storms of the present mo-ment try both our patience and endurance, we, as the apostles are asked to place ourselves in the care of our Heavenly Father. We must remember that, although we are being asked to distance our-selves, physically, from each other, we are joined, deeply in faith to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Each Sunday, when we were able to gather as a community of faith, we encountered the comfort-ing presence of our Heavenly Father in both the words of the Gospel and the reception of the Eu-charist. Although we are, in this current moment, unable to physically gather together to express our love for our Lord and each other, we may rejoice in the strength of our parish, which is greater than the challenges that we will be asked to manage in the coming days. I am trying to get the equipment necessary for a streaming of our Mass from t the Chapel. As of now, even though we are “on the top of the list”, that has not been possible. We will announce it on our Facebook Page and our website if and when it becomes possible. Know that all of our intentions are being presented to the Lord, as I and Father Apollo say Mass daily. Fathers Ted and Jean Francois are self-quarantined since they had lim-ited contact with Father Ken (who is recovering). The Bishop’s office suggested this as an “abundance of caution.” Both resident priests should be joining us within a few weeks. The Church has been deep cleaned and sanitized as well as Our Lady of Charity, where a member al-so tested positive.

I would also ask, your circumstances permitting, that you consider continuing your financial sup-port of our parish. With the suspension of our reg-ular offertory collections, costs associated with managing the parish, such as heat, insurance, elec-tricity, and skeletal staff continue to grow. I would ask that you prayerfully consider making your regular offertory commitment (please en-close checks not cash). For those who are able, please go to the internet contact Faith Direct, https://membership.faithdirect.net/NY970 or go our webpage at https://stmaathew-brooklyn.org to donate to the parish that way. It can be one time or a regular donation, anything is appreciated. Re-member, now more than ever, with you there is no parish. Thank you for all that you do. You can also visit our Facebook page for updates at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church- Brooklyn N Y. Thank you for all that you do for our parish. We will, as a community of faith, emerge from these challenges provide that we as the apostles did on the Sea of Galilee, place our hope and trust in our Heavenly Father. Yours Faithfully, Fr. Frank Black

“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that you may al-ways have enough of everything and may

provide in abundance for every good work.” -2 Cor 9:8

BREAD & WINE, CANDLE, BLESSINGS MASS INTENTIONS

ST. MATTHEW: MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday April 4

Birthday blessings for Jia & Tai Lambert by Cita Ferguson

Sunday April 5

Palm Sunday of the Passion of

the Lord

Members of the Altar Rosary Society

Birthday blessings for Cenobia Melo by Elizabeth Rivera

Thanksgiving to God for Kyle Uzoma by mom, Daffodil

For our parishioners, that they will be safe & healed

Monday April 6

For healing, strength & courage amidst this Corona crisis R.I.P. Norma Hennis, may perpetual light shine upon her

Tuesday April 7

We ask that God’s healing blood will cleanse our nation & the world In loving memory of Terence Jules, R.I.P.

Wednesday April 8

God’s blessing for Cristobalina Nunez

Birthday blessings for Barbara Jensen Robinson by family

Thursday April 9 Holy

Thursday

For all who mourn their loved ones, that they will be comforted.

That our children will be filled with the healing power of Christ

Friday April 10

Good Friday

NO MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday April 11 Holy

Saturday

RIP Yvette John by the St Matthew Family Community

WEEKLY READINGS

.

CANDLE APRIL5-11

MASS INTENTIONS @ ST. GREGORY

Sun April 5 Mt 21:1-11; Is 50: 4-7;Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14—27,66 or 27:11-54

Mon April 6 Is 42:1-7,Jn 12:1-11

Tue April 7 Is 49:1-6 ; Jn 13:21-33,36-38

Wed April 8 Is 50:4 –9;Mt 26:14 –25

Thu April 9 Ex 12:1-8,11-14:;1 Cor 11:23-26, Jn 13:1-15

Fri April 10 Is 52:13—53-12; Heb 4:14-16, Jn 18:1—19:42

Sat April 11 Gn 1:1—2 :2 or 1;1,26-31; Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2,9,10-13,15-18 Ex 14:15—15:1 ;Bar 3:9-15,32—4:4 Ez 36:16-17,18-28 ;Rom 6:3-11; Mt 28;1-10

PARISH BREAD & WINE APRIL

For the parishioners of St. Matthew, St. Gregory and

Our Lady of Charity

Thanking Jesus for everything requested by Yolaine Olivier

First Friday April 3rd

Mass for Clyde Pryce, R.I.P., Request-

ed by Brother Courtney Pryce and Family

First Satur-day, April 4th

Mass for Jacques Tege Sr., R.I.P., Requested by The Family

Sunday, April 5th

No Palm Sunday Procession

Palm Sunday Mass for Joseph Charles, Requested by Cynthia Charles

Carmen Allen, Silvestre Brathwaite, Ismay

Brewster, Yolande Cadet, Enide Clarke, Nelia

Collins, Maurice Earl Cunningham, Calvert Da-

vis, Stella Emmanuel, Pierre & Elreta Hinds,

Enid Huntley, Serge Jabouin, Marie Rose

Jabouin, Fernando James, Elfreda Kedroe,

Sampson Lewis, Barbara Manuel, Leticia

McDowell, Vernita McDowell, Suzanna Neil,

Catherine Richards, Elizabeth Sampson, Carl

Serrette, Martel Vendryes & Elodia Zuniga

SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR ST. GREGORY HOMEBOUND & SICK DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME

WEEKLY MEETINGS REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS

For the homebound, hospitalized and sick

Komi Adjakey, Carmen Allen, Armelle Amilcar, Fr. Andy, Marie Augustin, Monica Belfon, Patricia

Bowen, Silvestre Brathwaite, Ismay Brewster, Yolande Ca-det, Vilma Carter, Delcia Charles, Jemma Christian, Enide Clarke, Cecilia Clovie, Nelia Collins, Virginia Cox, Maurice

Earl Cunningham, Mother Veronica Dale, Angelia Daniels, Shirley Daniels, Calvert Davis, Stella Emmanuel, Mother Carrie

Frasier, Cynthia Gairy, John Gale, Hipolito Garcia, Nelida Gavrilon, Muriel Gomez, Trina Gonzalez, Gwendolyn Har-

ding, Elreta Hinds, Pierre Hinds, Joan Hudson, Danielle Hu-ie, Enid Huntley, Kerlyne

Hyppolite, Serge Jabouin, Marie Rose Jabouin, Fernando James, Roberto Jennings, Judith Joseph,

Elfreda Kedroe, Albert Kirton, Peter Kirton, Deacon James Lacy, Kanelle Lang, Percival Lewis, Rhoda Lewis, Sampson

Lewis, Luis Manuel Lorenzo, Madelin Lorenzo, Norberto Lovell, Yvonne Lovell, Jean Lu-

bin, Barbara Manuel, Mother Virginia Marcellin, Judith Matthew, Mother Pearl Matthews, Leti-cia McDowell, Vernita McDowell, Kerry Mills, Isai Munoz,

Marta Munoz, Nelson Munoz, Suzanna Neil, Mother Dolores Olff, Ronaldo Nano Paul, Chung

Peters, Marie Pierre, Sonia Prescot, Ryan Ramsroop, Dor-othy Irons Reid, Catherine Richards, Carl Roberts, Carlos Rudas, Elizabeth Sampson, Lidia Saunders, Rachel Saun-

ders, Lisa Scott, Carl Serrette, Frances Smith, Pamela Smith, Pema Smith, John Spellman Sr., Lisa Scott Spencer,

Kevin St. Clare, Angela Thomas, Edris Thomas, Ethel Thompson, Mother Margaret Thompson, Lyonette Tribie,

Janet Throne, Carmen Valentine, Martel Vendryes, Yvonne Warner, Leandro Wilson, Elodia Zuniga,

SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR : Roberta Jennings, Dorothy Briggs, Dean Jackson,

Pauline Marcelle, Yolande, Taveri & Logan Cadore, Gwen-dolyn White, Kerry Mills, Damien Thomas, Shennel Noel,

Nickell Best, Perry Pierre, Sheldon Brathwaite, Maura Chisam, Daphne Critchlow, John Spellman Sr., Brandon Williams, Lisa Scott/ Spencer, Walter Edward Smith Sr.,

Sharon Gabriel, the Mc Nabb, Griffith, Douglas families, all families

represented here today. All students, teachers and principals, President

Donald Trump & 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, the DACA pro-gram, the mentally sick, and for world peace, We pray to

the Lord.

WEEK OF SUNDAY 04/05/0 @ ST. GREGORY + Sunday School Classes Cancelled + Marcus Garvey Manor Postponed until further no-tice + Senior Choir Rehearsal – Cancelled + NO Palm Sunday Procession-Mass will be cel-ebrated by Priests ONLY. + CREDIT UNION CLOSED + GIFT SHOP CLOSED

MONDAY 04/06/20 – Day of Recollection + Mass – Chapel + Rehearsal Senior & Vigil Choirs- Cancelled

TUESDAY 04/07/20 + Mass - Chapel + Bible Study with Bishop Sansaricq -Cancelled

WEDNESDAY 04/08/20 + Mass - Chapel + School Mass – Holy Cross- Cancelled

THURSDAY 04/09/20 + Mass- Chapel + Senior Bible Study & OPEN ARISE English Speaking Prayer Group with Dolores Sykes – Cancelled

FRIDAY 04/10/20 + Mass – Chapel + Stations of the Cross – Postponed until further notice

SATURDAY 04/04/20 + Private Confessions - OPEN +Vigil Choir Rehearsal-Cancelled + Mass – Church Light Fest Prayer Group – Postponed until

further notice ______________________________________ St. Matthew and Our Lady of Charity weekly meetings are all postponed until further notice. Please check our website for further updates.

Stay safe.

POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

WEEKLY COLLECTION

UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS

M A R K Y O U R C A L E N D A R

CANCELLED- FISH FRY DINNER

sponsored by Parent Support Group on

Friday, March 27th 2020

++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++

RECONCILIATION

MONDAY, APRIL 6TH -CANCELLED-

Priests are available for confessions, as

needed throughout the Lenten Season

and through this crisis.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++

POSTPONED UNTIL

FURTHER NOTICE - EASTER MINI

BRUNCH

sponsored by The Disciples In Mission

on Saturday, April 18th, 2020

++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++

ALL OTHER UPCOMING LENTEN

SCHEDULED EVENTS ARE POSTPONED

AND OR CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER

NOTICE. PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE

FOR FURTHER UPDATES. https://stmaathew-brooklyn.org

ST. GREGORY

SIGHT AND SOUND-POSTPONED The Sight & Sound trip Trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to

see the story of Esther, on Saturday, July 25th,2020 is postponed until further notice

. Prices are $160 for adults & $125 for children (12 and

under). THERE ARE ONLY 10 SEATS AVAILABLE

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY-CANCELLED The Charismatic prayer group will be going to Divine Mer-

cy Healing Center at 131 Davis Street, Easton, Pennsylva-

nia, on Sunday, April 19th. Bus leaves from in front of the

Church and the cost of the ticket is $45.

For more information please contact Shirley Crooks @ 917

-518-4626

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION All public Masses are suspended. This ruling is in

effect until further notice. There will be NO public masses

or services celebrated for Holy Week.

The rectory is closed so if there are any

questions, please feel to visit our website

Mass intentions originally scheduled will be celebrated

privately by the priest.

During the time that masses are suspended we are asking

parishioners if its possible to give your tithes through the

website

https://stmatthew-brooklyn.org/ways-to-give/

or mail it to the Church

Thank you, stay safe and God Bless you.

If the Sacrament of Reconciliation is needed please call

the rectory to set up an appointment with the priest.

718.774.6747

We will be streaming Holy week Masses and service

Please access our website for more information

@ stmatthew-Brooklyn.org

The School of Religion is closed until further notice.

ST. MATTHEW

ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL

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 parishion-ers of 6+ months. Please register @ the rectory, 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 prepara-

tion. Therefore, couples should make arrangements 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 hospi-

tal or call our rectory

PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY

If anyone is interested in joining the Pastoral Care Home-bound 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 read-

ings from the Bible which we hear daily at Mass, the Sa-

cred Liturgy as well as the Catechism of the Catholic

Church, teens and adults who have not yet done so pre-

pare 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 October. If you are interested 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. How-

ever, there will be ongoing

registration for all Non-Sacramental classes

School of Religion @ St. Matthew

Full Name

______________________

Address 1

_______________________

Address 2

_______________________

Telephone Number _________________

Email Address ______________________

Were you registered before ____________

If yes, registration # __________

Today’s Date____________________

PARISH REGISTRATION

The restrictions due to the corona virus will most probably prevent us from assembling for Passion Sunday. We can still remember what Passion Sunday signifies to us. Two of the Gospels from the weekday Masses of the Fifth Week of Lent catch my attention. In one Gospel Jesus con-demns the religious leaders of the Jewish people for refusing to recognize the Messiah. The ques-tion that occurred to me was, “How could those who spent their lives in religion miss the Christ standing right in front of them?” I am convinced that they their fatal flaw resulted from their decid-ing that they had all the answers among them-selves and within themselves. We can easily make this mistake ourselves. God’s Presence in the world is far greater than we could ever imag-ine. His Power is deeper than we could ever achieve ourselves. Wrapped up in themselves, the Jewish leaders missed the Power and Pres-ence of the Lord. If we are wrapped up into our-selves, we will also miss His Presence. The second Gospel from this week that caught my attention contained Jesus’ proclama-tion that when He is lifted up He would draw all people to Himself. The suffering of our Lord was necessary for all people. Christianity is not just a belief system for a select group of people. All people are saved by Jesus Christ, even good people searching for God, who have not received the grace to become Christian. By dying on the cross, Jesus re-established mankind’s ability to be united to God. Jesus’ death gives all people spiritual life. This is what we mean when we use the term: redemptive suffering. In the mystery of the Redemptive Suffer-

ing of the Lord, we participate in the cross of Christ. St. Paul put it this way in his Letter to the

Colossians: “in my body I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His

Body, which is the Church.”

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord: Redemptive Suffering

We all are. We all are making up for what is lacking. But how can their be a deficiency in

Christ’s sacrifice? The answer is this: we are en-trusted with the proclamation of the Kingdom of

God. The only way we can do this is by living the Life of Christ. That is why we are called Chris-

tians. We make Christ real in the world. Our liv-ing His Life includes our embracing His Sacri-

fice. We unite our pains and sorrows to the Lord as our part in making the presence of the Suffer-

ing Savior real in the world.

I wish I could tell you that pain does not exist and that you can make it go away with your mind. The pandemic that is the corona virus has certainly reminded us of our human condition. Suffering is part of our lives. One of the great

beauties of our faith is that there is value in every aspect of the Christian’s life, even those aspects of life that are full of pain. Therefore, we give it all

to the Lord. We give Him our joy and our pain. If our health is poor or failing, if our lives are not going as we hoped, whatever pain we

have, we give it to Him. We unite everything to the cross so others can experience the Sacrificial Love of Jesus in our lives. Let me ask you this, “Have you ever met a truly holy person?” If you have, and I am sure we all have, we cannot help

but realize that for that person pain is second-ary. The only thing that matters for him or her is Christ. Moreover, his or her very suffering pro-

vides us with the experience of Christ’s Redemp-tive Presence. He or she is making up for what is lacking in the Cross of Christ: the participation

of His people.

We focus on the cross today, and throughout this Holy Week. We unite our pains to

Jesus’ pains. We receive His healing through His Cross. We bring His healing to others by al-

lowing them to experience the Power of the Cross at work in our lives. We are called to par-

ticipate in Redemptive Suffering.