June 21, 2020 ♥ TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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

The 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time: The Fear of the Lord

It was the beginning of the sixth century before Christ, about the year 590. The Kingdom of Judah and its capital Jerusalem were terrified. The Babylonians were on the march. They had conquered the Assyrians. Tarsus and Damascus to the North had fallen. All of Mesopotamia, the nations between the Tigris and Euphrates had fallen. Now Jerusalem was threatened. How could the tiny Kingdom of Judah withstand such a huge enemy? What should the King do? He looked to his counselors. They told him to consider treaties with their pagan neighbors. This would mean trusting in the pagans rather than trusting in God. The King looked to God. There was a prophet in Jerusalem whom he respected, the prophet Jeremiah. The king saw him as someone who knew the truth and was not afraid to proclaim the truth. Jeremiah told the King that the Babyloni-ans were agents of God about to punish the Jewish people for adopting pagan ways. The King needed to lead the people in trusting in God rather than in the pagans.

That is why the King’s counselors hated Jeremiah. To-day’s first reading, from one of the sections of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah referred to as the Confession of Jeremiah, relates how the King’s counselors were looking for ways by which they could denounce him to the King, condemn him, even have him killed. Jeremiah is tested. Should he go along with the counselors and pre-serve his life? Should he get out of Jerusalem with its deadly politics? Or should he give witness to God and chance persecution from those gathered around the King. He decided to fear God rather than be afraid of men.

Fear God. That is a biblical concept that is often misunder-stood. It does not mean that we should be afraid of God. It mean that we should respect God, reverence God, and be more concerned with fulfilling the Law of God than with the way others might respond to us.

In the Gospel reading for this Sunday Jesus says, “Do not let others intimidate you.” He tells us to keep our priorities straight. He tells us that we should not even be afraid of people who could kill us. "Do not fear those who deprive the body of life but cannot destroy the soul.” In one of the most beautiful passages in the New Testament, Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for next to nothing? Yet not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Fa-ther's consent. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted; so do not be afraid of anything. You are worth more than an entire flock of sparrows.” The Lord also says in that passage, “Fear Him who can throw body and soul into Gahanna.” This is not a popular concept in our society. We emphasize God’s compassion and mercy, and this is good, but we tend to refuse to ac-knowledge His justice. In our own minds, we transform God into an imaginary figure that will not respond to our rejec-tion of His life and laws. For example, a man commits adultery, leaves his wife and children, and then says, “God understands.” Well maybe the god of his imagination might understand, but the real God was present when marriage vows were made to Him and to his wife.

God sees the turmoil the selfish man thrust upon a good wife and their beautiful children. God’s mercy is always available, but if the man, or if any of us refuse to acknowl-edge our sins and seek forgiveness, we are committing the deadly sin of presumption, and, in effect, denigrating God to a creature of our imagination.

But if we live with a reverence and respect for the Lord, the biblical Fear of the Lord, if we do all we can to be God-fearing, then we do not have to be afraid of any-thing. When we live with a reverence and respect for the Lord, then all those concerns that the media delights in frightening us with will diminish. Will the corona virus de-stroy half the population of the world similar to how the Black Plague destroyed half the population of Europe? We certainly pray that it will not, but we also know that live or die what matters is that we belong to the Lord. Will the world end this year? Everything else seems to be going wrong in 2020, so maybe, but probably not. The end of the world does not matter as long as we are united to God. Will people attack us for being Christian? Abso-lutely. In fact there are many people in sections of Africa and India that are being attacked for being Christian every day. Will we be disparaged because we are against abor-tion, against capital punishment, against euthanasia, against taking children from their parents? We certainly will be attacked for promoting the totality of respect life, but disparagement does not matter as long as we are united to God.

We have nothing to fear as long as we fear the Lord. We

are a lot more important to our Loving Father than a flock of sparrows; yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without our heavenly Father’s concern. How much more does God value those creatures who are made in His image and like-ness? We are worth infinitely more than many sparrows.

The devil has three terrible lies with which he as-sails us, sometimes directly, sometimes subtly. The first of the devil’s lies is: You are not good enough. To that God answers, “I have made you good enough. I became one of you. I died for you; so I could raise you up with me to eter-nal life.” The second lie of the devil is: You are alone. God answers, “I am with you always. I know you. I know every hair on your head. I know what you are going through. To-gether we can conquer all challenges, all fear.” The third lie of the devil is one which all liars try to convince others of, that lie is simply: the other person is lying. In the case of the devil, his third great lie is that God has deceived us. He used this to great effect in the biblical sages’ story about original sin. The devil told Adam and Eve that God was deceiving them to keep them from being like God. In our modern times, some people question that there might be other ways to live than that presented by the Church. To the accusation that God lies, God answers, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

“Fear the Lord and do not be afraid of anything.” the Lord says. You are worth more than many sparrows.

BREAD & WINE, CANDLE, BLESSINGS MASS INTENTIONS

ST. MATTHEW: MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday June 20th

Birthday in heaven Louisa Cummins & Clement Williams by brother, Edmund Williams

Sunday June 21st

Birthday blessings Denise Abraham by Cecilia Abraham & family In loving memory of Rafael Gomez by Milagros Gomez In memory of Simeon & Glenroy King by the Seales family

Monday June 22nd

Birthday blessings Myrna Mendez

Tuesday June 23rd

Blessings & healing for Keetha & her family

Wednesday June 24th

Birthday blessings Anna Lucas by Myrna Mendez Birthday blessings Juana Estrella

Thursday June 25th

In loving memory of Lucille Clarke by Theresa Clarke Elridge

Friday June 26th

Wedding anniversary for St. Clair & Florence Holder

Saturday June 27th

In loving memory of Mathurin Michel by wife, Ariane Michel

WEEKLY READINGS

Sun June 21 Jer 20:10-13;Rom 5:12-15; Mt10:26-33

Mon June 22 9 Kgs 17:5-8,13-15,18; Mt 7:1-5

Tue June 23 2 Kgs19: 9-11,14-21,31-36; Mt 7: 6,12-14

Wed June 24 Is 49:1-6; Acts13:22-26 Lk1: 57-66, 80

Thu June 25 2 Kgs 24:8-17; Mt 7: 21-29

Fri June 26 2 Kgs 25: 1-12; Mt 8:1-4

Sat June 27 Lam 2:2,10-14,18-19; Mt 8:5-17

St. Gregory Mass Intentions

Sanctuary Candle June 21-June 27

Anniversary blessings for Wilhems

Desdunes

ST. MATTHEW: BREAD & WINE JUNE

Birthday blessing for Fitzroy Frank

requested by Princess Frank

Parish update due to the covid19

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHURCHES MAY OPEN THEIR DOORS FOR PRIVATE PRAYER AND

DEVOTION, FUNERALS, BAPTISMS, AND WEDDINGS ON MAY 26TH.

There is no public celebration of the Mass, your

Priests will continue to celebrate the Mass each day privately. Your intentions are being remembered at Mass and we are praying for everyone’s health and

well-being. Our churches can be open for 4 hours each day.

Again, these hours will not coincide with the time a Mass is celebrated in the church. There is to be no

congregating of people (e.g. gathering to say a Rosary together). There should not be more than ten (10) people in the Church and there cannot be a group

gathering. The faithful cannot touch statues or other devotional objects in the church. Please check our Parish website at stmatthew-brooklyn.org and our

Face Book Page for additional updates.

FOOD PANTRY REOPENING

St. Matthew Food pantry located at 1342 Lincoln Place has now reopened on Tuesdays between the

hours of 9 AM to 12 Noon. If there are 5 Tuesdays in the month the pantry is closed on the 5th Tuesday.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS @ ST.GREGORY

Saturday,

June 20th

Mass for Clyde Pryce, R.I.P., Requested by Brother Courtney

Pryce & Family

Sunday

June 21st

Mass for Arthur Jack, Jr., In Thanksgiving

Requested by The Family

Friday,

June 26th

Mass for Cynthia Charles Birthday Blessings

Saturday,

June 27th

Mass for Clyde Pryce, R.I.P., Requested by Courtney and

Family

WEEKLY MEETINGS - St. Matthew 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 Cadet, 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 Harding, Elreta Hinds, Pierre Hinds, Joan Hudson, Danielle Huie, 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, Barbara Manuel, Luis Manuel Lorenzo,

Madelin Lorenzo, Norberto Lovell, Yvonne Lovell, Jean Lubin, Barbara Manuel, Mother Virginia

Marcellin, Judith Matthew, Mother Pearl Matthews, Leticia 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, Dorothy Irons Reid, Catherine Richards, Carl Roberts, Carlos Rudas, Elizabeth Sampson, Lidia Saunders, Rachel Saunders, Lisa Scott, Carl

Serrette, Pearl Shaw, 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, Vilma Zuniga

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

Pauline Marcelle, Yolande, Taveri & Logan Cadore, Gwendolyn 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 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 program, the mentally sick,

and for world peace,

St. Matthew and Our Lady of Charity weekly meet-

ings are all postponed until further notice.

Please check our website for further updates.

Stay safe.

WEEK OF SUNDAY 06/21/20 @ ST. GREGORY

+ Sunday School Classes Cancelled

+ Marcus Garvey Manor Postponed until further notice

+ Senior Choir Rehearsal – Cancelled

+ The Most Holy Trinity Sunday Mass-Live Streamed

on St. Matthew Website

+ CREDIT UNION CLOSED

+ GIFT SHOP CLOSED

MONDAY 06/22/20

+ Mass – Chapel

+ Rehearsal Senior & Vigil Choirs- Cancelled

TUESDAY 06/23/20

+ Mass - Chapel

+ Bible Study with Bishop Sansaricq -Cancelled

WEDNESDAY 06/24/20

+ Mass - Chapel

+ School Mass – Holy Cross- Cancelled

THURSDAY 06/25/20

+ Mass- Chapel

+ Senior Bible Study & OPEN ARISE English Speak-

ing Prayer Group with Dolores Sykes – Cancelled

FRIDAY 06/26/20

+ Mass followed by Eucharistic Adoration– Chapel

SATURDAY 06/27/20

+ Private Confessions - OPEN

+Vigil Choir Rehearsal-Cancelled

+ Mass – Church

+ Light Fest Prayer Group – Postponed until further

notice

WEEKLY MEETINGS—St. Gregory

UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS

During this difficult time in our history and in our

parish, there is yet another change taking place in our

midst: The Bishop has reassigned Fr. Jean-Augustine

François to the Parish of St. Jerome. He is in the

process of moving in there even as we make this

announcement. Unfortunately, with the lockdown and

multiple changes in our world today, we are unable to

give him a worthy St. Matthew farewell, but he knows

also that our prayers accompany him on this new

phase of his ministry in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Thanks, Fr. François and may God Bless you!

We welcome Msgr. Pierre Andre Pierre who will be

replacing Fr. François. He has an extensive history of

being an educator and ministry in his Diocese in Haiti.

(He also was one of Fr. François’ teachers).

We will hopefully be able to welcome him properly in

the near future. He will be residing at St. Gregory the

Great Rectory.

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Academy aligned with

the parishes of: Holy Cross, St. Matthew, St. Joseph

/St. Teresa offers a quality nationally accredited

academic education with Christian values in a Roman

Catholic environment for Grades PreK-3 through

Grade 8 and Pre K For ALL (KALL). Scholarships

available; application deadline: April1st.

Located: 2520 Church Ave. between Rogers

& Bedford Aves.

Convenient to: B41, B44, B44Select Bus, B35, B49, IRT

#2 & #5. Ongoing registration and tours: Please call

718-774-3330

PLEASE READ...VERY IMPORTANT

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION All public Masses are suspended but we are now live

streaming @ https://stmatthew-brooklyn.org

Monday through Sunday.

The rectory is closed but If you would like to speak

with a priest or the Sacrament of Reconciliation is

needed, please call the rectory to set up an appoint-

ment

@718.774.6747

Mass intentions originally scheduled will be cele-

brated privately by the priest.

I would also ask, your circumstances permitting, that you consider continuing your financial support of our parish. With the suspension of our regular offertory

collections, costs associated with managing the par-ish, such as heat, insurance, electricity, and skeletal

staff continue to grow. I would ask that you prayerfully consider making your regular offertory commitment

(please enclose 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://stmatthew-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, without you there is no parish.

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 chal-lenges provide that we as the apostles did on the

Sea of Galilee, place our hope and trust in our Heav-enly Father.

ST. MATTHEW

Mass is still being celebrated via our streaming

services. We are streaming the mass daily on our web-

site. You can also visit the Net on your cable channel

to see mass daily. Please join us as we celebrate Mass

together via the web or TV.

We have some updated information on our website

regarding opening the church for:

Private Prayer and Devotion,

Funerals,

Weddings

Baptisms

Please read our plan for re-opening to see how will

accommodate opening the church with restrictions to

allow for the above sacraments and private worship.

ST. GREGORY THE GREAT ACADEMY

Mass & Church Opening

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 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.

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

Pope Francis : Corona virus Protection

Feeding America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to

feeding our country’s hungry and raising engagement in

the fight to end hunger.

Today, Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic

hunger relief program. Feeding America provides aid to

40 million Americans at risk of hunger that includes 7

million seniors and 12 million children. More Americans

need food due to the Corona Virus and with the main

resource, grocery stores, unable to provide to banks at

the same rate due to the effects of the virus, it is our

sense of humanity and community that calls us to take

action.

You can donate by visiting feedingamerica.org.

Join us in the fight against hunger. Remember, no dona-

tion is too small! Every dollar helps; even $1 can provide

10 meals through the feeding America network of food

banks.

Similarly, the Robin hood foundation also offers to fight

against hunger in NYC. For over thirty years, they’ve

been finding, fueling and creating the most impactful and

scalable solutions to lift families out of poverty in New

York City.

The Robin Hood Foundation partners with over 250 non-

profits to support food, housing, education, legal ser-

vices, workforce development, and more to New Yorkers

living in poverty across all five boroughs

Their BOARD COVERS 100% OF ALL OVERHEAD

SO EVERY DOLLAR YOU DONATE GOES TO

HELP NEW YORKERS IN NEED

To donate to help NYC in the fight against hunger,

please visit their website :Robin Hood Foundation

FOR COVID-19 TESTING– P lease call the NYS

Novel Coronavirus Hotline 888-364-3065. Request the

COVID-19 Test at BMS Family Health and Wellness

Centers.

The test is FREE. NO INSURANCE required. Your

PRIVACY is PROTECTED. There is NO PUBLIC

CHARGE RULE APPLIED. NO IMMIGRATION

checks.

Food Insecurity in the midst of Corona

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a

sign of salvation and hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.

At the foot of the Cross you participated in

Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith.

You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we

need.

We are certain that you will provide, so that,

as you did at Cana of Galilee,

joy and feasting might return after this moment of

trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,

to conform ourselves to the Father’s will

and to do what Jesus tells us:

He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore

our sorrows to bring us,

through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection.

Amen.

We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy

Mother of God.

Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test

– and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and

blessed Virgin.

ORACIÓN A LA VIRGEN MARÍA PARA LA

PROTECCIÓN CONTRA EL CORONAVIRUS

Oh María,

tú resplandeces siempre en nuestro camino

como signo de salvación y de esperanza.

Confiamos en ti, salud de los enfermos,

que junto a la cruz te asociaste al dolor de Jesús,

manteniendo firme tu fe.

Tú, salvación del pueblo romano,

sabes lo que necesitamos

y estamos seguros de que proveerás,

para que, como en Caná de Galilea,

pueda volver la alegría y la fiesta

después de este momento de prueba.

Ayúdanos, Madre del Divino Amor,

a conformarnos a la voluntad del Padre

y a hacer lo que nos diga Jesús,

que ha tomado sobre sí nuestros sufrimientos

y ha asumido nuestras aflicciones,

para llevarnos, a través de la cruz,

a la alegría de la resurrección. Amén.

Bajo tu amparo nos acogemos, Santa Madre de

Dios.

No deseches las oraciones que te dirigimos en

nuestras necesidades,

antes bien, líbranos de todo peligro, oh Virgen

gloriosa y bendita.