At this stage of the process, the bill moves through the Senate Judiciary Committee.  At this writing, this Committee is considering S.744, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.  We know that S.744 is a good start, but that it is in need of improvement – hence the need for an amendment process.  Over the next few weeks, the Judiciary Committee will consider literally hundreds of amendments to the bill.  Trying to follow this process can be dizzying, but ongoing advocacy—voicing our stance to our elected officials—is imperative.

Some of the proposed amendments, from our stance, would improve the bill — those that bring help to people and those that streamline the immigration process.  Others, from our faith perspective, would make the bill worse.  Still other suggested amendments, if added, will make the passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill nearly impossible (some of the amendments were submitted with that very intention.)  So what is a faith advocate to do?

We are working closely with the U.S. Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign for guidance.  Their staff will be diligently following the amendment process and then suggesting advocacy action to help make the Senate bill better able to serve the needs of our immigrant brothers and sisters, and the Common Good.

Please go to www.justiceforimmigrants.org to learn action you can take during this process in support of immigrants.

For more information, please contact Fr. Stephen Mimnaugh,O.F.M. at smimnaugh@stfrancisnyc.org.

CLICK HERE FOR THE OTHER INSTALLMENTS of Holy Name Province’s series of articles for promotion as S.744 which is being reviewed and marked up by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

St. Luke the Evangelist

CATHOLICISM 101: The Gospel of Luke

In many ways the Gospel of Luke is the most familiar and most endearing of the canonical Gospels.

Luke alone contains some of the most famous parables like the Prodigal Son and Good Samaritan. Luke recounts for us more details of Jesus’ birth and childhood than all of the other canonical gospels. We will be looking at how Luke retold the story of Jesus for a universal audience. We will spend time looking at the structure of the gospel, who Jesus is for Luke, and what it means to follow Jesus in this gospel.

This course would be perfect for Priests, Deacons, Lectors, Catechists, and anyone interested in learning more about the scriptures.

We are also in Cycle C so the Gospel of Luke forms the backbone of the Sunday gospel readings for this liturgical year.

Wednesdays, June 12th to July 31st
Instructor: Joseph Nuzzi, MA Biblical Studies
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM or 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
San Damiano Hall

Cost $25.00

Click here to register for the afternoon course.

Click here to register for the evening course.

The next meeting will be Monday, May 20, 2013

Come join us!

POEMS-R-US
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Francis Room
(Lower Floor of the St. Francis House

Join us to celebrate!

Our regular weekday Mass schedule will be in effect (7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 11:30 AM; 12:15, 1:15, 4:30 and 5:30 PM).

A READING FROM THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS,

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world.  But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that men and women die once,and after this the judgment, so also Christ,offered once to take away the sins of many,will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh,and since we have Aa great priest over the house of God, “ let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

HEB 9:24-28; 10:19-23
optional second reading for the Feast of the Ascension

Young Adult Ministry of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi is hosting another Theology on Tap on Monday, May 13, 2013, entitled “where would Jesus shop? – Catholic Social Justice in a Global Economy.”

Speaker:  Cristabel Flores

We will gather at The Australian
20 west 38th Street (between 5th & 6th Aves.)
from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

We will discuss how our choices as consumers have moral implications in a global and interdependent world in light of Catholic Social Justice teachings and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Come share an evening of insightful conversation, good food, good beer and friends!

This event is open to anyone in their 20’s and 30’s

Free, private sessions will be held on:

Monday May 20, 2013 and
Thursday, May 23, 2013

St. Francis House
135 west 31st Street

If you are interested, please call in advance to schedule an individual appointment at 212- 736-8500, Ext. 357.

Because of the preparation work that is necessary, we cannot accept “walk-ins”.

You may e-mail your draft resume to resume@stfrancisnyc.org

When asked, this question presupposes the existence of a feasible and workable legal process for immigrants to enter the U.S.  The premise often is born of a nostalgia that our forefathers and foremothers went through such a process.  In both cases, the assumptions are not valid.

Most of the European immigrants who came to the U.S. did not go through stringent federal “legal” channels because they did not exist.  For example, Ellis Island, a port of entry for many, was only a place to screen (ensure that new arrivals were not diseased and asked questions to make sure not a danger to society), register (simply record their name in the registry) and welcome the newcomer.  There is no such process today.  In fact, under the current laws, no “line” for lawful immigration to the United States exists for the majority of our immigrants.  Today, the avenues of entry are very few and very narrow.  These paths, taken as a whole, do not even allow entry to enough immigrants to cover the U.S.’s growing employment needs (even during a recession).  In addition to the narrow nature of the system, the process is unrealistically lengthy and results in divided families.

When advocates for comprehensive immigration reform state that the “current system is broken,” they are referring, at least in part, to this narrow and unrealistic set of entry paths.  The U.S. Catholic Bishops and the Franciscans have joined with many others to declare that our current immigration laws must be reformed to meet our country’s need for labor and to facilitate the reunification of families.

To get a more complete understanding of why immigrants find it nearly impossible to enter the U.S. through legal means, please read the full brief from the USCCB.  http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/documents/issue-brief-why-dont-they-come-here-legally-final.pdf

For more information, please contact Fr. Stephen Mimnaugh,O.F.M. at smimnaugh@stfrancisnyc.org.

CLICK HERE FOR THE OTHER INSTALLMENTS of Holy Name Province’s series of articles for promotion as S.744 which is being reviewed and marked up by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Cardinal’s Annual Appeal will soon be coming to a close for 2013. Our parish has received $24,679 in donations and pledges from 71 donors. The average donation is $347.60. Many wil lbe receiving another letter from Cardinal Dolan asking for your gift.

Our parish goal is $77,500 so we ask everyone to contribute something. There are still 1,500 potential gift givers and any amount is greatly appreciated. There are envelopes in the church that you may use to send your gift or you may send it directly to the Cardinal’s Annual Appeal, 1011 First Avenue,New York, New York 10022.

You can also make your donation online at: https://www.cardinalsappeal.org/donate.htm.

Please remember to enter your parish as:  Church of St. Francis of Assisi, New York, NY and your donation will be recorded toward our goal.  There is more information about the appeal on the Cardinal’s Appeal site and we have included a video about the appeal below.

Thank you!