FROM THE ANTI-RACISM GROUP: BUILDING THE BELOVED COMMUNITY

When our group began to meet in 2020, due to the wonderful efforts of Brothers Thomas and Damien, we were all horrified by recent the murder of George Floyd. Our readings about the history of race relations in the United States, institutional racism, and red lining have upset us very much. However, as we have prayed for some reconciliation and understanding of our problems and the Christian effort for a needed Beloved Community, we have become more optimistic that with hard work and diligence the long arc of justice is possible. This group has also made us more appreciative of Saint Mary’s and its importance as an example of a loving and diverse parish where all are welcome. So much to do!

The group has given hope where there was hopelessness, energy where there was fatigue, a spiritual grounding when we had lost our own, and the realization that traditions and rituals of all faiths are rich and beautiful to the one God. The group in many ways has become both our Church and our extended family.

We have been about prayer from the beginning. We start each session with a prayer, and we conclude with a prayer. Prayers are drawn from different faith traditions and cultures and allow us to hear diverse voices. The unifying message is that we are all made in the Creator’s image. We get support, strength, and courage to discuss difficult issues and look at our history as a nation and in our churches. Our prayers have created a safe, sacred space which allows each of us to take risks and stir us from contemplation into action.

To give structure to our meetings, we have been reading and discussing several books that have helped us to understand where racism comes from and why it endures. The intimacy and urgency among our small group have enabled the openness and trust which has created a strong bond of love and common purpose.

Some of us came to the United States in the seventies expecting to find a country transformed by the Civil Rights movement of the sixties, but soon realized that inequality and racism are still very much present in the fabric of this country of so-called equal opportunity. The level of comfort and success that some of us have enjoyed here was enabled by that underlying and persistent legacy of our country’s inequality. We have read seven books and have recently begun our eighth. They have changed us, and we would recommend them to everyone who wants to deepen their understanding of this tragedy in America. These are the titles: Caste, Begin Again, Seeing My Skin, Jesus and the Disinherited, 400 Souls, A More Perfect Union, The Church Enslaved, and My Grandmother’s Hands, which we recently began.

The alarming turn of events in this country since the presidential election of 2016 has shaken our trust in the democratic process. At the same time, it has been very healing to be able to talk about all this openly in our prayerful little group. It has kept hope and faith alive in us that this communal spirit can transcend the divisive dialogue in this country to create a beloved community.

Our group is a prayer for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth; we are a community where each is cared for listened to and loved. We pray to be willing to be honest about our experiences, responses, and feelings about racism in America. Our commitment to each other is a form of prayer for the greater community—to show in our actions our prayer for freedom in these matters. Our willingness to share honestly is a prayer to God that we be accepted as we open our hearts. Our willingness to accept that we do not have easy quick answers is a prayer for patience that we are open to listening to God’s voice. Our showing up each week to wrestle with complex texts is a prayer that by facing the horror of the past we may see God’s direction for us moving forward. Of all of our weekly prayers, we find this prayer to be the truest for us:  

Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort…
Discomfort at easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships,
Discomfort, so that you will live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger…
Anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
Anger, so that you will work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears…
Tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, starvation, and war,
Tears, so that you will reach out to comfort them
And turn their pain into joy.

And, may God bless you with foolishness…
Foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
Foolishness, so that you will do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.

We asked Fathers Jacobson and Smith to illustrate our essay with a photograph of the statue of Our Lady in the Mercy Chapel. We want to include her image since we believe that she stands there to welcome all people to Saint Mary’s. We note that in this statue Mary’s hands are outstretched, actively urging the visitor into the house of the Lord. That active outreach to all people—creating the Beloved Community—is what our group prays for in our work. 

Members of the Group: Charles Carson, Charles Morgan, Barbara Powell, Marie Rosseels, Linda Rost, and Ingrid Sletten

THE PARISH PRAYER LIST

Prayers are asked for the sick and for all those for whom prayers have been asked, especially Ben, who is gravely ill, and Allen, Barbara, Emil, Adam, Mavis, David, Shay, Brianna, Nik, Richard, Ari, Sharon, Terra, Ava, Carmen, Brendon, Emil, Pat, Shalim, Greta, Gladys, Liduvina, Quincy, Florette, José, James, Marjorie, Frank, Jean, Brian, Abraham, Ethelyn, Gypsy, Margaret, and Robert; and Bernard, Daniel, Adam, and Lain, religious.

TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF DAILY AND SUNDAY LITURGIES:

Federal Holiday: July 4, Independence Day, Mass 12:10 PM, Lady Chapel

Monday–Saturday: Daily Mass 12:10 PM, Lady Chapel

Monday–Sunday: Evening Prayer 5:00 PM, Choir and Church

The Solemn Mass on Sunday morning at 11:00 AM is celebrated in the Church

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BAPTIZED, CONFIRMED OR RECEIVED?

We received news that the Bishop of New York will be with us at the Solemn Mass on All Saints’ Day, Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at 6:00 PM. The bishop’s visitation is a time when Baptism, Confirmation, and Reception into the Episcopal Church are particularly appropriate.

If you would like to be baptized—or confirmed or received—please speak to Father Wood, Father Smith, or Father Jacobson.

We will plan on holding a series of “confirmation classes” before the bishop’s visitation. If you have already been confirmed but would like to learn more about the fundamentals of the Christian faith, please let us know. We would love to have you join the class.

AROUND THE PARISH

On Tuesday morning, June 28, Barbara Powell, the wife of assisting priest, Father Peter Powell, fell near their home in Westport, Connecticut. A friend took her to be examined by physicians at a nearby satellite facility of the Hospital for Special Surgery, which specializes in orthopedics and rheumatology. There, it was discovered that she had a fractured shoulder. Father Powell, who was here at Saint Mary’s that day, returned to Connecticut after celebrating the noon Mass and is overseeing Barbara’s care. At the moment, it appears that she will need to recuperate in Connecticut for some weeks. We look forward to her return, and we pray for a rapid recovery. Please keep her and Father Powell in your prayers.

On Wednesday, June 29, around 1:00 PM, a fire erupted on the façade of the TGIF building, just west of the Parish House (an edifice still known by some as the Clergy House). Firefighters from FDNY Engine 54/Ladder 4/Battalion 9 on Eighth Avenue arrived very quickly and put out the blaze. Their ladder was deployed, and the roof and the upper floors of the building were inspected. The source of the fire, which is still under investigation, appears to have been electrical. The Parish House was not damaged, and no one in either building was injured. We give thanks to God for that, and, as always, we are grateful to Times Square’s first responders, who are so vigilant in protecting life, limb, and property in our neighborhood. Please keep them in your prayers.

Choir member and parish administrator, Christopher Howatt, will be presented in concert Sunday, July 10, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM as part of the Township of Weehawken’s 2022 Concert Series. Chris, along with music director Steven Ray Watkins, will be offering “Songs of Heart, Hope and Home,” at the Township’s Hamilton Park, overlooking the New York City skyline. The park is located on JFK Boulevard East at Duer Place in Weehawken. For weather updates check the Township website at www.weehawken-nj.us or visit Weehawken Township Government Page on Facebook or @weehawkennj on Twitter. The concert is FREE. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy songs ranging in style from Dolly Parton to Sondheim.

We hope to receive donations for flowers on the following Sundays: July 31, and August 7 and 28. There are also dates available in the fall and winter months. Please contact Chris Howatt, our parish administrator, if you would like to make a donation.

THIS WEEK AT SAINT MARY’S

Sunday, July 3, The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Solemn Mass 11:00 AM. The readings are Isaiah 66:10–16; Psalm 66:1–8; Galatians 6:14–18; Luke 10:1–20. Father Sammy Wood will preach the sermon. The celebrant is Father Jay Smith. The musical setting of the Mass will be Setting V by Calvin Hampton (1938–1984). The cantor will be Muir Ingliss. During Communion, Muir will sing a setting by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) of The Call from George Herbert’s 1633 collection, The Temple: Sacred Poems.

Commemorations this Week: Monday, July 4, Independence Day; Wednesday, July 6, Jan Hus (c. 1371–1415), Priest & Martyr; Friday, July 8, Priscilla & Aquila, Coworkers of the Apostle Paul; Saturday, July 9, Of Our Lady.

Monday, July 4, Independence Day, the church opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 2:00 PM. Mass is celebrated at 12:10 PM. The parish offices are closed. Evening Prayer is not said in the church.

The Holy Eucharist is celebrated Monday–Saturday at 12:10 PM in the Lady Chapel.

The chalice is now being administered at all the Eucharists here at Saint Mary’s. Please speak to one of the priests if you have questions.

Holy Hour. Wednesday mornings 11:00–11:50 AM, in the Lady Chapel. A time for silent prayer and contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Eucharist follows at 12:10 PM. We invite you to join us.

The Anti-Racism Group Meeting: The Group meets online on most Tuesday evenings from 7:00–8:00 PM. For more information about this ongoing weekly meeting, please call the parish office, or speak to one of the current members of the group, such as Charles Carson, Charles Morgan, Marie Rosseels, or Ingrid Sletten.

The Saint Mary’s Centering Prayer Group meets online on most Friday evenings at 6:30 PM. If you are interested in participating, please send an e-mail to this address or speak to Ingrid Sletten or Blair Burroughs.

A Time for Prayer and Preparation Before Mass on Sunday: The acolytes, readers, and members of the audiovisual team are invited to gather in the Lady Chapel each Sunday between 10:00 and 10:20 AM for a time of silent prayer and preparation before Mass. All are invited to join them.

HEALING MASS ON THURSDAYS

The noonday Mass on Thursdays at 12:10 PM includes anointing, also known as unction, and prayers for healing immediately after the homily or, on holy days, after the Nicene Creed. “Unction is the rite of anointing the sick with oil, or the laying on of hands, by which God's grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind, and body” (Book of Common Prayer, page 861). Anointing is a much-respected rite here at Saint Mary’s, and all are invited, though none are compelled, to come to the rail for anointing during Mass should they wish.

NEIGHBORS IN NEED

The Neighbors in Need program is Saint Mary’s principal outreach ministry. It was founded by members of the parish, along with resident sisters and friars and members of the parish’s clergy staff. We “own” it and run it. We provide clothing and basic, but essential, hygiene items to our neighbors in Times Square. Your cash donations and gifts of new and lightly used clothing make this ministry possible.

Our neighbors at Optum Fitness at Sixth Avenue and Forty-seventh Street recently donated several bags of abandoned and lightly used athletic shoes, shoes, and boots. The forgetfulness of their clients and members now means that we can offer our guests footwear for the upcoming weeks.

We are always in need of donations of men’s athletic shoes, and other shoes and boots, lightly used or new.

The next Drop-by will take place on Friday, July 15.

The August Drop-by will take place on Friday, August 19.

We also welcome donations of jeans, socks, and underwear for both men and women.

If you would like to volunteer for Neighbors in Need, please contact Marie Rosseels.

Our goal is to continue to distribute clothing and hygiene items to those in need in the Times Square neighborhood. We are grateful to all those who continue to support this ministry.

ABOUT THE MUSIC

The organ prelude on Sunday morning, Rhosymedre by Vaughan Williams is the second of his Three Preludes on Welsh Hymn Tunes. Published in 1920, the Three Preludes were composed to be played either as a set or separately. They were dedicated to British organist and composer Alan Gray (1855–1935), who was organist at Trinity College, Cambridge, from 1893 to 1930. The hymn tune Rhosymedre (“Lovely”), 587 in The Hymnal 1982 with F. Bland Tucker’s text “Our Father, by whose name all fatherhood is known,” was composed by John Edwards (1806–1885). Vaughan Williams’s prelude on this tune, doubtless his most well-known organ work, exploits the tune’s inherent lyricism, harmonized in chords rich with added sevenths. Sunday’s postlude is also an organ setting of a Welsh tune. Paul Manz (1919–2009), distinguished American Lutheran organist, composer, and teacher, was especially known for his organ improvisations on hymns and chorales. Many of these improvisations occurred at his acclaimed hymn festivals and were later transcribed and published. His bright and assertive prelude on the hymn tune Cwm Rhonda, published in 1974, has become an American standard.

The musical setting of the Mass on Sunday was commissioned in 1974 from Calvin Hampton (1938–1984) by the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship. When the Standing Commission on Church Music of the Episcopal Church compiled its 1976 Church Hymnal Series I, Hampton’s setting was included as the fifth of five new musical settings for Eucharist Rite II. Hampton’s eight-movement setting includes Kyrie, Trisagion, Lord’s Prayer, and Jesus, Lamb of God, in addition to the Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei to be sung at Mass on Sunday morning. The Gloria is in a flowing 6/8 meter with largely stepwise melodic motion supporting a gentle lyricism throughout. The Sanctus is in common time but maintains a similar lyricism through the fluid movement of the accompaniment. This Sanctus is the only movement from the setting which was included in The Hymnal 1982. Calvin Hampton was organist and choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church in Gramercy Park, Manhattan, for much of his active professional life. He was especially admired for his brilliant organ playing, his wide-ranging and eclectic compositional palette, and his imaginative liturgical and concert programming.

The cantor at the Solemn Mass on Sunday is baritone, Muir Ingliss. During the administration of Communion, he will sing a setting of The Call from George Herbert’s 1633 collection, The Temple: Sacred Poems by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958). Vaughan Williams’sThe Call is the fourth of his Five Mystical Songs for baritone, chorus, and orchestra, all composed for texts by George Herbert (1593–1633) between 1906 and 1911. The Call is the simplest of the Five Mystical Songs, having the melodic innocence of a folk song, yet the elegance of a strophic art song in which the third of the three stanzas ventures briefly away from the home key without abandoning the essential melodic shape of the previous stanzas. Herbert has built his poem as a prayer meditation on the “Way, Truth, and Life,” characterizations of Jesus presented in the Gospel according to Saint John. (14:6)

SUMMER IN THE CITY

Governors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor. It’s only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan, and even closer to Brooklyn. The Trust for Governors Island announced recently announced that there would be new extended hours for the area of Soissons Landing, one of New York City’s best spots to catch stunning views of the sunset.

Starting this Friday, July 1, Soissons Landing, where the ferry from nearby Manhattan disembarks, will remain open late every night of the week through October 31. This gives New Yorker’s extended hours to enjoy some of the many things there are to do on Governors Island, including dining at the island’s restaurants. During normal daytime hours, visitors may enjoy the walkways, bike paths, historic buildings, and a (sadly) decommissioned Episcopal church which now serves as an art gallery, in addition to those restaurants.

Soissons Landing will be open until 10:00 PM Sunday–Thursday, and until 11:00 PM Friday–Saturday. All other areas on Governors Island will close at regularly posted public hours.

Those looking to take advantage of these extended hours can take the ferry from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan, with the last one to the Island departing at 8:15 PM Sunday-Thursday and 9:15 PM Friday-Saturday. The last ferry off of the Island departs at 10 PM Sunday-Thursday and 11 PM Friday-Saturday.

For more information, visit this website, or this website. The website for information about ferries to Governors Island may be accessed here. 

This edition of the Angelus was written and edited by Father Jay Smith. Father Matt Jacobson also helps to edit and is responsible for formatting and posting it on the parish website and distributing it via mail and e-mail, with the assistance of Christopher Howatt, parish administrator, and parish volunteer, Clint Best.