April 14, 2024
Third Sunday of EasteR
by Fr. Boniface Endorf, OP
Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,
This weekend we have our Annual Friars’ Formation Appeal, which raises funds for the formation and support of our Dominican Student Brothers. Friars are formed for 6 to 7 years before ordination to the priesthood, and the same amount if they are to remain brothers (like Br. Paul here). The first year is called Novitiate, which is spiritual boot camp. Brothers in novitiate are taught the basics of Dominican life: how to live in community, how to pray together, the spiritual foundations of Dominican life, the charism of the Dominican Order, etc. After that foundational year, student brothers go on to formal studies at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington DC. There they learn philosophy, theology, Scripture studies, pastoral training, etc. Brothers at that stage of formation are the ones you see here ever summer. Finally, they are ordained and sent out to ministry, such as at St. Joseph’s.
I ask you to please consider giving to our Annual Friar Formation Appeal. Dominican formation is not covered by the Cardinal’s Appeal or the Archdiocese of New York Seminary Appeal (those support Diocesan priest formation, not Dominican formation), so we must raise money to train friars separately, which is the reason for this appeal. The student brothers your gift will support will be the friars who eventually serve at St. Joseph’s and our many other ministries throughout the Eastern US Province of Dominicans. Thank you for your support!
Have a blessed Easter Season!
Fr. Boniface
Mass Tidbit
After the priest, while holding up the Eucharist, exclaims “Behold the Lamb of God…” everyone prays “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” This response is based on the centurion’s words in Matthew 8:8, when the Roman centurion says that Jesus does not have to come to his house to heal his servant, but only say the word and he will be healed. We repeat these words of faith, words that Christ praised the centurion for, before we receive communion. It is well worth meditating on the meaning of those words and saying them intentionally at each Mass.
