Pastor Letters
July 27, 2025
Fr. Jonah here, filling in for Fr. Boniface while he’s away (though by the time you read this, he’ll be back and I’ll be away for a bit, recording an album with The Hillbilly Thomists).
I want to ask all of you to pray for the upcoming OCIA class: as of now we have close to 30 people who have expressed interest in being baptized, received into full communion with the Church, or confirmed. Praise God! Please ask the Lord to send even more people to the Church this year.
July 20, 2025
One of the daily Mass Gospel readings this week came from Matthew 11, where Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt 11:28-30).
Frankly, that doesn’t always sound like Christian life.
July 13, 2025
Fr. Jonah here, filling in for Fr. Boniface while he’s away.
The Master of the Dominican Order, Fr. Gerard Timoner III, visited St. Joseph’s last month. One of his main responsibilities as Master of the Order is to visit all of the communities of Dominican friars around the world. This means that he is on the road about 8 months out of the year!
July 6, 2025
We’re now firmly in summer, as the heat reminds us. The friars here are in and out of town as we try to see family and take a break when we have the chance. I’ll be out of town the next couple weekends, but Fr. Jonah will be here to keep the parish running. I hope all of you have a wonderful summer and some time to recharge!
June 29, 2025
This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, instead of our regularly scheduled Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. Saints Peter and Paul both helped found and build the Church in Rome and both endured martyrdom there, and so the Bishop of Rome, the pope, is their successor and shares in their apostolic authority.
June 22, 2025
This Sunday we celebrate Corpus Christi, or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We celebrate Christ’s gift of Himself—feeding us on His own Body in the Eucharist. In honor of Christ’s Most Holy Body and Blood, we process with the Eucharist on Corpus Christi, at our 11:30am Mass. Just as the Eucharist strengthens us to live our Faith in the world, so we take Christ, present in the Eucharist, into the world, praying that His salvation be accomplished.
June 15, 2025
I pray that all the fathers at St. Joseph's will have a blessed Father’s Day! Our patron, St. Joseph, is the model father and we have a special connection to him! May all our fathers be models of God the Father’s love, as exemplified in St. Joseph.
June 8, 2025
Blessed Pentecost! Today the Holy Spirit comes down upon us, leading us to the Holiness He calls us to, to the eternal life He wants for us. Let’s follow His lead!
June 1, 2025
This week St. Joseph’s will become a Franciscan parish. Frs. Francis and Ignatius, CFR Franciscans, will be here to celebrate Mass and hear confessions this Monday through Thursday.
May 25, 2025
This Ascension is a Holy Day of Obligation, so we’ll celebrate a 7pm Ascension Vigil Mass on Wednesday, and on Thursday we’ll celebrate a 12:10pm Ascension Mass and a 7pm Ascension Mass.
May 18, 2025
Next Sunday after the 11:30am Mass we’ll host our going away party for Fr. Isaiah in the parish hall. Please come wish him well before he moves to Rome.
May 11, 2025
Happy Mother’s Day! We are called to give thanks to those who have done such good for us, especially those we can never truly repay for all they have done, which includes in a special way our mothers. Let us give them thanks and keep them in our prayers. Also, give thanks to Mary, our spiritual Mother who always intercedes for us in heaven.
May 4, 2025
Cardinal Dolan is starting a new initiative, “Called by Name,” that seeks to find vocations to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York. There are cards on the table in the narthex that young men who are interested can fill out and return to us to learn more about becoming a diocesan priest for the Archdiocese of New York. As a Dominican parish, we also encourage vocations to become Dominican friars, sisters, or nuns. If interested simply talk with any of the Dominicans here.
April 27, 2025
As you know by now, our Holy Father Pope Francis has died. Please keep him in your prayers. This Monday, April 28th, at the 12:10pm daily mass we will celebrate a requiem Mass for Pope Francis. Please also pray for the Church during this time of transition, and for the Cardinals who will elect the new pope at the upcoming conclave.
April 20, 2025
Happy Easter! Let us rejoice in Christ’s resurrection, His triumph over sin and death. His victory is our victory; His journey to life beyond death is ours too if we follow Him.
April 13, 2025
Just as today Jesus enters Jerusalem and His Passion begins, so we enter Holy Week, leading to Good Friday and Easter. This time is the holiest part of the year. Make certain to spend more time in prayer, joining ourselves to Christ as He wins our salvation. The best way to enter into this grace-filled season is to attend the Holy Week liturgies.
April 6, 2025
This Monday through Wednesday is our Parish Mission! Fr. James Sullivan, OP, will preach our parish mission, Monday through Wednesday night, at 7pm, in the church. He’s a great preacher and I encourage everyone to attend. This retreat is a great way to get ready for Holy Week and Easter.
March 30, 2025
This weekend is our Annual Friars’ Appeal, which supports the formation and training of Dominican friars. These are the friars who will one day serve at St. Joseph’s and the other ministries of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph (aka: Eastern Province).
March 23, 2025
Looking forward, our parish mission will again be the week before Holy Week, 4/6-9. Fr. James Sullivan, OP, will be our mission preacher. He’s very funny and a great preacher, so I encourage everyone to attend. The mission will be Monday through Wednesday evening that week.
March 16, 2025
This Sunday, the 16th, is the 191st anniversary of the dedication of St. Joseph Church (3/16/1834). Our parish was created in 1829 when Greenwich Village was incorporated into New York City (it was a real village then!), and construction on our church building began in the summer of 1833.