November 17, 2024

Thirty-third sunday in ordinary time

by Fr. Boniface Endorf, OP

Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,

The friars stationed in the community at St. Joseph’s serve two key ministries. Obviously, we serve St. Joseph’s itself, and Fr. Jonah and I work fulltime as pastor and vicar to the parish. Br. Paul serves as sacristan and CCD teacher at the parish as well. But while Fr. Isaiah and Fr. Vincent celebrate weekend masses and hear confessions at St. Joseph’s, they also minister as chaplains to the Catholic Center at NYU, which now serves as the chaplaincy for all the colleges and universities in Manhattan, except for Columbia, which has its own chaplaincy. The Dominicans originally held the chaplaincy at NYU and only later as served at St. Joseph Parish as well. Cardinal Egan began the relationship between the NYU Catholic Center and St. Joseph’s, hoping that integrating the parish and the chaplaincy would enliven and enrich both ministries. I think he was correct, and we have a close collaboration now, with the friars of this community serving both ministries.

Last weekend, Father Isaiah spoke at all the Masses to invite the parish to support the Catholic Center at NYU, which ministers to college students throughout the city, at NYU and beyond. This outreach doesn’t receive any money from the parish collections or from NYU and thus depends upon donors. Although Dominicans staff both ministries, they are separate juridical entities with separate finances. If you would like to learn more or support our ministry, please email Fr. Isaiah at chaplain@nyucatholic.org or visit nyucatholic.org/donate.

God Bless,
Fr. Boniface