In an effort to remain close to Jesus, his Blessed Mother, and the Church during these difficult times, our friends at MAGNIFICAT are now offering complimentary access to their iOS and Android Apps throughout May. To register for free access in English, visit www.magnificat.com/free. For free access in Spanish, visit and register at www.magnificat.com/gratis.
 
Also available is complimentary access to MagnifiKid. Visit www.magnifikid.com/free to view and download each weekly booklet of our colorful Sunday missalette for children ages 6 through 12.

Avoid misinformation by getting updates from official sources. You can follow these links to:

• New York City Government
• Centers for Disease Control
• World Health Organization

A notice for all our families with children in the religious education program: classes for the program are currently postponed indefinitely. Your individual teachers will provide you with information about activities that can be done in the interim.

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

During this challenging time, I am reminded of the First Sunday of Lent, several weeks ago, which took us to a familiar place - Jesus in the desert confronting Satan and his temptations. We did not imagine we would ever enter the desert ourselves. Lent would be "enough!" Yet, here we are and here is Jesus. 

A desert is a strange place. It can be quite beautiful to experience and then suddenly become physically hostile and unbearable with heat or cold. It can take your breath away and it can take you away in the rising and setting of the sun. No wonder temptations feel stronger there. The certainty of the strange place bears no certainty at all, save that the creation of it belongs to God. 

Patience through prayer; not easy, just necessary. With this in mind, we might use this time to pray more deeply. Surely our patience has been tested...tempted. No doubt we already miss the presence of others and long for togetherness. From within, we may already have someone to blame for this and have vowed that we can "do better" once we come out on the other side of this experience. "Just give us the chance, God!"

Jesus knows all about "social distancing”.  How many of the miracles, involving recovery from illness were brought about in a setting that was "isolated?" Jesus healed and he kept others (including most of his disciples) healthy. Jesus knows about time alone - solitude not loneliness. He goes off on his own - to a deserted place or up a high mountain - to pray. He found something there and seemed to come back more determined than ever to open the minds and hard hearts of a stiff-necked group of people. Deserted places are not a lot of fun and it takes a lot of energy and effort to climb a high mountain, let alone climbing down. Jesus shows us the benefit of the sacrifice and effort in making that sacrifice.

How much daily bread do you and I really need?  Jesus taught us to pray for our "daily" bread and inspired 5,000 to feed others as he fed them loaves and fishes. Fasting makes room for something more in our lives. Fasting makes us think about what we truly need, even though we may want it all. Tested...tempted.

We are praying for you.  Please know that Monsignor Aquino, Fr. Drance, Fr. Bentz and I are praying for you every day, as we always have been. Praying together as a community creates overwhelming joy in our lives, but that joy has been lessened, not extinguished, for the moment. The parish webpage actorschapel.org will be updated regularly, as we learn more about our journey through this desert experience. I leave the medical and local regulatory matters to those best suited to address them on other sites that you visit.

Please give.  Our doors are open (for as long as we are able to do so) for private prayer and we continue to meet the needs of those who turn to us through your continued support.  Your gifts are essential to keep our doors open. 

Please click the link below to make a contribution to St. Malachy’s:

https://membership.faithdirect.net/givenow/NY558/14763

The Lord remains with us always. Let us pray for each other to deepen our gratitude for that presence in our spiritual communion each day. St. Malachy, pray for us!
 

Peace in Christ,
 

Fr. John Fraser

Daily Mass is now available via Word on Fire. The video will be updated daily and also posted on our homepage.

In light of the continued concern surrounding the coronavirus, the Archdiocese of New York has issued the following statement:

03/14/20 Press Release

What this means for St. Malachy's:

• Beginning Saturday, March 14th, all Masses are canceled until further notice.
• If you had previously requested to have a Mass said for a specific intention, that Mass will still be offered privately by one of our priests.
• All prayer groups, classes, and other meetings are canceled until further notice.
• The church doors will remain open as often as possible for private prayer.