A Message From Monsignor Ryan

Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This coming week will be Fr. Szymon’s last week with us before he moves to St. Mary Gate of Heaven Parish next Friday. We thank Fr. Szymon for the joy, the enthusiasm, and the devotion that he has modeled for us during this past three years. And we wish him much happiness in his new assignment. As they say in Poland, Sto lat, Father Szymon. Fr. O’Connor has assured us that there will be an opportunity for all of you to meet with Fr. Szymon to say farewell as soon as we are beyond the period of social distancing.
This week, likewise, will be my final week as pastor of this wonderful parish. On Tuesday, June 30th, Father O’Connor will become the administrator of the parish and will retain that title until he is formally installed as pastor, probably soon after the new pastoral and academic year begins in September. Tomorrow, June 21st, Father O’Connor will concelebrate the livestreamed Sunday Mass at 11:00. Please join us and meet our new pastor.
The Diocese of Brooklyn has informed us that parishes may resume public daily Mass with attendance capped at 25% of seating capacity as early as Monday, June 29th and Sunday Mass with the same limited attendance as early as Sunday, July 5th. Fr. O’Connor and I have discussed this; and we are in agreement that reopening for public Mass during the week when we are transitioning leadership would not be wise. So, the expected schedule for reopening St. Gregory the Great for public Mass will be: Daily Mass beginning Monday, July 6th and Sunday Mass beginning the weekend of July 11th and 12th. Beginning on July 6th, the only weekday Mass will be at 9:00a.m. There will be a meeting of the Parish Pastoral Planning Council via Zoom this coming Tuesday, June 23rd. This will give Fr. O’Connor the opportunity of enlisting the wisdom and advice of council members on this important step toward resumption of normal parish life. We will keep you informed.
Again, thank you to everyone who has continued generous stewardship through these challenging times. Your contributions are vital for the on-going financial stability of our parish. Electronic giving is a possibility that I urge you to explore.