FROM THE VICAR: WHO ARE WE AS SAINT MARY’S?

Last Eastertide at Adult Formation, as part of our Year of Service, we looked to St. Catherine of Siena as a guide. Loving God through the love of our neighbor was a theme that we found to be pervasive throughout her writings and helped us think about service theologically. Another motif that comes up often for Catherine is the importance of knowing ourselves. She introduces the concept early on in her Dialogue and returns to it often.

God says to Catherine, “You will find humility in the knowledge of yourself when you see that even your own existence comes not from yourself but from me, for I loved you before you came into being.”[1] Once we gain true knowledge of ourselves, and better understand where we stand relative to God, Catherine says that the virtue of humility inevitably follows. Only through growth in the knowledge of ourselves and of God can we make progress towards where God is calling us.

This year at Adult Formation, our overarching theme will be a focus on gaining a better knowledge of ourselves as a parish to continue to make progress towards where God is calling us. Who are we as Saint Mary’s? As we ask this question, surely there needs to be some humility as we can’t be everything to everyone. We can only be what God is calling us to be as the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin.

With this in mind, we begin our Adult Formation program on Sunday, October 4, with a four-week introduction to Anglo-Catholicism. We refer to ourselves as “a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of New York City,” but what exactly does that mean? Anglo-Catholicism evolved out of what has become known as the Oxford Movement in the early nineteenth century by high church Anglicans at Oxford University who were very much grounded in Patristics, the study of the early Church. Our second series this fall, therefore, will be an introduction to the field of Patristics. The fall term concludes with a series on the Book of Common Prayer by liturgical scholar, the Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Malloy, 11th Dean of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. The Book of Common Prayer is the principal source for our public liturgies, but it is much more. It is also a fantastic resource for our personal prayer.

After winter break, we will pick up with a Foundations Course, “Called & Gifted,” which will invite us to examine our individual spiritual lives to both discover and develop our own spiritual gifts. We next turn to a series of classes inspired by the sacred art at Saint Mary’s to better understand the theology implied by the space in which we worship. We will spend three weeks studying the development of a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Western Church’s tradition, which will include taking a closer look at our own shrine by Lee Lawrie (1877–1963). We next turn to the reredos behind the High Altar for inspiration and spend two weeks on St. Dominic and the rosary. Our final series of classes in the spring, “Saint Mary’s University,” will also help us to better understand who we are through five weeks taught by our fellow Saint Marians! Parishioners will share their expertise on a diverse range of topics: John Donne, Samuel Johnson, St. Francis, Spiritual Direction, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Please visit the formation page on our website for more information about these classes. There is a lot of detail on the page already, and we will continue to add to it in the coming weeks. Please also take note of, and mark your calendars for, the many other opportunities for formation on this webpage. We have a parish retreat day planned for January as well as Advent and Lent Quiet Days. The popular Lenten Supper and Conversation with Fr. Morris also returns this year!

Additionally, we are planning a class on Wednesday evenings, starting later in the fall, in which newcomers and those preparing for confirmation accompany each other in formation. If you are interested in joining the Companions Class, please contact Fr. Wood directly. Please also reach out to the parish clergy if you are interested in preparing for baptism or having your child baptized.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey rightly notes that “the contrast between discens (learning) and docens (teaching) melts away as the priest learns from the laity much about the contemporary world and about the meaning of divine truth in its human context.”[2] I’m excited about the formation program for the coming year, both as one of the teachers, but even more so as a learner. Come join us! — MDJ

Adult Formation conveniently takes place between the two Sunday Masses. We meet at 9:45 AM in St. Joseph’s Hall and the first session of the program year will be on October 4.

PARISH PRAYERS

We pray for our sister parish, the Church of All Saints’, Margaret Street, London, and for the Anglican Church of Australia, in the Anglican cycle of prayer.

We pray for those who have asked us for our prayers, for Diane, Jared, Daisy, Rob, Judy, Theodore, Jennifer, Laura, Dorian, Jay, Rita, Courtney, Dennis, Burks, Steven, Blaise, Jon, Jeff, Derick, Phil, Laura, Sue, Emilie, Sharon, Monique, Cassius, Lisa, Ruth Ann, Rosemary, Holly, Becky, Bill, Grady, Violet, Pat, Allen, Giovanna, Ronald, Jose, Ben, Russell, Robert, Sandy, Desarae, David, Tony, Jan, Carlos, Quincy, Leroy, and Margaret; James, Victoria, and Laura Katherine, religious; Lind, deacon; and Tom, Jay, and Stephen, priests.

We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died, especially Amaar, Dianne, and Annie, and for those whose year’s mind is on September 20: Elizabeth Curtis (1878), Frank Hernandez (1880), and Robert Gilman Dort (1950).

AROUND THE PARISH

Program year kicks off with Saint Michael and All Angels! — On Tuesday, September 29, our program year begins with a Solemn Mass at 6:00 PM for the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels. The full choir returns this evening after a summer of quartets. Our guest preacher for Michaelmas will be Fr. Kevin Veitinger, priest-in-charge of All Angels’ Church on the Upper West Side. A reception will follow the liturgy.

Saint Marians About Town — On Wednesday, September 23, join us for the 7:00 PM showing of Heaven in Stone and Glass at the AMC 25 on 42nd Street. Please let Fr. Sammy know if you will be coming, and he recommends that we all buy our tickets in advance.

Transitus of St. Francis — The Society of St. Francis will offer a Transitus service at Saint Mary’s on Saturday, October 3, at 6:00 PM. This liturgy, which commemorates the death of St. Francis on the eve of his feast day, will be led by Br. Thomas, SSF, along with local members of the Third Order. A simple reception follows. All are welcome.

Adult Formation — As noted above, Sunday morning Adult Formation resumes with the start of the program year. The first class will be on Sunday, October 4, on Anglo-Catholicism. Please visit the formation page on our website for more details. We meet in St. Joseph’s Hall at 9:45 AM. All are welcome.

Class for Newcomers and Confirmation Preparation — Fr. Sammy will be leading a Companions Class, where newcomers and those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation accompany each other in their formation. The class is designed to cover the basics of Christianity and our Anglican tradition. The class will meet on Wednesday evenings starting in November. Please contact Fr. Sammy with any questions and to register.

Blessing of the Animals — In honor of St. Francis Day, we will offer the Blessing of the Animals at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 4. Please meet us with your pets on the steps of the church by the 46th Steet entrance.

Evensong & Benediction — Our Evensong & Benediction season also kicks off on Sunday, October 4, at 4:00 PM. We offer E&B on the first Sunday of the month throughout the program year. A quartet from the Choir at Saint Mary’s supports us musically. Click here to learn more about Evensong & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Liturgical Changes — As discussed in a previous issue of the newsletter, we will offer Sung Masses at the 12:10 PM weekday liturgy more frequently this coming program year, including every Wednesday. Our next Sung Mass is this coming Thursday for Our Lady of Walsingham. Additionally, we have been informally saying Morning Prayer on Sundays at 8:30 AM in the Lady Chapel this summer. That will now be an official part of our weekly liturgical calendar.

Guild Fair — On Sunday, October 11, after Solemn Mass, we will have a Guild Fair during Coffee Hour. There will be representatives from all our guilds to talk about their guilds and answer questions. Come and explore ways to get more involved with the parish!

Town Hall — On Sunday, October 18, we will gather after Solemn Mass for our next Town Hall meeting. We periodically host Town Hall meetings as a way to discuss aspects of our common life together as a parish. Save the date and look to an upcoming issue of the newsletter for more details about this gathering.

CPR/AED Training — Our CPR/AED training is now confirmed for Sunday, November 8, at 1:00 PM. If you expressed interest to Rick Miranda, but have not confirmed your availability for November 8, please be in touch with him. If you are interested in training, but have not yet contacted the office, please email Rick.

Neighbors in Need: Winter is coming! — It may not feel as if winter is coming, but it is, and we hope to build up our supply of coats and jackets. If you plan to replace your coat this winter, please bring us your old coat now, still in good condition. Our other most needed items are casual clothes: pants and jeans, jackets, tops and shoes—we always need shoes. Men’s clothes are harder to come by than women’s clothes, especially in sizes 32-36. We don’t need professional clothing or children’s clothing. We would also be happy to talk to you about being a volunteer. Please speak to MaryJane Boland or Marie Rosseels for more information or email neighbors@stmvnyc.org. The next Drop-by day will be Friday, October 16.

WEEKDAY MASS COMMEMORATIONS

Monday, September 21 — Saint Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist
Tuesday, September 22 — Feria
Wednesday, September 23 — Feria
Thursday, September 24 — Our Lady of Walsingham
Sung Mass in the Lady Chapel at 12:10 PM
Friday, September 25 — Sergius, Abbot of Holy Trinity, Moscow, 1392
Saturday, September 26 — Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, 1626

Click here for detailed monthly calendars.

MONTHLY LITURGIES AND GATHERINGS

Mass and Fellowship with Saint Stephen’s Young Adults — Mass is offered every Wednesday at 6:00 PM in the Lady Chapel. The Saint Stephen’s Guild of young adults attends on the third Wednesday of each month, followed by fellowship. Join them next on October 21.

Parish Requiem — We offer a monthly Requiem Mass in the Mercy Chapel as part of our chapter of the Guild of All Souls. This Mass is typically celebrated on the third Saturday of the month unless a major feast falls on that day. All are welcome. Our next parish Requiem Mass will be on Saturday, September 19, at 12:10 PM.

Rosary Guild — Our Rosary Guild meets in the Lady Chapel after Solemn Mass (and a brief stop at Coffee Hour) on the fourth Sunday of the month to pray the rosary. All are welcome, including those who are curious, but have never prayed the rosary before! The Rosary Guild next meets on Sunday, September 27.

Evensong & Benediction — During the program year, we offer Evensong & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in lieu of Evening Prayer at 4:00 PM on the first Sunday of the month. E&B will next be offered on Sunday, October 4.

THE DIOCESE AND WIDER CHURCH

Evensong and Benediction with the Archbishop of Canterbury — Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue is honored to welcome the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally, who will preach at Solemn Evensong and Benediction. You’re invited to join in for this special occasion and help welcome the Archbishop to New York on Sunday, September 27, at 4:00 PM. No registration required.

2026 Hobart Lecture with Rowan Williams — On Wednesday, October 14, the Right Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams will offer the 2026 Hobart Lecture at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. His lecture begins at 7:00 PM and is titled: “Twenty-Five Years after 9/11: Strangers, Neighbors, and the Work of Solidarity.” Registration is required. The talk will also be livestreamed.

CONCERTS AND EVENTS

New York Polyphony — On Saturday, September 19, there will be a New York Polyphony concert at 7:00 PM in the church presented by Gotham Early Music Scene. Please see their website for tickets and additional details.

ABOUT THE MUSIC ON THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

The musical setting of the Mass on Sunday is Missa Octavi Toni by the Italian Baroque composer Antonio Lotti (1667–1740). Lotti was born in Venice, his father Matteo having been Kappellmeister at Hanover at the time. Lotti’s career took shape at Saint Mark’s, Venice, where he was an alto singer, organist, and eventually maestro di cappella from 1736 until his death four years later. In addition to his well-known church music—Masses and cantatas—Lotti composed madrigals and about thirty operas, some of which were produced in Dresden where he was employed from 1717 to 1719. Lotti’s liturgical compositions retain Renaissance characteristics but also bear evidence of the emerging Baroque styles in approach to harmony and functional bass. His Missa Octavi Toni is a setting for four voices and, while polyphonic in construction, may well be more tonal than modal in harmonic conception. It imparts the liturgical text clearly and efficiently.

The Communion motet is Ad te levavi animam meam, text from Psalm 24:1–2, by the German composer Franz Xavier Witt (1834–1888). Witt was also a Catholic priest and a teacher of church music, particularly chant. He was influential in the Saint Cecilia movement which sought to reform and invigorate Catholic church music in the second half of the nineteenth century. To this end, in 1868 he initiated and for the following twenty years continued to publish the monthly magazine Musica sacra: Monatsschrift für Kirchenmusik und Liturgie. This German Catholic church music magazine continues to be published bimonthly in Regensburg, Bavaria. Witt’s setting of a portion of Psalm 24 is in a four-part chordal texture throughout, affording the words optimal intelligibility.

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Saint Mary’s is a vibrant Anglo-Catholic witness in the heart of NYC. With our identity in Christ and a preference for the poor, we are an inclusive, diverse community called to love God and each other for the life of the world.

This edition of The Angelus was written and edited by Father Matt Jacobson, except as noted. Father Matt is also responsible for formatting it on the parish website and distributing it via mail and e-mail, with the assistance of parish volunteer, Clint Best. Mother Elis Lui also assists with editing the newsletter. If you have an idea for an article that you would like to publish in an upcoming issue of The Angelus, Father Matt would be happy to discuss it with you.

[1] Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue, 4, trans. Suzanna Noffke, The Classics of Western Spirituality (Paulist Press, 1980), 29.
[2] Michael Ramsey, The Christian Priest Today (SPCK Classics, 1985), 8.