IPC IMMIGRATION FUND

"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God." – Leviticus 19:33-34

The Episcopal Church on Staten Island supports our immigrant neighbors. In light of the difficulties faced by many immigrant communities in the current climate, we have established an Immigrant Support Fund to assist detained immigrants and their families.

If you know someone who needs help, you can request a grant of up to $150 to assist with the payment of a bill (groceries, utility payments, medication, toiletries, cell phone, transportation) or $30 towards commissary and/or phone calls for people in immigration detention. Referrals must be made by an IPC delegate (clergy or lay) or warden.

Please send these requests to info@ipcsi.org with the subject line "Immigration Fund Request."

To make a donation to this fund, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000, please mail a check payable to "Richmond Inter-Parish Council" to Richmond Inter-Parish Council; attn: ISF; 1333 Bay Street; Staten Island, NY 10305.

Join the Episcopal Diocese of New York at Pride

Sunday, June 28, 2:45 pm
W 26th between 6th Ave and 5th Ave

Join the Episcopal Diocese of New York at Pride! We are excited to march together in this year's Pride March on June 28th! As people of faith, we celebrate the beautiful diversity of God's creation and proclaim that all people are loved, valued, and welcomed.

Pride March: June 28
Step-Off Time: 2:45 PM

Marcher Section Number: M7
Marcher Formation Entrance: W26th between 6th Ave and 5th Ave
Please approach from 6th Ave
Confirmed Group Size: 100

We have space for the first 100 marchers who sign up, so be sure to register early! Once all spots are filled, additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list and contacted if spaces become available.

♿ Limited mobility-accessible spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please select the appropriate box on the registration form if you need accommodations.

⚠️ Each person attending must complete their own registration form. Click below to register.

Come march with us as we celebrate love, inclusion, dignity, and God's abundant welcome for all!

Questions?
Fr. Hank Tuell
📧 frhank@stjohnssi.org
📞 917-957-4552

REGISTER HERE https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVSWfOTD1L-p-WV3fyw2dZ-ml-GkmGLVojKLBFFQIQeH9utQ/viewform

J2A PILGRIMAGE PRESENTATION June 14, 2026.

Good morning. We, the J2A class, are here to present to you our plans for our upcoming pilgrimage. Like other classes before us, we will leave Staten Island and travel together. We will be visiting a new place and seeing sites, but it will not be a vacation. We will try to be helpful to the people we meet, but we are not going on a mission trip. This will be a spiritual journey that we undertake to explore and deepen our faith. For this pilgrimage, we have prepared by working on our teamwork skills. We planned and organized our own coffee hour where, even in a snowstorm, we all put in equal amounts of effort to prepare and serve food for our church community. We got advice from a former pilgrim, who gave us helpful insights. We even practiced planning a pilgrimage, using the life of Absalom Jones as an example.

Then we needed to consider what theme or topic would be helpful for us to explore as part of our faith.

In this day and age, there is so much hate around us. When we considered all the conflict in the world, from wars abroad to gun violence at home, and even the way we treat each other in daily life when we disagree, we decided that our topic should be peace on earth. In Luke 2:17, we read, "Glory to God in the highest, and on peace among those with whom he is pleased." We know that Jesus' birth brought hope, peace, and God's goodwill to humanity. God also tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It is our responsibility as Christians to live in harmony with God and with one another. So, we want to explore more ways that we could obtain and spread love to our communities.

Then we had to decide what country we could visit that would align with our goal. We knew that we planned to travel in the summer of 2027. We also considered other factors, such as travel time, weather, language, and sites we could visit.

The country we have chosen became the first in the world to abolish its military in 1948. Instead of spending more money on military activities, the government invested those resources in education, healthcare, environmental protection, and social development. This country has demonstrated that it can maintain stability and security while prioritizing the overall well-being of its citizens. This country's commitment to peace has helped create a strong democracy and a high quality of life for its people. By choosing cooperation, diplomacy, and investment in human development over weapons and conflict, this country serves as an inspiring model of how nations can contribute to a more peaceful world. And it shows that you don't really need brute force to have a global influence. We are proud to inform you all that we have decided to go to Costa Rica for our 2027 pilgrimage.

While we are in Costa Rica, we will visit our fellow Anglican churches and meet different communities actively working for peace. And we want to understand how the lives of everyday people in Costa Rica are different without a military.

As we continue our spiritual preparation, we want to thank everyone for the donations they have made so far, and for supporting us at the fish fry and at bingo. We hope that you will continue to support our fundraising and lift us up in prayer. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Thank you.

Members of the J2A class are Ian Basso, Onuora Browne, Alexandria Clarke, Noah Maggett, Athene Robinson, and Leela Thompson.

Confirmation & Reception

Last Saturday, an islandwide confirmation service was held at St. Mary's, for five parishes on Staten Island.

Congratulations to those confirmed and received from Christ Church!

Tommy Basso- confirmed
Carol Bratton- received
Kimani Bratton- confirmed
Alexandria Clarke- confirmed
Zahra Cooper- confirmed
Mia Wynter- confirmed

Announcements

Coffee Hour

Tribute to Father Chuck Howell and Father's Day Recognition. Please join us as we honor Father's Day and pay special tribute to Father Chuck Howell. Following Sunday service, a reception will be held in the Guild Room as we gather to celebrate, remember, and give thanks for the life and ministry of the beloved Father Chuck. We look forward to sharing this time of fellowship and remembrance with you. All are welcome.

FYI Summer Service Schedule

Please note that our summer service schedule will go into effect on Sunday, June 28th. Beginning that day, we will hold one Sunday service at 9:00 a.m. Our regular service schedule will resume in the fall. I appreciate your flexibility and look forward to worshiping with you throughout the summer months.

Kitting Club/Knitting Club Summer Hiatus Notice

Our next Knitting Club meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 25th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please note that this will be our last meeting of the season before we begin our summer hiatus. There will be no Knitting Club meetings in July or August. Knitting Club will return in the fall on Thursday, September 10th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We thank everyone for a wonderful season and look forward to gathering again in September. As always, all are welcome—whether you are an experienced knitter or just getting started!

Parish Office Hours' Notice

Please note that the Parish Office will have limited hours from Monday, June 29th through Monday, July 6th.
The office will be closed Tuesday, June 30th through Thursday, July 2nd, with limited hours on Friday, July 3rd. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, July 7th. If you require immediate assistance during this time, please get in touch with the Senior Warden.

Episcopal Diocese

Stay connected with everything happening in the Episcopal Diocese of New York! Whether you're looking for upcoming community events, soulful prayer resources, Morning Prayer w/Bishop Heyd, or the latest diocesan news, our website is your go-to hub. Discover new ways to engage with your faith and your neighbors—visit at dioceseny.org.

On Father's Day, we give thanks for fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, godfathers, mentors, and all who offer fatherly love and guidance. While Father's Day is not a principal feast in the Book of Common Prayer, it is a meaningful time to honor those who help shape families and communities through faith, service, wisdom, and care. In the Episcopal tradition, fatherhood is seen not only as a family role, but also as a holy calling of nurture, protection, and love. We remember especially St. Joseph, who accepted the vocation of caring for Mary and being a father to Jesus. On this day, we give thanks for all fathers and father figures, and we hold in prayer all those for whom this day brings gratitude, grief, or remembrance.

Saint Joseph is one of the Episcopal Church's strongest examples of fatherhood. He is honored in the Church calendar, and Episcopal liturgical material praises his acceptance of the calling to protect Mary and be a father to Jesus.

The Episcopal Church honors many kinds of fathers. On Father's Day, congregations often remember not only dads, but also grandfathers, foster fathers, adoptive fathers, godfathers, mentors, and spiritual fathers.

Some Episcopal parishes offer special prayers or blessings on Father's Day. Even though the day is not formally in the Prayer Book calendar, local congregations often observe it pastorally.

Clergy are not usually called "Father" in every Episcopal parish. Some priests are addressed as "Father," especially in Anglo-Catholic or broad-church settings, while others are called by first name, "Mother," "Pastor," or another title depending on local custom.

On Father's Day, the Episcopal Church gives thanks for all who embody fatherly love through faith, sacrifice, tenderness, wisdom, and service. Whether in families, parishes, or communities, fathers and father figures help reveal something of God's steadfast care. Their calling is holy, their influence lasting, and their work worthy of gratitude and prayer.

Reflection on the Gospel for Pentecost II

 - By The Rev. Terrence Buckley

The calling of Matthew (Matthew 9:9-13) is one of the most striking scenes in the Gospel.  Matthew is not found in the synagogue or among the respectable and religious.  He is seated at a tax booth, engaged in a profession despised by many of his fellow Jews.  Yet Jesus passes by, looks upon him, and simply says, "Follow me."  Matthew rises and follows.

What is remarkable is that Jesus does not first demand an explanation, an apology, or evidence of repentance.  The call itself becomes the beginning of Matthew's transformation. Christ sees not merely what Matthew is, but what he may become. The tax collector becomes an apostle, an evangelist, and ultimately a saint.

This moment is captured with extraordinary power in the painting The Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio. The scene is set not in the first-century world of Jesus, but in what appears to be a seventeenth-century tavern. A shaft of light enters from the right, following the hand of Christ as He points toward Matthew. The darkness of the room symbolizes a life enclosed in worldly concerns, while the light represents divine grace breaking into ordinary existence.

One of the painting's most compelling features is Matthew's gesture. He points to himself as if to ask, "Me?"  The expression captures the surprise of every Christian vocation. God's call often comes not to those who consider themselves worthy, but to those who are astonished to be chosen.

Matthew's question is our question. Why would Christ call me?  Yet the Gospel's answer is simple:  because He loves us and desires us for His service.

Caravaggio also reminds us that the call of Christ comes amid the ordinary business of life.  Matthew is counting money when Jesus arrives. He is not seeking God; God is seeking him. Grace often finds us in the midst of our daily routines, interrupting our plans and inviting us to a greater purpose.

The hand of Christ in the painting deliberately echoes the hand of Adam in The Creation of Adam. Just as God reached out to create humanity, Christ reaches out to re-create Matthew. The call to discipleship is a new creation. Matthew leaves behind one identity and receives another.

For Christians, the calling of Matthew is not merely an ancient story. It is a reminder that Christ still passes by, still calls sinners by name, and still invites ordinary people into extraordinary service. The question is not whether Christ is calling. The question is whether, like Matthew, we will rise from our tables, leave behind what binds us, and follow Him into the light.

Rev. Terrence Buckley
Church of Saint Andrew, Staten Island

IPC Coming Events

Island-wide and Diocesan Events

June 28: Summer schedule begins, with service at 9 a.m.
June 29 – July 2: Island-wide Vacation Bible School, St. Andrew's, VBS for ages 4 – 14.

The Episcopal Diocese of New York

New CCD Website and Summer Sessions Registration

Dear friends,
We are excited to welcome you to our new https://ccdnyc.vfairs.com/en and to open registration for our 2026 Summer Sessions!
Please review the instructions below carefully to ensure you register for the correct session:

June 2026 Session Year B (June 14 to 19)
at Thomas Berry Place, Queens
The June session is currently waitlist only.

• Visit the CCD website and join the waitlist for the June session.
• If you're registered and have not already paid your registration fee, you may submit payment directly on the website.

July 2026 Session Year A (July 12 to 17)
at Thomas Berry Place, Queens
The July session is currently open for registration.

• Complete your registration online through the CCD website.
• Submit your payment online at the time of registration.
• Note: If you previously registered for the July session, please register again on the new website.

 Scholarship Applications
If you are applying for a scholarship, please complete the registration process and select:
"I am registering from The Episcopal Diocese of New York, requesting a scholarship."

Once you complete your registration and select this option, we will follow up with additional details regarding the scholarship process.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues during registration, please do not hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to welcoming you this summer!

Warmly,
Victor
The Rev Canon Victor Conrado
Canon for New York City
Director for Congregational Development
Episcopal Diocese of New York

Christ Church Parish Prayer List

The following individuals have requested our prayers:

Fred Allen, Ricia Augusty, Betty Babb, Elma Babb, Erma Babb, Marcella Babb, Jenny Badger, Willie Black, III, Joseph Bonner, Mary Boyce, Deborah Broome, Irvin Celestine, Eva Charney, Matthew Cileli, David Clark, Wayne Clark, Marcia Clendenen, Sandra Cocks, Carmen Conrado, Barbara Corregan, Laura Craig, Gaynelle Cumberbatch, Anne Devlin, Nick Dowen, Garfield Evans, Tabitha Foxx, Julio Gambuto, Mary Gannon, Ann Gardner, Sandra Giambalvo, Peter Gilchrist, Suzanne Guglielmi, Steven Haley, Mary Hamblin, Mary Haugen, Anne Heather, Avion Hernandez-Elcock, Aretha Jadusingh, Michael Kelly, Angela King, Nicholas Lettiere, The McIntosh Family, Renea McCarthy, Eva McClary, Mary Mcclellan, Julie Murphy, Teri Murray, Minister Robert Perkins, Peyton Ramsey, T. Rauch, Ann Reilly, Sage Martin-Rolla, Leila Rollock, Tiffany Ruperti, Willie Marcus & Dylan Schumaker, Lorelei Shull, Daphne Smith, Faith Meighan-Smith, Joyce Smith, David Lloyd Stephens, Christopher Still, George Sullivan, John Trach, Fred Tucher, Linda Tuell, John Tuohey, Lucille Williams, Doreen Wood, Leighton Wynter, Marsha Wynter, Teresa Brown-Zapken, Patrick Zapken, and the families and congregation of the South Bushwick Reformed Church.

Please Note: The Prayer List is intended to uphold and encourage those who need healing prayers. If persons have been fully recovered and no longer need to be lifted up in this way, please let us know so that we can make room for others. This list will be updated every three months unless otherwise notified. If you need a loved one or friend to remain on the list, please call the parish office. Thank you!

We pray for the repose of the souls of Suzon Cocks (mother of Sandra Cocks), and all the faithful departed. May their souls rest in peace.

We pray for all the frontline and essential workers in our parish, and around S.I. and the world.

We pray for the hundreds of immigrant neighbors, particularly on Staten Island.

We pray for comfort to the families and communities impacted by gun violence, and for the will and determination to enact appropriate gun control legislation and promote a culture of safety.

We pray for an end to armed conflict and hope that world leaders can move towards peace and diplomacy.

We pray for all those negatively affected by climate, environmental, and natural disasters.

We pray for those who are suffering from the impacts of systemic racism, and for those who are committed and working towards change, unity, and equality for all peoples.

We pray for all those who have been confirmed and received in the Episcopal Church

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Memorial Candles

Memorial Candles are available in honor of your loved ones. Donation envelopes are available at the Ushers' station.

Columbarium candle

Lit in loving memory of Fr. Chuck Howell.

Sanctuary Candle

Lit in loving memory of Fr. Chuck Howell.

We give thanks to God for the following individuals who are celebrating their Birthdays this week. Liz Howell, Aaliyah Davis (21), Elizabeth Gattullo (22), Matthew Mazziotti (24).

We give thanks to God for the individuals who are celebrating their wedding anniversaries this week.

In the Richmond IPC Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Vestry, Wardens, Clergy and People of St. Alban's Church.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Church of South India (United).

In the Diocese of New York, we pray for +Sean, our Presiding Bishop; +Matthew and +Allen, our Bishops; St. John's in the Village, Manhattan; St. Alban's Church, Staten Island; St. John's Episcopal Church, Cornwall; The Order of St. John (New York Region); St. John's Memorial Church, Ellenville; St. John's Episcopal Church, Kingston; and The Haitian Congregation of the Good Samaritan, Bronx.