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GRAYMOOR Inside The Issue Learn About Latest Graymoor Happenings 125TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS UPDATES NEAR AND FAR HOLIDAY SHOPPING EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT OPPORTUNITIES STOP AND SHOP PEEKSKILL COMMUNITY BAG PROGRAM MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Dec. 2023 | Issue #1
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Franciscan Friars of the Atonement to Celebrate 125th Anniversary The Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement will celebrate the 125th anniversary of their founding with a series of local and international events throughout 2023 and 2024. The celebrations will kick off with a special mass open to the public at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Friday, December 15th, at 4:00 PM.
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FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE ATONEMENT TO CELEBRATE 125TH ANNIVERSARY To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Society of the Atonement, the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement will commence a series of local and international celebrations, starting in December 2023 and continuing throughout 2024. On Friday, December 15th, there will be a special mass open to the public at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City at 4:00 PM celebrated by the Most Rev. Edmund J. Whalen, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York. Additional gatherings and celebrations will take place throughout 2024 to bring about a spirit of gratitude, reflection and rejuvenation, and embracing both the legacy and the future of their mission of At-One-Ment.
The Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement cordially invite all in the community, near and far, to participate in the upcoming gatherings below.
ANNIVERSARY MASS AT ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL AND JUBILEE CELEBRATION The Friars will hold an inspiring liturgical gathering on Friday, December 15th, the Society of the Atonement’s Foundation Day, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City at 4:00 PM. This joyful occasion will be graced by distinguished guests, clergy, and members of the community who have been touched by the Friars and Sisters’ profound commitment to At-One-Ment, healing, and reconciliation. For more information and to register, please contact Mission Support at 845-424-2143.
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800TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CRECHE Join us for the 800th Anniversary of the Creche on Sunday, December 17th at Graymoor at 12:30 PM. We have more than 100 unique Nativity sets from around the world, and they’ll each be showcased and on display. Guests can tour our diverse Creche Display and attend a lecture by Fr. Tom Orians, SA, and complete their visit with music and refreshments in the dining room. For more information and to register, please contact our Holy Mountain Retreat Center at 845-690-1124.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY Graymoor founders Father Paul Wattson and Mother Lurana White celebrated the first Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 1908. It is now observed and celebrated annually as a period of eight days during which Christians can come together and pray for unity within the faith, reflect on scripture and participate in communal services. The theme for 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is, “You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbor as yourself,” from Luke, Chapter 10, verse 27. Week of Prayer will be observed January 18th through January 25th. Please visit the Atonement Friars’ Facebook page for more news on Week of Prayer and visit the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute website (https://geii.org/) to order 2024 Week of Prayer materials.
From spiritual retreats to educational workshops, our website has calendars sharing events to help you immerse yourself in our rich tradition of prayer, community and service.
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COMING SOON... 125TH ANNIVERSARY LECTURE SERIES A thought-provoking series of lectures and panel discussions featuring prominent speakers from diverse fields such as theology, spirituality, interfaith dialogue, and social justice is planned. Through intellectual engagement, participants will explore the relevance of the Friars and Sisters’ mission in today’s world.
2024 RETREATS AND PILGRIMAGES Guided retreats and pilgrimages at the Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat Center at Graymoor, the spiritual headquarters of the Friars and Sisters of the Atonement will provide participants with a transformative spiritual experience. These events offer individuals an opportunity for reflection and personal growth amidst the tranquil and picturesque surroundings of the Hudson Valley highlands. The Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement have long stood at the forefront of promoting dialogue, unity and compassion in a world often marked by division. In 1898, Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, SA, and Mother Lurana White, SA, founded the Society of the Atonement to help bring about “At-OneMent” – the reconciliation of Christians and their churches and unity in fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer “that all may be one.” 4
DISCOVER THE HOLY MOUNTAIN OF GRAYMOOR Atop the Holy Mountain of Graymoor across more than 300 acres in Garrison, New York, the Friars carry out several ministries and offer an extensive number of programs that promote hope, healing and harmony. Among the Friars’ ministries is St. Christopher’s Inn, a place where people can not only come for addiction treatment and recovery, but a safe haven where they can come to heal, find spiritual hope and renewal, and rediscover their true selves. We see everyone who comes to St. Christopher’s Inn as “Christ-bearers,” as we help them find peace and solace through belief in a higher power. The Friars instill in them the knowledge that they are worthy of love, dignity and respect. St. Christopher’s Inn has been saving lives more than 114 years.
The Friars offer countless retreats through the Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat Center; religious items and texts through the Graymoor Book & Gift Center and the Union That Nothing Be Lost Thrift Shop; and organic vegetables and greens in the warm-weather months through San Damiano Farm. The Friars’ ministries also include the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute in New York City and the Centro Pro Unione in Rome, both serving as ecumenical centers of activity. The Friars maintain their worldwide presence in places like Brockton, Massachusetts; Toronto, Ontario, Japan, Canada; Assisi, Italy; and Lima, Peru. Above all, our prayer ministry serves hundreds of thousands of people each year.
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Holiday Shopping at Graymoor Books and Gifts Stop by and check out some great items to purchase as holiday gifts or stocking stuffers for your friends, family, neighbors and other loved ones this holiday season. We even have a special 125th anniversary ornament that will make a lovely addition to your Christmas tree. The store is stocked with warm and cozy socks, books for children and adults, mugs, candles, holiday cards, and so much more.
hours of operation: Wed – Sat: 9:00am – 5:00pm Sun: 9:00am – 3:00pm
questions? Phone: (845) 424-2100 Email: GraymoorBooks@AtonementFriars.org
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STOP AND SHOP PEEKSKILL COMMUNITY BAG PROGRAM Throughout the month of December, when you purchase reusable Stop and Shop bags ($2.50) at the Peekskill Stop and Shop (1831 East Main Street), $1.00 of each bag purchased will be donated to St. Christopher’s Inn to support the life-saving work of helping men recover from substance use.
your generosity helps us: serve over 1,000 men a year with holistic programs that promote physical, emotional and spiritual healing prepare over 125,000 meals per year provide approximately 480,000 clinical hours per year offer approximately 240,000 hours of vocational training per year help thousands of families impacted by the disease of addiction
BUY THIS BAG, SUPPORT OUR MISSION. Purchase a reusable grocery bag at the Peekskill Stop & Shop and $1 will be donated to St. Christopher's Inn.
DECEMBER ONLY 8
december Birthdays
EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT OPPORTUNITIES
Jason Berger Margaret Coyle Ellen Duffy Angel Figueroa Draper Godette Peter Gorman Lisa Greco Heleen (Melissa) Marino Medgal Merced Lisa Quist Matthew Rowe Laura Russin Nicolas Wandji
Thank you, Sandi Landsman, for sharing this update with everyone at Graymooor: With holidays around the corner, I wanted to remind everyone that we have access to an employee discount program, “Tickets at Work Discount Program” with special opportunities available at Sam’s Club, Broadway tickets, trips, and more.
You can take advantage today by visiting www.ticketsatwork.com and using the code: EAHRFUN.
december Work Anniversaries Jennifer Heyd (2011) Jason Berger (2015) James Richardson (2018) Michele Wilcox (2018) Michael Kar (2019) Catherine McCarthy (2019) Draper Godette (2021) Mary Ganswindt (2022) Hermion Salazar (2021) Imtiaz Mohammed-Baraichi (2022) 9
Christmas updates NEAR AND FAR
IN ITALY… In Italy, Br. Paolo and Br. Fabrizio featured here in the photo reading special greetings from our Benefactors, are preparing for Christmas festivities in Italy with a great celebration to be held on Wednesday, November 29 in Rome at the Basilica of St. John Lateran to commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the Creche/first nativity of St. Francis. In addition, they will be hosting a luncheon event in the Friars formation house to officially begin our 125th community anniversary celebrations in Italy.
Franciscan Friars are committed to working for a more just and equitable world, where all people are treated with respect and dignity.
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IN PERU… The Friars in Peru are celebrating many vocation events in December. On December 15, Brother Teodoro, Brother Yasser, and Brother Alexander will renew their vows during a community celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Foundation of the Society of the Atonement. They will also host a “Come and See”, a vocational program to guide new people interested in the Friars’ way of living. Others within the community will take time to visit and help in the mission field where some will go to the Sierra and others to the Amazon jungle.
ADDITIONAL HAPPENINGS... 1. Vocational meeting by Br. Yasser from December 4 to 11 in the city of Piura 2. Community celebration of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 3. Visit to Chile by Fr. José and Fr. Brian from December 9th to 11th 4. Vocational meeting in the Vicariate of San Ramón (in the cities of: Mazamari, Satipo, Pichanaki, in the Region of Junín, Peru) by Br. Yasser from December 17 to 24 5. Community celebration of Christmas on December 25th 6. Formation meeting on December 27 7. Community New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31 11
friars of the atonement giving back THROUGH FRESH PRODUCE
IN TORONTO... Pictured here is our Joint Garden Blessing with the Lutheran Church next door. We raised 500 lbs. of fresh vegetables for local food banks!
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Winter
Extravaganza JANUARY 9TH, 7PM
OUR LADY OF ATONEMENT CHAPEL (PILGRIM HALL)
*save the date* 16
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