The Church of St. Francis of Assisi, New York City (Left) / Website Screengrab / stfrancisnyc.org (Right)
CV NEWS FEED // A Franciscan Catholic church in the Archdiocese of New York is advertising a “Pre-Pride Festive” Mass that will be celebrated this upcoming weekend, a day before New York City’s “Pride” parade.
This is not the first year the Church of St. Francis of Assisi has celebrated the “Pride”-focused Mass. Referring to it as an “annual” event, the parish’s website states: “We are again celebrating this welcome to all people at our United in Love Pre-Pride Festive Mass. This is a Weekend of Prayer for and with our LGBT Brothers and Sisters.”
“We take this opportunity each year for our whole parish community to remember that the Lord invited all people to follow him, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic background, gender or sexual orientation,” the website continues:
It is also an opportunity when we can invite to Mass any of our friends who many not feel welcome at the table of the Lord for whatever reason, but especially if they are gay or lesbian. Take the opportunity to bear witness to the unconditional love of God by reaching out and inviting back a brother or sister who hasn’t been home in a while.
The Mass will be followed by a “Pre-Pride Celebration” that can be attended after purchasing a ticket to cover the costs of food and drinks.
According to a 2019 article published on Patheos, St. Francis of Assisi Church held a “Pre Pride Festive” Mass in 2019 that Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin celebrated. It took place the day before New York City’s Pride Parade.
The church’s website also includes information about the 2023 “Pre Pride Festive” Mass. The photo heading the webpage shows the entrance procession at the beginning of the Mass. A man waving a rainbow-colored flag of streamers appears in the main aisle, and behind him is a man carrying the crucifix for the entrance procession.
The parish’s director of evangelization, Joseph Nuzzi, wrote on the webpage about the 2023 Mass that some members of the Church feel unwelcome.
“Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Catholics have recently been particularly singled out for vitriolic, uncharitable, and frankly, unchristian, attacks by some members of the Church,” he wrote. He then noted that a small protest took place before and during the 2023 “Pre-Pride Festive” Mass.
“This attitude is completely against the teaching of the Church,” Nuzzi continued, “and does not bear witness to Christ who said ‘I give you a new commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ (Jn 22:34-35)”.
“At the Church of St. Francis we try to combat this hatred and division with love and inclusion,” Nuzzi wrote. “We strive to build a community that is welcoming to all people. Love, unity and inclusion are values we cherish and they are rooted in our faith in Christ and His teachings.”
