Franciscan Friars of the Atonement

"Dissent, Power, and Christian Identity after Nicaea"
2025-09-17 08:00 - 2025-09-20 17:00 (America/New_York) | The American College of Thessaloniki, 17 Sevenidi St., Pylaia, Thessaloniki, 55535, Greece
Thessaloniki, Greece

Join us for the 16th Ecclesiological Investigations International Conference:
“Dissent, Power, and Christian Identity after Nicaea”
September 17, 8:00 am – September 20, 5:00 pm, 2025
The American College of Thessaloniki
7 Sevenidi St.
55535, Pylaia
Thessaloniki, Greece
Click here for more information and to register!

The First Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by the Emperor Constantine I, inaugurated an enduring paradigm not only in ecclesial administration but also in church identity. The Council’s processes and conclusions remain broadly normative with regard to church polity and the limits of Christian diversity.
Given that Nicaea took place at a time of remarkable religious pluralism and diversity and was convened in response to the disputes over “what is the Church” within that context, that early ecclesial reality shares an important resonance with our current historical moment.
The purpose of the conference, co-sponsored by Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, is to pose the questions: In what ways does Nicaea continue to shape how we configure the Church today, with what opportunities and at what cost?
For full details on the conference, including keynote speakers, call for papers, Graymoor Scholarships, registration, travel, and accommodations, visit: thessaloniki2025.ei-research.net.

Sharing Hope Celebration Dinner
2025-09-26 18:30 (America/New_York) | The Pierre, 5th Avenue & 61st Street, New York, NY, United States
JOIN US FOR A MEMORABLE EVENING!
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement will be hosting their 32nd Annual Sharing Hope Celebration Dinner on Friday, September 26th at The Pierre Hotel in NYC.
This event is the one time of the year where we honor individuals who mirror the charism of the Friars. Your gift will make a difference! Together we can touch the lives of so many who are suffering with hope and healing.
Learn more

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
2025-10-03 | Graymoor, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Join us on October 3, 2025, at 10:15 am to honor Our Blessed Mother for the October 7th Feast of Our Lady with a live recitation of the rosary. All are welcome to join us via this live Facebook event. You will be able to view it again on our webpage or on Facebook. Fr. James Puglisi, SA, will be reciting the Franciscan Crown Rosary.
Click here to explore resources and videos offered by the Friars about praying the Rosary, including the Franciscan Crown.

More About the Franciscan Crown
The Franciscan Crown (also called the Franciscan Rosary or the Rosary of the Seven Joys)
is a long-established Marian devotion within the Franciscan family. It developed in late
medieval Italy and became widely adopted by members of the Friars Minor, Poor Clares,
and other communities influenced by Franciscan spirituality.
WHAT IT IS
• Structure: Seven decades of Hail Marys, each decade focused on one of the Seven Joys
of Mary, followed by two additional Hail Marys (72 prayers in total).
• Seven Joys: Annunciation; Visitation; Nativity; Adoration of the Magi; Finding of the
Child Jesus in the Temple; Resurrection appearance to Mary; Assumption/Coronation.
HISTORICAL NOTES
• Origins: Rooted in Franciscan devotional practice from the 15th
century onward; a popular founding legend tells of a novice in Assisi instructed by
Mary to pray seven decades in place of offering garlands of roses.
• Development: The devotion spread through Franciscan preaching and
confraternities and received papal indulgences that increased its use across the
Order and in lay confraternities.
ROLE IN THE FRIARS OF THE ATONEMENT
From the foundation of the Friars of the Atonement, devotion to Our Lady of the
Atonement included the daily recitation of the Franciscan Crown. Our founder,
Servant of God Fr. Paul Wattson, SA was particularly devoted to this practice and
promoted it as part of the community’s regular prayer life, making the Crown a practical,
sustained element of the friars’ Marian devotion.
ROLE IN FRANCISCAN PRACTICE
• Usage: Prayed privately and in community, often on Marian feast days, during
October, or as part of daily Marian devotion.
• Character: Reflects Franciscan emphases on simplicity, affective devotion, and
meditative attention to Christ through Mary rather than elaborate theological exposition.
PRACTICAL NOTE
• The Franciscan Crown is a historically grounded Marian practice closely associated
with Franciscan communities. It remains in regular use today by friars, sisters, and
laypeople who continue the tradition of daily, contemplative prayer exemplified by the
Friars of the Atonement

St. Francis Day
2025-10-04 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Join us for
St. Francis Day
Saturday, October 4 2025
10 am – 3 pm
Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel,
40 Franciscan Way, Garrison
Garrison, NY 10524
Pop-up vendors: Graymoor Book and Gift Center and Auntie Liana’s Made with Love will be outside Our Lady of Atonement Chapel
Mass at 11 am.
Blessing of the Animals at 2 pm
Visit St. Francis Chapel to see the altar from Assisi, Italy
Meet Farmer Bob and tour San Damiano Farm
Please bring pet food to be donated to Philipstown Pantry
For more information please contact Kacey Morabito-Grean at HMFRC@atonementfriars.org.

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Dominican Retreat & Conference Center
2025-10-09 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Dominican Retreat & Conference Center, 1945 Union Street (Route 7), Niskayuna, NY, 12309, United States
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
Please RSVP ~ Patricia Fletcher at 845.424.2143 ~ by Thursday, October 02, 2025–

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

Dialogue on Divinity: Conflict and the Healing of Hatred
2025-10-19 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10025, United States
Conflict and the Healing of Hatred:Insights from Israel/Palestine
Sunday, October 19, 2025
6:00-7:30 PM, Cathedral of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10025
Register Here
John Munayer is a Palestinian Christian, who studied for his Master’s in Theology and Religious Studies: Interreligious Studies at VU Amsterdam.
Enduring cultural or political conflict, between neighbors who become trapped in cycles of resentment or outright violence, can have a corrosive effect on the consciousness and identity of the people involved. For those who come to understand themselves primarily as people opposed to a hostile, threatening other group of people, it becomes difficult to imagine any alternative to one or the other side being destroyed or expelled.
Few organizations are better equipped to understand and intervene in such imprisoning conflicts than the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue, in Jerusalem—where years of violent conflict and the fear it engenders have left both Israelis and Palestinians emotionally and spiritually traumatized. Hatred of the “Other” is regarded as a normal response to the ongoing situation. Each side is increasingly isolated and embittered and this in turn only leads to the creation of further suspicion and fear.
Hana Bendcowsky is the Program Director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations (JCJCR).
Join us at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine as Dean Winnie Varghese joins in conversation with Hana Bendcowsky and John Munayer, peacemakers and program staff from the Rossing Center, about their unique, trauma-informed methodology for addressing conflict at its deepest level, based on tools for spiritual counseling. They will discuss how peace education has made a difference in the Israeli/Palestinian context, why such processes are so important, and what light this model may shed on the intensifying conflict environment in the USA.
This dialogue is co-sponsored by the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, the Community at the Crossing, and the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue (at Jewish Theological Seminary).

For more information and to register, visit the Cathedral website.

The Faith of Others: The Inspiration of Interreligious Dialogue in Light of Nostra Aetate
2025-10-20 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Fordham University at Lincoln Center, 140 W 62nd St, New York, NY 10023, New York, New York, 10023, United States
The Faith of Others: The Inspiration of Interreligious Dialogue in Light of Nostra Aetate
Monday, October 20, 2025
6:00-7:30 PM, with reception to follow
McNally Amphitheatre & Atrium
Fordham University at Lincoln Center
140 W 62nd St, New York, NY 10023
Free and open to the public; also livestreamed
Register Here
The Paul Wattson Lectures honor the memory of Servant of God Father Paul of Graymoor (1863–1940), founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and pioneer for the cause of Christian unity. These annual lectures, hosted at distinguished universities in the US and internationally, feature national and international leaders in the fields of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue to speak on urgent contemporary questions. The 2025 Paul Wattson Lecture, the first to be offered at Fordham, also honors and builds upon the legacy of the “Nostra Aetate Dialogues” organized at Fordham since the early 1990s to address compelling, and sometimes controversial, topics at the core of Jewish-Catholic dialogue.
In October 2025 we commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, which attended to the history of Catholic misrepresentation and mistreatment of Jews and provided a baseline for Catholic interreligious engagement in the contemporary world. Our interfaith era of these past sixty years is indeed a remarkable moment in history, given the two thousand years of tensions, often violent and horrific, between Christians and Jews. What has brought us to the present moment and what is our path going forward? Since the end of World War II, historians and theologians, Jewish and Christian, have focused enormous attention on the history of Christian views of Judaism, sometimes called Christian anti-Judaism. We have examined the links between theological criticisms of Judaism and modern antisemitism and questioned the responsibility of Christian teachings for the Holocaust. In her lecture, Professor Susannah Heschel (Dartmouth College) will propose new ways to conceptualize the relationship between the two religions that will move us toward more positive, productive relations. Having grown up in a home in which ecumenical discussions were vital, Prof. Heschel will recount personal memories of her father, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, and of the many Christian theologians and clergy who came to their home. Taking up the theological as well as the historical trajectory that led to Nostra Aetate, she will give particular attention to the relationship between Rabbi Heschel and Augustin Cardinal Bea, charting the new theological directions they represented regarding divine inspiration and prophecy.
Responding to Prof. Heschel will be Heather Miller Rubens, Executive Director of the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies (Baltimore), who will look from this history into the present and future—reflecting on the powers and limits of Nostra Aetate in our own time, as well as on its significance beyond the Catholic-Jewish relationship (not least in terms of contemporary Islam).

About the Speakers

Susannah Heschel, PhD
Susannah Heschel, PhD, is the Eli M. Black Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College and chair of the Jewish Studies Program and a faculty member of the Religion Department. Her scholarship focuses on Jewish and Protestant thought during the 19th and 20th centuries, including the history of biblical scholarship, Jewish scholarship on Islam, and the history of anti-Semitism. Her numerous publications include Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus (University of Chicago Press), which won a National Jewish Book Award, The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany (Princeton University Press), and Jüdischer Islam: Islam und Deutsch-Jüdische Selbstbestimmung (Mathes und Seitz). She has a forthcoming book, co-written with Sarah Imhoff, The Woman Question in Jewish Studies. Heschel has been a visiting professor at the Universities of Frankfurt and Cape Town as well as Princeton, and she is the recipient of numerous grants, including from the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Foundation, and a yearlong Rockefeller fellowship at the National Humanities Center. In 2011-12 she held a fellowship at the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin and during the winter term of 2024 she held a research fellowship at the Maimonides Institute at the University of Hamburg. She has received many honors, including the Mendelssohn Prize of the Leo Baeck Institute, and five honorary doctorates from universities in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and Germany. Currently she is a Guggenheim Fellow and is writing a book on the history of European Jewish scholarship on Islam. She is an elected member of the American Society for the Study of Religion and the American Academy for Jewish Research.
Heather Miller Rubens, PhD, is s the Executive Director and Roman Catholic Scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies. She is responsible for advancing the organization’s vision to build an interreligious society in which dialogue replaces division, friendship overcomes fear, and education eradicates ignorance. Heather is an experienced teacher, public speaker, facilitator, and scholar-practitioner of interreligious learning and dialogue. She develops educational initiatives that foster interreligious learning and conversation for the public in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and online. In her research and writing Heather creatively focuses on the theoretical, theological, ethical, and political implications of affirming religious diversity and building an interreligious society. She is currently working on a book entitled In Good Faith: An Argument for the Interreligious Society. Heather is a member of the Committee on Ethics, Religion and the Holocaust at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She is an invited member of the Christian Scholars Group and she has also served in leadership positions with the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations and the Catholic Theological Society of America. She holds degrees from Georgetown University (B.A.), the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies (G.Dip.), and the University of Chicago (A.M. and Ph.D.). She has taught at Lewis University, DePaul University, and St. Mary’s Seminary, and she served as a Visiting Scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary.
About the Organizers
The 2025 Paul Wattson Lecture at Fordham University is co-sponsored and co-organized by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, and, at Fordham: the Departments of Theology and Jewish Studies, the Center on Religion and Culture, the Francis and Ann Curran Center for Catholic Studies, and Campus Ministry.
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement recognize the pain of living in a broken world, seeing these wounds within ourselves, in our relationships, in the Church, and between different faiths. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, Fr. Paul Wattson, SA, Servant of God, founded the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement to walk as brothers alongside those who are lost and need God’s healing. The Friars work with individuals through healing and rehabilitation programs such as St. Christopher’s Inn and the Do Not Fear to Hope HIV/Aids support group. Additionally, the Friars are devoted to ecumenism on a global scale, seeking to promote dialogue within the whole of Christianity and between all religions. In 1967, following the Second Vatican Council, the Friars founded Graymoor Ecumenical Institute (now Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute), which works to cultivate genuine unity through scholarship, solidarity, and peacebuilding dialogue.
At Fordham University, the Jesuit University of New York, the Department of Theology advances the critical and constructive study of the ideas, symbols, narratives, beliefs, and practices of religious traditions, with particular attention to the rich diversity of Catholic Christian theology. In the tradition of Jesuit education, the Department promotes the informed exploration of faith and justice from ecumenical, interreligious, and global perspectives, aspiring to do so in an imaginative, interdisciplinary manner that values the important contributions of the humanities, arts, and sciences. The Department of Jewish Studies offers courses in ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern Jewish history, culture, law, literature, and contemporary society, providing students with a nuanced understanding of the living and historical traditions of Judaism, the Jewish people, and on the modern State of Israel. Jewish Studies at Fordham seeks especially to understand Jewish history and culture within the larger framework of Jews’ interaction with other groups, and particularly Jewish-Christian relations.
Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture explores the complex relationship between faith and contemporary life; through public events and conversations with experts and artists, scholars and faith leaders, the CRC seeks to engage and elevate the public dialogue about religion and culture, the mind and the soul, inclusion and identity, politics, and the arts. The Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies aims to promote the understanding of Catholic thought and practice, explore Catholicism’s diverse manifestations in American contexts, and create opportunities for informed and compassionate engagement with the religious and social issues of our time. And Fordham’s Campus Ministry, rooted in the university’s Catholic and Jesuit identity and committed to a flourishing multi-faith community, empowers Fordham students, staff, and faculty to thrive by cultivating the values at the center of their lives, developing spiritual practices and resources, building meaningful community, and sharing talents generously in service of a more just and loving world.

Grace as Pedagogy: Theology, Critical Theory, and the Struggle Against Empire
2025-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Catholic Theological Union, 5416 South Cornell Avenue, Room 210, Chicago, IL, 60615, United States
Grace as Pedagogy: Theology, Critical Theory, and the Struggle Against Empire
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 7:00 pm
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement & Chicago Theological Union
The 7th Paul Wattson Lecture at Chicago Theological Union
Dr. Reginaldo Braga
Free and open to the public; also livestreamed
Register Here

The Paul Wattson Lectures honor the memory of Servant of God Father Paul of Graymoor (1863–1940), founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and pioneer for the cause of Christian unity. These annual lectures, hosted at distinguished universities in the US and internationally, feature national and international leaders in the fields of ecumenism to speak on urgent contemporary questions.

About the Speakers
Dr. Reginaldo Paranhos Braga Jr
Dr. Reginaldo Paranhos Braga Jr is Associate Professor of Religion and Education at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, where he has also served as Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. A native of Recife, Brazil, and ordained in both the União de Igrejas Evangélicas Congregacionais do Brasil and the Presbyterian Church (USA), he brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of pastoral ministry, theological education, and intercultural mission. His pastoral leadership in Brazil and the United States (New York City, Yonkers) emphasized community empowerment through immigration legal clinics, literacy programs, and immigrant family support. As a chaplain with the American Red Cross during the September 11 crisis, he developed a pastoral identity shaped by compassion, resilience, and solidarity in times of trauma. Dr. Braga holds a Doctor of Education in Religion and Education from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary, with research on Paulo Freire and the pedagogy of grace. His teaching and scholarship explore critical theory, transformative pedagogies, and global theological education. Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, he continues to build bridges across languages, cultures, and traditions in service to the global church.
About the Organizers
The 2025 Paul Wattson Lecture in Chicago is organized by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement.

Chapter of Mats: Mass & Brunch with the Friars
2025-10-26 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Chapter of Mats: Mass & Brunch with the Friars
Sunday, October 26
Mass at 11:00 am (OLA chapel) | Brunch to follow (5th Floor Dining Hall, Pius X)
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement cordially invite you to celebrate the opening of their Chapter of Mats — a special time for the Friars to renew their commitment to Christian Unity, Interreligious Dialogue, and their Ministries of Hope and Healing.
Bishop Colacicco will preside at the Holy Mass.
A brunch will be available following the celebration.
If you’re unable to attend in person, join us for the livestream on Facebook.
For more information or to register, please contact Kacey Morabito-Grean at HMFRC@atonementfriars.org.

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Sacramento, CA
2025-11-04 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, 6520 Van Maren Lane, Citrus Heights, CA, 95621, United States
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
RSVP by Tuesday, October 28, 2025– Patricia Fletcher at 845.424.2143

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Sierra Madre, CA
2025-11-06 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, 700 North Sunnyside Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA, 91024
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
RSVP by Thursday, October 30, 2025– Patricia Fletcher at 845.424.2143

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Oceanside, CA
2025-11-07 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Prince of Peace Abbey, 650 Benet Hill Road, Oceanside, 92058, United States
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
RSVP by Friday, October 31, 2025– Patricia Fletcher at 845.424.2143

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

A Concert of Hope
2025-11-10 18:30 (America/New_York) | Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Join us for
A Concert of Hope
November 10, 2025 at 6:30 pm
Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel at Graymoor
40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY 10524
Join us for an unforgettable evening of inspiration and music as Eric Genius, renowned inspirational musician and composer, presents A Concert of Hope.
Experience the power of music to uplift the heart and renew the spirit. This moving performance invites reflection, joy, and hope through the universal language of music.

About the Speakers
Eric Genuis
Eric Genuis is a Canadian composer and musician who now lives in Louisville, Kentucky. He is noted for his Concerts for Hope. He earned a degree in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada.
He is known for playing in prisons, hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes, and inner-city schools. He started playing in prisons after being invited to a maximum-security prison. He feels music brings humanity and beauty to places lacking in these virtues.
A free-will offering will be collected. All are welcome!
Reservations necessary via HMFRC@atonementfriars.org

North American Academy of Ecumenists Conference: “In Necessities, Unity”
2025-11-20 12:00 - 2025-11-21 15:00 (America/Chicago) | The North American Academy of Ecumenists, 50 Goddard AvenueBrookline, MA, 02445United States, Brookline, MA, 02445, United States
Register Here
The North American Academy of Ecumenists announces a conference to be held at the Hellenic College of the Holy Cross in Brookline, MA, from November 20-21, 2025.
In 2025, the Christian Churches remember the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, along with the 100th anniversary of the World Conference on Life and Work. The last fifty years have seen major ecumenical gains, along with the development of new patterns of Christian division, that as often as not follow political, rather than purely ecclesial boundaries. The churches have long debated what was necessary for unity, while often citing the maxim of “In necessities, unity; in what is doubtful, liberty; in all things, charity.”
Call for Papers open until June 15th
Papers might consider topics including: What is truly necessary for the church’s unity? How do doctrine, ethics, and practice foster or provide difficulties for maintaining and deepening this unity? How are questions of orthodoxy, orthopraxis, and justice held together and weighted in light of Jesus’ prayer that his followers would be one?
How have communities in the past and in the present, determined what constituted a “church dividing issue”? What boundaries does doctrinal agreement set on Christian belonging, or even on Christian charity? How have communities sought to reconcile after division came to be, or not? What human and cultural practices are conducive to unity? How can we cultivate them in today’s world? How does unity relate to justice? What unity looks like from the perspective of the downtrodden and marginalized? What role is there for repentance in questions of theology and practice, and what might it mean for communities to follow Jesus’ guidance to treat the offender “like an unbeliever or a tax collector”? (Matthew 18) What does church unity look like in an era of political turmoil?
We are pleased to offer two awards that are granted at the time of conference paper acceptance:
· The Br. Jeffrey Gros, FSC Award supports student participation in the annual conference.
· The Sr. Lorelei Fuchs, SA Award supports the participation of members of religious orders, contingent faculty, and others experiencing financial hardship.
If you belong to one of these groups and would like to be considered for an award, please indicate your interest along with your paper abstract.
Registration
Please send a proposed title and abstract of roughly 300 words, along with a CV, to the NAAE programs committee at submissions@ecumenists.org no later than June 15, 2025.

Christmas Crèche Display
2025-11-29 - 2026-01-06 | HOLY MOUNTAIN FRANCISCAN RETREAT CENTER, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
“O come, let us adore Him!”
Christmas Around the World Crèche Display
Open Daily: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Located on the 5th floor
The Atonement Friars invite you to contemplate the amazing gift of Christ’s birth through our annual Christmas Around the World Crèche Display. A long-standing tradition on the Holy Mountain, the display features 150 crèches with unique designs reflecting diverse cultures. At the same time, these examples from Japan, Italy, Nigeria and other countries reflect a common theme: love and adoration for the baby Jesus.

Special Viewing Event
Heavenly Harp & Creches – Lunch on the Holy Mountain
Visit on Sunday, December 7th, and enjoy lunch in the dining room at 12 PM.
A harpist will play while you walk the hallway of Creches.
Click here to register.

Christmas Crafts & Market on the Mountain
2025-11-29 10:00 - 2025-11-30 15:00 (America/New_York) | HOLY MOUNTAIN FRANCISCAN RETREAT CENTER, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Join us for
Christmas Crafts & Market on the Mountain
November 29, 30, 2025
10 am – 3 pm
Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat Center,
40 Franciscan Way, Garrison
Garrison, NY 10524
And
Large Meeting Room, Our Lady of Atonement Retreat Center
41 Old Highland Turnpike
Celebrate the season with us!
Join our Festive Vendor Fair, where local vendors will offer beautiful handcrafted gifts and seasonal treasures. Enjoy complimentary cookies and coffee as you browse and take in the festive atmosphere. A special Creche Display will also be featured for visitors to enjoy.
Click here to download a flyer you can share with friends and family.
Come share in the spirit of the season — we look forward to seeing you there!
Vendors may email photos to HMFRC@atonementfriars.org.

Reflections on the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order
2025-12-18 12:00 (America/New_York) | Online
2025 Paul Wattson & Lurana White Lecture, Rome
The Centro Pro Unione invites you to the twenty-eighth annual conference in honor of the Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, SA and Mother Lurana White, SA:
“Reflections on the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order”
presented by Dr. Andrej Jeftić
Director of the World Council of Churches Commission on Faith and Order
Thursday, December 18th, 12:00 pm Eastern / 06:00 pm Rome
Online via Zoom
Join the Zoom Meeting

About the Presenter
Andrej Jeftić 1984) born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, received his bachelor and master’s degree in theology from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Belgrade (Serbia) in 2009. He received his Ph.D. degree from the same university in 2016 with the doctoral dissertation titled Reception of the Holy Fathers in the Writings of Thomas F. Torrance: Patristic Theology and Contemporary Science.
He worked as a teaching assistant (2010–2016) and as an assistant professor (2016–2022) at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the University of Belgrade, as a Research Fellow (2022–2023) at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory of the University of Belgrade, as a theological consultant for the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (2022-2023), and since February 2023 has been working as a director of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches.
He has published in different research areas that include patristic theology and philosophy, ecumenical theology, systematic theology and contemporary Orthodox theology.
Member of the Serbian Orthodox Church which he represented as a delegate at the WCC Assembly in 2013 in Busan, and as a Central Committee member (2013-2022).
More information

Meeting Details
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88343151685?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 883 4315 1685
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Joy in Every Measure - Putnam Chorale - Free Holiday Concert
2025-12-19 19:00 (America/New_York) | HOLY MOUNTAIN FRANCISCAN RETREAT CENTER, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Putnam Chorale’s Winter Ensemble Holiday Concerts
Joy in Every Measure
Friday, December 19 – 7 PM

Kick off your holidays with the joyous sounds of the Putnam Chorale’s Winter Ensemble!
Join us for an unforgettable concert featuring a vibrant blend of classic and contemporary choral music that will lift your spirits and delight the whole family.
Their festive compilation of songs, from Verdi’s Gloria to dazzling new takes on Deck the Halls and Jingle Bells, is sure to make your spirits soar and bring a smile to every face.
Perfect for all ages, bring your family and friends, and start your holiday.

Christmas Mass during the Night
2025-12-24 22:00 (America/New_York) | Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Join the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement on Christmas Eve for
Christmas Mass during the Night
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
10:00 PM
OLA Chapel

Christmas Mass during the Day
2025-12-25 11:00 (America/New_York) | Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Join the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement for
Christmas Mass during the Day
Thursday, December 25th, 2025
11:00 AM
Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel

Ecumenical Service of the Word 2026
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Interchurch Center – Chapel, 61 Claremont Avenue, New York, NY, 10027
Please join the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, and the Interchurch Center Committee on Ecumenical, Interfaith, and Community Concerns for an
Ecumenical Service of the Word
(in person or online)
in observation of the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
12:00-1:00 PM Eastern (UTC-5)
Interchurch Center Chapel
61 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 10027
Or Online
Free and open to the public; More details to follow

Benefactor Appreciation Day - St. Johns, FL
2026-01-26 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Marywood Retreat and Conference Center, 235 Marywood Dr, St. Johns, FL, 32259, United States
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
Please RSVP ~ Patricia Fletcher ~ 845-424-2143 ~ by Monday, January 19th, 2026

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Lady Lake, FL (The Villages)
2026-01-28 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Hampton Inn & Suites, 11727 NE 63rd Dr, Lady Lake, Florida, 32162
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
Please RSVP ~ Patricia Fletcher ~ 845-424-2143 ~ by Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Lutz, FL (Tampa area)
2026-01-29 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Bethany Center, 18150 Bethany Center Dr., Lutz, FL, 33558, United States

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Sarasota, FL (Osprey area)
2026-01-30 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 241 Burney Road, Osprey, 34229, United States
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:30 a.m. – Reception
11:30 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:30 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:30 p.m. – Update on Ministries
Please RSVP ~ Patricia Fletcher ~ 845-424-2143 ~ by Friday, January 23rd, 2026

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

Candlelight Concert
2026-01-31 16:00 (America/New_York) | Graymoor, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY, 10524, United States
Join us for a magical candlelight concert featuring renowned violinist Daisy Jopling and the extraordinary pianist Alex Smith, who has performed with the likes of Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett. Together, they will create a breathtaking atmosphere of harmony and reflection.
Click here to learn more.

Benefactor Appreciation Day - North Palm Beach, FL
2026-02-02 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 10970 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, FL, 33408
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
Please RSVP ~ Patricia Fletcher ~ 845-424-2143 ~ by Monday, January 26th, 2026

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

Community Watch Party: Installation of Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks
2026-02-06 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cardinall Spellman Library
You are invited to join us for a watch party at Graymoor to view the installation of Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks as the new Archbishop of New York.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Installation Watch Party for Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
Time:
• 1:30 p.m. — Arrival (juice and cookies will be available)
• 2:00 p.m. — Livestream of Installation Mass
Location: Graymoor, 40 Franciscan Way, Garrison, NY (5th Floor, Cardinal Spellman Library)

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Dallas, TX
2026-03-23 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Saint Raphael Retreat Center, 901 S. Madison Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75204
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
Please RSVP ~ Patricia Fletcher ~ 845-424-2143 ~ by Monday, March 16th, 2026

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.

Benefactor Appreciation Day - Scottsdale, AZ
2026-03-26 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85253, United States
Franciscan Friars Of The Atonement – Benefactor Appreciation Day
10:00 a.m. – Reception
11:00 a.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist
12:00 p.m. – Complimentary Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – Update on Ministries
Please RSVP ~ Patricia Fletcher ~ 845-424-2143 ~ by Thursday, March 19th, 2026

Benefactor Appreciation Days
Each year, at Graymoor and about 20 other locations around the United States, benefactors are invited to share in prayer, fellowship and Franciscan hospitality with the Friars and Mission Support staff. These Benefactor Appreciation Days are a way for Friars to meet benefactors, express their gratitude and personally share ministry stories.
Each Benefactor Appreciation Day begins with a short morning reception, celebration of Mass, and a complimentary lunch. After sharing a meal, the program continues with an informative presentation regarding the mission and ministries of the Society of the Atonement. Each benefactor receives a special gift from the friars and staff in appreciation of their continued support of our ministry throughout the world.
We hope to see you at one of our Benefactor Appreciation Days, either at Graymoor, or as they are presented around the country.
