Bulletin Announcements
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Bulletin Announcements
Mental Health Matters: A Workshop to Empower Parents (1/24/2024)
On Weds. Jan. 24th at 7 PM join Dr. Mookie Manalili, a Catholic psychologist from Boston College; retired psychologist and pastor, Father Jim Ronan, and mental health clinician, author, and parent Suzanne Muldoon for a Zoom panel discussion on how parents can best support and care for their children and themselves in the midst of mental health concerns. The panelists will address diagnoses, recommendations, and how faith impacts healing. The complimentary workshop is sponsored by Family Life. For questions, call Emily Elliott at 617-746-5756. To register: https://bit.ly/MHMtoParents
World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence (11/18)
Please include the paragraph below in your bulletin on the weekend of Nov 18/19, 2023:
The Archdiocese of Boston joins the United Nations in recognizing November 18 as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence.
Child abuse is a far too frequent occurrence in our society. The numbers are staggering, and the lifelong impact can be profound. We must do all that is possible to intervene - preventing abuse, interrupting and reporting it when it is happening, and helping heal those who have been abused. As a diocese, we do this by screening and training our clergy, volunteers, and employees, and by training our youth how to recognize and respond to risks and get help when something is wrong. We provide targeted pastoral care for those who were abused by clergy or other representatives within our church to assist them with healing. We ask everyone to join these efforts through prayer, kind and compassionate outreach to those who are impacted by abuse, and full participation in our abuse prevention efforts. To learn more about how you can help, please contact the Office of Pastoral Support and Child Protection at 617-746-5995 or go to www.BostonCatholic.org
The Spiritual Exercises
The Nineteenth Annotation Retreat of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, An Invitation to Meet Christ in Prayer, arranged by Fr John Sassani & Mary Ann McLaughlin is being offered in a group setting for Catholic adults.
The number of participants will be limited.
These Spiritual Exercises extend over the course of twenty-three weeks and are loosely aligned with the liturgical year.
Meetings begin on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 and conclude April 17, 2024.
The group will use the Zoom format to meet on line weekly from 10am to 12:00pm.
Mary Ann McLaughlin and Deacon Dan Burns will direct the Spiritual Exercises.
For further information please call 617-686-2287 or email:[email protected]A Celebration of Convalidation (2/11/2024)
Married couples desiring holy matrimony in the Catholic Church are invited to convalidate their marriage on World Marriage Sunday, February 11, 2024 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston at 3:00 PM with Bishop Mark O’Connell as the celebrant. A convalidation ceremony is an opportunity for couples married outside of the Church to enter into a marriage covenant in the Catholic tradition. For more information, email [email protected] or visit our registration page at https://bit.ly/Convalidation
Walking with the Saints
Who doesn't love a good saint story? Join us every other week for "Walking with the Saints" - a video series where priests and religious from around the Archdiocese of Boston share about a saint they've come to know. Watch now on the Evangelize YouTube Channel – YouTube.com/EvangelizeBoston.
National Eucharistic Congress Tickets
(July 17-24, 2024, Indianapolis, IN)
We are happy to announce that we have a limited number of tickets available at the discounted price of $250 each. This ticket does NOT include transportation to and from the Congress nor hotel accommodations. The tickets are non-refundable and can now be purchased by credit card through our website. Tickets for individuals and groups are also available directly from NEC.https://www.evangelizeboston.com/event/national-eucharistic-congress/
https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/registerEvangelization
November 12 ~Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
The parable in today’s gospel points out the missed opportunity that results from being unprepared. The pressures of daily life can often lead us to push aside for another time our spiritual lives and of faith commitments. Can we learn a lesson from the unwise virgins in today’s gospel? Consider adopting the practice of taking five minutes before Mass begins to ask for openness to the ways God will come to us in word and sacrament at this Eucharist. The invitation in today’s readings is clear ~ don’t put off being prepared for Christ! We may even meet him where we least expect.
November 19 ~ Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
God has given each of us different gifts. It is not the number of gifts that matter. What matters is how each of us uses the gifts God has given. God never demands from us what we do not have; but God does want us to use to the full the gifts which we do possess. Today’s parable tells us that whatever talent/saintly quality we have, be it little or great, it is important to place it at the service of God. It may be helpful to reflect if you are putting your gifts at the service of God and others? And, if not, then to ask for the grace to be confident and generous with your time and talents.
November 26 ~ Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Today’s parable is one of the most vivid parables Jesus spoke. We will not be judged on the knowledge we have accumulated, or the fame that we have acquired, or the fortune we have gained. We will be judged on the way we have listened and been present to others, and in the way we have served Christ in the other. The lesson is crystal clear - God will judge us according to our reaction those in need. This means being willing to be present and helpful to the people we meet every day - to the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the stranger, the prisoner – to Christ himself!
December 3 ~ First Sunday of Advent
Jesus sets the tone for how we are to approach this Advent with these words in today’s Gospel, “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” The Church gives us Advent as the season of waiting and preparing for the coming of Christ at the end of time. Yet preparations for Christmas occupy our time leaving little or no time for reflection on Christ’s admonition. This Advent, let us strive to make it a daily practice to take ten minutes each day to turn your attention to Jesus and to his presence. What change can we make or what practice can we adopt in our daily lives that will help ready us for the time when Christ comes to take us home?
December 10 ~ Second Sunday of Advent
The prophet Isaiah instructs us: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” What does it mean to “prepare the way for the Lord,” and what can you do differently to prepare for the Lord’s coming? St. Peter give us a suggestion in our second reading, “conduct yourselves in holiness and devotion” as we await Christ’s coming. Living by these words is more difficult that it sounds! Begin each day this week by making this simple prayer your own, “Come Lord Jesus, come! Come Lord Jesus, come.” Grant me the grace to conduct myself in holiness and devotion.
December 17 ~ Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday
The Scripture readings of this third week of Advent are filled with thanksgiving, encouragement and joy, attitudes that are so needed in our lives. As you listened to the Scriptures today consider, what words reassured you, encouraged you, or gave you hope? Whatever words caught your attention, God intended them for you! Take those words to heart, and realize that, as St. Paul states in the second reading, “The One who calls you is faithful” and will do what he says!
December 24 ~ Fourth Sunday of Advent
With the celebration of Christ’s birth, on our doorstep – let us be sure to take a few moments to savor the words of today’s Gospel. Imagine the scene and focus on what you hear spoken between Mary and the Angel. “The Lord is with you.” “Do not be afraid.” “Nothing is impossible for God.” “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Mary trusted that God was with her. . . that she had nothing to fear. Take five minutes today, before you begin to celebrate Christmas and prayerfully say the “Hail Mary” asking Mary to help strengthen your love and trust in God.
December 31 ~ the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
In today’s Gospel, Simeon and Anna make a startling prediction about Jesus and the life that awaits him, a life that would hold both joy and suffering. Mary and Joseph held in their hearts all they heard and remained faithful to all that God asked of them as parents. St. Paul gives powerful recommendation for parents and children alike for how to imitate the Holy Family – “Put on kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.” Because Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived in this way, they are thee model for our families. Pray for your family that God will give you the grace to grow in these beautiful virtues.