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FROM THE PASTOR This weekend, almost everyone in our nation will be focused upon one thing: the Super Bowl showdown between Tampa Bay and Oakland. Millions of dollars will be spent, people's schedules will be altered, and many families will be together around a TV set watching a great football game. As an avid fan, I enjoy watching football and I am always amazed at the athletic prowess of the players on the field. I think that it is wonderful to be able to relax and enjoy a few hours in front of the TV and I encourage those who are able to enjoy this to do so. However, I am also keenly aware that this event is a multi-million dollar extravaganza that serves no long lasting benefit and yet it is treated as though it were the most significant of all that happens in our world. We make heroes out of the winning team and extol these players for the next year until they somehow disappoint us by not performing as well as they did in the past. I wonder if perhaps somehow we have misplaced our core values about what really matters in life and attempted to fill that void with superficial excesses. In today's Gospel, Jesus calls His disciples from their ordinary jobs that provided them a living and invited them to follow Him into the realm of discipleship that would give them real life. The Lord selected these men and called them to bear witness to what is essential in life: a faithful relationship with a loving God and the establishment of a community based upon the conviction that all are brothers and sisters in Christ. The apostles were told that they would be "fishers of men," giving to the world a Food that would last for eternity. These humble yet sinful men were commissioned to boldly go forth with a confidence born of faith in Christ into a world that would certainly be hostile to the message that they were to bring. They were to be "living instruments of Christ the eternal priest" and they were to seek first the Kingdom and would gain all else besides. The early Church was full of dedicated people that heard the call of Christ to conversion of heart and who became fishers of men and women in their own right by their fidelity to Christ's teachings about love, about truth, about forgiveness, and about life. For their efforts, they did not receive tremendous salaries, enjoy exalted status in the community, or in most cases, any notoriety at all. Nevertheless, they changed the world by the power of their witness and they truly deserve the title of hero. In an extraordinary moment of grace, a man is called by God to forsake the world and to be configured to Christ as a priest. For almost twenty-five years, I have been privileged to be a priest and I can say without any equivocation that these have been years of great joy and awesome wonders. The priesthood of Jesus Christ that I am humbled to participate in is not another form of "ministry" in the Church. Ordination to the Priesthood in the Catholic Church radically transforms who a man is, not just what he does. The ordained priesthood is one of the greatest gifts given to an individual not by virtue of merit but by God's willing it. The priest is selected to act in the person of Christ in a community whose basic structure is defined by the will of Christ. In the midst of the crisis that has caused so much pain to so many, I urge all of us to pray that God will call faithful shepherds to serve Him as priests and that all who hear His voice will respond in generous service to His people. If you are a New Parishioner, please introduce yourself to the priest after Mass or at the Rectory. We want to know you and serve you. We welcome and invite you to become active members of our St. Patrick Parish Community Mass Intentions This Week
Sun. 1/26 5:30 PM Collective Intention Mass
PLEASE PRAY FOR David Cote, Richard & Sonia Guerin, Nadia DeMasi, Ralph Disney, Elvira Portyrala, Mike Fitzgerald, John Healey, Robert Conlin, Robert Cox and all the sick of the parish, as well as all the faithful departed especially George W. Bowles. SANCTUARY LAMPS LAMPS for the week of January 26 will burn in prayer for the Brochu Family, Grace Tiberio, David Cote (living), Ralph C. Di Giandomenico, Jr., Brother Bernard O.S.B. If you would like a LAMP in our Church or Adoration Chapel burning for one week, in memory of a loved one or for a special intention, please call the rectory (508) 653-1093. We are now accepting registration for Baptism for the month of March. The Sacrament of Baptism for the month of March will be on March 9th. Please call Deacon Jim Crump at the rectory at 508-653-1093 to register for Baptism Preparation which will take place on Sunday, March 2nd. There will be an Adoration Ministry meeting of the Hourly Coordinators on Tuesday, January 28 at 7:30pm in the Joseph Center. Parish Support January 19, 2003 Budgeted Offerings = $18,000.00 Actual Offerings = $12,603.20 Deficit = -$5,396.80 In order to reach our budgeted expenses, we are asking each parishioner to increase their weekly contribution by a minimum of $3. Thank you for your generous response. Envelope Users = $8,593.00 + Non-Envelope Users = $4,010.20 Total = $12,603.20 306 envelopes used for an average donation $28.08. Some recent bills paid: Stewardship There is a certain urgency in today's Gospel as Jesus calls His first disciples - Andrew and Simon, James and John. Each one follows Jesus immediately, unhesitatingly abandoning nets and boats and father and fellow-workers. To what is Jesus calling me - at this moment, in these circumstances? What will I need to abandon in order to follow Him? MORE PICTURES FROM THE CHURCH TOUR BY THE FIRST GRADE
Fellowship of Young Adults Reflecting a Consistent Ethic of Life NEED A WAY TO CHANNEL YOUR IDEAS ON HOW TO RESPECT AND VALUE ALL LIFE??? NO to abortion, poverty, euthanasia and war may sound idealistic but Jesus tells us to keep running the race. Come to the Seamless Garment Commission meeting and join us in promoting a Consistent Ethic of Life. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb 6 at 7:30pm in the Jospeh Center. For further information call: Nancy @508-653-9124 or Kay @508-653-2339. REMINDER… TOGETHER IN PRAYER All are invited to join with Young Adults for a special evening of scripture, prsyer, inspirational music, and Eucharistic adoration on Friday, Jan. 31 at 8pm at St. Paul Church, 502 Washington St., Wellesley. Gather with other Catholics and help pray together for rebirth, renewal, peace, and hope in our world, our Church, and our hearts. Questions, call 781-235-1060. READY TO DIVE INTO AN OCEAN OF FUN???? Religious Education Please use the Main Door of the Montrose School when coming and leaving religious classes. Thank you. Volunteers Needed to help with refreshments for Sunday morning Religious Education Classes. Can you pick up a box of Munchkins? Pour orange juice? Make coffee? Set up or clean up? Sign up for one Sunday or one Sunday a Month or every week. What ever you can manage. Please contact Manni LaCount @ patricknatmanni@aol.com or (508) 653-7542. 3 Hall Monitors are needed for Wednesday evenings. Are you available between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM on Wednesday evenings, please call Manni at the Religious Ed Office. We need your help! MARK YOUR CALENDAR There will be a meeting on Sunday, February 2nd for High School Parents, Students, and Teachers at 6:30pm in the Lower Church. Baptism at our family mass The children witnessed the Baptism of Ryan Faulkner as part of the Sunday Family Mass on January 12. This Feast of the Baptism of the Lord allowed everyone present to see and welcome firsthand a new member to our parish family. The pictures below capture the joy felt by all.
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