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FROM THE PASTOR The past year has been one of tremendous turmoil and stress for all Catholics as we have been besieged by the revelations of clergy sexual abuse. In the midst of the crisis generated by the scandal of sexual abuse by some priests, communities have discovered an even greater need to be joined together in prayer. We have come to realize that we can't live out our love for God alone, or even with just a group of friends. We need the larger family of faith that Jesus founded in order to live fully the Gospel entrusted to our care. By our Baptism into the Church, each one of us is called to be holy and that doesn't just mean being good or nice. Holy means "other than" and we are called to live and act in ways "other than" the ways of the world. If we want to be disciples and to make disciples and if we want to repair God's Church in the shadow of a terrible sexual misconduct scandal, then we need to understand that new policies and procedures and reforms in the Church will be important. We certainly will need them. However, we also need saints. Without saints, nothing will work. Without holy men and women on fire with Jesus Christ, in love with His Church, and zealous in their preaching the Catholic faith through their words and actions, nothing will work. We can't give what we don't have. If Jesus Christ and a real Catholic identity don't burn in our hearts, we will never be able to rebuild the external life of the Church in the world. I want to invite all parishioners to join us this Sunday, April 6th at 7:30 PM in the Church as we begin a Four Night RETREAT that will conclude with MASS on Wednesday evening. This retreat will help us to focus on the presence of Christ promised to us when He said: "And remember, I will be with you always even until the end of the age." This promise is realized in a particular way in prayer, in Sacraments, and in the community of the faithful as it gathers. We have invited members of the Archdiocesan Office of Spiritual Development to conduct this Retreat using the Gospel of Mark and we will have different speakers on each night of the Retreat. I want to encourage you to come and listen to the Word of God as it is proclaimed and preached, to spend some time in personal prayer, and to receive some guidance to strengthen your faith during this difficult moment in our history. While this retreat will not offer answers to the questions that plague us, it will help us to focus on the presence of Christ in our world. By keeping our eyes fixed on Him, our ears attentive to His Word, and our hearts open to His Spirit, we can become holy and repair Christ's Church. I also want to invite you to a SPECIAL WAY OF THE CROSS on this Friday evening at 7:30 PM as we use the Church crisis to help us to better understand the Lord's Passion and Death. The events of the past year have enhanced my own appreciation of Christ's sacrifice and they have increased my desire to remain faithful and obedient to His Church, even though the sins that have been committed might indicate a different course. I believe that our future depends upon an even closer union with the suffering Christ by offering our own lives in order to change the world through our personal witness. We will conclude the Stations of the Cross with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Mass Intentions This Week
Sun. 4/06 5:30 PM Family Healing Mass PLEASE PRAY FOR James Philips, Amee McNulty, Robert Conlin, Jean Orme, John Baker, Nadia DeMasi, Elvira Portyrala, Mike Fitzgerald, and all the sick of the parish, as well as all the faithful departed, especially Nicholas Chimeno and Lawrence Venezia. SANCTUARY LAMPS for the week of April 6 will burn in prayer for the Brochu family, Gerard Halpin Jr., Grace Tiberio, Eleanor Murphy, John J. Kennedy, Mary Ronchetti, and Francis A. Corcell. 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. PARISH SUPPORT Budgeted Actual $18,000.00 $12,052.10 $5,947.90 In order to reach our budgeted expenses, we are asking each parishioner to increase their weekly contribution by a minimum of $3.00. Thank you for your generous response. Envelope users $7,342.00 330 envelopes were used for an average donation $23.46 Special Collection The total donation received for the Bishops' Overseas Appeal was $1,515.00. Thank you for your generosity! ADDRESS FOR FR. DONOHOE Rev. Stephen S. Donohoe You will find Easter Donation Envelopes in the church pews this week with a requested return date of April 9, 2003. Your donations, made in the memory of a loved one, will allow our Environment Committee to properly plan and prepare what will be needed for decorating the Church for Easter. Please put the envelope with your donation in the regular collection. BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY The death of a loved one can be a time of intense sadness and emotional pain. We at St. Patrick Parish wish to reach out in faith to these families with support and hope during this difficult time. If any men or women are interested in participating in our Bereavement & Hope ministry or would like more information, please call Elaine at the Rectory, 508-653-1093. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION UPCOMING EVENTS April 8 Grades 9-10 attend Parish Reconciliation Service April 10 Child Abuse Prevention Training for teachers and volunteers April 11 May Crowning Rehersal CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION TRAINING We would like to thank Donna Manganaro, Nancy Carson, Jon Kerbs, and Deacon Jim for the superb child abuse prevention training they are providing the religious education teachers and volunteers. They have provided us with a wealth of information and have done it in a caring and sensitive manner. Thank you for helping us keep our children safe. Teachers and volunteers: if you haven't already attended the three-hour workshop, please call Jon Kerbs (508-653-6380) to register for the April 10th session to be held in Our Lady's Hall from 6:00PM to 9:00PM. MARATHON CHEERING PARTY Students in the religious ed program will be hosting a Marathon Cheering Station in front of the church on Marathon Day, Monday, April 21. Students in grades 2-8 have made signs to inspire the runners. The high school students will be hosting the event. We invite all in the parish to join us in front of the church for what promises to be a fun event. For more information contact Trisha Fair 508-653-6281. The first MAY CROWNING REHEARSAL is being held this week! You must attend in order to participate. All children-girls and boys-in grades 1-10 are invited to participate in the St. Patrick's May Crowning. The May Crowning will be held during the 9:00 Mass on Sunday, May 11. To participate you must attend all rehearsals. Rehearsals will be held in the church on April 11 from 6:00-7:30, May 8 from 6:00-7:30, and May 10 from 2:00-3:30. For more information contact committee chair, Sharon Cowles 508-655-5139 or scowlie@aol.com FELLOWSHIP of YOUNG ADULTS (20s & 30s) Bible Study, Thurs. 4/3, 7:30pm. Learn more about your faith at our weekly Bible Study at the Joseph Center, we're studying Matthew. Contact Jonathan, jms2586@yahoo.com, (508) 655-2410. First Friday Dinner, Fri 4/4, following 7:30 pm Mass. Join us for our monthly First Friday dinner (Lenten theme this month). Contact Eric, eje@world.std.com, 508-845-5008. Spring Hike, Sat. 4/12. Celebrate spring with a trip up gentle and scenic Noanet Peak in Dover. Contact Eric for details, eje@world.std.com, 508-845-5008. OPERATION RICE BOWL IMPORTANT NOTICE Do you realize that 29% of the population of Brazil (50 million people) suffer from malnutrition? All are invited to a showing of a short video on the Rice Bowl project that the parish has been working on during this Lenten season. The film, lasting 10 minutes, will be shown following all Masses on April 5th and 6th. RICE BOWL DONATIONS AND BOXES WILL BE COLLECTED AT THE MASSES ON HOLY THURSDAY REMINDER… The Church in Crisis - a Four Night Retreat Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Sun., 4/6 7:30pm The Retreat Services will last about an hour.
This Parish Retreat will be conducted by the Archdiocesan ANNUAL PAX CHRISTI STATE ASSEMBLY An interactive workshop on Building An Anti-Racism Multi-Cultural Society is being held April 12, 9:00am-5:00pm, Regis College, Alumnae Hall, Weston, MA. Registration at the door $30 Phillip H. Woods, Seniors in private and parochial schools may pick-up scholarship applications at the rectory or by calling Manni at the Religious Education Office 508-653-7542. Natick High School Seniors have already received the application from the School Guidance Department. Applications are due by May 5, 2003 and can be handed in at our parish Rectory. COED SOFTBALL Looking for Fun & Fellowship? Shake off Old Man Winter and join St. Pat's slow pitch team. Games are played in Wellesley on Thursday and Sunday evenings beginning late April through June with playoffs in July. Experience not essential but be ready for fun. All parishioners (male & female) age 18 or older are eligible. Please call Ron & Mary Whinnem at 655-1463 TODAY. A Way of the Cross for a Church in Crisis As a prayer response to the issue of clergy sexual abuse, "A Way of the Cross for a Church in Crisis" will be prayed on Friday, April 11th, at 7:30 in the Upper Church. Please join us for this powerful prayer experience. Reminder Monsignor Francis Strahan, Interim Vicar for the West Region of the Archdiocese of Boston would like to welcome all parishioners in the West Region to attend the Regional Service to be held at St. James Church, Wellesley/Natick on Tuesday evening , April 8, 2003. Let us come together and pray as one. |
