Saint Patrick's Parish

FROM THE PASTOR

The SECOND COLLECTION that is being taken up at all of the Masses this weekend is for the benefit of our SEMINARIES. The proceeds from this collection are used to support the formation and the education of our future priests, especially those studying at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton and at Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Weston. The need for a well educated and spiritually grounded clergy is obvious as we prepare our future priests for service in the Church in Boston. Your generous support of this collection allows us to use our limited precious resources for what is certainly one of the most critical areas of Catholic life. I am sure that you will be as generous as possible in this annual collection as we make a positive contribution towards our future as Church.

As we observe MOTHER’S DAY this weekend, I want to express my profound admiration to those who sacrifice so much for their children. We have a tendency to celebrate so many people in life but truly, no one has a more pivotal role than a mother’s influence in the life of her child. With grateful hearts, we gather around God’s Altar to offer our Prayer of Thanksgiving for the great blessing that our mothers are to our lives. We commend to His tender care those mothers who have died and gone before us in faith and we pray that God may grant them the reward of their goodness to us.

I want to offer our prayerful best wishes to the young men and women of our parish family who received the SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION this past weekend. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Walter J. Edyvean administered the sacrament to our young adults, and we are so proud of these visible witnesses of God’s powerful presence at work in our midst. I wish to congratulate and thank as well the parents and sponsors of these candidates for their example of faith that has inspired these men and women to persevere in their commitment to our Catholic Church. I look forward to great things form these fine young people as they assume a more active and visible role in our parish family. I am indebted to the REV. THOMAS S. RAFFERTY, MRS. LISA CORREIA, MR. JOSEPH VILLECCO and all the catechists for all that they did to prepare these candidates. May God bless you for your constant dedication and generous service to our Religious Education program.

I would also like to encourage all of you to join us on Monday night at 7:30 in the Church as we pray the Living Rosary. I hope that as many of you as are able will set aside this time to be a part of this very special moment of grace in honor of our Blessed Mother, Mary.

In an effort to make it more convenient for parishioners to financially support Saint Patrick Parish, we now offer you the ability to make your offertory contributions electronically. Rather than placing cash or checks in the collection basket each week, you now have the option to simply have a predetermined monthly amount withdrawn from your checking or savings account that will be automatically deposited into the Parish Offertory. Transactions will be made on the 15th of each month. If you are interested in signing up for electronic offertory payments, or if you would like additional information, please contact Jean Lorrey in the Parish Office at 508-653-1093. Thank you.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

The Spirit gives each of us different gifts. The reason we are given those gifts is so that we may perform different forms of service for the Lord. If you don’t use your gifts for the Lord, who will do the special work that God had in mind for you alone?

In honor of our Blessed Mother, Mary, we will be praying the LIVING ROSARY on Monday, May 12th, at 7:30 in the Church. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this prayerful experience.

FIRST SOLEMN MASS
Of Thanksgiving
Sunday, May 25th, 2:00 PM

After his ordination scheduled for May 24th, Father Mark D. Barr plans to celebrate his FIRST SOLEMN MASS OF THANKSGIVING here at Saint Patrick Church on Sunday, May 25th, at 2:00 p.m. All parishioners are invited to attend. A reception in his honor will take place following the Mass, and we need your help in coordinating this event. Sign ups will be held after Masses next weekend for sandwiches, salads, desserts, etc. or call the parish office to offer your assistance. Thank you!

Confirmation Prayer

Heavenly Father,
In the Old Testament, your prophets and priests would anoint the faithful with oil. Through this holy anointing you made known to them their mission on earth. On Pentecost, at the birth of the Church, you sent your Holy Spirit on the disciples. On that day, the promise you gave of your Spirit was fulfilled to the whole world. As these newly confirmed go out into the world preserve the gifts of the Spirit in their hearts. May the completion of their initiation through Confirmation help them fulfill their baptismal promises as members of the Body of Christ.
Amen.

Youth Group Update

The St. Patrick's high school youth group will be volunteering at the Cor Unum meal center on Saturday, May 17th, and will hold a full-night lock-in later that night in the school building! All high school youth are welcome to attend either or both events!
- Cor Unum: 3-8PM
- Lock In: 8PM - 7AM
Email Ryan Barba at rybarba99@yahoo.com or ask a member of the youth group for more details!

Join us for LIFT – an exciting monthly worship event which includes vibrant praise and worship music, dynamic, challenging speakers and Eucharistic Adoration. LIFT is for all ages. Be with us on Tuesday, May, 13th as we welcome Mary Bielski as our guest speaker. The evening runs from 7 – 9 pm at Fontbonne Academy, 930 Brook Road, Milton, MA. Directions and a downloadable flyer, along with more information about LIFT, can be found on our website at www.liftedhigher.com. Come join in worship with hundreds of Catholics from around the Boston area!

The event, scheduled for June 14th in the Parish School from 9 AM to 1 PM, is looking for crafters and vendors. If you are interested you may contact Susan Stoddard at 508.776.0850 or sstoddard@ssymca.org.

Birthright CarnationsThe Mother’s Day Carnation Project is the primary fundraising event held by Birthright of Framingham. The Birthright center is staffed entirely by volunteers who offer friendship, emotional support and practical assistance to women in a crisis pregnancy. Birthright does not charge for its services, but relies on donations from generous supporters to continue helping pregnant women in need. Your support This weekend (May 10/11)

Respect Life Ministry Baby Shower Our annual Baby Shower will be held May 17/18. Baby gifts are welcomed and needed to benefit struggling families through Pregnancy Help. Please consider bringing in new items, such as, blankets, newborn clothing, diapers and pacifiers. Baby Baskets will be placed near the exits of the Church on May 17/18. Thank you!

In keeping with the Archdiocesan policy for conducting background checks for all clergy, staff, and volunteers, all parish volunteers (age 17 and older) must complete a CORI (criminal offender record information) form that will be submitted to the Archdiocesan Office of Volunteer Resources.

This is an annual process required of all parishes within the Archdiocese of Boston, and we at Saint Patrick Parish are required to conduct our annual CORI checks during the month of May.

The Archdiocese requires that you return the completed form in person as you will be asked to show your driver’s license or other form of identification. Members of the Parish Staff and Parish Pastoral Council will be on hand after all Masses the weekend of May 17th/18th to facilitate this process.

Your cooperation is most appreciated in helping us comply with these regulations. Thank you.

Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven
And model for mothers everywhere,
You were often asked to put your trust in God.
When faced with the challenge
Of an unmarried pregnancy,
You did all you could, and trusted God.
When faced with the challenge
Of an exceptional child,
You did all you could, and trusted God.
When faced with the abuse of your child,
You did all you could, and trusted God.
And for all your trust, your Son glorified you in joy,
Making you queen.
Help me to trust as you did,
In the face of all challenges,
With the grace of your son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The annual Memorial Day Mass in memory of
all our deceased loved ones will be celebrated on
Monday, May 26th, at 11:00 a.m,
on the grounds of Saint Patrick Cemetery.
Please bring lawn chairs.
All are welcome.

In case of rain, Mass will be celebrated inside
Saint Patrick Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick, MA

The Xaverian Missionaries will resume their traditional Fatima Days May through October at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston. On Tuesday, May 13 we will have our first such celebration. Sing-along begins at 6:30 p.m. Mass is celebrated at 7:00 p.m. The main celebrant will be Auxiliary Bishop Robert F. Hennessey, Regional Bishop for the Central Region. At 8:00 p.m. we have the Rosary and candlelight procession. Refreshments in the shrine hall following.

Saint Patrick's Parish Natick, Massachusetts

Saint Patrick's Parish
Natick, Massachusetts