Saint Patrick's Parish

There will be a SECOND COLLECTION taken up at all Masses this weekend for EASTER FLOWERS, so that we may decorate our sanctuary in memory of our deceased loved ones as a visible reminder of the new life that is theirs as a result of Easter. Please write the name of the deceased person on the flower envelope, and place it in the second collection. Thank you for your generosity.

As we begin this most holy of weeks, the Church commemorates the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. Our celebration of the sacred mysteries of our faith allow us to be focused upon the victory of Christ over death and our participation in His glorious life that is given to us through our Baptism. The schedule of the events of HOLY WEEK is included in the bulletin and it is my hope that all parishioners will take part in these sacred and solemn ceremonies.

Today is PALM SUNDAY and we remember how Jesus was greeted as He entered the city of Jerusalem. Acclaimed as king by the crowd, palm branches were waved and the way made clear for His procession into the city in which He would make all things new by His impending death. As the Passion narrative is proclaimed during the Mass, we are reminded of how fleeting public approval can be and as we echo the sentiment, “Crucify Him,” we realize how easily public opinion can be manipulated and the devastating effects of following the crowd.

On Tuesday, Cardinal O’Malley will preside at the MASS OF CHRISM in his Cathedral of the Holy Cross and will invite all of the ordained that are present to renew their vows of obedience and fidelity. The Cardinal will also bless the Sacred Oils that will be used throughout the Archdiocese for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, the Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders.

On HOLY THURSDAY, we begin the SACRED TRIDUUM by recalling the gift of the Eucharist that Jesus Christ has entrusted to His Church as the abiding Memorial of His Real Presence among us. During the Mass at 7:30 PM, we will wash the feet of twelve parishioners to recall the command of Christ to be of service to each other. We will take up a Special Collection to benefit Cor Unum as a reminder of our need to attend to the poor. At the conclusion of the Mass, Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, will be taken in procession and placed in a Tabernacle away from the Altar. The Church will be stripped bare as we pray in union with the Lord on the night of His agony. The lower Church will remain open until midnight so that we can all pray quietly. We will conclude the evening with Night Prayer at Midnight.

The services on GOOD FRIDAY are beautiful in their simplicity. We begin with Morning Prayer at 8:00 AM. The STATIONS OF THE CROSS will be prayed at Noon. The CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S PASSION will take place at 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Both of these services will contain the Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion. A special collection will be taken up for the shrines of the Holy Land at both of these services.

The most important of all services takes place on Saturday evening when the Church gathers in Vigil. During the Liturgy at 7:30 PM, we will bless the Easter fire and light the Paschal Candle from the new fire. The candle, symbol of Christ’s triumph over death, is carried in procession through the darkened Church as the reminder that JESUS CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF LIFE. The Church celebrates in Word and Sacrament the newness of life that is bestowed upon those who believe in Him.

Attention: High School seniors who are members of St. Patrick Parish and attending a Catholic High School: you may apply for the Philip H. Woods – St. Vincent de Paul Scholarship. Please call the rectory and leave your name and telephone number. You will be contacted. (Seniors at Natick High School have been notified by the Guidance Department of this opportunity.) Deadline to call is Wednesday, April 3, 2008.

Tell Us What You Think!
Cardinal Sean O’Malley has directed the Massachusetts Catholic Conference to present an initiative on the vocation of marriage. It is called “The Future Depends on Love”. As part of this initiative, educational material will be developed. What do you think marriage is all about? What do you want to see the Church in Massachusetts doing to educate and evangelize on this important topic? Fill out an online survey at: www.MassCatholicMarriage.org/survey.

Rediscover a loving marriage with a Retrouvaille weekend. If your marriage is tearing the two of you apart, if there is little or no meaningful communication, if you are considering separation or divorce, we believe Retrouvaille can help you. Look us up on the web at www.HelpOurMarriage.com or call 1-800-470-2230.

What have you done for your marriage today?
You want your marriage to grow. So do we. Because the Catholic Church cares for your marriage we encourage you to go to our new U.S. Bishop’s website www.foryourmarriage.org. Take time to nurture your marriage. After all, it’s a lifetime adventure. Spread the word. Send the website address on to family and friends.

The Arts and Environment Ministry will be decorating the church with Easter lilies on Saturday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. We welcome anyone interested in joining us to help!

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Please note that the parish office will be CLOSED on Good Friday, March 21. We will reopen on Monday, March 24. Thank you.

W.I.N.G.S.

W.I.N.G.S. (Women in God’s Spirit) of St. Patrick’s Parish will pray the Stations of the Cross on Wednesday, March 19th from 9:30 – 11:30 in the lower church. Please come join us for this time of fellowship and reflection.

Mon. – Fri. 6:30 and 8:00 a.m.
Saturday – 8:00 a.m.
Reminder: There will NOT be any Wednesday or Friday evening Masses during Lent.

Holy Thursday
March 20th
Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m.
Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday
March 21st
Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m.
Stations of the Cross at 12:00 noon
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
3:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Holy Saturday
March 22nd
Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m.
Easter Vigil Mass at 7:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday
March 23rd
Mass at 7:30; 9:00; 11:30 a.m.; and 5:30 p.m

Do you have a suit or jacket that is gently used? Perhaps a First Communion gown from years past. This year we are accepting donations of gently used First Communion Apparel to donate to families in our second grade classes. You may drop off the items prior to the 9:00 Mass in the vestibule of the Church this Sunday and next Sunday. For more information please contact Kara Dawson at (508) 653-5728 or the Religious Education Office at 508-907-6220.

Join us for LIFT – an exciting new monthly worship event which includes vibrant praise and worship music, dynamic, challenging speakers and Eucharistic Adoration. LIFT is for all ages – from young adults to adults to teens to entire families. Be with us on Tuesday, March 18th for a special Holy Week edition of LIFT with our guest Martin Doman. 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!

Are you interested in learning more about our K1 (4yr olds) and Kindergarten program? We invite you to join us on Sunday, March 30 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and Monday, March 31 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am for an Open House at Saint Bridget School, 832 Worcester Rd (Rte. 9), Framingham. For more information, please call Jean Nigloschy at 508-875-0181 x229 or visit our website at www.saintbridgetschool.info.

Seán Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. invites all couples of the Archdiocese of Boston who are marking their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries in 2008 to join him for the annual celebration at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Sunday, April 13; 11:30 am Mass. Mass will include a renewal of marriage vows by all participating anniversary couples. Family members and friends of the participating couples, as well as the general public, are welcome to attend. Please register with the parish staff by March 28, 2008 if you are celebrating your 25th or 50th wedding anniversary and would like to attend this celebration. A formal invitation will then be sent from the Archdiocese to celebrating couples.

On Friday night, March 28, and Saturday, March 29 join with other Catholic young adults from around the region for a weekend of powerful talks, prayer, music, volunteer service, confession, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass with Cardinal Sean O’Malley, a Eucharistic procession through the North End of Boston, and lots of chances to meet and socialize with your peers. This FREE event will take place at St. Stephen’s church in the heart of the North End. Check out the speakers, schedule, and other details including registration online at www.eucharisticcongress.org. Pre-Registration guarantees a free dinner Saturday night provided by the restaurants of the North End. Please join us and help spread the word!

You are invited to Afternoon Tea following the 11:30 Mass on Sunday, April 6th. Enjoy a special cup of tea, eat delicious sandwiches and pastries, and spend time visiting with friends and family.

Sign-ups will be in the vestibule of the Church after all Masses on March 29/30. There is no fee to attend this event. For more information, please call Barbara Peoples at 508-655-6326.

Please join the Parish Community of Saint Stephen, 221 Concord Street, Framingham on Friday, March 28 at 8:00 p.m. in the main church for a live performance of original musical production offered by 80+ parishioners of Saint Patrick Parish in Watertown. The Christian story is told from the perspective of Peter. A reception will be hosted by St. Stephen parishioners in the church gathering space immediately after the performance. Free will offering will be accepted. For more information call 508-875-4788.

Saint Patrick's Parish Natick, Massachusetts

Saint Patrick's Parish
Natick, Massachusetts