FROM THE PASTOR

Today we are inaugurating our observance of the 150th ANNIVERSARY OF ST. PATRICK'S PARISH. We begin our celebration around the Altar with a Mass at 11:30 AM, followed by a "SILVER TEA" in the Church Hall. We have so much to be grateful for throughout the history of the parish and we gather to thank God for His immense blessings. We commend to His tender care all of our deceased relatives, friends, and benefactors who labored so hard in order for us to enjoy our present parish and we pray that God will reward them for their countless sacrifices on our behalf. This is an important milestone on our journey of faith and we recognize our indebtedness to the Lord Whose generosity is without limit. With grateful hearts, we raise our prayers to Him and pray that we may always express our gratitude by living lives of faithful service in His holy Catholic Church. I hope all will join us in the Hall downstairs as we continue to celebrate our friendship at the Silver Tea. There will be many activities scheduled throughout this important year and I hope that we will all participate as fully as possible in these as we commemorate for this important milestone.

I want to encourage you to reserve the dates of April 3-5 for our PARISH LENTEN RETREAT as we reflect on the theme of Pope Benedict's first encyclical, "DEUS CARITAS EST" (God is Love). Certainly, the season of Lent affords us the opportunity to grow in our appreciation of God's love as manifested through the sacrifice of His Son on Calvary. Our awareness of the Lord's gift of Himself for our deliverance from sin and the new life that He has won for us through His Resurrection from the dead is realized through the manner of our daily lives. As we grow in our love for Him, so our love for each other deepens and that bond of charity is strengthened through our participation in the sacraments of the Church, particularly the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist. This Lenten Retreat will give us an opportunity to better prepare ourselves for the final days of Lent and venerate His Cross with a deeper sense of It's significance.

Fr. Rafferty and I have been very impressed with the large number of people who have been participating in the celebration of DAILY MASS. We are encouraged by the many people who have been attending Mass during this season of Lent and we hope that even more will take advantage of this wonderful gift. Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 6:30 AM and Monday through Saturday at 8:00 AM. Of all that one can do to enhance your spiritual life, nothing surpasses the uniting of your prayer with that Perfect Prayer of Christ which is the Mass.

Through the kindness of one of our parishioners, we have been able to video tape the STATIONS OF THE CROSS in order to be broadcast over the local Cable TV station. The Stations will be aired on Fridays at 10:30 AM and Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 PM. We hope that you will pray the Stations along with us during these times. I am grateful to DAVID YUSKA and members of the Evangelization Committee for bringing this project to fruition. I am hoping that we will be able to broadcast more parish liturgical events in the future.

Mass Intentions This Week

Sun. 3/19    5:30 PM Collective Intentions  Edna Lambert
Mon. 3/20    6:30 AM Souls in Purgatory    8:00 AM Mass for Sick    
Tues. 3/21    6:30 AM Chester Lewandowski    8:00 AM Lavigne Family    
Wed. 3/22    6:30 AM VWilliam & Mary Nichols     8:00 AM Florence R. Langton     7:30 PM Vocations to Priesthood
Thur. 3/23    6:30 AM For Respect of Life   8:00 AM Elizabeth Mahoney (living)      
Fri. 3/24    6:30 AM Archbishop O'Malley    8:00 AM Mary A. Craig
Sat. 3/25    8:00 AM Anne Maloney;        

PLEASE PRAY FOR Robert Goldkamp, Kathleen Tokarsky, Ed Saunders, Jr., Rosemarie Zeno, Richard Guerin, Kay I. Zinna, Celia Pasquarosa, Maryann Webster, Helen MacDonald, Julie Branton, Catherine MacLellan, Jim Campbell, Wilma Verge, Marie Murphy, Michael Ruiz, Ricky Webster, Eleonore Santospago, Eileen Dennis, Jordan Pascucci, Elaine Ruda, Ulysse Richard, Dave Markow, Lucy Grupposo, Marie Smith, Joel Dennis, Greg Giallonardo, Nancy Brodeur, Erin McKay, Tony Amendola, Thomas Kean, Jane O'Keefe, Diane Doyle, Amanda Clift, Stephen W. Humphrey, Jr., Muriel Cosentino, Amy Flickenger, James Phillips, James Atherton, Mike Fitzgerald, and all the sick of the parish.

SANCTUARY LAMPS LAMPS for the week of March 19 will burn in prayer for William Carr, Antonina Zullo and Salim Saab.

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
March 12, 2006

Budgeted           Actual                      
Offertory                Offertory                Surplus

$14,000.00            $14,367.00            $367.00

"You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth." (Exodus 20:4)
This week, question whether you have idols in different shapes. An idol can be in the shape of money, or sports, or fashion, or travel, or anything else that we value more than God and His Word to us.

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross will be prayed every Wednesday during Lent at 6:45pm in the Upper Church. Please join us for this beautiful devotion.

Training for the Liturgy of the Hours

The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? (from Psalm 127) Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever. (from the Canticle of Daniel)

The psalms and canticles help us express our prayers of praise and petition to God. Catholics throughout the world read three of these beautiful prayers and a passage from Scripture each day, usually in the morning and evening. Come to a short gathering on Saturday, March 25, after the 8:00AM Mass to learn how to integrate this tradition, the Liturgy of the Hours, into your daily life. If you have any questions, please contact Jane Teepe at jteep@rcn.com or (508) 653-2098.

Marian Ministry

The Marian Ministry invites you to join us on Monday, March 20th, at 7:30 p.m. in the lower church, as we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, and Mary's Way of the Cross. All are welcome. If you have any questions or would like additional information please contact Sharon Cowles at 508-397-2275.

DEUS CARITAS EST
"God is Love" Parish Lenten Mission

"God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16)

Our 2006 Parish Lenten Mission will be held on three consecutive evenings beginning on Monday, April 3rd, and concluding on Wednesday, April 5th. Each service will provide a special opportunity to experience the love of God in our lives.

Monday: Stations of the Cross and Benediction 7:30 pm (Experience God's sacrificial love in his Passion and Death)
Tuesday: Penance Service 7:30 pm (Experience God's forgiving love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation)
Wednesday: Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 7:30 pm (Experience God's abiding love in the Celebration of the Eucharist)

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for these special moments of grace. Bring a friend. All are welcome.

Stations of the Cross on Local Cable Television

The Stations of the Cross will air on the local Natick Pegasus Cable Television Channel throughout the Lenten Season. Please tune in during the follow times to pray the Way of the Cross with your fellow parishioners

Fridays: 10:30 am
Saturdays: 1:00 pm
Sundays: 1:00 pm

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

REGISTRATION

In order to facilitate the registration of returning students. The Religious Education Program will hold live registration in the auditorium of Montrose School during class time on the following dates:

Sunday March 19th
Wednesday March 22nd
Sunday March 26th
Wednesday March 29th
Open registration for all new students will be held following Mass after Easter.

St. Vincent de Paul Society Student Grant Opportunity

Once again the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the Archsiocese will award tuition assistance to needy students (Grades 1- 8) to enable them to receive a parochial school education. The grant amount is $1,000 per student, based solely on need. The procedure to be followed requires that each parish conference contact the school administration to get names of students who appear to need financial assistance. Following that, members of our conference will visit each family and leave an application. The completed application must be returned to our conference, at the Rectory, no later than Monday, March 20, 2006. The deadline for all applications to be received by the Boston office is April 1, 2006. We will contact the following schools:

St. Bridget, Framingham
St. Tarcisius, Framingham
St. Paul, Wellesley
St. John, Wellesley
St. Joseph, Needham
Msgr. Joseph J. Haddad Middle School, Needham

If you have a student at any other parochial grammar school or have a question, please call the rectory at 508-653-1093 and leave your name and telephone number.

St. Patrick's Day Celebration

In honor of the 150th Anniversary of our parish we are celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a Silver Tea/Reception in the lower church hall after the 11:30a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 19th All parishioners are invited to attend. There will be sign-ups in the back of the church, after the Masses this weekend, for those wishing to attend. Volunteers are also needed. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Tess Roberts @ 508-647-8287 or Lisa Correia @ 508-545-1706.

Marian High School Gala Auction & Dinner

Please join us on Saturday, April 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Indian Meadows Country Club in Westborough. Our live and silent auctions include many fabulous items including sports tickets and memorabilia, weekend adventures, and much, much more! The evening will culminate with our Grand Raffle drawing for a 2006 Ford Mustang. Raffle tickets for the Mustang are $100 each. Gala tickets are $75. For all tickets or more information, visit www.marianhigh.org or call or email Jim Waldman at Marian at 508-875-7646 X 217 or jwaldman@marianhigh.org.

W.I.N.G.S. (Women In God's Spirit)

Please join us for the continuation of W.I.N.G.S. Spring Season on Wednesdays from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in the Lower Church and Parish Hall. The Spring Season's Theme is: PRAYER AND THE HEALING POWER OF GOD

This Six-Week Season has a different guest speaker each week that provides a personal, inspiring testimony of the Healing Power of God, which has graced them throughout their life experiences.

Small Discussion groups follow the presentation in a faith-enriching and non-intimidating environment, which allows the participants to express how the presentation impacted them. All Are Welcome to join in on this wonderful faith-filled journey!

Ham and Bean Supper

The Natick Lions Club is serving a Ham and Bean Supper on Saturday, March 25 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Natick between 4:30-6:30 pm. The cost is $3.00 per person. Call 508-653-4181 for tickets. All are welcome! Come hungry!

Prayer For Vocations

O God Almighty, we thank you for calling each of us into deeper life through Jesus. We thank you for the love we are called to bear one another and for the power you give us to love with your Spirit of love. Teach us to respect the many ways your Spirit is manifested and the many gifts needed to bring Christ's life in us to its fullness. Never let us forget that the greatest among us is the one who serves with joy and humility, using your gifts for the common good. We ask this in the name of your son through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fellowship of Young Adults (20s & 30s)

Bible Study, Thu 3/23/2006, 7:30pm. Learn more about your faith at our weekly Bible Study at the Joseph Center. Contact Eric, eje@world.std.com, 508-845-5008

St. Linus Christian Book Group

Please join us at the Norton Center, St. Linus Parish, Natick on Thursday, April 6 at 7 pm as we discuss the book The Shattered Lantern: Rediscovering the Felt Presence of God by Ronald Rolheiser. For information please call Karen Mallozzi at 508-651-9788 or email to KMallozzi@aol.com.

Safety for All

In an effort to make sure our building is a secure place for all during the celebration of Mass, parents please accompany your children when they need to use the rest room. In this way we will all be assured that our youngsters are safe at all times.

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