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FROM THE PASTOR As we enter these final days of Lent, I want to encourage all parishioners to participate in our PARISH LENTEN RETREAT that will begin on this Monday evening, April 3rd at 7:30 PM. The theme for the three nights is "Deus Caritas Est" ("God is Love") and we are hoping that each night will allow us to enter more deeply into the mystery of God's love for His people. Our growth in appreciation of God's love, especially as it has been revealed in the sacrificial death of His Son on Calvary, should cause us to express our gratitude by the manner of our lives. On Monday evening, we will reflect on Christ's Passion and Death as we pray the Stations of the Cross and spend some time in prayerful meditation before the Most Blessed Sacrament. The next night, we will have the opportunity to experience the healing power of God's love as we meet the Lord in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receive His forgiveness. We have invited additional priests to be on hand to celebrate the Sacrament so that we can confess our sins and begin anew in His grace. The culmination of the retreat is the Celebration of God's Love which is the Mass. Here, on the Altar, we discover the full meaning of Love as we unite ourselves to the Lord's gift of Self in the Eucharist. The awesome gift of His Body and Blood presents us with the Food that we need for our journey and reminds us that we carry Jesus within us as we follow His command to "make disciples of all nations." I hope that you will join us for this special time of spiritual renewal as we prepare to celebrate the great events of our redemption during Holy Week. I just returned from an exhilarating week in Rome where I witnessed the elevation of Archbishop Sean to the College of Cardinals. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, welcomed the Cardinals to their new roles by reminding them of their duty to serve Christ through their service to the entire Church. The essence of love is to be focused upon the needs of the beloved and to address those needs at every moment. We have the example of that in Christ and as I listened to the Pope, it occurred to me that sacrifice and action are the fruits of a genuine prayer life. The Gospel message is really quite simple: "Love one another as I have loved you." The feeding of the multitudes, the healing of the sick, and the many other actions of our Lord that led to His great sacrifice on the Cross, stemmed from His desire to "do the will of the One Who sent Him." Cardinal O'Malley's apparent discomfort with all of the media attention that was focused upon him underscored for me that life of a real disciple is never about us; it is always about Christ that is expressed in His Love for all people. As I sat amid the vast diversity of people from around the world, I realized that His love is truly Catholic and universal. Mass Intentions This Week Sun. 4/2 5:30 PM Family Healing Mass
PLEASE PRAY FOR Harold Kashala, 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 for the week of April 2 will burn in prayer for Antonina Zullo, Luisa Valenti, Mary Young and Michael Parker, 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. There will be a SPECIAL SECOND COLLECTION taken up at all of the Masses NEXT weekend for EASTER FLOWERS. We have decided to decorate the Church in memory of all of our deceased loved ones. If you wish to make a financial contribution towards this, please write the name of the deceased loved one on the outside of the envelopes that will be in the pews and place your offering in next week's second collection. In the event that finances are somewhat problematic for you, please feel free to simply write the name of anyone that you would like remembered on the outside of the envelope and simply place it in the basket. We are happy to remember everyone in our prayers at the Altar during this holy season. PARISH SUPPORT Budgeted Actual $14,000.00 $13,314.00 $686.00 Second Collection Our St. Patrick Parish family donated $3,834.00 to Catholic Relief Services last weekend. Thank you for your generosity! 25th & 50th Wedding Anniversary Mass with Seán Cardinal O'Malley, OFM Cap. Seán Cardinal O'Malley, OFM Cap. Invites all couples of the Archdiocese of Boston who are marking their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries in 2006 to join him for the annual 25th and 50th Wedding Anniversary Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Sunday, May 21st at eleven o'clock. The Mass will include a renewal of marriage vows by all participating anniversary couples. Family members and friends, as well as the general public, are welcome to attend. Please register with the parish staff (at 508-653-1093) by May 1st if you are celebrating your 25th or 50th wedding anniversary and would like to attend this special celebration. You will receive an invitation and further information, including directions. Please let others celebrating their 25th and 50th know about this special celebration. 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. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Thank You To the Sophomore students and volunteers for making the 10th grade retreat a faith filled learning about the Passion of Christ. 2nd Grade Parents TODAY there is a parent meeting in Our Lady's Hall, downstairs in Montrose during class. (10:15-11:15) We will be discussing the Sacrament of Communion. Following we will discuss the logistics of what will happen on the day of First Communion and answer any questions you may have. 4th Grade Reminder that there is no class this morning. Instead you will meet in the cafeteria of Montrose for the Christian Seder Meal from 5:00-7:00pm. 6th & 7th Grade On Wednesday April 12th you are to attend the Tenebrae service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. Cardinal Sean O'Malley will be presiding over the Mass. You should have received a letter in the mail by now. We are still waiting for many of you to reply. Please call the Religious Ed office at (508) 907-6220 to let us know if you and/or your child will be attending the Mass. We will need to confirm by this Wednesday evening. A bus will be provided and will depart St. Patrick's at 6:30 pm and return approximately 9:30 pm. Teen Lenten Conference TODAY following the 11:30 Mass we will meet in the lower church hall for our Lenten Conference. We will have a guest speaker, J.T. Nickley. Pizza will be served. REGISTRATION Returning students: if you have not registered for next year by now please contact the Religious Ed office at 508-907-6220. For all NEW students, registration will take place in the back of the church after the 9:00 and 11:30 Mass on April 30th. The fee for one child is $50.00, two or more children is $100.00. If you have a student who will be entering 2nd or 11th grade, there is an additional $25.00 fee. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD? If you are in 3rd Grade or older and would like to participate in the Sunday Family Mass (9:00AM) as a LECTOR, Please call (508) 655-1017 for more information Children are on a 10-12 week reading rotation New Schedule begins in June '06 ST.PATRICK SUMMER '06 BIBLE SCHOOL
Help Wanted Saint Patrick Parish has an opening for a custodian to work nights/weekends Wed-Sun. Responsibilities include maintenance, grounds keeping, general repairs, and building security. If interested, please contact Jean in the Parish Office at 508-653-1093. Fellowship of Young Adults (20s & 30s) Bible Study, Thu 4/6/2006, 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 Office of Tenebrae
The Office of Tenebrae (which means "darkness" or "shadows") is a Holy Week devotion which dates back to the 7th or 8th century, and is characterized by successive extinguishing of candles and lights as the service progresses. The "Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts" recommends the communal celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours as the Sacred Triduum approaches, and refers to Tenebrae as holding a "special place in the devotion of the faithful as they meditated upon the passion, death, and burial of the Lord while awaiting the announcement of the resurrection." The hour-long service includes the chanting of Psalms, Lamentations, Canticles, Choral Responsories and a homily. The gradual darkening of the Cathedral symbolizes the temporary triumph of the prince of darkness over the Light of the World, and the loud noise, or strepitus, at the conclusion of the service suggests the earthquake as described in the Passion narratives. The single candle left burning is the symbol and promise of Christ's triumph over death and darkness. 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
Liturgy of the Hours "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…"(Psalm 23) We often use the words from Psalm 23 to express our hopes, fears, sorrow, praise, and thanks to God. The other 149 psalms are also helpful in our prayer life. The Church has woven the psalms and Scripture readings into a beautiful series of prayers called the Liturgy of the Hours. Parishioners say these prayers each day at the times listed in the bulletin. You may also pray the Liturgy of the Hours silently at home. Come to a short gathering on Saturday, April 8 after the 8:00 am Mass to learn about these prayers, which you may wish to make a part of your daily spiritual life. If you have any questions, please call Jane Teepe (508) 653-2098 or jteep@rcn.com. Project Rachel Ministry A Post-Abortion Healing Retreat for women will be held the weekend of April 21-23 by the Project Rachel ministry of the Archdiocese of Boston. Previous participants have found the retreat a life-changing experience of forgiveness, healing and reconciliation. For more information, call Project Rachel at 508-651-3100 or email help@projectrachelboston.com. All inquiries are confidential. Trust in the tender embrace of God's mercy and love. 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. |
