Saint Patrick's Parish

FROM THE PASTOR

I wish to offer our prayerful congratulations to the young men and women of our parish family who received their FIRST HOLY COMMUNION this weekend. I am most grateful to their parents, teachers and Lisa Correia, our Religious Education Coordinator, for bringing them to this wonderful moment of grace. May the Lord Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, bring them great joy and renewed strength as they continue along their spiritual journey towards His Kingdom.

Once again, I would like to call your attention to the ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL that is currently underway in our parish and throughout the entire Archdiocese of Boston. We are experiencing a very challenging period in our Archdiocese but what defines us as a community of believers is our love of God and how we care for each other. The Catholic Appeal gives each of us a unique opportunity to put into action our belief that we are part of one community of faith. Your generous support of the Catholic Appeal enables the Archbishop to fulfill his role of providing pastoral, educational, social, and spiritual services to the people entrusted to his care. I would urge you to use the Pledge Cards that are available in the pews in order to make a larger financial gift that can be paid over several months. United in Faith we can bring comfort, support, and the consolation of the Gospel to those in need and truly we can make a positive difference in our world. I want to thank the over 250 parishioners who have already answered this call and have contributed almost $65,000 towards our target goal.

I realize how challenging it is for many people today with the economic turmoil that confronts us and I certainly appreciate the sacrifices that you are making to support both the parish and the Archdiocese. I would never ask you to contribute to something that I did not support and I definitely would not ask in this present moment if I were not absolutely critical. The needs increase every day so please do whatever you can to help. Every parish has a target goal and the goal for our parish is $115,000.00 so we have a long way to go towards achieving this goal. In order to reach our financial and participation goals, we need every family that is able to do so to participate with a gift or pledge to the 2009 Catholic Appeal. However, given the historical generosity of this parish community, I am confident that we can achieve this target May God reward you for your kindness to His people because I know that we never could.

Mass Intentions This Week

As you are aware, we have instituted a MONTHLY MAINTENANCE COLLECTION to help offset some of the larger expenses (such as heating oil) that we incur at St. Patrick’s. There will be a SPECIAL SECOND COLLECTION taken up at all of the Masses next weekend for this purpose. Please be as generous as you can to this urgent need to provide for our parish.

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.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” - Psalm 118: 8-9

Too often our society trains us to take refuge in man-made riches. Yet Thomas Merton once wrote, “There is no poverty so great as that of the prosperous.” Too many possessions can leave us empty - always questing for more things that do not really matter - while we ignore Our Lord.

Many thanks to our parishioners who supported the annual Camp Arrowhead bake sale. The $1,523.85 raised was donated to the Natick Recreation department and is always greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Dear Jesus,
Through bread and wine at the Last Supper, and by your holy word, you gave the Eucharist to your church. You transformed common food and drink into your Body and Blood, and offered us a share in your life in ways we still cannot fully understand. Grant now that these young people will always treasure the gift they have in you. Give them the grace to be faithful to you and to remain in communion with your church. As they receive their first Communion, the Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation, make them always aware of the hope they have for eternal life in you.
Amen.

The following persons were recently incorporated into the Body of Christ, the Church:

Emma Lucia Brennan
Ryan Joseph Crane
John William MacLellan
Christopher Domenic Schoenig

With God’s grace and the support of their parents and godparents, may these newly baptized become mature believers, reaching to the very height of Christ’s full stature (Eph. 4:13).

Our annual Baby Shower will be held May 16/17. 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 next weekend, May 16/17. 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 later this month to facilitate this process.

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

The Xaverian Missionaries will resume the traditional Fatima Day celebrations at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 101 Summer Street, Holliston on the 13th of each month, May through October. On Wednesday, May 13the main celebrant and homilist will be Auxiliary Bishop of Boston John A. Dooher. Sing-along begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7:00 and Rosary with candlelight procession at 8. Refreshments will be served in the Hall following the procession.

On Wednesday, May 13 there will be a special Marian Mass and Rosary Procession (weather permitting) at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 160 Concord Road in Sudbury, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Those who attend will receive a copy of the most recent Vatican-approved booklet entitled “The Message of Fatima”, written by Father Frederick L. Miller, S.T.D. Refreshments will be served following the procession. For more information, call 508-251-2281.

Sean 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 2009 to join him for the annual celebration at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Sunday, June 7 at 11:30 a.m. Mass. Mass will include a renewal of marriage vows by all participating anniversary couples. Family members and friends of participating couples, as well as the general public, are welcome to attend. Please register with the parish office by May 11 if you would like to attend this celebration. A formal invitation and more information will then be sent to celebrating couples from the Archdiocese. Congratulations on your anniversary!

The 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 NEXT weekend (May 9/10) is deeply appreciated.

Planning or considering on attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst? Know that the Newman Catholic Center offers the opportunity to grow in your faith as well as participate in community outreach. Student-run activities and the 7PM Student Mass are great ways to make lasting friendships. Feel free to e-mail us with questions at peers.newman@gmail.com or visit us online at www.newmanumass.org.

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 12th as we welcome Fr. Mike Najim 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!

“Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit…” You must have Him in your marriage if you want it to bear much fruit. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends in New England are June 19-21, July 17-19 and September 25-27. For more information call Ralph &Jane Becker at 1-800-710-WWME or visit our webpage at www.wwmeMA.org.

Saint Patrick's Parish Natick, Massachusetts

Saint Patrick's Parish
Natick, Massachusetts