Date: January 8, 2021 / Issue 36 - The Baptism of the Lord
Spotlight on The Cardinal
Cardinal Sean O'Malley's Statement following the violence in Washington D.C,
News January 7, 2021
"The beginning of the Prayer of St. Francis is familiar to most of us: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”. And it is peace we need in our nation today, united by the common good of our people. The violence witnessed in our nation’s capital yesterday serves only to inflame our divisions and pit citizen against citizen at a time we need to be united. We reject all forms of violence including the acts of those who stormed our Capitol. We pray for those who lost their lives and for their loved ones and for the injured. We live in a divided nation and the challenges our nation faces are significant.
Our recovery from yesterday’s assault will require the best talents of our civic leaders. Very soon President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will be sworn in to lead our country. In the spirit of what makes America a beacon of light and democracy for the entire world we must set aside our divisions and together go about the work of helping to lift people out of poverty, healing the sick, welcoming the immigrant and address systemic racism, and many other tasks.
Let us heed the words of St. Francis’ simple prayer: “where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.”
Spotlight on Book Discussion
Join us for the zoom book discussion about Matthew Kelly's book,
I Heard God Laugh. This book was gifted to all parishioners attending the Christmas Masses. If you did not receive a copy and would like one, please reach out to your parish office.
Alpha ONLINE is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. A typical session involves gathering via ZOOM to watch a 20–30-minute ALPHA video looking at a different question around faith.
The video is designed to spark conversation in an open and safe environment. Conversation follows the video in small groups with a facilitator and co-facilitator.
There is a great team of people from each parish preparing to host this process! COME!
The sessions will be from 7pm to 8:30pm once per week.
Holy Family Parish, St. Mary/St.Joseph Collaborative and Pilgrim Catholic Collaborative will offer this
Choose, Adventure Catechism Lesson 7 What are the Ten Commandments by clicking Read More
Watch the video, complete quiz questions and fill in the blanks.
Google Classroom Grades 7-10
Monthly Topics for January:
The Blessed Trinity and
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Check out this video that our teens will be watching this month!
All Faith Formation questions or concerns, feel free to reach out by responding to this email and we will be in contact.
Spotlight on New Year's Resolution
A great resolution for the New Year - Read the Bible!
Listen and learn from the bible daily in only 20 minutes! Ascension Presents The Bible in a Year with Father Mike.
Father Mike Schmitz offers a daily link or podcast each day on a passage in the bible. Father Mike reads a bible passage and then explains the meaning!
Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She started the first community of women religious in the United States. Her feast day is on January 4th. She is the patron saint of widows, death of parents, inlaw problems an opposing church authority. She did so many amazing things with five children and all before her death at age 46.
Click the video below to learn more.
Spotlight on The Grand Annual
This annual collection will help replace lost revenue from the first several months of the pandemic. as well as fund repairs and projects at all three parishes in our collaborative including updating the sound system and internet in the churches allowing us to provide quality livestream Masses. Additional projects vary per parish.
Grounded in Catholic social teaching, Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response guides participant in exploring the Gospel’s call to respond to poverty in our communities, nation and world, and equips participants with practical tools to take action in effective and sustainable ways.
Small group met each week for 10 weeks.
Here is what people are saying!
"My first experience participating in a small group collaborative event was the ten week Just Faith program. What a blessing…. and as a new member of St Kateri, what a wonderful way to get to know my fellow collaborative family. We met weekly for 10 weeks via zoom starting each meeting with prayer and a gospel reflection. As part of the series, we had the resources of two wonderful books, video and movie recommendations and three very blessed speakers, all which gave me a new awareness of the different needs in our community and the world and time as a group and individually to reflect on how we can be a part of the solution. A wonderful blessing to have been a part of this series."
(Parishioner from St. Kateri)
“Just Faith was a transformational experience for me. I began to see with new eyes the difference between charity and social justice and how we as Christians are called to work for both. My eyes were opened to the reality that the poor in our midst are in many ways victims of unjust systems. I began to see the poor in a new way. As we read the story of Bartimaeus, my own eyes were opened as well. We read the Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis and also Poverty, Responding Like Jesus, 2 books that were discussed at length within the group. I learned so much from the amazing insights of the participants.”
(Parishioner from St. Peter)
“It was wonderful to be part of the Just Faith pilot program. For me it went much deeper than praying and reading the scriptures. It helped me reflect on the challenging circumstances that many people face and the need for awareness, and for community outreach programs. This was a great way to broaden the foundation of my Faith and it really helped me connect with what is really important….to draw closer to God. It helped me understand a little better Jesus' mission for humanity, the Will of God and the unconditional Love we should all feel for one another, and thereby gain a sense of Hope, Joy, Belonging and inner Peace. I strongly encourage others interested in strengthening their Faith, while meeting lovely people, and all from the safety and comfort of their own homes, to join one of our Small Faith sharing groups.”
(Parishioner from St. Kateri)
Collaborative Bulletin
As many of our parishioners have not yet returned to Mass due to the pandemic, you may not be receiving the collaborative bulletin. If you would like to see a copy of the bulletin click below for the most recent bulletin. It is always available for browsing on our websites.
The Archdiocese of Boston was invited to join with other dioceses in ringing Church bells to remember and honor the more than 330,000 lives lost to COVID-19 this year in the United States. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts more than 12,000 people have died due to COVID-19.
Read More about this signal to our community and the solemnity of taking this moment. All three parishes in our collaborative participated in the ringing of the bells. Below you will see a brief video from St. Peters Church that Now has over 14,000 views on Facebook - 14,000 people who stopped for a moment to remember these precious lives lost. Let us all take a moment to pray for those ill with Covid19 and for those whose lives have been lost.
Spotlight on Food Pantries
Pantry Hours
St. Kateri Parish - Tuesdays 9:00AM-11AM and Fridays 5PM-6PM
St. Peter Parish - (every other Friday)
4:PM-5:PM -January 8th and 22nd
Spotlight on Pause and Pray
Facing the Ordinary
Reflect
We sometimes feel a lack of spirit in the overwhelming necessity of everyday tasks. May this prayer help you invite God in to all repetitive duties.
Pray
Dear God, I long
to rediscover
your presence in the ordinary
in my life.
I often rush
toward the things
I think will bring more meaning,
forgetting you are here
even as I rinse the dishes,
or drive the same roads
to work yet again.
Guide me toward remembering
I can find you
in the fabric
of all things in my life.
Act
What ordinary tasks can you seek God in today?
Click Here for more Pause and Pray with Franciscan Media
