Date: March 12, 2021 / Issue 43 - The Fourth Sunday of Lent
Spotlight on Catholic Appeal
Last weekend,
parishes across the Archdiocese launched the annual Catholic Appeal, which provides necessary funding for the more than 50 ministries that serve our parishes, schools, and communities, helping us all live our faith together. This is our Church, and when you support the Catholic Appeal, you are directly supporting our parish and all those who turn to our Church for assistance. Visit bostoncatholicappeal.org to learn more or make a donation. To give now, click the button below.You can also pick up a pew card at the entrances of the church.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Opening Prayer and Remarks
Keynote Speaker – Danielle M. Brown, Esq.
Workshop Objectives:
Educate and make us aware of Racism and its harmful impacts in our society
Highlight practical examples of what parishes can and/or are already doing to promote Racial Justice
Make a personal commitment to at least one action you will take to promote Racial Justice
Provide resources that families and parishes/collaboratives can use
Upcoming Events
March 12 - Soup and Stations continue in our Collaborative for the Fridays of Lent. This week at St. Peters - Details below.
March 17 - Bishop Robert Barron Series: SACRAMENTS via ZOOM. Presentation by Fr. Rick Gribble CSC (Stonehill College)
March 20 - Family Rosary for Healing and Recovery with Fr. Michael at 10AM. Livestreamed at Our Lady of Lourdes Facebook page.
March 20 - Virtual LENTEN Retreat via ZOOM with Sister Maureen Casey SND from Miramar Retreat Center.
March 21 - Holy Hour on the 3rd Sunday of the month; NEW at St. Peter Church upstairs, 3-4PM in person; Also Livestreamed. Join us as we pray for justice and peace in these challenging times, and experience the warmth and love of the Real Presence of Our Lord!
March 26 - Fr. Joe’s Bible Study via ZOOM; Contact: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Office (508-866-4000)
This Event is currently at capacity. Please call your parish office if you wish to be put on a waiting list.
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Facilitator: Maureen Casey SND
You are invited to attend Morning Mass at 9am at St. Kateri (in person or live streamed). Sister Maureen will begin the Lenten Morning of Prayer via ZOOM from 10AM to 11:30AM.
Join Us for A Lenten Meditation on the Wounds of Jesus as depicted on The Shroud of Turin, presented by Dan O’Toole, a retired attorney and judge.
Relying on his experience in forensic examination of crime scenes, Dan will share with us the scientific and medical aspects of The Passion and Death of Our Lord as seen in the images on the Shroud.
Please join us on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021, from 2 to 3 p.m. at St. Peter upper Church for a very special afternoon meditation. This will be both an in-person event and also VIA live stream on St. Peter Facebook page. COVID precautions will be in effect at the Church. Please dress warmly.
No Reservations Necessary!
This is a great way to begin Holy Week!
Spotlight on Walk With Jesus
“Zeal for Your House will consume Me”
Gospel: John 2:13-25
Lord Jesus, may we have zeal for our commitment to do more, pray more & spread Your Good News this Lent!
7th, 8th & 9th Stations of the Cross Jesus bears the Cross, helped by Simon & meets the women of Jerusalem.
Jesus, grant us the strength to faithfully bear our crosses, be Your instruments on earth, serving & comforting those who mourn as we walk in Your steps.
Spotlight on Best Lent Ever Lenten Reflections from Matthew Kelly.
Anger is something we don’t like to think about. It’s uncomfortable. It can be a bit painful. And in most cases, we think of it as a BAD reaction. But last week’s Gospel is a great reminder that Jesus experienced anger - and showed us how to do it in the right way. In following Jesus’ example, we can learn the difference between holy anger and un-holy anger.
Spotlight on Easter Tradition
Nostalgic Family Easter Traditions
Take a stroll down memory lane or be inspired to resurrect a tradition in your family this Easter. Check out these 30 Easter traditions, many of which have stood the test of time.
The NEW Diaper Pantry Ministry is a subcommittee of our Collaborative’s Social Justice Ministry and will provide diapers to families in need within our collaborative area.
The ministry is asking for donations of diapers of all sizes! There is a particular need for sizes 3 and 4 and pull-ups. Diapers can be dropped off at St. Kateri’s Parish Office Monday through Friday (9am -2pm) or, before or after Mass at St. Peter’s, Our Lady of Lourdes or St. Kateri. For more information, or if you’d like to be part of this ministry, call Jeanne Barreta at 781 – 799 – 0502.
HOLY HOUR – SUNDAY, MARCH 21
Please join us at a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Sunday, March 21 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Peter’s Church, as we pray for justice and peace in these challenging times, and experience the warmth and love of the Real Presence of Our Lord!
Why spend time in Eucharistic Adoration? *
This is a personal invitation to you from Jesus. "Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love." (Pope John Paul II, Dominicae Canae)
He is really there! "I myself am the living bread come down from heaven." (Jn 6:35)
Day and night Jesus dwells in the Blessed Sacrament because of his Infinite love for you! "Behold I will be with you always even to the end of the world" (Mt 28:20)
Each hour you spend with Jesus will deepen his divine peace in your heart. “Come to me all of you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will refresh you..." (Mt 11:28)
Your hour with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will repair for evils of the world and bring about peace on earth.
* (Courtesy Catholic News Agency)
THIS WEEK’S SOCIAL JUSTICE PRAYER: We pray for us as a community of faith that we can always strive to keep Jesus at the center of our lives and consciousness while acknowledging the presence of God in all that we experience every day of our lives and for the salvation of the whole world. We pray to the Lord!
Spotlight on
Year of the Eucharist
Deacon Chris Connelly shares the meaning of The Eucharist in his life.
Spotlight on The Bible in a Year
If you’ve struggled to read the Bible, this podcast is for you. Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and featuring Jeff Cavins, guides Catholics through the Bible in 365 daily episodes starting January 1st, 2021.
Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
two to three scripture readings
a reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
and guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word.
Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast for Catholics follows a reading plan inspired by the Great Adventure Bible Timeline® learning system, a groundbreaking approach to understanding Salvation Historydeveloped by renowned Catholic Bible teacher Jeff Cavins.
Tune in and live your daily life through the lens of God’s word!
There are some pretty big questions being asked of us in today’s retreat. What are some of the challenges presented by popular culture that I struggle with? My answer to that is just plain popular culture. Rarely do we see faith, spirituality or religion represented in the pop culture that we are bombarded with daily. As someone of faith, I struggle to keep Jesus and my faith at the center of my life.
As Christians, our faith in God through Christ often requires that we invert our human thinking. Today's story seed reminds us to diminish our desires and power so that we can be more open to God's divine strength.
Family can take many forms—beyond our blood relatives. Family can also encompass friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Now is a good time to pray for those who we call family.
Pray
Dear God,
Life can be a challenge,
but you’ve surrounded me
with people who warm my heart
and nurture my spirit.
Keep them safe and sound
in your loving care.
Let me never forget
that family,
whatever shape it takes,
is a ready source of warmth
when I am cold.
Amen.
Act
Share this prayer with a friend or family member who needs it most. Sometimes a kind word is all that’s required to strengthen family bonds.
Spotlight on Mass
All Weekend Masses will now be streamed at each parish. Click the Link below to watch mass live at your parish. Please note, you do not need a Facebook account to watch.
Saturday, March 27 @ Our Lady of Lourdes 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 31 @ Saint Kateri
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 3 @ Saint Kateri
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Spotlight on Coffee and Donuts
Check out what is happening in and around the Archdiocese in this episode of Coffee and Donuts!
From a humble parishioner ...
This new feature in the newsletter comes from the Facebook page of one of our parishioners. After recently "friending" him on Facebook and reading his daily posts, I decided these inspirational thoughts needed to be shared. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!
Without thinking about it too hard, I have people in my life who are battling depression, going through a divorce, battling severe anxiety, grieving the loss of a child, battling cancer, dealing with a life-changing diagnosis, battling addiction, battling severe pain, and battling COVID-19, just to name a few.
Looking at them, unless they told you, you’d have no idea... nor would you know their loved ones are going through it with them to some degree... The point is everyone is dealing with something, so let’s support each other, care for each other, lift each other up...
It shouldn’t matter if we know what’s going on in another’s life - Let’s Love each other anyway!
And let’s make it a great day today too, moment by moment. Christ is counting on us!
For more daily thoughts and inspiration follow Kevin Holland on Facebook
Spotlight on Youth Faith Formation
Project Nazareth (Grades 1-6)
Each family should be receiving weekly check in emails to support you with the content you are teaching that week!
Choose, The Beatitudes Grades 3-5 or The Beatitudes Grades 6-8 by clicking Read
More
Watch the video, complete quiz questions and fill in the blanks.
Google Classroom Grades 7-10
We have a few students who have not logged in to begin their assignments. This is a gentle reminder to do so, we do not want you to fall too far behind or it can make it burdensome to catch up!
Monthly Topics for March
Grade 7and 8 Lent, Catholic Social Teachings, Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Grade 9 Lent, The Sacraments, Reconciliation
Grade 10 Lent, Gifts of the Spirit
Attention
First Communion 2 Families
Important Dates
First Reconciliation Rescheduled
Our Lady of Lourdes
Sat. March 27th 10:30 AM
Saint KateriTekakwitha
Sat. April 10th 10:30 AM
Saint Peter's
Sat. April 24th 10:30 AM
First Communion Dates
Our Lady of Lourdes
Sat. May 1st 10:30 AM
Saint KateriTekakwitha
Sat. May 22nd 10:30 AM
Saint Peter's
Sat. May 15th 10:30 AM
Please note, there will also be an option to make First Communion at the regular Sunday Mass, Details sent in a separate email. Detailed communication has been sent to families.
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.
As we approach the Easter season, we excitedly await the arrival of Spring! We are reminded of warmer weather, rebirth, and brighter days. Let us pray that this Spring brings us out of the darkness of these last months to glorious, brighter days for all.
