Saint Cecilia. First Sunday of Lent. 26 February The Ark of Noah by He Qi

Transcription

1 Saint Cecilia P A R I S H First Sunday of Lent 26 February 2012 The Ark of Noah by He Qi

2 Lent 2012 Liturgy of the Hours Evening Prayer on Thursdays February 23, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 6:30 p.m. Morning Prayer for the Feast of Saint Patrick Saturday, March 9:00 a.m. Followed by tea and Irish soda bread Evening Prayer for the Feast of Saint Joseph Monday, March 6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer for the Feast of the Annunciation Monday, March 6:30 p.m. Please join us All are welcome!

3 our community news Ministers of the Liturgy Saturday 5:00 p.m. Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrant Caroline Christian, lector Sunday 8:00 a.m. Rev. Thomas Gariepy, CSC, celebrant Jim Dougherty, lector Sunday 9:30 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Tom Nicolini, James Paradis, & Pearse Martin, lectors Sunday 11:15 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Rev. Arthur Calter, concelebrant Maggie Mastricola, Christopher Loh, & Bob Murphy, lectors Sunday 6:00 p.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Monica Lundberg & Ed Preuss, lectors today s readings Genesis 9:8 15 I Peter 3:18 22 Mark 1:12 15 next sunday s readings Genesis 22:1 2, 9a, 10 13, Romans 8:31b 34 Mark 9:2 9 Special intention Sunday, February 26 11:15 a.m. Liz Pino, Memorial this week at saint cecilia Sunday, February 26 The Rite of Sending Catechumens for Election and Candidates for Recognition by the Bishop, at the 11:15 liturgy. Sunday, February 26 Richard Clark in concert at Saint Paul Church, Harvard Square, 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 29 Mass at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 29 Confessions will be heard from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 1 Evening Prayer at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 2 Showing of the film, Of Gods and Men at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Pastoral Center. Friday, March 2 Lenten Meditation Concert, The Way of the Cross at 7:00 p.m. Denise Morency Gannon with vocal meditations sung by Martha Gannon. 3

4 Prayers & Occasions Our Sick Please pray for all our sick and for those who are in need of our prayer, especially Josephine Parker, John Saulenas, K. Champoux, Patricia Hoggard, Jennifer Serpico, Christine St. Pierre, Jessica Coviello, Harold Williamson, Jessica Rivieccio, Earl Chilcote, Colonel Robert C. Tashjian, Roseanne Borgioli, Rosemary Messina, Kim Murray, Heather LoRe, Rudy Kikel, Herbert Simmons, Peggy Furey, Janice Mascia, Winnie Dyer, Jane Cox, Pamela D Ambra, Sue Lucas, Suki Coughlin, Roberta Keenan, Bridget Spence, Annette Kulas, Sam Gowan, Rhea Richard, Pil-Yun Son, Mary Yanez, Larry Buckley, M. Frances Driscoll, Ed Langlais, Bob McLaughlin, Steven Whitkens, Diana Slaton, Leo Garcia, Jean Marino, Joe Ford, Danny Cotter, Natalia Chilcote, Amy Sweetland, Jim Keyes, Michael Zawikowski, Cheryl Proctor, Patricia Macdonald, Elvera Dowsky, Frank Ackley, Fred Haslee, Lorraine Haslee, Robert Menson, Paul Flaherty, William Louttit, Lucie Kelly, Bro. Adam Zielonka, O.C.S.O., Amy Duarte, Karen & Rick, Phyllis Porras, Jim Linderman, Mark Amerault, Sr. Nuala Cotter, R.A., Kristen DeFranco Martinez, Michele Crowley Tippens, Sara Lima Santos, Joseph Driscoll, Pete Huttlinger, Anthony Simboli, Lisa Caputo, Edward Gill, Darlene McLendon, Jeanne Tibbs, Debbie Pace, Peter Schwahn, Deidre Sullivan, Roosevelt Brown, Mary O Donnell, Ginny L Abbe, Steve Chamberlain, Matt Penchuk, Carrie Penchuk, Christy Cosgrove, Jacques Romberger, John Scaife, Maureen Sullivan, Alyce Haley, Joe Capizzi, David Walsh, Joe Huenke, Kaylin Marcotte, Avito Pacifici, Charlotte Egan, James Noone, Keith Plaster, Frederick Flather, David & Paula Fillion, Fred Maglero, Sarah Sweeney, Jeanne Boger, Susan Shea, Bill Croke, Ettore Bergamaschi, Ryan Delaney, Anita Cipriani, Cecile Finnerty, Pauline Perry, Manuela Almeida, and Ilda Almeida. Today's Special Collection Today's special collection supports the Church in Africa and in Central and Eastern Europe. These collections help the Church spread the Gospel and train Church leaders of tomorrow, help needy families materially and spiritually, rebuild churches that have fallen, and support our sisters and brothers who have suffered for the faith. Confessions This Wednesday We are participating in the Archdiocesan Lenten initiative, "The Light Is On For You" and will be open for confessions this Wednesday evening and all Wednesday evenings of Lent, from six thirty to eight o'clock. There are good preparation materials on the Archdiocese's website, but rest assured, Father John will guide you through the sacrament and there's no need to be nervous about the structure of the rite. Come celebrate the sacrament of God's mercy and healing love this Lent. For more information, visit For Open Eyes & Generous Hearts Pray for our community of faith, that we have the eyes to recognize the face of Christ in each of our brothers and sisters, and the generosity to reach out to assist those in need. Wednesday Evening Mass During Lent Please join us for Mass on Wednesday evenings during Lent at six o'clock. Confessions will be heard following Mass. Evening Prayer This Thursday Please join us for Evening Prayer this Thursday at six thirty. Coming to Evening Prayer during Lent is a great way to prepare for Easter. 4

5 rite of sending At today's eleven fifteen liturgy, we celebrate the Rite of Sending Catechumens for Election and Candidates for Recognition by the Bishop. In this rite, the parish community is invited to express its support of our catechumens by sending them forth to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross for the "Rite of Election." We also show support to our candidates for full communion by sending them forth to be recognized by Cardinal Seán. We thank God for the gift of new life in our Church and commend to God's care our catechumens who ask to be numbered among the "Elect." In this afternoon's liturgy, Cardinal Sean will call them to the Easter Sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. After the liturgy, the Elect enter into a period of "Purification and Enlightenment" to intensify their preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation. Please pray for these newest members of our community. "Busted halo" a good site for lent Looking for a quick and fun explanation of Ash Wednesday and Lent? Visit Busted Halo's two-minute on line video for a brief illustration of what the day and season are all about. And be sure to visit their "Fast Pray Give Lenten Calendar" for a daily jolt of spirituality relating to Lent, and some new and practical ideas for fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. operation rice bowl In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us that whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me. Our faith calls us to reach out to our sisters and brothers in need and to be authentic expressions of God s love in our world today. Once again, as part of our Lenten observance, Saint Cecilia is participating in Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) Operation Rice Bowl as one way to live out this Gospel call. Through CRS Operation Rice Bowl, we fast and sacrifice in solidarity with those who do not have enough food and, in doing so, give sacrificial contributions to assist the poor. These sacrifices will be put to use by Catholic Relief Services to bring help and hope to our brothers and sisters in need around the world. Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic Church in the United States. CRS endeavors to alleviate suffering and provide assistance to people in need in nearly 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. In other words, CRS acts as our hearts and hands in countries which we may never see. In today s first reading, we hear about God s covenant with Noah, with his descendants and with all living creatures. During Lent, we are called to deepen and strengthen our baptismal and covenantal relationship with God, which includes our responsibility to care for God s creation. If you did not take home a Rice Bowl last Sunday, please take one today. Rice Bowls can be found in the narthex. Thank you for opening your homes to our brothers and sisters in need around the world through CRS Operation Rice Bowl this Lent. Together we can do our part to give hope to a world in need. 5

6 Friday night film series Join us for a showing of Of Gods and Men this Friday, March 2 at six-thirty in the Parish Pastoral Center. See page 8 of the bulletin for a review by James Martin, SJ. richard clark in concert This afternoon at three o'clock, Richard J. Clark will be the featured artist at Saint Paul Church, Harvard Square, as part of their Sunday Afternoon Organ Recital Series. Richard will be playing the Robert M. Turner Organ, 1999, originally built by Jesse Woodberry & Co., This instrument has three manuals, 8 divisions, 111 stops, 111 registers, and 107 ranks. Richard will premiere a new work with his wife, clarinetist, Kara Clark. In addition, he will perform works by Couperin, Buxtehude, and Alain. Admission is free. the 2012 Catholic appeal Next weekend, we are asked to pledge our support for the 2012 Catholic Appeal. This annual effort directly supports the fifty ministries of the Church of Boston. This worthwhile effort is the most effective way for our parish to join in the Church s universal work of caring for those among us who are in need. Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to be the Good Samaritan through your support of the Catholic Appeal. For more information about the Catholic Appeal or to make a pledge to our parish campaign, please visit: www. BostonCatholicAppeal. volunteering at pine street men's inn Our parish has committed to volunteering at the Pine Street Men's Inn one night a month throughout Next month we will be at the Men's Inn on Sunday, March 11. There are eight slots open for volunteer parishioners to assist in feeding the poor at Pine Street Men's Inn. We will be interacting with the agency's clients at Pine Street by plating meals in a cafeteria-style setting at the shelter. If you would like to join us from 4:45 to 6:30 p.m. on Harrison Avenue in the South End, please contact Mark Lippolt at mlippolt@hammondre.com for more information! Some parking is available at the shelter. If you can help with carpooling, please let us know. pastoral planning The Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission (APPC) has begun a series of twenty vicariate consultations with parish pastoral and finance council members to discuss proposals to strengthen parishes for the mission of evangelization in the Archdiocese. We ask parishioners to join the Commission s work by prayer and by visiting the planning website for important information on the proposal and the Commission s work to date at The APPC is asking pastors and their councils to conduct Town Hall meetings or other sessions over the next several weeks to discuss pastoral planning efforts in the Archdiocese. Parishioners who wish to take a web survey on pastoral planning can find it at the website. 6

7 lenten speakers series Saint Cecilia Parish's Rainbow Ministry is once again hosting our Lenten Speaker Series. The Series will consist of presentations held in the Parish Hall beginning at seven o'clock on three Thursday evenings in March: March 8 Thomas H. Groome, Ph.D. March 15 Mary Ann Hinsdale, IHM, Ph.D. March 22 John Lanci, Ph.D. Our first speaker is Thomas H. Groome, Boston College professor and Chair of its Departement of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry. The title of Professor Groome's talk is: "How Does God Love Us: How About Jesus!" and will focus on the first chapter of his recently published Will There Be Faith?: A New Vision for Educating and Growing Disciples. Copies of Professor Groome's book will be available in the narthex after the Sunday liturgies prior to March 8 and at the evening itself. This free event and the post-event reception are hosted by the Saint Cecilia Parish Rainbow Ministry. All are welcome! nativity spirit award dinner As you may have seen recently in the bulletin, Saint Cecilia parishioners have begun volunteering at Nativity Prep School in Jamaica Plain. Nativity is a tuition-free middle school dedicated to providing a quality education to boys of all faiths from low-income families residing in Boston's inner-city neighborhoods. We would also like to support Nativity by putting together a Saint Cecilia table for their annual fundraiser, thenativity Spirit Service Award Dinner. The event will be held at B.C. High School on Wednesday, March 7, with cocktails at 6:00 and dinner at 6:45. Individual tickets are $150 each. If you are interested in the event, please contact Mark Lippolt at mlippolt@hammondre.com. Adult confirmation class If you are an adult Catholic who has been baptized and received first communion but has not yet celebrated the sacrament of confirmation, this class is for you. There will be five classes held on Sunday afternoons from four o'clock to five thirty, in the Parish Pastoral Center. The classes will begin next Sunday, March 4 and will continue on March 11, March 18, March 25, and April 15. The celebration of confirmation will be held on Thursday evening, April 19 at seven o'clock at Gate of Heaven Church, 615 East Fourth Street, South Boston. If you are interested in this class, please contact Mark Donohoe at mdonohoe@stceciliaboston.org. a talk by mary jo Bane THIS TUESDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 28 7:00 THE PAULIST CENTER This Tuesday evening, Mary Jo Bane, Thornton Bradshaw Professor of Public Policy and Management at Harvard s John F. Kennedy School of Government, will speak on the topic of Economic Justice for All: Poverty, Inequality and the Church Today. Professor Bane is the author of a number of books and articles on poverty, welfare, families, and the role of churches in civic life. She delivered the 2012 Hecker lecture at St. Paul's College in Washington, DC, on which this presentation is based. This event is free. For more information, contact Denis Hurley at (617)

8 the best movie on faith I have ever seen By JAMES MARTIN, SJ Of Gods and Men is the greatest film I ve ever seen on faith. It surpasses even some of my longtime favorite movies on the spiritual life, like Romero, Diary of a Country Priest, A Man for All Seasons and The Song of Bernadette. Perhaps only Franco Zeffirelli s multipart series Jesus of Nazareth has moved me more. By now, you probably know that the French-language movie, lauded in all corners (except, inexplicably, by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences the film was omitted from being nominated for Best Foreign Language Film), is about the Trappist monks of Our Lady of Atlas Monastery in Algeria, who were assassinated by Algerian extremists in Their story, which was in danger of being forgotten even in many corners of the Catholic world, is told in John Kiser s essential book, The Monks of Tibhirine. What may make the film so profound? First of all, it is a realistic portrayal of the life of faith. The monks are not perfect; no saint, or martyr, is. Holiness always makes its home in humanity. Occasionally, the monks are impa tient, tetchy or short with one another. ( He s tired, says an older monk after a younger one has spoken to him sharply while cleaning up after a meal.) Moreover, the group struggles mightily with the idea that they might be called to be martyrs, indeed resisting it until almost the last minute. As anyone would. The life of the believer often involves uncertainty, doubt and confusion. Two of them are seen, quite distinctly, as avoiding their fate. But all try to grapple with what God seems to be asking of them, strange and frightening as it may seem to them. Second, the movie does not stint at all on the religious underpinnings of their actions and choices. Too often in contemporary cinema, producers or directors indicate by their own choices that audiences will not understand people who talk about God in a serious way. And so we see (and hear) the monks chanting their prayers, celebrating Mass, preparing for Christmas. We hear the words of their prayers, too; and we are privy to their conversations with one another about God, and often with God. God is real to them, and God s effect on their lives is made real to the viewer. 8

9 We see, too, the real-life effects of their Christian faith: particularly in the love they show (and receive) from the villagers who live near the monastery. The Trappists are, moreover, charitable and loving not only to friends (to one another, to their longtime friends in the village) but to those who oppose them (to both the terrorists who threaten their lives and the army officers who have nothing but contempt for their desire to stay). The life of contemplation and action are inseparable. The true effects of their belief are made manifest. Third, the director, Xavier Beauvois, underplays many scenes, like a beautifully pastoral image of the abbot walking silently through a flock of sheep. Another director might have wanted to demonstrate more explicitly (through music, a caption or a voice-over) the idea of the Good Shepherd who does not leave his flock, which the monks discuss at one point during their deliberations on whether or not to stay. The use of music from Swan Lake, which Anthony Lane in the New Yorker felt was used more effectively than even in Black Swan, is also subtle. At a meal, a kind of Last Supper before their martyrdom, the community listens not to the traditional reading at table (where a monk reads from a religious text to the silent diners) but to Tchaikovsky s great music. They drink good wine, as the camera pans over their now confused, now calm, now sorrowful, now joyful faces. The movie, as the modernist poets liked to say, shows rather than tells. Fourth, the performances are nearly perfect. Based on the monks (and Trappists) I know, these characters felt as close to real monks as I ve ever seen on screen, particularly the kind-hearted Brother Luc, played by Michael Lonsdale, and the abbot, Christian, played by Lambert Wilson (who can be heard on NPR s Fresh Air speaking about his role). Fifth, and perhaps most importantly, the film treats the idea of martyrdom intelligently. Watching Of Gods and Men, I started to realize, slowly at first then more strongly, that more people might begin to understand the strange idea of martyrdom. For it is an idea that even believers find hard to comprehend. Besides this unique film, perhaps only A Man for All Seasons and Romero can help people understand this difficult and complex idea, which today is often seen as naïve, bizarre or simply masochistic. But martyrdom is always more about fidelity to one s mission than it is about an outright courting of danger. None of the Trappist monks do this; they all want to live. Until they cannot. In addition to being the final result of fidelity to God in a dangerous situation, or a faithfulness to those with whom one ministers, martyrdom may also involve a negation, a via negativa. That is, martyrdom is just as often about finding oneself not being able to do something. St. Thomas More could not say yes to the king s actions in Renaissance England; Archbishop Oscar Romero, the American churchwomen and Jesuit priests could not leave the poor with whom they worked in El Salvador in the 1980s; the Trappist monks in Algeria could not desert a poor and oppressed village that had come to depend upon them. But in this no comes a yes. A yes to solidarity with the oppressed, a yes to God, a yes, paradoxically, to life. This essay first appeared on America magazine s In All Things blog. 9

10 Parish RESOURCES Parish Office & Mailing Address 18 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA Hours Monday Friday, 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Phone Fax Website Parish Staff Richard J. Clark, Director of Music and Organist, Mark Donohoe, Pastoral Associate for Administration, Genevieve Fiorente, Office Administrative Assistant Scott J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Leadership Development, Maureen Sullivan, Administrative Assistant to the Pastor, Rev. John J. Unni, Pastor, Assisting Clergy Rev. Thomas Gariepy, CSC Rev. Peter Grover, OMV Rev. James Shaughnessy, SJ Rev. George Winchester, SJ Schedule for Liturgy Wednesdays During Lent 6:00 p.m. Thursday & Friday 8:00 a.m. Lord s Day Sat 5:00 p.m.; Sun 8:00, 9:30, 11:15, and 6:00 p.m. Holy Days 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Reconciliation By appointment at any time and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 8:00 during Lent. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the communal process through which non-baptized men and women become members of the Catholic Church. It is also suitable for those baptized in different faith traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic, or, for those who were baptized Catholic, but have yet to receive the sacraments of eucharist and confirmation. For more information, please contact Mark Donohoe. Baptism for Infants Infant baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. For more information, please contact Mark Donohoe. Faith Formation for Children To register your child for our Faith Formation Program, please contact Scott MacDonald in the parish office. Marriage Couples who wish to prepare for marriage should contact Mark Donohoe in the parish office at least six months in advance. Care of the Sick To arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, or for Viaticum for the Dying (Holy Communion for those in danger of death), please contact the parish office. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies. Order of Christian Funerals The parish is prepared to celebrate the Vigil (wake) in the church. Please contact the parish office for more information. Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Team The CAP Team is responsible for training all parish staff and volunteers in mandated reporting laws and the Protecting God s Children program (VIRTUS). They also provide consultation and support to anyone in the parish who has concerns about reporting child abuse and neglect. Please contact Lois Flaherty (loisflaherty@gmail.com), Ginny DiSanto (gin250boston@gmail.com) or Peg Quilty (nursempeg@gmail.com) if you have any questions or concerns. The Archdiocese of Boston has in place a vigorous program to protect children from harm and to educate its ministers and faithful about the nature of abuse, with a goal of increasing knowledge, creating a safe environment for children, and recognizing and reporting potentially dangerous situations. The full text of the policy is also available in the narthex and parish office, as well as on our website. For Those with Celiac Disease If you have celiac disease, please let us know. We have a supply of low-gluten altar bread available for those who cannot tolerate gluten. Hearing Assistance in Church The church is equipped with an FM listening device. Small receivers are available for anyone who may have trouble hearing the sound system. Simply request a receiver from any one of our greeters before Mass. Access for the Disabled The church is accessible by elevator. Parking Reduced-rate parking (maximum of three hours) is available Sundays at the Prudential Center parking garage, LAZ Parking (53 Belvidere Street), and at the Hilton Boston Back Bay. Please bring your parking ticket to church for validation before returning to the garage. Joining Our Community We re happy that you re with us! Our community offers a warm, spiritual home for a diverse group of Catholics. We come from many neighborhoods in and around Boston but also have parishioners from as far afield as Marlborough, Newburyport, and Stow. Please introduce yourself to a staff member, drop in for coffee on Sunday, or fill out a new parishioner form in the gathering space. No matter what your background, please know that you are always welcome at Saint Cecilia. 10