Saint Cecilia. Second Sunday of Easter. 15 April The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio ( )

Transcription

1 Saint Cecilia P A R I S H Second Sunday of Easter 15 April 2012 The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio ( )

2 Social. Service. Help to End Homelessness (and have a good time) Bowling Music Cash Bar Take a spare moment to meet other young professionals while helping to raise money towards sponsoring a week of Pine Street s Outreach Vans, which go out every night of the year to help individuals living on the streets, providing both basic necessities and hope. When: Where: Wednesday, April 25, 6-8 p.m. Kings Back Bay, 50 Dalton Street Donation: $20 per person $75 per team of 4 before April 20 Purchase at Contact: Eric Monty, eric.monty@pinestreetinn.org Find us online at: Facebook.com/PineStreetInn Twitter.com/PineStreetInn

3 welcome! Welcome to Saint Cecilia Parish, a Roman Catholic community that gathers day by day, week by week, to know and make known the grace of God. By means of this abundant grace, we enjoy a diverse and close-knit parish family young, old, rich, poor, of various ethnic origins and differing backgrounds. From our extraordinary music program to a growing children s faith formation program; from the various liturgical ministries to the many opportunities for social outreach that the parish provides, Saint Cecilia is a vibrant community of faith, centered on prayer and worship that tries to keep the Gospel close to heart and to live by Jesus teachings. Saint Cecilia Parish was established in At that time the Back Bay section of Boston along Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street was the residential section of the Yankee aristocracy. The maids ( Irish working out girls ) and coachmen who served these residents had long requested a church of their own. When Archbishop Williams granted their request and carved the parish from the territory of the Cathedral, they built a magnificent church out of their meager earnings. The church was dedicated on April 22, Its architecture is Romanesque, XII Century Norman. The main altar, notable for its massive simplicity, was carved from a single block of white Carrara marble. The painting in the center reredos is a reproduction of da Vinci s The Last Supper, and the dome above is an array of 24K gold rosettes. For the sixtieth anniversary celebration in 1954, a massive renovation project was undertaken. During this renovation, a statue of Pope Saint Pius X (canonized that same year) was imported from Italy and placed on the right side of the sanctuary. Above the statue are paintings from Pius life. On the left side is a statue of Saint Patrick, principal patron of the Archdiocese of Boston, and above it are three scenes from his life. Fourteen circular and sixteen square panels adorn the nave and arches of the church. The square panels are decorated with the symbols of Our Lady taken from the Litany of Loreto and the circular ones with symbols taken from the lives of the apostles. The great window of the Assumption framed by the two oak cases of the organ was installed in 1954 (the Marian Year) in spaces originally designed for windows but not until then used. The original organ of 24 stops was built in 1902 by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company, Opus 1465, and was rebuilt in 1954 with 32 stops. In 1998, Timothy Smith and Theodore Gilbert began a massive reconstruction of the organ. The current Smith & Gilbert Organ of 4 manuals, 50 ranks, and 2,926 pipes was dedicated on the Feast of Saint Cecilia, November 22, Today we are experiencing something of an awakening within these old walls. We have just completed a major renovation, our numbers are increasing, and we continue to grow in our commitment to issues of peace, justice, and service to our neighbors, both near and far. We ve been right here on Belvidere Street, in the same building for over 120 years, but that does not mean that life here is stale, stagnant, or even predictable. We are proud to be entrusted with the legacy of Saint Cecilia Parish, where everything is the same, yet always changing; where we honor tradition while embracing the future; where God s love makes all things new.

4 our community news Ministers of the Liturgy Saturday 5:00 p.m. Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrant Chris Orrell, lector Sunday 8:00 a.m. Rev. George Winchester, SJ, celebrant James Paradis, lector Sunday 9:30 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Rosaria Salerno, Victoria Maria Klyce, Moira Macdonald, lectors special intentions Saturday, April 14 5:00 p.m. Helen Hawthorne, Special Intention Sunday, April 15 8:00 a.m. Jesse Farrelly, Memorial Sunday, April 15 9:30 a.m. Ned Sedden, Special Intention Sunday, April 15 6:00 p.m. Jane Nugent Keenan, Memorial Thursday, April 19 8:00 a.m. Fortune Carlino, Memorial Sunday 11:30 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Peter Meade, Rosanne Meade, Cynthia Wanner, lectors Sunday 6:00 p.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Conor Kelly & Kate Kelly, lectors today s readings Acts 4:32 35 I John 5:1 6 John 20:19 31 next sunday s Readings Acts 3:13 15, I John 2:1 5a Luke 24:35 48 our first communicants Easter is the season of Initiation, and therefore the very best time to celebrate first Holy Communion. We have twenty-three youngsters this year who will receive communion for the first time on May 13. If you come to the nine-thirty Mass, you may have noticed these children sitting in the front pews with their parents. Pray for Max, Jackson, Eliza, Rachel, Maeve, Gabriela, Spencer, Christopher, Sophie, Isabella, Jack, Will, Will, Alex, Jack, Catherine, Jack, Richard, R.J., Charlie, Catherine, Katie, and Ella as they continue to prepare to be welcomed to the table of the Lord s body and blood next month. 4

5 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, Susan Shea, Bill Croke, Ettore Bergamaschi, Ryan Delaney, Anita Cipriani, Cecile Finnerty, Manuela Almeida, Ilda Almeida, Joe Farrell, Ethan D Amato, and Sophie Gagnon. Our Neophytes and Fully Initiated At the Easter Vigil we celebrated the initiation of seven new Christians in the Easter waters. Pete Abernethy, Melissa Foley, Kara Gustafson, Vu Ho, Chris Rawlings, Bryan Willis, and Edison Wong professed their faith in Christ and were baptized, confirmed, and welcomed to the Eucharistic table for the first time. They are now known as neophytes, from the Greek word for newly planted. During these fifty days of Easter, it is our task to nurture their faith and to help them feel welcome and supported. We are also called to support those who were received into the full communion of the Catholic Church: Nicole Aubourg, Tate Bevis, Antonio Garita, Kevin Gentry, Fatemeh Gholami Ghaleh, Bryan Kendall, William Knowlton, Fallon McLaughlin, Ryan McLaughlin, and Shelley Prencipe- Fish, were confirmed and welcomed to the table of the Lord. Lindsey Tracy was baptized in the Catholic Church as an infant and was confirmed and received Holy Communion for the first time at the Easter Vigil. Keep these men and women in your prayer as they begin the period known as mystagogia. Mystagogia is an ancient Greek word meaning, education in the mysteries. Christian believers in the first century used the word mystagogia to describe the period of continuing spiritual instruction following the celebration of the initiation rites. 5

6 boston marathon We extend a warm welcome to all our visitors this weekend. On Patriots Weekend we always have a number of marathoners, both parishioners and visitors, with us for Sunday worship. Through our prayer let us support and encourage all who will be running tomorrow. quasimodo Sunday? This Sunday was once called Low Sunday, a step-down from Easter glory, and thus an unfortunate nickname since Easter rejoicing is meant to last for fifty days. Traditionally this is the day when the newly baptized put away their white baptismal robes and returned to their everyday life after a week of intense celebration. Of course, the goal was to take up everyday duties with a decidedly new point of view. A long titel for this day was Dominica in Albis Deposito, or The Lord s Day for Putting Away the Albs, after the white-robed neophytes in the assembly. If you are connecting the dots, this is why the priest s white garment is called an alb, it is in fact his baptismal garment. Yours too. In our old calendar, before 1969 s reform, it was also known as Quasimodo Sunday after the first words of the opening chant Quasi modo geniti infantes, or as newborn infants, a reference to the newlybaptized taken from the Epistle of Peter. Victor Hugo s bell-ringing hero in The Hunchback of Notre Dame was abandoned as an infant on the threshold of the cathedral of Paris on Low Sunday, 1467, and named Quasimodo for the feast. Rev. James Field, J.S. Paluch Co. why the sequence? we are a saved people! By RICHARD J. CLARK Today is the Octave of Easter, the eighth day of the Easter celebration. The Christian concept of celebrating feast days as octaves most likely grew from the Jewish practice of observing seven and sometimes eight day feasts. By the fourth century, the feasts of Easter and Pentecost were given octaves an eight day celebration that lasted from Sunday to Sunday. In particular, the neophytes, those newly baptized in the Church, remained in a joyful retreat until the Second Sunday of Easter. In practical terms, what does this octave mean? Each day of the Octave of Easter is as important and carries the same liturgical weight as Easter Sunday itself. Each day from Sunday to Sunday is a solemnity. At each Mass, the Gloria, the Church s hymn of praise, is sung or recited. The Gospel verse each day during the octave is the same: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. This proclamation is an important reminder of the central reality of our faith: Christ is risen! Alleluia! Each day of the octave, just before the proclamation of the Gospel, it is customary to sing the 11th century sequence (a liturgical hymn closely resembling poetry), Victimae Pachali Laudes. This ancient hymn tells the story of death and life locked in a struggle, wherein Christ, the Paschal victim, victorious over death, reconciles us to the Father. It tells the story of Mary Magdalene, who upon finding the empty tomb of the risen Christ and of finding the clothes which once covered his head and limbs, proclaims Christ my hope has arisen. Today, at the nine thirty, eleven fifteen, & six o clock liturgies, pray along with Victimae Pachali Laudes. Like Mary, we are filled with joy because Christ our hope has arisen. We are redeemed. We are a saved people! Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! 6

7 thank you from fr. JOhn Dear Friends, Once again, what a wonderful celebration of Holy Week and Easter! I can t begin to thank adequately everyone who worked so tirelessly and joyfully to make our liturgical celebrations throughout Lent and the Triduum so beautiful and prayerful. Thanks to all those who designed and attended our Lenten Lecture and Film Series along with those who facilitated the many service opportunities in which this parish participates. I especially want to thank all of you who, week in and week out, give of yourselves so generously, on so many levels, to make our parish community one of love and charity for each other and for our neighbors. Thank you for sharing your lives with me, both in the joyful times, as well as during the most challenging of times. It is a gift to me and I am blessed with your friendship. I am grateful to be your pastor. Have a beautiful and blessed Easter Season. Father John thank you for the cupcakes Thank you for the outpouring of cupcakes as well as for the trifle that we served at the reception following the Easter Vigil. They were delicious and much appreciated following our marathon Vigil! Rice bowls We will accept the return of Rice Bowls throughout the Easter season the need is great and the care of the poor is an Easter obligation. Thank you! our paschal candle Our beautiful Paschal candle was made in New Hampshire by Martin Marklin, the godson of Monsignor Martin Hellreigal, a leading American liturgical reformer of the mid-twentieth century and one of the only movers of the liturgical reform who was actually a pastor! Monsignor Hellriegel was influential in promoting the restoration of the Easter Vigil and the participation of the assembly in the chants of the Mass. We are grateful that he inspired his namesake to such a noble profession. The Paschal candle burns next to the ambo throughout the fifty days of Easter, and is thereafter kindled for baptisms and funeral Masses. Take a moment before or after Mass to admire the beauty of the candle up close it is truly a work of art. Accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church. May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your Son, who coming back from death s domain has shed his peaceful light on humanity and lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. From the Exsultet of the Easter Vigil 7

8 final faith formation dinner at pine street women s inn Last Monday, the families of Maribeth Brostowski and Beth Weir from the Faith Formation program served a wonderful ham dinner at the Pine Street Women s Inn. For the past several years, Maribeth and Beth, with the support of Julie Ellis and The Chef s Table, have supplied the Women s Inn with a delicious Easter Monday dinner, with all the fixings. Last Monday, some 96 women guests at the Inn enjoyed the dinner and the warm greetings from the servers. Beth Weir s daughter, Anna Kurtin, was a particular hit with the women. Thanks to Maribeth and Beth and their families and friends who helped serve the meal. This was the last Faith Formation Program dinner at Pine Street Women s Inn for the academic year. At this time, we would like to thank all the parents and children in the Faith Formation program, as well as all the parishioners who throughout the year have been so supportive of these Women s Inn dinners: the parents who cooked the meals and served along with their children, those of you who donated desserts and fresh fruit and those who made financial contributions for the meals. The list of supporters is too long to print, so Father John, Scott MacDonald, and I extend our gratitude to all who recognize the importance of feeding the homeless and touching their lives in a very personal way. Your support also has allowed our children to experience the importance of social justice in the community. Many, many thanks to all who believe in these very special dinners. The next Faith Formation family dinner at Pine Street Women s Inn will be October 8, For more information on these dinners, please ejsmith@rcn.com. haiti vs harvard soccer The Harvard men s soccer team will host the Men s National Team of Haiti next Sunday, April 22 to benefit Partners in Health relief efforts in Haiti. The Haiti National Team is traveling to New England for a five-day benefit tour, taking on Dartmouth on Friday, April 20 before heading to Cambridge for a 5 p.m. game at historic Harvard Stadium (65 N. Harvard Street, Allston). Last year s game against Haiti drew 11,513 fans to Harvard Stadium with an additional 1,900 viewers watching online in a duallanguage broadcast in both English and Creole. The teams played to a 0-0 tie and decided to play an exhibition penalty kick session with the Haitians emerging victorious. After the game, Harvard Athletics, the Friends of Harvard Soccer, and the Ted Ashford Foundation made a total donation of $16,000. Harvard also teamed with Dartmouth to cover all expenses and travel costs for the Haitian team during its trip to the United States. Tickets to the Haiti-Harvard game ($10) can be purchased at the game or in advance at the Harvard Box Office or online. Come early to the Fan Zone where members of the Haitian National team will be signing autographs. Enjoy live Haitian music and talk to PIH staff about their ongoing work. 8

9 take home a little white book for easter In the back of the church we have little white books of six-minute reflections for the fifty days of Eastertide. Take one home and spend just six minutes a day in reflection. This is a great way to celebrate these fifty days of great rejoicing! mother s day card sales On Mother s Day, honor a woman you love with a gift to women in need. Parishioners will be selling Mother s Day cards to benefit the Women s Lunch Place after Masses between now and Mother s Day. There is a $25.00 donation for each card and the proceeds enable the Women s Lunch Place (WLP) to provide a safe, comfortable daytime shelter, nutritious food, and services for women who are homeless or poor. The WLP welcomes guests into a loving community each day and joyfully celebrates Mother s Day with a delectable meal, live entertainment, and personal gifts. These women are mothers, daughters, and sisters. If you are interested in helping sell cards at church, to your friends or where you work, please contact Mark Lippolt at mlippolt@hammondre.com. attention Graduates We want to acknowledge and celebrate all our graduates this spring. Please the names of parishioners who are graduating from high school or college to Scott MacDonald at smacdonald@stceciliaboston.org. Please place the word graduate in the subject line. Feel free to include the name of the school and the degree awarded. thank you to our volunteers National Volunteer Appreciation Week is celebrated this year from April 15 through April 21. Father John and the parish staff would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to the many volunteers who are the lifeblood of our parish. We could not accomplish all that we do were it not for the dedicated, faith-filled parishioners who devote so much of their time to singing in our choirs, serving on our Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils, greeting and lectoring at our liturgies, teaching in our Faith Formation Program, assisting our many non-profit partner agencies, laundering and caring for our altar linens, serving as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, serving at the altar during our liturgies, arranging flowers inside and outside the church, baking altar bread for Holy Week, and engaging in the many ministries that make Saint Cecilia such a special and welcoming parish. evening prayer during eastertide We will be praying Evening Prayer a number of times during these fifty days of great rejoicing and hope you ll join us for all or some of them. Thursday, April 19 6:30 Thursday, April 26, Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel 6:30 Thursday, May 3, Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles 6:30 Sunday, May 27, Pentecost Sunday 6:00 Thursday, May 31, Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin 6:30 9

10 Easter Flower Donations Debbie Abbott Jose R. Alcala Corinne Alviti Victoria Alviti Nina Ananiashvili living Amelita Antonio Dennis Baize My Beloved Bill Mario Bonson Rosa de Bonson Richard H. Bourdeau John P. Boxshus, Sr. Donald Boyd John Brait Joseph C. Brennan Sharon Brizius Jeanne Buckley Eric Burgoyne Kathleen Burke Brayden Anthony Carr Rita & Tom Cinnamond John Coghlan Deceased Members of the Cooney, Quigley, and Perelomov Families William Cooper Richard Corcoran Denis Côté Msgr. John F. Cox Tony Cozzi Leo Croke Nona Croke Tommy Croke Hank Dane Joan Davin Kathy Devin Deceased Members of the Diggins & Duggan Families Agnes Dillon James Dillon Rosella & Edmond Donlan The Doran & Veysey Families George J. Doran, Sr. Barbara Doyle Peter Eacmen, Jr. Bea Elliott Paul Elliott Robert Elliott William Elliott Stephen Ellis Alfonsina Faldetta Marie Farrell Arlene Finn Michael & Delia Flynn Paul Flynn Family & Friends Margaret, John, & Kathy Frame Henry & Eileen Gabel Carmelo & Frances Garufo Aureliano Gende Roger & Florence Gentilhomme Memere et Pepere Frank Gibbons Lillian Gibbons Edward V. Gill Gerald Dennis Gill Peg Goodhue Mr. & Mrs. Charles Goodman, Sr. Ruth Gorman Walter Gorman James J. Griffin Lucy Ann Griffin Lucy B. Griffin Mary Griffin Michell Griffin Hannah Hagen Maria Olivieri Hakansson Arthur M. Handly The Harig Family Regina Hegenbart Mary Lou Henderson Rose Hoffman Tom & Kathleen Hogan George Holman Lena E. Holmdahl Leah & Thomas Holton Edmond & Agnes Horsley Elizabeth Hoss Paul Hudson Gail Iannelli Erina Impagliazzo Marianne Kane Paul & Jeannie Kane Rita & George Kane Robert Kaufmann Francis X. Keane John Keenan James Kelly Marianne Kesting John Kiley Brig. Gen. Leo A. Kiley Nadia & Joseph Kiley M. Caroline Kinne Viola A. Kinne Sergeie Kohonenko - living La Piana Family Emilia Landry Edith Larsen Lauritz Larsen William Lavin Bob & Vi Leighton Kenny Liebling Andris Liepa living Maris Liepa Joseph A. Lippolt Leslie Lundy Barbara & John MacDonald Eugene Macdonald Rev. Kenneth Macdonald Ilda & Peter Maguire Paul Maguire Fr. Stephen Mahony Mary & Frank Maloney Raymond Martin Joan Mastricola Alexander Mathurine Josephine Mathurine Art McBain Hugh McHugh Mary McSoley Mary Kelleher Meehan Martine Messara Huguette L. Michaud Jeff Monroe Francis X. & Margaret Morse Dorothy & Frank Mullin Deceased Members of the Murphy & Westover Families Frank Murphy living Ivan Nazario Terry Newlove John Nichols Lawrence Nicholson Marian & Irma Nicolini LeRoy Niles Marion Niles Thomas Niles, Sr. Thomas Niles, Jr. Rudy Novak Eugenia Obreatsova living Katie O Brien C. Anthony Olivieri John Petrucco Elizabeth W. Pino Govelino & Ligia Pinto Isabelle Plante Arthur Reed, Sr. Lancelot H. Rees Priscilla C. Rees Ruth Reiss Nancy Robertson Edgar & Josephine Roy Sergeie Salikov - living Gilda de Samaniego Dominga Sanchez Patrick Sanders Ken & Betty Schmidt Marlene Schmidt Gretchen Wilkie Schroder Evelyn Scott

11 Regis Shanahan Elizabeth & John Shatswell Peter Shatswell Susan Shaughnessy Vladimir Shklyarov - living James Smith Marion Smith Jim & Marie Sniffin James Aaron Snyder John Martin Snyder, Sr. Regina Phyllis Ackerman Snyder Teresa Soriano Louis & Helen Sorrentino Catherine Spillane Dorothy Starzyk William Starzyk, Jr. Adeline Swiderski Michael Swiderski Paul Swiderski Imre Takács Charlotte Taylor Robert Taylor James A. Tibbs James Tricolli Suzanne Trombley Frank J. Unni John & Elizabeth Urban Manuel J. Valadao Brian Van Nostrand Gregg Van Nostrand Andrew J. Veneto, Sr. Anne E. Volk Elizabeth Volk Marie A. Walley Marie J. Walley Norman & Katherine Welch Council White Estelle Olivia White Marion & Horace Wilkie Louise & Janet Williams Deborah Nathalia White Wilson Fran Wysocki Walter & May-Soon Gee YeeRegis Shanahan Elizabeth & John Shatswell Peter Shatswell Susan Shaughnessy Vladimir Shklyarov - living James Smith Marion Smith Jim & Marie Sniffin James Aaron Snyder John Martin Snyder, Sr. Regina Phyllis Ackerman Snyder Teresa Soriano Louis & Helen Sorrentino Catherine Spillane Dorothy Starzyk William Starzyk, Jr. Adeline Swiderski Michael Swiderski Paul Swiderski Imre Takács Charlotte Taylor Robert Taylor James A. Tibbs James Tricolli Suzanne Trombley Frank J. Unni John & Elizabeth Urban Manuel J. Valadao Brian Van Nostrand Gregg Van Nostrand Andrew J. Veneto, Sr. Anne E. Volk Elizabeth Volk Marie A. Walley Marie J. Walley Norman & Katherine Welch Council White Estelle Olivia White Marion & Horace Wilkie Louise & Janet Williams Deborah Nathalia White Wilson Fran Wysocki Walter & May-Soon Gee Yee Smiling neophytes, fresh from the waters of baptism. L to R: Bryan Willis, Vu Ho, Pete Abernethy, Edison Wong, Chris Rawlings, Kara Gustafson, & Melissa Foley. You have put on Christ, Alleluia! In Christ you have been baptized. Alleluia!

12 dark nights of faith in our lives By RON ROLHEISER, OMI When the memoirs of Mother Theresa were published they revealed that for the last 50 years of her life she had struggled painfully to feel God s presence in her life. Her critics felt a certain glee: Underneath it all, they now believed, she was an agnostic, doubting the existence of God. Her devotees were confused: How could this happen to her? How could a woman of such exceptional generosity and seeming faith not be secure in her sense of God s existence and providence? What underlies both reactions is a failure to understand an experience as old as faith itself, that of being inside a dark night of the soul. Looking at Mother Theresa through the eyes of Christian mysticism the better question might be: How could she not experience what she experienced? She was an extraordinary woman, a spiritual athlete, someone who had given her entire freedom over to God; might we not expect this to happen to her? Wouldn t you expect her to experience a dark night of the soul? What is a dark night of the soul? A dark night of the soul is an experience where our feltsense of God dries up and disappears. At the level of feeling, thought, and imagination, we are unable to conjure up any sense of security or warm feelings about the presence of God in our lives. We feel agnostic, even atheistic, because we can no longer imagine the existence of God. God seems non-existence, absent, dead, a fantasy of wishful thinking. But notice that this takes place at the level of the imagination and feelings. God doesn t disappear or cease to exist. What disappears are our former feelings about God and our capacity to imagine God s existence. God exists, independent of our feelings. Sometimes our heads and hearts are in tune with that and we feel its reality with fervor. Other times our heads and hearts cannot attune themselves to the think, imagine, and feel the existence of a God who ineffable, unimaginable, and Other (by definition) and we experience precisely a certain absence, depression, or void when we try to imagine God s existence and love. 12

13 We should expect this in our lives; Jesus experienced dark nights of the soul. Just before he died on the cross, he cried out in anguish, expressing feelings of being abandoned by God. But inside this seeming agnosticism something beyond his feelings and imagination held him steady and enabled him to give himself over in trust to Someone whom he could no longer imagine as existing. This wasn t doubt, it was real faith. Faith begins exactly where atheism assumes it ends. If this happened to Jesus, should we be surprised that it happened to Mother Theresa. Henri Nouwen tells how shocked and surprised he was at the deathbed of his mother, a woman of extraordinary faith, when she began to express anguish and feelings of abandonment by God: How can this be happening to my mother? Later, upon reflection, it made sense. His mother had prayed every day of her adult life to die like Jesus. God simply took her prayer and her offer seriously. exists or not. Dark nights of faith have to do with feelings and the imagination and not with God s reality or presence to us. Why are dark nights of faith given to us? Why does God seemingly sometimes withdraw his presence? Always to make us let go of something that, while it may have been good for awhile, an icon, is now causing some kind of idolatry in our lives. Whenever we cry out in faith and ask God why he isn t more deeply present to our sincerity, God s answer is always the same one he gives in Scripture, time and time again: You will find me again when you search for me with your whole heart, your whole mind, and your whole soul, that is, when you let go of all the things that, right now, in your mind and heart you have mistaken for God! Understood correctly a dark night is not a failure in faith but a failure in our imagination: Imagine sitting down to pray one day and having the sure sense that God is real, more real in fact than anything else. At that moment, your faith feels secure both in your head and in your heart. Then imagine a different scene: You are lying in bed, in the dark, one night and, with every ounce of sincerity, intelligence, and will-power, you try to imagine and feel God s existence and come up empty and dry. You are haunted by the fear: I don t believe! Deep down I m an atheist! Does this mean that in the one instance you had strong faith and in the next you had weak faith? Not necessarily. In the first instance you had a strong imagination and in the second you had a weak one. In one instance, you were able to imagine the existence of God and the other you weren t. Neither determines whether God 13

14 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 Rev. John J. Unni, Pastor, Mark Donohoe, Pastoral Associate for Administration, Scott J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Leadership Development, Richard J. Clark, Director of Music and Organist, Maureen Sullivan, Administrative Assistant to the Pastor, Genevieve Fiorente, Office Administrative Assistant 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. 14