Saint Cecilia. Second Sunday of Lent. 24 February The Transfiguration by Raphael (1516)

Transcription

1 Saint Cecilia P A R I S H Second Sunday of Lent 24 February 2013 The Transfiguration by Raphael (1516)

2 our community news Ministers of the Liturgy Saturday 5:00 p.m. Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrant Cynthia Wanner, lector Sunday 8:00 a.m. Rev. Tom Gariepy, CSC, celebrant Bob Mann, lector special intentions Sunday, February 24 8:00 a.m. Patricia Helmuth, Memorial Sunday, February 24 9:30 a.m. Richard Bourdeau, First Anniversary Sunday 9:30 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant James Paradis, Corinne Agren, & Jim English, lectors Sunday 11:15 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Cole Young, Erin Young, & Joe Castellano, lectors Sunday 6:00 p.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Monica Lundberg & Kendra Metzger, lectors today s readings Genesis 15:5-12, Philippians 3:17 4:1 Luke 9:28b-36 next sunday s Readings Exodus 17:3-7 Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 John 4:5-42 2

3 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, Harold Williamson, Jessica Rivieccio, Earl Chilcote, Colonel Robert C. Tashjian, Kim Murray, Heather LoRe, Rudy Kikel, Herbert Simmons, Peggy Furey, Janice Mascia, Pamela D Ambra, Sue Lucas, Suki Coughlin, Bridget Spence, Annette Kulas, Sam Gowan, Rhea Richard, Pil-Yun Son, Mary Yanez, Ed Langlais, Bob McLaughlin, Steven Whitkens, Diana Slaton, Leo Garcia, Joe Ford, Danny Cotter, Natalia Chilcote, Amy Sweetland, Jim Keyes, Michael Zawikowski, Patricia Macdonald, Elvera Dowsky, Frank Ackley, Fred Haslee, Lorraine Haslee, 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, Pete Huttlinger, Anthony Simboli, Lisa Caputo, Darlene McLendon, Jeanne Tibbs, 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, David & Paula Fillion, Sarah Sweeney, Susan Shea, Bill Croke, Ettore Bergamaschi, Ryan Delaney, Manuela Almeida, Ilda Almeida, Joe Farrell, Sophie Gagnon, Earl Meyers, Kathleen A. Meehan, Anne Frenette Handly, Jan Igras, Cheryl Sabin, Trish Mullen, Thomas Corrigan, Fernando Luis Riganti, Frank DeMare, Carmela Franchi, Little Tommy Sullivan, Kathy K., Julie Zaino, Ruth Frost, Benedicto Lopes, Elie Prevost, Roséa Aubrey, Patricia Dunham, Bella Cashman, Chuck Campion, Bob Kenney, Brenna Smith, Mildred McLaughlin, Robert Gregory Sr., Hannah Mai Devery, & Susanne Coyne. Welcome to Saint Cecilia! We are pleased to welcome the following newly registered members of our parish: Nikko Mendoza of Boston; Justin Bala-Hampton of Boston; Cory and Danielle Merrill of Charlestown; Michael DeCenzo of Boston; and Caroline Quinn of Boston. If you have not already registered with the parish, there are forms in the narthex for this purpose or you can register on-line at 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, our priests 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 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. Welcome, Boston College's Liturgy Arts Group! This Saturday, at the five o'clock anticipated Mass, we welcome the Liturgy Arts Group from Boston College. Directed by Meyer Chambers, the Liturgy Arts Group (LAG) provides music for Sunday liturgies and other special events on the Boston College campus. But LAG is about more than singing songs: Its members believe in the tradition of music-making as an expression of faith, and they share it not only with one another and with the college community, but with congregations and communities outside Boston College. Among other places, they have sung at local schools, the Italian Home for Children, and the MCI-Framingham women's prison. LAG gathers every week for music, fellowship and prayer, welcoming experienced and novice singers and musicians alike. For more information, the Liturgy Arts Group website is 3

4 thank you! Thank you to everyone who helped out with the reception for our Catechumens (now referred to as our Elect) and Candidates last Sunday. So many people brought food to share and we we had a great crew setting-up and cleaning-up: Don Carrier, Mark Lippolt, Virginia Morse, Melon Regis-Civetta, and Rosaria Salerno. If any parishioner would like to pledge to pray for one of our Elect or Candidates during Lent, there is a sign-up sheet in the narthex along with a basket containing slips of paper with their names. parishioner Looking for a laptop Greg Ramsey, a parishioner who sings and plays electric guitar at our six o'clock liturgy and who helps us quite a bit around the church on Sundays is in need of a laptop. If you have a laptop that you are not using, please give Greg a call at (857) help wanted A local family is looking for a live-in companion for an elderly woman living alone in a concierge-attended building in the Back Bay. In exchange for room and board the candidate will be expected to be present and available to assist her during the night if needed. Days are free. Running occasional errands and infrequent weekend responsibilities. If interested, please contact Mark Donohoe at the parish office. honoring Father John & saint Cecilia Parish Please mark your calendars for Nativity Prep's Spirit Dinner on March 6th which this year honors our own Father John and Father Bob Ver Eecke, pastor of Saint Ignatius, Chestnut Hill. Saint Cecilia volunteers have been supporting Nativity Prep in many ways over the past year and a half, including cooking dinner for the boys and tutoring them. The fundraiser on March 6th will be held at B.C. High School in Dorchester with a cocktail reception at six o'clock and dinner at six fortyfive. Tickets are $150 each. This weekend, Saint Cecilia parishioners who are members of the Dinner Committee for the event will be available after the liturgies at at an information table in the narthex where they can answer questions you might have about the event or about supporting Nativity Prep. Members of the Dinner Committee are: Patricia and Paul Daoust Susan Donnelly Winnie Hagan Mark Lippolt Beth and Chris Madison LeeAnn and Rick Miller Dan Mullin Rob Murray Thomas P. O'Neill Anthony Schweizer Kerry and Brendan Swords Jean Tempel Beth Weir little black books In the back of the church there are little black books for you to use during Lent. The goal is to find six minutes of quiet time every day for the next 50 days and to walk through the book one page at a time. The right hand page walks through the Sunday Gospels for this Lent, a few verses at a time, with explanations and reflections along the way. The left hand page has a variety of quotes, information, and timely thoughts. This is a great way to "keep Lent" and prepare for our celebration of Easter. SAVE THE DATE! WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013 Please join us as we celebrate over 22 years of forming young men for others. 4

5 men's spirituality group OUR NEXT MEETING IS NEXT FRIDAY MORNING On the first Friday morning of each month, a men's spirituality group will meet at seven o'clock in the Parish Hall. This is an opportunity for men to get together to discuss real life issues in the context of prayer and scripture. Refreshments will be served. The meetings will end at seven-fifty so that those who wish may attend the eight o'clock Mass. The next meeting will take place this Friday, March 1. All men are welcome. Be brave! Go bald! Worldwide, 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. And in the U.S., more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomolies and diabetes combined. Through funding, the St. Baldrick's Foundation exists to change these realities. Every grant funded by the St. Baldrick's Foundation is used for childhood cancer research. The Foundation takes great care with every donor dollar, keeping the staff small, the expenses low, and directing every possible dollar to childhood cancer research. The fourth annual St. Baldrick's Head-Shaving event is three weeks away and they're recruiting shavees (those brave enough to shave their heads or cut off 10" for Locks of Love), volunteers, and donors to join the cause. In just three years this event has raised over $26,000 and they hope to raise another $10,000 this year. Please consider joining this year's adventure on Sunday, March 10 at The Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne Street, starting at 3:00 p.m. (21+ only after 6:00 p.m.). In addition to head-shaving, other activities include: a raffle; an activity area for children; a photo booth; and local rock band, A Wish for Fire. Visit www. stbaldricks.org and search for 'Lansdowne' to sign up or contact Megan Gallagher at (270) or gusirius@ hotmail.com and on Twitter. whole body prayer AN INVITATION TO PRAY WITH HEART, MIND, AND BODY THROUGH BREATH AND MOVEMENT You are invited to join us next Saturday, March 2 for a gentle yoga practice inspired by the readings of the week and share an embodied experience of the Word. Over the course of one hour, we will practice a sequence of standing yoga poses in a slow, rhythmic flow, moving with attention to breath; and finish with seated, restorative postures that offer a meditative space for prayer and reflection. No previous yoga experience is necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing, and bring your own mat and water bottle. Weekly classes start on Saturday March 2nd from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in classroom CL5. Please fellow parishioner and yoga teacher Lara Gómez at wbprayer.sc@gmail.com to sign up and reserve your spot, as space is limited. Drop-ins will be welcome on a first-come, first-served basis. A donation of $5 per class will be collected, and it is requested that participants sign up for 4-week sessions. get involved in the opportunity of a lifetime You are invited to join Chris Callanan, Ros Kane, and John Timmerman on a trip to Educador, taking place from April 27 to May 3. Participants will be working with volunteers of Rostro de Cristo, a Catholic program whose mission is to provide spiritual and educational opportunities for people of faith to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ together with the people of Ecuador. This is a great opportunity for folks from our parish to visit, work, and pray in conjunction with the volunteers and members of the local community of Guayaquil. This retreat will provide participants an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the reality of a developing country, and to make a difference by committing to service, faith and social justice. There will be an information session following the six o'clock liturgy this evening. If you might be interested joining but can t attend the information session please contact Ros, Chris, or John at: roskane@comcast.net; ccallanan@ smcattorneys.com; or jctimm16@gmail.com. 5

6 Lent: Learning to Suffer or Learning to Love By EMILY C. HEATH This is the time of year when people start to talk to me about what they're giving up for Lent. With Ash Wednesday today, many were trying to figure out over the past few days whether it would be chocolate, soda, or (perhaps the greatest sacrifice of all) Facebook. I often ask people why they're giving anything up at all. They look at me confused and answer, "Because it's Lent. You always give something up for Lent." That's certainly what many Christians have always done. We choose something to give up and for 40 days we do our best to abstain from it. About halfway in, I often hear friends vocally ache for Easter morning when they can do whatever it is they haven't done for weeks now. The simple act of giving something small up evokes a sort of minor suffering that is miraculously lifted on Easter morning. This is Lent to countless Christians. And maybe it's not an inherently bad thing. Learning to endure small sacrifices isn't wrong in and of itself. But giving something up is not the only way, or maybe even the best way, to observe Lent. Each Ash Wednesday I make the sign of the cross with ashes on the foreheads of all who come to my church. I tell them, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." It's the ultimate reality check. The truth of our mortality writ large and ashen on our foreheads. And at the end of the service, just like pastors from a variety of denominations, I invite all in attendance to the observation of Lenten discipline. And, though I don't minimize the sacrifices of those who log off Facebook or give up their daily Starbucks latte, I'm clear that one does not need to give anything up at all. In fact, the spirit of Lent can be best observed when one decides instead to take something on. Lent is ideally a time of deepening our spiritual life and our connection to Christ. That might be a spiritual practice like prayer, worship attendance, or Scripture reading. But, ideally, it can be something that doesn't in volve only our own lives. It can be something that changes the lives of others as well. Lent has a long, sometimes forgotten, history in the church as a time when we are especially reminded to work for justice. Which makes sense when you think of this as a 40 day journey that we make with Christ, the one who taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. So what could a justice-oriented Lent look like? What would it look like if instead of passing up a Snickers bar, we passed on the love of Christ by feeding our neighbors who don't have the luxury of turning down food? What would it mean if instead of logging off, we logged on and made a donation to a worthy cause? Or what if instead of giving up something we already have the right to do everyday, we instead decided to devote our energy to making sure all of God's children have the same rights? Lent could be radically different if we reclaimed it not as a time of giving up the small things, but instead of taking on the big things. If we really want to walk with 6

7 Jesus during these 40 days, why not first start by going to the places we are likely to meet him and already find him at work? Why not use these 40 days to try to become the people Christ talked about his disciples being during his own walk towards Good Friday, and ultimately Easter morning? People of love and compassion and justice. I've come to believe that the mark of a good Lenten discipline is not whether you are able to keep it up for 40 days, but whether it continues to change your life even after those 40 days are over. If Easter morning becomes a finish line, and not a starting line, we've missed the point. Lent is not 40 days of misery to be forgotten with the first sip of that illicit latte. It's our preparation for the Resurrection; our chance to grow spiritually before we once again proclaim that the love of Christ overcame even death. This Lent I'm giving up on giving up. I'm giving up on the idea that my faith is something that can only change my own life. I'm giving up on judging the character of my faith life by how many times I log on to Facebook. I'm giving up on the notion that God is more glorified by our minor material sacrifices than God is by our best expressions of love. But most of all I'm giving up on an understanding of my faith that only requires me to make the tough choices 40 days a year. Because come Easter morning, I'll still believe the words of love and justice Christ shared on his way to the tomb are the keys to a spiritual life. But, more than that, I'll believe they are the keys to the joy that Christ wants us to have in every season. Lent included. The Rev. Emily C. Heath is a United Church of Christ minister serving as a pastor in southern Vermont. She also serves as the chaplain of a local fire department, and as a speaker and writer on Christian faith and social justice. 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 solidarity with the poor, participants are encouraged to eat more sparingly during Lent and to donate the money saved to CRS. The money saved goes into the Rice Bowl and will then go to help the poor. On Holy Thursday we will have a procession with gifts for the poor at the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper a good time for you to return your Rice Bowl. If you can't participate in this liturgy, you may bring your Rice Bowl back on any Sunday during Easter and we will send all of the money we collect to CRS. If you have not yet taken home a Rice Bowl, please take one today. Rice Bowls can be found in a basket 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. For more information, please visit 7

8 Saint Cecilia Parish, Boston PRESENTS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, :00 P.M.! "#$%&'!(&)&*#))'!+&,-./0! !'27-438,!9:!,;<!!"#$%$&" '$ (")*" +",$" '-%.$/,-=!>32<4?<! BCCC!"D3,;!E!%3.F<2,!'27-4! GH!2-4I8=!J!D-4K-.8=!L=CLM!636<8!! '$%NO!&(1$'P&"N*&'O!'O!)#O*#O!AQNO*"! ( RClark@stceciliaboston.org

9 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. Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday 8:00 a.m. Lord s Day Sat 5:00 p.m.; Sun 8:00, 9:30, 11:15, & 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), Maria Roche (maria.roche15@gmail.com) or Letitia Howland (l_howland@hotmail. 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 is available Sundays at the Prudential Center parking garage; LAZ Parking (53 Belvidere Street maximum of three hours); and at the Hilton Boston Back Bay. Be sure to have one of our greeters validate your parking ticket before returning to your car. 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. 9