August 5, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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1 Rectory: 170 Mechanic Street Leominster, Massachusetts Telephone (978) / / Parish Website: stceciliachurch.net / Like St Cecilia s Church on Facebook Parish Office Hours are Monday thru Thursday 9 am - 5 pm and Friday 9 am - 4 pm Religious Education (C.C.D) Office Telephone (978) Bingo Telephone: (978) August 5, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Celebration of the Eucharist Saturday Vigil Masses: 4:00 & 6:30 P.M. Sunday Masses: 7:00, 9:45, and 11:15 A.M. Weekday Masses (Monday - Saturday): 6:30 A.M. Holy Day Masses: As Announced In Bulletin Confessions: Fridays, 6:00-7:00 P.M. Saturdays, 3:00-4:00 P.M. Baptisms: Please call the rectory in advance to schedule baptismal instruction. Marriages: Rev. Robert D. Bruso Pastor Couple should contact the rectory at least one year in advance. A marriage preparation program is required. Rev. Miguel A. Pagán Associate Pastor Deacon Ronald J. Aubuchon Deacon Robert S. Connor, Jr. Mr. David M. Lasky Music Director, Organist

2 Saturday August 4 Vigil Masses Mass on pg :00 p.m. Rosalie Chillemi by her family 6:30 p.m. Jeanette (12th anniv.) & Joe (7th anniv.) Miller by Karen & Chris Sunday August 5 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass on pg :00 a.m. Joseph C. Farias by Tommy Bernard 9:45 a.m. Lillian G. Bernard by the Bernard family 11:15 a.m. Lucille Fernandes (22nd anniv.) by her family Monday August 6 The Transfiguration of the Lord Mass on pg :30 a.m. Thanksgiving for Jack Kinsey s conversion by his wife, Linda Tuesday August 7 St. Sixtus II, Pope & Martyr and Companions Mass on pg :30 a.m. Elie Leger by David & Janice Pellerin Wednesday August 8 St. Dominic, Priest Mass on pg :30 a.m. Rev. Richard G. Roger by the parish staff Thursday August 9 St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin & Martyr Mass on pg :30 a.m. Parishioners of St. Cecilia Parish 1:00 p.m. Mass at Manor on the Hill in the Adult Day Care Center Friday August 10 St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr Mass on pg :30 a.m. Peter Iwanow (30th day) by Joseph & Jeannette Marcoux 6:00-7:00 p.m. Confession Saturday August 11 St. Clare, Virgin Mass on pg :30 a.m. David Lamkin by his wife, Susan 3:00-4:00 p.m. Confession Vigil Masses Mass on pg :00 p.m. Roland & Victorine Aubuchon & sons, Joseph, Omer & Normand by the family 6:30 p.m. Eloi Richard (1st anniv.) by his wife & children Sunday August 12 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass on pg :00 a.m. Alma M. Pitre (30th day) by Kevin & Michele Mack, Simard s 9:45 a.m. Jennie & Tony Champa by their children 11:15 a.m. Mary Pitre (43rd anniv.) by Gerald C. McDonald & family RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Our parish RCIA group resumes this Fall. If you have been baptized but have not received First Communion and/or Confirmation, RCIA is for you. If you are a baptized Christian who is not Catholic but wants to know more about Catholic Christianity, RCIA is for you. If you have never been baptized but want to explore if you are being called to be a Christian, RCIA is for you. RCIA is a commitment only to know more, to share, and to be open to others in our shared journey of faith. What you choose to do on that journey is up to you. Please share this with friends and family members who don t go to church but might be interested in the step. 2

3 Dear Friends, A Message From Our Pastor. On the base of the old altar at St. john s Church in Clinton there is a wood carving of a pelican hovering over her brood in a nest. The pelican is an ancient symbol for Christ. In the Mediterranean world, people believed that a pelican, if she could not catch enough fish to feed her young would pierce her breast with her beak and feed her chicks with her own blood. She died so those she loved would live. Although we now know that is not scientifically factual, the image of the pelican as a reminder of Christ remains in Christian art. In today s Gospel passage from St. John, chapter 6, we begin that beautiful discourse on the Eucharist, in which Jesus tries to teach his disciples what would happen at the Last Supper and would continue with every Mass until the end of time. Christ fed the multitude with bread on the mountainside. That was more than enough for his disciples. They got what they wanted a good meal to hold them over until they got home. What they didn t realize was that he would also give them what they needed, even though they did not realize it yet. Not only did he provide food for the body, he was about to offer the food for the soul, his own Body and Blood, the Eucharist of eternal salvation. When you go home today, pick up your Bible and read the rest of sixth chapter of St. John s Gospel. In it, step by step, Jesus explains that he is offering the world not merely material bread, not even the manna which descended from heaven on the Israelites, but something entirely new and transformative. This is My Body This is My Blood. When he uttered those words at the Last Supper, Jesus made the world entirely new. No longer would we be separated by an infinite gulf between heaven and earth. The gap between the divine and the human is closed when the divine, Jesus Christ, enters into our human world through the Eucharist. That is the essence and the core of what makes us Catholic Christians. We share with our Orthodox brothers and sisters a belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ under the forms of bread and wine in the Eucharist. That is why Pope St. John Paul II referred to the Catholic Church as the people of the Eucharist. It is in and through the Eucharist that we touch heaven while still on earth. In the image of the pelican, we have a symbol of Jesus Christ. In the Eucharist, we do not have a symbol, we have the reality of Jesus flesh and blood, soul and divinity offered up for us on Calvary and offered up for us every day in the bloodless sacrifice of the Mass. Blessed be God who so loved us that he sent his Son to be our food and our salvation. May God bless you all, Father Bob Bruso BIBLE STUDY RESUMES SEPTEMBER 20 We meet on Thursday evenings at 6:30 at the Parish Center. This year s theme is The Acts of the Apostles From a Gathering of Believers to the Community of the Church. All adults are welcome. 3

4 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Cecilia Church, Leominster MA August 5, 2018 Thank You Pat Patricia Secino, who has served as Parish Director of Religious Education for 18 years, has retired. She also served with her husband Dr. Richard Secino as Director of Evangelization, coordinating the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Program. Thank you, Pat, for your commitment and service. We know we ll be seeing you and Dick around parish events for many years to come. Welcome Paula Paula Doucet has accepted the position as Parish Director of Religious Education as of August 1. Paula has served as a catechist for many years. Recently her primary focus has been preparing our children for First Eucharist. She will now assume responsibility for the entire program, from Grade 1 through Confirmation. We commit ourselves to supporting Paula and the program in any way we can. Father Bob and Deacon Bob Connor will be coordinating the RCIA program this year. Love God Love Your Neighbor A scholar of the law tested Jesus by asking, Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest? He said to him, You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. (Matt. 23:35-40) Love God Love Your Neighbor in the parish We are in need of more Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers). Anyone who has been confirmed and shares faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is urged to consider this ministry of service. New training begins after Labor Day. Don t be surprised if Father Bob taps you on the shoulder and invites you to consider this ministry. Even if Father Bob doesn t tap your shoulder, Jesus may. Call the rectory for more information. Love God Love Your Neighbor in the hospital Health Alliance/Leominster Hospital is looking for more Eucharistic Ministers to help with the daily distribution of Holy Communion to all patients who wish to receive. Hospitalization is a stressful time for most people. The comfort of receiving Communion every day is a tremendous blessing. The hospital Communion volunteers work in teams one day a week. If you are a Eucharist Minister, contact Chaplain Cathy Pimley at the Pastoral Care Department If you are not a Eucharist Minister but are interested in this service, call the rectory for training before you call the hospital. Love God Love Your Neighbor in the nursing homes We are developing a personal nursing home ministry in the parish. If you can commit to visiting ONE nursing home resident once a month, consider this ministry. You may be a Eucharistic Minister, but you don t have to be. Just be willing to spend half an hour in a friendly visit, bringing a parish bulletin, connecting the resident with their parish community, reminding them they are not forgotten. FAMILY MEMBERS: Call the rectory with the names of nursing home residents you know in the area (Leominster/Fitchburg/Lancaster/Sterling). 4

5 2018 Partners in Charity Appeal. Thank you to those who made a gift and a special thank you for those who gave for the first time. St. Cecilia Parish has raised $43,688 to date. Your gift will help us in reaching our parish goal. We need the support of all members of St. Cecilia Parish if we are to be successful in reaching our parish goal of $50,000. If you have not yet completed your pledge, please prayerfully make your pledge and return it to the parish office or in the collection basket. We are confident that, with God s help and yours, we will rise to it! If you have not yet made a gift or pledge, please fill out a commitment pledge envelope today in the pew today or visit Thank You! Consider setting items aside for our Christmas in Acadia Fair Flea Market. We will be happy to receive canning jars, musical instruments, gloves, belts, dishes, tablecloths, doilies, toys, medals and jewelry, jewelry, jewelry, etc. Please note, we are unable to accept books, computers, monitors, televisions, electrical appliances, padded furniture, clothing or shoes. Upcoming drop off times: Saturday, Aug. 11 from 9:30am-12:30pm Monday, Aug. 13 from 5:00-7:00pm Saturday, Aug. 25 from 9:30am-12:30pm Monday, Aug. 27 from 5:00-7:00pm All donations are to be dropped off at the parish center (use lower Third St. and Mechanic St. side door across from the church). National Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life The U.S. bishops urge our participation each Friday in a nationwide Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life, August 3 September 28. Participants will receive weekly or text reminders to pray and fast, along with littleknown facts about Roe v. Wade to share with others. Sign up at Collection Report Last Week s Stewardship $6, Open House Social! We want to thank you all for your on-going support of the ministry we provide at First Concern Pregnancy Resource Center. We are in the process of moving to a new location in Clinton, MA. This move is something that we have been working towards for several months, and we are thrilled to be in our new location. All are welcome to learn more about the Center and drop in for an Open House social on Friday, August 10 th from 6PM-8PM. There will be live music from the band Delmore, raffle prizes, appetizers, and refreshments. The event will take place at our new location at 46 High Street in Clinton, MA. First Concern PRC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our ministry is made possible by donations, and the Center has been offering free services within the community for over 28 years. If you would like more information about First Concern PRC or this special event, please call We hope to see you on August 10 th. There is nothing more powerful than putting one s faith into action! Health Alliance Home Health & Hospice, a non-profit hospice program, is seeking volunteers for our next volunteer training group (August/September). We are seeking volunteers for clerical support, patient companionship, complementary therapies (massage, music therapy, pet therapy) bereavement and spiritual care support. For more information, please contact Carol Recchion at or crecchion@healthalliance.com. 5

6 Believe it or not it's..."back to School" time! Once again Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul are working together to bring much needed school supplies to children. Last year s response was amazing and because of your generosity many children who could not afford supplies went back to school with brand new backpacks and much needed school supplies. Starting next weekend, barrels will be placed at all entrances of St. Cecilia Church. If you are able to donate any school supplies from the list below, place them in the barrel. The school supplies will be collected after each weekend Mass. From the children in need - THANK YOU Back to School Backpack and School Supply Drive Supplies to benefit underprivileged children. Every child deserves a chance to succeed in school. With your help we can get children the basic tools to help them succeed! Supplies to benefit K 12 students throughout our service area. Donations Needed Backpacks 1-2 inch binder Erasers Glue sticks Colored Pencils #2 Pencils Crayons Dry Eraser Marker Markers Rulers Highlighters Scissors Filler paper wide rule Plastic Zip bags Folders 2-Pocket Folders Tissues Hand Sanitizer gel or wipes Spiral Notebooks Supplies are being donated to Catholic Charities 196 Mechanic Street, Leominster Tune In To WQPH 89.3 FM Your Catholic Radio Station 6

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