Saint Cecilia. Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. 14 April Palm Sunday. Evans Yegon

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1 Saint Cecilia P A R I S H Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion 14 April 2019 Palm Sunday Evans Yegon

2 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, 54 ranks, and 3,084 pipes was dedicated on the Feast of Saint Cecilia, November 22, Today we are experiencing something of an awakening within these old walls. Our numbers are increasing by 350 new households each year, 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 125 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.

3 PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS JUST 5 WEEKS AWAY! This year, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) election will be held on the weekend of May There are four seats to be filled, each for a 3-year term. This is an exciting and critical time for our parish and serving on the Parish Pastoral Council is a significant way of contributing to our vibrancy and growth. Please take the time to vote, and if you feel inspired, consider running for one the open seats. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE PARISH COUNCIL? I. You must be a registered member of our community at least eighteen years of age. You can register by visiting our website at or by filling out a registration form in the narthex. II. You should already be an active participant in the life of the parish. III. College students are invited to serve a one year term if interested. WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY? Meetings are held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month with dinner at 6:00 and the meeting running from 6:30 to 8:00. In addition to monthly meetings, members are expected to volunteer to lead or assist with occasional parish initiatives or activities. It is also expected that council members will participate in a variety of parish events and programs and be visible representatives of the parish community. HOW CAN I Become a Candidate? Please prepare a breif statement (no longer than 150 words ) about why you are interested, what Saint Cecilia Parish means to you, and any information about yourself that you would like to share. This statement will be included in the bulletins for May 5, 12, & 19. A headshot is also requested but is not required. Elections will be held on the weekend of May If you cannot be present that weekend, you may submit your vote via at info@stceciliaboston.org until 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. SCHEDULE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS April 28 Statements and headshots due to info@stceciliaboston.org May 5, 12, & May 19 Biographies, platform statements, and headshots published in the parish bulletin May 19 Absentee ballots due no later than 1:00 p.m. via May Election MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN MAY 2019 Josh Fairchild Mark Lippolt David Waters MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN MAY 2020 Kathryn Brown Christina Gebel Natasha Hartmann Chika Offurum CURRENT PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN MAY 2021 Carly Caminiti Nancy Nee Hanifin Amy Paulin Mark Horan Completed materials or any questions can be sent to info@stceciliaboston.org.

4 OUR COMMUNITY NEWS MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY Saturday, April 13 5:00 p.m. Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrant Carlotta Zanini, Tom Nicolini, Catherine Horsley, Cole Young, Erin Young, and Nikko Mendoza, lectors Sunday, April 14 8:00 a.m. Rev. Peter Gyves, SJ, celebrant Christie Hedges, James Paradis, Bob Mann, and Julie Bogdanski, lectors Sunday, April 14 9:30 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Julie DesAutels, Nick Santaniello, Hannah Ostwald, Letitia Howland, Cathy Anderson, and Moira Macdonald, lectors Sunday, April 14 11:30 a.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Virgen Palermo, Jim English, Kelly McClintock, and Karen McMenamy, lectors Sunday, April 14 6:00 p.m. Rev. John Unni, celebrant Chika Offurum, Michael Lake, and Laura Noel, lectors TODAY'S READINGS Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14 23:56 NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS Acts 10:34A, Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9 SPECIAL INTENTIONS Sunday, April 14 9:30 a.m. Trudy Swords, 11th Anniversary Sunday, April 14 11:30 a.m. Cindy Sullivan, Memorial Holy Week Schedule PALM SUNDAY Masses at 5:00 p.m. (Saturday), 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. HOLY THURSDAY No Morning Mass Morning Prayer 8:00 a.m. Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper 7:30 p.m. Night Prayer 10:00 p.m. GOOD FRIDAY No Morning Mass Morning Prayer 8:00 a.m. Stations of the Cross 3:00 p.m. Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord 7:30 p.m. HOLY SATURDAY Morning Prayer 9:00 a.m. The Great Vigil of Easter 8:00 p.m. EASTER SUNDAY Masses at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. Paschal Vespers 6:00 p.m 4

5 Prayers & Occasions Our Deceased Chris Roche's mother died last Sunday. Pray for the eternal repose of Elizabeth "Betty Ann" Testa as well as for the consolation of Chris, Maria, Jack, Owen, and Connor. If you are reading this on-line, the family will receive visitors at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home in Canton on Thursday, April 11, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at Saint Timothy Church in Norwood on Friday morning at 10:30. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy o fgod, rest in peace. Our Sick Please pray for all our sick and for those who are in need of our prayer, especially Mary Pickering, Caeden Boyce, Stephanie Brown, Patricia Finn, Christine Vernon, Michael Bean, Michael Meads, Jonathan Phillips, Jason Ballou, Quinn Waters, Sean Sullivan, Kim Villanueva, JoAnn Fitzpatrick, Francisco and Valentin Castro Goudovitch, Cameron Adams, Bill Croke, Helene Schabes, and Dan Fahy. Welcome to Saint Cecilia Parish We are pleased to welcome the following new members of our parish who have recently registered: Ella Barnhill of Cambridge, Michelle Baum of Brighton, Sherrie Noble of Weymouth, Amanda Pinheiro of Boston, Andy Quoc Tran of Jamaica Plain, Alicyn Reverdy of Jamaica Plain, Cailly Carroll of Boston, and Matthew Proto and Lauren Schneiderhan of South Boston. If you have not previously registered with the parish, there are forms in the narthex for this purpose or you can register online at Wednesday Evening Mass During Lent This Wednesday is the last full day of the season of Lent and Mass will be celebrated at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Following the 6:00 Mass, confessions will be heard until 8:00. This is the last time that confessions will be heard at Saint Cecilia before Easter. Mass Time Change & Coffee Hour Please note that the 11:15 Mass on Palm and Easter Sundays is being moved to 11:30 in order to allow for more time between the liturgies. There will be no 6:00 Mass on Easter, but we will conclude our celebration of the Paschal Triduum with Paschal Vespers at six o clock. There will be no coffee hospitaliity on Easter Sunday. Parking Information On Palm Sunday and during the Easter Vigil there should be no cars parked directly in front of the church on Belvidere Street. Happy Anniversary! This week we celebrate the baptismal anniversary of Jeanne Cronin, baptized on April 19. May the Lord continue to bless her with the grace to live out his baptismal call. Happy Feast Day, Jeanne! Easter Flowers Last Chance! You are invited to remember your loved ones by donating towards our Easter flowers. In the narthex there is a basket with envelopes that you can use for this purpose. Please be sure to PRINT clearly and either drop the envelope in the collection basket or hand it to a member of the parish staff. The names of those remembered will be printed in the Easter bulletin. 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. Good Friday Collection The Good Friday collection supports the sacred places and the educational, charitable, and peace-seeking ministries of the Church in the Holy Land. Easter Collection At Easter, we honor and celebrate our priests. The Clergy Health and Retirement Trust helps care for the health and well-being of our 628 priests, ensuring an appropriate level of care and quality of life for the men who have dedicated their lives in service to our Archdiocese of Boston. Remember the priests who were there for you and your loved ones in times of need and consider honoring them with a generous gift. Thank you in advance for helping to ensure the continuing care for all our priests. 5

6 some thoughts for parents As we commemorate the Passion of the Lord this Palm Sunday, we are in the final days of Lent which will end at sundown on Holy Thursday. We hope you will be with us for our solemn celebration of the Paschal Triduum the three-day Easter celebration that begins on Holy Thursday with the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, continues on Good Friday with our Commemoration of the Passion of the Lord, reaches its high point at Saturday night's Great Vigil and First Mass of Easter, and closes with Paschal Vespers on Easter Sunday. Please consider joining us for this one liturgy that stretches out over three days. If you come on Holy Thursday, be sure to bring back your Rice Bowl or another gift for the poor. We will have a procession with our alms at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Please feel free to bring a check made out to Catholic Relief Services or some food from your pantry. The Great Vigil of Easter is a long and beautiful liturgy that tells the story of salvation history and God's desire for relationship with us. The Vigil is also where we welcome the newest members of our community through the waters of baptism and full communion with the Church. Our Elect and Candidates Please hold in your prayer Wenjun Di, Alistair Erskine, Zöe Fleischmann, Melanie Hahn, Amelia Kennedy Smith, Jessica Lebowitz, Ginelle Thompson, Gary Wang, and Amy Wu who are in their final week of preparation for the Easter sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. Pray also for Kristy Gonsalves, Felisha Trundle, Conor Whalen, and who are preparing to make their profession of faith and be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church. And pray for Fabiola Makarias who is preparing for confirmation and Eucharist. Parents are the primary source of children s faith formation. A wonderful tradition for families to cultivate is participation at the liturgies of the Paschal Triduum. These are the holiest days of the liturgical year and are the heart of the Paschal Mystery. The liturgies of the Triduum are ancient in their format and have the ability to shape and form us. It will speak volumes and have long lasting effects upon the liturgical formation of children for parents to model participation in these sacred rites. We invite all families to attend the Mass of the Lord s Supper on Holy Thursday evening. At this liturgy, chil-dren can participate in the communal Washing of the Feet with their families. At the end of Mass, you might spend a few minutes in prayer together before the Blessed Sacrament, which will be carried in procession to the altar of repose. On Good Friday, consider observing some period of silence at home, especially during the hours of noon and 3:00 p.m. the traditional time to honor and refect on the death of the Lord. Plan to attend the liturgy of the Lord s Passion as a family. It s best to explain to smaller children the meaning of this liturgy before the service begins. When venerating the cross, lead your little ones by the hand and carry those too small to walk. Allow the children to reverence the cross in ways that are comfortable for them. They may touch the cross, kiss the cross, genufect, or bow; they may prefer to simply stand before the cross for a moment of silence. We will also pray the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Expect the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night to be very long (three hours!) but don t let this deter you from bringing your children. Allow them to dress comfortably and bring their pillows and blankets. If they fall asleep during the Vigil, that s okay! You might also consider coming for just the beginning of the Easter Vigil with the outdoor lighting of the new fire, the blessing of the paschal candle, and the singing of the Easter Proclama-tion. Everyone should feel comfortable coming for just that portion of the Vigil and returning on Easter morning for Mass. This is a good way to introduce children to this wonderful liturgy and still be home by 8:30 p.m. On Easter Sunday morning, start the day with hot cross buns, attend Mass, and celebrate the Risen Christ. 6

7 THE WORK SUPPORTED BY THE RICE BOWLS Easter Vigil Reception On April 20, following our celebration of the Great Vigil of Easter, we will have a reception in the Parish Hall in honor of our newly initiated Elect and Candidates. This reception will begin around 11:15 p.m. and will end at approximately 1:00 a.m. If you would like to help set up or or make something to share at the reception, please sign up at Thanks in advance! In 2018, the United Nations estimated that roughly 3.6 billion people live in areas vulnerable to water scarcity and that number could reach 5.7 billion in Climate change, over-extraction of water from aquifers, and contamination of surface and groundwater all threaten ecosystems and freshwater availability. In nearly every part of the world, water is being polluted at a scale that threatens human health and economic development for ourselves and for future generations. The ramifications of water resource loss are staggering. Ensuring that all communities live in a water-secure world is foundational to humanitarian and development programs at Catholic Relief Services. CRS' strategic vision for 2030 centers on water security by asserting that it is a fundamental human right, inalienably tied to our health, dignity and socio-economic development. As Pope Francis noted at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in February 2018, The right to water is essential for the survival of persons and decisive for the future of humanity. And did you know that 25% of the funds collected supports the work of our friends at Catholic Charities of Boston? On a designated Sunday during the Easter Season, you will be invited to bring your filled bank back to church and we will send all of the money collected to CRS. For more information, visit: On all the Wednesdays of Lent, from 6:30 to 8:00 in the evening, Saint Cecilia and all the parishes and chapels of the Archdiocese of Boston will be open for individual confessions. Inviting Catholics to experience Christ s healing love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation continues to be one of the major initiatives of Cardinal Seán and the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese has set up a website, www. TheLightIsOnForYou.org, to help you prepare. This website has videos on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, information on how to make a good confession, answers to frequently asked questions, and more. If you've been away from the sacrament for a long time, rest assured, the clergy 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. Stations of the Cross Praying the Stations of the Cross is a wonderful Lenten tradition in the Church. We will pray them as a community on Good Friday at 3:00, but you can pray the Stations online by visiting stations.htm 7

8 Starting the Conversation: Serious Illness Care Tuesday, April 23 6:00 8:00 p.m. Parish Hall Please join the Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning team for our second interactive discussion about how to think about and share your serious illness care wishes. We welcome anyone who hasn t thought about this at all as well as those of you who have, but want to talk more about it to share emotional and practical concerns. If you would like to receive the materials that we will work with prior to the meeting, or would like to sign up, aerusso2015@ gmail.com. Wisdom and Mature Spirituality Group We will discuss the last two chapters of Richard Rohr s book Falling Upward, A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life at our April meeting on Sunday, April 28 in the Parish Hall at 10:00 a.m. From Chapter 12, "New Problems and New Directions" Non-dualistic or both-and thinking is almost the benchmark of our growth into the second half of life. It emerges gradually as we learn to incorporate the negative and learn from what we used to exclude. From Chapter 13, "Falling Upward" What looks like falling can largely be experienced as falling upward and onward, into a broader and deeper world, where the soul has found its fullness, is finally connected to the whole, and lives inside the Big Picture. Please think about a comment, question or observation for our April discussion. Start wondering about what topic you might like to discuss at our future meetings. For those of you who are in the second half of life, we invite you to join our group. ARE YOU AN ADULT WHO HAS NEVER BEEN CONFIRMED? Are you an adult Catholic who has never been confirmed? If so, perhaps this is the right time. We are offering two upcoming sessions in preparation for the celebration of the sacrament: Thursday, April 25: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Saturday, April 27: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. This year's Central Region confirmation will take place on Sunday, April 28 at 5:00 p.m. at The Shrine of Our Lady of Good Voyage, 51 Seaport Boulevard. If you would like to register for this class, please contact Scott MacDonald at smacdonald@stceciliaboston.org. VIRTUS Training - april 28 Sunday, April 28 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Classroom 3 All catechists, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, greeters, Open Doors ministers, and CARES ministers who have not yet attended a VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" training session are urged to attend. Included will be two thirty-minute videos, questions and answers, an overview on mandated reporting, and info on how to fle a 51A report. Refreshments will be served but please feel free to b ri n g a b rown b a g l u n ch. Pl eas e RSV P to L eti ti a Howl an d (l_howland@hotmail.com) if you plan to attend. Ministry Appreciation Event Taking Our Party on the Road! Our annual Ministry Appreciation evening will take place on Friday, May 17 from 7:00 to 10:00. The renovations on our building will be underway, so we are taking our party on the road and will be celebrating at More Than Words, located at 242 East Berkeley Street in the South End. More Than Words is a nonprofit social enterprise helping youth, ages 16 to 24, who have been court-involved, homeless, in foster care, or out of school to take charge of their lives by providing responsibilities in a youth-run business setting. In the spirit of generosity we invite everyone who comes to bring a book to donate. This evening promises to be full of the usual laughter, fun, food, and merriment that characterize any Saint Cecilia event. If you are involved in a parish ministry we hope you'll join us! 8

9 Social & Racial Justice Ministry Updates WEEKLY LENTEN REFLECTION: The Social and Racial Justice Ministry would like to invite you to use this weekly Lenten reflection to more deeply explore what justice means in your life today: As we near the end of our Lenten journey, we invite you to find one way to demonstrate solidarity with those who have fewer resources and opportunities or those who have experienced trauma. This might be done through an act of charitable giving or an hour of your time assisting others and learning about their experiences. What It's Like for an Undocumented Student Sunday, April 28 1:00 p.m. Classroom 5 RSVP at Undocumented students face unique challenges when applying for and paying for college, including lack of financial aid or access to in-state tuition. Hear from undocumented students about their experiences and learn from advocates about legislation that can put education within reach for thousands of Undocumented students! There will be an opportunity to donate to the Unafraid Scholarship Fund, which helps Undocumented students pay for college. If you can't make it to the talk, please consider donating at bit.ly/unafraidsrjm How We Win: A Workshop with George Lakey on Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning Tuesday, May 7 5:30 9:00 p.m. Beacon Hill Friends House, 6-8 Chestnut Street In this participatory workshop led by internationally known trainer George Lakey, participants will engage in a lively exploration of how to use direct action campaigns to build power toward a movement of movements. Admission is on a sliding scale. Recommended range $10-$30. Advance registration is required at how-we-win-a-workshop-with-george-lakey-on-nonviolent-direct-action-campaigning-tickets For more info, contact Linda Jenkins at lindajenkins177@ yahoo.com. You can sign up to receive updates from the SRJM ministry at Follow us on Facebook (search for St. Cecilia s Social and Racial Justice Ministry) to get news about upcoming events. Are you interested in getting more involved with planning actions? Whether you want to join our Steering Committee or have a particular action you want to collaborate with us on, please sc.socialracialjustice@gmail.com. LENT 2019 MORNING PRAYER Holy Thursday, April 18 at 8:00 a.m. Conclusion of the Lenten Season Rainbow Ministry Upcoming Events LGBTQ Catholics Unite Monthly Meeting Sunday, April 28 1:00 in Classroom 1 This month's topic will be LGBTQ Advocacy. John Ward, founder of GLAD in 1978, will be our facilitator. GLAD works to eliminate discrimination against LGBTQ through litigation, advocacy, and education. Catholics Unite will provide an opportunity for us to gather and discuss openly relevant topics, scripture, and current events. LGBTQ Catholics need a forum in which to share faith experiences, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. Our hope is that people will feel supported, heard, and spiritually nourished. All are welcome! HELP THE WOMEN'S LUNCH PLACE One of the major fundraisers for our friends at the shelter is their Mother's Day card sale. The Women's Lunch Place on Newbury Street currently provides services to more than 200 women and their children each day. Some of the women that WLP serves only know life on the streets, while others are victims of episodic poverty due to changes in their social and/or employment status. Mother's Day cards will be sold after weekend liturgies. For each $25 donation to WLP -- which will provide a guest with breakfast and lunch for a week -- you will receive a card designed by one of the shelter's guests as a thank you. For more information, please contact mark.lippolt@gmail.com. 9

10 SAVE THE DATE On Tuesday, April 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. our friends at Women's Lunch Place will be holding their Eat Lunch Give fundraiser. It takes place at the Park Plaza Hotel in Back Bay. This year's event will help ensure that healthy meals and advocacy services are available to all women who come through their doors for help. This year's honoree at the event will be the renowned entrepreneur, philanthropist, and James Beard Award-winning chef, Jody Adams, who will be recognized for her work in support the mission of Women's Lunch Place. If you would like to join the Saint Cecilia table at the event, please contact Mark Lippolt, mark. Tickets for the luncheon are $195 each. Robert M c Bride House Twentieth Anniversary: A Celebration of Life In honor of the twentieth anniversary of Robert Mc- Bride House, the board of directors invites members of Saint Cecilia Parish to contribute gift cards or make other monetary donations that will be used as commemorative gifts for its current residents. We welcome gift cards of $25.00 from Star Market, Target, or Tatte Bakery & Café some of the local businesses that the residents frequent around their neighborhood. Your monetary donations of any amount are also welcomed. There are envelopes in the narthex marked 'McBride House Anniversary' that you may use for your monetary or gift card donations. Please place your envelope in the collection basket or hand the envelope to a greeter or staff member by Sunday, April 28. As always, we are grateful for your generous response to this request. Help Care For those in need Occasionally we give gift cards to our sisters and brothers in need. We need to replenish our supply of gift cards to Shaw's, Stop & Shop, and Star Market. If you would like to help out in this way, simply purchase a gift card and place it in the collection basket at Mass, give it to a member of the staff, or mail it to the Parish Office. We are very appreciative of your help as we attempt to offer some assistance to those who struggle. "This is MY Community" The next in this series sponsored by our friends at Catholic Charities will take place on Tuesday, April 23 at 5:30 p. m. at the Teen Center at St. Peter's, 278 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester. The speaker will be Bill Cummings, local entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author of Starting Small and Making it Big. Bill and Joyce Cummings founded the Woburn-based Cummings Foundation with almost $2 billion in assets. Eight years ago, Joyce and Bill Cummings joined The Giving Pledge, an organization started by Warren Buffet and Bill and Melinda Gates whose members promise to donate at least half of their fortunes for philanthropic purposes in their wills. The Cummings have already donated 90% of their assets. Please RSVP by April 19 to Heidi Garcia at heidi.garcia@ccab.org or THANK YOU! Many thanks to those of you who made donations of clothing and boots or checks to our annual drives for Boston Health Care for the Homeless and the children at South End Community Health Center. Our drive is now over and, unfortunately, we absolutely can no longer accept clothing donations. Here are two good resources when you are looking to donate new or gently-used clothing items: Circle of Hope in Needham: St. Francis House's Studio Shine in Downtown Boston: 10

11 Adult Faith Formation Events FAITH FORMATION EVENTS AT SAINT CECILIA OFTEN APPEAR ON PAGES 4-7 BC SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY ONLINE COURSES For further details or to register for these events, please check the STM Online: Crossroads website: bc.edu/bc-web/schools/stm/sites/crossroads.html Mapping Your Inner Landscape April 24 May 28, 5-Week Online Course Registration Required $50.00 Old Testament Narrative April 24 May 29 5-Week Online Course Registration Required $50.00 BOSTON COLLEGE THE CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY CENTER C21 Easter Series: Revitalizing our Church For further details or to register for this event, please check this website: Revitalizing Our Church: Ideas from Professors in the Pews Panelists: Hosffman Ospino, Associate Professor of Hispanic Ministry and Religious Education, Kristen Heyer, Professor of Theological Ethics, Michael Pratt, O'Connor Family Professor, Director, Ph.D. Organization Studies Monday, April 29 7:00 p.m. Devlin Hall, 110, Chestnut Hill Campus Free of charge Registration Required Revitalizing Our Church: Ideas from Lay Business Leaders Panelists: Jack Connors, Jr., Founding Partner, Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc.; Denise Morrison, Retired President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company and Chuck Clough, Founder and CEO, Clough Capital Partners Monday, May 6 7:00 p.m. Devlin Hall, 110, Chestnut Hill Campus Free of charge Registration Required SAINT SUSANNA PARISH DEDHAM For further details on these presentations, please check their website: Climate Change: A History Presenter: Peter Hartzel Monday, April 29 7:00-9:00 p.m. Saint Susanna Parish Hall Free Will Offering Father Steve s Book Group: Reading and Group Discussion of John Selby-Spong s, Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today Discussion leady by Father Steve Josoma, Pastor of Saint Susanna Parish Mondays, May 6, 13, and 20 7:00-9:00 p.m. Saint Susanna Parish Hall Free Will Offering SACRED THREADS For further details on this event, please check their website: Leading with Dignity A Conversation with Donna Hicks, author of Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture that Brings Out the Best in People. May 15 7:00 8:30 p.m. Saint Julia s Parish, Weston Registration Required $25.0 PAULIST CENTER BOSTON For further details on this event, please check their website: Prayer of Heart & Body Series: Yoga & Meditation in Christian Context with Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP Easter Season thru Pentecost - 6 Session Series (5 Tuesdays, 1 Wed: April 23, May 8 (Wed), 14, 21 June 4, 11) 5:45 7:25 p.m. Auditorium Registration forms at the back of Chapel, or at reception office ( ). Cost for 6 week series: $72 Students: $36 11

12 By ANNEMARIE SCOBEY For Lent, give up anger and seek forgiveness Shannon, a partner in a Chicago-area law firm, had a client who was offered the opportunity to settle a case with a business competitor for $70,000 and the closing of the competitor s business. I repeatedly warned my client that bringing his competitor to court was going to result in a lesser award, Shannon says. But every time I explained this, he told me he didn t care. He had been wronged, and he wanted his day in court. He was set on further hurting his competitor, even if it came at a cost to himself. When the case went to trial, Shannon won, but as she predicted, the jury only awarded her client $50,000 and allowed his competitor to remain in business. My client left the courtroom bitter and angry, even though he won, she says. Shannon says that the case isn t unusual. People file on principle. They make the mistake of believing that if they can hurt the person who did them wrong if they can just make them pay they will feel better. But my observation is that they don t feel better even if they win they still carry the same anger, and now they ve also lost time and money. Shannon notes that she is not suggesting wrongdoers not be held accountable. I am not talking about egregious circumstances that warrant significant action, she says. I am talking about when someone allows the shadow of someone else s bad decision to eclipse their own life. Shannon says when this happens, especially if it s a family matter, she sees forgiveness and moving forward as a greater value to a client than winning on principle. Recently a woman came to me because she believed her sister swindled her out of her share of the inheritance from their father. The woman was right, but the money was gone and now both she and her sister were retired, Shannon says. The woman had already spent tens of thousands of dollars litigating the case against her sister. She told me that she couldn t let her sister get away with it because of the example it would set for her own adult son. I suggested that since there would be no way to get the money back, maybe it would be more valuable for the son to watch his mother forgive his aunt to watch her try to restart a relationship after a breach of trust. Professionals whose job it is to work with people as they navigate life s most difficult circumstances have much to teach us about the corroding effect of holding onto hurt and the anger that goes with it. They also offer perspectives on how to move forward amid the challenges of entangling circumstances. 12

13 Anger is sticky Andrea, a social worker who works in child protective services, notes that people who are caught in anger often don t know they are caught. The sticky quality of emotional residue can bog us down, she says. The first step is to recognize that you are caught in this emotional quagmire that can affect every aspect of your life from filling your pantry to holding a job. Andrea sees a common thread among people who have moved through anger and hurt to healing and success. People who are able to overcome adversity have developed the ability to look deeply into the circumstances of their life and recognize what happened to them in the past is not their fault. Then, understanding this, they take the next step to recognize that if they re caught in the anger, they will not be able to find peace. They have learned there is no pathway to peace through anger. Andrea says that another characteristic of resilient people is their ability to not allow their past struggle even if it is significant to define them. A client who had struggled with mental illness and addiction said a breakthrough came when a counselor helped her understand that in the realm of her life, her addiction and mental illness were akin to a little finger, she says. Yes, they were present and part of her, but there was much more to her than these two aspects. When she embraced this idea, she was able to turn her life around. Andrea says the same is true for people who are in less dire circumstances than her clients. When it comes to anger, it doesn t matter if a person is dealing with the heavy-duty situations that I see or something more in the realm of normal day-to-day life. It can be healthy to be angry with a situation, take action, and move on. What is unhealthy is to have a situation consume you, she says. Andrea notes that prayer and meditation can make it easier to have the compassion for others necessary to overcome the anger. Prayer and meditation can help us become a better observer of our life and can help us not be as likely to be egocentric and get caught in an emotion when something goes wrong. checked his hospital bracelet to confirm for herself that it was actually her brother. But she said goodbye and she told him she loved him. Lisa Marie says the man died peacefully two hours later. She believes the same need for love, meaning, forgiveness, and goodbye is necessary for functioning in daily life as well. As a parent, for example, if you have a bad day with a child and are struggling with forgiveness, you might have a stomachache. You might not be able to fall asleep, Lisa Marie says. In hospice, we understand the mind, body, spirit connection, and we see it all the time. Lisa Marie s sensitivity to the strong hold anger and resentment can have has informed her approach beyond her patients bedside. If you would walk into a room and see someone in bondage someone who was physically all tied up you d do what you could to untie them, she says. When I come upon someone who is tied up with their own anger and resentment, I see that they are just as bound by it as someone who is physically bound. Often when I see this there s an opportunity to say something very gently, to help the person become untied. For Lisa Marie, these moments are about being connected enough to the Holy Spirit to know when the time is right to speak. Maybe I m standing on the playground with other parents; maybe I m in the store. When we are trying to live the life God has for us, we are more aware of the opportunity to be used as God s hands and feet. ~ Annemarie Scobey is a contributing editor at U.S. Catholic. She is also the author of Discovering Motherhood: An Extraordinary Journey through Everyday Life. She lives in Glendale, Wisconsin. Don t wait until the deathbed Lisa Marie, a hospice social worker, experiences dozens of deaths each year with the families she serves. She finds truth in the premise of Ira Byock s book about dying, The Four Things That Matter Most (Atria Books). When people are dying, they need to feel loved, to feel that their life has been meaningful, to give and receive forgiveness, and to be able to say goodbye, she says. Lisa Marie tells the story of a patient who had been estranged from his sister for more than 20 years: The sister came to visit him; it had been so long since she had seen him that she 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 Mary Kaye, Pastoral Director of Operations, Colleen Melaugh, Finance Director, Mark Donohoe, Pastoral Associate, Scott J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Parish Visibility, John Glynn, Director of College and Youth Ministry, Jeanne Bruno, Chaplain, Pastoral Associate, Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach, Robert Duff, Director of Music, Lisa Pickering, Events and Facilities Manager, Leah Bennett, Communications and Operations Coordinator, Assisting Clergy Rev. Peter Grover, OMV Rev. Peter Gyves, SJ Rev. James Shaughnessy, SJ Schedule for Liturgy Wednesday, 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 The sacrament of reconciliation is available by appointment. Please call the Parish Office. 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. Baptism for Infants Infant baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. For more information, please contact Mark Donohoe in the Parish Office. 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), Letitia Howland (l_howland@hotmail. com), or Erin Young (erin.t.young@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 lowgluten 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 Both the church and Parish Pastoral Center are accessible by elevator. Parking There is reduced rate parking for $11.00 at the Hynes Auditorium Garage located on Dalton Street on Sundays until 3:00 p.m. and every evening after 4:00 p.m. Please be sure to ask one of our greeters for a parking validation ticket before leaving the church. There is also reduced rate parking on Sundays only at the Prudential Center South Garage (enter at Huntington Avenue or Dalton Street); up to 4 hours: $14.00, up to 5 hours: $ 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 narthex.. No matter what your background, please know that you are always welcome at Saint Cecilia. 14