March 4, Third Sunday of Lent

Transcription

1 Rectory: 170 Mechanic Street Leominster, Massachusetts Telephone (978) / / 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) March 4, Third Sunday of Lent 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. Eric K. Asante Associate Pastor Deacon Ronald J. Aubuchon Deacon Robert S. Connor, Jr. Mr. David M. Lasky Music Director, Organist Mrs. Patricia A. Secino, Religious Education Director and Director of Evangelization and RCIA

2 Saturday March 3 Vigil Masses Mass on pg. 85 4:00 p.m. Robert Guillemette (2nd anniv.) by Amy & Kevin Godin 6:30 p.m. Alonzo Gaudet by his sister, Bernice & Jules Cormier Sunday March 4 Third Sunday of Lent Mass on pg. 85 7:00 a.m. Yvette Cormier by Lou & Val Landry 9:45 a.m. Normand Boucher by Hector & Louise 11:15 a.m. Adam T. Matthews (1st annv.) by his mother & family Monday March 5 Lenten Weekday Mass on pg. 91 6:30 a.m. Doris M. Pollock (30th day) by Kevin & Michele Mack, Simard s 5:30 p.m. Andrew F. Zephir by Joan & Doug Romano and children Tuesday March 6 Lenten Weekday Mass on pg. 92 6:30 a.m. Rev. Richard Roger by Marcel & Pauline Guillemette 5:30 p.m. Thomas Tuttle (4th anniv.) by his wife Carol Wednesday March 7 Saint Perpetua & Felicity, Martyrs Mass on pg. 94 6:30 a.m. Yvette Desharnais by her estate 4:30 p.m. Adoration and Confessions 5:30 p.m. Rita Niles (anniv.) by her daughter & grandchildren Thursday March 8 Saint John of God, Religious Mass on pg. 95 6:30 a.m. Parishioners of St. Cecilia Parish 1:00 p.m. Mass st Manor on the Hill, in the Adult Day Care Room 5:30 p.m. Robert F. Dube, Sr by his wife & children Friday March 9 Saint Frances of Rome, Religious Mass on pg. 97 6:30 a.m. Theresa St. Pierre by her family 3:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross 5:30 p.m. Eloi Richard by Yvette & family 6:00-7:00 p.m. Confession Saturday March 10 Lenten Weekday Mass on pg. 99 6:30 a.m. Larry Despres by the family 3:00-4:00 p.m. Confession Vigil Masses Mass on pg :00 p.m. Therese Doucet (6th anniv.) by her husband & family 6:30 p.m. Bill Nelson by his son John Sunday March 11 Fourth Sunday of Lent Mass on pg :00 a.m. Angela Marie Watts (19th anniv.) by Carole, Daniel & Karen Watts 9:45 a.m. Deceased members of the Leon Gallagher family by Rita & family 11:15 a.m. Rita F. Morin by last will Welcome! In a spirit of joyful hope we welcome Nora James Brideau into our parish family by baptism as she begins her 2 life of faith here within our parish.

3 Dear Friends, A Message From Our Pastor. When we look at the checkered past of the Samaritan woman, we may have a tendency to say, Well at least I m not that bad. But it isn t for us to stand in judgement. We are all guilty of our own sins and are responsible for them and for them only. It isn t a competition. When we are honest enough to look at ourselves we must admit that, considering all the graces we have received, we haven t responded to God s love all that well. God isn t surprised. He better than anyone knows our human weaknesses. That is why He has offered us salvation not through our own merits but through the suffering and death of His Son Jesus Christ. Firstly, our good acts are not meritorious enough to wipe away all of our sins. Secondly, even if they were, we would stand the chance of slipping into spiritual pride, imagining that we are capable of saving ourselves by our own goodness. That is a heresy known as Pelagianism, named after Pelagius, a British priest who taught in Rome in the late 4 th and early 5 th centuries. In fact, as St. Paul writes, We have been justified by faith. Justification is not possible for us on our own. Rather, it is the action of God which makes us righteous, that is, justifies us. We must respond in faith to God s action, but it is always God who is the actor, the initiator of the process of salvation. When we believe in God and His Son Our Savior Jesus Christ, we are on the road to salvation. With God s action as the supreme grace, then we can build on that grace by choosing the path of faith and the way of obedience to God s commands. In the midst of this, we must remain humble. You may remember the phrase, There but for the grace of God. It is a gentle reminder that it is not for us to judge others. We don t know all of their circumstances. Under the same conditions, we might have behaved in an even a worse manner. The woman at the well was excited and joy-filled at the possibility that this man she had been talking to might be the long-awaited Messiah. She immediately acted in faith. She spread the news. No longer was she intimidated by the sneers of the village people who looked down on her because of her past. She had been justified by Jesus, she believed in Him and rest was, as we say, History. Salvation is our only hope. We say yes to God in a thousand ways. By prayer we put ourselves in the humble position of asking because we know we cannot do it on our own. By almsgiving we are reminded that whatever we do for the least of God s little ones, we have done for him. By receiving Holy Communion devoutly and frequently in Lent, we gain spiritual strength. By reading the Bible a little bit every day, we gain spiritual knowledge. By taking the time for other types of spiritual reading, like the lives of the saints or their own writings, we explore new ways of holiness. By silent prayer, we allow God to enter into our consciousness to direct us from the love of His Sacred Heart. We are all justified by God. We are not justified to a greater or lesser extent. Justification is complete and entire in itself. Then we must individually decide if we will accept Jesus as Savior, follow in His path, reject the sins and errors of our past life, and become true disciples. That sounds like a lot, but all can be accomplished by God s grace, which is freely given to us The woman at the well had a past she was ashamed of. We all have something in our past (often more than just one thing!) that we wished we had or hadn t done. The woman at the well was justified by God and forgiven. That goes for us, too. She then shared her good news to her neighbors. She became an apostle in her own way. Are we willing to do the same? May God bless you all, Father Bob Bruso 3

4 Considering a Vocation to the Priesthood? The Diocese of Worcester s annual discernment retreat, directed by Bishop McManus, will be held on March 23 & 24. It begins at 6 pm Friday and ends 6 pm Saturday. It s for men high school age, college age, and older. Immaculate Conception Retreat Center in Putnam, Connecticut is only 30 minutes from Worcester. The retreat is free and transportation is provided if needed. For more info visit worcestervocations.com. To sign up contact Fr. Jim Mazzone at jmazzone@charter.net or call Keep Fridays in Lent open for the Fish Fry at Madonna of the Holy Roasary, 118 Theresa Street, Fitchburg beginning on Friday, February 16th. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tune In To WQPH 89.3 FM Your Catholic Radio Station WQPH FM 89.3 is holding a TV Raffle during the Fish Fry at The Madonna of the Holy Rosary Church, 118 Theresa Street, Fitchburg. The TV Raffle includes a 43 inch Smart TV, a 70 mile TV Antenna and a ROKU. The tickets are 10 for $5.00 and the drawing will be on Friday, March 23rd at the end of the Fish Fry. Please support the Fish Fry and your local Catholic Radio Station. HOSPITAL VISITS The hospital no longer informs us when Parishioners are admitted. If a loved one is in the hospital, let us know and one of the priests will visit. St. Cecilia s Bingo Friday Evenings at 6:30 PM Doors Open at 4 PM Come Try Your Luck! On the feast of St. John of God, who gained renown and respect for his care of the sick, pray for all health care workers in your community. Ladies of St. Anne Next Meeting will be held on Wednesday at 7 PM in the parish center lower hall. New members are always welcomed!! 4 Please join us on Sunday, March 18th at 1:30 for Bunko in the Parish Center. Never played before? No problem! Bunko is fast paced, highly sociable, and easy to learn. Just show up around 1:10 for a quick lesson or refresher on how to play. Cost to play is $6.00 per person, refreshments are served and cash prizes are awarded. Must be 18 years of age or older. Pre-registration is a must! Please call Deanne at to sign up and reserve your spot.

5 At this midpoint in the Lenten Food Drive we offer thanks to all who faithfully contribute to its success. Your kindness makes a big difference in the lives of many in our community. Next weekend we will be collecting: canned meats, canned tuna, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, instant potatoes, baked beans and canned vegetables. We would like to invite all the men in our parish, as well as their sons, brothers,fathers and friends to consider coming to the 17th Annual Diocesan Catholic Men s Conference, scheduled at Assumption College in Worcester on Saturday, March 17th. You will hear dynamic talks form outstanding Catholic leaders: Marcellino D Ambrosio, Father David Cavanagh, Robert Rogers, Ryan Tremblay and Elvis Grbac. As he does each year, Bishop McManus will offer the conference Mass. There will be 50 diocesan priests and bishops to hear confessions for all those men who wish to go. For a Conference brochure, further information, or registration, you can call It is important to visit our website for much more information and direct online ticket purchases Partners in Charity Appeal. Once a year, we commit ourselves to this ongoing work by supporting this life giving appeal. We reflect on God s great generosity, and respond with generous giving of our own. With your support, Faith in Action is visible every day in the compassionate outreach of Catholic Charities, to the least among us; in the prayerful witness of our retired priests and the joy of new priestly vocations; to the many diocesan ministries and programs that heal, teach and care for others. Watch the Appeal Video at home this week at Please come to Mass next weekend prepared to make a commitment to the appeal. Thank you. 5

6 Third Sunday of Lent St. Cecilia Church, Leominster MA March 4, 2018 JR. HIGH and HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Join the EASTER YOUTH CHOIR and/or BELL CHOIR Rehearsals begin after FEB break. The BELL CHOIR made its debut at the 4:00 Christmas Eve Mass what a beautiful addition to the liturgy! If you d like to join us for Easter, no musical background is required. AND/OR, if you re a singer, our new Easter YOUTH CHOIR is for you! Everyone is welcome to participate in both. REHEARSAL SCHEDULE: Wednesdays OR Thursday Beginning February 28th March 28th Day and Time TBD Sign-up at Religious Ed (CCD) Class or Mrs. dmmaloney58@gmail.com Ongoing During Lent Daily Mass: Monday-Friday: 6:30 AM, 5:30 PM Saturday: 6:30 AM Next Week at 7PM Each Night Sunday, March 11th - St. Leo Church Adoration & Homily Christ Christ Our Nourishment Nourishment Rosary: Monday-Thursday 3:00 PM Monday, March 12th - St. Anna Church Mass & Sacrament of the Sick Christ Our Health Health Confession: Wednesday 4:30-5:30 PM, Friday 6:00-7:00 PM, Saturday 3:00-4:00 PM Tuesday, March 13th - St. Cecilia Church Reconciliation Services Christ Our Forgiveness Forgiveness Adoration: Wednesday 4:30-5:30 PM Wednesday, March 14th - Holy Family of Nazareth Concelebrated Mass Christ Christ Our Message Message Stations of the Cross: Friday 3:00 PM All Are Welcome! Wednesdays 4:00-6:30 Simple Meal (soups, stews, etc.) in parish center, lower hall. No charge, but free will donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society will be accepted. If you can spare a few hours to volunteer, please call Jeannine at RICE BOWLS Cardboard rice bowls are available on the table at the Entrances of the church. Use them to save loose change and return them at the end of Lent. A little bit every day adds up to a large donation to help children around the world. This Week s Menu: Beef Barley 6

7 Rite of Election John Jack Kinsey was presented to the Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester at the Rite of Election on February 18th at the St. Paul s Cathedral. Jack will be received into Full Communion and will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Please keep him in your prayers. Religious Education/CCD Classes Monday Evening Classes for Grades 7-10 continue this week at 7:00 pm. Sunday Morning Classes for Grades 1-6 continue next Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Attending the 11:15 a.m. Mass is included in the program. Notre Dame Academy s Open House for prospective students will be held on Sunday, March 25th form 2-4 pm. Students currently in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade are encouraged to attend. Please visit their website to pre-register. NDA is the only Catholic private and independent college preparatory school for young girs in grades 7-12 in Central Massachusetts. LENTEN GUIDELINES FOR FAST AND ABSTINENCE Lenten fast and abstinence regulations for the Diocese of Worcester are as follows: Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics fourteen (14) years of age and older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent. Fasting is to be observed by all Catholics who are eighteen (18) years of age but not yet fiftynine (59) years of age on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one's needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted. Catholics should not lightly excuse themselves from these prescribed Lenten penitential practices. 7

8 David Pelletier: Parishioner 165 Mechanic Street, Leominster S Simard Funeral Home Kevin J. Mack Funeral Director Serving the Residents of Leominster since Walker Street Leominster Wright-Roy Funeral Home 109 West Street Leominster LIFE CARE CENTER OF LEOMINSTER Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility Contact Our Admissions Department PH FX SMARTER HEATING & COOLING PROTECT GOD S PRECIOUS INFANTS END ABUSE END ABORTION Joe O Donnell Tax & Pension HEATING OIL, PROPANE AND 24 HOUR HEATING SERVICE BrideauEnergy.com 5 Star Quality Care is Closer Than You Think River Terrace Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center Deficiency-free State Survey 2016 & 2017 Cardiopulmonary Rehab program overseen by specialty physicians Short-term Rehab & Long-term Care 1675 Main St., Lancaster, MA Tel: Electric Avenue, Lunenburg, MA Since Central St., Leominster, MA w w w. W e D o Fu r n i t u r e. c o m God is Love 1 John 4:8 CASH FOR YOUR HOME Any Size Big Or Small Any Condition We Buy Them All Downsizing House Needs Repairs Life Transition No Home Inspection Inherited Property Close In as Few as 5 Days As Seen On Rt s 110 & 117 Bolton, MA boltonorchards.com Local Apples & Fresh Cider All Year Round Open Daily - 8:00am - 6:00pm Come on down for the season's best Harvests, the freshest produce, daily specialties from the Deli, premium Ice Cream, the Red Barn Coffee Cafe, and so much more! Remember to say Thank You to our Sponsors They make this bulletin possible.. 2 Winner-take-all games. Air Conditioned. 20 $10 Door Prizes. 2 Progressive Games Doors 4:00 Regonini - Zoll Memorials GRANITE BRONZE LETTERING CLEANING M A I N S T C L I N T O N M A 51 AD SPACE AVAILABLE Evangelization Focus The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. ~Pope Francis SAVE UP TO 50% ON PRINTING Banners, Bookmarks, Business Cards, Flyers/Brochures, Greeting Cards, Magnets, Notepads, Posters and much more. What s Inside SUMMER 2010 MIRIAMGOODMAN printing@pilotprinting.net CORY SILKEN AD SPACE AVAILABLE Main Street Tewksbury, MA (978) Rosaries from Flowers Handmade from the Flowers of your Loved One For Advertising call Pilot Bulletins Saint Cecilia, Leominster, MA 7008