The Week at a Glance. Pastor s Musings for Entering Holy Lent

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1 Week of February 18, 2018 First Sunday of Lent Pastor s Musings for Entering Holy Lent Dear Family in the Lord, What potential for renewal and deepening our prayer and Gospel living this season holds out to us as we enter our Lenten journey! I encourage you to read through all the opportunities for prayer, reconciliation, fasting, almsgiving, and enrichment contained within this bulletin today. Obviously, it s not about adopting a few pious practices or changing some things for forty days. A real authentic embrace of the conversion of these days sharpens our vision, opens our ears and hearts, frees our arms to be extended, and deepens our relationship with the only One who can give us lasting joy, instead of passing pleasure; healing and hope, rather than momentary escapes; and a love that is unconditional and rooted in mercy! I pray we will allow ourselves to be led deeper. I offer these profound words of Pope St. John Paul II to you for your reflection and as an incentive to your efforts at personal renewal and going deeper as these days of Lent unfold: Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. What really matters in life is that we are loved by Christ and that we love Him in return. In comparison to the love of Jesus, everything else is secondary. And, without the love of Jesus, everything is useless. Genuine love is demanding. But its beauty lies precisely in the demands it makes. Only those able to make demands on themselves in the name of love can then demand love from others. It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; He is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is He who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is He who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. There is no place for selfishness and no place for fear! Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice. There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already born for us, and does not now bear with us. With you on the Journey, The Week at a Glance Monday, February 19 Presidents Day Parish Office Closed Deeper Look at Holy Week 7:30 PM (C) Tuesday, February 20 A Lent to Remember 9:00 AM (PC) A Lent to Remember 6:30 PM (PC) Televised Parish Mass 7 PM, Channel 98 Wednesday, February 21 Walking with Purpose 9:30 AM (PC) Prayer Cenacle 2:00 PM (C) Rivier Retreat 6:30 PM (YC) Thursday, February 22 Exposition/Adoration 8:30AM-5PM (C) Walking with Purpose 10:00 AM (PC) Walking with Purpose 6:00 PM (PC) Contemporary Group Practice 7PM (CLL) Televised Parish Mass 7 PM, Channel 98 Friday, February 23 Italian Class 7:00 PM (SO) Saturday, February 24 Baptism 11:00 AM (C) Rosary 3:30 PM (C) Sunday, February 25 Children s Dismissal during 8:30 Mass (C) Televised Parish Mass 10 AM, Channel 98 RCIA 11:30 AM (PC) Music Ministry Rehearsal 11:45AM (C) Choir Practice Spanish Mass 1:00 PM (CLL) Rosary 1:30 PM (C) Spanish Mass 2:00 PM (C) Sanctuary Lamp & Votives The sanctuary lamp will burn this week in memory of Roberta Kacyonis, as requested by Gerry and Marsha Sieve. This week, the votives at the Mary altar will burn for Jill Armitage, as requested by her husband Phil. Traveling Vocation Icon This week, Al & Colleen Romano will receive the Icon of Jesus Knocking at the Door into their home and intercede in a special way for Joe, Dan, and all in formation, for those discerning, and for many vocations to rise up from our community.

2 Intentions For Holy Mass Monday 7:00PM Tuesday 12:10PM FEB 19 Lenten Feria (weekday) Gregory Guerra, by Herb & Jean Woodcock Paul Joseph Lena, by his Family FEB 20 Lenten Feria Billie Dave Smith, by his wife Nancy Smith Intentions of Noreen French, by Maureen Bunce Wednesday FEB 21 Lenten Feria Lorraine Turgeon, by Charlie & Conni Lawrence 7:00PM Kathleen M Morrissey, by her Family Thursday 12:10PM Friday 7:00PM Saturday 4:00PM FEB 22 The Chair of St. Peter Peter Scontras, by Maribeth & Charlie Hathaway Margaret Seeley, by Charlie & Eileen McKeel FEB 23 Lenten Feria Patrick Delanty, by Maureen Killay and Kate Fifield James & Blanche Curle, by Sue Ford FEB 24 Lenten Feria James & Blanche Curle, by Sue Ford Vigil 2 nd Sunday of Lent Joseph & Marie Fleming, by Peg Ibscher Sunday FEB 25 2 nd Sunday of Lent 8:30AM Jane Maley, by the Calle Family 10:30AM Michael Barrett, by his aunt Rosemary Spinney 2:00PM in Spanish Celebrant s Intention 4:30PM Pro Populo (For our Parish Family) Our reflection of God s generosity to us! Weekend of February 10/11, 2018 Envelopes/EFT $ 14, Loose $ 1, Total $ 16, Last weekend 238 envelope/80 Online Giving users contributed 88 % of our income. Poor Box Donations $ Check out Online Giving (OLG), a convenient way to contribute automatically to our parish. OLG helps you maintain your giving even if you can t be here at Mass. This helps the parish streamline its cash flow, especially during bad weather or vacation times. In addition, you can also donate to other special funds. Currently, these include Diocesan Catholic Schools, Aid to the Church in East Europe & Africa, Easter Flowers, and the Fuel Fund. Even if you typically use offering envelopes, you may want to contribute online to a particular collection. It s easy and convenient! FMI, call the Parish Office at or visit Let s Talk Nights Coming! Who s this for? You, if you were away from the practice of your Catholic faith for a while and have recently returned, or someone you know who might be interested in taking another look and give consideration to coming home. Pray about who to invite! Show them this! What s it about? Informal simple Lenten meal, fellowship, opportunity to ask any questions, and hear about how others have made their way back to a deeper and more life enriching faith, not simply things to be done or avoided. We will simply have an opportunity to get to know one another a little better and share insights. What happens after that night? Fr. Gary will ask for topics those attending would like to see explored further. After Easter he will offer a series of enrichment nights to explore these topics. Where? When? Two options Tuesday, March 6 th or 13 th : 6:00 PM at Vianney House, the rectory next door to the church at 98 Summer Street. Just ring front door bell. Want to come? Please Fr. Gary at frgary.ccnh@gmail.com or call him at , x125 and give him your choice of date. Space is limited, so please call ASAP. If we fill one night, we will contact those who responded and have other options. Fr Gary is really looking forward to welcoming folks to his home and sharing this informal dinner and relaxed conversation. It s been great to see so many rediscovering their Catholic faith, coming home, enriching our parish, and going deeper than they ever had been before! Spread the word! Share this with someone you know who won t see it or know they are welcome unless you bring them this heartfelt invitation to come and see. WOMEN S ENRICHMENT All women, of all ages, are invited to come together on Saturday, March 3rd, 9:30 to 11:30 AM, in our Parish Hall, 845 Woodbury Avenue for this Lenten opportunity: Connect Coffee Talk: Opening Your Heart! Mothers today are often overwhelmed with expectations. Guilt abounds. It s easy to listen to our culture and take on those expectations. But, ultimately, we realize our children aren t really ours, they are God s. Come for some coffee, fellowship with other women seeking to go deeper as we discover ways to reach our children s hearts in the way God intends and with the truths that He values, to parent in a way that has lasting value no matter what our age or our kids ages are! Women s Special Coming! Women of all ages and stages of life as invited to come together for the Way of the Cross, with reflections and connections in our prayer united with Mary and her Son, taken from a mother s perspective. Save the date: Thursday, March 1st, at 6:30 PM in church, followed by light refreshments and fellowship.

3 Parish News FRASATTI FRATERNITY NEW! Thanks, Fr. Andrew! A note of thanks to our guest presenter at last week s Men s Morning of Reflection, Fr. Andrew Nelson. Father helped those attending to get Lent off to a good start with some insights into how guys can go deeper as authentic men of God. Thanks to our Men s Ministry Core Team and to all who helped make this opportunity possible. NEW! Easter Flower Offerings As we re sure you remember, the simplicity and starkness of the Lenten environment of our church will give way to magnificent splendor for the glory of God when we enter into Holy Week with Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, the Garden Tomb, and then the Solemnity of Easter and the following 50 days of the Easter Season. As in the past, we have envelopes at the doors for those who would like to support this effort. Offerings can be made in memory of departed loved ones. The names will be listed in Easter bulletin, and souls remembered in the Masses of the Easter Octave (from Easter Day to Divine Mercy Sunday). Simply drop in the collection at Mass or through Online Giving over these coming weeks. Thanks! NEW! 40 DAYS FOR LIFE Let s be united in our prayer for conversion of hearts and minds, the rescue of those innocents whose mothers are contemplating abortions, for our lawmakers, for doctors, nurses, and all who are promoting the culture of death, victimizing not only the pre-born but men and women who buy the lie and the false solution of abortion. All across our country, people are offering prayer, fasting, giving witness, and offering prayer at places where lives are taken through abortion. Here, folks from local parishes gather daily, anytime between 7 AM and 7 PM, on the sidewalk in front of the Joan Lovering Health Center, 559 Portsmouth Ave., in Greenland. You can park next door in town office parking. No confrontations, simply peaceful presence, witness, and prayer. A group from our parish gathers there to pray the Rosary for Life together on Mondays at 9 AM. Consider joining us, or go any day and time you can. Join us at the 3 PM Divine Mercy devotion on Thursdays of Lent here during adoration. Offer voluntary acts of penance and fasting. Maybe consider keeping a candle burning in one of our shrines for these intentions for life throughout this 40 Days for Life campaign, which started February 14 and goes to March 25. For more info, go to 40daysfor life.com/greenland or call local coordinator and parishioner Jackie McCoy at We are joining this effort with those in 315 locations throughout the US as well as in 30 countries around the world. Last Call for 20/20 Raffle! The next 20/20 Raffle series will begin SOON. Tickets cost $20 each and are good for 20 weeks. Each Sunday for 19 weeks, we draw two numbers to win $25 each. On the 20th week is the final drawing, with prizes of $500, $300, two at $100, and two at $50. Tickets for the next 20/20 series are available at the parish office, Attention Guys aged something: Hey guys! Recently, a group of five guys got together to share dinner and swap ideas about getting this off the ground in our parish. The goal is to provide opportunities for guys to get together and be of support and encouragement as they seek to live and grow as men of God, thus being able to more fully and faithfully embrace the diverse vocation guys are called to. That night these guys, all in their 20s, included three single guys, one engaged to be married this fall, and one about to become a dad for the first time this spring. We talked about opportunities for activity hiking, etc., spiritual enrichment, discussions to grow and support each other, and witness as men of faith. It was decided that the best way to get these ideas out there, explain and explore possibilities of what this could become, would be to have some informal open nights that will offer a chance to share a meal, deepen our faith, and brainstorm ideas for the future. So all guys 20 to 30 something consider joining us for these opportunities in these days of Lent: THIRSTY THURSDAYS March 1st and March 15th 6:00 PM at Vianney House (Rectory next door to church, 98 Summer St) Dinner Witness/Reflection Idea Swap for Events/Activities to come If you are thirsty for going deeper in your walk as a man of faith, establishing good connections with other guys seeking similar, and want to enjoy a good meal and fellowship join us! Please Fr. Gary (frgary.ccnh@gmail.com) by the Monday before if you can join us! HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE As you may know, a group of 33 of us will be departing on Sunday, May 20th, for a ten day pilgrimage to the Holy Land. After initial registration close to a year ago, we had to cut off registration with all available spaces taken. Since then, due to family situations and other factors, a few who had registered had to drop out. So, we have a few openings if you are interested. First come, first served. ($3949 pp, double) We will not be able to accept any new registrations after the end of this month. Want to come? Get more info, see a flyer? Please contact Fr. Gary by ing him at frgary.ccnh@gmail.com.

4 Lenten Faith Enrichment LENT 2018 Go deeper! Make this a Lent to remember! A number of opportunities for prayer and enrichment are offered to you in our parish community this year. We urge you to live this Lent like never before! WEEKLY LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES Weekday Mass Two options are offered each day to give everyone an opportunity to join us a few times a week: 8:00 AM ~ Monday through Saturday 12:10 PM ~ Tuesday, Thursday 7:00 PM ~ Monday, Wednesday, Friday Stations of the Cross Using different reflections each week, we will pray the stations each Friday at 8:30 AM and again at 7:30 PM. Lenten Lamentations On three Sundays of Lent (March 4, 11, 18) we will gather for this half hour of sung reflective prayer and Benediction focused on the Passion of Christ, at 6:00 PM in IC Church. This service is in the style of the Advent Evensong we offered this year. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for those who would like to come early for personal prayer at 5:30 PM, and will remain exposed after the devotion until 7 PM, for those who may wish to linger. Confessions will be heard from 5:30 to 5:50 and then again after the service. Eucharistic Adoration Monday Saturday, 7:00 7:55 AM Thursdays, 8:30 AM 5:00 PM Divine Mercy Chaplet The 3:00 PM Hour of Mercy will be observed each Thursday before the Blessed Sacrament. A meditation from St. Faustina s Diary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be included. This will be our weekly intercession, united with all praying and fasting with the 40 Days for Life Campaign across our nation. Confessions Monday Saturday after 8 AM Mass Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 6:30 PM Tuesday & Thursday after 12:10 Mass Saturday at 3 PM Sunday at 3:45 PM Sunday before/after 6 PM Lamentations All are invited to go deeper in appreciation of our Catholic faith by taking part in one or both of the following! They will be eye, mind, and heart openers for sure! Come, bring a friend! Going Deeper Into Holy Week Get an enhanced appreciation of the most solemn and sacred days of the Church year as we unwrap the scriptures, liturgical texts, symbols, and actions that take place in the holiest week of the year. In past years, Fr. Gary has offered a one-nighter overview. This year, he will use five sessions to unwrap these rich days: Week 1 Palm Sunday & opening days Week 2 Holy Thursday Week 3 Good Friday Week 4 Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil Week 5 Easter and its Octave Mondays: February 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19 after 7:00 PM Mass (7:30 to 8:15 PM) Immaculate Conception Church, 98 Summer Street A Lenten Encounter with Mercy This four part video-based study, with opportunity for reflection, discussion, and questions, will be presented on Tuesdays starting this week: February 20, 27, March 6, 13 Choose either 9:00 to 10:30 AM or 6:30 to 8:00 PM, taking place in our parish hall at 845 Woodbury Ave. Enrichment Materials Lenten Daily Reflection booklets are free for the taking at the doors of the church. In addition, we have copies of the booklet Basic Helps to Confession and the book: The Case for Christ, by Brant Pitre, available on a table at the main entrance. A free will offering is requested in basket there to help defray the cost. The booklet is a great resource to go deeper in examining your conscience in preparation for a good confession, and the book offers many insights, at a deeper level, in understanding who Jesus is as God and Man, sent from the Father to be our Redeemer. Meatless Fridays All Fridays of Lent are days of simple meals and abstinence from meat for all ages 14 and over. This penitential act is a universal practice of the Church in these days of Lent. Voluntary days of fasting can also be embraced as you choose, with savings from lesser food taken being shared with those in need as an act of Lenten almsgiving. In our parish, you can SHARE your alms through the poor box, at the church doors each weekend, which will help our outreach to those in need through our Portsmouth Catholic SHARE program.

5 Update: Moving from Maintenance to Mission Lots of things are coming together this month in our efforts. Here are a few highlights. Further details will be announced in coming bulletins. Sale of 2075 Lafayette Road As you know, a purchase and sale agreement was signed last spring for the site of the former St. James Church and Rectory. Over these months, the developer has gone through all the steps necessary for permitting, zoning, and consultation with city committees and officials. He has also firmed up his plans for the condos that were proposed and are now being planned for that site. The demolition of both buildings will follow very shortly after the final closing on the agreement and payment. Repurposing at 845 Woodbury Avenue As you know, we have completed the renovation of the former St. Catherine rectory and are enjoying our new parish offices located there, along with the Youth Center in the lower level of the building. Once we have the cash in hand for the sale of 2075 Lafayette Road, anticipated to occur within this month, we hope to begin the construction on the former St. Catherine Church to repurpose it for use as our new parish great hall (the upper level), and a flexible center of meeting rooms (lower level). We are hoping to start in early March and be completed in late summer. During that time, that building will not be in use, and we will have interim arrangements as best we can using the small area beneath our church and the school cafeteria, or other areas in school or convent. The financial review of this project at the diocese took place last week and the final review and approval with the Diocesan Real Estate Board will occur this week. Transfer/Re-use of Sacred Items Some of the items from the former churches have already been relocated, others will be in the next two weeks. We will give a complete listing of these items and their new place of use, whether in other parishes, the new Academy building, or relocated for use in our Immaculate Conception Church. More on this aspect next week. HOMESCHOOLERS? We have been approached to consider the possibility of establishing a Seacoast Homeschool Association here. There are some good things happening in the area, and we are not looking to duplicate efforts, however we could look at expanding opportunities, kicking up faith formation opportunities, and possibilities at connecting with St. Patrick Academy. So, are you interested in brainstorming? Please contact Fr. Gary, and pass this on to others you know may want to come to an idea swap, and let him know you are interested. Please leave a message for him at , x125 or frgary.ccnh@gmail.com. He will then be in touch with a meeting date and time for mid-march. New Parishioners! Occasional guests become frequent visitors, and then many visitors decide to call Corpus Christi home! We re happy to extend the hand and heart of Christian fellowship to so many who are discovering our parish as a place to be nourished in faith, supported on the journey, and in which to invest their God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure! We want to officially extend a hearty welcome to the folks who have registered (9/23/17 2/5/18) and made it official! The newest members of our growing parish family include: Ron & Emily Anzalone, Nina, Samuel, Nicholas Claudia Bedoya, Christian Kyle Boland & Erin Lynch, Charlee Michael & Lisa Cicchetti Carolyn Danforth Anthony DeLuca Garrett & Emily Donatelli, Nina Grace Duke Lauren Galavotti Carolyn Hartnett Marissa Hussey Russell Ingraham Donald & Margaret Jordan Maureen Kuban Robert & Joyce LeBlanc Tara Lundie Christian Martin Matthew Metzger Eileen McCarthy James & Cara O Connor, Thomas Patricia Payne Charles & Jenna Raizes, Ryder, Emilie James & Ann Rickards Shane Ryan Margarita Segura Chelsea & Hector Serrano, Sofia, Pilar, Julian John & Laura Vaughan David & Julianne Webber Judith Whittemore Edward & Nancy Zadravec Want To Join The Parish? If you are considering membership, please know that we would be happy to have you make our parish family yours! Start by introducing yourself to Fr. Gary after Mass so he can connect names and faces. Then, grab a registration form at the church doors to fill out and return, and you'll be officially in! Invite others you know who may have no parish family, or who have fallen away from practice of the faith, to come along with you some Sunday, introduce them, and extend an invitation to keep checking us out...who knows, they may join many others, in coming home to Corpus Christi Parish and become one more of the many parts in the one Body of Christ that we are called to be!