Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative Home to St. Mary and St. John the Evangelist Parish Families Parish Offices located at 115 Middlesex Street, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, 01863 (978) 251-8571 (978) 256-2374 fax (978) 293-0303 churches@chelmsfordcatholic.org Just as our Blessed Mother Mary and the Evangelist, called John, came together at the foot of the cross to serve Christ crucified, so also do the parish families bearing their names come together to serve each other and all who make up the body of The Risen Lord. WWW.SAINTJOHNCHELMSFORD.ORG WWW.SAINT-MARY.ORG 9 February 26, 2017: 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Parish Family of Saint John the Evangelist, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts page 2 Youth Ministry Courtney Callanan: ext 227 or ccallanan@chelmsfordcatholic.org Middle & High School Youth Ministry ADORATION AND ICE CREAM Soup & tations Help to host the Soup portion of our Lenten Soup and Stations devotion. Your help is needed to set-up, serve and clean-up. There are 2 available dates at St. John s, and 6 at St. Mary s. Volunteers are needed from 4:30-7:00 pm, and are expected to attend Stations at 7:00 pm. All volunteers will be asked to bring either a soup (meatless, in a crockpot), bread, salad or drinks. To sign up, visit... http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044fadae22abfe3-soup Faith Formation Fran Anderson: ext 212 or fran@chelmsfordcatholic.org Sunday, February 26th Confirmation 9 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Hall Wednesday, March 1st (ASH WEDNESDAY) All students are asked to report to class for attendance at 4:30 pm. Following attendance, you are asked to attend Mass with a parent. SAVE THE DATE Vacation Bible Fun 2017 July 17th -21st Sign-ups coming in Mid-March ATTENTION 10:30 am MASS GOERS
page 3 February 26th, 2017: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ash Wednesday March 1, 2017 Mass Schedule 7:00 am at St. Mary 9:00 am at St. John 4:00 pm at St. Mary 5:00 pm at St. John 7:00 pm at St. Mary Liturgy of the Word, with Distribution of Ashes 12:00 noon at St. John Fr. Brian Lenten Presentations Monday, March 6th 7:00-8:30 at St. John Church Thursday, March 30 7:00-8:30 at St. Mary Church Becoming True Disciples of Christ 3 Consecutive Mondays...March 13th, 20th and 27th 7:00-8:30 at St. Mary Church We All Want to Grow. We All Want to Improve Ourselves. We All Want to Make Our Day Count for Something., should you choose to accept, is... Meet three, distinct new people at church over the next 30 days. Not three members of the same family, but three distinctly new people. The Little Black Book A wonderful tool to help bring about a Lenten transformation! This is a 6-minute-per-day reflection on the Passion, based on St. Mark s Gospel. Pick yours up at either church entrance. Sacrament of Reconciliation In addition to our regular Saturday schedule, please consider the following opportunities to receive God s mercy Monday Evenings: 6:30-8:00 PM March 6th, 20th; April 3rd at St. Mary Monday Evenings: 6:30-8:00 PM March 13th, 27th; April 10th at St. John Wednesday Evenings: 6:30-8:00 PM At both St. John and St. Mary Daily Mass Schedule Monday - Friday: 7:00 AM: at St. Mary Saturday: 9:00 AM: at St. Mary Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM: at St. John Wednesday: 6:00 PM: at St. Mary Soup & Stations Friday Evenings of Lent at BOTH Parishes Please join us in the Hall for Soup at 6:00 PM, followed by Stations at 7:00 PM Eucharistic Adoration Ash Wednesday: 6:00-8:00 PM: at St. John Mon & Wed: 6:00-8:00 PM: at St. John Thursdays: 3:00-9:00 PM: at St. Mary Fridays: 7:30 am - 9:00 pm: at St. Mary Sat: after 9:00 AM Mass - 3:00 PM: at St. Mary All this, and more can be found in our annual publication which has been mailed to all registered families of both parishes. If you haven't received yours, there are copies available at the church entrances.
The Parish Family of Saint John the Evangelist, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts page 4 Tuesday Morning Coffee Group Meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the Month in the Church Hall following the 9:00 AM Mass God, Pizza And Beer Join us THIS WEDNESDAY, March 1st at 7:00 PM in the OPC for pizza, beer and spiritual conversation based on the upcoming Sunday s Gospel. Newcomers are ALWAYS welcome! Our monthly adoration will begin THIS Friday, March 3rd, following the 9:00 AM Mass, and will continue through Saturday morning, concluding with 9:00 AM Mass. You can show up at any time, or if you would like to commit to an hour, please contact Joe Ricciardi at joseph.ricciardi@gmail.com. St. Patrick s Dinner and shamrock raffle Parish Calendar ~ Faith Formation Class Schedule on Page 2 ~ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Coffee & Donuts following 8:30 AM Mass: Hall 12:30 PM: African Liturgy: Church 2:00-3:00 PM: Usher Meeting: Hall 6:00-8:00 PM: VBF Planning Meeting: OPC 6:00-9:30 PM: CHWC Pre-Trip Meeting: Hall MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 10:00-11:30 AM: Psalms Bible Study: St. Mary 6:00-9:00 PM: Quilter s Guild: Hall TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Tuesday Morning Coffee following daily Mass 4:00-5:30 PM: RCIA for Children: Mariotti 5:30-6:30 PM: RCIA for Teens: Mariotti 7:00-9:00 PM: Prophets Bible Study: St. Mary WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 ASH WEDNESDAY: Mass Schedule on Page 3 7:00-9:00 PM: God, Pizza & Beer: OPC THURSDAY, MARCH 2 10:00-11:30 AM: Charismatic Prayer Group: OPC 6:30-8:30 PM: Collaborative Music Ministry Rehearsal: Church 6:45 PM: BINGO (doors open at 3:00 PM): Hall FRIDAY, MARCH 3 Friday, 9:30 AM - Saturday, 9:00 AM: Nocturnal Adoration: OPC Chapel Soup (6:00 pm/hall) & Stations (7:00 pm/church) 7:00-8:30 PM: YM Adoration & Ice Cream SATURDAY, MARCH 4 3:00-3:45 PM: Confession: Church SUNDAY, MARCH 5 Coffee & Donuts following 8:30 AM Mass: Hall 11:30 AM: African Liturgy Committee Mtg: OPC 6:00-8:00 PM: VBF Planning Meeting: OPC 7:00 PM: Collaborative PPC: St. Mary Hall
page 5 February 26th, 2017: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time This Week s Readings WED, MAR 1 SAT, MAR 4 MON, FEB 27 THUR, MAR 2 SUN, MAR 5 TUE, FEB 28 FRI, MAR 3 YOUR WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH -PSALM 119:105 The providential love of God is without end and God s eternal mercy is shown to every creature. Even in times of pain and difficulty, we are called to trust in God s mercy and love. In the Gospel today, Jesus reminds us that we are worth more than the birds of the air or the flowers of the field. We lift up to you these and all priests around the world. Sanctify them. Heal and guide them. Mold them into the likeness and holiness of your MON, Son, Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. FEB 27 May their lives be pleasing to you. Amen., Eternal Father, TUES, FEB 28 WED, MAR 1 THUR, MAR 2 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH 4:00 PM: For the People of the Parish SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH 8:30 AM: Maurice Pontbriant, Sr. 10:30 AM: Roland Paradise 12:30 PM: African Liturgy: Peace & Justice for the people of Cameroon and all over the world 5:00 PM: Charles Fleming & Patricia Bombard SATURDAY, MARCH 4TH 9:00 AM: Gertrude & Charles Cavalier 4:00 PM: Steven Johnson SUNDAY, MARCH 5TH 8:30 AM: Patricia Loiselle 10:30 AM: Lucille DiMartino (1st Anniversary) 5:00 PM: For the People of the Parish May the souls of the faithful departed, especially Shirley Mudge, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. If you would like to request that a Mass be celebrated for a specific intention or person, please call the parish office and speak with Rae at ext 236. A donation of $10 per Mass Intention is requested to be made at the time that you request your intention. ~ QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK ~ BASED ON THIS SUNDAY S SCRIPTURE READINGS GOSPEL READING What are the anxieties that hinder your spiritual journey? The prophet Isaiah offered these words of comfort during Israel s exile in Babylon around 550 BC. When have you felt abandoned or forgotten by others or by God? FRI, MAR 3 SAT, MAR 4 SUN, MAR 5 SECOND READING Paul warns the Corinthians against judging others by our human standards. How do you resist this temptation?
The Parish Family of Saint John the Evangelist, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts page 6 From our Pastor!
page 7 February 26th, 2017: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP, PAUL CIOTTI :
The Parish Family of Saint John the Evangelist, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts page 8 Wondering who we are? Wondering what we do? Please allow us, in introduction, to answer these questions, plus a few others, for you.. Every week, for the next 14 weeks, we will be introducing you to a staff member. It is our hope that this will make us all a little more approachable, and a reminder that we are family, and we are here for you! Fran Anderson Director of St. John Faith Formation Fran came on board with St. John the Evangelist Parish as Parish Secretary in October, 2008. Not long thereafter, she added to her already extensive list of responsibilities, the direct-assisting of our Religious Education and Faith Formation programs. Since then, she has never once looked back! Prior to her arrival at St. John s, Fran spent 25 years in the Giftware industry, on both the wholesale and retail sides of the business. She was employed by the infamous Paper Store chain for 6 of those years as a manger and gift buyer. Once her son entered into her life, she saw that some changes needed to be made so she could be more available to him. Being a parishioner here at St. John s, she read in the bulletin that the position of Parish Secretary needed to be filled. As she lives just a stone s throw away from St. John s, it was the perfect arrangement in allowing her the time to both work and be a hands-on mom. Fran, a parishioner of St. John, is happily married to her husband of over 20 years, Larry. In 2003, they made their family complete by adopting their son, Nicholas, from Russia. For those of you who don t already know, Fran is the consummate dog lover. Her family is made all-themore complete by Chloe, an 8-year-old flat coat retriever, and Finnegan, a crazy 18-month-old golden retriever. When not spending time at home or work here in North Chelmsford, she can be found in Bridgewater, spending time with her mom (and best friend) who celebrated her 90th birthday this past summer! And when she IS home, and not working, she enjoys reading, painting, flower arranging and genealogy. But most of all, she simply enjoys the company of her family. Yes, including the dogs! As Director of the St. John Faith Formation Program, Fran is the one to see if you have questions about liturgical scheduling, if you wish to volunteer your time assisting with the over 400 students enrolled in the St. John Faith Formation Program, have your child baptized, or get yourself or your children a little more in touch with your Catholic faith.
page 9 Protect your time, and your wallet, by signing up for the WeShare online giving program. You can set up one-time or recurring contributions, which can be modified AT ANY TIME saving you the time, cost and energy of writing a check EVERY week! Join the growing number of parishioners who contribute in this way. Sign up TODAY! Call Liliana at ext 213, or visit us at ww.saintjohnchelmsford.weshareonline.org. February 26th, 2017: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time PERFORMANCE as of February 21, 2017 Please be sure to take next week s bulletin to learn how the ministries supported by the Catholic Appeal directly benefit our parish. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity and commitment to this important work. GOT PLANS? The Ash Wednesday collection supports the Church in Africa and in Central & Eastern Europe. These collections help the Church spread God s work and train Church leaders of tomorrow, help needy families materially and spiritually, rebuild churches that have fallen into disrepair, and support the sisters and brothers who have suffered for their faith. Thank you for your support. WE DO! for our collaborative
Home and Education Center for Homeless Teen Moms and Their Children Chelmsford, Massachusetts Chelmsford Elks 300 Littleton Road Route 110 Chelmsford, MA Mike s innovative material and style made him the hit and semi-finalist in the prestigious Boston Comedy Festival. He is one of Boston s Best New Comedians. Refreshments 7:00 pm Show Starts 8:00 pm Admission $30/pp (cash bar) Tickets mfhouse.bpt.me The Cursillo method aims at helping to transform, in a Christian way, the environments where people live and work through the involvement of "new men and women" who have become such from their encounter with Christ. This is a goal of the three day "little course" on Christianity; in which a team of priests and lay people, supported by the prayer and sacrifices of the movement's other members, communicated the fundamental truths of the Christian faith in an especially "living way." -Pope John Paul II, July 29, 2000 Today Today is the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Did Jesus ever have to pay rent or a monthly mortgage? Does He know the high cost of living in the Northeast in the 21st century? How can He say don t worry? Jesus is telling us to have our priorities in order and trust in Him, But seek first the kingdom of G o d a n d h i s righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. He is not saying quit your job or buy a Lamborghini. Seek first the kingdom of God means putting God in the center of our lives. How we relate to family, friends, co-workers should flow from this. Are our words and actions ordered to what is good and true? The song, Don t worry, be happy has a very good message. We have been saved by the Son of God. He will not abandon us now not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Give thanks for this.