Saint John the Evangelist Parish Rev. Brian E. Mahoney, Pastor Rev. Thomas B. Corcoran, Parochial Vicar Rev. Laurence Ren Tocci, Parochial Vicar Rev. Arnold Colletti, Senior Priest in Residence Deacon Francis X. Burke, Permanent Deacon Deacon Robert Dzuris, Senior Deacon Assisting 115 Middlesex Street, North Chelmsford, MA T: 978-251-8571 / F: 978-251-7873 www.saintjohnchelmsford.org Office Hours Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Called by Christ to unity in our Roman Catholic Faith, we bring together and welcome the faithful from diverse walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. We stand for the sanctity of life and the dignity of every person. We dedicate ourselves to formation in faith, pastoral care and service to all generations. Mass Schedule Weekend Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM 10:30 AM & 5:00 PM Weekday Monday - Saturday: 9:00 AM preceded by The Rosary at 8:30 AM September 20th, 2015: Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary
The Parish Family of Saint John the Evangelist, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts page 2 From our Pastor! I have to admit this week, I really struggled with what to write about. I thought at first I knew, with little doubt, what the Lord wanted me to write. I wrote some stuff and looked at it and said, No that s not right. I went from being focused on one idea to then having many different ideas that I started and stopped with each one. On top of that, my cat Sally wanted me to pay attention to her and pat her as I was trying to do my work. She insisted on sitting on my lap and my paying attention to her. At first I thought okay cat, you are not helping me, but it turned out that she actually helped me to get through the block I was feeling. She helped me to let go and really pay attention to what God was trying to say to me. How often we can each fall into the trap of knowing what God wants, only to struggle to understand how to make it happen. Then come to realize it was not what God intended for us to do in the first place. The biggest challenge in Christian life really is T he biggest challenge in Christian life really is learning to discover what it is that God desires us to do. learning to discover what it is God desires us to do. And yet that is the heart of Christian life. Hopefully each day we pray the Our Father. It is the perfect prayer and Christ gave it to us to help us to understand not only what to say, but also how to pray, and how to live our lives in Him. And, an important part of that prayer is thy will be done. We should not mean that in some general sense, but very particularly in our lives. The only way we can truly come to know God s will is by letting go of our preconceived notions of what it is God should want us to do. As long as we hold on to those, then there is no way for us to be able to give God room to actually tell us what his will for us is. But, it is also in the struggle of letting go that often we discover some truths about ourselves. I have to admit, the struggle for me in hearing the Lord in this article is that I like to be in control. And, when I get frustrated, that is when I feel the need to be even more in control of what I am working on. The more I desire to control things, the less room I leave for God to be in charge. The more I push God out, the more frustrated I get. And the less control I actually have over the situation. I need to simply remember thy will be done. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. But, true self-control is not that I simply refrain from doing something. Self-control is not about the ability to inhibit one s behavior from doing something wrong, or acting in a self-destructive way. True self-control is about giving up control of our lives to God. And until we do that, we will always be, in a sense, out of control. Just because we do the good does not mean we have received the fruit of self-control. If our good choices are determined by our own will, then we lack true control in our lives. True self-control only happens when we give up our will to seek and desire only the will of God. The great thing for us is that God is really patient and will use many different ways to open us to hear his voice in our lives. In this moment, as I write this, it was my cat Sally that helped me to hear God say, you are not listening to me please pay attention. And, as soon as I did, my frustration went away because I gave control back to where it belonged to God Himself. I have to admit, it is not always that easy for me to recognize or realize what my struggle is. Far too often I simply focus on the frustration that things are not going the way I think that they should be. I get focused on trying to force things to happen according to my vision of how life should be. And, quite frankly, it never works out. As the old saying goes: make plans and make God laugh. God was laughing at me pretty well this morning. When we live a life centered in our sense of order and control, we really stop living life. Our lives become a tangle of frustration, anger, hurt and a true sense of loss. The more we try to bring order out of this chaos, the more chaos we tend to create. It becomes one gigantic self-perpetuating loop. And our lives seem to never move forward. It never seems to move in the direction we think it needs to go. When we live a life with a true sense of self-control that is when we begin to truly live. We are open to hear the Lord. And the Lord lays out for us the real direction that our lives need to go. The more we give ourselves to God s will, the less we feel that sense of frustration and the chaos seems to go away. I know that in writing this article, that is exactly what happened. It was only when I let go and let God that what needed to be happen, and what needed to be said, occurred. So, let us all try it for a day. Let God actually be in charge and see what happens in your life. It may be a little scary at first, but it surely has its benefits. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can most easily reach me at fr.brian@chelmsfordcatholic.org. Please keep me in your prayers. In Christ, Fr. Brian
page 3 September 20th, 2015: Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time A Word of Thanks from Fr. Brian... How blessed we were as a community last weekend by the tremendous gathering at our first collaborative event. It was a wonderful moment to share our faith and time to begin to get to know each other. Any such event is only possible through the hard work of many people. I cannot thank everyone who was involved, but I would like to extend a special thanks to Brian Muscato and his crew for the delicious food to Terry Yetsko and Larry Clawson for the setting up and dismantling of the sound system to Dan Heider and Paul Firicano for the transporting of tents and over 350 chairs from, and back to, St. Mary s to all our collaborative ministries, for your spirit of openness and teamwork and lastly, to Paul Ciotti for putting it all together! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH 4:00 PM: Carolyn Leonard; Isabelle Morrisette; Frank & Francis Trpik; Diana McGrade (1st Anniversary) SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH 8:30 AM: Doris Haase 10:30 AM: Edward & Irene Spinelli 5:00 PM: Pro Populo, for the People of the Parish THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH 9:00 AM: Andrew Barrett, Sr. & John Barrett SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH 4:00 PM: Agnes Burns (25th Anniversary) SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH 8:30 AM: St. John Catechists 10:30 AM: George O'Brien 5:00 PM: Pro Populo, for the People of the Parish May the souls of the faithful departed, especially Robert Millette, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.!ATTENTION! St. John Facility Key Holders Effective September 28th, your key will NO LONGER WORK! Please contact Liliana for further information. B A N N S I Carrie Ladebauche & James Murphy B A N N S III Courtney Gill & John Haran R o s e f o r L i f e In Memory of Polly Duffy (2nd Anniversary) -from friends To book a Rose for Life, call Christine; ext 214. Rose Donated by Blossoms Florist Knights of Columbus Annual Tootsie Roll Drive Members from the local council of the Knights of Columbus will be outside collecting donations following all Masses next weekend, September 26th/27th. This annual Tootsie Roll Drive raises funds for special needs children in our community for purchases, such as wheelchairs, ramps and computer speech boards, that will improve the life of the child. We greatly appreciate your support of this worthy cause. If you would like more information about this fund or the Knights of Columbus, please see one of the members after Mass, or visit our web site at www.koc9275.org. 33 Days to Glory A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in preparation for Marian Consecration October 11th November 22nd Following the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass Pre-Registration is REQUIRED as materials need to be ordered, so SIGN UP TODAY! The cost of this retreat is $25.00 For further information, contact Julie at 978.888.8418 or at jewls0063@hotmail.com
The Parish Family of Saint John the Evangelist, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts page 4 Parish Calendar SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH NO COFFEE & DONUTS 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Grade K-8 Parent Meeting: Hall 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Grade 9/10 Confirmation: Hall 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: African Liturgy Committee: OPC 12:30 PM: Group Baptism: Church MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST 6:30-9:00 PM: ACTS Core Meeting: OPC TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND Tuesday Morning Coffee, following 9:00 am Mass 7:00-9:00 PM: ACTS Bible Study: Mariotti THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH 10:00 AM: Charismatic Prayer Group: OPC 6:45 PM: BINGO (doors open at 3:00 PM): Hall FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH 6:30 PM: African Community Rosary: OPC 6:30-8:30 PM: Middle School Youth Ministry Event Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive following all Masses this Weekend SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH 9:00 AM - NOON: Yard Sale Donations: Drop Off to Garage 3:15-3:45 PM: Confession: Church SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH NO COFFEE & DONUTS 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Catechist Meeting: Hall 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Grade 7-8 Class: Hall 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Home School New Parent Mtg: Mariotti 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Confirmation Class: Mary Gill Room 12:30 PM: African Liturgy: Church 6:00-7:30 PM: CHWC Parent Info Meeting: Mariotti Youth Ministry www.chelmsfordyouthministry.weebly.com Luis Nieto: ext 230 or luis@chelmsfordcatholic.org OPEN TO GRADES 7-12 Middle School Youth Ministry Event Tower of Babel Competition Friday, September 25th 6:30-8:30 PM in the Hall information meeting 6:00-7:00 pm in the Mariotti Room Can you believe that one week of your summer can change your life forever? Well, IT CAN!!! Consider putting this statement to the test by joining us for the 2016 CHWC Summer Mission Trip to Morganton, North Carolina: July 17-23, 2016 Travel to another city, meet new people, renew your faith, serve the poor all while having FUN! Whether you are already on board, or just looking to learn more, DON T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to have your questions answered! Visit www.chelmsfordyouthministry.weebly.com #3rd ANNUAL YARD Sale Saturday/ Sunday, October 3rd/ 4th (rain date October 10th/11th) NEW DATE FOR Electronics Recycling Day OCTOBER 4th, 2015: 9:30 am - 2:00 pm ACCEPTING DONATIONS: Saturdays: 9 am - 12 noon NOW through NEXT WEEKEND September 26th We are holding our semi-annual recycling event. We will be happy to take your discarded electronics (NO TV s PLEASE), while at the same time, earning some extra cash for St. John s! This event will take place in the church parking lot. Fees are comparable to town/private programs.
page 5 September 20th, 2015: Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Faith formation Fran Anderson: ext 212 or fran@chelmsfordcatholic.org MEETING REMINDERS Home School Parents: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Mariotti Catechist Meeting: 9:30 am - 10:30 am: Hall GRADE 7/8 CLASSES BEGIN and Wednesday, September 30th Safeguarding the Dignity of Every Human Person Today, the Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday! This year s focus is on the theme "Safeguarding the Dignity of Every Human Person." Next, those whom the St. John s community has designated to serve as catechists, will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith. An Italian Night Dinner Saturday, November 14th at 5:30 PM Plated Dinner Includes: Pasta, Meatballs, Chicken Cacciatore, Antipasto, Garlic Bread, Hot & Cold Beverages Dessert: Italian Gelato & Coffee Service $10.00 DONATION PER PERSON (under 5 free) Ticket Sale Deadline: NOVEMBER 8th For more information on reserving your seat or a boxed meal to go, contact: Jane Sockey at 978-649-3404 or the Parish Office at 978-251-8571 accordionist Ed Ciampa performing tableside CAN T STAY TO EAT? CALL US TO ORDER IT BOXED TO TAKE HOME! From Our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Tom This past week, our Holy Mother the Church, made memory of Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15th. This feast can be traced back to the twelfth century and was especially treasured by the Cistercian order. The piety surrounding this memorial is rooted in the seven sorrows of Mary: 1. Simeon s prophesy that a sword of sorrow would pierce Mary s heart 2. The flight into Egypt after Jesus birth 3. The loss of the child Jesus 4. The meeting of Mary and Jesus on the road to Calvary 5. The crucifixion and death of Jesus 6. The body of Jesus taken down from the cross 7. The burial of Jesus in the tomb The real sorrow of Mary seem to be rooted in being the mother of a son headed for destruction and death, and there is nothing she can do about it. Her roles is not to offer guidance or advice. Mary must simply be there to offer what support she can, providing a rootedness for Jesus that no one else can give. Meditating on the seven sorrows of Mary reminds us of her humility, and show us a certain type of martyrdom so many mothers endure for the sake of their children, our of pure love for them. Tuesday Morning Coffee Group Meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the Month in the Church Hall following the 9:00 AM Mass Join us THIS Tuesday, September 22 Npouimz!Bgsjdbo!Mjuvshz! NEXT Sunday, September 27, at 12:30 PM As always, ALL are invited... BINGO AT ST. JOHN S EVERY Thursday night Doors open at 3:00 pm First Game at 6:45 pm Intermission, Door Prizes, Raffle and HOT Food!!
The Parish Family of Saint John the Evangelist, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts page 6 Highlights of the Pope s Visit to America Pope Francis Visits Washington D.C. Tuesday, September 22nd Pope Francis arrives in D.C. at Joint Base Andrews Wednesday, September 23rd White House Welcoming Ceremony and personal meeting with President Barack Obama Midday Prayer with US Bishops at St. Matthew s Cathedral Junipero Serra Canonization Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Thursday, September 24th Speech to the Senate and House of Representatives Visit to St. Patrick s Catholic Church in D.C. and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Evening prayer at St. Patrick s Cathedral Pope Francis Visits New York Thursday, September 24th Depart DC Arrive New York Evening prayer at St. Patrick s Cathedral Friday, September 25th United Nations General-Assembly Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem Papal motorcade through Central Park Madison Square Garden Mass Pope Francis Visits Philadelphia Saturday, September 26th Depart New York.. Arrive Philadelphia Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Visit to Independence Mall Visit to Festival of Families at Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Prayer Vigil with World Meeting of Families Papal meeting with Bishops at St. Martin s Chapel, at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility Papal Mass for World Meeting of Families Departure for return to Rome October is Respect Life Month After all Masses beginning on the weekend of October 3rd/4th, we will be distributing baby bottles from the Pregnancy Care Center. The Pregnancy Care Center (PCC) is a Christ-centered ministry committed to saving lives physically, spiritually and emotionally one life at a time. Take the bottle home, fill it with cash or a check (made payable to PCC) and return it to the church NO LATER than Sunday, October 25th. As you will see from the insert in the bottle, you may list the name and address of someone you wish to honor. The PCC will send a special card to them, showing them that you have made a gift for life in their name. The Baby Bottle Campaign is used to fund PCC programs that help women in crisis pregnancies. Because October is Respect Life Month, this is a wonderful opportunity to respect life as a family. To receive more information about PCC, please call 978.373.5700. Pastoral Care to the Sick & Homebound Workshop Saturdays, October 10 & 17 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Attendees from Phase I, II and III Collaborative Parishes can attend this workshop for FREE! This workshop serves as a wonderful introduction for volunteers new to the Ministry to the Sick, as well as a way to deepen the skills and spiritual foundation of more experienced Pastoral Visitors and Eucharistic Ministers engaged in visiting the sick at home or in nursing homes. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Registration Forms can be found at the church entrances or you can call 617-746-5843. Completed registration forms are to be sent to: Karen Farrell Health Care Ministry, Archdiocese of Boston 66 Brooks Drive; Braintree, MA 02184-3839 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 1st For further information, you can contact Karen at 617-746-5843 or at KFarrell@rcab.org