FROM FATHER RICK

 

SUMMER MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday – 4:00 PM

Sunday – 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM

 

SISTER PARISH WEEKEND

Thanks to all who made Fr. Emmanuel’s visit so warm and welcoming. We spoke about the initiatives he brought to us from his parish. In the next month or so I will be sharing here where I see this relationship growing.

 

A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION AND OUR SUMMER COOKOUT # 2

 

Cookout #2 – Wednesday, August 15 @ 6:30 pm

Masses for the Holy Day will be at 12:10 pm and 5:30 pm. The evening Mass will be followed by our second summer cookout. Please RSVP to Irene in the Parish Office before Sunday, August 12.

 

A SHORT REFLECTION – SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL PROBABLY DO!

 

There is a Buddhist exercise that teaches us to appreciate the sacramentality of nature and living in the present moment. It is called "walking meditation." It is designed to stop us from hurrying, pacing, dashing, and rushing, when our "steps print anxiety and sorrow on the Earth." In this meditation we walk slowly, alone or with a friend, preferably in a beautiful place. We walk as though we were the happiest person on earth. We walk, not thinking about the past or worrying about the future. We walk, not trying to get from here to there. We stop our minds from darting around. We transform our walking path to a field for meditation—our feet taking every step in full awareness. Breathing and stepping are in harmony. Then we can pray, perhaps, with the poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins:

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil…

And for all this, nature is never spent;

There lives the dearest freshness deep

down things…

Copyright © 2001 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1800 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago IL 60622-1101; 1-800-933-1800; www.ltp.org.  Text and art by Gertrud Mueller Nelson. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

 

Have a great week,

Pray and work for Peace,

Fr. Rick

 

 

 

 

Imagine being part of an organization that fills your heart and your mind with the joy of giving to others and the feeling that comes with making a difference. Knights are Catholic men, 18 years of age and older, who are committed to making their community a better place, while supporting their Church. Being a Knight is more than camaraderie; it is being involved with your community; it is supporting your local Catholic Church, while enhancing your own faith and setting a good faith example; it is about protecting and enhancing your family life. You can volunteer as much as you like or as little and on your own schedule. If you want to find out more, contact Jim McKain at 978-475-7931 or visit the website at www.kofc.org.

August Meeting: there will be one meeting only in August, which will be held on Wednesday, August 22nd, at 7:30 PM in Driscoll Hall.

 

 

MONEY MATTERS

On the weekend of July 14/15

Weekly donations $2,770.00

Monthly donations $760.00

ParishPay July $7,830.00

Catholic Appeal Goal $39,500.00

Catholic Appeal to Date $50,290.00

 

PROGRAMS AT THE FRANCISCAN CENTER

Day of Prayer: Wednesday, July 25, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The focus will be "St. Mary of Magdala…Primary Witness to the Resurrection." The $30 fee to attend includes lunch.

 

Weekend Retreat: "The Life of Christ Reflected in the Mysteries of the Rosary," August 24th to 26th. Enjoy an atmosphere of quiet for an integration experience on the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries in the life of Christ. The facilitator for this retreat is Marge Milanese, a spiritual director and retreat facilitator from the diocese of Albany, NY. Cost: $150.00

 

To register, please call 978-851-3391. The Franciscan Center is located on River Road in Andover. To find out more about the center and their programs, visit them online at www.franciscanretreat.org.

 

SPECIAL COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND TO AID THE CHURCH IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

 

While the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR endured decades of communist oppression, the Church suffered grave wounds to its spiritual life and pastoral capacity to serve its people. For generations Church leaders were killed or imprisoned. Catechists were persecuted, and churches, monasteries, and seminaries were closed or destroyed. As a result of this severe repression, the Church was greatly weakened. The bishops of the region are faced with the formidable task of restoring its church structures and, more importantly, rebuilding the spiritual center of its communities.

 

The Office to Aid the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe provides a focal point for Catholics of the United States to express our compassion and solidarity with our brothers and sisters whose faith has endured such great suffering. Proceeds from the national collection are used for supporting religious education programs; training seminarians; expanding social ministries; and rebuilding churches, convents, and schools. Your generosity can help provide the resources to grow and nourish the faith in this region of the world.

For fascinating stories, photos, and further information about aid in this region, visit www.aidtoeasterneurope.org.

 

 

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION

 

"Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." Luke 10:42

The story of Martha and Mary reminds us that good stewards give time both to serve the Lord and to simply be with Him in prayer.

 

MASS SCHEDULE AND INTENTIONS

 

Saturday, July 22, Vigil, 16th Ordinary Sunday

4:00 pm: Louis Denis Duquette

 

Sunday, July 22, 16th Ordinary Sunday

8:00 am: Kathleen Saunders

10:30 am: People of the Parish

 

Tuesday, July 24

No weekday Mass today

 

Thursday, July 26, Weekday Mass

12:10 pm

 

Friday, July 27, Weekday Mass

12:10 pm: Henry Chemaly

 

Saturday, July 28, Vigil, 17th Ordinary Sunday

4:00 pm: People of the Parish

 

Sunday, July 29, 17th Ordinary Sunday

8:00 am: Henry Chemaly

10:30 am: Michael Picardi IV, **Baptism of Lucy Elizabeth Baker

 

 

Prayers requested for: Parishioner Philip McNamara

 

Readings for the Week of July 22, 200:

Sunday: Gn 18:1-10a/Col 1:24-28/Lk 10:38-42

Monday: Ex 14:5-18/Mt 12:38-42

Tuesday: Ex 14:21-15:1/Mt 12:46-50

Wednesday: 2 Cor 4:7-15/Mt 20:20-28

Thursday: Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b/Mt 13:10-17

Friday: Ex 20:1-17/Mt 13:18-23

Saturday: Ex 24:3-8/Mt 13:24-30

Next Sunday: Gn 18:20-32/Col 2:12-14/Lk 11:1-13

 

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK—SIXTEENTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

 

Question for Adults:

The Gospel today invites us to serve and to be hospitable. When did you welcome Jesus into your home through the presence of a neighbor or a stranger?

 

Question for Youth:

Martha chose to serve, Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to him. Of those two actions, service or prayer, which do you feel more comfortable with? Why?

 

Question for Children:

Name a time when you shared what you had with a friend, or a classmate at school.

 

 

STEWARDSHIP PRAYER

 

Lord God, You alone are the source of every good gift, of the vast array of our universe, and the mystery of each human life. We praise you and we thank you for your great power and your tender, faithful love.

Everything we are and everything we have is your gift, and after having created us you have given us into the keeping of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Fill our minds with his truth and our hearts with his love that in His Spirit we may be bonded together into a community of faith, a parish family, a caring people.

In the name of Jesus, we commit ourselves to be good stewards of the gifts entrusted to us, to share our time, talent, our material gifts as an outward sign of the treasure we hold in Jesus. Amen.

 

 

Please remember in your prayers those newly baptized into our community:

Jake Vetrano Antuna

Emily Clare Brooks

Connor Pawel Farnum

Hailey Melin Krzesinski

Gregory Stephen Mercado

Benjamin Matthew Murphy

Jonathan Thomas Oatman

 

CATHOLIC SCHOOL OPENINGS FOR THIS FALL

 

Lowell Catholic High School, a Xaverian sponsored co-educational school, is the school of choice for those students and families in the Lowell and Merrimack Valley who desire a Catholic college-preparatory education. They are currently accepting applications at all grade levels for the 2007-2008 school year. Financial aid is still available. For more information, visit their website at www.lowellcatholic.org  or contact Jocelyn Mendonsa, Director of Admissions, at 978-452-1794, ext. 22.

 

Malden Catholic High School, a Xaverian sponsored boys school, still has a few seats available for the 9th grade for the upcoming school year. They also accept transfer students. If interested, please contact the Admissions Office at 781-322-3098, ext. 308. For more information, visit their website at www.maldencatholic.org.

 

The Academy of Notre Dame, sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is a private, Catholic co-educational elementary school and an all-girls preparatory high school located in Tyngsboro, MA. The school is currently accepting applications for K1, K2, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. For more information, please contact Barbara Aldrich-Clougherty, Director of Admissions, at 978-649-7611, ext. 327 or visit their website at www.ndatyngsboro.org .

 

St. Augustine School in Andover has a few openings remaining in their Nursery, Pre-K, and Kindergarten classes. To apply, contact Ann Daly at 978-475-2414 or go online for an application at www.staugustineandover.org.

For more information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston, including curriculum resources and a directory of schools, go to www.abcso.org.

 

 

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

 

There is a Caregiver Support Group meeting every second Tuesday of the month, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, at the Nevins Alzheimers Family Care Center in Methuen. For more information, contact Julie Blanchard at 978-682-3582.

 

IN SERVICE

 

Maj. Kurt O’Rourke Mark DuPont, USCC, Kevin Grace, USA, Lyle Shackelford, Jaime Ray Seluk, USN, Pvt. Alexander Sabu, USA, Lt. Col. Paul Severance, USAF, Gen’l. R. Steve Whitcomb, USA, Lt. Col. Brian P. Bedell, USA, Capt. Lauren Whitcomb, USA, Col. Patrick J. Donahue, USA, Col. Brian P. Donahue, USA, Michael McGaffigan, USA, Beth Carriere, Nurse, USA, Steve Comstock, Pilot, USN, Lt. Jesse Salisbury, USAF, Sgt. Maureen Galvin, USA,SpOps, Lt.J.G. Kevin B. O’Brien, USN, Miko Belonia, Maj. Tony Hoffman, USA, Maj. Ross Coffman, USA, Maj. Garth Howe, USA, USA, Chief Warrant Officer II, Michael Morris, Captain Matthew Mancini, USA, Sgt. Ellen Barnes O’Connor, USA, Pvt. Adam James Mazza, USA, Pvt. Joseph D. Gagnon, USM, Col. Joseph Albanese, USA, Cpt. Eric Eckberg, USA

 

 

SECOND SUMMER COOKOUT—MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

 

Hard to believe the summer is halfway through! Our second summer cookout will be held on Wednesday, August 15th, at 6:30 PM, following the 5:30 PM Holy Day Mass. Looking forward to seeing you there! Save the date and please RSVP to Irene at 978-683-8922 or ibonner@comcast.net  before Sunday, August 12, if you plan to attend.

 

 

FOSTER HOMES NEEDED

 

The Lutheran Community Services Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program is looking for individuals and couples who are interested in becoming foster parents for adolescent refugee youth. These refugee minors have been welcomed into our country. Separated from their parents and guardians, they are in need of safe homes. A stipend is provided for foster parents, and youth receive medical and dental insurance.

Since 1980, these refugee teens have entered the United States with dreams of a better life in this country. They have come from Vietnam, Cambodia, Haiti, and Central America. The most recent arrivals come from Sudan, China, Liberia, and Somalia. Consider being part of a team that helps them off to a good start. For more information about this opportunity, call Karen Santella at 781-997-0872.

 

NEIGHBORS IN NEED

 

Neighbors in Need is a faith-based community organization serving at-risk families and youth in Greater Lawrence. The organization serves 350 families per week in eight food pantries located in Lawrence and Methuen. The Infants in Need and Clothes Bin programs provide food, formula, diapers, clothing, and household items at no cost to the families who request them.

 

You can support Neighbors in Need anytime during the year by dropping your non-perishable food donation into the bin in the vestibule of the church.

 

In addition, clean clothing in good condition may be dropped off at the Neighbors in Need warehouse located at 95 E. Haverhill Street in Lawrence, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

 

For more information about their programs; postings for volunteer opportunities; food item request lists; and directions to their warehouse locations, visit them online at www.neighborsinneed.net  or call 978-685-8321.

 

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK—SEVENTEENTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

 

A reading from the Book of Genesis 18:20-32

 

In those days, the LORD said: "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out."

While Abraham’s visitors walked on farther toward Sodom, the LORD remained standing before Abraham. Then Abraham drew nearer and said: "Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to make the innocent die with the guilty so that the innocent and the guilty would be treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world act with justice?" The LORD replied, "If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." Abraham spoke up again: "See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am but dust and ashes! What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?" He answered, "I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there." But Abraham persisted, saying "What if only forty are found there?" He replied, "I will forbear doing it for the sake of the forty." Then Abraham said, "Let not my Lord grow impatient if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?" He replied, "I will forbear doing it if I can find but thirty there." Still Abraham went on, "Since I have thus dared to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?" The LORD answered, "I will not destroy it, for the sake of the twenty." But he still persisted: "Please, let not my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time. What if there are at least ten there?" He replied, "For the sake of those ten, I will not destroy it."

 

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians 2:12-14

 

Brothers and sisters: You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross.

 

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 11:1-13

 

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:

 

Father, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread

and forgive us our sins

for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,

and do not subject us to the final test."

 

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence."

 

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

 

Copyright 1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.