FROM FATHER RICK
GENERATIONS OF FAITH
This weekend we
celebrate our first Event of the year, as we gather
for the Lord’s Day. Once again Liturgy Training
Publications offers a reflection on “Keeping
Sunday,” which I offer for your reflection.
This is the day the Lord
has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Even before you open
your eyes in the early mornings don’t you think
about the day ahead? To wake up to the fact that it
is Sunday and a day not like the others in feeling
and spirit means that you have a way of celebrating
this day; that you know the art of celebrating a
feast. You know that Sunday is a day created for our
benefit. It means to give us a taste of heaven. But
if Sunday is merely a day to make it to church on
time, then you may need some ways to make Sunday
special.
A special Sunday begins
on Friday night. By sundown on Friday, try to have a
clean slate. Complete what needs doing—finish off
the unpleasant chores. Clean off your desk. Get the
grocery shopping done for the weekend so you don’t
have to shop on Sunday (thereby asking others to
serve you in the shops on Sunday). It is important
to take time to repair your relationships with the
rest of the family.
Use Saturday to ready
your home for Sunday. Put the house and yard in
order. Wash the car. Change the linens. Cook
something special for Sunday’s brunch. Bring fresh
flowers to brighten the table. Read tomorrow’s
gospel as a family and talk about it. Put the
children to bed with greater attention. Saturday
night is a special opportunity for the adults to
spend time together repairing and enjoying their
relationships.
On Sunday, begin the new
week in a special way. Put Sunday music on the
stereo. Avoid all unnecessary talk. Go from bedroom
to bedroom speaking the ancient monastic greeting:
“Let us arise and bless the Lord.” Dress in your
“Sunday best;” if you’ve recently bought new
clothes, wear them for the first time on a Sunday.
Sunday clothes are a metaphor for our baptismal
garments. Don’t watch TV or read the Sunday papers
before Eucharist.
At brunch, use a special
meal prayer. Then change from your “Sunday best” to
clothes for relaxation and play. Resolve to do no
unnecessary work. Go to a museum, the park, the
beach, the zoo, or the mountains. Play the piano,
read a book, go swimming, play ball, read the fat
Sunday papers. Family members or friends can take
turns planning Sunday’s recreation. If there is a
special ball game or television program that is
truly worth watching, watch it together. Preparing
Sunday dinner can be a cooperative undertaking—and
Sunday dinner can be one day in the week you can
count on everyone being together. It’s also a good
meal to invite a friend. Use the good table cloth
and the good dishes. Whatever you undertake to do on
Sunday, do it without haste or anxiety. Sunday is a
day meant to restore and refresh us. Sunday is a day
to become fully human.
Copyright © 2001
Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training
Publications, 1800 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago
IL 60622‑1101; 1‑800‑933‑1800; www.ltp.org. Text by
Gertrud Mueller Nelson. All rights reserved. Used
with permission.
Sunday is an opportunity
to celebrate Thanksgiving Day each week. Thanks for
all that God has done for us in Creation and
Redemption which we celebrate each Sunday. As we
reflect on the gratitude of the one leper who
returned to bless God, we offer thanks and praise to
God in our greatest act of thanksgiving as we join
in the gift of the Eucharist.
Have a great week,
If you want peace – work
for justice (Pope Paul VI),
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.
Next Meeting:
Wed., November 7, 7:30 PM in Driscoll Hall.
THIS Weekend is the
annual Knights of Columbus “Tootsie Roll Drive”
following all the weekend Masses.
Please support this
worthy effort.
NEXT Sunday, October
21, our parish council of the Knights of Columbus
invites you to a Parish Family Breakfast. Stop by
Driscoll Hall anytime from 8:00-11:00 AM to enjoy
breakfast and catch up with your fellow
parishioners.
Second Collection
Next Weekend
World Mission
Sunday—“All the Churches for All the World”
What makes World Mission
Sunday such an important celebration in our Church?
As the title reminds us, it is a universal
celebration carried out through the world in which
all members in every country, diocese, and parish
lift up their minds and hearts in solidarity with
Christ, our Lord and Savior. We are asked to
consider that the Church is larger than our own
locale. The problems and challenges in our own place
must be situated in the context of the larger
Church. It is not just a “second collection”; it is
a mindset, a mission mentality, celebrated on this
day. Please be as generous as you are able.
Stewardship
Reflection
“Has none but this
foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Luke
17:18
Jesus seems so sad and
disappointed in the nine lepers who did not return
to thank Him. Do we regularly return to thank God?
Or do we run off to our busy lives, taking for
granted all the good things that God does for us
every day of our lives?
Spiritual Exercises
of St. Ignatius
The Office of Worship
and Spiritual Life is offering Spiritual Exercises
of St. Ignatius for Catholic adults. This year the
Spiritual Exercises will begin on Wednesday,
November 7, 2007, and conclude on Wednesday, April
30, 2008. The Spiritual Exercises require
participants to pray the assigned material daily and
participate in the weekly meeting. The sessions are
held at the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life,
Peterson Hall, Saint John Seminary, in Brighton,
from 7:00-9:00 PM. Since there are limited openings,
personal interviews are required. For further
information, send email to
spiritual_development@rcab.org or call the
Office of Worship and Spiritual Life at
617-779-3640.
Community Blood Drive
Wednesday, October 17
2:00–8:00 PM
St. Robert’s,
Driscoll Hall
Please call
1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit
www.givelife.org
and schedule your
appointment to donate today!
Weekend Retreats,
November 2-4, 2007
Directed Retreat:
at the Franciscan Center in Andover. This retreat
allows you to come away from the busyness of
everyday life and spend time with our Lord in quiet
reflection. You meet with a spiritual director once
each day to explore God’s presence and activity in
your life. The cost for the weekend is $150. Please
contact Marcy Venskus at 978-851-3391, ext. 21, for
more information or to register.
Prayer and the Vows
in Religious Life: this retreat for women 18 and
older is sponsored by the Sisters of the
Presentation of Mary and will be held at the Marie
Joseph Spiritual Center in Biddeford, Maine (south
coast). The cost is $135 for the weekend. For
information, contact Sister Susan Frederick at
susanpm280@yahoo.com or 978-689-3746.
Mass Schedule and
Intentions
Saturday, October 13,
Vigil, 28th Ordinary Sunday
4:00 pm: Ida Lucille
Brown; *Baptism of Sarah Kathleen Kroeger
Sunday, October 14,
28th Ordinary Sunday
7:30 am: Henry Chemaly
9:00 am: John Keenan;
*Baptism of Amanda Louise Lightburn
11:00 am: Anointing of
the Sick
Tuesday, October 16,
Weekday Mass
12:10 pm
Thursday, October 18,
Feast of Luke, evangelist
12:10 pm: Deceased
members of the Marcoux Family
Friday, October 19,
John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions,
martyrs
12:10 pm
Saturday, October 20,
Vigil, 29th Ordinary Sunday
4:00 pm: People of the
Parish; *Baptism of Christian Grasso
Sunday, October 21,
29th Ordinary Sunday
7:30 am: John Sudol
9:00 am: Rosemary Bernal
11:00 am: Joseph & Nancy
Licata
Ministry Exceptions
Requested
Our current liturgical
ministry schedule runs through the weekend of
November 25th. The next cycle will run from December
1/2 through the weekend of February 2/3. A separate
schedule will be issued for the Christmas Masses.
Please submit your known exceptions to availability
by November 2 to Irene at
ibonner@comcast.net or 978-683-8922.
Readings for the Week
of October 14, 2007
Sunday: 2 Kgs
5:14-17/2 Tm 2:8-13/Lk 17:11-19
Monday: Rom
1:1-7/Lk 11:29-32
Tuesday: Rom
1:16-25/Lk 11:37-41
Wednesday: Rom
2:1-11/Lk 11:42-46
Thursday: 2 Tm
4:10-17b/Lk 10:1-9
Friday: Rom
4:1-8/Lk 12:1-7
Saturday: Rom
4:13, 16-18/Lk 12:8-12
Next Sunday: Ex
17:8-13/2 Tm 3:14-4:2/Lk 18:1-8
Question of the
Week—Twenty-Eighth Ordinary Sunday
Question for Adults:
What are some ways you can think of to show
gratitude to God? Make them concrete and real.
Question for Youth:
As you grow up, learning how to say "thanks" is an
important lesson. What are some specific, concrete
ways you can show your gratitude to your teachers
and parents? And what are some ways to show God you
and thankful?
Question for Children:
Make up a prayer which tells God you are thankful
for everything you have, even if it’s not all you
want.
Reminder: Next
weekend we will celebrate our second Generations of
Faith Festival. The Festival topic is “All
Saints–Responding to God’s Call to Holiness,”
preparing us for the Event of the Feast of
All Saints on Thursday, November 1.
The Youth Choir is
open to new members.
Please join us as we
sing and celebrate at 9:00 AM Mass every Sunday.
Youth Choir FAQs
Question: How old
do you have to be?
Answer: Second
grade through High School.
Question: Do I
have to try out?
Answer: No.
Question: Can I
join anytime during the year?
Answer: Yes.
Question: How do
I join?
Answer: Just come
to any rehearsal on Thursdays between 5:30 and 6:45
PM in the church.
Question: What if
I can't be at every rehearsal and every 9:00 AM Mass
because of “soccer, baseball, family commitments,
conflicts that come up, etc.”?
Answer: We
appreciate knowing about conflicts in advance but
this happens to every choir member at some time
during the year and we look forward to your return
when your schedule changes.
Question: If I
have more questions, who can I ask?
Answer: Kathy
Schardin at 978-475-0228 or Yvonne Gobis at
978-452-0831.
This Week in Our
Parish
Monday, October 15
7:00-8:30
PM Generations of Faith Activity Leader Meeting,
Driscoll Hall
7:00
PM Needs Assessment Committee Meeting,
Bellarmine Room
Tuesday, October 16
12:10
PM Weekday Mass, Church
Wednesday, October 17
2:00-8:00
PM Community Blood Drive, Driscoll Hall
Thursday, October 18
12:10
PM Weekday Mass, Church
2:00-3:30
PM Bereavement Support Group, Seton Room
5:45
PM Youth Choir Practice, Church
6:30
PM Scouts, Driscoll Hall
7:30
PM Adult Choir Practice, Church
Friday, October 19
Parish
Office Will Be Closed
10:45
AM Adult Enrichment, Bellarmine Room
12:10 PM
Weekday Mass, Church
5:30-8:30 PM
Generations of Faith Festival, Driscoll Hall
Sunday, October 21
8:00-11:00
AM Knights of Columbus Parish Family Breakfast,
Driscoll Hall
12:30-3:30
PM Generations of Faith Festival, Driscoll Hall
5:00-8:00
PM Generations of Faith Festival, Driscoll Hall
Christmas Floral
Showcase
Sr. Josette announces
the fifteenth and final year of the Christmas Floral
Showcase at Searles Castle in Windham, NH. Showcase
dates are October 26, 27, 28; November 2, 3, 4; and
November 9, 10, 11. Area florists decorate the
Castle with Christmas silk floral arrangements and
visitors will have the opportunity to purchase or
order the displayed arrangements. Purchases are to
be paid with cash or check; credit cards are not
accepted. Proceeds benefit the Sisters of Mercy in
their effort to restore the Castle.
Admission is $10; Senior
Citizens and Children under 12 are $8. Tickets will
be sold at the door. Showcase hours are 11:00 am to
4:00 pm. The ticket window closes at 3:00 pm. For
additional information, call 603-890-0458.
Please note that the
Parish Office will be closed on Friday, October 19.
Catholic High School
Information
Entrance Exam
The placement test for
all Catholic High Schools in the Archdiocese of
Boston will be administered on Saturday, November
17, and again on Saturday, December 8, 2007. The
test is for eighth-grade students only. For
registration forms and information on test
locations, contact your local Catholic High School,
or the Catholic School Office at 617-298-6555.
Open Houses
St. John’s
Preparatory School, Danvers, MA
Sunday, October 21:
starting times at 10, 11, & 12 noon
St. John’s is a Xaverian
Brothers sponsored school for young men.
For more information,
call 978-774-1050, ext. 301, or visit them online at
www.stjohnsprep.org.
Bishop Fenwick High
School, Peabody, MA
Sunday, October 14,
1:00-4:00 PM
Thursday, November 15,
6:30-8:30 PM
Bishop Fenwick is a
co-educational school. For more information,
please contact the
Admissions Office at 978-587-8360 or
admission@fenwick.org,
or visit them online at
www.fenwick.org.
Presentation of Mary
Academy, Methuen, MA
Sunday, October 14,
10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
The Academy is a school
for young women. For more information,
please call the
Admissions Office at 978-682-9391, ext. 108, or go
to
www.pmamethuen.org.
Malden Catholic High
School, Malden, MA
Sunday, October 28,
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Malden Catholic is a
Xaverian Brothers sponsored school for young men.
For more information,
call 781-322-3098, or visit them online at
www.maldencatholic.org.
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, Cpt. 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
SCRIPTURE READINGS
FOR NEXT WEEK–TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
A reading from the
Book of Exodus 17:8-13
In those days, Amalek
came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore,
said to Joshua, “Pick out certain men, and tomorrow
go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be
standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in
my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him: he
engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to
the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as
Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the
better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest,
Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses’ hands,
however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for
him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his
hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that
his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua
mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of
the sword.
A reading from the
second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy 3:14-4:2
Beloved: Remain faithful
to what you have learned and believed, because you
know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy
you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are
capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through
faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by
God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, so
that one who belongs to God may be competent,
equipped for every good work.
I charge you in the
presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge
the living and the dead, and by his appearing and
his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent
whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince,
reprimand, encourage through all patience and
teaching.
+ A reading from the
holy Gospel according to Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples
a parable about the necessity for them to pray
always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a
judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor
respected any human being. And a widow in that town
used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision
for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the
judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor
respect any human being, because this widow keeps
bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord
said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge
says. Will not God then secure the rights of his
chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will
he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see
to it that justice is done for them speedily. But
when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on
earth?”
Copyright 1970, 1986,
1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian
Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All rights reserved.
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