Weekly Bulletin March 2, 2008


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General Announcements and Financial Data

* Financial News *


Fiscal Year 2008

(July 2007 to June 2008)

Weekly Collection

On February 24, 2008, the parishioners contributed $6,608, which is 82% of our weekly budget of $8,100. On average, the weekly offering this fiscal year is $6,802 which is 84% of our weekly budget. As a result of our cumulative collection shortfalls, our year-to-date deficit is $46,417.

The traditional name for the Fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetare Sunday. This title comes from Laetare Jerusalem, "Rejoice, Jerusalem," the first words of today’s entrance antiphon (brief scriptural text that is usually replaced with a gathering song). As we have reached the midpoint of Lent, we anticipate the joy of Easter with several options for softening our worship environment: rose-colored vestments, extra music, some floral enhancement. These are not requirements, however, and many parishes choose to stick with purple vesture and a spare atmosphere.

This bulletin insert was written by Marion Eagen, a liturgist and musician in the diocese of Scranton, Pa. © 2002 Resource Publications, Inc., 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. All rights reserved.

Catholic Appeal Weekend

This is Catholic Appeal Weekend here at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Kathy Stebbins, of the recently established Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults will be speaking at the 4:30 pm Mass about the hopes for this new office and the support the office receives from the Catholic Appeal. Sr. Mary Farren, Director of Nazareth House, a homeless shelter serving women and children who are HIV+ or living with AIDS, has agreed to come and speak at the 9:30 and 11:30 am Masses. Nazareth House is part of the AIDS Ministry Office of the Archdiocese of Boston.

 

On this Catholic Appeal Weekend, we, like parishes throughout our Archdiocese, will be asking every Catholic household to participate by making a pledge. The Appeal is the one time during the year when we are asked to make a financial commitment to benefit the many programs, services and ministries in our Archdiocese of Boston. The Appeal is to the Archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to our parish. Thank you in advance for joining with parishioners throughout our Archdiocese's 294 parishes to carry on the broader work of our Church. Every gift matters. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.org.

Remember that Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 am on Sunday, March 9. Remember to spring ahead before you go to bed on Saturday evening or you'll be very late for church on Sunday morning!

 

Many fire departments encourage people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors when they change their clocks because Daylight Saving Time provides a convenient reminder. More than 90 percent of homes in the United States have smoke detectors, but one-third are estimated to have dead or missing batteries.

Living the Gospel – Lenten Light

The story of the man born blind is a perfect choice for the Lenten season. During this season we are invited once again to open our eyes to Jesus; to step out of darkness and into the light; to look towards the future with hope and not despair. When we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at the Easter vigil, we celebrate the coming of the Light of the World into our lives. This annual call to turn away from darkness and walk in the light is a powerful and poetic call to focus our lives on the way of Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

 

Thank you to everyone who assisted the parish with snow removal on February 22 & 23. Your help was appreciated.

 

 

We appeal to people interested in Pro-Life ideals to join the OLOS Pro-Life Group as our numbers have depleted over the years. All we need is interest to share opportunities and ideas to further our cause. Please leave your name with Chris at the rectory if you are interested. Thank you.

Religious Formation and Youth Ministry

Reminder – Today, March 2 Character Breakfast to benefit Chernobyl Children Project USA. O’Connell Hall 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. $7.00 per person

March 3 – Youth Commission meeting upstairs in the Bullock Center, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

March 8 – 2nd Character Breakfast to support The Chernobyl Children Project USA, Inc., 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Jordan/Jackson Elementary School in Mansfield, MA.

March 8 – First Communion Workshop, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Parents and student can plan to meet in O’Connell Hall at 1 p.m. and we will finish up in the church at 4 p.m. Parents need to remain with their child for the entire workshop.

March 9 – Rel Ed classes for First Communion students ONLY, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. in O’Connell Hall.

March 9 – Teen Mass at 5 p.m. All are welcome!

March 9 – Confirmation II Rel Ed, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in O’Connell Hall. Parents of Confirmation II students along with the students’ mentors/sponsors are expected to attend this session with the students.

March 10 – Lenten Reconciliation Service, 7:30 p.m., for adults in the parish as well as students in the Confirmation I and II programs. All students in both Confirmation programs are expected to attend.

March 14 – Youth Center is open for students in the 6th, 7th, & 8th grades, 8-10:30 p.m. Special thanks to Pizzagando for providing us with free pizza and to all our parent chaperones

 

 

2008 Boston Catholic Directory Available

We have extra copies of the 2008 Boston Catholic Directory available for purchase. The Boston Catholic Directory contains contact information on Archdiocesan offices as well as parishes and Catholic ministries and institutions within the Archdiocese. It also includes contact information for priests, deacons and religious brothers and sisters. The cost is $25 each. Please contact the rectory if you would like to purchase one.

PARENTING SEMINAR

Guiding Adolescents – What are they thinking, doing and feeling? How can we help? Thursday April 3, 2008 7PM at MONTROSE SCHOOL, 29 North Street, Medfield. Dr. A. Rae Simpson, an expert at M.I.T.’s Center for Work, Family and Personal Life, will lead off the evening by reflecting on the biomedical study of the developing adolescent brain. Second panelist Katrina J. Zeno, Coordinator of the John Paul II Resource Center for the Theology of the Body and Culture for the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona, will explore themes surrounding teens’ concepts of body, dignity and self-respect. Cecilia Royals, President of the National Institute of Womanhood and mother of eight children, will examine positive character traits of strong families and practical strategies for raising children well. This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Please RSVP by March 31 at 508.359.2423 ext.319 to reserve a seat.

Saints Perpetua and Felicity were martyrs of Roman Carthage, c. 204. Perpetua was a young married woman with a newly born son. She was arrested for refusing to offer sacrifice to the Emperor and during this time was allowed to keep her son with her in prison. She received many visions, including that of a ladder extending to Heaven and a battle whereby she defeated Satan. Also arrested was a slave-girl called Felicity, who was advanced in pregnancy and gave birth to a girl while in prison. Perpetua and Felicity and several men were all found guilty of treason and were taken to the arena to be killed by wild beasts. Perpetua and Felicity showed great bravery and survived their encounter with a mad heifer, but at the request of the jeering crowd were eventually put to the sword.

 

 

 

 

Save the Date

The 3rd Annual Rev. Robert W. Bullock Memorial Lecture will be held on Wednesday, April 30 @ 7:30 pm in Our Lady of Sorrows Church. A coffee hour will follow in O’Connell Hall.  Our featured speaker this year is Professor Diana L. Eck.

Diana Eck is Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies and Frederic Wertham Professor of Law and Psychiatry in Society at Harvard University. Since 1991, she has been heading a research team at Harvard University to explore the new religious diversity of the United States and its meaning for the American pluralist experiment. Her most recent book, A New Religious America: How a "Christian Country" Has Become the World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation addresses the challenges for the United States of the more complex religious landscape of the post-1965 period of renewed immigration.

In 2005, the Parish Pastoral Council of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish established the Rev. Robert W. Bullock Lecture in memory of its beloved former pastor. This annual lecture will be delivered in the Spring of each year by a distinguished scholar or religious leader. This event honors the memory of Father Bullock and provides an ongoing forum in which the people of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and of the Sharon community can be in dialogue with speakers who share Father Bullock's ideals and aspirations.

 

This event is solely underwritten by a handful of parishioners who make contributions to this fund each year in honor of Fr. Bullock.  If you wish to join them in supporting this and future lectures in memory of Fr. Bullock, please contact Father Scott (OLOSParish@aol.com or 781-784-2265.

 

SAVE THE DATE

March 28 – 7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. in O’Connell Hall. Adults only. Please call 781-784-1184 for more information.

Free Copies of Living with Christ Available

Novalis, the publisher of Living with Christ, has made available to us 300 copies of both the March and Holy Week issues (packaged together) of Living with Christ. Living with Christ is a daily companion for praying and living the Eucharist. It is published monthly with a special issue for Holy Week. Living with Christ is a daily Missal that is intended for use for your daily personal prayer. It's kind of a spiritual companion for Catholics. It includes full liturgical texts for daily and Sunday Masses, the calendar of saints, pastoral reflections and articles, and morning, evening, and family prayer sections. You can visit their web site to find out more about what Living with Christ is:  www.livingwithchrist.us

 

You can pick up your complimentary copy of Living with Christ this weekend (March 1 & 2) in church.

25TH and 50th Wedding Anniversary Mass

Sean Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. invites all couples of the Archdiocese of Boston who are marking their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries in 2008 to join him for the annual celebration at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Sunday, April 13; 11:30 am Mass. Mass will include a renewal of marriage vows by all participating anniversary couples. Family members and friends of the participating couples, as well as the general public, are welcome to attend. Please register with the parish staff by March 28, 2008 if you are celebrating your 25th or 50th wedding anniversary and would like to attend this celebration. A formal invitation will then be sent from the Archdiocese to celebrating couples.

Christian Services Commission

Please remember to save your complimentary unused toiletries when you travel during the next few months. Once again, we will make bundles of them for residents of a battered women’s shelter, the mothers at Evelyn House and the Epoch Center to give them on Mother’s Day. We will accept your saved toiletries the last 2 weekends of April. Thank you.

The Christian Services Commission is looking for your help again this year with the Easter Basket Project. We are in need of people willing to make Easter baskets for the children living at Evelyn House, a homeless shelter in Stoughton. If you would like to help, please choose an Easter egg from the tree in the alcove and put together an Easter basket appropriate for the age and sex indicated on the egg. Some suggestions for the baskets would be candy, a toy, socks, a book, a coloring book, or art supplies. Please bring the baskets to church by March 9 so that we may get them over to Evelyn House before Easter. If you have any questions, please call Mary Ann LaHive at 781-784-1394.

From Deacon Mike

The early start to our Lenten season has ramifications beyond an early celebration of the Easter season – beginning in March.

The church, from the 10th century on, has honored St. Joseph on March 19th as a Solemnity. This year March 19th falls on the Wednesday of Holy week, the day before the start of the Triduum. Thus, for the year 2008, the church transfers the Solemnity of St. Joseph to March 15, the day before Palm Sunday.

For those whose tradition is to bake bread and pastries and offer them to the poor, it would be fitting to do so on March 15.

 

Laetitia (Tish) Blain is rehearsing with  the choir EVERY SATURDAY DURING LENT from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM.  until March 15.  (NO TUESDAY EVENING REHEARSALS)

 

Eucharistic Adoration

Monday afternoons from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Adoration on the first Monday of the month ends with Night Prayer and Benediction and on the other Mondays ends with a simple reposition. Adoration ends at 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights when there is something scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the church. Call Connie Malloy @ 781-784-2279.

 

The OLOS Playgroup meets most Mondays in the Bullock Center at 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for children 0-4 years old. The Playgroup is a drop in group so there is no need to pre-register. Join us for coffee while the kids play. Questions? Marguerite Murphy Solomon 781-784-0385 or mar.murphy@verizon.net

Update on the Parish Census – To date 486 Census forms have been returned. If you did not return your form, please mail or drop off at rectory or place in the offertory.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him. - Jn 9:35-38

Today’s Readings are on Page 1004

Readings for the Week of March 2, 2008

Sunday: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

Monday: Is 65:17-21/Jn 4:43-54

Tuesday: Ez 47:1-9, 12/Jn 5:1-16

Wednesday: Is 49:8-15/Jn 5:17-30

Thursday: Ex 32:7-14/Jn 5:31-47

Friday: Wis 2: 1a, 12-22/Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Saturday: Jer 11:18-20/Jn 7:40-53

Next Sunday: Ez 37:12-14/Rom 8:8-11/Jn 11:1-45

or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

Mass Intentions

Monday 9:00 Sherman Drake, Jr.

Wednesday 9:00 Souls in Purgatory

Saturday 9:00 Vinicio Mazzaferro

Prayers

Diane Puliafico, Mr. Nebenzahl, Sr.

Prayers for the Sick

Carolyn Cleveland, Elsie Barnor, Jody Thomas, Millie MacDougall, Gloria Marshall, Erin O’Handley, Chic Labrie, Aidan Loftus, Michelle Beausoleil, Jeanne Bouley, Mary Peltier, Bill Cronin, Helen McNabb, Mary Mason, Maura O’Toole, Sam DiLoreto, Lucille Salhany, Marianne Kannegiser

Music

Opening Hymn: Spirit & Song #101 Beyond the Days

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Communion Hymn: #933 Now In this Banquet

Closing Hymn: #561 From Ashes to the Living Font