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My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The 40 days of Lent, 2002 began on Ash Wednesday. Not only is each of us receiving a special call of grace, but we are also being given the means to answer that call. Reform your lives through prayer, fasting, and good works.
Lent should not just be about what we give up, but what we do for the Lord and for one another.
In today’s Gospel, Matthew places the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of temptation. The devil appeals to the humanity of Jesus and to the greatest weakness of our humanity: the sense of pride. Jesus resists and conquers. In His resistance and in his conquering, Jesus teaches us the importance of setting aside our pride in favor of a humility which recognizes that God is All in All, and that our best shot at union with Him is to recognize that we can do nothing without Him.
The Church’s liturgy for Lent and the signs and symbols which she uses during this season are all geared to creating an atmosphere which is designed to help the Christian
develop a penitential attitude and to reflect upon the salvation brought to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. As you worship this weekend you will be struck with these specific signs and symbols.
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The fonts at the entrances to the Church are devoid of holy water. Since Lent is about preparing for the new life of Baptism, we await the blessing of the new water at the Easter Vigil before refilling the fonts.
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The altar is devoid of flowers and greenery in favor of a more stark presentation of barren branches.
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There is no Processional Hymn at the beginning of Mass. Rather, the ministers of the Mass will gather in the Inner Sanctuary 5 minutes before the Mass for a period of prayer and reflection.
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There is no Recessional Hymn at the close of Mass. All leave the Church in silence.
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The predominant color for the Lenten Season is purple. The color the Church uses to denote penance and sacrifice.
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The large purple draped Cross sits in the inner sanctuary to emphasize the Lenten focus on the Cross as the instrument of our salvation.
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During Mass, the Gloria is not said or sung, and there are no Alleluias until the Easter Vigil.
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The ringing of bells is replaced by a more somber resonance.
As we begin this holy season, may we earnestly pray for each other’s closer union with God through our acts of prayer, fasting and good works.
During the Lenten Season Morning Prayer will be offered at 7:15am; Mass at 7:30am. Evening prayer will be offered at 5:15pm; Mass at 5:30pm. On Thursday mornings we will continue to have a Communion Service at 7:30am
Sunday, February 17
Rite of Election at the Cathedral Holy Cross for Catechumens and Candidates for Membership in the Catholic Church @ 5:00pm
Bus will leave at 3:00pm
Monday, February 18
Adult Education Class at 7:00pm. The Gospel of John
Tuesday, February 19
RCIA Class tonight at 7:00pm
Wednesday, February 20
Adult Confirmation Class meets at 7pm.
- Monday:Feb.18 Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Mt 25:31-46
- Tuesday:Feb. 19 Is 55:10-11; Mt 6:7-15
- Wednesday:Feb. 20 Jon 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32
- Thursday:Feb. 21 Est 9:12, 14-16, 23-25; Mt 7:7-12 Peter Damian, bishop, doctor
- Friday:Feb. 22 1 Pt 5:1-4; Mt 16:13-19 Chair of Peter, apostle
- Saturday:Feb. 23 Dt 26:16-19; Mt 5:43-48
- Sunday:Feb. 24 Gn 12:1-4a; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9 Second Sunday of Lent
NEW POLICY FOR MORNING MASS
Beginning on April 1, 2002, we will initiate a new policy as it affects the celebration of the weekday morning Mass.
If there is a Funeral Mass scheduled on any given day, there will be no 7:30am Mass on that day.
There is, however, one exception. If the daily 7:30am Mass has a specific intention the Mass will be celebrated.
Since Funeral Masses are planned at least two or three days in advance, and since the Mass intentions for the week are printed in the bulletin, you will have sufficient notice as to whether the 7:30am Mass will or will not be celebrated.
THE AFRICAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
The Holy Union African Center and Immaculate Conception Church host a monthly Mass for African immigrants on the third Sunday of each month at 4:00pm. Following the Mass, there is a social gathering and meeting of the community. All are invited to celebrate with the African community. For more information, contact Sister Christine or Sister Anne Louise at 978-452-5627.
ST. JOSEPH PARISH, HIGHBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY
Our brother parish, St. Joseph in Highbridge, New Jersey sponsored a fund raising dinner last Sunday evening to benefit St. Patrick. Their gift to us totaled $1,000.00.
Father Len Rusay, Pastor of St. Joseph, and the organizing committee deserve a great deal of thanks for the time and effort which they put into this event on our behalf. Even though it was billed as a fund raiser, the highlight of the evening occurred when Father Len presented a Lenten calendar to Father Spag with names of St. Joseph parishioners written on each day indicating their joining in his fast of reparation and prayer for healing. This is truly a wonderful expression of the awareness that what is happening in the Archdiocese of Boston affects the Body of Christ universally for we are truly one with one another. The expression of solidarity given by the people of St. Joseph deepens faith and heightens hope. A special bond unites us as we travel toward Easter!
IRISH CULTURE WEEK PROGRAM BOOK
This is the last weekend that members of the Irish Culture Week Committee will be in the rear of the church promoting the Irish Culture Week Program Book.
There are sign up sheets for:
“In Memory of Loved Ones” $5.00
“Sponsors” $25.00
“Patrons” $5.00
“Leprechauns” $2.00
Along with “Shamrock” and “Pot of Green Tickets”.
Such and Such
+The 2002 edition of the Catholic Directory for the Archdiocese of Boston is now available. They may be purchased in the rectory for $20.00
+Individual or family needed to take the Vocation Crucifix into their home for the month of March. Those who take the Crucifix into their home make a commitment to pray for vocations in a special way for the month that they have the Crucifix.
+Sanctuary Candles for the Church and for the chapel in the rectory may be offered as Memorials. For further information call the Parish Office.
AROUND THE AREA
+ Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish will have its Country Store and Grand Raffle on March 10 from 11:30am- 12 noon.
+The National Park Service is sponsoring a series of lectures entitled, “I Remember Lowell”. Each month they will present stories of different Lowell topics and events. This program is co-sponsored by the Lowell Historical Society.
March 2, 2002: The 1970’s: The Blizzard of ’78
March 9, 2002: “Hey, Jack Kerouac”
March 23, 2002: Minds Among the Spindles
All programs are free and begin at 2:30pm. For more info call: 978-970-5024
+St. Theresa of Lisieux in Billerica is beginning a nondenominational bereavement group for anyone experiencing a loss from miscarriage, still birth, or neonatal death. For more information call 978-459-8826.
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Saturday, Feb. 16
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10:30 AM Alice Sarres (Anniversary Mass)
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4:00 PM The Totton Family (Anniv. Mass)
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Sunday, Feb. 17
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10”00 AM Margaret Dacey (Memorial Mass)
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Friday, Feb. 22
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7:30 AM Betty Frappier (Memorial Mass)
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Saturday, Feb. 23
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4:00 PM Virginia Talty Callary (5th Anniv. Mass)
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Sunday, Feb. 24
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10:00 AM Roseann Nugent (Anniversary Mass)
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Donations to our Restoration Fund have been made in memory of Madeline Shanahan and in memory of John Brill…a milestone birthday for Jack Flood…congratulations!…
NO ENTRIES
Rev. D. George Spagnolia
PAROCHIAL VICAR
Rev. Anthony Nguyen
PASTORAL ASSOCIATE
Deacon An Peter Ros
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
PRINCIPAL
Sr. Joanne Sullivan, S.N.D.
CUSTODIAN
Mr. Jerry Tevepaugh,
RECTORY MANAGEMENT
Mrs. Donna Meehan
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Parish House - 459-0561
Church Hall - 452-8064
School Office - 458-4232
School Hall - 452-8426
Fax# (978) 446-0266
Page design and layout by the IMAGETHERE group. © Imagethere 2001. Updated weekly, last Updated: Sunday, February 16, 2002 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time - Thlay