Bulletin Announcement
Pastoral Planning – September 2014
September 7, 2014 ~ 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
We live at a time of endless conversation about ‘civil discourse’. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago once wrote: “for modern American culture, everything is tolerated but nothing is forgiven.” In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us the template for how to provide Christian correction when needed. First, in private, and only as a last resort is an issue brought to the attention of the wider church community. Notice, nowhere does it mention posting the offense of another on Facebook.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
For more information about the collaborative process, go to
September 14, 2014 ~ Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life”. (John 3:16) Pay attention to TV camera shots of fans at sports events. Very often someone is holding a sign that simply says: Jn 3:16. That’s all it says, that says it all. Evangelization. We don’t have to carry a sign; we do have to be ready to speak about God in our life.
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
For more information about the collaborative process, go to
September 21, 2014 ~ 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Catechetical Sunday: Teaching About God’s Gift of Forgiveness
The readings for Catechetical Sunday are overflowing with advice for everyone, not just religious education teachers. Isaiah: “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near.” Saint Paul: “Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ”. Jesus invites us to work in His vineyard. Today’s readings are an Evangelization Primer on spreading His name and the Good News.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
For more information about the collaborative process, go to
September 28, 2014 ~ 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Again, this week we hear about the vineyard. Again, we are given directions for how we are to live and make Jesus’ name known: “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Every tongue. Jesus is Lord!
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
For more information about the collaborative process, go to
Promoting Volunteer Opportunities at Catholic Charities
As Catholic Charities reminds us, one of their greatest sources of volunteers is our own parishioners. Consequently, they have asked us to, when requested, prioritize some space in our parish bulletins to help promote the various volunteer needs in their many community service programs.
Please keep an eye out for such requests and/or occasionally direct parishioners who are interested in volunteering to call their local Catholic Charities offices or visit their online volunteer listings:
World Youth Day| Krakow2016| World Youth Day| Krakow
The Archdiocese of Boston will once again be leading Boston Pilgrims to be with Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of others for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland (Summer of 2016). Due to the tremendous feedback we have received we will be offering 3 tracks for Youth, Young Adults and Families. Come to one of our informational gatherings: Sept. 9th, 7:00 – 9:00pm at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Hopkinton or Sept. 18th, 7:00 – 9:00pm at St. Mary’s High School, Lynn. Contact us to learn more: or email Kathy Stebbins at .
Project RachelProject Rachel Bulletin Notice for August or Weekends of Sept 2/3, 9/10:
“Today, thanks to Project Rachel, I am a different person. To experience the power of forgiveness is life altering…” If you or someone you know is suffering from the pain of a past abortion, the Project Rachel ministry of the Archdiocese of Boston will offer three one-day retreats during the fall: September 20, October 18 and November 15 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at a confidential location. For registration information, contact Project Rachel at 508.651.3100 or . Trust in the tender mercy of God!
Workshop: Teaching the Art of Praying in the HomeTheOfficeforLifelongFaithFormationandParishSupportinvitesallclergy,catecheticalleaders,teachers,principals,parents, interestedlaypeople,andreligious,totwoupcomingWorkshopsatthePastoralCenter(66 BrooksDr.,Braintree).OnOctober16thfrom9am-‐12pmwewelcomeauthorsDavidClaytonandLeilaMarieLawlerfortheirpresentation“TeachingtheArtofPrayingintheHome.”OnDecember9thfrom10am-‐12pmwewelcomeMattFraddforhispresentation“Porn:7MythsExposed.”Eachworkshopwillincludeatimeforprayer,apresentation,andatimeforquestionsandanswers.Thecostofeach workshopis$25andwillincludea lightbreakfast. .
MEETING CHRIST IN PRAYERMEETING CHRIST IN PRAYER can bring people to a new level of discipleship and a renewed sense of Christian mission.
MEETING CHRIST IN PRAYER is an 8 week guided prayer experience based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. It calls for a commitment of eight weeks of daily prayer and eight weekly meetings of faith sharing.
The Office of Spiritual Life is offering this program at :
The Pastoral Center
66 Brooks Drive, Braintree
Wednesday Mornings, 10:30am -11:45am
September 24 through November 12, 2014.
For further information and to register call: Sister Anne D’Arcy 617-779- 3648.
Or e-mail:
Prayer of the Faithful
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 21, 2014
We pray in a special way this month for the health and well-being of our 628 active and senior diocesan priests for whom today’s collection supports. May God continue to bless, guide, and renew their life’s work through the promises made to care for our priests in their time of need. We pray to the Lord.
Bulletin Announcements
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 7, 2014
On September 21, the diocese-wide collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust will support the health and well-being of our 628 Boston priests. Our priests have been there when we needed them. Now, it is our turn to help fulfill the promises made to ensure the highest quality of care and quality of life for them when they need us. All are welcome to make a gift online at or use the in-pew envelopes provided. Be sure to watch the short video at clergyfunds.org to see how your contributions help to support Regina Cleri, the residence for Senior Priests in Boston which is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Thank you in advance for your generous support of our priests.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy CrossSeptember 14, 2014
Next week, the diocese-wide collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust will support the health and well-being of our 628 Boston priests. Our priests have been there when we needed them. Now, it is our turn to help fulfill the promises made to ensure the highest quality of care and quality of life for them when they need us. All are welcome to make a gift online at or use the in-pew envelopes provided. Be sure to watch the short video at clergyfunds.org to see how your contributions help to support Regina Cleri, the residence for Senior Priests in Boston which is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Thank you in advance for your generous and prayerful support of our priests.
Bulletin Announcements (continued)
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 21, 2014
The diocese-wide collection today for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust is for our priests. In the Archdiocese of Boston, we are blessed to have 628 men including [INSERT YOUR PASTOR/ SENIOR PRIEST NAME(S) HERE] who have devoted their lives to serving Christ and His family. Your gift to the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust helps provide our priests with the highest quality care and quality of life so they can continue their work serving others. Remember the priests who have been there in your time of need, and consider honoring them with a generous gift to this special collection. All are welcome to make a gift online at or use the in-pew envelopes provided. Be sure to watch the short video at clergyfunds.org to see how your contributions help to support Regina Cleri, the residence for Senior Priests in Boston which is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Thank you for your generous and prayerful support of our priests.
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 28,2014
Last week’s collection was for Boston’s priests. Thanks to your support, our parish raised <Amount> for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust in honor of [PASTOR NAME and] the 628 active and senior priests who serve the Catholic faithful in our Archdiocese of Boston. If you did not have the opportunity to participate and you wish to make a gift, please visit . Be sure to watch the short video at clergyfunds.org to see how your contributions help to support Regina Cleri, the residence for Senior Priests in Boston which is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Thank you for your generous and prayerful support of our priests!
Mass Announcements
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 7, 2014
In two weeks, there will be a special collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust. The mission of the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust is to ensure the highest quality care and quality of life for our 628 Boston priests, especially when age or health dictates. Remember the priests who have made a difference in your life, and consider honoring them with a gift that helps care for them in their time of need, just as they have cared for us when we needed them. Thank you in advance for your generous support of this important collection.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy CrossSeptember 14, 2014
Next week, there will be a special collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust. The mission of the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust is to ensure the highest quality care and quality of life for our 628 Boston priests, especially when age or health dictates. Remember the priests who have made a difference in your life, and consider honoring them with a gift that helps care for them in their time of need, just as they have cared for us when we needed them. Thank you in advance for your generous support of this important collection.
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 21, 2014
This generic witness talk can be used as a template for your parish speaker on the day of the collection. In addition, an example of a personal testimony given at St. Mary’s Winchester also is included.
Good morning/afternoon/evening:
The diocesan-wide collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust today is for Boston’s priests.
The Clergy Health and Retirement Trust is in the “promises” business—the promises made to care for the priests [such as PASTOR NAME; SENIOR PRIEST NAME(S)] who have devoted their lives in service to Christ and to all of us during the ordinary and extraordinary moments of everyday life. In a special way today we remember our 250 senior priests, 54 of whom live at Regina Cleri, Boston’s senior priest residence that is supported in part through your gift to the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust. Most of these men have celebrated around 20,000 masses, have heard about 50,000-100,000 confessions, have baptized 10,000-20,000 children, and have distributed first communion to about as many. The Clergy Health and Retirement Trust helps to ensure that the health and well-being of all our priests will be cared for, but we cannot do it alone. We need your help.
Remember the priests who have made a difference in your life, and honor them with a gift that helps care for them in their time of need, just as they have cared for us. You can make your gift using the in-pew envelopes provided [HOLD UP ENVELOPE], or you can donate online at . On behalf of [PASTOR/SENIOR PRIEST NAMES and] the many priests who have served us here at [PARISH NAME], thank you for helping to ensure the highest level of care and quality of life forBoston’s priests.
Mass Announcements (continued)
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary TimeSeptember 28,2014
Last week’s collection was for our priests. Thanks to your support, our parish raised <Amount> for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust in honor of [PASTOR NAME and] the priests who serve the Archdiocese of Boston. Through the collection, our parish made a significant impact on the health and well-being of our 628 active and senior diocesan priests. If you would like to make a gift but did not have the opportunity to do so, please visit . Thank you for your generous support of Boston’s priests!
For bulletin announcements related to the Special Collection, please see
BostonCatholic.org > Search for “Special Collection”