If the Parish Does Not Have a School

IF THE PARISH DOES NOT HAVE A SCHOOL:

Next/This weekend (The weekend of January 16 and 17) there will be a second collection for Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. The proceeds will go toward these schools to assist more families with demonstrated financial need and to help grow enrollment. Thank you for your generosity and belief in the gift of a Catholic education.

IF A PARISH HAS A SCHOOL:

Next/This weekend (The weekend of January 16 and 17) there will be a second collection for Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. The proceeds will go toward these schools to assist more families with demonstrated financial need and to help grow enrollment. In addition, 50% of the donations collected at our Masses next/this weekend will go to our school. Thank you for your generosity and belief in the gift of a Catholic education.

January 3 – The Epiphany of the Lord
These readings are lovely and familiar – easy to gloss over because we know them so well. Take note of the Gospel’s last line: “they departed for their country by another way.” In poetry, prose, and song, many talented people have written about this line. Home by another way. Our home is with the Lord – in eternal life, we hope, but also here on earth. Do we need to take another path, today, to grow closer to the Lord? On the well-trod paths we travel every day, what temptations or barriers should we be avoiding? A trip is always better with a good travelling companion – a worth-while New Year’s resolution may be to ask a friend to walk with you “another way”, the way of sacraments and prayer.

January 10 – The Baptism of the Lord
After an Advent of waiting in hope, Christ was born on Christmas day, and today we mark his baptism in the Jordan. Whether you were baptized as an infant or an adult, today is a good day to reflect on your baptism. Baptism is a once-in-a-lifetime sacrament but the graces of the sacrament are with us for our entire lives. Too often we forget that this is the sacrament that “keeps on giving”. Tap into those graces. Do you believe in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and in the holy, Catholic Church? Prove it! What difference does it make in your life every day?

January 17 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mary’s last words in the Gospel are, “Do whatever he tells you.” (btw, Cardinal O’Malley’s episcopal motto). Mary says these words to us too – to you and me. What is He telling us to do? Read today’s psalm: “Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.” Paul reminds us that each of us has been given special gifts. Do you recognize the special gifts that the Spirit has given to YOU? Pray for the grace to use your gifts to proclaim his marvelous deeds - to family, neighbors, friends, co-workers. Pray for those who will proclaim his marvelous deeds at the March for Life this week in Washington.

January 24 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Re-read today’s Gospel. Put yourself in the scene: you’re in the synagogue, perhaps your family is beside you. Jesus, the carpenter’s son, gets up to read - He is the lector. The carpenter’s son, reads a passage from the great prophet Isaiah about the promise of the Messiah and then he stuns the assembly: “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” What do you think about this? What do you do when you leave the synagogue? What do you talk about with townspeople or other fishermen the next day at work?

January 31 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
One month into 2016. How are the resolutions coming along? Have you lost those 10 pounds, organized your desk, visited your ailing neighbor? It’s never too late to start over. St. Paul provides some direction. He gives us a “still more excellent way”, the way of love: patient and kind. “So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Love of God is the beginning. It’s definitely not too late to resolve to love Him more, talk with Him in prayer more, and meet Him in the sacraments more often.

Do you wish there was a place that you could bring your teens to encounter thousands of other young Catholics, hear from national speakers and enter into profound worship with the aid of professional musicians? Yes, such an event exists, AND its right in our backyard! The annual Steubenville East Youth Conference will be held in Lowell, MA again this coming year from July 15th – 17th, 2016. If you are interested in learning more about this event, email Mike Drahos at . *Please note: Registration will open on January 15th, 2016 and this event is known to sell out quickly!

Save the date! All are invited to join Cardinal Seán O'Malley for a prayerful night to ring in the new year! This event will be held at St. Clement’s Eucharistic Shrine in Boston, beginning at 10pm, and will include Mass at 11:30pm and a new year's reception to follow. More details coming soon! For more information please email Mike Drahos at .

On January 21, 2016, young people from the Archdiocese of Boston will depart to join hundreds of thousands of their peers in Washington, DC, at the 43rd annual March for Life on January 22nd, 2016.This powerful event began as a small demonstration on anniversary of the historic Roe v. Wade decision. Today, the March for Life is the largest pro-life event in the world and is a great opportunity to witness to the dignity of all human life, especially the most vulnerable in our society - the unborn. We are happy to once again invite you to join Cardinal Sean O’Malley and the Archdiocese of Boston on this life changing pilgrimage to rise up and witness to life in 2016! We have four distinct tracks to best serve all those interested, includinga middle school, high school, young adult, and family track. Please visit or contact us ;617-746-5766for more information.

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day

Every Christmas, we join with family and friends to honor and thank our priests. Our 614 diocesan priests celebrate our joys, comfort us in times of crisis or sorrow, and are there during the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. Together, they represent thousands of years of dedicated service to Christ and to us—His Church. Remember priests such as [INSERT YOUR PASTOR/ SENIOR PRIEST NAME(S) HERE] who have made a meaningful difference in your life, and consider honoring him/them with a generous gift to today’s/tonight’s collection. You also can make a gift online at clergyfunds.orgor simply text the word PRIEST to 56512 (Msg. & data rates may apply). Our priests have dedicated their lives to serving the Catholic faithful here in our Archdiocese. Now, it is our turn to serve them in their time of need. Thank you for your prayers and generous support of our priests.

December 26/27, 2015______

The Christmas collection was for our priests. Many thanks to all who already contributed to this special collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust. If you did not have the opportunity to participate and you wish to make a gift, please visit clergyfunds.org or simply text the word PRIEST to 56512 (Msg. & data rates may apply). Thank you for your prayers and generous support.

January 2/3, 2016______

The Christmas collection for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust helped to care the health and well-being of our priests. Our parish contribution of <Amount> [in honor of PASTOR NAME] will have a significant impact on the quality of life programs we are able to provide for our priests in the new year. If you did not have the opportunity to participate and you wish to make a gift, please visit clergyfunds.org or simply text the word PRIEST to 56512 (Msg. & data rates may apply). Thank you for your prayers and generous support of our priests.

For bulletin announcements related to the Special Collection, please see

BostonCatholic.org > Search for “Special Collection”