…with its theme, “One Church, Many Works” continues.  This week is Reminder Week!

Across the Archdiocese $6.5 million has been contributed.  Here at Blessed Sacrament as of June 14^th, 163 donors have pledged $17,964.  We are more than half way into the target amount.  May God bless the generous donors who are making it possible for so many people to be helped.

…has moved into the rectory as an “in residence” priest.  Father Victor was born in the African nation of Uganda and joined a Benedictine monastery in Kenya.  He was sent here some years ago to get a doctorate in theology.  He studied at the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge which is run by the Jesuits.  While there he was in residence at St. Anthony Parish in Cambridge.  Father Victor now begins a two year project of writing and defending his doctoral thesis.  Please welcome him to the Blessed Sacrament Parish family.
 

IMPORTANT COUNCIL MEETINGS

Recently, both the Pastoral and Finance Councils met.  The challenging concern before both groups is the question:  How to increase the level of participation in the parish?  Over the past fiscal year which ends this month, the offertory collection has grown slightly.  Meanwhile, the cost of most everything has increased dramatically.  This has produced a deficit.  With July we launch into a new budget cycle.  The parish will need to dramatically increase the offertory and reduce the expenditures for staff.  As we all know this is a painful experience.  Please convey your ideas and concerns to members of the councils or parish staff.  Your input is most welcome.

WELCOME DOMINICAN SISTERS

Last week’s offertory collection was $3,971.  A total of 220 offertory envelopes were received.  We also received $355 in the mail in donations to the offertory.  Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

The summer months are here, expressed by warm temperatures and a collection under $4,000.  Many people use the envelopes and make up for when they are away.  For this, the parish is very grateful.  We who are not on vacation are needed for extra generosity to help keep up the collection.
 

DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER!

…Religious Education classes  for the coming year.  Registrations forms were mailed in mid-May to all returning students.  The registration fees this year are $90 for one child; $145 for two children; $190 for three or more children.

Please pick up a Level One registration or a new registration at the rectory Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM.

Did you know that our Religious Education program serves almost 1000 young people in our parish?  Did you also know that it takes almost 90 volunteers to staff a program of this size?

If you are a confirmed, practicing Catholic, willing to serve as a role model to the students, if you are flexible and enjoy spending time with youngsters, we have a place for you!  To learn more about the rewarding experience of being a catechist and the training and support we offer, please call Donna Zinna at 781-231-3699. Thank you!

This Capital Campaign continues with good results.  Not only are the Archdiocesan endowments and projects outlined in the campaign being accomplished, but the 25% that goes to the parish continues to arrive.

On May 17, 2004 Promise For Tomorrow deposited an additional $3,249.84 in our account.  This including the interest earned at 5% has brought the total deposit to $31,140.  Due to the low interest rates in the economy over the past year, the announced rate for next year will be 4%.

Thank you to all the generous and faithful donors to Promise For Tomorrow.

…will have their weekly meeting this Tuesday at 8 p.m. preceded by the pre-meeting supper at 6 p.m.  This month’s supper is the annual June surf and turf dinner featuring steak and lobster!

Men of the parish are urged to consider joining the Knights.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul provides a wonderful one-sentence summary of Christian stewardship:  “Out of love, place yourselves at one another’s service.”
 

As the process of closing parishes begins, Archbishop O’Malley has written the following words to all parishes:

“Welcoming the People of God to their new parish in a caring and effective manner is a most essential part of the reconfiguration of the Archdiocese of Boston.  Much has been asked of those good people whose parishes have closed, and they need to be gently resettled in an environment of pastoral and spiritual welcome, of kindness and opportunity, of peace and holiness.  Yes, they will have a mixture of emotions, perhaps of bewilderment, or anger, or fear, but so much of this can be healed if your entire parish receives them with openness and graciousness.

The ultimate goal of reconfiguration is to further the Mission of the Church.  It is about announcing the Good News of our faith.  It is about fulfilling Jesus’ great commandment to love one another.  We are going to better use our resources to strengthen our parishes so that we can educate our children, feed the poor, clothe the naked, house the homeless, heal the wounded, and the abused, and the broken-hearted.  This process of reconfiguration has revealed that we are indeed one Church, one family of faith, eager to further the Mission of the Church.

 The parishes that remain will grow.  They must work to renew themselves as places of spiritual growth and evangelization.  Growth as a faith community will depend on our willingness to rebuild the church by renewing our commitment to her mission. We are eager to have effective Parish Pastoral Councils and Finance Councils in every parish.  We are also eager to see youth groups strengthened where they do exist, and established where they do not.  We need to think about how best to help those who do not drive get to church.  We need to be open to the possibilities presented by those challenged by disabilities….

Whether your parish is officially designated as a “Welcoming Parish” or not, ultimately, so much of the success of this time of rebuilding the Church in the Archdiocese of Boston rests upon your shoulders and mine.  We need each other to do this well.

Christ never promised that discipleship would be easy, but He promised to be with us and to send His Spirit to guide us.  The Spirit brings new life and makes all things new again.  May God’s Holy Spirit fill all our hearts and give us the wisdom and courage to heed His words to Saint Francis, “Rebuild my Church.”

Fraternally Yours in Christ,  Seán, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Boston

Jesus still speaks the invitation, “Come, follow Me!”.  Pray for the strength and the grace of discernment if you feel He is calling you to be an ordained or consecrated person.  If God is calling you, call the Vocation Office at 617-746-5436.

Make a difference in the life of a man willing to give his life in service to God’s people.  Father Oscar Pratt and the Vocation Office are still looking for sponsors for the 42 men studying for the priesthood who will serve in the Boston area.  Anyone who would like to sponsor one of these men in whole or in part for an upcoming retreat, please send your donation to the rectory marked “seminarians”.  The cost of their retreat is $150 per seminarian.  The future of our Church depends on how we foster vocations.  Prayerfully consider making a donation.

In his address to the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Baltimore and Washington, DC on April 29, 2004, the Holy Father Pope John Paul II gave the following words of advice.  This is the last installment in our three part series.

As we ponder in faith God’s plan for a human family reconciled and made one in Christ, of which the Church is the sacrament and prophetic foreshadowing, we can see ever more clearly the inseparable relationship between holiness and the Church’s mission (cf. Redemptoris Missio, n. 90).  An essential part of the new evangelization must therefore be a new zeal for holiness, which inspires all our initiatives and finds practical expression in a renewal of faith and Christian life.  Let us not neglect the prophetic summons addressed to the whole Church through the experience of the Great Jubilee:  The Church is called to offer a genuine “training in holiness” adapted to the needs of all and to ensure that every Christian community becomes a genuine school of prayer and personal sanctification.  (cf. Novo Millennio Ineunte, n. 33).

Our second Youth Ministry meeting will take place TONIGHT, Sunday, June 27, from 6-8 PM in the church hall.  We will be reviewing the results compiled from the surveys and what our next step should be in Growing Together In Our Faith.   Please plan on joining us TONIGHT.   Refreshments will be served.

We are constantly being bombarded by the difficult and negative stories about being Catholic.  Come join and support around 3000 of our Catholic brothers and sisters at the Proud2BCatholic.com Music Festival on Saturday, August 14, 2004 at Greycourt Park, Methuen.  For details visit us online at www.Proud2BCatholic.com or call 1-800-801-0893.
 

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

As most of you already know, I will be leaving Blessed Sacrament Parish within the next few weeks so that I may prepare to begin classes in the Master of Arts in Ministry program at St. John’s Seminary.

I want to thank Fr. Mulloy, Sr. Mary, Donna Zinna, and all the priests that I’ve been blessed to work with over the years.  Their examples of self-sacrifice, deep spirituality and faithfulness have inspired me to pursue this degree so that I may assist the Catholic Church in bringing the Good News to all people.  I also want to thank Debbie Pillsbury and all the office volunteers for making my job so much easier.  I never would’ve been able to manage all the demands of parish work without you.  And lastly, I want to thank all the parishioners especially those who have worked quietly behind the scenes donating their time and talents to keeping this parish going.  Without your sacrifices, we could have been one of the parishes closing.

Leaving Blessed Sacrament will not be easy, because you have become like family to me.  You welcomed me with open arms and never stopped supporting or praying for me and my family.  I could never thank you enough.  I promise to always keep you in my prayers.  Sincerely in Christ’s love, Mary Kay Volpone

Kindly remember in your prayers  Patricia Linda Duffy  whose funeral liturgy was celebrated here this past week and for  James McLaughlin  who passed away this past week.

Following the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary at 8:40 a.m. the Eucharist will be celebrated, and in prayer will be remembered the following intentions:

MONDAY, JUNE 28 – St. Irenaeus, Bishop & Martyr

9:00 AM  Ronald Gerace

TUESDAY, JUNE 29 – Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles

9:00 AM  Anthony and Mildred Crivello

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30 – First Martyrs of the Roman Church

9:00 AM  All Deceased Parishioners and Friends

THURSDAY, JULY 1 – Bl. Junipero Serra, Priest

9:00 AM  Christopher Barbarisi

FRIDAY, JULY 2

9:00 AM  Russell and Alice Winter

SATURDAY, JULY 3 – St. Thomas, Apostle

9:00 AM  Vincent Terlino

4:00 PM  Angelo and Joan Santostefano

SUNDAY, JULY 4 – 14^th SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

7:30 AM  Carmela Thomas

9:00 AM  Robert and Rita D’Agostino

10:30 AM  Anthony and Jean Rinaldi

Readings for the Week of June 27, 2004

Sunday:  1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21; Gal 5:1, 13-18;

Monday:  Am 2:6-10, 13-16; Mt 8:18-22

Tuesday:  Acts 12:1-11; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19

Wednesday:  Am 5:14-15, 21-24; Mt 8:28-34

Thursday:  Am 7:10-17; Mt 9:1-8

Friday:  Am 8:4-6, 9-12; Mt 9:9-13

Saturday:  Eph 2:19-22; Jn 20:24-29

Next Sunday:  Is 66:10-14c; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10:1-12, 17-20
 

WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY

…last week this day was observed.  Pope John Paul noted the need and urged persons to donate.  Currently the supply in Massachusetts is very low, less than one day’s supply.  Persons over 17 and in good health can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment.