OCTOBER 25, 2009 — 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Please pray for the repose of the souls of Ann K. Cardoza and John P. Sullivan whose funeral masses were celebrated this past week. Please also keep in your prayers all those who are ill, particularly Sharon Cirone, Charlie Patterson, Billy O’Neil, Nancy C. O’Brien, Bryan Risi, Rev. Joseph Laughlin, S.J., Martina McDonald, Cole Pasqualucci, Kim Duffy, Stephanie Hastie, Kathleen Hewitt, Rev. Edward Cowhig, Sally Stebbins Grossman, Brother Jonah (Rev. Paul Trombetta), Peter Giordano, Mary O’Toole Donahue, Maggie Dorgan, Catherine Kotlik, Cheryl Bourn, Beth Sayer, Josephine Parnell, Richard Banis, Kristen Scotti, Michael McMunn, Patrick McDonough, Peter O’Day, Lisa Duncanson, Fr. David Marcham, Jim Russell, Rita Beckman, Catherine Santosuosso, Mike Martin, Bob Popp, Christopher Sadler, Geraldine Donahue, John J. MacKay, Reese Harding, Donna Marie Burns, Bonnie McCarthy, Paula Evans, Catherine Fay, the Manduca Family, Teddy O’Brien, Kasey Seymour, Robert Wirth, Mary M. Kelly, Eileen Mahoney, Michele Driscoll, Meghan Costello, Agnes Langan, Kimm Murray, Christopher Johnson, Jamie Breen, Christopher Mullen, Roland F. Smith, Joan Mahoney, Monsignor Eugene McNamara, Brenda Gotter, Patricia Gallup, Vincent Kalishes, Joan Larsen, Mary Wattendorf, Carol Burke, Christopher Vannata, Tony Carlino, Pat and Ricky Hoffman, Paul Hickey, Jim Rice, John Whalen, Margaret McInerney, Frank Wilkins, Josephine Donahue, Agnes Laughlin Collins, Virginia Joseph, Colleen Donahue, Beverly Toto, Dominic Mario DelVecchio, Richard Stiles, Alyssa Manter, Amy Wright, Frankie Conboy, Rosemarie Amendola, Anne Scollans, Paul Kelley, Terry Martin, Daniel Carr, Helen McDonald, Gabriel Jacobucci, Thomas Culliney, Eric Donovan, Judy Devine, Ed Donnelly and Gladys Milano.
FROM YOUR FINANCE COMMITTEE Offertory Collection: Electronic Funds Transfer: World Mission Collection: $ 9,077.00 $ 978.50 $10,055.50 $ 2,871.00
Thank you for your continued generosity! Next weekend, October 31 & November 1, please welcome Rev. Gerald Flater O.M.I. who will be with us to celebrate Masses and tell us about the work of Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. CFCA is a lay Catholic sponsorship ministry that helps children and elderly in 24 developing countries. To learn more, call 800875-6564 or visit CFCA online at www.cfcausa.org. St. Vincent de Paul Conference will meet Monday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Center.
R.C.I.A will meet this Sunday, October 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. This week’s topic is Sacred Tradition. All are welcome to join us! HOLY HOUR Pope Benedict XVI announced a special Year for Priests to begin June 19, 2009 and end June 19, 2010. St. Mary’s will have a Holy Hour for Priests on Monday evening, October 26, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Please join us in honoring priests, especially our parish priests. “The Priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus.” St. John Vianney October is the month dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Rosaries are available in the main entrance of the church and chapel. “To pray the rosary is to hand over our burdens to the merciful hearts of Christ and his Mother.” Pope John Paul II
The Vocation Cross Program: The Vocation Cross is available for any and all parishioners interested in praying for an increase in religious vocations. To reserve the cross for one week, please sign the sheet at the entrance to the church. The Vocation Committee THE CHORAL ART SOCIETY PRESENTS: SING ALONG WITH Saturday, November 7, 2009 Show Time: 6:30 p.m. St. Mary of the Nativity Parish Center Scituate Harbor
TIMELESS CLASSIC! GREAT MUSIC!
Admission: $7.00 per person/maximum $20 per family Words will be provided— ALL are encouraged to sing! First bag of popcorn Free! Hot Dogs $1.00
PRIZE FOR BEST COSTUME!!
Pastor’s Corner
This Sunday, the Gospel presents the figure of the blind Bartimaeus, who cries out to Jesus calling Him the son of David, which refers to the Messiah. Although blind, Bartimaeus sees Jesus more clearly than most people in Mark’s Gospel, including the twelve apostles. Jesus calls Bartimaeus and asks him the same question He asked James and John in last Sunday’s Gospel: “What do you want me to do for you?” Where James and John sought power and prestige, Bartimaeus simply wants to see. Jesus tells him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” “Immediately he received his sight and followed Him on the way.” Bartimaeus has become a disciple who will follow Jesus as He enters into Jerusalem and proceeds on the way to the cross. The contrast between the “sight” of Bartimaeus and the “blindness” of the disciples reminds us that we can see physically but still remain blind to the important things taking place around us. We have all met people who seem blind to the deeper meaning of events touching their lives. We know too that we have our own blind spots at times in our lives. Today there is a spiritual blindness in our country even as there is a deep spiritual longing in the hearts of people. Although most people believe in the existence of God, many live their lives as if God does not exist. They live a practical atheism that deprives them of the hope and joy that comes from being in relationship with God. God shows no partiality and continues to pour out His saving grace on all, but since many people do not know God they are blind to the many graces they receive in life. When adversity strikes, as it inevitably will, they can often become overwhelmed and fall into despair. If they think of God, they believe that God is punishing them or God has abandoned them. In actuality, it is God who is sustaining them through whatever crisis they may be in. Throughout the Gospel Jesus is shown as a great prophet, teacher and healer; he especially had numerous healings of blindness in the Gospels. As Christian disciples, we continue Jesus’ saving mission and one of our tasks today is to help people see; to help them overcome their spiritual blindness. To do this we need to develop our own eyes of faith so we can see God’s grace working in our lives and in the lives of those around us. To cultivate this gift, we need to look to Jesus throughout each day, inviting Him into every situation we find ourselves in. This daily journey with Jesus will make us aware of how much He is a part of our lives and what enormous grace and assistance He gives us each day. This familiarity with Jesus will allow us to recognize His presence and grace in those around us; we will be skilled observers of God’s goodness in our world. We can then help to open the eyes of those around us that they might see and like Bartimaeus follow Jesus on the way of discipleship, a way that will lead them to hope and joy as they experience in their own heart the grace and goodness of God.
May our prayer each day be that of the blind Bartimaeus in his encounter with Jesus: “Master, I want to see.” Seeing with the eyes of faith, we will be amazed at God’s great love and concern for us and for all people. Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Cannon
THE SCIENCE AND ETHICS OF STEM CELL RESEARCH: Our parish, along with the parishes of Norwell, Cohasset, Hingham and Hull are co-sponsoring a presentation on Stem Cell Research on Monday evening, November 2 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at St. Helen Parish Hall, 383 Washington Street, Norwell. Our presenter will be Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, the Director of Education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. Fr. Tad is a world renowned expert on this and many other ethical/ medical issues. There is no cost to attend and we hope many parishioners and friends will join us as we try to better understand this very serious ethical issue of our day. If you would like to attend or have any questions, please call St. Helen Rectory at 781-659-2993. ARCHDIOCESAN MARRIAGE PREPARATION PILOT PROGRAM WHEN: TIME: WHERE: COST: Sat., December 5 & Sun., December 6 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (both days, includes Sunday Mass) The Pastoral Center in Braintree $225/couple (Registration by Nov. 23: $195)
TO REGISTER: Download the registration form at www.bostoncatholic.org/MarriageMinistries.aspx or contact M a r r i a g e M i n i s t r ie s a t 6 1 7 - 7 4 6 - 5 8 0 1 o r Kari_Colella@rcab.org. Space is limited, early registration is recommended. MILES FOR MIRAMAR From now until November 30, the priests, brothers and staff at Miramar Retreat Center are putting their feet on the ground to raise funds for the programs at Miramar by walking, cycling or running up to 5,000 miles. You can support this middle-aged and elderly group (most participants are over 60) by donating $2.00 per mile to their effort. Or, you can also join the parade and line up your own sponsors. Send your donation to Miramar Retreat Center, PO Box M, Duxbury, MA 02331-0614 or online at MIRAMARRETREAT.org. For more information, call 781585-2460.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Grade 9 & 10 Commitment Mass will take place this Sunday, October 25 at the 11:30 a.m. mass. All 9th and 10th grade candidates and at least one parent are expected to attend. This is in place of class that evening. TEACHERS are still needed to co-teach for First Grade. To all St. Mary of the Nativity Parishioners: Children’s Liturgy of the Word Needs Your Help! We would like to continue the Children’s Liturgy of the Word in the chapel at the 8:30 Sunday Mass every week, but we need more help. Please consider joining this ministry group. If you have joined us in the chapel at the 8:30 Mass in the past, then you have already seen how rewarding this ministry is to the youth of our parish. Each week those who attend listen to the Sunday readings and discuss what they have heard God say to them. Parents who have come to the chapel have told us how grateful they are that we offer this ministry at St. Mary’s, and how much they have learned about their own faith by listening to the children. This ministry does not take much of your time. If you are a student in the Confirmation Program, we will also credit you with Service Hours. We need people in the following roles and each one is very easy to do: Youth Lectors, Lead Facilitators and Assisting Facilitators. If you hear God calling you to be more involved in your parish then this could be the place for you! Contact Shannon Basler at 781-545-6033 or shannon.basler@thomsonreuters.com YEAR FOR PRIESTS SPIRITUAL ADOPTION During this Year for Priests, the Vocation Office is happy to announce that Serra Boston Vocation Club is initiating the “Adopt-a-Priest Apostolate” where parishioners spiritually adopt a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston for one year. Parishioners are given the name of a priest of the Archdiocese, prayer cards and a prayer booklet and asked to pray for the particular intentions and ministry of that priest. If you are interested in more information or being assigned a priest of the Archdiocese to pray for on a daily basis, please call 978-462-1057 or go to www.serraboston.org or www.vocationsboston.org/Resources.aspx.
Lay Minister Schedule for Next Week, Oct. 31/Nov. 1
10/31/2009 04:30 PM EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC - CUP 1 Lector Server Server 11/1/2009 07:00 AM EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC - CUP 1 Lector Server 11/1/2009 08:30 AM Adult Min of Word EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC - CUP 1 Lector Server Server Youth Lector 11/1/2009 10:00 AM EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC - CUP 1 Lector Server Server 11/1/2009 11:30 AM EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC EMHC - CUP 1 Lector Server Server Blair Brien Cullinane DeCoste Denneen Kelly Hamacher Driscoll DeCoste Sullivan Cahill Faria Smart Struzziero Lalumiere Ferrier Scheele Beecher Brennan Chase Koziel Rota Beecher Snell Don Scalzulli Thornton Ahl Besse Cirone Hayes McSweeney Murphy Gibbons Godzik Cronin Lopes Belliveau Harrington Krusell Martinelli Roman West Vickers Crowley Basler Stone Ann Joseph Enid Nancy Marie Mary H. James William Desmond Vincent Anna Donald Philip John James Gerald Arthur E. Alice Robert Patricia Dawn Margaret Robert Andrew Matthew Jacqueline Pamela A. Loring Sharon Kathleen V. Karen Patricia Kaylan Joseph Sean Alanah Arlene Kimberly Anne Maryanne Michael Eileen Virginia Kevin Nicholas Walter
South Shore Brain Aneurysm Support Group meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month - 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. 11/11/09 Stroke Prevention and Treatment Teresa Vanderboom, NP - MA Gen. Hospital Norwell Visiting Nurses Association & Hospice 91 Longwater Drive, Norwell, MA For information, contact Laurie Galvin 781-659-2342
League of Catholic Women of the Archdiocese of Boston Fashion Show Friday, November 6: Fashion Show by Caryn’s Corner, Quincy at Hatherly Country Club, Scituate ~ 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., lunch, cash bar, fashion show and raffle. Tickets are $40.00. Please call Lilla O’Donoghue at 781-5454426. Deadline: Friday, October 30. St. Joseph Retreat Center, 339 Jerusalem Road, Cohasset invites you to the following programs. Besides scheduled events, the retreat house is often available for individual or group private retreats. For more information and to register, visit our website www.csjretreatcenter.org, call 781-383-6024/6029 or email retreat.center@csjboston.org. Mornings of Prayer ~ 9:00-12:15 November 9: Simple Ways to Pray for Healing November 23: To Give Thanks and Praise Private Retreat: Private time for prayer to fit your schedule - November 16-23 Directed Retreat: November 2-5 Weekend Retreat: November 13-15: Dreams and the Unconscious In Revelation and Religious Experience Experience: Nov. 22-22: Quiet Thanksgiving Weekend BENEFIT DANCE FOR HOLY GHOST FATHERS The 25th Annual Benefit Dance to aid the Irish Holy Ghost Fathers and their Missions will be held on Friday, November 6 at 8:00 p.m. at the Irish Social Club, 119 Park Street, West Roxbury. There will be music by the Andy Healy Band, Irish step-dancing, cash bar, refreshments and raffles. Dance tickets are $10 and may be purchased from members of the Holy Ghost Committee, including Fr. Peter Nolan C.S.Sp. (617-364-9500), Cathy Coppinger (617323-2800), Joe Berrio (617-325-4229) or at the door on the night of the dance. Saturday, Nov. 21 ~ “Come to the Waters of Healing” ~ Project Rachel retreat for post abortion healing. Location is confidential. To register, call 508-651-3100 or help@projectrachelboston.com. RETREAT FOR MEN A retreat for men will be held at Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham on the weekend of December 4-6. Fr. Timothy Joyce, OSB, STL will lead prayer, talks and discussions on a man’s spiritual journey. To sign up, phone the Retreat Secretary on weekdays, 781-749-2155, ext. 200.
THE PIETA MINISTRY A Spiritual Retreat for Parents Who Have Lost a Child November 7 & 8, 2009 St. Anthony Shrine and Ministry Center 100 Arch Street, Downtown Crossing, Boston, MA 02110 Join other parents and Franciscan Friars in a warm and loving place where we hope you can find comfort, rest and peace—at least for a time. Call 617-542-6440, ext. 116 for more details. OPEN HOUSES Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree (781-8433636) on Sunday, October 25 ~ 12:00-2:00 p.m. & Thursday, November 5 ~ 6:00-8:00 p.m. for eighth graders & parents Notre Dame Academy, Hingham, Grades 9 - 12 on Thursday, November 5 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 781-749-5930 or visit www.ndahingham.com Sacred Heart, Kingston—Preschool - Grade 6 on Sunday, November 1 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 781-585-2114. Ursuline Academy, Dedham—Grades 7 - 12 on Sunday, October 25 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Transportation is available from many communities. For further information, please call 781-326-6161 ext. 107 or visit www.ursulineacademy.net Fontbonne Academy, Milton—Girls, Grades 7 & 8 on Sunday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m. For further information, contact Fontbonne Academy Admissions office, Ms. Nora Bernard, at 617-615-3009, www.fontbonneacademy.org or admissions@fontbonneacademy.org. Financial aid information will be available. St. Sebastian’s School, Needham—Boys, Grades 7 - 12 on Thursday, October 29 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. All interested students and parents are invited to attend. For Further information, contact Admissions Office at 781-2470125 or visit www.stsebastiansschool.org Xaverian Brothers High School, Westwood—Boys, Grades 9 - 12 on Sunday, October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Catholic High School Entrance Exam for Eighth Grade boys who wish to enter the Freshman class in September, 2010 will be held at Xaverian Brothers on Saturday, November 14 at 8:30 a.m. and Saturday, December 12 at 8:30 a.m. Test Registration Forms and Admission Packets may be picked up at the Open House, by calling the Admissions Office at 781-326-6392 or by visiting their website at www.XBHS.com.
PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS: Almighty God and Father, hold our servicemen and women in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Amen. Please pray for the safety of our loved ones serving our country on active duty: 2nd Class Petty Officer Sean Walsh, USN; Sgt. John J. Joyce, USMC; Cpl. Joseph P. Joyce, USMC; Cmdr. William Devine, Navy Chaplain; Corp. Dennis P. Harrison, USMC; Carl Jesse Knight, Jr., USN; Sgt. Craig DeCosta, USMC; Lt. Col. James Fitzgerald, III, US Army; Specialist Matthew Paulin, US Army; Airman Ross Hendrigan, USAF; CPO Frederick Lieder, Jr., USN; Staff Sergeant Edward Ford; Cpl. Collin Sullivan; Lt. Douglas Healey; Sgt. Philip J. Fernandes; Capt. Peter Denis Murphy, USN; LTC Glenn Walsh, US Army; Sgt. Joseph D. Slater, US Army; LTJG Patrick J. O’Brien, USN; Michael Daly, USMC; Pvt. Nolan P. Redden, USMC; Petty Officer Jeffrey Yeaton, US Navy; LCPL Tyler Domingos, USMC; Major John F. Donahue, USAF; LTC David E. Thompson, US Army; Pvt. 1st Class Keeghan O’Brien, USMC; Pvt. Andrew McElroy, Ranger, E2 Scott J. Gustafson, USN; Lt. Col. John B. Atkinson, USMC; Spc. Kevin Bowker; AFC Michael McCarthy, USAF, WO Patrick Russo, US Army, 3rd Class Petty Officer Joseph G. Obert, Jr., USCG, Spc. Sean Brosnan, US Army, Lt. Aaron R. Bomar, USN, Major Neil B. Doherty, US Army, Major Kevin M. Doherty, USMC, CW02 Ian Hamilton, US Army, Sgt. Christopher Kilduff, US Army, Lt. Daniel LaPenta JAGC, USN and Pvt. Neil Pallotta, US Army Ranger.
MASSES FOR THE WEEK
Saturday, October 24 8:15 Thomas D. McGuiggan (29th Anniversary) 3:30 Confessions 4:30 Anne & Ernest Jacobson (In Loving Memory) Sunday, October 25 7:00 For the Intentions of our Parishioners 8:30 Neil Burns (In Loving Memory) 10:00 Fontes, Andrade & Barbosa Families 11:30 Philp E. Amirault (In Loving Memory) 4:00 Cape Verdean Confessions & Mass Monday, October 26 7:30 Paul J. Sullivan (Birthday Memorial) 5:00 p.m. Holy Hour for Priesthood—Chapel Tuesday, October 27 7:30 Joseph P. Lally (In Loving Memory) Wednesday, October 28 7:30 Tom Hughes (Birthday Memorial) Thursday, October 29 7:30 Pensieri Emilio (In Loving Memory) Friday, October 30 7:30 Helen Bulman (3rd Anniversary) Saturday, October 31 8:15 Floripa, Luis, Guilhermina, Enrique & Manuel Ribeiro (In Loving Memory) 3:30 Confessions 4:30 Maria Patovano (20th Anniversary) Sunday, November 1 7:00 Gracia DeVeiga (Birthday Memorial) 8:30 Robert J. Corbin, Jr. & The Cantwell & Corbin Families (In Loving Memory) 10:00 Harold D. Crowley (5th Anniversary) 11:30 The Scollans & Drummey Families both Living & Deceased Our Church is open: Monday ~ Friday 7:00 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m. Saturday ~ 7:00 a.m. until after the Vigil Mass Sunday ~ 6:45 a.m. until after the 11:30 a.m. Mass The Rosary is said every weekday morning after the 7:30 am Mass and also on Saturday after the 8:15 am Mass. On the First Saturday of every month after the 8:15 am Mass, the rosary is said in honor of Our Lady of Fatima.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS God, source of creation and love, you invite each of us to serve you through the gift of our life. May your grace encourage men and women to serve the church as priests, sisters, brothers and lay ministers. Make me an instrument to encourage others to give of themselves and challenge me to do the same. Amen. WOULD YOU PRAY FOR A PRIEST EACH DAY? The Monthly Prayer Request for Priests (MPRP) is an international apostolate which was founded in 1990 to encourage people to support Catholic priests by prayer and sacrifice. Each diocese prays for its own priests. Each day of the year bears the name of a priest from that diocese, obtained from the diocesan directory. Thus, by means of a calendar, the faithful are united in offering prayer and sacrifice for the particular “priest of the day,” always remembering to include a general intention of prayer for all priests of the diocese and around the world. The October & November MPRP calendars for the Archdiocese of Boston are available in the entrances of the church and chapel. Won’t you join in praying for a priest a day?