"We hope that people will see it and talk about it with others. We hope that people will be inspired to take action. Ideally, it would be wonderful if churches had viewing groups during Holy Week and led reflections on what they saw and learned," the Rev. José Reyes, said by e-mail. He is the diocesan missioner for Latino/Hispanic ministries in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts and a leader in the expanding "B-PEACE" network of Massachusetts Episcopalians.

Even with strong gun safety laws already in place in Massachusetts, statistics gathered by Everytown for Gun Safety show that in an average year, 244 people die and 688 are wounded by guns in the state, and guns are the fourth leading cause of death among children and teens here. Nationally, gun deaths continue to be on the rise in the U.S., with gun murders increasing sharply in recent years and gun suicides accounting for a majority of U.S. gun deaths, according to the Pew Research Center.

Last November’s Diocesan Convention adopted a resolution that 2022 be used as a year of study and discernment “in the name of repentance, reconciliation and accountability to the descendants of enslaved Africans and their communities.”

It also asked, in part, that the Racial Justice Commission help the diocesan community come to a broadly accepted understanding of what form reparative actions might take.

To that end, the commission’s Subcommittee on Reparations has produced a “Reparations Toolkit” of resource materials and a “What is Truth?” Lenten study program, both intended to help lay a foundation for the work of discernment and deliberation ahead.

Next step: Listening.   

Constance Perry and

The Rev. Carol Morehead of the Subcommittee on Reparations

​First person: Constance Perry and

Carol Morehead share what's drawn them to engage in hard, holy work toward reparations. Read more here.  

​The Subcommittee on Reparations is now organizing a series of regional online gatherings in May that it describes as listening sessions, open to all.

“We want to hear from everyone. Everyone. Because everyone’s voice matters. Everyone’s opinion matters,” Constance Perry, a co-chair of the Subcommittee on Reparations and a member of Trinity Church in Boston, said in a recent interview via Zoom. She was joined by the Rev. Carol Morehead, a subcommittee member and the rector of Grace Church in Medford.

"It's about the questions much more than the answers at this point," Morehead said. “We need to know where people are, and so the listening gatherings are the opportunity for people just to share: When you hear ‘reparations,’ what do you think of? How do you understand that? And what questions might you have? It’s a way to take the pulse of the folks in the diocese and allow people to share their perspective at this moment."

The sessions will be hosted by the Subcommittee on Reparations and the regional canons, and will be held online via Zoom.

“I think one thing that is really important is that people in the diocese have a sense of partnership, of collaboration, in this process,” Morehead said. “We don’t all have to agree. We really want to know and need to know what the many voices are, and what the thoughts and concerns and desires are, so that as the decision-making process is entered into, there really is a kind of groundswell of collaborative work that we do together.”

She added: “To anyone in the diocese who’s ever said, ‘Well nobody ever asked me'—we’re asking you.”

Find your region here.

Monday, May 2, 10 a.m.-noon

Wednesday, May 4, 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m.-noon

Monday, May 9, 10 a.m.-noon

Wednesday, May 11, 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m-noon

Monday, May 16, 10 a.m.-noon

Wednesday, May 18, 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m.-noon

Supporting humanitarian response to Ukraine crisis: Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting Action by Churches Together (ACT Alliance) as it provides critical assistance to support people affected by violence in Ukraine, according to a March 9 news release. Working through ACT member Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) and other local organizations, ACT Alliance is providing emergency assistance such as food, shelter, water and basic supplies to refugees and people displaced within Ukraine.

Washington National Cathedral is lit in blue and yellow Wednesday-Friday nights, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Washington National Cathedral phot0

via Facebook: Colin S. Johnson

Bishops Alan M. Gates and Gayle E. Harris have commended ER&D’s Ukraine Crisis Response Fund as a primary way that Diocese of Massachusetts Episcopalians can help, alongside ongoing and fervent prayers for peacemaking in Ukraine.

Presiding Bishop Curry joins U.S. Christian leaders asking Russian Orthodox patriarch to "reconsider" comments on Ukraine:

Read Religion News Service story here.

Read the statement issued by the Office of Public Affairs here.

Episcopalians learn art of pysanka as form of hands-on prayer for Ukraine [Episcopal News Service]: When Russia invaded Ukraine just before the start of Lent, many Episcopalians began praying for the Ukrainian people. The attacks prompted Dontie Fuller, who was already scheduled to teach the art of pysanka – Ukrainian Easter egg decorating– at Church of the Nativity in Indianapolis, Indiana, to amend her informational event to educate attendees about the attacks and to use the ancient art to offer hands-on prayer for Ukraine. Read the full story here.

Find additional Ukraine coverage at Episcopal News Service, here.

Hispanic Ministries to host Romero prayer service:

The diocesan Hispanic Ministries Committee will host a virtual prayer service on March 24 at 7 p.m. for the martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. The Spanish-language service will feature live music and a reflection by the Rev. Edgar Gutierrez-Duarte, the vicar of St. Luke's/San Lucas Church in Chelsea and chair of the Hispanic Ministries Committee.

The link for anyone to join is available here.

Mother's Day Walk for Peace to step off in person this year on May 8:

The B-PEACE for Jorge Campaign in the Diocese of Massachusetts has been a lead supporter of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute's Mother's Day Walk for Peace for nearly a decade. This year, the fundraising walk will again be in person, after a two-year COVID hiatus.

Everyone is invited to join B-PEACE and Bishop Alan M. Gates in participating in and/or supporting this year's walk on Sunday, May 8. Registration for the B-PEACE team is online here. Questions may be directed to the Rev. Liz Steinhauser at liz@ststephensbos.org.

New priest ordained: The diocesan community's prayers and congratulations are with the Rev. Ben Crosby, newly ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Alan M. Gates on Feb. 26 at Crosby's sponsoring parish, St. Paul's Church in Malden.

Photo: Julianne Ture

Diaconate Sunday is June 12: The Diocese of Massachusetts will again celebrate "Diaconate Sunday" on June 12. Congregations are invited to request a deacon to preach on that day, when the church celebrates St. Efrem the Syrian, a deacon venerated in both Eastern and Western church traditions.

The bishops set aside a Diaconate Sunday for the first time last year as an opportunity to introduce more people to the ministry of deacons and with the hope that more congregations might be inspired to explore how a deacon's servant leadership among them might benefit their communities and outreach.

Because there are more congregations than deacons, those who would like a deacon to be with them on June 12 should make their requests as soon as possible before May 1 to the Ven. Pat Zifcak, Archdeacon for Formation (pzifcak@diomass.org or 617-482-4826, ext. 551).

The Rev. Edward Cardoza

Change in missioner for property stewardship position announced: The Office of the Bishop has announced that the Rev. Edward M. Cardoza will now be serving full time, on an interim basis, as missioner for property stewardship on the diocesan staff, a role in which he has been serving part-time since September 2020.

"Since that time, he has provided counsel to congregations throughout the diocese regarding property maintenance and development, along with overseeing matters relating to diocesan-owned and closed church properties," the announcement said.

Courtesy photo

Bethany House of Prayer welcomes new executive director: The Rev. Dr. Dawna Wall takes up her new work as executive director of Bethany House of Prayer in Arlington this month. She comes to Massachusetts from the Diocese of British Columbia where she was serving as a parish priest and in regional ministry as an archdeacon based in Victoria. She has also been an adjunct faculty member teaching worship and liturgy at the Vancouver School of Theology.

“She has a clear call to the contemplative life and to facilitating contemplative experiences for others," the Bethany House of Prayer Board of Directors said in its announcement of the appointment.

Together with the search committee, the board said it “experienced her as grounded, authentic and eager to take her ministry in a new direction that is aligned with her desire to encourage the life of prayer. Her warm and inviting nature will serve well Bethany’s ministry of hospitality.”

Wall succeeds Julia Slayton, Bethany House of Prayer co-founder and former executive director who concluded her ministry last October after nearly 20 years of leadership.

“It is a great joy and honor to be invited to come alongside Bethany House and the many wonderful ways they practice the presence of God through their ministries of hospitality, teaching, spiritual direction and being, and in their commitment to continued growth and discernment,” Wall said in board’s announcement.

Bethany House of Prayer is a ministry of prayer and hospitality shared alongside the Sisters of St. Anne—Bethany, offering retreats, spiritual direction, programs that nourish contemplative practice, and group facilitation.

Attleboro Sun Chronicle: Local Christians hoping Lent will be a way to find light amid dark times: Lenten observances are part of the tradition at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Foxboro. The Rev. Ed Cardoza, the church’s former rector, now on the staff of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, said “a lot of folks are still suffering. There’s a sense of isolation from COVID...a lot of people are feeling disconnected, feeling a need to pray in community,” including keeping Ukraine in their thoughts.

For people whose daily routines have been disrupted by the pandemic, it may be a time to consider what those routines actually may have meant. Read more.

Falmouth Enterprise: "A Place at the Table" to continue tradition of free meals: Six months after it was announced that Falmouth’s volunteer meal service Around The Table would not be reopening, St. Barnabas’s Episcopal Church has launched its own iteration of the program, called A Place At The Table.  

Beginning March 8, at the St. Barnabas’s parish house, free meals are available to anyone in need between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Read more.

Dartmouth Week: Volunteers work to help Afghan refugees begin new life in Dartmouth: When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan this past August, St. Peter’s parishioner Martin Costa knew he needed to offer his help to any of the refugees that were to be resettled on the South Coast. When a young family of six arrived in South Dartmouth in December, he and fellow church volunteers quickly got started gathering necessities to ensure they felt welcome in their new home.

“They’re our neighbors,” Costa said. “And this is what our work in the church is all about: helping your neighbor.” Read more.

Mar 17: "Practicing Truth" Lenten Preaching Series at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, in person and livestreamed, with guest preacher The Rev. Zenetta Armstrong, 12:15pm

Mar 17: Children's Formation Colleagues Online Gathering, 3:30pm

Mar 17: Diocesan Council Meeting, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Mar 19: Diocesan Middle & High School Youth Retreat, in person at Parish of the Epiphany, Winchester, 9:30am

Mar 19: Lenten Quiet Day: "Reconciliation: Putting a Burden Down," via Zoom, 9:30am

Mar 24: "Practicing Truth" Lenten Preaching Series at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, in person and livestreamed, with guest preacher Bishop Carol Gallagher, 12:15pm

Mar 24: Evening Prayer for the Feast of Oscar Romero, via Zoom, 7:00pm

Mar 27: Bishop Harris visits St. John's Church in Holbrook

Mar 27: Bishop Gates visits Trinity Parish in Melrose

Mar 29: Clergy Lenten Devotions with Bishop Harris, via Zoom, 11:00am & 5:00pm

Mar 31: "Practicing Truth" Lenten Preaching Series at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, in person and livestreamed, with guest preacher The Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, 12:15pm

Mar 31: Installation of The Rev. Andrew Suitter-Bentley at St. Elizabeth's Church, Sudbury, 5:00pm

Apr 2: Pre-Confirmation Retreat, in person at Trinity Church, Concord, 9:30am

Apr 3: Bishop Harris visits Christ Church in Quincy

Apr 7: Children's Formation Colleagues Online Gathering, 10:00am

Apr 7: "Practicing Truth" Lenten Preaching Series at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, in person and livestreamed, with guest preacher Minister Savina Martin, 12:15pm

Apr 7: Clergy Lenten Devotions with Bishop Harris, via Zoom, 2:00pm

Apr 7: Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group for Men (first session of eight-week series), via Zoom, 6:30pm

Apr 8: Clergy Professional Development Day: Safe Church Review, via Zoom, 5:00pm

Apr 9: Clergy Professional Development Day: Workshop on Microaggression, via Zoom, 9:30am

Apr 9: Palm Sunday Eve Multicultural Celebration of Human Journey, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Apr 10: Bishop Harris visits All Saints' Church in West Newbury

Apr 10: "Way of the Cross: Ending Gun Violence in Massachusetts" YouTube video premiere, 7 p.m.

Apr 12: Holy Tuesday Clergy Renewal of Vows and Blessing of Chrism Services, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, in person at 12pm & in person and livestreamed at 5:30pm

Apr 21: Children's Formation Colleagues Online Gathering, 3:30pm

Apr 21: Diocesan Council Meeting, 6:00pm

Apr 24: Bishop Harris visits St. Mark's Church in Southborough

Apr 24: Bishop Gates visits St. John's Church in Beverly Farms

Apr 25-27: Diocesan Clergy Conference, Babson Executive Conference Center, Wellesley

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