UPCOMING SCHEDULE

October 14, 2024

Open Gym 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM St Peter

October 15, 2024

Candle Rosary 5:30 PM St Kateri

October 20, 2024

Grades 1-5 8:15 AM St Peter

Grades 1-5 8:45 AM OLOL

Edge Grades 6-8 4:30 PM St Peter

Confirmation I 6:30 PM St Peter

October 21, 2024

Grades 1-5 4:45 PM St Peter

Candle Rosary

All are invited to join us in praying the Rosary at St. Kateri at 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024. A candle will be lit for each “bead” of the Rosary and an image of each decade will be held up to help us meditate on the Mystery. Please email Patsy if you are interested in leading a decade (written prayers and instructions are available), lighting the candles, or holding an image. Children, parents, and grandparents are encouraged to attend this beautiful prayer as we honor the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

Presentation Mass

Over the next few weeks the teens in our High School Confirmation program will be attending the Masses below to officially enroll in the program and sign their names in a book. Please keep all of these teens in your prayers as they begin this next step of their faith journey. 

October 20, 2024

11:30 am at St. Peter

10:00 am at St. Kateri

October 27 , 2024  

10:00 am at Our Lady of Lourdes

All Saints’ Trunk or Treat

All Hallows’ Eve is a celebration of the saints; help us share the lives of the saints and messages of faith during the town’s Halloween on Main St. event. Volunteer your car to have the trunk decorated, dress up as your favorite saint, donate small trinkets of faith to be given out to the children who come.

NOVEMBER YOUTH MASS

We are looking for a couple of volunteers to help prepare dinner for our high school Confirmation Candidates on November 3 at the parish hall at St. Peter’s. All supplies will be provided, we just need some cooks and help with kitchen clean up. Contact Patsy if you are interested in helping out at faithform@maryqueenofmartyrs.org.

Patsy Gillespie

Director of Faith Formation

Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish

(508) 746 - 0663 ext. 206

faithform@maryqueenofmartyrs.org

"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me" (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

Spotlight on Activities

Assisi Nights

October 6, 2024

Stephen Copeland

Reflect

I thought my pilgrimage to Assisi would be aimed toward solitude, silence, and stillness, as I did not know many people on the trip. I sought healing for my burdened heart and assumed this might unfold, if at all, in solitude and private prayer. My pilgrimage had all of these contemplative elements, but I was surprised to find that the healing and peace I found on that trip came through people and conversations with those who, though once strangers, would grow to become dear friends. This is how God works through the power of community and connection, if we’re open to it.

Pray

Was this what Francis did too, perhaps before his conversion, walk these cobblestone streets

joyously, raucously at times, with his friends, singing and laughing and drinking in all that life had to offer?

Did those wild wandering days, in some way, form his spirituality

centered around relationship and joy?

I went to Assisi longing for peace, craving retreat, solitude, some stillness to process the pain—what you gave me was people: strangers, soon to become friends, family.

We walked endlessly each night, down alleyways and hillsides;

we climbed Rocca Maggiore, smoked cigars and prayed;

we removed our shoes and sprinted home, yes, home, in the pouring rain.

We found loved ones we’d lost in each other’s eyes; we found you in the hearts

of those we did not know existed merely days before, there in that city of conversion.

Act

Send a message of gratitude today to someone who has impacted your life, and share how God has worked through them to heal your heart in some way.

DeCOLORES ALL!

Our next Ultreya is at:

Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish

Saint Kateri Church

126 South Meadow Road

Plymouth, MA

on

Sunday,October 20, 2024 at

5:00 PM.

Celebrant: Fr Joe Raeke assisted by Deacon Jim

Witness: Lauretta Grant

Music: Laura Grant, Mark Carey & Tim Grant

All are welcome! Please bring a snack to share & spread the word. Come join together with us to celebrate this wonderful Community of faith & to thank God for all of our Blessings! 

Palanca for the Men's Cursillo #391 will be gratefully accepted & delivered. We hope to see you!

(Any questions call Patti & John at 617-678-4306. Also, please rsvp any help with food to be offered if possible. God bless & thanks to all!)

Holy Cross Retreat House Cursillos

October 24-27, 2024 Men's

November 21-24, 2024 Women's

January 30-February 2, 2025 Men's

February 20-23, 2025 Women's

March 20-23, 2025 Men's

April 24-27, 2025 Women's

MQM Ultreya's

October 20, 2024-Saint Kateri

November 17, 2024-Saint Kateri

January 19, 2025-Saint Kateri

February 16, 2025-Saint Kateri

March 9, 2025-Saint Kateri

April 6, 2025-Saint Kateri

May 18, 2025 - OLOL

Deer in the Dusky Evening

Effie Caldarola

Friday 4th of October 2024

On a dusky fall evening, I take a walk down a familiar neighborhood street. Ahead of me, a small deer looks my way at the same moment I spot him. Freezing, I realize he's being followed by seven companions. They dash across the street and disappear into a backyard.

I gaze into the yard, where I see a maze of fences. But I suppose deer can easily jump them.

The encounter brings thoughts of the juxtaposition of our natural environment and the challenges it faces. The news on climate change grows more dire. When I check the local weather, I note how often the day is above normal for warmth. Today, as I write this, it's four degrees above the average daily high. We face melting glaciers, coastal flooding (even when it hasn't been raining), landslides, fires, brutal heat waves.

My town, with walking trails through a beautiful park, is a lovely place. But a major freeway borders one side of town. To disguise this, an embankment was built and trees were planted. If you gaze down a dead-end street in that part of town, you see lovely homes, a bucolic setting of grasses, trees and, yes, deer. But listening, you hear the continual rumble of fast-moving traffic. It's the sound of our dependence on fossil fuel, a nagging reminder of our environmental challenge.

We long for technological answers, and, hopefully, some will be forthcoming. But at heart, does not our fate rest on our personal commitment to living a more sustainable and simple lifestyle?

Addressing an environmental conference in 2021, Cardinal Blasé Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago said, "I am convinced that it is useless to talk about advancing a culture of life absent a vigorous commitment -- both by individuals and communities -- to making the sacrifices required for improving the socioeconomic, ecological and political crises of our time."

This includes a commitment by churches and church leadership. Cardinal Cupich announced in 2023 that the Chicago Archdiocese, including its nearly 400 parishes, schools, and offices, is shifting its entire electricity purchase to 100 percent renewable in 2024.

In 2015, Pope Francis gave the world his first environmental encyclical, "Laudato Si, on Care for Our Common Home." It's a beautiful, thought-provoking call to end the greed and consumerism that threaten our mother Earth. In it, he quotes from other popes, John XXIII, Paul VI, Benedict XVI who also warned of the dangers to the earth, to the poor and to our children from our unbridled consumption.

The dangerous individualism that we Americans cultivate sometimes makes us forget the poor and the earth itself in our quest for economic growth, success and more "stuff." Are we challenged on this issue from the pulpit?

"This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor," writes Francis.

Pope Francis chose his name as pontiff from St. Francis of Assisi, and in the introduction to "Laudato Si," he quotes from the Canticle of the Creatures given us by this saint: "St. Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. 'Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us ...'"

Viewed in this light, our buying habits, our consumerism and our wastefulness become moral choices.

As we look forward to St. Francis of Assisi's feast day on Oct. 4, may we pray to St. Francis for the freedom of simplicity and a renewed commitment to our mother Earth.

- Effie Caldarola is a columnist with the Catholic News Service.

Journey from Grief to Healing 

You are invited to come for sharing and healing In a

prayerful small group setting.

Mary, Queen of Martyr’s Parish Grief and Loss Support group begins on Tuesday evening, October 8th through December 10th from 6:30PM to 8:00PM at St. Kateri Church. The group will meet once per week for 9 sessions. The facilitators of the group are Meredith Scott and Betty Whittaker. Please call Kathy Benton, parish administrator, to register: 508-746-0663 ext. 401 

Project Rachel

Post-Abortion Healing Retreats

November 16, 2024

Are you-or someone you know-seeking peace after an abortion? The Project Rachel ministry of the Archdiocese of Boston extends a special invitation to women experiencing regret from a past abortion to attend a "Come to the waters of Healing" one-day retreat on Saturday, November 16, 2024 (9 am – 5 pm). Location is confidential. For more information on retreats or other services, contact Project Rachel at 508-651-3100 or help@projectrachelboston.com.

St Vincent de Paul Poor Boxes are located near the doors of all three churches. Through your generosity we will be able to continue to help the residents of Plymouth and Carver with their heat, electric and rent. Thank you for your support!

St. Vincent de Paul at St. Peter’s

The SVdP Food Pantry is held every Friday from 2:30-4:00 PM at the St. Peter Parish Center, 10 Memorial Drive. Thank you to our friends and parishioners who have so kindly remembered the Society, and those we serve, through your generous private gifts, and donations left in the church donation boxes, located at each door of the church. Your kindness helps many.

We are currently in need of: Baked Beans, Granola Bars, Pop Tarts, Beef Stew, Green Beans. Donations may be dropped off at the Parish Center or at the church.

If you are in need, please call the office at 508-746-0663 Ext. 307 and leave a message. We can help with resources and aid. You may also call us at this number if you are interested in volunteering for SVdP. 

The Saint Kateri Food Pantry

Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

The Food Pantry is always in need of any non perishable food items such as canned soups, pasta and sauce products, baking goods, cereals, canned tuna or chicken, boxed meals such as Hamburger & Tuna Helpers, canned vegetables and canned fruit and fruit juice. Liquid dish detergent, Kleenex, paper towels, toilet paper and cleaning products are very much needed. Personal hygiene products, such as deodorant, body wash/soap and shampoos are staples in every household and always appreciated!!

Thank you for your continued support of the food pantry!

Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parishioners, we need your help! On the 3rd Tuesday of each month, we receive a large order of food delivered from the Boston Food Bank. This delivery is generally about 3,000 lbs. Our staff is older and unloading this amount of products is difficult for the small group of people who usually help.

PLEASE consider taking an hour of your time to come by the church around 8:30 AM that day to help unload. We meet every third Tuesday of the month!

We now have a food donation box at Saint Kateri in the function hall by the office doorway. You may put your food donations in this box during office hours or after the weekend Masses.

A Mass of Remembrance:

On Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the 4:00 PM Masses at St. Peter’s and Saint Kateri and the 5:00 PM Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, we will remember the members of our parish community who have died during this past year by reading their names during the General Intercessions and lighting candles in their memory. Those remembered are generally those deceased who have been buried from our parishes during the past 12 months. However, as members of our parish, if during the past 12 months you have suffered the loss of an immediate family member who was not buried from our parishes and you would like that person included in the memorial at Mass, you may contact the office with the name of your family member no later than Monday, October 28, 2024. 

On Friday, July 26, 2024, the flag at Our Lady of Lourdes was raised in memory of Robert Ashman. The flag was donated by Charlie and Joan Ashman.

If you would like to purchase a 5x9.5 cotton Government Issue Flag ($100) to be flown at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery or Our Lady of Lourdes; or a 4 x 6 Government Issue Flag to fly at Saint Kateri in honor of a loved one, please call Kathy at the parish office, 508-746-0663 ext 401. We will announce the loved ones name when raising the flag (which usually remains up for 3 months) and when we retire the flag. 

EVERYONE IS INVITED!!!

Sunday, October 27, 2024

at 11:30 AM

To the Celebration of the Eucharist

and Luncheon

Mary, Queen of Martyrs All are Welcome Ministry

Come join Fr. Joe for Mass on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 11:30 AM at St. Kateri Church, as we celebrate God’s great love for each and every one of us. Our ministry includes members, family, and friends of the LGBTQ+ community and is committed to making all feel valued, respected, and loved.  We’ll also enjoy a luncheon reception after Mass, so please join us for prayer, food, fellowship, and fun - we hope to see you there. And feel free to bring something to share if the spirit moves you!

On October 16, 2024, at the Marriott in Burlington, Massachusetts, we will commemorate 175 years of courage, dedication and service to the community. Since the arrival of the three Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Boston in November 1849, their journey has been a profound commitment to making God's goodness known through education and advocacy, especially for women and children. We hope you will join us! Learn more at www.snddeneastwest.org/175NE.

For more information, please call Linda Micciche at 617-387-2500 or email LMicciche@ewsndden.org. 

St. Francis of Assisi in Braintree will be having a "Watch Party” in their Church Hall on October 31st for the Installation of Bishop Henning. The Parish will host the gathering for anyone who would like to get together to watch the installation of Bishop Henning. The ritual of installation takes place at the beginning of the Mass at 2pm. That should be noted. The Eucharist follows the installation process. All are welcome to drop by for as long as they can and enjoy the company. 

It was a beautiful day for the

Blessing of the Animals.

Thank you Deacons Dan & Dick! 

Fr. Joe has been hacked AGAIN!!

If you get a text or email from Fr. Joe asking for gift cards or cash please know that Fr. Joe would NEVER ask anyone to purchase gift cards or send money. If you get an email or text from him, please do not purchase or send money!! Call the parish office to verify any email or text that you receive asking for these items. Thank You!