Please see the tentative schedule for next year below.

Please be aware that the schedule may be modified before September 1, 2024. If you are aware of any major conflicts, please let the office know ASAP.

VBS is this week! All children should be escorted to the check in area in the function hall at OLOL each day and picked up from the same location. Please remember your water bottles. Names should be on all personal items. We are looking forward to all of the fun and games based on the Olympics and 10 Commandments.

Drop off begins at 8:45 am; please come in to sign your child in and out each day with their small group leaders.

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).

Summer Family Water Games & BBQ Sunday, July 28, 2024 at 1:00pm

St. Kateri Church

Families are invited to RSVP (and pray for good weather) for an afternoon of grilling and chaos in the back yard of St. Kateri Church on Sunday, July 28th. Some invitations have already been sent out by email, but spread the word to families looking to build community and have some easy summer fun. Click the link to the Google sheet below (or use the QR code below) to sign up to bring something if you would like, we especially would like outdoor toys. We are hoping to fill the back yard with Slip n’ Slides and kiddie pools, as well as to have age tiered water gun and water balloon battles. Finally, prizes in the form of candy will be awarded to any child who can fill up a kiddie cup with busted water balloons when it is all said and done! The parish hall will be open for breaks in the cool and shade. See you there!

–Fr. Paul

 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17LUDkPXpJQbyl0rkDTL3JvcHlHSoaWt7rv_dL6L1o_c/edit?gid=0#gid=0 

Graced with the Color Green

July 18, 2024

Carol Ann Morrow

Reflect

Summer, spring, winter, fall: There is green in every season. Despite the reported fragility of our earth, we still see grass in the cracks of sidewalks and evergreens with their perennial promise.

Pray

Creator God of the universe,

you have graced me with green, the color of hope.

You gift us with unfurling forest leaves

and tiny hints of moss on the sternest rocks.

I trim the grass and it rebounds.

The lowliest weed secures the soil in its grasp

and gives green another place to grow.

It is a conspiracy of hope from Genesis until today.

Green me with glimmers of this grace, O God.

Act

Look for green today. Whenever you see it, offer an affirmation of hope: Hope for forgiveness; hope to see and do God’s work in the world.

Jesus, I Trust in You': National Eucharistic Congress Opens With a Powerful Holy Hour

OSV News

THURSDAY 18TH OF JULY 2024

INDIANAPOLIS (OSV News) -- Absolute silence filled Lucas Oil Stadium as tens of thousands of people dropped to their knees to adore Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament as the long-anticipated National Eucharistic Congress officially got underway on the evening of July 17 in Indianapolis. More than 100 spotlights trained on a large, golden monstrance on an altar in the center of the stadium as a powerful holy hour -- which took place before any talks, music or greeting by the evening's three emcees -- began the congress's first revival night filled with prayer, powerful speakers and praise-and-worship music.

Just before Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota -- the driving episcopal force behind the congress -- walked onto the floor carrying the monstrance, the 30 perpetual pilgrims who had walked the four National Eucharistic Pilgrimage routes entered the stadium. Carrying icons of each route's respective patron saints -- St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, St. Junipero Serra, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Blessed Virgin Mary -- the pilgrims took the final steps that officially completed their eight-week journey from points north, south, east and west across the U.S. to the July 17-21 congress in Indiana's capital city.

After a time of silent prayer and praise and worship, Bishop Cozzens knelt for a second time in front of the monstrance.

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"Lord, we wanted to give you the first words of our National Eucharistic Congress," he said. Kneeling before Jesus in the Eucharist, Bishop Cozzens recounted how the National Eucharistic Revival -- launched in 2022 -- has led Catholics to gather to study, teach and pray with the Eucharist, spending countless hours in adoration and small groups, and in parish and diocesan initiatives.

"Lord, we made a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage for you," he prayed. "For the last 65 days we brought your living presence across this land, across the East, West, North and South. We visited large churches and small churches. We had large processions in cities and small processions in prisons. We visited nursing homes and homeless shelters. Lord, we tried to share with everyone we met along the way your unspeakable love."

He said the pilgrimage prayed for the country and the church and brought those prayers to the congress. He thanked Jesus for the miracles the pilgrims saw along the way: conversion, people return to the faith, physical and spiritual healings.

"We hope to see more," he said.

He told Jesus that the tens of thousands of Catholics in the stadium had gathered there to give him thanks and praise and to be changed into "missionary disciples, people filled with the joy of the Gospel, people so grateful for the salvation you purchased for us."

He prayed for deeper conversion for individuals, peace in wartorn countries, those affected by abuse, and unity in both the country and the church. Bishop Cozzens invited attendees to share in silence their own desires with Jesus, and then asked them to pray that the Lord would also reveal his desires for them.

"Jesus, I trust in you," he prayed, and the stadium resounded as people echoed his prayer.

"Lord, we have come here because we want a revival, a Eucharistic revival, and we want every Catholic to realize that you are alive in the Eucharist, and to encounter your love," he said. "And Lord, we know that this revival, it has to begin with us."

After the holy hour concluded and Bishop Cozzens processed out with the Eucharist, the revival's emcees then took the stage: Father Joshua Johnson, vocations director for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Montse Alvarado, president of EWTN News -- who greeted the attendees in Spanish and English -- and Sister Miriam James Heidland, a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. The three talked about their own personal experiences with the Eucharist and what the congress meant to them before introducing the other speakers that evening.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the papal nuncio to the U.S., was the night's keynote speaker. He opened with the reflection that "perhaps our main prayer for this Eucharistic congress should be this: that we as a church may grow in our unity so that we become more fruitful in our mission."He invited those present to reflect on the basic question of "what is Eucharistic revival?" and "how will we know that we are experiencing Eucharistic revival?"

Revival is "always accompanied by sacramental devotion," he said, but it "must extend beyond devotional practices as well.""When we are truly revived by the Eucharist," he said, "then our encounter with Christ's real presence in the sacrament opens us to an encounter with him in the rest of our life. This means seeing him everywhere we go."He reminded those gathered that Christ "is also present in our encounters with people from whom we would otherwise consider ourselves divided" including "people from a different economic class or race, people who challenge our way of thinking."Living "a truly Eucharistic life," he emphasized, means that adoration "spills over in our daily life, a life of relating to others, our way of seeing others."He encouraged those gathered to use their time in adoration over the week of the Eucharistic Congress to ask the Lord to reveal the places where they are resistant to surrendering to his will.

"He is the only one who can lead us to new life," he concluded, "by following him, we can become true apostles of his Kingdom."

Sister Bethany Madonna, local superior of the new Phoenix mission of the Sisters of Life, talked about how Jesus, crucified and risen, "wants to reveal himself" and bring his grace because of his love for each person.

"God knows you. God loves you. And chooses you ... He has entrusted you with a mission that he has entrusted to no one else," she said.

She said that Jesus "knows that we are hungry for love, and he chooses to give himself to us as food and drink."

"We have this unquenchable thirst to be loved that no one and nothing can ever satisfy" but God, she explained.

Sister Bethany Madonna reminded people that when fear or failure can prevent them from drawing close to God's love, "Jesus redeems everything."

She shared the testimony of a woman who was terrified to go to confession because of two abortions she had when she was younger. She lived in shame and silence for 29 years, and when she made the appointment for the sacrament of reconciliation and drove to see the priest, she heard a whisper saying, "You don't have to do it," and, "This is too difficult ... turn back."

Praying Hail Marys all the way, she got to confession in tears; and after listening to her, the priest made the motion of picking up a lamb and said, "All of heaven rejoices ... welcome home."

Sister Bethany Madonna said that when the woman received Communion the next day, she said that "my life would be a 'yes' to God."

The opening revival night of the National Eucharistic Congress already had a profound effect on participants who spoke with OSV News.

Belen Munoz, 18, of Rosa Park, New Jersey, said it was "encouraging" to see so many Catholics gathered for the congress.

"Growing up in a secular community, it's a totally different experience," she said. "Getting just a taste of what we're encountering here is amazing, and I can't wait for the rest of the week."

"Tonight just showed me that Jesus is just so alive in the Eucharist and that it's just so obvious that he's working through so many people," said Molly Quinn, 18, from Naperville, Illinois. She added the experience "just made me realize that we're not alone in this world and there are so many people who are searching for Christ like I am."

"I've been having a rough patch in my life and so coming here to this and seeing how God can work through everyone is truly inspiring and powerful and makes me feel revived personally," added 18-year-old Michelle Jurec, also from Naperville. "I can't wait for the rest of the days."

Lotty Cantrelle, 63, a nurse from Lockport, Louisiana, stood and sang to a praise and worship song near the end of the evening. She said her pastor "volun-told" her to come to the congress -- but after experiencing the opening revival session, "I know that my priest knew I needed this," she said.

"A person's heart would have to be made of stone not to be changed by that," she said, noting Sister Bethany Madonna's words about trusting Jesus.

"That gave me a lot of comfort," she said. "I think this is a journey to my healing and to becoming my former self, who used to be more joyful. So I am ready."

- - - OSV News Editor-in-Chief Gretchen R. Crowe, National News Editor Peter Jesserer Smith, Senior Writer Maria Wiering, Culture Editor Lauretta Brown and Spanish Editor Maria Pia Negro Chin contributed to this report.

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: Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Hearty Soups, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Tomato soup. 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. 

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.

Mary Queen of Martyrs SVdP

will be holding our annual raffle after Masses at all three churches:

on July 6th-7th at St Peters; on July 13th-14th at St Kateri and on July 20th-21st at Our Lady of Lourdes. We will be raffling off 11 themed baskets: 2 golf baskets, an Italian dinner, beach Games and White Wine basket to name a few. Tickets will be $5 for 1, $10 for 3 and $20 for 7. This is for us to raise funds to help all the families in need in our Parish and community so please consider helping us out by buying raffle tickets. All baskets to be raffled will be on displayed at each Church each weekend. Thank you!! 

On Friday, June 21st the flag at Saint Kateri was raised in memory of Len Quaranto. The flag was donated by Maureen Quaranto.

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. 

There will be a Mass of Installation held for

Fr. Michael Rora on August 18, 2024

at 11:00 am at

Most Blessed Sacrament Church

1155 Main Street in Wakefield, MA.

All are welcome to attend.

Fr. Michael will be installed as the pastor of the Incarnation Church in Melrose.

Congratulations Fr. Michael, we are so proud of you!