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THE WEEKLY MISSIVE
September 26, 2025
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A Parable For Our Times
Dear Friends,
The gospel passage this weekend offers us yet another powerful parable by Luke’s Jesus. This weekend we learn that those who live without concern for the poor, the destitute, will be judged for their apathy.
The lack of concern shown by the unnamed rich man is appalling. By not giving the rich man a name, Jesus offers us a mirror to look at our own attitudes and actions toward the poor.
As we continue to make progress in our pastoral planning, I think of the rich history of our community’s service to the poor as well as our advocacy for the just care and concern for those who are poor in any way.
In accepting an honorary doctorate from Harvard University in 1982, Mother Teresa addressed the graduates and the faculty on that unseasonably hot spring day. She said, “You Americans are the richest country in material matters, but you are the poorest country in spiritual matters”.
If that insight of Mother Teresa was at all accurate over 40 years ago, how much greater is spiritual poverty in today’s USA? Among the causes of our spiritual malaise are the subsequent years of technological advances that have quickened the pace of life and have helped wear down our ability to attend to our spiritual life.
As a community of faith, I have no doubt that we will continue our Paulist Center’s legacy of caring for those among us who live in material poverty. The listening and discussing that has taken place thus far in our pastoral planning process however, has also raised the issue of the need for us to attend to our own spiritual poverty.
I think it is fair to ponder whether the unnamed rich man would not have taken notice of poor Lazarus if he had been more rooted in the spiritual life. For we know that prayer and attention to the spiritual life sustains us in our efforts to act as the hands and feet of the Lord.
Fr. Rick, on behalf of the Paulist Center Staff
Alvaro, Barbara, Deb, Dorothy, Gus, Norm, Fr. Rick, Rob, Sal, Susan, and Timmy
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- FREP classes begin
- Pastoral Planning Meetings
- Responding to Assaults on the Dignity of Life
- Worship Matters
- Youth Liturgical Ministry Program
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- Festival of Readings and Carols - Call for Musicians
- Prayer and Action in Troubled Times -
- Solar Energy Seminar
- Stewardship/Community Gift
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Family Religious Education Program (FREP) -
This Sun, Sept 28
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THIS SUNDAY is a busy day around here! Classes formally begin, AND we will hold our first in-person pastoral planning meetings. After Mass, please bring your child(ren) to their designated classroom (locations posted in the elevator and lobby), and fill out some brief paperwork with your teacher.
Then head down to the auditorium for lunch and the start of our pastoral planning community meeting. We want/need the voices of parents, so please do participate!
Classes end at 12:15pm, so a parent should plan on heading back to the classroom to collect their child(ren).
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Jr. & Sr. High Teen families!
The Executive Director and Director of Programming from
Mosaic Interfaith will be here for an orientation of our new teen program.
Please meet in the 3rd floor library to meet Matt and Kimberly (and our leader, Grace!) and learn more about the program that will happen on Sundays from 2 - 5pm at various locations in and around Boston. (Please see calendar for monthly dates.)
EACH FAMILY MUST REGISTER THEIR CHILD FOR THIS PROGRAM! Please use this registration Link: https://forms.gle/pVRHE3SLCrPAHwhA7
The first Mosaic session will take place on October 19.
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Questions and concerns, contact Susan Rutkowski, Pastoral Minister of Family Religious Education and Social Justice, at susan@paulistcenter.org or 617-948-2426.
The calendar and registration form are found on our website at www.paulistcenter.org.
We look forward to welcoming you all back to the Center on Sunday for the official start of classes for grades K-6 and orientation for our teens!
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Pastoral Planning In-Person Meetings This Sun, Sept 28
Join Paulist Center community members after the Sunday 10am or Sunday 6pm Mass for the initial in-person meetings of our 2025 Pastoral Planning Process.
During the meeting community members will have the opportunity to reflect on our mission, discern needs, and share recommendations for ministry priorities over the next 3 years.
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The same session will be held after the 10am Mass (session held 12- 2pm) and
after the 6pm Mass (session held 7-8:30pm).
Lunch/dinner will be provided for both!
Contact Deb Heimel with any questions at deborah@paulistcenter.org
More info can be found on our website at:
https://www.paulistcenter.org/pastoralplan/
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Responding to Assaults on the
Dignity of Life
This year we hold up the theme – the life and dignity of the human person – front and center in all of the Paulist Center’s programming.
Our hope is that this theme meets the range of the community where we are and will create opportunities for prayer, learning, and responding as this assault on the dignity of human life worsens. Please click the link to read the entire announcement: https://www.paulistcenter.org/dignityoflife/
The next event to help us on this journey is:
The benefits of Solar Energy – Community Coffee led by our Creation Care Ministry - Oct 5
(see below)
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YOUTH LITURGICAL MINISTRY PROGRAM (YLM) – 2025-2026
As we move into the fall and the start of a new academic year, we are excited to once again offer ministry opportunities through our
Youth Liturgical Ministry Program.
YOUTH LITURGICAL MINISTRY (YLM) OPPORTUNITIES
- LECTOR MINISTRY
- ASSISTANT SACRISTANS
- LITURGICAL DANCE
- MUSIC
- AUDIO-VISUAL MINISTERS
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Please see the bulletin for more information.
If you’re interested in getting involved, please visit this link for the YLM Interest Form, or scan the QR code
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Come To Set Us Free:
Festival of Readings and Carols 2025
Call For Musicians
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Join the Paulist Center Music Ministry for our annual Festival of Readings and Carols.
Rehearsals: Thursdays,
7 - 9pm, in the Chapel,
beginning October 2.
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Performance dates:
* Sat, December 13 at 8pm
* Sun, December 14 at 2pm
Interested in participating? Please contact Norm Gouin directly at norm@paulistcenter.org.
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WORSHIP MATTERS
Weekend of September 27 - 28, 2025 – Issue #3
Sacred Space: The Tabernacle
Among all the liturgical appointments found in our churches, the history, meaning, and purpose of the tabernacle remains one of the most misunderstood.
The word tabernacle comes from the Latin tabernaculum, meaning “tent” or “hut.”
It holds two related meanings: a place of temporary dwelling, and a place where God resides.
In the early Church, Christians cherished the Eucharist so deeply that they began reserving a portion of it for those too ill to gather with the community. A representative would bring the consecrated host to the sick—a tradition we continue today through our Eucharistic ministers.
Over time, the tabernacle came to serve several important purposes. First, it was a storehouse for the Eucharist to be brought to the sick. As its significance deepened, it became a focal point of devotion and private prayer. Eventually, it also took on the practical role of holding reserved hosts for Mass, in case more was needed during the distribution of Communion.
The placement of the tabernacle has also shifted over time. Before Vatican II, it was typically located at the center of the high altar. With the Council’s reforms—especially the priest facing the people—the altar was moved forward, and the tabernacle was either left on the old high altar or placed on a smaller side altar.
In many modern churches, the tabernacle is placed in a dedicated Blessed Sacrament Chapel near the main worship space. This allows the reserved Eucharist to be housed in a separate chapel or alcove, while remaining accessible for its original and primary purpose: distribution to the sick and homebound.
In our chapel, the tabernacle is recessed into the wall of the alcove in the front right corner of the chapel. Like our altar, it is carved from mahogany. This symbolic link highlights the connection of our liturgical action with adoration and communion to the sick and homebound. Designed and hand-carved by Fr. Frank Sabatté, CSP, this simple yet beautiful tabernacle reminds us, just as we are reminded each time the community gathers around of the table of the Word and table of the Eucharist, that Christ is always present among and within us.
For more detailed information about the design of our tabernacle, please visit:
www.paulistcenter.org/our-chapel
Also, for the current and past reflections in our Worship Matters series please visit
www.paulistcenter.org/worshipmatters
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Solar Energy Seminar - Sun, Oct 5
During the coffee hour after the 10 am Mass on Sun, Oct 5, the Creation Care Committee will present a seminar for community members interested in learning about solar energy.
There will be information on:
· the Center’s recent shift to the purchase of solar-generated electricity at 5 Park St
· how community members can capture similar benefits without needing to install solar panels on their home
Members will describe their experience using solar and answer questions.
Please join us for a sun-filled presentation!
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Prayer and Action in Troubled Times: Lessons from Catholic Social Teachings
The first sessions at the beginning of September were a smash hit! Please join us for future sessions this fall (see below) as we reflect on key documents that have challenged and inspired our faith tradition over time. We will learn about them and consider what insights and actions they inspire as we face myriad assaults on social justice today.
Raúl E. Zegarra, a community member and Asst. Prof. of Roman Catholic Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School, will lead the sessions.
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Future Fall Sessions:
· Oct 19 @ 11am (Auditorium)
· Nov 23 @ 11am (Auditorium)
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Come Celebrate
the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time with Us!
We hope to see you at Mass in person, but if you can't make it through the big red doors,
we welcome you to join us online:
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Paulist Come and See Retreat
Oct 24 - 26
Hecker House
Washington, DC.
A wonderful opportunity to learn more about vocational discernment and the Paulist history and ministry, and to meet fellow discerners as well as Paulist students and formation team.
To register:
Please contact Paulist Fr. Ed Nowak, Vocation Director, at vocations@paulist.org
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Ongoing Opportunities/Needs & Notes
The most comprehensive listing of what's going on at the
Paulist Center is in the bulletin. Check it out!
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Encouragement to sustain our vibrant liturgies and our mission of healing, reconciliation, & justice through your financial investment in the Paulist Center. We prefer that you donate electronically through our website, but you can also use Apple Pay or Google Pay to donate via DonorBox if you do not require an annual tax donation statement. More info in the bulletin.
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The Community Gift the weekend of Sept 27-28 is Voice of the Faithful, a lay organization that works to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.
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How can the Paulist Center Community accompany you on your faith journey?
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Mass Cards - Please stop by the Front Office during the week, email Sal Whooley at sal@paulistcenter.org, or call 617-742-4460, if you would like to arrange for a Mass and/or purchase a Mass card:
- in memory of someone who has died,
- in honor of a special occasion,
- or for the special intentions of yourself or a loved one.
| | | | Attentive to the Holy Spirit and nourished by vibrant liturgy, we are a Catholic community that welcomes all, fosters healing and reconciliation, and acts for justice. | | Follow us on social media, and please share our posts with others! | | | | |
