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THE WEEKLY MISSIVE
April 2, 2026
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Facing Uncertainty With Trust in God's Will
Dear Friends,
The last several months have given us all a big chill as we have endured a dark, cold, uncertain winter. And the weather was difficult to cope with too! (ba-dum tss)
As I write this latest Missive we are collectively facing an abyss of sorts. The on-going issues facing our world, our nation, our families continue to weigh heavily on our collective psyche. There is the temptation to withdraw from the latest news, to ignore the issues before us, to escape to our favorite diversions and amusements.
This year, many of us understandably enter the Three Great Days, the Triduum, in somewhat the same spirit that Jesus approached His passion. We can relate to Jesus’ trepidation and honest reluctance to embrace the absurdity of what He knew was coming His way.
Jesus chose not to run away, to not avoid the immense suffering that was upon Him. He accepted the verbal assaults, the savage physical abuse and the excruciating pain of being nailed to a cross.
Perhaps even more difficult for him to bear was the belief that His pending suffering and death was the will of God, the will of His Father. How was Jesus able to accept God’s will?
We know he prayed intensely all His life, but this was especially true in the Garden of Gethsemane that last evening of His life. That time of prayer reinforced His trust that God sent Him to dwell among us and to bring the light of truth and selfless love to a dark, fearful, self-protective human race. Christ, the Word made flesh of John’s gospel trusted that Love, God, would prevail against sin and death.
In these pivotal days of uncertainty, I ask you to join me in the prayer of Jesus in this crucial moment, that we too may trust that God’s will be done.
Fr Rick, on behalf of the Paulist Center Staff
Alvaro, Barbara, Deb, Dorothy, Gus, Liz, Norm, Fr. Rick, Rob, Sal, Susan, and Timmy
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- Happy Easter!
- Welcome Visitors!
- Easter Livestream links
- FREP
- PC schedule - Easter Monday
- Easter Flower donations
- Worship Matters
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- Staff change
- Thank you from Liz Framski
- Infant Baptism Prep Class - 4/11
- Catholic Social Teachings - 4/12
- Paulist Center Auction! - 5/2
- Walk for Hunger - 5/3
- Stewardship/Community Gift
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The Paschal Triduum:
Holy Week at the Paulist Center
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WORSHIP MATTERS
April 2, 2026, Issue #22
LITURGICAL YEAR: The Three Days
We began our observance of Holy Week last weekend with the celebration of Palm Sunday. In this liturgy, we recalled Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then heard the solemn telling of his passion and death in the Gospel of Matthew. As we departed this liturgy, we turned our gaze toward the Paschal Triduum—the Church’s most sacred time. Just as Sunday gives meaning to the week, so these three days stand at the heart of the entire liturgical year. “Triduum” means “three days.” In the biblical sense of time, these days begin at sunset on Holy Thursday and unfold as one continuous celebration, culminating on Easter Sunday.
The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. In John’s Gospel, instead of the institution of the Eucharist, we encounter the striking image of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and commanding them to do the same. At the Paulist Center, we honor this command by inviting all who are willing to come forward and wash one another’s feet. Like Peter, we may feel some hesitation—but in this humble act, we encounter the heart of Christ’s love.
The liturgy concludes with a solemn procession of the Eucharist to a place of repose in our auditorium, where we are invited to remain in quiet vigil, keeping watch with Jesus in the garden.
On Good Friday, we gather in silence and prayer to hear the Passion according to John. We venerate the cross—an ancient and powerful gesture of devotion—and share in Communion. Then the church is stripped bare. The stillness deepens. We enter the long watch of waiting.
Our journey reaches its summit in the Great Easter Vigil—a rich and layered celebration of light, word, baptismal renewal, and Eucharist. Beginning in darkness, we kindle the new fire and listen again to the story of salvation. At last, we gather at the table, where the Triduum began, to share in the feast of the risen Christ—alive among us.
In these sacred days, we do more than remember. We participate in Christ’s Passover—his passage through death into life, now made present in us. Through symbol, story, and song, we enter this mystery anew.
May these days awaken in us a deeper sense of wonder and hope, that we, too, “might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
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Come Celebrate Easter 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:
| | Remember: all of our live streams are available in real time on our YouTube channel & available there afterwards as recordings. | |
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Welcome, visitors!
Whether this is your 1st time or your 50th time worshipping with us on Easter, we’re glad you are here!
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Family Religious Education Program
There are no religious education classes this Sunday due to the Easter holiday.
Happy Easter to all our families!
The first communion seder will be held in the auditorium on Sunday, April 12 at 11:15 am.
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Flower Donations for the
Easter Season
Honor your loved ones, living or deceased, by making a donation towards Easter flowers with which we'll adorn the Chapel throughout the Easter Season. The suggested donation is $10.
Thank you!
Contributions can be made:
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by going to Donate Online, and choose “Flower Donation” and note who it is “in honor of”, or “in memory of”
- at the Front Desk, Mon - Fri from 10:30am - 4:30pm
- by using the envelopes in the pews
Please write legibly when notating your loved ones’ names.
Donations must be made/checks received by Tuesday, April 7 and a listing of the flower donations will be included in the bulletin for the April 18 weekend.
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Easter Monday
Paulist Center schedule
Office will be closed on Easter Monday, April 6. There will be no 12:00pm Mass on April 6.
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Staff Update
After six months of assisting the Paulist Center and its mission, Liz Framski has decided to step down from her role as the full-time Operations & Administrative Coordinator. Her role here has been temporary as she supported the Center through the Pastoral Planning process. Her last full-time day will be Saturday, April 4.
Liz will now be working full-time at another nonprofit in Boston as she continues with her goals of giving back and helping others. She will still work occasional weekends and help with some administrative tasks and events at the Paulist Center as needed.
Message from Liz:
I want to thank everyone and express gratitude for being welcomed into this community-- I deeply appreciate the kindness and openness I have experienced here. You all have made the transition to Boston much easier, and I feel as though I have found a place I resonate with. I wish everyone well, and thank you again for everything!
~ Liz
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43rd Annual Paulist Center Auction
Set Sail Together: A Mediterranean Journey
Saturday, May 2 - 6:15pm
Step aboard and set sail on an unforgettable evening inspired by the beauty and romance of the Mediterranean!
We hope you’ll join us for the Paulist Center’s largest annual fundraiser in support of our ministries and operations.
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WAYS YOU CAN ASSIST:
DONATE AN ITEM: We are looking for items for our silent and live auctions. Dinners, sporting or cultural events, vacation homes, themed baskets, and more, are all welcome. Go to:
tinyurl.com/donatepaulistauction26.
SPONSOR THE AUCTION:
Go to paulistcenter.org, click on Giving/Donate Online, and select
Auction Sponsorship and notate your sponsorship $ amount, and how you would like to be listed.
BUY YOUR AUCTION EVENT TICKET(S):
You can buy tickets in the following ways:
- In person after all Masses the weekends of April 11/12, April 18/19, and April 25/26.
At the bottom of the form, click the link:
I want to pay for my ticket(s) now. Take me to Electronic Giving!
Select Auction Event Ticket and note the number you wish to buy
@ $50/ea. Or, note that you will send a check.
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Many of us may be feeling discouraged by events both close to home and in the larger world.
As a faith community, we can dispel darkness by deepening our bonds to one another and by celebrating life with one another.
We hope to see you!
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Please contact Auction Co-chairs Maggie Keefe or Jordan Johnson with any questions or ideas at Auction@PaulistCenter.org.
Thank you!
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Infant Baptism Preparation Class
This is for parents and godparents.
We offer this class for those participating in an infant Baptism elsewhere as well as for members of the Center community who wish to have their child baptized here.
Upon completion, you will receive a needed "Certificate of Attendance" to send to the parish.
Next Session will be on Saturday, April 11 from 10am to Noon at the Center.
Please write to Fr. Rick Walsh at rick@paulistcenter.org to register for the class.
We ask for a $25 donation to the Paulist Center for this class.
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Prayer and Action in Troubled Times:
Lessons from Catholic Social Teachings
Please join us for our next session, April 12 - the topic will be Centesimus Annus: On the Hundreth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum (John Paul II, 1991) - focus on finding a middle way between communism and capitalism, while affirming the importance of the common good.
Raúl E. Zegarra, a community member and Asst. Prof. of Roman Catholic Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School, will lead the session.
We will meet in the 3rd Fl Library - pizza will be served.
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Walk for Hunger
Sunday, May 3
Please join the Wednesday Night Supper Club at the 58th annual Walk for Hunger - it started at the Paulist Center in 1969, and is now a collaboration with Project Bread. 60% of what we raise is a major funding source for Supper Club and 40% goes towards advocacy.
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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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For the Community Gift the weekend of April 4 - 5 we raise up Holy Land Shrines to support the sacred places and the educational, charitable, and peace-seeking ministries of the Church in the Holy Land.
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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! | | | | |
