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THE WEEKLY MISSIVE
March 7, 2025
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Led by the Spirit
Dear Friends -
As we begin the holy season of Lent, we embark on an inner journey—not one of mere obligation, but of transformation. It is a time to pause, to become aware of all that distracts us, consumes us, and pulls us away from God’s presence and our truest selves. This is not a path we walk alone; rather, we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us, freeing us from the grip of our egoic minds and leading us into deeper trust, surrender, and love.
The disciplines of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—are not about proving our strength or willpower. Rather, they are a means to open our hearts more fully to the grace of God. On our own, we may falter, but when we lean on the Spirit, we find the strength to persevere—not by force, but by grace. Ever present, the Spirit whispers in our struggles: “You are not alone. I am with you.”
Lent is also an invitation to deeper compassion—toward ourselves and others. As we confront our fears, regrets, weaknesses, impatience, and distractions, we are called not to despair, but to mercy. In the words of Mother Teresa, God does not call us to be successful, but to be faithful. In our fasting, may we grow in solidarity with those who hunger and thirst for justice. In our prayer, may we cultivate a heart that listens deeply and tenderly. In our almsgiving, may we open ourselves to the needs of others with generosity, joy, and love.
Here at the Paulist Center, we offer many opportunities to sustain us on our Lenten journey and deepen our spiritual practice. Use the link below to access our full worship schedule and explore ways to engage in prayer, service, and stewardship.
This Sunday, the FREP program will host its annual Lenten Family Social immediately following the 10 AM Mass. Additionally, see the information below and in the bulletin for details on the upcoming auction, the 50th anniversary of the Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice, and more.
Friends, as we journey together this Lent, may we truly rely on the gifts and presence of the Holy Spirit, who alone can sustain us, transform us, and lead us into the fullness of life.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people, and enkindle in us the fire of your love.
Norm, on behalf of the Paulist Center Staff
Rick, Patty, Susan, Norm, Gus, Alvaro, Dorothy, Sal, Barbara, Timmy and Rob
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Time to Spring Ahead this Sunday, March 9
As we welcome longer daylight hours, remember to adjust your clocks forward.
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. this Sun, March 9.
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IHeartPodcast
Brendan Hughes has recently produced a ten-episode podcast that will be released by IHeartPodcasts beginning this Tuesday, March 11.
Brendan's father was Patrick Hughes, a former Paulist priest who worked and lived at the Paulist Center from 1969 to the spring of 1973, during which time he founded the Wednesday Night Supper Club and the Walk for Hunger. He left quite a legacy here at the Center.
The podcast is devoted to Patrick Hughes' time at the Paulist Center, including the story of the political sanctuary of Paul Couming, and the Catholic resistance to the Vietnam War.
Paulist Center parishioners will find it fascinating.
Here is a link to the trailer
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-divine-intervention/id1628876978?i=1000697589064
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- Lenten Social
- FREP project - Thank you
- Online Lenten Prayer
- Lent at the Paulist Center
- Message from Fr. Rick - Patty Simpson's resignation
- Message from Pastoral Council - Patty Simpson's resignation
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- 42nd PC Auction!
- Hecker Award 50th Anniversary
- Greener Lent
- Boston Archdiocesan Social Justice Convocation - Catholics Caring for Creation
- Stewardship/Community Gift
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Lenten Social Hosted By FREP - This Sun, March 9, 11:15am
Please join us for our annual Lenten Social in the auditorium after the 10am Mass this Sunday.
This event, hosted by the Family Religious Education Program (FREP), will take place during the regularly scheduled religious education class time.
All community members are welcome! Coffee and refreshments,
a family-friendly Lenten craft, and conversation around celebrating the Season of Lent will all be part of the program!
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THANK YOU to all those who helped with the
FREP Spreading Compassion Project -
In Memory of Holly Baab
What a major success! Our FREP children, their teachers & parents, and IAG volunteers rocked the auditorium last Sunday with love, laughter and compassion for others while knocking out over 350 hygiene kits for our migrant brothers and sisters.
| A heartfelt thank you to Brigid Byrne Rowlings and her family for coordinating such an extensive activity! | |
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Lent at the Paulist Center
Detailed information about our Lenten offerings, prayer and faith-sharing opportunities, and liturgy schedule can be found in the Chapel foyer.
You can also visit
paulistcenter.org/Lent2025 to access the information online.
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Lenten Prayer via Zoom Led by the
PCC LGBTQ+ Ministry
The LGBTQ+ Ministry will be leading the community in prayer, open to all, via Zoom, on five Wednesdays during Lent.
Prayer sessions will be 7:00 to 7:30 PM
every Wednesday between March 12 and April 9.
Here is the Zoom link - tinyurl.com/5bm3sekt
PCC community members who identify as LGBTQ+ and wish to contribute to these prayer sessions should contact Rebecca Heimel: rebecca.sheils@gmail.com.
All are welcome!
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From Fr. Rick
On Wednesday, February 12, I received and accepted a letter of resignation from our Pastoral Administrator, Patty Simpson.
As we look to the future, I am dedicated to thoughtfully guiding our staff in continuing to serve and engage with our beloved community. Patty's final day of employment is March 28.
Click here to read Patty's Letter to the Community.
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From the Pastoral Council
As your Pastoral Council, we respect Patty’s decision to move on and are abundantly grateful for all she has done in service of this community over the past 30 years, including leading organizational and operational changes; leading the annual Paulist Center Auction; and offering decades of pastoral care for the staff and the community of Boston over the years. We have been blessed as a community by her gifts and contributions.
Father Rick has been in conversation with the Council, the Finance Committee, the staff, and others to determine both short-term and long-term solutions to address our administrative, operational, and pastoral needs going forward. We, the Pastoral Council, are committed to supporting both Fr. Rick, the staff, and the entire community throughout this process.
Organizational changes can be challenging for everyone involved, many of us may want to know “what to do?” For now, it might be to simply show up with and for each other in our collective journey of faith. Show up to an additional service during Lent. Show up without knowing the next steps. Show up to be in communion with each other in music and prayer. We’re a community: energized when we’re together.
Please continue to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Email address: pccouncil@paulistcenter.org.
In communion,
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Deb Heimel, Chair
Mares Beauvais
Bob Bordone
John Domino
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Chris O’Rourke
Jo Schnitz
Julie Sloan
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42nd Annual Paulist Center Auction!
Saturday, May 3 - 6:15pm
Puttin’ on the Ritz:
A Roaring 20’s Extravaganza -
| Please see the bulletin for ways you can support the Auction through donations. | |
Also, please remember to buy your tickets. Last year we did sell out so don’t wait!
There are three ways
to purchase tickets:
1) after Masses beginning March 26
2) online through TicketLeap (with a fee)
3) online through the Paulist Center
You can find everything you need to donate, volunteer or buy tickets on the Auction’s website: https://www.paulistcenter.org/auction2025/
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50th Anniversary of the
Isaac Hecker Award
for Social Justice
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Hecker Award! We pause and give thanks to the past recipients (listed here) and the unique way each has contributed to peace and justice in our world. Opportunities to celebrate these recipients along with Isaac Hecker and the Paulists over the course of this year will offer time and space to appreciate this special award unique to the Paulist Center in Boston.
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To kick off our year-long celebration, we start with Dorothy Day, the very first recipient of the Isaac Hecker Award!
Please join us on Sun, March 30 at 11:15am for a presentation of Dorothy Day: Radical Devotion by one of the co-authors,
Jeff Korgen.
Please see bulletin for further details.
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Join Us for A Greener Lent
The Creation Care ministry invites you to direct the traditional Lenten practices of Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving toward Creation Care.
Last year 15 Center members participated,
committing to:
* PRAY for the poor most affected by the climate crisis,
* FAST - choosing one of several options to eat more sustainably,
* CONTRIBUTE any amount (perhaps money saved by eating less beef) to building water wells in several African dioceses.
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It takes just a few minutes to sign up, provide your name, choose how you want to Fast, and select Paulist Center as your parish.
Participants receive occasional reports on how much carbon footprint has been reduced during Lent.
Sign up at greenerlent.org - scroll down to sign up.
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Boston Archdiocesan Social Justice Convocation -
Hope for Our Common Home:
Catholics Caring for Creation
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The Archdiocese of Boston has been doing an annual Social Justice Convocation for a number of years.
This year, thanks to Fran Ludwig, our Hecker Award winner last fall, the focus will be on Care for Creation.
The Paulist Center’s Creation Care Ministry will be leading one of the workshops and invites you to attend.
It will include speakers and Mass with our new Archbishop Richard Henning.
· Sat, March 29, 8am to 3pm
· Boston College High School, Dorchester, MA
· Register (free) for this in-person convocation
at: https://tinyurl.com/Creation-Mar29
· A low cost lunch will be available.
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Come Celebrate
First Sunday of Lent 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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Remember: all of our live streams are available in real time on our YouTube channel & available there afterwards as recordings. | |
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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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Consider including the Paulist Center in your estate planning/will. For information on our legal name and tax ID, please contact our Administrator, Patty Simpson, at patty@paulistcenter.org. We and future Paulist Center members thank you!
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This weekend's named Community Gift is Health Care For All which advocates for health justice in Massachusetts by working to promote health equity and and ensure coverage and access for all.
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- Young adults (ages 18-39), whether or not Catholic, are welcome to schedule a one-on-one conversation with our Young Adult Minister, Gus Kellerman.How can the Paulist Center Community accompany you on your faith journey?
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- We really need your help with our Marriage Preparation program! It is a great spiritual gift to 400-600 couples throughout the Archdiocese of Boston each year. Paulist Center couples who volunteer for this ministry find it very rewarding. It's also a major source of new members and outside income for our community. We can only sustain this important ministry if 10-15 couples can each help for 3 hours on 3 weekends per year. Are you and your partner interested in learning more about what would be involved? If so, contact Fr. Rick. Thanks!
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- Mass Cards - Please stop by the reception area during the week, email Sal Whooley at sal@paulistcenter.org, or call
617-742-4460, if you would like
to arrange 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.
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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. | |
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