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THE WEEKLY MISSIVE
September 27, 2024
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If our praying is to be real, then our prayers should be compatible with the world in which we live. Christianity has been an indoor religion. The windows of our churches are stained, and while beautiful, they prevent worshippers from seeing and praying in communion with creation.
From Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim by Edward Hays
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Dear Friends,
In our first reading from Numbers this Sunday, we hear that some fell into the trap of thinking we only find God in one place. If the tent of meeting was the typical ritual place of divine encounter, it was natural that the alternative location was suspect. Moses sets us straight. God's revelation is not limited to a specific site.
The excerpt above - from Day 26 of our Creation Care Season - reminds us to look outside of our typical worship places to find God. This passage was especially poignant to me because God was always more alive in the forests, streams, and meadows surrounding my childhood home in the Catskill Mountains. Wandering those 15 acres on my own from an early age is where I found God, not in the church building my Mom drove us to every Sunday. Inside, God seemed silent, and the messages were confusing. But outside in nature, God's message was resoundingly clear: I love you!
In the "silence" of nature, God spoke to me through the roaring wind in the towering hemlocks, the bright colors of the sugar maple leaves in October, the sweet smell of mountain laurel in the spring, and through the investigation of bark and leaves on oak, beech, and birch trees all year long. Discovering a rare Jack in the Pulpit in the woods was like finding the Ark of the Covenant for this 8-year-old! And I always rushed out during a snowstorm to listen to the loud hiss of a heavy snowfall.
During this Season of Creation, let us all appreciate and be moved to protect this beautiful world that God has entrusted to us, so generations to come can discover God in nature. Our Hecker Award recipient, Fran Ludwig, who we will celebrate this Saturday, has spent her life as an educator and environmentalist to ensure "seventh generation" thinking for our care of God's creation. Please plan to join us THIS Saturday at 5 pm in our chapel to celebrate Fran. She is the Founder and Director of the Boston Catholic Climate Movement, the Boston Chapter of the Laudato Si' Movement (LSM).
Religious Education classes and teen confirmation are underway! First Reconciliation begins this Sunday with a parents-only meeting at 11:30. If you still need to register for religious education or sacramental preparation classes, you can register online here, and pay the fee online here.
Please refer to the bulletin and the information below for details on upcoming events and new opportunities, including participation in our annual Advent-Christmas Concert (rehearsals start this Thurs, Oct 3), a lector workshop next Sun, Oct 6 for those interested in exploring this ministry, Fr. Rick blessing your pets on the Feast of St. Francis, next Fri, Oct 4 from 6-6:30pm on the Common, an event with Paulist Steven Bell on October 27 around the Paulist Fathers' national initiative on toxic polarization, and more!
With much gratitude for your presence, support, and service to our beloved Community
Susan, on behalf of the Paulist Center Staff
Rick, Patty, Susan, Norm, Gus, Alvaro, Dorothy, Sal, Barbara, Timmy and Rob
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- 2023 Hecker Award celebration
- FREP 2024-25 Underway/Reg.
- 1st Reconciliation meeting
- Community Coffee
- Community Dinner
- Blessing of Your Animals
- Rehearsals for Advent-Christmas Concert
- Lector Formation and Info Session
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- Family Retreat
- Walking Tour of Boston to learn about Isaac Hecker, et al
- RJAG - Election Prep
- Steven Bell, CSP, on Toxic Polarization
- Dessert Ministry
- Season of Creation
- Stewardship/Community Gift
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Paulist Appeal mailing, Option to Opt-out
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Fran Ludwig
To Receive The 2023 Isaac Hecker Award For Social Justice
this Sat, Sept 28!
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Please join us this Sat, Sept 28 to celebrate Fran Ludwig, Founder and Director of the Boston Catholic Climate Movement, now a chapter of the Global Catholic Climate Movement.
Fran will receive the 2023 Hecker Award in our Chapel at our 5pm Mass.
We will also live-stream the event. Here is the link.
A reception will follow in our auditorium.
Please see bulletin for further details.
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Family Religious Education Program (FREP)
Is Underway!
We hope all families had an opportunity to meet with your child's teacher/leader last Sunday at our Parent/Teacher Orientation. Classroom locations are posted in the elevator lobby and on each floor.
If you still need to register, you can go to https://www.paulistcenter.org/family-programs-registration/ and pay the fee online here.
Or, go to your designated classroom and register with your teacher. All information can be found in Overview under the Exploring Our Faith tab on our website, www.paulistcenter.org.
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Community Coffee
Community Coffee will take place immediately following the 10am Mass!
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1st Reconciliation Prep - Starts This Sun!
First Reconciliation (Confession) preparation starts THIS Sun, Sept 29 with a parent's only meeting with Fr. Rick!
Please join us in the 3rd Fl Library at 11:30am to hear more about the sacrament for your child(ren).
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Join the Choir for Our Upcoming Advent Christmas Concert!
There’s still time to be part of the choir for this special event!
Rehearsals - Thursdays, 7-9pm, starting Oct 3 in the Chapel.
Concert dates: Dec 14 at 8pm and Dec 15 at 2pm
Please visit CONCERT INTEREST FORM to get involved and for more information.
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Community Potluck
This Sun, Sept 29, our Young Adult Ministry will host the Community-Wide monthly potluck (open to all who bring a dish, of any age!)
Please join us on the 3rd Floor after 6pm Mass!
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This month's theme is Game Night so please be sure to bring some of your favorite finger foods suited for the game table!
Please see bulletin for further details.
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Blessing of Your Animals
The Feast of St. Francis - Fri, Oct 4, 6-6:30pm
This Friday, Oct 4, Fr. Rick will be happy to bless your pets on Boston Common. Bring along your dog, cat, bird, or other pet to the other side of the fence right across from the Paulist Center between 6:00 & 6:30.
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Please bring your pets on a leash or in a container.
This is a fair weather only event!
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Interested in Serving as a Lector?
We invite you to consider joining one of our four Lector Teams! If you’re interested in exploring this ministry, please reach out to our Pastoral Minister of Liturgy and Music, Norm Gouin, at norm@paulistcenter.org for more information.
A Lector Formation and Information Session will be held
next Sun, Oct 6, from 1-3pm.
Please fill out the registration form by visiting this link Lector Formation 2024
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Free Walking Tour in Downtown Boston -
Learn about Isaac Hecker and Some of His Famous Friends
Isaac Hecker, founder of the Paulist Fathers and a native New Yorker, spent time in the Greater Boston area during his long journey toward Catholicism. While here, he became friends with such Transcendentalists as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Bronson Alcott and Orestes Brownson, all of whom influenced his spiritual formation.
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On Sun, Oct 20, all are welcome to join some local Paulist Associates on a free, 90-minute guided walking tour.
Please see bulletin for further details.
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Dessert Ministry at the
Wednesday Night Supper Club Needs Help!
Do you like to bake cookies, brownies, and cupcakes and want to help our hungry neighbors and friends at the Wednesday Night Supper Club?
Join the dessert ministry and bring a well-wrapped donation of treats once or twice a month to Mass.
Or, drop them off at the Center during the week.
Please see bulletin for further details.
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Annual Paulist Appeal Mailing List Request -
Opt-Out Required if Desired
The Paulist Fathers' Annual Appeal happens every January. It is the ONLY time we share the Paulist Center's mailing list with anyone.
The Paulists will only use the list for seven mailings a year (the appeal, four The Voice newsletters, a Christmas card, and a thank you if you make a donation to the appeal). They also pledge to us that they do not share their list with anyone.
If you wish to have your information opted out from the mailing list we send them for this purpose, please email Patty at patty@paulistcenter.org by Oct 15 at the latest.
Thank you!
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2024 Family Retreat!
We are excited to announce the plans for Attentive to the Spirit, this year's annual Family Retreat, a one-day retreat at the Paulist Center on Sun, Oct 20, 11am-5:30pm.
There will also be an evening event for teens on Sat, Oct 19!
This is a smaller, in-house version of our past family retreats (previously held on Cape Cod), that will welcome new families into the family retreat community and provide some of the core experiences of past retreats in a more financially accessible manner. We anticipate using this time to envision and evolve the shape and structure of future retreats to meet the needs of the families currently raising children at the Paulist Center.
For questions and to register: email eliannajoella@gmail.comm
Please see bulletin for further details.
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The bad news and the good news.
Week 4: Sept 28/29
Did you know?
Landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions in the US. When we consider the impacts of methane over the short term, we see that landfills are emitting the amount of CO2 that would be produced annually by 79 coal-fired power plants. The best way to reduce methane emissions from landfills is simple: keep organic materials OUT of landfills by composting leftover food and reducing food waste.
Did you also know?
To reduce food waste, The Food Drive, a local nonprofit, located in Melrose, MA, connects food that would otherwise be wasted with people who need it. With a two-person staff and 150 volunteers they collect food from commercial and community sources and deliver to local food pantries seven days a week, year round.
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Fr. Rick’s Paulist Center Directory
Fr. Rick is developing his own personal Paulist Center directory in an effort to help him know each member by name.
The photos will remain in his personal cell phone and will not be shared with anyone.
He asks that you make some time after Mass and help him with this fun project by printing your first and last names on a white board. We have enough boards for each of your family members.
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Election Prep!
In light of the fast-approaching elections, the Racial Justice Advocacy Group (RJAG) invites everyone to a Zoom discussion on Thur, Oct 17, from 7-9pm.
Network For Social Justine has produced a series called "White Supremacy and American Christianity". We will share some of Network's series on this topic as the focus for our discussion.
The primary speakers in the series are 2020 Isaac Hecker awardee
Rev. Bryan Massingale, and Dr. Robert Jones.
Please see bulletin for further details.
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Save the Date - Sun, Oct 27 -
Toxic Polarization: How the Christian Community Can Faithfully Respond
Paulist Steven Bell and the
Paulist Toxic Polarization Initiative
Coming to Us Just in Time for Election Day!
As you may or may not be aware, the Paulist Father's nationally have launched an initiative to address toxic polarization in our church and nation.
Paulist Steven Bell, a founder of this initiative and a quite-gifted preacher, is joining us the weekend of Oct 26/27, right before the election, to help connect us with this initiative. He will be preaching at all the Masses. He will also be offering a talk with opportunity for small group interactions after both the 10am and 6pm Masses on Sun, Oct 27.
We are hoping for robust community engagement on this important topic! Please save the date for this event! Free will offering.
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Come Celebrate
the Sept 28th Hecker Award Mass
and
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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Sept 28th Hecker Award Mass
5pm Sat, Sept 28
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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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Upcoming Events & 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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This weekend's named Community Gift recipient is Hecker award recipient Fran Ludwig and the organizations she supports.
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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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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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