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THE WEEKLY MISSIVE
May 1, 2026
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True Stewardship in the Age of Division
Dear Friends,
On the day that I am writing this, April 30th, lies the (optional) memorial of Saint Pope Pius V – a complicated character who found himself at the center of the Protestant Reformation and, thus, a period of great tumult within the Church. You can read more about him (if you’re into that sort of thing), but he is significant for our purpose within this reflection insofar as his memorial date brings with it a batch of alternate Mass readings. In particular the subject herein – 1 Corinthians 4:1-5.
I regrettably admit that I have spent little time with the letters of Paul over the years, but 1 Corinthians stands in a distinct position as one of the few that I have devoted previous time to studying. The passage from today’s memorial (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) comes at the beginning of the body of Paul’s letter to the early Christian community of Corinth which finds itself beset by uncertainty, chaos, and internal division. This context is probably why this passage is associated with the memorial of Pius V. It follows a lengthy reprimand of the Christians of Corinth by Paul and explains that the community must abandon thinking of themselves as either followers of Paul or followers of Apollos (their chief patron), but only as followers of Christ.
So how, then, does this content and context apply in any way to our modern identity as Catholics (and Christians more broadly)?
Our world is certainly very different from that of Paul and the Christians of Corinth, but our mindset is perhaps not so distinct. However temporally distant the Christians of Corinth may seem, they were humans like us, and thus we are subject to the very same temptations, pitfalls, and obstacles that they experienced. As a practitioner of my faith I, as I’m sure many of you also experience, have found it very easy to forget the true target of my devotion; at best I perhaps tend to think of myself as devoted to Thomas Merton or Dorothy Day, and at worst I devote myself to Instagram and worshiping at the altar of Burger King. In short, it is very easy for concerns about my life to get in the way.
At the same time, I experience a similar sort of uncertainty as a ‘steward’ of the faith of others (as Paul articulates in this portion). We needn’t be ordained to think of ourselves as stewards of others’ faith, and thus as potential targets for devotion. We, as disciples, are all called to guide others in their spiritual journeys as we navigate our own. This is what it means to be in community. So, in light of Paul’s call to stewardship to others in faith, I say this to you as I say it to myself – do not, in faith and in life, think of yourself as beyond reproach or in exception to any of Christ’s teachings. Remember that, as a minister – as a disciple of Christ and a Catholic, you are a servant of others, meant to be a humble example to those around you.
Remember that sincere service comes from a place of love. It is only through genuine love and care, setting aside the very human urge to become an icon or make another an icon, that we can be true stewards. So please, love.
See you around,
Gus, on behalf of the Paulist Center Staff
Alvaro, Deb, Dorothy, Gus, Norm, Fr. Rick, Rob, Sal, Susan, and Timmy
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Executive Director Hiring
The hiring committee of Paulist President Fr. René Constanza,
Paulist Mission Strategy Officer Jonathan Lewis, Interim Administrator Deborah Heimel, and community member Barbara Miller, has completed the first round of interviews for the Executive Director position at the Paulist Center.
We will be continuing this process through May.
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- FREP activities - this weekend and beyond
- Walk for Hunger - 5/3
- Celebration IMO Jane O'Connor - 5/3
- Catholic Social Teachings - 5/17
- Families Planting Trees - 5/30
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- Spirit of Hecker Awards
- All Are Welcome Mass
- Worship Matters - The Sprinkling Rite
- Stewardship/Community Gift
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Family Religious Education Program (FREP)
While formal religious education classes are over for the year,
there are still plenty of family activities to participate in ...
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Set Sail Together -
A Mediterranean Journey
The Paulist Center Auction!
this Saturday May 2
If you would like to help out at the Auction this Saturday, May 2, between
6:00pm and 8:00pm, please contact Susan Rutkowski at susan@paulistcenter.org.
We need:
· raffle ticket sellers,
· servers,
· runners, and
· cleanup crew
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Walk for Hunger
this Sunday May 3:
Please join us at 8:30am for a blessing in front of the Chapel and then for the 3 mile Walk for Hunger in the Boston Common. Depending on how quickly you walk, you should be able to squeeze in some of the 10am Mass.
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First Communion - Rehearsal and Sacrament
The First Communion rehearsal will take place on Saturday, May 16 from 10am to 12pm in the Chapel.
The sacrament will take place the following day, Sunday, May 17, at our 10am Mass.
Reception will follow in the auditorium.
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Walk for Hunger
this 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.
How can you help?
· Join us on May 3 for the Walk,
· Create a fundraising page, or
· Make a donation here:
https://give.projectbread.org/team/809754.
We appreciate your support!
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Celebration In Memory of Jane O’Connor
The 6:00pm Mass this Sunday, May 3 will be celebrated in memory of The Fabulous
Jane 0’Connor…
on the occasion of her 80th Birthday.
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There will be birthday cake after Mass in the
3rd Floor Library.
We hope you will be able to join as we celebrate a wonderful woman …
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Lessons from Catholic Social Teachings -
Last Session
The last session of our Catholic Social Teaching series is scheduled for Sunday, May 17 at 7 pm.
It will be led by the talented Dr. Raúl E. Zegarra, Community member and Asst. Prof. of Roman Catholic Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School.
Dr. Zegarra will focus on Dilexi te: I Have Loved You (Leo, 2025) for our final gathering.
We will meet in the 3rd Fl Library - pizza will be served.
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Families Planting Trees!
Save the Date -
Saturday, May 30
Our very last Family Religious Education activity is planned as an intergenerational session with our Creation Care Ministry team on Saturday, May 30 from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Together, with Catholic Climate Covenant, the Catholic Cemetery Association, and along with Speak for the Trees, Boston, we will help plant 10 trees in Roslindale and Mattapan. This is an activity for all ages!
We need strong teens and adults to dig and plant and we need smaller children to fill holes and help spread mulch. Speak for the Trees, Boston is designing specific child friendly activities for the day.
We hope you’ll join us by planting, preserving and advocating for trees in under canopied, underserved neighborhoods to combat climate change and address environmental justice.
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Spirit of Hecker Awards
CONGRATULATIONS to Pastoral Team members Susan Rutkowski, Norm Gouin and Deb Heimel for being honored by the Paulist Fathers at the Spirit of Hecker Awards.
Last Saturday evening, April 25, they received a "Spirit of Hecker Award" in recognition of their tremendous efforts this past year in keeping the Center's programming and administrative systems running while updating new internal systems, evaluating future staffing needs, and helping the community to develop a pastoral plan. They did all this while maintaining a positive and uplifting office environment.
A recording of the awards program can be watched on our social media, YouTube and online at https://paulist.org/heckerawards/
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All Are Welcome Mass
Paulist Center will host a Mass at 6:30pm on Friday night June 5th as part of Pride weekend in Boston.
The Paulist Center is a member of the Greater Boston LGBTQIA Catholic Collective and we invite everyone to come worship with us on the 5th.
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WORSHIP MATTERS
May 3, 2026, Issue #24
RITUAL & SYMBOL: Water of Life: The Sprinkling Rite
Along with light and fire, oil, bread and wine, water is one of the primary
symbols of our Christian faith. This is not surprising, as water is essential for all life. From the beginning of creation, it reveals both God’s creative power and sustaining presence.
Throughout salvation history, water emerges as a powerful and dynamic sign. Its force is seen in the great flood through which Noah and his family are saved, and in the parting of the Red Sea, where the Israelites pass from slavery to freedom. The psalms speak of waters that both threaten and console, giving voice to our longing for God. In the New Testament, water takes on deeper meaning: in the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, in his washing of the disciples’ feet, and in the water flowing from his pierced side on the cross—signs of new life poured out for the world.
For us as Christians, our entrance into the Body of Christ begins with water. Whether poured over us or entered through immersion, the waters of Baptism mark us as participants in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In these waters, we are both buried with Christ and raised with him—freed from sin and reborn into new life.
Throughout the Easter season, the Church invites us to return to this foundational grace. Week after week, the Sprinkling Rite recalls our baptism. While it may be used at other times during the liturgical year, during the Easter season it replaces the Penitential Act as a communal remembrance of who we are and whose we are.
As the blessed water is sprinkled over the assembly, we feel its touch—cool, refreshing, alive. In that simple encounter, we are drawn back into the very mystery it signifies. Water cleanses and renews; it restores and gives life. Yet it also carries a deeper invitation: to let go of what no longer gives life, to die to the old self, and to be renewed in the light of Christ’s resurrection.
In this way, the waters of Baptism are never just a memory. They are a living reality, continually calling us to conversion, to renewal, and to a deeper participation in the life of Christ. Each drop reminds us that we are claimed, loved, and sent forth—renewed again and again by the grace that flows from the heart of God.
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Come Celebrate the Fifth Sunday of 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. | |
5th Sunday of Easter
10am, Sunday, May 3
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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 May 2 - 3 we raise up Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, whose mission is to alleviate, prevent, and ultimately end hunger in Massachusetts. The Walk for Hunger is the major funding source for our Wednesday Night Supper Club.
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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! | | | | |
