Over the past several years, I’ve had the fortune to develop five areas

of my sister’s yard, planting both perennials and annuals. This time of

year is a rather poignant one for folks like me who enjoy being in the

garden. My plants’ energies are waning as the usual dry conditions of

late August and September tax them.

I find myself grateful for the beauty they gave me during the past few

months. While I’m not a vegetable gardener, this year a volunteer plant

popped up this past month in the middle of my flowers. The leaves

grew large rather quickly, but being unfamiliar with plants of vegetable

and fruit types, I didn’t know what the huge leaves and tendrils might

be spinning, weaving together. But two weeks ago, a small dark green

fruit began to form. This past week, it became a recognizable pumpkin!

I gave my sister strict instructions to water it well, as I’d like to see it

grow big and orange.

While I ponder the dying of many plants, this year I get to watch new

life in the midst of harvest season.

A seemingly unconnected event occurred last evening as some sad

news came across my NY Times app. The world lost another fine

musician, Cassandra Wilson. Not nearly as well known as some other

musical talents who have died this past year, Ms. Wilson was a great

talent in the world of jazz. One of my very favorite songs is one that she

reimagined as a bittersweet love song that reflects this time of year as

crickets chirp in the evening and sweaters need to be worn as the sun

sets earlier and earlier each evening.

Harvest Moon is a folksy, singable courtin’ tune written by the great

Neil Young that is usually played and sung in a genteel, but bouncy tempo, and I think is best performed by the Brother Comatose with AJ Lee. But Cassandra Wilson imagined it as a song about heartache that captures the feelings this time of year, complete with crickets and other nocturnal sound effects.

Do yourself a favor and go to an app like Spotify or try the YouTube

links below and listen to both versions of the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oJDd6QPmXs

https://youtu.be/YHbcwby7igA?si=jaGhI2WQDLkhcNg9

I hope each rendition helps lead you to pray in thanksgiving for all the

sights and sounds during this season of transitions.

Fr. Rick, on behalf of the Paulist Center Staff

Alvaro, Colleen, Deb, Dorothy, Norm, Fr. Rick, Rob, Sal, Susan, and Timmy

The 2025 Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice will go to

Colleen Sharka!

Please join us on Saturday, September 26 to celebrate Colleen Sharka, LMHC, co-founder of "CAN WE TALK" (CWT), a community sharing program on trauma and healing based at the Social Impact Center of Roxbury Presbyterian Church. Colleen will receive the Hecker Award in our chapel at our 5 PM Mass on September 26.

Colleen's commitment to healing and reconciliation took root before her professional career began, when she co-founded a grassroots racial dialogue group connecting a Black Catholic church and a white Catholic church, building understanding through shared stories. That conviction — that healing happens in community, across lines has shaped her work ever since.

In 2014, Colleen partnered with Rev. Liz Walker to co-found CAN WE TALK, a spiritually grounded, peer-led program for trauma survivors. Colleen developed the program's curriculum and built its network of sites nationwide; as of May 2025, CWT operates in 20 locations across six states and Washington, D.C. Since 2014, CWT has offered urban neighborhoods a peer-centered path through trauma, helping individuals move from surviving to actively helping others heal.



Colleen's dedication to justice also spans her work at Still Harbor: Center for Discernment & Action, where she developed retreats on purpose and social action, and Trinity Boston Counseling Center, where she provided therapy to multi-ethnic populations in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan.

At a moment of deep polarization and daily violence in our communities, Colleen's work offers a model for healing that is spiritually rooted, clinically sound, and empowering. Isaac Hecker was committed to faith in action — Colleen Sharka lives that same commitment today.

Please join us on September 26 at the 5pm Mass to celebrate Colleen Sharka! A reception will follow.

Seeking a Dynamic Leader for our Jr High Youth Group (Grades 7 & 8)

Do you love God, youth ministry, and the distinct daily thrill of communicating with beings whose primary emotional vocabulary is a heavy sigh? 

We need a brave soul to guide our Jr. High Youth Group (comprised of 7th and 8th graders) through bi-monthly Sunday morning meetings (11:15 am-12:15 pm).



Why You’ll Love It

• The Challenge: Translate ancient scripture to humans who treat a

two-minute car ride as a human rights violation.

• The Energy: Channel the intense, caffeinated mood swings of middle school into actual community.
• The Vibe: An open, progressive faith community that values questions over quietness.

What You Will Do

• Lead Sunday sessions for our Jr. High Youth Group during the FREP* year.
• Decode awkward silences and sudden outbursts of extreme laughter.
• Share snacks and snacks-based bribery.
• Help kids explore a loving, inclusive God.

For more information, contact Susan Rutkowski, Susan@Paulistcenter.org or 617-948-2426.

* Family Religious Education Program

Living Water

Season Of Creation 2026

September 1 - October 4

The Creation Care ministry invites you to celebrate Creation and commit to prayer, action and advocacy:

Sunday, Sept 6 - A short pilgrimage to be with the elephants visiting Boston. Come experience the art installation through the lens of Creation Care and Laudato Si' including brief commentary by community member Sonia Caus Gleason, reflection questions to consider, & a walk through the elephant exhibit (45 minutes total).

Meet us at the back of the chapel after the 10 am Mass, or join us at the corner of Dartmouth and Commonwealth Avenue at 11:30. 

Sunday, Oct 4 -  “The Crisis in Plastic”

after the 10am Mass, presented by Phil Landrigan, M.D., of Boston College, renowned pediatrician and public health expert. Phil’s lifelong work has focused on protecting children and communities from toxic environmental exposures and advancing healthier public policy.  



Sept 1 to Oct 4 - Daily Reflections -  each reflection offers a 2-minute “pause–reflect–act” opportunity. These are the same reflections as last year; if you received them before, you’ll receive them again (unsubscribing is easy).

To subscribe (free), email: seasonofcreationdaily@gmail.com