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THE WEEKLY MISSIVE
November 17, 2023
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Hecker Award Weekend #2!
Dear Friends,
At the 5 pm Mass Sat, Nov 18, we will honor Cherylann & Len Gengel with the Hecker Award for Social Justice. (See the list of previous recipients here.) As the founders of the Be Like Brit Foundation, they've tirelessly advocated for the people of Haiti, especially children. Read their accomplishments here, or listen to their interview this week on the Paulist Fathers' Deacons Pod.
This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your non-Catholic friends to the Paulist Center! The Gengels witness how we can overcome grief to help others.
We hope you can join us in-person for the Mass and the opportunity to speak individually with the Gengels at the reception afterwards. Bring cash or a check to Mass: 100% of donations placed in specially marked envelopes will be given to the Be Like Brit Foundation. If you can't make it, the Mass will be livestreamed. You can make an online donation here, by selecting "Miscellaneous," then writing "Be Like Brit" in the additional instructions.
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There is much more happening at the Paulist Center this week!
10:00 am Sun: Mass (not livestreamed)
11:15 am Sun: Community Coffee
12:30 pm Sun: 1st Reconciliation Service. All welcome!
6:00 pm Sun: Rites of Acceptance & Welcome (livestreamed)
7:15 pm Sun: "Friendsgiving" Potluck Dinner. All welcome!
All 3 Masses: Annual Financial Report & Impact Statement
7:00 pm Wed: Thanksgiving Eve Mass (livestreamed)
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11:15 am Sun, Nov 19: Community Coffee | |
We have had numerous Community Coffees this fall, but they've all been connected to a special event organized by our Family Religious Education, Creation Care, or Racial Justice Advocacy ministry. This is the first "regular" one of the year, organized by the team of Jim & Kate Stewart, Daria O'Connor, and Nancy Kendrick. Come on down and meet someone new, and then introduce that person to someone you already know. If you've ever wanted to see what's involved so that you can help in the future, come to the auditorium at 9:15 am. | |
12:30 pm, Nov 19: 1st Reconciliation Service (All Welcome!) | |
Twelve elementary school children will make their first confessions this Sunday at 12:30 pm. Family & community members are also welcome to participate in the Reconciliation Service and celebrate an individual confession with one of the 4 priests on hand. | |
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Can't make it? We'll have another community-wide reconciliation service at 7 pm on Weds, Dec 13. We have confessions available 11:00-11:45 am most Mondays & Fridays, and you're always welcome to contact Fr. Rich or Fr. Rick to celebrate the sacrament at a time convenient for you. | |
6:00 pm Sun, Nov 19: OCIA Rites of Welcome & Acceptance | | |
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Several young adult inquirers, including Art Lajara Diaz & Aidan Pellegrino, have been in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process (formerly called RCIA) for 9 weeks.
At the 6 pm Mass on Sun, Nov 19, we will celebrate the Rites of Welcome & Acceptance with them. This begins the next phase of OCIA called the catechumenate, a time of deeper study of the Catholic faith. From now until the end of Lent, they will regularly attend the first half of the Sunday 6 pm Mass before being dismissed to further study the Word of God.
Please keep them in your prayers!
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7:15 pm Sun, Nov 19: Friendsgiving Potluck (All Welcome!) | |
Everyone is welcome to the "Friendsgiving" Potluck Dinner that the Young Adult Ministry is hosting after the 6 pm Mass. All are welcome, no matter what age, but you must RSVP with what dish you'll bring by midnight tonight, Nov 17. | |
All 3 Masses Nov 18-19: Financial Report & Impact Statement | | |
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At each Mass this weekend, we'll present the Financial Report for fiscal year 2023 (Sept '22 - Aug '23). We did better than expected, but we haven't reached financial sustainability yet.
Prayerfully consider joining the 9% of Paulist Center Community members who increased their recurring giving last year.
New this year: the annual financial statement will be embedded within a Paulist Center Community Impact Statement covering the last fiscal year (Sept 2022 - Aug 2023).
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7:00 pm Weds, Nov 22 - Thanksgiving Eve Mass | | |
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We'll celebrate our nation's annual holy day with the Paulist Center's annual Thanksgiving Eve Mass at 7 pm Weds, Nov 22. Bring along the bread you plan to serve the next day, and we'll bless it.
If you can't make it in for Mass, join us on the livestream instead.
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Wow! Everything listed above is happening in the next 5 days!
Even though we have a lot on the docket for Nov 23 and onwards, we're going to stop here with the featured news.
In the "Upcoming Events" section below, find out more about Thanksgiving weekend, the beginning of Advent, & upcoming social justice opportunities.
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Eucharist: Rehearsing the Heavenly Banquet | | |
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We love to see you in-person for our Mass, but if you can't make it in to 5 Park Street, please join us online for our next three livestreams!
Isaac Hecker Award Mass
(32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time):
5 pm Sat, Nov 18
Mass for the 32rd Sunday
in Ordinary Time
(with OCIA Rites
of Acceptance & Welcome):
6 pm Sun, Nov 19
Thanksgiving Eve
(with the Blessing of Bread):
7 pm Weds, Nov 22
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Quo Vadis? (Where Are We Going?)
Our Family Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation Programs meet on Sun, Nov 19. Who will be where?
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Grades K-1 and 4-6: 6th floor rooms
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Grades 2-3: 2nd floor seminar room
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Jr. High* and Sr. High Teens: 3rd floor library
*NOTE the change! Jr. High Teens usually meet on 6th floor.
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The most comprehensive listing of what's going on at the Paulist Center is in the bulletin. But for updates, ongoing events, local events, and longer-range planning, here's another list:
- Are you planning to have a child baptized? Have you been asked to be a godparent? If so, join Fr. Rick at 10 am Sat, Nov 18 for a Baptism Class.
- Don't forget to check out the Paulist Center's first-ever Community Impact Statement, with includes the annual financial report. Please email any feedback that you have to Fr. Rich.
- We're looking for more volunteers to assist with Marriage Preparation. We hope to assist >600 couples this year. If you can help, check out p. 2 of last weekend's bulletin.
- The Paulist Center will be closed Thurs & Fri, Nov 23 & 24, for Thanksgiving. There will be no confessions or Mass either day. We will have the usual schedule of Masses on Sat & Sun, Nov 25 & 26, but there will be no Family Religious Education or Sacramental Prep Programs.
- The Jesse Tree goes up on Thanksgiving weekend, Sat & Sun, Nov 25 & 26. Take a tag from the tree and bring back the requested gift during the following 3 weeks to help someone in need, either a family in a homeless shelter, our Afghan families we helped resettle, the Agape Community, or the Catholic Worker House in Worcester. Many of the requests we receive are for gift cards, which empower the parents to decide for themselves what specific gifts to purchase for their children.
- Congratulations to Mary Sullivan, our 2023 honoree for the Archdiocese of Boston Cheverus Awards! We recognize all of her behind-the-scenes work at the Paulist Center, including filing music, organizing receptions, coordinating a lector team, and assisting the Paulist Associates. Thanks, Mary!
- Anyone donating >$100 by Thurs, Nov 30 for the Advent-Christmas Concert will have their name listed in the program. Donate online, select "Advent/Christmas Concert," then use the additional instructions to tell us which date you're attending, how many people you're bringing, and how you'd like your name listed in the program. Thank you!
- All children & teens are invited to be in the traditional Christmas Pageant that will kick off the 2 pm Dec 10 performance of the Advent-Christmas Concert. Check out p. 2 of last weekend's bulletin for more info — including roles available & the mandatory rehearsals on Sun, Dec 3 & Sun, Dec 10 — and then email Susan. Thanks!
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The arrival of thousands of immigrants in Greater Boston has reached a crisis stage. There are not enough shelter beds or resources to support them. Our Immigrant Advocacy Group (IAG) needs volunteers to assist refugees & other migrants from Haiti, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Latin America, & elsewhere. There are many ways to help, ranging from occasionally to weekly. To learn more, email IAG.
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Did you know that we run an Emergency Food Pantry? Want to know more about Wednesday Supper Club? There are announcements about both on p. 4 of this week's bulletin.
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Looking further into the future:
- The season of Advent starts in 15 days! Check out this bulletin insert for what we have planned! First up: a talk by Paulist Fr. Tom Ryan at 4 pm on Sat, Dec 2 and an Advent Family Social at 11:15 am on Sun, Dec 3.
- Our Creation Care ministry will next meet online at 5 pm on Mon, Dec 4. All are welcome. Email the team to learn more and/or to get the Zoom link.
- The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is Fri, Dec 8. We'll have Masses at 7:55 am, 12:05 pm, & 7 pm.
- Be sure to invite your friends, neighbors, and family to "Love Incarnate, Love Divine," this year's Advent-Christmas Concert. It's a beloved spiritual, community-building event, and it's also a major fundraiser. Performances are at 8 pm Sat, Dec 9 & at 2 pm Sun, Dec 10. The Sunday performance begins with the traditional Christmas Pageant.
- Our Racial Justice Advocacy Group (RJAG) will next meet online at 7 pm Tues, Dec 12. All are welcome. Email Tom to learn more and/or to get the Zoom link.
- We'll have a lay-led Advent Reconciliation Service at 7 pm Weds, Dec 13. Several priests will be available to celebrate individual confessions.
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Time, Treasure, & Talent (Matthew 25: 14-30) | |
Being stewards of all God has given us... | | |
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Great things are happening at the Paulist Center, but we're predicting a revenue deficit in the 2023-24 fiscal year. If you can increase your financial support to this intentional Catholic community attentive to the Holy Spirit, nourished by vibrant liturgies, and operating ministries of healing & justice, please click here. Thank you for your generosity! | |
... to care for those in need... | |
Each year, we distribute 5% of our annual offertory evenly among 52 non-profit organizations who have missions aligned with our own. The recipient we raise up this weekend is the Be Like Brit Foundation, the organization founded by Cherylann & Len Gengel. | |
100% of donations placed in specially-marked envelopes this weekend will be given directly to the Foundation. Make checks out to "Be Like Brit." | | |
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... as members of the Body of Christ. | |
We come to the Paulist Center to be nourished by Christ's Body for the journey, but then we are called to share Christ everywhere we go!
Alvaro, Barbara, Dorothy, Gus, Norm, Patty, Rich, Rick, Rob, Sal, Susan, & Timmy
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