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September 4, 2020
Dear Friends on the Journey,
Earlier this week, Pope Francis reminded us that September is the month of Care for our Common Home. Among the positive outcomes of the global pandemic may be an intensified realization that, as a human family, we are in this world together. And we are globally committed to maintaining our world as a dignified place for us all: “We exist only in relationships: with God the Creator, with our brothers and sisters as members of a common family, and with all of God’s creatures within our common home. ‘Everything is related, and we human beings are united as brothers and sisters on a wonderful pilgrimage, woven together by the love God has for each of his creatures and which also unites us in fond affection with brother sun, sister moon, brother river and mother earth.’” (LS, 92)
Here is Francis’ “Prayer for Our Earth” from his letter on “Care for our Common Home”:
All-powerful God, You are present in the whole universe, and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love, and peace.
Pope Francis has a message for you. Here’s the link: Pope Francis
Interested in being a Catholic? Or do you know someone who wishes to be a Catholic? If you are not baptized or raised in another Christian tradition or have not really been instructed in our Catholic Faith from early childhood, this is your opportunity: Fr. Chuck will be leading a ten Tuesday evenings, 7-8:30pm, beginning September 15th. Please contact him (chuck@paulistcenter.org) for details. You are welcome here!
Annual Family Retreat, Reimagined: This year’s theme is I AM WITH YOU: Stories of Courage, Healing, and Action During Times of Uncertainty. We will meet on Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11. Virtual and optional small group programming will take place both days, and families are welcome to participate in any portion of the retreat. To learn more, including about the retreat and how to register your family, contact Meredith Cohen at <cohenmm@icloud.com>. Or complete registration form Registration Form
A Few Reentry Items (imperative if you will be worshiping with us) …
We continue our “slow roll” reentry into the Paulist Center Chapel. For the Masses on August 29 and 30, please reserve a place for either the 5pm Mass on Saturday or the 10am on Sunday.
How to reserve a place?
Call the Center (617.742.4460) during business hours (10am-5pm) Wednesday through noontime Friday. Sal, our receptionist, will take your name and contact information (either email or phone number. We need this information so that we can contact you should we become aware, after the liturgy, of a person with Covid who attended your Mass).
Again, please read the Procedures carefully and watch the video [both links below]). Of special note:
- The doors open 10 minutes before the service.
- Masks must be worn at all times in the Chapel.
- Please follow the directions of the hospitality ministers when entering, exiting, and at communion.
- Once seated, please stay in place.
- We invite you to hum along with the songs (no singing).
Procedures:
1) Here are the expectations and requirements: Procedures
2) A wonderful YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5A6uzhJH-Y&feature=youtu.be
Still in need! If you can assist with welcoming, seating, and directing people into and out of the Chapel, we would love to hear from you! If you are not in a vulnerable group with regard to COVID-19 and are willing and able to assist in this very important ministry, please contact Peter Ghiloni at peter@paulistcenter.org.
1) 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 30th, Live Streamed Liturgy/Mass from the Chapel, at 10am:
Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/cNSeRR2ThRI
2) Paulist Center Families Prayer Service, 10 am, Sunday
New Zoom meeting ID. See the emailed weekly Missive from Fr. Mike McGarry for the link.
Please note that this service – to which all are invited – is only live. That is, you can join only at 10am. The recording of the live-streamed Mass can be viewed anytime: “live” at 10am or recorded any time after 11:15am, same link.
Ways of Giving:
Our “Community Gift” is our tradition of giving away 5% of our weekend offerings, averaged out over the whole year, to a group outside of ourselves. This week, we lift up the Voice of the Faithful. VOTF is a lay organization of faithful Catholics who organized in 2002 as a response to the sexual abuse crisis in the Church. Their mission is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church. Thank you!
(In addition, perhaps some would like to give directly to help our brothers and sisters in Lebanon. I recommend Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Go to their website, newa.org to donate.)
We are so very grateful for your support during this time of uncertainly and financial peril. Here are two ways to give:
- To make a one-time or recurring donation using your bank account or credit card, click on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/DonatePaulistCenter
Giving by text: Text 844-899-7511 with the amount you would like to donate (whole dollars only). Donations collected this way will be designated as part of the “Weekend Offering.” - Giving by text: Text a whole dollar donation amount to 844-899-7511; this will be designated as your “Weekend Offering.”
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I conclude with the wise words of St. Teresa of Avila:
Nothing can trouble,
nothing can frighten.
Those who seek God shall
never go wanting.
Nothing can trouble,
nothing can frighten.
God alone fills us.
And let us pray for/with one another.
Michael
Michael McGarry, C.S.P.
Director, the Paulist Center
Along with Patty, Chuck, Susan, Peter, Dorothy, Barbara, Rob, Alvaro, and Sal. Please feel free to call upon your Pastoral Ministers if you wish.
I will be sending out something every Thursday or Friday as the “shut down” continues.