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5/14/2021

Changes are Coming

May 14, 2021

Special Notice: For the next few weeks, we will be “publishing” our bulletin every other week, but available each week through my Missive. Here is our first.

I lead off with important, but very sad, news. This is the message from Peter Ghiloni:

Dear members of the Paulist Center Community and friends,

After prayerful reflection, I have submitted my resignation as Pastoral Minister of Liturgy and Music to Father Michael McGarry, effective July 31, 2021. For the past four years I have tried my best to coordinate and implement prayerful celebrations here at the Center.

These past 14 months have been the most unusual in my 50 years as a Pastoral Musician. I am deeply grateful to all who have ministered alongside me to continue our celebrations during this pandemic. I truly believe it is time for someone other than myself to fulfill the role as Pastoral Minister for Liturgy and Music as the Paulist Center moves forward. I hope to find part time employment as I transition to a simpler workload.

My deepest gratitude to so many of you who have been such a great support during my time here at the Center.

Sincerely,

Peter Ghiloni

This is indeed very sad news – liturgically, professionally, and, for me and many others, personally. the Staff, Worship Team, Liturgical Ministers, and Pastoral Council will be putting together a celebration of gratitude to Peter for his extra-ordinary contribution to the Paulist Center. Furthermore, we have begun a search for a new Pastoral Minister of Liturgy and Music. We will keep you apprised.

At the same time, we are making plans for celebrating our return, as a community, to our beautiful chapel for safe, in-person worship. While we are already worshiping on a weekly basis, the good news is that we will be opening the 6pm Sunday Liturgy on Sunday, June 6th. For the time being, we must follow the protocols of people calling in to reserve a space.

But we are looking forward to a fuller, festive gathering after Labor Day when we might – we hope – acknowledge many dimensions of what these last fourteen pandemic months have meant: the grieving, the loss, the mourning, what we have learned, how our faith has grown stronger, and how, commit-ted, we intend to gather. To that end, we will be gathering a “Welcome Back Committee” and we will be sending out a survey to take a pulse of our community.

We always have before us our Paulist Center’s Mission Statement:

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.

In Your Own Wisdom, Not in Mine: An Evening of Story and Song with Paulo K Tiról

When composer, lyricist, and former Paulist Center musician Paulo K Tiról moved from Manila to Boston to study music nine years ago, he never dreamed he’d be living the life he is now: working with Broadway performers, published by America’s largest publisher of Catholic music, and now with the kind of person he’d always hoped to meet. Join Paulo as he shares his journey, some of the songs he’s written along the way, and the lessons he’s learned about patience, discernment, and trust in the surprises that God sends our way. : 7pm, Thursday, May 20th. Here’s the Link.

Paulist National Pentecost Retreat: E Pluribus Unum – Diversity in Unity.

A few hours, guided by diverse voices, will underscore all our inclusion in the global church. The retreat includes prayer, music, meditation and four short presentations. presenters include Dr. Rachel Bundang on the Asian-American experience; Dr. Brian Flanagan on the LGBTQ experience; Claire Henning, D.Min. on the disaffiliated Catholic; and Paulist Fr. Bart Landry on the African American experience. Paulists Eric Andrews, Rich Andre, Frank Desiderio, and Gil Martinez will lead us in prayer.

On Zoom (of course!) 1-3pm on Saturday May 15th. Tickets are free, but we suggest a donation of $25.00. Space is limited. For registration, go here. :

In recognition of the 5th Anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Laudato Si”, The Archdiocese of Boston Social Justice Ministry presents a virtual Workshop: Environmental Justice: Our Common Home, Equity for all. May 15th, 11am-12:30pm. For more information, go here.

Worshiping In-Person at the Paulist Center Chapel (imperative if you will be worshiping with us)…
Please reserve a place for either the 5pm Mass on Saturday or the 10am on Sunday.

How to reserve a place?   Please call the Center (617.742.4460) Wednesday through Friday and, on the voicemail, leave your 1) name, 2) contact information (either email or phone number), and 3) which Mass you wish to attend. (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). Thank you for your understanding.

Note Carefully: If you are experiencing ANY symptom that would indicate that you are ill (not just for Covid), please stay home. If in doubt, please stay out! Also, please read carefully the Procedures and watch the video (both links below). Of special note:

The doors open 10 minutes before the service;
Since there is no singing, we invite you to hum along with the songs.

Procedures:

1) Here are the expectations and requirements
2) A wonderful YouTube Video

If you can assist as a Minister of Hospitality 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) For the Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 16th, Live-Streamed Liturgy/Mass from the Chapel, at 10am (available as recording at same link after 11:15am):

Here’s the YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/yQ0UONJuruU
Here’s the Order of Worship

To use the Order of Worship, you may wish to

1.   Print it out to have in hand as you tune in; or
2.   Use a second “tab” in your browser for the Order, to alternate with viewing the Mass; or
3.   Bring it up on a second device (e.g., smart phone, iPad) while following the Liturgy on the Desktop.

2) Paulist Center Families’ Liturgy of the Word, 10am, Sunday:
See Fr. Mike’s Email Missive for the link details.

3) Paulist Center Rosary Circle. 7:30pm every Monday.
Here’s the Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/487503158?pwd=aVFZb3BWNFBiQzZMSXdhbmo3NUozUT09
Meeting ID: 487 503 158; Passcode: 021078  All are Welcome!

4) All are welcome to a half-hour prayer gathering with/from the Paulist Center’s Paulist Associates-led prayer next Wednesday, 7pm. See Fr. Michael’s email missive for the link.

Ways of Giving:

Our “Community Gift” is the Paulist Center’s 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 St. Francis House, a nearby dignified refuge which offers food, shelter, counseling, and medical care for the poor and unhoused of Boston. While started by the wonderful Franciscans of St. Anthony’s Shrine, the Paulist Center was instrumental in its founding, and many community members have volunteered there. Thank you so much for your generosity!

We are so very grateful for your support during this time of uncertainly and financial peril. Here are two ways to give:

1. To make a one-time or recurring donation using your bank account or credit card, click on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/DonatePaulistCenter
2. 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 now with the Prophet Micah 6:8:

Our Faithful God has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

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, John, 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 COVID-19 restrictions continue.