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Baptisms

September 18, 2020

Dear Friends on the Journey,

Out of order but very important announcement: We offer TWO (2) Livestreamed Masses this weekend: Saturday, 5pm, when we welcome three new members into the Catholic Church. Being baptized are Holly Marcus and Judy Zhu. Already baptized, but coming into full communion is Samantha Paniagua. (Originally with this group was Dylan Fafard. He got baptized in CT). Join in welcoming them! And Sunday, 10am, our regularly scheduled livestreamed mass. See below for links.

As the Paulist Center continues to address racism within ourselves, within our Church, and within our society, we gathered over 100 members of the Paulist Center Community for a conversation with Dr. Craig Ford, former member of the Paulist Center and now professor at St. Norbert’s College, WI. Craig presented some thoughts towards a Catholic Spirituality of Being Anti-Racist. He chose the Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy as a helpful template or filter to build such a spirituality. Quite fortuitously (grace?), I had chosen the Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy for last week’s Missive. So I repeat them here: 1) Counseling the doubtful; 2) Instructing the Ignorant; 3) Admonishing the Sinner; 4) Comforting the Sorrowful; 5) Forgiving injuries; 6) Bearing wrongs patiently; 7) Praying for the living and the dead.

To see a recording of Craig’s presentation, here is a link
Ford Presentation
password: U4yrVw!?

We are committed to keep addressing Racism here at the Paulist Center. And perhaps the next step – for many – is to learn about, and practice, Nonviolent Action. So we segue to…

Nonviolent Action Principles and Practice – A series of 4 Trainings
As a faith community committed to social justice, we invite all members to participate in this 4-part (weekly) interfaith training course in non-violent action. It begins September 20 and concludes October 11. There is a $25 registration fee, but scholarships are available. Register by clicking the link below. A Paulist Center prayer service focused on peace and non-violence will conclude this month-long process. To learn more and/or to register, go to Workshop Registration

We are delighted to announce that the Paulist Center has found a new Young Adult Minister! His name is John Morton and he is currently pursuing an MA in Theology and Ministry at the Boston College. John started on September 8 and he is very excited to meet all of you in the coming year. This week he will be meeting with the Pastoral Council, and he is already working with the YAM Leadership Team. John will also be helping us with our communications, especially through social media. You can reach him at john@paulistcenter.org. Welcome, John!

The 2020 Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice. We wanted to update the community on the delay in announcing our 2020 recipient of the Isaac Hecker Award. The recipient, for various reasons, has asked that we not make the announcement until a date could be confirmed for our chapel. Due to Covid’s effect on travel, we realistically have to surrender our desire to have the recipient here and move to a Zoom event. Currently, we are awaiting confirmation of when that can happen. Thank you for your continued patience as we work out the details. We look forward to celebrating our treasured award with this tireless advocate of social justice with you soon.

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

Worshiping In-Person at the Paulist Center Chapel
(imperative if you will be worshiping with us) …

We continue our reentry into the Paulist Center Chapel. 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) Wednesday through noontime Friday during business hours (10am-5pm).  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.) 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, September 19, Live Streamed Liturgy/Mass from the Chapel, at 10am:
Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/g-SKeEGeZyQ

2.) 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Sunday, September 20, Live Streamed Liturgy/Mass from the Chapel, at 10am:
Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/hjv3lOj-NA4

3) 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.

3) All are welcome to a prayer gathering with/from the Paulist Center’s LGBTQ+ Group next Wednesday, September 16th, 7pm. See the emailed weekly Missive from Fr. Mike McGarry for the link.  All are welcome! 

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 Homeboy Industries which is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. For over 30 years, they have stood as a beacon of hope in Los Angeles to provide training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of their community. the cities with a population of 423 residents. (The founder, Jesuit Fr. Greg Boyle, won the Isaac Hecker Award a number of years ago. See his very funny, inspiring reception of Notre Dame’s Laetare medal): Fr Greg Boyle, SJ  Thank you!

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
   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.”
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 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, 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 “shut down” continues.