Weekly Bulletin April 18/19

(A PDF version of the bulletin as printed is available here)

Blessing for Marathon Runners!

Whether this is your first time or your fiftieth time worshipping with us on Marathon Weekend, we are so glad you are here! At the end of each Mass, we will offer a special blessing for all runners. Know of our prayers and support as you prepare for the race.
Good luck, and blessings for a safe and enjoyable run!

Patriots’ Day Schedule

In observance of Patriots’ Day, there are no Family Religious Education classes this Sunday, April 19. The office will be closed for Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 20. There will be no 12 noon Mass that day.

Thank You For The Easter Flower Donations

Thank you for helping to beautify our Chapel this Easter season! Please see the insert, which lists the donations in honor of / in memory of, a loved one.

43^rd Annual Paulist Center Auction

Set Sail Together: A Mediterranean Journey
Saturday, May 2 – 6:15pm

We are just two weeks away from the Auction! We have a delicious menu and a specialty cocktail being planned; and, great opportunities for bidding.

Sponsor: We’ll gladly accept sponsors at any time; we just won’t be able to list in the program those that are received after Sat, April 25. Go to http://tinyurl.com/DonatePaulistCenter notate $ amount on the “Auction Sponsorship” line.

Purchase Tickets/Register: Go to https://tinyurl.com/Auction26Tickets. You can also buy tickets after all Masses the weekends of April 18/19 and April 25/26. Raffle tickets will also be sold after these Masses.

Donate an Item or Dessert: Go to: tinyurl.com/donatepaulistauction26

We have some amazing items; here’s a sneak peek …

Red Sox v. Yankees on June 27 – 2 seats behind home plate!
February 2027 vacation week at Mont-Tremblant in Québec!

Please contact Auction Co-chairs Maggie Keefe or Jordan Johnson with any questions or ideas at Auction@PaulistCenter.org.

Live-Streaming

Find all the livestreams and recordings on youtube.com/ThePaulistCenter

Sunday, April 19, 10 am, Third Sunday of Easter

At the time of each livestream, the appropriate Order of Worship will be available at paulistcenter.org/order-of-worship.

WORSHIP MATTERS
April 19, 2026, Issue #23

SACRED SPACE: Christ our Light: The Paschal Candle

Every year, our Easter Vigil begins with the blessing of fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle. Even before the presider greets the assembly, our attention is drawn to the new fire and to the promise this light proclaims.

This large and noble candle, which leads the opening procession of the Easter Vigil, is the preeminent symbol of the entire Easter Season. As Paul Turner explains:

“The Paschal Candle first announces the news of the Resurrection, followed by the Glory to God, the Alleluia, the Gospel, the homily, and, of course, the Eucharist. All join to make the same proclamation: Christ is risen! So great is this message that it takes fifty days to celebrate. That Paschal Candle burns in our churches throughout the seven weeks, proclaiming: Christ is risen, and we too may rise!”¹

Beyond the Easter Season, the Paschal Candle is lit on two other sacred occasions: Baptism and funerals. At Baptism, its flame reminds us that we have become members of the Body of Christ, called to carry the light of faith, hope, and love into the world through our participation in the Paschal Mystery.

The candle is lit again at the time of death to recall the promise first given in Baptism. In our grief, we turn to the symbols of our faith: the sprinkling of holy water, the placing of the white garment—the pall—over the coffin, and the lighting of the Paschal Candle. Through these sacred signs, we proclaim once more that those who die in Christ will pass from death to life.

As we gaze upon the Paschal Candle throughout these fifty days of Easter, may it remain for us a constant reminder that death is not the end, but the passage from darkness into eternal light—the unfading Light of Christ.

SCAM ALERT: PHISHING EMAILS

Please be cautious of emails appearing to be from Paulist priests requesting money or gift cards. This is a fraudulent “phishing” scam. Our staff and priests will never ask for financial help or gift cards via email. If you receive a suspicious message, do not respond or click any links. Please contact the front desk at 617-742-4460 if you have questions or to report a suspicious email.

Interfaith Action Opportunity – This Sunday, April 19

The Creation Care Ministry invites you to a sacred celebration of One Sun, One Earth, One People, sponsored by Boston Interfaith Climate Allies (BICA). Climate activist Bill McKibben invites us to a non-violent Solar Revolution.

» 1:30pm – Gathering at the Embrace Memorial on Boston Common. Short joyful procession, led by BABAM Activist Brass Band and BVOCAL Activist Choir, with banners and signs.
» 2:00pm – Sacred Celebration at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Tremont Street, with guest speaker Bill McKibben and interfaith voices.
» 3:00 – Prayerful Activism and Sending Forth on the steps of the Cathedral, with music and song.

Join with faithful members of other Boston communities to peacefully pray and act together. Questions? email paulistcentercreationcare@gmail.com

Family Religious Education Program (FREP)

This Sun, April 19: There are no Family Religious Education classes due to the holiday.

Families Planting Trees! Save the Date – Saturday, May 30

Our very last Family Religious Education activity is planned as an intergenerational session with our Creation Care Ministry team on Saturday, May 30 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Together, with Catholic Climate Covenant, the Catholic Cemetery Association, and along with Speak for the Trees, Boston, we will help plant 10 trees in Roslindale and Mattapan. This is an activity for all ages! We need strong teens and adults to dig and plant and we need smaller children to fill holes and help spread mulch. Speak for the Trees, Boston is designing specific child friendly activities for the day.
We hope you’ll join us by planting, preserving and advocating for trees in under canopied, underserved neighborhoods to combat climate change and address environmental justice.

It’s That Time of Year!

Like the HVAC controls in many old buidings in downtown Boston, the controls at 5 Park Street are difficult to switch between heat and air conditioning. On Thurs, April 23, the air conditioning is scheduled to be turned on. So for the next several weeks, plan to dress in layers when you’re in the Paulist Center as the internal temperatures will vary from day to day, and from floor to floor, dependent on God’s decisions regarding the outside temperature!

Celebration In Memory of Jane O’Connor

The 6:00pm Mass on Sunday, May 3 will be celebrated in memory of The Fabulous Jane 0’Connor… on the occasion of her 80^th Birthday. There will be birthday cake after Mass in the 3^rd Floor Library. We hope you will be able to join as we celebrate a wonderful woman …

Walk for Hunger – Sunday, May 3

Please join the Wednesday Night Supper Club at the 58^th annual Walk for Hunger – it started at the Paulist Center in 1969 and is now a collaboration with Project Bread. 60% of what we raise is a major funding source for Supper Club and 40% goes towards advocacy

How can you help?

Join us on May 3 for the Walk, create a fundraising page, or make a donation here: https://give.projectbread.org/team/809754. We appreciate your support! Questions: supperclubfood@gmail.com

LGBTQIA Catholic Collective

The Paulist Center is a member of the Greater Boston LGBTQIA Catholic Collective which offers monthly Zoom meetings for friends and family of LGBTQIA Catholics and could be a resource for Paulist Center members who are actively supporting their families in embracing transgender or nonbinary family members. Email greaterbostonlgbtqiacatholics@gmail.com for the meeting schedule and Zoom links. More info @ https:/www.bostonlgbtqiacatholics.org

Stewardship

The Paulist Center receives no funding from outside sources. All costs to operate our ministries for both members and the wider Boston community, maintain the building, and pay our staff are supported solely by your financial donations. We are so grateful for your financial support! See paulistcenter.org/give/ways-to-give for a variety of ways to give to the Paulist Center.
Two options include:

Give a one-time or recurring donation using your bank account or credit card by visiting tinyurl.com/DonatePaulistCenter or scanning the QR code on this page outlined in blue. You can use this method for donations for specific programs, too, and, if you are a registered member with us, these donations will be included in a year-end tax statement sent to you for any donations that are tax deductible per IRS regulations. Giving by this method helps us with our budgeting and stewardship efforts.

Use Apple Pay or Google Pay by visiting donorbox.org/paulistcenter, scanning the QR code on the red cards in the pews, or scanning the QR code on this page outlined in red. Please note that these donations will not be included in any year-end giving tax records, and they solely support our general operations.

Community Gift

The Paulist Center gives 5% of our annual offertory to 52 other charitable organizations with missions consonant with our own. These organizations receive an equal amount from our annual offertory.

The weekend of April 18 – 19 we raise up Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston, an organization dedicated to building simple low-cost homes by forming partnerships with low-income families in need of decent and affordable housing.

Mass Intentions

Please stop by the reception area during the week, email Sal Whooley at sal@paulistcenter.org, or call 617-742-4460, if you would like to arrange for a Mass and/or purchase a Mass card:

in memory of someone who has died,
in honor of a special occasion,
or for the special intentions of yourself or a loved one

Paulist Center Rosary Circle

All are welcome to the Paulist Center Rosary Circle which meets every Monday at 7:30pm via Zoom. ID: 487 503 158; passcode: 021078.
Do you have a special intention that you would like the Paulist Center Community to pray for? Our weekly Rosary Circle is happy to include your intentions (may be anonymous). Go here for the form.

Low-Gluten Hosts

Low-gluten hosts are available upon request. Please see the presider in the Chapel or Sacristy fifteen minutes before Mass and indicate where you will be seated in the Chapel so the communion minister in that section will have the low-gluten host for you at communion.

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction is an opportunity for one to reflect and share one’s life and prayer experience and be guided in one’s search for God. Spiritual Direction is available at the Center from Sister Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ, or Christopher O’Rourke.
Sister Kathleen can be reached at 617-755-9729.
Christopher can be reached at 617-817-3977.