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October 9, 2020
Dear Friends on the Journey,
Unsolicited recommendation: bring every day to a close with a prayer of gratitude, including five things for which you say “thank you” to our gracious God. This prayer by Ted Loder from his Guerrillas of Grace, touches me:
O God, complete the work you have begun in me.
Release through me
A flow of mercy and gentleness that will bring
water where there is desert,
healing where there is hurt,
peace where there is violence,
beauty where there is ugliness,
justice where there is brokenness,
beginning where there are dead-ends.
Waken in me
gratitude for my life;
love for every living think,
joy in what is human and holy,
praise for you.
Renew my faith that you are God
beyond my grasp but within my reach;
past my knowing but within my searching,
disturber of the assured, assurer of the disturbed;
destroyer of illusions, creator of dreams;
source of silence and music, sex and solitude, light and darkness, death and life.
O keeper of Promises, composer of grace,
Grant me glee in my blood, prayer in my heart, trust at my core, songs for my journey, and sense of your kingdom.
We were blessed this past Wednesday evening with the first of what we hope will be a regular part of our Paulist Center prayer life: a half-hour prayer service, in this case led by our Care for our Common Home committee. I will be announcing these biweekly Zoom prayer opportunities as they emerge, usually led by lay folks in our community. There is so much wisdom, so much talent here…
And now for a commercial message…
We Paulist Fathers invite you to join us Saturday, October 17th at 8:30pm for a very special Gala Event: HOPE COAST TO COAST: A Virtual Groundbreaking with the Paulists. It will be LIVE on the Paulist Fathers’ YouTube Channel and Facebook Page. It’s going to be a party to celebrate the groundbreaking of our new House of Mission and Studies in Washington, DC. Our very own Paula Cuozzo will also be honored that evening, receiving the “Spirit of Hecker Award” for her embodying the charism of the Paulist Fathers. This will also be an opportunity to re-launch our Comprehensive Campaign to help secure a Paulist future. To RSVP and get in on the Prize Drawing, go to Paulist.org/Hope. Gather your friends for this uniquely Paulist evening! Remember the Paulists put the FUN in Fundraising!
Secondly, please consider making a leadership pledge that evening to the campaign. All pledges made that evening will be applied toward the Paulist Center’s local goal.
If you are a member of the Paulist Center Community and would like to serve our community by being a member of the Pastoral Council, please let me know (michael@paulistcenter.org), and I am happy to explain the next steps. Thank you!
Two Educational Opportunities:
Do Black Lives Matter to God? This is the provocative title to BC sponsored presentation by Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones, Professor of Theology and African and African Diaspora Studies. Thursday, October 15, 6-7 pm. For more information and to register, go to this link
BustedHalo, a Ministry of the Paulist Fathers, has together a short video (6 minutes) that presents an overview of what it means to be a Catholic and to vote. Here’s the link
Worshiping In-Person at the Paulist Center Chapel
(imperative if you will be worshiping with us) …
We have re-entered our 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.
- Because central Boston is now in the “Red Zone,” we will be taking the temperature of everyone who enters the Chapel. Thank you for your understanding;
- 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
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.) 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Sunday, October 4, Live Streamed Liturgy/Mass from the Chapel, at 10am (available as recording at same link after 11:15pm):
Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/A9xXMM6sAJM
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.
Join Zoom Meeting at this link:
4) All are welcome to a prayer gathering with/from the Paulist Center’s LGBTQ+ Group next Wednesday, October 14th, 7pm. All are welcome!
See the emailed weekly Missive from Fr. Mike McGarry for the link.
Spreading the Wealth:
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.
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, 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 tthe “shut down” continues.Pyaer of Grad