oour lady of grace september 20, 2020 dunstable, groton ...€¦ · oour lady of grace september...

OOur Lady of Grace September 20, 2020 Dunstable, Groton & Pepperell

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I have good news!

People have been asking for a long time what the “V D M A” means and why are there two birds on

our altar.

The birds represent the birds of Paradise and point to the fact the Eucharist is Heaven come down to earth. The Eucharist is Paradise with

beautiful birds praising God.

The V D M A (The cross with the initials of "Verbum Domini manet [in] aeternum") means

"The word of the Lord endureth forever”.. It reminds us that even when we are singing the

Mass, we are singing the Word of God. It is a quote from the Apostle Peter -1 Petr. 1:2.

It is carved on our cantor stand.

Our Lady of Grace Parish

Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, MA


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WELCOME TO OUR LADY OF GRACE PARISH

OF DUNSTABLE, GROTON & PEPPERELL

We are glad you joined us today!

St. James Church West Groton

St. Joseph Church Pepperell

OUR TWO WORSHIP SITES

Parish Staff

Director of Religious Education: Robert Daly Ph: 978-433-2028 [email protected]

Administrative Assistant: Cotty Reid

Ph: x301 [email protected]

Parish Assistant: David Flournoy [email protected]

Baptism Ministry Leader: Rena Mendel [email protected]

Cemetery Manager: Joseph Viel Ph: 978-208-0266

Liturgy Schedule

At Saint Joseph Church Daily Mass– 7:10 AM Monday & Friday

Sunday: Noon-Outside

At Saint James Church Daily Mass—7:10 AM Tuesday & Saturday

Sunday: 3:00 PM-Outside

Confessions: Please call Fr. Jeremy to set up a meeting time.

Information regarding any sacraments, (Baptism, Marriage, Anointing) please check our website or

call the parish office. Bulletin Submissions: Deadline for putting something in the bulletin is Monday at Noon for

the following weekend bulletin.

Father Jeremy St. Martin—Administrator [email protected]

Ph: 978-433-5737 x303 Fax: 978-433-9566 Web Site: www.ourladyofgracema.org

Parish Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9a.m. - 5p.m.

For a Sacramental Emergency, please call the office and select ext. 303 and leave a message and Fr. St. Martin will get right back to you.

St. James Church 13 St. James Ave. Groton, MA 01450

St. Joseph Church 28 Tarbell Street

Pepperell, MA 01463


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CHURCHES ARE OPEN WITH RESTRICTIONS Phase 3 opening guidelines are in place and allow churches to be open at a 50% capacity. Those in vulnerable populations are highly encouraged to remain at home and join via livestream. We would love to see you but value your health and safety first and foremost. DISPENSATION FROM THE OBLIGATION TO ATTEND SUNDAY MASS HAS BEEN EXTENDED INDEFINITELY BY CARDINAL SEAN.

PROTOCOLS FOR ARRIVING/ENTERING THE CHURCH

If you are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, PLEASE STAY HOME! Masks are required (except for children 5 years and under or those with medical exemptions) at all times... in line and in church. Please practice social distancing of 6 feet while in line and sitting in pews. Everyone must enter through the front doors ONLY of the church and exit out the side and front doors. Pews have been marked for social distancing, allowing all to remain 6 feet apart from others in your pew, as well as in front and behind you. Members of the same household are permitted to sit together and are not required to follow the 6-foot distancing rule. Ushers will be present to assist.

PROTOCOLS DURING CELEBRATION OF MASS There is no congregational singing at this time. Baskets will not be passed at the Offertory. Your offering may be placed in a designated receptacle as you enter or exit the church. We encourage online giving. There will be no hand-holding during the Our Father or hand-shaking during the Sign of Peace.

PROTOCOLS FOR RECEIVING COMMUNION The ushers will direct the communion lines, starting at the back of the church. Directional tape has been placed on the floor. Approach the Priest via the center aisle. Communicants will receive the consecrated host in their hands, step to the side, lower their masks, consume the host, replace their mask, and return to their pews.

PROTOCOLS TO FOLLOW FOR DISMISSAL After the closing blessing, please remain in your pew. Pews will be dismissed one at a time by the usher(s). Please keep masks on until you arrive at your car.

Note: Every person who attends a Sunday Mass or Funeral at St John /OLOG has the opportunity to put their name and con-tact information on a list to be notified if there is a positive COVID test of a person who also attended that Mass.

Attendees may call or email contact information to the parish office. Any information about such a case will be posted on the parish website (townsendcatholic.org), and parishioners should

check the website regularly


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Saturday, September 19, St. James 7:10 a.m. Sunday, September 20, St. John’s 9:00 a.m. Michael Allain, Gerald Allain AND Ray & Michelle for anniversary Healing for Mary Szurley Elaine Kielty

St. Joseph’s 12:00 p.m. Jerry Croteau

St. James 3:00 p.m. Monday, September 21 St. Joseph 7:10 AM Tuesday, September 22 St. James 7:10 AM Wednesday, September 23 St. John’s 7:10 AM Mrs. Simone Berndt Friday, September 25 St. Joseph 7:10 AM Saturday, September 26 St. James 7:10 AM Sunday, September 27 St. John’s 9:00AM Stephen Sanderson Mrs. Simone Berndt Blessings for Donna & Wayne St. Joseph 12:00 PM Virginia Pillsbury St. James 3:00 PM Pedro Perez-Sanchez

Scripture for the week of September 20, 2020

20 SUN Is 55:6-9/Phil 1:20c-24, 27a/ Mt 20:1-16a

21 Mon Eph 4:1-7, 11-13/Mt 9:9-13 22 Tue Prv 21:1-6, 10-13/4/Lk 8:19-

21 23 Wed Prv 30:5-9/Lk 9:1-6 24 Thu Eccl 1:2-11/Lk 9:7-9 25 Fri Eccl 3:1-11/Lk 9:18-22 26 Sat Eccl 11:9—12:8/Lk 9:43b-45 27 SUN Ez 18:25-28/Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5/Mt 21:28-32

Important Information for your DONATION STATEMENTS for 2020

Statements for donations are only

sent to those parishioners who submit their donations in a parish envelope or through our OnLine Giving system. Loose checks put into the Offertory basket are not recorded into the

database. For info, please give David a call at

978-433-5737 or email [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Or Call & Leave Message: (860) 481-0959l


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Sunday Reading Reflection

Mercy. I remember it was a game we used to play or some kids used to play. It was some kind of stress contest of sorts. You would see how long you could stand this or that contortion and then you would have to say “mercy” at some point when you couldn’t stand it any more. It comes to mind because we could almost cry out to God “mercy!” when it comes to how often he has been directing us to mercy. Mercy is a way to say “enough!” or “stop.” So we could say “enough with the mercy!” or “mercy with the mercy.” I know my joke here isn’t as funny as jokes in other parts of the bulletin but there you go.

Mercy we would say is serious and sacred. It is important. But this doesn’t mean that it is sad or ugly or somehow not funny. Jesus does tell us that, like Divinity itself, mercy is funny. There are some who don’t like it and they refuse to laugh.

Maintaining our sense of humor, remembering that God is supposed to be that which we could never figure out, and trusting in mercy, are all related.

The answer God gives to us in repeating mercy to us all the time is that he can’t stop doing this. He is mercy itself. When we say “that’s too much! Stop! Mercy! I can’t take anymore mercy”, he tells us that we can take it.. We are capable of so much more than we realize. He knows it for he made us and he made us to be bathed in a font of mercy, to be united with him.

Other Things

We are still working on getting the water problem fixed in the basement of one of the churches. We need a donation of fourteen thousand dollars to make our covid access really excellent. Contact me if you want to know more and help. Fr. Hal, a priest friend and classmate is visiting. Fr. Michal Nolan is making a three day visit to help me out as he has been doing multiple parishes for a while and wants to share his wisdom. We have a few new PPC members. We are doing a lot of baptisms, have some RCIA classes going, are looking forward to some weddings and I am meeting with people in person and on the phone who need to talk about the ups and downs of life. We have a nice rock of thanksgiving for Deacon Michael Markham over in St. Joe’s prayer garden. We are preparing people in special circumstances for First Communion and some of the First Communion kids have become pen pals as a way to “get together” and be more in “communion” especially as some of them are chronically ill already. I hope that you all enjoy mass inside and thank you to all the many people who are working to make this happen. God is good. It is better to do this now and not in a panicky way when the weather forces us too. Remember, if you don’t feel safe or comfortable or are at risk, the “obligation” to attend mass is still lifted by our Bishop. When things are safe the obligation will return. Many who want to go, shouldn’t yet. Just because we “can” doesn’t mean we “should.” Patience and perseverance will get us through to mass attendance and ultimately through to heaven.

~Fr. St. Martin


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Save The Date

Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is a non-profit founded to provide beds for children that don’t have any. Through the efforts of volunteers and generous

donations, beds are built, delivered and assembled for children who otherwise sleep on couches, blankets or even the floor. When we deliver a bed, we are also

bringing the pillows, twin sheet sets, mattresses, blankets and comforters.

If you would like to volunteer for a build day and get involved with this wonderful organization, we will be having a Bunks Across America Day on

September 26th, in Littleton. Please let me know if you are interested, call or email me: Debbie Pothier (978) 597-8119,

email [email protected], please put SHP in the subject line

We are the MA-Middlesex County Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, out of Littleton,

Visit our Facebook page, Facebook.com/Sleep in Heavenly Peace Middlesex Co

Thank you Debbie Pothier

Hello, everyone - registrations for our religious education programs for 2020-2021 are open! Visit our website and click the "Religious Education" tab for instructions on how to register. If you're new to the parish, welcome! After you've registered for classes, have your former parish mail us any of your children's sacramental records that they have on file. Classes will begin the first or second week of October. After you register, we will enroll your child in a class, and your child's teacher

will be in touch with you to coordinate when, how, and how frequently the class would like to meet for lessons. Some classes might agree to meet in small groups in the church hall; others might prefer to meet half or entirely in remote fashion. But be assured that if you're concerned about the risks of your child attending meetings in person, all of our teachers are equipped to offer virtual participation options or 100% online lessons. Just let your teacher know if you have any questions, and we'll make sure to find a suitable way for everyone to continue growing in their understanding of the content of our beautiful Catholic faith.

Registration fees are as follows: Grades 1, 3, 4, 5 - $70 / student Grades 6, 7, 8 - $80 / student Grade 2 - $90 / student Confirmation I (CYI) and Confirmation II (CYII) - $110 / student Family Cap - $200 / family

Pay online through Online Giving (see the Religious Education website) by designating your gift for "Religious Education." Or make checks payable to "Our Lady of Grace Parish" with a memo that reads "Religious Ed" and either place in the collection or mail to the parish.

Inability to pay the registration fee will never get in the way of one of our students receiving religious education, so don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any concerns.

Thank you and God bless! I look forward to serving you all this academic year! Our Lady of Grace, pray for us.

David Flournoy-Faith Formation Coordinator [email protected]

978-433-5737 ext. 307


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If you don’t have a computer, you can

watch on your TV on

Catholic TV Channel 101

Or

EWTN Catholic Channel

on either

Channel 18 or 823

BLOOD DRIVE

AT OUR LADY OF GRACE PARISH

Wednesday,

SEPTEMBER 30 2020

10a.m. - 3p.m.

PLEASE GIVE:

Register at Redcrossblood.org,

search zip code 01463

St. Joseph Church, Parish Hall

28 Tarbell St., Pepperell, MA. 01463

Questions Contact: Mary Genova, 978-551-6373; marygenova

@townsendcatholic.org

For Advertising call 617-779-3771 Pilot Bulletins Our Lady of Grace, Pepperell, MA 4698

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oour lady of grace september 20, 2020 dunstable, groton ...€¦ · oour lady of grace september...

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