saint cecilia - the pilot · jeffrey hatgas of somerville, and ian wyllie of somerville. if you...

Saint CeciliaP A R I S H

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time3 March 2019

David and Saul Poppy Fields near ArgenteuilClaude Monet (1875)

Welcome to Saint Cecilia Parish, a Roman Catholic community that gathers day by day, week by week, to know and make known the grace of God. By means of this abundant grace, we enjoy a diverse and close-knit parish family—young, old, rich, poor, of various ethnic origins and differing backgrounds. From our extraordinary music program to a growing children’s faith formation program; from the various liturgical ministries to the many opportunities for social outreach that the parish provides, Saint Cecilia is a vibrant community of faith, centered on prayer and worship that tries to keep the Gospel close to heart and to live by Jesus’ teachings.

Saint Cecilia Parish was established in 1888. At that time the Back Bay section of Boston along Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street was the residential section of the Yankee aristocracy. The maids (“Irish working out girls”) and coachmen who served these residents had long requested a church of their own. When Archbishop Williams granted their request and carved the parish from the territory of the Cathedral, they built a magnificent church out of their meager earnings.

The church was dedicated on April 22, 1894. Its architecture is Romanesque, XII Century Norman. The main altar, notable for its massive simplicity, was carved from a single block of white Carrara marble. The painting in the center reredos is a reproduction of da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and the dome above is an array of 24K gold rosettes.

For the sixtieth anniversary celebration in 1954, a massive renovation project was undertaken. During this renovation, a statue of Pope Saint Pius X (canonized that same year) was imported from Italy and placed on the right side of the sanctuary. Above the statue are paintings from Pius’ life. On the left side is a statue of Saint Patrick, principal patron of the Archdiocese of Boston, and above it are three scenes from his life.

Fourteen circular and sixteen square panels adorn the nave and arches of the church. The square panels are decorated with the symbols of Our Lady taken from the Litany of Loreto and the circular ones with symbols taken from the lives of the apostles. The great window of the Assumption—framed by the two oak cases of the organ—was installed in 1954 (the Marian Year) in spaces originally designed for windows but not until then used.

The original organ of 24 stops was built in 1902 by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company, Opus 1465, and was rebuilt in 1954 with 32 stops. In 1998, Timothy Smith and Theodore Gilbert began a massive reconstruction of the organ. The current Smith & Gilbert Organ of 4 manuals, 54 ranks, and 3,084 pipes was dedicated on the Feast of Saint Cecilia, November 22, 1999.

Today we are experiencing something of an awakening within these old walls. Our numbers are increasing by 350 new households eah year, and we continue to grow in our commitment to issues of peace, justice, and service to our neighbors, both near and far.

We’ve been right here on Belvidere Street, in the same building for 125 years, but that does not mean that life here is stale, stagnant, or even predictable. We are proud to be entrusted with the legacy of Saint Cecilia Parish, where everything is the same, yet always changing; where we honor tradition while embracing the future; where God’s love makes all things new.

Welcome!

LENT 2019

EVENING PRAYER Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4 & 11

Tuesday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. Solemnity of Saint Joseph

TAIZÉ PRAYER Monday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Contemplative song & prayer

MORNING PRAYER Holy Thursday, April 18 at 8:00 a.m.

Conclusion of the Lenten Season

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SAINT CECILIA PARISH

MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY

Saturday, March 2 | 5:00 p.m.Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrantLaura Orrell, lector

Sunday, March 3 | 8:00 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantJim Dougherty, lector

Sunday, March 3 | 9:30 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantCharlie Prucher, Cathy Anderson, and Jim English, lectors

Sunday, March 3 | 11:15 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantJames Paradis, Chika Offurum, and Mark Richburg, lectors

Sunday, March 3 | 6:00 p.m.Rev. Peter Gyves, SJ, celebrantSpencer Dunne and Natasha Pierre, lectors

TODAY'S READINGS

Sirach 27:4-71 Corinthians 15:54-58Luke 6:39-45

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS

Deuteronomy 26:4-10Romans 10:8-13Luke 4:1-13

OUR COMMUNITY NEWS

SPECIAL INTENTIONS

Saturday, March 2 | 5:00 p.m.Rita O'Connor, 3rd Anniversary

Sunday, March 3 | 9:30 a.m.Teddy Chagnon, 3rd Anniversary

Sunday, March 3 | 11:15 a.m.Annette Brown, 2nd Anniversary

Thursday, March 7 | 8:00 a.m.Chuck Campion, 1st Anniversary

This week at Saint Cecilia

• Saturday, March 2 | Cabaret 6:30 in Parish Hall

• Sunday, March 3 | Commonweal Readers Meeting 1:00 in CL 4 (p.6)

• Monday, March 4 | Small Group Bible Reflection 6:30 in Sactuary (p.9)

• Wednesday, March 6 | Ash Wednesday 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (p.5)

• Thursday, March 7 | Evening Prayer 6:30 in Sanctuary (p.3)

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Our SickPlease pray for all our sick and for those who are in need of our prayer, especially Mary Pickering, Caeden Boyce, Stephanie Brown, John Thompson, Jill Bostder, Margo Bromfield, Mary Sue Capozza, Robert Moll, Little Fallon Papoy, Patricia Finn, Christine Vernon, Michael Bean, Michael Meads, Jonathan Phillips, Jason Ballou, Quinn Waters, Sean Sullivan, and Kathryn Carnovale.

Welcome to Saint Cecilia ParishWe are pleased to welcome the following new members of our parish who have recently registered: David Wyman of Boston, Paul Litchfield of Boston, Robert Nasson of Boston, Jeffrey Hatgas of Somerville, and Ian Wyllie of Somerville. If you have not previously registered with the parish, there are forms in the narthex for this purpose or you can register online at www.stceciliaboston.org.

BaptismsToday we celebrate baptism at the 9:30 a.m. liturgy for Jack Laurence, son of Larry and Kate Byrne and Kerin Theresa, daughter of Hugh and Katie Macdonald. At the 11:15 a.m. liturgy we celebrate baptism for Lucian Smith, son of Kevin and Jill Robinson. The Christian community welcomes you with great joy, Jack, Kerin, and Lucian!

Happy Anniversary!Last week we celebrate the baptismal anniversaries of Peg Newman, baptized on February 29. May the Lord continue to bless Peg and Lynne with the grace to live out their baptismal call. Happy Feast Day, Peg!

Spring Forward—Daylight Saving Time!We are soon entering a period of transition that most of us look forward to—warmer weather and longer days. Though spring doesn't start for almost three weeks, Daylight Saving Time begins next Sunday. Be sure to set your clocks ahead before you go to bed next Saturday.

Ash WednesdayThe season of Lent begins this Wednesday and Mass will be celebrated at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Please note that these are the only times ashes will be distributed at Saint Cecilia.

Take a Little Black Book for LentThese books are availble in the narthex. Please take one home and spend just six minutes a day in reflection to prepare for our celebrationof Easter.

Happy Mardi Gras!The Lenten Fast begins this week. Now it is Mardi Gras season, the last few days for making spiritual resolutions and adopting the practices that have the potential of yielding a joyous Easter. Do something fun these next few days. Carnival feasting allows for good Lenten fasting. Happy Mardi Gras!

welcome, Robert Duff!

It is with great joy that we announce the appointment of our Director of Music, Robert Duff. Rob has already jumped in to rehearse with our choir and is directing the beautiful music this weekend.

Saint Cecilia Parish was blessed with close to 70 ap-plicants for our Director of Music position. The selec-tion process was facilitated by a devoted Music Min-istry Planning Committee and subsequently a Music Selection Committee. These two teams gave months of thoughtful focus on our music program and the quali-ties we desired in our new director.

It was Rob’s broad vision for our program, enthusiasm for working with our choirs, and passion for the Saint Cecilia community that made him our standout choice. Here is a snapshot of his impressive background:

Rob is currently Associate Professor of the Practice at Brandeis University where he oversees the Choral and Vocal programs, conducts the Brandeis Chamber Singers and University Chorus, and teaches under-graduate conducting and choral methods courses. For the past 14 years, Rob has been the Artistic Director and Conductor of The Handel Society of Dartmouth College. His music experience spans beyond the uni-versity setting. Rob served as the Director of Music for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles for several years, overseeing the Archdiocesan music program and those of over 300 parishes. He has been Music Director at four Catholic parishes in Califor-nia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

God bless you Rob, and the work you will do!

Father John, Mary Kaye & the Parish Staff

Prayers & Occasions

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Commonweal Readers Meeting

Sunday, March 3 | 1:00 p.m. | Classroom 4

The Commonweal Readers Group this month will be dis-cussing the article by veteran journalist, Peter Steinfels, en-titled “The PA Grand-Jury Report: Not What It Seems” found in the January 25 issue of the magazine. Any parishioner is welcome to listen to the conversation, and to participate if you have read the article.

Faith and Film —

“Moonrise Kingdom”

Saturday, March 9 | 6:00 p.m. | Parish Hall

The Adult Faith Formation Commission Invites you to enjoy a whimsical treat—Wes Anderson’s charming but provoca-tive film, Moonrise Kingdom. Two pre-teen children run away to an island off the New England coast, disrupting and exposing the faults in the adult world that must mobilize in an attempt to find and rescue them. The cast includes Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, and Tilda Swinton—many of them Wes Anderson veterans.

If you want to share an off-beat, but enjoyable evening, please join us for the movie and discussion. In order to know how much pizza to order, please RSVP to [email protected]

Hosting Sisters of Notre Dame

de Namur at Sunday After 6!

Join us on Sunday, March 10 following the 6:00 Mass when we welcome Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and kick off National Catholic Sisters week. They will discuss the new and emerging ministries of Sisters today, and speak about their work at the Mexican border, education in the Boston area, and photovoltaic (i.e. solar energy) projects in Nige-ria and Democratic Republic of Congo – amazing stuff. As usual, we’ll have free munchies, so save the date and bring a friend! Contact John Glynn at [email protected] with any questions.

Support Refugees

For the past two years, our parish has provided ongoing support to Catholic Charities’ Refugee and Immigration Services. We have offered to provide refugee families with supermarket gift cards so that they will have food while their applications for political asylum are processed. If you would like to purchase gift cards to Market Basket specifi-cally—and no more than $25 per card—please feel free to drop them in the offertory basket. You can also contribute by check, in any amount up to $100, noting “Refugee Fami-lies” in the memo line of your check made payable to “Saint Cecilia Parish.”

Sunday After 6: Mardi Gras!

Join us tonight after the 6 p.m. Mass for a special Mardi Gras themed Sunday After 6! Come downstairs following the Mass for food & fellowship to laissez les bon temps rouler before Lent begins!

It's catholic appeal time!

Last weekend, Saint Cecilia joined with all the parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston in the 2019 Catholic Ap-peal. The Appeal supports the fifty-one ministries that benefit hundreds of pastoral, charitable, and educa-tional programs. This is the most effective way for our parish community to join in the Church’s universal work of caring for those among us who are in need. We are each called to care for our neighbors, and during this holy season of Lent, we have the opportunity to be the Good Samaritan to others through our support of the Catholic Appeal. If you have not yet received an appeal in the mail, please join with Saint Cecilia in our goal to raise $72,357, by pledging your support on the enve-lope provided in the pews and returning the completed form either in the collection basket or in a basket in the narthex. You may also pledge to the parish campaign at www.bostoncatholicappeal.org. Thank you for your prayers and support of this important effort.

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An Update From Our Events

and Facilities Manager

Greetings! We are pleased to report that our interior renovation will begin in early May with an expected completion date of September, 2019. During these four months we will keep you up-to-date each week through both the parish bulletin and the parish web-site.

Our Spring Calendar:• The Mass schedule will remain unchanged.• Beginning May 1, there will be no events scheduled

for any parts of the Parish Pastoral Center (Parish Hall and classrooms). This includes canceling the last two films scheduled for the Faith & Film Series.

• Our annual Ministry Appreciation event is still scheduled to occur and we will keep you informed as plans take shape.

• Beginning in May, we will have the 9:30 and 11:15 Coffee Hours on a monthly basis. The dates will ap-pear in the parish bulletin.

• Summerfest will not take place this summer but will be back on the calendar in June of 2020.

"Tidying is better together." — Marie Kondo

PHASE I March—The Saint Cecilia Organizing MonthThis March is designated as the parish organizing month and we will come up with fun ways to come together and do our mise-en-place. For those of you who have worked in a restaurant kitchen or who watch the Food Network, you know that the time-honored system that makes professional kitchens function is called mise-en-place, or, literally, "everything put in its place." We have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years and will go through our cabinets and storage areas and do a purge worthy of Marie Kondo. Stay tuned for more informa-tion!

We realize that these four months of construction will be challenging and perhaps even a little inconvenient at times, but the end result will be more than worth it! Thank you in advance for your patience, understanding, and good humor. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me at any time with your questions or concerns.

Peace,

Lisa PickeringEvents and Facilities [email protected]

OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS

Our friends at two local agencies that serve those experi-encing homelessness report that they have an urgent need for winter clothing for the patients they see every day.

Boston Health Care for the Homeless There will be a bin in the narthex if you would like to donate new or gently used boots. There is a need for men’s and women’s boots—all sizes—but espe-cially men’s sizes 9 to 13. Men's and women's coats (if used, freshly dry-cleaned) can also be donated in the narthex.

South End Community Health CenterThis non-profit agency—celebrating its 50th year of serving the South End in 2019—is in need of chil-dren's coats, hats, and gloves.

If it is your preference to send a check (no more than $50, please) to enable us to purchase the items above, please make a check payable to Saint Cecilia Parish, write “Bos-ton Health Care” or "South End Community Health" in the memo line and mail to:

Mark LippoltSaint Cecilia Parish18 Belvidere StreetBoston, MA 02115

Wisdom and Mature Spirituality

Group

Sunday, March 17 | 10:00 a.m. | Meet in Parish Hall

"A light shines on in the darkness, a light that darkness cannot overcome." John's Gospel 1:5

At our March 17 meeting, we will discuss Chapter 11, 'The Shadowlands," from Richard Rohr's book Falling Upward. This reading deals with the darkness that is generated dur-ing the creation of our shadow selves. Fr. Rohr explains that the shadow is what we refuse to see about ourselves and what we do not want others to see. He tells us that the closer we get to the light, the more of our shadow we see. To those of you in the second half of life, we invite you to connect with others on a spiritual journey as we share our wisdom and insights.

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lent approaches!

As winter Ordinary Time draws to a close, we look towards Lent, the Church’s annual retreat. Lent is a time of renewal and preparation for the feast of Easter and is marked by the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Taking some time to get ready for Lent will ensure that we aren’t going to miss the first week or two, because we are just getting started. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, but we want to be ready to really take off on that day, rather than just beginning to think about it. Part of what makes a vaca-tion or a signifcant anniversary so special is the build–up to it. Before we get to Ash Wednesday, we might ask ourselvessome questions. “What does God want to give me this year?” This question may require that I slow down a bit and listen to my inner spirit. For example, sometimes if I’m very busy, I may realize I’m hungry only when I hear my stomach start “growling.” “What am I going to be doing on Ash Wednesday?” Too often, Ash Wednesday is like every other day, except that I manage to get to church and re-ceive ashes on my forehead. Is there anything else I can do on Ash Wednesday? How will fasting and abstaining hap-pen for me, for my family on that special day?

It doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare for the beginning of Lent. It just takes desire and focus; God can do so much with that. By beginning to establish some simple patterns, we create a bit of space where God is able to touch our hearts. I might decide that upon waking each morning this week, I will spend just a minute, standing by the edge of my bed, in order to ask the Lord for the grace to let this day be one in which I long for the beginning of Lent. Perhaps I need to ask for specifc helps or graces in order to get ready to begin Lent. Whatever we try to say, the Lord will under-stand the Spirit speaking through our simple words. And allit takes is the time to fnd and put on our slippers. Similarly, each night in the days ahead, we can practice giving thanks to God before going to bed. This simple pattern, in the morning and evening, can stir our spirits to look forward to and prepare for Lent, as a season of grace.

ash wednesday

Ash Wednesday begins our forty days of joyful renewal in preparation for the celebration of Easter! Those who are mindful of the call to hear the Gospel more fully, receive ashes as a sign of repentance. The ashes we use are the burnt palms from last year’s celebration of Passion (Palm) Sunday. We will distribute ashes at the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Wednesday, as well as at the 6:00 p.m. Mass.

Ash Wednesday is a day of universal fast and abstinence. In addition to whatever personal penitential practices you might take up during Lent, Catholics are also asked to ob-serve the practices of fast and abstinence during the forty day period. The Lenten Fast and Abstinence Regulations are as follows:

1. Everyone 14 years of age and older is bound to ab-stain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent.

2. Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (the obligation of fasting ceases with the celebration of one’s 59th birthday).

3. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, only one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other smaller meat-less meals, suffcient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating be-tween meals is not permitted on these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed. When health or ability to work would be seriously af-fected, the law does not oblige.

4. Catholics should not lightly excuse themselves from these prescribed penitential practices. By the three-fold discipline of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the Church keeps Lent from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday. All of the faithful and the catechumens are encouraged to undertake the prac-tice of these three Lenten practices. Fasting and ab-stinence, along with prayer and almsgiving, are the foundations of a good and holy Lent.

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what does it mean to fast?

To fast is to do without food. The purpose of fasting is to experience the effects of not eating. It also serves as a pen-ance or sacrifice—with the goal of strengthening us. When we don’t eat, for even a little while, we become hungry. When we are aware of our hunger, we have a heightened sense of awareness. If, when we eat too much, we have a sluggish feeling, when we fast, we have a feeling of alert-ness. Fasting is a wonderful exercise whenever we want to sincerely ask for an important grace from God. It is not that our fasting “earns” God’s attention, but by fasting, we clarify our thinking and our feeling. It is purifying and prepares us to pray more deeply.

WHEN DO I FAST?Catholics, as a group, are required to fast on only two days of the year—Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days, fasting means something very specifc and limited. It means that one eats only one full meal in a day, with no food in-between meals. It is understood that two other meals, if one eats three meals a day, should not total one full meal. One might fast in a more complete way, i.e., eating only a portion of a single meal. Of course, anyone is free to fast at any time that it is helpful for their prayer and refection. It is not recommended that anyone with impaired health should fast in any way.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ABSTAIN?

To abstain is to not eat meat. Abstinence is meant to be an act of penance—an act of sacrifice that helps us grow in freedom to make much bigger sacrifices. Of course, it would be nonsensical to make the sacrifice of not eating meat only to then indulge in a wonderful meal of seafood that I might enjoy even more. Many people keep a vegetarian diet and, for them, eating meat is not even an issue. In the spirit of Lent, one possibility is to abstain from a non-meat meal that I really like, on all the Fridays of Lent.

Help Care For those in need

Occasionally we give gift cards to our sisters and brothers in need. We need to replenish our supply of gift cards to Shaw's, Stop & Shop, and Star Market. If you would like to help out in this way, simply purchase a gift card and place it in the collection basket at Mass, give it to a member of the staff, or mail it to the Parish Office. We are very appreciative of your help as we attempt to offer some assistance to those who struggle.

Lent Small Group Bible

Reflection

Lent is a season of reflection. How have we responded to God’s grace or missed the mark, and how can we grow clos-er to God? One gentle method to ponder these questions is by participating in the Small Group Bible Reflection se-ries offered by the Adult Faith Formation Commission. Each Monday we will read the Gospel section for the upcoming Sunday in a contemplative manner, and share our insights and inspirations.

If you want to experience how contemplative reading of Scripture may help you deepen your faith during Lent, please join us. We will meet in the sanctuary of the church at 6:30 p.m. on the following Mondays—March 4, 11, 18, 25, as well as April 1 and 8.

Lenten Speaker Series

Wednesday, March 13 | Reception at 6:30, Presentation at 7:00 | Parish Hall

The Saint Cecilia Rainbow Ministry will once again be pre-senting the parish’s Lenten Speaker series. The focus this year will be “Profiles in Catholic and Christian Courage.” In the first presentation, Al Green from the Hawden Park Con-gregational Church in Worcester will speak to us about their ministry to Gay and Transgender immigrants, both men and women. This Church gives them a foundation for a better life and is known globally as a haven for persecuted immi-grants. They use no federal or state money. Many of these men and women are professionals with legal visas seeking asylum. A few of those aided by this ministry will accom-pany Mr. Green. The program will start at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall with a reception which will begin at 6:30 p. m. Free will offerings will be accepted and this Lenten Series is open to all.

Stations of the

Cross

Praying the Stations of the Cross is a wonderful Lenten tradition in the Church. We will pray them as a community on Good Friday at 3:00, but you can pray the Stations online by visiting www.stjames-cathedral.org/Prayer/jk-blstations/stations.htm

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Adult Faith

Formation Events

FAITH FORMATION EVENTS AT SAINT CECILIA OFTEN APPEAR ON PAGES 4 -7

BC—SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND

MINISTRY ONLINE COURSES

For further details or to register for these events, please check the STM Online: Crossroads website: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/stm/sites/crossroads.html

Eucharist: At The Heart Of Catholic LifeMarch 13 - April 3, 2019| 3-Week Online Course | Regis-tration Required| $25.00

Spiritual PracticesMarch 13 - April 3, 2019| 3-Week Online Course | Regis-tration Required| $25.00

CAMPUS EVENTS

For further details or to register for these events, please check the School of Theology and Ministry website: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/stm/continuing-education/campus-events.html

The Ordained Priesthood: Opening a New ConversationPresenters: Thomas H. Groome, Rev. Richard Lennan and Jacqueline ReganThursday, March 14, 2019 | 6:00 –7:30 p.m. | Corcoran Commons, Heights Room, Chestnut Hill Campus | Free of charge |Registration Required

Confronting the Soul-Devouring Dragon: Sexual Abuse and the Mystery of EvilPresenter: Margaret Eletta Guider, O.S.F.Thursday, March 21, 2019 | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | Corcoran Commons, Heights Room, Chestnut Hill Campus | Free of charge |Registration Required

Resilience, Faith, and Religious SymbolsPresenter: Melissa KelleyFriday, March 29, 2019 | 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Corco-ran Commons, Heights Room, Chestnut Hill Campus Free of charge |Registration Required

Revitalizing Our Church Ideas from the Catholic PressC21 Easter Series: Revitalizing our ChurchPresenters: John Allen, Jr., Vatican Analyst and Editor, Crux; Matt Malone, S.J., President and Editor in Chief, America Media: Jack Dunn (Moderator), Associate Vice

President, Office of University CommunicationTuesday, March 12, 2019 | 7:00 p.m. | Boston College, Devlin Hall, 110 | Free of charge |Registration Required

BC: BOISI CENTER FOR RELIGION

AND AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE

For further details or to register for these events, please check this website: https://www.bc.edu/centers/boisi

Religion in the White House2nd Annual Wolfe Lecture on Religion and American Politics, Presenter: Kenneth L. WoodwardThursday, March 14, 2019 | 6 - 7:30 p.m. | Boston Col-lege, Gasson Hall, 305| RSVP Required

What Everyone Needs to Know About ShariahPresenter: Natana Delong-BasTuesday, March 26, 2019 | 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. | Boston College, Boisi Center, 24 Quincy Road, Chestnut Hill, MA RSVP Required

Sacred Threads

For further details on this event, please check their web-site: http://www.sacredthreadscenter.org/events/

Through Turmoil to Transformation: Could our troubled times hold the seeds of a renewed future?A day with world-renowned author Margaret SilfMarch 23, 2019| 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Registration opens at 9:30 a.m.) | Sisters of Saint Joseph Mother-house Chapel, 637 Cambridge Street, Brighton, MA| Reg-istration Required | $50.00

SAINT SUSANNA PARISH — DEDHAM

For further details on these presentations, please check their website: http://www.saintsusanna.org/Attach-ments/aff_yearly_program_standard.pdf

The Journey From The Head To The Heart: A Journey Through Reason To FaithPresenter: Tim SullivanMonday, March 11, 2019 | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Saint Su-sanna Parish Hall | Free Will Offering

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I was writing my weekly note to the congregation (a few days late, because I took Monday off and it’s all downhill from there). Usually in this note, I share a few words about the mes-sage for Sunday so that we can all be reflecting on the same topic throughout the week. It makes the sermon more of an ongoing conversation. I sometimes discuss something that’s going on in the life of the church, as well. But this week, it was more of a thank you note. Because when I think about how much work my church folks did over the last few weeks to get our place ready for Easter, it blows my mind. And as I look around the property, I can see the fruits of many hours of shared labor.

Sparkling windows and floors; finely manicured landscaping; dramatic paraments, hung with a complex pulley system by dedicated House Elves in the wee hours… And then I start thinking about the work of the worship team, the children’s ministry team and musicians; not to mention greeters, hand-shakers, bulletin-hander-outers, and coffee makers; and the youth group out there hiding eggs for the little ones; plus more behind the scenes workers I have not mentioned. Just thinking about it makes me overwhelmed with gratitude. It’s enough to make my mascara run. (I’m not crying, you are).

In writing this note to my people, I wrote that it takes a whole village of volunteers to make all of this happen…. But then I found myself hitting the backspace button. Because “vol-unteer” is not quite the right word for what our people do at church.

I know I’m not the only one who cringes when someone sees me, without kids in tow, and asks if my husband is “babysit-ting.” Well, no. I mean, yes, he is at home with the kids tonight. But I do not think you can effectively say “babysitting” when it is your own dang kid. I’d say we could just call that parenting.

I feel the same when people talk about “volunteering” at church. And yes, I know it’s just a word. But it’s the wrong word, for a lot of reasons.

If you ask a grandparent, or an elder of your church, I’m pretty sure they will tell you that the church they grew up in never asked them to volunteer. Historically, the church has asked people to serve–as deacons, as greeters, as Sunday school teachers, or on the property committee. Whatever the job, it was considered a service. A ministry.

The language of volunteerism is a pretty recent addition to the church lexicon. It has emerged with the mega-church of the

last few decades—and the culture in which small to moder-ate size churches replicate the language and practices of larger churches. “Volunteering” is something you’re asked to do, right off the bat in these places. It gets folks engaged, which is great. Maybe you give them a flashy name badge that says “VOLUNTEER” in big red letters, or a brightly colored t-shirt that declares “VOLUNTEER” on the back. This identifies you as someone who’s there to help; one who can answer ques-tions, give directions, or generally point you toward the donuts. That’s a good thing.

But I balk at the secular nature of what it means to volunteer. To volunteer means that you are an outside resource, stepping in to help an organization in need. Volunteering is what we do when we pick up trash at the park, or build a house with Habi-tat, or help sort food at the local food pantry. Volunteering is what I do at my kids’ school on Fridays.

In other words, it’s what you do at a place that is important to you–but not at a place that belongs to you.

And I guess that is the important distinction for me… You cannot volunteer at your own church, in the same way you cannot babysit your own kid. Because the church belongs to you in the same way your family does. It’s your own place, your own people. So of course you help take care of it. Of course you do yard work and make coffee and teach the kids and sing in the choir and whatever all else it is you do for the home and the people that you love.

A volunteer, in most cases, is just visiting. A fly-by. Maybe it’s a helpful fly-by, but it’s not the same as belonging to something. It’s not the same as contributing to something bigger than you, something that’s part of who you are.

Maybe some practices of inordinately large churches are good ones, systems from which we can learn a great deal about con-nection and engagement. But ultimately, the language of vol-unteerism is secular, and more to the point, it is corporate. The notion is rooted in consumer culture, in which we can swoop in and give or take a measure that we deem fit, and then dart out again feeling we have done our part. We do a disservice to our faith, and to the gospel itself, when we reduce the work of the church to something you can mark on a time card.

All that said, we live in the world we live in, and we cannot real-istically extract this word from the life of the church. It is both a noun and a verb, and it’s the one that just rolls off the tongue when we are asking people to come and do work. Which, in

YOUR CHURCH DOES NOT NEED VOLUNTEERS By ERIN WATHEN

12


the church, we are forever asking people to do. Still, as I plan for a summer sermon series on discipleship and what it means to let the church be the church, I feel a strong nudge to challenge how we talk about–and think about–the time and energy we spend in ministry. It’s important to recognize those gifts for what they are–ministry–and I’m not sure the word “volunteer” does justice to the depths contained in the work people actually do in their churches.

Call it serving. Call it discipleship. Call it the priesthood of believers, or mission, or the ministry that we all share to-gether. Admittedly, “Priesthood of Believers” does not look great on a t-shirt. And it maybe doesn’t invite visitors to ask you where the bathrooms are… But whatever we do, we should remember that we don’t just belong to the church–it belongs to us.

And we do not babysit that which is ours.

Power Presentation ReDux

Sunday, March 24 | after 11:15 Mass | Classroom 5

If you missed the last presentation, we hope you can make this one, lead by Catholic Charities' Grace Gaskill fon the POWR (Parishes/People Organized to Welcome Refugees) program. The first presentation was on January 22 and a few parishioners were interested in potentially pursu-ing this as a ministry at Saint Cecilia (there are already at least 10 POWR parishes in Eastern Mass). The process would take 5 to 8 months to establish through a training program. If you are interested in attending or participat-ing in this potential ministry, please sign-up at: http://bit.ly/powr_pres For more info contact: Anthony Ishak at [email protected].

Social & Racial

Justice Ministry Upcoming

Events

How We Win: A Workshop with George Lakey on Nonvio-lent Direct Action CampaigningSaturday, March 30 | 1:00-4:00 | Beacon Hill Friends House, 6-8 Chestnut St.

In this participatory workshop led by internationally known trainer George Lakey, participants will engage in a lively ex-ploration of how to use direct action campaigns to build power toward a movement of movements. Workshop par-ticipants who have read How We Win: A Guide to Nonvi-olent Direct Action Campaigning will get the most out of the workshop, but it is by no means a prerequisite. Bring a bag lunch and eat in community together at 12:30, or arrive by 1:00 for the workshop. Admission is on a sliding scale. Recommended range $10-$30. Advance registration is required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-we-win-a-workshop-with-george-lakey-on-nonviolent-direct-action-campaigning-tickets-54787775712 For more info contact Linda Jenkins at [email protected].

You can sign up to receive updates from the SRJM ministry at http://eepurl.com/dKw-gw. Are you interested in getting more in-volved with planning actions? Whether you want to join our Steer-ing Committee, or have a particular action you want to collaborate with us on, please email [email protected]. We meet on the third Sunday of each month.

Back Bay Chorale Concert

The renowned Back Bay Chorale is performing Sergei Rach-maninoff’s Vespers on Saturday, March 9 at 8pm at Saint Paul’s Church in Harvard Square. Please come and listen to a chorus of 100 singers present a cornerstone of Russian Orthodox Church music, steeped in the tradition of Russian religious chants and folk music. A couple of Saint Cecilia cho-rus members and parishioners, including Craig Hughes, Joe Reid, and Ludovica Mottura, are in the chorus and would love to see you there. Tickets can be purchased at www.backbaychorale.org, starting at $23, free with Student ID.

WHAT? In 2010, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops launched the Parishes/People Organized to Welcome Refugees (POWR) program to intensify volunteer involvement in resettlement at the parish level to create a welcoming environment for incoming refugee families.

WHO? Any faith-based or community group interested in helping us resettle refugee families.

WHY? Catholic Charities has a historic commitment to resettling refugees. Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that refugees are more likely to thrive when supported by communities.

The goal of the POWR Program is to strengthen the ability of local churches to recruit and utilize volunteers to mentor and provide other needed supports to newly arrived refugees. The program relies on volunteer-led efforts to meet a range of resettlement needs such as housing, transportation, English language learning, acculturation, etc.

2 7 5 W E S T B R O A D W A Y | B O S T O N , M A 0 2 1 2 7 | W W W . C C A B . O R G

POWR Parishes/People Organized to Welcome Refugees

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Parish Office & Mailing Address18 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA 02115Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.Phone | 617 536 4548Fax | 617 536 1781E-mail | [email protected] | www.stceciliaboston.org

Parish StaffRev. John J. Unni, PastorMary Kaye, Pastoral Director of Operations,[email protected] Melaugh, Finance Director,[email protected] Donohoe, Pastoral Associate,[email protected] J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Parish Visibility, [email protected] Glynn, Director of College and Youth Ministry, [email protected],Jeanne Bruno, Chaplain, Pastoral Associate, Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach,[email protected] Duff, Director of Music, [email protected] Pickering, Events and Facilities Manager, [email protected] Bennett, Communications and Operations Coordinator,[email protected]

Assisting ClergyRev. Peter Grover, OMVRev. Peter Gyves, SJRev. James Shaughnessy, SJ

Schedule for LiturgyWednesday, Thursday, & Friday | 8:00 a.m.Lord’s Day | Sat 5:00 p.m.; Sun 8:00, 9:30, 11:15, and 6:00 p.m.Holy Days | 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

ReconciliationThe sacrament of reconciliation is available by appointment. Please call the Parish Office.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the communal process through which non-baptized men and women become members of the Catholic Church. It is also suitable for those baptized in different faith traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic, or, for those who were baptized Catholic, but have yet to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and confirmation.

Baptism for InfantsInfant baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. For more information, please contact Mark Donohoe in the Parish Office.

Faith Formation for ChildrenTo register your child for our Faith Formation Program, please contact Scott MacDonald in the Parish Office.

MarriageCouples who wish to prepare for marriage should contact Mark Donohoe in the Parish Office at least six months in advance.

Care of the SickTo arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, or for Viaticum for the Dying (Holy Communion for those in danger of death), please contact the Parish Office. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies.

Order of Christian FuneralsThe parish is prepared to celebrate the Vigil (wake) in the church. Please contact the Parish Office for more information.

Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) TeamThe CAP Team is responsible for training all parish staff and volunteers in mandated reporting laws and the Protecting God’s Children program (VIRTUS). They also provide consultation and support to anyone in the parish who has concerns about reporting child abuse and neglect. Please contact Lois Flaherty ([email protected]), Maria Roche ([email protected]), Letitia Howland ([email protected]), or Erin Young ([email protected]) if you have any questions or concerns.

The Archdiocese of Boston has in place a vigorous program to protect children from harm and to educate its ministers and faithful about the nature of abuse, with a goal of increasing knowledge, creating a safe environment for children, and recognizing and reporting potentially dangerous situations. The full text of the policy is also available in the narthex and Parish Office, as well as on our website.

For Those with Celiac DiseaseIf you have celiac disease, please let us know. We have a supply of low-gluten altar bread available for those who cannot tolerate gluten.

Hearing Assistance in ChurchThe church is equipped with an FM listening device. Small receivers are available for anyone who may have trouble hearing the sound system. Simply request a receiver from any one of our greeters before Mass.

Access for the DisabledBoth the church and Parish Pastoral Center are accessible by elevator.

ParkingThere is reduced rate parking for $11.00 at the Hynes Auditorium Garage located on Dalton Street on Sundays until 3:00 p.m. and every evening after 4:00 p.m. Please be sure to ask one of our greeters for a parking validation ticket before leaving the church. There is also reduced rate parking on Sundays only at the Prudential Center South Garage (enter at Huntington Avenue or Dalton Street); up to 4 hours: $14.00, up to 5 hours: $20.00.

Joining Our CommunityWe’re happy that you’re with us! Our community offers a warm, spiritu-al home for a diverse group of Catholics. We come from many neighbor-hoods in and around Boston but also have parishioners from as far afield as Marlborough, Newburyport, and Stow. Please introduce yourself to a staff member, drop in for coffee on Sunday, or fill out a new parishioner form in the narthex.. No matter what your background, please know that you are always welcome at Saint Cecilia.

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