I urge you to attend our annual Parish Picnic next Sunday, August 26, 2018. It will be held at St. Patrick’s Park but at a different pavilion. As mentioned above, the Fragomeni Pavilion is to the left instead of to the right. The gate keeper will give you the directions. Let’s have a great Family Picnic once again this year. Please sign up in the foyer, so we know the amount of chicken and drinks we need and of course remember to bring dishes to share. There will be time to share and time to have fun. We will also have Parish Picnic hats on sale for $5.00 each in honor of our 90th Anniversary. The picnic will begin around noon, right after our 10:30 AM Mass and run until 6 PM. The food will be served around 1 PM.
I hope you all saw Cheryl Ashe’s photo with the bishop in Today’s Catholic. I also hope you are using the Little Library in front of the church.
I recently renewed our website for another year for $240.00. I hope parishioners are using it. Let me know.
Yesterday we had Mary Feikes’ funeral. May she rest in peace, And may Aretha Franklin rest in peace as well!
Our first reading is from the Book of Proverbs. I hope you all noticed that Wisdom is referred to as a woman. She offers a great meal to all who are interested, “Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding” by seeking Wisdom.
St. Paul takes up the same theme in our second reading, “Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.”
This all leads up to the continuation of the Bread of Life presentation from St. John’s Gospel. Jesus is the Bread of Life. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him/her on the last day.” The banquet Wisdom invites us to is the Mass where we consume the Body and Blood of Christ. This needs to make a difference in the way we live our day in and day out lives.
On Thursday, the Church celebrates St. Rose of Lima, who was a contemporary of St. Martin de Porres. My home parish in Chelsea, MA, was St. Rose of Lima.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton. Let us also pray for those who are victims of sexual abuse.
A Father Tolton Prayer: Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved. Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.