January 31st through February 6th

Saturday, January 30

4:00 P.M.      Mark and Elizabeth McLaughlin, Memorial

Sunday, January 31   

  9:00 A.M.                            For Our Living and Deceased Parishioners

11:00 A.M.       Guido Quesada, 50^th Birthday blessings

                        Mario Solares, Month's Mind

Monday, February 1

  8:00 A.M.       Charles Reiley, Memorial

Tuesday, February 2

  8:00 A.M.                   Elizabeth Locke, Memorial

Wednesday, February 3

  8:00 A.M.       Charles Reiley, Memorial

  7:00 P.M.       Antonio Ramirez Acevedo, 1st Anniversary

Thursday, February 4

  8:00 A.M.       James and Carol O'Neil, Memorial

Friday, February 5

  8:00 A.M.                   Muriel Gustafson, Memorial

 

Florentina Rodriguez

 

S A N C T U A R Y  L A M P S

For the week of January 31st through February 6th ‑ The Lamp in our Main Church will burn this week in memory of Antonio Ramirez Acevedo.

 

A ROSE FOR LIFE IN OUR SANCTUARY

The roses this week are sponsored in memory of Fr. Joseph Donovan by Nancy and Joe Meehan, in memory of Frank Shortall by Jean Gallagher, and in memory of Nancy Mead by Cynthia Angelini.

 

English Adult Confirmation Classes ‑ If you are over the age of 18 and never received the Sacrament of Confirmation (or the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist), we will be holding classes from February 24th through April 21st to prepare for Confirmation on April 23rd. The classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room in the basement of the Rectory.

     You must register for these classes and fill out an information sheet about where and when you were baptized, your marital status, and other things. Please contact Mr. Drummey at (508) 875-4788 for more information. Remember that you cannot be a godparent or a sponsor for Confirmation unless you have received the sacrament yourself. This is your chance to do so.

 

 

Our Lady of Lourdes -                                  Novena Dates February 2-10,          Feast Day February 11 -                                      (Say this prayer each day beginning February 2^nd.)

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it  a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. 

I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. (Mention your petition here).....Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests. Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.   Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

(Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory be.)

 

 

He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'" -                            Lk 4:23

 

 

World Day of the Sick February 7, 2010

On the occasion of World Day of the Sick this coming February 7, we would like to remind our parishioners of the following practices of our Catholic Faith;

            From ancient times the Church has Anointed the Sick with blessed oil. Today the sacrament of the sick is given to those who are seriously ill, facing surgery or in danger of death from sickness and or old age by anointing them on the forehead and hands with blessed oil.

The Sacrament is a gift of the Holy Spirit one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the illness and frailties of old age.

The Sacrament gives us the strength and gift of uniting oneself more closely to Christ's Passion.

The Sacrament prepares us for the final journey; it. Priests are the ministers of the anointing of the sick.

            Viaticum is a Latin word which means "food for the journey". The Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as Viaticum and it can be administered by an extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a deacon or a Priest.

When you enter a Hospital make sure to identify yourself:

·       As a Catholic

·       The Parish you belong to.

·       Request a visit from the chaplain.

 

This will ensure you receive the services that are available to you. Most Hospitals in the Archdiocese of Boston have Chaplains available. In our region both, Metro West Framingham and Leonard Morse have these services. We also have very caring ministers for this in our Parish.

“FOR THE LOVE OF OUR SPIRITUAL HOME.”

The second collection next weekend, February 13th and 14th, will be “For the Love of Our Spiritual Home, St. Stephen Parish.” Please be generous since it is required to help pay the current expenses of our parish.

 

Peter's Pence Collection ‑ At all the Masses next weekend, February 6th and 7th, we will participate in the worldwide Peter's Pence Collection for the charitable works of the Holy Father. Thank you in advance for your generosity, which will allow Pope Benedict XVI to respond to requests for emergency assistance all around the world.

 

Workshop on Visiting the Sick ‑ If you are interested in receiving training for visiting those who are sick, there will be a six-week workshop on Pastoral Care to the Sick and the Homebound at St. Brigid Parish in Lexington, beginning on Wednesday, March 3rd, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The workshop, which will be conducted by Kelly Dunn, former director of the Health Care Ministry for the Archdiocese, will include a review of communication skills, the basics of pastoral visitation, key illness issues, spiritual needs and concerns, grief, loss, and dying, and care-giving issues. Extraordinary Ministers, pastoral visitors, parish nurses, and others are invited to attend. The fee is $40 and pre-registration is required by February 24th. Please call (617) 746-5843 for information and registration.

 

Open House at St. Bridget School in Framingham ‑ St. Bridget School, at 832 Worcester Road (Route 9E), which offers a challenging education in the Roman Catholic tradition from kindergarten through eighth grade, will hold an open house this coming Tuesday, February 2nd, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. For more information, please call Jennifer Ryan at (508) 875-0181, ext. 229.

 

Pregnancy Help, a program of the Archdiocese of Boston, has a MetroWest office at 5 Wilson Street in Natick, opposite St. Patrick Church. The telephone number is (508) 651-1900. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It offers pregnancy testing, counseling, referrals, and ongoing support and material assistance to women with unplanned or crisis pregnancies. These free and confidential services are available in English and Spanish.

 

 

Offering of the Sick for Vocations

Dear Lord, here is a new day you have given me in which to love you and to help others to love you. Above all things, help me to love and accept your holy will. Lord Jesus, in giving me this cross of my illness, it was your desire to bring me nearer to you Divine Heart.                I want to bring others also to know you better, to love you more, and for this I know that good and holy priests are necessary; so I will offer my cross, united with yours, for vocations to the holy priesthood. Amen.