April 18th through April 24th

Saturday, April 17

   4:00 P.M.       Jim Murphy, Memorial

Sunday, April 18

   7:00 A.M.       Walter Karpierz, Birthday

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

  11:00 A.M.       Jeovanni Lopez and Angel Valdivia Sr.,                              Memorial

                        Maria Antonia Cabrera, Memorial

                        Julio Forero, Health

Monday, April 19

   8:00 A.M.       Leo and Anna Leveille, Memorial

Tuesday, April 20

   8:00 A.M.       Frances Orzech, Memorial

Wednesday, April 21

   8:00 A.M.       Tony Knowlton, Memorial

   7:00 P.M.       Juan Gilberto Hernandez Dingui, Memorial

Thursday, April 22

   8:00 A.M.       Angela and Luisa DiCenso, Memorial

Friday, April 23

   8:00 A.M.       Christine Angelini, Special Intention

 

S A N C T U A R Y  L A M P S

For the week of April 18th through April 24th ‑ The Lamp in our Main Church will burn this week in memory of the Chaves family.

The Lamp in the Rectory Chapel will burn this week for the mission to Nicaragua.

 

A ROSE FOR LIFE IN OUR SANCTUARY

The roses this week are sponsored in memory of

Mr. and Mrs. Buder by Peter and Grayce Ford, in memory of the Unborn by Laury Henry, in memory of Thomas Gallagher by Jean Gallagher, in memory of Angela DiCenso by Rina DiCenso, and in memory of Donna White by Bill White.

 

Strengthening Catholic Faith ‑

     The two kiosks in the foyer of the Church near the front door contain many inspiring Catholic CDs and brochures (in English and Spanish) that can be purchased for only $3 per CD and 50 cents per brochure. We have CDs with such titles as "The Seven Last Sayings of Christ," Seven Deadly Sins/Seven Lively Virtues," "The Saving Power of Divine Mercy," and "Building Better Families."

     Many of you have already purchased these wonderful materials to improve your knowledge and understanding of our Catholic Faith, and we hope more of you will do so. There are many additional titles available, so please let us know if there is a subject that you would like to have addressed. You may speak to one of the priests about this or to Mr. Jim Drummey during the week.

 

MCFL Rose Sale ‑ The annual Massachusetts Citizens for Life Rose Sale will take place this weekend after all the Masses. Your support for bringing an end to the killing of our future generations will be welcomed.

 

 

Confirmation Next Friday Night ‑ Twenty-two of our teenagers and a dozen adults will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next Friday, April 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Church. Administering the sacrament will be our good friend Bishop Emilio Allue. All parishioners are invited to attend this wonderful and inspiring ceremony. Please pray that our Confirmandi will be open to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit ‑ wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel or right judgment, fortitude or courage, piety or reverence, and fear of the Lord or wonder and awe in God's presence ‑ and that all of us will put these gifts to work in our own lives.

 

 

 

 

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." - Jn 21:15

 

 

Canon Law Qualifications for

Sponsors for Baptism/Confirmation

 

     Some people come forward to be godparents for Baptism or sponsors for Confirmation without realizing they have to meet certain qualifications. Here are the requirements:

 

Canon 872        “Insofar as possible one to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who is to assist an adult in Christian initiation or, together with the parents, to present an infant at Baptism, and who will help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with Baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it.”

Canon 874       “To be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must have completed the sixteenth year … be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist, and lead a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may not be admitted except as a witness to Baptism and together with a Catholic sponsor.”

     Because so many Catholics today do not lead “a life in harmony with the faith,” we thought that the requirements of Canon Law for the selection of godparents should be brought to the attention of parents or prospective parents. It is embarrassing for all concerned when parents arranging for the baptism of their child present as a godparent a person who does not live “a life in harmony with the faith.”

     This means weekly participation in Sunday Mass to fulfill the commandment of God to keep holy His day and the command of Jesus to “Do this in memory of Me.” Also, those who are married are required to be in a Catholic Christian union, and the godparents must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 

Support the Catholic Appeal ‑ We hope that each of you is enjoying the start of Spring and remind you that the annual Catholic Appeal collection supports the retirement, medical care, and financial needs of the priests of the Archdiocese of Boston. If you have not already contributed to the 2010 Appeal, and wish to do so, you will find an envelope at the doors of the Church for your pledge or donation. We are most grateful for your continued generosity to the Church.

 

Boston Eucharistic Congress ‑ Please join hundreds of college students and young adults for the Third Boston Eucharistic Congress on April 23rd and 24th at Sacred Heart and St. Leonard's Churches in the North End. In addition to talks by Sean Cardinal O'Malley, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, and others, there will be Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, service projects, opportunity for Confession, an authentic Italian dinner, and a procession through the streets of Boston. For more information, please call (617) 746-5949 or visit www.eucharisticcongress.org.

 

 

Ushers needed for English Masses: If you would like to volunteer to be an Usher for one of the English Masses so that we may provide a welcoming and efficient service to all those who come and worship with us here at Saint Stephen Parish, please, give your name and Mass time preference to one of the Priests after the Mass today or call the Rectory during office hours during the week.

We will have a training session next month for all ushers, so give us your name and thank you for your willingness to serve.

 

Baby Shower for Birthright ‑ The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Bernadette #2410, will hold its annual Baby Shower for Birthright of Framingham next weekend, April 25th and 26th, after all the Masses. Needed are items for babies from 6 to 12 months, as well as diapers up to size 4 and clothing for infants from one to two years old. We know that you will be as generous as you have been in the past, and the Catholic Daughters are most grateful for your help for these children and their families.