April 25th through May 1st

Saturday, April 24

4:00 P.M.       Ralph Miola, Memorial

Sunday, April 25

7:00 A.M.       Jennifer Payne, Healing

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

11:00 A.M.       Maximiliano Aragon, 15th Anniversary

Monday, April 26

8:00 A.M.       Special Intention

Tuesday, April 27

8:00 A.M.       Special Intention

Wednesday, April 28

8:00 A.M.       James Cain, Memorial

7:00 P.M.       Mariela Trejos, 2nd Anniversary

Thursday, April 29

8:00 A.M.       André Thys Glinnen, 32nd Anniversary

Friday, April 30

8:00 A.M.       Emma Gustafson, Memorial

Saturday, May 1

  8:00 A.M.        Special Intention

 

S A N C T U A R Y  L A M P S

For the week of April 25th through May 1st ‑ The Lamp in our Main Church 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 Margaret and Charles King by John and Rita King and in memory of Stuart Mead by Cynthia Angelini.

 

 

Baby Shower for Birthright ‑ The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Bernadette #2410, will hold its annual Baby Shower for Birthright of Framingham this weekend 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.

 

More 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 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 if you are willing to serve.

 

    Posture While Approaching for Communion ‑ Please remember when coming to Communion that you are about to receive our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, your hands should be clasped together in front of you (not at your sides or in your pockets), you should bow before receiving Jesus, say a firm and clear "Amen," and then keep your hands folded as you return to your seat.

     The way we receive Communion should convey that "the Eucharist is the center and summit of our Christian life".

 

Another Work of Mercy ‑ In addition to the traditional Corporal Works of Mercy ‑ feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick, shelter the homeless, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead, we would like to suggest another one: give a fellow Catholic a ride to Mass. We get calls from time to time from parishioners who would like to come to Mass, but do not have transportation. If you live in the Beaver Park area of town, there is a parishioner who would like to attend the 9:00 Mass on Sunday. Please let one of the priests know if you can help.

 

 

 

 

Jesus said: "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish." - Jn 10:27-28a

 

 

"I hear the Mass is changing. Is that true?"

     No, the way we celebrate Mass and the structure of the Mass itself are not changing. What will be different are some of the prayers and responses during Mass for both the priest and the assembly.

     Yes, these changes in wording may be uncomfortable at first, since the current words come so automatically to our lips. But with use, we will become accustomed to the new words and phrases and, in so doing, we will come to a deeper appreciation of what the Church intends to say by them. We will come to a fuller participation in the mystery of the Eucharist that we celebrate.

A sample of changes:

Current	Changes
Greeting: Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.	Greeting: Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit.
Gloria: All: Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth.	Gloria: All: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.
Nicene Creed: All: We believe.	Nicene Creed: All: I believe.
Sanctus: All: Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might.	Sanctus: All: Holy, Holy,Holy, Lord God of Hosts.

 

     Beside these sample changes, there are some others. We will inform you of these changes, and we will learn them together as a community of faith. For more information, go to www.fdlc.org, the official website of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.

 

Eucharistic Celebration Weekend

     Father James Costigian is a priest who belongs to the Fathers of Mercy Religious Community and travels America giving parish missions and retreats, especially aimed at the establishment and promotion of Eucharistic Adoration in chapels and churches.

     He will lead a Eucharistic Weekend Celebration entitled "My flesh is real food!" on April 23rd, 24th, and 25th at the Betania II Spiritual Life Center on Route 126 in Medway.

     For more information and registration, call Betania at (508) 533-5377 x 106 or log on to www.Betania2.org.

 

BLESSED JOHN XXIII

NATIONAL SEMINARY

ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

     Many of you know our seminarian, Brian Maxwell, who attends John XXIII Seminary for delayed vocations, and our good friend, Fr. Michael Alfano, who is a professor there and coordinator of ministry sites for seminarians. He assigned Brian to help us here.

     The Seminary is hosting a Golf Tournament on May 24th at the Weston Golf Club. This premier charity event is held to benefit the educational program for the seminarians.

     If you would like to help, please call Kate Folan at 781- 899-5500 to register for the tournament.

 

DEFENDING POPE BENEDICT XVI

     We all have heard the latest media reports about Pope Benedict XVI. Here we offer you some observations:

     The Holy Father has always denounced the crimes of priests and the failures of Bishops, saying that "anyone who betrays the trust put in them by innocent children and their parents must answer for it before Almighty God and proper tribunals."

     Sexual abuse of children is a worldwide plague beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church, although you would never know that from the media. As a Cardinal, Benedict instituted tough policies to combat child abuse, and he had no knowledge or part in the reassignment of a priest abuser in Germany or the trial of a priest abuser in Wisconsin.

     If you want to have an informed opinion about these false media reports, pick up the full article about this topic at the doors of the Church today. You will then realize that this Pope has done more than any other Pope or Bishop in history to rid the Catholic Church of the scourge of child abuse and to provide for those who have been injured.

     We are convinced that the Catholic Church is probably the safest place for children at this point in history.