St. Mary's Parish Family, We GR-9: 1 MONITOR – Alt Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:0 PM
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St. Mary’s Parish Our Mission: Mass Schedule: “To know Christ and to make Him known.” Confession: Saturdays from Monday through Saturday Noon – 12:45 PM in the 8 Church St., Holliston, MA 01746 church or anytime by 9:00 AM Website: www.stmarysholliston.com appointment. Saturday Vigils Email Address: [email protected] Anointing of the Sick: Any 5:00 PM Rectory Phone: (508) 429 - 4427 or (508) 879 - 2322 time by appointment. Please 7:30 PM Religious Education Phone: (508) 429 - 6076 call as soon as you are aware Sunday Fax: (508) 429 - 3324 of a serious illness or 7:30 AM upcoming surgery. Dear Visitors: Welcome! We are delighted 9:30 AM Family Mass that you chose to worship with us this day. Baptism: The 2nd & 4th (C.L.O.W. Sept. – May) Please introduce yourself to the priest, and if Sunday of each month. To 11:30 AM Sung Mass you are interested in becoming a member of the register for Baptism Holy Days: Announced parish then please call the rectory to register. Preparation call 429-4427. Please also be aware that for generations it has Marriage: Please call at Adoration Schedule: been the custom at St. Mary’s to kneel together First Fridays from for a silent Hail Mary at the end of Mass. least 6 months in advance of your desired wedding date. 9:30-10:30 AM Please join in! LAZARUS AT THE GATE “He was almost invisible… The rich man, No one knows snug inside his home, how he ended up at the gate, simply couldn’t be bothered but then, no one really cares, either… with every bum or beggar because, you see, who lounged beside his gate. he is almost invisible. The servants, And yet, busy with many things, of all the people no longer noticed in all the parables, the cripples who crowded around the door, he alone is given a name… or the children holding empty bowls. Lazarus. Lazarus, which means, In fact, “God has helped”. no one, not even the guests arriving for the feast, And Lazarus is waiting at the gate. ever really “saw” him. But as they passed by, Some parables are comforting. they turned their heads The lost sheep, and clutched their robes a little tighter The lost coin, determined to stay clean and undefiled. The lost son. These are stories that invite us After all, to snuggle deep into the Gospel a man like that like it’s Grandma’s old quilt. must have done something to lose God’s blessing. These parables remind us that we are God’s beloved— And so, no matter how lost we become; he was almost invisible— no matter how far we stray. except to the dogs who licked his sores… Other parables are not quite so soothing. We don’t really know And some… what brought him to the rich man’s gate, well, some of them alone, and in desperate need. are downright disturbing. These parables, Maybe he was betrayed by a friend, like the one we read today, or ruined by an ugly scandal. remind us that God loves reversals. Maybe the taxes They remind us that what we see that threatened to crush his land is not always what God sees. finally crushed him, too. Maybe he became sick, They paint a picture of discipleship or lame, that’s not exactly painless, or possessed by a demon. or simple or even very safe. Or maybe They teach us he had always been lost. that some of the most serious offenses against God Maybe he lived his entire life are not the sins we commit, among the brambles and the weeds, but the acts we omit. crying out for relief. Apathy, blindness, absence, neglect. The rich man never really hurt Lazarus. And because of that gift, He didn’t hate him, the way we deal with Lazarus or betray him matters to God. or abuse him. The way we view poverty and wealth He didn’t cause Lazarus to fail matters to God. or leave him begging at the gate. The way we handle material goods matters to God. He simply ignored him. Throughout Scripture, God invites us to become, And God says, not just disciples and followers, that alone but stewards; partners in God’s own creative act. is enough to create a chasm between us. As stewards, we hold this earth, and everything in it, as a trust. We desperately want this parable to be about “them”. Stewardship is more than just “another parish program”; The rich athlete… it’s more than a campaign to raise funds The corporate executive… or reduce a debt. The wealthy rock star… It is a way of life The woman who inherited money… that helps us express and deepen our faith. It is a form of witness. The politician with power. You know…Them. God will still be God, whether we give anything back, or not. The ones who should really DO something Whether we contribute, or not. about the beggars at the gate. Whether we volunteer, or not. After all, In fact, God doesn’t really need our offerings very few of us feast in luxury every night. of time, talent, and treasure - we do. Feasting? Many of us can barely cover Giving back to God creates pathways within us. mortgage payments, Through giving, food, we become more open to receive; tuition, more aware of the Gift; gas, more grateful to the Giver. health care, It opens our eyes and our hearts to see more clearly. braces, weekly offerings. The beggar outside the gate, The old woman lost in disease and despair, And some of us struggle The child standing alone on the playground, just to make one day The man struggling with painful addiction, meet the next. The prisoner learning about forgiveness; The Church community, facing challenges and pains; But maybe God is trying to remind us These are people beloved by God. that the world of rich and poor; the world of have and have not; He knows each and every name, the world of visible and invisible; each and every need, is not God’s creation, even when the world seems to be blind. but our own. Maybe through this parable, Maybe God is trying to remind us God is trying to remind us that everything-- that no matter where we live, our lives, our talents, no matter who we are, our food, our ability to earn money no matter how much money we make, our desire to support our families, Lazarus is waiting for us at the gate. our shelter, And somehow, even our faith, through him, is pure gift. Christ is there waiting for us, too.” - By Dr. S. McGurgan Saint Mary’s Parish 8 Church St. ~ Holliston, MA ~ 01746 ~ (508) 429-4427 September 29, 2019 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Dear Members of the St. Mary’s Parish Family, This weekend we congratulate fifty-seven young people of our parish who yesterday received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Through this sacrament God has poured out His Holy Spirit upon them, empowering them with many gifts. By choosing to be Confirmed, the young people have made a commitment to God – to live and love and worship as members of His Holy Catholic Church. Sadly, we all know Catholics who are Confirmed but who do not practice their faith. Their place at God’s Sunday Table is vacant, and they miss out on the spiritual nourishment of Word and Sacrament. We pray that our young people will be true to their word and the commitment they have now made. For by being faithful to God, they will be faithful to themselves - healthier, happier and more of a blessing to others than they could ever be without Him. As Bishop Reed prayed when he confirmed our young people: “All powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.” Then the bishop, making the sign of the cross with Holy Chrism upon their forehead, said, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Once Confirmed, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are ever present and accessible to us by prayer. Consider which gift you feel the greatest need for at this moment of your journey home to God. Then by prayer ask God to breathe upon the embers of that gift already glowing within your soul, that it might burst into new flame and power in your life. God bless you! Rev. Mark J. Coiro Pastor Even as we rejoice in the full initiation of fifty-seven teens to our faith, our annual RCIA Program is gearing up. RCIA – the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is for anyone interested in exploring the Catholic faith. This includes Christians of other faiths, non-Baptized persons, persons Baptized Catholic but who never received their First Communion, Confirmation or both. The first part of RCIA is called “Inquiry,” an opportunity to learn about the faith and ask questions in an informal and supportive setting. At a certain point, individuals then decide if they wish to continue RCIA in preparation for receiving their Sacraments of Initiation at the great Easter Vigil.