The Church of Boniface

July 4, 2021 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished.

(The Gospel) THE LITURGY OF THE DAY

July 4, 2021 • Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time God is Calling! We gather together today before the Lord and beside each other to As the Lord spoke to me, the listen to God’s word and to share in this Eucharistic meal. In remem- spirit entered me and set me on brance of Jesus’ wonderful gift of his very self, we join in communion my feet, and I heard the one with the Church around the world. This weekend, we come together who was speaking say to me, on the anniversary of our country’s founding, appreciative of our “Son of man, I am sending you…” freedom to worship as we desire, while continually aspiring to build (EZEKIEL 2:2-3) a more perfect union. In places of worship across this country, we God has a plan for each of us. He gather to give praise to God. calls us to do something for Him. But, He doesn’t leave us on our It is a paradox of Christian life that in weakness we are made strong. own to figure it out. He gives us the Saint Paul recognized this phenomenon. He endured frequent hard- resources we need to do His work. ships on his three lengthy missionary journeys, routinely traveling Are you listening for God’s call? through hostile territory. He relied on the generosity of others for When you hear it, do you get on his basic needs, choosing to dedicate his life to preaching the gospel your feet and do the work He asks to the ends of the earth. He was arrested and imprisoned more than of you? Do not be afraid. God does once, and constantly had to worry that he would not be able to not call the equipped, he equips continue his missionary activity. Those who knew him must have the called. wondered how he could keep doing it. Gradually they came to Answer His call. realize that it could not have been some innate ability of Paul’s that sustained him through all his difficulties. It must be the power of Christ. His faith, his reliance on the Lord, made the presence of Christ stronger within him, making Christ’s power more apparent to others.

Question of the Week: How is Christ made manifest in me through my own weaknesses?

Heavenly Lord, You inspire us to build up communities, nations, and the whole human race with the ideals that would bring us closer to you. May the Holy Spirit work through us to continually make these ideals real in our relationships with each other within and across borders. We ask this and all our prayers through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. MASS INTENTIONS COLLECTION REPORT July 11 8:00 AM Larry Paton, 16th Anniversary, by his family June 27 July 17 4:00 PM Gregory Bradt, by Debbie DiPerri & Dora Costa – Sunday Offering $ 1,907 July 22 8:00 AM Rita Casey, 10th Anniversary, by Sean & Riley Casey – Fuel/Maintenance 177 If you wish to schedule a Mass intention for a loved one, please call, email or – Peter’s Pence 227 visit the parish office for more information. Total $ 2,311

PRAY THE ROSARY every Saturday at 3:30 PM in the church, led THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT by members of the Saint Boniface Knights of Columbus.

Give to our parish whether you’re in the pews or not! MASS SCHEDULE Many parishioners have been making their weekly offerings online. It’s secure, convenient and easy to make one-time Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass, Sunday 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM or recurring donations at www.stboniface-lunenburg.org Weekdays Wed. 6:30 PM, Thur. & Fri. 8:00 AM

Thank you to all those who have submitted their pledge amounts and have given so generously! Congratulations to the family of Liam Harris. Liam, son of parishioners Joe and Emily Harris, was baptized by Fr. Charles on Saturday, June 26. Welcome to our church family! Something to consider — Legacy of Hope is the largest fundraising campaign to date for us at Saint Boniface. Because of its magni- tude and size, we are foregoing our parish

Grand Annual Appeal for the next four years in order to place great emphasis on the Our recent Baby Bottle Drive to benefit Legacy of Hope Campaign. By concentrating Care Net raised $965.52! If you didn’t on this one campaign, our hope is to ensure its have a chance to return your bottle yet, success by making it easier for more parish- we will still gladly accept them. Bring to ioners to increase the size of their pledges. the parish office or drop off by the col- lection baskets when you attend Mass. Together we can make a difference! Thank you for your support. About Your Pledge  During the last few months we have been asking for your pledge amount. REGISTRATION FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IS NOW OPEN  Pledges are not legally binding but rather GRADES 1-10 If your family is already a member of our program, are an indication of your giving intention.  Payments can be made over the next 4 years you do not need to reregister. ONLY new families are required to either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or fill out the registration form. No payment is due at this time. annually. Register online at www.stboniface-lunenburg.org/registration Use your phone to scan Teachers are needed at all grade levels. Please contact Lucy Marcil the QR code at left and learn more about the (978-502-7993 or [email protected]) for more information if campaign or make your you are interested in teaching. pledge online. of the Week A Prophetic Race July 5. The first reading deals with the witness of the SAINT ANTHONY ZACCARIA prophet Ezekiel. The Gospel deals with the wit- Saint Anthony Zaccaria lived only 36 years, ness of the prophet Jesus. Both accounts leave but he founded three religious communities no doubt that the prophet is in for trouble: the and contributed to the reformation of the people, “rebels who have rebelled against God,” Church. He insisted on various religious or find the prophet “too much for them.” Paul devotional practices to renew the spiritual describes what awaits the prophet: mistreat- life of the clergy, religious, and laity. ment, distress, persecutions and difficulties.

Our age has had its prophets: Dietrich July 6. Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, SAINT MARIA GORETTI Archbishop Oscar Romero, Thomas Merton, Saint Maria Goretti has captured the love Mahatma Gandhi, Pope John XXIII. Theirs and affection of thousands of people were not easy lives, and many of them were because of the simplicity and purity of her killed by “rebels who have rebelled against life. Maria's saw the conver- God.” Because of their lives, which bore wit- sion of her murderer and his reconciliation ness to “the power of Christ,” the rest of us with her family. have been able to grow in faith. Saint Maria Goretti is the of Catholic youth, girls and teenagers. “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israel- ites.” (First Reading) That message to Ezekiel July 7. echoes in God’s sending of today’s prophets. It BLESSED EMMANUEL RUIZ and would be a mistake to think that only Romero COMPANIONS and Gandhi and those like them had a calling Born of humble parents in Santander, Spain, to be prophets. Emmanuel became a Franciscan priest and served as a missionary in Damascus at a We believe that we are a prophetic race, called time when anti-Christian riots shook Syria to be prophets in the midst of “a rebellious and thousands lost their lives. When a men- house.” Our task is “to bring Good News to the acing crowd came looking for Emmanuel, poor,” to speak God’s word in such a way that superior of the Franciscan convent, seven other friars, and three laymen, “they shall know that a prophet has been they refused to renounce their faith and become Muslims. The men among them.” were subjected to horrible tortures before their martyrdom. The consequence of such prophecy will inevitably be trial and difficulty, but also the July 8. victory of the God whose “right hand is filled SAINT GREGORY GRASSI and with justice.” COMPANIONS We urge (everyone), again and again, Among the 120 Chinese martyrs canonized to spare no labors and let no difficulties in 2000 were Saint Gregory Grassi and companions. Victims of political maneuver- conquer them, but rather to become ings by other countries these Franciscan day by day more courageous and more men and women, along with lay men and valiant. Arduous indeed is the task women, gave their lives in service of the Chinese people. They were which We propose to them, for We know martyred on various dates in 1900, during the Boxer Uprising, the culmi- well that ... there are many obstacles nation of the anti-foreigner movement in China. and barriers to be overcome. Let them not, however, lose heart; to face bitter July 9. SAINT AUGUSTINE ZHAO RONG and combats is a mark of Christians, and to COMPANIONS endure grave labors to the end is a Among the Chinese martyrs was the mark of them who, as good soldiers of diocesan priest, Father Augustine Zhao Christ, follow him closely. Rong. Facing the strong anti-foreign and Pope Pius XI, Quadragesimo Anno, 1931:138 anti-Catholic feelings present in China for centuries, these martyrs were caught up in a situation that in many ways had nothing to do either with religion — Gerald Darring or with the Church. But they stayed loyal to Christianity and to their people, and gave their lives in witness. Saint Boniface Church

817 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462 Parish Office: 978-582-4008 email: [email protected]

Discover St. Boniface ~ Visit our website: www.StBoniface-lunenburg.org

Parish Office Hours

Monday / Wednesday / Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed 12:00 – 1:00 PM)

The Celebration of the

Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM

Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM

Summer Mass schedule will remain the same as above for 2021 until further notice.

Weekday Masses: 6:30 PM Wednesday | 8:00 AM Thursday & Friday

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Confession) Saturday 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. or by appointment. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Adults are baptized at the Easter Vigil as part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Infant and child Baptisms are by arrangement. FIRST EUCHARIST Preparation begins in grade one and includes classes, retreats, and home instruction. Children receive First Eucharist in grade two. CONFIRMATION Our Confirmation program begins in the 9th grade; students are confirmed in the spring of the 10th grade. For young adults who have been baptized but not yet confirmed, contact the parish office. SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY It is the policy of the Diocese of Worcester that a couple should contact the parish at least one year prior to the anticipated date of their wedding to allow sufficient time to carry out the various steps of the marriage preparation process. It is important that arrangements be made with the church before plans are made with reception halls, caterers, etc. ANNOINTING OF THE SICK Please call the parish office 978-582-4008 or email Fr. Omolo at [email protected] or Louise Nadeau at [email protected] to arrange these visits. PRAYER LINE MINISTRY If you or someone you know needs prayers or if you would like to be a part of this ministry of those who pray for the needs of neighbors, please contact Sue Cote 978-582-0404 [email protected]. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #16480 In Service to One. In Service to all. Members meet in the Parish Hall on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 PM. Any Catholic men over 18 who are interested in joining the Knights should contact Grand Knight Peter Bak (978-403-5119) or Deputy Grand Knight Claude Poirier (978-660-3202), or email [email protected].

PARISH STAFF: phone email Rev. Charles Omolo, Administrator 978-582-4008 [email protected] Jo-Anne Poirier, Administrative Assistant 978-582-4008 [email protected] Lucy Marcil, Religious Education Coordinator 978-502-7993 [email protected] Claire Garrity Neas, Music Ministry 617-823-4237 [email protected] Louise Nadeau, Sacristan Ministry Schedule 978-582-4008 [email protected] Nina Charpentier, Dir. Early Childhood/PreK 978-582-7110

Newcomers to St. Boniface are invited and encouraged to formally register as members of the parish so that we may stay in touch with you with faith formation news, notices of special events, volunteer opportunities, and more. Registration forms are available at the doors of the church, the parish office, or on our website. Please note that you must be registered for at least six months before we can issue any verification of your status as a parishioner for godparent or sponsor letters.

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PRE-SCHOOL & CHILDCARE 978-582-4008 817 Massachusetts Ave. Lunenburg, MA 01462 978-582-7110 Children Ages: 2.9 through 7 years | Open 7:30 am– 5:30 pm