4 Dracut Road, Hudson, NH 03051 • Tel (603) 882-7793 • Fax (603) 595-1465 1 FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK 18 October 2020 God Alone! Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Indeed, the heart of a saint is able to recognize the heroic witness of the saints! During the time of his pontifi- cate, St. John Paul II presided over 482 canonizations, the most any pope has presided over since the establishment of the Sacred Congregation of the Saints. In October 2000, he elevated to the altars, St. Augustine Zhao Rong and his 119 companions, who were martyred over the course of hundreds of years between 1648-1930. Au- gustine was a convert to Catholicism and a Chi- nese priest who was tortured and put to death in 1815 shortly after his ordination. Collectively, they are considered the patron saints of China. It might seem that the reality of such brutal condi- tions is but a bookmark in history. However, the Catholic Church and indeed religion in general are suffering great persecution in 2020 under the Communist government in China. Catholics and non-Catholics alike have been subjected to the Communist government plan to Sinicize religion, meaning to make religion, and in particular, Christianity, come under the influence of Chinese culture. The intent though is not just a cultural one. It is an atheistic agenda. As the National Catholic Register reported, “The U.S. Commission on International Religion wrote in its 2018 report that last year China “advanced its so-called ‘Sinicization’ of religion, a far-reaching strategy to control, govern and manipu- late all aspects of faith into a socialist mold infused with Chinese characteristics. In 2017, [President] Xi said that ‘religions not sufficiently conformed to communist ideals pose a threat to the country’s government, and therefore must become more Chinese-oriented.’ Since he took power, crosses have been removed from an estimated 1,500 church buildings. Part of the plan to Sinicize Christianity is ‘thought reform.’ The plan [even] calls for ‘retranslating and annotating’ the Bible, to find commonalities with socialism and establish a ‘correct understanding’ of the [biblical] text.” What else does the Chi- nese socialist agenda look like? Forced renunciation of faith, forced abortions, sterilizations, and removal of wombs, forced use of traditional Chinese medicine, and forced labor, to mention a few. The atheistic agenda is going well be- yond the suppression of religion to the violation of basic human rights. Several weeks ago, I quoted from Tolkien’s book, The Lord of the Rings: “Good and evil have not changed since yesteryear, nor are they one thing among Elves and another among Men. It is a man's part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.” This is what we are seeing play out in modern times. What is happening in China in 2020, also happened during Pope John Paul II’s lifetime, especially as a young priest. The same errors and the same grave evils are resurfacing, just under a different context. It is proof that no nation and no peoples are safe unless man returns to God, as our Lady foretold at Fatima. Recently, I finished watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which I hadn’t seen since it came out in theaters. How- ever, I have been feeling compelled to watch it again. There is so much beauty and truth in Tolkien’s story. What struck me the most was the final moment when Frodo Baggins finally made it to the mountain in Mordor, the only place where the ring of power could be destroyed. There, Frodo stands at the precipice of the ancient fires. The power of evil entices him to keep the ring for himself, the same choice that originally brought evil into middle earth. However, all that is good hangs in the balance and the dark lord remains in power while the final struggle over the ring takes place. Only when the ring is finally lost in the ancient fires is the dark lord and his kingdom destroyed forever. The point was very clear though: it is man’s choice of sin and evil that allows darkness to remain in power and the persecution of the good to remain un- checked. Man’s greatness and therefore a nation’s greatness lies in its power to choose the good as revealed to us by Christ. One of the Chinese martyrs, St. Chi Zhuzi, declared before those who tried to force him to worship idols, “Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am a Christian.” May every aspect of our lives too, declare that we are Christians, that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). In Jesus and Mary, Fr. Michael 2 OCTOBER 18, 2020 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK THIS WEEK AT CHURCH Sunday, October 18th Vigil (The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Religious Education, Group 1, Grades 1-6/Parish Time) Hall and Rooms (10:00A-noon) 4:00PM—+Mary Gleason, by her husband, Ed, and Parent Meeting for Grades 6-7 Confirmation/Parish daughters, Terri and Kathy Hall (12:15P) Sunday, October 18 (The Twenty-Ninth Sunday Wednesday, October 21st in Ordinary Time) Adoration/Church (5:30-8:15A and 9:15A-7:00P) 8:30AM—+Mark Lajoie, by his sister, Lena Staff Prayer/Emmaus Chapel (9:45-10:30A) 10:30AM—For the People of the Parish Parish Pastoral Team/Office (6:30P) 6:30PM—+John McNeil, by the Paquette Family K of C Planning Meeting/RM3 (7:00-10:00P) Thursday, October 22nd Monday, October 19 (Saint John de Brébeuf; Saint Sacrament of Reconciliation/Church (5:30-6:15P) Isaac Jogues) Consecration to Saint Joseph Meeting/Hall B 8:30AM—+Gilbert Duprey, by the Joy Family (6:30P) th Wednesday, October 21 (Weekday) Saturday, October 24 Rosary/Church (8:00A) 8:30AM—+Santo DiMare and Ralph Minichiello, by Sacrament of Reconciliation/Church (9:15-10:00A Rose and Sebastian DiMare and 3:00-3:45P) Thursday, October 22 (Saint John Paull II) Sunday, October 25th 6:30PM—+All Souls Religious Education, Group 2, Grades 1-6/Parish Hall and Rooms (10:00A-noon) Friday, October 23 (Saint John of Capistrano) 8:30AM—+Joseph Tru Do, by his family PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY Saturday, October 24 (Saint Anthony Mary Claret) O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at 8:30AM—+Paul Devito, by the Joy Family this most critical time we entrust our country to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to Vigil (The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time) reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. 4:00PM—+Mary Gleason, by her daughter, Terri Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts Sunday, October 25 (The Thirtieth Sunday and seek refuge in your motherly protection. Look in Ordinary Time) down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of 8:30AM—+Kyle Perkins, by the Dotchin Family our people. 10:30AM—For the People of the Parish Open our minds to the great worth of human life 6:30PM—+Joseph Tru Do, by his family and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and the breakdown of family life. BABY BOTTLE DRIVE St. Gianna's Place, a Grant us the wisdom to know and proclaim that home for women in crisis pregnancies, has had its this nation was founded on God's law and that He first successful year of operation in Hudson, NH, alone is the True Source of our cherished rights helping 8 women and 2 children! Donations are and freedoms. Guide and protect this land from needed to help defray the costs of day-to-day every evil and from the attacks of the powers of operations and home maintenance. If you would darkness. like to help, simply take home a baby bottle from O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the back of the church, fill it with loose change, the culture of death, and the strength to build a bills, or a check (payable to Saint Gianna’s Place) new culture of life. We ask this through Christ our and return it to the bin in the entrance of the church Lord. Amen. by November 1st. With your support, we can change mothers' and their babies’ lives. St. John Paul II, pray for us! 3 THE TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SAINT KATHRYN RELIGIOUS GOODS For any MARIAN CONSECRATION On the heels of our of our customers who are on the store mailing list series of meetings for you saw the latest email highlighting that October is consecration to Saint Jo- Rosary month at the store. seph, we are soon begin- In a time period that is as “different” as the current ning a weekly gathering virus pandemic has thrust us into we feel we have to prepare for consecra- the only “antidote” to what’s ailing you!! You tion to Mary using Father guessed it - praying the rosary! Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days Based on the latest count at the store we currently to Morning Glory. Em- carry at least 13 different styles of rosaries. Wood, bark on a journey of metal, glass, plastic, Swarovski crystal, you name it. deepening love of the All of them at different price points so you can start Lord through Mary with feeling so much better and more spiritually empow- teachings and meditations of Saint Louis de Mont- ered for any price point that will fit your budget! fort, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Maximillian Kol- The absolute perfect gift for yourself or any friend or be, and Pope Saint John Paul II.