THE CHURCH OF SAINT BONIFACE P.O. BOX 195, 199 MASS. AVENUE, RTE. 2A, LUNENBURG, MA 01462-0195 (978) 345-0621 • (800) 395-5800 • FAX (978) 345-9482 Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C www.chaptruck.com SERVING ST. BONIFACE FAMILIES WITH THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS (978) 342-9716 September 29, 2019 THOMAS FUEL HOME HEATING OILS Since 1932 Dan Thomas DIRECTORS: Brian T. Anderson Michael D. Masciarelli 681 Mass Ave., Lunenburg, MA 01462 www.andersonfuneral.com 800.562.2692 Timothy W. Murphy Attorney At Law 81 Merriam Avenue Leominster, MA 01453 DRIVE-IN SEAFOOD & Michelle Hills - Branch Mgr. FISH MARKET 947 Mass. Ave, Lunenburg, MA Tel: (978) 537-5500 (978) 582-0713 (508)481-8300 Fax: (978) 534-9778 Seafood at its best since 1946. BankMainStreet.com E-Mail: [email protected] 835 Mass Ave. Route 2A, Lunenburg, MA Member FDIC Member DIF | EHL 978-582-6115 Robert C. Alario Certified Public Accountants, PC 75 North Main St., Leominster, MA 01453 292 Park Ave., Worcester, MA 01609 (L) 978-534-1999 (W) 508-755-7575 Fax: (L) 978-534-0499 (W) 508-755-7599 www.robertalario.com [email protected] “Woe to the complacent in Zion…They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; YWCA-Battered Women’s Resources Helping area women, to survive, emerge from, yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!” A ‘Note of Thanks’ to these fine or heal from abusive relationships *Counseling *Court Advocacy *Emergency Shelter (Amos 6, 1: 6) sponsors; without their support our *Community Education *24-hour hotline (978-537-8601) bulletin would not be possible. Please For more information call 978-537-2306, Ext. 19 thank them with your patronage. ST. BONIFACE For ad information call the parish PRE-SCHOOL & CHILDCARE 817 Massachusetts Ave. office 978-582-4008 Lunenburg, MA 01462 978-582-7110 Children Ages: Open 2.9 through 7 years 7:30AM-5:30 PM From the Desk of the Pastor Saint Boniface Church 817 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462 Make room for God and the service of others. Parish Office: 978-582-4008 email: [email protected] An indolent man is like an unoccupied dwelling; scoundrels sometimes burrow in it; thieves and evil Discover St. Boniface ~ Visit our website: www.StBoniface-lunenburg.org characters make it their haunt, or, if they do not, it is full of vermin. Henry Ward Beecher, “Proverbs from Plymouth pulpit” (1887) Parish Office Hours Monday / Wednesday / Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed 12:00 – 1:00 PM) Last weekend Fr. Stephen (Mission Appeal) told us ‘his story’ and I thanked him for this. When one is brave enough to tell us his or her story and we are open to listen with our hearts, it will put our lives into perspective (how grateful we must The Celebration of the Eucharist be!). Do any of us even know what a pit latrine is? He asked. Are there people who still live this way in this 21st century? Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM Such stories of complete poverty (which can sometimes hit home hard…) provoke questions in my mind. Why is it that in this very rich world, some people are reduced to be ‘beggars,’ in fact ‘perpetual beggars,’ constantly malnourished Summer Sunday Mass schedule: 9:00 AM and diseased? Their children have no dreams and no future. Are they just lazy or inept, waiting to be spoon-fed? Where (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend) have lots and lots of money and aid given over generations gone? Can’t somebody put this house in order? Weekday Masses: 8:00 AM, Wednesday/Thursday/Friday The maladies of poverty are deep. They are often rooted in social and economic injustice and the Prophet Amos even in his time, powerfully and providentially addresses this. 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). In Amos’ time there was great economic prosperity but only a few profited from this. These few ‘bathed’ in good life Infant and child Baptisms are by arrangement. and luxurious living: “lying in beds of ivory, stretching comfortably on their couches…they drink wine from bowls and FIRST EUCHARIST Preparation begins in grade one and includes classes, retreats, and home instruction. Children receive First anoint themselves with the best oils” (Amos 6, 6) and this is their sin (fatal wound); they are not made ill by the collapse Eucharist in grade two. of Joseph. They have become so indolent, blindly indifferent and insensitive to the falling apart of ‘the other.’ Amos is th th furious and he will speak his mind. This is totally unacceptable and against every Old Testament covenant promise. CONFIRMATION Our Confirmation program begins in the 9 grade; students are confirmed in the spring of the 10 grade. For young adults who have been baptized but not yet confirmed, contact the parish office. Steeped in Mosaic tradition, Amos reminds the rich that the Covenant with Yahweh allowed no class distinction (only a concept of brotherhood). Amos finally notes that the root cause of all this is a 'Religious decay.' The people, therefore, SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY It is the policy of the Diocese of Worcester that a couple should contact the parish at least one must 'return to God' and obey his Word and Will in order to avoid the Day of Judgment and doom. 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. What is the rich man’s sin in the Gospel? It is not so much that he is well off, but that he was blinded by his catering to ANNOINTING OF THE SICK Please call the parish office 978-582-4008 or email Fr. Anthony at [email protected] self, to Lazarus. Lazarus was more or less like his dogs and this did not bother him at all. This attitude even carries into or Nancy Cieri 978-582-6983 [email protected] to arrange these visits. the judgment moment: “ask (that) Lazarus to come down here.” Unknown to the rich man is that when God’s time 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 appears there will be a total reversal of things. Lazarus is now up! who pray for the needs of neighbors, please contact Sue Cote 978-582-0404 [email protected] What then is our challenge or the point of the readings? Put God back at the center of our lives. Make room for God and KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #16480 In Service to One. In Service to all. The members meet in the Parish Hall on the the service of others. Listen and live by the Word of God (Moses and the prophets). With God, we then see others as an first Wednesday of each month at 7 PM. Any Catholic men over 18 who are interested in joining image of God. We see their stories as ours, too. We learn that ‘the other’ is my responsibility. We are each other’s the Knights should contact Grand Knight James Dijak (978) 534-7956 or Deputy Grand Knight Brian Cusick keeper. We refuse to put down or look down on the other. (978) 534-2326, or you can email the Council at [email protected]. The Christian must make an effort to inform themselves of the root causes of economic and social injustice. Work to promote fairness and lift up the poor. And lastly, in our words, actions and attitude to others, be people of righteousness (faith, patience, gentleness). Compete well for the faith. Lift others up. Do all that gives God’s name honor. PARISH STAFF: Rev. Anthony Mpagi, Pastor 978-582-4008 [email protected] This is difficult stuff! We must be ready to carry the cross. Jo-Anne Poirier, Administrative Assistant 978-582-4008 [email protected] A Blessed week in the Lord! Lucy Marcil, Religious Education Coordinator 978-502-7993 [email protected] Claire Garrity Neas, Music Ministry 617-823-4237 Fr. Anthony Louise Nadeau, Sacristan Jacquie Cronin, Ministry Schedule 978-582-7040 Nina Charpentier, Dir. Early Childhood/PreK 978-582-7110 Sunday, October 13, 10:30 a.m. We will celebrate a Multi-cultural Mass. Newcomers to St. Boniface are invited and encouraged to formally register as members of the parish so that so that we can stay in touch with you via email with faith formation news, notice of special events, volunteer The Eucharistic celebration will be led by opportunities, and more. Registration forms are available at the doors of the church or on our website. “The Karolines,” a Ugandan Youth and Young Adult Group from Saint Mary's Parish in Waltham, MA 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. Mujje tumusinze (Come Let us Celebrate!) MASS INTENTIONS Collection Report True Discipleship Requires Sacrifice for the Needs of Others Sat Sep 28 4:00 pm Our Parish Family Weekend of September 22, 2019 “Remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was Sunday Ordinary: $1481 .00 bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.” Luke often returns to this theme of “great Sun Sep 29 8:00 am Anne Rivard, by Michael Rivard Maintenance: 1 .00 reversal.” One of the signs of the kingdom was the rise of the lowly and the fall of the mighty.