Third Sunday of Easter

News and Notes:  The Easter Season is a special time to celebrate the Sacraments of Initiation:  Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  At the Lynnfield Collaborative Easter Vigil Mass at OLA on April 4, three people became fully incorporated in the Catholic Church through reception of two or more of these sacraments: Alexis Silva, Hong Mei D’Avanzo and Robert Newell.  This past Wednesday, two adults from our Collaborative received the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Maria Goretti Church:  Mark DeCiccio and Kathleen Flaherty.  In the first two weeks of May, our second graders from both parishes and OLA School will be receiving their First Holy Communion at regular weekend liturgies.  Please pray for them and their parents:  that their frequent reception of the Eucharist will keep them close to the Lord and nourish them in their journey all the way home to heaven.  Here is an update on our 2015 Catholic Appeal Campaign so far:  As of April 7, 119 OLA families had donated $27,530, which is about 50% of their goal of $55,512; and 67 SMG families had pledged $13,805 which is approximately 49% of their goal of $28,078.  If you have not yet made a pledge, please do so as soon as you can.  Pledge cards can be found at the entrances of our churches.  Once again this year, if a parish reaches its fair-share assessment in the Catholic Appeal, it will receive back 60% of the funds collected over that figure; if a parish does not reach its fair-share assessment, it must make up the difference.  We are all called to do our part to support the ministries of the wider Catholic Church in eastern Massachusetts.  Blessings in the Easter days ahead!