Fifth Sunday in Lent

News and Notes:  Just a reminder: as in the past, the one and only collection taken up at all the Masses on Easter weekend (April 19-20) will benefit the Clergy Funds to support the retirement, financial and medical needs of the priests of the Archdiocese of Boston.  On behalf of Fr. Tony and myself, heartfelt thanks for your generosity to this important collection!  If you would like to make an Easter donation to either parish, please do so in a clearly marked envelope or with a memo on your check indicating your preference.  All other money collected that weekend will be directed to the Clergy Funds.  Also, because of the harsh winter weather that exhausted our budget for heating and snow removal, we are taking up a second collection called Winter Relief at all Masses in both parishes next weekend, Palm Sunday (April 12-13).  Again, thanks for your faithful stewardship of your respective parish.  Also, next weekend we encourage all families in our Collaborative to pre-register their children for religious education classes that begin in the Fall.  Take care of pre-registration in one of the respective Church Halls after you attend a Palm Sunday Mass, and get a head start on settling your schedule for the next school year!  Here is an update on our performance in the 2014 Catholic Appeal:  As of March 26, SMG parishioners had pledged $13,740, which is 46% of their goal of $29,685; OLA parishioners had donated $34,930 which is 65% of their goal of $53,452.  Thanks for this fantastic early response to the 2014 Catholic Appeal which supports over 50 Central Ministries in our particular Church.  If any given parish exceeds its assessment this calendar year, it will receive 60% of the surplus funds donated…a great additional motivation to give to the Catholic Appeal in the name of your parish if you have not already done so.  Blessings to all of you in the week ahead!