Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

News and Notes:

Welcome Father Francis!

We are very happy to have Father Francis Barka Nado SMA with us during the month of August.  Father Francis is the country superior of the African Mission Fathers in the Central African Republic.  He will be celebrating Mass, preaching, and offering his pastoral ministry to both parishes in the coming weeks.  Fr. Francis will be living in the Grove Street White House while he is staying with us in the Lynnfield Catholic Community. 

Good News on our 2018 Catholic Appeal

Here is the latest update on our performance in the 2018 Catholic Appeal.  As of July 13, OLA Parishioners had pledged $68,052, which is 109% of their goal of $62,342.50; and SMG parishioners had pledged $42,655, which is 113% of their goal of $37,831.67.  Both parishes have exceeded their dollar amount and in-pew goals and can look forward to a rebate of up to 50% of their paid pledges at the end of the year.  If you have not already made a pledge, please fill out a pledge card you can find at the entrances of our churches or go to the Archdiocesan website (www.bostoncatholicappeal.org).  Fifty cents of every dollar donated from now until the end of this calendar year will come back to your parish.  Many thanks to all those who have made a pledge to the Catholic Appeal so far!

Can You Help Meet the Challenge in your Parish?

Please consider joining me in making a donation to the OLA Chimney Challenge or the SMG Rectory Stairs Challenge, both of which are underway.  If you are so inclined to help your respective parish with a much needed construction project this summer (we are trying to raise $10,000 at OLA and $7,600 at SMG), you can simply write a check to your parish; put “Chimney Challenge” or “Stairs Challenge” in the memo line; and send it to my attention.  As of July 19, OLA parishioners had donated $3,600 to the Chimney Challenge.  Many thanks to those donors and everyone else who may contribute to these projects for your generous stewardship of our Catholic community of faith…and blessings to all of you in the summer days ahead!