Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

News and Notes:   If you have not done so already, please fill out a very brief survey that can be found in our pews this weekend and next.  It comes from the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Advisory Board concerning the implementation of the Collaborative model of parish life, now 5 years in the making here in our parishes and school. 

Just a reminder about the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick: this sacrament is for those who are seriously ill or facing surgery or simply weakened by the effects of aging.  One can receive this sacrament multiple times if his or her declining health warrants it. If someone is in the final stages of life, the best time to request a priest to anoint the individual is when Hospice care begins, preferably when the patient is conscious, alert and able to participate in the ritual.  Please do not wait until the very end of life to call the priest for this sacrament.  With the shortage of priests now becoming more acute, the priest may not be able to respond to that call in a timely fashion.  Contact Kate McGrath, our Pastoral Assistant, if you or a family member would like one of our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to visit your home and distribute the Eucharist…or a priest to come and administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick or celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Here is the latest update on our performance in the 2018 Catholic Appeal:  as of June 1, two and one half months into this year’s Appeal, St. Maria Goretti parishioners had pledged $42,380, which 112% of their goal; Our Lady of the Assumption parishioners had pledged $54,017, which is 87% of their goal.  If you have not yet made a pledge to the Catholic Appeal, please do so as soon as possible.  Your donation will not only help the Catholic Church in Eastern Massachusetts to educate the young in faith; form our future priests, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers; care for the sick and dying; and evangelize the un-churched.  It will benefit your parish, because 50% of every donation from now until the end of 2018 will come back to SMG or OLA to help us pay our bills.  Pledge packets can be found at the entrances of our churches or you can go online to www.bostoncatholic appeal.org.  Don’t forget, the 5PM Sunday Mass at St. Maria’s will be suspended from July 1 through September 2; it will resume on Sunday, September 9.

Blessings to all of you in the week ahead!