Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

News and Notes: 

Francis… As you probably have heard by now, Francis Pham, our seminarian and Pastoral Associate for the last four years, has been accepted by the Archdiocese of Boston as a candidate for ordination to the diaconate and priesthood.  Francis will be leaving us in the next few weeks and beginning his new assignment, which is Holy Name Parish in West Roxbury, on July 15.  Francis has been an extraordinary servant of our Collaborative: visiting the sick and homebound, leading wakes and committal services, serving in various liturgical roles and on our Vocations Committee, and helping our Pastoral Team and parishioners in so many other ways.

Born and raised in Vietnam, Francis became a Cisterian monk and was sent to Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Weston over ten years ago for theological studies.  After completing his final pastoral internship assignment (which was in our Collaborative) and graduating from the Seminary in 2014, Francis decided to leave his monastic community and seek acceptance as a candidate for diocesan priesthood.  After he was released from his vows as a monk, Francis was accepted as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Boston and assigned again to the Lynnfield Catholic Community.  Now he begins his formal preparation for ordination as a transitional deacon, which could occur next spring, with ordination to priesthood slated for the following year.  Join me in thanking Francis for his joyful presence and generous service in our midst, and in wishing him many blessings as he continues to answer the Lord’s call! 

Feast days… As is our custom, the 5PM Sunday Mass at St. Maria Goretti Parish will be suspended from July 2 through September 3.  It will resume on Sunday, September 10.  During the summer months, both our parishes will celebrate their patronal feast days: St. Maria Goretti on July 6 and Our Lady of the Assumption on August 15.  To mark these special feasts, OLA parishioners will host a collation in SMG Church Hall on Sunday July 9 following the 10AM Mass; and SMG parishioners will host a reception in OLA Church Hall following the 11AM Mass on August 13.  All members of the Collaborative are invited to join us for both of these festive socials!