Pentecost Sunday

Memorial Day is Coming Soon

Next Monday, May 28 is Memorial Day, a day set aside every year by our nation to honor those who have died serving our country in a branch of the military.  It also a day to give thanks for all the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces, past and present, and to express our personal gratitude to our veterans for defending us and our values here and abroad.  Since it is customary for people to visit the graves of our fallen heroes and loved ones in cemeteries on Memorial Day, I want to include a prayer one can use when visiting a cemetery: 

Almighty God and Father, by the mystery of the cross, you have made us strong; by the sacrament of the resurrection you have sealed us as your own.  Look kindly upon these servants, now freed from the bonds of mortality, and count them among your saints in heaven.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Prayers for our Seminarians:  Deacon Patrick Grode will be ordained to the priesthood this coming Friday, May 25 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and we have another pastoral intern joining us this Fall. His name is Mark Ruiz, who is from the diocese of Oakland, California.  Mark is scheduled to be ordained to the transitional diaconate this summer and will be starting his ministry with us in September.   Please keep Patrick and Mark in your prayers as they prepare for their respective ordinations.

Here is the latest 2018 Catholic Appeal update:  As of April 27, St. Maria Goretti families had pledged $39,745 which is 105% of the SMG goal; and Our Lady of the Assumption families had pledged $49,892, which is 80% of the OLA goal.  If you have made a pledge already, many thanks…if not, please consider a generous pledge as soon as possible and help your parish get a healthy rebate for exceeding its fair-share assessment.  Pledge cards are available at the entrances of our churches or you can go to www.bostoncatholicappeal.org to make a pledge.  Blessings to all of you in the week ahead!