Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

News and Notes: As we approach the beginning of a new year of Faith Formation classes at SMG and OLA, this weekend we will celebrate Catechetical Sunday.  This year’s theme is “Living as Missionary Disciples.”  On Sunday morning, we will commission those members of our Collaborative that have made a commitment to serve as catechists for the coming year. But in fact, by virtue of our baptism, the Lord calls all our parishioners to make a conscious effort to pass on the Catholic faith by word and example to everyone they encounter. Parents make this commitment at their child’s baptism when they respond “yes” to the question the priest or deacon says to them: “you are accepting the responsibility of training your child in the practice of the faith. It is your duty to bring your child up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and neighbor.  Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?”  We all make this commitment ourselves when we publically renounce Satan and profess our faith at our Confirmation and at Easter.  We are all called to do our part to spread the good news of a world redeemed by Christ our Savior.  Thanks to our Faith Formation Coordinators Piri Collard (OLA) and Bethany Kilroy (SMG); our Collaborative Director of Youth Faith Formation Pam Guerriero; our Pastoral Assistant Kate McGrath (OLA), and our SMG Faith Formation Assistant Jamie Bossi for their leadership roles in helping our children grow in their relationship with Christ and the Church.  We also offer our sincere thanks to all our catechists for their willingness to show our children and adults the way to be a missionary disciple of the Lord Jesus.

Fr. Tony and I thank you for your generous support of this weekend’s second collection, which is for the Clergy Funds, which seeks to meet the medical, retirement and financial needs of the priests of the Archdiocese of Boston.  Many thanks for your kindness to us and all of our brother priests…and blessings to all of you in the weekend!