Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

News and Notes:  In the coming weeks, we are going to undertake a new stewardship initiative, seeking a deeper commitment of all our parishioners in the support of our two parishes and school as we begin to implement our Pastoral Plan for the next three years.  I draw your attention to the Collaborative Priorities listed in our Plan for the next three years:

Priority #1: “Build the Weekend Experience”
Priority #2: “Develop a Communications Strategy”
Priority #3: “Establish Lifelong Faith Formation”

During this first year (2015-2016), we are going to focus on “Building the Weekend Experience” by pursuing two ambitious goals:  1) increasing the adult choir from 20-40 members; and growing the children’s choir from 10-20 members at OLA; and starting a children’s choir at SMG; and 2) to increase Mass attendance by 100 families among a combination of OLA School families and SMG and OLA Faith Formation families.  The priests, deacons, and other Pastoral Team members are ready to do their part in helping us achieve these goals, but we cannot do it alone.  We are asking every member of our Collaborative to participate in pursuit of these goals certainly by prayer, but also by recruitment, active involvement and offering whatever support you can.  Through the efforts of Mary Doorley, a representative of the Archdiocesan Development Office and a Lynnfield resident, we are also undertaking a Capital Improvement Fundraising Campaign in both parishes.  The purpose of this Campaign is to raise revenue for deferred building projects such as repair of the slate roof as well as the replacement of front stairs and doors of OLA Church; and replacement of the heating pipes in SMG Church Hall.  We also need to replenish our savings accounts have been depleted because of expenses incurred the last few years.  I ask you to think about your current level of stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, and how you might help us move confidently into the future.    Thanks to Linda Beaver from St. Maria’s who has agreed to lead a new Collaborative Social Justice Committee focusing on doing the Corporal Works of Mercy.  You can contact Donna Delahanty at [email protected] or Linda at [email protected] if you are interested in joining this Committee.  Blessings to all of you in the week ahead!