Next Saturday, February 3 at 10:00am, our new Auxiliary Bishop, Most Reverend Christiano Barbosa, will be ordained at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Everyone is welcome, and in my role as Vicar Forane for our area, it will be an honor for me to represent us. He has already impressed me and so many with his humility, warmth, sense of humor and pastoral care. I look forward to what he will share with us as our Regional Bishop.
Next weekend at all the weekend Masses, we will bless throats in honor of St. Blaise.
On the weekend of February 10-11, in honor of the World Day of the Sick, at the Saturday 4pm Mass at St. Francis, and at the Sunday 11am Mass at St. Mary’s Church, we will offer the Sacrament of Anointing.
Ash Wednesday come early this year – it’s Valentine’s Day, February 14th. Here’s the schedule:
8 am Mass at St. Francis
12:10pm Service at St. Mary’s
3pm Service at St. Francis
6 pm Mass at St. Mary’s
Ashes are also available at the office at 46 Winthrop St.
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics ages 1-8-59 – in reasonable health – are called to eat only one full meal and two smaller meals which, combined, would not equal a single normal meal. Those 14 years and older are called to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.
Catholics are also encouraged to engage in acts of kindness, justice, and mercy as well as abstain or refrain from from something one would normally indulge in to mark the nature of the season. For young children, parents should communicate the meaning and importance of Lent.
Stations of the Cross
The stations will be prayed at St. Francis Church on Fridays throughout Lent at 6:30pm.
Gather with us and walk the steps of Christ.
On Sunday, February 18, after the 11am Mass, folks from our Collaborative will join with Cardinal Sean and hundreds of candidates and catechumens for the Rite of Welcoming at the Cathedral that afternoon. Through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, they will be brought into the fullness of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil on March 31st. Please pray for them.
Couples!
Also on Sunday, February 18, in honor of World Marriage Day, at the 9:30 am Mass at St. Francis and at the 11 am Mass at St. Mary’s Church, we’ll invite couples to restate their vows!
Coming Soon!
Two very special evenings with a dynamic TV and film star and dedicated Catholic who will light up St. Mary’s Church with three presentations March 21-22:
Monday: Signs! – The Gospel of John
Tuesday: The Sermon on the Mount and Hollywood vs. Faith!