Next Weekend!
We will soon reach the holy city,
Jerusalem!
Next Sunday morning, March 29 is Palm Sunday! At 10:45 am, join us out on the Training Field as we ask God’s blessing on the holy palms we hold and present to the Prince of Peace at the 11 am Mass at St. Mary’s.
At St. Francis, the liturgy will begin with the blessing of the palms at the back of the Church.
With all the excitement in the air, however, the proclamation of the Passion points out what is also ahead for Jesus, for his disciples, for us all.
We end the Palm Sunday Masses in a very different air than how we began. There will be pain, but as scripture reminds us, joy will come with dawn- the Easter dawn.
~ Fr. John
My Lenten Journey
Hello my name is Rebecca Santosuosso and I am a Junior at Malden Catholic high school. MC is a codivisional Catholic school which means classes are separate so that girls learn with other girls, and the boys learn with other boys. Extracurricular activities are co-ed. Even lunches are separate!
I have been a part of this parish my whole life. This is where I was baptized, made my First
Communion, and where I was Confirmed last year. More importantly, this is where my parents,
grandparents, and even great grandparents got married!
I feel like that makes me more connected to the church.
Lent is one of my favorite times of the year. I feel like this time of year is the time where it really
brings people together. We are all waiting for the celebration of the resurrection at Easter! 🙂
This year I was looking for something a bit different. A few days ago I got the opportunity to see Bryce Crawford with my best friend. If you do not know who he is, he is a 22 year old Christian evangelist who travels the country and sharing his testimony on depression and finding God.
I had originally seen him on TikTok and then started following him more. When my friend told me she had tickets to go see his podcast tour, and that she wanted me to go with her, I was really excited. The community he creates is why I love him so much. When going in I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I knew we would be talking about God and His word but what I didn’t realize was how close everyone would be. Everyone was talking before the show. I met a few people who were really fun to talk to. It was so nice to be in an environment where I knew everyone was there for the same reason. We were all there to praise the Lord and everything that He has done for us. It was
so positive anduplifting. That is what this Parish is. Coming to Church, you are among people from so many different backgrounds that are together for the same reason. Knowing that no matter what happens we can always look to God. 🙂 This was the perfect event to attend during Lent. It has been cold and depressing outside and this definitely brought some light to this journey. Bryce asked us to keep an open mind and to pray more. I think that is something easy that we all can do. No matter what, we can always pray a little bit more and do more for ourselves and for others. A few weeks ago in the bulletin, we learned more about Harvest on Vine Food Pantry. That is one of my favorite places to volunteer because you can immediately see the difference that a small group of people can make for those that need just a little bit more.
So this Lenten season, please go out and do a little something special for yourself but more importantly do something for others! 🙂
Rebecca Santosuosso
Class of ‘27
CATHOLIC APPEAL
For our Parishes, the 2026 Catholic Appeal will kick off THIS WEEKEND March 22! Packets are available in the benches this weekend if you would like to make an early gift. Please enter into solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need and spread hope by making a gift today.
Thank you to those who have already responded generously to Archbishop Henning’s invitation to
contribute. Through early support, St. Mary—St. Catherine is at 26%, and St. Francis is at 15%.
Thank you for your support!
Special Jubilee Year in Commemoration of the Eighth Centenary of
the Passage of Saint Francis of Assisi
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has announced a Jubilee Year of Saint Francis in celebration of the 800th Anniversary of his
passage to Heaven. All the Christian faithful are invited to follow the example of the Saint of Assisi, becoming models of
holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace. The Church grants a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions to
those who participate devoutly in this extraordinary jubilee which will end on January 10, 2027.
St. Francis Chapel at the Prudential Center is a Jubilee Pilgrimage Site to which pilgrims may come for the Jubilee Indul
gence and Grace. Please reach out to
Project Rachel Post-Abortion Healing Retreats (4/11, 5/16)
Are you –or someone you know –seeking peace after an abortion? The Project Rachel ministry of the Archdiocese of
Boston extends a special invitation to women experiencing regret from a past abortion to attend a Come to the Waters of Healing one-day retreat. Upcoming dates are Saturday, February 28 (Greater Boston), Saturday, April 11 (Merrimack Valley), and Saturday, May 16 (Boston/South). Locations are confidential. For more information on the retreats or other services, contact Project Rachel at 508.651.3100 or help@projectrachelboston.com.
FYI: 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage “One Nation Under God”
to arrive in Boston June 26-28, 2026
Celebrates 250th Founding of America
Boston visit
The Archdiocese is finalizing the locations during the June 26-28 visit.
All of the locations will have historical significance in the founding of our country.
Among the expected stops will include Plymouth, Charlestown, and Lexington.
A procession will take place from a centralized gathering place in Boston to Charlestown.
A vigil Mass is being planned on Saturday, June 27 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
Check back over the weeks ahead to learn the exact locations, times and dates for the Pilgrimage.
To learn more and for updates visit www.eucharisticpilgrimage.org.
Get ready for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South
Korea! (reservations through 6/30/26)
Join the Archdiocese of Boston on a 10-day pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea!
The pilgrimage with airfare runs from August 1–10, 2027 for $5,245,
with an optional 3-day extension in Incheon for an additional $809. Individual and group reservations are now open through June 30, 2026. This pilgrimage offers young people a powerful opportunity to encounter Christ, grow in community, and experience the joy of the universal Church.
Learn more at: www.evangelizeboston.com/world-youth-day
Questions? Contact wyd@rcab.org