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The churches are open for you. All Sunday Masses are currently held outdoors (some choose to bring lawn chairs, or sit in their cars and blankets). You can sit inside the church in order to hear the mass live on the speakers, enjoy the AC, and still have the opportunity for communion.
Sunday Mass times and places 9:00 A.M. - St. John the Evangelist, Townsend12:00 P.M. - St. Joseph's, Pepperell 3:00 P.M. - St. James’s, Groton
Daily Mass times and places7:10 a.m. except Thursday Monday & Friday - St. Joseph’s, PepperellTuesday & Saturday - St. James’s, Groton Wednesday - St. John’s, Townsend
Staff Rev. Jeremy St. [email protected]
Rev. Mr. Charles [email protected]
Edward [email protected]
David FlournoyFaith Formation & Business [email protected]
Katie (Cormier) LegerYouth [email protected]
Sue Ann WoolfreyParish Facilities
Mary BestOffice [email protected]
MassIntentions
Saturday, September 5, St. James 7:10 a.m. Paul Stephen Kelley 52nd Anniversary of Death
Sunday, September 6, St. John’s 9:00 a.m. Elizabeth and Frank Lukesh
& healing for David and Carl Pergola
Monday, September 7, St. Joseph’s 7:10 a.m.
Tuesday, September 8, St. James 7:10 a.m.
Wednesday, September 9, St. John’s 7:10 a.m. Danian Ethan Brady
Friday, September 11 St. Joseph’s 7:10 a.m Saturday, September 12, St. James 7:10 a.m.
Sunday, September 13, St. John’s
9:00 a.m.
Prayer-Line [email protected] * 1 School St., Townsend, MA 01469
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Knights of Columbus In service to One. In service to all. Members of St. John the Evangelist Council #14842 Meet in Fr. Mealey Hall on the Second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Catholic men over 18 interested in joining Contact Grand Knight, John Majeran Visit www.townsendkofc.org
Pope’s September Intention We pray that the planet's resources will not be plundered but shared in a just and respectful manner.
Matrimony Contact the rectory.
Daughters of Isabella Mother Teresa Circle UNITY, FRIENDSHIP and CHARITY Attention all Catholic women 16 years and above. Membership Meeting Once a Month on a Thursday Evening. There are information packets at the main entrance to the Church. Join today. Email: [email protected]
Baptisms Contact Family Life Coordinator David Flournoy 978-597-2291 We had four this month.
Confessions Confession available before and after Mass. Also, call to set up or if in a jam confess directly to the Invisible High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Jesus is in the Tabernacle to be adored even from a distance.
Sunday Evening Prayer This and all prayer wherever you are.
Prayer Shawl Ministry Last Monday of every month (via means that vary)
PPC Meeting 3nd Tuesday of every month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on the phone.
Pro-Life Committee Quarterly.
AA Meeting See Police website
ASL Class Friday evening from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in Room 8 of the Parish Center or outside.
Upcoming Holy Day of Obligation Solemnity of All Saints, Sunday, November 1, 2020
Requiem Aeternam: Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the friends and family of Damian Ethan Brady. Through the mercy of God may he rest in peace.
Sunday Reading Reflection Thanksgiving is so good. Happiness and the spirit of thankfulness are all but synonymous. God is good and this makes us full of thankfulness and praise. Being in love is so good. Happiness and being in love (both being loved and at the same time loving back) are all but synonymous. In today’s Gospel Jesus brings these two things together. He says whenever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them. This is to say, there is togetherness, there is love. We want this love. We get it by being together in his name. We do this by being together giving thanks. This is what happens at mass. Christ gathers us and we, with him, take the bread and giving thanks, are fed in such a way that we are united in love with God and each other and indeed with all creation.
Prayer-Line [email protected] * 1 School St., Townsend, MA 01469
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There is another way we can experience this love and this thanksgiving and we need you to, for if we only do it at Sunday mass it is not enough. It is so simple and powerful to maintain, begin, or restart the practice of grace before meals. This thankfulness brings Christ’s love down and we are made happy. Praying the actual prayer is good. It unites us. We should all know it. We should even do it when out on the town. We don’t have to yell it. We can do it out loud but quietly, we can do it in a “still” way but it transforms us and the world. “Bless us oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.” It is good to bookend it with a slow and prayerful “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” This little thing and many things like it throughout the days between mass flow from the thankfulness and love and happiness of the mass and ramp up to it. For some this little thing can seem like a huge thing and even like a kind of extreme religiosity so be patient with each other and explain. Some can think the spontaneous or other versions of the prayer are better, and this all might be true, but the one above is the one in these here parts that people know and pray and it is good to do. It is powerful and simple and from a global and historical perspective, not overly religious in the least. Truth to be told it is being a slightly religious person to always pray grace before meals so let’s encourage each other often and early to this good habit of grace before meals. Other Notes We have successfully transferred daily masses, some funerals, and some baptisms and weddings inside the Churches. There have been a lot of requests for baptisms to
be outside as people feel more safe doing it that way. I have been in contact with the Board of Health again recently about ongoing best practices and one thing they are looking for is not only hand sanitizing compliance but more of a show of that sanitizing. It is not only that things need to be sanitized, it is the case that people need to see the resanitizing of hands for example, in order to feel safe. If you notice a less conspicuous fulfillment of protocols it is for the benefit of those who are in need of this reassurance per the direction of the Board of Health. It is a great thing that the Board of Health is working together with us to come up with safe and smooth ways of making things safe and smooth during these challenging times. It is also the case that we have been blessed with good weather for our outdoor Sunday masses. There are some who have opted to go inside during those masses for the reasons of comfort where they can still hear the mass and have communion distributed to them. This has helped make social distancing outside better and is very safe since we are way below the limit inside as well. Still looking for funds for overflow indore tech set up (see last week's bulletin for more info,) As the quarantining protocols lighten (God willing) we will continue to transfer inside. As the weather allows we will stay outside and enjoy the public witness as well as the added safety we get from being outside. There are some who really don’t like to go to mass outside and who have decided not to come back yet, which is good and the right thing to do especially if there is risk for you physically, and some who have decided to go to a neighboring parish but intend to come back and are supporting us financially. This is all good. There are those who are frustrated, and that, in these times includes us all from time to time, I know. There are lots of things that are scary, disappointing, confusing, and down right annoying in our lives. God has a plan and it will all work out better than any of us could possibly imagine. Until then we are experiencing a great cosmic battle that is full of twists and turns. It is not boring to say the least. Again. Please don’t hesitate to call me if you have questions or just want to vent. Venting on the phone or face to face is good. I get a lot of other kinds of communications that I am
Prayer-Line [email protected] * 1 School St., Townsend, MA 01469
Page 5 * September 6, 2020 * Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time * townsendcatholic.org * 978-597-2291
only able to use for practical purposes at this point like sharing times, dates, addresses, phone numbers.
Lastly, there are lots of people who have contacted me regarding the Fatima Movie, various conspiracy theories regarding covid 19, political movements and voting protocols, as well as possible end of the world scenarios. I am grateful for so many helping me to stay up to snuff on these concerns and on people’s feelings. I am interested in the Fatima movie for the message of Fatima is definitely something that we should all know about. If you don’t know about Fatima you should do your homework. There is a shrine In Holliston, MA that you can visit. xaverianmissionaries.org/fatima-shrine-holliston-ma/
101 Summer Street
Holliston, MA 01746
(508) 429-2144 [email protected]
They have the best and latest info about Fatima. It is a great place to visit and pray at. They have a giant stone outdoor rosary garden. Really amazing.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Bishop Hennessey has been a great support to us recently, providing me with encouragement and will be visiting and staying overnight when he does the Confirmations for us.
Please pray for the speedy recovery of Fr. Ed Derosier. Thanks to Deacon Michael Markham, I was able to help him and his people out this past Saturday at the vigil at St. Anthony’s in Shirley. He is doing well and I got to hear Deacon Mike’s good and loving preaching. God is good. He says hello. ~Fr. St. Martin
Blood Drive at Our Lady of Grace - September 30th Register at Redcrossblood.org, search zip code 01463. Please give: 10a.m. - 3p.m. St. Joseph Church, Parish Hall 28 Tarbell St., Pepperell, MA, 01463. Questions: Mary Genova, 978-551-6373; [email protected]
St. John’s 2020 Recycle Drive Thru ...You drive thru, we empty…
Saturday, September 12 from 9AM to 4PM Parish parking Lot - Open to all towns See flyer - website for breakdown items/cost
Senior Scholarship - Baccalaureate Mass Sunday 9/13 All recent high school graduates, come to St. John’s for this year’s outdoor Baccalaureate Mass at 9:00am on Sunday, September 13th! A special blessing will be given to the Class of 2020, and awards will be given to the first ($500), second ($200), and third ($100) place finishers from the Senior Scholarship. Don’t miss the celebration!
Hello from the Business Manager!What do you call a laughing motorcycle?
(continue reading below for the answer)
As promised, here are the financial reports from the past 2 weeks. Two Sundays ago our offertory came in at $4,468, and last Sunday’s collections totaled to $2090. Thank you for your support as we navigate these times of transition and prayer. And thank you to all our counters who volunteer to
Prayer-Line [email protected] * 1 School St., Townsend, MA 01469
Page 6 * September 6, 2020 * Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time * townsendcatholic.org * 978-597-2291
be faithful stewards of our income. To support us this Sunday, please give to the second collection for our mortgage fund.
Also, check out our Online Giving page by clicking the yellow button “Please Donate” at the bottom right-hand corner of our website. It’s a great way to give to the parish that helps us out a lot and saves time and energy.
A Yamahahaha!
Kudos to Carole G for providing us great intel on where to find humor in our day-to-day life! Let us never forget to beg God for the grace to see how funny His creation is. Then let’s share our comedy with [email protected]. ~David Flournoy
Important Information for your DONATION STATEMENTS for 2020 Statements for donations are only sent to those parishioners who submit their donations in a parish envelope or through our Online Giving system. Loose checks put into the offertory basket are not recorded into the database. For info, please give David a call at 978-597-2291 or email [email protected].
Please consider donating to TEO (Townsend Ecumenical Outreach), a community organization whose purpose is to provide emergency and temporary assistance to Townsend residents that are in need of a helping hand. TEO is located at 82 Bayberry Hill Rd., Townsend, MA. 978-597-2209. Current Needs: Paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, tissue); Personal toiletries (shaving cream, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, shampoo, conditioner). Canned goods of vegetables and meats are always welcome.
Care Net Fitchburg is hosting a fundraiser virtual walk/runbeginning on Labor Day September 7, 2020. Please join us to raise funds while walking, running or hiking. This is not aone-day event! You can participate throughout the week. It is easy to join us!Log in to www.friendsofcarenetfitchburg.org and register, sign the waiver and print a sponsor sheet. Reach out topeople to sponsor your efforts. Next, join us for the launch on Labor Day Monday September 7th at 9:30am on Care NetFitchburg Facebook for a live launch. Then, walk, run or hike throughout the day or the week. Return your sponsorsheets by week's end if you want to possibly win one of our prizes. If you have questions please [email protected] Not able to join this event but want to support Care Net PRC?
Prayer-Line [email protected] * 1 School St., Townsend, MA 01469
For Advertising call 617-779-3771 Pilot Bulletins Saint John the Evangelist, Townsend, MA 4786
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Our priests are often at the center of efforts that build
strong support systems for all of us. In addition to
their daily pastoral responsibilities, they help establish
social service organizations, offer spiritual support for first
responders, operate parish food pantries, and recently, in
response to the pandemic, put their lives at risk to provide
comfort and peace to those suffering with COVID-19.
Healthier priests build stronger communities. And the
Clergy Health and Retirement Trust (CHRT) is dedicated to
keeping our priests healthy.
This September, you can support the CHRT’s mission
by giving to the special collection at Masses on
September 19/20. Every gift makes a difference and is
a symbol of gratitude for all our priests who don’t just
observe need in our communities; they seek it out so
they can respond.
Donate now online at clergytrust.org or scan the QR code to give with Venmo, Apple/Google Pay, and PayPal via Givebutter.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR PRIESTS IN SEPTEMBER
clergytrust.org
For Advertising call 617-779-3771 Pilot Bulletins Saint John the Evangelist, Townsend, MA 4786
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