Parish of the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Melrose and Saugus

Palm Sunday of the Lord's PassionApril 5, 2020

Incarnation Parish Bulletin

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

April 5, 2020

Dear Friends,Certainly the past couple of weeks and the entire season of Lent have been unlike any we have experienced before in our lifetime. These are unprecedented and challenging times. I hope and pray that you and the members of your family are doing well and staying healthy.

This week we celebrate Holy Week. Our week begins with this Sunday’s Liturgy of Palm Sunday and will conclude next Sunday as we celebrate Easter Sunday. The three days of the Triduum, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday Vigil are the three most sacred and special days of the Liturgical Season. The liturgies are full of beautiful music and with them the Church celebrates some of its most sacred rituals and traditions. Unfortunately the pandemic of Covid-19-Coronavirus will prevent us from celebrating these solemn liturgies together this week. The situation we find ourselves in will only allow us to be together in prayer spiritually. As I am writing these few lines we are exploring the possibility of taping these special liturgies to be put out on social media for our people to view together this week. We will certainly do our best to let people know if we have succeeded. Please check the parish web page for any further updates.

I would also encourage you to watch Catholic TV during the week for all of the diocesan

celebrations of Holy Week. They will be broadcast from Holy Cross Cathedral without a congregation, celebrated by Cardinal Séan.

As we begin Holy Week separated by social distancing and isolation in our homes, please be assured that you are being remembered in my prayers. Please take care of yourself and one another.

God Bless.Fr. Steve

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Prayer at the Time of a PandemicLord Jesus, Who promised to remain with us always,

When information overwhelms usand fear overtakes us,

speak to us again those comforting words,“Peace be with you.”

Though we cannot be physically close to others,give us the ability and courage

to love as well as we can,since “perfect love casts out all fear.”

Direct your caring gaze on doctors and nurses,researchers and safety personnel;

Come to strengthen the sick, the vulnerable,and comfort those who are grief stricken.

And when the pandemic has passed,and this frightening crisis is resolved,teach us to know You more certainly

as our dearest Friend and our only Hope.

You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,One God forever and ever. Amen.

Incarnation Parish Bulletin

POPE FRANCIS PRAYS IN EMPTY ST PETER’S SQUARE

GRAND ANNUAL APPEALOur Grand Annual Appeal is underway and thanks to so many of you for your generosity! As of last week, our Grand Annual contributions totaled $85,299.00If you did not receive a Grand Annual letter, it means you are not registered in our membership data base. Please call Gina at the Rectory Office. If you would like to contribute to the Grand Annual Collection and did not receive an envelope, you can contribute online through our website:www.incarnationmelrose.org, or use one of the envelopes available at the doors of the church.

CALENDAR

If you have scheduled an announced mass during this time, Gina Distefano will be in touch with you when masses resume to reschedule.

MILESTONES

Please remember family and friends in need of prayer, especially Sarah Fradkin, Bill Connors, Maureen, Irene Lawless, Perry Brown, Betty Howard, Stephen Gaeta, Jim R., Ted Ayotte, Robert Burke, Sandra W., John Anderson, April Crouse, Adele Maciejowski, Colleen Sullivan, Debbie Saschuk, Julia G., Donna Correia, Sandra V., Don Marsden, Georgia Rose Okerholm, Donna Page, Denise, Sr. Mary Shaun, Nicholas Ward, Frank Zizzo, Helen Staunton, Domenic DeLuca, Maia DeLuca, Joseph Connelly, Jeannette Bailey, Anita V., Leona Dewhurst, Jacqueline, Chuck Giorgio, Kathleen O’Neill, Ken Kartes, Thomas M., Michael Lester, Sydni Simpson Garrity, Mary S., Carole R. , Patricia Zibroski, Anthony S.,Janice T., John Maciejowski, Bonnie Strudas, Helen Giorgio, Andrew Reczeck, Frank Stankavish, Susan D., Ed M., Joyce D., Joshua B., and parishioners facing surgery.

If there is anyone you wish to add to the prayer list, please contact the rectory. Please note: All names will remain on our Prayer List and will be prayed for unless our office is notified to remove an individual.

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Incarnation Parish Bulletin

FINANCIAL REPORT

Our office is now closed at the direction of the Diocese, financial information is not available at this time.

Note: Online Giving helps sustain the parish-thank you for your generosity! Use the following link to sign up for Online Giving!

https://www.myowngiving.com/Default.aspx?cid=45

90-DAYS NOW - FOR YOUR PARISH” INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

FIRST OF ITS KIND INITIATIVE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTONBOSTONCATHOLIC.ORG

March 30, 2020The desire to take care of one another during the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and the inability to join together at local Catholic churches for Masses has inspired a grass roots movement for parishioners to rally around their local parishes. “90 Days Now – For Your Parish” is a newly launched three-month campaign spearheaded by a member of the laity to help support parishes while Churches are temporarily closed but while the need for parish services continues.

The Archdiocese of Boston has supported the movement by creating an easy-to-use, on-line payment mechanism whereby donors can make a gift directly to the parish of their choice. This 90-day program offers support now by providing a way to make a daily commitment in addition to regular weekly donations. This simple link, available by clicking here: https://bcatholic.sites.bostoncatholic.org/form/giving-form?fid=4916 , is especially helpful for parishes that do not currently have the ability to accept online donations.    “Cardinal Seán has spoken eloquently about the importance of taking care of one another, especially as we face the unprecedented challenges of this crisis,” said John Corcoran, parishioner at Saint Paul Parish in South Hamilton, MA. Mr. Corcoran stepped forward with the idea for the 90-day initiative, saying, “I am very grateful that parishioners who can now have the ability to step up in this way to support their pastors and parishes. Our parishes are always there for us, and most do not have cash reserved sufficient to compensate for the lack of weekly contributions. This is a great way for parishioners to be supportive during this difficult time.” Mr. Corcoran is founder of Trinity Life Sciences, a leader in global life sciences solutions. He is also Chair of the Board of iCatholic Media which oversees CatholicTV and The Pilot. 

“Our parishes need us,” said Greg and Colleen Tocci of Saint Mary Parish in Holliston. “We are so happy to support our parish in its work through the 90 Days Now – For Your Parish initiative,” they added. 

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Incarnation Parish Bulletin “This is a remarkable effort in support of our pastors and parishes and we are truly grateful for the response,” said Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM Cap. “In particular we extend our gratitude to John Corcoran, the Tocci family and the many lay leaders who are helping our parishes with this initiative. This pandemic presents serious challenges to our local communities and the essential work of our social service agencies because of the increased demand and financial stress. Also, many of our parishes are facing very significant need for assistance that will continue even after are able to reopen our churches.”

Parishioners who give online using the 90 Days Now – for Your Parish link should know that the funds they give will go directly into their parish’s savings account and will be promptly available for their parish’s needs.

“I am very grateful for the generosity of those who have kindly supported our parishes in this way and at this critical time,” said Fr. Scott Euvrard of St. Anthony Parish in Cohasset. "On-line giving is so important for parishes as we continue our work, and as we prepare for the day when we can once again be together.” 

PALM SUNDAY Do This in Memory of Me

As we enter Holy Week, we celebrate the gift of the Eucharist as our heavenly food. We continue to reflect on the challenge of global hunger. How does our faith inspire us to share the gifts that God has bestowed on us? Visit crsricebowl.org for more.

CATHOLIC APPEALThe launch of the Catholic Appeal will be postponed until May 2/3 or another weekend that would be well suited for the parish. For those who wish to make a contribution currently can do so online (www.bostoncatholicappeal.org) or through the request you may have received in the mail. 

MY BROTHER’S TABLE

Sign up now!This monthly volunteer opportunity is open to all ages.  Singles, pairs, groups, families -- all are welcome.  Meet in the church parking lot to coordinate transportation, or meet us there. Please go to www.tinyurl.com/incarnationMBT  to get more information and to sign up.  This link can also be found at www.incarnationmelrose.org.  

BOSTON CATHOLIC TVCATHOLICTV MASS9:30 AM | 7 & 11:30 PM ET

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Incarnation Parish Bulletin

BOSTON COLLEGE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRYONLINE

LEARNINGSTM Online: Crossroads, a program of Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, offers non-credit online courses for adult spiritual enrichment and faith formation. With a focus on shared reflection in an online learning community, Crossroads models the kind of conversation and participation that lead to deeper understanding and personal growth in faith.For more information visit

https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/stm/sites/crossroads.html

Upcoming:The Online Book Club: Barking to the Choir  by Fr. Gregory Boyle, S.J.Apr 15 - May 19In this book Fr. Boyle shares compelling stories of his “homies,” reflecting on the importance of acknowledging the humanity of all people, clarifying God’s vision of kinship for all of us.A non-credit, online enrichment course from Boston College’s STM Online: CrossroadsPlease register by April 10th at bc.edu/crossroads.  Fee: $25 Retiring GracefullyApr 15 - May 19

Explore how God is present in the sometimes perplexing and uncertain process of retirement, from anticipation to realization of life after full-time employment.A non-credit, online enrichment course from Boston College’s STM Online: CrossroadsPlease register by October 4th at bc.edu/crossroads.  Fee: $50

MIRAMAR RETREAT CENTERDuxbury,MAIn consideration of all who visit Miramar, their health and ease of mind, we have made the difficult decision to close our buildings to visitors. This decision may change at any time, and we will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, our grounds - Labyrinth, Worship Space, Rosary Path and Stations of the Cross are available to visitors.

Administrative staff are available to answer your calls Monday through Friday from 9  AM  to noon at 781.585.2460. At other times, please feel free to leave a message, and your call will be returned by the following business day. Thank you!

Blessings to all!

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSIONAPRIL 5, 2020

King? Really?There are two main sections in “Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.” Palms and Passion.

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Incarnation Parish Bulletin But these make a jarring contrast to each other, and most of us never notice it! Time to get things straight.

The First Main Section consists of the blessing of palms and the procession with them into church. An extra Gospel is read.

In it, Jesus enters the city Jerusalem as a king would. He rides on a colt—an animal used for the entrance of royalty into a city.* His disciples spread their cloaks over the colt’s back as they would for a sovereign. Crowds along the way smooth their robes onto the roadway and strew out palm branches, cut from the fields. Symbolically, these are to soften the pathway. They cry out, “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” even as we do in the Sanctus at every Mass. This is surely a king come among us.

At Mass a ritual procession of palms commemorates this entrance. The priest and ministers make their way to the altar.

Then begins the Second Section, the Mass itself. For its Gospel we hear the Passion Reading from Mark. We stand in silence as the soldiers ridicule Jesus’ so-called kingship, shouting in their rough voices, “here is the King of the Jews”!

They are not praising him. They are ridiculing this poor, ridiculous captive. They jam a mocking “kingly” crown on his head, and they say in effect what the condemned monarch in Shakespeare’s Richard II said: “Farewell King!” They wrap a fake purple robe around his wounds—again, the color reserved for kings. They cackle like clowns and spit on him.

What a “kingdom of God” this had turned out to be. The two contrasting sections of Sunday’s mass show the great irony to us.

Why would the King of Kings allow all this to happen?

Look to the First Reading.I have not rebelled, have not turned back; I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. (Is 50:5)

These words, actually written many centuries before Jesus, represent a passive surrender. Is it a kingly action, this passive surrender? You or I would have shouted, “my God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” The Responsorial Psalm says

exactly these words, and Jesus too will say them from the cross.

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Incarnation Parish Bulletin Are they the words of a king?

The Second Reading answers this question with the famous passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Chapter 2, stating that Jesus did not regard being in the form of God as something to cling to—for safety or honor or whatever other reason. As the greatest king of all, he was able to empty himself out, to become like a slave, obedient even to death on the cross.

Isn’t this the complete opposite of kingliness as we think of it. Isn’t it a mockery of kingship?

No. It is the true basis of leadership, even though we do not see it very often in today’s world. Serve the people, no matter what. Pull a kingdom together, making it safe, a place of abundance. Jesus, the true leader, lets go of everything in allegiance to God and in service of the people.

Let us be still this Sunday and listen.

John Foley, SJ________ * “Donkey” and “colt, the foal of a donkey” are called “synonymous parallelism,” saying the same thing twice but in different words (see here).John Foley, SJ

Fr. John Foley, SJ, is a composer and scholar at Saint Louis University.

THE PERSPECTIVE OF JUSTICE

SufferingToday we celebrate Jesus, the suffering Messiah. He is the one of whom Isaiah foretold: “My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. He is the

Christ who took the form of a slave, ... obediently accepting even death, death on a cross.” He is the savior who “suffered willingly for sinners” and whose suffering makes us pleasing to God.

We all suffer in our own way. We experience physical pain and hardship. We suffer watching our friends and relatives suffer. We are often offended or abandoned by others, and we add to our suffering by our own sinfulness.

The world around us is filled with suffering: the victims of war and poverty; people living in streets or in shantytowns; starving children; lonely elderly; people dying of AIDS, cancer, or some other disease.

Today’s liturgy teaches us “to welcome our suffering,” to bear witness to God by following Christ’s example of suffering. We pray that the world “united with him in his suffering on the cross may share his resurrection and new life.”

Had Jesus merely said that his mission was to set people free from sin and all forms of oppression, his words would have fallen on deaf ears. He had to work at this task of liberation. He not only talked about freeing the poor and oppressed but, undeterred by criticism, actually welcomed the poor and sinners to share at his table. Like Jesus, we must be able to accompany others in their suffering and be willing to suffer with them.

U.S. Bishops, To the Ends of the Earth, 1986, 48.

Gerald Darring

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Incarnation Parish Bulletin HOW TO FIND USAs a Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Boston, we are committed to excellence in liturgy, service, hospitality, and life-long learning, all centered in Christ. 429 Upham Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Office: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm1-781-662-8844 Office1-781-662-9340 FAX e-mail: i.rectory@comcast.net website: www.incarnationmelrose.org Follow us on Twitter @IncParish Like us on Facebook!PASTORAL and SUPPORT STAFF Fr. Steve Madden,Pastori.rectory@comcast.netFr. Michael Ssenfuma, Parochial Vicarmdssenfuma@gmail.comFr. André Brouillette, Weekend AssistantDeacon Bob Breendeaconbob2008@gmail.comAnn Lahiff, Director of Faith Formation AnnLahiff7@aol.comShawn Gelzleichter, Director of Music Ministriessgelzleichter@gmail.com Gina Distefano, Business Administratori.rectory@comcast.netBrother David E. Wiggin, C.F.X., Bookkeeper Jim Guiry, Maintenance ManagerDottie Ahlin, Household Assistant

LITURGY (Suspended due to COVID-19) Mass Schedule~ Saturday 4:30; Sunday 8:00 am & 10:30amDaily Mass ~Thursday-Friday at 8:00.

SCRIPTURE STUDY (Suspended due to COVID-19)Every Friday morning after Mass we share coffee and conversation about God’s Word for the week. Everyone is welcome in this lively and interesting forum.

RECONCILIATION (Suspended due to COVID-19)Saturday, 3:30 - 4:15 pm, or by appointment at any time.

JOINING THE PARISHNo matter what your journey has been, we want to be your companions for the next steps, to share the Gospel together and to help each other along the way.Please introduce yourself to a staff member, or drop in for

coffee on Sunday. You can register as a parishioner online via our website, or stop by the rectory. ADULT INITIATION, RCIAWe are always ready to begin the process by which an adult or older child becomes a Catholic, either by full initiation in baptism, or by reception into full communion. We are also happy to prepare you for adult Confirmation. Contact Deacon Bob Breen.

BAPTISM FOR INFANTSCongratulations! The baptism of infants is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month, or within the Sunday assembly. Fr. Steve is the staff contact person for preparation.

GENERATIONS OF FAITHWe are a community of life-long learners. Our parish program of inter-generational learning and celebration of faith is called Generations of Faith. Contact:Ann Lahiff.

MARRIAGECongratulations! The engaged couple must contact the Rectory at least six months in advance, preferably a year ahead

CARE OF THE SICK To arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion for the home-bound, or Viaticum for the Dying, please contact the parish office. We normally send ministers out with communion after the eight o’clock on Sunday, and also schedule regular home visits during the week. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies. All you have to do is ask!

ORDER of CHRISTIAN FUNERALSWe will work with you to plan your own funeral liturgy or that of a loved one, and are prepared to celebrate the Vigil, also known as the “Wake,” in the Church building for those who choose.

BULLETIN INFORMATIONPlease contact Ann Lahiff at annlahiff7@aol.com with any questions, information or submissions for our bulletin.http://www.incarnationmelrose.orgTo view bulletin, click “bulletin archive,” and then, “Incarnation bulletins”

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