7
Traditionally summer is when our offertory drops, any support that you can give us at this time would be
greatly appreciated.
Sunday Offertory
St. Mary 07/11/20 – 07/17/20
$4,488.00
St. Philip 07/11/20 – 07/17/20
$973.00
St. Mary
Please Note: The Wednesday Mass time has been modified.
July 18, Saturday: 4:00pm – 6th Anniversary Walter Burnham by his Son, Memorial John McCartney by Catherine Ryan July 19, Sunday: 7:30am – 50th Anniversary Mary E. Fleming by the Family 10:30am – Memorial Bernie LaPointe by Friends Monday – 8:00am Mass Tuesday – 12:00pm Mass Wednesday – 3:00pm Mass Thursday – 8:00am Mass July 25, Saturday: 4:00pm – Memorial Marilyn Chard, Betty Kelly, and Pat Szczur requested by a Friend, 17th Anniversary Adrien Desmarais by the Family, 20th Anniversary Louis Gentile by the Family, Memorial John McCartney by Catherine Ryan, 9th Anniversary Frank Gemelli by his Family July 26, Sunday: 7:30am – Memorial Leo Parent by the Family, Memorial James Bauer by Friends 10:30am – 1st Anniversary James Bauer by the Family
Please continue to pray for all those affected by the pandemic.
St Philip
July 19– Edith Whiteley requested by Dorothy Nacimiento July 26 – For Parishioners of St. Philip and St. Mary August 2 – For Deceased Members of St. Philip and St. Mary
To request a Mass Intention, please call Jill Sullivan (ext. 10) or Lisa Stewart (ext. 11) at St. Mary at 508-839-3993.
Welcome to St. Mary & St. Philip Parishes.
Please visit our website for all the upcoming events.
If you would like a flyer sent home, please call parish
office. Please visit our website to sign up for
attendance at Mass and latest details on our parishes
stmarysgrafton.org or stphilipsgrafton.org
Please sign up for Flocknotes on our
website for continuous updates on your phone or
email. You will find us on Facebook at
stmary.stphilip.of.grafton.ma
You will find our recorded weekly Mass on your local
cable channels at 6:30am and 6:30pm Daily on
Channel 191 for Charter or Channel 34 for Verizon
Our mailing address and phone numbers:
St. Mary Office - 508-839-3993
17 Waterville St, N Grafton, 01536
St. Philip Office– 508-839-3325
12 West St. Grafton, 01519
WEEKLY MASS AND CONFESSIONS SCHEDULE CHANGES
Having tried a new weekly schedule to accommodate workers and our older parishioners who do not yet feel comfortable attending Mass on the weekend, we have found that Tuesday at 7PM has had very low attendance.
Starting this week, weekday Masses will be as follows:
• Mass on Mondays and Thursdays at 8 AM;
• Mass on Tuesdays at 12 Noon followed by confessions for those who wish at the rectory with proper social distancing and mask, from 12:45 – 1:30PM;
• Mass on Wednesdays at 3 PM;
• Confessions on Saturdays in upper parking lot from 2:45 – 3:30PM
July 19, 2020 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Of Wheat and Weeds
“How can there be a God with such evil in the world?” That is perhaps the most common reason people raise when arguing against the existence of God. It seems illogical to them that a God with the power to create the universe would tolerate evil.
But in this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus explains why evil continues to exist, grow, even thrive in our world. Through Jesus, God sows the seeds of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness among us to confront evil and bring light to the world, but the Evil One works in the shadows, sowing his own seeds of division, hatred, bigotry, violence and greed. And Jesus offers us two reasons why rooting out such evil can be difficult.
First, evil is often disguised as something that is for the good. The ending of life is a choice, a fundamental liberty. Bigotry is really self-defense against the “other” who threaten “our” way of life. Strength and dominance are the means to ensure the “best” people rise above and can make a “better” world. Anything we disagree with or feel threatened by can be called “fake” or a “hoax” and easily dismissed, without ever considering its merits.
Second, while there is, in fact, a God… we are not Him. We can never match his insight into the human soul or his mercy. As the Book of Wisdom reminds us: God -- though a “master of might” -- judges with clemency; with “much lenience” he governs the world. Through Christ he has taught us that those who invoke justice “must be kind.” Yet too often, we judge without wisdom, we condemn without knowledge, we convict without mercy.
As one writer notes, “Unlike God, we cannot know people’s hearts—or where their lives might take them—or their potential for redemption. God has not equipped us with the insight necessary to weed the garden. As wonderful as it would be to have a ‘pure’ world, a world without sinners, Jesus tells us that only in the harvest will purity be possible. Attempts to achieve it now will prove disastrous—will destroy the good with the bad.”
In addition, implicit in Jesus’ parable is the fact that – as St. Augustine notes – unlike the world of wheat and weeds, in the Lord’s field of people, wheat can become weeds, yes, but also weeds can turn into beautiful, glorious wheat. People can change. Redemption is possible. Hope exists where the seeds of faith are planted.
And that perhaps is the most important lesson harvested from the parables in this week’s Gospel: we need not despair – for ourselves, for others or for the world. Because, where the tiniest grain of faith exists, God can work wonders. No life is too far beyond redemption, at least not until the final harvest. Evil will never win; it can only delay its inevitable defeat. The one who sows the seeds of destruction must work in the darkness, because he is never strong enough to face the light of God.
As that same writer notes, “Over the past two millennia, we have seen the proof. Today, the Roman Empire appears only in history books and crumbling ruins, but people sing praise to Jesus all over the world. The Thousand-Year Reich lasted only a decade, but the church keeps marching on. Communism spent the better part of a century trying to kill the church, but then Communism collapsed—and Christians are building churches on its ruins.”
The Kingdom of God grows amidst the weeds. Its seeds are planted among brambles and thorn bushes. It will not fully sprout into full bloom until Christ comes again, and until that time we must let our faith, as weak and uncertain as it is, work against evil through the gentle, loving hands of the sower, Jesus.
Deacon Tim Cross
VIRTUAL RETREAT OFFERED BY FR. LEO IN JULY
THE CHALLENGE TO FIND YOUR MONASTERY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE
A virtual retreat through ZOOM is being offered this month by Fr. Leo. You can still sign up for the three remaining sessions, which are free, by sending an email to Fr. Leo so you can be invited to join him and others on either Tuesday afternoons from 4:30- 6:00 PM or Wednesday
evening from 7:00- 8:30 PM. The topic is based on a very thin book entitled Domestic Monastery by Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI. This book can be found on Amazon.com.
There are ten very brief chapters. Fr. Leo will cover two chapters each week.
Once you tell him that you are joining either Tuesday or Wednesday, you will be invited each week either:
• Tuesday 4:30- 6:00 PM on July 21 and 28
• Wednesday 7:00- 8:30 PM on July 22 and 29
The retreat can be taken in the comfort of your own home. Fr. Leo will provide key questions to reflect on before each presentation. If you cannot attend one session, Fr. Leo will also post his presentations on the Parish website.
Come join us!
Thanks to all who continue to support this ministry so generously!
Our next Market Sunday is August 2. Your donations can be dropped off at any time during the month at St Mary's or St Philip's. We are currently in need of: Pasta Sauce, Canned/Jarred Fruit, Rice Mixes, Canned Tomatoes, Chef Boyardee, Pancake Syrup, Paper Products and Cleaning Supplies.
If you know of anyone struggling to support themselves or their family, please refer them to the St. Vincent DePaul Society at 508-839-3993 x35. All information is kept confidential.
As of July 8th
St. Philip has raised $16,000 which is 48% of our goal.
St. Mary has raised $33,672.50 which is 52% of our goal.
If you have not made a pledge yet, please consider doing so. You can make a gift or pledge online by visiting www.partners-charity.net or text the word donate to 84576 to pledge on your phone.
Thank you for your support!
Your help is needed! Please consider sharing your faith with the young people of our parishes. Please contact Darleen at [email protected] for more info or if you can help Sunday 9:15-10:15am Monday 4:30-5:30pm Catechists for Grades K, 2, 3, 4, 5 Catechists for Grades K, 1, 2 Aides for Grades K, 2, 4, 5 Aides for Grades K, 1, 2 Sunday 6:30-7:30pm Virtual Classes via Zoom—all grades Catechists for Grades 7, 8, 9, 10 Substitute Catechists—all grades Aides for Grades 7, 8, 9, 10 Substitute Aides—all grades 10 GOOD REASONS TO BECOME A CATECHIST
1. You will grow in your own faith, learn the teachings of the Church, and deepen your relationship with Jesus.
2. Your Baptism calls you to share in Jesus’ ministry. 3. Children, teens and adults in today’s world, more than ever, need to hear the Good News of
Jesus. 4. Children, teens and adults in today’s world, more than ever, need to encounter good role models
of faith. 5. You have much to share with those you’ll teach, and you’ll have opportunities to share faith with
other catechists. 6. Today’s catechetical textbooks/resources offer outstanding support. 7. You’ll be challenged, you’ll have fun, and you’ll make new friends. 8. You’ll be helping people deepen their relationship with Jesus. (You’ll be evangelizing!) 9. You’ll be handing on a 2000-year-old Tradition that changes lives. 10. It’s our job: Jesus sent us to “go and teach all nations.”
Won’t you answer the call?
CONFIRMATION PREPARATION Confirmation Request Letters—Candidates for Confirmation should be writing and submitting a Confirmation request letter to Fr. Leo. In this letter, answer the following questions: What does Confirmation mean to you? Why do you feel you are ready to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation? How have you been actively involved in your parish? Put some thought into the answers to each question. Letters need to be submitted before the Confirmation Interview.
Confirmation Interviews—Confirmation Interviews begin on July 13th and close on September 13th. Students should complete the Pre-Confirmation Interview Questions and then sign up for an interview with Fr. Leo. Additional information and a sign up link can be found on the parish website at: https://stmarysgrafton.org/confirmation. Confirmation Registration—If you have not already completed the Confirmation registration form, you can access it at: https://stmarysgrafton.org/confirmation Please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Farland at [email protected] with any questions. HIGH SCHOOL MAKE UP PACKETS--
Students who were not able to complete either High School “Church” or “Morality” classes are reminded to please return your completed make-up packets to Mrs. Farland ASAP.
Religious Ed Registration for 2020-2021
If you still need to register your child, please do so soon. You can conveniently register and pay online at: //stmarysgrafton.org/re-registration. If your child is NEW to the program and was NOT baptized at St. Mary or St. Philip, please forward us a copy of his/her baptismal certificate. If you know a family with a child entering Grade K or Grade 1 this fall, please extend an invitation to them to enroll their child in Religious Education.
Lectors Needed@ St. Philip
Can you help us once a month by serving as a lector, or as an on-call substitute? Please contact Patti Hart at (text or phone)508-245-6981 or email at [email protected] or Lisa Stewart at 508-839- 3993 x11 or [email protected] if you have questions or would like to help. Thank you for considering participating in this very important ministry!
A Warm Welcome!
It is with great joy that the faith community of St. Mary welcome’s Elizabeth Marie Moores, child of David and Alexa, baptized here on July 12.
Website for both parishes: www.stmarysgrafton.org
Parish Staff
Deacon Tim Cross: ext. 29 [email protected]
Business Manager: Lisa Stewart X11 [email protected]
Director of Religious Ed. St. Mary/St. Philip Darleen Farland x12
Director of Music/St. Mary: Pamela Cross X37 [email protected]
Music Coordinator/St. Philip: Brittany Dyer [email protected]
Parish Secretary/Safe Environment Coordinator St. Mary: Jill Sullivan x10
Custodian: Ron Dennis [email protected]
St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Philip/St. Mary at 508-839-3993 x35. All information is
kept strictly confidential.
St. Mary Prayer Line 508-839-3993 X18
Youth Group Ministry- [email protected]
St. Mary Office – 508-839-3993
St. Philip Office – 508-839-3325
Al’s Oil Service American Red Cross
Boucher Energy Systems Buggy Whip
Cancun’s Restaurant CatholicMatch
Collette Motors, Inc. CSR Financial Services, LLC
HearJOY Audiology Heffernan Painting
Mallory’s Army Foundation McClure’s Barber Shop
MD MedAlert Post Office Pub
Rand Automotive Center RE/MAX Executive Realty
Roney Funeral Home Rosaries From Flowers
Trusted Like Family Homecare, Inc.
g
We thank our advertisers for making our bulletin possible.
Please patronize our advertisers especially during this time of
pandemic. Thank you!
