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Parish Communities St. Mary & St. Philip Benizi Pastor: Rev. Leo LeBlanc (508) 839-3993 x24 • [email protected]
Parish Communities St. Mary & St. Philip Benizi
Pastor: Rev. Leo LeBlanc (508) 839-3993 x24 • [email protected]
Sunday Offertory
7/25/20 – 7/31/20
St. Mary $3,143.00
St. Philip $1,485.00
St Philip August 2 – For Deceased Members of St. Philip and St. Mary August 9 – For Leonard J. Berube by the Parish August 16 – Memorial Henry Coz by a Friend
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
Traditionally summer is when our offertory drops, any support that you can give us at this time would be
greatly appreciated.
St. Mary
Please Note: The Wednesday Mass time has been modified.
August 1, Saturday: 4:00pm – Memorial John McCartney by Catherine Ryan August 2, Sunday: 7:30am – For Deceased Members of St. Mary and St. Philip 10:30am – For Parishioners of St. Mary and St. Philip Monday – 8:00am Mass ~ NO MASS Tuesday – 12:00pm Mass ~NO MASS Wednesday – 3:00pm Mass ~ NO MASS Thursday – 8:00am Mass ~ NO MASS
August 8, Saturday: 4:00pm – Memorial John McCartney by Catherine Ryan August 9, Sunday: 7:30am – 69th Anniversary Daniel Fleming by the Family 10:30am – 1st Anniversary Evelyn Davieau by a Friend Please continue to pray for all those affected by the pandemic.
The following Diocesan Collection will be taken up the weekend of August 8th/9th - Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe.
Father Leo will be away from Aug. 3rd – Aug. 15th.
There will be no weekday Masses until August 17.
Have a safe and restful vacation!
August 2, 2020 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Abundance
Around the globe, more than 690 million people go hungry every day, and yet we grow enough food to meet the needs of every man, woman and child in the world. There exists an abundance of food, but a paucity of the will to change this equation. We are the feeding of the 5,000 in reverse – we have basketsful of food, but it goes to a small number of people.
The prophet Isaiah laments, “Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy?” As a culture, our wealth is spent on so many things that are not bread: gambling, sporting events, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, fancy clothes and cars, the latest gadgets, smartwear, home décor… the list goes on. God has blessed this world with an abundance and invites us, like Jesus to his apostles, to give of what we have to others. Yet we parcel out in small doses and hoard in great amounts.
Some writers who struggle with the concept of miracles attempt to explain Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 in this weekend’s Gospel as a simple re-direction of resources: encouraging those who had much food to share it with those around them. But that ignores the plain facts presented in all four Gospels. It is no accident that this is the only public miracle described in all of the Gospels – it had an enduring and undeniable impact on the thousands who were present to witness it.
What Jesus promises through this miracle is that if we turn over our talents, our treasure, our lives, even our very weaknesses to him, he will make an abundance out of the least of what we can offer. The human race for centuries has attempted to solve the problems of the world -- poverty, hunger, crime, war -- through its own means. We pass laws, spend money, make speeches, and yet the problems remain. Jesus invites us to place our needs in his hands. To let him use us as the instruments of his grace. To trust in the abundant love of the Father and to seek what truly satisfies, what satiates every hunger: God’s grace.
Ultimately, today’s Gospel is about hunger. It is about being fed. But not simply physical hunger -- spiritual hunger. It’s not about simply providing those in need with a hot meal. It’s about providing them with the bread of life. About providing them Jesus.
Each and every person hungers for God. To be in relationship with God. To know him, love him and be loved by him. It’s just that not everyone knows it. At the very core of our beings, we hunger to be overwhelmed, enveloped, lavished in the presence of the divine, in the presence of God, in the presence of Jesus Christ. And that opportunity presents itself at each and every Mass… through the Eucharist.
Jesus humbles himself, empties himself and comes to us in the most basic form possible – simple bread and wine – so that we might understand that true nourishment, true life, comes only from God. The prophet Isaiah tells us that God promises: “Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” If we would come to Christ in the Eucharist, come before him in our poverty, in our thirst, in our hunger and in our smallness and weakness and fully empty ourselves before him, he will fill us up to overflowing with his grace, pour out God’s blessings upon us, and then through us -- his disciples sent out into the world -- feed all those who come to his table hungering and thirsting for a new way of life. Deacon Tim Cross
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:
Paper Products, Pasta Sauce, Cleaning Supplies, Pancake Syrup, Rice Mixes, Canned Tomatoes, Chef Boyardee, Canned/Jarred Fruit
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.
Thank you to all those who continue to support this ministry
so generously!
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!
Partners in Charity relies on your support!
In the midst of this pandemic, thousands of people continue to rely on our diocesan ministries and agencies for assistance. Your gift can be a local stimulus check to help those in need. Please reflect on God’s great generosity, and prayerfully respond with a gift or pledge. With your support, faith in action is visible every day in the compassionate outreach of our charitable agencies; in the prayerful witness of our retired priests and the joy of new priestly vocations; and to the ministries and programs that teach and inspire those seeking hope. Watch the Video online at partners-charity.net... and respond with a gift online, by mail or returned to your parish at Mass. Thank you for helping us make our parish goal. As of Wednesday, July 30, 2020:
St. Philip has raised $24,335 which is 73% of our goal.
St. Mary has raised $36,177 which is 56% of our goal.
If you know of any elderly or homebound parishioners who would like to have the bulletin sent to them by mail, please contact St. Mary Parish and one will be sent out weekly.
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 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.
SUMMER 2020 BIBLE STUDIES
A 4-part series giving an overview of the Bible.
Live Zoom sessions will take place on the following Thursday’s beginning at 7:00pm: August 20th, August 27th, September 3rd and September 10th.
Click here to read more details and to sign up if you’re interested. The Zoom link will be emailed to you.
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: https://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.
Website for both parishes: www.stmarysgrafton.org www.stphilipsgrafton.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
Parish Secretary/Safe Environment Coordinator St. Philip: TBD; contact Jill or Lisa
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.
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We thank our advertisers for making our bulletin possible.
Please patronize our advertisers especially during this time of
pandemic. Thank you!
