SAINT ANNE PARISH 20 Boston Road Southborough, MA 01772 Parish Contact Information Office Hours: Monday ~ Thursday 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Friday ~ 9:30 am to noon Telephone 508-485-0141 Fax 508-460-0181 E-mail: [email protected]Web: www.stannesouthborough.org Pastor Fr. Albert Irudayasamy [email protected]Parish Council George Stagno ~ Chair Finance Committee Rich Flathers ~ Chair Religious Education Director of Religious Education: Daniel Doyle [email protected]508-485-0141 ext 225 Monday to Thursday 10:00 to 6:00 and Sundays Parish Office Manager Melissa Shields [email protected]Linda Bradstreet (on leave) Bookkeeper Bridgitte Morgan [email protected]Music Ministry Organist & Choir Director: Paul Crivello 508-366-0821 [email protected]Maintenance Matt Bernier [email protected]Amy Buttiglieri ~ Webmaster [email protected]Lord’s Day Mass Schedule: Saturday ~ 5:00 pm Sunday ~ 8:30 am and 10:30 am, The Sunday 5:30 pm Mass and Children’s Liturgy of the Word will resume in the late fall. Daily Mass Schedule: Week Day Mass Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am First Fridays: 9:00 am Healing Mass: First Wednesday of every month suspended until further notice. Please see Reopening Guidelines in bulletin for protocols for Sacraments. Confessions: Saturday ~ 4:15 pm, or anytime on request Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Wednesdays: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Sacrament of Baptism Call the Parish Office to schedule a Baptism. For the time being, baptisms are will be celebrated outside of Masses, rather than during a scheduled Mass. Sacrament of Marriage Arrangements with a priest required at least one year prior to the wedding date. Visitation of the Sick Fr. Albert is pleased to bring Holy Communion to parishioners who are unable to join us for weekly worship. Call the Parish Office to arrange a time. We welcome all visitors to St. Anne Parish. If you would like to join our faith community, please call the Parish Office to register: 508-485-0141 TWENTY - SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME September 27, 2020 Would you like to receive a copy of the bulletin via email every week? Please send an email to: [email protected]with “St. Anne Bulletin List” in the subject line. ST. ANNE PARISH MISSION STATEMENT We, the people of St. Anne Parish, Southborough, in the Diocese of Worcester are called through Baptism to become one faith family. We commit ourselves to embody the presence of Christ in Word and Sacrament; by using our ministries to welcome all who are seeking Jesus and to share in the life and work of our Catholic faith. In the spirit and truth of the Holy Trinity, we will use our time, talents and treasure to answer God’s com- mand to love one another as He has loved us, in holy worship, prayer, Catechetical formation for all, evangelization and service to others. “Do nothing out of selfishness; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves…” (Philippians 2:3) Pride and ego are hard things to control. We see how others act or dress and think we are superior to them. We idolize our own self-image. But, if we truly believe everything is a gift from God, we recognize all the people that God has put into our lives as gifts! We are grateful for how they enrich our lives. Pray every day for the people in your life: your family, your friends, and those who make you angry.
Transcript
SAINT ANNE PARISH 20 Boston Road Southborough, MA 01772
Children’s Liturgy of the Word will resume in the late fall.
Daily Mass Schedule:
Week Day Mass Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am
First Fridays: 9:00 am
Healing Mass: First Wednesday of every month suspended until further notice.
Please see Reopening Guidelines
in bulletin for protocols for Sacraments.
Confessions:
Saturday ~ 4:15 pm, or anytime on request
Exposition and Adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament: Wednesdays: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sacrament of Baptism
Call the Parish Office to schedule a Baptism. For the time being, baptisms are will be celebrated outside of Masses, rather than
during a scheduled Mass.
Sacrament of Marriage Arrangements with a priest
required at least one year prior to the wedding date.
Visitation of the Sick Fr. Albert is pleased to bring Holy Communion to parishioners who are unable to
join us for weekly worship. Call the Parish Office to arrange a time.
We welcome all visitors to St. Anne
Parish. If you would like to join our
faith community, please call the
Parish Office to register:
508-485-0141
TWENTY - SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
September 27, 2020
Would you like to receive a copy of the bulletin via email every week?
Please send an email to: [email protected] with “St. Anne Bulletin List” in the
subject line.
ST. ANNE PARISH MISSION STATEMENT We, the people of St. Anne Parish, Southborough, in the Diocese of Worcester are called through Baptism to become one faith family. We commit ourselves to embody the presence of Christ in Word and Sacrament; by using our ministries to welcome all who are seeking Jesus and to share in the life and work of our Catholic faith. In the spirit and truth of the Holy Trinity, we will use our time, talents and treasure to answer God’s com-mand to love one another as He has loved us, in holy worship, prayer, Catechetical formation for all, evangelization and service to others.
“Do nothing out of selfishness; rather, humbly
regard others as more important than yourselves…”
(Philippians 2:3)
Pride and ego are hard things to control.
We see how others act or dress and think we are superior to
them.
We idolize our own self-image. But, if we truly believe
everything is a gift from God, we recognize all the people
that God has put into our lives as gifts!
We are grateful for how they enrich our lives.
Pray every day for the people in your life: your family, your friends, and those who make
you angry.
Liturgical Minister Schedule
September 26 & 27 ~ TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN OT
5:00 pm Lector Roger Jolicoeur
Communion Ministers Debbie Simon
8:30 am Lector Nancy Denardo
Communion Ministers Julia Denardo Roney
10:30 am Lector Jim Garden
Communion Ministers Steve Buttiglieri
October 3 & 4 ~ TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN OT
5:00 pm Lector Roger Jolicoeur
Communion Ministers Debbie Simon
8:30 am Lector Elaine Yetman
Communion Ministers Doris Campero
10:30 am Lector Jim Garden
Communion Ministers Joe Cruciani
5:30 pm Lector Melissa Shields
WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE
with MASS INTENTIONS (September 26 to October 4)
SATURDAY 26 5:00 pm For Jerome Comcowich by the Shields family
SUNDAY 27 8:30 am For St. Anne parishioners
10:30 am For James Raymond by Linda Bradstreet
MONDAY 28 9:00 am For Bryan Boney (Healing) by his sister Juli Hodi
TUESDAY 29 9:00 am For Margaret Ann Hostage
WEDNESDAY 30 9:00 am For Fr. Charles Borowski (priest in the Worcester Diocese)
THURSDAY 1 9:00 am For Fr. Thirburse Millott (Healing) by St. Anne parishioners
FRIDAY 2 9:00 am For Chris Adam, Trevor Fuller (Healing) by the Philbin-Hannigan family
SATURDAY 3 5:00 pm For Joan Misener by Donna and Melissa Domica
SUNDAY 4 8:30 am For St. Anne parishioners
10:30 am For Elizabeth White McGonagle (mother of Ken McGonagle) by the Shields family
5:30 pm For the students and teachers of St. Anne Parish
Livestreamed St. Anne Masses:
Continued livestream offerings of 5:00 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Sunday and 9:00 a.m. daily Masses through
our parish website!
• Go to parish webpage: www.stannesouthborough.org.
• Scroll down to “ECatholic Live: St. Anne Southborough”. See logo on right. Or click on Quick Link in box on the right of web homepage.
• Click on the arrow in the middle of the logo at 5:00 p.m. for Saturday evening Mass, 10:30 a.m. for Sunday Mass , and 9:00 a.m. for daily Masses Monday through Thursday.
St. Anne Parish Livestreamed Daily and Weekend Masses
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most
Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my
soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You
sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite
myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Prayer sponsors are asked to continue praying for our 2019-20 First Communion students.
Drop a note/card in the “mailbox” in the main church foyer, in the collection basket, in the Parish Office foyer, or mail
the note to St. Anne Church, 20 Boston Road, Southborough, MA 01772 (writing the sponsoree’s first name on the back of the envelope.) Sending note remotely? Email note to the Parish Office or to [email protected] to have your note
We Reached Our Partners in Charity Goal
In fact, we continue to surpass our 2020 Partners in Charity Appeal parish goal of $76,000 with a gift of
$96,330.00 from 95 parish donors as of 9/16/20.
The diocesan ministries supported by this appeal “serve tens of thousands of people in Worcester County, from families in (y)our parish to those on the fringe of society.” Thank you for living out this year’s theme of “Faith in Action: Called to
be Merciful” by your generous and compassionate support.
The appeal diocesan-wide is currently at 89% of its funding goal for all these important
ministries. Additional contributions are still being accepted at www.partners-charity.net.
Parish announcements and opportunities
TEXT/EMAIL SCAM ALERT!
Please be on notice that someone is using a fake email address and text messaging to attempt to run a scam. The sender poses as Father Albert to request that the
recipient purchase iTunes/gift cards for a “sick parishioner” or to ask a favor.
PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS SCAM AND DO NOT FALL VICTIM TO IT.
If ever in doubt about an email/text message, please call the Parish Office at 508-485-0141 or email
FC families that started their FC preparation classes in the fall of 2019 will celebrate the sacrament of First Communion during two
stand-alone Masses on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25.
Virtual Bible Study for Middle School Youth
All middle school youth in 6-8th grade are invited to participate in
the Diocesan Middle School Bible Study! Join us for an 8-part study as we take a closer look at Scripture, what it means, and why it is important for our lives. If you are interested
in learning more about the Bible and how it all fits together, then this is the perfect opportunity for you! Our
study will be broken up into 8 sessions that will be roughly 45 minutes each. These sessions will take place
on the third Sunday of the month beginning on Sunday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m . Over the course of the 8
sessions, we will discuss how to read and approach the Bible, the basic story from beginning to end, how to pray with Scripture through "lectio divina", and how the Bible connects to our lives. To sign up or for more information,
go to neworcester.org/middle-school-bible-study.
From the Desk of the Director of Religious
Education
Religious Education classes for all grades start on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4.
Grades 1-2 (Non-sacramental): Parents will be asked to pick up RE packet available at the Parish Hall at the end of each weekend Mass. From there we will continue to have parents pick up the take-home packets monthly to review with their child.
Grades 3-5 and Grade 2+ (2020-21 First Communion preparation class): Sundays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Grades 6-8: Sundays from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. (includes the 5:30 p.m. Mass)
Grades 9 & 10 (2-year Confirmation preparation): Sundays from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. (includes 5:30 p.m. Mass) If you have not registered, please go to www.stannesouthborough.org or pick up paper copy registration forms at the entrance to the church and in the Parish Office to register. Completed paper copies can be mailed to 20 Boston Road, Southborough, MA 01772 or dropped off in the Parish Office. Also we are still looking for a couple volunteers to assist with RE classes. Please contact Dan Doyle at 508-485-0181 or [email protected] if interested.
Dan Doyle
Our Father’s Table
Thank you to the over a dozen St. Anne families that helped provide ready-to-go
meals from Zumi’s for Our Father’s Table (OFT) patrons on Thursday,
September 24 at 4:30 p.m. St. Anne parishioners sponsored meals through the
Online Giving: St. Anne Parish partners with WeShare for on-line giving. WeShare allows both onetime gifts, as well as regular,
scheduled donations. Please visit our Parish website www.stannesouthborough.org for the link to WeShare.com or call 1-800-950-9952 and use option 1 to answer any questions.
St. Anne’s Website: With our website we have an additional resource for online giving and online CE registration. St. Anne
Parish partners with eCatholic and BluePay for easy on-line giving. Our one-step on-line form allows both one-time gifts, as
well as regular, scheduled donations. Please visit our Parish website www.stannesouthborough.org and select the Quick Link
to the BluePay On-Line Giving page.
Thank you for your continued
generous support!
United Parishes of Southborough Food Pantry A HUGE thank you to everyone who continues to support the Southborough Food Pantry. You truly put into action Christ’s
message to “feed the hungry” and to “give comfort to my people”. Thank you so very much on behalf of the
Southborough Food Pantry.
As of September 23, the Pantry is in need of:
As most food items are date sensitive, please be sure that your donation is not out of date.
Donations may be left in the foyer of St, Anne Parish Hall. If you know of anyone who could benefit from the Food
Pantry, please encourage them to contact the Food Pantry. Please see the NEW hours and precautions in place outlined in a letter sent to the Pantry clients on a
page below.
Pantry hours (located at Pilgrim Church) for CLIENTS are
Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Fridays from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Pat Draper, St. Anne Parish Coordinator
• Cranberry Juice
• Tea
• Coffee
• Spaghetti
• Spaghetti Sauce in Jars
• Diced Tomatoes
• White Tuna in Water
• Boxed Stuffing Mixes
• Beets
• Mixed Vegetables
• Chowders
• Chocolate Cake Mix
• Crackers
• Cookies
• Dish Detergent
• Plastic wrap
• Kleenex tissues
• Napkins • Shampoos and
Conditioners
• Soap - Dove, Zest, Lever
• Toothbrushes
• Pump Hand Soap
• Pet Food - wet and dry
• Kitty litter
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK:
Sr. Yvette, Dianne Higgins, Millie Garden, Seminarian Alex Quach, Pat Moran, Fr. Thirburse F. Millot, Katie Kulik, Elaine Arrison, Jackie Di Buono, Rachel Attaway, Matthew, Susan Cioppa, Anne Comcowich, Lillian Franco, Mary
Hunt, Hans, Elisabel Borreani, Peg Nicosia, Dr. Malgorzata McMasters (Covid-19 Healing), Tom Livingstone, Bob Seariac (Covid-19 Healing), Charlie Flathers, Nancy Denardo, Pat Fitzgerald, Anne Meek, Paul LeDuc, Marie Martin, Sheila, Annie Lonzoria (Healing), Bryan Boney (Healing)
Want to add your name or the name(s) of others to the Prayers for the Sick listing? Please email the names to the Parish Office
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto Parish, 37 Massasoit Road,
Worcester, will begin its Miraculous Medal Novena Tuesday, September 1 for nine consecutive Tuesday evenings at 7:00
p.m., through Tuesday, October 27. A great opportunity for graces and the tremendous power of intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of our
parish. Mark the dates and plan to come and bring a friend.
This year’s remaining speakers are:
• September 29 - Bishop Robert J. McManus • October 6 - Rev. Jonathan J. Slavinskas • October 13 - Deacon Paul Audette • October 20 - Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan • October 27 - Rev. Juan D. Echavarria
Catholic Men's Group in Worcester
Christ the King Parish, 1052 Pleasant Street, Worcester, will host a (relatively) new men’s group meeting for prayer
and spiritual development on First Fridays, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m., in the church. (Friday, October 2 ) The format will vary, but will incorporate prayer, the
rosary, spiritual reading and discussion (and maybe get a bite to eat off
campus). All Catholic men are invited and welcome.
diocesan information and announcements
Grief Support Virtual Workshop
St. Mary Parish, Uxbridge will be offering “Grieving with Great HOPE,” a five-week grief support workshop from Good Mourning Ministry, a Catholic Apostolate to assist
those mourning the loss of a loved one. The workshop will be conducted on Zoom and is for anyone who has lost a
loved one, including a spouse, child, sibling, cousin, etc. Meeting dates are Thursdays: October 1, 8, 15, 22
and 29 from 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. As Catholics, we are given hope for eternal life in the risen Lord for ourselves and for
our loved ones. In this workshop we will be taught practical tools for intentional mourning. We will also pray and journey together to become disciples of hope. Cost is
$10.00 and includes an accompanying workbook. To register, please call the
Please read the letter below (Page 6) from Bishop McManus about a virtual event taking place on Monday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m. to raise funds for retired priests of the diocese.
Responding to Recent Natural Disasters
In solidarity with our brothers in sisters who are struggling to recover from natural disasters in Louisiana and
California, Bishop McManus along with his brother Bishops are asking Catholics around the country to donate
to the Bishops’ Emergency Disaster Fund which funds relief efforts led by Catholic Charities USA and Catholic
Relief Services.
If you would like to make a donation to help those impacted by recent disasters including Hurricane Laura
and the California wildfires, please visit worcesterdiocese.org for more information on where
to send a check or to make an online contribution.
Please keep all the families who have lost everything as a result of these disasters in your prayers.
Novena to St. Therese St. John Parish, 44 Temple St., Worcester, will hold its annual novena Wednesday,
September 23 - October 1.
The novena Mass schedule is as follows: Monday-Friday: 6:15 p.m.;
Saturday: 4:15 and 7:15 p.m.; Sunday: 8:00, 10:15 a.m., 12:15 and 7:15 p.m.
Masses will also be live-streamed at facebook.com/stjohnspage, daily at 6:15 p.m., Saturday at 4:15 p.m., and
Sunday at 10:15 a.m.
St. Therese Feast Day Mass
Due to the pandemic, in lieu of the Triduum, St. Mary of the Hills
Parish, 630 Cross Street., Boylston, will celebrate Mass on the Feast Day of St. Therese, Thursday,
October 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi
The Secular Franciscans of St. Anne will celebrate the Transitus of St. Francis in the Church, the transition of St. Francis birth to eternal life occurs every year on the eve of the Feast of St. Francis on Saturday, October 3 from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. A
short reception will follow along with our monthly gathering.
Applications are available beginning July 1 for vendors to participate in the Vendor & Craft Fair at Sacred Heart
Parish Hall, 11 Day St., Webster to be held on Saturday, November 14 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Great
opportunity for quilters, crafters, and vendors.
For more information visit sacredheartwebster.org.
Sponsored by the Sacred Heart Parish Music Ministry.
Interfaith Prayer Gathering
All are invited to an interfaith gathering to pray for our country held each second Saturday of the
month (October 10) at 12 noon at Union Common in downtown Marlborough.
Hosted by United We Pray / Bells of Repentance
Honoring Married Couples on their Wedding Anniversary
Due to the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic, a public celebration of the annual
Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass will not be held this year. Congratulatory certificates from Bishop McManus to
couples celebrating significant wedding anniversaries in 2020 will be issued by postal mail. Couples wishing to
receive certificates should complete the registration form at www.worcesterdiocese.org/wedding-anniversary-mass by
Thursday, October 15 or contact the Office of Marriage and Family at 508-929-4311 to request that a copy of the
registration form be sent to you.
Livestreamed Mass Changes for St. Paul Cathedral
Beginning Sunday, September 6, the Sunday Mass is live from St. Paul Cathedral at 10:00 a.m. and the Spanish Mass airs at 11:00 a.m. (a replay of the 8:00 a.m. live
Mass). We will no longer air a 6:00 p.m. Mass on Spectrum. It will continue to be
available online from worcesterdiocese.org for viewing after
10:00 a.m. on Monday.
Christian-based Money Management Education
St. Mary Parish will be offering the 9-week Christian based money management program from Ramsey Solutions through Zoom beginning on Friday, September 24 to
November 20 from 6:30 p.m. -7:45 p.m.
If you are having money struggles or simply want to learn a new way of managing your money, this course will help.
The course is informative and fun! You will come to understand the basics of money management through a
commonsense approach.This program is for all who are 18 and older including singles, married, and engaged couples.
Married couples are encouraged to attend together. This course can change your life and the life of your family.
The course is $129.99 per person/couple and includes the course workbook and access to Ramsey + online tools for
one year.
For more information or to register, please contact Gerry at [email protected] or 508-883-8759 or Diane at [email protected] or 508-278-2226.
diocesan information and announcements
Blessing of Animals CANCELLED in Worcester
Due to the pandemic, it is with great sadness that, after 25 years, the annual Blessing of Animals
will not take place at Sacred Heart-St. Catherine's this fall. May St. Francis of Assisi keep all God's creatures safe from harm and sickness. We hope to
see all of our little friends next year.
Respect Life Wednesday Webinars
The Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Worcester invites you to join our “Wednesday Webinars”!
The webinars will be held on four consecutive Wednesdays beginning September 23 at 2:00
p.m. Dates and topics include:
• September 23: Respect Life Ministry in the Parish: The Church’s Vision
• September 30: Parish Respect Life Ministry in a Time of Pandemic
• October 7: Celebrating Respect Life Month
• October 14: Using the Respect Life Program All Year Long
Whether you have been involved in Respect Life Ministry
for many years, are considering starting or joining a ministry in your parish, or would simply like to learn
more, there is something for everyone!
Pre-registration is required to receive a login link. To register, send an email
to [email protected] with your name, parish, email address, and date(s) for which you are registering; include the words “Webinar Registration” in the subject
line. To download a flyer with webinar descriptions visit www.worcesterdiocese.org/respect-life.
Thus says the LORD: You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, he does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
The Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your love are from of old. The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD. R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way. R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
READING II Philippians 2:1-5
A Letter from St. Paul to the Philippians
Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others. Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord.
Readings for twenty-sixth Sunday in ordinary time
John 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 21:28-32 “The Parable of Two Sons”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not, ' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, ‘but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
GOSPEL for twenty-SIXth Sunday in ordinary time
Never Too Late to Change
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A September 27, 2020
Reading II: Philippians 2:1-5 Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
All three readings today give advice and encouragement for every person to live an upstanding life. The first reading from Ezekiel does this by way of a threat that was in keeping with how the ancient Jews thought of life and death. The idea of everlasting heaven and hell hadn’t developed yet, so they didn’t believe in the afterlife as we do. They thought that if you don’t live a just and virtuous life, your punishment would be an early death. On the flip side, if you lived well, you would earn yourself a longer life. It’s not hard to imagine how that thinking developed into the Christian understanding that how we live on earth will determine our fate for the afterlife. Jesus, and later St. Paul, expanded on this idea by stressing that God’s mercy and grace reach beyond human behavior. We don’t earn our salvation — God grants it. Jesus’ parable today seems straight-forward. It’s better for a child ultimately to do what he or she was asked, even if they didn’t agree to it initially. The chief priests and elders knew right away that is the preferred outcome compared to a son who promises something but doesn’t follow through. So what is the point of the parable? It seems so obvious. The kicker comes when we think about who Jesus is addressing here. He is talking to the chief priests and elders, the ones who thought they were the good ones, the righteous ones, the virtuous, chosen ones who deserved to be handed the Kingdom of Heaven because of their good behavior. Yet he points out that when John the Baptist came preaching repentance, inclusion, and economic and social justice, they dismissed him and ignored his message. On the other hand, the tax collectors and prostitutes (people looked down upon and ridiculed by the chief priests and elders) listened and heeded John the Baptist. They had the humility to recognize they needed to ask forgiveness and change their ways, and they did. Suddenly, Jesus’ point becomes clear — it’s never too late to change our ways, ask for forgiveness, and be welcomed into the Kingdom. On the other hand, if we say we want to do God’s will, but never get around to it, we are no better than the hypocritical chief priests and elders. Questions of the Week 1. Who do you usually relate most to — the first son or second son? Why? 2. Is there something God might be asking you to do that you are putting off or resisting?
Prayer in Time of Pandemic
O God, Whose only begotten Son bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation, hear the prayers of your
Church for our sick brothers and sisters and deliver us from this time of trial.
Open our ears and our hearts to the voice of your Son: Be not afraid, for I am with
you always.
Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants; give us the wisdom
to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and
confident in your Mercy.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen
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United Parishes of Southborough, Inc. Food Pantry c/o Pilgrim Church
Dear Food Pantry Clients, In this changing environment, due to the increased impact of the Corona Virus, we are once again implementing a new procedure effective immediately for your safety as well as the safety of all our volunteers. We will continue this procedure as long as we are able. The latest schedule for the Southborough Food Pantry will be: Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Clients only, please!) Friday mornings from 9:30-10:30 a.m. (Clients only, please!) Please note: we will not be open on Tuesday evenings. By 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, please provide us by e-mail ([email protected]) a list of your needs, being as specific as possible. Give us a preference for the meat you would like. We will fill it if we have it or when you pick up your order, we will offer you an alternative meat selection. If you do not have access to an e-mail, please call us at 508-485-4847, wait for the Pantry prompt and then leave your name and phone number. We will call you back to get your order. NEW! When you come to the Pantry on Thursday evening or Friday morning, please stay in your car. Someone will direct you where to park. Masks are required from this point on. When directed, get out of your car and go into Fellowship Hall. Follow the arrows inside to look at the selections and get your grocery bags which will be on a cart. Take your cart with all your groceries to your car. Return the cart to the Pantry person outside. All carts will be sanitized before use by the next person. **If you do not feel safe coming inside at this time, we will bring your groceries out to you. IMPORTANT: This pick up service is for all clients unless you are sick or personally unable to get to the Pantry. For these clients, we will deliver to your outside door or patio. We thank all of you for your cooperation. We pray that the impact of this virus will quickly come to an end. Sincerely, The Food Pantry Coordinators Please keep these times for Pantry Clients only. Donations can be made at any other time by leaving items in bins by the pantry door at Pilgrim Church (or at local parish collection sites). Please secure donation bin lid, especially during inclement weather.
St. Anne Parish is committed to the health and well-being of our people and community. Please find the guidelines that are intended for use in the first phase of lifting the suspension on public celebrations of the Sacred Liturgy, as announced by Bishop McManus on May 18, 2020.
Restriction on the size of Public Gatherings: In his order of May 18, 2020, Governor Baker has mandated a strict limitation of forty percent of the building occupancy permit of any public gathering during the first phase of the reopening. Any public celebration of the Liturgy or public devotions should be limited to forty percent of the capacity of the Church, as recorded on the occupancy permit, including liturgical ministers, the faithful and all support personnel. Keeping this forty percent policy in mind, our church can hold only 30 parishioners. Once there are 30 parishioners in the church, an usher will direct the faithful to the Parish Hall abiding by the same restrictions in the church. Continuing Suspension of the Sunday Obligation: Because older adults and those with underlying health conditions continue to be advised to avoid public assemblies, the suspension of the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays will remain in force until December 31, 2020. Protocol Education: Parishioners will be reminded of the continuing necessity of social distancing and what they is expect when they return to Church with the appropriate educational materials in the form of bulletin inserts, Flocknote, social media and parish websites. There will be reminders at the start of the Masses too.
The Church Building Holy Water: All standing Holy Water will be removed from all fonts. Small individual bottles of Holy Water might be appropriately provided for parishioners at their request. Holy Water is also kept in larger closed container in front of the altar, from which the faithful might draw a personal supply. Hymnals and Missalettes: Hymnals and Missalettes are removed from the pews and are stored for possible future use. Please use online sources for the daily readings, etc. which may be accessed on their cell phone. Marking the Floor: The floor will be marked with removable tape at six-foot intervals approaching all communion stations and approaching the rest rooms in the parish hall. Cleaning: Pew backs and surfaces in bathrooms will be disinfected after every Mass. Door handles and other surfaces will also be disinfected daily. We would appreciate volunteers soon after the Mass to sanitize pews.
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People Arriving at Church Masks and Social Distancing: All members of the congregation should be masked and required to observe a minimum of a six-foot social distance. Liturgical ministers are not masked, except for the isolated instances noted below. People with medical/disabling conditions are exempted. We request them to go to the cry room or foyer at the main entrance of the church. It is mainly to avoid the unnecessary anxieties that would create among other parishioners. Seating: In order to promote social distancing, we have taped every other pew. As you enter the church, you will notice blue taped pews which should not be occupied. Please occupy the ones that has small blue square tape. We recommend that only three people should be seated in a pew, unless it is a family. Ushers: We would like to have two ushers for every Mass and would appreciate if you could volunteer. We hope to have younger and healthier parishioners. Their tasks would be:
• Wear a mask and assure that everyone entering the church has a mask or other suitable face covering;
• Direct those entering the Church to observe social distancing; • At the time for Distribution of Holy Communion, direct communicants to leave their pews one
row at a time while observing the requisite social distancing. One Entrance: There will be only one entrance to the church in order to reduce the overflow of parishioners. The door near the ramp will be open and all other doors will be locked.
The Mass Singing: A cantor and organist may lead the music. No congregational singing is allowed, with the exception of the Gospel Acclamation, Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, Great Amen and Agnus Dei. The Opening and Closing music are instrumental or sung only by the cantor/organist. All the other parts of the Mass are recited. Seating of Liturgical Ministers: Liturgical ministers should be seated at a minimal distance of six feet from each other. The first pew in front of the ambo is reserved for lectors and Extra ordinary ministers. Please find acnearby seat if someone comes with a wheel chair. Processions: Entrance and recessional processions will be suspended. The Priest will be entering the sanctuary directly from the sacristy. Collection: Instead of passing collection baskets, please place your weekly donations in the basket, kept near the entrance of the church. Offertory Procession; The offertory procession is suspended. Preparation of the Gifts: The priest will take care of the preparation of gifts. In case we have altar servers, they will be asked to keep a social distance of six-foot. Servers bringing the gifts to the Priest or washing the hands at the lavabo should wear a mask. This is the only time during the Mass when the servers will wear a mask.
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Reception of Holy Communion in the church: Hand sanitizer will be kept in the middle of the church, approximately at the fourth pew near the sanctuary. As each person leaves their pew to come for Communion, use the hand sanitizer to sanitize one’s hands before receiving Holy Communion. Reception of Holy Communion in the Parish Hall: The extra ordinary minister will bring Holy Communion to you and so you do not need to stand in queue. The usher will give you the hand sanitizer before you receive Holy Communion. All Physical Contact Avoided: The invitation to exchange the Sign of Peace and the shaking of hands with parishioners at the end of Mass are suspended.
Distribution of Holy Communion Both Species: The distribution of the Precious Blood to all is suspended. Communion on the Tongue: We encourage all the parishioners to receive Holy Communion on their hands. If someone still wishes to receive on the tongue, the priest and extra ordinary ministers will not refuse. Ministers of Holy Communion: Priests and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will be masked but not gloved. They will use hand sanitizer before and after the distribution of Holy Communion; During the Distribution of Holy Communion: While the distribution of Holy Communion takes place in the usual manner, care should be taken to avoid all contact with the hands or tongue of the communicant. To this end, a small table should be placed in front of the altar with an unfolded corporal and a bottle of hand sanitizer. Whenever the minister of Holy Communion senses that he/she has touched the hand or tongue of a communicant he/she stops immediately, places the ciborium on the corporal, purifies his/her fingers, and returns to the distribution of Holy Communion. Cleansing Vessels: All Communion Vessels should be thoroughly washed after each Mass once they have been purified.
Celebration of the Sacraments The Sacrament of Confession: Traditional confessionals are unsafe due to the closeness of the Priest and penitent separated only by a grill not designed to prevent virus transmission. Likewise, the transmission of the virus from one penitent to another is possible via the surfaces touched and the dangers from aerosolization of the virus in a small space. The small size of most “Rooms of Reconciliation” present similar potential dangers. We will use our cry room as confessional room for time being. If the weather is good, we might have it near the ramp of our parish office. Whether the confession is heard in the cry room or near the ramp, both priest and penitent should wear a mask or face covering. The confession should not last longer than three to five minutes, in order to limit exposure of both Priest and penitent. The confession will be heard from 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturdays. You are welcome to call and make appointment at any other time.
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Anointing of the Sick: The priest will begin to return to administering the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to their parishioners. He will discuss with the person or family with regard to Covid+ and non-Covid+ patients before going to anoint. Funerals: Funeral Masses may be celebrated with the same restrictions as for any Mass, including the appropriate provisions for social distancing and liturgical adaptations. The family should be seated by the Funeral Director upon arriving in Church. Only 30 people are allowed to attend the funeral. If there are more than 30 people, the Parish Hall will be set up with closed circuit TV. Weddings: The Sacrament of Matrimony may be celebrated with the same restrictions as for any Mass, including the appropriate provisions for social distancing and liturgical adaptations. Only 30 people are allowed to attend the wedding. The Parish Hall will also be available. Baptisms: Only individual Baptisms may be celebrated with a prudent limitation on the number of people present and the requisite considerations for social distancing. All rites should take place with the family remaining in the pew, with the exception of the moment of Baptism, when either the parents or godparents approach the font while carrying the child and then, after the explanatory rites, return to their pew. All who are present wear masks throughout, with the exception of the Priest and the child to be baptized. Only 30 people are allowed to attend the baptism. All baptisms will be celebrated outside of the Mass until further notice. Confirmations: Additional information will be forthcoming concerning the Sacrament of Confirmation as civil restrictions on crowd sizes are further modified. First Holy Communion: Our Religious Education Director and First Holy Communion teachers are discussing with the First Holy Communicants’ parents about the possibility of having the First Holy Communion this year. We will update plan taking into account family responses and best health practices. Adoration on Wednesdays: We are planning to resume Holy Hour on Wednesdays. We will reach out to those who usually sign up for the Adoration to check their availability. We will update the parish community once this is confirmed. Parish office will be open: The Parish Office will be open from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. Please remember to wear a face covering and to follow social distancing rules. We encourage our parishioners to come and be seated in the couch placed at the entrance of the Parish Office rather than walking in to the secretary’s office. Seminarian for pastoral exposure: We are happy to announce that we will have a seminarian for this summer to have pastoral exposure. Please read the bulletin for more information. Masses: We have regular Mass at 9:00 am from Monday to Thursday. We will accommodate only 30 parishioners for the weekday Mass. We also have weekend Masses: Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday 8:30 am, and 10:30 am. The Sunday 5:30 pm. Mass will be suspended until the fall. The 5:00 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses will continue to be livestreamed. Live Streaming: Regular Masses and Weekend Masses will still be live streamed and so our parishioners who are unable to participate in the Eucharist physically, will be able to have spiritual participation.
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Additional Questions on Phase I Re-Opening
In the course of the first week of reopening, priests and other pastoral leaders have worked assiduously to faithfully implement the guidelines mandated by Bishop McManus in his decree of May 18, 2020. As many of these priests have also sought the guidance of the Office for Divine Worship in implementing these guidelines, the following clarifications are offered for the benefit of our readers. Should bulletins be distributed at the end of Mass? Epidemiologists caution against the distribution of printed materials to the faithful at Mass. The risk if such materials are left on a table or in a box is that repeated accidental contact with surfaces may leave traces of the virus. The risk if ushers pass out bulletins at the end of Mass stems from the additional violation of social distance between the usher and members of the Congregation and the interruption of an ordered and socially distant exit from the Church. Therefore, we continue to distribute bulletins by emails only. If you would like to receive a bulletin, please inform the office. How should hosts for the faithful be safely consecrated? A ciborium or other vessel with hosts for distribution to the faithful should be placed on a corporal at some distance from the breath of the celebrant. The ciborium should be covered with a pall except from the epiclesis through the words of consecration. Is the true maximum capacity of a Church always forty percent of building capacity? No. The true maximum capacity should be the number of seats possible while maintaining a minimal social distance of six feet up to a maximum of forty percent of building capacity. Can the family provide readers for funerals? Reservations concerning the use of readers or other ministers seated in the congregation grow from the repeated contact with surfaces on the pew and ambo. Priests may choose to discourage ministers from sitting in the congregation or find a way to wipe down the pew and ambo immediately after their service is completed.
