Pastor's Corner

In this summertime, as we spend extra time with family and friends – especially the young ones, I offer this invitation to pray for children.

We Pray for Children

By Ina J. Hughes

We pray for children who sneak
popsicles before supper,
who erase holes in math workbooks,
who can never find their shoes.

I was having breakfast this morning and enjoyed a banana. Looking at the banana, I told God what a wonderful self-contained package of food you've given me... not in a cellophane wrapper, but purely natural. It's perfect! It's specially made to provide us with nutrition. Human beings didn't make it; it was harvested by farmers in South America. The banana trees depend on the sun and the rain to bear fruit. God's Divine Providence has put into motion the cycle of life that makes that possible! When you think about it, there's so much around us that gives us a glimpse of how God provides for us. This summer, take a moment to think of all the ways He shows his loving care for you.

Warm summer greetings! Summertime is an opportunity to slow down, have some quiet time, enjoy nature and center oneself... conditions that foster prayer. However, there is a risk! You may be ever more susceptible to an epidemic of a different kind than what we're contending with right now.

Symptoms of Inner Peace

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to inner peace and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Are you, a family member or friend searching for reasoned explanations for the teachings of our Church? Here are some resources, which may be helpful.

The website www.strangenotions.com founded by Brandon Vogt is a place where Catholics and atheists come together to have a rational discussion about the great questions of life. It features well-respected contributors who have provided rich content for the inquirer, including “20 Arguments for God’s Existence” by Dr. Peter Kreeft. Dr. Kreeft has also written a book with Fr. Ron Tacelli entitled, Handbook of Christian Apologetics providing an informative and valuable guidebook for anyone looking for answers to questions of faith and reason.

Following the announcement of Fr. Tom’s new appointment as Administrator at St. Bartholomew Parish in Needham, I’ve been asked whether Holy Family Parish will be getting another priest to take Fr. Tom’s place. The answer is no and yes. It’s no because there will be no Parochial Vicar formally assigned by the Archbishop to Holy Family Parish as of July 1. With fewer priests available for assignment to the growing number of collaboratives in our Archdiocese, many of which are comprised of two or three parishes/worship sites, in comparison, a “stand-alone” parish with one church like ours does not warrant a second assigned priest.

Our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Tom Gignac, has served here at Holy Family for the past five years. This has been his first assignment as a priest, having been ordained on May 21, 2016. After “learning the ropes” as a new priest while sharing his many gifts and faithful ministry with us, Cardinal Sean has now appointed him to a new assignment where he will have additional responsibilities and opportunities. Beginning July 1, 2021, Fr. Tom will become the Administrator of St. Bartholomew Parish in Needham, where he will assume leadership responsibility for the liturgical, spiritual, pastoral, formational, social and service dimensions of parish life as well as take on the various administrative duties akin to being a Pastor.

A few years ago, our parish hosted an extraordinary international exhibit of over 100 photographs and historical descriptions of some of the principle Eucharistic Miracles, which have taken place throughout the centuries from around the world. For Catholics, these miracles substantiate the fundamental belief that the bread and wine consecrated at the altar at Mass become the true and real presence of Jesus Christ - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. This is the great mystery we celebrate on today’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

With updated pandemic guidelines issued recently from the Archdiocese of Boston as a result of the relaxation of Covid restrictions by the State, beginning with this weekend’s Masses, social distancing will be optional and masks will no longer be required for vaccinated people. The State does advise that non-vaccinated people continue to wear masks.

I think the most forgotten member of the Blessed Trinity is the Holy Spirit. Yet, the Holy Spirit, which comes to us from the Father and the Son, is what makes the presence and power of God possible within our Church and our world. You might consider it the dynamic spiritual force of God that gives life, blesses, empowers, energizes, strengthens, enlightens, inspires, guides, unifies and makes holy. The seven gifts we’re given by the Holy Spirit, received in a special way in the Sacrament of Confirmation include: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord – which means revering God by offering Him due worship and devotion.

After a long winter in the middle of a pandemic, it’s refreshing to hear birds chirping, to see buds blossoming and spring flowers beaming their beautiful colors. These signs of new life, new beginnings and renewal are harbingers of what, we pray, is coming soon to our world that has been overwhelmed by Covid-19. I share with you below a prayer from the Christophers that reflects the hope of new life, which we celebrate in this Easter season. To learn more about the Christophers, visit www.christophers.org.

This day we honor and pray for those women who gave birth to us and raised us, those who are wives, aunts, godmothers, grandmothers and all who were/are like a mother to us. I’ve often thought that being a mother is the most important job in the world. When you think of the vital role she carries out in the family, the powerful influence on the development of her children, her often hidden heroism, the unconditional love she offers, the many sacrifices she makes for the well-being of her children, it reminds me of the love of Jesus. Here are some inspirational quotes taken from a book edited by Matthew Kelly entitled, The Thing About Mothers (available from www.DynamicCatholic.com).

Our town of Duxbury has faced some difficult and unsettling revelations recently that have shaken our sense of equilibrium and pride in who we strive to be as a community of integrity and goodness. The discovery of anti-Semitic language used in high school football play-calls as well as allegations of sexual abuse by a teacher in the middle school, have caused feelings of pain, disgust, insult, guilt, shame, anger, and embarrassment to name a few, as well as significant animosity and blaming. On top of that, to have these revelations aired in the worldwide media has only compounded those feelings.