Pastor's Corner

This Sunday, Palm/Passion Sunday, begins Holy Week, the time in our liturgical calendar when we celebrate the central mysteries of our faith, what the Church calls the Paschal Mystery – Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. We reflect upon what God has done for us in the unique expression of His mercy and love through Jesus’ offering of Himself in sacrifice to the Father for the forgiveness of our sins and those of all humanity. Having triumphed over evil, sin and death upon His resurrection from the dead, Jesus gives us hope that we too can triumph over all that would otherwise overcome us. This is made possible because Jesus has shared with us His risen life - His divine power, first received at our Baptism, and renewed each time we receive Eucharist. We are a people of hope because of Jesus!

Last Friday, March 19 was the Solemnity of St. Joseph – Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Foster Father of Jesus and patron of fathers, families, workers, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston (CSJ) and the Universal Church. In honor of this feast and in this Year of St. Joseph, I invite you to pray the following prayer to St. Joseph composed many years ago by Sister Celestina, CSJ.

I share with you below what I provided in my Flocknote Email Video Message of March 4th. If you’d like to receive these weekly emails/texts from Holy Family, visit: www.holyfamilyduxbury.flocknote.com or text HFDUX to 84576.

You might say I was the “late-comer” in my family, with a brother 20 years older and a sister 17 years older and then I came along. I have fond memories as a young child getting on my brother’s back in the living room and “riding” as if I were on horseback. It was delightful! Well, it wasn’t long after when my brother Bill enlisted in the Army. I was about 2, and he went away for a long time.

Some might say, I’m going to work at avoiding these certain sins. Others might say, I’m going to try to pray more to make God a more important part of my life. Well, it might help to, first, ask yourself this important, fundamental question. What is your ultimate goal as a Catholic? I often hear people say, “My goal is to get to heaven!” Yes, a worthy goal. But, is that the best reason?

I was asked to share in this week’s bulletin the following questions that I posed in my homily last weekend, which were to help us in these 40 days of Lent to reflect on our purpose/mission in life – not unlike what Jesus did during His 40 days in the desert as He prepared for His public ministry. So, I invite you to take a few moments to ask yourself these questions.

Did you know that Pope Francis declared this a Year of St. Joseph - from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021? The aim of the Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde “Heart of the Father,” announcing this special year, is “to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.” It was promulgated on December 8, 2020, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Joseph’s spouse, and the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pius IX declaring St. Joseph the Patron of the Catholic Church. Along with the Holy Father’s announcement came a proclamation from the Apostolic Penitentiary about special plenary indulgences that are now available for this Year of St. Joseph.

Contributions to Holy Family have slowed in recent weeks. To continue the wonderful ministry our staff members are providing, both onsite and virtually, we need you to make a weekly/monthly financial commitment to Holy Family. They’ve been working hard behind the scenes adapting to new realities, working around obstacles, creatively thinking outside the box to build community, reaching out in the midst of the isolation and social distancing – all with the mission to keep our faith front and center. And, we’re committed to see it through over the long haul. Your regular, generous support to Holy Family is what makes this ministry possible. To do this, please make an online recurring parish contribution by clicking here. We depend on you! Thanks for your consideration.

Did you know there’s a patron saint for victims of epidemics? It’s the 16th century Italian Jesuit, Aloysius Gonzaga. I thought it fitting to share this saint with you so that you might get to know him a bit and offer prayers for his intercession for us, since he was in a similar circumstance that we find ourselves in. St. Aloysius was born in 1568 in Lombardy, Italy, which, with quite some irony, is the region of Italy that currently serves as the epicenter for the Coronavirus in Europe! He was the eldest son of a noble family. A devout young man of deep faith, he was put off by the lifestyles of the aristocracy of the day, and felt called to enter the religious life. He renounced his royal title and entered the novitiate of the Jesuits.

This Thursday, March 19 is the Solemnity of St. Joseph – Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, patron of fathers, families, workers, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston (CSJ) and the Universal Church. In honor of this feast, I invite you to pray the following prayer to St. Joseph composed many years ago by Sister Celestina, CSJ.

Prayer to St. Joseph

Dear St. Joseph, as we begin a new day, we beseech you to exercise your true paternal solicitude for each and every member of the Mystical Body of Christ. To you, Universal Patron of universal needs, do we present our problems whatever they may be. Realizing with implicit confidence, how powerful must be your intercession because of the important part you played in the plan of the Incarnation, we confide all the vital issues confronting the world today. Whether they be respect for lawful authority, sanctity of the family, holiness of marriage, value of social justice, the dignity of labor, you can lead the way. With fatherly love, guard and guide us; obtain for us the gift of piety and the spirit of prayer that we may acquire that interior life ofpeace so necessary for our perfection.

Great Saint, model of all who work, obtain the graces necessary for this day that we may justly render to God and man the conscientious fulfillment of the duties required of us in the plan of God.

God bless you!
Fr. Bob

Our parish offers several opportunities to help you grow spiritually during the season of Lent. There are online resources, like Best Lent Ever (with Journal) and the Rediscover the Saints book Facebook parish discussion group, or the daily Scripture reflection booklets available for personal prayer. You may find just the right book or CD on our media resource kiosk in the side narthex. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is offered more frequently during Lent (Wednesdays: 6:30-8:00pm) to provide a renewing and healing encounter with our merciful Lord, Jesus. Have you considered attending daily Mass for Lent? Several of our parishioners make this a Lenten practice. Consequently, we offer the 8:15am Mass in the main church to accommodate the larger number of people. Following daily Mass, we pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the chapel. (Free Rosary beads are available on the table outside the chapel.) Stations of the Cross is offered at 5:00pm on the Fridays of Lent. It's led by children of our parish and includes free pizza downstairs afterwards. All – young and old are most welcome! Also, there's Adoration/Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Fridays (9:00am-5:00pm) in our chapel and on First Friday's for 24 hours! Have you ever just sat gazing at Jesus displayed in the monstrance? This period of prayer ends with Evening Prayer and Benediction at 5:00pm. These ancient prayers of the Church are something to be experienced if you've never had the pleasure.

Fast from judging others – Feast on seeing Christ within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences – Feast on the unity of life.
Fast from thoughts of illness – Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute – Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent – Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger – Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism – Feast on optimism.
Fast from complaining – Feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives – Feast on affirmatives.
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