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.

As of May 29, masks are no longer required for vaccinated people in the State of Massachusetts. The State does advise that non-vaccinated people continue to wear masks.

We no longer require masks in Church. If you would like to wear a mask, you are always welcome to do so but Masks are not required. Holy Family has a section designated for those that wish to sit socially distant from other people.

This dispensation from the Obligation to attend Mass remains in effect, so anyone who is unable to come to Mass, the 9:00am Mass on Sunday continues to be live-streamed on our website and on our Facebook page. The recording of the Mass is also available on YouTube later in the day.

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.

This Sunday is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Its purpose is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), consecrated life in all its forms (male and female religious life, societies of apostolic life, consecrated virginity), secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life. Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord's call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes.

Our parish has been given a unique opportunity to help people in our community grieve the many losses experienced during the Covid-19 Pandemic as well as recall the many millions of people who have either lost their lives or have been tragically affected by other pandemics in our world through the centuries. It’s made possible through the visit to our church by the Global Pandemics Bereavement Stone. The Global Pandemics Bereavement Stone was created by The Peace Abbey Foundation specifically to be moved so as to move grieving hearts on the long and difficult road of bereavement.

I share with you a prayer that appeared in the Christopher News Note (#411) entitled, "Living the Good Life - Why Values Matter."

Prayer for Growth in Love

Father, You have loved us from eternity without conditions.
Whether we are beautiful or plain,
rich or poor, saintly or sinful makes no difference.
Why can't we be that way toward each other?
Why do we magnify each other's shortcomings
and ignore the good features?
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I was touched by a song I heard on K-Love Radio (95.5 FM) the other day that I’d like to share with you. It’s called Truth Be Told by Matthew West. The music video is available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4wYkS8Z3Io. Here are some of the words:

Lie number one: you're supposed to have it all together
And when they ask how you're doing
Just smile and tell them, "Never better"

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.