The
Question of the Week
July 29th, 2007
After hearing, reading and reflecting on this Sunday’s readings…
What is your treasure and where is it?
Discuss it over a family dinner!
Talk on your way to the mall!
Make it a weekly household tradition!
Saint
Vincent de Paul
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that God is our “Father” and just as a
parent’s love for their children is unlimited, so is God’s love and care
for us unlimited. Your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul helps
the poor to know that God is indeed their “Father”.
St. Francis “Fishers of Men”
Deep
Sea
Fishing Trip
Join the men of St. Francis for a half-day deep sea
fishing trip on Saturday, August 25th.
The cost is $45 per person, and anyone under 18 must
be accompanied by an adult. To sign up, please call
the Parish Office at 978-452-6611. Join us!
Special
Collection
Cardinal
O’Malley has authorized a special collection to further the works of Proud
2 Be Catholic, an organization dedicated to the Catholic faith, in union
with the Pope and the bishops, holding to a dynamic orthodoxy as expressed
in Catholic music festivals, conferences, concerts and events which
provide an opportunity for all Catholics to celebrate, explore and
rekindle the Catholic faith together as one universal family of God.
Through a sponsorship with the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette,
through the use of interactive materials, teachings and presentations,
Proud 2 Be Catholic events encourage vocations to the Priesthood and
encourage the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This
collection will take place on the weekend of August 5th.
Liturgical Publications
Liturgical
Publications, Inc., our bulletin publisher, will have a sales
representative available within the next few weeks for those interested in
placing a new ad. This is your opportunity to secure a space for the new
publication year. To place your ad, please contact the sales person
listed on the ad page or our office. We would like to thank our present
advertisers for renewing their ad. Keep in mind—our advertising sponsors
make this publication possible.
We are delighted to welcome the
following children, who entered our Saint Francis Parish family of faith
through the waters of Baptism on July 22:
Tia Marie
Davenport
Jackson Colby Davenport
Little Sisters of the
Poor
The Little
Sisters of the Poor in Somerville are seeking fulltime or part time MDS/RN
for the elderly. Training available! Come join our talented staff and
enjoy a wholesome and peaceful atmosphere with minimal stress. Please
contact Wess Travers at 617-776-4420 or fax your resume to Wess Travers at
617-666-1357.
St. Mary’s
Pews For Sale
On Saturday, August 18 from 10am-12pm, we will be selling the pews
from St. Mary’s Church. They are in the basement at St. Louis Rectory
and the terms will be straightforward: $150 per pew and cash and carry!
The pews are solid oak and have been broken down so they are more easily
moved. They are in excellent condition and can be cut to any size
necessary. Spread the word!
Please Note…
The Parish Office will be closed in the EVENING ONLY on
Monday, July 30th and Tuesday, July 31st.
Sorry for any inconvenience!
Liturgical
Ministers Needed
We are in need of Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers and
Sacristans. Please call or e-mail Nancy in the Parish Office if you are
interested in serving in one of these very important ministries at (978)
452-6611 or
nmandarini@saintfrancis.net.
Meals for the
Rectory
A note from Fr. Bob
After a few months of three priests living in the rectory, I am
considering having a few nights in which someone would be hired to
provide supper. Generally, these are the details, but it is flexible:
Providing a meal for three people on Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights.
It could be prepared at the rectory or even brought in the late
afternoon. (In Newburyport, a person prepared supper for her
family—plus 3 extra places—and brought the meal to the rectory.) I
would even be happy if three people wanted to share the time, once a
week. If you are, or you know someone who might be interested in this
position, please call Fr. Bob at either the Ste. Marguerite or St.
Francis church office.
Explore the Shrines of Italy with Deacon John Hunt!
Join Deacon John and your fellow
parishioners on a 10-day tour of Rome, the Vatican, Assisi, Lanciano,
San Giovanni Rotondo (Padre Pio), Mt. St. Angelo, Pietrelcina and
Loreto. The trip will be held from October 30-November 8, 2007,
and the cost is $1,835 per person. For more information, an itinerary
and an application, pick up a brochure in the parish office!
SMART Program
For kids and the caregivers who love them!
Our summer
program has begun! Each summer, we meet at a different location out and
about in our community every Wednesday. We’ll continue our summer of fun
on Wednesday, August 1st at Boarding House Park in
Lowell at 11am to watch the rockin’ brother and sister musical act
“Michael and Marisa: Kids Sing the Hits”! Event will be held rain or
shine. Caregivers of children any age are welcome to attend. For more
information, contact Jessica Smith in the Parish Office in the evenings at
978-452-6611 or stop by the office to pick up a summer schedule!
Community News
Little Sisters of the
Poor
The Little
Sisters of the Poor in Somerville are seeking fulltime or part time MDS/RN
for the elderly. Training available! Come join our talented staff and
enjoy a wholesome and peaceful atmosphere with minimal stress. Please
contact Wess Travers at 617-776-4420 or fax your resume to Wess Travers at
617-666-1357.
Looking for some quiet God
space?
San Damiano
House of Prayer in Lowell is offering a Summer Weekend Retreat for Women
on August 24-26. The suggested donation for a weekend is $130
(includes two overnights, four meals, snacks, formal presentations, group
and private prayer and faith-sharing). For more information, call Sr.
Linda Greenwood at 978-441-0998.
Are you looking for a
Spiritual Director?
San Damiano
House of Prayer in Lowell has a trained staff as well as interns in
training. A Spiritual Director helps you become more aware of God in your
life and invites you to grow in your faith. For more information, call
Sr. Linda Greenwood at 978-441-0988.
Marriage Encounter
Come experience
an opportunity for building communication, creating intimacy, self esteem,
and enriching the values of marriage, family and faith. This program is
for couples who believe they have a good marriage but desire a deeper
understanding, a richer communication and more spirituality in their
marriage. The upcoming dates are the weekends of August 10th,
September 14th and October 19th. For details,
call 1-800-367-0343 or
www.mene.org.
Director of
Religious Education
Director of
Religious Education position available immediately at St. Augustine Church
in Andover, MA. This is a full time job administering a program for
approximately 1,300 students in grades one through ten. Salary is
commensurate with education and work experience. Send resume by August
3rd to c/o Anita Zompa, Pastoral Associate, St. Augustine
Church, 35 Essex St., Andover, MA.
Franciscan Center
of Andover, MA
Weekend Retreats
The Franciscan Center on
River Road in Andover is offering three different upcoming retreats.
On August 10-12, Marcy Venskus will offer a retreat on Clare of
Assisi.
On the weekend of August 24-26, Marge Milanese will offer a retreat
entitled “The Mysteries of the Rosary…a Journey through the Life of
Christ”. And on September 28-30, Maureen Casey, SND will conduct a
weekend called “Contemplating God in a
New England Fall”.
The cost for all retreats is
$150. For more information or to register for any of these retreats, call
the Center at 978-851-3391
75th
Anniversary Celebration for
Our Lady of Beauraing
On Wednesday,
August 22nd at St. Mary Magdalen Parish Center in Tyngsboro at
7pm, statues of Our Lady of Beauraing will be available that can only
be purchased through the Pro-Maria Committee here in the USA. Since most
of us cannot go on pilgrimage to Beauraing, we will come together here in
Tyngsboro. If you are interested or would like more information, contact
Irene at the Pro-Maria Office at (978) 649-1813 in the evenings only. The
Pro Maria Committee also has a very special statue of Our Lady of
Beauraing that has traveled all over the USA and Canada. This traveling
statue is available to visit with anyone who is interested in having it
for one week. Call Irene at the number above to set up an appointment.
Let us pray for, support and encourage those preparing for marriage …
Christine
Rogers and Eric Johnson
Wedding Date: August 5, 2007
Amanda
Guthrie and John Daigle
Wedding Date: August 11, 2007
Kristin Lach
and Douglas Wade
Wedding Date: August 11, 2007
The Rosary is prayed Monday – Friday at 8:30 AM.
Please notify the parish office when parishioners are
homebound, in extended care facilities, or are admitted to the hospital.
Call Sharon at 978-454-6369 or Louise at
978-454-7970.
Call Barbara at 978-937-0239 or Pat at 978-685-1137,
also online at www.saintfrancis.net/prayerline.
Meeting in the Parish Hall every Saturday at 8:00 PM.
Meets second & fourth Wednesdays of each month at
7:00 PM. Please call Louise Daigle at 978-454-7970.
Call Paulette in the Parish Office at 978-452-6611.
We encourage parishioners to use the weekly offertory
envelopes. Contact the parish office if you’d like to receive them.
If you are interested in spiritual direction, call
Paulette in the parish office at 978-452-6611 or Marcy at 978-458-9715.
Contact the
parish office at 978-452-6611 for more information about Religious
Education, Youth Ministry, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults),
Men’s Spirituality, Women’s Spirituality, Music Ministry, and other
Volunteer Opportunities.
