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The
Question of the Week
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Mass Intentions:Saturday, August 4
Weekly Offertory
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Saint Vincent de PaulIn the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable about the rich man who selfishly stored all his grain and goods only to die and not enjoy his abundance anyway. What we struggle all our lives to learn is that life does not consist of possessions nor our perceived security, but of being possessed by God. This week, as you give your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to help the struggling poor, ask for the grace to be truly “possessed by God”.
St. Francis “Fishers of Men”
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! HELP WANTED
Looking for
someone with whom to share your faith? We are in need of teachers for the
following grades for our Religious Education Program: 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.
Special CollectionCardinal
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 THIS WEEKEND.
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! 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. Attention All Parish Volunteers! In keeping with the Archdiocesan policy for annual background checks for staff and volunteers, all volunteers must fill out and submit a July 2007 to June 2008 C.O.R.I. (Criminal Offender Record Information) form. Please come to the Parish Office to complete a new form. If you have any questions, please call Nancy Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm. You will need to bring your driver’s license with you. Thank you!
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 8th at Boarding House Park in Lowell at 11am to watch the Double Vision Juggling and Acrobatics Show! 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! Advertise your business… And support our St. Francis Parish Show! Ads are now being accepted for the program book for “Gone With the Breeze.com”, our annual show. Ad rates are ¼ page for $30, ½ page for $55, or full page for $100. Proceeds from the book and the show are being directed toward the Dracut Food Pantry, which will be opened later this year, and Cor Unum Meal Center at St. Patrick Church in Lawrence, which feeds a nutritious meal each night to 400 guests—most of them children—in one of the poorest communities in our country. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Pick up ad forms in the parish office or call Debbie qt 978-453-9882 or e-mail debhovan@comcast.net.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tuesday, August 14th
Wednesday, August 15th
Community News
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 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. Volunteers Needed! As with many other organizations, the Samaritans of Merrimack Valley rely on volunteers who, through the goodness of their hearts, reach out to help those in crisis. People from all walks of life are trained by Samaritans to offer support and caring to those who are lonely, despairing or suicidal. We are looking for anyone who can listen with an open mind, with compassion and without judgment. Please call Debbie at (978) 688-0030 or e-mail us at Samaritans@familyserviceinc.com. The remaining training sessions for 2007 are: August 20, 22, 27 and 29 from 6:30pm-9:30pm or October 20 and 27 from 9am-3pm.
Let us pray for, support and encourage those preparing for marriage …
Amanda
Guthrie and John Daigle
Kristin Lach
and Douglas Wade
Andrea Girolamo & Jason Trovato
Marie Y. Carpentier,
Parish Ministries and Information Sacraments Baptism: Please call the parish office to make arrangements. Marriage: Contact one of the parish priests at least six months in advance. Eucharistic AdorationMondays 9:30 AM-6:30PM RosaryThe Rosary is prayed Monday – Friday at 8:30 AM. Pastoral Care of the Sick & HomeboundPlease notify the parish office when parishioners are homebound, in extended care facilities, or are admitted to the hospital. Parish NursesCall Sharon at 978-454-6369 or Louise at 978-454-7970. Prayer LineCall Barbara at 978-937-0239 or Pat at 978-685-1137, also online at www.saintfrancis.net/prayerline. Alcoholics AnonymousMeeting in the Parish Hall every Saturday at 8:00 PM. Bulletin DeadlineTuesday at 5:00 PM.Bereavement SupportMeets second & fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 PM. Please call Louise Daigle at 978-454-7970. Saint Vincent de Paul Society Call Paulette in the Parish Office at 978-452-6611. Offertory EnvelopesWe encourage parishioners to use the weekly offertory envelopes. Contact the parish office if you’d like to receive them. Spiritual DirectionIf you are interested in spiritual direction, call Paulette in the parish office at 978-452-6611 or Marcy at 978-458-9715. Parish Pastoral CouncilJackie Carr 978-453-0882
Jcarr74@verizon.net 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.
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