Memorial Masses

Saturday, March 8, 4:00 PM: Arthur Walch

Sunday, March 9, 9:00 AM: Deceased members of

                                                            Monte family

                            11:00 AM: Katlyn Gosch

Wednesday, March 12, 9:00 AM: Suffering Souls

                                                            in Purgatory

Saturday, March 15, 4:00 PM: Gordon and Leota Tauer

 

 

Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world."

- Jn 11:25-27

 

“Oh my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live.” Adult: How has the Spirit of God given you new life this Lent? Child: How can you let the light of your faith in Jesus shine for others to see?

Question of the Week !

 

 

2008 CATHOLIC APPEAL: As you may know the new Catholic Appeal for the support of the works of the Archdiocese is now under way. It has started earlier this year. Packets for the Appeal are available at the exits of the church if you have not received one in the mail. The 2008 Catholic Appeal is a once-a-year fundraiser to benefit the many programs and services of our Archdiocese of Boston. The Appeal is to our Archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to our parish – so your participation and support are critical. Cardinal Sean thanks all the families from St. Zepherin Parish that contributed $22,454.38 in 2007. This year the goal for the number of parishioners participating is 169. Last year 92 contributed. Our financial goal is to raise $35,500. If we exceed our goal we will receive 25 percent of all funds raised above goal for use in our parish. Thank you in advance for your contributions!

WORSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING: Monday, March 10, at 7:15 p.m. in the church.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE MEETING: Tuesday, March 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the rectory.

MAKE YOUR HOLY WEEK PLANS NOW!: Next Sunday, March 16, is Palm Sunday. Plan on coming to the joint blessing of Palms with Community United Methodist Church in the Plaza at 9:45 a.m. This will be followed by our service in the church at 10 a.m. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil services will all be at 7:30 p.m. March 20, 21, and 22. These are great community celebrations of our faith!

 

Eucharistic Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to bring the Eucharist to residents of Wayland Rehabilitation Nursing Home. This requires a commitment of approximately 1/2 hour following the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays, several times a year. For information regarding this very rewarding ministry, please contact Marian MacDonald at 508-655-4710.

 

Financial Update

The offertory collection for the weekend of March 1/2 amounted to $10,969.10. Thank you for your gifts.

 

From the Worship Committee

   As you may have noticed, Easter is especially early this year. The most important three days of our liturgical calendar are coming: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. These three celebrations are all part of one three day liturgical event, the Triduum.

   On Holy Thursday we invite your active participation in the foot washing ritual. We need 6 high school aged or adult parishioners to represent the whole congregation and have their feet washed at the altar by Fr. Ron. These six participants then join Fr. Ron to go into the congregation to wash the feet of parishioners in the pews. This is an honor that requires the ability to get up and down easily. We also need 7 parishioners to carry the pitchers to assist in this part of the evening’s liturgy. We still need two women to carry the sacred oils as part of the entrance procession. If you can participate in any of these ways, please call or email Maria Mike-Mayer 508-358-7445 maria.mike-mayer@comcast.net or Anita Ouellette 508-655-0310 abouell@comcast.net. Please contact us at least by March 10. Our Easter preparations are underway!

 

 

For some reason this year, Lent seems to be going much faster than in years past! Perhaps it’s because Easter is so early, or it could be the weather…I don’t know why. I just know that it’s taking extra effort to slow down and reflect on Lent!

 

I recently received information about the National Catholic Youth Choir and its summer session this year. It is from June 16 to July 2 at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. This would be an outstanding opportunity for high school students going into grades 10, 11, and 12. Please contact me if you would like more information and how to apply. The deadline for applying is March 31.

 

The Adult Choir continues to be hard at work with rehearsals in preparation for Holy Week. Our next rehearsal is this Tuesday, March 11, at 7:00 p.m.; we’ve also added Saturday rehearsals. Call, e-mail, or come talk with me if you’d like to sing with the choir. If you play an instrument and would like to play in church, please come talk with me. See you in church! Kirk Hartung, Director of Music Ministry.

 

 

All Cluster children have received information about making a donation box and saving money during lent for the mission of Casa Corazon. Boxes may be dropped off anytime during cluster or at the rectory before Easter.

 

First Eucharist Children should be doing the lesson on Sharing a Meal p. 58-65 in the Gold Book during the month of March with their parents. The practice for First Reconciliation will be on Monday March 31 at 4pm. The March 29^th Share a Meal has been cancelled.

 

The Children’s Safety Program for grades K-1 will be held on Saturday March 15^th and March 29^th from 9:30 – 10:30am in the Center. The Safety Program for grades 2-5 will be held on Tuesday March 11^th from 3:30-4:30 in the Center.

 

Every Family has received a letter with end of the year information. Please return the form if you want your children to attend a Good Friday lesson from 10-11am on March 21. Please return the registration for the April 13^th Instructional Mass as well.

 

 

Saturday, April 5^th 8:45 am -1pm -Just Faith Workshop at Our lady Help of Christian Parish, 573 Washington St., Newton. Learn more about the Rich Social Justice of the Church. For more information contact Sr. Mary Corripio in the Office of Cultural Diversity at 617-746-5818

 

25^th and 50^th  Wedding Anniversary Mass- Cardinal O’Malley invites all couples of the Archdiocese who are marking their 25^th and 50^th wedding anniversaries in 2008 to join him for the annual celebration at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Sunday April 13^th at the 11:30am Mass.

 

Espousal Center in Waltham: Life in the Spirit for Married Couples. April 25-27. The weekend will include teachings, time for dialogue, quiet time, group sharing, inner healing prayer and anointing. Please contact 781-209-3120 for more information

 

Aluminum Tab Collection to Benefit Shriners Hospital – Help us raise money for Shriners Hospital by saving your aluminum tabs from sodas and other cans. Bring them to church or the parish center with you to drop off in the large containers you will find marked for Shriners.

 

This Lent:

Fast from judging others, Feast on Christ dwelling in 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 discontent, Feast on gratitude

Fast from pessimism, Feast on optimism

Fast from worry, Feast on God’s providence

Fast from complaining, Feast on appreciation

Fast from negatives, Feast on affirmatives

Fast from hostility, Feast on nonresistance

Fast from bitterness, Feast on forgiveness

Fast from self concern, Feast on compassion for others

Fast from discouragement, Feast on hope

Fast from lethargy, Feast on enthusiasm

Fast from suspicion, Feast on truth

Fast from thoughts that weaken, Feast on promises that inspire

Fast from shadows of sorrow, Feast on the sunlight of serenity

Fast from idle gossip, Feast on purposeful silence

Fast from problems that overwhelm, Feast on prayer that sustains.

 

 

Youth Ministry This Week

Grade 9 meets Sunday night. Topic: Theology of the Body, chapter 4.

9^th grade parents are invited to watch the DVD lesson in the Rectory Basement Conference Room following the 6PM Mass.

Grade 6 meets Monday night.

Grade 7 meets Tuesday night and Grade 8 meets Wednesday night. Topic for both grades: Building a THANKFUL

 

 

Character – Family, it is how we all begin.

All grades meet from 7 – 8:30.

 

Lector

Interested in becoming a lector? Please contact Joyce at joyceatstz@comcast.net or at the Rectory, 508-653-8013.

 

FastAThon

High School students are invited to participate in the 24 hour FastAThon on Good Friday – Holy Saturday. This even is limited to 40 and you must have a permission slip to be signed up. Participants are expected to raise at least $50. 100% proceeds go to Catholic Relief Services.

 

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1FROM THE GROUND

 

The eminent New Testament archaeologist Jonathan Reed has produced a large format paperback, beautifully illustrated with photographs, drawings, maps and time-lines that lets everyone enjoy what scholars have long known: The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament. What archaeology reveals about the first Christians. HarperOne, 2007. In the preface, Reed reflects on what he has learned from years of digging, teaching and writing about NT archaeology.

 

Salvation for Jesus’ disciples was not deferred to some future time and space, heaven: “. . .Christian origins are more social than personal, more concerned with this life than the next, more politically subversive than politically acquiescent.” Though Jesus had no contact with the urban culture of the cities of Tiberias and Sepphoris being built in Galilee. But he could not ignore the pressure which socio-economic change put on the village populations of tenant farmers, craftsmen, fishermen and laborers among whom he lived.

 

Compared with the lavish Roman houses of Pompeii, the rich dwellings in Sepphoris were unlike those around the lake: “Walls there were mostly make of unhewn field stones...Smaller stones, mud, and clay were packed into the interstices. . .the walls were not covered with white plaster or colored frescoes but simply smeared on the outside with clay or even dung. . .” (p. 68). The Galilean fishing boat had been made from salvaged timbers and poor local wood. Adult teeth show the ravages of gum disease and the wear of a diet composed mostly of grain. Other bones show the arthritis, fractures, curves and atrophy of a laboring population.

 

At the same time these people were loyal to their religious heritage. Jesus champions their cause: “. . .concern for the poor and social justice beats like a drum throughout the gospels; be it the opening blessing on the poor. . . or the feeding of the thousands . . .his kingdom of God was quite different from the kingdom [Herod] Antipas was building,” (p. 73).

Pheme Perkins

 

*Future Events*

 

Pax Christi Metrowest

The next meeting of Pax Christi will be held Monday, March 17, at 7 pm at the Morse Institute Library, First floor, 14 East Central Street, Natick. We will continue with our study of new migrants and guest worker programs in the U.S. One of the resources we are using is “Close to Slavery”, a report from the So. Poverty Law Center. In a world that settles differences by armed violence and defines “justice” as “revenge”, Pax Christi dares to break the cycle of violence by fostering reconciliation. We urge you to join us in praying and working for peace always, in our hearts, our homes, and our world.

 

Archdiocesan Bicentennial Pilgrimage to the 49^th International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City, Canada. Plan to mark the Bicentennial of the Archdiocese of Boston by coming together in prayer and fellowship with pilgrims from across the Archdiocese and from throughout the world at this special event in June 2008. Pope Benedict XVI has personally approved a most appropriate theme for this Congress: The Eucharist, God’s gift for the life of the world,” and he invites Catholics to converge on Quebec City to deepen their spiritual lives through our Eucharistic Lord. The Boston Archdiocesan Pilgrimage is providing a comprehensive travel package for adults (21 years and older) June 18-24 starting at $1275 double occupancy, as well as a special package June 18-22 with hostel accommodations tailored to young adults (ages 21-40) starting at $875 triple occupancy. To register and for more information please contact Fr. Michael Drea, Coordinator for Archdiocesan Pilgrimages at 617-479-5400 ext 12.

 

Saint Bridget School Celebrating 50 Years in 2008!

Serving grades pre-K through 8. Are you interested in learning more about our K1 (4 year olds) and Kindergarden programs? We invite you to join us on Sunday, March 30 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and Monday, March 31 from 9:00-11:00 am for an Open House. Saint Bridget School, 832 Worcester Road (Rte 9), Framingham. For more information please call Jean Nigloschy at 508-875-0181 x229 or www.saintbridgetschool.info. Come visit our school!

 

 

W.I.N.G.S. – Women in God’s Spirit

Wednesday mornings 9:30-11:30 am, St. Patrick Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick, lower church/parish hall.

            March 12 “Grace will lead us home” Speaker: Fr. Patrick Armano, Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Church, Needham.

            March 19 Praying the Stations of the Cross

            March 26 “Raising christian children in a secular world” Speaker: Fr. Michael Harvey, Parochial Vicar of St. Bridget Church, Framingham.

            April 2 “Witnessing to the next generation: Enabling our children to become good christian disciples” Speaker: Jan Tedeschi, parent educator and consultant.

            April 9 Closing Presentation and Spring Brunch

Supervised play group available on a first come first serve basis. To register and for further information please call Nancy Maguire at St. Patrick Church, Natick.

 

Art Auction (St. Stephen Church, Framingham)

The Parish of St. Stephen will hold an Art Exhibit and Auction on Sunday, April 6, in the parish hall from 1:30-5:00 PM. Fr. Albert (Bert) Stankard, Brother Eugene DeLauro, Bob O’Neil and Roger Levasseur will present works of theirs. If anyone else would like to exhibit and have their original paintings auctioned off, please talk with Fr. Bert at 508-875-4788 by March 19.

St. Zepherin Church

Palm Sunday: 4 PM Saturday

           10 AM & 6 PM Sunday

 

Holy Thursday: NO morning Mass. Mass will be at 7:30 PM.

 

Good Friday: NO morning Mass. Liturgy will be at 7:30 PM

 

Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil at 7:30 PM

 

Easter Sunday: Masses at 9 & 11 AM ONLY. No 6 PM Mass.

 

St. Ann Church, Wayland

Palm Sunday: 4 PM Saturday

                         10 AM Sunday

 

Holy Thursday: NO morning Mass. Mass will be at 7:30 PM

 

Good Friday: NO morning Mass. Liturgy will be at 7:30 PM

 

Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil at 7:30 PM

 

Easter Sunday: Masses at 9 & 10:30 AM

 

 

St. Zepherin Church Parish Directory

Fr. Ron Bourgault, Pastor

   fatherronatstz@comcast.net

 

Fr. John Mandile, SJ

   Assisting Priest (mid-week)

 

Marjory R. O’Day

   Religious Education (Grades K-5)

   Pastoral Associate

   Marge_oday@comcast.net

 

Joyce Pinney

   Youth Ministry (Grades 6-10)

   joyceatstz@comcast.net

 

Kirk Hartung

   Director of Music Ministry

   kirkatstzmusic@comcast.net

 

Gloria McCarthy

   Parish Manager

   stzepherin@comcast.net

 

Sacrament of Forgiveness/Reconciliation

   Saturdays, 3:15-3:45 PM, and by appointment

 

Sacrament of Baptism

   3^rd Sunday of each month. Please call the Pastor

 

Sacrament of Marriage

   By appointment. Please call the Pastor

 

Sacrament of Sick/Communion Calls

   Please call the Rectory Office

 

Food Collection

   2^nd & 4^th Sundays of each month

 

St. Zepherin Cemetery, Bent Avenue, Wayland,

   Please call the Rectory Office

 

Persons physically unable to access Communion are invited to tell the Presider or the Liturgy Coordinator before Mass. Arrangements can be made to bring Communion to you in your pew.

 

PLEASE REMEMBER: ITEMS FOR THE WEEKLY BULLETIN ARE DUE IN THE RECTORY OFFICE NO LATER THAN NOON EACH MONDAY.