From the Pastor March 22/23

Critical Time for CRS

Next week’s second collection for Catholic Relief Services is critical! According to a press release issued by CRS last Monday, Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS stated that it works to alleviate suffering and assist people in need in more than 100 countries, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Its relief and development work is accomplished through emergency response programs, HIV prevention, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding efforts.

CRS has been gravely impacted by the Trump Administration’s dismantling of USAID. Over the last several weeks, CRS has had to halt its U.S. government-supported work due to the lack of payments: food in warehouses could not be distributed to the hungry, and women and children could not get vital health and nutrition services. Some of the funds suspended were to be used to pay CRS for materials and services it has already expended. 

The press release said: “By ending these life-saving programs, our government is not only neglecting our nation’s responsibility, but also weakening the very foundations of peace, stability, and prosperity. We urge the administration to reverse these terminations and issue prompt payments to continue this life-saving and life-giving assistance.”

Catholic Relief Services was founded at the end of World War II to help war refugees. Today, it works around the world to relieve the causes of poverty and lack of development. Its work assists with aid to agriculture, education, and emergency response and recovery. Ninety-four percent of donations are spent on programs and six percent on administrative costs. 

Next Sunday, be extraordinarily generous to the CRS collection. Show support for the work of our Church throughout the world. America must show its exceptionalism by being exceptionally generous to the poor of our world. Even a generous response by American Catholics to next week’s collection will not make up for a fraction of the funds supplied by USAID, so we must communicate to our government officials our demands that funding be restored for foreign aid and support for a sense of charity and social justice on the part of our nation. 

Sure, And It Was Good Craic 

That’s Irish for “And A Good Time Was Had by All”! The St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner was a tremendous success. Everyone in attendance said they really enjoyed themselves. The dinner prepared by Rik and Caren Morse from the Chatham Filling Station was exceptional, and parishioners renewed acquaintances. Thanks to the committee who organized a wonderful evening. Plans are being made for next year. 

Living A Spiritual Lent

Hopefully, everyone is settling into Lent, which is approaching its midpoint. Don't worry too much if you haven’t made much effort yet. You can still get in the swing of things. It is better to start a little late than do nothing, so start today. 

Many parishioners make attendance at our 8 am daily Mass, a Lenten practice. Please consider your attendance part of your Lent. Maybe it will become your practice all year long. As in past years, we will recite the Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday afternoon at 4:30. Each week, a parish ministry will lead us in a different setting of the stations. Members of the Choir will lead this week using the “Overcoming Racism Stations.” A simple soup supper will follow in the Parish Center. There is no charge for the meal. Come pray and share fellowship with other parishioners. 

Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation should be part of our Lenten efforts. Fr. Sullivan is setting aside extra time to be in the Reconciliation Room at the back of the church. In addition to the usual Saturday afternoon time frame of 3:00–3:45 pm, he will be there on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30-4:30 pm. Later in Lent, we will schedule a Reconciliation Service. 

Filling Your Lenten Folders

Parishioners received a Lenten Letter before the season began. It included our annual Lenten Folder. Parishioners are encouraged to use the folder as a Lenten almsgiving activity. Please put aside 25c each day for a total of $10 over the course of Lent. We will donate proceeds from the folders to the Cape Cod Foster Closet. The Closet is a charity that provides clothing and other essentials to foster parents welcoming a child from state custody into their home. Providing a home for a foster child is a very generous gesture from these people, and we need to support them. 

Recently, I have seen some wonderful public service announcements on television describing the rewards people get from providing a welcoming home to foster children, especially teenagers. Your donation to the Lenten Folders can tremendously impact many lives. 

Taizé Prayer Service 

A Taizé Prayer Service will be held on Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 pm in the Parish Center. Taizé prayer originated at the Ecumenical Monastery in France. It is contemplative and includes music emphasizing simple scriptural phrases. The services have no preaching. Taizé Prayer is a good aid to your Lenten prayer. Since the beginning of Lent, our Recessional Hymn is an example of the Taizé worship style. 

Business Manager Opening

Howard Whelden, our parish Business Manager, is retiring after eight years on June 30. We are looking for someone with Managerial Accounting experience to replace him. That person should be proficient with QuickBooks, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe and be willing to gain proficiency with several other systems the parish uses. The job is part-time, twenty-five hours a week. Interested persons should supply the Parish Office with their resumes. Call the office at 508-945-0677.

Start Evangelizing for Easter

It isn’t too early to start planning your Easter evangelization efforts. Like we did at Christmas, today we will offer parishioners invitations with our Easter Mass Schedule printed on them. Share them with family, friends, and neighbors you know don’t regularly attend church. We often feel reluctant to invite people to church because we fear they will reject the idea. A recent survey found that 60% of unchurched people say they would attend church on Easter if invited by a friend, family member, or acquaintance. A personal invitation to church is very powerful. 

Parish Photographer Wanted

Do you enjoy photography? Holy Redeemer is looking for parish photographers to take pictures of parish events and happenings to put on our parish website. If you are interested, please call the parish office at 508-945-0677.