Pastor's Corner

Are you, a family member or friend searching for reasoned explanations for the teachings of our Church? Here are some resources, which may be helpful.

The website www.strangenotions.com founded by Brandon Vogt is a place where Catholics and atheists come together to have a rational discussion about the great questions of life. It features well-respected contributors who have provided rich content for the inquirer, including “20 Arguments for God’s Existence” by Dr. Peter Kreeft. Dr. Kreeft has also written a book with Fr. Ron Tacelli entitled, Handbook of Christian Apologetics providing an informative and valuable guidebook for anyone looking for answers to questions of faith and reason.

Following the announcement of Fr. Tom’s new appointment as Administrator at St. Bartholomew Parish in Needham, I’ve been asked whether Holy Family Parish will be getting another priest to take Fr. Tom’s place. The answer is no and yes. It’s no because there will be no Parochial Vicar formally assigned by the Archbishop to Holy Family Parish as of July 1. With fewer priests available for assignment to the growing number of collaboratives in our Archdiocese, many of which are comprised of two or three parishes/worship sites, in comparison, a “stand-alone” parish with one church like ours does not warrant a second assigned priest.

Our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Tom Gignac, has served here at Holy Family for the past five years. This has been his first assignment as a priest, having been ordained on May 21, 2016. After “learning the ropes” as a new priest while sharing his many gifts and faithful ministry with us, Cardinal Sean has now appointed him to a new assignment where he will have additional responsibilities and opportunities. Beginning July 1, 2021, Fr. Tom will become the Administrator of St. Bartholomew Parish in Needham, where he will assume leadership responsibility for the liturgical, spiritual, pastoral, formational, social and service dimensions of parish life as well as take on the various administrative duties akin to being a Pastor.

A few years ago, our parish hosted an extraordinary international exhibit of over 100 photographs and historical descriptions of some of the principle Eucharistic Miracles, which have taken place throughout the centuries from around the world. For Catholics, these miracles substantiate the fundamental belief that the bread and wine consecrated at the altar at Mass become the true and real presence of Jesus Christ - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. This is the great mystery we celebrate on today’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

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.

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"