Holy Name Parish

RCIA Meetings, Sundays at 10:00am, until April 3, 2010

Pastor’s Column

March 7, 2010

Catholic Appeal Weekend Holy Name Parish, like all parishes throughout the Archdiocese, will be showing a video message from Cardinal Seán at all Masses this weekend and asking every Catholic household to participate by making a pledge. Know that your participation matters and will make a difference. As a Catholic community, we are called during this season of Lent to love and share the blessings with the brothers and sisters in Christ. Participation in the Catholic Appeal, a once-a-year pledge drive to benefit the many central ministries and services of the Archdiocese, is one way for us to answer His call.

The Appeal is to the Archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to Holy Name Parish, so your participation and support are critical. Because of the economic downturn, support of the Catholic Appeal is more urgent this year. Please see the information packets in the pews to learn more and to obtain a pledge form if you did not receive one in the mail.

Cardinal Seán thanks all the Holy Name families who contributed to the 2009 Catholic Appeal. Thank you in advance for joining with parishioners throughout the Archdiocese’s 291 parishes to carry on and renew the broader mission of the Church in 2010.

The target for HNP this year reflects a percentage of the average for the past three years. As one of the thirty parishes volunteering for the Implementation of the Financial Review Committee (IFRC), this is to the parish’s benefit. The targeted goal certainly is within reach. If this goal is achieved, the parish will receive a certain percentage back. There are two figures to keep in mind this year. The suggested HNParish target for the Catholic Appeal is $83,500; the HNParish assessment is $68,736. The parish will keep 50 percent of whatever is raised above the assessed goal.

Listed below are brief profiles of the agencies and services financially supported by the Catholic Appeal.

Mission of Parish Financial Services To serve the needs of parishes within the Archdiocese of Boston by providing pastors, business managers and staff with the support and information needed to manage their parish operations effectively. Benefits provided to the local church through parish financial services:

Short and long term strategic planning to strengthen parish financial operations further
Tools and resources necessary for parishes to manage finances in light of the parish mission.

Mission of the Delegate for Religious To help maintain awareness of the centrality of consecrated life to the Church through the facilitation of relationships between the Archdiocese and religious orders, assuring that the missions of each are realized fully.

The 2,500 consecrated men and women who live or work in RCAB, in particular those who are not formally connected with RCAB, are served by this ministry.

Mission of the Permanent Diaconate Program To prepare men, alongside their spouses and families, for ordination as deacons for the Archdiocese of Boston, where they will serve the local Church at the parish level and beyond as ministers of charity. The mission is carried out through:

A combination of classroom work, retreats and internship-style training designed to form diaconate candidates intellectually, spiritually and pastorally for their future ministries

Specially designed coursework and retreats for the spouses of candidates, so as to ensure that couples can approach their ministry with a common focus and understanding.

Mission of Marriage Ministries To strengthen the vocation of marriage throughout the Archdiocese by:

Educating youth and young adults on what marriage is as a natural institution, vocation and sacrament through collaborative catechesis with parishes and other Archdiocesan ministries

Helping engaged couples form valid and successful marriages with an understanding of vocation and the sacramental nature of marriage

Supporting married couples attempting to live out their marriage vows to the best of their abilities.

Central Ministries Purpose In response to a desire at the parish level for more information on the specific ministries funded by the Catholic Appeal, the following is a list of all centralized Archdiocesan ministries.

Education, Formation & Evangelization, Airport Chaplaincy, Campus Ministries, Catholic Directory, Catholic Schools Office, Child Advocacy, Implementation and Oversight, Cultural Diversity, Ecumenical Affairs (volunteer), Hispanic Ministry, Marriage Ministry and Natural Family Planning (NFP), Massachusetts Catholic Conference, New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults (ONE), Office of the Deaf Apostolate, Permanent Diaconate, Pro-Life Office, Religious Education, Respect Life Program, Secretary for Communications and Public Affairs, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization, The Pilot, Vocations, Worship and Spiritual Life, Cardinal’s and Bishops’ Ministries, Archives, Canonical Affairs, Cardinal's Office, Clergy Personnel, Clergy Support and Ongoing Formation, Delegate for Religious, Regional Bishops, Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia, Facilities Management, Finance and Accounting, Fundraising/The Catholic Foundation, General Counsel, Health Care Ministry, Human Resources, Information Technologies (IT), Lay Benefits Administration, Metropolitan Tribunal, Parish Financial Services, Pastoral Support and Outreach, Planning, Professional Responsibility and Oversight, Real Estate Transactions, Risk Management, General and Operational Services, Chancellor's Office

Mass with 100 Special Singers!!! Father Pratt has been practicing with the Religious Education and HNPSchool Grades 3–6 students. I am hoping to have 100 Special Singers for the March 14 9:00am Family Liturgy. A special worship aid and music for the students to sing will be provided, and there will be hospitality following the Mass.

If you have a child in Grades 3–6, please sign up for this Mass. It would be helpful to know in advance how many will be attending. The students in Religious Education and HNPSchool received a special invitation with a response card. (There are extras in the sacristy.)

The Light Is On For You Every church and chapel in the Archdiocese is open each Lenten Wednesday for the Sacrament of Penance. This is a special way to experience the healing of Christ. What a gift to give oneself during the Season of Lent. Holy Name lower church will be open from 6:30-8:00pm.

Congratulations to Christian Mucha, HNP organist, who recently achieved the designation of Certified Public Accountant. He did this on his first try–must be the influence of Holy Name! Well done, Chris.

Special Feast Days The Feast of Saint Patrick, March 17, Mass will be celebrated at 8:00am. Following Mass everyone is invited to the rectory for Irish bread and coffee. Please plan to join us. The Feast of Saint Joseph, March 19, a HNPSchool Mass will be celebrated at 9:00am, after which the Sisters from the convent will come to the rectory for a festive breakfast.