First Communion Masses continue through October

10-09-2020Letters From Fr. BrianRev. Brian F. Manning

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary’s,

Our First Communion Mass last Sunday at Noontime was absolutely so spiritual and beautiful. One of my most cherished memories of church in my now long life is my Reception of First Communion. Long ago when I made my First Communion, only parents could attend. With the COVID restrictions, we were able only to invite the young child’s entire household and not the usual cast of thousands.

This time they participated via Line Streaming. The most important value is that these young children who were brought to church so many years ago to be baptized, have now been formed by their parents and our Community of Faith to receive the most precious gift we have from our God, the Lord Jesus in Communion. How blessed they are and we are. For the following 3 Sundays at 12:00pm we will continue to welcome the young recipients and their families to our holy sanctuary. Each Sunday the Mass and Reception is on our website in real-time via Live Streaming, and then shortly thereafter on our YouTube Channel to be viewed at any time.

Religious Education is in various degrees and ways has also launched. The dedicated work of Karen Ackles, Liz Bertone and Deacon Stephen May will be bearing fruit as the various grade levels and programs unfold in the coming weeks. They have made the programs as parent friendly and user friendly as possible. Hopefully, this experience of our youth will help them to grow in faith. We are not attempting to be a remote educational class experience, but to be a nurturing experience of faith for each young person. Life is not easy for our parents or our young people in this COVID Pandemic and we are trying to make sure our faith formation helps people grow in faith. We begin this sacred task of helping our young people to grow with hope and faith in the Lord. He will in his grace and time bring it all to fruition.

Last Saturday Stephen May, our Parish Pastoral Associate was ordained to the Diaconate at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston by Cardinal Sean. If you desire, you may view the Ceremony at catholictv.org as it has been recorded. We wish him God’s grace and light as he begins this Sacred Ministry.

Our Saint Vincent’s continues it dedicated service to the needy and fragile because of your unceasing and generous support. In these most difficult of days, I admire the many parishioners who support with item donations and with monetary gifts the work of our St. Vincent Ministry. I also am very, very grateful to the many of you who have contributed to our Parish Annual Appeal by envelope or on-line giving. As you are aware, our Parish Appeal is conducted over three months to allow people to be able to give. I also am most appreciative of your unceasing weekly Sunday support via online, mail in or Rectory door box.

Our Live Streaming, found most easily on our YouTube Channel: “St. Mary’s Franklin MA”) has helped so many folks feel connected with our church again and also to attend some of the beautiful Parish Ceremonies of the last few weeks. The electronic media is for many of us a gift that connects us with our God and our parish Community of Faith.

In our prayers these days, let us remember our First Communicants and their families. Let us remember with devotion Our Patroness, Mary, Mother of God who intercedes for us at the heavenly throne. We know that our special Patron, Saint Rocco, intercedes with our God to gives us healing and strength in these Pandemic times. As it is written in scripture, “we walk by faith, not by sight.” Let us remember that the Lord Jesus always walks with us.

God bless,
Father Brian

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