Approaching Labor Day

08-25-2021Letters From Fr. BrianRev. Brian F. Manning

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

Next weekend is Labor Day Weekend. When I was young and at my grandmother’s house in Scituate there was a ritual pattern which we followed. Everyone gathered for the weekend at her house. This meant lots of adults and children and thus lots of laughter and fun. What a crowded house it was between all of us staying there with the day-hoppers and also relatives and friends in near-by houses! Then on the next day, Tuesday we all packed up and went back to Boston and started school the next day. Times change and now schools start different weeks and days for various institutions. Our Town has already begun. Colleges and Universities seem to start the soonest and private high school academies seem to start the latest. I treasure the memories of my summers in Scituate and hope that you all have created some memories this summer to cherish. I did. My grand nephews and nieces were at our home in Falmouth and it has been great fun and joy.

The weekend after Labor Day, on Sunday September 12th we will begin the Noon Mass on every Sunday. Although our total attendance is not strong and has slightly declined with the impact of the Delta Variant, I thought it best to use a launch date that is easy to remember for when attendance starts to increase. We will re-evaluate this Mass in late December. If the attendance ultimately does not each a reasonable number, then people have voted with their feet and we should stop offering it.

Although we are still in the period of the Pandemic, we are able to begin some of our parish activities and programs.  Please remember Religious Education for the Young starts soon, so please register via our website (stmarysfranklin.org). Make sure you plan to participate in either the Women’s (all set to actively launch) or Men’s (still in process) Spirituality Group starting soon. Also, the Catholic Women’s Club is celebrating its 100th Year. Check it out on the website for its planned activities and join up and participate. The Book Club is also launching. Please see the website/bulletin for details. Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, who will be active after Labor Day, please plan to attend a Meeting on Tuesday, September 7th (night after Labor Day) at 7 PM in the upstairs church. This meeting is very important for it will get everyone up-to-date in changes of church protocols and procedures at weekend Masses. There are changes you need to hear about to be able to follow. Also, please bring your MA License to the meeting to fill out a CORI for this present CORI Year.

Remember we are under the protection of our Blessed Mother Mary, our Parish Patroness. We also have the special intervention of Saint Rocco, Healer. We ask that he intercede especially for our young who are ill.

Enjoy the week …  and God bless …

Father Brian