Pray for Ukraine / Lenten Activities / Scholarship

03-18-2022Letters From Fr. BrianRev. Brian F. Manning

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Mary Parish,

Daylight Saving Time gives all of us a beautiful benefit of additional sunlight in the evening. Life simply changes for the better when we have evening daylight. The burdens and problems may be the same, but we find it easier to carry or solve our concerns or problems. Please enjoy the growing evening light and twilight.

We must, however, remember to faithfully pray for the people of the Ukraine and all the refugees fleeing from the Ukraine. Our life may have burdens, but the violence, destruction and death in the Ukraine reminds us how blessed we are in so many ways. We must pray for peace and for all government leaders to focus on peace and justice. This weekend at the request and direction of Cardinal Sean there will be collection baskets at the doors of the church for donations to help the Catholic Relief Services in assisting the war torn refugees of the Ukraine. The Catholic Relief Services are extraordinary helpers of refugees, immigrants and disaster victims.

Our Parish has been on our Lenten Journey for almost three weeks and is now near the mid-point of our Lenten walk with Christ. Please remember that each Friday at 7 PM in the Chapel the Stations of the Cross are held as a special Lenten Service. All you need to do is simply show up. On Sunday, March 27 from 2:00 PM until 3:30 PM in Sacred Heart Hall (lower level of the church building) our Pastoral Associate Leo Racine will offer a Lenten Reflection Time with the theme of “We are Ambassadors for Christ.” Please consider attending this as a mini-retreat or spiritual program for deepening your faith during Lent. Please call him or contact him via email. Our website and bulletin have all the details and email addresses. The Monday Night Rosary Prayer Group continues via ZOOM. Details on how to join and participate are found on our website. As part of its 100th Year Anniversary our Catholic Women’s Club will hold its Communion Breakfast on Sunday March 27th at the 10:30 Mass with Brunch immediately afterwards with a special speaker (Jim Johnson, Franklin Historian) at the Restaurant 3. Reservations for the Brunch and all details are on the website and also in the bulletin.

Our wonderful Catholic Women’s Club is also offering scholarships to our senior high school class for their first year of college. Also our dedicated Knights of Columbus are offering scholarships for our high school seniors for their first year of college. Please see our website or bulletin for application and deadline details on all scholarships. I applaud the Women’s and Knights’ generosity and concern for our young people. Our Franklin High National Honor Society is sponsoring a winter clothing collection of coats, scarves, hats and gloves for the Elisha Project group. Please bring the articles to church and put them in baskets in the Rocco elevator ground level lobby.

Our Saint Vincent’s is involved in helping the Afghan Family which has been re-settled in Franklin, but additional help is needed and a “walk” has been formed called “The Shamrock Walk for Refugees” to be held March 19, this Saturday with Registration at 8 AM and the walk at 9 AM at the Franklin High Track. Walkers, donors and supporters can find all the details out at “walkforrefugees.org”. Soon our wonderful Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a Stop and Shop Gift Card Drive for the benefit of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. By tradition, the Knights hold this after Mass on Palm Sunday weekend.

Holy Week with its deeply spiritual and moving Services and Masses will soon be here. We are preparing our Masses and Services to reflect a cautious and sensible approach in light of the Pandemic lessening. Parishioners have written to me about how they are using the Sundays of Lent, Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday as their planned return date to Mass. I always advise folks to use prudence, (also known as informed common sense) in deciding when to return and if they should also wear a mask or sit socially distanced when they return. It is wonderful when people return to regular worship; everyone has to do what his best for their situation. We welcome you and everyone whenever you are here. That is what counts. Our Live-Stream of the weekend Masses has been a great spiritual comfort and benefit for Parishioners. We will continue with this indefinitely.

I appreciate your support of our Archdiocesan Annual Appeal for which Cardinal Sean invites your financial support and assistance for his work and the ministries and services of our Archdiocese. Please consider pledging and giving. There are special envelopes for this in the main lobby of the church and also you can get one at the Rectory by calling 508-528-0020 and talking with either Michelle or Tricia. You can place the filled out from in our collection baskets at the church’s doors or you can mail it or drop it back to the Rectory (1 Church Square, Franklin MA 02038)
Your faithful support of the needy of our Parish through the service of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society is a hallmark of the goodness of so many people in this Parish. I also personally appreciate the faithful support of folks to our Parish and its holy work and Mission by their giving online, by their mail in or drop by envelopes or their contribution in the baskets at the doors of church. Thank you in the name of all of us.

This week we honor Saint Patrick and Saint Joseph as saints whose examples of faith and life show us how to live. May their intercession aid us in our lives as we try to grow in grace and faith during this Lent. May Mary, the Mother of God continue to intercede for us at the heavenly throne. May Saint Rocco, Healer and Saint, intercede for those who are sick in mind, body or soul, and most especially for our young people.