Greetings in the Lord! Becoming part of the body of Christ means that we are united in Christ–in spirit and flesh–with the People of God, and together we offer ourselves as “holy and living sacrifices” and are sent forth to do God’s will. Our daily actions, our work, and our relationships must now incorporate Christ. Along those lines, and through the generosity of our parishioners and visitors, the Parish Outreach Committee was able to donate $500 to help purchase backpacks and school supplies for families in the Lincoln-Woodstock Community. Thank you!
Category: From the Pastor’s Desk (Page 51 of 76)
Dear Parishioners and Visitors,
One of the most significant and reassuring signs of any parish community is a healthy Faith Formation program. As we hear Jesus saying repeatedly in the
Sunday gospel readings these days, “I am the Bread of Life.” The Bread of Life Discourse in St. John’s Gospel serves as a good reminder that “Faith formation is
nothing other than the process of transmitting the gospel, as the Christian community has received it, understands it, celebrates it, lives it, and communicates it in many ways” (General Directory for Catechesis). Each
of us has this role by virtue of being Christian, and it means not only proclaiming the gospel with our lives but also taking care to immerse ourselves in God’s
word and the Catholic tradition. As the academic year approaches, please lend your prayerful support to St. Joseph’s Faith Formation leaders – Paula King and
Annie Anderson – and to the wonderful children under their guidance. Ours is a family-centered catechetical and sacramental process designed to engage the spiritual development of all those within a family and community context. Along with the children, we are all learning to appreciate the love of God and to transmit it in our daily lives.
With prayerful best wishes,
Fr. John Mahoney
Dear Parishioners and Visitors:
“I Am the Bread of Life”
Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist in his body and blood, humanity and divinity, under the forms of bread and wine. The church teaches that this presence is not a metaphor, it’s a reality. But how do we arrive at this idea? Jesus himself promises to be with us “always, to the end of time.” He promises to be present when two or more gather in his name, in the forgiveness of sins, and in the suffering world: “Whatever you did for one of these least . . . you did for me.” Jesus promises to be really present in many ways throughout the gospel. He’s most explicit about being with us, however, in one profound way: “Take it; this is my body … I am the bread of life … whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life”.
“O Come, Let Us Adore Him”
Beginning with lowly shepherds tending their flocks, to a multitude of singing angels, to Magi from the East, followers of Christ have been taking time to visit and adore Jesus. You are most welcome to visit the church between 8:30 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Just come by. We would love to see you there … as would Jesus in the True Presence of the Eucharist.
With prayerful best wishes,
Fr. John Mahoney
Dear Parishioners,
I wish you to be aware of some repairs around the parish property that need to be addressed, some sooner rather than later. Originally, most of these proposed projects were scheduled to be addressed in 2017-2019 but were postponed due to changes in parish leadership and the disruption of the pandemic. Over recent months, I have been in consultation with the Parish Finance Council and with Mike Iarocci, Chairperson of Buildings and Grounds, about obtaining estimates and prioritizing the projects.
1. The front porch of the rectory has been heaving and buckling over the past two to three years, causing warping of the railings and decking and dislocating of multiple spindles. Mike Iarocci and Gene Duquette have examined the condition of the porch and report that the infrastructure, especially the in-ground footings underneath the deck, need reinforcement, finding insect and water damage. This required removal of shrubbery, and will entail dismantling of the porch’s superstructure (not the roof), reassembling, and painting the rectory porch. Navarra’s Landscaping, under regular contract with St. Joseph’s, has removed the shrubbery in front of the porch structure.
2. Presby Construction Company in Franconia, who has done work for our area churches in the past, will provide next week an estimate to repair 1) the church’s granite front steps, 2) the insecure and unsafe handrails leading to the church’s front door, and 3) the church’s four front doors that need realignment and refinishing. Reportedly, Presby was contracted a few years ago to construct the handicapped ramp on the Church.
3. J.S. Adams Lock & Security Company, who installed the cur-rent security system in the church, will provide an estimate to upgrade and/or install a fifth video camera in the church’s nave that will capture all spots where money is donated – i.e., the poor box and all candle money boxes. Also, locks will be replaced on all three doors leading into the sacristy. These upgrades and replacements are needed in light of past and recent security problems. They are recommended following the recent investigation of the church property by the Internal Auditor’s Office at the Diocese of Manchester.
4. New England Power Sound, who is contracted to service the church’s sound system, will visit the church in October or November to assess and upgrade as necessary the transmitters, microphones and speakers.
5. At some point in the future, I plan to appoint a committee to discuss painting and carpeting the interior of the church edifice.
More information will be forthcoming as plans develop for these construction projects, large and small, but all manageable. In the meantime, thank you for your spiritual and financial support of St. Joseph’s Parish!
With prayerful best wishes,
Fr. John Mahoney
We only have only so much psychological and spiritual energy. We easily get tired. Responding to life’s demands and people’s needs can really zap us of all of our energy. Anger, frustration, exhaustion, discouragement, helplessness, and even apathy can run wild. We can find ourselves bitter and irritated by the fact that we have to do it all again. We need to rest, connect, and focus. Deserted places, free of unnecessary distractions and demands, are great places of refreshment and we all need them. Desiring to be alone for a bit and rest does not indicate selfishness. Rather it radiates wisdom. God is the source of all we do and the satisfaction of every human heart. If we are going to use the gifts God gave us well, then we have to make sure our batteries are recharged and replenished. Jesus invites us to go to a desert place to rest and pray. Where is yours?
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