Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish January 24, 2021 Third Sunday In Ordinary Time - Our Lady of ...
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January 24, 2021 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Ellen Gallant Card Ministry Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish 22 Plymouth Street, Methuen, MA 01844 Do you know of someone who is Phone: 978-686-3984 Fax: 978-686-8300 sick, going through difficult times, Email: olgcmethuen@gmail.com in the military, or may just need a Web: OLGCParish.com little note of encouragement? Fill out the forms found in the church and chapel and drop them in the box labeled “The Ellen Gallant Card Ministry” or Parish Staff: Mass Schedule: the weekly collection basket. Very Rev. Christopher Church & Chapel are If you’d like to help make someone’s day by join- Casey, V.F. handicapped accessible Pastor — Ext 25 ing us in this ministry, contact Donna Fawcett @ (elevator in Church, fatherchriscasey@gmail.com ramp at Chapel) donnafawcett71@comcast.net Rev. Mr. Steven J. Sat. 4 pm at St. Theresa Murphy Church Prayer Shawl Ministry Deacon—Ext 10 22 Plymouth St., Methuen, MA deaconsteviej@aol.com Our prayer shawl gatherings are the first Sun. 8 am at St. Theresa Church Wednesday of the month at 1pm in Duperry Mrs. Karen Miller Hall. Business Manager — Ext 17 Sun. 10:30 am at 978-686-0728 St. Theresa Church OLGCBusiness@gmail.com We welcome new folks at any time to join us in this beautiful, Daily Mass: 8 am simple ministry. We thank all who have donated yarn or Mrs. Denise Mundry Monday — Friday at money with which to purchase new yarn. Parish Office—Ext 10 St. Theresa Church 978-686-3984 View via live stream only Remember: Blessed Shawls, Lapghans & Baby Blankets are OLGCMethuen@gmail.com available in the parish office. Reconciliation: Lori McLaughlin By appointment only. Call Coordinator of Music Thank you and God Bless! Questions? call the parish office. Parish Office Ministries 603-275-6486 Baptism: Second Sunday of the month. Mission Statement Jimmy Massie Previous arrangements Facilities necessary Our Lady of Good Counsel 978-697-4701 olgcfacilities@gmail.com Parish Marriage: Arrangements must be made Lawrence ~ Methuen Religious Education at least six months in advance Ph: 978-686-3984 Fax: 978-686-8300 New Parishioners: Welcome! Please come to the Our Lady of Good Counsel is a diverse multi-cultural Mr. Mark Friedrich Parish Office parish serving the Catholic community of Methuen Coordinator of Adult Faith to meet us and to register Formation and Lawrence. We are committed to building a OLGCMethuen@gmail.com Lawrence community of faith intent upon God, in unity of Catholic Academy mind and heart. 101 Parker St. We are a family of believers, joined by our Baptism, Mr. Mark Houle Lawrence, MA 01843 Coordinator Grades K-8 and nurtured by the Eucharist. As children of God, OLGCMethuen@gmail.com www.lawrencecatholic we endeavor to bring the love of Christ to all we academy.org ALL WEEKEND MASSES meet. We are committed to be the Body of Christ, WILL BE AT ST. THERESA 978-683-5822 rooted in the tradition of the Catholic Church. To- CHURCH UNTIL gether we worship and praise our God. Guided by FURTHER NOTICE prayer and the counsel of the Blessed Mother, we minister to the community through faith formation, PARISH fellowship, and service. With diligence, compassion, OFFICE HOURS and love we endeavor to help others come to know and love Jesus. Empowered by grace, constant in Monday to Thursday our mission, we strive to be led by the Holy Spirit. 8 am to 3 pm Friday 8am to noon 2
January 24, 2021 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Dear Parishioners, Last week we heard in our readings about the call to discipleship and considered how God calls each of us into a life of holiness not as its own end, but for a purpose, to make holy the world around us. Holiness does not mean perfection, it means purpose. This week we consider what that purpose requires, which is where we find our motivation to evangelize, or share the good news about Jesus and His salvation. Each reading contributes something to help us in our reflection on Jesus as the Way. From the Book of the Prophet Jonah we hear ‘turn away from your evil ways’; in Psalm 25 we pray for God to teach us His ways; in 1 Corinthians we are reminded that the way of the world is passing away and we hear something of the need for urgency in our response; and finally in the Gospel of Mark we are reminded that the first step in following Jesus on the way is personal repentance, and that faith in Jesus is what enables our urgent response to His call. Perhaps we could sum it all up with “Hurry along the way of your salvation!” I love the stories of the Bible, and the story of Jonah has always been a favorite. In a book many of us probably had as children, The Little Golden Book of Bible Stories for Children, the focus of the story was the fascinating image of Jonah being swallowed by a whale and spit out on the beach where God wanted him to be. The adult version of that story adds several different layers of complexity to the story. Jonah did not want to go to the City of Nineveh at all. Nineveh was the archenemy of Israel at the time. Nineveh was in Ancient Iraq, right across the Tigris River from the modern-day city of Mosul. Nineveh was a huge city, and was the Capital of Assyria, and in addition to being bitter enemies they did not know or follow God. It was known in its day to be a brutal city and was a symbol for wickedness in the ancient world. But God sends Jonah there with a mission to pronounce God’s judgment and punishment on the people. In what must have been only a lackluster effort on his part, Jonah, finally if only grudgingly obedient to God, Jonah does what God requires. He wanders through a part of the city proclaiming the message he was given “Forty days more and Nine- veh shall be destroyed”. Much to Jonah’s chagrin the people hear his message and respond immediately. They declare a 40-day fast and everyone from the King on down to the cattle puts on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of their repentance for their evil deeds, and the City of Nineveh is saved. In the First Book of Samuel, Chapter 2, verses 27-36 an anonymous prophet visits the High Priest Eli and shares with him the devastating news that God is going to take away the priesthood from Eli and his family. His sons were abusing their authority, blaspheming God, and Eli was not taking any action to intervene. The prophet announces that Eli’s sons will die on the same day, and nobody in Eli’s family would ever grow old. It is one of the harshest prophecies in the bi- ble and hangs over priests as a sharp reminder that God has little patience for bad, lazy, or unholy priests. Many are trou- bled by the prophet’s words and find the image of God portrayed as harsh and merciless. But I think a more accurate way to understand the prophecy and what happens to Eli’s family is to recognize that God allows the full weight of the decision to choose sin over grace to fall on those who do not follow him. We see this so often when people get into grave trouble, and their secret sins are found out and are broadcast on the news and in the papers. The shame people feel at those moments is real, and the feeling that they are being punished must be intense. But it is never God’s will. God makes clear what God’s will is… to love God above all else, and to love our neighbor as our self. All sin is basically a rejection of that will. God allows it because God allows us our free will. But the consequences of our choices are ours, and sometimes they are harsh. They are never harsher than when we choose sin over grace. God appeals to us repeatedly to choose the life of grace, and to be conduits of that grace to others. There is urgency in that call today just as there was in Jonah’s day, in Jesus’ day, and in Paul’s day. Our job is to hear that call, to repent, and to believe in the Gospel. God Bless, Fr. Chris 3
January 24, 2021 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Saturday, January 23 4:00 pm Arthur Thibault ~ Requested by his family Sunday, January 24 ~ Third Sunday In Ordinary Time 8:00 am Marie Haley ~ Requested by her family 10:30 am Janis Salesi ~ Requested by The Friedrich Family Helen Gagnon ~ Requested by Jesse and Carol-Ann Ramirez Martha Houle ~ Requested by Robert and Denise Mundry Lena Picarillo ~ Requested by George Beaulieu All Living Members of the Parish Monday, January 25 ~ Conversion of Saint Paul 8:00 am Frank Judge ~ Requested by his wife Tuesday, January 26 ~ Saints Timothy and Titus 8:00 am Arthur Thibault Wednesday, January 27 ~ Saint Angela Merici 8:00 am ========= Thursday, January 28 ~ Saint Thomas Aquinas 8:00 am ========= Friday, January 29 8:00am ========= Saturday, January 30 4:00 pm John Culpon ~ Birthday Remembrance ~ Requested by his wife, Ruth Kathleen Brennan ~ Anniversary Remembrance ~ Requested by her family Pauline Laplume ~ Requested by Pauline Halloran Violet Gallant ~ 10th Anniversary ~ Requested by her family All Living Members of the Parish Sunday, January 31 ~ Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time 8:00 am Marilyn Haley ~ Requested by her family 10:30 am Dorothy Honohan ~ 1st Anniversary ~ Requested by her children, grandchildren and Tobey Introduction to the Liturgy of the Day On the Sea of Galilee, Simon and Andrew were fishing for fish when Jesus walked past, saying, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” changing their lives forever. We hear stories of calls in the readings today: calls to follow, calls of conversion, calls to repentance, calls to discipleship. Let us take this opportunity today to listen closely and discern whether we can hear Jesus calling us to something more. 4
January 24, 2021 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Michele Deloge DiBiasio, Darlene Sikeman, Emma Johansen, Roy Beaulieu, Robin Weekend of January 16/17, 2021 Gonsalves, Phyllis M. White, Marsha Sirignano, Nathan Scanlon, Robbyn Culpon, Offertory: $ 3,493.00 Claire Hanlon, Aiden Scanlon, Patrick and Sarah Scanlon, John Dezan, Jose Luis Martinez Sanchez, Maintenance: $ 73.00 Robert P. Nolan, Juliana Rosato, Rose Gaudreau, Parish Truck Maintenance: $ 40.00 Eugene Baldi, Joseph Howanski, Jeannette Demers, Michael Culpon, Mary Jo Daigle, George Grand Annual to Date: $ 1,225.00 Henderson, Andrew Champy, David Champy, David Adams, Gary Stachulski, Douglas McKnight, This week’s second collection supports various William Luna, Aiden Sutliff, Ellen Villers, Judith pastoral projects throughout Latin America and the Upham, Benjamin Melo, Ron Simonian, Art Caribbean. The Collection for the Church in Latin Munger, Brad Waters, Mary Conway, Elisabeth America funds the work of evangelization, for- Hooper, Matt Kinsley, Bishop Todd Brown, Diane mation of laity, religious an seminarians, as well as Castiglione, Fr. Paul Valley, SP, Noah Leary, youth ministry and catechesis Joseph Androwas, Cecile Townsend, Ray Boutselis, Ronald Mullen, Leeann Hanson, Elaine Labrecque, Thank you for your generosity! Sheila Hunt, Reina Rodriguez, Jennifer Prugnarola, Nicholas Norcia, Donna Myers, Anita & Dottie Watson, Gary Dubois, Michael Donovan, Jaykub Our highest gratitude and appreciation ~ we are Parsons, Ava Gagnon, Tom McGuire, Judy Lacroix, so grateful for your support. Charlie Carrell, Mariana Rosato, Carrie McNiss, all those on our Parish prayer line, and all the residents Bless your generosity! at Woodmill Nursing Home, Nevins Nursing Home, Mary-Immaculate Nursing Home, Berkeley Nursing Home and Methuen Village. Those who have died: Theresa Levasseur If you have a friend or loved one that you would like us to pray for, please call the parish office and leave the name. If you would like a name put back on the list, call the office. Thank You. St. Vincent de Paul Society In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus says: Prayer Requests for Priests “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” As disciples, we are Eternal Father, we lift up to you these and all priests of called to continue God’s work on earth. the world. Sanctify them, heal and guide them. Mold Taking care of God’s poor is indeed living them into the likeness and holiness of your Son, Jesus, gospel values. the Eternal High Priest. May their lives be pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. This month, through your gifts, the Society of St. Amen Vincent de Paul was able to assist needy families by providing food vouchers and assistance with utility, rent and other bills. My God Bless You! January 23 Fr. Robert J. Blaney ~ January 24 Fr. Francis O’Brien ~ January 25 All Paulists ~ January 26 Fr. Thank you for your generosity. Checks may be made Timothy Butler ~ January 27 Fr. Eric Cadin ~ January 28 payable to SVDP. Fr. Thomas J. Powers ~ January 29 Fr. Frank Campo 5
January 24, 2021 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Third Sunday In Ordinary Time A Letter From Fr. Chris . . . Dear Parishioners, As we continue to live with this pandemic and all of its restrictions on our lives, we consider how they will impact our observance of the Season of Lent and other feast days that are ap- proaching. We continue to limit our public worship to Sundays only, including the Vigil Mass on Saturday. We will continue to ask you to sign up for Masses and will take names and tem- peratures for as long as we are required being in a “red zone”. We will continue to offer the Daily Mass via live streaming only. Some parishioners have expressed their frustration with these limitations, but the numbers of those infected continue to grow and to be a source of grave concern, so I think it is best to stay the course and minimize the number of activities that bring us together in larger groups. Our religious education program is small. We have begun having the children meet in the hall, socially distanced and wearing masks, for shorter and fewer sessions. We have also of- fered assistance to parents who wish to home school during the pandemic. The Blessing of Throats is a popular devotion done the day after the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, or Candlemas, on the Feast Day of St. Blaise Feb- ruary 3rd, or the weekend close to the Feast Day. This year we will offer only the General Form of the blessing, as opposed to the individual blessing using the traditional crossed candles. During the pandemic we are reminded that we should not be touching our own faces, much less the faces of others. This obviously will im- pact the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday. One recommendation from the Vatican is to distribute ashes by saying the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel” once and then sprinkling the ashes on the top of the head. Many of us have seen on television that this is the norm at the Vatican. Another suggestion is to not distribute ashes but rather emphasize the meaning of them. The ashes are but an outward sign of what we hope is an interior disposition, a commitment to accept the re- sponsibility and express my sorrow for my sins; to turn away from them and to turn towards the Lord. On Ash Wednesday we will not distrib- ute ashes but will encourage at our live streamed Mass and through the bulletin a day of pray- er and penance, and a sincere effort to make this year’s Lent a work of the heart and an oppor- tunity for spiritual growth. 6
January 24, 2021 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Third Sunday In Ordinary Time We are not permitted to have events with food so the “soup” part of our traditional Soup and Stations on Fridays in Lent cannot happen. In line with our efforts at minimizing group gatherings will not have the Stations either. With his Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021. To mark this Year of St. Joseph we will offer a virtual Holy Hour, live streamed only, on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Friday, March 19, 2021 at 7:00 PM. The Holy Hour will include adoration, songs, prayers, and a brief homily. The same restrictions on distribution of palms as well as materials remain in place this year. You may recall they impacted Palm Sunday last year too. Although we had purchased the palms, we were not allowed to bless them and distribute them. The same is true still, so we will not be distributing palms, our usual “Lenten Giveaway’, or the “Little Books”. There are daily prayer resources available online, at De- Colores Christian Bookstore in Salem, NH, The Magnificat and similar pub- lications, and on apps for a smart phone. I hate all these restrictions as I am sure many of you do as well. We have had to sacrifice much because of this pandemic, and I pray for the day when all of this will be behind us. I will be announcing our Holy Week plans as Easter approaches. Perhaps we can all pray and sacrifice during Lent for an end to this virus once and for all, a safe return to life as we know it and love it, and for a safe and effective vaccine for all people. You are in my daily prayers! Fr. Chris 7
January 24, 2021 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Cori 2020-2021 Dear OLGC Staff and Volunteers, It’s that time of year again! Cori forms are available in the Parish Office for completion. Everyone ages 18 and over who serve in the Parish are required to complete these forms annually. If you have served in the past but have temporarily stopped due to COVID-19 it is recommended that you still complete this form. Forms can be completed at home, however, proper verification (photo ID) must be done in person. This year there also has been a change to the form allowing for a notary signature instead of coming to the Parish Office for verification. Please be advised that the notary signature is optional and not a requirement (this may include a fee). Feel free to contact the Parish Office if you have any questions at 978-686-3984 The office is open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 3pm and on Fridays from 8am to 12 noon Thank you! On Monday we will celebrate the feast of the conversion of Saint Paul, whom we hear from today. “I tell you,” he warns, “time is running out” (1 Corinthians 7:29). He pleads with his audience to immediately do the opposite of whatever they are doing now. LECTOR WORKBOOKS Hearing the gospel should turn their lives around 180 degrees, for “this is the time of Workbook for Lectors and fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at Proclaimers of the Word 2021 are available hand” (Mark 1:15). in the parish office. Workbooks will be located in the copy machine Jesus Christ is with us now and he room on the desk on the right. completely reorients our lives. We must change our perspective. Please sign out the workbook if you take one. Sign We must be converted. out sheet is in the box with the workbooks. Thank you! 8
January 24, 2021 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Thank you to everyone who purchased our OLGC Christmas Calendar this year. Below you will find the names of our lucky winners! December 25 ~ Stephen Press ~ $100.00 plus a $100.00 Bob’s Furniture Gift Card December 26 ~ Kathleen Wordell ~ $25.00 December 27 ~ Anne Lemieux ~ $50.00 December 28 ~ Carol Vercauteren ~ $25.00 December 29 ~ Victoria Carter ~ $25.00 December 30 ~ Eileen Bolduc ~ $25.00 plus a $25.00 Costco Gift Card December 31 ~ Betty Small ~ $25.00 January 1 ~ Wendy and Robert Leger ~ $25.00 plus a Napoli Pizza Gift Certificate January 2 ~ Rev. William Waters, OSA ~ $25.00 January 3 ~ Scott Hilse ~ $50.00 January 4 ~ Kellie Quinn ~ $25.00 January 5 ~ Victoria Carter ~ $25.00 January 6 ~ Emanuel Torres-Vega ~ $25.00 plus a $25.00 Mobil Gift Card January 7 ~ Kathleen Cook ~ $25.00 January 8 ~ Megan Baldwin ~ $25.00 January 9 ~ Rosalie Crowley ~ $25.00 Harrows Gift Card January 10 ~ Mary Ellen Diodati ~ $50.00 January 11 ~ Diana Molina ~ $25.00 January 12 ~ Nathan Martineau ~ $25.00 January 13 ~ Lorraine Kowalczyk ~ $25.00 plus a $25.00 Costco Gift Card January 14 ~ Maureen DeAngelis ~ $25.00 January 15 ~ Nick Vogel ~ $25.00 January 16 ~ Anne Lemieux ~ $25.00 January 17 ~ Khanhuhat Nguyen ~ $50.00 January 18 ~ Lena Zielinski ~ $50.00 Market Basket Gift Card January 19 ~ Alexis Martineau ~ $25.00 January 20 ~ Charlene Debenedetto ~ $25.00 plus a $25.00 Costco Gift Card January 21 ~ Jennifer Edgerly ~ $25.00 January 22 ~ Lori McLaughlin ~ $25.00 January 23 ~ Stephanie Jasinski ~ $25.00 9
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