April 1, 2020

TO:             All Parishioners

FROM:       Father Michael Lawlor

SUBJECT: “90 Days Now – For Your Parish”

Another way of supporting St. Paul, Hamilton/Wenham in these challenging times

Dear Friends,

It is at times like these our faith reminds us that we are never truly alone, even as we face unprecedented challenges as a parish community. Though we are not able to join together in the celebration of the Eucharist, we continue daily to pray for the health of you and your loved ones.

I am reaching out to you about an effort created by a member of the laity with concern for our parishes during this time of crisis.  It is a special, 90-day campaign that will provide offertory support directly to the parish.

90-DAYS NOW – FOR YOUR PARISH

This special initiative asks, if possible, for parishioners to rally around their parish by making a special daily offertory commitment for the next 90 days. This effort is intended to supplement weekly offertory gifts, given the challenges of the current crisis. Should you choose to join in this effort, there is an easy-to-use link to donate.  Your donation will be deposited directly into St. Paul’s parish account.

The link is available by clicking here or using this link: https://bcatholic.sites.bostoncatholic.org/90DaysYourParish

We are incredibly moved by this effort and forward this information for your consideration.

We understand many of you may not be able to contribute to this special offertory collection given the economic impact this pandemic has had on your personal finances.  We remain extremely grateful for your prayers of support for our parish family. 

With my prayers,

Father Michael Lawlor

Pastor

Due to the pandemic, Cardinal O'Malley has cancelled all Masses and Solemn Service of Good Friday during Holy Week.  This includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.  We would direct your attention to CatholicTV or EWTN for televised coverage of all Holy Week Masses.  Viewers can watch Daily and Sunday Masses on demand at any time at www.WatchtheMass.com.  We pray and hope all of us can reurn to Holy Mass soon when all is safe.  Please stay healthy. 

In light of the pandemic Cardinal Sean is dispensing all Catholics in the Archdiocese from the obligation of abstaining from meat during the remaining Fridays of Lent.  The Archbishop encourages those who can partake of this traditional Lenten practice of abstention to do so and to offer it up for those who are suffering in any way from the pandemic.

Keep checking here for updates daily!

Welcome Message from our Pastor, Fr. Michael Lawlor...

f

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Saint Paul Church, Hamilton and Wenham.

The Church is such a great gift as the living sacrament of Christ’s presence among us.  From the shores of Lake Galilee and the bark of Peter’s fishing boat some twenty-one centuries ago Christ communes with us through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

As the living presence of Jesus Christ we find through the Church our meaning and strength as we seek the Father and His Kingdom.  What is the meaning of life?  It is to know and rest secure that we have been made in the image and likeness of God for a divine destiny.  The initial question of the Baltimore Catechism captures it well.  Why did God make me?  He made me to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this life and be happy with Him forever in heaven.

How does the Church supply the strength we need?  It is through our sacramental participation.  Christ cannot force himself upon us, but so much wishes access to our lives.  The sacraments strengthen us in body and soul and allows Christ, who knocks at the garden door of our hearts to enter.

It is through the Holy Eucharist that our life of prayer and service are sustained.  Pope Benedict in his beautiful encyclical letter Sacrament of Love said:

…from the beginning the Christian community has gathered for the breaking of the bread on the Lord’s Day.  Sunday, the day Christ rose from the dead, is also the first day of the week, the day which the Old Testament tradition saw as the beginning of God’s work of creation.  The day of creation has now become the day of the “new creation,” the day of our liberation, when we commemorate Christ who died and rose again (113).

It is through Holy Mass that the ongoing work of God’s recreation takes place.  Sacrament makes Calvary present and through the true presence of Jesus Christ on the altar, our lives are offered back to God the Father.  In no other way can we do this and in this extraordinary act of worship the graces of our redemption granted to us from the Cross are now made present.  This will help us in our vocations to be good spouses, parents and people and a good faith model for our children as we humbly ask God aid us.  The Lord’s Day and all of the other many wonderful works accomplished at St. Paul’s must be rooted in our dependence and love for the Lord.

I welcome you to full participation in our parish life.  All of you have a remembrance in my prayers at the altar.

Father Michael Lawlor

Pastor

Please call the parish office to sign up to receive the bulletin via email.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Please consider assisting your parish during these challenging times

by giving your weekly offertory contributions online via WeShare. 

Click here:  

Click Here for Latest Info: