Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 5, 2020

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July 5, 2020 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Mission Statement Our Lady of Good

Counsel Parish Lawrence ~ Methuen

Our Lady of Good Counsel is a diverse multi-cultural parish serving the Catholic community of Methuen and Lawrence. We are committed

to building a community of faith intent upon God, in unity of mind and heart.

We are a family of believers, joined by our Baptism, and nurtured by the Eucharist.

As children of God, we endeavor to bring the love of Christ to all we meet. We are committed to be the Body of Christ, rooted in the tradition of the Catholic Church. Together we worship

and praise our God. Guided by prayer and the counsel of the Blessed Mother, we minis-ter to the community through faith formation, fellowship, and service. With diligence, com-passion, and love we endeavor to help others come to know and love Jesus. Empowered

by grace, constant in our mission, we strive to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Mass Schedule:

Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish

22 Plymouth Street, Methuen, MA 01844

Phone: 978-686-3984 Fax: 978-686-8300

Email: olgcmethuen@gmail.com

Web: OLGCParish.com

Parish Staff: Very Rev. Christopher Casey, V.F. Pastor — Ext 25 fatherchriscasey@gmail.com

Rev. Mr. Steven J. Murphy Deacon—Ext 10 deaconsteviej@aol.com Mrs. Karen Miller Business Manager — Ext 17 978-686-0728 OLGCBusiness@gmail.com

Mrs. Denise Mundry Parish Office—Ext 10 978-686-3984 OLGCMethuen@gmail.com Lori McLaughlin Coordinator of Music Ministries 603-275-6486

Jimmy Massie Facilities 978-697-4701 olgcfacilities@gmail.com

Religious Education Ph: 978-686-3984 Fax: 978-686-8300 Mr. Mark Friedrich Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation OLGCMethuen@gmail.com

Mr. Mark Houle Coordinator Grades K-8 OLGCMethuen@gmail.com

Prayer Shawl Ministry Our prayer shawl gatherings are the first Wednesday of the month at 1pm and 7pm in the Duperry Hall.

We welcome new folks at any time to join us in this beauti-ful, simple ministry. We thank all who have donated yarn or money with which to purchase new yarn. Remember: Blessed Shawls, Lapghans & Baby Blankets are available in the parish office. Thank you and God Bless! Questions? call the parish office.

Ellen Gallant Card Ministry Do you know of someone who is sick, going through difficult times, in the mili-

tary, or may just need a little note of encourage-ment? Fill out the forms found in the church and chapel and drop them in the box labeled “The Ellen Gallant Card Ministry” or the weekly collection basket. If you’d like to help make someone’s day by joining

us in this ministry, contact Donna Fawcett @ donnafawcett71@comcast.net

Mass Schedule: Church & Chapel are handicapped accessible (elevator in Church, ramp at Chapel)

Sat. 4 pm at St. Theresa Church 22 Plymouth St., Methuen, MA

Sun. 8 am at St. Theresa Church

Sun. 10:30 am at St. Augustine Chapel 128 Ames St., Lawrence, MA

Daily Mass: 7 am Monday — Friday at St. Theresa Church

Reconciliation: Saturdays, 2:45—3:30 pm at St. Theresa Church or anytime by appointment

Baptism: Second Sunday of the month. Previous arrangements necessary

Marriage: Arrangements must be made at least six months in advance

New Parishioners: Welcome! Please come to the Parish Office to meet us and to register

Lawrence Catholic Academy

101 Parker St. Lawrence, MA 01843

www.lawrencecatholic academy.org

978-683-5822

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Monday to Thursday 8 am to 3 pm

Friday 8am to noon

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July 5, 2020 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners, I have often mentioned that one of my favorite prayers of the Mass is the prayer that either the priest or the deacon says when adding a single drop of water to the chalice at the Preparation of the Gifts. The prayer, said sub voce or in a low voice, says “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the Divinity of Christ, who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.” I have an affinity for that prayer because when I was a boy serving Daily Mass at St. Laurence’s whenever Father Glynn had the Mass he would whisper that prayer while I put the drop of water in the chalice. Because he was whispering it and I was the only one who could hear it, the prayer was like a kind of secret that only we were in on. I loved serving Mass for Father Glynn for that reason, and because if I made it to the 7:00 Mass for the whole week he would give me a dollar on Friday which I would promptly take across the street to Jackson’s Bakery and spend on fresh-from-the-oven Hot Cross Buns with the sugary cross-shaped coating all warm and gooey. One of the joys of going to Daily Mass! But I digress… The mystery of the water and wine was described by my Liturgy professor as a sign of all of humanity, sym-bolized by the drop of water, being swallowed up by the immensity of the Mercy of Jesus and His Blood on the Cross symbolized by the larger amount of wine. The water disappears into the wine, as we are called to disappear into Christ so that when people see us they see Jesus. Our sins also disappear into the Blood of Je-sus who by His sacrifice on the Cross has won for us our salvation. Our Gospel reading today from Matthew 11:25-30 begins with these words: “At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.” Jesus does not call us because we are wise and learned. He does not call us because we are perfect and good. He calls us because He loves us with an ever-lasting, abiding love. That love is constantly available to us. Opening ourselves up to that love helps us to experience something of His glory in this life. To know that He loves me, that He forgives me, that He wants me to come closer, is how we ‘disappear into Jesus’. When we are able to do that, to receive the fullness of His grace in our lives, we then are better able to reveal Him to the world around us. People see Jesus in us when we love. That is why my memories of serving Daily Mass at St. Laurence’s are so special to me. I know now that Jesus in His fullness was present with me at each of those Masses. He was truly there in the Eucharist, and I re-ceived Him and was nurtured by Him. But the kindness of a gentle priest and the skills of an expert baker filled that experience of Jesus with sights and sounds and a sweetness that would help carry pleasant memories of my early faith life forward. The Jesus hidden in mystery at the Mass was visible in a kindly old man and a Hot Cross Bun. Perhaps this is not the deepest theological thought you will read this week. Which is why, perhaps, in addition to an affinity for Hot Cross Buns I also love to hear Jesus say “for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.” Remember that you are the face of Jesus to His little ones!

God Bless, Fr. Chris

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July 5, 2020 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saturday, July 4 ~ Independence Day 4:00 pm Paul Halloran, Jr. ~ 30th Anniversary ~ Requested by his mom Maureen Downey ~ Requested by her family Stanley Gradzewicz ~ Requested by Doris Thibodeau Clarence Brien ~ Requested by Arthur and Marge Brien Donald Belanger ~ 1st Anniversary ~ Requested by his wife Pauline All Living Members of the Parish

Sunday, July 5 8:00 am Amelia and Frederick Vogler ~ Anniversary Remembrance ~ Requested by their family 10:30 am Leo Hebert ~ Requested by John and Joan Shea

Monday, July 6 Dennis McGuire ~ Requested by Karen Kroeter

Tuesday, July 7 Julia and William Vasquez ~ Birthday Remembrance ~ Requested by their family

Wednesday, July 8 Jaime and George Paredes ~ Birthday Remembrance ~ Requested by their family

Thursday, July 9 Rosemary Vasquez ~ Requested by her family

Friday, July 10 Jorge Paredes ~ Requested by his family

Saturday, July 11 4:00 pm Marie, Gerry and Ronnie Gaumond ~ Requested by Carol Smith

Sunday, July 12 8:00 am Lucien Charette ~ Birthday Remembrance ~ Requested by his family Noelline Lebel ~ Birthday Remembrance ~ Requested by The Lebel Family Thomas Haley ~ Requested by Betty Small Rita Cormier Cote ~ Requested by Mary Lou Beaulieu All Living Members of the Parish 10:30 am Michael O’Brien ~ Requested by his wife

In Loving Memory

Week of July 5, 2020

Altar Bread

In Memory of Thomas G. Sabbagh, Jr. Donated by his family

Altar Wine In Memory of Paul Kroeter

Donated by his family

Altar Candles

In Memory of George, Martha and Robert Ouellette Donated by their family

Sanctuary Light In Memory of Loyola Norton

Anniversary Remembrance Donated by her family

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July 5, 2020 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Vincent de Paul Society

In the Gospel today we hear Jesus say: “Come to me, all you who labor and are

burdened, and I will give you rest.

Your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul brings peace to those who are overwhelmed with

life’s burdens.

Frank Heymans, Allison Hawkes, Eugene Baldi, Walter Beynon, Helen Sawicki, Joseph Howanski, Jeannette Demers,

Michael Culpon, Mary Jo Daigle, Ronald Begin, George

Henderson, Andrew Champy, David Champy, David Adams, Gary Stachulski, Douglas McKnight,

William Luna, Aiden Sutliff, Ellen Villers, Judith Upham, Benjamin Melo, Ron Simonian, Art

Munger, Brad Waters, Mary Conway, Elisabeth Hooper, Matt Kinsley, Bishop Todd Brown, Diane

Castiglione, Fr. Paul Valley, SP, Noah Leary, Joseph Androwas, Cecile Townsend, Ray Boutselis, Ronald Mullen, Leeann Hanson, Elaine Labrecque, Sheila

Hunt, Reina Rodriguez, Jennifer Prugnarola, Nicholas Norcia, Donna Myers, Anita & Dottie

Watson, Gary Dubois, Michael Donovan, Jaykub Parsons, Ava Gagnon, Tom McGuire, Judy Lacroix,

Charlie Carrell, Mariana Rosato, Carrie McNiss, Sarah & Patrick Scanlon, Kristina Racitti, Robbyn

Culpon, and all those on our Parish prayer line, and all the residents at Woodmill Nursing Home, Nevins Nursing Home, Mary-Immaculate Nursing Home,

Berkeley Nursing Home and Methuen Village.

Those who have died: Ronald Lescarbeau, Thomas Doyle, Albert Hamel

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.

Prayer Requests for Priests

O Jesus, Eternal High Priest, live in (name a priest), act in him, speak in and through him. Think your thoughts in his mind, love through his heart. Give him your own dispositions and feelings. Teach, lead and guide him

always. Correct, enlighten and expand his thoughts and behavior. Possess his soul; take over his entire

personality and life. Amen.

July 4 Fr. Thomas Stanton ~ July 5 Fr. Leo Cormier ~ July 6 Bishop Reed ordained 1985 ~ July 7 Fr. James

Moran ~ July 8 Fr. Thomas Donohoe ~ July 9 All Friars of the Atonement ~ July 10 Fr. Ronald Gomes

Weekend of June 27/28, 2020

Total Offertory: $ 3,851.00 Maintenance: $ 105.00 Grand Annual to Date: $ 11,923.00 Promoting The Gospel: $ 181.00

Our highest gratitude and appreciation ~ we are so grateful for your support.

Bless your generosity!

Friends

If your situation makes it possible to continue to give us your weekly envelopes, please do so! This will enable

us to continue to pay our bills while we don’t have regular collections.

You can mail your envelopes in, or put them in the mail slot at the Parish Office.

Thank you!

Also check out 90-DAYS NOW—FOR YOUR PARISH

A special initiative to help your parish during this time.

For more information visit our website www.olgcparish.com

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July 5, 2020 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In Word & Deed

A community work project took place on a hot and humid morning.

College students helped younger stu-dents, keeping a watchful eye on

them as they were picking up trash, painting playground furniture and

hanging new signs. Halfway through the morning, everyone headed for the shade of a weeping willow tree

and drank of ice-cold spring water. It really was refreshing. The shade and water revived us and we were ready to finish our work. Everyone had a good time and contributed to our

success.

Jesus never said that life would be easier because we believe. He only promised that he would be with us

always. In our work and struggle, He is always near, giving us purpose and hope as we join our work to His as a prayer and an offering to the Father. We never struggle in vain, for even

our smallest efforts join us to heavenly powers.

Our work may be difficult and tire-some, but the Lord is always watch-ing over us. He makes sure we have the strength and the rest we need to complete our mission. His love never

fails. We are certain of success be-cause, in everything we do, we are

building the Kingdom of God.

~ Jim Gaffney

Come to me,

All you who labor

And are burdened,

And I will

Give you rest ~ Matthew 11:28 ~

Journey of Faith

Fourteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

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July 5, 2020 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture Readings Week of July 5, 2020

5 SUN Zec 9:9-10/Rom 8:9, 11-13/Mt 11:25-30 6 Mon Hos 2:16, 17b-18, 21-

22/Mt 9:18-26 7 Tue Hos 8:4-7, 11-13/Mt

9:32-38 8 Wed Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12/Mt

10:1-7 9 Thu Hos 11:1-4, 8e-9/Mt

10:7-15 10 Fri Hos 14:2-10/Mt 10:16-

23 11 Sat Is 6:1-8/Mt 10:24-33 12 SUN Is 55:10-11/Rom 8:18-

23/Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

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July 5, 2020 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

OLGC Website

Please continue to check out the OLGC website which is being updated regularly.

You can view the weekly bulletin and watch our

live stream Masses.

Weekday Masses (Monday to Friday) will air at 8:00am and Sunday Mass will air on

Saturday at 4:00pm and Sunday at 8:00am and 10:30am

Find us at www.olgcparish.com

From the Deacons Desk

Year of the Eucharist

Why does the Catholic Church Believe Christ is Real-ly

Present in The Eucharist?

The Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence is the belief that Jesus Christ is literally, not symbolically, present in the Holy Eucharist—body, blood, soul and divinity. Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist because Jesus tells us this is true in the Bible: "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forev-er; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. The Jews then disputed among them-selves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:48-56). Furthermore, the early Church Fathers either imply or directly state that the bread and wine offered in the cel-ebration of the Lord’s Supper is really the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In other words, the doctrine of the Real Presence that Catholics believe today was be-lieved by the earliest Christians 2,000 years ago! This miracle of God’s physical presence to us at every Mass is the truest testament to Christ’s love for us and His desire for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him. Thus, if Jesus were only speaking symboli-cally about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, as the Protestants say, then what He really meant was “whoever persecutes and assaults me will have eternal life” — which, of course, makes nonsense of the pas-sage! Bread and wine are not normal or natural symbols of flesh and blood. To call a man a “fox” is an understand-able symbol for cleverness. To call a man “bread” is not an understandable symbol, without some explana-tion. Either the symbols would have been clearly ex-plained (which is not the case) or Jesus spoke literally (which is the case!). Next week we will explore more on the Eucharist and the reality of it in the life of the Catholic. Have a blessed week, Deacon Steve

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July 5, 2020 Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish , Methuen ~ Lawrence Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL PARISH VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, 2020 ROCKY RAILWAY

HI! DURING THIS SUMMER WE WANTED TO GIVE OUR PARISH CHILDREN A CHANCE

TO STILL PARTICIPATE IN A VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. SO, WELCOME TO…………

ROCKY RAILWAY, WHERE JESUS’ POWER PULLS US THROUGH!

OUR VBS IS SPONSORED BY COMMUNITIES TOGETHER!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

WE’LL MISS BEING TOGETHER THIS SUMMER, SO WE HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE OUT A SPECIAL GOODY BAG FILLED WITH 5 CRAFT PROJECTS, A SPECIAL BIBLE STORY BOOKLET, AND OTHER SPECIAL GOODIES.

EACH CRAFT REFLECTS ON A BIBLE THEME AND DIRECTIONS ARE INCLUDED. THEY ARE LABELLED FOR

EACH OF 5 DAYS. BAGS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN IN PRE-K TO GRADE 6.

THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR THESE BAGS!

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A BAG FOR A CHILD, PLEASE CONTACT MARK HOULE ON HIS CELL PHONE, 978-382-3196, BY TEXTING OR LEAVING A MESSAGE OR EMAIL HIM AT marvinxxxx@comcast.net.

WHEN YOU CONTACT HIM, LEAVE YOUR NAME AND HOW MANY BAGS YOU WILL NEED. WE ONLY HAVE A

VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF BAGS AVAILABLE! CONTACT EARLY!

WE WILL DISTRIBUTE THESE BAGS ON MONDAY, JULY 13TH, AT ST. THERESA CHURCH PARKING LOT, FROM

10:00 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M. DRIVE IN LOT AND RECEIVE YOUR BAG.

PLEASE STAY SAFE AND ENJOY THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER. YOUR BAG WILL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON WHERE TO SEE ROCKY RAILWAY MUSIC

AND BIBLE STORY VIDEOS.

REMEMBER; ORDER EARLY TO RECEIVE A BAG. LIMITED SUPPLY ONLY. AND THERE IS NO CHARGE!

THANK YOU!! CHOOO! CHOOO!

MARK HOULE