The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

24 June 2012“Saint John the Baptist”

Jacopo del Casentino (c. 1330)

Saint CeciliaP A R I S H

Almighty God,Father of all nations,for freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal. 5:1).

We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty,the foundation of human rights,justice, and the common good.

Grant to our leadersthe wisdom to protect and promote our liberties;by your grace may we have the courage to defend them,for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness, and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with whom you live and reign, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

prayer for religious freedom

St. Thomas More Patron of Religious Freedom

The Vatican Synod declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that in matters religious no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs. Nor is anyone to be restrained from acting in accordance with his own beliefs, whether pri-vately or publically, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.

The Synod further declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person, as this dignity is known through the revealed Word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed. Thus it is to become a civil right.

Declaration on Religious Liberty(Dignitatis Humanae), no. 2

December 7, 1965

Welcome to Saint Cecilia Parish, a Roman Catholic community that gathers day by day, week by week, to know and make known the grace of God. By means of this abundant grace, we enjoy a diverse and close-knit parish family—young, old, rich, poor, of various ethnic origins and differing backgrounds. From our extraordinary music program to a growing children’s faith formation program; from the various liturgical ministries to the many opportunities for social outreach that the parish provides, Saint Cecilia is a vibrant community of faith, centered on prayer and worship that tries to keep the Gospel close to heart and to live by Jesus’ teachings.

Saint Cecilia Parish was established in 1888. At that time the Back Bay section of Boston along Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street was the residential section of the Yankee aristocracy. The maids (“Irish working out girls”) and coachmen who served these residents had long requested a church of their own. When Archbishop Williams granted their request and carved the parish from the territory of the Cathedral, they built a magnificent church out of their meager earnings.

The church was dedicated on April 22, 1894. Its architecture is Romanesque, XII Century Norman. The main altar, notable for its massive simplicity, was carved from a single block of white Carrara marble. The painting in the center reredos is a reproduction of da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and the dome above is an array of 24K gold rosettes.

For the sixtieth anniversary celebration in 1954, a massive renovation project was under-taken. During this renovation, a statue of Pope Saint Pius X (canonized that same year) was imported from Italy and placed on the right side of the sanctuary. Above the statue are paintings from Pius’ life. On the left side is a statue of Saint Patrick, principal patron of the Archdiocese of Boston, and above it are three scenes from his life.

Fourteen circular and sixteen square panels adorn the nave and arches of the church. The square panels are decorated with the symbols of Our Lady taken from the Litany of Loreto and the circular ones with symbols taken from the lives of the apostles. The great window of the Assumption—framed by the two oak cases of the organ—was installed in 1954 (the Marian Year) in spaces originally designed for windows but not until then used.

The original organ of 24 stops was built in 1902 by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company, Opus 1465, and was rebuilt in 1954 with 32 stops. In 1998, Timothy Smith and Theodore Gilbert began a massive reconstruction of the organ. The current Smith & Gilbert Organ of 4 manuals, 50 ranks, and 2,926 pipes was dedicated on the Feast of Saint Cecilia, November 22, 1999.

Today we are experiencing something of an awakening within these old walls. We have just completed a major renovation, our numbers are increasing, and we continue to grow in our commitment to issues of peace, justice, and service to our neighbors, both near and far.

We’ve been right here on Belvidere Street, in the same building for over 120 years, but that does not mean that life here is stale, stagnant, or even predictable. We are proud to be entrusted with the legacy of Saint Cecilia Parish, where everything is the same, yet always changing; where we honor tradition while embracing the future; where God’s love makes all things new.

welcome!

A man was sent from God, whose name was John.He came to testify to the light,

to prepare a people fit for the Lord. Introit for the Solemnity of the

Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Ministers of the Liturgy

Saturday | 5:00 p.m.Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrantCatherine Horsley, lector

Sunday | 8:00 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantBridget Spence, lector

Sunday | 9:30 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrant Jim Kennedy, Jim English, & Susan Lysaght, lectors

Sunday | 11:15 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantZachary Boutin, Rosanne Meade, & Peter Meade, lectors

today’s readings

Isaiah 49:1–6Acts 13:22–26Luke 1:57–66, 80

next sunday’s Readings

Wisdom 1:13–15; 2:23–242 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13–15Mark 5:21–43

special intentions

Sunday, June 24 | 9:30 a.m.James Donnelly, Memorial

Sunday, June 24 | 11:15 a.m.Liz Pino, Memorial

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

4

our community news

weekday MassMass is celebrated each week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 8:00.

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

5

Prayers & Occasions

Our DeceasedRichard Clark’s aunt and godmother died on June 15. Pray for the happy repose of the soul of Anita Cipriani as well as for the consolation of Richard and his family. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Our SickPlease pray for all our sick and for those who are in need of our prayer, especially Josephine Parker, John Saulenas, K. Champoux, Patricia Hoggard, Jennifer Serpico, Christine St. Pierre, Jessica Coviello, Harold Williamson, Jessica Riviec-cio, Earl Chilcote, Colonel Robert C. Tashjian, Kim Murray, Heather LoRe, Rudy Kikel, Herbert Simmons, Peggy Furey, Janice Mascia, Pamela D’Ambra, Sue Lucas, Suki Coughlin, Roberta Keenan, Bridget Spence, Annette Kulas, Sam Gowan, Rhea Richard, Pil-Yun Son, Mary Yanez, Larry Buckley, M. Frances Driscoll, Ed Langlais, Bob McLaughlin, Steven Whitkens, Diana Sla-ton, Leo Garcia, Joe Ford, Danny Cotter, Natalia Chilcote, Amy Sweetland, Jim Keyes, Michael Zawikowski, Cheryl Proctor, Patricia Macdon-ald, Elvera Dowsky, Frank Ackley, Fred Haslee, Lorraine Haslee, Robert Menson, Paul Flaherty, William Louttit, Lucie Kelly, Bro. Adam Zielonka, O.C.S.O., Amy Duarte, Karen & Rick, Phyllis Por-ras, Jim Linderman, Mark Amerault, Sr. Nuala Cotter, R.A., Kristen DeFranco Martinez, Michele Crowley Tippens, Sara Lima Santos, Joseph Driscoll, Pete Huttlinger, Anthony Simboli, Lisa Caputo, Edward Gill, Darlene McLendon, Jeanne Tibbs, Debbie Pace, Deidre Sullivan, Roosevelt Brown, Mary O’Donnell, Ginny L’Abbe, Steve Chamberlain, Matt Penchuk, Carrie Penchuk, Christy Cosgrove, Jacques Romberger, John Scaife, Maureen Sullivan, Alyce Haley, Joe Capizzi, David Walsh, Joe Huenke, Kaylin Mar-cotte, Avito Pacifici, Charlotte Egan, James Noone, Keith Plaster, Frederick Flather, David & Paula Fillion, Fred Maglero, Sarah Sweeney, Susan Shea, Bill Croke, Ettore Bergamaschi, Ryan Delaney, Manuela Almeida, Ilda Almeida, Joe

Farrell, Ethan D’Amato, Sophie Gagnon, Earl Meyers, Kathleen A. Meehan, James Ditomassi, Anne Frenette Handly, Jan Igras, Cheryl Sabin, Trish Mullen, Thomas Corrigan, Fernando Luis Riganti, & Frank DeMare.

Peter’s Pence Collection This WeekendThis week’s second collection, The Peter’s PenceCollection, enables the Holy Father to provide emergency financial assistance to suffering people throughout the world—those who suffer as a result of war, oppression, and natural disasters. For more information, please visit www.usccb.org/ppc.

Happy Birthday Cardinal Seán!In addition to this Friday being the Solemnityof Saints Peter and Paul, it is also Cardinal Seán’s birthday. Remember the Cardinal and his intentions in your prayer.

Happy Anniversary to the Holy Father!This Friday marks Pope Benedict’s 61st anniversary of priestly ordination. Remember to say a prayerfor the intentions of the Holy Father. Ordination to the PriesthoodOn Saturday morning, June 23, Deacons Eric Bennett, Eric Cadin, Felipe Gonzalez, John Healy, Adrian Milik, and Brother Michael Sheehan, FPO were ordained to the priesthood for the Archdio-cese of Boston. Please keep these men in your prayer, that God will bless them with a happy and fruitful priestly ministry.

Pray for Religious FreedomPray that religious freedom, our nation’s first and most cherished liberty, will be defended strongly by our political leaders and all citizens. Pray also for strong participation in the “Fortnight for Free-dom” initiative which began on Thursday.

Evening Prayer Tonight—June 24Join us this evening at six o’clock for Vespers in celebration of the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.

6

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

live “town hall meeting” with Cardinal seÁn

The U.S. Bishops have announced a two-week effort of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action to emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of religious liberty. It is called the “Fortnight for Freedom” and runs from June 21 to July 4. During this fortnight, Cardinal Seán is asking Catholics to recite the Prayer for Religious Freedom found on the inside front cover of the bulletin and is inviting all Catholics to participate in a live interactive “town hall meet-ing” on CatholicTV tomorrow evening, June 25 at eight o’clock. The topic of this meeting is Religious Liberty and questions from the viewing audience will be received and responded to by the Cardi-nal and other panelists. This meeting will also be broadcast on Boston Catholic Radio, WQOM 1060 AM. The world often looks to America to uphold and preserve the high value of religious freedom, a right spelled out beautifully in the groundbreak-ing document of Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae. Please visit BostonCatholic.org/Freedom for more information.

foreign student looking to stay with parish family

We have received a request that a seventeen year old high school student from Madrid is looking for a family to host him during July and August (or a portion of this time). He does not have much money but can help contribute toward food and other costs. If you are a family who is interested in more information about this, please contact ScottMacDonald (smacdonald@stceciliaboston.org).

our newest parish council members

Congratulations to Maureen Cosgrove-Deery, Matthew Gallup, Melon Regis-Civetta, and Cole Young who have all been called to serve the parish on the Parish Pastoral Council. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the election.

drivers needed

Each month parishioners have the opportunity to pick up donated meat, dairy products, and produce from a South Shore supermarket and baked goods from Whole Foods and deliver this food to Catholic Charities’ Haitian Multi-Service Center in Dorchester along with the packaged food items donated at Saint Cecilia. This vital ministry takes place on Sunday mornings at seven-thirty and can be completed in time to attend the nine-thirty parish Mass. We need four cars each time we deliver to Catholic Charities. Here are our upcoming dates:

June 24• July 1• July 15• July 29•

If you have a car and are interested in volunteer-ing, please contact Mark Lippolt at mlippolt@ham-mondre.com.

Summer Evening Prayer Nourish your spirit this Summer and join us for Vespers

June

Sunday the 3rd at 6:00 p.m. – Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Friday the 15th at 6:30 p.m. – Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sunday the 24th at 6:00 p.m. – Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist

July

Thursday the 26th at 6:30 p.m. – Memorial of Saints Joachim & Anne

Tuesday the 31st at 6:30 p.m. – Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

August

Monday the 6th at 6:30 p.m. – Feast of the Transfiguration

Tuesday the 14th at 6:30 p.m. – Vigil of the Assumption of Mary

Tuesday the 28th at 6:30 p.m. – Memorial of Saint Augustine of Hippo

8

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Social. Service.

Find us online at: Facebook.com/PineStreetInn Twitter.com/PineStreetInn

Join the Young Professionals Group for Pine Street Inn at Boston’s newest hotspot -- the Granary Tavern!

Enjoy appetizers and networking as we raise money to sponsor Pine Street’s Outreach Vans for a week. Two vans go out every night providing basic necessi-ties - and hope - to individuals living on the streets.

When: Wednesday, June 27 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Where: Granary Tavern 170 Milk Street

Donations: $25 includes appetizers and a drink tickethttp://pinestreetgranary.eventbrite.com

Contact: Eric Monty, 617.892.9173 eric.monty@pinestreetinn.org

Can’t make it but want to get involved?Join us Sunday, June 24 to volunteer in our kitchen. Help prepare meals from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or serve lunch in the Men’s Inn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

9

WHY CONSCIENCE IS IMPORTANT

During the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Americans shone the light of the Gospel on a dark history of slavery, segregation, and racial bigotry. The civil rights movement was an essentially religious movement, a call to awaken consciences.

In his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in 1963, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. boldly said, “The goal of America is freedom.” As a Christian pastor, he argued that to call America to the full measure of that freedom was the specific contribution Christians are obliged to make. He rooted his legal and constitutional arguments about justice in the long Christian tradition: “I would agree with Saint Augustine that ‘An unjust law is no law at all.’… A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.”

Some unjust laws impose such injustices on individuals and organizations that disobeying the laws may be justified. Every effort must be made to repeal them. When fundamental human goods, such as the right of conscience, are at stake, we may need to witness to the truth by resisting the law and incurring its penalties.

The church does not ask for special treatment, simply the rights of religious freedom for all citizens. Rev. King also explained that the church is neither the master nor the servant of the state, but its conscience, guide, and critic.

Catholics and many other Americans have strongly criticized the recent Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs. For the first time in our history, the federal government will force religious institutions to fund and facilitate coverage of a drug or procedure contrary to their moral teaching, and purport to define which religious institutions are “religious enough” to merit an exemption. This is a matter of whether religious people and institutions may be forced by the government to provide such coverage even when it violates our consciences.

What we ask is nothing more than the right to follow our consciences as we live out our teaching. This right is not only about our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray the Rosary at home. It is about whether we can make our contribution to the common good of all Americans. Can we do the good works our faith calls us to do, without having to compromise that very same faith? Without religious liberty properly understood, all Americans suffer, deprived of the essential contribution in education, health care, feeding the hungry, civil rights, and social services that religious Americans make every day.

What is at stake is whether America will continue to have a free, creative, and robust civil society—or whether the state alone will determine who gets to contribute to the common good, and how they get to do it.

USCCB Nationwide Bulletin Insert June 2012

PROTECTING CONSCIENCES

What can you do to ensure the protection of conscience rights?

The U.S. Bishops have called us to get informed, pray and advocate. To send your message to HHS and Congress telling them to uphold religious liberty and conscience rights, go to www.usccb.org/conscience today! Thank you for joining the effort to end this unprecedented government coercion.

The Bishops have called for a Fortnight for Freedom - June 21-July 4. Please go to www.fortnight4freedom.org for more information on this important time of prayer and action!

10

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

BETWEEN HEAVEN & MIRTH

Can you laugh with God? By JAMES MARTIN, SJ

One of the best ways of thinking about our rela-tionship with God is as a close personal rela-tionship or an intimate friendship. It’s not a per-fect analogy, but thinking about our relationship to God as paralleling a hu-man relationship can be quite helpful.

Like any relationship, for example, our rela-tionship with God often starts with infatuation (as when everything about the spiritual life seems easy and won-derful), it goes through exciting times (when prayer and worship are satisfying) and some-times dry periods (when your spiritual life seems at a standstill). Like any friendship, your rela-tionship with God requires the ability to devote time, it requires a willingness to listen, it re-quires a tolerance for silence and it requires a desire for real honesty. All the things that you say about friendship you can say, by analogy, about prayer.

Obviously, a relationship with God isn’t exactly

the same as a relation-ship with a friend. None of our friends have cre-ated the world out of nothing. (Though some act as if they had!) But thinking about our rela-tionship to God in these terms can help to show us where our spiritual life might be lacking.

For example, would you say that you were a good friend if you never spent time with your friends? Or if you never listened to them? If you were never honest with them? Yet sometimes people approach their relationship with God in those ways. Again, the metaphor of friendship with God can help us

see our spiritual life in a fresh way.

In that light, our relationship with God—like any relationship—can use some humor from time to time. That is, it’s okay to be playful with God and accept that God might want to be playful with you. But does the idea of a hu-morous or playful God have any antecedents?

11

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Rabbi Burton Visotzky, professor of Midrash and interreligious studies at the Jewish Theo-logical Seminary in New York, noted that while the Hebrew Bible often shows a stern God, the tradition of a playful and loving God is also part of the Jewish tradition. “In a fifth-century Midrash in Israel,” said Rabbi Visotzky, “the rabbis tell the story of God braiding Eve’s hair in the Garden of Eden, like one who would help a bride. It is a charming and playful im-age of a loving God.”

Once, when she was travelling to one of her convents, St. Teresa of Ávila was knocked off her donkey and fell into the mud, injuring her leg. “Lord,” she said, “you couldn’t have picked a worse time for this to happen. Why would you let this happen?” And the response in prayer that she heard was, “That is how I treat my friends.”Teresa answered, “And that is why you have so few of them!”

This story, one of the most well known about St. Teresa, is often told as a way of demon-strating the abundant humor of the saint. But it shows something else: her playful way of ad-dressing God. Moreover, it shows her assump-tion of God’s playfulness with her.

The Book of Isaiah says, “The LORD delights in you.” (Is. 52:4) One of my spiritual direc-tors used to quote that constantly, whenever I would tell him something wonderful or unex-pected that happened to me. “The Lord takes delight in you, Jim!” he would say.

What a strange thing that was to hear! Previ-ously, I had imagined God creating me, caring for me, maybe even taking an interest in my life, but certainly not delighting in me. But why not? Doesn’t a parent delight in a child?

So a few questions to consider:

Can you allow yourself to think of God as • playful?

Can you allow God to be playful with you? •

Can you imagine a God who enters into a • lighthearted relationship with you?

Can you allow yourself to think that the • wonderful or funny or unexpected things that surprise you are signs of God being playful with you?

Think about this in a slightly different way: Can you imagine God not simply loving you, but as the British theologian James Alison often challenges his readers to imagine, liking you?

We’ve heard the phrase “God loves you” so often that it becomes a platitude—like wall-paper that we cease to notice once we’ve plastered it in our room. We think, “Well, of course God loves me. That’s just what God does.”

But thinking about God liking us is quite dif-ferent. That has a different energy around it. Surprising. Lighthearted. Personal.

Here’s another question: How do you show that you like a friend? Well, maybe you tell your friend outright. Or maybe you do some-thing generous for him. You also may be play-ful with your friend. So can you let yourself think that the funny things that happen to you are signs of God’s love, but God’s like?

Another way of looking at this: One of the oldest images of God is as a parent. Jesus refers to God as his father, and even calls him “Abba,” a sort of affectionate Aramaic term,

(Article continues on page 12)

12

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

(Continued from page 11)

used even today in some parts of the Middle East, that may be fairly translated as “Daddy.”

The traditional image of God as parent doesn’t suit everyone (particularly those from abusive or severely dysfunctional families) but it can still be helpful as one image among many. When you could imagine God as parent you can imagine the best of all possible parents.

Using the metaphor of God as parent, then, you might ask yourself, “Doesn’t a parent sometimes enjoy being playful with a child?” When you see a father throwing his child up in the air, or a mother tickling her baby, you can see a human sign of this loving playfulness.

God is the One who delights in your own sense of humor and who surprises you with life’s funny moments. And in life’s surprising and unexpected moments may found signs of God’s delight in your life.

CHANGE OF LIFE

By GERALD DARRING

We honor John the Baptist as a prophet sent “to prepare for the Lord a people well-dis-posed, to help God’s people to walk the path of salvation.” The prophets were people who, like Isaiah, had God’s words placed in their mouths. “They investigated the times,” and through their reading of the signs of the times, they were able to declare God’s justice.

John the Baptist had the task of preparing the people immediately before the arrival of the messiah. His message was one of repentance, change of life, metanoia. His baptism was a sign of change, of turning things around, in the direction of God.

The lesson of John the Baptist is that the world will receive Jesus Christ when it turns away from its violent and oppressive ways. It must allow the prophets “to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the rebellious to the wisdom of the just.”

“In the face of the present-day situation of the world, marked as it is by the grave sin of injustice, we recognize both our re-sponsibility and our inability to overcome it by our own strength . Such a situation urges us to listen with a humble and open heart to the word of God, as he shows us new paths towards action in the cause of justice in the world.”

Synod of Bishops, Justice in the World (1971) 29.

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

13

vendome anniversary

In addition to being Father’s Day, last Sunday was also the fortieth anniversary of the fatal fire at the Vendome Hotel on Commonwealth Avenue. Perhaps the most catastrophic event in the history of the Back Bay, nine firefighters lost their lives battling the fire. A total of twenty-three children were left fatherless by their deaths. We are grateful to the men and women of the Boston Fire and Police De-partments who risk their lives to protect us and we pray for their safety. To read more about the tragic event, visit: http://articles.boston.com/2012-06-17/metro/32269055_1_firefighters-district-fire-father.

come to the dominican republic!

Kononia, the 20s & 30s Saint Cecilia group, is organizing a group of volunteers to travel to the Dominican Republic to work with underserved Haitians. This trip is open to all parishioners and friends of parishioners. The trip would have both a medical and a construction team, and group members can participate in one or both teams.You don’t need to speak Spanish or even be medi-cal/construction professionals; you simply need the desire to help others! We will travel to remote villages on the outskirts of La Romana, which are miles and miles from access to health care, educa-tion, running water, and electricity and are in need of assistance.

If you are willing to volunteer for the trip, or if you’d like to help in other ways (e.g., fundraising), please join us next Sunday, July 1, after the elev-en-fifteen liturgy. For further information, please contact Christine at cmshaughnessy.1@gmail.com. We hope to see you next Sunday!

done time?

Please join us for our Monday Night Gatherings. Men and women who have been incarcerated are invited to join this group which is designed to provide participants with a sense of welcome and support. The meetings are held from six to eight o’clock in the Parish Pastoral Center (Saint Cecilia Street entrance) and begin with a group that pro-vides an opportunity for individuals to talk about their personal experiences, insights, and issues in a safe environment. A simple meal is shared after the group. It’s fine to just come, but if you would like additional information (or if you are interested in helping to host this group), please contact Peg Newman (peg_newman@msn.com; 508-587-4254) or Tom Ash (whatevertp@gmail.com; 617-642-9351).

YNIA DISCOUNT CARDS

After the nine–thirty and eleven-fifteen liturgies, there will be $20 discount cards for sale in the narthex. These discount cards are valid until March 30, 2013 and offer discountes at ten different local establishments, including Mida, Bruegger’s, Boloco, and Ben & Jerry’s. It won’t take long before you make back your $20 outlay and you’ll be helping the youth of the parish. Thanks for your support.

14

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Parish RESOURCESParish Office & Mailing Address18 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA 02115Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.Phone | 617 536 4548Fax | 617 536 1781E-mail | info@stceciliaboston.orgWebsite | www.stceciliaboston.org

Parish StaffRev. John J. Unni, Pastor, junni@stceciliaboston.orgMark Donohoe, Pastoral Associate for Administration, mdonohoe@stceciliaboston.orgScott J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Leadership Development, smacdonald@stceciliaboston.orgRichard J. Clark, Director of Music andOrganist, rclark@stceciliaboston.orgMaureen Sullivan, Administrative Assistant to the Pastor, msullivan@stceciliaboston.orgGenevieve Fiorente, Office Administrative Assistant

Assisting ClergyRev. Thomas Gariepy, CSCRev. Peter Grover, OMVRev. James Shaughnessy, SJRev. George Winchester, SJ

Schedule for LiturgyWednesdays During Lent | 6:00 p.m.Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday | 8:00 a.m.Lord’s Day | Sat 5:00 p.m.; Sun 8:00, 9:30, and 11:15.Holy Days | 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

ReconciliationBy appointment at any time and Wednesday evenings from 6:30—8:00 during Lent.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the communal process through which non-baptized men and women become members of the Catholic Church. It is also suitable for those baptized in different faith traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic, or, for those who were baptized Catholic, but have yet to receive the sacraments of eucharist and confirmation. For more information, please contact Mark Donohoe.

Baptism for InfantsInfant baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. For more information, please contact Mark Donohoe.

Faith Formation for ChildrenTo register your child for our Faith Formation Program, please contact Scott MacDonald in the parish office.

MarriageCouples who wish to prepare for marriage should contact Mark Donohoe in the parish office at least six months in advance.

Care of the SickTo arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, or for Viaticum for the Dying (Holy Communion for those in danger of death), please contact the parish office. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies.

Order of Christian FuneralsThe parish is prepared to celebrate the Vigil (wake) in the church. Please contact the parish office for more information.

Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) TeamThe CAP Team is responsible for training all parish staff and volunteers in mandated reporting laws and the Protecting God’s Children program (VIRTUS). They also provide consultation and support to anyone in the parish who has concerns about reporting child abuse and neglect. Please contact Lois Flaherty (loisflaherty@gmail.com), Ginny DiSanto (gin250boston@gmail.com) or Peg Quilty (nursempeg@gmail.com) if you have any questions or concerns.The Archdiocese of Boston has in place a vigorous program to protect children from harm and to educate its ministers and faithful about the nature of abuse, with a goal of increasing knowledge, creating a safe environment for children, and recognizing and reporting potentially dangerous situations. The full text of the policy is also available in the narthex and parish office, as well as on our website.

For Those with Celiac DiseaseIf you have celiac disease, please let us know. We have a supply of low-gluten altar bread available for those who cannot tolerate gluten.

Hearing Assistance in ChurchThe church is equipped with an FM listening device. Small receivers are available for anyone who may have trouble hearing the sound system. Simply request a receiver from any one of our greeters before Mass.

Access for the DisabledThe church is accessible by elevator.

ParkingReduced-rate parking (maximum of three hours) is available Sundays at the Prudential Center parking garage, LAZ Parking (53 Belvidere Street), and at the Hilton Boston Back Bay. Please bring your parking ticket to church for validation before returning to the garage.

Joining Our CommunityWe’re happy that you’re with us! Our community offers a warm, spiritual home for a diverse group of Catholics. We come from many neighborhoods in and around Boston but also have parishioners from as far afield as Marlborough, Newburyport, and Stow. Please introduce yourself to a staff member, drop in for coffee on Sunday, or fill out a new parishioner form in the gathering space. No matter what your background, please know that you are always welcome at Saint Cecilia.