Saint CeciliaP A R I S H

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time10 June 2018

Losing ParadiseHe Qi

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 undertaken. 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, 54 ranks, and 3,084 pipes was dedicated on the Feast of Saint Cecilia, November 22, 1999.

Today we are experiencing something of an awakening within these old walls. Our numbers are increasing by 350 new households eah year, 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 125 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!

Join us

for

Saint Cecilia Summerfest

TodayJoin us as we celebrate the season with delicious BBQ,

jazz music, face painting and much more!

Festivities start after the 9:30 Mass with coffee and pastries in the garden

Lunch will begin at 12:30 on Saint Cecilia Street

We still need your help to kick off the summer!Sign up to lend a hand at www.signupgenius.com/

go/4090a45acaa2da7f94-summer or contact Lisa at 857-317-3828

4

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Ministers of the Liturgy

Saturday, June 10 | 5:00 p.m.Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrantWill Kelly, lector

Sunday, June 10 | 8:00 a.m.Rev. James Shaughnessy, SJ, celebrantJames Paradis, lector

Sunday, June 10 | 9:30 a.m.Rev. Michael Simone, SJ, celebrantLudovico Rollo, Catherine Horsley, Elyse Portillo, lectors

Sunday, June 10 | 11:15 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantClarissa Hadge, Ben DeWinter, Natasha Pierre, lectors

today’s readings

Genesis 3:9-15

2 Corinthians 4:13 - 5:1

Mark 3:20-35

next sunday’s readings

Ezekiel 17:22-24

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Mark 4:26-34

our community news

Special intentions

Saturday, June 9 | 5:00 p.m.John Shugars, MemorialSaturday, June 9 | 5:00 p.m.Michael Donnelly, 3rd Anniversary

Sunday, June 10 | 9:30 a.m.Anne Pasechnick, Memorial

Sunday, June 10 | 11:15 a.m.Paul Byrne, Memorial

This week at Saint Cecilia

• Sunday, June 10 | Summerfest 2018 after Masses

• Tuesday, June 12| Final Campaign Reception | 6:30 in Parish Hall

• Wednesday, June 13 | Evening Prayer for the Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua 6:30

• Wednesday, June 13 | Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning Initiative 6:30 - 8:00 in Parish Hall

5

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Our DeceasedPatrick Tedesco died on June 4. Pray for the eternal repose of Patrick, as well as for the consolation of his wife Vionette and children, Lucas and Camila. Patrick's Funeral Mass will be at Saint Cecilia on Saturday, June 16 at 10:00 a.m.

Pray also for the repose of the soul of Larry Driscoll, as well as for the consolation of his family and friends. Larry's Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, June 13 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Cecilia.

May their souls 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 Annette Kulas, Rosea Aubrey, Pilar Estrada, Mildred McLaughlin, Brenna Smith, Mark Anderson, Bill Downing, Skyler Stevenson, Silvana Franco, Brian Donnelly, Theresa Wier, Bill Ahern, Lena Bryant, Kenny Borum, George Driscoll, Mary Curley, Bill Pennington, Bryan Thomas, Rachel Fitzgerald, Bob Carroll, John Morris, Mark Edward McHugh, Laura Bellias, Angelo Valente, Eugenia Valente, Betty Sellers, Jack Kacewicz, Nancy Wolterman, Callie Boyce, Mary Chisholm, Brian Burdette, John Pelletier, Stephanie Brown, Bob Butler, Hilary Dillon, Paul Lakschewitz, Pam Phillips, Tom O’Keefe, Pamela Massey, Mary Sullivan, Mimi Hart, Mei Day, Edris Kelley, Grady Richards, Bill Doran, Claire Smith, Karen Boutin, Sal Mateus, Kathryn Schuler, Tony Perretta, Irene Faldetta, Peter Webster, Linda Burke, Kerri D'Arrigo, Gerard Franchi, Timothy Kelliher, Sophia Giorgianni, Vicki Basinger, Mitchell Cheverie, John Edward Doyle, Nancy Donovan, Kerri McDonald, Cecilia Hill, Barbara Simmons, Sally Boutin, Justine Carr, James Smith, Theresa Sykes, Beth Shelburne, Myrtha Charles, Bob Marino, Brian Himes, Maureen Corcoran, Chen Cheung, Millie Acampora, Russel Hauver, Vin McCarthy, Anna Paulin, Kirby Grochal, and Sallyann Silfies.

Welcome to Saint Cecilia ParishWe are pleased to welcome the following new members of our parish who have recently registered: Kevin Sullivan of Jamaica Plain, the Henwood-Sullivan Family of Bos-ton, and the Szeman Family of Boston. If you have not previously registered with the parish, there are forms in the narthex for this purpose or you can register online at www.stceciliaboston.org.

Vespers This WeekOn Wednesday evening, in commemoration of the Memo-rial of Saint Anthony of Padua, we will celebrate Vespers at 6:30. All are welcome.

Happy 26th Anniversary, Father John!Wednesday, June 13, will mark the twenty-sixth anniversary of Father John's ordination to the priesthood. Be sure to keep our pastor in your prayer on this happy occasion!

2018 Boston Pride FestivalIf you are reading this on-line, Saint Cecilia Rainbow Minis-try, in collaboration with the Paulist Center and Saint Antho-ny Shrine (Arch Street), will be represented at the Boston Pride Festival on Saturday, June 10 at City Hall Plaza from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please stop by and say hello!

Prayers & Occasions

Campaign Update!

We are

85% of the way to our goal of

$6.1 million!

Welcome, Baby Benjamin!There's a new addition to the Fairchild family! Josh and Kellie Fairchild are happy to announce the arrival of Benjamin Francis Fairchild, who was born at noon on Sunday, May 27. Congratula-tions, Kellie and Josh — we can't wait to welcome Benjamin to the Saint Cecilia family.

6

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

WISDOM AND MATURE

SPIRITUALITY GROUP

Sunday, June 17 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Meet outside the Conference Room

To those of you in the second half of life, we invite you to connect with others on a spiritual journey as we share our wisdom and insights. We meet once a month on the third Sunday of the month for one hour.

We are currently reading the book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr. We will discuss Chapter Three-The First Half of Life at our June 17th meeting.

In the first half of life, we learn the basic elements of the faith journey. We experience necessary falls such as job loss, a relationship or moral failure. Our group will discuss what these experiences have taught us about ourselves and about God.

Please think about a comment or question about this chapter for our discussion. At future meetings, we will continue to discuss one chapter of this book each month. The book is available at libraries or you may purchase the book at Amazon, store.cac.org, or Barnes and Noble.

We welcome new members even those who can’t make a commitment to come on a regular basis to our meetings. Confidentiality within the group is based on mutual trust and respect.

OFFERTORY COMMITMENT PROGRAM

If you have ever wondered why some of your neighbors in the pews at Mass let the collection basket go past them during the Offertory, it is most likely because they have joined our Offertory Commitment Program (OCP). The Saint Cecilia Finance Council regards the OCP as essential in planning and budgeting for the needs of the parish. If you are not currently participating in the OCP, but would like to start, please contact Mark Donohoe at (617) 536-4548 or mdonohoe@stceciliaboston.org.

Parish Gardeners Needed

Do you have a green thumb? We are looking for gardeners to maintain the outside gardens. The outside plantings are in need of watering and weeding during the spring, sum-mer, and fall months. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, or if you would like more information, please contact Lisa Pickering at lpickering@stceciliaboston.org.

Difficulting Parking for Mass?

The MBTA is offering $10 Communter Rail passes on week-ends between June 9 – September 2, 2018. If you are tired of worrying about parking when you come to Mass, or don't want to fuss with parking garages, consider this option. The $10 all-weekend fare is valid on all Commuter Rail lines and all zones.

Summer Sacred Music Series on

Catholic TV — Featuring Saint

Cecilia!

Stephanie Scogna, a former member of the Saint Cecilia Choir, hosts On a Sacred Note with Catholic TV. This 13-part series provides a tour of Catholic liturgical music history through presentations of various genres and composers, in-person interviews with local church music directors, and exclusive performance demonstrations. Saint Cecilia Music Director, Richard Clark was interviewed for two of the episodes (airing on July 2 & August 13). AIRS: Mondays at 8:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m., Fridays at 12 a.m., and Saturdays at 5 p.m. with a NEW EPISODE EACH WEEK through August 27. Catholic TV broadcasts in HD, and is available on several platforms, from Cable TV to streaming. Find more informa-tion at www.CatholicTV.org.

Catholic Charities

Breakfast Series

Please join Catholic Charities of Boston for their "This Is My Com-munity" Breakfast Series, featuring sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy. This networking and breakfast are graciously hosted by Jim Gallagh-er, Chair of the Catholic Charities

Board. The event will be held at John Hancock Financial in the Seaport District. Please RSVP by June 13, 2018 to Ellen Morrissey at ellen_morrissey@ccab.org or 781-380-4789.

7

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Palliative Care and Advance Care

Planning Initiative

Wednesday | June 13, 2018 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. | Parish Hall

Please join us to for a facilitated, interactive discussion about the key questions you should consider when thinking about how you would like to be cared for if you should be-come seriously ill. This can be a challenging process and this evening will be an attempt to make it a bit easier. We will also discuss how you begin to talk about these wishes with your loved ones, so that they understand what you want. Of equal importance is how you start a conversation with your loved ones about their wishes.

In order to plan for the number of facilitators needed and light refreshments, we would ask you to RSVP to Amy Russo, aerusso2015@gmail (646-431-1544) or Jeanne Bruno, jbruno@stceciliaboston.org (857-317-3830) to let us know if you are coming.

Spiritual Direction Training

Are you increasingly interested in spiritual development? Do you find people talking with you about their lives? Could you be called to the ministry of spiritual companioning? St Anthony Shrine is offering a training program in spiritual direction. Classes meet Saturdays eight times a year for two years. For more information see a brochure at stan-thonyshrine.org/ministries/spiritual-direction-certifica-tion-program or contact Carol Mitchell at 727-492-8315 or calmitch@stanthonyshrine.org.

Can You Help?

A group of men reentering the community after serving time in prison gather every Monday night at Saint Cecilia for a meal and a chance to support one another. A few parishioners, preferably men, are needed to join the group once a month to help prepare a dinner. Cooking is optional. For more information, please e-mail sc.prisonandafter@gmail.com.

To date, we have raised over $ 5.2 million for this campaign at Saint Cecilia! This is an incredible accomplishment and our thanks go out to those who have supported such a successful endeavor. This wonderful total has been raised from fewer than 95 families! We have more to do, and hope to receive a decision from EVERY household.

Please know that our goal for this campaign is not to simply raise money, but rather to receive an informed decision from each and every parishioner.

Next Weekend (June 16 and 17) we will be asking every family to make a decision about their support of this most important project. If you have not already done so, please give prayerful consideration over this coming week to your level of support for the campaign.

Sample Five-Year Gift Plans

If you'd still like to learn more about the campaign, please attend our final reception on

June 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall

Please RSVP to RSVP@stceciliaboston.org or use the link in this week's bulletin digest.

If you have already made your decision, thank you for your thoughtful consideration of our parish needs. There are pledge forms available in the parish office and in the narthex. Please bring your completed form with you to Mass next weekend, or feel free to mail it in or drop it off at the parish office anytime.

Lighting the Way Campaign

8

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

EVENTS CALENDAR

MINISTRY & Volunteer

APPRECIATION RECAP

Over 150 parishioners, volunteers, and ministers attendedour annual Ministry & Volunteer Appreciation Event on Wednesday, May 23. This event is a special way to recog-nize the significant impact our parishioners have on our community. It is wonderful to watch this event filled with music, food, and fellowship grow each year as new min-istries blossom.

A Request from

Catholic Charities

For nearly 100 years, Sunset Point Camp has provided a dream vacation at the seashore to over 40,000 low-income, at-risk children aged 6-13 from Greater Boston without regard for their race, nationality, or religious af-filiation. Nearly 450 city-based boys and girls travel to Hull, Massachusetts each summer for a one or two week overnight camp experience letting them enjoy the fresh air, learn new talents, receive academic summer support and simply have fun.

Sunset Point Camp is operated by our friends at Catholic Charities. They have mentioned to us that they always need donations of sunscreen for the kids at the camp. So the next time you're at CVS or Walgreen's or your local supermarket, please consider picking up an extra tube of sunscreen and dropping it in the plastic bin identified for this purpose in the narthex. We have been told the higher the SPF number, the better. The Camp also needs kids' flipflops for boys and girls age 6 to 12.

SUMMER AT BC SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

AND MINISTRY

For further details or to register for these events, please check the School of Theology and Ministry website: www.bc.edu/schools/stm/edevnts/events/2018.html

10TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

Faith Formation: Past, Present, and FutureThursday, June 28 | 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. | Simboli Hall, Room 100, 9 Lake St., Brighton Campus | Registration Required | Free of charge; includes supper

Presenters: Thomas H. Groome and Jane E. Regan

18TH ANNUAL EVELYN UNDERHILL LECTURE IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY

Beyond Its Use-By Date? Pondering the Future of FaithSaturday, July 14 | 10:00 – 11:45 a.m. | Robsham Theater, Chestnut Hill Campus | Registration Required Free of charge

Presenter: Rev. Richard Lennan

10TH ANNUAL MARY OF MAGDALA CELEBRATION

Images of the Magdalene: A Natural HistoryFriday, July 20 | 12:00-3:00 p.m. | St. Ignatius Church and Corcoran Commons, Heights Room, Chestnut Hill Campus Registration Required |Free of charge, includes lunch

Presenter: Francine Cardman

SPECIAL ONE-WEEK COURSES

The following courses are offered by Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry as part of their Summer Session, and further details regarding costs and registration may be found online at www.bc.edu/schools/stm/acadprog/summer/summercourses.html

The Craft of Teaching Theology: A Pedagogical Toolkit for the High School TeacherJune 25 – June 28 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Instructor: Cynthia Cameron

1st Annual Nativity Prep “Jesuit Service-Social”

Calling young alumni of Jesuit high schools and colleges for a day of service, socializing and Sam Adams!

Saturday, June 16th

12:30 – 4:00 PM Summer Cleaning

4:00 - 5:00 PM Reception

39 Lamartine St. Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Nativity Prep is Boston’s Jesuit middle school, providing a full-scholarship education to boys from low-income families and forming “men for others.”

RSVP NOW

Cleaning supplies and gardening equipment provided Parking available and easily accessible on the T Orange Line

Contact Kevin Sullivan (ksullivan@nativityboston.org) with any questions!

10

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Canticle of St. Francis

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,especially Sir Brother Sun,

Who is the day and through whom You give us light.And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;

and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised by You, my Lord,through Sister Moon and the Stars.

In heaven You formed themclear and precious and beautiful.

Praised by you, my Lord, through Brother Wind,and through the air, cloudy and serene,

and every kind of weather,through whom You give sustenance to Your

creatures.

Praised by You, my Lord, through Sister Water,who is very useful and humble

and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,through whom you light the night,

and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised by You, my lord,through our Sister Mother Earth,

who sustains and governs us,and who produces various fruitwith colored flowers and herbs.

~Excerpt from Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi

Signatures Requested for Raising Minimum Wage and for Paid Family Medical LeaveSunday, June 10 I After all Masses Downstairs in Parish Hall

Representatives from the Social and Racial Justice Ministry will be downstairs after all Masses to collect petition signa-tures in order to get two important initiatives on the ballot for MA voters. The first would raise minimum wage over the course of 4 years to $15. The second would create a system so that people in low wage jobs could still take paid family sick leave. If you did not sign these a few months ago when we did a signature drive, now is your chance, so please con-sider it.

Father's Day Detention Center Prayer VigilSunday, June 17 | 2:00-3:00 p.m. | Suffolk County House of Correction, 20 Bradston Street Boston

Please spend some of your Father's Day at an event orga-nized by The JP/West RoxburySanctuary Cluster. Let those locked in detention for deportation, including fathers away from their families, know they are not forgotten this Fa-ther's Day. There will be singing, Minister's Prayers, pri-vate prayers, holding up signs, and waving to inmates out-side the Detention Center. For more information contact lindajenkins177@yahoo.com.

Books for the Edison School in BrightonOngoing

As you start your end of school year chores, please set aside any non-religious children's books that are gently used to be donated to the students of the Edison K-8 School in Brigh-ton. The Edison is a Boston Public School that serves stu-dents from over 60 different countries. Of these students, 83% qualify for subsidized lunch, 43% are English language learners, and 22% have special needs. In most low-income urban neighborhoods, it can be very difficult for a child to find something to read during the summer. Let's end the book desert in Boston one school at a time! Please drop off your donations at Saint Cecilia or at the Edison K-8 located on 60 Glenmont Road, Brighton. If you wish to receive a handwritten note from a student, attach a post-it note with your full name to the books you donate. If you have any questions, please reach out to Camila from the Social and Racial Justice Ministry at csilva3@bostonpublicschools.org. Thank you!

Social and Racial Justice Ministry

Evening Prayer

Thursday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sunday, June 3 at 6:00 p.m. Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – Adoration at 6:00 followed by Vespers at 6:30

Friday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Wednesday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua

Thursday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. Memorial of Saint Aloysius of Gonzaga

Sunday, June 24 at 6:00 p.m. Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Thursday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

12

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

In researching El Camino de Santiago de Compostela (known in English as the Way of St. James the Greater), a 500-mile walking pilgrimage across northern Spain that has been calling to me, I came across a reference to plenary indulgences in the Camino’s history. I had almost forgotten about indulgences, as they are foreign to my faith experience.

My grandmother had a thing about “first Fridays.” If you made it to Mass on the first Friday of the month so many times in a row, she said, you were guaranteed a fast-track to heaven. I remember asking her when I was 11 or 12: What if you do all those first Fridays and then murder someone? Do the Fridays override mortal sin? What if you do the first Fridays and don’t even believe in God?

I wasn’t being a brat. This concept of wheeling and dealing with God truly perplexed me. My practical brain could not reconcile an ironclad assurance of the soul’s fate with other, more abstract (and theologically sound) things I was learning at Catholic school.

The indulgence granted for completing the Camino is not what calls to me. I am not sure which part of walking 500 miles does sound like a good idea, but I have learned that calls do not always make sense. I also know that my grandmother’s indulgences were a case of good intentions gone awry because I am pretty sure that we cannot bargain with God.

As I write about celestial bargains, I am remembering a moment with my dear departed mother in the neonatal nursery about 25 years ago. My twin nephews had been born two months prematurely. Under three pounds each, they looked like tiny, skeletal monkeys: They were still covered with the downy hair that is no longer present on full-term babies, and they had no meat on their bones. One was more endangered than the other on account of a collapsed lung. He was touch-and-go for a day or two, but then he stabilized.

“Thank God,” I said. No small number of prayers from the whole family had been whispered on behalf of these babies.

“Thank God and, confidentially, you can thank me,” my mother said. “I told God I’d go back to church if this baby lived.”

“You can’t make bargains with God,” I said, these still being the days when I used to argue with my parents about theology. I was still sure I could enlighten them with my vast store of Catholic knowledge.

“I just did,” she said. “You believe what you want, but I made a promise. Now I have to go every Sunday so he won’t die.”

My mother eventually stopped going to Mass when her Parkinson’s symptoms got the better of her. If her theory was correct, I guess God let her off the hook because my nephew is still alive.

We like to think we can bargain with God. The God of the Old Testament, after all, is quite the dealmaker: “I shall be your God, and you shall be my people” (Lv 26:12) and all that. Or we could take a cue from Abraham, who famously talked God into sparing the thousands of wicked no-accounts in the city of Sodom if there are even 50, no, 45, no wait, 40, or, how about 20, or wait, 20, or, this is the last one I swear, 10 worthy people who are not sinners! Abraham’s stalling tactic actually works with God. Why shouldn’t we try for a similar outcome when we pray?

Prayer is where we come face-to-face with our concept of God. Who is the God we believe in deep in our hearts? When we bargain with God, we espouse a God who keeps score, rather than the God who loves us no matter what, the God who is love, according to the first letter of John (4:8). When we offer to negotiate with God, we presume that we actually have anything that God needs, which is pretty presumptuous on our part. And when we maneuver to make a deal with God, we are in essence saying that we know better than God. Whatever crisis we are facing, we have a desirable outcome in mind, and we are going to bring God around to our way of thinking. Whatever God’s will for us may be, we have a counter-proposal. In fact, we have a list.

Why we shouldn’t try to bargain with God

By VALERIE SCHULTZ

13

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

I wonder sometimes if my mother thought that the family who lost their baby in that neonatal nursery did not offer God a good enough contract.

My mother has gone to God now, as has my grandmother with her indulgences, and my day will come. I no longer think I am smart enough to make people believe in the God that I think they should. I accept that my own image of God has aged to a divine power more loving, more tender, more expansive, more forgiving, more merciful, more compassionate and more whole than my mind can grasp. I cannot get it, but I believe. On most days, I am at peace with the mystery of faith.

That is why I am going to invest in some sturdy walking shoes, while I work on letting go of my own expectations for God.

~ Valerie Schultz is a freelance writer, a columnist for The Bakersfield Californian and the author of Closer: Musings on Intimacy, Marriage, and God. She and her husband Randy have four daughters.

The Lanyard

-Billy Collins

The other day I was ricocheting slowlyoff the blue walls of this room,moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,when I found myself in the L section of the dictionarywhere my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.

No cookie nibbled by a French novelistcould send one into the past more suddenly-a past where I sat at a workbench at a campby a deep Adirondack lakelearning how to braid long thin plastic stripsinto a lanyard, a gift for my mother.

I had never seen anyone use a lanyardor wear one, if that's what you did with them,but that did not keep me from crossingstrand over strand again and againuntil I had made a boxyred and white lanyard for my mother.

She gave me life and milk from her breasts,and I gave her a lanyard.She nursed me in many a sick room,lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,laid cold face-clothes on my forehead,and then led me out into the air light

and taught me to walk and swim,and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.Here are thousands of meals, she said,and here is clothing and a good education.And here is your lanyard, I replied,which I made with a little help from a counselor.

Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,strong legs, bones and teeth,and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.And here, I wish to say to her now,is a smaller gift - not the worn truth

that you can never repay your mother,but the rueful admission that when she tookthe two-toned lanyard from my hand,I was as sure as a boy could bethat this useless, worthless thing I woveout of boredom would be enough to make us even.

14

SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Parish 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@stceciliaparish.orgWebsite | www.stceciliaboston.org

Parish StaffRev. John J. Unni, PastorMary Kaye, Pastoral Director of Operations,mkaye@stceciliaboston.orgMark Donohoe, Pastoral Associate for Administration,mdonohoe@stceciliaboston.orgScott J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Parish Visibility, smacdonald@stceciliaboston.orgJeanne Bruno, Chaplain, Pastoral Associate, Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach,jbruno@stceciliaboston.orgRichard J. Clark, Director of Music and Organist, rclark@stceciliaboston.orgLisa Pickering, Events and Facilities Manager, lpickering@stceciliaboston.orgLeah Bennett, Administrative Coordinator,lbennett@stceciliaboston.org

Assisting ClergyRev. Erick Berrelleza, SJRev. Peter Grover, OMVRev. Peter Gyves, SJRev. James Shaughnessy, SJ

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

ReconciliationThe sacrament of reconciliation is available by appointment. Please call the Parish Office.

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.

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

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), Maria Roche (maria.roche15@gmail.com), Letitia Howland (l_howland@hotmail.com), or Erin Young (erin.t.young@gmail.com) if you have any ques-tions 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 DisabledBoth the church and Parish Pastoral Center are accessible by elevator.

ParkingThere is reduced rate parking for $11.00 at the Hynes Auditorium Garage located on Dalton Street on Sundays until 3:00 p.m. and every evening after 4:00 p.m. Please be sure to ask one of our greeters for a parking validation ticket before leaving the church. There is also reduced rate parking on Sundays only at the Prudential Center South Garage (enter at Huntington Avenue or Dalton Street); up to 4 hours: $14.00, up to 5 hours: $20.00.

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 narthex.. No matter what your background, please know that you are always welcome at Saint Cecilia.

Parish RESOURCES