We are very fortunate to be offering a tremendous learning opportunity. Dr. Richard Spinello is a professor at Boston College, a published author, and parishioner. Dr. Spinello generously has offered to give a 3 night course here at St. Mary’s which will talk about Blessed John Paul II’s book Love and Responsibility, which addresses the broad topic of human love, sexuality, dignity and the common good. If one were to take this course at BC or another college, it would cost thousands of dollars. Please join us and take advantage of this wonderful learning opportunity. (3 Wednesday evenings 7:00-8:30 starting May 29.)

I’m very happy to congratulate parishioner Marie D’Eon, who is being honored on May 18 by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary for her exemplary support, friendship and dedication to their mission. Marie is also very active here at St. Mary’s, and she is a wonderful example to us all of faithful and loving witness in the Church. I’m happy that several parishioners will be at the dinner to represent the parish.

The With One Voice Capital Campaign continues on. We are hoping that those who have not yet taken the opportunity to be part of this great work will do so as soon as possible, especially before May 19, when we will recognize those who have already participated and will begin a new phase in the project. The success of our campaign rests not on the amount that each person gives, but rather, that every family participates.

We have major reconstruction of the front stairs of the church ahead of us during the first two weeks of June. It is an $85,000+ project. The archdiocese is helping with more than half of the cost, but the rest we must finance ourselves. Any financial support or ideas for support are gratefully received.

Details about the God Loves Dedham Field Day on Saturday, May 18 are being finalized. There will be a service project in the morning and activities in the afternoon.

Finally, given the complicating construction issues with the front stairs and the scheduled parish celebration for my 25th Anniversary being held on June 23, we have decided to postpone the parish BBQ. If there is interest, we may host it closer to August 15, the Feast Day of the parish.

And last, but certainly not least, congratulations to our First Communion students and their families, and a blessed and happy Mother’s Day!

God bless!

Fr. Kelly

Several folks have been so kind in stepping forward to help care for the grounds of the parish. More are welcome. Could I once again enlist your help in pulling up the random weed in the parking lot or flower beds if you have a minute? We’re doing what we can to tame the critters, but help is always appreciated.

We begin our First Communion celebrations this weekend. Christ present in the Eucharist cannot be overestimated for its importance in our lives. Pray for these children and for their families, that together they will make a home for Christ nourished weekly by the Eucharist at Mass.

With the end of Religious Education classes and the first signs of summer vacation, could I remind us all that the weekly offertory collection has to be maintained in order for us to pay our bills and support the work of the parish. We’ve not yet decided how to address the $25,000 that this winter’s snow has cost the parish (we had budgeted $12,000), but we do need consistent offertory so we can plan well. Electronic giving and envelopes are the very best way to do this.

More information is coming about the May 18 God Loves Dedham Field Day. It will be great.

Be sure to make a shrine of some type in your home to our Blessed Mother Mary during this month of May.

Blessings to all during these beautiful days.

Fr. Kelly

I am so grateful to our five parishioners who last week shared at Mass their experience and love for the devotion of Eucharistic Adoration.  Their heartfelt witness and encouragement to all of us will bear much fruit.  We will soon have available a booklet with excerpts from their reflections, as well as more information for your participation in this very holy endeavor.  Praying even five minutes before the Blessed Sacrament will have an impact on your life and that of the parish.

God loves Dedham.  We know that, but now we will have a chance to celebrate it!! Several months again, one of our Protestant brothers in town had the great idea to sponsor a God Loves Dedham Day.  It will be held on Saturday, May 18 and will be sponsored by many of the religious groups in our community.  Details are being finalized, and you’ll begin to see advertisement for this event around town and in our bulletin.  It will be a kind of field day, with God specifically at the center!  If you’d like to help with any of the doings of the day, please let me know.

You may remember that I’ve sold greeting cards with my original photos from all over the world (and lots from St. Mary’s.) The proceeds have helped to fund the parish music program.  Well, I’ve decided to make the cards available year round now!  With so many birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, weddings and First Communions coming up, why not pass along your congratulations with a beautiful, unique, handmade card, while supporting the work of the parish!  The cards are available in the lobby of the Parish Center every day.  I hope you’ll enjoy sharing them as much as I enjoyed making them.

God bless!

Fr. Kelly

On Friday this week, St. Mary’s will be hosting a Mass of Anointing at 11:00 in Mary Hall.  Anyone facing serious illness or upcoming surgery is welcome to be anointed, but all are encouraged to come and pray together.  Please see the bulletin for full information.

I’m grateful to the members of our parish who will speak at each Mass this week to share the experience of Eucharistic Adoration.  Please allow your hearts and minds to be open to this gift of Himself that the Lord offers us.

Easter peace to you all.

Fr. Kelly

This Sunday, April 7, is Divine Mercy Sunday.  We will have a special prayer hour from 2:00-3:00 in the upper church.  We can never know enough of God’s mercy!  Also, put on your schedule a visit form the Koinonia Academy Choir, who will present a one hour program on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:00 in the Church.

A very close friend of my family, who had been quite ill, died last week in the middle of the night.  One of his beloved grandsons, who has special needs, woke up twenty miles away and went into his parents’ bedroom and said: “Grampy just passed; I saw him.”  When asked if he said anything, he replied: “Oh ya, he said ‘Thank You.’”

Let’s remember to thank others, but especially, to thank the Lord for enduring the Cross for us, and surrendering Himself to the Father so that we might, too, might share in the power of the Resurrection.

God bless,

Fr. Kelly

Thanks to all who helped with our Holy Week and Easter celebrations.  Servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, musicians, greeters, and all who helped to clean and to decorate: thanks from me and from us all.  Thanks also to the Life Teen community for the beautiful portrayal of Christ’s passion.  Without the cross, there is no Resurrection. Without the Resurrection, the cross is empty of meaning.

The central paschal symbol in our Church is the Easter candle.  I am so very grateful to Mrs. Irene Carey who donated the beautiful Easter candle in memory of her son, Robert.  This candle is used throughout the Easter season and at every baptism and funeral.  We’ll remember to pray for Robert each time this candle is lit, reflecting Jesus’s own triumph of light over darkness.

I hope you can join us next week on Divine Mercy Sunday when we will pray from 2:00-3:00 in the Church that all the world might know the freeing mercy of God.

Live in the radiance and beauty of the Risen Jesus!  Happy Easter.

God bless you.

Fr. Kelly

In order to prepare for Easter, we have confessions available on this Monday from 12:45-2:00 in St. Joseph’s Chapel and on Wednesday evening, there will be four confessors in the main church from 6:30-8:00. (Please note: there are no confessions on Holy Saturday.)

On Good Friday and on Holy Saturday mornings, we will recite Morning Prayer together in St. Joseph Chapel at 8:00.

I want to thank all those who helped to make the Parish Mission so beautiful. The reflections by Dr. Clabeaux were wonderful and the music lovely. Special thanks to all who made the St. Joseph’s Table celebration so terrific. It looked like an Italian bakery had descended on Mary Hall! After our prayer in Italian, parishioners of all ages enjoyed one another’s good company, along with the goodies.

Each year, our Life Teen community inspires us with the Passion Play. This will be offered again this year on Palm Sunday at the 9:00 and 5:00 Mass, and on Good Friday at 7:00 in the evening. Come, walk with Christ and His companions through Jerusalem, to the Upper Room, to Calvary’s Hill. In doing this, we will know the power of Easter Resurrection with greater love still.

Can you help to decorate the Church for Easter? On Saturday morning at 9:30, we’ll be cleaning and setting up all the flowers and things needed for Masses. If you could give any amount of time, that would be so much appreciated.

God bless,
Fr. Kelly

This past week saw a packed house gathered to honor Sr. Barbara for all her hard and loving work here at St. Mary’s. Thanks to all who made the event such a great celebration.  We also enjoyed our first session of St. Mary’s Reads. The common sharing of faith was an encouragement to all.

I want to thank the many parishioners who stepped up to support our With One Voice Debt Reduction Campaign.  We are off to a good start.  Commitment Weekend was complicated by more bad weather and the end of the school vacation.  If you did not have a chance to submit your pledge this past week, I’d be grateful if you could do it at your earliest convenience.  I’ve received some touching notes from folks who are not able to give what they would like; I’m moved by their care and commitment.  The important thing is that every parishioner does something.  We have a long way to go, but it has begun well.

With that said, as we have noted at the many receptions to which all parishioners were invited, the Catholic Appeal now comes on the heels of our own fund raising efforts.  The Catholic Appeal is the primary source of support for the programs that serve the pastoral needs of various agencies within the Archdiocese, as well as the central administrative services.  I can assure you that I turn frequently to these offices for assistance and always find friendly and ready help.  I know we may not feel as connected to such central offices, but they are a real dimension of our own parish life, and Cardinal Sean certainly deserves our support of the many ways these offices help him to carry out his mission.  Please be generous to The Catholic Appeal.

Finally, mark your calendars for our Parish Mission on Monday and Tuesday evening, March 18 and 19.  Dr. John Clabeaux, noted Scripture scholar, speaker and host of his own show on Catholic TV (they’re everywhere!!) will be helping us to reflect on Luke’s Gospel and its power in our daily lives. And remember, a special treat on the 19^th:  St. Joseph’s Table!!

God bless and thanks for everything.

Fr. Kelly