St. Irene Parish Bulletin

Fifth Sunday of Easter

April 20 , 2008

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Our Priests
and Staff

Parish Information

Parish Events

Baptism 

Confession

Confirmation

First Communion

Questions about the Catholic Faith

Religious Education

Weddings

Gifts

Contact Us

Knights of Columbus

External Links

The Vatican

The Archdiocese of Boston

Catholic Colleges

Liturgical Events  

Mass Intentions

Alice Haugh, Memorial Mass
Saturday, April 19, 5 pm

Veronica Vereneat and Walter Bowes
Sunday, April 27, 5 pm

Congratulations

Courtney Davis Kalkstein was baptized at St Irene's Church last Sunday. Congratulations to Courtney and her family. Welcome to St Irene's.

Thank You

Many thanks to our fourth grade students for hosting the 8 and 11 am Masses last Sunday. Great job!

Hour of Prayer and Adoration

All are invited to join the St Irene Prayer Group on the first Tuesday of every month from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. for a time of prayer and adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

The format will be the Rosary, silent prayer, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and will end with silent prayer. If you feel God calling you, but you only have a few minutes to spare in your hectic life, please feel free to join us even for a few minutes. You will be most welcome and blessed.

For more information, contact Mary Ellen Bakken at 692-3315.

Information about praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet is available at the Marians of the Immaculate Conception website

Prayer of Petition

As we pray for the men and women in our armed forces, let us remember also the families of those brave people who risk their lives for our protection. We all know the power of prayer. Here are a few words to remember and to pray:

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for all of us in our time of need. Grant the reward of eternal life to those who have given their lives for their country. I ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Stations of the Cross

If you would like to say the stations, there is an online version at: On-line stations of the cross.

Religious Education News

Classes for grades 1-5 meet on Sundays: Session 1 meets from 9:00 to 9:50 am, and Session 2 meets from 10:00 to 10:50 am.

Grades 6-8 meet on Mondays: Grade 6 meets from 6 - 7 pm, and grades 7-8 meet from 7 - 8 pm.

Religious Education Classes will NOT be held on April 20/21 due to school vacation. Classes will resume on April 27/28. The last days of regular classes are May 4 and 5.

Grade 2 will be receiving First Eucharist on Saturday, May 17. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.

The May Procession following the 8 am Mass on May 18, led by our First Communicants, is the formal end to our religious education program for the year. A reception will follow in the parish hall. All families are invited to attend.

Grade 8 will host the 11 am Mass on Sunday, May 4, as a lovely way to end their year.

Program Questions

If you have any questions about our Religious Education program, please call our Director, Georgia Winfrey at 263-8077.

Youth Ministry
"It Takes a Parish to Confirm"

Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a two-year program at St. Irene's. The Confirmation ceremony is generally held in May.

Rehearsal for Confirmation is scheduled for April 30 in the church.

Parish Happenings

First Communion Outfits Needed

St Mary's Parish in Lynn was thrilled to get all of the Communion outfits. Parents in their parish will be able to "shop" with their child and have a choice of outfits. We would like to be able to support their efforts again next year, so do not put those dresses, shoes, veils, and jackets too far back in the closet.

Parish Ushers

We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate the ushers for our SUnday Masses. If you are interested, please see Fr. Tom.

Spring Tea

Today is the Spring Tea in the parish hall. This year we will have a few ladies with their specialty crafts - handmade embroidery, handmade note cards and stationary, Party Lights, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Lia Sophia jewelry and homemade treats for pets.

The tea will run form 2 - 4 pm on Sunday, April 27. Tickets are $5 and don't forget light refreshments will be served. So, ladies, put on your Sunday best and come enjoy a simply divine afternoon. Seating is limited.

Caring Friends

If you need help or know of someone who could use a friend, we would be happy to assist with meals-on-wheels, cards sent, visits to shut ins, etc. Let us know if a family or friend or relative is ill or in the hospital. Please contact Fr. Tom or Kate Burke at 371-0925.

Hour of Prayer and Adoration

All are invited to join the St Irene Prayer Group on the first Tuesday of every month from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. for an hour of prayer and adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

The format will be the Rosary, silent prayer, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and will end with silent prayer. If you feel God calling you, but you only have a few minutes to spare in your hectic life, please feel free to join us even for a few minutes. You will be most welcome and blessed.

For more information, contact Mary Ellen Bakken at 692-3315.

Information about praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet is available at the Marians of the Immaculate Conception website

Catholic Appeal

Stewardship reminds us to count our blessings, acknowledge God's gifts to us and express thanks to Him. We do this by a proportionate giving of our time, talent and treasure. We sincerely thank those who have made a gift to the Catholic Appeal. You are helping many people with many needs.

God calls us to share what we have to help others. If you have not yet made your pledge, envelopes are available at the back of the church.

Cardinal Sean thanks everyone who has participated in the 2008 Catholic Appeal. We are pleased to have a number of new contributors this year. Thank you for joining with parishioners throughout our Archdiocese's 294 parishes to carry on the broader work of our Church. For more information, visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.org.

Couple to Couple League

The Couple to Couple League will host a series of classes on Natural Family Planning which is safe, healthy and effective. Classes will be held in Billerica on May 4, June 1, and June 22.

For more information, or to register, call Robin and Ed Kuczynski at 670-2838.

Theatre Trip

Several times during the year, St Irene's parishioners enjoy a play, concert, or similar evening of entertainment.

Please call Judy Andrews at 369-1461 for information concerning upcoming events. Leave your phone number and e-mail address to be notified about upcoming events.

Volunteers Needed at Food Pantry

Catholic Charities Food Pantry is in need of volunteers in their Lowell location. They need people 18 and older to stuff bags, give out food, and help with intake. Please call Delis at 454-9946 for more information.

Choose Life License Plates

Cardinal Sean has endorsed the efforts of Choose Life, Inc., to make available a "vanity plate" in Massachusetts which promotes the pro-life message. For an application and more information, go to the Mass Choose Life website. They need 1,000 more applications to succeed in having the plate produced.

St Irene's Knights of Columbus

In the late 1800's, when the family breadwinner died, the widow and children struggled to keep the family together. A New Haven, Connecticut parish priest, Fr. Michael J. McGivney, asked his predominantly Irish immigrant parishioners to help solve this problem.

They created an organization that would financially help the widow of members who died. Today, Fr. McGivney is under consideration for sainthood, and his organization is still growing. To learn more about St. Irene's Council of the Knights of Columbus, please visit our website, www.StIrenes.org/kofc More information about Fr. McGivney's canonization is also available at our website.

Lost and Found

Please take a look in the lost and found areas in the closets in the front vestibule of the Church. All lost and found items, including those left during Religious Education class, will be placed in this one location.

If you or your child has misplaced an item, please check the closet. The items will be cleaned out periodically, and donated to charity.

Parish Fire Alarm Policy

It is important that all parishioners be informed about our parish policy concerning fire alarms at St. Irene.

In the event that a fire alarm goes off during Mass or any parish gathering, the Religious Education faculty and/or the Celebrant, even if in the middle of the Liturgy, will pause to allow attendees to quickly and carefully leave the church premises and gather at the far sides of the parking lots until given the all clear by the ushers or the Celebrant. In the case of the Religious Education faculty, they are to ensure that all students in their charge are accounted for and kept assembled in their class groups outside the church to await instruction.

Boy Scouts

St. Irene’s Council of the Knight of Columbus encourage Cub and Boy Scouts to earn scouting's Catholic Religious awards: Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei for Cub Scouts and Ad Altare Dei for Boy Scouts. Activity books for the awards are available at your local scout store or online at www.scoutstuff.org (type in the award name as a keyword search).  If you have questions or need help please contact Steve Dardinski (692-5717) for Cub Scouts or Regis Richard (667-2165) for Boy Scouts.

Presentation of the Gifts - An Invitation

We would like to invite families to bring the gifts up to the altar at the Offertory of the Mass. Those who bring the gifts at Mass represent all of us.

If your family would like to bring up the gifts, please let the ushers know before the Mass.

Music Ministry

Music is such a powerful tool that can be used to evangelize, lift our spirits, and draw people closer to God and His church. We all know how inspiring it is to hear our beautiful choir during Mass and our children and teens sign with such spirit. Be part of the ministry of music.

If you love to sing and especially to God, then we have a place for you! Please consider joining one of the groups. Please call Denise Glennon, Director of Music and Liturgy, at 692-9566 for further information.

The Youth choir rehearses on Thursdays from 6:15 - 7:00 p.m. This choir sings at the 8 a.m. Mass.

The Adult choir rehearses on Thursdays 7:15 - 8:30 p.m. This choir sings at the 11 a.m. Mass each week from September through June, and at the Christmas and Easter Masses.

Teens rehearse Sunday at 4 p.m. and sing at the youth Mass on Sunday at 5 p.m.

All voices and types are needed to prayerfully sing to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Crying Room - A Quiet Spot

Occasionally during Mass, young children become noisy or fidgety, or may need a change of scenery.  At those times, feel free to bring them into our Reconciliation Room in the rear of the church where Mass can be seen and heard.  We are a family parish and welcome families and children at our Sunday Liturgies.

Deadline for Bulletin

The deadline for submission of information you would like included in the weekly bulletin is Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the Rectory. The bulletin is published weekly from September to June. The bulletin is published three times during the summer months.

Catholic College Information

If you and your family have started your College search, please check St. Irene's website for a list of Catholic colleges in the US.

List of Catholic Schools

St. Irene's maintains a list of area Catholic schools (K-12) at our website.

Collection Envelopes

If you would like to receive collection envelopes, please call the rectory.

Area Events

Choir Concert

The Boston Archdiocesan Boys Choir will present Gloria and Three Songs of Isaiah on Friday, May 9 at 8 pm at St Paul's Church in Harvard Square. For more information and to buy tickets please go to www.bostonboychoir.org

Walk for Hunger

Since 1969, the Walk for Hunger has been supported by religious organizations. Over the years, that support has grown to more than 1,000 religious and community organizations that come out to protest the social injustice of hunger in our midst.

This is the historic 40th Walk. Now is the time to dig out your Walk memorabilia and join us the Project Bread's event on May 4. Enjoy a festive day of walking through Boston and surrounding neighborhoods while you help hungry neighbors in Massachusetts. For more information, call 617-723-5000 or visit www.projectbread.org/walk.

Pilgrimage

The Archdiocese is sponsoring a pilgrimage to the 49th International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec June 18-22. The theme of the congress is "The Eucharist: God's Gift for the Life of the World." For more information contact Ft. Michael Drea at 617-479-5400, ext 12.

Summer Camp for Girls

Camp Mishannock, a girl's camp sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, is accepting applications for the 2008 season. Programming is based on Gospel values in the Catholic tradition. Daily activities include swimming, boating, canoeing, sailing, kayaking, volleyball, soccer, tennis, arts and crafts, etc.

Teen program offers tutoring and ESL through the faculty of Sacred Heart Schools. Call 781-582-8592 or visit the website www.campmishannock.com for more information.

Summer Camp

Lowell Catholic High School is offering a Summer Enrichment Program taught by their teachers. The camp will be very hands-on, and informative and reasonable priced.

The camp will offer Science, Art, Dance, Computer Gaming, and Drama. For more information, contact Peter Cavanaugh, Director, at PCavanaugh@LowellCatholic.org, or visit the Lowell Catholic website, www.lowellcatholic.org

Project Bread

Project Bread helps to feed the hungry. With the current economic state, many people are in need.

Your pledges will support 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, and food salvage programs in 132 communities across the state. For more information, go to www.projectbread.org

Carlisle Council on Aging

The COA needs volunteers to help with driving senior to appointments and on errands, Meals on Wheels delivery, mailings, program/events coordination, home chores for the elderly, including yard work, repairs, meal preparation, one-on-one computer instruction and more.

For additional information pick up a volunteer application at the COA office at Town Hall or call Angela Smith at 371-2895. Any time or support would be greatly appreciated.

Carlisle Walkway

The Town of Carlisle will be installing a walkway from the center of Town, past St Irene's, and continuing to Partridge Lane. As the walkway approaches the church, it will cut across a small portion of church land where there is no stone wall, and where the grade is minimal toward the street.

It will then run between the stone wall and the road along the entire church property. A portion of the stone wall near the play yard will be moved back a few feet by the town at no expense to St Irene. The Archdiocese will be granting an easement to the town. There are a few trees in the right of way which will be cut down. The cutting has been approved by Carlisle's Scenic Byways Committee.

Marriage Encounter

Marriage Encounter Massachusetts offers a program for couples who believe they have a good marriage but desire a deeper understanding, a richer communication, a better quality and more spirituality in their marriage.

For information, call 800-710-WWME or visit their website. www.wwmeMA.org

Deployed Military Support Group

A support group for those with loved ones in the military who are deployed and will be deployed meets Tuesday evenings at St. Theresa in Billerica in the Parish Center.

Contact Deacon Tom Mullins at 663-8816, extension 14, for more information.

Unemployed? Acton Networkers Group

Unemployed individuals in St. Irene's Parish are invited to join the Acton Networkers to share ideas on job-hunting techniques, leads and strategies. The group meets at 10 a.m. on Friday mornings at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 435 Central Street, Acton. The meetings, as well as membership in the unemployed support group, are free.

For more information, or if your company has job openings you would like to fill with local talent, contact John Walsh or visit their website ActonNetworkers.org.

The Archdiocese of Boston

For information about our archdiocese, visit the Archdiocese of Boston website, www.rcab.org.

Birthright

Birthright is a pregnancy help service that has over 500 local offices across the US and Canada. They provide nonjudgmental, loving assistance to women and families experiencing unexpected or difficult pregnancy and are interdenominational.

The local office is in Maynard. They can be reached at 978-897-6825 or on the web at www.birthright.org. New volunteers are always welcome.

Retreat Opportunities:

Glastonbury Abbey

Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham offers several retreats throughout the year. For information, call 781-749-2155, ext. 200.

Franciscan Center Retreat

The Franciscan Center in Andover offers retreats throughout the year.

Please call 978-851-3391 for more information.

Live-In Retreat

The Little Brothers of St. Francis in Boston, Portsmouth Abbey in Rhode Island, and the famous Gethsemani Abbey in Trappist, Kentucky are offering a line-in experience vocational retreat. Pray and work with the monks and enjoy vocational talks. Their retreats are very popular, so make your reservations soon. Call 1-800-221-1807 for more information.

Espousal Retreat Center

The Espousal Retreat Center offers retreats during the year. Visit their website, espousal.org, for information about the Center and their work.

Questions, call 781-209-3120.

Office of Spiritual Development

The Office of Spiritual Development offers retreats throughout the year. Each retreater will receive personal guidance in prayer from a spiritual director.

A list of area retreat houses is maintained on the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston web site.

For more information, please call 617-779-3640.

Campion Renewal Center

The Campion Renewal Center offers retreats during the year.

Please call 781-788-6810 for information, and to register.

Traveling?

Get Church information and Mass schedules for Catholic parishes around the United States for directions and Mass times before you leave and pack the information in your suitcase!

Call 1-800-627-8463 or get the information on-line at www.masstimes.org

Catholic College Listing

Catholic Singles Club

The Catholic Alumni Club (CAC) of Boston is a social organization of over 500 single Catholic professionals ages 21 - 65. CAC sponsors a wide variety of social and religious activities, including dances, fine dining, sports, cultural events, liturgies and travel. For more info call Allen (978) 454-0206, Philip (508) 996-0901 or Marleen (781) 828-2370.

Financial Report