SAINT JOHN the BAPTIST ~ SAINT JOSEPH
QUINCY, MA
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May the Lord give us His peace+
WHY WE NEED TO FAST
We are created from dust and chosen for eternal glory! I can’t wait for heaven! However, I know I’m not ready yet. I have too many attachments that keep me from being truly free; free for total self-giving love-to Jesus first, then others, then myself (JOY).
My dad shared the powerful quote from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen:
The man/woman who thinks only of himself says only prayers of petition;
he/she who thinks of his neighbor says prayers of intercession;
he/she who thinks only of loving and serving God, says prayers of abandonment to God’s will,
and this is the prayer of the saints.
—Ven. Fulton J. Sheen
from his book Go to Heaven
Lent invites us to look at our surrender to God. It invites us to look, indeed examine, what keeps us from surrendering to Him..and this is where Jesus wants to love us and heal us.
This is also the reason and logic of fasting. We fast so as to be more attuned and surrendered to God. We fast to order our desires. We fast to free our hearts. We fast to recognize our need for Jesus to heal us and satisfy our longings. We fast because we are weak and need a savior. We fast so we can be more attentive to the needs of others. We fast so we can be free to love.
Please join me in fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays (as your health permits) this Lent. Striving to eat just bread (toast) and drink water (or moderation on fluids). I’m very imperfect with fasting and I also know it is super powerful for the Christian life!
I hunger for so so many things! Fasting helps me to hunger for God, His power and His purposes.
God bless you!
Your brother in Christ’s fast,
Fr Matt+
Thank you from Father Joseph
I would like to acknowledge Father Matt with sincere appreciation for the extraordinary vestment depicting our lady of Untier of Knots. Thank you also for arranging my beautiful Incardination Mass and joyful celebration.
Special gratitude to Mother Olga and the sisters for the beautiful chalice, Our Lady of Untier of knots’ Blanket and melodic singing especially for the special Surprise of the African hymn they learnt for me.
My heartfelt thanks to you all for coming together and being present to share in my special Incardination Mass. I will forever be grateful for your love, support, generosity, and kindness. I was filled with joy seeing you all turn out. Thank you again for being a blessing to me. May God richly bless you and your family.
LENTEN MISSION: JESUS IS LORD | March 13-17 | 7:30pm
I am happy to announce our fellow parishioners who will be speaking at each night of the Lenten Mission:
Monday | Saint Joseph Church | Joe Desmond
Tuesday | Saint Joseph Church | Bob Brooks
Wednesday | Saint John the Baptist Church | Confession and Glory Night
Thursday | Saint John the Baptist Church | Carmelita Alvero
Friday | Saint John the Baptist Church | Ron Stec
(followed by a Saint Patrick Day Celebration)
The nights will include Adoration, a witness talk, music, quiet prayer and vocal prayer. Come out and be inspired! Come out and support fellow parishioners as they share their faith. When you give your faith away, it is strengthened, and those who receive that faith are inspired and built up! Our Church exists in order to give our faith away!
Praying for a blessed Lenten Season,
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Matt+
MIRACLE PRAYER
Fr. Peter Rookey
Lord Jesus, I come before you just as I am. I am sorry for my sins. I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your name I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life, Jesus. I accept you as my Lord, God and Saviour. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul and spirit.
Come, Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I Love You, Lord Jesus. I Praise You, Jesus. I Thank You, Jesus. I shall follow you every day of my life. Amen.
Mary, my mother, Queen of Peace, all you Angels and Saints, please help me. Amen.
LENT @ SAINT J'S 2023
UPDATED LENTEN CONFESSION TIMES
Saint John the Baptist Mondays | 5:00pm-5:45pm (lower church)
Wednesdays 6:45pm (lower church)
Fridays | 5:00pm-5:45pm (lower church)
Saturdays | 12:00pm-2:00pm (outside and lower church)
LENTEN REGULATIONS
Abstinence -- Catholics over 14 years of age are bound to the obligation of abstinence. Abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent. On days of abstinence, meat may not be used at all.
Fast -- Catholics over 18 and up to the beginning of their 60th year are bound to the obligation of fasting. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the days of fasting. On these days, only one full meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed.
Regarding other weekdays of Lent, participation in daily Mass and the voluntary observance of fasting is recommended.
Commendable, particularly during Lent, is generosity to local, national and world programs of sharing our abundance, the traditional Lenten Devotions and all the self-denial summed up in the Christian concept of “mortification.”
How has Saint J’s most blessed you in the past 6 months?
We have had so many great moments in St. Joseph's that every visit there recalls those good things. It is good to see the Church remaining vibrant, attracting new parishioners all the time.
Tell us about your family (place of birth, family background, current family):
I was born in North Weymouth (baptized at St. Jerome) and raised in Braintree (St. Thomas More). I come from a family of seven boys. I am married to my awesome wife Xhaklina and we have two children - Joseph and Natalya. They are both in college.
Tell us about your Personal Vocation (married, single, widow, children)
Blissfully married.
What does your faith mean to you?
My faith means to me that my circumstances do not govern my joy or lack of it. Whether good times or bad, I feel the same sense of peace, secure in the conviction that my Father is in control and all will be well.
Who is Jesus to you?
I was raised in a Catholic family and I guess a Catholic neighborhood even. I have never known anything other than Jesus as Savior, Messiah and God.
What is your profession (actively employed? retired?)
Attorney, actively employed.
What are your Interests/Hobbies/Talents? What do you do for fun?
I like to work around the house, fixing things mostly. Even better is being with my wife Xhaklina, going out to eat, or shows or even just doing errands. We love being together.
We also have fun as a family when the kids are back home, and we are really looking forward to going on vacation with them this summer. Good times ahead!
We also have fun as a family when the kids are back home, and we are really looking forward to going on vacation with them this summer. Good times ahead!
WEEKLY at SAINT J'S
Saint J's Cares:
Please remember our “Saint J's Cares” email account for those in need of prayer intentions or assistance with daily needs, or if you know of someone who is isolated and alone and needs us to reach out to them. Please email SaintJsCares@gmail.com.
Confessions:
UPDATED LENTEN CONFESSION TIMES
Saint John the Baptist Mondays | 5:00pm-5:45pm (lower church) Wednesdays 6:45pm (lower church) Fridays | 5:00pm-5:45pm (lower church) Saturdays | 12:00pm-2:00pm (outside and lower church)
Live Streaming:
We will continue to LiveStream Holy Mass daily. Monday thru Friday at 6:05 PM, Saturday at 8 AM and Sunday at 8:30 and 11 AM. We will also LiveStream a Eucharistic Holy Hour with the Divine Mercy Chaplet and recitation of the Most Holy Rosary at 3 PM daily, except for Saturday.
Glory Nights:
Each Wednesday 7-9 PM join us for worship, physical, spiritual and emotional healings, and empowerment to live the Christian life through the Holy Spirit.
In Season and Out of Season Radio Show:
Our very own dear senior priest, Fr. Tom DiLorenzo, has had his own radio show for over four decades! Don’t forget to tune in every day to listen!
950 AM - 6:00 am, 11:30 am, 9:00 pm
590 AM - 1:15 pm, 9:45 pm
Saint J's Choir:
The Choir will rehearse twice a month on Thursday evenings from 6:45-8:00pm & will perform on the 1st Saturday of month 4:00pm Mass at Saint John’s & 3rd Sunday 8:30am Mass at St. Joe’s. If interested, please contact the Parish Office (617-773-1021).
MONDAY
Adoration 3-6 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
Confessions 5-5:45 PM
Daily Mass 6:05 PM @
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist
TUESDAY
Adoration 3-6 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
Daily Mass 6:05 PM @
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist
WEDNESDAY
Adoration 3-6 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
Daily Mass 6:05 PM
Confessions 6:45-7:45 PM @ Saint John the Baptist
THURSDAY
Adoration 3-6 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
Daily Mass 6:05 PM @
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist
FRIDAY
Adoration 3-6 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
w/ Holy Hour 3 PM
Confessions 5-5:45 PM
Daily Mass 6:05 PM @
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist
SATURDAY
Daily Mass 8 AM
Confessions 12-2 PM @
Saint John the Baptist
Holy Mass 4 PM @
Saint Joseph
Holy Mass 4 PM @
Saint John the Baptist
SUNDAY
Holy Mass 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM @
Saint Joseph
Holy Mass 11 AM (outdoors)
Holy Mass 11 AM (outdoors)
Holy Hour 3-4 PM
Holy Mass 5 PM @
Saint John the Baptist
Baby Bottle Boomerang Begins 2/22
St. Joseph’s Sodality will once again be
holding their Baby Bottle Boomerang
Campaign beginning on Ash Wednesday. Please take a bottle and fill it with donations made from your sacrifices performed during Lent.
Return the filled bottles to church by Palm Sunday.
This is an excellent way to fulfill your Lenten obligation while supporting the Friends of the Unborn, a wonderful organization that offers a safe haven to unwed mothers and their babies. Thank you!!!
SENIOR SOCIAL LUNCHEON 3/8
The next Senior Social Group Luncheon will be Wednesday, March 8th from 12 noon till 2pm in the St. John the Baptist Church Hall.
We’ll get a head start on St. Patrick’s Day with a DJ and play SINGO, 50/50 raffle and a nice lunch. Of course, it is always the people who attend that make the luncheon nice! As usual, we ask those who are able, to please bring a small dessert to share with the group.
The luncheon is FREE to all who attend but–THIS IS IMPORTANT–if you plan to come CALL DONNA at 617-472-6321 so that we know how many are coming or if you have any questions. This will help us plan for the food and seating.
FIRST FRIDAY MASS 3/3
SAINT PATRICK'S DAY DINNER 3/17
CARDINAL SEAN GRANTING DISPENSATION FROM FRIDAY LENTEN ABSTINENCE ON MARCH 17, 2023
This year, the Feast of St. Patrick, the patron saint of our Archdiocese, falls on a Friday during Lent. Given the importance of this feast in the life of the Archdiocese and in the lives of many Catholics, Cardinal Seán is granting a dispensation from the Friday Lenten abstinence on March 17, 2023, to those who wish to take advantage of this opportunity. This is a one day only dispensation.
SAINT J'S CURSILLO CORNER
HOLY NAME SOCIETY
Welcome to the Holy Name Society (HNS) at St. J’s Collaborative. We are actively recruiting new members and hope that some of you will consider attending one of our meetings during Lent. The article below gives you an idea of what we are all about.
The HNS promotes devotion and reverence to the Holy Name of God and Jesus, and helps members grow in holiness. The HNS is the popular name for the Confraternity of the Most Holy Names of God and Jesus. It is open to all Catholic men.
The St. J’s Collaborative based Holy Name Society often perform corporal and spiritual works of mercy to live out their faith. We follow the JOY Movement as we give of our time, talent, and treasure during the year. A motto we often use is something one of our former members, John Benson, used many times....”Do not let what you cannot do for everyone stop what you can do for someone”.
Lent is an excellent time for the faithful men in our parishes to join our HNS.
If interested, reach out to a current member, or leave a message for Ray at the Collaborative office.
Look for more information in the bulletin in the coming weeks.
HEALING @ SAINT J'S
MONDAY NIGHT MEAL TRAIN
We are rebooting the weekly Priest Dinner - with a CHANGE - we are moving the dinners from Thursdays to Mondays.
PLEASE spread the word and sign up today:
Project Rachel Post-Abortion Healing Retreats (3/11, 5/6)
Are you – or someone you know – suffering from post-abortion pain? The Project Rachel ministry of the Archdiocese of Boston extends a special invitation to women experiencing regret from a past abortion to attend a Come to the Waters of Healing one-day retreat. Spring dates are March 11 and May 6. Locations are confidential. For more information on the retreats or other services, contact Project Rachel at 508.651.3100 or help@projectrachelboston.com.
FAITH FORMATION 2022-2023
CATHOLIC BASICS - The Series
The Next Joyful Jammers Children’s Choir is: MARCH 5, 2023
No Experience necessary– just arrive at 9:30am at St. Joseph church to rehearse before the 10:30am Mass. ALL are welcome!
FAITH FORMATION CLASS 3/12
CONFIRMATION RETREAT 3/25
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2023
ENGRAVED BRICK FUNDRAISER
There is still time to order your engraved bricks. Please click below!
WEEKLY OFFERTORY
2023 CATHOLIC APPEAL
Next weekend (March 4th and 5th), the 2023 Catholic Appeal will officially launch here at St. J’s Collaborative (St. John the Baptist and St. Joseph) and across the Archdiocese.
One of the most meaningful ways that we witness the presence of Christ and deepen the impact of our Church’s ministries is by supporting the Catholic Appeal. Many of you may have received a letter from Cardinal Seán requesting your early support of the 2023 Catholic Appeal. As your pastor, I invite you to prayerfully consider extending your generosity to this year’s appeal. Many of you have already done so and I am deeply grateful. When our Collaborative reaches goals of $42,291 and $18,941 for St. John the Baptist and St. Joseph respectively, a portion of the additional funds received will be returned to us for use in our Collaborative.
To make a gift online, please visit www.bostoncatholicappeal.org/donate-now. Thank you!
SAINT J'S ONLINE GIVING
We are so incredibly grateful for all of your generous contributions so far. It's so helpful to have so many more parishioners signed up for On Line giving - we are here to help you and appreciate your efforts.
Please sign up for Online Giving by clicking on the button for your parish. One time donations, as well as recurring gifts are most appreciated. We thank you for prayerfully considering sacrificial giving.
OR YOU CAN VENMO....
Simply hold your smartphone camera up to this QR CODE and type in offertory amount & a description.
We are so grateful for your support.
Saint John the Baptist
Saint Joseph Parish
MORE HAPPENINGS AT SAINT J'S
