Ash Wednesday Services

6:45 AM Mass (Lower Church) with distribution of Ashes

 

9:00 AM Mass (Upper Church) with distribution of Ashes

 

6:00 – 6:45 PM Confessions (Upper Church)

 

7:00 PM Mass (Upper Church) with distribution of Ashes

The Light is On For You!

St. Gregory’s will be open for individual confessions,  inviting Catholics to experience Christ’s healing love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  For more information go to www.TheLightIsOnForYou.org, to help you prepare.  It has videos on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, sheets on how to make a good confession, answers to frequently-asked questions and more.Fr. Daily will be hearing confessions each Wednesday in Lent, beginning February 29th,  from 6:30 pm. to 8:00 pm, so please make plans to come on Lenten Wednesdays and spread the word of this special outreach of mercy to those you know.

Adult Education at St. Gregory’s

Bible Study – The Fourth Gospel. The Gospel of John distinguishes itself from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke in both its method and its message. During these six Mondays of Lent we will study John to discover the Word of God in this “maverick” Gospel and to discern what this inspired writing might say to us today.  No previous Bible study required.  Please join us each Monday evening in Lent from February 27th – April 2nd from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM  in the Notre Dame Room, beside the Auditorium across from St. Gregory Church.  Please bring your Bible with you for this course.

In St. Peter’s First Letter he states:  “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope”  1Peter 3:15.

One in Christ Prayer Group

Use the 40 Days of Lent to open wide your communication with the Lord.  Join with the Prayer Group every Wednesday night from Ash Wednesday to March 28^th beginning at 7:30 p.m.  in the lower Church (enter by the sacristy door opposite the rectory garages).  Recite the Mysteries of Light (the public life of Jesus) and participate in Holy Mass at 8:15 p.m. Take time to know Jesus.  Think of how well you know the ones you love!  It takes time and effort.

St. Gregory’s 60 & Over

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 21st in the Auditorium. Coffee and doughnuts at 12:15 p.m., Bingo at 1:00 PM.

LETTER FROM CARDINAL SEÁN O’MALLEY

Please read the following letter from Cardinal Seán O’Malley  regarding last week’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception.  For more information, please visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this assault on religious liberty and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.  Please also read the article in The Boston Pilot by going to http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=14266

 

letter below:

*********************************************************************************************************

January 2012

 

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

Allow me this opportunity to share with you important information concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.  The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people—the Catholic population—and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception.  Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write.  And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies. The Church has had to struggle against regulations like those now proposed by HHS in several states.  This HHS ruling would expand and intensify a situation which is already very harmful.

 

In its  ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty.  And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled and must be prepared either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so).  The administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

 

We cannot simply accept this unjust law now proposed at the federal level.  People of faith cannot be made second class citizens.  We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom.  Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights.  In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties.  I trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same.  Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

 

In order that we make every effort to respond to this proposed restriction on religious liberty I would ask of you two things.  First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored.  Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible.  Second, I recommend that you visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.

 

With the assurance of my prayers for you and all your loved ones, I am,

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM Cap.

Archbishop of Boston

Eucharistic Adoration

Please join us each Sunday from 2:00 pm – 4:45 p.m.  Stop in for a few minutes, a half -hour or an hour to spend some quiet time with the Lord.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS – 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Approximately one year from now, St. Gregory’s Parish will celebrate its 150th Anniversary.  We have already begun to plan some celebrations.  On Saturday, October 20, 2012, Cardinal Sean O’Malley will offer the 4:00 PM Mass, followed by a Gala reception at Florian Hall.  Please mark your calendars as the time will approach quickly. To register, please contact us through this website and we will send you a registration form.

If you are interested in becoming part of the planning process, please plan to attend our next meeting on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 7:00 pm in the lower Church.