Mass Intentions
June 29
Edward Wierzbowski
Requested by his family
July 6
William Fenton
Requested by the Bowler family
Solemnity of
Saints Peter and Paul
Scriptural Focus:
“Ordinary people become extraordinary when they answer Christ’s call to serve.”
Today the Church honors St. Peter and St. Paul. They were among the most influential people in all of Church history.
Knowing that He would be leaving, Jesus chose Peter to lead the young Church.
Paul was called to lead the way in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. Let
us pray today for all in leadership positions in the Church.
Commentary: The amazing intervention of God in
the lives of Peter and Paul is told in today’s first and second readings. In
the Gospel, Peter declares his belief in Jesus as the Son of the living God. In
response, Peter is declared by Christ to be the one who is to lead his Church.
Veneration
of the two great Apostles, Peter and Paul, has its roots in the very foundations of the Church. They are the solid rock on
which the Church is built. They are at the origin of her faith and will forever remain her protectors and her guides. To them
Rome owes her true greatness, for it was under God's providential guidance that they were led to make the capital of the Empire,
sanctified by their martyrdom, the center of the Christian world whence should radiate the preaching of the Gospel.
St. Peter suffered
martyrdom under Nero, in A.D. 66 or 67. He was buried on the hill of the Vatican where recent excavations have revealed his
tomb on the very site of the basilica of St. Peter's. St. Paul was beheaded in the Via Ostia on the spot where now stands
the basilica bearing his name. Down through the centuries Christian people in the thousands have gone on pilgrimage to the
tombs of these Apostles. In the second and third centuries the Roman Church already stood pre-eminent by reason of her apostolicity,
the infallible truth of her teaching and her two great figures, Sts. Peter and Paul.
A plenary indulgence may be gained today by anyone who makes devout use of a religious article blessed by a bishop
and who also recites any approved profession of faith (e.g. the Apostles Creed), as long as the usual conditions are satisfied.
St. Peter's original
name was Simon. Christ Himself gave him the name Cephas or Peter when they first met and later confirmed it. This name change
was meant to show both Peter's rank as leader of the apostles and the outstanding trait of his character — Peter (in
Hebrew Kephas) the Rock. Peter was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. Like his younger brother Andrew, he was a fisherman
and dwelt at Capernaum. Peter's house often became the scene of miracles, since the Master would stay there whenever He was
teaching in that locality. Together with his brothers John and Andrew, Peter belonged to the first of Jesus' disciples (John
1:40-50). It is certain that Peter labored in Rome as an apostle, that he was the city's first bishop, and that he died there
as a martyr, bound to a cross (67 A.D.). According to tradition he also was the first bishop of Antioch. He is the author
of two letters, the first Christian encyclicals. His burial place is Christendom's most famous shrine, an edifice around whose
dome is inscribed the words: Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam
meam.
This true light is needed more today
perhaps than ever before. In today's gospel message, our Lord is asking each one of us to be a fearless apostle. We will be,
if we live up to our religion at home and abroad. "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before
my Father who is in heaven."
FROM ST. THOMAS
Ø The Anointing of the Sick: If anyone is hurting, or going
to the hospital for a procedure, or you are concerned with an upcoming treatment, don’t hesitate to see me after mass
on the Sunday before your intended event. (The whole family can be with you.) I will be happy to pray with you and give you the Sacrament of the Anointing of the
Sick. Come, receive the healing care of the Lord.
Ø New mass schedule.
Beginning next week – July 5 and 6 – there will be a 4:30 PM mass on Saturday and a 9:30 AM mass on Sunday at
St. Thomas Church during July and August.
Ø Statue of “Our Lady of Grace” The white Carrara marble
statue will be delivered and put in place on the pedestal in St. Thomas Cemetery this Tuesday.
The staff and I have been waiting for some time to get this job done. (A
precise time is not available at this printing.)
Ø Time Capsule for St. Thomas Church A new
“corner Stone” has been hand chiseled in Chester, Mass. granite. The
old corner stone was made of limestone. It was flaking and breaking apart from
the weather. While digging the old stone out, a discovery was made that there was a “time-capsule” installed by
the priests at the time—Fr. Daniel E. Hennessey and Fr. George Freel. Within
the box there is a picture of both of them with the contractor standing within the foundation of the new church –probably
April 5th 1941.
The box
has an outer wrap of zinc plated copper all soldered to keep air from getting in. The
inner box is made of beautiful heavy duty copper. It is very well crafted and also sealed with solder. The entire capsule was quite difficult to open. In the capsule were a number of items (I’ll have
them displayed in front of the church this week-end.) Within the box were the
following items: The picture I described above, an article from the newspaper about the new church being built, a history
of the parish to date; a parish census for 1941; a parish envelope dated June 15, 1941 suggesting a weekly donation of 35
cents. On it is a statement—“Please bring or send your offering regularly.”
Also I plan to include a set of coins for 1941 and a small American flag. With the display I shall also have another
display of items that should be inserted to update the time-capsule: e.g. a picture of the Parish Center and of the ramp for
the disabled; perhaps a recent picture of the Rectory (the post-card has the old wrap-around porch) a recent parish Bulletin
and maybe some new coins. Any other ideas to include in the box are welcome. Of course, the box will limit the size and amount of things that can be put in it.
I’d like to put all this into place before next weekend. We will try to
get the Palmer Journal, the officers of Parish organizations etc. involved to render
the event notable since we don’t know when the capsule will be opened next. Signed
Fr. Plasse
Ø The Beauty of the Earth. Stop and Smell the Flowers. Some flowers
have passed their prime, like the Irises. At this time, worth looking at are
the Yellow and Pink Yarrow plants; the Stella D’Oro day lilies are on display in abundance. The small yellow Coreopsis
are seemingly taking over their landscape area. In these same flower beds the
Yellow Asiatic Lilies (yellow and brown streaks within) are exciting to look at. Red lilies with yellow streaks within are
on the verge of opening up. Some taller yellow Asiatics are open in front of
the Parish Center. The rose-bed to the right of the entry drive into the parking
lot is about as pretty as it has ever been. The red and white roses have blossomed
well this year. In the middle of the banking there is a red rose (quite different
from the others) which, I am told, was planted by Fr. John Shea some thirty some odd years ago. That is quite a feat to have a rose bush last so long!
God has
given the flowers his natural law to bloom where they are planted. And, they
do. How great is our God!
Collection: $427
June 29
July 6 July 13
Lector: John Bachand, Sr. James Beshaw
Rene Crete, Jr.
Servers: Erin and Cody Patrick and Rene
Sean
Prayer Line
We believe that consorted prayer is effective.
Please pray for those below at 6AM and/or 6PM.
~ For Jean D. who had a stroke
~ For Emil following a
heart attack,
~ For Jane who had heart
surgery.
~ For Ty who is recovering
~ For George.
~ For
Ann.
~ For Lia.
~ For Mary K.
~ For Steven S. who has
bladder cancer
~ For Denise Uhl who has
breast cancer.
~ For David Stoddard who
was injured in a fire.
~ For Kathleen Valley.
~ For Bob S.
~ For Rita who has severe
arthritis
~ For Mike who has cancer
~ For Mr. Robare.
~ For June F.
~ For Thomas, who has cancer
~ For Kate who is healing.
~ For a man with a brain
tumor.
~
For Charlotte R.
~ For Jean H. who had a
stroke.
~ For Jay who has cancer.
~ For Joe Izyk.
~ For Theresa B.
~ For Paul to regain his
hearing.
~ For Kathryn Henneman.
~ For Sharon.
~ For Elizabeth Dean.
~ For Jon in his cancer fight.
~ For Tom who has depression.
~ For Doris’ health challenges.
~ For a man with a chronic
illness.
~ For a man with liver
problems.
~ For healing of an elderly
man and support for his family.
~ For a man with memory loss.
***To add to the prayer line, please drop a note in the collection basket or contact Nora Austin at 283-3169
or njaustin@ireland.com
*** Time to remove
any of the intentions? Please let us know.
