Dear Friends,

 

Last weekend, we had 12 different activities happening at St. Paul’s, and that doesn’t even include the Masses! I hope that you can take part in the richness of the many things here, sharing your presence with our community.

 

Saturday, November 1 is the Feast of All Saints. It is not a day of obligation this year, but one of particular celebration. St. John Henry Newman is being declared a Doctor of the Church, a rare title that confirms for all people and time that his writings are sound and trustworthy guides in matters of faith and doctrine. He is also officially named, with St. Thomas Aquinas, as the co-patron of Catholic education. Newman holds a special place for us here at St. Paul’s as well. He is the patron saint of our Harvard Catholic Center, and he is honored by the newest addition to our church: a beautiful icon along with his great poem/prayer, Lead, Kindly Light.  You can find these in the right transept of the church by the small organ and Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine. We will make special note of this event at the 9:00 Mass, followed by coffee and donuts. Come and join us! St. John Henry Newman, pray for us!!

On Sunday, November 2, we celebrate All Souls’ Day, remembering and praying for our beloved dead and those who have no one to pray for them. This year, the music for the 11:00 Mass will be from Gabriel Faure’s magnificent Requiem. It is an occasion for prayer not to be missed.

 

There are several high-profile events through the Harvard Catholic Forum on the horizon; I advise you to see the flyers and website so that you don’t miss anything.

 

And because time is flying, let me note other upcoming things for you to put on your calendar: Sunday, November 16 there will be a lecture celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publication of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby at 1:00. Also, on that day, we will have our parish’s 150th Anniversary Service Project preparing holiday meals in collaboration with the Harvard Chaplains Group. More to come. And yes, Choir School Christmas Concerts are December 7 and 14 at 3:00.

 

Finally, I am happy to announce that our dear friends and parishioners, Liz and Klaus Amburn, are being honored, along with others from the Archdiocese, with the Cheverus Award by Archbishop Henning. The Cheverus Award is given to parishioners who have gone above and beyond to serve their community and to model fidelity and imitation of Christ. Liz and Klaus have brought life and faith to our parish. They host several prayer and reading groups; they provide community and food after the 11:00 Mass in Mary’s Room; they make dinner for 80 people each Saturday night for those in our OCIA program and give great help at our luncheons for the unhoused in Advent and Lent. They are also the prime movers, with their family, for our parish social events like Oktoberfest and Gaelic & Garlic.

The ceremony (NOT a Mass) is on Sunday, November 23 at 3:00 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. If anyone would like to join the parish to cheer on the Amburn’s, we have hired an old-fashioned yellow school bus, which leaves at 2:00 and returns after the service (about 4:30.) Please sign up for a spot with Nancy in the office before November 19. First come-first served. Congratulations and thank you to Liz and Klaus.

 

God bless, Fr. Kelly