Dear Friends,

 

In the Book of Daniel, it says: “Ice and snow, bless the Lord. Cold and chill, bless the Lord.”  The Sacred Scriptures often prompt us to say words that we might not utter from a purely human initiative! Thanks to all those who contributed to the Winter Woes Fund last week; it will help to make a dent in the costs of caring for our property during these days.

 

Have you taken down your Christmas Tree and Nativity set yet? Believe it not, this Wednesday, February 18, we begin the holy season of Lent. Wednesday is ASH WEDNESDAY. Ashes will be distributed at three Masses: 8:00, 12:10, and 7:00. We also have helpful information for Lent at St. Paul’s, available in print form in the vestibule, and on the parish website. Items include guidelines for fasting and abstinence, added confession times, sung Vespers, concerts, lectures, and service opportunities. Make this Lent matter!

 

We have a variety of exciting offerings in the next several weeks: St. Augustine study, concerts and communal singing, plus a “meet the author” evening. Please be sure to see the websites for the Parish and the Harvard Catholic Forum. I am also excited about the program we have just begun using the fine series “The Chosen” as its anchor. I hope you can join us for that.

 

I would like to close the Parish Grand Annual at the end of February, so could you join us in this important undertaking? This undertaking is essential to helping us pay our parish bills; our weekly offertory, unfortunately, does not meet the need. In the year 2023, 90 people participated. In 2024, 130. And in 2025, 161. Thank you to the 119 people who so far have contributed this year; can we get it to 200?  As always, my goal is not so much what you give, but that all participate at some level in this undertaking together. Grazie!

 

On Saturday, March 7, we have our Gala for the support of the Choir School, the only Catholic Choir School in the United States. I invite and encourage you to join us that evening. Great fun, great food, great music, and a great MC, our own parishioner, comedian and commentator, Jimmy Tingle. See the Choir School website for information about this important event. Each year, we must raise 1.6 million dollars to keep our school alive. Will you help?

 

Thank you for all your prayers and for all your do for the St. Paul’s Community.

 

God bless,

Fr. Kelly