Wednesday: Explore Laudato Si!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Advent is this Sunday. How will you welcome the Christ-child this year? Pope Francis is reminding us that as Christians, there's no time like the present to cast off our old selves and begin anew.  Continuing with our weekly excerpts of the pope's most recent encyclical, "Laudato Si" is posted here - so that we can all learn, digest, pray and discern one snippet at a time.  Come Holy Spirit, teach us and guide us, and may Your Will be done!

III. LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
32. The earth’s resources are also being plundered because of short-sighted approaches to the economy, commerce and production. The loss of forests and woodlands entails the loss of species which may constitute extremely important resources in the future, not only for food but also for curing disease and other uses. Different species contain genes which could be key resources in years ahead for meeting human needs and regulating environmental problems.

33. It is not enough, however, to think of different species merely as potential “resources” to be exploited, while overlooking the fact that they have value in themselves. Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species which we will never know, which our children will never see, because they have been lost for ever. The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity. Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right.

34. It may well disturb us to learn of the extinction of mammals or birds, since they are more visible. But the good functioning of ecosystems also requires fungi, algae, worms, insects, reptiles and an innumerable variety of microorganisms. Some less numerous species, although generally unseen, nonetheless play a critical role in maintaining the equilibrium of a particular place. Human beings must intervene when a geosystem reaches a critical state. But nowadays, such intervention in nature has become more and more frequent. As a consequence, serious problems arise, leading to further interventions; human activity becomes ubiquitous, with all the risks which this entails. Often a vicious circle results, as human intervention to resolve a problem further aggravates the situation. For example, many birds and insects which disappear due to synthetic agrotoxins are helpful for agriculture: their disappearance will have to be compensated for by yet other techniques which may well prove harmful. We must be grateful for the praiseworthy efforts being made by scientists and engineers dedicated to finding solutions to man-made problems. But a sober look at our world shows that the degree of human intervention, often in the service of business interests and consumerism, is actually making our earth less rich and beautiful, ever more limited and grey, even as technological advances and consumer goods continue to abound limitlessly. We seem to think that we can substitute an irreplaceable and irretrievable beauty with something which we have created ourselves.

35. In assessing the environmental impact of any project, concern is usually shown for its effects on soil, water and air, yet few careful studies are made of its impact on biodiversity, as if the loss of species or animals and plant groups were of little importance. Highways, new plantations, the fencing-off of certain areas, the damming of water sources, and similar developments, crowd out natural habitats and, at times, break them up in such a way that animal populations can no longer migrate or roam freely. As a result, some species face extinction. Alternatives ex
ist which at least lessen the impact of these projects, like the creation of
biological corridors, but few countries demonstrate such concern and foresight. Frequently, when certain species are exploited commercially, little attention is paid to studying their reproductive patterns in order to prevent their depletion and the consequent imbalance of the ecosystem.

Weekly Digest: Thanksgiving Masses and Advent Wreath Craft

Monday, November 23, 2015

Welcome, EVERYONE!
Here's the lineup for the week at the Parish:

  • Tuesday-Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
  • Wednesday - Thanksgiving Mass (7 pm)
  • Thursday - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
  • Saturday - Giving Tree Set-Up (2:30 pm), Confessions (3 pm)
  • First Sunday of Advent - Advent Wreath Craft, Coffee and Donuts (after 7:00, 9:00, and 10:30 am Masses), Adult Choir (10:30 am Mass)

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Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK THE BLOG BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
The Saint Agnes Family group holds weekly Tuesday playgroups outdoors at nearby parks.  We start at 10:30 am (but sometimes moms run late).  You are welcome to join us! You can find the winter playgroup schedule here, or by clicking the link at the upper left of the blog home page.

This Tuesday, November 24th, we will meet at Menotomy Rocks Park (127 Jason St.) in Arlington. This beautiful, wooded playground is set off from the road by a gravel path. Bring your own lunch or snack and join us!

**NOTE THAT our outdoor winter schedule is highly dependent on good weather. If the weather seems questionable, please check your email or the blog page before you leave for playgroup. In case of rain or weather below 30 degrees, playgroup will be cancelled for the day. Thanks!**

As we prepare for our own national holiday of Thanksgiving, 
we pray for all refugees, and victims of the Paris, Mali, and Beirut attacks.
We ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to see those in need as He sees them.
We ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to value peace above personal gain.

We all have troubles and crosses in daily life.
We also enjoy innumerable blessings.
Let's offer to God a "sacrifice of praise,"
recognizing His goodness despite the presence of suffering,
as many Catholics around the world do each day.

Join our Parish Community on Wednesday night
at 7:00 pm for the Thanksgiving Eve Mass

Let's rejoice and THANK HIM!
"The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all."
(Proverbs 22:2)
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The Giving Tree set-up and tagging has been scheduled for 2:30 pm
on Saturday 11/28, starting in the LOWER CHURCH.

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Are you wondering what to do this weekend, once the food hangover has worn off? Why not start the season of Advent off right, by coming to our parish's Advent Wreath Workshop on Sunday!
This craft will be held on Sunday, November 29th in the Saint Agnes School Hall, following the 7:00, 9:00 and 10:30 am Sunday Masses.
Join us!

Giving Tree: How to become Involved

Friday, November 20, 2015

I would really like to THANK the 30+ volunteers who helped make almost 1,400 tags for the Giving Tree last Monday!  I hope you enjoyed getting to know one another; you help is appreciated by all those who need assistance at Christmas.

The Giving Tree is a work of charity and compassion to our local neighbors, who may be experiencing stress at this time of year.  Let's celebrate the birth of our Savior with thankfulness for our blessings, and an outpouring of love for others!  Would you like to join in this work?

The main tasks at hand:

1. Set up the tree and initial tagging - Saturday, November 28 at 2:30 pm (NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED), starting in the LOWER CHURCH.

2. Adding tags to the trees after they have been depleted (usually before and after attending Mass).

3. Collecting gifts under the trees and carrying to the parish center (usually after attending Mass).

4. Final gift sorting bonanza (with refreshments) - Sunday, December 13 at 9:00 am until finished. (NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED)


If you have any questions or suggestions, please email Marianne Hudelson (SaintAgnesFamilies [at] gmail.com).  Thank you!

Wednesday: Explore Laudato Si!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

I'm sorry to have missed our Wednesday reading lately.  Life as been hectic! Pope Francis is reminding us that as Christians, there's no time like the present to cast off our old selves and begin anew.  Continuing with our weekly excerpts of the pope's most recent encyclical, "Laudato Si" is posted here - so that we can all learn, digest, pray and discern one snippet at a time.  Come Holy Spirit, teach us and guide us, and may Your Will be done!

II. THE ISSUE OF WATER
27. Other indicators of the present situation have to do with the depletion of natural resources. We all know that it is not possible to sustain the present level of consumption in developed countries and wealthier sectors of society, where the habit of wasting and discarding has reached unprecedented levels. The exploitation of the planet has already exceeded acceptable limits and we still have not solved the problem of poverty.

28. Fresh drinking water is an issue of primary importance, since it is indispensable for human life and for supporting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Sources of fresh water are necessary for health care, agriculture and industry. Water supplies used to be relatively constant, but now in many places demand exceeds the sustainable supply, with dramatic consequences in the short and long term. Large cities dependent on significant supplies of water have experienced periods of shortage, and at critical moments these have not always been administered with sufficient oversight and impartiality. Water poverty especially affects Africa where large sectors of the population have no access to safe drinking water or experience droughts which impede agricultural production. Some countries have areas rich in water while others endure drastic scarcity.


29. One particularly serious problem is the quality of water available to the poor. Every day, unsafe water results in many deaths and the spread of water-related diseases, including those caused by microorganisms and chemical substances. Dysentery and cholera, linked to inadequate hygiene and water supplies, are a significant cause of suffering and of infant mortality. Underground water sources in many places are threatened by the pollution produced in certain mining, farming and industrial activities, especially in countries lacking adequate regulation or controls. It is not only a question of industrial waste. Detergents and chemical products, commonly used in many places of the world, continue to pour into our rivers, lakes and seas.

30. Even as the quality of available water is constantly diminishing, in some places there is a growing tendency, despite its scarcity, to privatize this resource, turning it into a commodity subject to the laws of the market. Yet access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity. This debt can be paid partly by an increase in funding to provide clean water and sanitary services among the poor. But water continues to be wasted, not only in the developed world but also in developing countries which possess it in abundance. This shows that the problem of water is partly an educational and cultural issue, since there is little awareness of the seriousness of such behaviour within a context of great inequality.

31. Greater scarcity of water will lead to an increase in the cost of food and the various products which depend on its use. Some studies warn that an acute water shortage may occur within a few decades unless urgent action is taken. The environmental repercussions could affect billions of people; it is also conceivable that the control of water by large multinational businesses may become a major source of conflict in this century.[23]

Weekly Digest

Monday, November 16, 2015

Welcome, EVERYONE!
Here's the lineup for the week at the Parish:
  • Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Choir Practice (7 pm), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
  • Wednesday - Arlington Catholic Women's Club (5 pm), Women's Bible Study (7:30 pm)
  • Thursday - Saint Dymphna Society (6:30 pm), Dad's Night Out (8 pm)
  • Saturday - Confessions (3 pm)
  • Sunday - Children's Choir Practice and Mass (arrive 8:15 am), Coffee and Donuts (after 9 am Mass), Adult Choir (10:30 am Mass)
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Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK THE BLOG BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
The Saint Agnes Family group holds weekly Tuesday playgroups outdoors at nearby parks.  We start at 10:30 am (but sometimes moms run late).  You are welcome to join us! You can find the winter playgroup schedule here, or by clicking the link at the upper left of the blog home page.

This Tuesday, November 17th, we will meet at Magnolia Playground (36 Herbert Rd.) in Arlington. This sandy park has a fun jungle gym, and also a basketball court for scooters. Bring your own lunch or snack and join us!

**NOTE THAT our outdoor winter schedule is highly dependent on good weather. If the weather seems questionable, please check your email or the blog page before you leave for playgroup. In case of rain or weather below 30 degrees, playgroup will be cancelled for the day. Thanks!**



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Dad's Night Out
Once a month from 8:00 - 9:30 pm, Saint Agnes welcomes parish dads to gather at Fusion Taste Restaurant, around the corner from the church (303 Broadway, Arlington). This month, the Dad's Group will meet on Thursday, November 19th. We will discuss relevant topics of careers, family, or just to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. For the first half hour we'll formally discuss short readings of interest, then catch up over beverages and dinner for the remaining time. The topic for November's discussion will be the Laudato Si encyclical.  The link for the brief reading material is here.  Please come and join us, whether or not you have been able to read ahead. We look forward to meeting you!   If you have questions, please email Justin Quattrini (justin.quattrini [at] gmail.com).

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Saint Agnes Children's Choir

Are you children interested in singing in the Children's Choir at Saint Agnes?  The children sing about once per month, and the printable schedule is posted here.  Encouraging your kids to be involved in the Mass is a wonderful way to foster their joy!  It also (helps) them to pay attention and to make new friends at church.  Join us!

More information and schedules can be found at the Music Ministry Website, www.AgnesMusic.net, or by emailing Michael Vaughan (mrv2022 [at] gmail.com).

Weekly Digest

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Welcome, EVERYONE!
Here's the lineup for the week at the Parish:
  • Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Arlington Catholic Open House (6 pm), Saint Agnes School Science Night (6 pm), Choir Practice (7 pm), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
  • Thursday - Mom's Night In (8 pm)
  • Friday - Saint Agnes School "Jim Plunkett" Show (7 pm), Prep for the Boston Sock Exchange (7 pm)
  • Saturday - Boston Sock Exchange (11 am at Park Street T-stop), Confessions (3 pm)
  • Sunday - Coffee and Donuts (after 9 am Mass), Adult Choir (10:30 am Mass), Infant Baptisms (2 pm)
  • Monday - Sodality of Our Lady (3 pm)
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Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK THE BLOG BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
The Saint Agnes Family group holds weekly Tuesday playgroups outdoors at nearby parks.  We start at 10:30 am (but sometimes moms run late).  You are welcome to join us! You can find the winter playgroup schedule here, or by clicking the link at the upper left of the blog home page.

This Tuesday, November 10th, we will meet at Cummings Park (19 Lyman Ave.) in Medford. This fenced park has a fun jungle gym, and also a tennis court for scooters. Bring your own lunch or snack and join us!

**NOTE THAT our outdoor winter schedule is highly dependent on good weather. If the weather seems questionable, please check your email or the blog page before you leave for playgroup. In case of rain or weather below 30 degrees, playgroup will be cancelled for the day. Thanks!**


Here's a friendly reminder that Mom's-Night-In
is THURSDAY, November 12th

We will get together for a stress-free evening, pray a devotion together, and enjoy some social feminine fellowship!
I will not publish the hostesses address online, so please email me at saintagnesfamilies [at] gmail.com if you plan to come.
Please bring a snack or drink to share!
 We will kick it off at 8:00 pm.

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Boston Sock Exchange
This Saturday, November 14th is the Boston Sock Exchange at 11:00 am at the Park Street T-Stop.  This ministry helps the homeless men and women of Boston, by distributing gifts of sandwiches and clothes near the Park Street T-Stop on the second Saturday of the month. Prep and packaging for the day is held in the parish center on Friday night, November 13th at 7:00 pm. Help and/or donations is a wonderful way to put your faith in action!  For more information, see the calendar to the right, or email Sheila O'Brien (ObriensMo [at] hotmail.com).

The Boston Sock Exchange is currently in need of small 8 oz. bottled water, SOCKS, and men's and women's winter clothes.  We also need rain gear: ponchos and umbrellas.  Thank you!

"One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anyone." -Mother Teresa-


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Massachusetts Alliance to Stop Public Funding of Abortion
Did you know that your tax dollars are being used to pay for abortions in Massachusetts? Abortion kills an innocent human life, but we know we are called by God to protect His precious gift of life. Fortunately, there is something each of us can do to stop this. Volunteers throughout the state are collecting signatures on a petition to amend the state constitution so that taxpayer subsidized abortions are no longer a constitutional entitlement in Massachusetts. Stop and sign the petition, to amend the state constitution so that tax dollars no longer subsidize abortions in Massachusetts. You can also call 781-312-8755 or email StopPublicFundingofAbortion [at] gmail.com so we can get your signature.

Giving Tree Party: November 9th, 4-7 pm

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Please come join the volunteers for the Giving Tree at a "Crafting Party" in the Saint Agnes Parish Center on Monday night, November 9th from 4-7 pm.  We will be working together to make the nearly 1,400 tags which must go on the tree, starting November 28th!

You will also get to meet your fellow volunteers, learn about how the Giving Tree with run, enjoy hot drinks and Christmas music!  Come join us and lend a hand!

You do NOT need to reply if you plan to come, but it will help with planning for drinks and volunteer communication.  If you are able to reply in time, please indicate your planned attendance by answering Question #2 on this quick form.

If you would like to bring an easy snack to share, please do!  Otherwise, food will not be provided; only coffee and hot chocolate.  Other things to bring:
  • Brightly colored yarn that you may have and can donate to the project.
  • Scissors
  • Hole punches
Many thanks for your selflessness!  Children working with their parents, teens, and adults are welcome.

For more information, or to become involved, email Marianne Hudelson (SaintAgnesFamilies [at] gmail.com)

Shroud of Turin - FRIDAY at 7:00

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Are you watching re-runs to unwind on Friday night?

Perhaps you would like to take advantage of a wonderful opportunity for learning, prayer, and devotion instead! Devotions enliven the truth of our faith, and allow us a way of expressing our love of God.

"Reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and the Our Father—every sincere act of worship or devotion revives the spirit of conversion and repentance within us and contributes to the forgiveness of our sins." (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1437)

The Shroud of Turin
presented by
Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
 
One of the world’s leading experts on the
Shroud of Turin will be in North Reading for
an amazing presentation.
This burial cloth ​has the image of a crucified man
that many believe to be Jesus Christ.
Learn how science has proven that this ancient artifact
is not a hoax, painting, or forgery.​
 
7:00 pm
Friday, November 6th, 2015
NO CHARGE
 
Trinity Evangelical Church, 103 Haverhill St., North Reading

Saint Agnes Open House

Saint Agnes School Open House
on November 5th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Take this opportunity to come visit our parish school, meet the teachers and speak to students and parents. Saint Agnes School offers a full-time Special Education teacher and Guidance Counselor, and a full-time nurse. We also offer classes in Spanish, music, art, computers, engineering, library and physical education starting in K1 (pre-K) and continuing through 8th grade. All programs integrate the Massachusetts Common Core Curriculum standards with appreciation for the spiritual development of each child. If you are unable to make this special Open House, private tours are available anytime. Please call Patricia Crane, Development Director, at 781-643-9031 x. 305 or email PCrane [at] SaintAgnesSchool.us. Some classes are filling quickly.

FALL 2016 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR OUR WONDERFUL PARISH SCHOOLS!
FIDELITY HOUSE - Preschool and Pre-K
SAINT AGNES GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Pre-K through Grade 8
ARLINGTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Links to these websites are located at the top right-hand of the blog page.
When you invest and involve your family here, you can participate
in the evangelical mission and service of these community resources,
which are offered by - and in the long tradition of - our very own Catholic Church.
Financial Aid is available.  WOW!

Wednesday: Explore Laudato Si!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Pope Francis certainly has the world's attention!  Continuing with our weekly excerpts of the pope's most recent encyclical, "Laudato Si" is posted here - so that we can all learn, digest, pray and discern one snippet at a time.  Come Holy Spirit, teach us and guide us, and may Your Will be done!


Climate as a common good
23. The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all. At the global level, it is a complex system linked to many of the essential conditions for human life. A very solid scientific consensus indicates that we are presently witnessing a disturbing warming of the climatic system. In recent decades this warming has been accompanied by a constant rise in the sea level and, it would appear, by an increase of extreme weather events, even if a scientifically determinable cause cannot be assigned to each particular phenomenon. Humanity is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it. It is true that there are other factors (such as volcanic activity, variations in the earth’s orbit and axis, the solar cycle), yet a number of scientific studies indicate that most global warming in recent decades is due to the great concentration of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides and others) released mainly as a result of human activity. As these gases build up in the atmosphere, they hamper the escape of heat produced by sunlight at the earth’s surface. The problem is aggravated by a model of development based on the intensive use of fossil fuels, which is at the heart of the worldwide energy system. Another determining factor has been an increase in changed uses of the soil, principally deforestation for agricultural purposes.

24. Warming has effects on the carbon cycle. It creates a vicious circle which aggravates the situation even more, affecting the availability of essential resources like drinking water, energy and agricultural production in warmer regions, and leading to the extinction of part of the planet’s biodiversity. The melting in the polar ice caps and in high altitude plains can lead to the dangerous release of methane gas, while the decomposition of frozen organic material can further increase the emission of carbon dioxide. Things are made worse by the loss of tropical forests which would otherwise help to mitigate climate change. Carbon dioxide pollution increases the acidification of the oceans and compromises the marine food chain. If present trends continue, this century may well witness extraordinary climate change and an unprecedented destruction of ecosystems, with serious consequences for all of us. A rise in the sea level, for example, can create extremely serious situations, if we consider that a quarter of the world’s population lives on the coast or nearby, and that the majority of our megacities are situated in coastal areas.

25. Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades. Many of the poor live in areas particularly affected by phenomena related to warming, and their means of subsistence are largely dependent on natural reserves and ecosystemic services such as agriculture, fishing and forestry. They have no other financial activities or resources which can enable them to adapt to climate change or to face natural disasters, and their access to social services and protection is very limited. For example, changes in climate, to which animals and plants cannot adapt, lead them to migrate; this in turn affects the livelihood of the poor, who are then forced to leave their homes, with great uncertainty for their future and that of their children. There has been a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation. They are not recognized by international conventions as refugees; they bear the loss of the lives they have left behind, without enjoying any legal protection whatsoever. Sadly, there is widespread indifference to such suffering, which is even now taking place throughout our world. Our lack of response to these tragedies involving our brothers and sisters points to the loss of that sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded.

26. Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms, simply making efforts to reduce some of the negative impacts of climate change. However, many of these symptoms indicate that such effects will continue to worsen if we continue with current models of production and consumption. There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced, for example, substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy. Worldwide there is minimal access to clean and renewable energy. There is still a need to develop adequate storage technologies. Some countries have made considerable progress, although it is far from constituting a significant proportion. Investments have also been made in means of production and transportation which consume less energy and require fewer raw materials, as well as in methods of construction and renovating buildings which improve their energy efficiency. But these good practices are still far from widespread.

Weekly Digest

Monday, November 2, 2015

Welcome back, EVERYONE!
Here's the lineup for the week at the Parish:
  • Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Baptism Catechesis (7 pm), Choir Practice (7 pm), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
  • Wednesday - Women's Bible Study (7:30 pm)
  • Thursday - First Friday Confessions (4 pm), Saint Agnes School Open House (6 pm)
  • Friday - First Friday Adoration (all day, Benediction at 5:00, Mass at 5:30 pm)
  • Saturday - Confessions (3 pm)
  • Sunday - Coffee and Donuts (after 9 am Mass), Adult Choir (10:30 am Mass)
  • Monday - Giving Tree Gift Tag Making (4 pm), Respect Life Meeting (7 pm)
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Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK THE BLOG BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
The Saint Agnes Family group holds weekly Tuesday playgroups outdoors at nearby parks.  We start at 10:30 am (but sometimes moms run late).  You are welcome to join us! You can find the winter playgroup schedule here, or by clicking the link at the upper left of the blog home page.

This Tuesday, November 3rd, we will meet at McClennen Park (680 Summer St.) in Arlington. This park has both a jungle gym and a skateboard area that is good for scooters.  There is also a large field to play in. Bring your own lunch or snack and join us!

**NOTE THAT our outdoor winter schedule is highly dependent on good weather. If the weather seems questionable, please check your email or the blog page before you leave for playgroup. In case of rain or weather below 30 degrees, playgroup will be cancelled for the day. Thanks!**

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Have you had a new baby? We wish you many heartfelt congratulations!

Don't forget that baptisms for babies at Saint Agnes are held on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 2:00 pm. You must attend Baptismal Catechesis prior to having your child baptized.

Baptism Catechesis occurs on the first Tuesday of the month (November 3). The briefing session begins at 7:00 pm in the Saint Agnes Parish Center at 51 Medford St., Arlington. The meeting usually lasts under an hour.

If you would like to learn a little more about Christian baptism and why the Catholic Church encourages infants to be baptized, you can read about it here.


Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop. The catechumen or the Godparent is asked: “What do you ask of God’s Church?” The response is: “Faith!” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1253)

Parenting is certainly not an easy task: it is filled with difficult decisions, personal setbacks and growth, expanding relationships, disagreements, love, AND forgiveness. We offer you our support and encouragement along this journey, and we invite you warmly into our parish and Christian life!



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First Friday Adoration
This Friday, November 6th, is the first Friday of the month. On Thursday, November 5th, from 4:00-5:00 pm, there will be the opportunity for confession in the lower church. On Friday, Saint Agnes will be offering all-day Adoration, concluding with Benediction and Mass at 5:00/5:30pm, in the lower church. Also at noon there will be a Holy Hour to pray for priests and victims of clergy sexual abuse. Adoration is a wonderful opportunity to spend some quiet time with the Lord and gain some focus in our lives - especially with all the busy distractions of daily life. For more background on the long tradition of keeping a First Friday devotion, look here or here.


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Massachusetts Alliance to Stop Public Funding of Abortion
Did you know that your tax dollars are being used to pay for abortions in Massachusetts? Abortion kills an innocent human life, but we know we are called by God to protect His precious gift of life. Fortunately, there is something each of us can do to stop this. Volunteers throughout the state are collecting signatures on a petition to amend the state constitution so that taxpayer subsidized abortions are no longer a constitutional entitlement in Massachusetts. Stop and sign the petition, to amend the state constitution so that tax dollars no longer subsidize abortions in Massachusetts. You can also call 781-312-8755 or email StopPublicFundingofAbortion [at] gmail.com so we can get your signature.