Weekly Digest

Welcome everyone!
This week at the parish:

• Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Baptism Catechesis & Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
• Thursday - First Friday Confessions (4:00 pm)
• Friday - First Friday Adoration (all day, Benediction at 5:00, Mass at 5:30)
• Saturday - Confessions (3 pm)
• Monday  - Anointing of the Sick Mass (9:00 am at Saint Eulalia)

Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK BEFORE YOU LEAVE!

Now that we are in summer mode, we will be holding Tuesday playgroups outdoors at nearby parks. To print a written schedule of our summer playgroup locations, please click here. To see a map of our summer park schedule, please click here.

Because strawberry picking ended early at Ward's Berry Farm, we have changed our schedule by one week.  This Tuesday, July 1st, we will meet at Monsignor McCabe Park (90 Charlotte Rd., Waltham) at 10:30 am. This park has great sprinkler facilities, so bring your swimsuits, towels, your own lunch and join us!

**NOTE THAT our outdoor summer 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, playgroup will be cancelled for the day. Thanks!**

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This Friday, July 4th, is the first Friday of the month.  On Thursday, July 3rd, 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. There is no First Friday playgroup in July.

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FORTNIGHT for FREEDOM
The Bishops of the United States have called for a Fortnight for Freedom, June 21-July 4, two weeks of prayer and action to address many current challenges to religious liberty. The Fortnight for Freedom Opening Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop William Lori on Saturday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Maryland. The Fortnight for Freedom Closing Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, with Archbishop Kurtz of Louisville as the homilist, on Friday, July 4th at 12:00 Noon. Both Masses will be televised on CatholicTV and EWTN.

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Registration for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is now OPEN!
Our parish is very blessed to offer this montessori-based preschool Religious Education Program.  This program serves children ages 3 to 5 years.  The children must be potty-trained and able to go to the restroom on their own.  There are a limited number of seats, to be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date the registration form is received. Registration forms available at the Parish Center and should be returned to the Religious Education Office. You may contact the Religious Education Office at 781-646-5579 if you wish to have the form mailed to you. For information about the program, call Jean Keiselbach (781-
646-0475).

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Training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program that addresses the religious potential of children ages 3-6 (Level 1).  It is in its 11th year at our parish.  Please consider joining us in this beautiful ministry!  Part 1 of a 2-part catechist training course takes place July 7-12, 2014 (part 2 to take place July 2015) in Clinton, MA.  The cost of Part 1 of the course is $200.  For more information, please contact Kateryna Cuddeback at 617-504-3028 or kcuddeb [at] gmail.com

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Children's Way of the Cross

Did you take your children to the beautiful Children's Way of the Cross this past Lent?  This is such a great ministry for our parish.  However, Tricia Sheehan, who has coordinated for many years is looking for new parents to take on this annual devotion!  If you are able to give yourself in service this way, please contact Tricia Sheehan (781-648-7709).

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Project Rachel
Project Rachel retreats help women find hope, healing and reconciliation after abortion.  If you or a loved one is suffering from post-abortion pain, contact Project Rachel about upcoming "Come to the Waters of Healing" retreats on Saturdays, February 22, March 29, or April 12.  Contact Project Rachel  at help [at] ProjectRachelBoston.com or 508-651-3100.  All inquiries are confidential.

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FALL 2014 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR OUR WONDERFUL PARISH SCHOOLS!

FIDELITY HOUSE - Preschool and Pre-K

SAINT AGNES GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Pre-K through Grade 8

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!

WYD 2016

In July of 2016, World Youth Day will be held in Krakow, Poland.  Three travel groups are being offered by the Archdiocese of Boston: High School, Young Adults, and Families.  Would you like to go??

To learn more about this life-changing experience, call Saint Agnes' Confirmation Director, Nancy Feeman (781-641-6621).  The Pilgrimage begins in Warsaw, visits our Lady of Czestochowa, Auschwitz, and the beautiful city of Krakow.  It would be wonderful to have a group from Arlington join the Diocesan Group to pray with the Pope in Poland!

What are you doing this summer?

What are you doing this summer?  Consider putting some of these opportunities on your calendar!

Training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program that addresses the religious potential of children ages 3-6 (Level 1).  It is in its 11th year at our parish.  Please consider joining us in this beautiful ministry!  Part 1 of a 2-part catechist training course takes place July 7-12, 2014 (part 2 to take place July 2015) in Clinton, MA.  The cost of Part 1 of the course is $200.  For more information, please contact Kateryna Cuddeback at 617-504-3028 or kcuddeb [at] gmail.com

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Are your relatives calling you?  They want to know what the summer plans are. 

Well before you give away all your dates to in-laws, make sure you mark your calendars!

SECOND ANNUAL SAINT AGNES CAMPOUT

July 18-20, 2014

Greenfield State Park, NH
"Day Campers" invited to join us on Saturday, July 19th*

Details:

1. If you know you are coming (or when you decide you are coming), please use this form, so we can keep track of how many people and WHO we are expecting to meet at the park! Ultimately, I will need everyone to fill out this form, so I have names and numbers in case of any emergency. So go ahead and fill it out ASAP.


2. The dates for this camping trip are July 18-20. We will plan to camp at Greenfield State Park in Greenfield, NH - about an hour-and-a-half drive from Arlington. This park has come highly recommended as a fun and easy park for family camping. The park features camping (with toilets/showers), hiking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and a camp store.

3. Make your reservations now! To get more information on the park, see: http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/greenfield-state-park.aspx

Reservations are through Reserve America, and can be found here.  We will try to cluster our group around campsite #44 on the small loop near Beaver Pond.  A map is here.

• There are no cabins. You can bring a tent, rent a tent from REI, borrow a tent from a friend, or make a tent (boyscouts anyone?). Cost for a campsite per night is $25 + a small processing fee. This is for two adults and their dependent children. If you plan on bringing a pet, please read the park's pet policy VERY CAREFULLY and be sure to reserve a site which allows pets... since most sites prohibit pets.
• Greenfield State Park Ranger "Harry" was extremely generous to answer my many questions over the phone. He is friendly and helpful, and I can't wait to stay at his park!  Ranger Harry recommends the "Small Loop," sites 26-64 for families with small children, because it is a loop with little traffic and close walking distances.  For the most fun together, try to cluster our reservations around campsite #44.
• This is our second ever Saint Agnes Family Group camping trip. It is meant to build community and friendships that will serve as an organic support network for people in our parish, as well as encourage you to give back to the community in the way you feel called.
  Together, we will take on the great adventure of family camping! While we are really excited about this, we are using the good old KISS rule - Keep it Simple, Stupid. Therefore, we will distribute information about the campground, and a rough schedule of breakfast / activities / dinner / Sunday Masses, etc. However, each family will be primarily responsible for their own specific plans and accommodations. If you don't want to stay both nights - that's cool - come when you can. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your own camping trip, camping gear, CAMPING FOOD, camping survival (hehe). We will not be caravanning or providing transportation. We will meet you there!

I will be happy to answer questions, post camping tips, attempt to anticipate concerns, etc. Feel free to contact me with questions at saintagnesfamilies [at] gmail.com. See you there!

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As you make arrangements for the summer, make sure you check out our own awesome parish resource - Fidelity House!

Fidelity House offers many community summer youth programs including day camps, a summer preschool program, sports camps, and Full Day Programs!  They also have adult leagues, and a certified preschool and Pre-K that have open enrollment and start in the fall!

For more information, visit www.FidelityHouse.org

Join us for Ice Cream on Friday, 6:30 pm!

Respect Life Activities at Saint Agnes

How can we be PRO-life every day?

By maintaining a positive attitude towards others,

appreciating the unique person that God has created in each individual,

reaching out in kindness and compassion,

praying for the unborn, disabled and elderly,

and giving alms to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable in our society.

“Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me.”Matthew 25:40

Do you like to Run (or walk?)

Calling all runners and walkers… have you heard of the national organization LIFE Runners? It is the world’s largest Pro-Life Running/Walking Team with chapters in all 50 states and 17 countries! LIFE Runners pray and run (or walk) to defend Life from conception to natural death… All in Christ for Pro-Life! There are two chapters in Massachusetts (Springfield and Still River), but no Boston area chapter yet. Would you be interested in starting a Boston area chapter of LIFE Runners? E-mail SAParishforLife [at] gmail.com or call Eileen Cahill at 781-643-5915. This would be a great way for all ages in our parish and our community to work and pray together to support God’s gift of life.

“All life has inestimable value even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.”

-Pope Francis

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Project Rachel
Project Rachel is a confidential Catholic outreach ministry offering healing, compassion and hope to women and men hurting from an abortion experience. People are available to listen, to answer questions, to pray for you, and to help in any way. Project Rachel can help begin the experience of forgiveness, freedom and peace waiting for you in the tender embrace of God’s love and mercy. The phone number for Project Rachel is 508-651-3100, email is help [at] ProjectRachelBoston.com, and the website is www.ProjectRachelBoston.com.  All inquiries are confidential.

Father Barron Community Catechesis on Wednesday, 7:00 pm

Weekly Digest

Welcome everyone!
This week at the parish:

• Monday - Men's Bible Study at Saint John's Seminary (7:00 pm)
• Tuesday - Bible Camp (9:30 am), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
• Wednesday  - Bible Camp (9:30 am), Community Catechesis (7:00 pm)
• Thursday - Bible Camp (9:30 am)
• Friday - Bible Camp (9:30 am), Parish Ice Cream Social (6:30 pm)
• Saturday - Confessions (3 pm)
• Sunday - Respect Life Walk (1:30 pm, Boston Common)

Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - NO PLAYGROUP THIS WEEK!
Due to summer vacation bible school, there is NO playgroup this week.  We will resume next week, July 1st.  While we cannot guarantee that anyone will be there to meet you, if you would like to try an impromptu playdate, meet at the Teel Street Playground, 71 Teel Street, Arlington.  To print a written schedule of our summer playgroup locations, please click here. To see a map of our summer park schedule, please click here.

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Registration for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is now OPEN!
Our parish is very blessed to offer this montessori-based preschool Religious Education Program.  This program serves children ages 3 to 5 years.  The children must be potty-trained and able to go to the restroom on their own.  There are a limited number of seats, to be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date the registration form is received. Registration forms available at the Parish Center and should be returned to the Religious Education Office. You may contact the Religious Education Office at 781-646-5579 if you wish to have the form mailed to you. For information about the program, call Jean Keiselbach (781-
646-0475).

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Attention!  Men’s Bible Study will take a temporary “field trip” for the month of June!

We will be attending the seminar series at Saint John's Seminary called:

Jews and Christians: A Common Heritage

The seminar is free but registration is required.  Please visit  the following link for details and to register: www.sjs.edu (look in the right side bar for “6^th Annual Biblical Studies Seminar”)

Sessions will be conducted from 7:00-9:00 pm on the Mondays of June at Saint John’s Seminary, 127 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (June 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, and 23^rd)

Hope you can meet us there!  We will resume at the Parish Center in July!

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FORTNIGHT for FREEDOM
The Bishops of the United States have called for a Fortnight for Freedom, June 21-July 4, two weeks of prayer and action to address many current challenges to religious liberty. The Fortnight for Freedom Opening Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop William Lori on Saturday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Maryland. The Fortnight for Freedom Closing Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, with Archbishop Kurtz of Louisville as the homilist, on Friday, July 4 at 12:00 Noon. Both Masses will be televised on CatholicTV and EWTN.

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Children's Way of the Cross

Did you take your children to the beautiful Children's Way of the Cross this past Lent?  This is such a great ministry for our parish.  However, Tricia Sheehan, who has coordinated for many years is looking for new parents to take on this annual devotion!  If you are able to give yourself in service this way, please contact Tricia Sheehan (781-648-7709).

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program that addresses the religious potential of children ages 3-6 (Level 1).  It is in its 11th year at our parish.  Please consider joining us in this beautiful ministry!  Part 1 of a 2-part catechist training course takes place July 7-12, 2014 (part 2 to take place July 2015) in Clinton, MA.  The cost of Part 1 of the course is $200.  For more information, please contact Kateryna Cuddeback at 617-504-3028 or kcuddeb [at] gmail.com

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Project Rachel
Project Rachel retreats help women find hope, healing and reconciliation after abortion.  If you or a loved one is suffering from post-abortion pain, contact Project Rachel about upcoming "Come to the Waters of Healing" retreats on Saturdays, February 22, March 29, or April 12.  Contact Project Rachel  at help [at] ProjectRachelBoston.com or 508-651-3100.  All inquiries are confidential.

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FALL 2014 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR OUR WONDERFUL PARISH SCHOOLS!

FIDELITY HOUSE - Preschool and Pre-K

SAINT AGNES GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Pre-K through Grade 8

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!

Brown Scapular Enrollment - Sunday after 9:00 am Mass

Would you like to begin a devotion in the Church... a special practice of dedication which brings you closer to the Lord and His Blessed Mother? You can be enrolled in the devotion of the Brown Scapular this Sunday, June 22nd following the 9:00 am Mass. Scapulars will be provided, and the enrollment is appropriate for children and adults alike. After the ceremony, we will all celebrate at coffee and donuts together. Join us!

The Brown Scapular 

The 13th century was a turbulent time and the Church was threatened by enemies on all sides. It was then that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock, Superior General of the Carmelite Order, on July 16, 1251, and in her hand she held what we know as the Brown Scapular, and she gave this promise:

"Take this Scapular, it shall be a Sign of Salvation, a Protection in Danger and a Pledge of Peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."

The scapular was to be worn as a particular sign of devotion to Mary, and she in return promised her care and protection to the wearer.

In the beginning, only Carmelites wore the scapular. By the 14th century, the privilege extended beyond the order. It began to be worn by lay people associated with the Carmelite order, and then other religious, as a sign of committed devotion to the Blessed Mother. In the 17th century, the devotion of wearing the scapular was promulgated to the universal church by Pope Paul V, and the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel established on July 16th.

The wearing of the Scapular fosters a true devotion to Mary that is based on her supernatural mission in the redemption of mankind. The Scapular teaches a practical confidence in the intercession of the Blessed Virgin to obtain for its wearer the grace of final perseverance, or a happy death. The two general conditions to obtain this benefit are that one must honor Mary by wearing the Scapular faithfully until death and endeavor sincerely to lead a Christian life. This reliance on Mary's intercession for the gift of final perseverance rests on the promise to Saint Simon Stock that all who die wearing the Scapular will not suffer the eternal flames of hell. This tradition is known as the "Scapular promise."

The scapular devotion also teaches that the aid of Mary may be confidently expected in purgatory by all those who have faithfully worn the Scapular and have fulfilled two other conditions: the practice of chastity according to one's state of life and the daily recitation of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin or the rosary. According to Church tradition, Our Lady will free from Purgatory any souls who have worn the scapular and fulfilled these conditions on the first Saturday after their death. This is called the “Sabbatine privilege”.

In addition to the special care of Our Lady during and after life, enrollment in the Brown Scapular also makes a person part of the Carmelite family throughout the world. Wearers of the scapular therefore share in all of the prayers and good works of the Carmelite Orders.

Many popes and saints have strongly recommended wearing, the Brown Scapular to the Catholic Faithful,St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Robert Bellarmine, Pope John XXII, Pope Pius Xl and XII, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XV.

In order to receive the spiritual blessings associated with the Scapular, it is necessary to be formally enrolled in the Brown Scapular by either a priest or a lay person who has been given this faculty. The Scapular is essentially a "habit". Those who receive it are associated more or less closely with the Order of Carmel and dedicate themselves to the service of Our Lady for the good of the whole Church. Once enrolled, the enrollment is for life and need not be repeated. Anyone, adult or infant, who has not previously been enrolled may be enrolled in the Brown Scapular. Participation in this devotion is open to non-Catholics as well.

Catholic Reading Wednesday

With many thanks to our wonderful and insightful curator, Karen Celano, you can delve into a faith-related news article each Wednesday! Karen writes:

On June 12, two priests in Arizona were attacked in their rectory at Mater Misericordia Mission Catholic Church in Phoenix, Arizona, during a botched robbery. One priest died in the attack; the other was initially in critical condition but was recently moved out of intensive care. The recently-released 911 tapes reveal the surviving priest, Fr. Joseph Terra, trying to save the life of his 28-year-old assistant, Fr. Kenneth Walker, and ultimately administering last rites to his colleague, who died on the way to the hospital.

The assailant, who was arrested on Sunday, was a homeless man who had a history of violent crime and had recently been released from prison. The funeral mass for Fr. Walker was held on Monday, during which local city councilman Michael Nowakowski expressed his conviction that, had Fr. Walker lived, he would have wanted to “help and pray for those individuals who are released from jail.”

In the wake of this attack, the Christian Science Monitor reports that this episode is the “latest in more than 780 deadly attacks in US places of worship in the past 15 years.” Most of these attacks stem from robbery attempts, although some have also been mass shootings, such as the 1999 attack at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Texas and the 2007 attack at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

These episodes, combined with ongoing coverage of mass shootings in schools and escalating gun violence around the country, have drawn the church into a moral discussion about how best to stem the tide of killings. In his general audience on Wednesday, June 11, Pope Francis condemned arms manufacturers as “merchants of death” who “make death into a trade.” In 2012, in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops made a statement calling on legislators to “address national policies that will strengthen the regulation of firearms and improve access to health care for those with mental health needs.” Some Catholics took issue with the bishops’ statement, especially when the bishops argued, quoting the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, that limiting access to firearms “would certainly not infringe on the rights of anyone.”

In the past month, other Catholics, such as Representative Timothy Murphy of Pennsylvania, have, in the wake of the shooting in Santa Barbara, fought for comprehensive mental health care reform that would make it easier to commit individuals for involuntary outpatient care and would amend privacy laws to allow family members more access to mental health records. Murphy’s bill has, of course, caused debate, with some arguing that it is necessary to improve public safety, while others accuse Murphy of “opportunism” and believe that his bill would serve only to violate the rights of the mentally ill.

In a more quiet way, many Catholics are ministering to those in prison or recently released from prison, trying to give convicts and former convicts a sense of faith, hope, and self-worth that may prevent them from returning to criminal behavior. The St. Joseph Cafasso Prison Ministries of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Alpharetta,Georgia, sends volunteers to minister to prisoners at Arrendale State Prison, where RCIA classes are taught and sacraments are administered. The Dismas House in Nashville, Tennessee, continues its work of giving “men just released from prison a place to live and help readjusting to society.”

Given the cyclical connection between homelessness, mental illness, and criminal behavior – a connection that seems well-demonstrated in last week’s attack on Fr. Terra and Fr. Walker – certainly we as a society and a church need to find more comprehensive, holistic ways of dealing with these problems. In the absence of a willingness to compromise, however, progress seems to be stalled on all levels. Let us pray for our leaders as they search for answers on a policy-wide level, and let us also pray for the courage to reach out to the homeless, the mentally ill, and the victims of violence in our own lives and communities.

Weekly Digest

Welcome everyone!
This week at the parish:

• Monday - Men's Bible Study at Saint John's Seminary (7:00 pm)
• Tuesday - Saint Agnes Playgroup (10:30 am), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
• Wednesday  - Men's Night Out (TBA)
• Thursday - FINAL VBS Planning Meeting (7:30 pm)
• Saturday - Confessions (3 pm)
• Sunday - Brown Scapular Enrollment (10:00 am)
• Monday - Men's Bible Study at Saint John's Seminary (7:00 pm)

Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK BEFORE YOU LEAVE!

Now that we are in summer mode, we will be holding Tuesday playgroups outdoors at nearby parks. To print a written schedule of our summer playgroup locations, please click here. To see a map of our summer park schedule, please click here.

This Tuesday, June 10th, we will meet at Buzzell Field Playground (46 Summer St., Arlington) at 10:30 am. This park is located directly off the bike path, in case you would like to come that way!  Please bring your own lunch and join us!

**NOTE THAT our outdoor summer 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, playgroup will be cancelled for the day. Thanks!**

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Registration for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is now OPEN!
Our parish is very blessed to offer this montessori-based preschool Religious Education Program.  This program serves children ages 3 to 5 years.  The children must be potty-trained and able to go to the restroom on their own.  There are a limited number of seats, to be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date the registration form is received. Registration forms available at the Parish Center and should be returned to the Religious Education Office. You may contact the Religious Education Office at 781-646-5579 if you wish to have the form mailed to you. For information about the program, call Jean Keiselbach (781-
646-0475).

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Attention!  Men’s Bible Study will take a temporary “field trip” for the month of June!

We will be attending the seminar series at Saint John's Seminary called:

Jews and Christians: A Common Heritage

The seminar is free but registration is required.  Please visit  the following link for details and to register: www.sjs.edu (look in the right side bar for “6^th Annual Biblical Studies Seminar”)

Sessions will be conducted from 7:00-9:00 pm on the Mondays of June at Saint John’s Seminary, 127 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135 (June 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, and 23^rd)

Hope you can meet us there!  We will resume at the Parish Center in July!

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Would you like to be enrolled in the devotion of the Brown Scapular?  The Scapular Enrollment will happen AFTER the 9:00 am Mass on Sunday, June 22nd.  All are welcome to learn about this devotion, receive a scapular and the enrollment blessing.  Enrollment is appropriate for adults and children.  Afterwards, come celebrate with us at coffee and donuts!  For information call Kateryna Cuddeback: 617-504-3028.

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Please remember that the final planning meeting for Vacation Bible School is this Thursday, JUNE 19th at 7:30 pm in the Parish Center.  All volunteers are needed to come, as we will go through a final review of the program.  To volunteer, or help with the ice cream social on Friday, please email Marianne Hudelson, SaintAgnesFamilies [at] gmail.com

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Children's Way of the Cross

Did you take your children to the beautiful Children's Way of the Cross this past Lent?  This is such a great ministry for our parish.  However, Tricia Sheehan, who has coordinated for many years is looking for new parents to take on this annual devotion!  If you are able to give yourself in service this way, please contact Tricia Sheehan (781-648-7709).

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program that addresses the religious potential of children ages 3-6 (Level 1).  It is in its 11th year at our parish.  Please consider joining us in this beautiful ministry!  Part 1 of a 2-part catechist training course takes place July 7-12, 2014 (part 2 to take place July 2015) in Clinton, MA.  The cost of Part 1 of the course is $200.  For more information, please contact Kateryna Cuddeback at 617-504-3028 or kcuddeb [at] gmail.com

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Project Rachel
Project Rachel retreats help women find hope, healing and reconciliation after abortion.  If you or a loved one is suffering from post-abortion pain, contact Project Rachel about upcoming "Come to the Waters of Healing" retreats on Saturdays, February 22, March 29, or April 12.  Contact Project Rachel  at help [at] ProjectRachelBoston.com or 508-651-3100.  All inquiries are confidential.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

FALL 2014 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR OUR WONDERFUL PARISH SCHOOLS!

FIDELITY HOUSE - Preschool and Pre-K

SAINT AGNES GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Pre-K through Grade 8

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!

Happy Father's Day! What are you doing this summer?

What are you doing this summer?  Consider putting some of these opportunities on your calendar!

Training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program that addresses the religious potential of children ages 3-6 (Level 1).  It is in its 11th year at our parish.  Please consider joining us in this beautiful ministry!  Part 1 of a 2-part catechist training course takes place July 7-12, 2014 (part 2 to take place July 2015) in Clinton, MA.  The cost of Part 1 of the course is $200.  For more information, please contact Kateryna Cuddeback at 617-504-3028 or kcuddeb [at] gmail.com

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Are your relatives calling you?  They want to know what the summer plans are. 

Well before you give away all your dates to in-laws, make sure you mark your calendars!

SECOND ANNUAL SAINT AGNES CAMPOUT

July 18-20, 2014

Greenfield State Park, NH
"Day Campers" invited to join us on Saturday, July 19th*

Details:

1. If you know you are coming (or when you decide you are coming), please use this form, so we can keep track of how many people and WHO we are expecting to meet at the park! Ultimately, I will need everyone to fill out this form, so I have names and numbers in case of any emergency. So go ahead and fill it out ASAP.


2. The dates for this camping trip are July 18-20. We will plan to camp at Greenfield State Park in Greenfield, NH - about an hour-and-a-half drive from Arlington. This park has come highly recommended as a fun and easy park for family camping. The park features camping (with toilets/showers), hiking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and a camp store.

3. Make your reservations now! To get more information on the park, see: http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/greenfield-state-park.aspx

Reservations are through Reserve America, and can be found here.  We will try to cluster our group around campsite #44 on the small loop near Beaver Pond.  A map is here.

• There are no cabins. You can bring a tent, rent a tent from REI, borrow a tent from a friend, or drive an RV (if you have one). Cost for a campsite per night is $25 + a small processing fee. This is for two adults and their dependent children. If you plan on bringing a pet, please read the park's pet policy VERY CAREFULLY and be sure to reserve a site which allows pets... since most sites prohibit pets.
• Greenfield State Park Ranger "Harry" was extremely generous to answer my many questions over the phone. He is friendly and helpful, and I can't wait to stay at his park!  Ranger Harry recommends the "Small Loop," sites 26-64 for families with small children, because it is a loop with little traffic and close walking distances.  For the most fun together, try to cluster our reservations around campsite #44.
• This is our second ever Saint Agnes Family Group camping trip. It is meant to build community and friendships that will serve as an organic support network for people in our parish, as well as encourage you to give back to the community in the way you feel called.
  Together, we will take on the great adventure of family camping! While we are really excited about this, we are using the good old KISS rule - Keep it Simple, Stupid. Therefore, we will distribute information about the campground, and a rough schedule of breakfast / activities / dinner / Sunday Masses, etc. However, each family will be primarily responsible for their own specific plans and accommodations. If you don't want to stay both nights - that's cool - come when you can. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your own camping trip, camping gear, CAMPING FOOD, camping survival (hehe). We will not be caravanning or providing transportation. We will meet you there!

I will be happy to answer questions, post camping tips, attempt to anticipate concerns, etc. Feel free to contact me with questions at saintagnesfamilies [at] gmail.com. See you there!

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As you make arrangements for the summer, make sure you check out our own awesome parish resource - Fidelity House!

Fidelity House offers many community summer youth programs including day camps, a summer preschool program, sports camps, and Full Day Programs!  They also have adult leagues, and a certified preschool and Pre-K that have open enrollment and start in the fall!

For more information, visit www.FidelityHouse.org

YOU are our parish! How can you help?

Are you looking for ways to become more involved in our parish this summer?  There is truly a place for each and every talent in our community.  Below is listed several very specific volunteer needs, however the list doesn't stop there.  If you would like to help at our parish, if you have a passion or a talent you would like to share, but aren't sure how - JUST ASK!  We will point you in the right direction to put these wonderful God-given gifts to work.

In the meantime, if you can help with any of the needs below, please email the Outreach Coordinator, Marianne.Hudelson [at] gmail.com.  Thank you very much!

SUMMER 2014 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

1. Respect Life Rose Drive - June 14-15, all Masses

2. Parish Ice Cream Social - June 27, 6:30 pm

*Volunteers needed for set up, serving, and clean up

3. Join a 5-person committee to keep the Giving Tree around this Christmas

4. Give an elderly parishioner a ride to your regular Sunday Mass

Can you help?  Fill out an easy form, HERE.

Also check out:

• Links at the top right-hand page for: Saint Agnes Parish, Saint Agnes Music Ministry, Fidelity House, Saint Agnes School, and Arlington Catholic High School.
• Ongoing ministries that need help include: Boston Sock Exchange, Driving Parishioners to Mass, and Sunday Coffee Hour
• See our Parish Pamphlet, to help you learn about all of our parish's different ministries.

Mom's Night In on Thursday

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

We will get together for a stress-free evening, and play some get-to-know-you games (think: Apples to Apples) . I would rather not publish

the hostesses address, 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 7:00 pm.

Catholic Reading Wednesday

With many thanks to our wonderful and insightful curator, Karen Celano, you can delve into a faith-related news article each Wednesday! Karen writes:

This week, one of the world’s most famous atheists, Richard Dawkins, made minor headlines by suggesting that reading fairy tales to children is dangerous because it may encourage a pernicious belief in the supernatural. While Dawkins’ words were not, in reality, as stark as the headlines made it seem, his skepticism of the value of fairy tales is indicative of a broader cultural disdain for religious faith in favor of the hard “facts” of science and technology. In fact, philosopher and atheist Peter Boghossian recently went so far as to say that religious faith is an‘epistemological virus’ that needs to be ‘contained and eradicated’ from the human race.

The fact that religious faith and fairy tales are connected in Dawkins’ mind is no coincidence. Nor is it a coincidence that the fathers of speculative fantasy fiction – J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis – were both believing Christians. In his famous essay, “On Fairy Stories,” Tolkien writes that fairy tales were an early introduction for him to the concept of sacramentality: they revealed to him “the potency of words, and the wonder of things, such as stone, and wood, and iron; tree and grass; house and fire; bread and wine.” He also speaks of how fairy stories, by introducing the reader to a different world with rules different from our own, enable us to reassess our world in a new way – similar to the ways in which religious faith reminds us that God’s rules are not ours, and that we must constantly question our world in light of God’s kingdom. In a similar vein, C.S. Lewis testifies to the sacramental power of stories, writing that myth “takes all the things we know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by the ‘veil of familiarity’.” And both Tolkien and Lewis attest to themoral value of fairy stories in posing moral dilemmas of good and evil and demanding listeners to think morally. This moral element of fantasy lends them a truth-value that takes them beyond the factual knowledge that science can provide. As Lewis wrote, “Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”

Tolkien and Lewis focus on the moral and proto-religious nature of fairy stories, but even Albert Einstein reputedly recognized their value in stimulating a scientifically-minded curiosity and imagination. Thus, he is remembered to have responded to a mother who wanted to know what reading material to give her son whom she wanted to be a scientist: "Fairy tales and more fairy tales." Scientists above all should know the value of creative thinking in scientific development – especially when the ideas produced through imaginative thought seem improbable according to current scientific understandings. In a recent Scientific American article, "The Case Against Copernicus," the author speaks of the scientific community’s opposition to Copernicus’ theory that the earth revolved around the sun. Far from devolving into battle between science on the side of Copernicus and blind faith against him, the case against Copernicus was spearheaded by skeptical, slow-adapting scientists. Copernicus, for his part – with no scientific evidence to back him – argued that his theory was possible on the basis of God’s omnipotence. Although eventually science proved Copernicus correct, without his far-reaching creativity of thought he would not have been capable of thinking “outside the box” of scientific orthodoxy – and helping us to learn more about the world. Perhaps, without the “epistemological virus” of his faith, Copernicus would not have come up with his model of heliocentrism.

Our culture, while not generally holding as extreme a view as Dawkins or Boghossian, is subtly and perhaps unconsciously acquiescing with their anti-faith ideology, as certain new curricula in elementary, middle, and high schools are encouraging students to read more “non-fiction,” “informational” texts while de-emphasizing “classic” and fictional literature. This is done, we are told, for the sake of teaching children how to be “critical thinkers” for a new technological age. At the same time, however, fantasy literature and entertainment for both youth and adults are abounding, indicating a yearning in our society for the very experiences Tolkien and Lewis attested to: a desire to experience the world in a new, creative way that challenges how we conceive of reality. Tolkien and Lewis would not be surprised: they would see this yearning as part and parcel of man’s innate desire for God. We yearn for creativity because we are built in the image of God the Creator. Dawkins and Boghossian would do well to remember that even science would not exist without the curiosity and imagination that fairy tales – and religious faith – inculcate in our minds and hearts. Critical thinking isn’t enough. Sometimes we must take a leap of faith.

Saint Agnes Parish Bible Camp - REGISTRATIONS DUE FRIDAY

Welcome! Saint Agnes Outreach will host an initial, 4-day trial-Vacation Bible School this summer from June 24-27, 9:30 am - 12 noon. The end of the week will conclude with an ice cream social for the parish on Friday evening at 6:30 pm. We will admit 40 children, ages 4-8 years old, on a first-come basis.  You can find registration forms in the back of church, or on the Outreach website, www.SaintAgnesParish.blogspot.com.  If you would like to contribute to this great project for our parish, please email Marianne Hudelson (Marianne.Hudelson [at] gmail.com). Thank you!

If you would like to sign up for Bible Camp, please click and print the form below.  No electronic submissions will be accepted, but you can mail a printed version in the parish center, as per the directions on the sheet.