Weekly Digest

Welcome, EVERYONE!
This slow, summer, restful week at the parish:

Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
Thursday - Saint Dymphna Society (6:30 pm)
Saturday - Confessions (3 pm)
Sunday - Coffee and Donuts (after 9 am Mass)

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

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.  You are welcome to join us! 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, August 25th, we will take our last opportunity to go on a summer field trip with the kids!  We will meet at historical Walden Pond (915 Walden St., Concord). We can go swimming, enjoy a picnic, or take a short hike.  Please note that parking requires a DCR pass or is $8 per car.  Please bring your own sunscreen, towels, lunch or snack 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!**

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

Small Groups

In the coming year, the Outreach committee will endeavor to create, organize, and structure small faith-sharing groups at Saint Agnes. The concept is for each group of 7-10 people to be self-contained and self-directing, while maintaining connectivity to leadership of the parish. Those who are interested will be able to join a group at periodic intervals, for example, at the Parish Ministry fair upcoming in October.

If you are interested in leading such a group, please create a concept for your group: you can pick your own topic, meeting time and location, and whether your group will be men, women, or co-ed. Let's start the discussion! Please email Marianne Hudelson (SaintAgnesFamilies@gmail.com) with your ideas if you are able to lead. Many thanks!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
FALL 2015 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!

Respect Life: EXTRA Meeting, August 24th

Saint Agnes Parishioners for Life has schedule an EXTRA MEETING on
Monday, August 24th at 7:00 pm in the Parish Center.
The purpose of the meeting is to plan for the collecting of signatures in the fall on the petition to stop the public funding of abortion in Massachusetts.
The signature campaign will be from September 16-November 18, 2015.
An informational flyer is below (click to print).
Come share your gifts to save lives!

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

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.

Respect Life: Prayer at PP, Natural Family Planning

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

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.

Natural Family Planning is a way to celebrate God's design for married love and to cooperate with Him in the creation of our families. In Pope Francis' recently released encyclical, Laudato Si, he states, "Learning to accept our body, care for it and respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine ecology" (LS 155).

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for several safe, natural and effective methods that can be used for both achieving and avoiding pregnancy. It is true family planning. NFP is not the "Rhythm" or Calendar Method. NFP methods teach couples how to observe and interpret the woman's signs of fertility and infertility and take into account the unique nature of a woman's menstrual cycle. NFP is a holistic approach to family planning. It is not contraceptive for it does nothing to suppress or block conception. Instead, couples adjust their behavior according to their family planning intent using the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of a woman's cycle. In the Archdiocese, couples have access to instruction in all methods of NFP. In addition, specialized services are available for couples living with reproductive disorders and for both the post-partum and peri-menopausal times of transition.

• Click here to obtain a NFP brochure and more information about Archdiocesan services and programs.
  
• Click here to see listings of local teachers, schedules, and contact information.

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

Attention Married Couples!  Would you like…

• a natural, hormone-free way to postpone pregnancy?
• to start a family or have another child?
• to improve communication with your spouse?
• to learn more about church teaching on "the Theology of the Body?"
• to understand why the Bishops so vocally fought the HHS mandate?

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an organic, chemical-free method that is just as effective as the Pill at postponing pregnancy and nearly twice as effective as IVF for achieving pregnancy. The divorce rate among couples that practice NFP is less than 2%.

Want to learn more? Josh and Meredith Phelps are Saint Agnes parishioners who are fully trained and teach a 3-class NFP series. If you are interested or have a question about NFP, please email Meredith.Phelps [at] gmail.com for details.

Wrap up Your Summer with Reading

Summer is nearly over!  Would you like to seize your last days of vacation to work on
starting a new devotion, or learning something new in your faith?
Take a "leap of faith" and look in our Parish Lending Library!!

Father Roger Landry writes in this Boston Pilot article about the important of spiritual reading, or some sort of continued learning on the topics of one's faith.

The Parish Lending Library has been made possible by the generous donations of parishioners with wonderful religious books to share.  If you would like to make a donation of books, please email SaintAgnesFamilies [at] gmail.com.

As we prepare for the visit of the Holy Father in September,
may the Lord touch your life, and may your faith grow in knowledge of Him!

LINK TO LENDING LIBRARY CATALOG IS HERE

Weekly Digest

Welcome, EVERYONE!
This slow, summer, restful week at the parish:

Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
Saturday - Prayer at Planned Parenthood (10 am), Confessions (3 pm)
Sunday - Coffee and Donuts (after 9 am Mass)

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

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.  You are welcome to join us! 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, August 18th, we will meet at Artesani Pool and Spray Park (1255 Soldier's Field Rd., Boston). This park has a pool (about 3.5' deep, fun water spray area, a playground, bathrooms, and a the bikepath for walking.  Please bring your own sunscreen, towels, lunch or snack 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!**

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Small Groups

In the coming year, the Outreach committee will endeavor to create, organize, and structure small faith-sharing groups at Saint Agnes. The concept is for each group of 7-10 people to be self-contained and self-directing, while maintaining connectivity to leadership of the parish. Those who are interested will be able to join a group at periodic intervals, for example, at the Parish Ministry fair upcoming in October.

If you are interested in leading such a group, please create a concept for your group: you can pick your own topic, meeting time and location, and whether your group will be men, women, or co-ed. Let's start the discussion! Please email Marianne Hudelson (SaintAgnesFamilies@gmail.com) with your ideas if you are able to lead. Many thanks!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
FALL 2015 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!

Poland - HO!

Would you like to go a Pilgrimage to Poland?

Father Joe D'Onofrio is leading a 7-Day Pilgrimage, October 5-12, 2015. Visit Krakow: Saint Mary (Mariachka) Basilica, Wawel Cathedral, Patron of Poland Saint Stanislaw, Bernadine Monastery complex; Jasna Gora, the largest Marian shrine in Poland, the home of the Black Madonna Icon, the Divine Mercy Shrine, Chapel of Saint Faustina’s tomb; Wieliczka, the oldest salt mine in Europe, Pope Saint John Paul II’s birthplace and the Basilica where he was baptized. The price, $2,805 per person, includes round trip air from Boston to Poland, 6 night hotel accommodations, 6 breakfasts, 6 dinners, private motor coach with driver, an English speaking guide. The itinerary and registration forms are available online at QCC14.org/poland. Contact Peter Jae: 617-471-7192 or Father Joe at Sacred Heart: 617-328-8666.

ALSO, 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!

Weekly Digest

Welcome, EVERYONE!
This week at the parish:

Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
Thursday - Outreach Committee Meeting (6:30 pm)
Saturday - Feast of the Assumption of Mary (not an obligation this year), Confessions (3 pm)
Sunday - Coffee and Donuts (after 9 am Mass), Infant Baptisms (2 pm)

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Please note that playgroup will be cancelled Tuesday, August 11th due to the rain and thunderstorms that are predicted during the morning and early afternoon.  Hope to see you next week!

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.  You are welcome to join us! 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, August 11th, we will meet at Beaverbrook Spray Park (528 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham). This park has a fun water spray area, a playground, bathrooms, and a "field and stream" area for walking.  Please bring your own sunscreen, towels, lunch or snack 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!**

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

Outreach Planning Meeting

Parish Outreach will hold a planning meeting on Thursday night, August 13th at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center. We will lay out new suggestions for the coming year, seek input about these ideas, and ask for help with volunteer leaders. Please come and give your helpful suggestions. Thank you!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
FALL 2015 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!

Respect Life Meeting on Monday, 7:00 pm

Saint Agnes Parishioners for Life will meet on

Monday, August 10th at 7:00 pm in the Parish Center.

The purpose of the meeting is to plan for the collecting of signatures in the fall

on the petition to stop the public funding of abortion in Massachusetts.

Come share your gifts to save lives!

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

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
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.

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

Attention Married Couples!  Would you like…

• a natural, hormone-free way to postpone pregnancy?
• to start a family or have another child?
• to improve communication with your spouse?
• to learn more about church teaching on "the Theology of the Body?"
• to understand why the Bishops so vocally fought the HHS mandate?

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an organic, chemical-free method that is just as effective as the Pill at postponing pregnancy and nearly twice as effective as IVF for achieving pregnancy. The divorce rate among couples that practice NFP is less than 2%.

Want to learn more? Josh and Meredith Phelps are Saint Agnes parishioners who are fully trained and teach a 3-class NFP series. If you are interested or have a question about NFP, please email Meredith.Phelps [at] gmail.com for details.

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

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

Boston Sock Exchange THIS WEEKEND

Come serve the homeless in Boston.
Put your faith in action!

This Saturday, August 8th is the Boston Sock Exchange at 11:00 am! 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 will be held TONIGHT -- Friday night, August 7th at 7:00 pm in the parish center. Help and/or donations is a wonderful way to put our faith in action!  For more information, see the calendar to the right, or email Sheila O'Brien (ObriensMo [at] hotmail.com).  Participants need to be at least 7 years old, and those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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

Vita Nova Catholic Campout

Thanks to everyone who joined us on the parish campout, which was July 10-12 in Greenfield NH. This year, we had nine families join us, including little babies through teenagers! We celebrated four birthdays at our Saturday night community dinner with pinatas and cake! It was a fun time of playing, swimming, fishing, grilling, praying, and building relationships together. Perhaps you can join us next summer - or if you are not a camper - as a "day camper" on Saturday.

If you were not able to join us, why not think about registering for the VitaNova Catholic Family Camping Weekend, also in Greenfield NH. Information can be found on the VitaNova website, http://www.vitanova.org/catholic-family-weekend.

We hope you can enjoy a blessed and happy summertime, wherever you are!

VitaNova Catholic Family Weekend

August 14-16, 2015

Greenfield, NH

Baptism Catechesis TONIGHT!

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 happens once a month, and you can go to one tonight! 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!

Weekly Digest

Welcome, EVERYONE!
This week at the parish:

• Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Fatima Apostolate and Baptism Catechesis (7 pm)
• Thursday - First Friday Confessions (4 pm)
• Friday - First Friday Adoration (all day, Benediction at 5:00, Mass at 5:30), Prep for 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)
• Monday, August 10th - Respect Life Meeting (7 pm)

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

Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK THE BLOG BEFORE YOU LEAVE!

The Saint Agnes Family group meets weekly for Tuesday playgroups outdoors at nearby parks.  You are welcome to join us! 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, August 4th, we will meet at Filiepllo  Playground (255 Grove St., Watertown).  This park is worth the drive: has two playgrounds, a large field, as well as a fun water spray area in the center of the two playgrounds. Please bring your own sunscreen, towels, lunch or snack 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!**

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Outreach Planning Meeting

Parish Outreach will hold a planning meeting on Thursday night, August 13th at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center. We will lay out new suggestions for the coming year, seek input about these ideas, and ask for help with volunteer leaders. Please come and give your helpful suggestions. Thank you!

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

This Friday, August 7th, is the first Friday of the month.  On Thursday, August 6th, 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.

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

Boston Sock Exchange

This Saturday, August 8th 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, August 7th 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 summer clothes.  We also need rain gear: ponchos and umbrellas.  Thank you!

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

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

Would you like to go a Pilgrimage to Poland?

Father Joe D'Onofrio is leading a 7-Day Pilgrimage, October 5-12, 2015. Visit Krakow: Saint Mary (Mariachka) Basilica, Wawel Cathedral, Patron of Poland Saint Stanislaw, Bernadine Monastery complex; Jasna Gora, the largest Marian shrine in Poland, the home of the Black Madonna Icon, the Divine Mercy Shrine, Chapel of Saint Faustina’s tomb; Wieliczka, the oldest salt mine in Europe, Pope Saint John Paul II’s birthplace and the Basilica where he was baptized. The price, $2,805 per person, includes round trip air from Boston to Poland, 6 night hotel accommodations, 6 breakfasts, 6 dinners, private motor coach with driver, an English speaking guide. The itinerary and registration forms are available online at QCC14.org/poland. Contact Peter Jae: 617-471-7192 or Father Joe at Sacred Heart: 617-328-8666.

ALSO, 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!

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

FALL 2015 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!