Weekly Digest

Welcome, EVERYONE!

Here's the lineup for the week at the Parish:

• Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Baptism Catechesis (7 pm), Fatima Apostolate (7 pm), Choir Practice (7 pm)
• Wednesday - The Light is on for You: Confessions (6:30-8:00 pm)
• Thursday - First Friday Confessions (4 pm)
• Friday - First Friday Adoration (all day, Benediction at 5:00, Mass at 5:30 pm)
• Saturday - 40 Days for Life Prayer (7 am, meet in parking lot at 6:30 am), Confessions (3 pm)
• Sunday - Coffee and Donuts (after 9 am Mass), Adult Choir (10:30 am Mass), Infant Baptisms (2 pm), 40 Days for Life Prayer Hour (2 pm, meet in parking lot at 1:20 pm), Vespers (4 pm @ Saint Camillus)

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Saint Agnes Family Playgroup
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, March 1, we will meet at Parallel Park (174  Medford St.) in Arlington. Let's get out in the beautiful weather together! There is also a basketball court perfect for scooters or bikes.  Put on your jacket, 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 (March 1). 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, March 4th, is the first Friday of the month. On Thursday, February 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.

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40 Days for Life
Saint Agnes will be participating in the 40 Days for Life campaign in Boston, February 10 - March 20th! 40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evils of abortion through the use of prayer and fasting, prayer vigil, and community outreach. 40 Days for Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion in their own neighborhoods, for their own friends and families.

Please join Saint Agnes Parishioners for Life as we participate in 40 Days for Life this fall! Saint Agnes will be leading a rosary hour each  Saturday morning from 7-8 am, and Sunday afternoon from 2:00-3:00 pm at Planned Parenthood in Boston during the campaign. For carpooling, we will meet at 6:30 am or 1:30 pm (respectively) in the public parking lot adjacent to Saint Agnes Church. If you have any questions, please e-mail Eileen Cahill (SAParishforLife [at] gmail.com).

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

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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!