Local NFP

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 were so unsettled by 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 teaching a 3-class NFP series starting in October in Arlington. Only a few spots are left! Email Meredith.Phelps [at] gmail.com for details.

Boston Sock Exchange this Weekend

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."  -Mother Teresa-

This Saturday, August 10th 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 TOMORROW NIGHT, August 9th 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 Jennifer Hermanski at jennifer.hermanski [at] gmail.com.  Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Boston Sock Exchange is currently in need of lots of SOCKS, baseball caps, tote bags, medium weight shirts,umbrellas, and ponchos.  Thank you!

Catholic Reading Wednesday

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

In this week's article, Tim O'Malley reflects on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6). Seen in the context of Jesus' life and mission, the Transfiguration emerges as a model for Christian discipleship. On Mount Tabor, Jesus is united to God the Father in complete self-giving love. We as Christians are called to imitate Him and allow ourselves to be transformed by God's love.. Christ's mystical unity with the Father is what empowers His mission and enables Him to endure the Passion of the Cross. We, too, as members of Christ's transfigured Body, are urged to unite with God in prayerful love and to become transparent vessels for that love - a love which manifests itself in the "glorious hiddenness" of our everyday lives and empowers us to make the difficult sacrifices that true love entails. The Transfiguration, then, reveals not just Christ's true identity, but also our own: we are "adopted children of the living God," and we must accept both the glory and the responsibility of such an enormous vocation.

You can find Tim O'Malley's article here.

Baptism Briefing 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 Briefings prior to having your child baptized.

Baptism briefings happen 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.

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 - Saint Agnes Playgroup (am), Baptism Briefing & Fatima Apostolate (pm)
• Friday - Prep for Boston Sock Exchange (pm)
• Saturday - Boston Sock Exchange (am)

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Now that the weather seems to have turned a bit warmer, 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, August 6th, we will meet at Spy Pond Playground (40 Pond Ln., Arlington). This park has a gravel path and is also near the bike path, if you are inclined to ride to the park. Bring a picnic lunch and join us - we start at 10:30 am. We hope to see you there!

**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, our usual rain location will be at Fidelity House, 25 Medford St., Arlington. Thanks!**

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This Saturday, August 10th 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 is held in the parish center on Friday night, August 9th 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 Jennifer Hermanski at jennifer.hermanski [at] gmail.com.  The Boston Sock Exchange is currently in need of lots of SOCKS, baseball caps, tote bags, medium weight shirts,umbrellas, and ponchos.  Thank you!

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."
-Mother Teresa-

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Teachers for Religious Education Needed
Our parish religious education program will start again in September. Teachers for Grades 1,3,4,5 and 6 are needed. Do you feel called to teach our faith and a love for the Lord? Please consider this opportunity to deepen your own understanding of the Catholic faith and to share it with others. Training supplies and materials provided. Consider co-teaching with a spouse, relative or a friend.

We are also seeking monitors for special events. This would involve about five Sundays throughout the year from 9:45 until 10:05 am. Kindly call 781-646-5579 for more information about these opportunities for service in our community.

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FIDELITY HOUSE can save you from the summer blues!!

Did you know that Saint Agnes Parish supports operations at Fidelity House? We have this great resource at our own church! When you feel you are counting down the days until school starts, remember that there are many great programs for kids at Fidelity House this summer. For more information, visit www.FidelityHouse.org

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Making Music Praying Twice
Many thanks to Dot Bowe for giving our group shelter from the heat this past week at the Making Music, Praying Twice classes at St. Joe's in Belmont.  We hope everyone had a lot of fun singing together!  If you are interested in taking these classes weekly in the fall, please visit www.stjoseph.belmont.ma.us/faithformation/mmpt.htm, or email dbowe [at] stjoseph.belmont.ma.us