PLAYGROUP CANCELLED

The weather has looked questionable all morning, but the forecast has remained at little or no rain before 1:00.  Regardless of what the Weather Channel says, it is currently RAINING OUTSIDE right now.

Therefore, playgroup will be unfortunately be CANCELLED this week.  We hope you can join us next week for fun in the autumn sun, and don't forget to add our parish's wonderful upcoming fall programs to your calendars!  This week kicks of Men's Bible Study on Thursday at 8:00 pm.

Weekly Digest

Welcome everyone!
This week at the parish:

• Monday - Family Liturgy Committee & Sodality of Our Lady (7 pm)
• Tuesday - Family Playgroup (10:30 am), Choir Practice & Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
• Wednesday - Bereavement Meeting (7 pm), Arlington Catholic Women's Club (7:15 pm)
• Thursday - Men's Bible Study (8:00 pm)
• Saturday - Confessions (3 pm)
• Sunday - CCD Classes Begin!  Join us while your children attend CCD at our Parish Coffee Hour (after 9 am Mass), Adult Choir (10:30 am Mass), Infant Baptisms (2 pm)

Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK BEFORE YOU LEAVE!

Once a week, we hold 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, September 16th, we will meet at Rindge Avenue Playground (26 Rindge Ave., Arlington).  This park has play structures and swings, as well as LOTS of open space overlooking the Arlington Res to kick a soccer ball or fly a kite.  We will play in the beautiful fall sunshine and enjoy each other's company.  Bring your OWN picnic lunch.  Come join us; we hope to see you there!

**NOTE THAT our outdoor 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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Help teach in our parish CCD program
This Fall over 350 young people, Grades 1-8, will sign up to learn more about Jesus and the Catholic faith. You can help them learn and grow by teaching in our Religious Education Program. Classes are offered Sunday Mornings, 10:00-11:15 am. You don’t have to have children enrolled in the program to teach. As you nurture the faith of our young, you will learn and grow as well. We provide training, materials and support.  Classes begin September 21. For more information, contact Joyce Patriacca: 781-646-5579.

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The Family Liturgy Committee Needs New Members!  The Family Liturgy Committee helps to plan the Family 9:00 am Mass each Sunday.  Our first planning meeting will be THIS Monday, September 15th at 7:00 pm in the Parish Center.

Commitment involves about four meetings during the School year and one week a month at the 9:00 am Family Mass. Please prayerfully consider joining this most important Ministry involving children's participation in our Family Mass. Contact Tricia Sheehan:pksheehan [at] gmail.com for information.

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Sing in the CHILDREN'S Choir at Saint Agnes
If you have children interested in our Children's Choir, now is the time!  The Children's Choir will begin singing at the 9:00 am Family Mass on October 5th.  If you are in 1st Grade or above and love to sing, come and join us!  Rehearsal is at 8:15 before the scheduled Mass.  Other dates are indicated on the parish calendar, here.

You can always find a complete Mass and Rehearsal Schedule at www.agnesmusic.net

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Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
You are invited to be trained as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at Mass. It is a wonderful way to serve our Parish. The training, a 90-minute discussion and training by Father Flatley, will take place on Wednesday, September 24th in the upper Church at 7:00 pm. You will be able to ask questions and request which Masses you would like to serve. It is a set monthly schedule, revised yearly. For example, you could choose the 2nd Sunday of each month at the 9:00 AM Mass. You may request as many weeks of the month as you would like. There are no commitments for Easter and Christmas, or the months of July and August. Your service is a gift to our Parish. Please call Ginny Lawrence to confirm your attendance and with questions: 781-648-4766 or gdcooking [at] aol.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.

Boston Sock Exchange THIS WEEKEND!

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

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

This Saturday, September 13th 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, September 12th 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 (Jennifer.Hermanski [at] gmail.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, t-shirts, long sleeved-shirts, and light fall jackets.  We also need rain gear: ponchos and umbrellas.  Thank you!

Mom's Night In & Catholic Reading Wednesday

Here's a friendly reminder that Mom's-Night-In is on THURSDAY, September 11th

We will get together for a stress-free evening, enjoy feminine fellowship, maybe play a game or two, and pray for PEACE.
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.

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With many thanks to our wonderful and insightful curator, Karen Celano, you can explore faith-related news topics each Wednesday! Karen writes this week in Catholic news:

• In The Week, Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry debunks the idea that Christianity will change its ideas on same-sex marriage. The usual argument is that Christianity's teachings have changed on many biblical proscriptions (such as the laws concerning the stoning of witches or the eating of pork) - so why is the teaching on homosexuality any different? But sexuality, Gobry maintains, belongs in a different category of moral teaching, and the ethics governing it have remained “surprisingly consistent” over the last 2,000 years – to such an extent that the Christian understanding of sexuality is fundamentally connected to Christian identity.
• The American Conservative reports on the decision of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City to allow gay groups to march in the 2015 parade, and on the decision of Cardinal Timothy Dolan to retain his position as grand marshal for the parade. He raised the ire of some when he said of the decision to let gay groups march: “I have no trouble with the decision at all. I think the decision is a wise one.”
• The National Catholic Register reports that the cause for the canonization of Fulton J. Sheen has been suspended indefinitely, to the chagrin of Sheen’s most ardent devotees.

• Reuters News Service reports that the ruling Socialist Party of Venezuela has changed the words of the Lord’s Prayer into an “ode to its beloved late leader Hugo Chavez.” The change has been condemned as idolatrous by Venezuelan leaders.
• The Atlantic reports that The Boston Globe is launching a new website specifically devoted to coverage of the Catholic Church.
• Richard Dawkins caused a firestorm last week when he suggested in a Tweet to a pregnant woman that it would be immoral not to abort a baby if the mother knew it had Down’s Syndrome. Many people with Down’s Syndrome and their parents condemned his remarks, but Dawkins dismissed their criticisms by calling their viewpoint “an emotional one, not a logical one.”
• For the historically and theologically inclined, this piece from the York Aquinas Reading Group in the U.K. provides a nice explanation of Thomas Aquinas’ method in his writing of the Summa Theologica. Of particular interest is the observation that the medieval scholastics displayed a high level of “intellectual honesty” in that they were “obliged to justify [their arguments] in the light of the strongest possible objections.” In other words, they were required to make the best possible case against their own position, and then argue against it – forcing them to treat their intellectual opponents with a great deal of respect. Perhaps in today’s contentious political and cultural climate we could learn from their example!

Fall Lineup - Bible Studies, Father Barron, and More!

Come join us this fall, as we renew our parish's Outreach offerings!

See the fliers below, the calendar to the right, and invite a friend!

You can also sign up for email updates to this informational blog in a gadget BELOW the calendar.  Hope to see you there!

PRINTABLE SEPTEMBER CALENDAR IS HERE.

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Making Music Praying Twice at Belmont Collaborative (St. Luke/St. Joseph), Belmont, MA

Fall Classes: Fridays at 10:30 am
The fall session of 12 classes runs from September 19-December 19th, and covers the liturgical seasons of Ordinary Time (Fall) and Advent/Christmas. Included in the tuition are all classes and equipment plus family materials and songbooks.

Registration for is ongoing and available online at https://sites.google.com/a/ssjl.org/st-joseph-and-st-luke-parishes/children-s-programs/children-s-choir-at-saint-joseph or by calling the parish office at 617-484-0279.  No payment is necessary until the first class. Classes appropriate for children birth – age 5 with a caregiver. All classes will be held at St. Joseph Parish, 130 Common Street, Belmont, MA.