Respect Life: Prayer at PP, Natural Family Planning

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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.

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.

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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)

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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!**

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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!

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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)

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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!**

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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!

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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!