YOU are our Parish! How can you help?

Are you looking for ways to become more involved in our parish this spring?  There is truly a place for each and every talent in our community.  Below is listed several very specific volunteer needs, however the list doesn't stop there.  If you would like to help at our parish, if you have a passion or a talent you would like to share, but aren't sure how - JUST ASK!  We will point you in the right direction to put these wonderful God-given gifts to work.

In the meantime, if you can help with any of the needs below, please email the Outreach Coordinator, Marianne.Hudelson [at] gmail.com.  Thank you very much!

SPRING 2014 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

1. Pasta Supper, Vocations, and Adoration - April 11 at 6 pm

*Volunteers Needed for Set Up, Serving Jobs, and Clean Up

2. Children’s Way of the Cross

A new parent volunteer is needed to help take over the Children’s Way of the Cross. Tricia Sheehan, the current coordinator, will be happy to walk you through the process. Please call her at 781-648-7709.

3. Easter Egg Hunt - April 20th at 10 am

*Volunteers for setup beforehand greatly needed

4. Mass of Anointing - April 26th at 12 noon

*Volunteers are needed as drivers, nurses, greeters, hosts/hostesses and people to make/donate sandwiches and desserts. Please call the Parish Center, 781-648-0220, and leave your name and number and how you can help.

5. Parish VBS - June 24-27, 9:30-12 noon

6. Parish Ice Cream Social - June 27, 6:30 pm

*Volunteers needed for set up, serving, and clean up

Also check out:

• Links at the top right-hand page for: Saint Agnes Parish, Saint Agnes Music Ministry, Fidelity House, Saint Agnes School, and Arlington Catholic High School.
• Ongoing ministries that need help include: Boston Sock Exchange, Driving Parishioners to Mass, and Sunday Coffee Hour
• See our Parish Pamphlet, to help you learn about all of our parish's different ministries.

 

Weekly Digest

Welcome everyone!
This week at the parish:

• Monday - Pro-Life Committee (7 pm), Men's Bible Study (7:30 pm)
• Tuesday - Saint Agnes Playgroup (10:30 am), Saint Agnes School Open House (1 pm), Choir Practice and Fatima Apostolate (7 pm)
• Wednesday - Confession (6:30 pm), Bereavement Meeting (7 pm)
• Thursday - Mom's Night In (7 pm)
• Friday - Parish Pasta Supper and Adoration (6 pm), Prep for the Boston Sock Exchange (7 pm)
• Saturday - Boston Sock Exchange (11 am)
• PALM SUNDAY - 40 Days for Life (1:30 pm depart), Children's Way of the Cross Rehearsal (4 pm), Vespers (4 pm, St. Camillus Church

Saint Agnes Family Playgroup - CHECK BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
Tuesday is supposed to be very rainy (unfortunately), so we will gratefully thank Fidelity House for hosting our playgroup within their building.  We also are grateful to Father Flatley for helping us to get a small curriculum going this year.  Bring your thinking caps and get ready to pay attention to some short activities each week!

Thus, Tuesday playgroup will take place at Fidelity House, right near church: 25 Medford Street, from 10:30 am-12:30 pm.

• Please remember some behavior guidelines: No running out of the playroom, no kids in the toy closet, respect physical limits, use a time-out chair, please discipline your own children promptly, and be considerate of others!
• Fidelity House is being very generous by letting us use this space. Please consider a donation to help with their costs. Minimum suggested donation is $1 per person in attendance.
• Please no food.... drinks in spill proof containers are OK. 

Parking is on the street around Fidelity House. Check the street signs for the rules. Once you walk in the front door, go up the stairs, past the front desk, and to the back of the building. There is a door from the room to an outdoor courtyard, so bring your kids' coats too. We will also teach a brief lesson for the kids.

**Most of the time, 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.  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.  Thanks!**

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Boston Sock Exchange
This Saturday, April 12th 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, April 11th 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 small 8 oz. bottled water, SOCKS, long sleeved-shirts, sweatshirts, and t-shirts.  We also need rain gear: ponchos and umbrellas.  Thank you! 

"Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe of what the poor have

to carry, rather than stand in judgement of how they carry it." Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ

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Children's Way of the Cross

Children of Saint Agnes Parish will present the Children’s Way of the Cross on Good Friday, April 18 at 12 Noon. Rehearsals for the cast will be held on Sunday, April 13 at 4:00 PM 

and Tuesday, April 15 at 6:00 PM. All children in grades 4-8 are invited to participate. Please contact Tricia Sheehan at 781-648-7709.  We are also looking for new parents to take on this yearly devotion!  If you are able to give yourself in service this way, please contact Tricia Sheehan as well.

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Mom's Night In - THURSDAY, April 10th at 7:00 pm

We will get together for a stress-free evening, play some get-to-know-you games (think: Apples to Apples), and pray together. 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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40 Days for Life - Saint Agnes Timeslot is Sundays 2-3 pm
You are invited to join other Christians for 40 days of prayer and fasting, March 5-April 13, for an end to abortion. You are also invited to stand and pray peacefully during this prayer vigil in the public right-of-way outside of Planned Parenthood. The Saint Agnes group will pray each Sunday, 2:00-3:00 PM. We carpool promptly at 1:30 pm from the Community Parking Lot behind Saint Agnes.  Please join us for peaceful prayer at 1055 Commonwealth Avenue.  For more information, please contact Eileen Cahill (EileenTigheCahill [at] gmail.com) or Tom Harvey (THarveyesq [at] aol.com).  For more information on the national campaign, go to www.40daysforlife.com.

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@ProjectRachelBoston.com or 508-651-3100.  All inquiries are confidential.

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Training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious education program that addresses the religious potential of children ages 3-6 (Level 1).  It is in its 11th year at our parish.  Please consider joining us in this beautiful ministry!  Part 1 of a 2-part catechist training course takes place July 7-12, 2014 (part 2 to take place July 2015) in Clinton, MA.  The cost of Part 1 of the course is $200.  For more information, please contact Kateryna Cuddeback at 617-504-3028 or kcuddeb@gmail.com

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FALL 2014 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR OUR WONDERFUL PARISH SCHOOLS!

FIDELITY HOUSE - Preschool and Pre-K

SAINT AGNES GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Pre-K through Grade 8

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!

Men's Bible Study and July Campout Sign Ups!

Arlington Men:  Are you looking for a way to get involved at the parish and grow in your faith?  Look no further, and don't delay!

Saint Agnes bi-weekly Men's Bible Study is held on Monday!

You don't need any background knowledge, just come as you are and enjoy the fellowship of other men who also want to learn something new.  Dates for the bible study throughout the spring are also included on the parish calendar to the right.  So gentlemen: bring your wife some flowers for patiently watching the kids, promise to come home on Mom's-Night-In, and join us!

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Are your relatives calling you?  They want to know what the summer plans are. 

Well before you give away all your dates to in-laws, make sure you mark your calendars!

SECOND ANNUAL SAINT AGNES CAMPOUT

July 18-20, 2014

Greenfield State Park, NH
"Day Campers" invited to join us on Saturday, July 19th*

Details:

1. If you know you are coming (or when you decide you are coming), please use this form, so we can keep track of how many people and WHO we are expecting to meet at the park! Ultimately, I will need everyone to fill out this form, so I have names and numbers in case of any emergency. So go ahead and fill it out ASAP.

The dates for this camping trip are July 18-20. We will plan to camp at Greenfield State Park in Greenfield, NH - about an hour-and-a-half drive from Arlington. This park has come highly recommended as a fun and easy park for family camping. The park features camping (with toilets/showers), hiking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and a camp store.

Make your reservations now! To get more information on the park, see: http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/greenfield-state-park.aspx

Reservations are through Reserve America, and can be found here.  We will try to cluster our group around campsite #44 on the small loop near Beaver Pond.  A map is here.

• There are no cabins. You can bring a tent, rent a tent from REI, borrow a tent from a friend, or drive an RV (if you have one). Cost for a campsite per night is $25 + a small processing fee. This is for two adults and their dependent children. If you plan on bringing a pet, please read the park's pet policy VERY CAREFULLY and be sure to reserve a site which allows pets... since most sites prohibit pets.
• Greenfield State Park Ranger "Harry" was extremely generous to answer my many questions over the phone. He is friendly and helpful, and I can't wait to stay at his park!  Ranger Harry recommends the "Small Loop," sites 26-64 for families with small children, because it is a loop with little traffic and close walking distances.  For the most fun together, try to cluster our reservations around campsite #44.
• This is our second ever Saint Agnes Family Group camping trip. It is meant to build community and friendships that will serve as an organic support network for people in our parish, as well as encourage you to give back to the community in the way you feel called.
  Together, we will take on the great adventure of family camping! While we are really excited about this, we are using the good old KISS rule - Keep it Simple, Stupid. Therefore, we will distribute information about the campground, and a rough schedule of breakfast / activities / dinner / Sunday Masses, etc. However, each family will be primarily responsible for their own specific plans and accommodations. If you don't want to stay both nights - that's cool - come when you can. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your own camping trip, camping gear, CAMPING FOOD, camping survival (hehe). We will not be caravanning or providing transportation. We will meet you there!

I will be happy to answer questions, post camping tips, attempt to anticipate concerns, etc. Feel free to contact me with questions at saintagnesfamilies [at] gmail.com. See you there!

Here are some teasers from last year to get you excited about this summer....

40 Days for Life on Sunday

Join us this Sunday to pray for the sins of our world, conversion of heart, renewed mercy, compassion, and LIFE!

40 Days for Life - Saint Agnes Timeslot is Sundays 2-3 pm
You are invited to join other Christians for 40 days of prayer and fasting, March 5-April 13, for an end to abortion. You are also invited to stand and pray peacefully during this prayer vigil in the public right-of-way outside of Planned Parenthood. The Saint Agnes group will pray each Sunday, 2:00-3:00 PM. We carpool promptly at 1:30 pm from the Community Parking Lot behind Saint Agnes.  Please join us for peaceful prayer at 1055 Commonwealth Avenue.  For more information, please contact Eileen Cahill (EileenTigheCahill [at] gmail.com) or Tom Harvey (THarveyesq [at] aol.com).  For more information on the national campaign, go to www.40daysforlife.com.

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@ProjectRachelBoston.com or 508-651-3100.  All inquiries are confidential.

Parish Pasta Supper Next Friday, April 11

What are you doing at 6:00 pm next Friday night?  Why not join the parish community to come together, share a meal, and learn about vocations?  Afterwards, we can take our thoughts to the Lord in prayer and Adoration.  Take a night off from cooking, bring your family, and join us, even if you have already discerned your vocation!  The Lord may open your heart to something new, or help you prepare for the joy of Easter.

We always welcome (and need!) volunteer help, in order to host this parish supper.

A quick form is located here, and it would substantially help with planning if you could take a brief minute to fill it out.

We hope you can join our parish in these community events of gathering and prayer!