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Sunday, September 14, 2025
Hello folks,
The Lord be with you all!
This Sunday we celebrate one of those rare feasts that continues to be observed even when it falls on a Sunday (Sundays normally outrank any liturgical memorials, feasts or other solemnities): the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. The original (Constantinian) Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher was consecrated on September 13, 335, and the following day the relic of the True Cross was shown (or “exalted”) for people to venerate it. About 300 years later the feast was commemorated following the recovery of the relic from the Persians. Our Cathedral in Boston is named for the Holy Cross because of the a relic of the True Cross that resides there. In fact, had Saint Patrick not been mysteriously named the patron saint of our diocese, today’s feast probably would be the patronal feast of the diocese instead.
It is wonderful to have people back in the church in Townsend this weekend, and just in time for the Collaborative Brunch, which follows this weekend's 9am Mass in Townsend. If people read this at the earlier Masses and would like to attend the brunch but don’t yet have a ticket, you can still come. The (free) tickets served as a guideline for how much food to prepare, but we have a little flexibility due to some people who had tickets probably being unable to come, and preparing a little extra food. There will also be activities for young kids outside (weather cooperating). As regards the work in the Church, I will go into more detail on that next week, and simply invite you to notice and admire the work this weekend.
We are also continuing to do work at the others campuses. At Saint Joseph’s, Mead Tree Service did some work for us to remove a several dead and dying trees, as well as prune the great Linden Tree and Spruce in front of the rectory before winter sets in (see photo below).
We marked the anniversary of 9/11 during this past week. We continue to pray for those who died that day and in the subsequent wars and violence, as well as for healing for all wounded physically and in other ways. Particularly, let’s continue to pray for the conversion of minds and hearts away from the tendencies of our fallen nature and towards God’s Will, away from stirring hatred and violence directed at the innocent, and towards peace, justice and the “Civilization of Love” (promoted so much by Pope Saint John Paul II and subsequent popes), away from sin and towards sanctity.
God bless,
Father Maher
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