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The Most Holy Trinity Mass ~ June 7,2020
View The Most Holy Trinity Mass with Fr. Clooney by clicking the link below:
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Fr. Clooney's Weekly Homily
Good day everyone. Fr Daly generously asked me to celebrate the Eucharist for this Sunday the video link is above. But it seems good, for a little longer, also to post a written version of the homily (written down only after giving it at Mass.)
This again was a hard one. It was for me a matter of thinking about our epidemics of virus and injustice, about today’s first reading (Exodus 34) without totally coopting Israel’s experience for a Christian purpose, and about taking seriously our central faith in the Trinity – all at once!
Have a good weekend, and keep safe,
~ Fr. Frank -
TO OPEN OR NOT TO OPEN
That is the question. Over the past ten days or so, I have consulted individual parishioners, the Parish Council, an ad hoc group on the subject and I have participated in a webinar with priests who have already opened.
There seems to be a consensus here that given the seriousness of the pandemic, the continuation of the dispensation, the special caution for those over 65 or otherwise vulnerable, the positive response to the parish Mass on video and the limitations given the size and ventilation of our Church building that a rush to open right away would not be wise.
More than one medical professional speaks with near certainty that there will be a second wave and that worship gatherings can be a factor in that dreadful possibility. It behooves us to proceed with caution.
Accordingly, we do not have a specific date to resume public celebration of Mass. However, we will continue to plan and explore so that we can gather as soon as it is safe and prudent to do so. We have received some good input especially on the possibility for outdoor celebration, given the better weather and our experience with Mass at the Lake. We encourage you to call or email to share your thoughts.
The challenge, of course, is to balance health and well-being which is under serious threat and the centrality of the Eucharist to our Catholic identity and spiritual life. Our weekly Eucharist is the intense celebration of our relationship with God that we nourish in so many other ways. What some have called “Eucharistic Hunger” can serve to promote the deepening of that relationship in prayer and good works as we anticipate celebrating together.
Every year we host a missionary priest for an appeal. Inevitably, we hear of conditions in places in the world where our brothers and sisters in the faith can celebrate the liturgy sometimes only annually. They persist in the faith. Today we have not only an example in them but a solidarity of spirit that speaks to the universality, the Catholicism of the “people of God.”
God bless us all and endow us with courage and durable faith as we make the prayer of the psalmist our own:“O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
Full of love to all who call.
Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer
And attend to the sound of my voice.”
(Psalm 86: 5-6)
~ Fr. Frank -
Pastor's Desk
This time like we have never experienced before is teaching and will teach many things about us and our way of life when we look back and reflect after it has passed. One of those things is how profoundly the Second Vatican Council captured the message of St Peter ( 1 Peter 2: 9a) when he called the church the “people of God”:
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own…”In common parlance, the church is the building or the institution or before Vatican II and even today, for many, the priests, religious and the bishops were the church. But Vatican II captured a truth more ancient even than Peter, prefigured in the earliest pages of the bible. God’s special relationship of love and covenant with Israel was never rescinded but lives as Peter proclaims in a new way. We are the people of God. We are the followers of an itinerant Jewish preacher, Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God and Son of Man, raised from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father. But he has not abandoned his people.
St. John's Gospel promises:
“And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
So that where I am you also may be.”In the meantime, especially in these days, as I go into our church, I am reminded on many levels of the "people of God", you and our ancestors in the faith. The church building is of course the temple of God’s presence among us in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The religious objects, the windows, even the furniture all stand in testimony to the presence of our faith in Sharon dating back to the late 19th century. The walls give silent but no less true witness to all those who first came to the faith here in baptism, who made a life commitment to each other reminiscent of God’s covenant with his people in marriage and who went to their final resting place directly from the middle aisle. In no small measure, our faith stands on the shoulders of their faith and commitment.
But the deepest, most persistent reminder and one tinged with sadness in its absence is the joy of our gatherings here to celebrate the Eucharist: the event that makes us most the “people of God,” the event that gives meaning to our lives and our coming together, the very presence of Christ in our bodies and souls, and frankly, the event that makes me more than any other pastor and priest among you.
We long for the day when we can gather again. In the meantime, may we share the love of God with each other, may we find courage in the mercy and promise of his son and as we say in latin; “oremus pro invicem” “let us pray for one another” and may God bless us all.
~ Fr. FrankMergers
Some of you may have seen communications from the Archdiocese talking about merging parishes. Given recent experience here at OLOS, I know that any kind of combination is a sensitive subject. The Archdiocese has assured us that such requests will come from the pastors and not be imposed. At the same time it would be naïve to think that they don’t have some idea what parishes are candidates. I want to assure you that I have no reason to believe that OLOS is on the list, in fact quite the opposite. While we do run small deficits, that’s not a sign of financial instability. I’m confident that with your help, going forward we can continue to be the vibrant parish and presence here in Sharon that we have been for well over 100 years.
Fr. Daly's "Sharon Helps" Interview
Click Here to view Fr. Frank's interview with Sharon TV.
Bullock Memorial Garden
We are so grateful to Steve Breed for his original design of this beautiful garden in memory of our late pastor, Bob Bullock. Steve has spent countless hours recently upgrading the garden. His diligence and commitment are remarkable and a gift to all of us at OLOS. If you are getting tired of your regular outside walk route, come by the garden. You will find it a relaxing place in these times with room for social distancing for a reasonable number if others are there. It is a beautiful venue in which to contemplate the presence of God in the beauty of nature.Thanks again Steve and God bless you.
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Finance NotesThanks For Your GenerosityAs I’m sure you can surmise, parish revenues are down and some expenses are also. However there are unchanged expenses like staff, utilities and building maintenance. Due to the support of the Finance Committee, we have received an
SBA Payroll Protection Loan. It is still unclear whether this is a loan or a grant. In any case, it offers some help but covers only four pay periods, a relatively short period of time given how long this may last.
In the meantime, staff is working, exploring and implementing new ways to communicate the message and to reach out to you all. So many of you have responded to our appeals and of course, we thank you for your generosity especially in a time when there is economic pressure. What is most helpful is establishing a fixed time to make your contribution, weekly, monthly etc. Consult the parish website for help in giving electronically. Whatever you can do to help is greatly appreciated. God Bless.
90-Days NOW – For Your ParishThe Archdiocese has created a special initiative to assist parishes in funding during this crisis. If it is possible for you to rally around OLOS by making a special daily offertory commitment for the next 90 days, we would be very grateful. This effort is intended to supplement regular weekly offertory gifts. Should you choose to join this effort, the Archdiocese has created an easy-to-use link.
The link is available by clicking HERE
I appreciate the severe economic impact this pandemic has on your family budget. We appreciate whatever you can do. Even more we appreciate your support for our parish.
~ Fr. Frank -
Social OutreachToiletry Collection for Personal Care KitsThe Christian Services Commission (CSC) is planning to assemble Personal Care Kits for families in transition moving in and out of temporary and safe housing. A Personal Care Kit includes sample or trial-size toiletries like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
If you have any you can spare, CSC would be grateful to have them. We will be collecting donations June 1-15 in bins in the alcove of the church or you can contact Kate Mason at masonctm50@verizon.net or 781-784-6163. If you would like to donate to help purchase supplies please send a check payable to OLOS with"Toiletry Collection" on the memo line to the parish office. Thank you!
~The Christian Service Commission
Remember Food Bank DonationsWe are still accepting donations at the back of the church for the Stoughton Food Bank. If you have any questions please contact the Parish Office. Thank you for remembering those in need. -
OLOS Staff Busy Programming & Communicating Virtually
- OLOS staff has been meeting every 7 to 10 days to talk about how we can support the parish and ideas for virtual events.
- Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Finance Commission, Christian Service Commission and the Book Group are meeting monthly.
- Bible Study Group, Middle School Youth and Youth Commission are meeting weekly.
Be assured that the Staff and Parish Leadership are working hard to provide support for our OLOS family. We will communicate with you about necessary information when we get the green light to open. If you have any questions or concerns or need help please contact the parish office either by phone (781-784-2265) or email (parish@olossharon.org).
~ Fr. Frank, Staff and Parish Leadership
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WelcomeThank you for visiting Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Sharon, MA. We hope you will explore the various features of the website and get to know what Our Lady of Sorrows is all about. We have approximately 1,000 families who are members. At the center of all we do is Sunday worship, a joyful event with a warm atmosphere. We are committed to grow in our faith and to the Lord through serving the needs of others. If you are new to the parish, please register here. We are happy to welcome you and hope for your active participation.In accordance to Cardinal Sean and Governor Baker's wishes the Parish Office will be closed during the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions.
Please call or email:
Phone: 781-784-2265
Email: parish@olossharon.org -
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Links
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Today's Readings
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Reading 1 2 TM 4:1-8Responsorial Psalm PS 71:8-9, 14-15AB, 16-17, 22
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