To ensure the parish continues to serve the needs of parishioners, a parishioner-led team is   developing a three-year plan.  The plan will guide us on how to best use the resources and energy of the parish.  While Our Lady of Sorrows is spiritually and fiscally strong, it is important to     understand what matters to you. Help shape our parish plan.

Lay participation has always been critical to OLOS’s identity. It is even more important today. Tell us what is working. Tell us what you care about. If you are in any way a part of our community, even if you’re not a registered parishioner, we need to hear from you. We encourage everyone from high school and up to participate, one survey per person. Surveys need to be submitted by October 21st.  Click the link to begin : SURVEY 

As part of the process of developing the plan we will be holding focus groups to explore themes that emerge through this survey. If  you would like to participate in a focus group, please reach out to anyone on the Pastoral Plan Writing Team or leave your name at the rectory. You also have the option of providing your name and contact information at the end of the survey

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PARISH SURVEY
We thank all of you who have responded to the parish survey. This Sunday, October 21 is the last day to respond. Having put the turmoil of the past behind us, we need your input for the future. I think you will agree that if there was ever a time when the input of the laity was critical for what kind of church we hand on to succeeding generations, it is now. Please do your part. See the online address on the next page of the bulletin or take a hard copy available in the church.
PERMANENT DIACONATE
On Saturday, October 20, the Archdiocese will mark the 50^th anniversary of the restoration of the Permanent Diaconate throughout the universal Church. Our Deacon, Mike Iwanowicz was in the first class to be ordained here in Boston by Cardinal Medeiros on May 30, 1976. Since then Mike has offered faithful service here at OLOS. We congratulate Deacon Mike and thank him for his service. Please offer him your good wishes when you see him this    weekend.
LAETITIA BLAINE
On Sunday at Mass at eleven, we will bid farewell to Tish Blaine. She has moved to the Worcester area to be closer to family. For years Tish has enriched OLOS with her musical expertise and leadership, her glorious voice and her personality that has lit up our lives. We will miss her greatly and we wish her continued blessings. Please join us at eleven and for a   reception in O’Connell Hall after Mass.
POPE FRANCIS ON “HOLINESS”
In his recent letter “Rejoice and Exsult,” Pope Francis seemed to anticipate the recent        canonization and the temptation of all of us to think that that ideal is out of reach. In a      paragraph entitled THE SAINTS “NEXT DOOR” he writes: “Nor need we think only of those already beatified and canonized. The Holy Spirit bestows holiness among God’s holy and faithful people… I like to contemplate the holiness present in the patience of God’s     people: in those parents who raise their children with immense love, in those men and women who work hard to support their families, in the sick, in elderly religious who never lose their smile. In their daily perseverance I see the holiness of the church… Very often it is a holiness found in our next-door neighbors, those who living in our midst, reflect God’s presence. We might call them “the middle class of holiness.”
 
Quoting the Second Vatican Council, Francis goes on: “Strengthened by so many and such great means of salvation, all the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord-each in his or her own way-to that perfect holiness by which the Father himself is perfect.
 
“Each in his or her own way” the Council says. We should not grow discouraged before      examples of holiness that appear unattainable….The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them. We are all called to be witnesses, but there are many actual ways of bearing witness.” 
Hopeful words from our Holy Father Francis
 
~ Fr. Frank

Registration for our PreK-Grade 5, Middle School and Confirmation programs is now open.  Click here to register electonically, or print a paper registration form to mail in to the parish office.  Faith Formation orientations and classes will begin at the end of September.  Visit the PreK-Grade 5, Middle School, and Confirmation pages of the parish website for complete calendars.  

Join us for an Adult Faith Formation Coffee Hour presentation on Sunday, October 14th from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in O’Connell Hall.

Parishioners Richard Martin and Ann Marie Rosa will guide us in looking back on OLOS’s history (many old photographs of the church and her people will be included!) and looking forward to our future.  Where have we been? Where would we like to go? How can our past values guide our vision going forward?

Come to learn more about your parish and to contribute your voice to the conversation!

The OLOS Book Group will resume meeting on Sunday, October 14th from 2-3:00 p.m. in the Bullock Center.  All are welcome.  We will be discussing My Life with the Saints, by James Martin, S.J..  Please come ready to discuss the book.  If you have any questions, be in touch with Teresa Coda or Monica LaFond.

About the book: My Life with the Saints is James Martin’s story of how his life has been shaped by some surprising friends—the saints of the Catholic Church. In his modern classic memoir, Martin introduces us to saints throughout history—from St. Peter to Dorothy Day, St. Francis of Assisi to Mother Teresa—and chronicles his lifelong friendships with them. Filled with fascinating tales, Martin’s funny, vibrant, and stirring book invites readers to discover how saints guide us throughout our earthly journeys and how they help each of us find holiness in our own lives.

If your child has made their First Communion and is interested in serving in this special ministry please come to the Altar Server Training on Saturday, November  3rd at 3-4 PM in the Church. Please RSVP by October 27th. If you have any questions please contact Lynn Jacobs  or by phone: 781-784-2265 OR Monica LaFond  or by phone: 617-909-9258. 

Thank you to everyone who has donated to support the Salmeron Family, refugees from El Salvador who are here waiting for their asylum case to move forward.  They found housing in Norwood; between donations from the OLOS community and others involved in Sharon Interfaith Action we have worked together to furnish their apartment! We continue to seek monetary donations to help support the family.  Thank you to those who have already contributed. To date we have raised $610 and $625 in gift cards.  Contributions may be made out to OLOS with Salmeron Family on the memo line and dropped in the basket or sent to the Parish Office. 

On August 19, instead of preaching on the daily readings at Mass, Fr. Daly read excerpts of Cardinal Sean’s statement regarding the most recent exposure of clergy abuse through the PA Grand Jury report released on Tuesday, August 14 and spoke about it in the context of OLOS.  Following the Mass, parishioners gathered to share in fruitful discussion about the statement, the trifecta of abuse current scandals in the church (McCarrick, St. John’s Seminary, PA Grand Jury Report) and the appropriate response of the laity.  Click here for notes from the homily and the conversation.