St. John Paul II Parish

Dear friends,

Here is what I believe you need to know this week.

Following up on the Bishop's Letter: Time to Call the Governor's Office

Last week, we published in the bulletin a letter from Bishop McManus calling us to take action to protect the lives of the unborn by contacting our state senators about a budget bill which has embedded in it changes which would further erode the few protections which still exist for the unborn. Unfortunately, the senate passed the bill about a week and a half ago, and the next stop is the Governor's desk. Fortunately, Governor Baker is against the bill as it is. Still, it will help him veto the bill if he hears that many people support him in this. Sometimes I believe we don't reach out because when we hear the beep (you do not get a person), we are not sure what to say. To help with this, here is some text you can use as a guide when you make your call:

"I am calling to urge the Governor to veto the budget bill the Senate passed recently which includes stripping all protections for unborn babies from abortion even in late term pregnancies and which would allow women as young as 16 to obtain an abortion without even consulting a parent or guardian. I would like to know where the Governor stands on this bill. I have heard that the Governor opposes the bill as it is. In this case, I want him to know that I, his constituent, give him my wholehearted support in this matter." His office can also contact me at the following number or e-mail address: ...."

You can call the Governor's office at 617.725.4005.

Next, I write about two very different things which happen to have an ironic connection.

Advent Adult Faith Formation Opportunity Begins

Last weekend, we distributed CDs and booklets we purchased from a group called Ignite Your Parish: The Vigil Project as an opportunity for us to better prepare during Advent for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. The material includes music, reflections and pointers to other material online such as video presentations. Originally, the parish ordered only 125 packets of material, but through a combination of a shipping error and the generosity of a parishioner, we ended up with twice that amount. Therefore, we are going to distribute the packets again this weekend to anybody who wants them.

Where to access online the material on the CDs and in the booklets is on the cover of the CDs. If anyone would like help in accessing the online material, you can contact Dr. John Howland, a member of our Adult Faith Formation Committee. You can send him an e-mail at howland@charter.net or call him at 774.230.6114.

I will be leading a faith-sharing group for the next five Mondays at 6:00 pm through Zoom. The discussion will be based on the Mass readings of each Sunday during Advent and the Sunday after Christmas, along with the reflection questions provided by the Ignite Your Parish materials. It should be a stimulating and enriching opportunity. For the link to these Zoom meetings, please e-mail me a request at krcardinale@gmail.com.

Confessions Move Inside

The guidelines from the Diocese exhorted parishes to continue "drive-by" confessions outside for as long as possible. Well, when I was sitting in St. Mary parking lot a couple of Saturdays ago, I thought, as my teeth were chattering, "THIS is as long as possible!" So, starting right away, we are moving confessions inside St. Mary church each Saturday at 3:00pm. We will do

this very safely. Fr. Wilmar or I will be in the church -- a big, open space -- in a large pew near the tabernacle. This will allow the priest and the penitent to socially distance; both will of course wear face coverings. People who are waiting can sit in the back on the other side of the church, socially distanced, of course.

New Restroom in Notre Dame?

You may wonder what is happening inside the door of the church at the Marcy Street entrance. It is an effort to find out if it is possible to put the much discussed, long-awaited and much needed new restroom in the church and, if so, how much will it cost. As you can see, the wall has been cut where the door would be. This space and the space beyond, where (get ready for the connection to the previous topic) the confessional is now is where the restroom would be. We would transfer a door from the sacristy to be the door of the restroom, so it would look elegant, and the room would be soundproof. The appearance of the confessional in the church will not change and will be sealed off. We have two other confessionals on the other side of the church which we can use when (pray God) the COVID-19 Virus is no longer a threat.

We need the restroom badly. The only restroom in the church now is in the sacristy. It is not handicapped accessible; one must walk up steps and a long way into a restroom which is so small that even Superman wouldn't have room to change. In this time of the pandemic, when we are trying to have as few people in the sacristy as possible for health reasons, it is important that we have this new restroom. We are trying to accomplish this as affordably as we can, getting materials and labor either donated or at a very low price. Still, a project such as this will probably cost around $20,000.00, and the parish really doesn't have the money. However, I have found that when there is a great need which is explained clearly, people are very generous in donating the money. If you would like to donate, please contact me and let us discuss it. If you would like a look at this space and discuss details about the project, please contact our Clerk of the Works, Ben Tully at 508.320.6953.

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Lord, we beg you for an end to the COVID-19 Virus, but there are other "viruses" for which we need a cure.

Help us find a cure for the virus of racism and violence in our streets, for the virus which gives some less of a right to life than others. Help us see that every person -- no matter what race or stage of development -- is your creation with a right to strive for a full, happy and holy life from before the first heartbeat in the womb to the last, when you call us home naturally. Help us live in love, peace and justice and work toward your Kingdom, when no viruses will exist.

Help us see in all the dignity of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, in whose name we ask all things, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Notre Dame Church - 446 Main Street, Southbridge, MA
St. Mary Church - 247 Hamilton Street, Southbridge, MA

Welcome!
If you are new to our parish, please introduce yourself after Mass to a member of our staff, so we may better serve you. 
¡Bienvenido! Si usted es nuevo en nuestra parroquia, preséntese después de la misa a un miembro de nuestro personal, para que podamos servirle mejor.

Morning Prayer

Evening Prayer

Rev. Kenneth Cardinale Pastor/Párroco ext. 103 krcardinale@gmail.com
Rev. Wilmar Ramos Associate Pastor/Vicario ext. 104 ramosq01@gmail.com

Sor Rosa Maria Campos, RODA Asistente Pastoral ext.107 SrRosaMaria.stjp2@gmail.com
Mrs. Madeleine Brouillard Business Manager 508-765-3701 ext. 105
MaddieB.stjp2@gmail.com
Deacon Juan Guzman juangzmasr53@gmail.com
Mrs. Bev Loconto Parish Secretary 508-765-3701 ext. 110
BevL.stjp2@gmail.com
Mrs. Margaret Farrand Rental Coordinator 774-318-8083 MargeF911@aol.com