Saint Cecilia Parish

Please join us at 9:30 a.m. ET for Mass for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 7/21/2024 Follow along with the Worship Aid: https://www.stceciliaboston.org/wp-content/uploads/4338_Cecilia_Bos_7_21_2024.pdfIf you're having trouble with Flowcode cl...

🌟 A huge thank you to the 25 or so parishioners who joined us for a fantastic evening at Shakespeare on the Common and our Parish Picnic/Potluck on Thursday! 🌟

It was a joy to gather together, share delicious food, and enjoy The Winter's Tale beneath a beautiful summer sunset. Your presence made the night truly special.

Happy Friday! Enjoy this week's Wordle: https://mywordle.strivemath.com/?word=ovvha

You know the drill:
✅ If you got it, let us know how many tries it took you! We'd love to hear what you think about our Wordle in the comments below.

🙊 No Spoilers! Please refrain from sharing the answer in the comments so everyone can join in on the fun.

❌ For those who are unsuccessful and curious, shoot us a message on Facebook Messenger and we'd be happy to reveal the answer to you.

🚴‍♂️ Shout-out to our beloved pastor, Fr. John Unni, who is riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge! 🚴‍♂️

The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It's the country's largest single athletic fundraising event, having raised millions of dollars since its inception. The funds raised are critical in advancing cancer research, providing patient care, and improving treatment outcomes.

Let's cheer him on and support this incredible cause! If you'd like to donate to Fr. John's ride, visit his fundraising page: https://profile.pmc.org/JU0019

Go, Fr. John! We're all rooting for you! 🙌

Please join us at 9:30 a.m. ET for Mass for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 7/14/2024 Follow along with the Worship Aid: https://www.stceciliaboston.org/wp-content/uploads/4338_Cecilia_Bos_7_14_2024.pdfIf you're having trouble with Flowcode cl...

: Don't miss our parish picnic/potluck at Shakespeare on the Common!

For years, our parishioners have gathered for a parish picnic/potluck before Shakespeare on the Common. This year, we invite you to join us for The Winter's Tale on Wednesday, July 17 on the Boston Common near the Parkman Bandstand!

We'll reserve space and have a potluck picnic beforehand—a great opportunity to connect with other parishioners! 🧺 The picnic starts at 6:30 p.m. and the play begins at 8:00 p.m.

For more information, please email Jenny Jones ([email protected]). Jenny will be in the back of the church following the 9:30 and 11:30 liturgies this Sunday and will have a sign-up sheet and more information.

The play is free, though donations to the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company are much appreciated. See you there! 🎭✨

⚡ Quick Facts:
📅 Date & Time: Wednesday, July 17, 6:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Boston Common near the Parkman Bandstand
🧺 Picnic: Starts at 6:30 p.m.
🎭 Play: The Winter's Tale begins at 8:00 p.m.
📧 More Info: Email Jenny Jones ([email protected])
📝 Sign-Up: Jenny will be in the back of the church after the 9:30 & 11:30 liturgies this Sunday with a sign-up sheet for food!

Enjoy this week's Wordle: https://mywordle.strivemath.com/?word=bzffv

You know the drill:
✅ If you got it, let us know how many tries it took you! We'd love to hear what you think about our Wordle in the comments below.

🙊 No Spoilers! Please refrain from sharing the answer in the comments so everyone can join in on the fun.

❌ For those who are unsuccessful and curious, shoot us a message on Facebook Messenger and we'd be happy to reveal the answer to you.

This past weekend at St. C's! 💛

Please join us at 9:30 a.m. ET for Mass for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 7/7/2024 Follow along with the Worship Aid: https://www.stceciliaboston.org/wp-content/uploads/4338_Cecilia_Bos_7_7_2024.pdfIf you're having trouble with Flowcode cli...

Welcome to the end of the week, folks! Let us know how you do with this week's Saint Cecilia Wordle: https://mywordle.strivemath.com/?word=dclvp

You know the drill:
✅ If you got it, let us know how many tries it took you! We'd love to hear what you think about our Wordle in the comments below.

🙊 No Spoilers! Please refrain from sharing the answer in the comments so everyone can join in on the fun.

❌ For those who are unsuccessful and curious, shoot us a message on Facebook Messenger and we'd be happy to reveal the answer to you.

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Today as we embrace the joys of summer, we remember the birth of our nation, and the gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We offer our thanks to God who has blessed us with the freedoms and prosperity we enjoy in our diverse nation. And we pray that the United States will always be a nation that defends and promotes liberty and freedom, truth and justice. May our country always be a beacon of safe harbor to all those who live under the shadow of terror and hopelessness.

Today, let’s pray for open hearts and minds to understand and appreciate our fellow citizens' diverse perspectives and experiences, as we strive to build a future that reflects the ideals of our founding documents.

Wishing you a blessed and meaningful Fourth of July! 💙

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle—the so-called "Doubting Thomas." For those of us who sometimes struggle with doubt or have been known to ask God for "a sign," Thomas is a relatable saint—a saint whose doubts can be reassuring.

American novelist and nonfiction writer Anne Lamott famously said, "the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness, and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns."

NCR contributor Pat Marrin says, "We commemorate Thomas the Apostle because he helps us understand that our faith is a living relationship with Jesus and not a problem to be solved. The Christian life is not a program to be mastered, but an endless mystery that will guide us through this life into an eternity of discovery and joy."

So don't be troubled by your doubts. Doubt means one is engaged and cares about the important questions. Indifference about our faith in God is far more troubling than doubt.

Last Saturday we had a fantastic group of St C's parishioners lend their time at Catholic Charities' Dorchester food pantry. It was so heartwarming to see folks of all ages come together to make a difference! 💛

📸: Photo Credit: Beth Chambers

This past weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting the Most Rev. Raymond Wickramasinghe, bishop of the mission Diocese of Galle in Sri Lanka. Bishop Wickramasinghe shared insights about the mission work of the Church in Sri Lanka during all of our liturgies. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Church's missionary efforts and to support this vital work!

Thank you to everyone who welcomed Bishop Wickramasinghe with such warmth!

Please join us at 9:30 a.m. ET for Mass for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 6/30/2024 Follow along with the Worship Aid: https://www.stceciliaboston.org/wp-content/uploads/4338_Cecilia_Bos_6_30_2024.pdfIf you're having trouble with Flowcode cl...

"Let us extol Peter and Paul, those two great luminaries of the Church, for they shine brighter than the sun in the firmament of faith."
–From the hymn for Vespers in the Orthodox Church

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, apostles. A public holiday in Rome, this feast honors the Roman martyrdom of these two early apostles. In a sermon from AD 395, St. Augustine of Hippo said,

“Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so, we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.”

Please enjoy this week's Wordle: https://mywordle.strivemath.com/?word=wfzvp

You know the drill:
✅ If you got it, let us know how many tries it took you! We'd love to hear what you think about our Wordle in the comments below.

🙊 No Spoilers! Please refrain from sharing the answer in the comments so everyone can join in on the fun.

❌ For those who are unsuccessful and curious, shoot us a message on Facebook Messenger and we'd be happy to reveal the answer to you.

Earlier this month, our Hunger & Homelessness Ministry gathered to serve ice cream sundaes at Women's Lunch Place, and it was particularly wonderful to work alongside Kitchen Assistant, Titania, who is a graduate of the Community Servings Teaching Kitchen Program!

Posin' with the pastor!

📸 Photo Credit: Katie Balian

Please join us at 9:30 a.m. ET for Mass for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 6/23/2024 Follow along with the Worship Aid: https://www.stceciliaboston.org/wp-content/uploads/4338_Cecilia_Bos_6_23_2024.pdfIf you're having trouble with Flowcode cl...

We're so excited to share that our artist-in-residence, Nancy Marek Cote, has installed several stunning new paintings in our church, including those of Blessed Carlo Acutis and St. Juan Diego. While we have many of her beautiful works already on display, some have been moved and others replaced by these wonderful new additions.

Next time you visit, we invite you to take a moment to appreciate these artworks and learn more about them by scanning the QR codes beside each painting. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Nancy for generously sharing her talent with us.

🔗 For more information about Nancy's works, check out her website: https://www.mareksaints.com/

🖼️ : Close-ups of several of Nancy's new works

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Father Daniel J. Mahoney, Boston Fire Chief Chaplain Emeritus. Father Mahoney served the Boston Fire Department for nearly 60 years, providing spiritual guidance, leadership, and extraordinary love for our local firefighters. On behalf of Father John and the entire Saint Cecilia Parish community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Father Mahoney's family. His legacy of service and compassion will always be remembered. 💛

📸 Photo Credit: Boston Fire Department
Pictured: Father Mahoney (middle) | L-R: Father Currie, Father Unni, Cardinal O’Malley, Rabbi Korff, Rev Thompson. Boston Spiritual leaders with Cardinal O’Malley at the 50th Anniversary of the Hotel Vendome Fire on June 17, 2022

👋 Happy Friday! Last week was a bit tricky, so this week, we hope you have an easier time with our less-than-traditional Wordle 😉 : https://mywordle.strivemath.com/?word=somhd

You know the drill:
✅ If you got it, let us know how many tries it took you! We'd love to hear what you think about our Wordle in the comments below.

🙊 No Spoilers! Please refrain from sharing the answer in the comments so everyone can join in on the fun.

❌ For those who are unsuccessful and curious, shoot us a message on Facebook Messenger and we'd be happy to reveal the answer to you.

🌞 Happy summer everyone! As of ten minutes ago, summer has officially begun here in Boston, so let's keep all our community members in our thoughts and prayers as we look forward to a happy and safe summer season!

Today we celebrate Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On this day in 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that all enslaved people were free—a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. On this day, we pause to reflect on the ways that racism continues to oppress, and we pray for change, both big and small.

As Catholic Christians, we are reminded of our call to love and serve all of God's children. Celebrating Juneteenth is a way to honor the legacy of those who fought for freedom and to commit ourselves to the work of justice and equality.

Here are three ways to celebrate Juneteenth:
1️⃣ Educate and Advocate: Learn about the history of Juneteenth and the ongoing issues of racial injustice. Use your voice and vote to advocate for policies that promote equality and justice.
2️⃣ Support Community Initiatives: Donate to or volunteer with organizations that work towards racial justice in your area. Supporting these groups helps to continue the work toward true freedom and equality for all.
3️⃣ Celebrate with Cultural Activities: Participate in a Juneteenth celebration in your area and learn more about traditional foods, music, and stories that honor Black culture and history.

As a gentle reminder, our parish offices will be closed today in observance of Juneteenth.

The start of summer at St. C's, including some new works by artist-in-residence Nancy Cote!

Today is Father’s Day—a good time to give thanks to God for our dads, living and deceased. We remember all fathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, and all those men who have been like fathers to us. May St. Joseph pray for all of them. Happy Father’s Day to all who are celebrating!

🖼️ : San José y el niño por Claudia Talavera

Please join us at 9:30 a.m. ET for Mass for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - 6/16/2024 Follow along with the Worship Aid: https://www.stceciliaboston.org/wp-content/uploads/4338_Cecilia_Bos_6_16_2024.pdfIf you're having trouble with Flowcode cl...