January 5/6 , 2007

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Prayer for Peace
Gracious God, Source and Creator of all life, You desire that all peoples live in peace with one another. We pray fervently for the people of Iraq facing the horror of a full-scale war. Watch over them, and be their refuge during these violent times. We pray fervently for those people who are fighting or may be called upon to fight. Grant them strength and wisdom and protect them in a special way. We pray fervently for a swift conclusion to this war and for lasting peace throughout the world. Help all of us, individuals, nations, governments and world leaders to remember the unnecessary loss of life for millions of innocent people. Keep us faithful to our commitment to live in peace, to work for peace, to BE your peace every day in every way. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Who came to bring us fullness of life and peace. Amen.

Our Christmas Program
Because of snow storms, last month’s Sunday Christmas pageant and concert has been postponed until THIS Sunday, Jan 6, at 2pm. Please join us for the festivities on Epiphany Sunday!

Food Pantry: demand is High, Food Supplies are Low
We are in need of hearty soups, stew, jarred spaghetti sauce, mac&cheese, an canned veggies/fruit..
The pantry is open each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2-3:30. Thanks for your continued generosity in helping us feed the homeless.

Jr.High Youth Group
Will meet in the 3rd floor library immediately following this Sunday’s 10am liturgy.

Jesse Tree
Due to the snow storm this past weekend, our Jesse Tree has been revised. The remaining ornaments will be available in a basket in the Hecker Alcove if you would still like to purchase a gift for the SS. Francis & Therese Worker House in Worcester, the community co-founded by this year’s Hecker Award recipients Claire and Scott Schaeffer-Duffy. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Hecker Award Winner for 2008 is Jon Fuller, SJ!
Fr. Jon Fuller, SJ, a member of the California Province of the Society of Jesus, is an attending physician at the Center for Infectious Diseases as well as an Associate Professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. Since 1983, Dr. Fuller has provided health care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Fuller will receive the 2008 Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice on Jan. 26 at the 6pm Mass for his lifelong devotion and dedication to the service of a marginalized population through his work with HIV/AIDS treatment and research.

fiveparkst@aol.com
Sadly we said our farewells to Patrick this week. If you need to reach Rae, please contact her at 617-948-2427 or by email at fiveparkst@aol.com. Please note, the email pjlet@aol.com will be discontinued and all bulletin and pulpit announcements or contact with Rae should come to the fiveparkst@aol.com address. We will miss you Patrick!!

Introduction to Pastoral Care
Have you ever encountered someone in need and wished you had listened better or empathized with him or her more fully? Have you ever been presented with a crisis and wished you could have responded more pastorally? Michael Bousquet, Harvard Divinity intern at the Paulist Center, is offering instruction on an Introduction to Pastoral Care. The three-session coursewill be offered in January and is an idealway for you to become familiar with the art of pastoral care. Contact himformore information at mbousquet@hds.harvard.edu.

Connecting at the Center
In an effort to improve connections and foster inclusion, the PastoralCouncil is encouraging folks to wear a name tag during the CommunityCoffee in theAuditoriumafter the 10amandNoonmass. Stop at the table in theAuditoriumand put on a name tag sowe can learn to call each other by name.

First Communion for May 2008 Meeting
The first gathering will be Sat., Jan. 12, from 12:30-3:30pm. To register, please fill out a registration form in the Family Religious Education brochure found in chapel vestibule or contact Susan Rutkowski at SusanRutkow@aol.comor 617-948-2426.

Book Discussion Group to Meet Next on January 14th, 7pm
The book to be discussed will be The Emperor’sChildren byClaireMessud,which is available as aVintage paperback.

Attention Parents!
The CenterDirector, Paul Huesing,C.S.P., is developing materials that parents can use with their children (aged four through teen years) to develop Catholic identity. Fr. Paul is looking for feedback from parents to help him improve the content. If you sign-up for this free service youwill receive 12 newsletters (one per month for the next year). You will be asked to answer a monthly questionnaire about your use of the materials. You can opt out at any time. To sign-up, send an email to Fr. Paul at raisingcatholics@paulist.org. Be sure to include your name and email addresswhen contacting him.

Please warmly welcome these new members to our Paulist Center family!
Carla Cucinatti and Richard Griffin and their children, Maximillian Griffin and Lila Griffin in Boston Tara Hunsucker in Somerville Mary P. Schichtel in Braintree Dom and daughter, Katherine Capossela in Somerville Laura Cartlidge and Brad Larson in Everett Antonio Arrendel in Cambridge and welcome back, Daniel W. Kelley in Dorchester! fiveparkst@aol.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS

New Pathways Volunteers Needed!
New Pathways Emergency Shelter is looking for volunteers willing to provide short-termshelter (1-15) days in their homes for teens in crisis. New Pathways serves youth throughout Boston, ages 12-17,who have either run away fromhome or who are homeless. If you are interested in finding outmore about the programand possibly serving as a host home, contactMelissaGlynn- Hyman or SarahHoxie at 617-277-8107.

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Community Gift
Any community member interested in nominating an organization to be the recipient of one of our Community Gifts (5% of weekend collections), please send a note to Patrick Letourneau, our Administrative Assistant, with the name and address of the organization, its purpose, and the reason you would like to have them receive one of our gifts. If there is a particular time of year that would be especially appropriate for the awarding of the gift, please also include that information in the request. Contact Patrick at 617.498.2427 or email at pjlet@aol.com.

Credit Card Giving!
Our bank, Wainwright Bank & Trust, has made it possible to contribute to the Paulist Center with your credit card. Use this link to connect to the Paulist Center www.communityroom.net, and follow the prompts for donating. Please indicate in the memo field provided the intent of your donation (weekend, Easter, campaign, etc.), and be sure you get all the way to the receipt screen. If you do not get to this screen, your donation has not been processed and we will not receive your intended contribution. Thank you!

Set-Up Your Own On-Line Giving!
Vanco Services, who has handled our recurring credit card and bank account giving for several years, has made available to us the ability for you to set up your own on-line giving without having to route your form through the Center. Please go to www.paulist.org/boston & click on “Give to the Paulist Center.” You may also, of course, still fill out a paper form and send it to Patty Simpson if you prefer. Please call Patty at 617-948-2428 or email her at pattypcc@aol.com with any questions. Automatic recurring donations to the Center are a huge help to us in our ministry. Thank you for your generosity to the Paulist Center.

E-Service Direct Deposit
The forms to arrange to have direct deposit contributions to the Center are available in the racks, and  here on this website.

Matching Gifts
In the past few years, due to some changes in the wording of the law, many companies have been able to include churches in their matching gift programs as long as they are qualified 501(c)3 organizations, which the Paulist Center is. If your company offers a matching gift program, please check to see if you can have your donations to the Center matched. If you have any questions, please call Patty Simpson at 617-948-2428. We appreciate all donations. Thanks!

Mass Cards
Please stop by the reception area during the week or call Vusie at 617-742-4460 if you would like to arrange to purchase a mass card in memory of someone who has died, in honor of a special occasion,, or for the special intentions of yourself or a loved one.