March 22/23, 2008

Readings  | Calendar  |  Stewardship 

Welcome!
Please warmly welcome this new member to our Paulist community! Daniel Hunt from Dorchester Lois Patricia Georgion from Boston Angela and Jeff Smagula from Boston Koren Phillips from Boston Lianne M. Authier from Gloucester Tina McMahon from Boston

New and Updated Paulist Center Website!
We are pleased to announce a new look, new feel and new capabilities for the Paulist Center website. Warm colors, revolving pictures of the community and an up -todate calendar of events are just some of the new features. Most importantly, a new address: www.paulistboston.com. The site was launched this past week and is still being improved (there may be a couple of bugs!), but check it out. Feedback welcome – contact Bob Bowers at robertobowers@yahoo.com

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.

Council Seeks HR Expertise
The Center's Pastoral Council seeks assistance from persons in the community with experience and training in human resource management and personnel administration. To learn more, please send email with brief indication of experience by Mar ch 31 to Dav id O'Co n n o r at d.oconnor@rcn.com .

1st Reconciliation
The sacrament of 1 st Reconciliation will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30 th from 1 -3 pm in the chapel. (Retreat & rehearsal on March 29 th from 1 -3:30 pm.)

Save the Date
On Tuesday, April 8 at 7pm, as part of the Center's 150 Anniversary Celebration, the Paulist Center will sponsor an Ecumenical Prayer Service, giving attention to St. Paul.

Kentucky Derby Auction
Trivia s question: Last week’ Since 1975, where in Massachusetts is the Kentucky Derby trophy created each year? Since 1975 the trophy has been createAdnsbwyeNr:ew“ England Sterling located in North Attleboro, MA. The trophy, which is topped by an 18 -karat gold horse and rider, includes horseshoe shaped handles, is 22 inches tall and weighs 56 ounces, excluding its jade base. The trophy is believed to be the only solid gold trophy that is annually awarded the winner of a major American sporting ( event.” http://www.kentuckyderby.info/kentuckyderby - trophy.php ) Question of the week: Which horse won the Kentucky Derby last year? Check back next week for the answer! See below to help!

The Kentucky Derby comes to Boston!
This year 's Kentucky Derby themed goods and ser- auction will be held on April 26, 2008! We are still looking for donations! Some ideas include: tickets to sporting events, shows or museums, or donation of your vacation home for a week or weekend. Another popular option is to donate a service. If you are an attorney, you could donate a few hours of free legal advice. If you are a good cook, you could make dinner for a small group of people . This year we are also putting together some “ baskets. They will include a collection of smaller items, primarily gift cards, that are nice to have on hand. Some ideas are: Gift cards to popular coffee shops, supermarkets, restaurants, movie theaters, a calling card or a Charlie Card. We also need a crew of volunteers to make the auction possible - everything from preparations, decorations, cooking, to clean -up. If you can help with anything listed above, please look for the blue flyer in the racks in the back of the chapel and mail it or drop it in the collection basket. You may also go to our website and email the information to Rachel Rumely at paulistcenterauction@gmail.com or call her at 317 - 902-4725. Lastly, please plan on attending the auction on April 26, 2008! Look for ticket sales soon!

THANK YOU's!
Thank you to everyone who made the Martin Sheen Hecker Award Weekend so lovely! To all those who contributed to the nomination and ceremony, who created a beautiful liturgy and who put on the festive reception – THANK YOU for your contributions and support! Many thanks to everyone who contributed their time and talent in creating a beautiful and faith - filled celebration of the Holy Triduum: especially to all of our liturgical ministers – lector teams, sacristans, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, cantors, singers and instrumentalists, environment assistants, greeters, presiders and preachers. May you receive countless blessings from the Risen Christ for your continued service to this community! Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Boston Common Garage
Discount Parking Discount tickets usable for evenings (4pm and thereafter) and all day weekends are available from the Center. We are making the ticket available at our cost of $5.50, a fifty percent savings. Tickets are available here at the Center during regular business hours, Monday - Friday, and after Mass on weekends in the front office. (Incidentally, anyone may purchase these tickets at the Garage itself in blocks of 20 tickets.)

Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction is offered weekly here at the Center. This is an opportunity to reflect and grow in our relationship with God, others, & our world. If interested, contact Sr. Kathleen Hagerty at 617 - 746-2046 or kathleen.hagerty@csjboston.org. Donation: $10 -$25 per session.

Host a young adult from Ireland!
A group of young adults from Ireland are coming to Boston this June for 8 weeks and are looking for host families to stay with. (Financial compensation provided.) The 18 -28 year olds will be completing 8 -week internships in the Greater Boston area. Contact Ann -Marie Byrne for more details at amariebyrne@iicenter.org or 617 -542-1900, ext. 16.

The Paulist Center Blood Drive
Sunday, April 6th 2008 9:00am - 2:00pm The Paulist Center 5 Park Street, Boston Sign up for a donation time at: www.bloodpartners.org/paulist

Upcoming Retreat Opportunities
Days of Prayer and weekend retreats that emphasize art and Ignatian prayer exercises will be offered by Bob Gilroy, SJ, a spiritual director for the Jesuit Collaborative. Sat., April 5: The Ignatian Way with Art, Campion Renewal Center , Weston, MA, Register at www.campioncenter.org . Sat., May 17:, Art and Spirituality Retreat, Paulist Center, 9:30am- 3:00pm. $40. Childcare available. Call Susan Rutkowski, Pastoral Minister, to reserve a spot 617 -948-2426.

A Call to Join the Blessed Franz Jagerstatter 2008 Lenten Fast and Prayer Campaign
Community Members are invited to participate in a Prayer and Fast commitment during Lent. This thoughtful endeavor, initiated by “Franz Jagerstatter People to Break the Silence” has as its Lenten goal to purify our own hearts; to ask for forgiveness for participating in the violence of the Iraq war by our silence; to educate Catholics on the nonviolent teachings and life of Jesus; and to encourage the faithful in the United States to fast and pray throughout the Lenten season. The nature and extent of fasting and prayer is to be set by each individual. Signatures will be collected throughout Lent and be sent to the Cardinal on Easter Sunday. Flyers with blank statements can be found in the racks in the back of the chapel.

If You Recently Signed Up On-line
Due to an unanticipated glitch in our on -line membership sign -up, we were not aware that we were not receiving any sign -up information from sometime in late -December or early -January until the end of January. We try to call or email everyone who fills out a membership card to welcome them. If you signed up on -line during this period and have not received a call or an email from a staff member welcoming you, please accept our deepest apologies and assume that we do not know that you signed up as a member. The system is working again and we do want to welcome you to the Center! Please sign -up again! We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.

Journey with Isaac Hecker and Christ ! Let's mark 15,000 footprints of service as a community!
In honor of Isaac Hecker and in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Paulists, we challenge the community to log 15,000 hours (or footsteps) of service work by Paulist Center community members by next January. Please pick up a sheet in the racks in the back of the chapel that highlights different ideas, or organize an event that the community can participate in together. Then fill in the form to let us know what service you performed. Journey with us to become a stronger community in Christ!

Tax Letters
If you wish to have a letter from the Center for weekend and appeal contributions you made by check or credit card for 2007, please call the Center and leave a message with your request for Patty Simpson at (617)948-2428 or email her at pattypcc@aol.com. The IRS requires letters for single donations of $250 or more (i.e. several smaller donations totalling $250 do not require letters), and the letter is for your records only - it is not submitted to the IRS with your tax returns. Anyone who made a donation of stock will automatically receive a letter by Feb. 1.We sincerely thank all who gave to the Center in any way. Your generosity is essential and appreciated.

Connecting at the Center
In an effort to improve connections and foster inclusion, the Pastoral Council is encouraging folks to wear a name tag during the Community Coffee in the Auditorium after the 10am and Noon mass. Stop at the table in the Auditorium and put on a name tag so we can learn to call each other by name.

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.

Senior Tutors and Mentors for BPS Kids
Seeking older adults to serve as tutors and mentors in local elementary and after -school programs with Generations Incorporated . Your experience is valuable - make a difference in a child’s life and yours. All training and materials are provided. Contact PCC member Mary Ondrusek at 617 -778-0554.

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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 rae at 617.498.2427 or email at fiveparkst@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.