As August unfolds, we find ourselves in a season of transition - summer's pace begins to shift, and signs of a new routine slowly return.  This prayer invites us to pause amid the change, reflect on God's presence in the everyday, and recommit ourselves to being faithful stewards of the time, people, and responsibilities entrusted to us,

A Stewardship Prayer for August

-International Catholic Stewardship Council

Lord God,
As we prepare for the transitions of August; of routines becoming regular, signs of schools beginning to emerge, and traffic patterns getting heavier, help us to appreciate the sacred rhythms in our lives.

Give us the wisdom to make our hearts be still, much as the August wind is still, so that we may listen to the gentle words you speak to us.

Help us understand that you alone are the source of every good gift, of the vast array of our universe, and the mystery of each human life.

And help us see that we are called to be good stewards of all that you have entrusted to us; tending them faithfully and responsibly so they may ultimately be returned to you with increase.

In this month of August while a measure of summer’s stillness remains, speak to our hearts, guide us in your Son’s ways, and through your Spirit, give us the strength to
proclaim your justice and peace in our everyday words and deeds.

We ask this through Christ,
Our Lord.

Amen

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faith-filled family activities

Explore the Life of St. Carlo Acutis: Two Family-Friendly Experiences

Watch Roadmap to Reality together.
This documentary follows teens on a pilgrimage to Carlo Acutis’ tomb, highlighting his love for the Eucharist and call to unplug and live a sacramental life..

While his formal canonization, originally scheduled for April 27, 2025, was postponed following the death of Pope Francis, Vatican officials have since announced a new date: September 7, 2025.

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BUILDING TRADITIONS
Mom's Joy

- Marti Page, Pastoral Associate

“Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all, the Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ~~Phil 4:4-7         
 
This lovely Scriptural passage, filled as it is with joy, kindness, peace and gentleness, came to my mind as I began to think about sharing a few things with you about the lessons I learned from my mother.  

To meet my mother, Helena Hall Jenks Rafferty, was to meet a joyful spirit.  This seemed to be true especially as she aged into a glowing 97.  Indeed, her default was JOY, regardless of the situation.  She remarked often how “joy” was her favorite word.  How she arrived at this very peaceful and content worldview took, I’m sure, a lifetime of learning about and trusting in God.  But she seemed to come by this naturally, regardless of, or perhaps because of several difficult life situations. As a matter of fact, her path was frequently challenging.Mom had 5 siblings, one of whom was her twin.  Their life was one of material scarcity. To what degree, I’m not certain mostly because she was not a complainer.  I just remember her describing trying to make a can of pea soup stretch to feed her siblings (and they forgot to add the water!).  She lost her twin sister at the age of three, and the day before her 10th birthday, her mother died.  She received a wrapped birthday gift the next day with a tag, “With love, From Mother”. What a heartbreak.  My grandfather was at a complete loss as to how to handle five children, so simply went back to work on the railroad, leaving them to fend for themselves much of the time.  He had a very difficult time extending love and attention; that was left to my aunt, the oldest child.  When mom was 13 the Great Depression hit.  Does this sound like the seeds of joy?

I know that the family was devoted church goers.  Whether this was out of devotion or puritanical obligation, she never said.  She didn’t really have to because however she experienced it, it set her on a life-long walk with God.  Hers was a faith that never failed her.  She trusted God in all things—life and death.  And in that trust she found her joy.  Perhaps the word “trust” can be understood as her source of gratitude, and without gratitude, I believe, there can never be true joy.  

Joy, as mom experienced it and as I have come to understand and appreciate her view of it, was much more than cheeriness or happiness, denial of struggle or freedom from pain.  Joy came from a wellspring of faith so deep that it could not be shaken. Her joy was a deep contentment with what is, and a knowledge that she was loved by her God who was always directing her life.  At one point she described to me her vision of her relationship with God.  The conversation went something like this: “God has always told me what I needed to do.  He has always been on my path, and my path is getting wider.”  When I asked her what she meant by that she explained, “When I share my joy, love, faith, values etc. with you, and you share them with others, and they in turn, share them with others…my path gets wider.” Now that is about the best theology I can think of!

This world view was not something she preached at us.  She simply lived it—intentionally.   She proclaimed it with her deeds and devotion to her family, friends and church.  She thrived on it. It was just who she was. And all of this was so very evident to any casual observer, but probably especially to her kids. Given her rough beginning (and living 17 years as a widow), I would call that grace.  

If I learned anything from my mother’s life it would be the simple yet profound lesson of… look around at the abundance of gifts in your life.  Be grateful and let that gratitude radiate as JOY into the world.  Thanks, Mom.  I’m giving it my best shot. And I’m not sure, but I think my path is getting wider.

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SPOTLIGHT ON THE MASS

Explaining the Entrance Procession to Children

At the beginning of every Mass, we begin with the entrance procession by singing the entrance hymn, and Fr. Mike, Fr. Zack, altar servers, and the lector walk from the back of the church to the sanctuary. It’s not just about getting to the front of the church; it’s a way of calling everyone to attention and showing that we are beginning something important... worshiping God together!

An Altar server begins the procession carrying the cross. The cross reminds us that Christ is the one we follow. Two more Altar Servers follow and carry the candles, which represent the light of Christ, His presence that brings hope and light to our world.  

The Deacon or Lector follows the candles carrying the Book of the Gospels high to emphasize the importance of God’s Word.

Fr. Mike and Fr. Zack are last and when they reach the altar, they bow and kiss it. Why? Because the altar is a holy table, and this shows love and respect for what will happen there — the celebration of the Eucharist!

So the next time you are at Mass, remember, you are not just watching something, you are being invited to walk with Jesus and begin this time of prayer together.

This short video explains the meaning of this feast in a way kids can understand: that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life, showing us the hope we have in Jesus and the glory He promises to those who love Him.

On August 15th, the Church joyfully celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. This beautiful feast honors the belief that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken, body and soul, into heaven.

This short video explains the meaning of this feast in a way kids can understand: that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life, showing us the hope we have in Jesus and the glory He promises to those who love Him.

At the beginning of the month we welcomed Fr. Zachary Sullivan to St. Mary's Parish as our new Associate Pastor.  Fr. Zack was ordained a priest by Bishop Robert McManus on June 7th.  Fr. Zack has been a member of St. John's Parish in his native town of Clinton.  After graduating from Clinton High School, Fr. Zack attended Assumption University in Worcester.  He spent two years in Washington, D.C. studying Philosophy at the Catholic University of America while living at Theological College.  After a year at the North American College in Rome and two years teaching high school, Fr. Zack completed his theological studies and priestly formation at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, MA. 

Fast forward to the end of the month, and Fr. Zack is now settled in at St. Mary's and our parish community,  St. Mary's is excited and grateful to have him!

Let us all keep Fr. Zack in our prayers as he begins his priestly ministry with us.

Towards the end of July, we had a very special opportunity to welcome the Chœur d’Enfants d’Ile-de-France choir to our parish. Their visit included a concert in our church, where they presented a wonderful program of sacred music, featuring both traditional and contemporary selections. It was a beautiful evening of music, followed by a great welcome reception.

The students enjoyed time with their host families by swimming, barbecuing, enjoying campfires, and playing laser tag, to name a few things!   On Tuesday of that week, the choir faced a challenging moment after their performance in Cambridge when several children began to feel ill and required treatment at local hospitals. Although the incident delayed their return to Shrewsbury, we are grateful that all the children returned safe and healthy. Our host families were great, even amidst the uncertainty of return times, with some even picking up their students in the early morning hours.

Before departing for Bangor, Maine, the children gathered one last time on the steps to perform for us. They were joined by a news crew from WCVB Channel 5 this time, who came to cover their story from the previous night.

THANK YOU to the Malo, Strinati, Kassa, Sulminski, Bunsick, Perreault, Harasim, Nelson, Gulino/Trumbull Lyons, Onwuka, Choiniere, Garone/Gooley, Ahearn, Van Atten, and Keegan families for opening your homes and providing meals, transportation, and warm hospitality. From the smiles and shared stories, it was clear this was a wonderful experience for both the children and their hosts.  

We are also grateful to all the parishioners who baked cookies for the reception, as well as to Mary and Donald Aicardi for coordinating and serving pizza before the concert and for setting up and hosting the welcome reception afterward.

Your kindness and hospitality truly reflect the spirit of our parish community. We look forward to welcoming the choir back in the future!

The students who participated in the weeklong mission trip to Drexel Hill, Philadelphia gathered for a cookout with their chaperones, Deacon John and Michelle Teuscher. They had a wonderful time and are already exploring options for next year's mission trip!

At the end of July, a group of our high school students attended the Steubenville Youth Conference, an experience they will not soon forget. This annual conference brings together thousands of teens from across the country, igniting their faith through a weekend filled with dynamic speakers, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, and a joyful sense of community.
Thank you to our parish community for your prayers and support! Please continue to keep our young people in your prayers that this experience continues to deepen their prayer life and relationship with Jesus long after they return home.  

At the end of July, we said goodbye to Deacon John Sullivan.  We are grateful for Deacon John's presence, involvement and ministry in our parish this summer.  He has certainly been kept busy and has been a joyful and active part of our parish ministries and community. Please join us in thanking him and praying for his continued journey to the priesthood!

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FORMED SERIES OF THE MONTH

Drawing Closer to God

About this series  Season 4 of Marcam is coming soon to Formed! The release dates are:
Episodes 1–4: July 24
Episodes 5–8: August 7
Episodes 9–11: August 21
Marcam is a live action, educational and entertaining kids show for children ages 2 - 6. Through exploring, dancing, and music, the ever curious and cheerful host Marcam will help children better understand and become more familiar with the richness and depth of living a life of faith by going on fun and educational learning adventures!

Marcam provides entertaining and engaging programming that helps parents incorporate faith more into their children's daily lives and makes screen time beneficial and educational, not wasteful. Want to watch more Marcam episodes? Be sure to check out Seasons 1, 2, and 3 as well!

Marcam is created and produced by Seven Fourteen Media LLC under the direction of husband and wife duo Emily Wilson Hussem & Daniel Hussem.

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FAMILY MEAL

Grilled Chili Honey Lime Chicken and Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Salsa
This grilled honey chicken and sweet potatoes is a mix of sweet and spicy. It’s super quick, easy, and SO DELICIOUS. The perfect recipe for warm days when turning on the oven is just not something you want to do.  

Recipe & summary from Half Baked Harvest