Third Sunday of Lent St. Cecilia Church, Leominster MA March 7, 2021

Mrs. Paula Doucet Director of Religious Education

Mr. David M. Lasky

Organist

Baptisms: Please call the rectory in advance to

schedule baptismal instruction.

Marriages: Couple should contact the rectory at

least one year in advance. A marriage preparation program is required.

March 7, 2021 - Third Sunday of Lent

Rectory: 170 Mechanic Street Leominster, Massachusetts Telephone (978) 537-6541

Parish Website: stceciliachurch.net / Like St Cecilia’s Church on Facebook Parish Office Hours are Monday thru Thursday 9 am - 5 pm and Friday 9 am - 4 pm

Rev. José A. Rodríguez Administrator

Rev. Mateus Souza

Associate Pastor

Deacon Ronald J. Aubuchon Deacon Robert S. Connor, Jr.

Celebration of the Eucharist

Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 P.M. Sunday Masses: 7:00, 9:45 and 11:15 A.M.

Weekday Masses During Lent: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

at 6:30 A.M. and 5:30 P.M. Holy Day Masses: As Announced In Bulletin

Confessions

(for safety instead of the confessionals we will use the room adjacent to the bathroom in the back of

the church by the Mechanic St. entrance, please wear face mask):

Wednesdays, 6:00 - 6:30 P.M. Saturdays, 3:00 - 3:30 P.M.

Third Sunday of Lent St. Cecilia Church, Leominster MA March 7, 2021

2

Saturday March 6 Vigil Mass Mass on pg. 85 4:00 p.m. Theresa Doucet (9th anniv.) by her husband & family

Sunday March 7 Third Sunday of Lent Mass on pg. 85 7:00 a.m. Father Robert Bruso (9 months) by a friend 9:45 a.m. Deceased members of the Leon Gallagher family by Rita & family 11:15 a.m. Francis Bissonnette by his sister, Shirley Monday March 8 St. John of God, Religious Mass on pg. 91 No Morning Mass at St. Cecilia’s — Mass at: St. Anna’s 7:30am & St. Leo’s 8:30am Tuesday March 9 St. Frances of Rome, Religious Mass on pg. 92 No Morning Mass at St. Cecilia’s — Mass at: St. Anna’s 7:30am & St. Leo’s 8:30am

Wednesday March 10 Lenten Weekday Mass on pg. 94 6:30 a.m. Roger Pothier & Marcel Guillemette by Paul & Estelle Pothier 5:30 p.m. Angela Marie Watts (22nd anniv.) by Carole & Daniel Watts 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Confessions Thursday March 11 Lenten Weekday Mass on pg. 95 6:30 a.m. Jeanne Richard Harris by Rhonda & Peter Dion 5:30 p.m. Rita F. Morin by last will 6:00 p.m. Lenten Mission “Journeying with St. Joseph” Friday March 12 Lenten Weekday Mass on pg. 97 6:30 a.m. Rita Murray by Jan & Claire 5:30 p.m. David Lamkin by his wife, Susan 6:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross

Saturday March 13 Lenten Weekday Mass on pg. 99 No Morning Mass

3:00 - 3:30 p.m. Confessions Vigil Mass Mass on pg. 101 4:00 p.m. Paul Roy (2nd anniv.) by his wife, Jeannette & Leslie Sunday March 14 Fourth Sunday of Lent Mass on pg. 101 7:00 a.m. Irene Cristofono (19th anniv.) by the family 9:45 a.m. Rosilda Chappel 11:15 a.m. Gladys Pedroza (24th anniv.) by the family

“You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything…” (Exodus 20:4) How many “gods” do you put before God? “Idols” do not always take the shape of physical things, things we can touch and feel. Those are easy to recognize. Many times they take the form of things we cannot touch and are much harder to spot like pride, power, ego, time, comfort or health. Pray for God’s help to prune our vices and to grow in virtue.

Third Sunday of Lent St. Cecilia Church, Leominster MA March 7, 2021

3

A Message From Fr. Mateus

My dear brothers and sisters,

The episode of the Purifica on of the Temple, which features Jesus expelling vendors from his Father's house, appears in the four Gospels. On this 3rd Sunday of Lent, the liturgy uses the version of St. John for the medita on of the faithful. In the Old Testament, Jews needed to go up to the Temple in Jerusalem every

year, during the Passover celebra on, to offer sacrifices for their sins. They came from the four corners of Israel and, therefore, could not bring the animals with them. The priests then began to sell animals in the Temple, so that the Jews could fulfill their religious precepts, according to the Mosaic law. Gradually, how-ever, this prac ce became corrupted and the Temple became a real marketplace. That is why we see Jesus, full of anger and zeal for the house of the Lord, expelling those money changers and then announcing the proximity of the true redemp ve sacrifice.

But, what is a sacrifice a er all?

Today's culture is not used to making sacrifices, nor does it know the meaning and importance of that act. Now, sacrifice is a way of uni ng with God and, in the Old Testament, this ritual could be prac ced according to three symbolic formulas, as a kind of sacramental system.

First, there was the atoning sacrifice, for which some animal was sacrificed in repara on for our sins. It is from this sacrifice that the famous expression “scapegoat” emerges. Second, there was the peaceful sacrifice, which was the offering of part of an animal to the priest and part of it to be burned. The priests ate the por on offered to them as a symbol of union with the vic m. And finally, there was the holocaust, which was a complete sacrifice of worship offering everything.

The purpose of the sacrifice was, ul mately, to purify man's heart from their sins and redeem them before God. But the sacrificial system itself ended up being corrupted and becoming a “marketplace”, as Jesus says at the summit of his indigna on. He takes the whip to teach them a lesson: we must approach God with a pure heart, the real sacrifice is to offer ourselves totally to God. Jesus takes the whip and whips any form of “theology of prosperity”, of commerce in which, instead of serving God, we are the ones who want to use Him. Jesus does not want a trade with our selfishness, He wants our heart.

But Jesus not only whips, He offers himself as a vic m in our place. Since we are unable to offer our-selves in sacrifice, He offers himself: "I have destroyed this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up". And his sacrifice is the synthesis and perfec on of all the sacrifices of the Old Testament: He expiates our sins, taking upon himself all our miseries; He makes a peaceful sacrifice, interceding for us before the Father; He lives the holocaust, giving himself en rely on the cross, to the last drop of his blood, to give us a new life.

This, then, is the grace of Lent. Through the merits of Jesus' sacrifice, we can overcome our heart of stone and, like Him, give ourselves completely to the crosses of our daily life. And, at Holy Mass, we receive the strength of the Eucharist, which is the upda ng of the same sacrifice two thousand years ago, to make progress in faith, hope and charity. In this way, our heart gradually becomes the Eucharis c heart of Jesus.

Have a wonderful week!

Father Mateus

Third Sunday of Lent St. Cecilia Church, Leominster MA March 7, 2021

4

OOur Lady, Health of the Sick, Pray For Us Please pray for those who are ill, especially: Payton Baron, Josephine Beauchemin, Leon Bellio, Marie Cyr, Jason Fennelly, John Gallant, Brian LeBlanc, Alisha Orlow, Donna Sevigny, Bernard Vaillette and Riley Watts. If you know someone who needs prayers, call the rectory or email us at office@stceciliachurch.net and we will add them to our list for a month.

Collections Report:

Last Week’s Stewardship $6,731.87 February Church Maintenance $1,227

Ash Wednesday Priests’ Retirement $1,595 Priests’ Retirement Fund $1,595

Home Missions Appeal $400. Church in Latin America $374

Thank you for your ongoing support! Thank you for the extra donations for

fuel expenses and capital improvements!

Celebrating the Feast Day of

St. Joseph, March 19

There will be Eucharistic Adoration from 7:00 am to 11:00 am in the church

followed by Benediction Mark your calendar - More details next week

This is the time of year when we ask you to support the Annual Partners in Charity

Appeal. It is a way to generate joy in the lives of those served by our many agencies

and ministries in our Diocese. Materials to follow by mail and in church

during the next couple of weeks.

For All Monday thru Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. For Men Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Join Us in Church

to Pray the Rosary

Protect & Heal - Believe in the possibility of help and healing. If you have been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church, call Judith Audette at the Worcester Diocesan Office for Healing and

Prevention at 508-929-4363.

Third Sunday of Lent St. Cecilia Church, Leominster MA March 7, 2021

5

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS:

Sunday, March 14th: Classes continue for children in Grades 1-10 from 9:45-11:00AM in the lower Parish Hall. Are you receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time? There is a meeting Friday March 12th from 7:00-8:00PM in the Church (One parent needs to attend with your child) Homeschoolers: If you missed picking up your packet today they will be available for pick up the Rectory weekdays (Mon- Thur 9-5; Fri. 9-4) and on Sundays from 9:30-11:00AM in the Parish Center. Next packet swap March 21st. Please call the Religious Ed. Office at 978-537-5596 if you are running late or need to pick up your child early. We will continue to lock the doors 15 minutes after classes start.

At this midpoint in the Lenten Food Drive we offer thanks to all who faithfully contribute to its success. Your kind-ness makes a big difference in the lives of many in our community. Next weekend we will be collecting: canned meats, canned tuna, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, instant potatoes, baked beans, and canned vegetables.

Zip it Up, It’s in the Bag! Lenten Loose Coin Drive to Benefit our St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Usually at this time of the year, we are having our Lenten soup suppers which benefit our St. Vincent de Paul who help people in need in our own area thru-out the year. But with current restrictions, we are not able to do so this year. Therefore, we are asking you to save up your change during Lent and place it in a zip lock bag and turn it in at Easter. Every coin counts!

LENTEN GUIDELINES FOR ABSTINENCE

Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics four teen (14) years of age and older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.

The Sympathies of the parish community are extended to the family and friends of

Roger J. Mayer and Gabriel S. DiFrancesco

whose Funeral Masses were held recently.

Please remember them in your prayers.

Third Sunday of Lent St. Cecilia Church, Leominster MA March 7, 2021

6

This Tuesday, March 9 is the Feast Day of St. Frances of Rome

Saint Frances of Rome, help us to see the difference between what we want to do and what God wants us to do. Help us to discern what comes from our will and what comes from God's desire. Amen

ON Air With WQPH 89.3 FM Catholic Radio In Our Communities!

“Let him who has ears Hear” Matthew 13:19

Serving: Shirley, Clinton, Ayer, Leominster,

Fitchburg, Bolton, Harvard, Lancaster, Lunenburg and THE WORLD

By web streaming, internet and your smartphone on the Tune In app for WQPH 89.3 FM

WQPH has Catholic programming from Eternal Word Radio Network (EWTN)

For Advertising call 617-779-3771 Pilot Bulletins Saint Cecilia, Leominster, MA 7008

Catholic Cruises and Tours and The Apostleship of The Sea of the United States of America

Catholic Cruises and Tours to Worldwide Destinations

Call us today at 860-399-1785 or email Janet@CatholicCruisesandTours.comwww.CatholicCruisesandTours.com

Take your

FAITH ON A

JOURNEYCatholic Cruises and Tours

Holy Land Discovery • Fatima, Lourdes and Shrines of Spain • Grand Catholic Italy • Footsteps of Apostle Paul • Shrines of Alpine Europe • Pilgrimage to Lourdes • Scottish Highlands

• Camino, A walking journey for the soul

Mass is included with all of our tours!

l us ttoddday att 888600 339999 11778855

• Camino, A w

8866 isesanddTTours c@@CCatthhhollliicCCrui

ey for the soul

ruior emaiilll JJanet@

walking journe

o

A w

et@@

ey f

Online Bulletin Delivery

Sign Up at www.pilotbulletins.net/sign-upReceive your Parish Bulletin in your inbox every week.

Parish Bulletin To your inbox

Mail

617-779-3770 // www.pilotbulletins.net

For Advertising call 617-779-3771 Pilot Bulletins Saint Cecilia, Leominster, MA 7008

David Pelletier: Parishioner 165 Mechanic Street, Leominster

www.legereins.com

LIFE CARE CENTER OF LEOMINSTER

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility

Contact OurAdmissions Department

PH 978-537-0771FX 978-537-8421

Wright-Roy Funeral Home

109 West Street Leominster

978-534-9372www.wrightroyfuneralhome.com

SMARTER HEATING & COOLING

800-880-9780BrideauEnergy.com

HEATING OIL, PROPANE AND 24 HOUR HEATING SERVICE

TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DUE TO CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS!

SSimard Funeral Home

Serving the Residents of Leominster since 1906.

Kevin J. Mack Funeral Director14 Walker Street Leominster 978-534-8420

PROTECT GOD’SPRECIOUS INFANTS

END ABUSEEND ABORTION

Joe O’Donnell Tax & Pension 978-840-1040

978.368.7539626 MAIN ST. • CLINTON MA 01510

CEMETERY LETTERING MARKERS • MONUMENTS

Regonini Zoll Memorials

Please Patronize ooooouuuuuuuuuurrrrr SSSSSpppppoonnsorsThey make this Bulletin Possible

Rosaries from Flowers “Handmade from the Flowers

of your Loved One”

841 Main Street Tewksbury, MA 01876

(978) 851-9103

Mediation Services of North Central

MA, Inc.

Having trouble with a tenant, landlord, neighbor, family, etc.? We can help.

service CONTACT US today!

978-466-9595 or info@mediationncm.org

“God is Love” 1 John 4:8

When patronizing our Sponsors let them know you saw them in the

Church Bulletin.

Support Local Business

Volunteer With Us!IF YOU ARE COMPASSIONATE,

CARING, LOVING

Auburn: 508-845-2379patricia.larochelle@compassus.com

Veterans! Please consider our Vet-to-Vet

Volunteer Program!

As a hospice volunteer, you can assist with a variety of activities from visiting patients, playing games or providing grief support.

AD SPACE AVAILABLE

617-779-3771

Sell Ads for this Bulletin and more.

ADVERTISING SALESPART TIME. WORK FROM HOME.

Contact us or send your resume to hr@thebostonpilot.com

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT DONOR NEEDED! BLOOD TYPE “O”

POSITIVE

CONTACT: SAVELICIA@GMAIL.COM

DONOR FELL THROUGH!

Pauline and Joseph LeBretonIn Loving Memory

SHOP LOCALLY.HELP KEEP THE LOCAL ECONOMY VIBRANT.