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4 Dracut Road, Hudson, NH 03051 • Tel (603) 882-7793 • Fax (603) 595-1465

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SAINT KATHRYN PARISH

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This is the week when it all begins! With Ash Wednesday taking place this Wednesday, the beginning of the Lec-tio: Prayer series, additional Masses, Stations of the Cross, hours of confessions, and adoration and Vespers, there will be something for everyone in the parish to “plug into” this Lent. There are, undoubtedly, a lot of opportuni-ties for spiritual growth, and we offer them so that we can journey, each in our own way, toward Easter. These are indeed the “Great 40 Days” during which we make our own way through the desert, dying to selfishness and sin, and bringing us to new life at Easter.

Many years ago when I was in the seminary, the pastor of the church where our formation house was located, told us that he “hated” Lent. It really came as quite the surprise to many of us. The formation we received was, in large part, based on the RCIA process of conversion, and so to hear such disdain for the season and all that took place was really jarring. Although he observed Lent as the Church requires, he acknowledged that he didn’t like the fasting, disliked the music (lyrics and tunes), wasn’t thrilled with the mandated abstinence (although he fol-lowed it joyfully every Friday of the year anyway), and found the Lenten disciplines restricting rather than free-ing. He was a monsignor and a former professor at the seminary, so most of us kind of scratched our heads over his aversion to the season.

Shortly after I was ordained, I asked him if he changed his mind about Lent. Red-faced, he replied adamantly, “No!” We talked about the different perspectives each of us brought to the season and admittedly, I had as hard a time understanding his position as much as he had understanding mine. To this day, we disagree on Lent. For me, it’s a time to clean out the closet, to dust under the furniture, to weed out all of the baggage that I’ve accumu-lated through the year. And I don’t mean this literally—I mean that it’s a chance for me to go deeper into my own spiritual life and ditch the complacency that can sometimes creep in, the dusty ways of thinking, the bur-dens that I really thought I needed to carry. Such an outlook for me is positive and freeing. While Monsignor agreed that these were good practices, he really didn’t like having to encounter them.

Now mind you, this is a holy and intelligent man. We just approach the season differently. He would prefer to skip over Lent and “remember” the Triduum and really celebrate Easter. I admit that I bask in the cleansing process. For Easter to be joyful, I have to get rid of the stuff that can clutter up my life, of which sin and selfishness are the principal things. He sees Lent as the time for people to “beat themselves up”; I see it as a time for us to “clean ourselves up.” There’s a big difference between the two.

I’m not sure that either one of us is 100% right or 100% wrong. I think there are many people in the world—maybe even in our parish—who think as Monsignor does. But I know that as I look at this Lent, I have to make peace with some difficult things. This has been a year when I’ve had to let go of certain friendships because they’re not healthy. I’ve had to reclaim some of the principles of ascetical theology, namely entering into holy detachment from some people and some situations. I know that as a part of this purification, I’m going to need to see my spiritual director more often and to really dig deeply into those parts of my life that have been governed by a selfish need to be liked by everyone. I know that some of my fasting will certainly be from food and drink, but also from conversations or judgments that aren’t helpful; my almsgiving taking on more than dollars and cents and instead giving more time to works of charity; my prayer not simply in saying the words, but in truly reflecting on them (as we’ll learn to do in Lectio).

How about you? What will your Lent look like? Will it be a drudgery or will it be joyful? Will it be an opportuni-ty for you—and for us as a parish—to grow in an openness of spirit so that the renewal of our baptismal promis-es this Easter will be full of life and full of joyful commitment to the Risen Lord? Will our spirits be renewed in such a way that we feel deeply united to our catechumens and elect in such a way that we journey with them to the Easter sacraments rather than watching them journey there?

I suppose it all depends on our perspective on Lent. What’s yours?

Until next week...God bless! Father Joe

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Saturday, February 25 Vigil (Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time) 4:00PM—+Evelyn and Jim Kilcoyne, by Karen and Jim Kilcoyne

Sunday, February 26 (Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time) 8:30AM—+Father K, by Chris Haigis 10:30AM—For the People of the Parish 6:30PM—+Samuel Trombley, by the Marriage Celebration Committee

Monday, February 27 (Weekday) 8:30AM—+Father Maurice Lacroix

Tuesday, February 28 (Weekday) 7:00PM—+Intentions of the Hoskins family, by Bill Incera

Wednesday, March 1 (Ash Wednesday) 8:30AM—+All Souls 7:00PM—Melanie Gonzales Birthday Blessings, by the Schofield Family

Thursday, March 2 (Lenten Weekday) 8:30AM—+Memorial Enrollments 7:00PM—Intention of Serafina Gonzales, by the Schofield Family

Friday, March 3 (Lenten Weekday) 8:30AM—+Alphonse and Marie March, by Cecile Adams 7:00PM—+Lucille Hebert and William Souza, by their daughter

Saturday, March 4 (Lenten Weekday) 8:30AM—+Judith Toupin, by Paul and Claudette Roy

Vigil (First Sunday of Lent) 4:00PM—+Janice Turmel, by her family

Sunday, March 5 (First Sunday of Lent) 8:30AM—+Irene McAvoy, by Cecile Desrochers 10:30AM—For the People of the Parish 6:30PM—+Father Maurice Lacroix, by the Parish Staff

FIRST FRIDAY This Friday, March 3rd, is the first

Friday of February. Masses will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Transept Chapel. Nocturnal adoration will continue through the night following the evening Mass. There will not be Stations of the Cross following the evening Mass to accommodate evening adoration. Remember the promises of the Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary!

FEBRUARY 26, 2017

Tuesday, February 28th Crafters/Craft Room (1:00-8:30P) RCIC/RM 3 (4:00P) Cub Scouts/Hall A (6:00-8:00P) Boy Scouts/Hall B (7:00-8:30P) RCIA/RM 1 (7:30P)

Wednesday, March 1st Ash Wednesday—Day of Fast and Abstinence Adoration/Chapel (5:30-8:15A and 1:00-7:00P) K of C Business Meeting/Hall B (7:00P) Choir Rehearsal/Church (7:30P)

Thursday, March 2nd Lectio: Prayer/Hall B (10:30A-12:00N and 7:45-

9:15P)

Friday, March 3rd

First Friday Masses/Chapel (8:30A and 7:00P)

Homeschool Group/RMs 1-5 (9:00-11:00A) Moms’ Rosary Group/RM 1 (9:30-11:00A) K of C Chowder Night/Hall A (5:00-7:00P) Nocturnal Adoration/Chapel (7:30P…)

Saturday, March 4th

Rosary and Benediction/Chapel (...8:00A)

Sunday, March 5th

Religious Education Classes—Group 2/RMs 1-6 (10:00A-12:00N)

Rite of Sending/Church (10:30A) Rite of Election/Cathedral (2:00P) Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confes-

sions/Church (3:00P) Lenten Vespers/Church (4:00P) Religious Education Classes, Grade 10/Hall B

(4:15-6:15P) Religious Education Classes, Grades 7-9/RMs 1,

2, 3 and 6 (4:30-6:00P)

OLD CELL PHONES AND TABLETS

Did you know that there is a container in the parish office for old, unused cell phones and tablets? You

can drop them off right inside the door of the office from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The compa-ny will come, retrieve the items, and take them off your hands at no cost!

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THE EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Our men and women in formation for religious life:

Sister Faustina Kolbe Burda, DMN Roxanne Day Diane Dube

Sister Athanasius Munroe, OP Brother John Mark Solitario, OP

Brother Marius Strom, TOR

Our Parishioners in the Armed Services: Frank Cunniff Clare Handy Zack Hurley David Jarry Joshua Keller Zach Keller Thomas Laste

Our sick and our homebound: Lena Lajoie Karen Wilder Jeremy Swanson

Our Deacon-Candidates: Joseph Dion Randy O’Neill Jared Auclair

VOCATION BIRTHSTONE ROSARIES This

week, Eileen Gagnon will be praying the traveling ro-sary for our parish seminarians and permanent dea-con candidates and Ed and Mary Gleason for vocations to the religious life. Thank you to all who are part of this ongoing spiritual support for our men in for-mation for the priesthood and diaconate and for our religious in formation.

CHOIR REHEARSALS BEGIN AGAIN Choir

rehearsals for our 10:30 Mass, Triduum and Easter take place on Wednesdays from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the church. All voice parts are needed! For more infor-mation, please contact Larry Franchitto, Jerry Casa-vant, or Father Joe. We can only accept new members until March 1st.

ROYAL FAMILY KIDS CAMP Royal Family

Kids is looking for men and women willing to create life-changing moments for children of abuse and ne-glect. By volunteering to take a vacation that matters to kids in foster care (July 30-Aug. 4, 2017), you can share God's unconditional love to kids who need it most. A few of our parishioners have answered the call and say it is an amazing life-changing experience. For more information contact Tina Murguia at tinamarie.murguia@gmail.com, David Wilder at D.Wilder@f5.com, or visit rfk.org.

TAX STATEMENTS

We have closed out another tax year and are happy to provide a statement of your contributions to the par-ish in 2016. Call Jeanette or Charlene in the office (603.882.7793) .

VIANNEY Vianney, the inspiring live production

performed by Leonardo Defilippis of Saint Luke Pro-ductions, will be presented at Saint Kathryn Church

on Saturday, March 11th at 7:00 p.m. Experience the gripping story of Saint John Vianney, the humble priest who battled the devil to save souls. Filled with all of the elements of professional theater, the production runs 90 minutes and is suitable for ag-es 9 and up. For tickets and additional information, contact Char-lene Maniotis at the Parish Office at 603-882-7793 or charlene.maniotis@stkathryns.org or visit www.stkathryns.org. Watch the trailer at www.VianneyDrama.com Tickets are now available for purchase from the parish office at a cost of $25.00/person for the first four rows (96 seats) and $20.00/person for rows 5 and beyond (as well as seating on the Transept Chapel side). For families (parents and up to 4 children under the age of 16), there is a maximum $50.00/family. Don’t wait to get your tickets! We are offering this to our parishioners and benefactors first until February 28. On March 1st, tickets will be available for people throughout the diocese. Our church has an occupancy limit of 536 people, and we expect to sell out.

REFLECTING GOD’S GENEROSITY

TO US

Offertory: $ 8,449.24 Online Giving $ 2,646.50 Total $11,095.74 Catholic Schools Education Fund: $ 40.00 2/12 Offertory (includes online giving): $10,154.00 Catholic Schools Education Fund: $ 148.00

Thank you for your generosity to our parish. Our weekly budget is $11,900.00.

Your generosity to the church allows us to continue the routine maintenance and running of the parish.

We are most grateful!

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FEBRUARY 26, 2017

FORMED As we prepare for our next Lectio series,

Prayer, you’ll want to be able to sign in to Formed for a review of the videos. While you can get a lot from watching the videos alone, we also encourage you to participate in the sessions of Lectio: Prayer for the dis-cussion and questions. How do I sign up? Type https://formed.org into your internet browser; go to “Register: Sign up free using your parish code, and type in 748649. Feel free to share this information with your family and friends. There are talks and lectures, Catholic movies, aids to prayer, the entire Symbolon, Lectio and Catholicism series. This is our parish gift to you, so please share it with family and friends and grow in the faith!

LECTIO: PRAYER Lectio: Prayer begins this

Thursday with sessions in the morning and in the evening. Have you ever wanted to pray but weren’t quite sure if you were “doing it right”? Or maybe prayer has be-come a little dry or predictable. This series might just be the boost you need this Lent. Unlike the other Lectio series, this program builds one session on the other, so we would ask that if you are going to attend, please make it a commitment to at-tend each session. We are going to attempt to video the morning sessions and post them to the website. We’re not quite sure how to do it yet, but we’re working on it for those who would like to participate but may not be able to because of young children at home or an inability to leave the house. When we figure out the details of re-cording, we’ll let you know! We’ll be exposed in a new way to an ancient tradition in our Church known as “Lectio Divina,” which is Latin for “Holy Reading.” In this, we’ll have an op-portunity to read the Sacred Scriptures and discover what treasures they possess. In this six-week series, we’ll cover the following topics: March 2 Prayer: An Intimate Dialogue March 9 Guigo’s Ladder: A Way of Ascent March 16 Lectio and Meditatio: Climbing the First Rungs March 23 Oratio: Conversation with God March 30 Contemplatio: The Gaze of Love April 6 Resolutio: Putting Love into Action Sessions will be held from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon and again from 7:45-9:15 p.m. in Hall B. Pre-registration is helpful but not required. Materials will be provided for all who attend the sessions.

STEUBENVILLE EAST The date is set! July 14-16,

2017 is the time for Steubenville East—an experience that you won’t want to miss. Plan to join thousands of other young people (those who have graduated from eighth grade through those who have graduated from high school) for a life-changing three days. Steubenville East will take place at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell and will feature great speakers and musicians, including Chris Mueller, Jon Niven, Father José Robles-Sanchez, Leah Darrow, Joel Stepanek, and Kelly Colangelo. For those from our parish who have attended in the past, you know that this is a weekend that has been fun, informative, and uplifting. If you’re a teen (or would like to be an adult chaperone) and want a spir-itual boost, this is an opportunity for you. Interested in learning more? Please contact Father Joe at frjoe@stkathryns.org.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL SUBSIDY Thank you for

your generosity to our recent Catholic Schools Collec-tion. For those who have children in Catholic schools who will enter grades kindergarten through 8 in Sep-tember, 2017, a subsidy is available to those families who: Are registered, practicing members of Saint

Kathryn parish; Are contributing members to the parish; Are active in the parish, e.g., participating in one

or more of our parish activities. Forms are available in the parish office ONLY, and must be completed by the parents/guardians and re-turned for signature by Father Joe. Forms are due back no later than March 1, 2017.

CHOWDER NIGHTS Once again, the Knights of

Columbus, Council 5162, will sponsor “Chowder Nights” on the Fridays of Lent. Plan to come down for some delicious soup, salad, bread, beverage, and des-sert. For those who don’t like chowder, other options are available. Then, after food and fellowship, join us for Holy Mass in the Chapel. It’s a great way to spend a Friday night—with your fellow parishioners and with your Lord!

FAMILIES COPING WITH THE OPIOID

CRISIS New Hampshire Catholic Charities will pre-

sent a talk on “Families Coping with the Opioid Cri-sis” on Monday, February 27th, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Merrimack. All are invit-ed to attend this important presentation.

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THE EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

RELIGIOUS GOODS STORE NEWS Just to

keep our customers up to date on some of our new products, here is a brief description of some of the items we have available in our Religious Goods Store. We have some beautiful religious motif women’s bracelets that spell out a faith message in Morse Code with an array of beads on the band. Very pretty! We have recently ordered a variety of standing damask angels that have a very classic look and are certainly suitable for display almost anywhere in your home. They’re perfect as a housewarming gift too! We also have a varied selection of standing crucifixes in stock in a variety of sizes—from small enough to put on a nightstand to others a bit larger to put on a display shelf. The small ones have been an excellent item for those with friends or family in the hospital. They are beautiful and small enough to put anywhere in a hos-pital or assisted living room. With the next upcoming Lectio class on prayer there are many, many choices of books to understand and strengthen your prayer life. We have Ignatius Gospel study guides as well as a wide selection of wall art for use in the home or office. Finally, there is an excellent selection of greeting cards for many occasions, most of them priced around $2.00 each. It’s really quite a bargain compared to the chain stores, and all help to “spread the faith” even a little. Our inventory is always changing and we try to bring in the best quality we can find of as many “All Things Catholic” items as we can locate!

RITE OF ELECTION Next Sunday, we will cele-

brate the Rite of Sending to Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester for our catechumens and candidates. Please pray for those in the RCIA process as they now enter into the final phase of preparation before they are welcomed into the Church.

COLLETTE TOURS We still have some open spac-

es for our trip to Switzerland, Austria, and Bavaria for September, 2017. If you’re interested in joining us, please sign up as soon as possible. If we have fewer than 35 people, we will open participation up to other parishes. We have a few “singles” who are waiting for other “singles” with whom they can share a room. Are you among those who are weighing the options? We don’t have much time left at the reduced price, so plan to sign up today! For more information, contact Father Joe at 603.882.7793 or frjoe@stkathryns.org.

GREETERS NEEDED! Do you often (or always)

attend the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass? If so, we could certainly use your help! We are looking for a person or two to welcome folks to our Sat-urday evening Vigil Mass and to distribute bulletins, arrange for people to take up the collection, and bring forward the gifts—

usually once a month. The greeters also straighten up the church after everyone has left, ensuring that noth-ing is left in the pews and that the hymnals are all up-right. The greeters are also the “go to” people for those who may not know where the restrooms are as well as in the event of a medical emergency during Mass. While we’re looking for someone specifically for the 4:00 p.m. Mass and 6:30 p.m. Mass, we’re open to any-one who may be interested in this ministry for any of the weekend Masses. If you are interested, please contact Nancy Phaneuf at NAPhaneuf182@hotmail.com. Your help is greatly appreciated!

WINTER CANCELLATIONS

We’re back at that time of year when anything can happen with regard to the weather. While Masses will always be celebrated, they may not be as scheduled. We want to encourage you to use prudence when coming out in inclement weather. As much as we try to make sure that the parking lots are cleared, we do need some time to do the job. Unless we are caught completely off guard on a Sunday, you can pretty much plan that the lots and sidewalks will be clear, but weekdays may be another story. When there is bad weather, please tune into WMUR for any cancellations of religious education classes, adult faith formation classes, and meetings. Also, if school is cancelled the parish offices will be closed for the day. If adoration is scheduled for a day when schools are closed, adoration will also be cancelled. You should also check our Facebook page (Saint Kathryn’s Church) and our website (www.stkathryns.org) for updates. Thank you for your understanding. We want everyone to be safe during these winter months. (Remember—Sunday Mass is still required. Don’t take that one too lightly!)

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FEBRUARY 26, 2017

LENT, 2017

The Church enters into the holy season of Lent on Wednesday of this week with the liturgies of Ash Wednesday. As Catholics, we take this season very seriously in preparation for the renewal of baptismal promises and initiation of new members this Easter. So that we are prepared for this season, we offer you the following:

REGULATIONS FOR FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday, March 1st, and Good Friday is April 14th. These are days of fast and abstinence. Fridays of Lent are also days of abstinence.

Fasting is to be observed by all who are 18 years of age and older and who have not yet celebrated their 59th

birthday. On a fast day, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and juices, are allowed.

Abstinence is observed by all 14 years of age and older. On days of abstinence, no meat is allowed. Note that when health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. When in doubt concerning fast and abstinence, the parish priest should be consulted.

Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, are the three traditional disciplines of Lent. The faithful and catechumens should undertake these practices seriously in a spirit of penance and of preparation for baptism or of renewal of baptism at Easter.

Our parish Lenten tithe will be directed once again to the Food Pantry at Saint John’s and the Feed Our Kids program. Our willingness to share with those who are struggling in our community by our generous sacrifice is greatly appreciated by thousands in our area who may remain hidden from our sight, but never hidden from our hearts and from the heart of God.

LENTEN LITURGIES

Ashes will be distributed on Ash Wednesday during the morning and evening Masses, and at a prayer services at 12:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. These will be the only times ashes will be made available;

Masses will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday; Confessions will be heard Monday through Friday after the 8:30 a.m. Mass and from 6:30-6:50 p.m.; on

Saturdays, Confessions will be heard from 9:15-9:45 a.m. and from 2:45-3:45 p.m.; on Sundays, Confessions will be heard from 3:00-3:30 p.m.;

Stations of the Cross will be prayed after the morning Mass each Friday and after the evening Mass each Friday (with the exception of First Friday);

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Sundays from 3:00-4:00 p.m. and conclude with Vespers;

Vespers will be sung each Sunday of Lent, on Easter Sunday, and Divine Mercy Sunday at 4:00 p.m.; Morning Prayer will be sung in the church on Holy Thursday and Good Friday at 8:30 a.m. and in the

Transept Chapel at 8:30 a.m. on Holy Saturday; the blessing of Easter Baskets will take place at noon in the plaza on Holy Saturday;

The Triduum begins on April 13th with the celebration of the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 p.m.; Good Friday services on April 14th will take place at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. with Stations of the Cross in the grotto at 12:00 noon; the Great Easter Vigil on April 15th will begin at 8:00 p.m. (there will not be a 4:00 p.m. Mass on April 15th); the Masses for Easter Sunday, April 16th, will be celebrated at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (please note the earlier start time for Mass on Easter Sunday and no 6:30 p.m. Mass);

The Novena of Divine Mercy begins on Good Friday immediately following Morning Prayer.

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ST. KATHRYN PARISH HUDSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03-0779 February 26, 2017 – Week 14