Saint Anthony of Padua Church

Bulletin

2013 Bulletin Archive

Saint Anthony of Padua
Fr. Robert D. Bruso, Pastor
Fr. Edwin Montana, Associate Pastor
Deacon Salvatore Tantillo

Church Office
84 Salem Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-342-4706 or 978-342-2491
Rectory 978-400-5699
FAX: 978-342-8160
Email
Directions

St. Anthony School
The Catholic Free Press
Diocese of Worcester

Pastor's Weekly Message

Dear Friends,

The Gospel passage for Pentecost is also part of the longer Gospel passage for the Second Sunday of Easter. At this early post-Resurrection account, Jesus has begun to impart to this small gathering of frightened disciples the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Spirit will descend upon the larger group on Pentecost, a group that will including considerably more disciples than the Eleven huddling together in the upper room. Its almost as if Jesus knows He has to do something to calm the nerves of this core group of potential leaders so that they will not give up. They are so despondent and confused at this moment that they need any kind of straw to cling to until God’s grace through the Holy Spirit gives them the strength to go out to all the nations. Right now, it is the furthest thing from their minds. They just want to make it through another day without getting arrested by the Roman authorities.

Sometimes we feel like those forlorn disciples, not knowing where to turn, questioning if God even hears our prayers. It is at times like these that anxiety becomes doubt and doubt slips into unbelief. The challenge of faith is holding on even during the darkest hours. Faith is a luxury when everything seems to be working out fine. Faith is a necessity when nothing is as it should be and we have run out of answers. Faith isn’t really faith until it is all we have to hold onto.

Peace and good will,

Fr. Bob

BULLETIN NOTE:

Any item you would like to have printed in our weekly bulletin must be submitted to the office by MONDAY of the week before you would like it posted. We will make every effort to include these items as space permits (parish activities have first preference). Thank you.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Please keep the following important parish events in mind:

ST. ANTHONY NOVENA CONTINUES - All novena nights begin at 7pm here at St. Anthony Church on Tuesday and include novena prayers, sermon and Benediction with veneration of the relic of St. Anthony of Padua. The remaining preachers are: Fr. Michael Lavallee, Pastor, St. Thomas-a-Becket, South Barre; Fr. William Champlin, Pastor, St. Edward, Westminster; Deacon Salvatore Tantillo, St. Anthony; Fr. Edwin Montana, Associate, St. Anthony. Please plan to attend when you can.

The Madonna della Cava committee meets on Monday, May 20th at 7pm in the church hall.

Hospitality meets on Thursday, May 23rd at 7pm in the church hall.

Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors and Altar Servers Please return the Summer Request Forms that were sent out this past week. They need to be in the office for Friday, May 24th so that there is time to accommodate all requests. Thank you.

Reminder: Our monthly church socials will be held after Masses on the weekend of May 25th & 26th

St. Anthony 5th Annual Golf Outing - Friday, June 21st
DON’T MISS THE FUN! This event gets better every year! Join us at The Woods of Westminster Country Club. Registration begins at 12 noon with a shotgun start at 1pm. This is a Scramble format (many mulligans will be sold!). All are welcome. Call your friends, family, classmates and get a foursome together. Single golfers will be paired up with others to make a foursome. Individual fee is $95.00, foursome $380, or join us for dinner buffet for only $25. Sponsorship signs – individuals, corporate names, “In Memory Of / In Honor Of” are available for $100 (Tee or Green). Registration
brochures are available at the back of the church or contact Beth Adams at 978-537-0966 or eaa1983@verizon.net.

Mass Intention Book for July – December 2013 will open on Wednesday, June 5th at 10am.