November 1, 2020 - New Mass Schedule
Dear Members of the Parish,
After receiving feedback from many parishioners in two rounds of surveys and Town Hall Meetings, we have a new Mass schedule (listed below).
New Mass Schedule
Saturday 4:00 pm - St Francis of Assisi (music every other week)
4:00 pm - St Joseph (music every other week)
Sunday 8:00 am - St Joseph (no music)
10:00 am - St Joseph
11:30 am - St Francis of Assisi
4:00 pm - St Francis of Assisi
This new schedule will enable Shawn Mikkelson, our music director, to play at most Sunday Masses in both churches, and will enable us to significantly reduce music ministry costs. It will also enable Father Peter and I to be present at both churches every weekend, whether we are celebrating the Mass or greeting people afterward. Finally, we will be adding a Sunday afternoon Mass for families who may be busy on Sunday morning.
It is important that we start thinking and acting as one parish. Some people will be losing the Mass they normally attend, yet there will be a Mass at the other church near that same time. Change is not easy, yet we must reduce costs while still providing many options for Sunday Mass.
Let us pray to Mary, Queen of Peace, that she will intercede for all of us and our families, to bring peace to our nation, our community, and our homes.
Father Paul Sullivan, Pastor
After receiving feedback from many parishioners in two rounds of surveys and Town Hall Meetings, we have a new Mass schedule (listed below).
New Mass Schedule
Saturday 4:00 pm - St Francis of Assisi (music every other week)
4:00 pm - St Joseph (music every other week)
Sunday 8:00 am - St Joseph (no music)
10:00 am - St Joseph
11:30 am - St Francis of Assisi
4:00 pm - St Francis of Assisi
This new schedule will enable Shawn Mikkelson, our music director, to play at most Sunday Masses in both churches, and will enable us to significantly reduce music ministry costs. It will also enable Father Peter and I to be present at both churches every weekend, whether we are celebrating the Mass or greeting people afterward. Finally, we will be adding a Sunday afternoon Mass for families who may be busy on Sunday morning.
It is important that we start thinking and acting as one parish. Some people will be losing the Mass they normally attend, yet there will be a Mass at the other church near that same time. Change is not easy, yet we must reduce costs while still providing many options for Sunday Mass.
Let us pray to Mary, Queen of Peace, that she will intercede for all of us and our families, to bring peace to our nation, our community, and our homes.
Father Paul Sullivan, Pastor
September 3, 2020 - Announcement of New Name for our Parish
Dear Parish Families,
Cardinal Sean O'Malley has approved my request to name our newly merged Parish as "Mary, Queen of Peace." I made this request after our survey of parishioners in late July and early August. Although the voting was close, "Queen of Peace" received the most votes. It seems providential to me that this name (which was suggested by several parishioners) received the most votes during this time in which we are struggling with a pandemic and also with social and political turmoil in our country. Our nation, our community, and our families need the peace that the Lord gives, through the intercession of His Mother Mary.
The title, Queen of Peace, was added to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1917 by the pope in the midst of World War I. This Litany is traditionally prayed at the end of the Rosary. Since she is the Mother of Jesus the Prince of Peace, let us all ask her to keep our Parish and our families close to her Son and give us peace.
"O Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, you who stood at the foot of the cross, obtain from your Son pardon for our sins; you who never doubted the victory of his resurrection, sustain our faith and our hope; you who are enthroned as Queen in glory, teach us the royal road of service and the glory of love. Amen." (from a prayer of Pope Francis in 2016)
Father Paul
Cardinal Sean O'Malley has approved my request to name our newly merged Parish as "Mary, Queen of Peace." I made this request after our survey of parishioners in late July and early August. Although the voting was close, "Queen of Peace" received the most votes. It seems providential to me that this name (which was suggested by several parishioners) received the most votes during this time in which we are struggling with a pandemic and also with social and political turmoil in our country. Our nation, our community, and our families need the peace that the Lord gives, through the intercession of His Mother Mary.
The title, Queen of Peace, was added to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1917 by the pope in the midst of World War I. This Litany is traditionally prayed at the end of the Rosary. Since she is the Mother of Jesus the Prince of Peace, let us all ask her to keep our Parish and our families close to her Son and give us peace.
"O Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, you who stood at the foot of the cross, obtain from your Son pardon for our sins; you who never doubted the victory of his resurrection, sustain our faith and our hope; you who are enthroned as Queen in glory, teach us the royal road of service and the glory of love. Amen." (from a prayer of Pope Francis in 2016)
Father Paul
PARISH MERGER EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2020
Cardinal Sean O'Malley approved our request to merge our parishes and issued a Decree of Merger, which made our union effective on August 1, 2020. As a result, our two parishes come together to form a new entity for canonical, sacramental, financial and legal purposes so that we can be stronger together as a Catholic Community.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley has approved our newly merged Parish name: Mary, Queen of Peace. When making financial donations to our new Parish, please continue to make checks payable to: Saint Joseph – Saint Francis of Assisi Parish while we update our systems to our new name. Parishioners who use the envelope system will receive their envelopes with the new Parish name in the coming days. In the meantime, please continue to use the envelopes you have.
During this transitional time, our website and on-line giving systems will remain unchanged. However, In the coming weeks our on-line giving system will also merge and will change. We will reach out to all those who participate in on-line giving to guide you through this change.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our Parish Office by phone at 781-396-0423 or by e-mail at [email protected] if you have any questions or need assistance.
PLEASE NOTE: The two church buildings will continue to be called St. Francis of Assisi Church and St. Joseph Church.
For more information, please see the April 2020 letter sent to all parishioners which explains the reasons for the merger, as well as the "Frequently Asked Questions" document. Both can be viewed by clicking the blue buttons below. We had "Town Hall" meetings via Zoom to discuss the merger on June 28th and 29th, and will have more meetings in the near future to announce the next steps.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley has approved our newly merged Parish name: Mary, Queen of Peace. When making financial donations to our new Parish, please continue to make checks payable to: Saint Joseph – Saint Francis of Assisi Parish while we update our systems to our new name. Parishioners who use the envelope system will receive their envelopes with the new Parish name in the coming days. In the meantime, please continue to use the envelopes you have.
During this transitional time, our website and on-line giving systems will remain unchanged. However, In the coming weeks our on-line giving system will also merge and will change. We will reach out to all those who participate in on-line giving to guide you through this change.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our Parish Office by phone at 781-396-0423 or by e-mail at [email protected] if you have any questions or need assistance.
PLEASE NOTE: The two church buildings will continue to be called St. Francis of Assisi Church and St. Joseph Church.
For more information, please see the April 2020 letter sent to all parishioners which explains the reasons for the merger, as well as the "Frequently Asked Questions" document. Both can be viewed by clicking the blue buttons below. We had "Town Hall" meetings via Zoom to discuss the merger on June 28th and 29th, and will have more meetings in the near future to announce the next steps.