Fr. Gaspar, the new pastor of St Lawrence Church, has scheduled a work day for the grounds around the church this coming Saturday, June 23rd, from 10am to noon. The seminarians next door will offer a cookout lunch afterwards. We are invited to help.

Parishioner Pam Covert invites us to contribute to a Food Pantry by donating nonperishable items, such as canned goods and food products in heavy plastic containers. The drop off box is in front of the St Joseph statue at the west side entrance doors.

We pray a Rosary before Mass with an intention for those who will celebrate and serve our Mass that day. We meet in front of the Marian altar and begin at 10:55 AM before the Sunday Mass, but you may join at any time. Extra Rosaries are available if needed.

Fellow parishioner, Corrine Paige, brings news of a rare opportunity: the only showing in the Boston area of Summer in the Forest, a documentary about the Catholic Apostolate L’Arche. Please join us as we learn about and support the local L’Arche Community by attending this one night special screening, July 12th from 6:30-8:30pm, at the AMC Loews Methuen 20 & IMAX — 90 Pleasant Valley St, Methuen, MA.

If you are interested in attending, please email as soon as possible, as there were only 35 more seats available as of May 30th.

Under the influence of of Father Thomas Philippe Canadian-born layman Jean Vanier founded the L’Arche Community for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in France in 1964. More information about the film can be found here.

Here are some resources for learning more about this admirable apostolate:

The website of the International L’Arche organization explains their philosophy — “As I am”…each person has a unique value, with or without a disability, a direct expression of the Catholic understanding of the human person — and how their residential homes differ from community to community around the world.

The website of L’Arche USA tells about the various communities here in our own country — the first opened in 1972. Now there are 18 and one of them is right here, sponsoring this film. This site also has a good section on the movement’s founder, Jean Vanier.

Finally the website of L’Arche Boston North (in Haverhill) describes how this beautiful apostolate is expressed locally, and — if you are moved of the Spirit — how you can assist in its work.

Join with other parishes for the Boston Red Sox 5th annual Catholic Night at historic Fenway Park on July 10th. Enjoy a special Catholic ceremony before the Boston Red Sox take on the Texas Rangers.

We will be in Section 3 of the right field box. Price is $60 per ticket (service charge not included). If you would like to go, please let Corrine know ASAP so she can buy your ticket. The deadline is June 6th.

If you signed up to receive Contra Mundum by mail, you should have already received your June issue. You can also read it here on our website as well as all of the back issues.

This issue includes a sermon by Fr. Bradford and articles and writings by noted authors, as well as news and notes for our combined congregation and community and announcements of upcoming events:

• “The Most Necessary of All Devotions,” an article from the The Oratory Magazine, the church paper of The Brompton (London) Oratory
• “What Is an Apology?” explained by Fr Bradford and exemplified by the following two articles
• “What the Soul Is in a Body …” from The Epistle to Diognetus, the work of a Christian disciple, variously dated AD 130 to the end of the second Century
• “Constantly Reminding One Another of These Things” by St Justin Martyr (100-165), an early Christian apologist and the best known of the second-century Church Fathers
• “State Programs Open to All Citizens?,” an article by Father Bradford, citing The New York Times and “Washington Insider” by William L. Saunders, a regular feature in The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly
• “Cause for Celebration” by Fr Charles J. Higgins from “The Pastor’s Note” in the church paper of Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Parish in Newton
• “Nationhood as a Gift from God,” an excerpt by Alexander Solzhenitsyn from Leopold Labedz’s Solzhenitysn: a Documentary
• “Christian Living,” an excerpt from Practical Piety by Hannah More, an evangelical Anglican, educator, and social reformer
• “Suffering and Passion Shared by Mary,” a sermon preached by Fr Bradford

The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, which includes the countries in the United Kingdom, was established in 2011 as the first of the Personal Ordinariates. Members of this Ordinariate publish THE PORTAL monthly for those in the Personal Ordinariates of the Catholic Church, Anglicans who are interested in the Ordinariate, and all Catholic friends of the Ordinariates.

This month’s cover illustrates the article on Ely and St Etheldreda’s Shrine.

Click here to read the June 2018 edition of THE PORTAL on our sister community’s website. This month’s edition features:

“Rosary on the Coast,” a report by Jean Chinery
“Catholic History Walks Project” by Joanna Bogle
“Telling the Beads,” an Alternative View of the Whitsun Octave by Snapdragon
“Christianity in the Holy Land” by Fr Mark Woodruff
“The Portal Visits Ely and St Etheldreda’s Shrine” by Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane
“Corpus Christi and Social Justice” by Fr Ashley Beck
“Lux ab oriente, Newman, Ma Xiangbo and the Royal Wedding” by Revd Dr Stephen Morgan
“Christianity Will Grow and Flourish in India Amidst Persecution” by Murcadha O’Flaherty
“Cambridge Ordinariate” by Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane
“News from the Ordinariate around the UK”
“Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Willesden”
“Anglican Patrimony: A Perspective from the Holy See” by Archbishop J Augustine Di Noia, OP

Father Bradford recently sent out this letter:

Every day I give thanks for the opportunity generously given me to serve in the ministerial Priesthood of the Catholic Church. Next week I will observe the twentieth anniversary of ordination.

I will offer Holy Mass on Wednesday. May 30th at 4:00pm in St Theresa of Avila Church, and then on May 31st, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, offer a Solemn Mass at 7:30pm in St Lawrence Church, Chestnut Hill. This evening Mass will be according to the form of the Ordinariate Missal. A reception will follow this service.

Your assisting at either of these Masses would be much appreciated, and I humbly ask for a remembrance in your prayers at this time.

Our sign-up for summer altar flowers begins on Memorial Day weekend, with flowers needed for Sundays in June through September.  Our Summer Altar Flower Chart is available for sign-up and may be found on Sundays at the coffee hour. Choose any dates appropriate for family anniversaries, etc. Two arrangements of a substantial size are needed for the high altar. If you prefer, sign up for one smaller arrangement for the Marian altar, or both! Flowers may be from your local florist or your own garden, and you may take them home with you after Mass. But be sure to sign up to avoid duplication of  flowers one week and none the next. Please indicate high altar, Marian altar, or both.

But be sure to sign up for a summer Sunday.

The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, which includes the countries in the United Kingdom, was established in 2011 as the first of the Personal Ordinariates. Members of this Ordinariate publish THE PORTAL monthly for those in the Personal Ordinariates of the Catholic Church, Anglicans who are interested in the Ordinariate, and all Catholic friends of the Ordinariates.

Click here to read the May 2018 edition of THE PORTAL on our sister community’s website:

• “The Gospel and the Catholic Church” – Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane report on a conference discussing Anglican Patrimony today
• “The LOGS schools project” by Joanna Bogle DSG
• “Snapdragon celebrates Spring”
• “Orthodoxy in Italy,” an unusual account by Fr Mark Woodruff
• “The Shrine of Blessed Dominic Barberi” – Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit the Shrine of this Saint who is close to the heart of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
• “Social Justice in the New Testament” by Fr Ashley Beck
• “Thoughts on Newman – The problem of evil” by Revd Dr Stephen Morgan 
• “Anglican News –  Our window into the Church of England” by The Revd Paul Ben eld
• “Revival in North Manchester” – Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit New Moston 
• “News from the Ordinariate” – around the UK
• “Alfie Evans – what the Blogs are saying” by Will Burton 
• “Re-dedication of England as the Dowry of Mary” by Arnold Herron
• “Giving witness to life and faith” – Murcadha O Flaherty writes about Macedonia
• Antonia Lynn reviews Evelyn Underhill’s Prayer Book
• “Gaudete et Exsultate” – review by Fr Michael Halsall 
• “Poles Apart!” by Julia Beacroft