A prophetic, Franciscan, Catholic community welcoming all people through prayer and outreach.

We extend a special welcome to everyone visiting the Shrine for the first time.

Saturday, March 17 – Friday, March 23

Telephone: 617-542-6440
Prayer Request Line: 617-553-4100
The Good Word: 617-542-0502
Text-to-Give text “DONATE” to: 617-712-2233
 Sunday, March 18, 2018
Fifth Sunday of Lent

Greetings. A few upcoming events at the Shrine:

Tuesday, March 20 Our Women’s Health Clinic begins its Tuesday hours. This initiative has been an
enormous success. Our gratitude to Andrea Caputo, the Nurse Practitioner, and Mary Ann Ponti, our Director
of Outreach Services, for expanding this program. Andrea and Mary Ann are on a first name basis with the
most vulnerable downtown demographic: homeless women. Our wonderful partner in this endeavor is Boston
Health Care for the Homeless Program. The clinic’s new hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30am to
12:30pm.

Saturday, March 24, 10am The Shrine will host a Mass for Peace, Healing and Justice. The Mass will
provide the opportunity for those attending the March for Our Lives event in Boston later that day to begin the
day with prayer for peace. Young people throughout the Archdiocese are being invited by their pastors to
attend.

Wednesday, April 18, 6pm James Martin, SJ, a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine and
consultor to the Vatican's Secretariat of Communication, will speak in the second floor church on the topic
“Building a Bridge: Reaching out to LGBT Catholics.” Fr. Jim is also something of a social media expert. He
has more than 500,000 followers on Facebook.

Please know of the friars’ prayer for you during this holy season of Lent.

Fr. Thomas Conway, OFM

Executive Director

Triduum Schedule
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HOLY THURSDAY, March 29 Shrine opens at 5:30 AM and closes at 7:00 PM.
Mass of the Lord’s Supper: 5:15♫ PM. This is the only Mass celebrated on this day. Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament
following until 7:00 PM in the 1st Floor Church.
Confessions: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
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GOOD FRIDAY, March 30 Shrine opens at 5:30 AM and closes at 7:00 PM.
No Mass celebrated on this day.
Dramatic Stations of the Cross: Come experience the breathtaking story of
Jesus’ passion and death on the cross in a profound new way this Good Friday.
Join The Arch Street Band and the friars of St. Anthony Shrine for a prayerful
event like no other. There will be four Presentations with Music at 11:00 AM,
Noon, 1:00 PM and 5:15 PM (2nd Floor Church).
Traditional Stations of the Cross: 12:15 PM and 2 PM (1st Floor Church)
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion to include distribution of the Eucharist:
3:15♫ PM (2nd Floor Church) and 3:30 PM (1st Floor Church)
Confessions: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; 4:30 to 6:00 PM
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HOLY SATURDAY, March 31 Shrine opens at 5:30 AM and closes at 9:15 PM.
Easter Vigil Mass: 8:00♫ PM This is the only Mass celebrated on this day. Confessions: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
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EASTER SUNDAY, April 1 Shrine opens at 5:30 AM and closes at 1:30 PM.
Masses: 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:00♫, 11:15♫, Noon♫ (in Spanish), 12:30♫ PM.
Confessions are not heard on Easter Sunday

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2018

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Come celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on April 8 at 3:00 PM at St. Anthony Shrine in the First Floor Chapel.
The celebration will include a musical recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00 PM, followed by Vespers,
Benediction and Reverencing the Divine Mercy Image.
The Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday is an international feast day promoting Jesus’s message that He is he is
merciful to everybody and that we should all trust in his mercy
As Jesus said to his Disciples, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”.
Please come and join us in the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday. All are welcome.
 LENTEN REFLECTION
By Fr. Frank Sevola, OFM

We are nearly through the season of Lent, and all throughout this great season of reconciliation we have been called
over and over again to turn from our sinful ways and return to the Lord. We have been called over and over again to
repent and believe the Good News. That is a wonderful message and reconciliation is a great gift from God, but
sometimes I think one of the most misunderstood things we Catholics have going on is reconciliation. I’m not just
talking about the sacrament; I’m talking about the entire concept. Reconciliation is something we shy away from and
are even afraid of. I’m afraid we equate the entire concept with confession. While that certainly is a part of it, it is not
the entire concept.
Sometimes I think we think that reconciliation is about begging God to forgive us, or begging God to let us back into
the inner circle. We end up believing that one or more of our sins are so great that we can never be forgiven. Well,
sisters and brothers nothing could be further from the truth. The season of Lent and reconciliation is not about us
having to beg God for forgiveness; it is not about seeking a way back into God’s life. No, sisters and brothers, the
season of Lent is given to us so we can remind ourselves that God always loves us. The season of Lent is given to us so
that we can see once again that God’s grace abounds and that God’s grace is unlimited. The season of Lent is given to
us so that we can once again remind ourselves that we are always already forgiven! That is the great message of Jesus
Christ, that is the great message of Christianity and that is the great message of Lent sisters and brothers, we are always
already forgiven.
Our salvation happens right here on earth. The way we live with each other, the way we treat each other, and the
measure of our compassion as human beings is what our salvation is about. Our life with God is intimately tied to our
life with one another, so the way we treat each other is indicative of our relationship with God. We are always already
forgiven and we have to live like we believe it! Salvation is our free gift from God. We do not earn it; we do not beg
for it, we do not try to achieve it. Everything has been done for us in Jesus Christ so there is nothing to fear. When we
sin God’s grace abounds all the more because no human sin is beyond the pale of God’s love; and God’s forgiveness is
a free gift that we have possessed since before our mothers knew our names, because sisters and brothers we are always
already forgiven!
It is an incredible concept to believe that we are so loved by God that we have been given this free gift. But all we have
to do is look at the scriptures. Everything about Jesus’ life is reconciliation. Over and over again we meet the God of
Jesus Christ who is compassionate, loving and forgiving. We meet a God who does not keep track of rules and who
does not require us to jump through all sorts of hoops and go through all sorts of machinations for love and forgiveness.
Jesus always shows us a God whose love and forgiveness is without cost and absolutely
unconditional. Sisters and brothers, we don’t have to play games with God. God loves
us and respects us too much for games. God loves us so much that God has made sure that
we are always already forgiven.
Grace abounds. God’s grace is limitless. We are always already forgiven. Say it, believe it, live it!
Regular Schedule of Mass and Confession Times at
St. Anthony Shrine
Mass Schedule
Saturday Mass: 12 PM
Saturday Vigil Masses: 4 PMn (4:15 PM 1st Fl. Church), 5:30 PMn
Sunday Masses: 6 AM, 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 10 AMn, 11:15 AMn,
12:00 PMn (Spanish Mass-1st Fl. Church), 12:30 PMn, 4 PMn, 5:30 PMn
Weekday Masses: 6 AM, 7 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:30 PM, 5:15 PM
Additional Wednesday Mass: 10 AM
Please note: The 5:15 PM Mass on Wednesday is in Spanish.
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR
YOUNG ADULTS
Saturday, March 24th 4 - 5PM in the 2nd floor classroom, “The Spirituality of
Knitting” with Br. Paul Bourque, OFM. Please email us to RSVP and to obtain a
list of items to bring to this Knitting 101 class.
Sunday, March 25th 1:45PM Volunteer at the Cambridge Rehabilitation and
Nursing Center (8 Dana Street, Central Square T-stop, Cambridge). We are
scheduled to help set up for Mass for the seniors and then socialize with the
Seniors after Mass. You MUST RSVP to participate.

Holy Day Mass Schedule: Please rsvp for the above at: SAS20s30s@stanthonyshrine.org
St. PM
Vigil: 4:15 PM, 5:15 Anthony Shrine
Holy Day: 6 AM, 7 AM, 8 AM, 11:45 AM,
100 Arch Street, Boston, MAPM
12:30 PM, 4:15 PM, 5:15 02110
Legal Holiday Mass Schedule: 8 AM, 10 AM (nMusic Masses)
617-542-6440 www.stanthonyshrine.org
Confession Schedule
Weekday Confessions (Except Wednesday): 10 AM–2 PM, 4–5:30 PM
Wednesday Confessions: 6:30–8 AM, 10 AM–2 PM, 4–5:30 PM
Saturday Confessions: 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday Confessions: 1:30–3 PM
Holy Day Confession Schedule: Follows schedule above.
Legal Holiday Confession Schedule: 8:30–10 AM
Follow us on social media

REGULAR EVENTS
Monday
Open OA Meeting, Auditorium Classroom 12:15 p.m.
A.A. 12 Step Meeting/12 Traditions Meeting (Closed) 5:45 p.m.

Tuesday
A.A. Discussion Meeting (Open Meeting) Noon

Wednesday
Remembrance Day for Deceased (3rd Wed.) All Masses
Anointing of the Sick - Mass (2nd Wed.) See web Please join us in congratulating The LGBTQ Spirituality
SA Meeting (Open Meeting), Auditorium Foyer 7:00 a.m.
two new members of the Ministry will have its
Seniors Program 10:30 a.m.
Women’s Spiritual Refl. Group (2nd & 4th Wed) 12:30 p.m. Third Order Franciscans monthly meeting on
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Grupo Hispano de Oracion 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 at
Bread on The Common (2nd & 4th Wed.) 4:00 p.m. (Seculars), who made their nd
5:30pm in the 2 floor
Mass in Spanish 5:15 p.m. profession on Saturday, March 10 classroom.
LGBTQ Spirituality (3rd Wed.) 5:30 p.m.
A.A. Discussion Meeting (Open Meeting) 5:45 p.m.
at St. Anthony Shrine:
Francine Lariviere, OFS
Thursday
St. Augustine Group (S.L.A.A.) Meeting Noon
and Jerry Batista, OFS.
Rosary Prayer Group 12:30p.m.
Men’s Cursillo Reunion Group (1st and 3rd Thursday) 1:00 p.m.
Men’s Spirituality Group (2nd and 4th Thursday) 5:00 p.m.
Lectura y reflexión del evangelio 5:30 p.m.
A.A Big Book Meeting (Closed Meeting) 5:45 p.m.

Friday
SA 12 Step Meeting, Auditorium Foyer 7:00 a.m.
Open OA Meeting, Auditorium Classroom 12:15 p.m.

Saturday
Secular Franciscans Formation (2nd Sat.) 10:30 a.m.
Centering Prayer Group (1st & 4th Sat.)
Vietnamese Secular Franciscans (2nd Sat.)
Noon
1:00 p.m.
SENIORS PROGRAM
Secular Franciscans Fraternity Meeting (2nd Sat.)
Rosary Prayer Group
1:00 p.m.
3:30p.m.
Wednesday, March 21st
Sunday
10:00 am Mass
Emmaus Ministry Prayer/Discussion (1st Sun.) 11:00 a.m. 10:30 am Light refreshments/coffee
Healing Service (2nd Sun.) 1:30 p.m.
Nurses In Need of Healing Ministry (1st Sun.) 2:30 p.m. 11:00 am Senior Fitness Exercises with Betsy Quinn
Rosary, Vespers, Benediction
Hispanic Secular Franciscans (1st Sun.)
2:55 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
12:00 Noon Lunch

100 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110

www.stanthonyshrine.org
Telephone: 617-542-6440 Prayer Request Line: 617-553-4100 The Good Word: 617-542-0502 Text GIVE to: 617-712-2233