Pastoral Center service project
Each year, volunteers from the Pastoral Center designate a week to go and help out one of the inner city parishes. This year we were at St. Angela Merici Parish in Mattapan. On Monday (5/14), I joined the group of people who were there helping out with the landscaping around the church and school. I also had an opportunity to visit the children at the Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy campus there. Father Bill Joy is doing such wonderful work there, the school is such an important presence in the neighborhood. I have to say, the children were just adorable! In one of the younger classrooms, I believe it was pre-K, the children sang a song for us that named all 50 states. I told Father Joy, I don't know if I could name all 50 states!
Archdiocesan Pastoral Council meeting
That evening (5/14), we had the last meeting of the year of our Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. Of course, they have been involved in a number of the ongoing issues in the archdiocese, such as the fight against physician assisted suicide and the planning of a conference on the Church's teaching on social justice. At this meeting Janet Benestad gave them a very important presentation on our efforts to resist the legalization of physician assisted suicide here in Massachusetts. The dedication of the members of the APC is admirable. We are grateful for all they do and the excellent work that Sister Marian Batho does coordinating such a large group.
Meeting with religious education directors
Finally, yesterday (5/17) I met with our directors of religious education, who were holding their gathering here at the Pastoral Center. Susan Kay and Susan Abbott of our Religious Education Office did a superb job coordinating the event. The meeting was an opportunity to talk about their important role in the parishes. We also spoke about the fact that the Year of Faith is part of the upcoming celebration of the anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I expressed my hope that the Year of Faith will be a time for us to strengthen our catechetical programs and ensure that we are looking for new ways to incorporate young people into the life of the Church, particularly the worshiping community.