St .

Anthony Shrine
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, July 22nd Friday, July 28th, 2017

100 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110

Telephone: 617-542-6440 Prayer Request Line: 617-553-4100 The Good Word: 617-542-0502

www.stanthonyshrine.org
July 23, 2017
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Sunday Gospel this week is from Matthew. It is about seeds. Seeds strike me as remarkable things.
All of the information about a plant is stored in a seed. So the seed stores all of the data that the plant
needs about the its size and shape, as well as its light, water and nutrient requirements. It stores the
information about the type of flower, fruit or vegetable that the plant might have. Stems, roots and leaves
of plants are all different from one type of plant to another, and the seed also stores all of that information.
A seed holds all of the particulars about the plants typical lifespan, and the kinds of conditions that would
make the plant thrive. It also stores details about the particular pests or diseases to which it is vulnerable.

One of the difficulties of modern society is that its very easy for us to lose our sense of wonder. Years
ago, people would have been fascinated by the idea that one tiny seed, like a mustard seed, for example,
could store all of that information. Now were regularly around computer chips and cell phones which
easily store and access much more information. Its easy to be dismissive of the remarkable things that
surround us.

We need to work at very consciously cultivating our sense of wonder and our recognition and
appreciation for mystery. The best way to do this is to take a look at significant events in your own life.
Think of the big events of birth, process of growing up, making friends, falling in love, becoming ill
ourselves and recovering, watching others become ill and go to eternal life. Think of triumphs in your
life: graduations, new jobs, the birth of children and grandchildren. Arent all of those things packed with
mystery and wonder? How often do we hear people say I dont know how I managed to get through that
part of my life or I didnt have help or money, and I had a lot of things going against me. Somehow
the grace of God acts in ways that we cant really explain to others. It is a grace that gives us confidence
and courage.

Similarly, setbacks in life stir feelings of wonder and mystery. Why do bad things happen to good
people? Why was this terrific person here on earth for such a short time? If I had understood the
situation better at the time, I would have acted differently. These are the things that we hear people say
when they reflect on the setbacks in their lives. We need to continue to discover ways to see our lives
through the lens of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is ultimately where we find purpose,
meaning, love, generosity and hope. To be Catholic is to be full of confidence, to have a sense of
ourselves and our place and purpose in the universe.

St. Anthony Shrine the Church on Arch Street is also a source of wonder and mystery. This
quintessentially Franciscan place in downtown Boston attracts all kinds of people from all over the world.
Our visitors have a beautiful mix of spiritualties, devotional practices and charitable habits. Everyone
brings different kinds of talents and gifts and our formidable task is to find use for all of them and to make
the huge diversity of visitors feel welcomed here.

People with all kinds of occupations visit this church. Some of them are the predictable occupations of a
downtown area: bankers, lawyers, politicians, and restaurant and hotel workers. But other people with
other kinds of occupations regularly come through the door as well: pilots, teachers, soldiers, EMT
workers, actors, diocesan priests, religious sisters, florists, bricklayers and auto mechanics. There is an
All are Welcome sign on the banners outside of the doors to the street.
These signs come with some risk and some responsibility for all of us at the Shrine. Thank you so much
for being here and praying with us! Your presence stirs our imagination and opens us up to new
possibilities.

We have been very blessed this summer to have had Br. Juan de la Cruz Turcios, OFM, with us this
summer. Br. Juan is a particularly cheerful and pleasant person who has done terrific work here at the
Shrine this summer. He has been a great help to both the Food Center and the Latino Community here
at the Shrine. We are so thankful for his wonderful presence with us. He returns to his ordination
studies at the Chicago Theological Union. We pray for good luck with his studies and for all good things
for Br. Juan!

May you have a blessed and holy week this week!

Fr. Thomas Conway, OFM

Executive Director
Regular Schedule of Mass and Confession Times at UPCOMING EVENTS FOR
St. Anthony Shrine YOUNG ADULTS
Mass Schedule You can now register for the 20s/30s
Saturday Mass: 12 PM Young Adult Fall Retreat!
Saturday Vigil Masses: 4 PMn (4:15 PM 1st Fl. Church), 5:30 PMn "Finding the Extraordinary in Ordinary Time"
Sunday Masses: 6 AM, 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 10 AMn, 11:15 AMn, presented by Br. Casey Cole, OFM.
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 Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, 10/6-10/8
Additional Wednesday Mass: 10 AM $150 for room, board and transportation!
Please note: The 5:15 PM Mass on Wednesday is in Spanish. Please email sas20s30s@stanthonyshrine.org
for the registration form.
Holy Day Mass Schedule:
St. Anthony Shrine
Vigil: 4:15 PM, 5:15 PM Holy Day: 6 AM, 7 AM, 8 AM, 11:45 AM, THIS Monday, July 24th, 6-7: Meet us in the 2nd floor classroom as we
100 Arch
12:30Street, Boston,
PM, 4:15 PM,MA
5:15 02110
PM say the rosary as a young adult group. We will have rosaries and a
617-542-6440
Legal Holiday www.stanthonyshrine.org
Mass Schedule: 8 AM, 10 AM (nMusic Masses) guidebook available for you.

Confession Schedule
Weekday Confessions (Except Wednesday): 10 AM2 PM, 45:30 PM
Wednesday Confessions: 6:308 AM, 10 AM2 PM, 45:30 PM
Saturday Confessions: 10 AM4 PM
Sunday Confessions: 1:303 PM
Holy Day Confession Schedule: Follows schedule above.
Legal Holiday Confession Schedule: 8:3010 AM
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REGULAR EVENTS
Monday
Open OA Meeting, Auditorium Classroom
A.A. 12 Step Meeting/12 Traditions Meeting (Closed)
Tuesday
A.A. Discussion Meeting (Open Meeting)
Saturday, July 29th at 8 PM: Shakespeare in the Common - Please join
us as we watch Romeo and Juliet in the Boston Common. Lets meet in
front of the Park Street elevator on the Common at 7:40 PM. Please bring
a blanket or lawn chair. This is a free event!
Sunday, August 6th at 11:15 AM: Mass and Brunch at The Merchant -
Lets meet for 11:15 AM Mass and then, head on over to The Merchant,
just a block away, for a BYO brunch. Space for brunch is limited. Reserve
your spot today at sas20s30s@stanthonyshrine.org
Monday, August 14th: Lets meet for the vigil of the Feast of the
Assumption at 5:15 in the 2nd floor Church and then, pray the rosary in
the 2nd floor classroom from 6-7 PM. Come to one or both. Rosaries and
rosary guides will be available to all attendees.
12:15 p.m.
5:45 p.m.
Wednesday, August 23, 6-7 PM: in the second floor classroom: Young
Adult Book Club - We are reading Building A Bridge by James Martin, SJ
Noon and will have a discussion pertaining to this book on 8/23.

Wednesday
Remembrance Day for Deceased (3rd Wed.) All Masses
Anointing of the Sick - Mass (2nd Wed.) See web Second Collection SENIORS PROGRAM
SA Meeting (Open Meeting), Auditorium Foyer 7:00 a.m.
Seniors Program 10:30 a.m. July 22nd & 23rd
Womens Spiritual Refl. Group (2nd & 4th Wed) 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Grupo Hispano de Oracion 4:00 p.m. 10:00 am Mass
nd
Mass in Spanish 5:15 p.m. The 2 collection on 10:30 am Light exercise/stretching
LGBTQ Spirituality (3rd Wed.) 5:30 p.m. July 22nd and 23rd will go to 11:00 am Activity or Presentation
A.A. Discussion Meeting (Closed Meeting) 5:45 p.m. support our 12:00 Noon Lunch
Bread on The Common (2nd & 4th Wed.) 5:45 p.m.
Upcoming Programming
Thursday Kids Program 7/26: Summer Concert with
S.L.A.A Meeting Noon Arch Street Band Members
Rosary Prayer Group 12:30p.m.
Mens Cursillo Reunion Group (1st and 3rd Thursday) 1:00 p.m.
Mens Spirituality Group (2nd and 4th Thursday) 5:00 p.m.
Note: NO SENIORS PROGRAM
Lectura y reflexin del evangelio 5:30 p.m. IN AUGUST
A.A Big Book Meeting (Closed Meeting) 5:45 p.m.

Friday
SA 12 Step Meeting, Auditorium Foyer 7:00 a.m. The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents
Open OA Meeting, Auditorium Classroom 12:15 p.m.
Serving the Spiritual Needs of Grieving Parents Whose Children Of Any Age
Saturday Have Died By Any Cause No Matter How Long Ago
Secular Franciscans Formation (2nd Sat.) 10:30 a.m.
Centering Prayer Group (1st & 4th Sat.) Noon
Vietnamese Secular Franciscans (2nd Sat.) 1:00 p.m. What: One-day Spiritual Retreat
Secular Franciscans Fraternity Meeting (2nd Sat.) 1:00 p.m.
When: August 5th, 2017
Sunday Where: St. Anthony Shrine
Emmaus Ministry Prayer/Discussion (1st Sun.) 11:00 a.m. Register by August 1st at
Healing Service (2nd Sun.) 1:30 p.m. www.emfgp.org to ensure your space!
Rosary, Vespers, Benediction 2 :55 p.m.
Hispanic Secular Franciscans (1st Sun.) 3:00 p.m. Or call Diane, Pauls Mother, at 617-542-8057

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