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    Parish of the Transfiguration Wilmington, MA

    St. Dorothy Church and St Thomas of Villanova Church

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    Loving Christ,
    Loving Others

    Join us in the celebration of Word and Sacrament as we continue to grow in our Catholic faith and as a faith community. We welcome all to join us as we seek to follow Christ, to come alive in His Spirit, and to share His love with one another.

    View our mass times and special services

    Get directions to our parish to come visit
    See our religious education classes
    View all of our upcoming events and services

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    PHISHING EMAILS

    There have been emails going out that look like they are from Fr. Walter and/or parish staff.  Please note that we will never send emails that look like the following: 


    Hello xxxxxx,
           How're you today? May the blessings and mercy of God be with you...... I need some assistance, I would be happy if you could help me out.
    I will wait for your reply via this email. 
    PS; Am on a conference meeting on zoom i will only reply via email. 
    Yours in Christ
         Fr. Walter Carreiro


    If you receive an email like this  please report it as junk and DO NOT RESPOND.


    Mass Times

    St. Thomas Church

    Sunday: 8 AM & Noon

    St. Dorothy Church

    Saturday: 4 PM

    Sunday: 10 AM


    Weekday Masses
    Monday - Friday: 9 AM at St. Dorothy Church

    Rosary 

    Starts at 8:25 AM prior to Daily Mass


    Sacrament of Reconciliation 

    Saturday: 2:30 to 3:45 PM at St. Dorothy Church or by appointment


    Adoration 

    Every Friday from 5-7pm at St. Dorothy's

    First Friday of the Month: 2 - 7 PM at St. Dorothy’s

    IN ADDITION FOR LENT:

    Adoration: 5:00pm to 6:15pm on Friday evenings at St. Dorothy Church

    Confession: 6:00 to 6:30pm St. Dorothy Church

    Stations of the Cross:  6:30pm at St. Dorothy Church


    A REMINDER THAT IF THERE IS NO SCHOOL THERE IS NO DAILY MASS.  CARS IN THE PARKING LOT HINDER THE PLOWS.


    Upcoming & Current Events


    • Easter Basket Collection

    • Pastor's Latest Message

      Greetings,


      Below are explanations of the next events that occur in Lent leading up to the celebration of the Great and Mother of All Vigils. Naturally the is the Easter or Paschal Vigil when we celebrate the moments leading up to the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Next week I will go into more detail of that Vigil of all vigils. These explanations come from a website called Magisterium AI and are culled from official documents of the Catholic Church and writing of the Early Church Fathers, such as Canon Law, Catechism of the Catholic Church or of Christian Doctrine (Baltimore Catechism No. 3), Papal documents, and Papal addresses/speeches, etc. 

       

      Palm Sunday holds great significance in the Catholic Church as it marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, signifying the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was to establish through His Death and Resurrection. The faithful participate in a joyous procession, carrying blessed palms or olive branches as a symbol of faith in Jesus Christ, the messianic king, and His Paschal Victory. The celebration of Palm Sunday is a solemn opening to Holy Week, emphasizing the importance of following Christ and making His death and resurrection the focus of Christian lives.


      According to A Catechism of Christian Doctrine, palms are blessed on Palm Sunday to remind believers of Our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where people honored Him by strewing palm branches in His path and singing praises to Him as the Son of David.


      According to the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, Palm Sunday, also known as "Passion Sunday," unites the royal splendor of Christ with the proclamation of His Passion. The faithful are encouraged to understand the significance of the celebration, emphasizing that participation in the procession is more important than obtaining palms or olive branches, which should not be kept for superstitious reasons but as a witness to faith in Jesus Christ and His victory.


      According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday signifies the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to establish through His Death and Resurrection, solemnly opening Holy Week in the Church's liturgy.


      According to Pope Benedict XVI, Palm Sunday is a day of decision for believers to say yes to the Lord and follow Him wholeheartedly, making His Passover, death, and resurrection the focal point of their Christian lives. The procession with palms symbolizes spreading our lives before Christ in gratitude and adoration, as we prepare to enter into Holy Week and reflect on the ultimate gift of redemption through Christ's sacrifice.


      According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Palm Sunday is a significant day where the faithful participate in a procession, carrying blessed palms as a symbol of joy, victory over enemies, and victory over the flesh and the world. The palms are used as sacramentals, preserved in homes and fields as a sign of faith, and later used for Ash Wednesday ashes. The custom of using palms or other branches in the procession varies across regions, but the central theme remains the same - a celebration of Christ's triumph and a symbol of victory.


      Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum hold great significance in the Catholic faith as they commemorate the central mysteries of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During Holy Week, the Church enters into a period of solemn reflection and prayer, focusing on the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The Sacred Triduum, consisting of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, is the heart of Holy Week and the liturgical year.

      The significance of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum in the Catholic faith can be summarized as follows:

      1. Remembrance of Christ’s Sacrifice: Holy Week allows believers to reflect on and remember Christ's ultimate sacrifice for humanity through his passion, death, and resurrection.
      2. Participation in the Paschal Mystery: The Sacred Triduum enables Catholics to actively participate in the Paschal Mystery, which is the core of Christian faith.
      3. Renewal of Faith: Through the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week, Catholics are invited to deepen their faith, conversion to Christ, and communion with suffering brothers and sisters worldwide.
      4. Sacramental Significance: The sacraments celebrated during the Sacred Triduum, such as the Eucharist and Reconciliation, are central to the Catholic faith and are closely linked to the Paschal Mystery of Christ.
      5. Symbol of Hope: Especially in times of difficulty, such as during a pandemic, the celebration of the Paschal Mystery during the Sacred Triduum serves as a symbol of hope and new life in God's promise.

      Palm Sunday, Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum are pivotal moments in the Catholic liturgical calendar, offering believers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the profound mysteries of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection, and to renew their faith in the saving power of these events.


      Blessings,

      Fr. Walter



    • 2024 Catholic Appeal


      Please click here to watch a short video on the Catholic Appeal


      Forward in Faith

      Once a year, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese are asked to partner with one another to support their parish and the many outreach ministries by contributing to the Catholic Appeal.  Many of you have received a letter from Cardinal Seán requesting your participation and early support of the 2024 Appeal.  We hope that you will respond to his invitation with a generous gift, knowing that each contribution has a significant impact on the lives of thousands across the Archdiocese. 


    • Children's Liturgy

      Children's Liturgy for children ages 4 years and older will be at the 10:00 Mass at St. Dorothy Church on March 3 and March 24.

    • Feast of St. Joseph, March 19

      In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Joseph on March 19th, there will be a mass at St. Dorothy's church at 7pm, followed by coffee and refreshments (sponsored by the St. Joseph's Men's Prayer Group of our Parish). Join us in Worship, in fellowship and in honoring St. Joseph

    • Divine Mercy Sunday

      Sunday, April 7, 2024, there will be Adoration and Benediction from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at St. Dorothy Church.  Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed at 3:00pm.


    • Women's Club Activities

      Monday, March 11 at 7:00pm at St. Thomas Church.  Fr Walter will do a presentation on relics of saints.  It should be a very interesting meeting.  Refreshments will follow in the kitchen in the lower level after the presentation.  All women of the parish are invited to attend.


      On April 8 we are having a Flower Bouquet Creation Workshop. Click here for more details.

    • Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowls.

      CRS is the official international Catholic relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Programs involve emergency response, health care, agriculture, education, microfinance and more.  25% of Rice Bowl donations stay in our local diocese. Go to crsricebowl.org to learn more. Rice Bowls are available at the main entrance of the Church and can be returned during Holy Week.


    • Fr. Chris' Ash Wednesday Homily

      Ash Wednesday 2024 (St.Dorothy’s)


      In today’s gospel, Jesus calls us to practices of piety, and gives us indications of HOW we should do and live this time of Lent into which we are entering with today’s Mass.  I even think we could just re-read today’s gospel and it would be better than any homily, because Jesus’ words are very clear.


      40 days (rain, Noah’s ark, Elijah running 40 days fed by crows, Moses fasted praying Mount Horeb, God’s People in the wilderness wandering to purify themselves in search of the Promised Land, and Jesus in the wilderness to prepare for his ministry, for his MISSION!)


      40 days for CONVERSION (Conversion means giving new posture, a new attitude, a new direction to our life and to our hearts.)


      FASTING, which leads me to CHARITY, to help deepen my relationship with God in PRAYER


      For Lent a few years ago, Pope Francis proposed: live an ACTIVE – not passive – lent !!!!! (And I invite you to choose one of these things in each category (F/C/P) for you to practice in this Lent.)


      FASTING: Not eating chocolate cake may help you to learn to resist temptations and stay more in control of your appetites, but THE BEST FASTING would be:

      • Fasting from negative words... and saying kind words.

      • Fasting from discontent... and filling up your day with gratitude.

      • Fasting from anger or being upset... and filling yourself with meekness and patience.

      • Fasting from pessimism... and filling your life with hope and optimism.

      • Fasting from over-worrying about every little thing... and fill with trust in God.

      • Fasting from complaints... and filling yourself with joy at the simple things in life.

      • Fasting from tensions... and filling your existence with prayers.

      • Fasting from bitterness and sorrow... and filling your heart with joy.

      • Fasting from selfishness... and filling your heart with compassion for others.

      • Fasting from lack of forgiveness and hardness of heart... and filling your life with reconciliation.

      • Fasting from words and words and even more words... and filling up with silence to listen to others.


      CHARITY (often referred to as “almsgiving”) : Giving a dollar, 5 dollars or 10 dollars extra as “alms” (or “charity”) in the offertory during Mass can be of great support to your parish, but that by itself will not make you a better Catholic.  Here are 15 simple acts of CHARITY which are healthy and concrete manifestations of love:

      1. Smile, a Christian is always cheerful!

      2. Always say “thank you”, (even though you don’t “need to do it)

      3. Remind “those you live with of how much you love them.

      4. Greet with joy and happiness the people you see every day.

      5. Listen to each other’s story, without judgment, with love.

      6. Stop to help.  Be aware of who needs you.

      7. Cheer someone up.

      8. Recognize each other’s successes and qualities.

      9. Separate what you don’t use and give it to the needy.

      10. Help someone so that he or she can rest.

      11. Correct with love; and don’t stay mute out of fear.

      12. Be delicate with those close to you.

      13. Clean up what you’ve dirtied at home.

      14. Help others to overcome their obstacles and challenges.

      15. Call your parents.


      PRAYER: How good to pray to God who is in Heaven, and how nice to devote more time to this conversation – this encounter! – with a God we cannot see.  But we need not forget that perhaps a form of PRAYER that God asks of us in this Lent would be to find and talk to Him present in those who are:

      -outside of my circle of friends

      -those who have been pushed away because they are “different”

      -those who are frustrated, suffering or sad and needing a friendly face

      -those who have erred and offended me in some way and who now need reconciliation

      -those who are weaker than me

      -those who have ideas, race, age, sex, profession, beliefs, dreams, social situation, finances, and attitudes different from me


      We remember that Lent is the time of “new chances” (new possibilities)... This is God’s invitation to us through the prophet Joel in the first reading — to return to him; now is the “acceptable time” that St Paul speaks of in today’s second reading; and we are invited to live this special time of new possibilities with happiness and careful attention, as Jesus reminded us in the Gospel.


      To accept this new chance, we need to live a conversion of heart (with a new attitude and posture; a new way of seeing, understanding, and acting). 40 days to grow and renew ourselves for our mission.


      What do you choose in order to truly live FASTING?   CHARITY?    PRAYER?


      Lord, we ask you – as in today’s psalm – mercy, for we are all sinners.  Create in us hearts that are pure, give us determination and positive attitudes, confirm in us a generous spirit, and give us joy.    Amen



    • Hallow

      Hallow Holy Day Package

      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

      Share this document with anyone who has questions about the Hallow Holy Day Package and/or how to register. Thank you!



      What’s included in a Hallow Holy Day Package? 

      Access to Hallow subscription

      All parishioners will have the opportunity to access all 10,000+ prayers and meditations until Easter. 

      Yes payment info is needed for the $1 Subscription



      Support team: support@hallow.com

      Access to Hallow’s Parish Success team during business hours, as well as the 24/7 customer service team for individual parishioner account needs.



      Will I auto renew? Will I be charged on Easter Sunday?

      Yes you will auto renew into a 20% discounted 12 month Subscription on Easter Sunday at 11:59 Pm Mountain Time 4/1/24

      To prevent this please after paying for your $1 HDP Subscription, go ahead and cancel your subscription. You can cancel anytime before Easter to avoid being charged (and you will still maintain access until 4/1/24) Please scroll to the bottom of this help article for assistance in canceling a Web Subscription Cancel My Subscription.

      How can parishioners sign up? 

      Start on the Registration Page: hallow.com/holyday

      Type in the name or address of your parish

      Follow the instructions on the screen

      Download the Hallow app from the app store

      Log in with the same email address and password you used to create your account on the registration page (do not click Google/Apple/Phone!!)



      What if I already have a free Hallow Account? 

      Start on the Registration Page: hallow.com/holyday

      Type in the name or address of your parish

      Choose the last option “Already have an account? Log in.”

      Log in using your current email address and password 



      Getting a password error? hdp-forgot pass

      Click this link to reset password: https://hallow.com/portal/#/forgotpass

      Follow the instructions and reset your password. 

      Go back to hallow.com/holyday, click “Already have an account? Log in.” and follow the prompts on the screen. Make sure you log into the app using the same email/password combination you set up! 


      What if I already have a paid Hallow account? 

      That’s great! You can opt into the parish offer at the end of your current subscription, we cannot cancel/refund a partial subscription.



      Who is eligible to set up an account in the parish? 

      Parishioners and staff at the parish are eligible to set up an account.



      What happens after Easter? 

      You will maintain access to all of the permanently free content within Hallow. 

      If you choose to continue with your full subscription to Hallow, you will receive information from the Hallow team on how to do that and will input payment details accordingly.


    • Lent, Holy Week & Easter Schedules

    • TAIZE Prayer Service

      TAIZE Prayer Service 


      Prayer in Song, Word and Silence; Wednesdays  during  Lent.


      Beginning Wednesday, February 21st  at 6:30pm and every Wednesday throughout Lent at St. Dorothy Church 


      ALL ARE WELCOME!

        

      For more information please 

      see Fr Chris  or Joe Tardif


    • Lenten Faith Sharing/Bible Study

      Our parish will be offering a five week Lenten Faith Sharing / Bible Study program that will run through  Lent.  Small groups will meet once a week for five weeks, focusing on the kerygma, the basic proclamation of the Gospel, and culminate with a deepening of our commitment to Jesus Christ and his Gospel.


      Join Deacon Fred O'Brien and others in fellowship as we walk together with Our Lord this Lenten season.  Jesus is inviting you to share yourself as a gift within His body and to receive his blessings that will be poured out through his body, the People of God. 


      If interested please send an email to Deacon O'Brien at:  Deaconfred@parishofthetransfiguration.org with your name and contact information or call him at 978-382-7935.

        


    • Grand Annual Letter

    • Socks

      For the Month of November the Women’s Club will be collecting new socks for Helpis (Help me help someone, Inc.)

      HMHS is a social Network that promotes and encourages kind and charitable deeds. One of the many different things they do is to collect socks for the homeless, children in hospitals and shelters, veterans etc, the list is endless. They are in need of all size socks for both male and female.  Any way you could help support this organization would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you in advance. 

      There will be boxes at the back of each church and the CCD office where you will be able to leave the socks.   If you have any questions feel free to call Kathy Catanzano @ 978-658-9189 or Diane Ward 978-658-5697


    • Parish Volunteers

      A CORI FORM must be completed EVERY YEAR BY ALL VOLUNTEERS,  The new year began July 1, 2023 and will continue through June 30, 2024  


      NEW (FY) 24 CORI FORMS are available in the sacristy of both churches and at the Parish Office.   


      A Code of Conduct will be given to All New volunteers when the Cori is returned to be verified. 


      Again all volunteers must complete a CORI background screening prior to beginning ministry and annually after that. 


      All Adult Volunteers who may be around youth, including all those in worship ministry, must complete a Protecting God’s Children training.  This is a one time training.  If you have never attending one you must do so to continue your ministry. 


      A Class will be held AFTER THE 9:00AM MASS Wednesday, Sept 6th in The Downstairs of St. Dorothy Church.  


      There  is a sign up sheet in the back of the Church or sign up by going to the www.VIRTUSonline.org  

      Any questions please call the Offices 


    • Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

    • First Friday Visits

    • Faith Formation Registration

      Faith Formation Registration is now open for 2023-2024. You can find the registration form/link on our website: parishofthetransfiguration.org, click the Faith formation tab. We also offer an adaptive faith formation class for students that need more assistance in the classroom. We also offer a heritage faith formation session class for students that have missed 1 or more years of faith formation and would like to return. If you have any question please email jeaniep@parishofthetransfiguration.org or call 978-658-6040.

    • Cursillo

    • iThirst Recovery

      Looking for spiritual help and support from addiction? Click here to learn more.

    • Men's Prayer Group

      SATURDAY MORNING MEN'S PRAYER GROUP MEETING. Click here to learn more.

    • Catholic TV Daily & Sunday Mass

      CATHOLIC TV DAILY AND SUNDAY MASS


      Cardinal Seán encourages Catholics to participate in the daily and Sunday Masses broadcast from the CatholicTV chapel.


      • Daily Mass airs live at 9:30am and is rebroadcast at 7pm and 11:30pm.
      • Sunday Masses air throughout the day at 10am, 4pm, 7pm, and 11:30pm.
      • The Sunday Spanish Mass airs live at 8am and is rebroadcast at 5:30pm and 10pm.

      Viewers can watch these Masses on demand at any time at www.WatchtheMass.com. For more information about CatholicTV and where you can watch it, visit http://www.catholictv.org/.


      WCTV also publishes Mass from the Parish of theTransfiguration at 9:15am and 2:45pm on channels Comcast 6 and Verizon 39 and at 10:30am on channels Comcast 9 and Verizon 37.  These times are all on Sunday, and the Mass continues to be one week behind


    • Pray for Ukraine

      Forgive us for the war, Lord. Lord Jesus, son of God, have mercy on us sinners. Lord Jesus, born under the bombs of Kyiv, have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, dead in the arms of a mother in Kharkiv, have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, in the 20-year-olds sent to the frontline, have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, who continues to see hands armed with weapons under the shadow of the cross, forgive us, Lord. Forgive us if, not content with the nails with which we pierced your hand, we continue to drink from the blood of the dead torn apart by weapons. Forgive us if these hands that you had created to protect have been turned into instruments of death. Forgive us, Lord, if we continue to kill our brother. Forgive us, Lord, if we continue to kill our brother, if we continue like Cain to take the stones from our field to kill Abel. Forgive us if we go out of our way to justify cruelty, if, in our pain, we legitimize the cruelty of our actions. Forgive us the war, Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, we implore you to stop the hand of Cain, enlighten our conscience, let not our will be done, do not abandon us to our own doing. Stop us, Lord, stop us, and when you have stopped the hand of Cain, take care of him also. He is our brother. O Lord, stop the violence. Stop us, Lord. Amen.          Pope Francis

    And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
    Matthew 28: 18-20 (RSV-CE)

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