Many thanks to all who have increased their donations since we started our increased offertory campaign last November. Additionally, thanks to all who contributed thus far to our Grand Annual collection which started the first week of December. As noted in the bulletin, so far we have collected $51,846.00 in the Grand Annual Collection toward a goal of $70,000.

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This coming week, Deacon Nico Lariossa will be returning to his native Australia to complete his final months of formation prior to being ordained a priest for the Society of Jesus this Spring. We have appreciated his friendly presence among us as he completed his pastoral field education at St. Columbkille’s.

Deacon Nico belongs to the Austrailian Province of the Society of Jesus and will be serving the Church there as a priest. We wish him well and promise to keep him in our prayers during the next few months.

A Big Thank You to the members of the Hispanic Community who worked so hard last Saturday to clean the lower church and sacristy.

Our parish grand annual collection, which is the largest single source of income for our parish, continues. You should have received literature in the mail relative to the collection. Please be as generous as your means will allow. If you did not receive information in the mail there are envelopes at the bookracks at the back of the church.

Muchísimas gracias a los miembros de la comunidad hispana que trabajaron tan duro el sábado pasado para limpiar la iglesia inferior y la sacristía.

Nuestra gran colección anual parroquial, que es la mayor fuente de ingresos para nuestra parroquia, continúa. Debería haber recibido literatura por correo en relación con la colección. Por favor sea tan generoso como lo permitan sus medios. Si no recibió información por correo, hay sobres en los estantes de libros en la parte posterior de la iglesia.

I recently was informed that Cardinal Sean O’Malley has appointed me as Vicar Forane for Vicariate IV of the Central Region of the Archdiocese, effective October 1, 2017. What does this mean? A Vicar Forane has the responsibility for assisting the Cardinal and the Regional Bishop in the administration of a certain section of one of the Archdiocesan Regions. In this case, Vicariate IV of the Central Region covers Brighton, Allston, Cambridge, and Somerville. The vicar holds monthly meetings with the priests of the Vicariate to discuss various Archdiocesan issues, programs, and pastoral concerns. The Vicar at times is required to attend meetings and functions at any of the parishes and to act as an intermediary on issues when necessary. I ask for your prayers and support as I take on this additional responsibility.

Deacon Ed Casey who is at Pope Saint John XXIII Seminary in Weston (seminary for second career vocations) and is a candidate for the priesthood for the Diocese of Scranton in Pennsylvania will be coming to our parish on weekends for his field placement assignment. Deacon Ed was a social worker for Catholic Charities in the Scranton area for many years and looks forward to being with us. If all goes well, he will be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Scranton next year. So you won’t get him mixed up with the two Jesuit Deacons who are with us this year, Deacon Ed will be the older looking one!!!

“We are Saint Columbkille Parish, a community of faith celebrating Christ’s presence in us through the Eucharist, the other sacraments and the preaching of the word of God. To be true to the Gospel we must live our faith every day, responding to our call to holiness by caring for, encouraging and strengthening each other.”

This week I received an official letter from Cardinal Sean O’ Malley informing the parish that he is appointing Fr. Christopher Bae as a parochial vicar at the parish effective September 1. It is a tribute to the parish that Cardinal Sean wishes to assign him to Saint Columbkille’s.

Fr. Chris was ordained for the Archdiocese of Boston in 2016. He will be physically moving into the rectory on Wednesday, September 6. Fr. Chris was born in Korea and grew up in California as a teenager attending college at UCLA and then coming to New England for a Masters Degree at MIT where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. Fr. Chris will be involved in the varied ministerial activities of the parish, including taking some courses to become fluent in Spanish. We welcome him to the Saint Columbkille Parish family.

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On Sat, Sep 2, at Saint Ignatius Church in Newton, Jesuit Seminarians who will be entering their last year of Seminary formation will be ordained Transitional Deacons with the prospect of being ordained Priests sometime next Spring or Summer. Two of the new deacons will be assigned on a limited basis at Saint Columbkille Parish.

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On August 4 we expect to welcome Fr. Dominic Le, a priest from Viet Nam who will be pursuing a PhD in Philosophy at Boston College. Like Fr. Sau Phung, who left us last month, he will be a priest in residence pursuing higher studies, helping to celebrate Mass with us once or twice a week. I am sure he will receive the usual fine St. Columbkille greeting as other priests have received in the past.

Fr. Fitz

“We are Saint Columbkille Parish, a community of faith celebrating Christ’s presence in us through the Eucharist, the other sacraments and the preaching of the word of God. To be true to the Gospel we must live our faith every day, responding to our call to holiness by caring for, encouraging and strengthening each other.”

May is the month of our Blessed Mother. Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers in our parish. Thank You to all who worked so hard to make the beautiful flowers for the women of the parish for Mother’s Day. Please join us for our school May Procession on Tue, May 16 at 10:15am on Leicester Street and ending on the field.