In four short weeks, on Saturday, May 21 at 9:00 am Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Deacon Tom Olson along with eight other men will be ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ by Cardinal Sean O'Malley. As you know, Tom has been assigned to Saint Columbkille Parish as a seminarian, initially in formation to be a Jesuit Priest, but for the past two years to be ordained a Priest for the Archdiocese of Boston. Here at Saint Columkille's we have been on Tom's vocational journey as he has grown in wisdom and Spirit. His ordination is a celebration of faith and perseverance for himself, his family, and also for the parish.

The 2016 Catholic Appeal campaign is off to a wonderful start! We have $36,036.00 already pledged. This is 89% toward our goal of $40,515.00. The early outpouring of support from so many helps sustain the important ministries that make Saint Columbkille Parish a vibrant place of worship. If you have yet to give, please pick up a pledge form at the back of the church or visit bostoncatholicappeal.org. Thank you for your prayers and support.

This collection supported the health and well-being of our 614 active and senior diocesan priests. Thanks to your generosity, our parish raised $11,425.00 in support of all our priests who faithfully serve our Catholic family in the Archdiocese of Boston. Our parish contribution will have a significantimpact on the quality of life programs we are able toprovide for our priests. If you were out of town thispast weekend, or did not have the opportunity to participate, you are welcome to make a gift online atclergyfunds.org or simply text PRIEST to 56512(msg. & data rates may apply). On behalf of all ourpriests, thank you for your generous support of theClergy Health and Retirement Trust.

A very Happy and Blessed Easter to all of our parishioners and their families and to our friends and benefactors of the parish!

Next week’s Easter collection is for our priests. The Clergy Health and Retirement Trust cares for the health and well-being of our 614 active and senior priests in our Archdiocese, ensuring an appropriate level of care and quality of life for the men who have dedicated their lives in service to the Church of Boston. Our priests are there for us. Now, it is our turn to care for them. Please give generously to the collection next week using the envelopes that will be provided. You also can make your gift online at clergyfunds.org, or simply text PRIEST to 56512 (msg. & data rates may apply). Thank you in advance for your prayers and generous support of our priests.

Wed, Mar 16, 7:30-8:30pm, upper church.
Open to all! Confession will also be available. Eucharistic Adoration occurs once per month on each month’s third Wednesday. Each month’s Adoration includes prayers and intentions that correspond to a particular theme, many of which are related to Catholic Social Teaching. March’s theme is the Church’s “option for the poor and vulnerable.”

This week, Catholics across the Archdiocese are invited to pledge their support to the ministries funded by the Catholic Appeal. If you were unable to make your pledge at Mass, please take a pledge form from the back of the church or pledge online at bostoncatholicappeal.org. Thank you for your prayers for a successful Catholic Appeal.

This Weekend the second collection is being taken up to help defray the costs incurred due to winter expenses. Winter expenses not only include plowing and heating bills, but also maintenance and repair of our church and rectory heating systems. For example, just last month on the heating system we had to replace five steam valves which had worn out (one of them actually burst).

Next Weekend the second collection is being taken up to help defray the costs incurred due to winter expenses. Winter expenses not only include plowing and heating bills, but also maintenance and repair of our church and rectory heating systems. For example, just last month on the heating system we had to replace five steam valves which had worn out (one of them actually burst).

Now that we are at the first Sunday of Lent, maybe some of you, like me, have to keep reminding ourselves of the resolves we have made to grow closer to God during this holy and penitential season. Traditionally, the forty days of Lent is a time to reflect on the Stations of the Cross, picturing ourselves at the various scenes wondering how we would have reacted to Jesus at the various steps along the road to Calvary. Would we have mocked Him? Would we have helped Him carry His cross? How grateful we should be that we have heard the gospel message that tells us that “God so loved the world that he gave us His only begotten Son”.

It is hard to believe that Lent is upon us, but since Easter is early this year (March 27) Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday, February 10. The rules for fasting and abstinence from meat are noted in our bulletin. Recently, I read an article from long ago about the physical benefits of fasting which is often recommended in the bible from a spiritual perspective. Dr. Paul Dudley White was a famous heart specialist in the 1950's and 60's. He was famous for treating President Eisenhower (1952-60) when he had a heart attack during his presidency.