Holy Mass Schedule
(Winter schedule)
St. Augustine’s Church
Saturday 4:00 pm
7:00 pm (in Portuguese)
Sunday 9:00 am and 11:00 am
St. Elizabeth’s Church
closed 11/30/24 for repairs
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church
closed for the season
Daily Mass
Monday – Friday
8:00 am St. Elizabeth’s Church, EDG;
starting 12/2/24 at St. Augustine’s Church, VH
First Fridays/Saturdays
8:00 am Masses St. Augustine’s Church, VH; followed by the Rosary and Confession 8:30-9:00 am
After First Friday Mass, 24 Hour Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in the Chapel 9:00 am – 9:00 am
First Fridays: 7:00 pm Mass (Portuguese) at St. Augustine’s Church
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Mon-Fri 8:30-9:00 am (St. Augustine’s Church); Saturday 3:00 pm (St. Augustine’s); First Fridays/Saturdays 8:30-9:00 am (St. Augustine’s)
Mark your calendars for our annual Christmas Tea Raffle and Fundraiser to be held Sunday, Dec. 8th at St. A’s hall from 1-4 pm.
Raffle tickets have been mailed out to registered families for this year’s big raffle, called the Love of Cooking: KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (White) w/many accessories valued at $480.
Please consider donating to our Basket Raffle!
It is time to start gathering your items to make up your theme baskets. Already made up theme baskets are greatly appreciated! Suggestions: Sweet Dreams – Movie Madness – Sports Buff – Baking – Nautical – Wake up with Coffee/Tea – Baby Items – Car Detail – Blankets/Pillows – Chocolate – Italian Night Out – Games Galore – Animals – Christmas – Mani/Pedi – Any other ideas for Men, Women, Children & Pets, Gift Certificates, hand-made items, crafts and non-perishable food items.
Please call the office with any questions.
Donation drop offs should be during regular business hours.
Please bring to us no later than December 4th.
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An Invitation That Never Ends! Have you been worshiping with us, but never officially taken the step to become Catholic? Have you been away from the Church, and have now returned, but want to know more? Have you been a Catholic all your life, but never celebrated all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)? Have you joined us from a different background and would like to find out more about the Catholic Church?
If you (“or someone you know”) answers YES to any of these questions, you are invited to find out more through the process called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). It is a journey that begins with your questions. We look forward to welcoming you!
We are using the newly revised series Symbolon: The Faith of the Church put out by the Augustine Institute. Unlock the profound beauty and depth of the Catholic faith by joining us on a transformative journey across America, delving into Catholicism’s rich history, core teachings, and spiritual practices. Guided by the Creed, it explores everything from the sacraments to inspiring saintly stories, empowering you to understand, live, and share your faith confidently.
The 16-episode series is available on http://formed.org and we have participant workbooks available at the parish office. Our RCIA team is Esther Deming, Sergio Racigh and Sue Pagliccia. To register, or for more information, please contact the Parish Office at 508-693-0342 or speak with a team member.
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Capital Improvements Update
Fundraising Letter from our Pastor
Our 3 Summer Fundraising Events took in $44,913 (after all expenses)
Anonymous Donor $25,000
Anonymous Donor $30,000
Additional Donations $23,646
Total collected so far = $123,559
In our Lobster Roll Donation Letter sent out in June (above) we requested a need in funds amounting to $129,000 for two projects: St. Augustine’s Church – Three New Flat Roofs, and St. Elizabeth’s Church – Replacement of the Flooring with Asbestos Removal. For Good Shepherd Parish to meet this goal, we are still in need of roughly $5,500. The roofing project is completed; the flooring work will begin in December. If you can help us to meet this goal it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Financial Support for the Hospitaller Sisters of Mercy & the O’Connell House
The Freedom Gala 2024 Fundraiser will be December 4th, 2024 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Cocktail Reception, Dinner, Guest speaker, Awards and Harry returns as auctioneer! All proceeds benefit their safe house. Location: Boston Newton Marriott, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA 02466. They have reserved a block of rooms for attendees, please contact the Boston Newton Marriott and mention The O’Connell House event!
This is the first 13-room residence in MA which provides comprehensive services to women who have been sex trafficked. These women may be pregnant and/or have a small child. It is a place where dignity will be restored and healing can occur. The unique 24/7 “Sister Care Model” delivers trauma-informed care which supports their complex needs with compassion, while being the loving nurturing presence the women so desperately need. Visit their website: http://theoconnellhouse.org or follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOConnellHouseMA
Checks can be made out to The O’Connell House, Inc. and mail to: The O’Connell House, P.O. Box 9568, Lowell, MA. 01853.
Please keep them and all victims of human trafficking in your daily prayers!
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October 12/13, 2024 a Special Second Collection at all Masses was for victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton
A total of $4,743 has been sent from our parish. Thank you for your generosity!
Bishop da Cunha has authorized this diocesan collection through the official domestic disaster relief agency of the Catholic Church in the US. Donations can also be made directly to Catholic Charities at https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/?form=helene&utm_campaign=20240924_00216_HeleneMedia&utm_medium=media&utm_source=website&utm_content=disaster
Visit their website for more information https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ The agency reports that 100% of donations go to helping those affected by these disasters. Thank you for sending hope.
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Prayer for Priests – St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Join us every Thursday in praying for priests.
Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
for your unfaithful and tepid priests;
for your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields;
for your tempted priests;
for your lonely and desolate priests;
for your young priests;
for your dying priests;
for the souls of your priests in Purgatory.
But above all, I recommend to you the priests dearest to me:
the priest who baptized me;
the priests who’ve absolved me from my sins;
the priests at whose Masses I’ve assisted and who’ve given me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;
the priests who’ve taught and instructed me;
all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way, especially our pastor Fr. Paul, Fr. Edivar, & all priests who have served on Martha’s Vineyard.
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.
Amen.
Mission Statement
Knowing that all things in this world are gifts of God, presented to us so that we can know God more easily and make a return of love more readily; recognizing God as the Origin of Life, the giver of freedom and the source of all that we have and are and will be; knowing ourselves to be recipients and caretakers of God’s many gifts; grateful for all that we have received; eager to cultivate our gifts out of love for God and one another. The Mission of the Good Shepherd Parish is to give witness and to celebrate the Risen Christ’s Presence in the life of each person.
Parish Prayer
God, our Father, bless our Parish of the Good Shepherd. Help us to welcome all who come to worship, adore and praise You, the One true God and Father of us all.
Jesus, be with us, as we celebrate your life, death and resurrection in Word and Sacrament. Holy Spirit, fill our parish family with your love. Help us to love one another in our parish and in our family. Guide us in your holy will for the present and the future of our Parish of the Good Shepherd. AMEN.
Vision Statement
We have a fruitful past, a challenging present and a hopeful future.
We invite all our island parishioners, year round and summer, to recommit themselves to being disciples of Jesus Christ.
We see our future as offering a stronger community presence, closer unity, and greater strength and dynamic growth in a living faith.
Our Presence will be in vibrant lay participation joining with the service of our pastor and support staff.
Our Unity will be celebrated in our communal gatherings in settings appropriate to our diverse liturgical, educational and social needs.
Our Strength will come from the sharing of time, talent and treasure of parishioners of varied age, residence and background.
Our Growth will come through embracing change and through participation in our challenging ministries.
As a Parish, we will prayerfully and joyously serve our island community, following the example and command of Jesus, The Good Shepherd.
