This weekend at Mass, Father Joy welcomes and presents Father Lorm to the congregation. He has been assigned to St. Angela’s Mattapan and to St. Gregory’s Dorchester Parishes. He resides here.

Father Lorm comes to us from St. Mary’s  Parish (Fr. Byan L. Flynn, Pastor) of Lynn, MA where he was Parochial Vicar, member of the Parish Council, recognized for his contribution to the Parish Youth Ministry.

He is the coordinator of the Haitian Apostolate in the Archdiocese of Boston. He’s serving the Boston Catholic Community for more than 12 years. Father Lorm is a close friend to Father Jean Gabriel Charles. We’ve had the privilege to know him at St. Matthew’s Dorchester where he comes regularly to visit Father Charles and Father Joy weekly. He is well known for his jovial and quiet and humble character.

He leads a ministry at St. Ann’s Parish in Somerville and preached several spiritual retreats here at St. Angela’s Parish in Mattapan.

In the Summer of 2011, the Boston Catholic Community, the National Center of Haitian Apostolate (SNAA.org), Bishop Guy Sansaricq, Father Yvon Pierre, Sister Catherine Desmarattes FDM, and Father Jean Gabriel Charles gave a vibrant homage to Father Lormeus for his twenty fifth anniversary of his sacerdotal life.

At the occasion of Fr. Lorm’s Silver Jubilee, Bother Buteau of the SNAA wrote:

“We have always to remember that we are not born saint we strive to become a Saint. That is why Jesus Christ’s Church is a great hospital for sinners.

We truly think that the lay people have the mission to accompany our beloved priests and always show them that we really want to support them in their ministry.

Nobody can imagine a church without priests even [when] they represent less one percent of the people of God.

The priest is a missionary who comes for a certain time to serve a community of faith but he has to leave one day but the community is condemned to stay together. So the leaders have always to prove that they want to be a witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ by their love, sacrifice spirit, solidarity for each other and their vision to bring their community together.”

Read more.

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Our pastor – Father Bill Joy – announces and we joyfully join him to welcome Rev. Father Gabriel Lormeus to St. Angela’s Parish where he resides.

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Father Lorm, you are not a stranger please make yourself at home.

We love you here!

In communion with our pastor – Father Bill Joy, we are ceaselessly praying that Jesus-Christ blesses and favors you and makes your ministry enjoyable while you do His Works for His Church.

Father Lorm can be reached at 617-298-0080 Ext. 214. or glormeus@StAngelaParish.org

Welcome!

Many in our community have been physically scarred. Some have lost their lives. All of us have been emotionally scarred. As more and more information emerges more and more questions will arise. The usual questions of who, what, when, where, how will be there. The question that will haunt us will be why? How could two human beings be so callous and knowingly maim and kill their innocent brothers and sisters? How could such evil intent enter the minds of individuals?  After the initial killings what drove the two brothers to continue the slaughter?

Alongside this behavior we saw the heroic, loving and caring responses of so many of our fellow citizens and neighbors. Maybe the two young men did not see the other people on Boylston Street as brothers and sisters. How could people live in our community for so long and yet see the world and their neighbors so differently?

In today’s Gospel the scene of the Last Supper reflects some of our own reality. Judas is not there. He has left the table, He is about to act with deliberate selfish, greedy murderous intent. He is about to take the life of an innocent victim. Someone he has lived and traveled with. It is at this meal that Jesus gives His Apostles and us his New Commandment: To love one another. Judas never understood the message. He hardened his heart.

We live in a world where people’s hearts can still be hardened. Jesus challenges us more than ever to love one another as He loved us. Let us pray that our hearts are not hardened by the often callous and Godless world of our secular society. The Acts of the Apostles, which we read during the Easter Season, is the story of the Apostles and the early Church living out Jesus’ Command: To love one another. They did not allow their hearts to harden. Let us follow their example and bring the love of Christ into our city and world.

Fr. Joy

MEJ – MOUVEMENT EUCHARISTIC DES JEUNES OF ST MATTHEW’S will celebrate their 24th Anniversary at the 11AM Mass at St. Matthew’s Dorchester next Sunday 5 May 2013. The following Saturday 11 May 2013, they are inviting you to a cultural night of festivities that include folkloric dances, songs, poems, live music and refreshment. Click here for more details about MEJ – Mouvement Eucharistic Des Jeunes. Contact Jovenel Alphonse at 617-436-3590 or 617-298-0080.

We are happy to wish Echo Des Jeunes Parish youth group of St Angela a blessed fourth anniversary.

Echo Des Jeunes is one of the youth groups of St. Angela’s Parish that ministers to youth from twelve-years old and up.

In addition to numerous pastoral, liturgical, social and cultural activities, the group prepares and sings as our youth choir at the Sundays Afternoon Mass every fourth Sunday of the month, and also at weddings and funerals Masses.

Echo Des Jeunes of St. Angela’s

As a token of our appreciation, we are organizing a T-Shirt Drive Fundraising to help the group with their church ministry. The T-Shirts are designed and provided by Imani Expressions T-Shirts. All benefits will be given to our pastor – Rev. Father Bill Joy – for Echo Des Jeunes. Contact Fr. Joy, members of Echo Des Jeunes, Karm or Williana at 617-447-8094 for additional information about this fundraising. ‘Echo Des Jeunes’ Youth Group will celebrate their fourth anniversary on Sunday 26 May 2013 at the Sunday Afternoon Mass.

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter – as well known as “The Good Shepherd Sunday”, our pastor has special words for us: a few words of comfort to reassure us and to pray with us so that The Father “… delivers us from evil.”

Father Joy spoke in reference to the recent bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line last week.

He asks us to display gratitude to hospital professionals and police officers who courageously provide their services diligently at the time of tragedy.  Finally, he invites us to fulfill our civic duties next week at the special senatorial elections in the State of Massachusetts.

Click the play button in our podcast to listen to Father Joy again.

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Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus said:

“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

No one can take them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.

The Father and I are one.”

(Gospel John 10v27-30)

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Dear Parishioners:

I am sure we are all shocked and saddened at the events of yesterday at the Boston Marathon. This is a time to mourn, to pray, and to be strong in our faith. We mourn for those who were killed and their families. Our prayers and support go out to all those who were injured.

Please pray especially for Jean Lucien Daniels, our Haitian music director and his family. They received news last night that his daughter-law lost a leg in the bombing. The eight year old boy who was killed was a member of St. Ann Parish, Dorchester and spent years K1 and K2 at Pope John Paul II Academy and just last year received his First Communion.

As Catholics we hold the sanctity of life as the highest priority. No political or personal agenda can justify the taking of innocent human life. Yesterday’s events bring out the best and the worse of human nature. The worst is the selfish inhumane actions that lead to violent death. The best being the unselfish heroism of those who ran immediately to assist strangers in need.

In the next few days we will hear stories of the generous spontaneous courage of those who raced to care for the wounded and stranded. This latter example is the reality of who we are. Do not allow these tragic and evil actions of one or a few deter us from resolve to do what is good and caring.

As Catholics we are called upon to bring the Light of Christ into the world. Now is the time for us to do that in the City of Boston. Let us pray for the victims and their families. Let us also pray for the first- responders and care givers whose lights shone yesterday.

May God bless all of us and the United States of America.

 Father Joy

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[RELATED :  Cardinal Seán O'Malley's statement on Boston Marathon Bombings- Monday, April 15, 2013]

[RELATED: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia - 2013 Boston Marathon bombings]

Our Pastor – Rev. Father William P. Joy – is deeply sadden by yesterday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon near the finish line, which caused the death of three (3) people and seriously injured more than a hundred  (140+) others.

He offers his prayers for the families affected by this tragedy, our city of Boston, our country and the whole world; and asks both parishes – St. Matthew’s Dorchester and St. Angela’s Mattapan – and our all church ministries to pray for healing and for peace in our parishes, city, the country and the whole world.

Yesterday, our Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley released this statement in response to the explosions in Boston:

The Archdiocese of Boston joins all people of good will in expressing deep sorrow following the senseless acts of violence perpetrated at the Boston Marathon today.  Our prayers and concern are with so many who experienced the trauma of these acts, most especially the loved ones of those who lives were lost and those who were injured, and the injured themselves.

The citizens of the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are blessed by the bravery and heroism of many, particularly the men and women of the police and fire departments and emergency services who responded within moments of these tragic events.  Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino and Police Commissioner Davis are providing the leadership that will see us through this most difficult time and ensure that proper procedures are followed to protect the public safety.

In the midst of the darkness of this tragedy we turn to the light of Jesus Christ, the light that was evident in the lives of people who immediately turned to help those in need today.  We stand in solidarity with our ecumenical and interfaith colleagues in the commitment to witness the greater power of good in our society and to work together for healing.

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This morning, Vatican sent a telegram on behalf of Pope Francis I to our Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, in response to yesterday’s bombings.  Pope Francis invokes peace for the souls of the departed, consolation for the suffering and strength for emergency and medical personnel.  Here is the text of the telegram – just released today Tuesday 16 April 2013:

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His Eminence Cardinal Sean O’Malley

Archbishop of Boston

Deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of violence perpetrated last evening in Boston, His Holiness Pope Francis wishes me to assure you of his sympathy and closeness in prayer. In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy, His Holiness invokes God’s peace upon the dead, his consolation upon the suffering and his strength upon all those engaged in the continuing work of relief and response. At this time of mourning the Holy Father prays that all Bostonians will be united in a resolve not to be overcome by evil, but to combat evil with good (cf. Rom 12:21), working together to build an ever more just, free and secure society for generations yet to come.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
Secretary of State

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Bombings at the Boston Marathon on 15 April 2013. Photo credit: The Catholic World Report

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Via Vatican Radio today, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a separate statement after the bombings in Boston to “remind us all that evil exists“ [link].

In today’s Scripture – Acts 7:51-8:1a, we see how Stephen (Saint) reacts in the face of evil by offering love and forgiveness to his enemies who “threw him out of the city, and began to stone him” to death:

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.“

Likewise, Jesus-Christ’s first words on the Cross was:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” – Luke 23:34

It is precisely on the Cross of Jesus-Christ, on Good Friday that good and  evil, hate and forgiveness converge together.  It is there precisely that hate is overcome by forgiveness; and  evil is overcome by good.

Don’t let evil overcome you. Overcome with forgiveness and with good.

Saul who “was consenting to the execution” of Stephen, later had a change of heart and turn away from evil, hate and violence to become a disciple of Christ and to do good.

Peace and love in Christ Jesus.

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[RELATED :  Cardinal Seán O'Malley's statement on Boston Marathon Bombings- Monday, April 15, 2013]

[RELATED: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia - 2013 Boston Marathon bombings]