Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
We extend a special welcome to everyone visiting the Shrine for the first time.
Telephone: 617-542-6440
Prayer Request Line: 617-553-4100
The Good Word: 617-542-0502
Text-to-Give text “DONATE” to: 617-712-2233
Sunday, December 24, 2017
The Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas
Circumstances here in Boston and the Church calendar have come together to create quite an odd juxtaposition of
emotions for us. The death of Cardinal Law recalls for us a time of great sadness, hurt and anger for the faithful in
Boston. To the degree that the Church hasn’t dealt with these issues well, those feelings will continue to linger. All
of us in the Church need to help victims of abuse whenever and wherever we can.
In 2014, the Shrine established the New Beginnings Ministry as an option for hope and recovery for people who have
been sexually abused. We realize that the recent news of Cardinal Bernard Law’s death could open old wounds or
create new ones. We invite people who have been victimized by any sexual abuse to explore the New Beginnings
Ministry. The New Beginnings Ministry is a group of men and women of all ages and backgrounds who have formed
a supportive community to pursue healing and recovery. If you are interested in finding our more about this group,
please contact Mr. David Nolan at newbeginnings@stanthonyshrine.org or
Sometimes people who have experienced abuse can benefit from spiritual direction, counseling, or addiction recovery
programs. The Shrine has those programs as well. The fact is that, with enough love and concern and prayers, people
who have experienced abuse can heal and be made whole again. It is possible that the Shrine will have new
opportunities to help people who have suffered abuse. We are open to those conversations.
Against that backdrop, the Church calendar calls us to celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas. These
celebrations call us in a dramatically different direction. Through these celebrations, we are called toward hope, love,
mystery, wonder, a baby, and the remarkable religious fact of God becoming human out of love for humanity.
I might suggest that this Christmas in Boston is a unique time and place to ponder such profoundly Catholic themes
as death-to-resurrection, last-shall-be-first, and protection-of the-vulnerable. May you and your family and friends
experience the wonder, mystery and joy of this holy season. Please know of the prayers and best wishes of the
Shrine’s friars. Merry Christmas!
Boston Herald
City of Boston
Cummings Foundation
EM Duggan
Harvard University
Petali flowers
Piantedosi Bakery
Roche Brothers
Saintly Solutions
Sysco
TeamLogic IT
US Foods