Estoy contento anunciar que la Campaña Capital ya ha llegado a más de un millón de dólares. Es buena noticia al terminar la ultima semana de la campaña formal. Con este nivel de apoyo, podemos llevar a cabo muchas metas de la campaña: saldar la deuda parroquia (calentones, lote, techos, etc.), renovar el primer piso de la escuela (nivel de la calle), reparaciones dentro de la iglesia y Casa Ailbe. Al mismo tiempo todavía tenemos otros proyectos identificados (especialmente en relación al estacionamiento) por los cuales continuamos recaudando fondos hasta llegar a la meta total de un millón y medio de dólares. Hemos recibido respuestas de casi 30% de la parroquia, pero se que unos están esperando sus impuestos, donaciones parejas y otras consideraciones, antes de hacer el compromiso. Además, hay grupos dentro de la parroquia que han expresado interés en seguir el ejemplo los grupos apostólicos hispanos aceptando unos proyectos especificaos para recaudar fondos para la Campaña. Este jueves daré un reporte más detallado a los Presidentes de la Campaña y el Consejo Parroquia. Si Vd. tiene una pregunta especifica, no duda en hablar conmigo, el diacono Abel, Padre Ramón u otro miembro del equipo parroquial.

Este domingo comenzamos patrullas de seguridad en el estacionamiento. Nuestra meta es proteger a las personas que viene a Holy Family. Si Vd. ve a alguien que esta haciendo algo sospecho (robos, vandalismo, drogas) favor de llamar a 911 immediatemente. Si Vd. puede ayudarnos en patrullar favor de hablar con el Diácono Abel o con la Srta. Rosa Velasco.

La procesión del Domingo de Ramos iniciará ante la Ailbe House. Nos reuniremos a las 12:45 para la bendicion de palmas y anuncio del evangelio. La misa comenzará a la 1 p.m. en el templo.

Todavía hay copias del libro Puro Amor. Muchos de Uds. lo han comprado y saben que es un librito excelente. Esta de venta en la sacristía y la entrada (Roxbury) por solamente dos dólares.

Aviso: Cualquier carro en nuestro estacionamiento que bloquee otro carro o estacionamientos sin marque será sujeto a remolque. Se pondrá en práctica el Domingo de Ramos y los domingos siguientes. Habrá voluntarios yendo por el estacionamiento para asegurar que ningún carro esté bloqueando otro. Si Vd. encuentre un carro bloqueando el suyo, se puede llamar a la compañía de remolque indicada en los avisos.

I am happy to announce that our Capital Campaign has now exceeded one million dollars in pledges. This is wonderful news as we complete the final week of the formal campaign. With this level of support we will be able to achieve many of the goals of the campaign: paying off most of the parish debt (boilers, Bradley lot, roofs, etc.) renovating the ground floor of the school, repairs inside the church and Ailbe House. At the same time, we do have other identified projects (especially in relation to our parking lot) for which we will continue fund raising until we meet the overall goal of $1.5 million. We have heard back from about 30% of our parish, but I know that others are waiting for income tax returns, matching funds and other considerations, before making their pledge. Also, other groups within the parish have expressed an interest in following the example of various Hispanic apostolic groups by taking on a specific fund raising project for the Campaign. This Thursday I will give a more detailed report to our Campaign Chairs and Parish Council. If you have a specific question, please do not hesitate to speak to me, Fr. Ramon, Deacon Ted, Tom Weber, Steve Morissette or other member of our parish staff.

This Sunday we are beginning security patrols of our parking area. As the weather gets better, it sometimes brings people who do not come to pray, but to prey on others. Our volunteer security patrols will be on the look out for anyone who might attempt to break into a car or otherwise steal or vandalize. Our principal goal is to protect every person who comes to Holy Family Parish. To do that, we need to catch those engaged in stealing, vandalism, drugs or other illegal activity. If you see someone engaged in suspicious activity, do not hesitate to call 911. Also, if you can volunteer an hour or more to help out with patrolling on Sunday mornings (or Saturday evenings) please contact Tom Weber or Rosa Velasco. We also need additional volunteers who can help carry out regular usher duties inside our church.

Next Sunday we begin Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday. We will have processions before the 8am and 12:30pm (1pm on Palm Sunday) Masses. The procession before the 8am Mass will begin at 7:45 in front of the Ailbe House. The blessing of palms will take place on the steps and we will process with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to the church. For those who remain in the church, please have your palms ready for the blessing as the procession enters the church.

Last weekend we sold quite a number of the Pure Love booklets as well as the Catholic Answer tracts. I will place five more of the tracts in our pamphlet rack:

The Old Testament Canon: “During the Reformation, primarily for doctrinal reasons, Protestants removed seven books from the Old Testament: 1 and 2 Maccabees, Sirach, Wisdom, Baruch, Tobit, and Judith, and parts of two others, Daniel and Esther. They did so even though these books had been regarded as canonical since the beginning of Church history.”

Call No Man “Father”?: Many Protestants claim that when Catholics address priests as "father," they are engaging in an unbiblical practice that Jesus forbade: "Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven" (Matt. 23:9).

Homosexuality: Every human being is called to receive a gift of divine sonship, to become a child of God by grace. However, to receive this gift, we must reject sin, including homosexual behavior—that is, acts intended to arouse or stimulate a sexual response regarding a person of the same sex. The Catholic Church teaches that such acts are always violations of divine and natural law.

Stumpers for Jehovah’s Witnesses: The sect known as Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) began with Charles Taze Russell in the 1870’s. In this tract we will examine five topics relating to Russell, the JWs, and their parent organization, the Watch Tower Society (WTS). We will show that the beliefs of JWs are unscriptural, and that both Russell and the WTS are completely unreliable as spiritual guides.

Origins of Peter as Pope: The New Testament contains five different metaphors for the foundation of the Church (Matt. 16:18, 1 Cor. 3:11, Eph. 2:20, 1 Pet. 2:5–6, Rev. 21:14). One metaphor that has been disputed is Jesus Christ’s calling the apostle Peter "rock:" "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). The Church Fathers, those Christians closest to the apostles in time, culture, and theological background, clearly understood that Jesus promised to build the Church on Peter, as the passages following that one show.

By studying these Catholic Answers tracts, a person can better understand their own faith and be able to explain it to others. Also, they can help those whose children and family members have left the Catholic Church. The tracts are available for only $0.25 per copy.

According to studies, the biggest reason for which young people (and adults) leave the practice of the faith is because of conflicts regarding sexual morality. Many people think that the way to win them back is by watering down that teaching. That, of course, does not work. Even though Jesus’ teaching regarding chastity is difficult, most people are able to see its beauty and ask for the grace to truly live it. Jason Evert’s booklet, Pure Love, is a great help. He answers questions such as: What is chastity? What if we really love each other? But what’s wrong with sex if the relationship leads to marriage? Can God forgive you if you’ve already had sex? What about pornography? What about masturbation? How do I say “no?” How do I avoid mistakes in the future? What does God say? The booklet is available for $2.00, which you may place in the collection.

Fair Warning: Any car blocking another car in our parking area or parked in unmarked spots will be subject to towing. This will be enforced on Palm Sunday – and subsequent Sundays. We will have volunteers walking through our parking lots to make sure no car is blocking someone else. If you find a car blocking yours, you are also free to call the towing company indicated on the signs.