Our Nourish Program meets every other Tuesday with the next meetings being Tuesday, January 21st and Tuesday, February 4th from 5:30-6:30 in the hall at Notre Dame Church.

There will be no Confessions on Fri., Sept. 6 at St. John.

In 2021, Pope Fracis established World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to be celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July. This year we commemorate the day on July 28. I certainly have very fond memories of growing up with my own grandparents in Rhode Island. My grandmother, Mary, besides being one of the kindest people I have met in my life, was a great cook. Long before converting to a vegan diet and being an omnivorous eater, I indulged with delight in my Naunie’s meatballs and homemade pasta. What a treat! My grandfather, John, Mary’s husband, was one of the most intelligent people that I have met. He possessed an incredible ‘practical’ knowledge of many things. Pop could fix almost anything. I remember spending hours in his workshop located in the basement of his house making things out of wood, fixing things with him, and watching him create inventions. I loved spending time with him. It was a joy to spend time with both. My grandparents were big contributors to the person I am today. I can’t imagine my life without them involved in my personal story. So, I am a tremendous fan of grandparents. Unfortunately, this type of fondness and respect for grandparents and the elderly is not universal. “Do not cast me off in my old age” (cf. Ps. 71:9) is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for 2024. The reminders of Pope Francis in his address that in many places throughout the world the elderly are abandoned or deemed a burden are extremely sad. In one paragraph of the address, Pope Francis states, “The Psalm cited above – with its plea not to be abandoned in old age – speaks to a conspiracy surrounding the life of the elderly. This may seem an exaggeration, but not if we consider that the loneliness and abandonment of the elderly is not by chance or inevitable, but the fruit of decisions – political, economic, social and personal decisions – that fail to acknowledge the infinite dignity of each person, “beyond every circumstance, state or situation the person may ever encounter” (Declaration Dignitas Infinita, 1). This happens once we lose sight of the value of each individual and people are then judged in terms of their cost, which is in some cases considered too high to pay. Even worse, often the elderly themselves fall victim to this mindset; they are made to consider themselves a burden and to feel that they should be the first to step aside.” When grandma and grandpa are considered a burden or never have visitors, this is all the “fruit of decisions,” decisions that others are making based on convenience, utility, pragmatism, or egoism. How sad! In keeping with this erroneous belief that the human person’s dignity is relative, then physician-assisted suicide, once legalized, becomes a legitimized way to potentially rid a society of some or many of its elderly. The law will actually justify this! In a January 22, 2015 Wall Street Journal article, “Dr. Death Makes a Comeback,” Dr. Paul McHugh, former psychiatrist-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Hospital, stated, “…with physician-assisted suicide, many people – some not terminally ill, but instead demoralized, depressed and bewildered – die before their time.” (See also, Ryan Anderson’s March 24, 2015, article “Always Care, Never Kill…” Published by The Heritage Foundation). The loneliness, isolation, and solitary existence lived by many elderly are all potential agents of a “demoralized, depressed, and bewildered” existence. When a society says that life is justifiably disposable, then all lives are vulnerable, not just the elderly. The genius of Christianity is that Jesus, by becoming human and redeeming humanity, teaches us that all human life has value and matters. All human beings have an inviolable value from the moment of conception that is not diminished by age, productivity, education, race, economics, or creed. What a bold statement about the dignity of the person. Christianity is refreshingly bold, embodying a boldness that goes beyond politics or public opinion. It’s beautiful! The human person is beautiful! The elderly are beautiful! Thank you, grandparents and elderly! Perhaps, in honor of this special day, we can be intentional and let our grandparents and the elderly in our lives know that we are grateful for them.

Receiving congratulatory hugs and offering blessings, Father Matthew Valles struggled to find the words to describe what it is like to be a newly ordained priest of the Diocese of Portland. “It feels good, so good. I can’t believe it. I am very happy. I am very, very happy,” he said. “Priests have meant a lot to me. I love the priesthood. I love priests, and the fact that I can be one for someone else means a lot.” With more than 600 people in attendance, Deacon Valles was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James Ruggieri on Saturday, June 29, at St. John Church in Bangor. Click here for the full story and photos of the special day.

Corpus Christi Parish is seeking a part-time Catholic Campus Minister to serve the students and faculty at Colby College. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, energetic person who will work to foster the personal and spiritual growth of young adults. For more information, click here.

Click here to view the photos from Corpus Christi Sunday

On Sun., May 19 at 11:30AM we will welcome St. John's Food Pantry to their new location in St. John Hall at 11 St. John St. in Winslow. Come tour the Pantry and have a snack.

The Parish Office will be closed from 10:30AM - Noon on Mon., May 6.

April 21-27 is National Volunteer Week, and every day at Catholic Charities Maine (CCM), we are deeply grateful for the more than 500 volunteers who give 33,000 hours of support to our 20+ programs statewide every year. Their work equates to approximately $1 million in time donated. Click here to read about one shining example of a person’s selfless support.

Because of the storm, the Parish Office will be closed on Thurs., Apr. 4 and there will be no 8AM Mass at St. John. Stay safe!

We congratulate and welcome the newest members of the Catholic Church and Corpus Christi Parish who celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation last weekend at the Easter Vigil Mass: Jennifer Kierstead, Matthew Lane, Dawn Martin, James O’Gorman, Daniel Ouellette, Hope Shorey, and Vanessa Wilson. We want to thank their sponsors and all who have been praying and supporting them on their journey. Special thanks to the Initiation Team who have been sharing faith with the participants throughout the past year.

Due to the ongoing nasty weather, Faith Formation classes at St. John's tomorrow morning are canceled. Stay safe!

There is a 2-hour delay at the Parish office this morning due to the snowy conditions. We will open at 10AM. No 8AM Mass today.

Bishop comments on proposed bill to create new rights for “gender-affirming care” and “reproductive health care” Click here to read the statement.

The Parish Office will open at 10AM today.

The Parish Office will open at 10am today. There is no 8am Mass.