Easter Greetings,

On the weekend of April 27th and 28th we will be hosting Fr. John Higgins, a LaSalette Missionary. He will be here for the annual archdiocesan Missionary Cooperative Appeal. I know that you will continue your usual generosity with the appeal. As it happens it is most fortuitous that he will be here on those days. Fr. Chris had asked if he could celebrate the 8:00 AM Mass and go away for his days off to visit some elderly relatives in Pennsylvania.

 It was only later I remembered I had committed to go to the 1st Communion of a child I had baptized. We will concelebrate the 4:00 PM and 8:00 AM with him and he will celebrate the other 2 Masses. 

Last week I expressed thanks for all those involved in the Easter celebrations, including the transformation of our environment. I neglected to mention a person and so I apologize to Sandy Cosman who helped decorate the worship space of St. Thomas Church. Many thanks Sandy!  

Peace & Blessings, 

Father Walter

My dear brothers and sisters, peace and greetings!

As you may have heard last weekend, Cardinal Sean has asked me to move to the parish of the Holy Family in Rockland to minister to our Brazilian brothers and sisters.  With over 200,000 Brazilians in the Archdiocese, there is a great need.  And as a missionary (and having served 7 years in the Brazilian Amazon), this is where God is leading me to serve at this time.

I’ve shared with you before that God has led me to many places that I never expected to be… He has always made sure that I am where I need to be when I need to be there… and being open to His Will has always filled my life with blessings!  So I am happy to once again place my trust and faith into God’s hands and embark on this new adventure on the South Shore!

But I would be amiss if I didn’t share with you what a blessing you all have been to me during this short time I have been here in Wilmington.  Through the many anointings and funerals, through the extremely well-prepared and well-participated liturgies, through the dedication of so many men and women of all ages in pastoral ministries and prayer groups, through the individual conversations and the group meetings, through the curiosity and joy and energy of so many children and their catechists in the parish’s faith formation program  – through all of these I have had the blessing of growing both humanly and spiritually!  Being together with a great pastor (who has been like a big brother to me!) and three great deacons (who happily shared their ministries with me!), “working” and ministering in this parish has never been a burden, but rather, a blessing which allowed me to continually see the dynamic and healthy Body of Christ!

Even those with different points of view have challenged me to grow by either deepening or changing my understandings, and for this I feel I am a better man and a better priest!

But above all, I feel blessed because I have experienced in Transfiguration Parish a community that is striving to be open and accepting of all who wish to be part of the family as children of God, to live in unity and solidarity following the Good Shepherd, and to thank God through the sharing of all the good we have received!  And because of all of this, I felt so well received here, and my joy abounded!

Though you still have to put up with me for another month (!), please know that you – the beautiful townies of Wilmington and my brothers and sisters of this parish – will be remembered in my heart for years to come!  Thank you for everything!!!  Thank you for being such a blessing to me and my journey!!!  And may God continue to bless this community with joy, holiness, unity and health!

Peace!

Father G. Christopher Snyder, PIME

The Ladies Sodality will hold a Mother's Day Flower Sale on Saturday, May 11 from 10:00am - 6:00pm in St. Dorothy's lower hall  Any remaining flowers will be sold on Sunday May 12 after Mass at both St. Thomas and St, Dorothy Churches from 9:00 - 1:00 , (or until we sell out) . 

There will be a wide variety of colorful flowers to choose from: potted, bouquets and hanging plants. All proceeds will benefit the Ladies Sodality. They will be accepting cash or check only

We invite you to bring your mother and/or grandmother to our Masses that weekend to receive a special blessing.  Please contact Diane Garrity at ladiessodality@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you for your support and Happy Mother's Day to all mothers everywhere! 

Please click here to watch a short video on the Catholic Appeal

Forward in Faith

Once a year, Catholics throughout the Archdiocese are asked to partner with one another to support their parish and the many outreach ministries by contributing to the Catholic Appeal.  Many of you have received a letter from Cardinal Seán requesting your participation and early support of the 2024 Appeal.  We hope that you will respond to his invitation with a generous gift, knowing that each contribution has a significant impact on the lives of thousands across the Archdiocese. 

Ash Wednesday 2024 (St.Dorothy’s)

In today’s gospel, Jesus calls us to practices of piety, and gives us indications of HOW we should do and live this time of Lent into which we are entering with today’s Mass.  I even think we could just re-read today’s gospel and it would be better than any homily, because Jesus’ words are very clear.

40 days (rain, Noah’s ark, Elijah running 40 days fed by crows, Moses fasted praying Mount Horeb, God’s People in the wilderness wandering to purify themselves in search of the Promised Land, and Jesus in the wilderness to prepare for his ministry, for his MISSION!)

40 days for CONVERSION (Conversion means giving new posture, a new attitude, a new direction to our life and to our hearts.)

FASTING, which leads me to CHARITY, to help deepen my relationship with God in PRAYER

For Lent a few years ago, Pope Francis proposed: live an ACTIVE – not passive – lent !!!!! (And I invite you to choose one of these things in each category (F/C/P) for you to practice in this Lent.)

FASTING: Not eating chocolate cake may help you to learn to resist temptations and stay more in control of your appetites, but THE BEST FASTING would be:

• Fasting from negative words... and saying kind words.

• Fasting from discontent... and filling up your day with gratitude.

• Fasting from anger or being upset... and filling yourself with meekness and patience.

• Fasting from pessimism... and filling your life with hope and optimism.

• Fasting from over-worrying about every little thing... and fill with trust in God.

• Fasting from complaints... and filling yourself with joy at the simple things in life.

• Fasting from tensions... and filling your existence with prayers.

• Fasting from bitterness and sorrow... and filling your heart with joy.

• Fasting from selfishness... and filling your heart with compassion for others.

• Fasting from lack of forgiveness and hardness of heart... and filling your life with reconciliation.

• Fasting from words and words and even more words... and filling up with silence to listen to others.

CHARITY (often referred to as “almsgiving”) : Giving a dollar, 5 dollars or 10 dollars extra as “alms” (or “charity”) in the offertory during Mass can be of great support to your parish, but that by itself will not make you a better Catholic.  Here are 15 simple acts of CHARITY which are healthy and concrete manifestations of love:

1. Smile, a Christian is always cheerful!

2. Always say “thank you”, (even though you don’t “need to do it)

3. Remind “those you live with of how much you love them.

4. Greet with joy and happiness the people you see every day.

5. Listen to each other’s story, without judgment, with love.

6. Stop to help.  Be aware of who needs you.

7. Cheer someone up.

8. Recognize each other’s successes and qualities.

9. Separate what you don’t use and give it to the needy.

10. Help someone so that he or she can rest.

11. Correct with love; and don’t stay mute out of fear.

12. Be delicate with those close to you.

13. Clean up what you’ve dirtied at home.

14. Help others to overcome their obstacles and challenges.

15. Call your parents.

PRAYER: How good to pray to God who is in Heaven, and how nice to devote more time to this conversation – this encounter! – with a God we cannot see.  But we need not forget that perhaps a form of PRAYER that God asks of us in this Lent would be to find and talk to Him present in those who are:

-outside of my circle of friends

-those who have been pushed away because they are “different”

-those who are frustrated, suffering or sad and needing a friendly face

-those who have erred and offended me in some way and who now need reconciliation

-those who are weaker than me

-those who have ideas, race, age, sex, profession, beliefs, dreams, social situation, finances, and attitudes different from me

We remember that Lent is the time of “new chances” (new possibilities)... This is God’s invitation to us through the prophet Joel in the first reading — to return to him; now is the “acceptable time” that St Paul speaks of in today’s second reading; and we are invited to live this special time of new possibilities with happiness and careful attention, as Jesus reminded us in the Gospel.

To accept this new chance, we need to live a conversion of heart (with a new attitude and posture; a new way of seeing, understanding, and acting). 40 days to grow and renew ourselves for our mission.

What do you choose in order to truly live FASTING?   CHARITY?    PRAYER?

Lord, we ask you – as in today’s psalm – mercy, for we are all sinners.  Create in us hearts that are pure, give us determination and positive attitudes, confirm in us a generous spirit, and give us joy.    Amen

Click here for letter

For the Month of November the Women’s Club will be collecting new socks for Helpis (Help me help someone, Inc.)

HMHS is a social Network that promotes and encourages kind and charitable deeds. One of the many different things they do is to collect socks for the homeless, children in hospitals and shelters, veterans etc, the list is endless. They are in need of all size socks for both male and female.  Any way you could help support this organization would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you in advance. 

There will be boxes at the back of each church and the CCD office where you will be able to leave the socks.   If you have any questions feel free to call Kathy Catanzano @ 978-658-9189 or Diane Ward 978-658-5697

A CORI FORM must be completed EVERY YEAR BY ALL VOLUNTEERS,  The new year began July 1, 2023 and will continue through June 30, 2024  

NEW (FY) 24 CORI FORMS are available in the sacristy of both churches and at the Parish Office.   

A Code of Conduct will be given to All New volunteers when the Cori is returned to be verified. 

Again all volunteers must complete a CORI background screening prior to beginning ministry and annually after that. 

All Adult Volunteers who may be around youth, including all those in worship ministry, must complete a Protecting God’s Children training.  This is a one time training.  If you have never attending one you must do so to continue your ministry. 

A Class will be held AFTER THE 9:00AM MASS Wednesday, Sept 6th in The Downstairs of St. Dorothy Church.  

There  is a sign up sheet in the back of the Church or sign up by going to the www.VIRTUSonline.org  

Any questions please call the Offices 

Click here for rmore information

Click here for more information

Faith Formation Registration is now open for 2024-2025. You can find the registration form/link on our website: parishofthetransfiguration.org, click the Faith formation tab. We also offer an adaptive faith formation class for students that need more assistance in the classroom. We also offer a heritage faith formation session class for students that have missed 1 or more years of faith formation and would like to return. If you have any question please email jeaniep@parishofthetransfiguration.org or call 978-658-6040.

Click here for more details

Looking for spiritual help and support from addiction? Click here to learn more.

SATURDAY MORNING MEN'S PRAYER GROUP MEETING. Click here to learn more.

CATHOLIC TV DAILY AND SUNDAY MASS

Cardinal Seán encourages Catholics to participate in the daily and Sunday Masses broadcast from the CatholicTV chapel.

• Daily Mass airs live at 9:30am and is rebroadcast at 7pm and 11:30pm.
• Sunday Masses air throughout the day at 10am, 4pm, 7pm, and 11:30pm.
• The Sunday Spanish Mass airs live at 8am and is rebroadcast at 5:30pm and 10pm.

Viewers can watch these Masses on demand at any time at www.WatchtheMass.com. For more information about CatholicTV and where you can watch it, visit http://www.catholictv.org/.

WCTV also publishes Mass from the Parish of theTransfiguration at 9:15am and 2:45pm on channels Comcast 6 and Verizon 39 and at 10:30am on channels Comcast 9 and Verizon 37.  These times are all on Sunday, and the Mass continues to be one week behind

Forgive us for the war, Lord. Lord Jesus, son of God, have mercy on us sinners. Lord Jesus, born under the bombs of Kyiv, have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, dead in the arms of a mother in Kharkiv, have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, in the 20-year-olds sent to the frontline, have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, who continues to see hands armed with weapons under the shadow of the cross, forgive us, Lord. Forgive us if, not content with the nails with which we pierced your hand, we continue to drink from the blood of the dead torn apart by weapons. Forgive us if these hands that you had created to protect have been turned into instruments of death. Forgive us, Lord, if we continue to kill our brother. Forgive us, Lord, if we continue to kill our brother, if we continue like Cain to take the stones from our field to kill Abel. Forgive us if we go out of our way to justify cruelty, if, in our pain, we legitimize the cruelty of our actions. Forgive us the war, Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, we implore you to stop the hand of Cain, enlighten our conscience, let not our will be done, do not abandon us to our own doing. Stop us, Lord, stop us, and when you have stopped the hand of Cain, take care of him also. He is our brother. O Lord, stop the violence. Stop us, Lord. Amen.          Pope Francis