This weekend we recognize the 250th Anniversary of our national Independence: “Independence Day” or “The Fourth of July.”  Well, Wilmington celebrated it last week, but no reason to quibble since it’s worth the extra long festivities.  Ironically, given its importance, in some sense we as a nation miss the purpose of the holiday.  To be more charitable, we add to its meaning beyond that of our Independence from colonialism or marking our national birth through the signing of the Declaration. 

   Just based on how people comment on the Fourth of July, many seem to consider it “birth of democracy day” or “personal freedom day.”  However, our form of government was not yet determined by the end of the Revolutionary War.  Some even advocated for the establishment of a monarchy (presumably constitutional), suggesting George Washington as king.  It is worth historical appreciation even today that our first President neither seized power nor clung to it, but set it down in favor of the Republic both as Commander of the Continental Army and later as President.

   Similarly, the freedom given to the citizens of our new nation would never have been considered what in moral theology is termed “freedom for license.”  Meaning, neither our Faith nor our Founders consider the purpose of either political or personal freedoms to be license to do anything one wants.  To the contrary, famous statements that our “Constitution was made for a moral and religious people...and is wholly inadequate for any other” (John Adams), or that we have a “Republic if you can keep it” (Benjamin Franklin), underscore that political self-government is rooted first in the virtuous self-governance of the individual citizen.  In fact, a deep dive into the separation of powers as originally intended in the Constitution reveals that the Framers were almost as concerned about chaotic mob rule as the accumulation of power by a despotic individual.

   Recently, we heard this line in the Gospel of St. Matthew: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house, but it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock” (Matt 7:24ff).  In its primary sense, Our Lord is no doubt speaking of our personal life of discipleship, but in a Biblical sense it is in line with many prophetic statements regarding the history of Israel.  The nation must be set on a firm moral base for it to survive and thrive.

   This Independence Day let us celebrate what we have inherited, appreciate the cost paid to receive it after 250 years, and pray for the continued flourishing of our people and our nation having been set solidly on rock.     

Once again all staff and volunteers need to fill out an annual CORI FORM. 

The new year began July 1st, and will continue through June 30, 2027 

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. 

All Staff and Volunteers including all those in worship ministries, must complete a Protecting God’s Children VIRTUS TRAINING CLASS . The class only needs to be taken once! 

Click here for a CORI form

Click here for more information

There will be two VIRTUS training sessions offered for Volunteers who have not taken a Protecting God’s Children Class.  (you only need to take it once)

Wednesday, June 10th from 10:30am – 1:30pm  downstairs in St. Dorothy Church Hall 

or

Thursday, June 18th from 6:00 - 9:00 pm 

 downstairs in St. Thomas Church Hall. 

Please sign up at VIRTUS.org by the day before each session or email Jeanie Pettingill at:  jeaniep@parishofthetransfiguration.org with any questions.

Faith Formation Registration is now open for 2026-2027. Click here for the registration form. 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.

We are excited to announce a FREE Catholic streaming service to our parishioners. 

FORMED is an online platform (available at your favorite app store) that gives you access to hundreds of programs, family/kids videos, eBooks, podcasts, daily devotions and so much more.

No matter where you are in your faith- curious about our beliefs, new to the faith, coming back or looking to expand your love relationship with Jesus, FORMED has everything you’ll need and did we mention it is FREE to all of you.

To sign up:

Visit: signup.formed.org

Enter your parish zip code or parish name

Or

Pick up a FORMED card at the entrance of the church for the QR code.

Click here for 2026 Catholic Appeal

SAVE THE DATE 

MASS AND DINNER 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH 

6:00 – 9:00 PM 

 MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW

"The Parish of the Transfiguration is looking for people who would like to join a Maintenance Ministry that is focused on "Prayer and Repair" of our Parish. It involves meeting one Saturday a month to do some minor repairs in our parish like painting a room, fixing a door, replacing an outlet, taping sheet rock, do some plumbing, etc.  If you are interested in joining this ministry, please contact Darren at darren_boehm@yahoo.com or come to our first meeting at Villanova Hall on Saturday Jan10th, 2026 at 9:30 AM.  Coffee and donuts will be available."

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA, is a communal process for formal initiation of new members into the Catholic Church.   

We will begin Classes next Sunday, October 19th at the 4pm Mass at St. Thomas Church.   

Anyone interested or if you know anyone who may be interested in completing their sacraments in the Catholic Church please call the office 978.658.4665 and leave your contact information so  Fr Colarusso can reach out to you.    

SATURDAY MORNING MEN'S PRAYER GROUP MEETING.  Join fellow gentlemen of the Parish of the Transfiguration reading and 

reflecting on Sunday’s Gospel and sharing in personal experiences with Christ and 

prayer in an open and unintimidating, spiritual environment.  We meet in St. Thomas Church, lower level.  Contact Mike Champoux, mchampoux@comcast.net for more information

We’re excited to share that our Youth Ministry Group will be meeting again on Sunday, November 9th at 7 PM at St. Thomas Church!

This week, we’ll explore one of the most powerful stories in Scripture — Luke 15:11–32, The Parable of the Prodigal Son. There’s so much meaning and heart in this passage, and we can’t wait to read, reflect, and talk it through together.

Are you a high school student who’s curious about reading the Bible or growing in your faith? You’re so welcome here! Our evenings are relaxed and meaningful — we’ll watch a short video, read Scripture, jot down our thoughts, and pray together as a YMG family.

Bring a friend and come hang out with us — we’d love to see you!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me or catch me after Mass: Dave@theparishofthetransfiguration.org

Next Session: Sunday, November 9

After that our next session will be Nov. 23

Looking for spiritual help and support from addiction? 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/.

FIRST SATURDAY MASS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

9:00AM IN ST. THOMAS CHURCH 

Rosary begins at 8:30am.  Guided meditation and Confession follows Mass. 

To keep the First Saturday Devotion in reparation for the sins and blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart and to receive the graces promised from it, one must attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, pray the rosary, and meditate on a mystery on the Rosary for 15 minutes. All are welcome to join us in this devotion to honor the Blessed Mother

Father in heaven, may the faith you have gifted us in your son Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity kindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. 

May your grace transform us into diligent cultivators of the evangelical seeds that make humanity and the cosmos rise unto the confident expectation of the new heavens and the new earth when,  with the powers of Evil overcome, your glory shall be manifested eternally. 

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, the yearning for heavenly treasures  and pour over all the earth the joy and peace of our Redeemer.

To you God blessed in eternity, be praise and glory for ever and ever.  

Amen.

A CORI FORM must be completed EVERY YEAR BY ALL VOLUNTEERS,  The new year began July 1, 2025 and will continue through June 30, 2026 

NEW (FY) 25/26 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  Staff and Volunteers including all those in worship ministry, must complete a Protecting God’s Children VIRTUS TRAINING CLASS . 

The Training class is only needed to be taken once.. 

A Training class will be held: 

Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 10:00am -

    Downsairs, St. Dorothy Church

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 6:00pm -

    Downstairs, St. Thomas Church

Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 9am -

   Downstairs at St. Thomas Church

Please sign up by going to:
www.VIRTUSonline.org 

Any questions please call Jeanie Pettingill 978-658-6040

Do you like to carve wood?  We create handcrafted ornaments that we sell to provide money to vets and other people in need.  We meet on the first Saturday of every month in the basement of St. Thomas Church from 10AM to 4 PM. For More information, contact:   darren_boehm@yahoo.com

Click here for more details

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