From Fr Fran

Last weekend we celebrated Deacon Doug Peltak joining our parish with receptions after all the masses.  Let me thank all of those who participated in preparing those receptions. A special thanks to Diane Guigno who baked the two superb cakes which welcomed Doug and gave a nod to my fourth anniversary.
     Two St. Matthias parishioners were highlighted in print this past week.  Congratulations to coach Ryan Steege and his Acton/Boxborough Girls’ Track team for winning the Division 1 championship and for Ryan and his coaching staff being featured in the Boston Globe as winning the DCL Coaching Staff of the year award.  Also, in this week’s Metrowest Daily News, parishioner Avinash Sachdev and her boutique “Treasures of India” were profiled in the business section.  I’m sure this great article will bring new business her way.
     If you know of any parishioners featured for their good work or celebrating milestones in their lives, please let me know.  It’s always great for our parish family to recognize the achievements of our own.  After all, aren’t we called to be the Body of Christ in the world?
     I would like to personally invite all parishioners to celebrate the Easter Triduum this week.  Elsewhere in the bulletin you will see the schedule of services.  Many times people chose to go to one or the other of the Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil services.  While this is certainly laudable, especially in our busy lives, the Triduum can mean so much more if a commitment is made to celebrate all three moments. 
     This is one long 3 day feast in the church although we often still think of the Triduum as three separate feasts.   These 3 days are intimately connected and flow one into the other.  They are the highlight of our Christian year.  Nothing else, not even Christmas compares to this feast.  Why not plan to join us for these three life-changing days?  Our Thursday and Friday evening celebrations have been scheduled at 7PM so that the young ones can come.  The Easter Vigil is to begin at nightfall and that is why it is scheduled at the later hour of 8:30PM.   Join the Catholic Christian family all over the world as we gather to break bread, venerate the cross, sing alleluia at the tomb and welcome the newly baptized into Christ’s family.