Thursday, June 12, 2008

Saturday is Flag Day and Gay Pride Parade in Boston


Res Publica
Flag Day
by David Trumbull
June 13, 2008

Saturday, June 14th, is Flag Day, which commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States by resolution of the Second Continental Congress, June 14, 1777. Since 1966 the week that includes June 14th has been designated National Flag Week.

In issuing this year’s Flag Day and National Flag Week proclamation President George W. Bush said:
The American flag has been our national symbol for 231 years, and it remains a beacon of freedom wherever it is flown. Since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our flag in 1777, it has stood for freedom, justice, and the resolve of our Nation.

Since the first days of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to show their pride and appreciation for the freedoms they enjoy in this great Nation. Every day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag of the United States, and our troops carry it before them as they defend the liberties for which it stands.
A quick check of the City of Boston official calendar of events showed no scheduled municipal observance on Flag Day. However, flags of various colors and designs will be in abundance at the big parade that day, the Gay Pride Parade which starts at noon in the Back Bay and travels to City Hall Plaza. Several local politicians signed up well in advance to march, including Michael Flaherty, Sara Orozco, Sonia Chang-Diaz, and Mike Ross. Prior years’ marchers have included Governor Patrick and Mayor Menino.

Gay pride observances are getting to be as main stream as celebrations of Italian heritage at Columbus Day or Irish heritage on March 17th. Today every group in America seeks recognition as a group. In proper proportion such pride in one’s group is a good thing. But group identity, taken too far, corrodes our common heritage as Americans. When Al Gore mistranslated E Pluribus Unum as “out of one, many” he spoke an unintended truth about politicians who are quick to embrace identity politics over national unity. This June 14th fly your American flag and reflect on our American liberties, including the liberty to express pride in your group—whatever group that is.


[David Trumbull is the chairman of the Boston Ward Three Republican Committee. Boston's Ward Three includes the North End, West End, part of Beacon Hill, downtown, waterfront, Chinatown, and part of the South End.]

Morning Prayer New Testament Reading

From Morning Prayer for Thursday, June 12, 2008:

The Second Lesson is taken from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, Chapter 16, Verses 13 through 20--
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

--Here endeth the second lesson.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Rosary at Holy Trinity in June

The Rosary will be prayed during the month of June on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm and and Saturdays at 2:00 pm in the lower church. Everyone is welcome! Please pray a daily Rosary for Holy Trinity Parish throughout this month.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Holy Trinity Parish Events Related to Church Closure

Friday, June 27 - Holy Hour with Exposition, silent Adoration, group prayers, and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM in the upper church.

Sunday, June 29 - Latin Tridentine High Mass at 9:00 AM in the upper church.
Concelebrated English/German Mass at 11:00 AM in the upper church followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament and a reception in the lower church hall.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Update on Holy Trinity Church, Boston

From the June issue of Monatsbote, the monthly newsletter of Holy Trinity Church:
Dear Monatsbote Readers,

It is with great sadness and regret that we must inform our readers that His Eminence, Seán Cardinal O’Malley has set June 30, 2008 as the date for the closure of Holy Trinity. Although four years have passed since this intention was first announced, we still do not know why our church was specifically identified for elimination. While it seems to us that successful parishes with unique missions should be among the last to be sacrificed to help the Archdiocese adjust to administration challenges and demographic changes, others apparently do not see it that way. We have repeatedly been asked to accept on faith that the Archdiocese will be better off without us. Those requests not withstanding, it is expected that some parishioners will exercise their canonical right to appeal this order to the appropriate parties and at the appropriate time.

For everyone’s information you will find in this issue the text of the Archbishop’s “letter of intent.” You will also find a copy of the letter sent by members of the Parish Council to Bishop Hennessey in which they raised concerns with many parts of the letter he read to the Presbyteral Council in March when he asked them to consider the Holy Trinity case. (The Bishop’s letter appeared in the May issue of Monatsbote.) Although there was no reply or acknowledgement from Bishop Hennessey, the authors are convinced that their objections are both pertinent and valid to the closure decision.

Many questions have been raised about the disposition of the parish’s property and resources. Unfortunately, we currently do not know the answers. It is expected that over the next few weeks, we will learn what needs to happen both during and after the appeal process takes its course. We are hopeful that the matter will be clearer by the time that our next (and possibly final) issue goes to press.

Peter V. Cooper, Editor

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Update on Boston Latin Mass Online Resources

  • Sacred Heart Parish, 303 Paris Street, East Boston, MA 02128-3063 -- Phone: (617) 567-5776; Fax: (617) 567-3042 - offers the traditional Latin Mass on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church's website is http://www.rc.net/boston/sacredhearteast/

  • According to one news account Saint Columbkille's Parish, 321 Market Street, Brighton, Massachusetts 02135; Tel.: (617) 782-5774 offers a traditional Latin Mass one Friday per month. This could not be verified on the church's website http://brightoncatholic.com/ which has not been updated since June 2007.

  • Una Voce (from the Preface of the Most Holy Trinity (with one voice) is dedicated to ensuring that the Roman Mass codified by St. Pius V is maintained as one of the forms of eucharistic worship which are honored in universal liturgical life, and to restoring the use of Latin, Gregorian Chant, and sacred polyphony in Catholic liturgy. There is a Boston chapter, however their website http://home.comcast.net/~pkoenen/UnaVoceBoston/ has not been updated since July 2007.
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