Our Lady of Victories

It is our hope that this Shrine will be a place of destination and pilgrimage when you are in Boston. Come and pray here and allow Mary to gently lead you to the open arms of her Son. We priests of the Society of Mary will happily pray and celebrate with you the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick.

Many have asked to have their Marriages here. It is our joy to serve you if it is possible. Please read the directives for Marriage in the special section locate here.

If you are not able to come to Boston and would like special prayers or advice, you can contact us through the email or phone number listed on the web page. You can have Masses offered for your intentions throughout the year.

May Mary watch over you and lead you to the Victory of peace in mind and heart which only Her Son, Jesus, can bring.

Sincerely in the love of Jesus and Mary,
The Parish Team

A NOTE FROM OUR PASTOR

Welcome to our parishioners and visitors. We are blessed to have you here this Sunday to worship together.  Many of our parishioners are away for the summer but I want to make sure that those who are here are up-to-date on what is happening in Our Lady of Victories Parish. One of our great gifts as a parish is that 11 people volunteered to be on the Parish Council. We have already met twice and will meet again in August. There are 5 functioning ministry committees within the council structure: Liturgy, Spiritual Life, Socialization, Evangelization, and Administration. We ask that you, as a parishioner, prayerfully consider being part of one of these ministries. The council members will also invite you to participate. We have also inaugurated a four-member finance council which assists and advises me regarding the financial development of Our Lady of Victories. I will give you further updates in the parishioner letter that will be sent out in a few weeks.

May your summer continue to be filled with relaxation and deep renewal of Spiritual life.

Peace and prayers, Fr. Joe.

A NOTE TO OUR MANY WONDERFUL VISITORS

We are so pleased that we can offer the gift of a beautiful house of worship to celebrate Sunday Mass with you. On any given Sunday, three quarters of those participating in worship are visitors. The number of our parishioners is quite small. You can imagine how difficult it is to maintain such a beautiful church with the ordinary maintenance, repairs, and regular bills. Would you consider an extra offering or donation to help us continue this ministry to the thousands of travelers coming to Boston each year? If you need a tax statement, we will gladly provide you with one.

Sincerely,   Fr. Joe McLaughlin, s.m.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

“Those who are just must be kind,” says today’s first reading. If our words and deeds are kind and selfless, we will be like the good seed in the Gospel parable and gathered as wheat in the Lord’s harvest. See Wisdom 12:19

anctuary Lamps (red lamp on the side of the large altar) signify that the Blessed Sacrament is present in the tabernacle. It burns for seven days at a time. This Sanctuary Lamp can burn for your deceased loved ones or for a special intention. The cost for the Lamp is $25.00. If you would like to sponsor a Lamp, please contact the Shrine office.

ADORATION

This Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

CONTRIBUTIONS

This past week we received $226.00 from the week-day collection and $882.00 from the week-end collection. We thank you for your generosity.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION

The Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption continues every Wednesday after the 12:10 p.m. Mass concluding on Wednesday, August 13th. Looking at Mary’s life, we try to understand what may be holding us back from entering deeply into the

fullness of life God holds out to each of us.

Saints This Week

Saint Mary Magdalene On his journey, Jesus is accompanied by the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, among them Mary, called Magdalene. Following Jesus brings Mary to Golgotha, where she witnesses his death and burial. Three days later, she meets Jesus outside the empty tomb. She hastens to tell the disciples: I have seen the Lord. Tradition names Mary Magdalene “the apostle to the apostles.” “Just as a woman announced the words of death to the first man, so also a woman was the first to announce to the Apostles the words of life.” (Thomas Aquinas)

Saint James Saint James, the Greater, belongs to the inner circle of the Apostles.  James, the brother of Saint John, was born at Bethsaida. He was present at most of the miracles performed by Christ and was put to death by Herod around the year 42. He is especially honored at Compostella in Spain where a famous church is dedicated to his name.

Saints Joachim and Ann, Parents of Mary From an ancient tradition, going back even to the second century, the parents of the Virgin Mary are known by the names of Joachim and Ann. Devotion to Saint Ann is found in the sixth century in the East, and, by the tenth century, it was widespread in the West. Saint Joachim was likewise honored but at a more recent date.

SACRAMENTS FOR ADULTS

Our parish invites those adults who wish to become fully initiated into the life of the Church to speak to a priest. This invitation is for those who were never baptized, those who were baptized Protestant and now wish to become Catholic, and for adult Catholics who never made their First Communion and/or Confirmation. Please don’t hesitate – now is the time to respond to God’s call.

LITANY OF OUR LADY OF VICTORIES

LET US PRAY:  Our Lady of Victories, we come before you in prayer.  You are in complete union with the will of the Father and with the mission of your Son, Jesus Christ.  We ask your intercession that all that binds us and burdens us will be overcome by the saving death and resurrection of your Son.  We pray in His name, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives forever and ever. Amen.

V.     Lord, have mercy.                                          R.     Lord, have mercy.

V.     Christ, have mercy.                                       R.     Christ, have mercy.

V.     Lord, have mercy.                                          R.     Lord, have mercy.

V.     God, the Father of heaven,                            R.     have mercy on us.

V.     God the Son, our Redeemer,                        R.     have mercy on us.

V.     God the Holy Spirit                                          R.     have mercy on us.

V.     Holy Trinity, One God,                                    R.     have mercy on us.

V.     Holy Mary, Mother of God,                                                R.     pray for us.

V.     Our Lady of Victories,                                                        R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over lack of faith,                                             R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over sin, both personal and social,              R.     pray of us.

V.     For victory over the culture of death,                               R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over abortion and euthanasia,                      R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over war and all forms of violence,              R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory of sexual and physical abuse,                      R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over pornography and sexual exploitation, R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over racial hatred and prejudice,                  R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over poverty and homelessness,                  R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over alcoholism and drug addiction,            R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over nicotine and gambling addiction,         R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over all forms of addiction,                             R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over cancer and heart disease,                     R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,    R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over HIV/AIDS,                                                R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over mental and emotional illness,              R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over all sickness and disease,                     R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over family strife and discord,                       R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over ignorance and fear,                               R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over materialism and greed,                         R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over indifference and negligence,               R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over pride and a judgmental spirit,              R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over despair and hopelessness,                 R.     pray for us.

V.     For victory over the bonds of death itself,                      R.     pray for us.

V.     That our parish might trust in your will,                                                                  R.    Hear us, O Lord.

V.     That our community might share more fully in the victory of your Son,              R.    Hear us, O Lord.

V.     That our community might grow, both in faith and in numbers,                            R.    Hear us, O Lord.

V.     Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                                          R.     spare us, O Lord.

V.     Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                                          R.    hear us, O Lord.

V.     Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                                           R.     have mercy on us.

LET US PRAY: Loving and merciful God, hear with a longing to share more fully in the victory of your

Son in His cross and resurrection.  With the intercession of Mary, our Mother and Our Lady of Victories, we offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever.  Amen.