Last weekend we were thrilled to unveil our new crucifix in the sanctuary at Notre Dame Church. The Glorified Christ that was previously in the sanctuary will be hung near the Baptismal Font in the entry to the church. We will celebrate the Solemn Blessing of a New Crucifix for Veneration on Corpus Christi Sunday, our feast day, at the 9:00AM Mass on June 3. To learn more about why Catholics hang a crucifix in the sanctuary click here.

On this Earth Day, we do well to remember Pope Francis’ call for our participation in an “integral development” of human progress. This concept grounds our concern for environmental consciousness. It speaks to the fact that we are connected to all of creation. It challenges us, then, to weigh our decisions asking how they affect the earth, and the lives of others. The care of the mystery and glory of humanity and nature has been placed in our hands. As the Holy Father said, “May the relationship between man and nature not be driven by greed, to manipulate and exploit, but may the divine harmony between beings and creation be conserved in the logic of respect and care.” May the Lord guide us in maintaining our home for now, the earth. May our concern for the earth always include those who live with us.

Totus Tuus is a dynamic summer program for first to twelfth graders that is led by a team of four college students and a diocesan seminarian. On fire with the faith and trained to pass it on to young people, the team travels from parish to parish leading a weeklong program of learning and praying that demonstrates the joyful living of the Catholic faith. Through age-appropriate, dynamic, and faithful content, young people are motivated and equipped to live the call of the Gospel in today’s world. Click here to read the full press release.

St. John School will be holding a yard sale in the parking lot next to Plourde's Market in Winslow on Fri., Apr. 20 from noon to 5PM, Sat., Apr. 21 from 8AM to 2PM, and Sun., Apr. 22 from 8AM to noon. Come find some treasures and support our school.

We were thrilled with the response to the Matthew Kelly book Resisting Happiness--we gave away 500 books in one weekend and had to order more!!! The books have arrived and will be available at all Masses this weekend. If you did not get one the first weekend please be sure to pick one up at either St. John or Notre Dame this coming weekend. We are also in the process of putting together book groups so you can come together to discuss the ideas and actions from the book. Please check back to this site or in the bulletin for more information as it becomes available.

The 55th World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be celebrated on Sunday, April 22, in the Diocese of Portland and in many other dioceses around the world. The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38, Lk 10:2). It affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Click here to read the full press release.