Archdiocesan Leaders Participate in Panel Discussion
During a Town-Hall Style Meeting Marking the Parish’s First Anniversary
PEPPERELL, MA, September 9, 2010 - Our Lady of Grace Parish today announced that Seán Cardinal O’Malley, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Boston, will celebrate a special Mass marking the first anniversary of the Parish at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at St. Joseph Church in Pepperell, MA. Immediately following the Mass, additional leaders of the Archdiocese of Boston will lend their support as panelists during a parish-wide, Town-Hall style meeting designed to inform parishioners and engage them in planning for the future of the parish.
With a theme of “Focusing on Our Future”, the meeting allows leadership from the Archdiocese and Parish as well as individual parishioners to lend their voice and ideas toward building a community in the fellowship of Christ. The meeting will be hosted by Rev. Paul Ring, Pastor of Our Lady of Grace and will include a panel discussion. Following the panel, a light supper and parishioner planning discussions will be held in the Church Hall. Panelists include:
- Rev. David Couturier, Director of Pastoral Planning for the Archdiocese of Boston
- David Thorpe, Director of Catholics Come Home for the Archdiocese of Boston
- Jeanne Shanley DiPietro, Pastoral Associate for Our Lady of Grace
- Robert Daly, Director of Religious Education for Our Lady of Grace
- Tom Fitzpatrick, Vice Chair of Our Lady of Grace Parish Pastoral Council
“While the process of reconfiguration and parish closings have been difficult for many Catholics, we are inspired by the wonderful work of Rev. Paul Ring and the parishioners of Our Lady of Grace in Dunstable, Groton and Pepperell,” states Rev. David Couturier. “Their commitment to meet challenges head on helps us realize the possibilities we share as a Catholic community.”
“We are honored to have Cardinal O’Malley celebrate Mass and acknowledge the hard work completed by our parishioners during the merger transition period that followed the formation of Our Lady of Grace just over a year ago,” states Fr. Paul. “Progress is underway as we take the next step on our journey of building a faith community that will serve future generations of Catholics. It is an exciting period of time and we are blessed by the support of the Archdiocese and a parish community that works hard to achieve each milestone.”
About Our Lady of Grace: Our Lady of Grace was founded on July 1, 2009 to carry on the mission of the former Parishes of Sacred Heart-St. James in Groton, MA and St. Joseph in Pepperell, MA and includes the neighboring Catholic community in Dunstable, MA.
About the Archdiocese of Boston: The Diocese of Boston was founded on April 8, 1808 and was elevated to Archdiocese in 1875. Currently serving the needs of nearly 2 million Catholics, the Archdiocese of Boston is an ethnically diverse and spiritually enriching faith community consisting of 292 parishes, across 144 communities, educating approximately 46,000 students in its Catholic schools and 156,000 in religious education classes each year, ministering to the needs of 200,000 individuals through its pastoral and social service outreach and in support of a health care ministry that meets the needs of some 1 million patients each year. Mass is celebrated in nearly twenty different languages each week. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholic.org.