By Susan Bailey
Correspondent, The CFP
In an effort to combat the pervasive negativity of our world, St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Upton is taking on a simple and gentle message this Lent: Let us be instruments of peace.
“As it was brought into the messages delivered through Advent and the Christmas season, we made the decision to make it the primary focus of our Lenten observance,” said the Father Laurence V. Brault, pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel. Father Brault cited as impetus for the Lenten project the call from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that stresses acceptance, love, a concern for the dignity and value of every person and a positive and uplifting message that would overcome the divisiveness and “bullying” atmosphere so present in our society at large.
As a result, homilies will be tailored to the theme, according to Lucy Lambert, member of the Liturgy Committee appointed to develop the project. There will be other prompts provided as well, including holy cards produced by the parish with the “Prayer of St. Francis,” medals of St. Francis and the frequent singing of the Sebastian Temple classic, “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” along with “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, each parishioner will be presented with an opportunity to participate through a “Peace and Joy Basket” set up in the narthex of the church. The basket will contain forms that parishioners can fill out describing a moment of peace and joy that they experienced during the week. That moment can be small - such as a hug or smile - or larger - such as an act of kindness or paying forward. It could be an observance of an action or one they perform themselves. Once filled out, the form would be submitted to the “Peace and Joy Box.” Parishioners can participate as often as they like, she explained.
At the culmination of Lent, during the Easter celebrations, the box will be carried into the church as a testament to the peace and joy present within the parish, according to Mrs. Lambert. After Easter a sampling of the slips (all anonymous) will be compiled in a handout made available to the whole parish.
“Examples of these witnesses will be included in the 3 p.m. service that the parish holds on Divine Mercy Sunday,” Father Brault said.
In referring to the homiletic themes, Father Brault explained that “when the Scriptures lend themselves to it, we bring out this awareness of being a people of peace and joy.” He cited this example: “Just the other day, I heard of a priest who commented to his parishioners, ‘May the Peace of Christ disturb you!’ I found this to be a wonderful theme for a future homily - maybe on the first Sunday of Lent.”
Father Brault and the Liturgy Committee hope that the people of St. Gabriel’s become more conscious of, and thus excited about, the peace and joy present in their lives, recognizing that they are gifts from God.
“The idea is to focus on the positive in a world of negatives and hope to blossom these positives to create a world filled with peace and joy,” said Mrs. Lambert. “This is a simple plan that hopefully will underscore that God is moving in our home, churches and personal lives.”