Knights support Pregnancy Help Center

The St. Bonaventure Parish Knights of Columbus spearheaded their annual "Baby Shower" in January at St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth.

The pastor, Father Kenneth Overbeck, members of the parish, and Cub Scout Pack 51 helped the KofC with the pro-life drive to support the unborn. The event raised approximately $2,500 in funding and $1,200 in new baby items to support the Archdiocese of Boston Pregnancy Help Center.

The center provides families and women facing pregnancy in the archdiocese with free and confidential counseling, referrals and assistance on a wide range of medical, social service, housing and financial issues. The center also has a confidential help line at 888-771-3914. Services are in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Celebrating marriage

The Urban Marriage Program had 37 couples participate in their "World Marriage Day Celebration: Love One Another," at the Pastoral Center in Braintree last month. Vows were renewed in 4 languages.

Organizers said married couples, whether married one week or 50 years, shared an evening of renewal, reflection and rejoicing.

The event included a Mass followed by dinner and dancing.

'Mobilizing Volunteers'

Recently, nearly 100 parish catechetical leaders, pastors, youth ministers, and pastoral associates gathered at the Pastoral Center for an all-day workshop on mobilizing volunteers.

Co-sponsored by the Office of Religious Education and the Center for Ministry Development of Gig Harbor, Wash., the workshop was led by CMD staff member, Joan Weber.

Attendees were guided through a process to evaluate the current situation in their parish and were shown ways to help bring out the talents of parishioners who step forward to assist with parish programs and projects.

Weber led participants through interactive exercises on recruiting, retaining, and mentoring parish volunteers.

ONE video blog

On Ash Wednesday, Father Matt Williams began a video blog -- or vlog -- in support of his New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults Ministry.

Viewers can reach the vlog through a link to Father Williams' YouTube channel at www.one4boston.org.

On it, he talks about Church teachings, scripture, his ministry, and Mass readings from the week of each post.

Catholic-Jewish connections

The Anti-Defamation League --New England Region and The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston held an educational Seder meal "Remembering the Master Story: Passover and the Paschal Mystery" on March 14 at the Pastoral Center in Braintree.

The Jewish Seder Meal presentation described the relationship between Passover and the Paschal Mystery and suggested strategies for connecting the Jewish and Christian traditions in a way to do justice to both.