Local parochial schools will join their counterparts throughout the country celebrating Catholic Schools Week tomorrow through Feb. 3. This year's theme is "Catholic Schools: Faith. Academics. Service."
Highlights at local schools include community service, spirit days, book fairs, teachers and parents appreciation day.
St. Patrick School in Pelham, N.H., will host Bishop Peter Libasci, spiritual leader of the Diocese of Manchester, as he celebrates Mass for Catholic Schools Week Tuesday at 10 a.m.
In Lawrence, hypnotist Jerry Valley performs Feb. 4 at St. Patrick Parish Hall, 11 E. Kingston St. The evening begins with a hot buffet at 6:30 p.m., followed by the show. Tickets are $25 and proceeds benefit Lawrence Catholic Academy.
Following is a list of events during Catholic Schools Week:
Massachusetts
Central Catholic, 300 Hampshire St., Lawrence, Students are raising money to benefit the American Cancer Society and will wear red on Friday in support. Closing Mass is Friday at 7:15 a.m.
Lawrence Catholic Academy, 101 Parker St., Lawrence, Opening Mass tomorrow at 9 a.m. in St. Patrick Church, 118 S. Broadway.
Notre Dame High School, 207 Haverhill St., Lawrence, Students are collecting money for the Million Tree Project to help plant trees in the Amazon. Closing Mass is Friday at 1:30 at St. Mary church, 300 Haverhill St.
Presentation of Mary Academy, Methuen, Bridget Shaheen, executive director of Lazarus House in Lawrence, speaks to students Monday at 10 a.m. On Friday, students and staff members will go to 20 different locations to perform community service. Prayer service follows in honor of Blessed Anne Marie Rivier, founder of the Presentation of Mary order. Members of the chorus and drama team perform "Wicked Cabaret" at 7 p.m.
Sacred Hearts, South Main Street, Bradford, Open house Wednesday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Augustine School, 26 Central St., Andover, Open house Tuesday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.
St. Joseph of All Saints Parish, 56 Oak Ave., Haverhill, Opening Mass today at 4 p.m. Spaghetti supper follows. Cost is $3 to $5 or $15 per family.
St. Michael, North Andover, Opening Mass tomorrow at 9 a.m.
St. Monica, 212 Lawrence St., Methuen, Open house Wednesday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. School Mass is Friday at 12:30 p.m.
New Hampshire
St. Joseph Regional Catholic School, tours of the school available every day this week from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Thomas Aquinas, 3 Moody St., Derry, open house tomorrow noon to 2 p.m.
Pastor to speak on Zimbabwe
ANDOVER — The Rev. Marsha Heydenreich leads a presentation on Zimbabwe Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m.
Faith Lutheran has had a social ministry program supporting Rwehanga, Zimbabwe, since 2004.
Heydenreich visited the village of approximately 500 people last summer along with Ramson Gambiza of Methuen.
Gambiza is a native of Rwehanga, where his mother and sisters still live. His late father was the town's minister.
Over the years, members of Faith Lutheran have purchased an electric powered grinding mill for the village. Before that, women had to walk half a day to go to the nearest mill. The Andover church has also bought bicycles for the pastor and his wife, so they can travel from village to village to evangelize. Last year, Faith Lutheran paid for clothing and a $15 school fee for orphans most of whom have lost both parents to AIDS.
Last summer, the church on South Main Street built two outdoor huts as part of their "A to Z" project. The A in the name is for Andover and the Z for Zimbabwe.
Replica of Shroud of Turin comes to St. Thomas Aquinas
DERRY, N.H. — One of the few church-sanctioned authentic full body replicas of the Shroud of Turin will be on display Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas, 26 Crystal Ave. Donald H. Nohs, one of the world's leading authorities on the shroud and the Passion of Christ, speaks on the linen cloth which bears the image of Jesus. He has researched the shroud for more than 40 years.
Two new priests join St. Michael
NORTH ANDOVER — After saying farewell to the Rev. Jerry Hogan and learning of the Rev. Paul Keyes' retirement, members of St. Michael Parish welcomed the Revs. Bill Donnelly and Mike Doyle as temporary vicars.
Donnelly and Doyle will assist the Rev. John Delaney in running the parish of 5,100 families.
Born in Philadelphia, Donnelly is a priest with the Augustinian order. Most recently, he served at St. Mary Parish in Lawrence. Locally, he has also served at St. Augustine in Andover and was a Catholic chaplain at Lawrence General Hospital in the 1970s. He has also served parishes in New York and Philadelphia and has been a member of the Provincial Council for eight years. During his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities including sculling and hiking. In fact, Keyes taught him to ski when Donnelly was at St. Augustine and Keyes at St. Robert Bellarmine in West Andover.
Doyle was ordained in 1985. Born in Salem, Mass., he graduated from Boston College. In his years as a priest, he served churches in South Boston, Sudbury and Scituate. He was named pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Canton in 2000.
Doyle is a chaplain in the Navy Reserve and was mobilized to active duty in December 2007 as division chaplain for the 4th Marine Division in New Orleans until March 2011. Like Donnelly, Doyle also has a connection to Keyes, who was his spiritual director at St. John Seminary.
Doyle enjoys fly fishing and watching professional sports.
Religion listings
Christ Church, 25 Central St., Andover: Epiphany Learning Series is on Wednesdays through Feb. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Topics include "The Episcopal Church," "An Introduction to the Bible," "Anglican History," "An Introduction to the Prayer Book" and "Anglican Spirituality." Choral evensong service is Feb. 26 at 5 p.m.
Corpus Christi, 35 Essex St., Lawrence: Anointing of the Sick is today after the 4 p.m. Mass. A Mass in Lithuanian and English is celebrated Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. in honor of Lithuania's 94th Independence Day. Dinner follows. A slideshow on Lithuanian Wayside crosses will be shown. Tickets are $10. For information, contact Lithuanian Council president Jonas Stundzia at 978-685-4478.
DeColores Books and Gifts, 34 N. Broadway, Salem, N.H.: The Rev. Joseph Thomas, author of "In the Grasp of the Loving God: Oh, What Joy There is in Believing," will sign copies of the book Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. Thomas is a priest of the Basilian Salvatorian order in Methuen.
Free Christian, 31 Elm St., Andover: The Alpha course will be offered beginning Jan. 31, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., until Dec. 5.
Groveland Congregational, 4 King St., Groveland: Candlelit Taize service featuring ecumenical Christian prayer centered on scripture, silence and song is tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St. North Andover: Jews, Christians and Muslims will come together in prayer Feb. 7 from 7 to 8 p.m. in Cascia Hall. Music by MacKapella.
North Parish, 190 Academy Road, North Andover: The Rev. Lee Bluemel and membership committee co-chair Brian Lafferty lead class on Exploring Unitarian Universalism tomorrow 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Lunar New Year Celebration Feb. 5, 12:30 p.m. featuring story with Lani Paterson Arnzen and a dragon dance.
St. Anne, 26 Emerson Ave., Hampstead, N.H.: Family Mass is Feb. 5 at 11 a.m.
St. Augustine of Our Lady of Good Counsel, 128 Ames St., Lawrence: Confirmation students lead Holy Hour Feb. 12 at noon to pray for people dealing with an illness.
St. James, Winter Street, Haverhill: Youngsters from St. James and St. John serve as altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, cantor and choir members at the first youth Mass Feb. 19 at 5 p.m.
St. John the Baptist, 110 Lincoln Ave., Haverhill: The Rev. John Walsh leads a course on the autobiography of St. Therese of Liseux, "The Story of a Soul," Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 1 at 9:45 a.m.
St. Joseph of Sts. Mary and Joseph parish, 40 Main St., Salem, N.H.: Catholics who have been away from the church are invited to a series of meetings to talk about their faith journey, Feb. 27, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 7 p.m.
St. Luke the Evangelist, 8 Atkinson Depot Road, Plaistow, N.H.: Members of St. Luke and St. Anne parish have formed an ultreya, which meets Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. Women are welcome to recite the Rosary and for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Feb. 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. Potluck breakfast and the bible study "Courageous Virtue" follows.
St. Mark the Evangelist, 1 South Road, Londonderry, N.H.: Scripture study on the Passion and Resurrection Narratives of Jesus Christ will be held Mondays during Lent Feb. 27 to April 2 from 7-8:30 p.m. Cost is $15 and registration is due Feb. 5.
St. Matthew, 2 Searles Road, Windham, N.H.: Women's Bible study on "Walking with God, a Journey Through the Bible" is Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.
St. Michael, 196 Main St., North Andover: Middle school students host the Mass tomorrow at 6 p.m.
St. Patrick, 12 Main St., Pelham, N.H.: Women of Mary meet for Mass at 8 a.m., followed by the Rosary, pot luck breakfast and talk with Deacon Bernie .
St. Robert Bellarmine, 198 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover: Growing in Faith group focuses on the Gospel of Mark, which the church will be reading at liturgy this year tomorrow and Monday, 5 to 8 p.m. World Day of Prayer for the Sick is celebrated with the anointing of the sick Feb. 12 at the 11 a.m. Mass.
St. Theresa of Our Lady of Good Counsel, 22 Plymouth St., Methuen: Joyce Wholey of the San Damiano House of Prayer speaks about the house and spiritual direction, Feb. 20 at noon. This is part of the monthly luncheon speakers series. Free but donations accepted. Register by calling the parish office at 686-3984 by Feb. 17.
St. Theresa, 63 Winter St., North Reading: The Rev. Thomas Reilly leads Healing Mass Jan. 31. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with Eucharistic adoration, recitation of the Rosary and confession. Mass follows with the laying on of hands.
South Church, 41 Central St., Andover: The Rev. John Zehring leads an eight-part study on "The Sermon on the Mount" Sundays through March 4. Duncan Pyle facilitates "Ever-Present God" as illustrated by Hollywood Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Temple Emanuel, 7 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover: The comedy "A Matter of Size" will be shown Feb. 12 at 5 p.m., as part of deli dinner and movie discussion night. Cost is $15 per person and reservation must be received by Feb. 9.
Temple Emanu-El, 514 Main St., Haverhill: The temple's book club will discuss Milton Steinberg's "As a Driven Leaf" tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon.
Trinitarian Congregational, 72 Elm St., North Andover: Soloists will share their favorite songs during "An Evening of Love Songs" Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Cost is $5 and proceeds benefit the youth mission trip.
Trinity Episcopal, 26 White St., Haverhill: Bishop Gayle Harris visits the church Feb. 12.
Universalist Unitarian, 15 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill: The church is hosting classes for newcomers tomorrow and Feb. 4 from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Participants will learn Unitarian history, theology and the congregation.
Matt Meyer explores songs, drums, prayer and an experience of the holy in music in "The Secret of Music" tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Members of the Social Justice Committee host a viewing of the PBS documentary "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet," Feb. 3 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Discussion follow. The film is a preview to the lecture on Islamic faith on Feb. 18.
West Congregational, 767 Broadway, Haverhill: Alpha course exploring key issues of the Christian faith begins Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. and continues Tuesdays until Dec. 5. A 12-week women's Bible study looks at the prophet Daniel, Mondays, 6:45 to 9 p.m.
