LENTEN QUESTION OF THE WEEK
"In those days, God delivered all these commandments..."
Exodus 20:1

Adults:  Which commandment is hardest for me to observe now in my life? How can God help me?
Children:  Which one do you think is the most important of the Ten Commandments? Why?

GENERATIONS OF FAITH. Social Justice is our theme this time. Sign up now for "Hearts and Hands". It will take place twice on Sunday, March 29th. Choose either the 12:15 to 2:45PM or the 6:00 to 8:30PM session. We have a panel of dynamic adult panelists including: President of Catholic Charities, Tiziana Dearing; Associate Director of the Boston College Spirituality & Service Program, Dianne Duffin; our own parishioner, speaking about Rebuilding Boston, Paul Karasch; and attorney and Seminarian, Thomas Harvey. Children's break-out time will be spent on Christian service projects. This is a wonderful Lenten opportunity for all parishioners, and it is the second of our two annual Generations of Faith gatherings.

RICE BOWLS. The annual Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl, 2009 has begun. Pick up your "rice bowl" at the back of both churches. May our almsgiving through this program help relieve hunger across the globe and in our own United States. Please place your filled rice bowls, or check, in the collection baskets at the Palm Sunday or Easter liturgies.

EASTER BASKET PROJECT 2009. Each year, our parish prepares Easter baskets for children in Waltham, through Middlesex Community Services. This year we are preparing 75 baskets. Each grade has its own assigned items, but we would welcome contributions from the rest of the parish, as well. Items needed: foil-wrapped chocolate eggs, small bags of jelly beans, marshmallow peeps, small stuffed animals, 4 oz. bottles of bubbles with wands, plastic Easter grass and stickers. All donations are due by Tuesday, April 7th, and may be placed in the drop-off bins in the Parish Center Lobby in Weston, and by the literature rack in Lincoln. Monetary donations are also appreciated and can be sent to Jean Pelletier, Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry/Liturgy/RCIA, or to Anne Marie Mahoney, Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation.

STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSY PEOPLE. Here are several ways to help out when time is limited. Make a casserole/desserts/ or come help with a Bristol Lodge dinner on Thursday, April 2nd. Call Pat Dacey at 781-237-0947 for details. Come say the rosary on a Monday afternoon at EPOCH. Call Susan Bayard at 781-642-1308. Help bag food on a Tuesday morning for our St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Call Nancy Cronin, 781-899-9276. Help rebuild a house with Rebuilding Together/Boston on Saturday, April 25th. Contact Sandra Tollos at stollos@sjulia.org.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped organize and who supported our Irish Magic Party and Reverse Raffle. The 200 "chances" were sold out by last Tuesday -- a credit to so many of you who were so generous. Over 100 people came for an enjoyable St. Patrick's celebration.

Need Help? Being a Christian Community in serious economic times calls us to help neighbors in the greater community and those within our own parish. The parish staff is aware that there are a number of parishioners who are now unemployed. Do you know of employment opportunities that we could pass on? Do you know someone who is having trouble providing for their needs? St. Julia Parish may be able to help by referring to sources of assistance. Please call Fr. Evans, Fr. Hennessey, or Susan Bayard at 781-899-2611.

EMPLOYMENT NETWORKING MEETINGS: Our Lady of Fatima Parish (a member of our 5-parish collaborative), Sudbury, sponsors an Employment Networking Group that meets on Mondays in the parish center library, from 8:30 to 9:45AM. The group provides general and specific idea sharing, brainstorming and mutual support for people seeking employment or a career change. Discussions focus on networking and interviewing strategies aimed at finding and securing job opportunities. Meetings are informal in nature, and can serve as a sounding board for your networking ideas. Stop by for a cup of coffee, share your experiences and meet some news friends. For more information contact Deacon John Nicholson at 508-302-6798 or email deacon@fatimasudbury.org.

FIRST PARISH NETWORKERS: This group meets every Tuesday morning from 8 to 9AM in the Church Library at First Parish Church, Weston. The meetings provide a forum for people "in transition" i.e. between jobs, seeking to change employer, seeking to change industry or job functions or looking to start or grow a business. All meetings are open to the public. For information visit First Parish's website at www.firstparishweston.org/programs

TRAFFIC IN THE DRIVEWAY NEXT TO ST. JULIA CHURCH. For a long while, there has been a problem with speeding cars, particularly in the morning rush hour and while parishioners are coming to and going from early-morning daily Masses. The Weston Police have given us some good advice about communicating the need for safety on our property, and we have been advised to post signs asking that cars not enter this driveway except for "Church Business." Orange sandwich-boards communicate that message now at the head of the driveway, at Boston Post Road. A move like this has to be done to help improve this dangerous situation. Many of the morning speeders are no doubt people on their way to work who want to avoid congestion and also students on their way to school. They have created a real hazard.