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The Holy Rood Collaborative
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  • Home
  • About
      • Welcome Home!
      • Staff
      • Holy Rood? Please explain...
      • Our History
      • Our Patron Saints
      • New Collaborative Signage
      • Directions
      • From the Pastor
      • Homilies
      • Deacon John's Blog
      • Our Lady Star of the Sea
      • The Windows of St. Mary's
  • Worship & Sacraments
    • Worship
      • Mass Times & Devotions
      • Liturgical Ministers
      • Holy Days of Obligation
      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • St. John Music Ministry
      • St. Margaret Music Ministry
      • St. Mary Music Ministry
      • The Rosary
      • The Divine Mercy Chaplet
      • Funerals
    • Sacraments
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Eucharist
      • Confirmation
      • Marriage
      • Holy Orders/ Vocations
      • Anointing of the Sick
  • Faith Formation
    • FAMILY FAITH FORMATION
      • Welcome
      • Program Overview 2022/23
      • Frequently Asked Questions
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      • Deep Dives
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      • Confirmation
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      • FORMED
      • RCIA (for youth)
    • YOUTH FORMATION
      • Youth Ministry
      • Permission Slip
      • Catholic Heart Work Camp
      • Discipleship Week
      • Mass On A Mountain
      • Steubenville East
      • Teen-Led Stations of the Cross
      • VBF (Vacation Bible Fun)
    • ADULT FORMATION
      • Adult Bible Study
      • Becoming Catholic
      • Catholic Resources
      • The Institute for the New Evangelization
      • And The Answer Is...
  • Parish Life
    • Up and Coming Events
      • Parish Events
      • $5000 Bonanza
      • Blood Pressure Clinics
      • First Friday
      • Ministry Fair
      • Shrines of Italy Pilgrimage
      • St. Patrick's Day Dinner
      • Trivia Night!
    • Video Library
      • Fr. Brian Video Messages
      • Parish Presentations
      • Photo Albums
      • Other
    • Parish Life
      • Bulletins
      • Calendar
      • African Community
      • Annual Outdoor Mass and BBQ
      • Bible Study
      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • Faith and Family
      • Hail Mary Challenge
      • Knights of Columbus
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      • National Marriage Week
      • Natural Family Planning
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  • Stewardship
      • Stewardship: Living a Christ-Centered Life
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      • 2023 Grand Annual Campaign
      • 2022 Catholic Appeal
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      • End-Of-Year Donations
      • Amazon Smile :)
  • I would like to
      • Watch Mass via Livestream
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    • Introducing our "Sister Parish," Our Lady Star of the Sea in Sierra Leone, Africa

      The Adoption Story...

      In 1961 Sierra Leone, a British colony, became an independent nation. In 1991, after struggling to establish itself as a government, a group called the Revolutionary United Front attacked villages on the eastern Liberian border and started illegal mining for diamonds, driving the villagers out of their homes. Fierce fighting and brutal maiming of men, women and children continued until 2002,  when this civil war was declared officially over.
       
      Amidst this struggle, the parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea was established in Juba, a suburb of Freetown, with our own Rosaline and Patrick Willie-Bonglo being founding members of the parish.   In 2004, being keenly aware of the extreme sufferings of the people served by this parish, through its schools, medical clinic and vocational training school, the  Willie-Bonglos asked if St John’s would sponsor the needs of this Catholic parish. With Archdiocesan approval, we were connected. This connection flourished under Fr. Ritt’s pastorship, especially through the work of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of our parish.
       
      Since then, we have collected and sent financial aid, as well as material supplies to help the work of our sister parish.  In 2010, a representative of St John’s was invited and visited Our Lady Star of the Sea parish to strengthen the bond between the two parishes, and to witness the good works being done there with the aid we had sent. After that visit, pictures were shared of Our Lady Star of the Sea’s compound, showing their facilities and parishioners at all the Masses. Many of St John’s parishioners were brought into a closer bond with Our Lady, having seen the needs, as well as the joyful faith of these people. We continue our support in the unity of the One Body of Christ.

      Since 2017, we, the parish family of the Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative, in the spirit of giving, offer up our Lenten sacrifices in order that our brothers & sisters of Our Lady, Star of the Sea parish family may be lifted… not only by our monetary donations, but by our gift of prayer.

      In 2018, your generous Lenten almsgiving helped the parish undertake a much-needed project: to pave the Church compound. Your donations were also used to help the parish provide critical services and support to its community. In addition to its vibrant Catholic Church, the parish has a health clinic, a vocational school, and a pre-school and elementary school.
       
      The school serves a large number of children. The school children, decked out in their blue cotton uniforms, often come to school hungry. They also come to school with big smiles and lots of energy. School supplies, including books, paper, and pencils, are always scant. Their teachers work diligently in small, crowded classrooms with few resources. Yet the children still thrive in their sense of belonging and in gaining skills for a better life.
       
      The health clinic is where many local people turn to for the majority of their healthcare needs. The clinic serves everyone in the community—including mothers in the delivery of their babies, those dealing with infections, infants, and the elderly. They are always in need of additional supplies.
       
      The vocational school is where women come to be trained in skills that they can use to support their families. These skills include dress-making, hair-dressing, jewelry-making, weaving, and many more. The school helps these women learn to appreciate their self-worth, and it empowers them to help themselves and their families. Please keep our Sister Parish in your prayers during Lent.

      If you would ever like to donate to Our Lady, please make checks payable to either St. John or St. Mary, and note ‘Our Lady - Sierra Leone’ in the memo. You may also donate through online giving, available through a quick link on the homepage of our website.


    • Some Photos to Enjoy...

      • Our Lady Star of the Sea photo album Our Lady Star of the Sea 6 Photos
      More Photo Albums
  • Home
  • About
      • Welcome Home!
      • Staff
      • Holy Rood? Please explain...
      • Our History
      • Our Patron Saints
      • New Collaborative Signage
      • Directions
      • From the Pastor
      • Homilies
      • Deacon John's Blog
      • Our Lady Star of the Sea
      • The Windows of St. Mary's
  • Worship & Sacraments
    • Worship
      • Mass Times & Devotions
      • Liturgical Ministers
      • Holy Days of Obligation
      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • St. John Music Ministry
      • St. Margaret Music Ministry
      • St. Mary Music Ministry
      • The Rosary
      • The Divine Mercy Chaplet
      • Funerals
    • Sacraments
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Eucharist
      • Confirmation
      • Marriage
      • Holy Orders/ Vocations
      • Anointing of the Sick
  • Faith Formation
    • FAMILY FAITH FORMATION
      • Welcome
      • Program Overview 2022/23
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Registration
      • Tuition Angels
      • Ways of Praying
      • Deep Dives
      • Faith Fundamentals Tracking
      • Confirmation
      • Catechist Corner
      • Calendar & Schedules
      • FORMED
      • RCIA (for youth)
    • YOUTH FORMATION
      • Youth Ministry
      • Permission Slip
      • Catholic Heart Work Camp
      • Discipleship Week
      • Mass On A Mountain
      • Steubenville East
      • Teen-Led Stations of the Cross
      • VBF (Vacation Bible Fun)
    • ADULT FORMATION
      • Adult Bible Study
      • Becoming Catholic
      • Catholic Resources
      • The Institute for the New Evangelization
      • And The Answer Is...
  • Parish Life
    • Up and Coming Events
      • Parish Events
      • $5000 Bonanza
      • Blood Pressure Clinics
      • First Friday
      • Ministry Fair
      • Shrines of Italy Pilgrimage
      • St. Patrick's Day Dinner
      • Trivia Night!
    • Video Library
      • Fr. Brian Video Messages
      • Parish Presentations
      • Photo Albums
      • Other
    • Parish Life
      • Bulletins
      • Calendar
      • African Community
      • Annual Outdoor Mass and BBQ
      • Bible Study
      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • Faith and Family
      • Hail Mary Challenge
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Outreach Ministries
      • Parish Councils
      • Parish Ministries
      • Protecting God's Children
      • Register in the Collaborative
      • Scholarship News and Announcements
      • St. Vincent de Paul
      • Social Justice Committee
    • Community
      • ACTS
      • Archdiocese of Boston
      • BINGO
      • Boy Scouts: Troop 77
      • Knights of Columbus
      • La Salette Shrine: Attleboro
      • Marriage Encounter
      • National Marriage Week
      • Natural Family Planning
      • Project Rachel Ministry
      • Pro Life
      • Recovery
      • St. Vincent de Paul
      • The Institute for the New Evangelization
  • Stewardship
      • Stewardship: Living a Christ-Centered Life
      • On Line Giving
      • Weekly Offertory
      • 2023 Second Collection Schedule
      • 2023 Grand Annual Campaign
      • 2022 Catholic Appeal
      • Financial Reports
      • St. Mary Elevator
      • Building Updates
      • End-Of-Year Donations
      • Amazon Smile :)
  • I would like to
      • Watch Mass via Livestream
      • Register in the Collaborative
      • Get Married
      • Have My Child Baptized
      • Plan a Funeral
      • Request a Prayer Shawl
      • Reserve a Room
      • Subscribe to FLOCKNOTE
      • Complete My CORI Form
      • Be an Altar Server
      • Remember a Loved One
      • Request A Prayer
      • Report a Facility Issue
      • Get Directions
 
Home to St. John the Evangelist, St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Mary Parish Families. Leading ALL to the ONE TRUE CROSS!

Parish Offices: 115 Middlesex St. | North Chelmsford, MA 01863
Phone: (978)-256-2374

Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 am - 5 pm | Wednesday 9:30 am - 5 pm | Friday 9 am - 3 pm

Please contact Christine Trznadel, Communications Director, with any edits or comments regarding our website. Thank you!

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