Bishop Alan M. Gates and Bishop Gayle E. Harris and the Diocese of Massachusetts' B-PEACE antiviolence campaign invite supporters to join them for the annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace on Sunday, May 10 in Dorchester. 

The walk is a fundraiser for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, which for 20 years has been a leader in offering services to families who have lost someone to violence.  The institute also provides peace curricula to students of all ages, restorative justice opportunities and support for honoring victims and empowering survivors.

This will be the third year that Episcopalians have rallied as a team to walk as a witness for peace and show support for victims, survivors and all who are affected by violence.  This year, B-PEACE hopes to gather a team of 400 walkers.

Registration begins at Town Field Park (also known as Doherty Gibson Park) in Fields Corner, Dorchester at 7 a.m.  Opening remarks are at 8 a.m., with the walk stepping off at 8:30 a.m.

Following the walk, everyone is invited to join for liturgy in the park with the bishops. Read more. 

Photo via Flickr user Hello Angel Creative

Everyone in the diocese is invited to come to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul on May 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., to make their mark on the concrete slab under the new floor of the renovated cathedral church. 

There will be music and snacks, and Sharpies of all colors so that everyone, of all ages, can come and make a permanent mark on their cathedral, give thanks for someone, note a favorite Bible verse or poem, or draw a picture of hope.  All the markings will be permanent, but ultimately known only to God as they will be covered by granite floor tiles to be installed soon afterward.  The new floor tiles will be inscribed with the names, dates and towns of the congregations of the diocese. Watch a video invitation from the dean of the cathedral, the Very Rev. Jep Streit,  here.  

Bishop Alan M. Gates announced on March 25 the appointment of the Ven. W. Michael Hamilton to serve as archdeacon in the Diocese of Massachusetts. Along with the Ven. Patricia Zifcak, Hamilton will assist the bishops and the canon for ordained vocations, the Rev. Canon Edie Dolnikowski, with the formation, deployment, supervision and support for deacons and deacons in formation.

Hamilton succeeds the Rev. Geof Smith, who served as archdeacon from 2011 to 2014 and now resides in the Diocese of New Hampshire.

Hamilton will help oversee discernment and placement of deacons in congregations, deaneries and special diocesan strategic ministries, matching the deacons' passions and gifts with the mission goals of the diocese and congregations. Hamilton will also help to coordinate pastoral care and continuing education opportunities for deacons serving in the diocese. Read more.  

The diocese's General Convention deputation will host an open forum on Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m.for learning and discussion about topics that will be taken up at the 2015 General Convention. The Episcopal Church's triennial General Convention will be held June 25-July 3, in Salt Lake City. All are welcome to join the deputation for this discussion. 

General Convention publications, including the proposed budget, the Report of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage and the Report of the Task Force to Reimagine the Church, are available at www.generalconvention.org

Wicked Local: Three churches celebrate Palm Sunday in Medford Square: Dressed in robes for worship, and costumes from biblical times, the three congregations of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Grace Episcopal Church and First Baptist Church gathered in Medford Square on Palm Sunday, March 29, to bless palms as each church begins Holy Week. For decades, Grace Church and St. Joseph's Church have been blessing palms together. This year First Baptist joined the celebration, and the gathering moved into the center of Medford Square. Read more.  

All dogs are welcome at the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry, a special service offered once a month at All Saints' Episcopal Church of the North Shore in Danvers.  Perfect Paws started five years ago as a spiritual outreach to people through their pets. The service, offered every third Sunday of the month at 5 p.m., welcomes all animals, except for snakes. Dog owners make up most of the worshipers.

"We've never missed once in five years," said Jimmy Juppe, 64,of Tewksbury, who attends with his wife, Lynda, and their Yorkshire terriers, Bella Mia, who is 1, and Pallina, 12.

While Lynda Juppe attends Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Revere, Jimmy said he had fallen away from church until he started attending Perfect Paws.

"I feel these are God's animals," he said, cradling Bella Mia in his arms. "What a wonderful treasure to bring them to church." Read more.