Our daily column, 5 Things You Need to Know Today, will help you to get your day started and offer you some fodder for water cooler conversation.

1. The main Framingham Library will be open today from 2 to 5 p.m.

2. With the return of Sunday hours at the library, so does the Reading to Dogs program. Improve your reading skills the fun way by reading aloud to a friendly dog! Lilah or Poky listens as children read aloud from a book of their choice. The dogs are trained.  Fifteen minute sessions available between 3-4 p.m. Call 508-532-5570 x4336 or drop by the Children’s Room to reserve a time.

3. Today is Framingham United Soccer Annual Soccer Fair. Picture Day with Your Team. Free autographs and photos with a New England Revolution soccer plyaer. Every intramural player will play a soccer game and receive a souvenir T-Shirt at the fair. Food, etc.. Event takes place at Merchant Road Field.

4. St Bridget begins its religious education and youth ministry program today for middle and high school students. There is a change in times this year -- sixth and seventh grade students have class 4 to 5:30 p.m. and students in grades 8, 9 and 10 have class from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

NOTE: For the first time, the lower grades will not start classes until October, due to the no school days in the Framingham Public Schools, due to the Jewish holidays. Students in religious education in grades K-5 will start on Wednesday, Oct. 10.

5. Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian welcomed Cardinal Sean O’Malley to the Middlesex Jail in Cambridge last week. The visit was believed to be the first by a Cardinal to the jail since it opened in 1983. Sheriff Koutoujian and Cardinal O’Malley were joined by Middlesex Jail Superintendent Scott Brazis, chaplains from the sheriff’s office and officials from Boston College. Cardinal O’Malley
also offered Mass in the jail’s chapel for about 20 detainees and staff members.

“We are committed to ending the cycle of criminal and destructive behavior that has landed these men in our custody,” said Koutoujian in a press release. “Here at the jail in particular, that means providing detainees with access to chaplains to offer spiritual guidance. These same chaplains also provide tremendous counsel and comfort to the men and women who work for the MSO.”

During the tour of the jail Cardinal O’Malley and Sheriff Koutoujian spoke with inmates and corrections officers. The Cardinal also met with members of the MSO command staff and chaplains. Wednesday’s visit was part of an ongoing dialogue between the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office and the Archdiocese of
Boston on prison ministries and other initiatives.

“I am grateful Cardinal O’Malley took the time to come to Cambridge and learn about what we are doing here,” said Koutoujian. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Cardinal and our chaplains to offer services and programs for our inmates and staff.”

The sheriff has an office in Framingham.

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