A polar bear walked into a bar and said to the bartender, “I’ll have a gin…” he paused for a long time, thinking, and then finished with,”…and a tonic.”

Look at the scripture readings we have today. (Do some of you actually read the scriptures before coming to weekend Liturgy? We print the daily readings in the bulletin so you may meditate each day or prepare your own sermon for the weekend.) In any event, let us look at the readings.

“Everyone who loves is begotten of God and has knowledge of God.” With the different definitions of love today we had better make sure our love is honest, sincere and life giving. If that is so then we are godly people.

“God is love.” Because God is love we should be able to find him in the love others give to us and in the love we give to others. Somehow God is present in all authentic love.

“Love, then, consists in this: not that we have loved God, but that he has loved us and has sent his Son as an offering for our sins.” God loves us even when we are unlovable. God is the tremendous lover. Could we not love those people God places in our lives, even when they are unlovable, simply because we are lovers?

“You will live in my love if you keep my commandments.” God’s laws exist only for our happiness. It is not that something is good or bad because God allows it or forbids it. God allows or forbids something because it is good or bad, that is, beneficial or harmful. God’s commands point out and protect values that will allow us to abide in God’s love.

“All this I tell you that my joy may be yours and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” In the Mass prayers we say we look forward to that day when Christ will return and give us the fullness of joy. We don’t have to wait to get to heaven to have joy. It is a gift to those who have overcome self-centeredness and selfishness and love. All the way to heaven should be heaven.

Readings for the Week of May 25, 2003

Sunday: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 Jn 4:7-10; Jn 15:9-17

Monday: Acts 16:11-15; Jn 15:26—16:4a

Tuesday: Acts 16:22-34; Jn 16:5-11

Wednesday: Acts 17:15, 22—18:1; Jn 16:12-15

Thursday: Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mk 16:15-20

Friday: Acts 18:9-18; Jn 16:20-23a

Saturday: Zep 3:14-18; Lk 1:39-56

We will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday, May 29^th.

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Melissa Champagne, Rosemary Harvey, Regina Jones, Andrea Hynes, Joyce Amos, James Reilly, Regina Wingard, Elaine Ring, Erin McMehon, Maria Aguis, George Beck, Dr. Kenneth Spengler, Josephine Murphy, Peter Bugda, Norma Berstein, Camille Michals, Rob Morway, Patricia Hassett, Paul McCann, William Francis, Lillian Davenport, James Fontaini, Henri Fradette, William Blair, Agatha Pals, Richard Gaudet, Kath Rodriegas, Estelle Szalajeski, Nancy Driscoll, Dante DiManna, Margie Levine, Ruth Pike, Doug Phillips, Ralph Tatro, Andrew Day, Peggy Sue Grow, Mary Serpa, Deborah Miller, Audrey Finn, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Elizabeth Conte, Dave Rissmiller, Violet Calderoni, Alice Hinkle, Ruth McAleer, John McAleer, Monica Cotter, Frank Cote, Kathy Smith, Harold Johnson, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Bea Lingane, Paul Bentley, Connie Perrotta, Gerard Sarno, Marisol O’Brien, Venberanda Massimilla, Peter Bellini, and Rita Laffey.

We are planning an appreciation cookout on the parish grounds on Saturday, May 31^st after the 4:00 Mass. If you have given your time to ministry in the parish, please plan on joining us at Mass and help us celebrate your support of the parish community. Please RSVP Claire at 781-862-4646 so that we may have an idea of how many are able to attend.

Once again, we want to remind you that the Annual Catholic Appeal 2003 allows us to continue the many works of our Archdiocese. There are 80 agencies that depend on our support through this appeal. Through this support we are able to operate essential services throughout the five regions and the 358 parishes of the Archdiocese.

Your parish would like to celebrate with you and your family at a special Graduates’ Liturgy and Reception.

Bread For The World thanks all of you that took the time to write letters this past Sunday. Fifty-four letters were faxed to our representatives. It’s not too late to write if you missed out. Look for us during fellowship hour following the 9:00 Mass.

It is a familiar routine. A collection is taken up—for a baby gift, a departing colleague or a local event. With varying degrees of willingness, we put our money in the basket and feel that we have done our duty.

That same invitation is made to us in an entirely different context every Sunday as we gather to offer God thanks and praise. During the liturgy of the word, we listen to the voice of God in the scriptures, proclaim our belief in the creed and offer prayers for the needs of the church and the world. Then a collection is taken up.

It is commonly understood that the money given during the collection will be used to support the ongoing work of the church. This includes setting aside a portion of those funds to be used directly for those in need. But in this age of credit cards and automatic fund transfers, isn’t there a more efficient way to do this?

If it were only a matter of paying the bills, yes, there are probably simpler ways to collect money. But our monetary contributions are more than just financial transactions; they symbolize our willingness to place our lives at God’s disposal and to be ourselves transformed into the body and blood of Christ. The act of bringing our hard-earned money (in cash or check, in an envelope or not) and placing it in the basket together is a ritual sign of the real offering that will happen when the priest invites us, “Lift up your hearts,” and we respond, “We have lifted them up to the Lord.”

Clearly, such a vision is beyond the realm of simple accounting. The pooling of our resources is a preparation for the pooling of our lives in loving service to one another and to the poor.

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

A TIME FOR PRAYER: MONDAY, MAY 26^th FROM 6:30-7:30 in the Youth Space in the Parish Center. We would welcome any 6^th –12^th grader who is interested in learning more about how to read scripture and discuss why the message of the Gospel is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago. The group who is participating is very enthusiastic! Come and set aside just one hour to listen and talk about how God’s word speaks directly to each of us. If you would like to read ahead, the group will be reading John’s Gospel for the next several weeks. Bibles are available or you can bring your own. Food will be served. Come and bring a friend. Any questions, call Maureen.

LION KING is finally coming to Boston (Summer of 2004)! Tickets are already being reserved by other groups – is there an interest in doing this from Sacred Heart? Please contact me about details and I will look into this further. A great evening was had by all who went to Superstar!!

PARENTS: Grade 6 – 12^th: Letters have been sent to all parents outlining various summer activities and programs which will be offered this summer. According to a recent study cited in Group Magazine, parental influence over young people has three to seven times more impact than cultural influences. Parents influence their kids more than teenage peers, the Bible, teachers, and the church!!!. Permission slips for events will be enclosed as well. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THIS INFORMATION. If you have any questions about the material, please contact Maureen at the numbers above.

PERMISSION SLIPS FOR THE FOLLOWING EVENTS/PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN MAILED. EXTRAS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE BOX AT THE PARISH CENTER.

These programs fill up quickly. Please return your forms ASAP so you don’t miss out.

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - May 25, 2002

Readings for the Week of May 25, 2003

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin -May 25, 2003