Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin

Sometimes I meet or encounter a call from a Manic Depressive or a Bi-Polar individual. I know who these people are because I have been working with them for some time but I don’t know, until we talk awhile, whether they are up or down today. One day they are happy and the next so very sad. Sometimes they are both in the same day.

Life can—for many of us—be a roller coaster. In these weeks after Easter we have been reading from the Acts of the Apostles and following the early missionary work of Paul and Barnabas. In the city of Iconium they were in effect run out of town before they got stoned to death. Then they went to Lystra and after the cure of the cripple they were idolized as gods. They tried to use this event as a “teachable moment” and speak to them about the authentic Gospel message. It does not work and, once again, they are on the roller coaster and have to flee the city.

In today’s episode from Acts (Acts 15:1-2,22-29) Paul and Barnabas are elated to see the Gentiles accepting the faith but are thrown down when some Church people demand that these people become Jews first and then enter into the Church. In all of these ups and downs Paul is certain of the promise of the Holy Spirit. Most scholars correctly assume that Paul could not have known the Gospel of John with its emphasis upon the ongoing presence of the Paraclete. The Gospel of John was composed long after Paul’s own martyrdom. Paul, through his own experience, knew that the Spirit was present influencing him, directing him and sustaining him.

The people of Sacred Heart Parish are on a roller coaster these days. Are we going to stay open; will we close? Up and down! In all of this we are in the companionship of the Holy Spirit who sustains us and will guide us into the future. The hardest part of our communal prayer is “thy will be done”. We will have to wait for an announcement on Tuesday May 25^th, to find out our fate. Pastors of closing churches will be notified that morning and our Archbishop Sean O’Malley will have a press conference at 1:00pm to announce the closings. Whatever the outcome, we rely on the Spirit to be there for us.

Many thanks to all who use the parish envelopes each week. You are the mainstay of our parish support. This week we received 183 envelopes from the 649 families that are sent envelopes each month.

We will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday, May 20^th. The Masses for that day will be at 9:00am and 7:30pm.

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Rosemary Harvey, Regina Jones, Andrea Hynes, Joyce Amos, James Reilly, Regina Wingard, 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, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Elizabeth Conte, Dave Rissmiller, Violet Caldaroni, Chrysostom Blanchard, Frank Cote, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Rita Mahan, Connie Perrotta, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Marisol O’Brien, Matthew Gablor, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Lori Robbins, Cecelia Hines, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti Feener, Katherine Bingham, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Jorge Loayza, Joseph Brault, Lauren Forgette, Jim Galehouse, Bill Attaya, , Lea Vetter, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, and Pauline Briggs.

A special Graduation Mass, followed by a reception hosted by our teens from T.L.C., is planned for Saturday, June 5^th at 4:00 PM for all our graduates and their families and extended families. A special invitation will be mailed shortly. Please mark your calendar NOW. We are looking forward to this opportunity to wish you well on your journey next year.

The new date for our “Celebrating Our Parish”. festivity is June 12^th & 13^th.following each Mass. Please plan to join us after Mass in the Parish Center. To share a meal and friendship!

East Lexington Community Association

The ELCA will be holding its annual meeting on Tuesday, May 18^th at 7:30pm in the Parish Center. The guest speaker will be James Shea, President of the Friends of Bedford Depot Park. He will do a presentation on our local railroad transportation history.

St. Agnes School in Arlington has openings in grades K through 5 and is continuing to accept registrations for the 2004-05 school year. Please call 781-643-9031 for further information.

Charity is important, but if there are enough resources to feed the world (and there are), why doesn’t each person have enough? Sister Ruth Rosenbaum leads a monthly group of parishioners who are interested in learning how to look at local, national and global issues that impact poverty and what we can do about them. An advisor on socially responsible investing and is an international consultant on working conditions for the poor. Newcomers are especially invited to the next meeting on Monday, May 17^th in the lower hall of the Parish Center at 7:00pm.

Those who love me will be true to my word. My Father will love them and will come to them. How will I respond to that love? Am I being called to priesthood or religious life? If God is calling you, call the Vocation Office, 617-746-5436.

The annual Communications Collection will be held this weekend, May 15^th & 16^th. As you know, half of this collection is sent to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to support many activities in the field of communications carried on by the national conference. The other half remains in the Archdiocese to support the efforts we are making to communicate the message of the Gospel here in the Archdiocese.

The Lexington Council on Aging Friend to Friend Program is looking for volunteers! The program provides supportive assistance to homebound elderly Lexington residents. Please call 781-891-0194 for further information.

We are grateful to the many Sacred Heart parishioners who have supported building the Lexington Houses for Habitat for Humanity in Dorchester. We are now recruiting volunteers age 16 and above to work on a new Habitat home on June 5^th from 7AM to 4PM. This work team will use more than $500 in building materials and we ask for donations to support this work. Checks should be made out to Habitat For Humanity Boston, and can be put in the collection basket. God bless you and the more than 150 volunteers from Sacred Heart who have worked to build Homes for Habitat in Boston. Thank You. Call Bob Ludwig 781-861-7231 to reserve a spot. We ask your continued prayers in supporting this effort.

Reflect silently together on the Sunday Scripture Readings on the second Thursday of each month from 7:30-8:30pm at St. Marguerite D’Youville Center for Spirituality. Call Sr. Gladys Marhefka,SGM at 781-862-4700 x35 for more information.

“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want to do and then advise them to do it.”

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

GOSPEL ROAD: Week of August 9 – 13. The date has been established for this great event. It is a week of team building and service at several sites. Evenings have time for processing the experience, a spiritual component and lots of fun and games. The cost is $165 and any teen in the 8^th grade or older is eligible. Great news – Fr. Chris O’Connor is one of the leaders – you might remember him from Youth Mass this year. This will definitely be a sell-out. Go on the website for the Office of Youth Ministry for more details. www.OYMBoston.,org You don’t want to miss this opportunity! Call with any questions.

12^th ANNUAL HARBOR CRUISE – MIDDLE SCHOOL. The dates are Monday, June 21 or Monday June 28. Time: Leave Lexington @ 6:30, arrive home by 11 PM. Cost $15 per person (Bus fee will be additional). Forms available at Parish Center or on line.

C.L.I. Letters have been mailed to teens who will be incoming Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors outlining the opportunity to participate in Catholic Leadership Institute at Merrimack College this July. Several of our teens have participated in this program (as well as the next step: CLIMB). Their commitment, enthusiasm and leadership are very evident in the Sacred Heart faith community during this past year. We need others who will be trained and willing to serve during the years ahead. This is your parish – if you want an active community for young adults, the ball is in your court. Date for C.L.I.(at Merrimack College) are July 19-23. Call Maureen or speak to any member of our T.L.C. for more info.

PLEASE NOTE: Any adult willing to chaperone Gospel Road or the Middle school Harbor Cruise, please call or e-mail Maureen. Thank you.

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - May 16, 2004

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - May 16, 2004