Last Sunday’s Gospel finished with the words, “He spoke to them in parables. Parables, or stories, suggest insights and elicit action.

An ancient Hassidic tale is told to bring insight and action.

There was a poor rabbi who lived in the city of Krakow.  He lived on the street of the Lost Angel, in the last hovel on that street, with his wife and his four children.  Since he was extremely poor, he dreamed every night of riches.  But one night the dream was exceptionally vivid.  He dreamt that underneath a bridge in the city of Warsaw there was a treasure.  When he awoke in the morning, he excitedly told his wife and his children about his dream.  He then packed food and clothes, and set off for the long journey to find that bridge, unearth that treasure, and be rich.  He traveled many long days and long nights and finally arrived at Warsaw.  It was just as the dream had pictured it, except for one thing.  There was a guard on the bridge, a sentinel who paced back and forth.  And so the poor rabbi, tired from his journey, fell asleep in the bushes.  When he awoke, he rattled the bushes with his arm, and the guard spun on him; “You there, come here!”  He was a simple man so he did not run. He sheepishly came forward.  The guard said, “What are you doing here?”  Being a simple man who would not run, he was also a simple man who would not lie. He said, “I have dreamed that underneath this bridge there is a treasure, and I have traveled many long miles to find that treasure and be rich.”  The guard said, “That is strange! Just last night I, too, have had a dream.  I have dreamt that in the city of Krakow, on the street of the Lost Angel, in the last hovel on that street, where lives a rabbi and his wife and their four children there is buried behind the fireplace a treasure.  And I leave tonight to find it and be rich.”

Just like the parables of Jesus we may interpret this story in many ways.

One may say that the story means we always overlook the things that are close to us or we are so greedy for what we do not have, we do not appreciate what we have.  We might discover our values by asking, “If I were the rabbi and found the treasure what would I do with it?”  How many times have you heard a story or told a story and each time you hear it a new insight appears?

What new insight did you get from this Sunday’s parable from Jesus (Luke 14:1-14)?

Food Pantry

Next weekend, August 7^th & 8^th, we will have our monthly food pantry collection.  This month the food collected will be donated to the Lexington Food Pantry.

Offertory for July 17^th & 18^th         $3669.00

Envelope Offerings         $2700.00

Loose Cash                       $  969.00

St. John/St. Hugh                                             $77.00

Offertory for July 24^th & 25^th             $2780.50

Envelope Offerings         $2321.50

Loose Cash                       $  459.00

St. John/St. Hugh                                             $153.00

Please know that we are very grateful for the continued support of our faith-filled community.

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, Kath Rodriegas, Estelle Szalajeski, Nancy Driscoll, Dante DiManna, Margie Levine, 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, Frank Cote, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Rita Mahan, Connie Perrotta, Jackie Sullivan, Jean Babbin, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Marisol O’Brien, Matthew Gablor, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Jorge Loayza, Joseph Brault, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Bill Attaya, Margaret Coughlin, Lea Vetter, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, and Pauline Briggs. 

Our Lady Comfortor of the Afflicted

Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted School in Waltham is currently accepting applications for Grades K – 7 for September 2004 enrollment.  For more information, please call 781-899-0353.

Quotation

Be Silent-Be Thoughtful-Be Reverent,

For this is the House of the Lord;

Before the Service speak to GOD;

During the Service let GOD speak to you;

After the Service speak to one another.

Meetings With St. Brigid’s Parish

If you have questions or comments during this transition period you may contact any of the Transition Team members.  In addition to the Sacred Heart Staff, the Team includes: Paul Laffey and Kerry Cronin, Robert McNamara, Peter Middleton, Lia McCarthy, John Garrity, Mary Lynn Hedley, Bernard Lannquist and Mary McIver. 

Living the Paschal Mystery

If most of us take some time to think about things, we would have to admit that the pressures of our everyday living tend to be our main focus.  We are all concerned about calendars and schedules, bills and getting ahead, sickness and health.  Our lives tend to be so busy that our immediate goal is to get through another day.  What would happen if we would truly take some time to think about what possesses us?

It takes conscious effort to reverse the questions and ask: To whom do our possessions belong?  To whom do we belong?  In some sense these are questions about priorities and putting God truly at the center of our lives.  The answers must be more than an intellectual commitment to grow in our relationship with God and have God as our center.  We must stop building larger storage barns and begin changing the way we live so that our priorities are evident.  Practically speaking, this probably means settling for fewer possessions.  But with God at the center, we really gain everything—eternal life.

Registration letters and Class Placement Forms were mailed to Religious Education Families from St. Brigid and Sacred Heart on June 14^th.  Enrollment is on a first-come first serve basis - the earlier you register, the more likely you are to receive your first preference.  If you have a child entering First Grade or you are new to the Religious Education Program please call Linda at 781-862-8724

Schedule of Classes

Grades 1-6:

Sunday 8:50-9:50AM

Tuesday 3:45-4:45PM

Tuesday 5:15-6:15PM

Wednesday 3:45-4:45PM

Grades 7 –8

Wednesday 5:30-6:30PM

Grade 9: Sunday 7:00-8:30PM (twice a month)

Grade 10: Monday 7:00-8:30PM (twice a month

Please Note

ALL volunteers must participate in the Virtus Program, “Protecting God’s Children,” and sign a CORI form.

Religious Education Position At St. Brigid’s Parish

Because of the increased number of children coming to Religious Education Classes and the addition of Sunday Classes we will need a Secretary to assist at those programs for about 10 hours a week (5 hours on Sunday and 5 hours during the week). This will be a paid position. Those interested should call the Parish Office at 781-862-0335.

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

781-861-8385 X21 - email nychick1@comcast.net

Our teens are truly an example for all of us during this difficult time.  They are enthusiastic and positive about what gifts they can bring to the table and the new opportunities for leadership that await them.

Catholic Leadership Institute Moving Beyond (C.L.I.M.B.) Update:  Two of our teens (Sarah Andryauskas and Michael Leelman) spent a week at Merrimack College renewing friendships, building on the skills they developed at C.L.I. and took advantage of the opportunity for spiritual growth. 

Three of our teens (Lia McCarthy, Kurt Kugel and Emilie Coakley) attended Catholic Leadership Institute (C.L.I.) at Merrimack. 

In addition, we have 4 young people (Stephen Keefe, Alex Laffey, Kurt Kugel and Tori Cimino) who will participate on GOSPEL ROAD in a week-long program of service to others.

All of these teens are to be applauded for their willingness to sacrifice a week of summer vacation so they can continue to live the Gospel message

IF YOU CAN HELP… Again we are asking for any donations from our parish community to help offset the cost of our youth programs.  Any contributions will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.  The van rental for Gospel Road is $650.  Any donations toward this would be greatly appreciated. 

Bulletins	Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - August 1, 2004	Home