During the month of November, the Church has all of us thinking about death. Every culture in history wished for life after death.  We have evidence of people placing the bodies of their beloved dead into some grave or monument with presents or things the deceased might need or want in the next life. We, however, cannot make an idea such as life after death a reality simply by wanting it to be so or wishing it or hoping for it.  It either is a reality in and by itself or it is not!  It is our faith in the resurrection of Jesus for “if he has not been raised up then vain is our faith and the more we are to be pitied.”

Death is the greatest absurdity human beings experience.  We were made for life.  Everything within us strives to preserve life.  Death brings us face to face with the deepest question of life: what is life all about?  Is death the end?

Biblical authors began early to recognize that death is an absurdity to God, too, that God, the source of life, did not make death, that death in God’s plan could not be the final end of human beings.  Human beings, made in the image of God, must be destined by God for life.  How God would accomplish this remained shrouded in mystery, but the belief that God could and would destroy death forever became rooted ever more firmly in the people of God.

The prophet Isaiah asserts this firm conviction: “The Lord God will destroy death forever.  On that day we will say: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!   This is the Lord for whom we looked.” The psalmist today echoes the same undaunted faith: “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.”

Thus the belief grew that God could and would destroy death.  But, how was that to happen?  The answer came in Jesus.  Jesus said: “This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him/her up on the last day (John 6:37-40).”

“In the story about the burning bush, Moses clearly shows that people will live again.  He said, “The Lord is the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the Lord isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living.  This means that everyone is alive as far as God is concerned” (Luke 20:37-39).  Death, the greatest absurdity of our experience, has become the gateway to our greatest glory.  Death, overcome by the obedience of Jesus, overcome by the will of the Father, has become our gateway to life.

Offertory for October 30^th & 31^st $3868.50

Envelope Offerings         $3251.50

Loose Cash                       $ 617.00

St. John/St. Hugh                                   $179.00

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Rosemary Harvey, Regina Jones, Andrea Hynes, Joyce Amos, 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, Andrew Day, Peggy Sue Grow, Mary Serpa, Deborah Miller, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Elizabeth Conte, Shane McCarthy, Mildred Wood, 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, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Margaret Wright, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Mary Dawson, Jorge Loayza, Joseph Brault, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Bill Attaya, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Laura Mac Aulay, Stella Guarino, Bill Graham, Bob Remeika, Mary Hosford and Dorothy Barton .  Please also pray for Mary Sindoris who died this past week. 

Attention First Communion 2004 Parents

FIRST COMMUNION PICTURES ARE HERE!!!  Please pick up yours in the Upper Hall of the Parish Center, anytime when the parish offices are open.

9:00 – Monday, Nov.8^th                  Charles McCormick, Jr.

9:00 – Tuesday, Nov. 9^th                            Thomas Dawson

9:00 – Wednesday, Nov. 10^th                         Nellie Colletti

9:00 – Friday, Nov. 12^th                              May F. Callahan

9:00 – Saturday, November 13^th                 James M. Burke

Congratulations to our Confirmandi

Next Sunday, November 14^th, Bishop Francis Irwin will confirm 37 of our young people at a special 12:00 Mass.  We congratulate all of them for their hard work and commitment, especially as they are members of the largest Confirmation class at Sacred Heart in 15 years!

Thanks also to the catechists who have accompanied them over the last years: Kim Hogan, Peter Kimball, Maryellen Leelman, Dave Mislan, Leslie McCafferty, and Cathy Phillips.  May the Holy Spirit pour out special blessings on all of you!

While all are welcome to attend the Mass and the reception that will follow, we will need to save some seats for the Confirmandi and their guests.

Haitian Arts & Crafts

There will be a Haitian Arts & Crafts sale this weekend November 6^th & 7^th in the Parish Center.  Christmas Cards, hand-knitted sweater sets, embroidered sleepwear and table linen from Haiti will be on sale after all the masses the first weekend in November.  Come over to the parish center and get a head start on your holiday shopping.  All proceeds from the sale will go to help the people of the most impoverished country in our hemisphere, Haiti.

Sacred Heart Women’s Club Fair

The Sacred Heart Women’s Club will have a PARISH FAIR on November 12^th from 3:00pm to 8:00pm & November 13^th from 10:00am to 3:00pm in the Parish Center.  Many household items and furniture will be available at bargain prices. 

Retirement Fund For Women Religious

This weekend we will have the annual collection for Women Religious.  The women religious of our diocese did not participate in the Social Security program until the 1970’s.  Now that most of their communities are well past retirement age, they are finding if difficult to maintain an acceptable standard of living.  Because of the decline in vocations, each Sister, in community, who works is responsible for the monetary care of three retired sisters.  We ask that you be as generous as possible in this collection to show your appreciation for all that the religious sisters have done over the years for each of us.

Pilamaya (Thank you) For The Blankets!.

Over 30 blankets were collected for the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota (Lakota).  Cub Scout Gregory Muir and mom Lisa packed up the boxes.  To find out more about needs on the reservation, one of the poorest areas in the U.S., visit: www.FriendsofPineRidgeReservation.org

Honduras Mission

Sacred Heart parishioners will describe their experiences in Guaimaca, Honduras on Monday November 8 at 7:30 PM, Sacred Heart Parish Center Lower Hall.  A trip is planned in February, and donations are requested for Sr. Maria’s clinic there (you may remember the water bottle project). 

The Family Aids Ministry

The Family Aids Ministry at St. John St. Hugh’s parish is one of several that will sorely miss gifts from our traditional Advent Candle project.  You can help by contributing Stop and Shop or Marshall’s gift certificates in the next few weeks.  Just drop in the collection basket on Sunday.

Volunteers Needed

East Village Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 840 Emerson Gardens Road, Lexington, is looking for volunteers to aid their programs.  If you can assist at Bingo Monday and Friday at 2:00pm; help with arts & crafts; provide one to one visits with residents reading or letter writing, playing chess or checkers; men to lead a men’s group or wood working, please call Dana Spinney at 781-861-8630.

Email either me nychick1@comcast  or Kate Doherty @ irishkad@hotmail.com

NEXT YOUTH MASS:  SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, @ 5:PM.  All are welcome.  Program requirement for 9^th & 10^th grade.

Y.O.W.   Friday, Dec. 10 thru Sunday 12.  Cost is $115.  Go on line to www.OYMBoston.org for details.  Registration and checks will be due very soon.  Space is limited and we will only be allowed 20 participants.  THIS WILL BE A SELLOUT!  Call Maureen or Kate for further info.

Arlington Adult Religious Education

The Arlington Adult Religious Education Cluster will sponsor Workshop #30, “A Bible Figure”, presented by Tom Trevisani, retired English Department Chairman, Arlington H.S., on Thursday, November 18^th at 7:300pm in the parish center, St. Camillus Parish 1175 Concord Turnpike, Arlington.

Help!

St. Brigid Religious Education needs a 7^th grade teacher immediately.  Please call Jaye or Linda, 781-862-8724, if you are able to help!

Thursday, November 11^th is Veteran’s Day.  Let us remember all Veteran’s both current and past for the courage they have shown in protecting our country.

The parish office will closed in celebration of this special day.

Bulletins	Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - November 7, 2004	Home