On this first Sunday of Advent we think about the second coming of Christ as we prepare to celebrate his first coming in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.  We may look around us and see signs of the end times. There are at least 30 wars going on around the world. Poverty and starvation take countless lives each day.  The wealthy nations continue to pamper themselves and eat up the world’s resources.  We would like not to know all these things and would like to close our eyes and our mind to it all.  But we are not near the end times—we are in the “in between” times.  Rather than witnessing the end we are probably witnessing the birth of new times.  We are going through birth pains.

We are more aware of the world and have lost the innocence of 50 years ago.  Advent does not mean we simply wait for the coming of the Lord.  We work now to bring heaven closer to our time and to our world.

Pope John II wrote in Novo Millennio Ineunte (At the Beginning of the New Millennium): “…a new stage of the Church’s journey begins, our hearts ring out with the words of Jesus…when he invited the Apostles to “put out into the deep” for a catch. These words ring out for us today, and they invite us to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence…Now is the time for each local Church to assess its fervor and find fresh enthusiasm for its spiritual and pastoral responsibilities.

“I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20). This assurance has accompanied the Church for two thousand years…from it we must gain new impetus in Christian living, making it the force which inspires our journey of faith. Conscious of the Risen Lord’s presence among us, we ask ourselves today the same question put to Peter in Jerusalem immediately after his Pentecost speech: “What must we do?” (Acts 2:37).  We put the question with trusting optimism, but without underestimating the problems we face.  We are certainly not seduced by the naïve expectation that, faced with the great challenges of our time, we shall find some magic formula.  No, we shall not be saved by a formula but by a Person, and the assurance which he gives us: I am with you”, Jesus is still our Emmanuel.

In these trying times, we will not only remain open as long as we can but also prosper in the spiritual life.  So, in the time remaining to us, let us grow in our appreciation of the nearness of God and the closeness we share with each other.

Offertory for November 20^th & 21^st    $3630.50

Envelope Offerings         $2872.50

Loose Cash                       $ 758.00

St. John/St. Hugh                                   $35.00

We have called the envelope company to send our December envelopes to each parishioner who was on the envelope list.  You should receive them shortly.

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, Magda Landman, 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, Jose Rubiero, Robert Devlin, and Dorothy Barton. 

9:00 – Tuesday, November 30^th                 James McKeown

9:00 – Saturday, December 4^th                        Joan Walsh

Greeter’s Meeting

There will be a Greeter’s Meeting on Sunday, November 28^th at 3:00pm at St. Brigid’s in the parish center.  All Greeters from Sacred Heart are invited to attend.  Because of the uncertainty of our closure date, Greeters may want to take this opportunity to go to this meeting.

Heartfelt Thanks . . .

. . . to each one for your love, care, and support over the last nine years.  It has been a joy to serve you and to serve with you; Sacred Heart Parish has been an enormous gift to me in many ways.  May God continue to keep you the faithful, faith-filled, generous, energetic, Vatican II people you are—in whatever circumstances lie ahead of us.  And may Jesus be the source and strength and reason for everything we do.

Over the next months, I hope to expand the ministry of prayer and spiritual direction that I have done “on the side” and in my work at Sacred Heart.  I would welcome invitations and referrals if you know of people who might be looking for someone to plan and facilitate a retreat day, an evening of prayer, or for someone to talk to on a regular basis for spiritual guidance.  In any case, I don’t want to lose touch with you!!  My home address is 860 Beacon Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459.  My home phone is 617-332-9180.  And my e-mail address is mlymanrscj@hotmail.com.

I will be stopping in from time to time, so this isn’t a “forever good-bye”.  And in the meantime, with Paul in the letter to the Philippians, “I thank my God for you, and when I pray for you, my prayers are always filled with joy.”

Christmas Drive For Lakota Children 

Lakota children in Kindergarten through grade 8 would be very grateful for presents.  Gifts in the range of $5 to $10 are suggested.  Ideas include art supplies, sports T-shirts, matchbox cars, books, hairbrushes and barrettes, dolls of color, etc.  Send to: American Horse School, c/o Principal Gloria Kitsopoulos, PO Box660 or 100 Main St. Allen, SD 57714.  Packages must be sent by December 1.

Flower Donations

We will ask you again this year for your generosity in donating to our Christmas Flower Fund.  The envelope for flowers will be included in your December envelopes.  We ask you to be as generous as possible and thank you for all of your support during these trying times.

Las Posadas

“Las Posadas:  Seeking Shelter” will be the theme for Sacred Heart’s 2004 Advent celebration.  The theme keys off the situation we are in around the Archdiocesan reconfiguration process and our waiting period.  The Advent Devotion Guide, which is available today, also will help develop the theme of Las Posadas, as will elements of worship each Sunday of Advent.  Las Posadas is a traditional Mexican celebration of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.  In Mexican tradition, Las Posadas begins the Christmas season with nine consecutive days of candlelight processions and parties.  Look for our Celebration on Sunday, December 19^th following the 10:00 Mass.

Sacred Heart Christmas Mass Schedule

Friday, December 24^th at

4:00, 7:30 and 11:00PM

Saturday, December 25^th

10:00PM

Prison Ministry Christmas Project

For the past two years, the youth of S.H. have had the opportunity to bring a bit of Christmas joy to the children of women currently housed at the Framingham Correctional Facility.  They have done this by "picking an ornament" from a special Christmas tree, and then sponsoring the child whose name/age appeared on it.  As a sponsor they agreed to be mindful of that child, to pray for him/her throughout the Christmas season, and then also to provide a $25 gift that would be given to him/her when Santa arrived at the Christmas party held in mid-December at the prison.  Once again we have been contacted by the Activities Director at this women's facility and have been asked to provide gifts for the many children (aprox. 125) whose mothers have made requests for the December 11th celebration.  Because our parish is currently in this "state of flux", we would like to continue the tradition and provide for these children and such a worthy cause.  But, we need your help!  Since this year we do not have our usual Advent Candle Program, but many have expressed a desire to "reach out," we would like to encourage everyone to "adopt a child."  Special ornaments will be placed on the wall at the side entrance to the church, each with a child's name, age and interest(s).  If you feel that you can help by providing a $25 gift for him/her, please take one and be sure to sign the clipboard (provided) with your name/phone number.  We ask that you wrap each gift, leaving one end of the package open and attach the special ornament.  You will find the ornaments on the wall next week (the First Sunday of Advent) and we ask that all gifts be returned to the stage in the upper hall no later than Dec. 8th (Feast of the Immaculate Conception).  We will gladly accept your generous offer to help sort/wrap/deliver the gifts on Friday evening, Dec. 10th (tentative date).  Contact Jeanne Shanley DiPietro at 978-362-3900 or jeanne-on-wholy-ground@comcast.net.  Thank you!

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