Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - February 27, 2005

The Vigil and Prayer Group have been meeting each Tuesday evening in the Parish Center to discuss the closing of this parish. Once we received a reprieve—or stay of execution—they have been calling themselves Friends of Sacred Heart. They still meet Tuesdays for prayer and discussion. They were instrumental—in a creative and thorough manner—in making a presentation to Peter Meade and Mary Lou Batt the theme of which was Lexington needs two parishes. Now they are looking for some other task to perform in the parish. It has been suggested a concerted effort be launched to bring people back to Sacred Heart Church to worship with us. There are a number of ways people may reach out to people who are registered here but who do not go to church and to members of Saint James’s Parish in Arlington that has already closed.

Today’s gospel from John (4:5-42) and speaks about Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in Shechem. The early Christians saw this unnamed woman as a symbol of sinful humanity in need of God. She is no longer a sinful woman coming to the well alone in the heat of noontime, she is a witness to the truth she learned from Jesus.

Through this woman, others came to believe, first because of her words and then because of their own experience of Jesus. All of us came to the faith because of someone else—parents, friends, priests, and others. There came a time when we had to experience Jesus for ourselves. This may have happened in a short period of time or over years. It is at that moment we can say with the spokesperson in the gospel, “No longer does our faith depend on your story. We have heard for ourselves and we know that this really is the Savior of the world.“(v.42)

The woman had announced the good news and personally witnessed to its effect in her life, but then she let Jesus take it from there. The woman now has new thirsts and she has met the One in whom they will be satisfied.

It is our task now—assuming we know Jesus—to introduce him to others by inviting them to come here to be with the community of believers. Will you not help the Friends of Sacred Heart by inviting people you know who have been away from the practice of the faith. Bring them here and let Jesus take it from there. “All you who are thirsty come to the water!” (Isaiah 44:3).

Readings for the Week of February 27, 2005

Sunday: Ex 17:3-7/ Rom 5:1-2, 5-8/ Jn 4:5-42

Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b/ Lk 4:24-30

Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43/ Mt 18:21-35

Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9/ Mt 5:17-19

Thursday: Jer 7:23-28/ Lk 11:14-23

Friday: Hos 14:2-10/ Mk 12:28-34

Saturday: Hos 6:1-6/ Lk 18:9-14

Next Sunday:1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/ Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41

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, 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, 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, Edward Borden, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Jorge Loayza, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Laura Mac Aulay, Alyssa Frazer, Bill Graham, Bob Remeika, Edward Semanko, Matthew Gablor, Mary Hosford, Morgan Brady, Willie Smith and Jose Ribeiro, Jane Eastham, Betty White, Michael Calderoni and Dorothy Barton. Please pray for Rev. Gilbert S. Phinn, who died this past week

We will have our Lenten Penance Service on March 13^th at 7:00 at Sacred Heart Parish. Please plan to join us as we prepare for Palm Sunday and Holy Week.

We had another fine evening watching “Phenomenon”, on Saturday evening. Many thanks to Shukong Ou for his insight into the movie and discussion that followed and of course to Joan O’Connor for the wonderful soup, popcorn and dessert! Please join us this Saturday evening for this Lectionary based film series. This Saturday, February 26^th is “Bridges of Madison County”; March 5^th “The Miracle Worker” and March 12^th “Awakenings”. Of course the soup du jour will be served at 6:00pm. See you at the “Movies”!!!

Don’t forget to sign up for the Seder Supper on March 18th. The spaces are filling up quickly. You don’t want to miss this wonderful evening! Space is limited…!

Experience the Ireland of old at a medieval banquet in a castle. Behold the spectacular beauty of the Cliffs of Moher. Meet the locals on a visit to a working Irish farm. Have coffee and scones while they explain their everyday life. Join the locals in a fun-filled Irish evening complete with dinner and traditional Irish entertainment. Travel the Ring of Kerry. Stay overnight in a castle. All this can be yours if you join us as we leave on July 29^th for a 10-day stay in the “Old Sod”! Call 781-862-4646 for your brochure and sign up for this fabulous trip!!!

Do you want to take a step for peace in the Holy Land and get some delicious olive oil? Look for the flyer in next week’s bulletin.

Women from St. Brigid and Sacred Heart have come together to form a ministry called WINGS, (Women in God’s Spirit). WINGS is a faith enrichment group for women of all ages who want to grow in their relationship with God and each other. WINGS allow us to enrich our spiritual lives while forming new bonds of friendship through prayer, discussion and learning.

WINGS meets weekly during the school year and has three different seasons and three different areas of growth. The fall season offers guest speakers and small discussion groups. The winter season involves the study and sharing of Scripture. The spring season encourages the women to discover ways of putting their faith to practice in their personal and family lives as well as their community.

WINGS meets Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:15 in St. Brigid’s Parish Hall with childcare provided for a nominal fee. Our first meeting is Thursday, March 31. Look for registration forms in the bulletin in the next few weeks. We hope you will join us!

Babysitters needed on Thursday mornings for the newly forming WINGS (Women in God’s Spirit) group at St. Brigid’s. The spring commitment is a two-hour weekly paid position for 6 weeks. Please contact Debbie Wilson at 781 860-9519 or Melanie Colorusso at 781 861-1981.

St. Mary’s is holding a grief seminar for teens on Sunday, April 3^rd, 3:30pm at St. Basil’s, 30 East Street, Methuen, MA. For information, please call 1-978-685-2651.

St. Eulalia Parish is conducting their annual Marriage Prep program on the weekend of March 5^th-6^th. Please contact Shannon Fitzwater-Ratner, secretary at St. Eulalia’s at 781-729-8220 x 10 for more information.

Join us for Whole Community Learning

Who: Everyone! Families, Singles, College Students, Kids, Non-Catholic Spouses, Teens, Retired Folk, all Saint Brigid/Sacred Heart Parishioners!

Thursday, March 3^rd at 7:30, Saint Brigid’s Library. Presented by Sr. Mary Lyman, RSCJ

Sunday March 6^th 10:00 mass – children will receive a special cross at this celebration!

Monday, March 7^th 10:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. in Jaye’s office at St. Brigid’s.

We will have our monthly Food Pantry collection next weekend, March 5^th & 6^th. This month the food will be delivered to St. John/St. Hugh.

The week before Easter is known as Holy Week because of its special significance to Christians. During last year’s Holy Week, a first grade teacher took great pains to explain all about Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and finally Easter.

When she thought she had explained everything there was to know about that special week, the teacher asked if the students had any questions. One curious little boy raised his hand and asked, “What happens if you don’t want to be holy all week?”


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