Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - Sunday, May 29, 2005

Dorothy Day, the co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, once wrote: “We have all known the long loneliness. And we know that the answer is love, love in community.” Living in the Trinity through baptism (last Sunday’s feast); directed by the Spirit (Pentecost) and nourished by the Eucharist (today’s feast); we shall build the Catholic Community of Lexington. We will have to live the hard realities of the human condition and the essential Gospel message that God has come among us to form us into community. Love in community is the answer to our most basic hunger—to belong, to be welcomed and cherished as we really are. It is in community we praise and worship our Father with our high priest Jesus.

This week I met with the Religious Education Commission led by Jaye Russo, our Director of Religious Education and a board of people from Saint Brigid and Sacred Heart parishes. The program, and it is more than class time, consists of 85 teachers and 628 students in grades 1-8. Some 245 children registered for classes at Saint Brigid’s from Sacred Heart. Some parents did not register their children there last September because they went to other churches or protested our closing. Some of those parents who did not register at Saint Brigid’s last year now want a religious education program here on Sunday mornings. This request seems reasonable but it does keep the children from a full program that includes special Sunday liturgies and other activities with the rest of the children. The children who are there and their parents are very happy with the program. Some of those parents who did not register last year say we are not a parish without a religious education program. I say that we do have a program and it is located at Saint Brigid parish. Others say that we will not attract people from Saint James parish that closed if we do not have a program here. Their reasoning here is that if we grow in numbers we will not close. We will be too big to fit into Saint Brigid. I know that this issue—my desire to have the entire religious education program for grades 1-8 at Saint Brigid’s parish—is a hot issue. It will appear that both sides are stubborn and inflexible. I have consulted with many people on both sides and have taken my present view.

We cannot go back to the way we were. The way we were invited closing. We need to work for the Catholic Community of Lexington. I do not know what that will look like. This week I will meet with two planners from each parish along with the co-chairs of both Pastoral Councils to map out a proposal for pastoral planning. What steps do we need to take to form a mission statement, a vision and goals for our two parishes to become the community we want and need to be? This proposal will be given to the joint meeting of the Pastoral Councils at our May 30th meeting. Please continue to pray to the Holy Spirit, the source of our unity, for the Catholic Community of Lexington.

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Marisol O’Brien, Peter Bellini, 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, 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, Elenor Lowe, Shane McCarthy, Mildred Wood, Violet Caldaroni, Frank Cote, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Rita Mahan, Jackie Sullivan, Jean Babbin, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Margaret Wright, Renee Chapman, , Edward Borden, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Jorge Loayza, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Claire McDonough, Julia Gillis, Laura Mac Aulay, Alyssa Frazer, Bill Graham, Bob Remeika, Edward Semanko, Matthew Gablor, Mary Hosford, Willie Smith, Jane Eastham, Joseph Coppola, Betty White, Barbara DeVitte, Bernis Whalen, Linda Whitcomb, Michael Calderoni and Dorothy Barton. Please also pray for William Graham, husband of Barbara Graham who died this past week.

Lexington Catholic Women's Club

We are sad to tell you that because of scheduling problems the Lexington Catholic Women’s Club will not be having its spring dinner this year. We look forward to getting back together in the fall. Look for more information early in September about our Wine and Cheese meeting. This is always a big success!

HOMEBOUND

If a family member, friend or neighbor is unable to participate in our weekend celebration of the Eucharist, please contact the Parish Office at 781-862-4646 so that a member of the Homebound Ministry can contact them and make arrangements for a home visit.

Holy Humor

A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands.

He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside. The pastor said, “You need to join the Army of the Lord!”

My friend said, “I’m already in the Army of the Lord, pastor.”

The pastor questioned, “How come I don’t see you except at Christmas and Easter?” He whispered back, “I’m in the secret service.”

Memorial Day

The office will be closed Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day.

ST. BRIGID'S SODALITY

St. Brigid’s Sodality will hold its annual luncheon on Wednesday, June 1st at the Danversport Yacht Club. The bus will leave St. Brigid’s parking lot at 11:15am and return at 2:30pm. The Luncheon choices are Boneless Chicken or Baked Schrod. The featured entertainment is CBS morning news anchor and star of Reagle Players, Scott Wahle and his singing partner Suzanne McCarthy Lobel. Tickets are $25 per person that includes lunch and the bus transportation. This event is open to all in the new Catholic Community of Lexington. To purchase tickets please call Marie Hill, 781-862-6456, mimi716@rcn.com or Suzie Barry, 781-862-5853, mrbarry@rcn.com . Hurry to sign up for this great luncheon!

St. Brigid Parish 8th Annual Golf Classic will be held on Monday, June 13, 2005 at the Windham Country Club in Windham, N. H. beginning at 1:30PM. The purpose of the Tournament is to raise funds to help graduating High School Seniors. Because of the merger this year of the Youth Ministries of Sacred Heart and St. Brigid Parishes, seniors of both parishes will be eligible to apply for scholarship consideration. Golf Flyers are available at all the exits of the Church for those who would like to participate as a player or as a sponsor.

Food Pantry

Next weekend, June 4th & 5th we will have our monthly food pantry collection. This month the food collected will be donated to the Lexington Food Pantry.

2005 Catholic Appeal

Once again, we want to thank everyone who has participated in the 2005 Catholic Appeal. Our parish has raised $9,005 from 18 donors, reaching 15% of our parish goal of $58,300. We still have many people who have not given this year. We hope you decide to contribute. There are many agencies that are supported by this annual appeal. Without you, they will not be able to do their charitable work.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

The Feast of the Sacred Heart will be celebrated on Friday, June 3rd. Please join us for the 9:00am Liturgy.

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - Sunday, May 29, 2005