On October 16th we celebrated the refurbishment of Sacred Heart Church with a Mass of Dedication.  I thanked all who were on the Refurbishment Committee, the Pastoral Council, Finance Council and all the people who make Sacred Heart Parish the community it is.  I share with you a copy of the sermon I gave that evening because the words apply to both parishes as we think about our places of worship.

“We have gathered together this evening to dedicate this church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the sacredness of space and the holiness of its people.  This task is beyond our competence.  For nearly a century this has been a place where people came to be baptized, confess their sins, hear the word of God, be confirmed in the Spirit, receive the Body and Blood of Christ and bury their beloved dead.

In truth, this place has already been dedicated and consecrated and made sacred by the living of unnumbered lives—by the hopes and dreams, the laughter and tears, the accomplishments and defeats of women and men whose names we may not know, but whose lives are built into this place and to whose names we now add our own.

Listen, and perhaps beneath and behind all that is said here today, you will hear the voices of those who have dedicated this place by the living of their lives, the words of their mouths, the deeds of their years.  Perhaps you will hear the voices of the many priests and deacons who have preached here.

Perhaps you will hear the laughter of children, the voices raised up in song, the weeping of those mourning the loss of a loved one or the loss of a dream. Listen to all the voices of those gone before us.  They are the people with whom we dedicate this place today.

It is left to us to rededicate, not this place, but rededicate ourselves to the vision that those generations have sought to incarnate here—a vision of a people dedicated to the Lord and his mission in the world.

Here, in this place, let us renew our faith in God who called us into being, who sustains us in being, who transforms us as we cannot transform ourselves and who, one day, will welcome us to the new and eternal home.

In that same faith, may we move forward, not knowing what is up ahead, but filled with excitement and fresh energy to move together as the Lord leads us.

 

St. Brigid Church
9:00am	Tuesday October 27th	Florence Ruge
9:00am	Thursday October 29th	Germaine, Ernest, Vincent & Barton Leger
9:00am	Saturday October 31st	Rose Chirokas Clare Pinto John Ruocco
Sacred Heart Church
9:00am	Monday October 26th	Raymond, Christina and Edward Diffley
9:00am	Wednesday October 28th	Betty Pendergast
9:00am	Friday October 30th	Mary Foley Maher

 

Please pray for all who are in need of our prayers that God’s healing and comforting presence may be with them, especially Father William Smith, Father Thomas Nestor, Jen Bombaca, Marianne Slack, Elaine Murphy, Deacon Bill Wildes, Edward O’Brien, John Harper, William McCarthy, Verner and Marie Dempsey, Pat White, Anita and William Gorham, Mary Whelan, Eleanor Mann, Amy Galehouse Goolkosian, Gerald McCue, Kathleen Brown, Brendan Murphy, Rev. James O’Donohoe, Bill Kennedy, Kevin Johnson, Monica Cotter, Jackie Martinetti, Ann LaMantia, Christine Griffin, Josephine Siders, Douglas DiVito, Mary McGuinnes, Jewel Douglass, Marjorie Kearns, Shannon Capriulo, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino.  Please also remember in your prayers all of our deceased family members and parishioners especially Richard Johnston, Mary King, SGM and Adolph Cuccinello.

Prayer Service of Remembrance

 

In Service For Their Country

Lt. John Schiavi, Sgt. Christopher Considine, Timothy Dunbar, Richard Rigley, Chris Cullen, Caitlin R. Battell, Robert McLaughlin, Sean Maddigan, Rev. Paul Passamonti, Airman Jason Cunha, Mark Zarnecki, Elizabeth Leyne, Patrick J. Nordahl, Scott and Michael Donahue, CDR Michael P. MacLellan and Captain Brian Geary.

Lord Jesus, watch over our sons and daughters in the service of their country.  Give them the courage to serve their country with honor and dignity and grant that when their service is finished they may return to us, sound in mind, body and soul.

CREA

Please join Sister Ruth Rosenbaum, TC, PhD, from the Center for Reflection, Education and Action as she leads a social justice study group. The topics are current and are in keeping with the CREA mission statement which is as follows..."Believing that the earth is home to all, CREA facilitates analysis of human, social and economic policies from the perspective of their effects on human lives beginning with the lives of those who are poor."  The meeting will take place at Sacred Heart parish center on Monday, October 26th, at 7:15pm. All are welcome.

Lectio Divina is Up and Running!

This Thursday and for the next three Thursdays (through November 19), a Lectio Divina group will meet at 11:15am for about a half-hour in Room #9 in St. Brigid Parish Center. The group will use this classic form of contemplative prayer to reflect on the gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday. Please join us each week or as your schedule permits.

Is Your Faith What It Used To Be?

Susan Fay, Assistant Director for Catechetical Leadership for the Archdiocese, will be our guest speaker at WINGS (Women IN God’s Spirit) this week. Susan will ask us to reflect on our personal faith journey to see how our faith has evolved and changed over the years. Join us Thursday, October 29, at 9:30-11:15am, in the hall in St. Brigid Parish Center for Susan’s presentation, Growing in Faith through the Seasons of Life.

For transportation, contact Carol Flynn at 781-862-1637. For child care during the session, contact Jane Goubeaux at 781-862-4146. Membership in WINGS is not required to attend this or any WINGS program.

An Invitation From Our First Graders!

Our parishes’ First Graders cordially invite you to join them at their grade-level Mass today, October 25, at Sacred Heart Church at 10:00am.

Fontbonne Academy

Fontbonne Academy, a Catholic secondary school for young women conveniently located in Milton, is hosting an Open House for prospective 7th and 8th grade girls on Sunday, November 1, at 1p.m.  Learn more about the mission of the school, hear the faculty present in their discipline areas, find out more about Fontbonne clubs and athletics, and take time to seek out the information you need to make the decision for high school enrollment.  Financial aid information will be available.  Contact Fontbonne Academy Admissions office, Ms. Nora Berard, with any questions at 617-615-3009 or admissions at fontbonneacademy dot org or visit www.fontbonneacademy.org.

New Altar Servers Training

Children of the Catholic Community of Lexington, in grades 4 through 12, are invited to become Altar Servers at Saint Brigid's.  This is an important ministry, and a wonderful way for children to become more involved in the liturgy.  Training can be arranged at your convenience.  For questions or to sign up, please contact Jeanne Hobbs at 781-248-9722, or email JeanneHobbs at Verizon dot Net

Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving is a truly American Holiday and Holyday.  It is a time when we gather with community and family to worship and to thank God for our many blessings.  This tradition started with the Native Americans and Early Settlers of our Great Nation.  These two very different cultures came together and celebrated their successful harvest, and the birth of a nation that is diverse and welcoming to all.

One of the great successes of Vatican II was “Nostra Aetate” guiding us as tohow we would move forward in our relationships both interfaith and ecumenical.  It is through these teachings that we, as Catholics, were asked to enter into Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue. 

When speaking about Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religious organizations in the document of Nostra Aetate; “The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions.  She has a high regard for the manner of life and conduct, the precepts and doctrines which, all though differing in many ways from her own teaching, nevertheless often reflect a truth which enlightens all men. The Church therefore, urges her people to enter into discussion and collaboration with the members of other religions.

This Thanksgiving is an opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with members of all the religious communities of Lexington.  Vatican II has encouraged Catholics to foster and take part in ecumenical activities that bring all believers together to worship and thank God and to strengthen our common beliefs.

For many years, the Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association has sponsored a common Thanksgiving celebration in which all the churches of our town have gathered together in the spirit of ecumenism.  The celebration has been held on the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week because the Catholic community has traditionally had its own celebration on Wednesday.

This year, we will not have a service on Wednesday, at St. Brigid Church.  The Thanksgiving Mass will be held at St. Brigid at 9:00am on Thanksgiving morning. 

The Lexington Catholic Community will join the Lexington Interfaith celebration of our only American “Holyday” on Tuesday, November 24 at Temple Emunah at 7:30 pm. Please join us.

What Is Lexington’S Future?

Thursday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Cary Memorial Hall, Futures Panel Discussion with leading experts in economics, environment, education, and health care:

• Dr. Nariman Behravesh, Senior Economist with Global Insight.
• Professor William Moomaw, Director of Center for International Environment & Resource Policy at Tufts.
• Mr. Glenn Koocher, Executive Director of Mass. Association of School Committees.
• Bruce Cohen, MD, PhD, Director of Frazier Research Institute at McLean Hospital.

Free admission. Parking behind Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave.  For more information visit www.lexingtonma.gov or contact Town Manager’s Office at 781-862-0500 x244.

Reception of Communion During Flu Season

Many people have concerns about the Flu which we are now facing. We are leaving the decisions of how and what people should do up to the individual person.  A person with a compromised immune system needs to take more precautions then someone else.  What we will do is give suggestions to people.

1. Please make sure you wash your hands before and after Mass.
   
   
2.  Receive the Host in your hand (as the Eucharistic Minister gives the Host to each person if they are putting it into your mouth, they are then passing along germs to the next person).
   
   
3. If you choose not to shake hands at the "Sign of Peace", a smile/nod with the words "May the Peace of Christ be with you" is appropriate, keeping your hands at your side will let people know that you are refraining from shaking hands.
   
   
4. The Holy Water will be staying at the doors of the Church; again we ask that people wash their hands before coming and after going to Church.  If you have a compromised immune system you might want to refrain from putting your hands into the Holy Water.
   
   
5. All Eucharistic Ministers wash their hands before Mass and again before giving out Communion, they also wash their hands upon returning to their seat after distributing Communion.

If you have a compromised immune system, you might want to consider refraining from the cup. 

When we receive the Eucharist, Christ is becoming a part of us.  To receive it in our hands and then place the Eucharist into our own mouths is acceptable. It is preferred, because we know that we are worthy to receive Christ, we are worthy to consume Christ, then we are also worthy of accepting Christ into our hands and placing the Host into our mouths.

Sunday, October 25th

10:00 – GRADE ONE LEVEL MASS – SH CHURCH
1:00 – BAPTISMS – SB CHURCH
4:00 – CONFIRMATION – SB CHURCH

Monday, October 26th

5:30 – 6:30 REL. ED. GRADES 7 & 8
7:15 – 8:30 CONFIRMATION CLASSES-SB
7:30 – CUB/BOY SCOUT TRAINING-KH
7:15 – C.R.E.A. MTG. – SH PC

Tuesday, October 27th

10:00 - HOMEBOUND MINISTRY WKSHP-SH-PC
7:15 – 8:30 CONFIRMATION CLASSES – SH PC
3:45 – 4:45 – REL. ED. – GRADES 1, 2, 3

Wednesday,  October 28th  

3:45 – 4:45 RE GRADES 4, 5, 6
7:00 – LEXFUN – SB –L
7:15 – YOUTH COMMISSION MTG. - SB
7:30 – RCIA- RM.21-SB-PC
7:30 – SH CHOIR – SH - CHURCH

Thursday, October 29th

9:30 – 12:00 – WINGS – SB - PC
7:00 – YOUNG ADULTS – SB – L
7:00 – CUB SCOUT PACK MTG.-SB
7:00 – BOY SCOUTS – SB
7:30 – SB CHOIR – SB - CHURCH

Friday, October 30th

9:30 – 11:30 DROP IN CENTER – SB – PC

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  BE SAFE

Looking For Support During Your Job Search?

Seasoned Human Resources and Marketing pros to lead the Lexington Job Support Group (LJSG) for the Catholic Community of Lexington and our friends.  Learn and share  job search strategies, resources and networking tips while getting support during your search for that next great opportunity.  Meetings are the first and third Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm - 9:00pm at Sacred Heart Parish Center. The next two meetings are November 4th and November 18th. Informal, no need to sign up, come on the evenings you are free with a cup of coffee or supper, and invite a friend.  If you have any questions, contact Bob Ludwig at 781-861-7231 or Donna Heuchling at dheuchling (3)

Lexington Catholic Community
Knitting And Crocheting Group

Starting up a new Ministry!  Would you like to join us to knit blankets and/or caps for preemies, cancer caps, or prayer shawls?  We are going to be making blankets, caps, and shawls for patients at Winchester Hospital, Mass General Hospital, and a couple of local hospices.

If you do not knit or crochet, we could also use donations of yarn and needles.

If you are interested in information about the knitters group please contact either Mary Peterson, mary.peterson (1) or call Mary at 781-863-0319 x30  or contact Donna Hooper, 781-861- 0096 or hoopmac (2)

“Knitting to help others soothes one’s own pain.  Knowing that others are seeking peace thorough similar means – that you are not alone in your experience is priceless.” - Karen Bailey.

Adult Religious Ed Cluster Workshop

“The Obama Initiative on The Middle East”, will be the topic presented by Rev. Raymond G. Helmick, SJ, Professor of Conflict Resolution, Department of Theology, Boston College.  This will take place at St. Camillus Parish Center, 1175 Concord Turnpike., (Rt.2), on Thursday, November 12th at 7:30pm.  All are welcome.

St. Brigid
Offertory for Oct. 17th & 18th	$ 8,291.00
Envelope Offerings	$ 7,156.00
Loose Cash	$ 1,135.00

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 242 have used their envelopes.

Sacred Heart
Offertory for Oct. 17th & 18th	$   4,428.00
Envelope Offerings	$   3,744.00
Loose Cash	$      684.00
St. Katharine Drexel	$        65.00

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 101 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.

Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!

—Fr. Colletti

A Simple Way To Do A World Of Good

The St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry collection is Sunday, November 1. This monthly collection is an easy way for you and your family to help our brothers and sisters in Roxbury. Three easy ways to give:

1. Food: Pick up non-perishable food items at your next trip to the grocers and bring them to church with you on Sunday. Drop them in the bins at St. Brigid, or at the altar at Sacred Heart. 
2. Gift Cards: Stop & Shop gift cards are a popular alternative to a bag of groceries--light-weight and versatile! Drop in the envelopes at the entrances to each church.
3. Donations: Checks made payable to "St. Katharine Drexel" and dropped in the offertory or envelopes help with filling the pantry and the daily up-keep of their services.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support!

Genesis Battlegreen Run – 14 Years And Counting

On Sunday, November 1, Lexington will host the 14th running of the Genesis Battlegreen Run 10K, the Ralph Lord Memorial 5K and the Boston Volvo Family Fun Run.  Inaugurated on an extremely frosty first Sunday in November, 1996, the Genesis Battlegreen Run has grown to become one of the premier road races in New England.  As always, volunteers – adults and older children alike - are needed to help with the race and yes, community service credits are awarded for high school students.  All proceeds benefit Pauline Briggs Scholarship Fund, Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston, Ovarian Cancer Awareness and the Genesis Community Fund of Lexington.  Those who would like to help should call 781.314.1120 or send an email to rburbidge at genesis-cos dot com.  Race applications can be obtained at The Greater Boston Running Company, 1844 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, or online at www.genesisconsolidated.com or http://www.coolrunning.com/major/09/genesisbattlegreen/

Sacred Heart Liturgical Planning Committee Presents
What Is Liturgy? Part II

In the first lecture, Fr. Walter Cuenin spoke on Vatican II and Liturgy and its impact on lay involvement.  We learned that when the altar was turned around & the Mass said in the vernacular, the relationship of the congregation to the “celebrant” was altered.  The priest became the “presider” and the congregation became the “celebrants”.  As the people of God, it became our right and our duty to actively participate in the Mass. 

Please join us on Monday, November 2nd at 7:30 pm in Sacred Heart Parish Center to hear Deacon Guy Sciacca and Deacon Sal DiFazio discuss the Parts of the Liturgy.  All are welcome.  Look for future announcements on “Art & Environment and Its Role in Liturgy” and “Music and Its Role in Liturgy”.

Fair Trade Fair

gifts with a difference

An array of handcrafted and fair trade items from various countries will be for sale at our annual Fair Trade Fair.  Linens, greeting cards, knitted caps and mittens, colorful fabric bags, fair trade coffee, olive oil from the Holy Land, and more, including small items suitable as stocking stuffers will be available. The sale will take place after all the masses.  Dates of the sales are: Sacred Heart Parish Center, November 14 and 15; St. Brigid Keilty Hall, November 21 and 22.

Megan Chenaille, Director of Youth Ministry
E-mail: Megan Chenaille
781-862-8724

Confirmation Mass

Confirmation for 11th grade Confirmation Candidates
and their families will be held today,
Sunday, October 25, 2009
4:00pm in St. Brigid Church

Middle School Fridays are back!

6th, 7th and 8th graders of the Catholic Community in Lexington are invited to join us for the November 6th Middle School Friday event.  We will meet in the St Brigid Hall at 6 PM for pizza, then board a bus to Laser Quest in Danvers MA.  Flyers will be available at the rear of the church in the parish office and on-line at the parish website..  Sign ups are due at the parish office by November 2nd. Cost is $23 and scholarships are available.  For more information please contact Mary Ellen Goodwin @tgoodwin99@msn.com. .

Future events all begin at 6pm with Pizza and include:

Nov 6 - Laser Tag – Danvers
Dec 11 - Nativity Movie - Sacred Heart
Jan 8 - Snow Tubing - Nashoba
Feb 5 - Movie - Sacred Heart
March 19 - Jump On In - Woburn
April 9 - Game night - Sacred Heart
May 14 - Mini Golf

 

Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with any questions or concerns. 

Wedding Music Workshop at St. Brigid

Attention newly engaged couples!  Presenting a program of wedding music in St. Brigid’s Church on Sunday, November 1, 2009 @12:30pm Gale Livingston(the “voice of St. Brigid’s”); Jeff Hoefler, trumpet and Bill Grzybowski, organ will present samples of music for the Catholic Wedding.  All are welcome to attend.  For more information, please contact Bill Grzybowski: email: williamgrzybowski(5). or call 781-862-0335.

Helping Hands

Helping Hands for the month of October is:
Melanie Colorusso – 781-861-1981.

It has been my pleasure working with this group for almost ten years as the overall manager.  I am leaving this year.  If you are interested in taking over this position, please call me soon and I will be happy to help you in any way I can.  Edie Martinez, 617-489-3305.

 

Clothing Drive On November 7th -8th

You can make your used clothes new again by donating them to the men and women of St. Francis House and The Women’s Lunch Place! Start now to gather your gently used men’s clothing and new underwear for our annual clothing drive for St. Francis House, a center in Boston offering shelter and rehabilitative programs for poor and homeless men. New this year, we will also collect new and used women’s clothing for The Women’s Lunch Place in Boston, a center offering a daytime community and programs for poor and homeless women and their children.
Collection times (lower level of St. Brigid Parish Center):

Saturday, November 7: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday, November 8: 10:00am – 4:00pm

If you would like to help receive donations, please contact Mary Harvell at 781-862-0794 or mharvell at ix dot netcom dot com.

Haley House Requests Men’s Coats

Haley House, a men’s shelter located in South Boston, has requested 10 new or gently used winter coats for their clients.  Please bring your donation for this cause to the lower level of St. Brigid Parish Center on November 7 or 8 during the collection times for the clothing drives for St. Francis House and The Women’s Lunch Place.

J.R.R. Tolkien’S Take On The Blessed Sacrament

He writes: I put before you the one great thing to love on earth, the Blessed Sacrament. There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity and the true way of all your loves on earth and more than that. All are invited to experience the Blessed Sacrament every Friday from 12:00 – 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church.

Lexington Christian Academy

Lexington Christian Academy will hold its Fall Open House on Friday, November 21st, and Wednesday, December 2nd.  Lexington Christian Academy has offered a strong college preparatory curriculum set in the context of a Christian worldview for over sixty years.  We believe that LCA provides an environment for students to grow in their intellectual, artistic, athletic and spiritual maturity.  For more information, please go to www.lca.edu or call 781-862-7850.

Holy Humor

The teacher asked to meet with Johnny's parents. "I think your son cheated on a school test," the teacher told the parents. "What do you mean?" the parents asked. "Well," said the teacher, "I compared your son's completed test with the boy sitting beside him and I found that both had the first three answers right and the next two wrong." "That doesn't prove anything," said the parents.

"That's what I thought," said the teacher, "until I came to the sixth question."  "What about the sixth question?" asked Johnny's parents.  "Well," answered the teacher, "to the sixth question, the boy sitting beside your son had answered, 'I don't know'; and your son answered, 'neither do I.'"

Celebrating Adoption

There will be a Gathering of Catholic Adoptive Families Young & Older from the Lexington Area on Saturday, November 7th, with Pizza Supper and Kids’ Activities.  The cost is approximately $20 per family for Pizza and supplies ($20 for a family of 3+, $15 for a family of 2, and $10 for individual)

The event will take place in Sacred Heart Parish Hall from 5:30 – 9:00pm.  Bring a salad or dessert and age appropriate activities for your children/teens or grandchildren to share. Please RSVP with the number of attendees and salad or dessert.  Call Donna 617-721-0418 or Pat 781-223-5909.  On Sunday, November 8th, there will be a 10:00am Adoption Mass at Sacred Heart Church.

New Sound System With Hearing Aids

We have purchased 4 hearing aid devices.  They are body packs about the size of your hand, which are programmed to so our sound system feeds through them.  Many individuals have difficulty hearing with or without a hearing aid.  With these hearing devices, we have either an ear plug or if you have a hearing aid a neck loop to use, to assist you in hearing the Mass. 

We will have these for parishioners to use.  For sanitary reasons they will be wiped with Alcohol wipes after each Mass.  If you would prefer, you can purchase your own hearing device or the ear plugs, these can only be used with the sound system in the churches, they do not work at the local cinema.  Let either the ushers or one of the Pastoral Associates know, they will provide you with one to use during Mass or call the office, to find out about the price to purchase your own.

All children are invited to join in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, a special weekly presentation and discussion of the day’s scripture readings. After a blessing and dismissal by the priest before the first reading during St. Brigid’s 9:00am Mass, the children proceed downstairs to Keilty Hall to participate in this program. They rejoin the Mass after the homily.