This is possibly the busiest time of the year with parties, decorations, shopping and Christmas cards.  We spend so much time and effort and money on these preparations that we can forget what we are really celebrating.  In the end, we might wonder what was that all about, anyway.

Thank God for Advent.  Advent tells us we are not simply preparing for a holiday but a holy day.  We are re-introduced to the characters of the Hebrew Scriptures who awaited the coming of a new age with the arrival of the Anointed One of God.  The ‘Anointed One’ in Greek is Christ and in Hebrew, Messiah.  Many of these characters are presented in Handle’s Messiah and I hope you have a chance to hear that music some time during this Advent.

The Old Testament character we are presented with today is Baruch (Bar 5:1-9).  “For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God.”  This passage resounds in the Isaiah quote in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 3:1-6), “A herald’s voice in the desert crying,  ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, clear him a straight path.  Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be leveled.  The windings shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth, and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.’”  This sentiment is echoed in the words of our main character today, John the Baptizer.

We need to make way for the Lord to come into the world, into our lives. Baruch wrote that we do make way for the Lord to come by living the “peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship”. John, the Baptizer said that we make way for the Lord by receiving the “baptism of repentance which leads to the forgiveness of sins”.

The whole Church, you and I, must prepare for the Lord’s coming—by works of justice and peace, with forgiveness and worship. The haunting melody of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” runs like a river around and beneath our reflections, and stories of prophets like Mary and Elizabeth, Isaiah and Zechariah, all of whom speak passionately, eloquently, of God’s salvation about to break into the world, making us—the whole world—a whole and holy people. Prepare Him room!

 

St. Brigid Church
9:00am	Tuesday December 8th	FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MASSES: 9:00AM – ST. BRIGID AND 7:30PM – SACRED HEART
9:00am	Thursday December 10th	Marian A. Scopa
9:00am	Saturday December 12th	W. Neil Chapman Thomas Burns
Sacred Heart Church
9:00am	Monday December 7th	Ronald Amicangelo
9:00am	Wednesday December 9th	Margaret & Paul Wright
9:00am	Friday December 11th	Special Intentions

 

In Service For Their Country

Lt. John Schiavi, Sgt. Christopher Considine, Timothy Dunbar, Richard Rigley, Chris Cullen, Caitlin R. Battell, Robert McLaughlin, Sean Maddigan, Michelle Leverone, Marissa Leverone, 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.

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, Bob Kozlowski, Deacon Bill Wildes, Edward O’Brien, Dorothea Russo, Edward Ronayne, William McCarthy, Marie Dempsey, Pat White, Anita and William Gorham, Mary Whelan, Eleanor Mann, Amy Galehouse Goolkosian, Henry Downes, Gerald McCue, Kathleen Brown, Brendan Murphy, 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 George Rowe and Dorothea Russo.

Women’s Retreat

SEARCHING FOR A SPECIAL GIFT FOR YOUR SPECIAL LADY?  HOW ABOUT A WOMEN’S OVERNIGHT RETREAT IN THE SPRING?  Husbands, family members, significant others—here’s your chance to gift your loved one with a refreshing, renewing overnight at Craigville Beach, on the Cape.  The dates are 5 p.m. on Friday, April 30th to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 1st, 2010.  Supper, breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided, plus reflections, quiet time, music and fun activities!  The all-inclusive registration fee is $125; “scholarship” funds are available.  Contact Beverly Good, pastoral associate Beverly.Good(1) or 781-863-0319, ext. 20) for more details or to reserve your favorite lady a space!

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 meeting is December 16th. 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)

Thank You - Mesi Anpil

Thanks to all of you who made the Fair Trade Fair such a success.  It was a great turn out!  Your generous support allows for so many artisans to continue their crafts and support their families.  A special Thank You to the Bellini's for all their work in providing the traditional Pancake Breakfast at Sacred Heart and Jane Goubeaux for hosting the coffee hour at St. Brigid.

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

Women’s Lunch Place

New Socks are needed for the Women’s Lunch place in Boston, any type of socks will be appreciated—knee socks, ankle socks, white, colored, etc. Please deliver unwrapped socks to the food bins at the doorways of St. Brigid church by the weekend of December 12/13 as we continue this wonderful tradition. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Children’s Bell Mass

The children's Bell Mass will be held on Christmas Eve, Thursday December 24th, at Sacred Heart, at 4pm.  The Annual Christmas Pageant will be performed during the Mass.  Rehearsals will be at 11:30 am in the Church at Sacred Heart on Sundays, during Religious Education on December 13th and 20th and dress rehearsal on Thursday December 24th at 9am.  Needed: are Shepherds, Animals, Angels, Holy Family, Youth Choir, Drummer boy.  Please come, bells will be provided.  All 1st, 3rd and 4th graders in the Parish are urged to participate, this includes those in Sunday Religious Education.  If you have questions, or want to volunteer, please call Leo Casey at 781 862 9280 or Mary Lynne Hedley at 781 674 0456.

Holy Humor

In the Baker's Shop

An irate woman burst into the baker's shop and said, "I sent my son in for two pounds of cookies this morning, but when I weighed them there was only one pound.  I suggest that you check your scales."

The baker looked at her calmly for a moment or two and then replied, "Ma'am, I suggest you weigh your son."

St. Agnes School

Did you Miss the Saint Agnes School Open House?

If you missed the Open House on Thursday, November 5th, the next scheduled Open House is Sunday, January 31st, 10:00am – 12:00pm.

For those planning to register for the 2010-2011 school year, the open house provides an opportunity to tour the school, learn about the curriculum and meet the students, parents and teachers.  Come and see our new Legos and Robotics Lab.  We also have Smart Board technology!  If you cannot come to the Open House and would like to see the school before January 31st, you can schedule an appointment for a private tour of the school by contacting the school office at 781-643-9031.

Shadow Program

For new students considering coming to Saint Agnes School, we offer an opportunity to come to the school, meet the students and faculty and experience a typical school day.  Parents should call the school (781-643-9031) to sign up for one of the following Shadow Dates:

Thursday, December 15, 2009: 8:30 –10:30 AM

Wednesday, February10, 2010: 8:30 -10:30 AM

Romance Without Regret

Attention: Parents of Teens & Adolescents
Monday, December 7th *St. Brigid Church*  7:30 - 9:00 PM
Romance without Regret

a special presentation for you and your child.

Hook-ups, friends with benefits, safe sex and safer sex is the message our teens are receiving today but there is a better way.  Come listen to Jason Evert, award winning author and nationally known speaker talk to our youth about chastity - a lifestyle that brings freedom, respect, peace and romance without regret.

While this is a required class for all Confirmation students, all students Grades 8 - 12 are encouraged to attend.  Children should be accompanied by one or both parents.

Welcome to Father Thuma!

Our rectory has two new residents as of this week.  Rev. Clifton Thuma has moved into St. Brigid’s residence with his black Labrador dog Beaune (say ‘Bone’).  They have moved onto the top floor.  Fr. Clifton is considered “in residence” by the Archdiocese. (He is not ‘assigned’ at this time, to our parishes.)  He hopes to say several masses a week here and get to know the people of Lexington.

Fr. Clifton grew up in Winchester and went to school and seminary here in the Boston area.  He has been a priest since 1996 and has served at St. John’s in Peabody, St. Brendan’s in Dorchester and most recently at St. Anne’s in Littleton.  He has been on a health leave since the late spring.  His name may be familiar to some of you as his brother’s family live here in town.  We welcome him (and his dog) to our community

Layette Gifts Needed

St. Brigid Sodality is continuing a long-standing Christmas tradition of collecting new unwrapped layette gifts such as: receiving blankets, outfits, onesies, diapers etc. to benefit Heart Beat, a Pro-Life program based in Burlington. Donations can be left in the bassinet on the stage in Keilty Hall until Sunday December 13th. Please contact Marie Hill 781-862-6456. Thank you for your support.

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.  Because our Fifth Graders will participate in the 9:00am Mass next Sunday, December 13, we will not have Children’s Liturgy of the Word during that Mass.  CLW will resume on the following Sunday, December 20.

Sunday, December 6th

TODAY IS THE FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS!

11:00 ADVENT SPEAKER SERIES – SH – PC
5:00 – SUNG EVENING PRAYER – SB - CHURCH

Monday, December 7th

5:30 – 6:30 REL. ED. GRADES 7 & 8
7:30 – 9:00PM – JASON EVERT – SB-CHURCH
7:00 – YOUNG ADULT BOARD MEETING

Tuesday, December 8th

2:00 - MASS AT GOLDEN LIVING CENTER
3:45 – 4:45 – REL. ED. – GRADES 1, 2, 3

Wednesday, December 9th

3:45 – 4:45 RE GRADES 4, 5, 6
7:30 – SCOUT DISTRICT MEETING – SB – PC/2 RMS.
7:30 -9:30PM – R.C.I.A. – SB – RM 21
7:00PM – YOUTH COMMISSION – SB

Thursday, December 10th

7:00 – CUB SCOUT WOLF DEN MTG.- SB - KH
6:00PM – YOUNG ADULT GROUP –SB – L
7:00 – MERIT BADGE MEETING
6:00PM – BOY SCOUTS – SB – PC
7:30 – ADVENT RETREAT – SH - CHURCH

Friday, December 11th

STAFF IS ON THEIR ADVENT RETREAT

7:30AM – 3:00PM – LEADERSHIP TRAINING – KH
6:00PM – MIDDLE SCHOOL EVENT

Saturday, December 12th

10:00AM – 4:00PM –COUPLES FOR CHRIST-SB-PC

Thanksgiving Thank You

Thank you to our many parishioners for your hard work and great generosity shown to our inner-city sister parish missions this thanksgiving.  The many turkeys, dinners, gift cards and cash donations were delivered and distributed before Thanksgiving to families at St.Patrick’s and St. Katharine Drexel food pantries, shut-in's and the Family Aids Ministry.  Your generosity made a real difference in the lives of more than 100 families.  Continued blessings!  The Christian Service Commission. 

St Vincent De Paul Society

St Vincent De Paul Society of Lexington is looking to help those in need this winter.  This group, consisting of members from both St Brigid and Sacred Heart Parishes, is a charitable organization that provides monetary assistance in time of need for food, fuel oil or other essentials, year round and especially during these tough economic times.  Our goal is to assist those people, who may be struggling, with a one time donation to help them get through a rough time.  We also help out during Christmas, as part of the Christmas Giving Tree.  Donations are added to and distributed by our group.  This allows children in our parishes to receive something at Christmas time.  If you have a need or know someone who has a need, please contact Mary Peterson, Pastoral Associate, at 781-862-0319.  All information is confidential.

An Invitation From Our Fifth Graders!

Our parishes’ Fifth Graders cordially invite you to join them at their grade-level Mass next Sunday, December 13, at St. Brigid Church at 9:00am and at the Hospitality in Keilty Hall following the Mass.

Kids & Carols: A Birthday Party for Jesus

Kids of all ages are invited to a birthday party for Jesus on Sunday, December 20th, in Keilty Hall after the 9:00am Mass at St. Brigid Church.  We’ll have refreshments and lively caroling for all and cookie decorating for the younger set.  And oh, yes, we’re also expecting a resident of the North Pole to join the party!

Life Snipits

A good example
is the best sermon.

St. Brigid
Offertory for November 28th & 29th	$ 8,195.00
Envelope Offerings	$ 7,004.00
Loose Cash	$ 1,191.00

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 249 have used their envelopes.

Sacred Heart
Offertory for November 28th & 29th	$   5,835.00
Envelope Offerings	$   5,334.00
Loose Cash	$      501.00
St. Katharine Drexel	$      270.00

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 116 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.

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

—Fr. Colletti

Helping Hands

Helping Hands

This group of volunteers needs a new leader as of the end of November.  Please call Mary Peterson, 781-863-0319 x30 if you would like to lead this wonderful group. 

Advent Candles

This weekend at Sacred Heart, Advent Candles are posted on the walls at the entrances to the church.  As in previous years, we hope to provide gifts:

• for children at the Family Center in Somerville,
• for families served by the Family AIDS Ministry in Roxbury,
• for inmates in the women’s prison in Framingham,
• and for children of a few families who may otherwise be missed.

We are starting the First Sunday of Advent, and will wrap and deliver gifts the fourth weekend of Advent.  This is a tough year for a lot of us, but a very tough year for the clients of these ministries.  Gifts costing no more than $25 will be very much appreciated.  To participate, please take Candles from the wall, and follow the directions printed on them.  Thank you, and God Bless you from those you will help to have a better Christmas.

Food For The Season

As the Christmas season approaches the need is even greater for your help and support of the St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry.  Our December collection will be held on the Feast of St. Nicholas, Sunday December 6.  In the spirit of the day, please continue your generous donations of boxed and canned foods and check made payable to St. Katharine Drexel.  In addition, donations of Stop and Shop gift cards will go a long way this month for those who receive them through the food pantry.  Please consider donating an extra gift in gift card form to make this Christmas season special for someone in need.  Drop off donations by 11:00am in the bins at the entrances to the churches, on the altar, or in the collection baskets.  And remember CCD kids--let's see if we can fill Mr. Begin's toy box with food this month and every month!

Advent Speaker Series

Advent Speaker Series entitled "A Look at the Social Justice Work in Our Parish". 

On Sunday December 6th representatives from our sister parish St. Katharine Drexel will speak about their AIDS family ministry and food pantry.

On Sunday, December 13th Lee Crivello will show a new video about Fond des Blancs, Haiti and talk about the Haiti Committee's work there.

On Sunday December 20th Sr. Maureen Clark, Catholic Chaplain at MCI Framingham will discuss her work with prisoners.  All talks will take place right after the 10:00 a.m. Mass in the hall at Sacred Hear Church.  Please join us!

Advent & Adoration: A Perfect Pair!

Advent is a perfect time to add Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to your weekly routine. You can spend some quiet time with the Lord every Friday from 12:00 – 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church.

Advent Giving Tree

The Advent Giving Tree is up at St. Brigid!  Please stop by to take tags but also to appreciate the wonderful job the religious education teachers and their students - a.k.a. your children did by cutting out hundreds of ornaments for families in need this Christmas season.

Please take take yellow, pink, and green tags first as they need to be collected by Dec.12th for the Roxbury Christmas Party hosted by the St. Brigid and Sacred Heart Youth Group on Dec. 13th.

After you purchase the gift, please wrap it and tape the tag onto the present, or specify amount donated on gift card envelope.  Call Hallie Wells at 781-844-9099 with any questions.

The collection of socks and gloves/mittens at the tree will benefit women and children in need at St. Mary’s Parish in Lynn.

THE FLOWERS FOR THIS WEEKEND WERE DONATED IN MEMORY OF ROSEMARY FAHEY

Saint Brigid Parish
Getting Ready for Christmas

Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery, that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again.  The Church urges us to renew the memory of the great love God has shown us.  We enter into the season together as a Church to prepare for our great celebration of our Savior’s Birth.   It is a season of Anticipation “prepare, wait, eager, joyful” these adjectives mark the climate which we build towards Christmas “we must prepare for the celebration – we must wait – the eagerness increases – the joyful anticipation of the celebration of Our Lord’s Birth.”   Our music and environment reflect this atmosphere in our Church during the Advent season; they are to help us enter into the season more deeply.  This year we will be accenting the atmosphere by putting up all the banners in the church and then taking them down one by one as each week draws us closer to Christmas.  As the banners are coming down, we will be building up the decorations on the back altar of evergreens and poinsettias.  Our procession for Mass will only have the Priest, Book, Cross and Candle for the first two weeks of Advent.  The Eucharistic Ministers will be added to the procession for weeks three and four.  Our entrance hymn will be the same for all four weeks of Advent.  The entrance hymn will be done in a progression of first week flute, second week flute and violin, at the 11:00 the choir will not sing, on week 3 the choir will be added and on week four the adult and children’s choir will sing together, other instruments will be added to weeks three and four.  Our music director Bill Grzybowski has chosen an Advent Penitential Rite, which our response will be, “Lord, come and save us!” and “Christ, come and save us!”  We pray that your Advent season be one of prayer filled anticipation of our Lord’s birth.

Advent Mini Retreat

ADVENT MINI-RETREAT:  THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at SACRED HEART CHURCH.  Take some time out of your busy-ness to focus on the real reason for the season!  There will be music, Scripture, some quiet time.  Parishioners from Sacred Heart and St. Brigid will offer reflections on a timely theme.

 

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

High School Youth Christmas Party
With Yankee Swap
Sunday, December 13, 2009
5:00 - 6:30pm
St. Brigid Parish Hall

All 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders are welcome for food, fun and a Yankee Swap!!  To participate in the Yankee Swap, please bring a wrapped gift of no more than $15.  Hope to see you then!!

 

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

Middle School Fridays are Back!

The 6th, 7th and 8th graders of the Catholic Community of Lexington and their friends are invited to join us on December 11th for a dinner of spaghetti, salad, bread, and pizza.  After the dinner the movie "The Nativity Story" will be shown while snacking on popcorn and movie theater size candy!!!  The movie will be shown on a big-screen TV at the Sacred Heart Parish Center.  The event begins at 6:00 on December 11th.  Please sign up by December 9th.  Cost is $8 and scholarships are available. For more information contact Mary Ellen Goodwin at tgoodwin99(10). 

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

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

Thank You!

We received a lovely note from Father Walter Waldron extending a heart felt thanks for the generosity at Thanksgiving.  Father Waldron is assuring us of his prayers and gratitude for all that our parishioners do for St. Patrick’s Church.

IRA Opportunity

Special Opportunity for IRA Gifts Available
But Only Through December 31, 2009

Between now and December 31, 2009, you could make a gift to Sacred Heart of St. Brigid Parishes far bigger than you ever thought possible.
You can make the gift of a lifetime by giving from your IRA to the parish without federal tax penalty. So your retirement funds can go further than ever before.
This is good news for parishioners who want to make a charitable gift during their lifetime from their retirement assets, but have been discouraged from doing so because of the income tax penalty.
Here’s what it takes to qualify for this tax advantage. 

• Be 70 and a half years or older
• Have an IRA – whether traditional or Roth
• want to make a charitable gift up to $100,000
• make the gift by December 31, 2009

For more information and for sample forms to use in making the gift, call Richard Ely at The Catholic Foundation at 617-779-3702 or email Richard_Ely(9).  Or visit our website www.CatholicLegacySociety.org.

What Do Advent Wreath Candles Signify?

Most Advent wreaths have three purple candles and one rose to echo the liturgical colors of the Church’s Advent celebrations.

Whether the wreath is being used at home or in a church, the lighting of the candles should follow the pattern established by the Sundays of Advent. 

Just as vestments at Mass are purple during the first two weeks of Advent, the first two candles of the wreath to be lit (one for each week) should be purple.  On the third Sunday of Advent, the Church celebrates Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday, named after the first word of the day’s traditional entrance verse (Philippians 4:4-5).  The priest wears rose vestments at Mass as a sign of our brightening hope and joy.  At that point, at home or at church, we light the rose candle in our wreath to reflect the action in the liturgy.  The fourth week of Advent sees the lighting of the last purple candle. 

Some churches and families have begun to add a fifth candle to their advent practices, placing a white candle in the center of their wreath.  They light this at Christmas, again echoing the Church’s liturgical color for the season and rejoicing in Christ our Lord, whose birth brings light and our life to our world.