Have you ever heard of parabolic harmonious oscillation? I just heard the phrase recently and it means doing two opposing things at the same time. You can see this and experience this in a swing—leaning back and kicking forward. Try to move the swing by only leaning back or simply kicking forward. You won’t get very far. You must lean while you are kicking.
People in parishes today must lean back—not to the 50’s or 60’s but way back to our traditions and church history. We had a marvelous concert of the choirs of several congregations last Sunday at Saint Brigid. In the intermission I welcomed the people to the church and said that they may have passed the church many times driving on Mass Avenue and to let me guide them through the church. One of the highlights of my talk was to explain the history of the church in America. We started with the first window which depicts Pentecost, the birth of the church and explained each of the windows. This would be, for us, “leaning back” into our history and the story of us as a Church. At Sacred Heart the stained glass windows depict the saints, those great heroes who have gone on before us. They can still teach us about prayer, worship and living in community.
Leaning back is not enough we must learn to kick forward. Kicking forward means advancing many of the traditions of our faith in a more culturally relevant way. We need to do everything we can—to do our very best to kick the gospel forward to our postmodern world. Kicking the faith forward has less to do with style—traditional, contemporary, blended, or emergent—and more to do with imagination.
When the different choirs sang at last Sunday’s concert (I hope we will show the concert on the local cable television station for you to enjoy and perhaps tape) I was struck how the music was contemporary and traditional. The choirs—young and old, sang it with joy. Kicking forward in worship in an imaginative way means using the cultural tools available today to help people experience the presence of God. The question is not about how worship connects with culture but how the church uses culture to connect people with God.
My prayer for Sacred Heart and Saint Brigid is that they may be blessed by practices that lean back into our common history and embody innovative ways to kick the congregation’s story forward for a new generation. I ask for the gift of the Spirit of wisdom, understanding and right judgment as we continue to work our common vision. Lord, let it be!
Readings for the Week Of Sunday, February 15, 2009
| St. Brigid Church |
| |
| 9:00am | Tuesday February 17th | Anna Konopka |
| 9:00am | Thursday February 19th | Josephine Fuchetti |
| 8:00am | Saturday February 21st | Pamela Laye Tinker |
| |
| Sacred Heart Church |
| |
| 9:00am | Monday February 16th | Omi Ucko |
An Evening In Venice
Dinner/Dance Fundraiser (Adults ONLY)
We are having a dinner/dance to sponsor the YOUTH Scholarship Fund, Work Camp Costs, and other Youth Events (such as guest speakers, like Sean Forrest and community building activities). The date of this event is Saturday, February 28th from 7:00pm to ll:00pm in Keilty Hall. We will enjoy a Chicken Florentine dinner, wine, dancing and great fellowship all to support the Youth of our parishes. Tickets are $25 per person will be available in the Religious Education Office after January 25th and after all Masses THIS weekend.
The office will be closed on Monday, February 16th in observance of Presidents’ Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, February 17th.
In Service For Their Country
Lt. John Schiavi, Sgt. Christopher Considine, Timothy Dunbar, Richard Rigley, Timothy Busa, Chris Cullen, Caitlin R. Battell, Robert McLaughlin, Sean Maddigan, Rev. Paul Passamonti, Airman Jason Cunha, Mark Zarnecki, Patrick J. Nordahl, Scott and Michael Donahue, Lt. Brian Casey, and 1st Lt. 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 Smith, Deacon Bill Wildes, Nancy Grossimon, Bill Kenney, Margaret Wright, Joseph O’Brien, John Harper, Donald Marhefka, Tina Durks, Pat White, Marylou Merry, Josephine Siders, Philip Johnson, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino. Please also remember all of our deceased relatives and friends especially Marie De Lourdes Couto, SGM and Ruth McAuliffe, mother of Kathleen Hintlian.
Save the Date
Tickets are now on sale after the weekend Masses in Keilty Hall or at the Parish Office during business hours for our annual Irish Night on Saturday, March 14th, at 6:00 PM in Keilty Hall at St. Brigid Church. We will have Corned Beef and Cabbage from Marty’s Caterers, Irish Music and Step Dancers. Alternate menu for kids of Chicken Nuggets & Mac & Cheese.
Tickets: Adults $20; Kids under 12 $5. Tables of 8 available. Tickets will go on sale the weekend of February 14/15 after Mass in Keilty Hall or at Parish Office. For more information contact Marie Hill at 781-862-6456 or to rcn.com, address "mimi716".
Helping Hands
Helping Hands for February is
Dorothy Martin, 781-862-6389
Faith & Environment
“We, in the developed world, are obligated to address our own wasteful and destructive use of resources as a matter of top priority.”
U.S. Catholic Bishops.
As individuals and as a parish, we have been moving (perhaps slowly) towards more efficient use of gas, electricity, water and paper. At Sunday Hospitality at Sacred Heart we want to phase out use of Styrofoam cups. Though these cups can be recycled in Lexington, energy and toxic substances are used to produce and recycle them. Instead, we invite everyone to bring to the Center one of those many unused mugs we have at home. After use, they will be run through the dishwasher, air dried and left in the trays ready for use the next week. (If you wish to restrict your mug to your use only, stick your name or a symbol on the bottom of the mug and seal with clear nail polish.) By this reuse of mugs we reduce our impact on resources and the parish budget!
Prayer for Vocations
Gracious God, you have blessed me with many gifts and talents. Grant me the wisdom to know how best to use them for the glory of your name. Jesus calls, “Come follow me.” I want to follow Him and to be faithful to my call. Help me to see in myself what you see, and give me the courage to follow wherever you may lead. Bless the Church with generous hearts, eager to serve your people and to spread your Word. Amen.
Lexington Food Pantry Collection At St. Brigid And Sacred Heart
This weekend of February 14th and 15th is the collection of non-perishable food items. Please check the expiration dates. Especially needed at this time are low sodium chicken broth, hot and cold cereals, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables. The food pantry also accepts non food items such as hygiene items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, deodorant, shampoo, etc.) and paper products (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, napkins, etc.). Food stamps cannot be used for these items. These items may be left in the food bins at the entrances of St. Brigid or on the altar at Sacred Heart. Cash, supermarket gift cards and checks made out to the Lexington Food Pantry are also accepted. These may be placed in an envelope marked Lexington Food Pantry and placed in the offertory basket or dropped off at the parish office. Thank you for your past generosity and support of this endeavor.
WINGS Returns February 26!
Mark your calendar for the start of WINGS (Women IN God’s Spirit) Spring Series! The complete six-week schedule – February 26 through April 2 – will be available next week.
Life Snipits
If you do not want to reap
The fruits of sin, stay out
Of the devil’s orchard.
Altar Server Training
All children of the Catholic Community of Lexington, grades 4 and above are invited to join the altar servers ministry at St. Brigid. Servers are scheduled by their availability and their family’s preferred Mass times. Parents please encourage your children to volunteer for this ministry.
Training times Are:
Session 1: Saturday, February 28th at 10:00am at St. Brigid
Session 2: Sunday March 1st at 10:00am and 12:00pm at St. Brigid
You need to attend the Saturday and one Sunday Training. Each session will be 1 hour long.
Please contact Mary Peterson by email or call
781-863-0319 ext 30
For scheduling questions contact Jeanne Hobbs at 781-248-9722 or verizon.net, address "jeannehobbs".
If you can not attend these times but would still like to be an altar server we can make other arrangements for your training. Give us a call.
Travel To Greece And Its Islands
A few more seats have opened up for our Greece trip!!! The seats are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please call 781-862-0335/4646 for details. If there is an interest, we will have another presentation by Collette Tours on the trip!
We are planning a trip to Greece and its islands beginning April 23, 2009. This will be a 14 day trip starting in Athens, going to the island of Mykonos for 3 days, then we are off to the island of Santorini for 3 days. We will fly back to Athens to begin exploring classical Greece.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
8:45 – 11:00 – RCIA – St. Brigid Library
10:00 – Baptisms at Sacred Heart
Monday, February 16, 2009
SCHOOL VACATION WEEK
NO EVENTS TODAY
Tuesday, 17, 2009
SCHOOL VACATION WEEK
NO EVENTS TODAY
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
9:00 – Lexington Field and Garden Club Mtg. – St. Brigid PC
7:30 – Choir Sacred Heart Church
Thursday, February 19, 2009
6:00 – Minute Men – St. Brigid – Kielty Hall
7:00 - Young Adult Meeting – St. Brigid – Library
7:00 – Eagle Scout Review Board – St. Brigid PC
7:30 – Choir St. Brigid Church
Friday, February 20, 2009
NO EVENTS
Saturday, February 21, 2009
9:00am – Minute Men – St. Brigid-PC
Habitat For Humanity Volunteers & Sponsors Requested For 2/28/09
On Saturday, February 28th Sacred Heart & St. Brigid parishioners are invited to help support a work day for parishioners to help build two Habitat homes for low income families in West Newton. Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston has built more than 75 homes in the greater Boston Area More than 200 parishioners have worked on Habitat homes over the years and we are grateful to all who have supported this work so generously in the past.. All workers must be 16 years or older. Prayers and donations are particularly requested for anyone wishing to support this effort. We hope to raise $800 to help provide materials for the work on February 28th. Make checks payable to the parish with memo Habitat for Humanity. For information and sign ups call Bob Ludwig (781) 861-7231.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that
I may not be attached to the perishable things of this world but to seek the
things that are eternal.
Grant me the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten
my mind with the light of your divine truth.
Grant me the Spirit of Right Judgment that I may choose
the surest way of pleasing God.
Grant me the Spirit of Courage that I may bear my
cross with you and that I may overcome all the obstacles that oppose my salvation.
Grant me the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God
and know myself.
Grant me the Spirit of Reverence that I may find the
service of God sweet and attractive.
Grant me the Spirit of Wonder and Awe that I may be
filled with loving reverence towards God and may avoid anything that would displease
him.
Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of your true disciples and animate me in all
things with your Spirit. Amen.
| St. Brigid |
| Offertory for February 7th & 8th |
$ 8,513.00 |
| Envelope Offerings |
$ 7,104.00 |
| Loose Cash |
$ 1,409.00 |
| Grand Annual Collection to date |
$118,765.00 |
Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 257 have used their envelopes.
| Sacred Heart |
| Offertory for February 7th & 8th |
$ 5,670.00 |
| Envelope Offerings |
$ 5,125.00 |
| Loose Cash |
$ 545.00 |
| St. Katharine Drexel |
$ 243.00 |
| Grand Annual Collection to date |
$72,352.00 |
Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 117 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.
Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!
—Fr. Colletti
SCHOOL VACATION NO CLASSES THIS WEEK.
CLASSES WILL RESUME ON
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND.
NO CLASSES ON
ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH.
We have scheduled two more days for Olin Mills to come back to Lexington. We are hoping that those of you who did not have your photos taken during the summer and early fall will be able to make the new dates. Olan Mills will come back to St. Brigid on Friday, March 6th, and Saturday, March 7th. The sign up sheets should be at the doors of the church this weekend, please take the time to sign up.
Movie and Soup
Mark your calendars for the Saturdays during Lent when we will again have our Movie and Soup night beginning at 6:00pm at Sacred Heart Parish Center on February 28th. Each week there will be a movie relating to the weekend scripture readings. Please plan to join us for movies and soup!!!
Boston Catholic Television
Daily Mass can be seen LIVE on CatholicTV and Boston’s WBPX, Channel 68 weekdays at 9:30 a.m, at 7:30 p.m. or midnight (all times Eastern). The Daily Mass is also rebroadcast on CatholicTV at 7:30 each evening and midnight. You can also celebrate it LIVE or "on demand" here at CatholicTV's web site, www.CatholicTV.com.
Holy Humor
Billboard Messages from God!
1. Let’s meet at my house Sunday before
the game - God
2. C’mon over and bring the kids – God
3. What Part of “Though Shalt Not…” didn’t you
understand?-God
4. We need to talk – God
5 Keep using my name in vain and I’ll make rush hour
longer! – God
6. Loved the wedding, invite me to the marriage – God
7. That “Love Thy Neighbour” thing,
I meant it. – God
8. I love you…I love you…I love you… - God
9. Will the road you’re on get you to my place? – God
10. Follow Me. – God
11. Big bang theory? You’ve got to be kidding – God
12. My way IS the highway – God
13. Need directions? – God
14. You think it’s hot here? – God
15 Tell the kids I love them. – God
16 Need a Marriage Counselor? I’m available. – God
17 Don’t make me come down there! – God
18 Have you read my #1 best Seller?
There will be a test. - God
The Lexington Catholic Young Adult Group invites you to our next Theology on Tap which will be on Thursday night, February 19th. Join us at 7:30pm at the Bickford’s Bar and Grill Restaurant in Woburn. The address is 325 Montvale Ave, Woburn, MA 01801.
Fr. Jim Wenzel, OSA Director of Education and Spirituality Programs at the Center for Augustinian Study and Legacy at Merrimack College will be speaking about “St. Augustine.” This will be a cool time to learn more about the Faith, meet new people, and enjoy your favorite drink.
Theology on Tap is an official program of the Archdiocese of Boston. It is about hearing a speaker discuss an interesting topic over drinks and food with other young adults at a good bar/restaurant. It is a time of hanging out, having fun, and learning more about the Faith. You can be sure that Theology on Tap will be a great time every time! For more information contact Cindy Truesdale at gmail, address "cindy.truesdale" or 781-233-4883. Check our website at http://lexcatholicyoungadultgroup.googlepages.com.
It's a great group and we hope you can come! The Lexington Catholic Young Adult Group presents its monthly Theology on Tap for all young adults (people in their 20s and 30s, single or married) of Lexington, all neighboring towns, and beyond: Feel free to just show up and brings friends too!
Sunday Hospitality at St. Brigid
“Hospitality after the 9” is on break today. Drop by Keilty Hall next Sunday when we’ll be back.
Interested In Centering Prayer And/Or Sharing Sunday’S Scripture Readings?
Each Second Saturday of the month at 3:30 PM-4:00 PM at 1977 Mass Ave. (next door to St. Brigid’s Church) a small group of women meet together, to reflect and share on the Scriptures for that weekend’s Liturgy. We would like to extend this meeting and began with Centering Prayer at 3:00 pm for a half hour prior to the sharing of the Scripture. If you would like to come and join this group, or are interested in doing Centering Prayer with a group at another time, please call Sr. Gladys Marhefka at 781-674-7406 (office) and/or 781-862-0938.
Adoration
The Lord never goes on vacation, not even this week! Bring your children and grandchildren with you to Adoration this Friday from 12:00 – 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church. Consider visiting during the first hour as the Lord longs for more company then.
We will not have Children’s Liturgy of the Word today. All children are invited to join CLW when it resumes next Sunday, February 22.
Megan Chenaille, Director of Youth Ministry
E-mail: Megan Chenaille
781-862-8724
Food Fast
Mark your calendars: March 27-28
More information coming soon
Catholic Heart Workcamp
June 28-July 3 in Providence, RI
The work camp is for High School students entering 9th thru 12th grades. Meet other Catholics your age from around the country, help others, and grow in your faith. A $75 deposit is required to hold your spot. Please sign up soon! Spaces are limited.
Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with any questions or concerns. 
