Easter, for me, is always the hardest sermon to preach. I don’t mean that the theology escapes me.  I believe that Jesus died and rose to new life.  I believe that because He is risen, He can be the source of my pre-resurrected life.  In one of his poems, Thomas Merton says to Christ, “Your life and death and mine are one.”  “Your life” means that irrepressible resurrected life that surges forth despite betrayal, despite agony, despite crucifixion.  The spring that buds beautifully around us now is only a shadow, a mere glimpse of that abundant life.

I know that I should let the liturgy of Holy Week and Easter speak for itself because it has the power to compel attention to Christ but still, I think Easter is the hardest sermon, because I want to say the right words that will allow people to continue to come to worship with us.  All kinds of people come to Easter Sunday services: the faithful, the “high holiday” Catholics, the marginalized, the seekers, those hopeful that this amazing story is true.  It is my pride that wants to have the right words that enter into the hearts of our people. But it is Christ who wants us—all of us—to grow and mature as His disciples.

As Jesus rose from the dead, so we should rise with him from the tomb of our sins and offenses.  Peter proclaims: “Everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43). Peter knew the power of forgiveness for he had denied Jesus three times and was renewed by Christ who only asked, “Do you love me?”  As Jesus rejoiced to have us see this day—“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad,” the psalmist sings (Ps. 118:24). Heaven’s boundless joy becomes ours as we live our risen life in company with Christ.  As Jesus gave himself into the Father’s hands so should we as we renew the promises made for us at our baptism.  Today we renew our baptismal promises so that we can bear stronger witness to this truth: Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, is the Lord of our lives.  On this day of rising, rejoicing, renewing we should share Eucharist in which all God’s power for a dying-and-rising way of living becomes ours.

May the blessings of the Easter Season be for you and your loved ones.  The entire staff of Sacred Heart and Saint Brigid pray you these blessings and we ask for your blessings as well. 
Fr. Colletti

 

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, Jen Bombaca, Marianne Slack, Elaine Murphy, Henry Murphy, Bob Kozlowski, Francis Cote, Harry Laye, Deacon Bill Wildes, William McCarthy, Marie Dempsey, Pat White, Mary Whelan, Prudy Bulger, Eleanor Mann, Amy Galehouse Goolkosian, Jane Beauchemin, Luella Theriault, Mary Ellen Connor, Marybeth Morgan, Billy Wedgwood, Gerald McCue, Kathleen Brown, Carol Brady, Brendan Murphy, Kevin Johnson, Ann LaMantia, Christine Griffin, Josephine Siders, Douglas DiVito, Frank Hassett, Mary McGuinnes, Herbert Grossman, Joseph Fremont-Smith, Jewel Douglass, Marjorie Kearns, Kathryn Ortolano, Shannon Capriulo, Cathy Larson, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino.  Please also remember in your prayers all of our deceased family members and parishioners, especially Claire McKenna, mother of Jeanne Hobbs, Louis A. Guarino and Kathryn Ortolano.

Helping Hands Coordinator

Helping Hands coordinator for March is:
is Jeanne Hobbs, 781-248-9722

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, 1st Lt. Todd Donaldson, Airman Jason Cunha, Pfc. Erik Muskavitch, Mark Zarnecki, 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.

DO OUR CORE VALUES CHANGE AS WE AGE? DO VALUES AFFECT OUR LIFE CHOICES AS WE AGE?

Join the Rev. Professor Robert M. Randolph, Chaplain at MIT in Cambridge, as he explores how our values influence the choices we make as we grow older.  This program, offered free of charge to the public, is scheduled for Monday, April 26th at 7:00 p.m. at Youville Place Assisted Living Residence, 10 Pelham Road in Lexington.
The Rev. Prof. Robert M. Randolph is the first chaplain appointed by MIT, and is referred to as the “guardian of the core values of the Institute."  In his role at MIT, he connects with people of all ages in his capacity as spiritual counselor.  Administratively, he has been responsible for programs relating to international students, minorities, women, and other unique groups at MIT.  He is best known for his work with people of all faiths, interacting with believers, non-believers, and those who continue to seek answers to life’s most difficult questions.  Join him for a provocative discussion around our own values, and how these values evolve with age, affecting our life choices. Space is limited.  Please RSVP, call Lisa at 781-861-3535 or e-mail info@youvilleplace.org, or to reserve a spot.

Lexington Job Support Group

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, 7:30 - 9:00 pm at Sacred Heart Parish Center.  The next two meetings are April 7th and April 21st.  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)
NOTE:  April 5th Linked In presentation at Carey Memorial Library has been postponed. 

Easter Egg Hunt

The Annual Easter Egg hunt will be held at Sacred Heart Church immediately following 10:00 Mass on Easter Sunday.  The hunt is for toddlers through 12 year olds and will be held around the Church and the Hall.  Bags will be provided, All are welcome!

Easter Collection

The upcoming Easter collection supports the retirement, medical care, and financial needs of priests of the Archdiocese of Boston.  We ask that you give generously on behalf of the priests that have devoted their lives to faithfully serve God and the good work of the Archdiocese of Boston.  On behalf of all of our priests, thank you in advance for your generosity.

Faith & Environment

 

Women's Book Club

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB meets next on Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Room 8, Sacred Heart Parish Center.  The group will be discussing Joyce Rupp’s book Walk in a Relaxed Manner:  Life Lessons from the Camino.   Here are a few details about the book:
As she approached her 60th birthday, spiritual writer and retreat leader Joyce Rupp embarked on a 37-day walking trek across Spain with her friend Tom Pfeffer.  The two prepared and trained for a year before making the historical pilgrimage from Roncesvalles on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees to the Cathedral of St. James in the city of Santiago, a journey commonly referred to as “the Camino.”
Walking in the “relaxed manner” in the title was one of the first lessons these two self-described productive-oriented people learned.  At first, Rupp explains, they believed their goal was to reach Santiago, but they eventually discovered that the walk itself imparted spiritual empowerment.  For the first few days, the two succumbed to their natural tendency to rush, rush, rush, and push, push, push.  In the end, they agreed to take the advice of a friend who had walked the Camino earlier: “drink more water and walk in a relaxed manner.”
Rupp laces the story with such insights, always connecting the events and experiences with “routine” life and sharing the positive effects the journey had on her.  Like Rupp's other books, Walk in a Relaxed Manner is filled with down-to-earth stories and deeply spiritual reflections.

Joyce Rupp is well known for her work as a writer, spiritual “midwife” and conference speaker.  A member of the Servite Community, she has led retreats throughout North America as well as in Europe, Asia and Africa.  She is the author of many bestselling books including May I Have this Dance? Fresh Bread and The Circle of Life.  For more information, contact Maria Griffin avempg(4) or Beverly Good 781-863-0319, x 20, Beverly.Good(1).

Easter Sunday, April 4th  

7:00 – EASTER MASS – SACRED HEART
9:00 – EASTER MASS – ST. BRIGID
10:00 – EASTER MASS – SACRED HEART
11:00 – EASTER MASS – ST. BRIGID

Monday, April 5th   

7:15 – CONFIRMATION CLASS – SB –

Tuesday, April 6th  

FATHER COLLETTI ON LAHEY DUTY
7:15 – CONFIRMATION CLASS – SH –
7:00 – CHOIR REHEARSAL –SB

Wednesday, April 7th  

6:00 – 8:30 – LEXINGTON BASKETBALL TEAM – SB-KH
7:00 – HOMEBOUND MINISTRY WKSP. – SB – L
7:30 – RCIA –ROOM #21 – SB-PC
7:00 – YOUTH LEADERSHIP MTG. - SH

Thursday, April 8th   

9:30 – WINGS- SB-PC
6:00 – WEDDING REHEARSAL – SB.CHURCH
7:00 – BOYS SCOUTS – SB –PC AND ROOMS

Friday, April 9th  

4:30 – ALTAR SERVER REHEARSALS
6:00 – 8:30 – FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE-SB-PC
6:00 – MIDDLE SCHOOL EVENT - SH
6:00 – WEDDING REHEARSAL – SB - CHURCH

Saturday, April 10th

2:00 – REEDY/VINCENT WEDDING – SB -CHURCH
3:30 BROOKE/CRACCHIOLO WEDDING –SB-CHURCH
7:30 – SCOUT TRAINING

Secrets of Prayer

Nancy Corcoran, CSJ, Catholic Chaplain and Director of Newman Catholic Ministry at Wellesley College, will be the guest speaker at WINGS (Women IN God’s Spirit) this Thursday. Sister’s presentation, Secrets of Prayer, takes its title from her recent book, in which she demonstrates that prayer is not an isolated act but a comprehensive way of being in the world. She will help us discover how God can and does work in and through us, whether we are willing or not.

Please join us Thursday, April 8, at 9:30 – 11:15am, in the hall at St. Brigid Parish Center. 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. 

Lectio Divina Group

A Lectio Divina group will meet this Thursday (April 8) 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 next Sunday’s gospel reading. This is the last meeting of this group until the fall.

Thank you!

Thank you for your generosity!  We had 162 Easter Hams that went to St. Patrick’s, St. Katharyn Drexel’s two food pantries along with shut-ins, Family Aids families, Rosie’s Place and Haley House. 
Thank you also for the more than $400 in gift cards!  Your generous support has helped many have a very happy Easter.

Sacred Heart Parish

Offertory for March 27/28                            $ 5849.00
Envelope Offerings                                         $ 4872.00
Loose Cash                                                     $   977.00
St. Katharine Drexel                                      $    75.00

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 115 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.  Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!  To operate the parish our offertory should be $7,500 per week.
Fr. Colletti

Sacred Heart Parish Masses

Monday , April 5th 
9:00
Wednesday, April 7th
9:00                                       Paul and Margaret Wright
Friday, April 9th
9:00                                                           Linnie Holland

2010 catholic appeal

We want to thank everyone from Sacred Heart Parish who has participated in the 2010 Catholic Appeal.  The parish has raised $20,804 from 55 households.  These contributions support the many ministries of our Archdiocese and will improve the lives of so many in our faith community.  The Appeal is to our Archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to our parish. Cardinal Seán invites every Catholic household to participate.  If you have not yet made your gift, please consider making a pledge this weekend.  You can pick up information packets with pledge forms in the back of the Church.  Please mail your completed pledge/gift in the envelope provided in the information packet.  For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com or call 617-779-3700.  Every gift matters. Thank you!

Easter Egg Hunt

The Annual Easter Egg hunt will be held at Sacred Heart Church immediately following 10:00 Mass on Easter Sunday.  The hunt is for toddlers through 12 year olds and will be held around the Church and the Hall.  Bags will be provided.

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. 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.

The Lexington Catholic Young Adult Group invites you to our regular Thursday night meetings consisting of Bible study and then food and drinks at a local restaurant.  We also invite you to our next Theology on Tap (See date on website).  For more information contact Billy Robinson at colecrops(4) or call 781-572-8081.  You can also check out our website listed below.  It's a great group and we have a lot of fun, we hope you can come!

Hospitality

Please join us for hospitality and fellowship at our parishes. 

Hospitality at St. Brigid Parish is after the 9:00am Mass in Keilty Hall.

At Sacred Heart Parish the hospitality is after the 10:00am Mass in the parish center.

St. Brigid Parish

Offertory for March 27/28                             $9910.00
Envelope Offerings                                         $8549.00
Loose Cash                                                      $1361.00

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 295 have used their envelopes.  Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!  To operate the parish our offertory should be $11,730 per week.  Fr. Colletti

St. Brigid Parish Masses

Tuesday , April 6th 
9:00                                                          Paul Mazerall
Thursday, April 8th
9:00                                                     Maryann Beaton
Saturday, April 10th
9:00                                            John & Ann McCadden
10:00 Memorial Mass                                        Barbara Hurley

2010 Catholic Appeal

We want to thank everyone from St. Brigid Parish who has participated in the 2010 Catholic Appeal.  The parish has raised $39,862 from 150 households.  These contributions support the many ministries of our Archdiocese and will improve the lives of so many in our faith community.  The Appeal is to our Archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to our parish. Cardinal Seán invites every Catholic household to participate. If you have not yet made your gift, please consider making a pledge this weekend. You can pick up information packets with pledge forms in the back of the Church. Please mail your completed pledge/gift in the envelope provided in the information packet. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com or call 617-779-3700. Every gift matters. Thank you!

Easter Collection

The Easter collection supports the retirement, medical care, and financial needs of priests of the Archdiocese of Boston.  We ask that you give generously on behalf of the priests that have devoted their lives to faithfully serve God and the good work of the Archdiocese of Boston.  On behalf of all of our priests, thank you in advance for your generosity.

Easter Sequence

At the Easter Sunday liturgy, a liturgical poem called The Easter Sequence is chanted or prayed.  The “sequence” (from the Latin word that means “to follow”) normally follows the Second Reading and is before the Gospel acclamation.  Sequences are sung on important feasts.

The Easter Sequence, Victimae Paschali (Paschal Victim), was written by Wipo of Burgundy, who died about 1050 A.D.  Wipo was a priest and chaplain to Emperor Konrad II.
At one time, the Church used many sequences throughout the liturgical year.  But the Council of Trent (which was convened by Pope Paul III in 1545 and continued until 1563) abolished all but a few.

Today a sequence is used on only four feasts: Easter, Pentecost, Corpus Christi and Our Lady of Sorrows.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him.  Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb.  They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large.  On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed.  He said to them, “Do not be amazed!  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.  He had been raised; he is not here.  Behold the place where they laid him.  But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you’”

The Latin word “praeconium” means “a town cries” and/or the news that the town crier announces.  The angel’s words, “He has been raised” are referred to as the “praeconium paschal”, the Easter proclamation.  The good news is sung at the Easter Vigil as part of the ancient chant known as the “Exultet.”

“He has been raised!”  Jesus has gone through to the other side of death!  He has opened the way for us!  We are free, free at last!

This is news worth shouting about.  Let this “good news” (the meaning of the word “gospel”) ring out in our towns, in the countryside, in the whole world.  Let there be singing and dancing. 

Happy Easter!

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

Youth Mass

Please join us for our next Youth Mass on
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sacred Heart Church , 6pm
Bring your friends and families!!

Scholarship Applications

For Graduating High School Seniors
Are now available in the Religious Education Office located at 2001 Mass Ave

Patriots Day BBQ YOUTH Fundraiser

We are in need of adults and youth to help out selling hamburgers and hot dogs at our Patriots Day YOUTH Fundraiser.  Please contact Megan if you can help out! 
Adults are needed to man the grill and supervise the youth.  If you can donate items such as sodas/chips/cookies to sell, that would be appreciated too!
Youth will be in charge of selling food that day as well as helping with set-up and clean-up. 

 

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

Adoration

Spend some quiet time with the Risen Lord this Friday and every Friday during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 12:00 – 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church.

Religious Education Classes at Sacred Heart for
grades 1 – 8 are at 11:15 until 12:15
in the Parish Center.
Religious Education Classes at St. Brigid Parish Center on Tuesdays, for Grades 1, 2 and 3
at 3:45 until 4:45pm. 
Grades 4, 5, and 6 are on Wednesdays,
in the Parish Center at 3:45-4:45pm.
Grades 7 and 8 are on Mondays at 5:30 until 6:30pm in the Parish Center

Boston College Seminar

You are invited to join us at Boston College for enrichment and learning: Date: Saturday, April 10 Living the Journey: Spirituality for the Second Half of Life Location/Time: Boston College Chestnut Hill Campus, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sponsors: Boston College Alumni Association, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, the Church in the 21st Century Center, and the University Institute on Aging.

Save the Date!

Our Lady’s Academy at 920 Trapelo Road in Waltham is hosting a Spring Super Raffle Extravaganza on Saturday, April 10, 2010 in the school auditorium.  The cost is $100 per couple, which includes buffet dinner for two, dessert/coffee, dancing, and a chance to win our $10,000 grand prize drawing.  There will also be a cash bar, other raffle prizes and a silent auction.  Proceeds directly benefit Our Lady’s Academy.  Help to support Catholic education!  If you are interested or have any questions, contact us at schoolboard@ourladysacademy.org or call the school office at 781-899-0353.  Tickets are also available online at www.ourladysacademy.org/store.  Come and celebrate spring!