The account of Pentecost given to us in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11) speaks to us about what happens when the Holy Spirit is poured out upon people.  The people are gathered in Jerusalem from all over the known world—strangers to each other with differing cultures and languages but sharing the one faith. It is that faith that brings them here on a pilgrimage to the holy city.  Filled with the Spirit the disciples boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to these people.  All are amazed at the fact that “each one heard them speaking in his or her own language. The Spirit brought about a unity without taking away their diversity.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) wrote in his book On the Way to Jesus Christ this is a unity in variety.  The distinctive languages of these various peoples in Acts represent not just different ways of speaking but different cultures.  The unity effected by the Holy Spirit is not uniformity: it is, rather, a coming-together in faith that embraces the uniqueness of people and cultures.

Saint Paul (1 Cor 12:3-13) reflects the same idea when he writes about the charisms given to the community by the Holy Spirit.  Paul exhorts a divided Christian community to live and to worship as one community of faith.  The Spirit knows each individual and he gives each a gift for the good of the community.  Each person with their own personalized gift is needed for the sake of all.  All will have a role to play in the building up of the community, to serve the common good of the Body of Christ in a way that will promote unity.

Father Robin Ryan, CP in Tuned into the Spirit writes “In our beloved Church we grapple with differences today. Some of those with a more traditionalist mindset think that progressives have jettisoned the substance of the Catholic faith in a futile attempt to be relevant in the modern world. Some progressives simply reject the concerns of more traditional Catholics, labeling them as “pre-Vatican II” sentiments.  Somehow, we need to continue to listen to the Spirit so that we may be able to discover and build common ground among Catholics who think differently.  We cannot afford to have a polarized Church…How do I acknowledge and respect the distinctive individuality of that other person while still establishing enough of a common bond that we will be able to work together, live together, or build a friendship with each other?”

This Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Spirit draws us all together to celebrate the one Eucharist of Jesus Christ with people who are committed to their faith or hanging on to their faith by their fingernails.  It is this Spirit in our midst who speaks to us of unity that is built upon a reconciled diversity.  May we listen to the voice of this Spirit—a voice that calls us to work for a unity among all peoples.

 

Mass Schedule Change

Due to the refurbishment of the interior of Sacred Heart Church beginning June 1st, weekday Masses and funerals will all be celebrated at Saint Brigid. 

On Saturday morning the Saint Brigid 8:00am will be changed to a 9:00am Mass.  Mass intentions already booked for the 8:00 and 9:00 on Saturday morning will be celebrated at Saint Brigid at 9:00am.

Saturday evening and Sunday Masses will continue to be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church.

The work or refurbishment is scheduled to be completed by Labor Day.  After completion the weekday Masses at Sacred Heart will be 9:00 Monday, Wednesday and Friday and at Saint Brigid 9:00 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

St. Brigid Church
9:00am	Monday June 1st	Maria Civita DeSilva
9:00am	Tuesday June 2nd	John & Elizabeth Scotney
9:00am	Wednesday June 3rd	Julio Amicangelo
9:00am	Thursday June 4th	Vic Campana
9:00am	Friday June 5th	Rose Chiarappa
9:00am	Saturday June 6th	John Dolan & Mary Dolan
Sacred Heart Church

ALL SCHEDULED MASSES DURING THE WEEK WILL BE HELD AT ST. BRIGID CHURCH

 

St. Brigid
Offertory for May 23rd & 24th	$    9,036.00
Envelope Offerings	$    7,881.00
Loose Cash	$    1,155.00

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 201 have used their envelopes.

Sacred Heart
Offertory for May 23rd & 24th	$  5,266.00
Envelope Offerings	$  4,689.00
Loose Cash	$     577.00
St. Katharine Drexel	$     145.00

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 112 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.

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

—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, Father Thomas Nestor, Catherine Morley, Elaine Murphy, Deacon Bill Wildes, Joseph O’Brien, John Harper, Tina Durks, Pat White, Kathleen Brown, Rev. James O’Donohoe, Betty Garrity, Marylou Merry, Josephine Siders, Kathleen Brown, Olivia Moran, Suzy Keating, Matthew Langone, and Brianna Cimino.  Please also remember in your prayers Kathleen Hintlian, Leo Davies, and Emily MacDonald deceased parishioners.

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, Lt. Cmdr. Michael P. MacLellan 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.

2009 Catholic Appeal

Responding to God's Grace, Renewing Our Church

Thank you to all supporters of the 2009 Catholic Appeal.  St. Brigid Parish has raised $ 62,217 from 198 households, reaching 48 percent of the parish goal of $129,500.  Sacred Heart Parish has raised $23,286 from 79 households, reaching 51.2 percent of the parish goal of $45,500.  If you have not yet pledged, please consider a gift today and help us meet our goal.  Remember, our parishes will receive 25 percent of all funds we raise above our goal.  Please remember to make your pledge now even if you plan on fulfilling that pledge towards the end of the year.  You can pick up information packets with pledge forms in the back of the Church to be mailed in, or for more information please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com or call 617-779-3700.  Every gift matters.  Thank you!

Parish Pastoral Council Nominations

There are three Council members from Sacred Heart and four members from Saint Brigid leaving at the end of this season.  We need people to nominate candidates or nominate themselves to run for election which will take place the weekend of June 20-21.  Nomination forms may be obtained in the Parish Office.  You can request a form by mailing a request to shepherd "at" lexingtoncatholic.org .  The form will also be on line at www.lexingtoncatholic.org.  The forms must be received by June 1 in the Parish Office.

Schedule for Parish Pastoral Council Nominations & Elections

Nomination forms to office – June 1, 2009
Orientation with Fr. Colletti – June 6-7, 2009
Candidate Bio for bulletin – June 13-14, 2009
Elections – June 20-21, 2009

Helping Hands

Helping Hands for the month of June is:
Judy McDonough – 781-863-0653.

 

Parish Census

Census forms are located at the entrances of both churches.  Each family/parishioner is encouraged to take a few minutes to complete the census and either drop-off at the entryways to the churches or drop-off/mail to the offices at 2001 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421.

Your completion and return of the census will provide information that will help us to better communicate, serve and interact with members of each parish and to provide information on parishioners’ special skills, talents and interests.  All of the personal information will be kept confidential and be filed in the parish offices. 

For your convenience in returning the forms, boxes will be at the front doors of St. Brigid Church and at the side door of Sacred Heart Church.

The forms are also on the internet, the address is on the census form.

The Simple Truth

Sometimes the deepest truths of our faith can be stated very simply.  And vice-versa.  Sometimes the simplest truths of our faith are the deepest.

On the other hand, the simplicity can be deceptive.  Some truths sound so simple that we can gloss over them and fail to appreciate their depth.

For example, “God loves us.”

That statement comes easily to our lips – we learned it as little children.  “God loves us.”

We have God’s life, God’s love with us – a gift from God.  Jesus tells us to let that love shine on others.

It works this way: The Father loves Jesus, Jesus shares that same love with us.  And we share that love – God’s love -- with others. 

It’s that simple.

And it’s that deep.

Looking for Summer Reading?

Join parishioners from Sacred Heart and St. Brigid as they read My Life with the Saints by James Martin, SJ.

Our women’s book club officially begins on Thursday, September 17^th, but the group invites you to savor their first selection as the less-chaotic days of summer unfold. 

Here’s the scoop on the book: 

James Martin has led an entirely modern life: from a lukewarm Catholic childhood, to an education at the Wharton School of Business, to the executive fast track at General Electric, to ministry as a Jesuit priest, to a busy media career in Manhattan.  But every step of the way, he has been accompanied by some surprising friends—the saints of the Catholic Church.  Martin's best-selling memoir encompasses saints throughout Christian history—from St. Peter to Dorothy Day, St. Francis of Assisi to Mother Teresa—and chronicles the author's lifelong relationship with them.  His witty, vibrant, and stirring stories enable readers to discover how the saints guide us throughout our earthly journeys and how they help each of us find holiness in our own lives.  Our insiders tell us the book has short chapters, and is easy pick up for a short time.  My Life with the Saints is readily available at your favorite book vendor…for more information about the fledgling book club, contact Maria Griffin at avempg(4)  or Beverly Good at Beverly.Good (1); 781-863-0319, ext. 20. 

Life Snipits

Plan ahead.  It wasn’t raining
When Noah built the ark!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

11:00 – Honduras Presentation – SH – PC
  6:00 – Youth Mass – SH – Church
  7:00 – Youth Social – SH - PC

Monday, June 1, 2009

7:00 – Catholic WorkCamp Mtg. – SB – L

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

7:00 – Catholic WorkCamp Mtg. – SB -Classroom
7:00 – Faith & Environment Mtg. – SB - Classroom
7:30 – Worship Commission Meeting – SB - L

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

11:15 – Buses for Sodality Banquet leave parking lot.
  6:00 – Lexington Track Team Banquet –SB – KH
  7:00 – Youth Leadership Mtg. – SH - LH
  7:30 – RCIA Mtg. - L
  7:30 – Choir – Sacred Heart Church

Thursday, June 4, 2009

9:30 – F.I.S.H. – SB – L
7:00 – Young Adult Meeting – SB-L
7:30 – Choir –SB

Friday, June 5, 2009

11:00 – Care Alternative Hospice – SB – KH
  5:00 - MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM – PAW SOX

Saturday June 6, 2009

  4:00 – Anointing Mass – SH - Church

Faith and Environment Group Meeting

Tuesday, June 2, 7:30pm, St. Brigid Parish Center. Join us as we review the activities of year and look forward to the next. Our group is dedicated to supporting the parishes' staff and parishioners call to care for God's Creation through education and positive actions. Initiatives include: "Green Liturgies," bulletin articles, energy conservation, resource reduction and identifying environmentally conscious choices in the products and services we use. For more information, please call Margaret: 781-641-0831

St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry

The weekend of June 6th and 7th is the collection of non-perishable food for St. Katharine Drexel in Roxbury.  Items may be left at St. Brigid in the food bins and at Sacred Heart at the altar or at the entrances to the church.  These items are always needed: cereals, canned vegetables, canned fruit, soup, chicken broth, pasta, rice, peanut butter, and tomato sauce.  Cash, supermarket gift cards, and checks made payable to St. Katherine Drexel may be placed in an envelope and put into the offertory basket or dropped off at the Parish Office.  Please remember that during these economic times there is a great demand put upon food pantries and your contributions are needed more than ever before.  Thank you for your past generosity and support.

The 2009 Annual Rev. Henry M. Gallagher Lecture

On Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 7:00pm St. Mary’s Church, 55 Warren Street, Charlestown will present Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of the book, Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States.  The book was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1993 and made toe 1994 American Library Associates Notable Book List.  In 1996, the book was developed into a major motion picture starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn.  Books will be for sale.  Book signing, discussion and reception to follow the lecture.

Bread for the World Sunday

On June 7, 11:15am, Sacred Heart Parish Center we will be sending letters to Bread for the World.  Your letters will encourage our legislators to make the nation’s foreign assistance more effective and streamlined.  U.S. foreign assistance has helped poor and hungry people reduce child deaths, improve agricultural capacity, and increase school enrollment. But more lives can be saved if we improve the way foreign aid is delivered.  St. Brigid Bread for the World contact needed to organize an Offering of Letters.  Call Fran at 781-861-7231.  For more information on Bread for the World and current legislation, go to: www.bread.org

Faith & Environment

 

Boston College School Of Theology And Ministry
Summer Institute Conference Weeks

The first Conference Week, July 6-10, 2009 will explore contemporary spirituality. The Conference Week course, A Biblical Spirituality of Justice and Peace for our Time, taught in the evenings by Megan McKenna, will be a review of Bible texts on peace and justice and their incarnation in Jesus, the peace and justice of God. The course will include contemporary stories of peace and justice and how they are incarnated in the children of God today, calling all Jesus' disciples to live likewise.
Additional events during the first Conference Week, offered free of charge and open to the public, include:
Contemplative Training for Service and Social Action - Meditations of Natural Awareness and Compassionate Connection, workshops offered by John Makransky and Leah Weiss Ekstrom on July 7, 8, 9 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The annual Evelyn Underhill Lecture in Spirituality will be presented by Timothy Radcliffe, O.P. on Saturday, July 11th at 10:00 a.m., on “A Spirituality for the 21st Century: Beyond the Ghetto and Assimilation.”
The second Conference Week course, Foundational Principles for Christian Spirituality: From Biblical, Ecclesial, and Mystical Traditions, will be taught in the evenings July 13-17, 2009, by Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I. Spirituality is ultimately about what we do with the fires inside of us. But, in the name of spirituality, those fires can be too bridled or too unbridled. What are some of the major classical foundational principles that can help guide our spiritual quest? This course will draw perspectives from science, philosophy, scripture, church teachings, and the writings of both classical and contemporary mystics to lay down some foundations for a more integrated understanding and practice of spirituality. This will be a search for some clarity and structure in an over-rich mine-field.
Attend these courses for as little as $304 per course. Low cost, on-campus housing is available.
In addition to our conference weeks, this year’s Summer Institute is offering nineteen other courses, all taught in an atmosphere of renewal and revitalization by some of the world’s leading theologians. Daily worship and abundant social events are part of the fabric of the Summer Institute.
For more information or to register
visit http://www.bc.edu/schools/stm/summer.html or
call us at 800-487-1167 or 617-552-6501.

We invite all children 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.  Next Sunday will be the final CLW before the summer break.

Sunday Hospitality At St. Brigid’S

Come down to Hospitality-after-the-9 today to celebrate Pentecost by singing “Happy Birthday” to the Church and having a piece of birthday cake with your cup of coffee. 

Lectio Divina Group!

A Lectio Divina group is meeting for about half an hour every week through June 18th.  The group will gather in Room #10 at St. Brigid Parish Center.  Lectio Divina is a prayerful way to reflect on the Bible.  In this group, we will reflect on the upcoming Sunday Gospel.  Please feel free to drop in any week your schedule allows.  All are welcome, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey.  For more information, please contact Beverly Good at 781-863-0319, ext. 20, or by email.

Strawberry Festival

The Strawberry Festival will be held on Sunday June 14th after the 11:00 Mass.  Come one come all for a wonderful Strawberry Treat!  We need help cutting the berries on Saturday morning, June 13th at 10:00am in Keilty Hall.  For planning purposes, please let us know how many will be coming.  Call Marie Hill 781-862-6456 or email mimi716(8).

Get ‘Up-Close and Personal’ with the Lord

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

Kid’s Knock-Knock Humor!

Knock KnockWho's there?
Adolf! Adolf who?
Adolf ball hit me in the mouth!

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

Youth Mass

Sunday, May 31, 2009
6pm at Sacred Heart Church
Please join us to support and honor all those receiving scholarships. A small reception will follow the Mass in the Parish Hall.  All are welcome and encouraged to join us!!

Our Scholarship recipients are:
Jeremy Bingham
Angelique Bradford
Angela Desmond
Susan Hintlian
Stephen McKenna II
Sophia Nezuh
Kevin Prescilla
Amanda Russo
Emily Sillari
Renee Wilson
Congratulations to all!!

Middle-School PAW SOX Trip

Date: Friday, June 5, 2009

Time: 5pm (meeting at St. Brigid Parish Hall)

Cost: $20 per student
(includes, activity, transportation by bus, and pizza)

Space is limited so please sign up ASAP.  When we receive your permission slip and payment, we will contact you to let you know if there is still room.  Permission slips can be found in the Religious Education Office.

 

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

Volunteer Opportunity

North Cambridge Catholic High School seeks volunteers to assist the school in advancing its mission to educate underserved youth from throughout greater Boston.

Current volunteer opportunities include positions in the following departments: admissions, campus ministry, corporate work study, development, guidance, health, library, physical plant and technology.

North Cambridge Catholic High School is a sponsored ministry of the Archdiocese of Boston and a proud member of the national Cristo Rey Network dedicated to insuring that Catholic education remains available, affordable and accessible to urban youth. The Network consisting of 22 schools located in 16 states has been featured in media outlets, including 60 Minutes and the New York Times.

If you are interested in volunteering or coming to visit, please contact the school Principal Fr. Jose Medina, fscb at 617 876 – 6068 ext 20 or email volunteer "at" myncchs.org

Holy Humor

A very religious woman went into the local pet shop to buy a parrot for company. She selected a beautiful bird, but the pet store owner said he didn't think she'd be happy with this particular parrot because he had belonged to a salty old sailor who used very bad language.

She replied that she knew with love and care she could break the bird of his bad habits and have a wonderful companion.
Well, the bird was not to be broken of his blue language and the woman had to hide him in the spare bedroom every time she had visitors. Finally, in desperation she told the bird she was going to put him in the freezer for 10 minutes every time he used bad language. Sure enough in just a couple of minutes the bird let out a string of obscenities. She put him in the freezer with him hollering and yelling his head off. After just a minute or two it got very quiet.....afraid that something bad had happened to the bird, she opened the door.

Out stepped the parrot, shivering and most pleasantly and politely said "Excuse my prior behavior, madam.  I regret any dismay I may have caused you and promise never to use improper language again." Well, the woman was thrilled to hear these promises and was about to say so when the bird interrupted to say “By the way, madam, what's the chicken in for?"