The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Today we celebrate the great gift Jesus gave us, when he said that he would not leave us, by giving himself as food for the journey.  Eucharist means thanksgiving and all the while we celebrate liturgy we bring all that we have to be thankful for and all our needs before him.

We also call Eucharist Communion.  Communion in the dictionary is defined as “an intimate relationship with deep understanding.”  Someone else has defined communion as “an intimate relationship with deep mystery.”  How will we ever understand the mystery of this sacrament?  I do not know the how of Christ’s presence in Eucharist, I only know the why.

Jesus wants to remain with us and to continue his work of worship of the Father and love of his people through us.  We are now reading from the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians at morning Mass. Paul writes: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God”.  (2 Cor 1:33-5). In other words, all that we have received from God—love, compassion and comfort—ought to work through us to others.

In this Communion we become Christ bearers into the world.  When we love we give God’s love, when we show compassion we share God’s compassion.  In another part of Scripture it states that whatever we do we ought to do it in the name of Jesus.  I might add that we do it in the power of Christ and his Spirit.  “They will know we are Christians (Christ bearers—life sharers) by our love” as one of our songs attests.

Someone shared a story with me this week about a young child who came up to communion with her mother.  (We encourage little children to come up with their parents so we might bless them individually).  The little girl was holding her snack, a somewhat soggy, half eaten cracker.  The priest placed communion on the hand of the mother and said, “The Body of Christ.” The little girl looked at the half eaten saltine cracker, and offered it to the priest, saying, “The Body of Christ”.  Then he took her saltine cracker, took a bite and said, “Amen.”

This is communion, “an intimate relationship with deep mystery”.

Parish Pastoral Council Meeting

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, Helen Jenson, Father Thomas Nestor, Catherine Morley, Elaine Murphy, Deacon Bill Wildes, Joseph O’Brien, John Harper, Tina Durks, Pat White, Kathleen Brown, Theresa A. Myles, 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 all of our deceased parishioners.

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, 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.

CYO Golf Tournament

The oldest Jr. Golf tournament in New England!  July 27 - 31@ Ponkapoag Golf Course, Canton, MA  Entry fee $45 ($40 if before July 13).  Cadets 13 years old or under; Juniors 14-15 years old; Intermediates 16-17 years old; Seniors 18-26 years old; Females 13-18 years old or under Register at www.oymboston.org.

Helping Hands

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

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. Next meeting is June 17th. 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)

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. 

Schedule for Parish Pastoral Council Nominations & Elections
(Note change in dates)

Orientation with Fr. Colletti – June 13-14, 2009

Candidate Bio for bulletin – June 20-21, 2009

Elections – June 27-28, 2009

A Head’s Up!  New Trip in 2010

We are in the process of planning a trip to Oberammergau in 2010 to see the PASSION PLAY.  The plan right now is a 12 day trip, to see the play and then to the Dalmatian Coast, Medjugorje, where six young people from the village of Bijakovici in the parish of Medjugorje, claimed to have seen an apparition of the Blessed Mother and child and on to Dubrovnik, Croatia.  We will visit four beautiful countries: Germany, Croatia Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.  As soon as we determine dates for the trip, we will have an open meeting for parishioners interested in this trip.

Open House At Youville Place Assisted Living

Youville Place Assisted Living, 10 Pelham Road, Lexington, will be holding Open Houses from 1 PM to 4 PM every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the month of June.  We currently have studio, one bedroom and respite care available.  We would love to have you stop by to see us or call 781-861-3535 to schedule a tour.

With Burning Hearts:
A Meditation On The Eucharistic Life

In the Eucharist, Jesus gives all.  The bread is not simply a sign of his desire to become our food; the cup is not just a sign of his willingness to be our drink.  Bread and wine become his body and blood in the giving.  The bread, indeed, is his body given for us; the wine, his blood poured out for us.  As God becomes fully present for us in Jesus, so Jesus becomes fully present to us in the bread and the wine of the Eucharist.  God not only became flesh for us years ago in a country far away.  God also becomes food and drink for us now at this moment of the Eucharistic celebration, right where we are together around the table.  God does not hold back; God gives all.  That is the mystery of the Incarnation.  That, too, is the mystery of the Eucharist.  Incarnation and Eucharist are the two expressions of the immense, self-giving love of God.  And so the sacrifice on the cross and the sacrifice at the table are one sacrifice, one complete divine self-giving that reaches out to all humanity in time and space.

Henri Nouwen

Congratulations to our Altar Servers who are graduating seniors this year:
Kevin Prescilla
Angela Desmond
Amanda Russo
Emily Sillari
Stephen McKenna

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 $ 74,687 from 211 households, reaching 57.7% of the parish goal of $129,500.  Sacred Heart Parish has raised $23,786 from 82 households, reaching 52.3% 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!

Lectio Divina Group!

A Lectio Divina group is meeting at 9:30am, after the 9:00 Mass, for about half an hour on Thursday 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.

Life Snipits

To hear God’s voice,
Turn down the world’s volume!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

1:00 -4:00 – Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony – SB-KH
7:00 – JOINT PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
           MTG. SACRED HEART PARISH CENTER

Monday, June15, 2009

6:00 - Lacrosse Banquet – SB –KH
7:00 – WorkCamp Retreat Mtg. – SB - L

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

2:00 – Mass at Pine Knoll Nursing Home

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

7:30 – Job Search Program – SH-PC

Thursday, June 18, 2009

6:00 – Minute Men Mtg.. – SB
7:30 – Scout Mtg. - SB

Friday, June 19, 2009

12:00 – 2:45 – Adoration – SB – Church
7:30 – Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart – SH Church

Saturday, June 20, 2009

2:00 – Musick/McCarthy Wedding –

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, "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 St. Brigid in the Library on Monday, June 22nd at 7:15pm. All are welcome.

Lexington Food Pantry

The weekend of June 20th and 21st is the collection of non-perishable items for the Lexington Food Pantry. Please remember that during these economic times there is a greater demand put upon food pantries.  With the arrival of the summer, collections usually go down because people are away.  You may leave your non-perishable donations at the bins at St. Brigid or at Sacred Heart on the altar or in the bins at the doors of the church.  Cash, supermarket gift cards, and checks made payable to the Lexington Food Pantry may be placed in an envelope marked Lexington Food Pantry and placed in the Offertory basket or left at the office. We thank you for your past generosity and support of this endeavor.

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.

We need this form even if you have been in one of the parishes for a “million” years.  So, please, please pick up a form at the doors of the churches (or call the office and I will send one out).  Then, complete and return the form to the office.

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.
Thank you, Claire

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 258 have used their envelopes.

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 131 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.

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

—Fr. Colletti

Olive Branch Olive Oil

This great olive oil will be available for your summer needs: at St Brigid Parish in Keilty Hall on Saturday, June 27th after the 5pm Mass, and Sunday, June 28th after the 9.00am and 11.00am Masses.  At Sacred Heart in the Parish Center on Saturday, June 27th after the 4.00pm Mass and Sunday June 28th after the 10.00am Mass.  The price is the same bargain; $145.00 for a case of twelve bottles (to split with friends and family if you wish) and $12.00 per bottle.  All proceeds, after costs, will go directly to Agencies and projects serving urgent needs in both Israel and Palestine.

Theology on Tap: Our next Theology on Tap will be on June 18th at the Bickfords Bar and Grill in Woburn. Steve Collela, Assistant Director of The Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adult Ministry will be giving an introduction of Pope John Paul II’s “Theology on the Body”.
Social Event: We will be doing a hike sometime in June, details coming soon…
Service Event: We will be doing a service event sometime in July, details coming soon…
Soccer: Soccer will be moving outside soon. We are looking at 3pm on Sundays at a local field. We will probably start it up in early June. Stay tuned for more details…

The Habit of Prayer

What do I do each morning, in the first hour of my day? I usually read a biblical passage and reflect on it for a while.  I pray the rosary and meditate on its mysteries. Sometimes I simply sit in the quiet and peace of the Lord’s presence.  And at times I fall asleep for a few moments!

There is no one particular hour each day that best suits everyone.  The idea is to find the best hour — the one that fits your lifestyle, so that if you skip it you will miss it.

Similarly, there is no particular place for prayer that best suits everyone.  Some like to pray in the privacy of their home or apartment.  Others prefer to pray outdoors.  Still others opt for the prayerful environment of their parish church.

The important thing is to pray each day.  If you begin to set aside a definite time for prayer each day during the year, you soon learn that it influences the rest of your day.  And you will want to continue that habit of prayer every day.

Copyright © 2002 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1800 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago IL 60622-1101; 1-800-933-1800; www.ltp.org. Text by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin (1928 Ð1996). Art by Steve Erspamer, sm. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

3 Projects Underway at St. Brigid’s

Work is underway on three projects at St. Brigid’s:

1. Repair and refurbishment of the church’s steeple
2. Replacement of the church’s two rear side doors and the center’s rear side door and repair of the parish center’s front door
3. Replacement of the former rectory’s front porch.  The architectural style and color of the steeple, doors and porch will not be changed. 

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. 

He’s Looking Forward to Your Visit

Don’t forget the Lord during the summer months! You can spend some quiet one-on-one time with him this Friday and every Friday during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 12:00 - 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church.

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

Confirmation Retreat

Some of our Confirmation Candidates were on Retreat Saturday, June 13th.  Please pray for them and their fellow candidates as they continue their journey towards Confirmation in October. 

Bake Sale

To help support our students attending the Catholic HEART Workcamp trip
Sunday, June 14, 2009 after the 9:00am, 10:00am and 11:00am Masses.  Please bring help support our students and buy some goodies!!

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

Holy Humor

A Roman Catholic Priest, an Anglican priest and a Baptist preacher were standing near a river conversing when the subject of which church was nearest to the teaching of God arose. The Roman Catholic priest said that, of course, there was no argument that it was the Roman Catholic Church. They were descended directly from the Apostles, in fact, Peter was their first Pope.  He said in fact so close are we that I can even walk on water like Jesus and he proceeded to walk on the water to the other side.

The Anglican Priest said the Anglican Church was very similar in origin to the Catholics and he too demonstrated his ability to walk on water like Jesus Christ.  The Baptist preacher said that he could not care where their origins were, he studied the word and preached it purely, and without any embellishments. Since they could walk on water he should be even better at it.  He took one step forward and sank knee deep into the river.  At that the Roman Catholic Priest whispered to the Anglican Priest, "Do you think we should tell him where the rocks are?"

Faith & Environment