Today’s first reading is from the book of Joshua (Joshua 24:1-18)... The scene set for us is after the death of Moses, and now Joshua is about to lead the people from the desert into the Promised Land.  These people have been in the desert for forty years and desert life is all they know.  They are about to enter into “a land which you had not tilled and cities which you had not built, to dwell in; you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant” (Joshua 24:13). Before they cross the Jordan River, Joshua reminds the people of all that God has done for them and asks for their commitment to follow God.

“If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling.  As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.  But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods” (Joshua 14:15).

Once the people had been in the Promised Land for some time, they intermarried with non Israelites, became proud of their accomplishments and found they could get along without God.  “The Israelites offended the Lord by serving the Baals.  Abandoning the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had led them out of the land of Egypt, they followed the other gods of the various nations around them, and by their worship of these gods provoked the Lord” (Judges 2:2).

We are in a time of transition today when we look around us and see Catholics not practicing their faith.  We have parents coming in to have their children baptized, but they themselves do not worship with the community.  We have couples coming to us for a Catholic marriage, and yet are non-practicing Catholics. We have families coming to bury their parents, but have not been in church for years.  I wonder, are we handing on the faith?

Rodney Petersen in American Dissonance writes: “The academic heirs of social theorists from Karl Marx to Sigmund Freud to Max Weber believed that as societies became more modern, religion would lose its capacity to inform, console, or direct.  History has not come ‘round—at least not yet.  Instead, according to a recent Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey, religion in the United States has become more fluid and diverse, a consumer product with an array of choices set out in denomination, non-denomination, and post-denomination churches and other trans-denomination bodies.  What is true for Christians, and particularly for Protestants, is also a reality for other religious groups.”

Perhaps the phenomena of people choosing their religion, without any clue to tradition or creed in their own religion, is due to the same factors found in early Israel.  Our people have inherited a world they did not build.  This is true of every generation but this “inheritance” is the greatest gift any generation has received.  Our people have forgotten—or never really knew— what it means to be a Catholic.  Our people are devising their own religion and telling us they are “not religious but are spiritual”.  Many have problems with the institutional church or find no community or vitality in the local church.

Another observation comes from Petersen: “American culture has increasingly become one united around work, not celebration.  One of the chief ends of religion is celebrating life’s transitions.  An effect of marginalizing religious life in a secular America is marginalizing community celebration.  People’s quest for religious authenticity in America today is in part a quest for meaningful community celebration—and for genuine community in contrast to the distrust in or the hollowing out they encounter in many other institutions.”

We face many challenges in trying to adapt to a quickly changing world.  Balancing new concerns with core values is a complicated process.  With the Spirit to guide us, together with Christ, our community must take up that challenge with faith, hope and love.

ALL SCHEDULED MASSES AND FUNERALS DURING THE WEEK WILL BE HELD AT ST. BRIGID CHURCH.
WEEKEND MASSES WILL BE HELD AS USUAL.

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, Deacon Bill Wildes, Edward O’Brien, Rozlyn Torci, John Harper, Patsy Heuchling, Bob Finn, William McCarthy, Verner and Marie Dempsey, Pat White, Anita and William Gorham, Mary Whelan, Patricia McLaughlin, Eleanor Mann, Gerald McCue, Kathleen Brown, Brendan Murphy, Rev. James O’Donohoe, Kevin Johnson, Betty Garrity, Marylou Merry, Josephine Siders, Anthony Parise, Douglas DiVito, Mary McGuinnes, Jewel Douglass, Marjorie Kearns, Shannon Capriulo, Joan Wall, Olivia Moran, Matthew Langone, and Brianna Cimino.  Please also remember in your prayers all of our deceased family and parishioners, especially Roselyn Torci and Dolores Amorello..

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 two meetings are September 2nd and September 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)

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, 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.

ARISE Together in Christ is a three-year, parish-centered process of spiritual renewal and evangelization that enables people to deepen their faith, develop a closer relationship with Christ, grow in community, and reach out in service to others.

Season Three of ARISE Together in Christ will begin this October 2009; the third season is called In the Footsteps of Christ.  There will be six faith-sharing sessions meeting once a week inviting us to explore the Catholic understanding of discipleship, and in particular how this implies active commitment to charity and justice.

We invite all parishioners to participate in the ARISE process and be part of the spiritual renewal and evangelization that is happening in approximately 180 parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston!  For more information, contact Beverly Good at 781-863-0319, ext. 20; or by email.

Parish Pastoral Discernment Process

In these next few weeks Sacred Heart and Saint Brigid Parishes are going to hold nominations for additional membership on the Parish Pastoral Council.  The Council is a visioning and planning body of parishioners who foster full participation of the entire parish in the life and mission of the church as lived out in our parishes.  In consultation with the Pastor, the Parish Pastoral Council actively listens to and identifies the needs and concerns of the people and reviews the Parish Pastoral Plan to respond to these needs. The Council also seeks to implement the plan by seeking the involvement of parishioners.

We are in need of three parishioners for Sacred Heart and four for Saint Brigid who have these qualities:

• a desire for spiritual growth in themselves and the parish
• an enthusiasm about the future direction of the parish
• a willingness to listen, to speak honestly and to work toward consensus
• the ability to inspire and empower other to delegate
• flexibility and openness with people and ideas
• the desire to see our two parishes work in collaboration

Nomination papers will be mailed to all parishioners in the next newsletter in mid-August and, in addition, can be found on our web page.  Nominate people you feel possess the necessary gifts we need and even nominate yourself.

Father Colletti

Your Prayers Are Needed

From now until our PPC Afternoon of Discernment on
Sunday, September 20th, please ask
God to bless this new process
for arriving at our Parish Pastoral Council
membership.  It all depends on us recognizing
our gifts and listening well
to the promptings of the Spirit!

Parish Trip

We are going to Oberammergau in 2010 to see the PASSION PLAY!

It is a 12-day trip, flying out of Logan Airport to Bavaria, Germany.  We will leave on July 14, 2010, arriving in Bavaria Germany where our tour will begin.  On Friday, July 16th we will witness a performance of the Passion Play.  The original performance dates back to 1634. During the Thirty Year War, the village of Oberammergau was spared the Black Plague and for this reason, the villagers vowed that every ten years they would give a play to honor the life of Christ.  The performers are native Oberammergauers, who begin a year in advance to grow their beards and hair for this performance.  We will experience the wonder of 16 cascading lakes at Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park.  Walk in the footsteps of Marco Polo as we explore the medieval city of Korcula.  Discover the magnificence of the ancient Roman Palace of Diocletian.  Follow the path up Apparition Hill in Medjugorje where the six young visionaries first encountered the Virgin Mary in 1981.  On this trip we will visit 4 of the area’s most beautiful countries: Germany, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Sign up for the trip before September 1, 2009 and receive a $200 Seat Reduction.  We have a limited number of seats available for the trip, so sign up as soon as possible.

Sacrament of reconciliation

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Martyred at Reims, (Although the account is no longer considered trustworthy.)  Apollinaris was the public executioner of Reims, France, when St. Timothy was martyred.  Moved by the constancy and courage of St. Timothy, Apollinaris converted to Christinaity and was himself beheaded.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Feast of St. Ouen, also known as Owen and Audoenus.  Born at Sancy France.  He was made chancellor and in 636 built a monastery at Rebais.  He died at Clich near Parish on August 24th returning from Cologne.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Feast of St. Genesius, patron of actors, who was an actor in Rome who played a catechumen about to be baptized.  During the ceremony in the play he suddenly converted to Christianity.  He was beheaded because of his faith.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Feast of St Bocjoer, 1773-1838, born in Chateau des Anges, France and sent at ten years to a convent at Poitiers.  In 1804 she joined the Carmelites and in 1816 established the Daughters of the Cross.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Feast of St. Monica who married a pagan official in N.Africa.   She had three children, Augustine, Navigius and Perpetua.  Naviguius and Perpetua joined a convent, but Monica prayed many years for her son Augustine, who eventually became St. Augustine.  She died in 387.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Feast of St. Edmund Arrowsmith, 1585-1628.  He was ordained in 1612, joined the Jesuits in 1624 and in 1628 was hanged, drawn and quartered.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Feast of St. Sabina, who we know only through legend.  She was murdered because of her faith.  The renowned basilica on the Aventine in Rome is dedicated to and named after her.

Be Cool with the Lord!

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

Helping Hands

Helping Hands for the month of August is:
Marie Hill – 781-862-6456.

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 226 have used their envelopes.

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 77 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.

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

—Fr. Colletti

Welcome to New Parishioners

No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church, no matter what your current family or marital situation, no matter what your current personal history, age, background, race, etc., no matter what your own self-image; you are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved and respected here with the Catholic Community in Lexington. . If you are new to Sacred Heart or St. Brigid Parishes, please introduce yourself to either Father Colletti or one of the Pastoral Associates, Beverly Good or Mary Peterson, after Mass or at your convenience.  Also, please contact the Office to register as a member of the parishes.

Sacred Heart 75th Speakers Series

Sacred Heart 75th Speakers Series presents a two night program on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th & 20th at 7:30P.M.  The topic is the Church’s teaching and practice on the Social Ministry of the Church.  This is a very timely subject with the recent publication of Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate” (Charity in Truth).  Look ahead on your calendars and circle these two Sunday evenings which promise to be instructive, rewarding and challenging

Life Snipits

Too much complaining
Leaves little time for doing.

Wedding Music

Planning a wedding is exciting.  Couples are faced with many choices and receive a lot of advice from well meaning family and friends.  When planning music for a wedding celebration, it seems that everyone has a well intentioned opinion.  Couples also pick up ideas from the music played at friends’ weddings and the weddings they see on television or in movies.  Not all of these suggestions or selections are appropriate for the celebration of the sacrament of marriage.

Music is an integral part of any liturgy.  It is not something extra, but a part of the organic structure of the liturgy.  In the words of the United States Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, “Great care should be taken, especially at marriages, that all the people are involved at the important moments of the celebration, that the same general principles of planning worship and judging music are employed as at other liturgies, and, above all, that the liturgy is a prayer for all present, not a theatrical production” (Music in Catholic Worship, 82).

The parish music director is a valuable resource for couples planning their wedding liturgy.  He or she can provide names of trained instrumentalists and cantors who would be available to lead the music for the wedding.  The music director also has a varied list of musical repertoire that is familiar to the parish and contains texts that are appropriate for the liturgical and sacramental action of a wedding.  Such texts don’t reduce marriage to sweet sentimental thoughts or focus exclusively on the bride and groom.  Rather, they speak of the love of God, the love for God, the love God has for this couple and the church, and the covenant that the couple is establishing in marriage.  Once your wedding date is set, contact the parish music director!

Copyright © 2001 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1800 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago IL 60622‑1101; 1‑800‑933‑1800; www.ltp.org. Text by Andrea Goodrich. Art by Luba Lukova. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

St. Brigid Adult Choir

St. Brigid’s Adult Choir is a fun, dedicated group of people enhancing the music at the 11:00 am Mass on Sunday and other major days in the liturgical calendar.  As fun and dedicated as we are, we NEED NEW VOICES!!  Do you like to sing “Happy Birthday?”  Do you like to sing in the shower?  If you answered yes, then you would love to sing in St. Brigid’s Adult Choir.  Rehearsals take place (starting September 10th) from 7:30-8:45pm in the choir room downstairs adjacent to Keilty Hall.  If you are interested, please speak with Bill Grzybowski after Mass on the weekend or call 781-862-0335.

Ramadan at St. Eulalia's

St. Eulalia's has, since 2001, had a friendly relationship with the Boston Dialogue Foundation, the local chapter of a world-wide movement of moderate Muslims who really want to get along with the rest of us and whose social teaching is very similar to that of our church.
St. Eulalians have enjoyed the hospitality of BDF several times at dinners in Boston.  On August 25, we will return that hospitality and enjoy a pleasant supper with BDF members in our own church home.  We're inviting other local people of good will like you to join us. 
In the same way that Catholics have Lent, when we spend more time than usual thinking about what is involved in being Christian, Muslims have Ramadan.  During that month, they eat a very early breakfast before sunrise and then have nothing more until sunset, which is at 7:29 on Tuesday August 25.
Our BDF friends will bring some delicious Turkish food which they will share with us.  We are also asking everyone to bring something to share.  If your last name begins with A - M please bring something vegetarian - bread or appetizer or salad or vegetables.  If your last name is after M, please bring a finger dessert. 
We'll gather in the Parish Hall to mingle and put the food on tables at 7:00 pm.  After brief prayers at 7:29 pm, we'll eat.
At 8:15 pm, Father Tom Nestor will introduce our friend, Imam Ibrahim Sayar, who will give a short talk on “Sharing the Spirit of Ramadan” followed by refreshments.
If you have questions or suggestions and to RSVP, contact:
Eva Arnott - 781-646-2796 - evaarnott(3)
Arlene Champoux - 781-729-1225 - abchampoux(10)

Affinity Hospice

Affinity-Hospice of Life is looking for dedicated volunteers to visit with our special patients.  They can use people to help writing letters, reading, taking walks with clients, grocery shopping, visiting and in many more ways.  Please call Stephanie Isabel at 617-780-0237 or email Stephanie_isabel "at" lcca dot com.

Bishop Fenwick High School 50th Anniversary

Bishop Fenwick H.S. will be celebrating its 50th anniversary beginning in September, 2009.  There are many events beginning with a Mass on September 13th at 10:30am in the school’s auditorium at 99 Margin St. in Peabody.  Cardinal Sean O’Malley will be concelebrating this Mass with a number of priests associated with the high school.  There is also an Alumni weekend scheduled for September 25-27, 2009. 

Annual Lawn Party

Blessed John XXIII National Seminary is hosting its 28th Annual Lawn Party on Wednesday, September 23rd, at 6:00pm on the grounds of the seminary.  This premiere fundraising event is hosted by His Eminence, Sean Cardinal O’Malley, OFM Cap.  The evening will include a reception and dinner with music.  Located on Route 30 in Weston, the seminary prepares second career candidates, men over the age of 30, for priesthood.  The proceeds from the Lawn Party help to keep tuition costs affordable.  For ticket information, please call the Blessed John XXIII Development Office at 781-899-5500, or visit their website www.blessedjohnxxiii.edu.  You can make a difference and encourage the vocations of these men through your support of the Lawn Party.

REGISTRATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CONFIRMATION CLASSES ARE IN THE MAIL.  PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Holy Humor

It's wise to remember how easily e-mail can sometimes be misused.  Consider the case of the Illinois man who left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida.  His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day.

When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail.  Unable to find the scrap paper he had written her address on, he did his best to type it from memory.  Unfortunately, he missed one letter and his note was directed to an elderly deacon's wife, whose husband had just passed away the day before.  When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream and fell to the floor in a dead faint.  

At the sound, her family came rushing into the room and saw this note on the screen: "Dearest Wife: Just got checked in.  Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow.  P.S. Sure is hot down here."

Homebound Parishioners

As always, if you know of anyone who is homebound and unable to get to church, please contact Mary Peterson, 781-863-0319 so that we can make sure they receive the Eucharist. 

Most of us see the same people week after week at “our” Mass.  If you find that you are not seeing a certain person or people who are always at “your” Mass, please call the office and we will be happy to call and check to see if they are in good health or if they need some help or a visit from our Ministers to the Homebound.

Congratulations to Evelyn J. Looney who celebrated her 100th birthday on August 3rd!  Evelyn has been a resident of Lexington and a member of St. Brigid’s parish for 50 years.  She was a president and member of the Sodality and the Women’s Club and a great supporter of St. Brigid’s.  She and her husband John raised 9 children and were blessed with 33 grandchildren and 62 great-grandchildren as of last count!!.  She was joined in her celebration by her sister Rose Connelly of Medford who is 98 years young.

What Is The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults?

The RCIA is a process by which adults are fully initiated into the Catholic faith community. It is a process that not only affects the individuals seeking the sacraments, but the entire community that journeys with those being initiated. It is a spiritual journey that is marked by: conversion, professing faith in Christ, incorporation into the church and participation in the mission of Christ. This process is for:

• People who have never been baptized
• People who were baptized into another Christian faith tradition, but now desire to enter into the Catholic Church and to receive the sacraments of Communion or Confirmation
• Catholics who have not received the sacraments of Communion and Confirmation

If you feel that God might be calling you in this direction or are interested in learning more about this process, please contact Beverly Good, one of our Pastoral Associates, by email or call 781-863-0319x20.

“Your regrets are not about the things you did,
but about the things you didn’t do. 
So take every opportunity that comes your way!”