Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin

Every weekend, when the whole community gathers to worship, we affirm our faith in “one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God…(who) came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.” We probably pass over these words rather quickly and without reflection.

The major work of the early church was to pray over, reflect on and argue about the true nature of Jesus. The gospels tell us that Jesus was seen from various angles. Some thought he was a teacher who offered a new way of looking at the Hebrew Scriptures. Others saw him as a prophet because he spoke with authority. His miracles pointed to the nearness of the messianic age of peace and justice.

The first followers of Jesus and those who wrote the Gospels were Jews. They could use some of the titles and images of the Hebrew Scripture and even call Jesus the messiah and “the Christ”, the anointed one of God. But they could not think of him as God. God was totally different from what it means to be human. John’s gospel records that Jesus, at the Last Supper, told them “the Father and I are one.” Once the church spread beyond Jewish ideas and gather a new way of thinking theologians could use Greek ideas to state just who this Jesus is. Saint Ignatius of Antioch, in his letter to the Ephesians could write about “our God Jesus Christ.”

“Is Jesus divine?” and if yes then how is he also human. “For nearly four centuries, Christians debated whether or not Jesus was fully human, fully divine, a little of each, a blend of both, or something else. The answer to the question that finally seemed adequate was given by the bishops at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Those bishops named the terms of the church’s faith in who Jesus is by naming the full extent of the extremes which the church had found in its long reflection on Jesus’ mission and therefore on his identity: Jesus is fully human and fully divine. He is both in one being” writes Gordon Truitt in his article entitled The Incarnation. We are “in Christ” and caught up into the union between humanity and divinity. In this feast of the holy family we see God present in the very things of ordinary life. The Incarnation happened not only to Jesus it happens to us in the ordinary things of humanity. A first century writer said it best: “The glory of God is man fully alive.”

The parish has three nursing homes with a total of almost three hundred Catholics. I celebrate Mass each month in these homes. Now I am looking for people from the parish who will recite the rosary with the residents once a week

If we had enough volunteers it may be that a person could serve one day a month. We have the rosary on videotape to aid your leading the rosary. Ideally, the person(s) leading the rosary would also bring communion to those who are able to receive the Eucharist. Please call me at 781-862-4646.

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Rosemary Harvey, Regina Jones, Andrea Hynes, Joyce Amos, James Reilly, Regina Wingard, Elaine Ring, Erin McMehon, Maria Aguis, George Beck, Dr. Kenneth Spengler, Josephine Murphy, Peter Bugda, Norma Berstein, Camille Michals, Rob Morway, Patricia Hassett, Paul McCann, William Francis, Lillian Davenport, James Fontaini, Henri Fradette, William Blair, Agatha Pals, Richard Gaudet, Kath Rodriegas, Estelle Szalajeski, Nancy Driscoll, Dante DiManna, Margie Levine, Ruth Pike, Doug Phillips, Ralph Tatro, Andrew Day, Peggy Sue Grow, Mary Serpa, Deborah Miller, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Elizabeth Conte, Dave Rissmiller, Violet Caldaroni, Frank Cote, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Bea Lingane, Rita Mahan, Connie Perrotta, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Midge Moran, Marisol O’Brien, Matthew Gablor, Paul Pantano, Marjorie Clougherty, Fran Ressetar, Lori Robbins, Cecelia Hines, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Don Sabat, Nick Manfredi and David De Thomasis

The feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is usually celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas. This feast, with roots in the seventeenth century was added to the universal calendar of the church in 1921 to build up devotion in family life. It upholds Mary and Joseph as the ideal family. This feast comes at a time when our thoughts turn to the creation of the holy family at the birth of Jesus, as well as the gathering of our families and loved ones this season of the year.

As the readings from today’s liturgy demonstrate, Jesus’ family extended beyond Mary and Joseph to include Abraham and Sarah (first reading), Isaac (second reading) Simeon and Anna (gospel). Who are the significant members of your family in faith? What have you received from each of them?

Love and devotion for Blessed Virgin Mary is a part of our country’s history. In the sixteenth century, Spaniards landing in the southern part of America carried their devotion to “La Purisma”. When Christopher Columbus landed in the New World, he showed his love for the Mother of God by naming one of the first places that he reached “Holy Mary of the Conception”. The French who explored the northern part of the United States, also served the Blessed Virgin. They looked to her for guidance and believed that she was the source of supernatural life for all Christians. English Catholics came to the New World seeking rest from persecution and the freedom to practice their faith safely. They came to Maryland in 1634 and celebrated their first Mass on the feast of the Annunciation. They prayed diligently to the Virgin as Queen of Heaven to help them through any difficulties that they may have to overcome. The Blessed Virgin Mary was chosen as Patroness of the United States of America in May 1846 at the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore. Today, we are faced with tragedy and many difficult decisions that will shape our future and the future of the world. More than ever, our prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary need to be said daily…HAIL MARY FULL OF GRACE…

N.B. Youth Mass at 5:00 January 4 with program following for Grades 9 and 10. (See Youth News page for details.)

There are a few openings left for the family weekend getaway, January 23^rd –25^th at Sargent Camp in Peterborough, NH. Accommodations are rustic, food is good and plentiful and outdoor activities (cross-country skiing, skating sledding, hiking) are in a great wooded setting. Call Bob Ludwig 781-861-7231 for further information

Readings for the Week of December 28, 2003

Sunday:          Sir 3:2-7, 12-14; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52
Monday:          1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35
Tuesday:         1 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 2:36-40
Wednesday:    1 Jn 2:18-21; Jn 1:1-18
Thursday:       Nm 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
Friday:                       1 Jn 2:22-28; Jn 1:19-28
Saturday:       1 Jn 2:29—3:6; Jn 1:29-34
Next Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

1:30 – 3:30 meet at Youville Place. Our T.L.C. will be organizing this popular event. If you would like to attend (or if you can bake a dessert) please contact Maureen at 781-861-8385 or e-mail nychick1@worldnet.att.net.

CATHOLIC YOUTH RALLY: This is really exciting news for any teen between 13 and 19. You are invited to meet your new Archbishop Sean (O’Malley) at Merrimack College on Saturday February 7, 2004 from 1-6PM. There will be a program with skits, music and lots of fun. Liturgy will be celebrated. There will be a Catholic Youth Rally at Merrimack College on Saturday February 7, 2004 from 1-6PM. Over 1,000 youth are expected to attend. Mark you calendar now! More information on this event right after the holidays.

YOUTH MASS: Sunday, January 4 @ 5:00 PM. Fr. Chris O’Connor will be our celebrant. There will be a wonderful program to follow. This is part of the 9/10^th grade program. Any Middle School teen who would like to attend is welcome. A light supper will be served. We will be finished at 8:00pm.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Would you like to gain some great leadership skills and have a week of fun-filled activity this summer?? Think about signing up for a week at C.L.I. (Catholic Leadership Institute) this summer at Merrimack College. Dates will be announced soon.

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - Dec 28, 2003

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - Dec. 28, 2003