Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin

Dick Folger writes the following comment on today’s Gospel of Luke 9:20 “Who do you say I am?”

In his book The Wisdom of Big Bird, Caroll Spinney writes: “ I may be the most unknown famous person in America. It’s the Bird who’s famous, not me.” Big Bird of Sesame Street is known and loved by children around the world. He is a star of television, movies and recordings. He has won Emmys and Grammys, been on the cover of Life magazine and even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer inside the Bird costume, says he can walk down the street and nobody knows who he is. He likes not being hounded by the press or public.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus feels like he is the most unknown famous person in the world. Even his own disciples don’t seem to know who he really is. He asks them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” As you hear the Gospel reading today, he also asks you to answer that same question. “Who do you say that I am?” From deep in your own heart, you must give an answer. How does it match Peter’s response?

Ruth Pike, a very active parishioner and member of the Haiti Committee died on June 19^th. The viewing for Ruth will be at Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday, June 22^nd at 8:00am with the funeral to follow at 9:00.

Readings for the Week of June 20, 2004

Sunday:    Zec 12:10-11; 13:1; Gal 3:26-29; Lk 9:18-24
Monday:    2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18; Mt 7:1-5
Tuesday:     2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36; Mt 7:6, 12-14
Wednesday:    2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3; Mt 7:15-20
Thursday:       Is 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Lk 1:57-66, 80
Friday:           2 Kgs 25:1-12; Mt 8:1-4
Saturday:       Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Mt 8:5-17

Next Sunday: 1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21; Gal 5:1, 13-18; Lk 9:51-62

This weekend we will have Rev. Jerry Flater from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate with us at each of the Masses. Please be as generous as possible to this Mission collection

Today is Father’s Day in the secular calendar. What does the liturgy have to say to us about fathers and parenting? A bit of background on Father’s Day may help break open the liturgy to us.

William Smart, a Civil War veteran and a farmer, lost his wife in childbirth. He was left with a newborn and five other children to raise as a single parent on a farm in eastern Washington state. While listening to a sermon on Mothers’ Day, his daughter, Sonora, realized that it was her father who made all the sacrifices that parents know so well. Since her dad was born in June, she held the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington, on June 19, 1910. Her efforts eventually led to a national observance when President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday of June to be Father’s Day in 1966.

Mr. Smart is an example of what Jesus is talking about in today’s Gospel: “…whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” He gave his life generously and certainly with great pain and sacrifice. As we rehearse the responsorial (Psalm 63) for today’s liturgy, let us remember Mr. Smart and all fathers who give generously of life and love.

Today’s Liturgy, June 2004

Experienced driver needed for the Grey Nuns at Lexington for 21 hours per week. Knowledge of the roads of the Lexington/Boston area a plus. If interested contact Sr. Gladys Marhefka at 781-862-4700 x35 during the day.

People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

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, 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, Chrysostom Blanchard, Frank Cote, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Rita Mahan, Connie Perrotta, Jackie Sullivan, Jean Babbin, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Marisol O’Brien, Matthew Gablor, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Elizabeth Landman, Cecelia Hines, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Jeff Kalil, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Jorge Loayza, Joseph Brault, Lauren Forgette, Bill Attaya, Margaret Coughlin, Margaret Bronson, Lea Vetter, Gerry Abegg, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, and Pauline Briggs. Please also pray for Ruth Harmon, sister of Bill Graham, who died recently also Evelyn Nolan and Ruth Pike, both of whom died this past week

St. Eulalia’s Church will host Lisa Sowle Cahill, Ph.D. a J. Donald Monan Professor, Theology Department, Boston College on Wednesday, June 23^rd at 7:30pm. Professor Cahill’s research interests include the New Testament and ethics, feminist theology, and sex and gender ethics.

Our youth have committed to attend programs over the summer to continue to build a Youth Program. Please read Maureen McKeown’s column, YOUTH NEWS, in the last section of the bulletin

When you say, "Good morning!" are you saying this is a good morning? Or that you wish it were a good morning? Or that this morning is good but other mornings aren't?

This greeting originates in the Old Testament Book of Ruth. Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, landed her husband Boaz by gleaning conspicuously in his barley fields. Boaz returned to the fields that day and greeted the workers with, "The Lord be with you!" (Ruth 2:4). At the time, it was equivalent to saying "Good morning!" St. Paul used the same greeting (2 Thes 3:16), and our reply at Mass (which literally translates from Latin as, "And with your spirit") is also found in his writings (2 Tim 4:22; Phlm 25; Gal 6:18; Phil 4:23).

These expressions entered the liturgy in the first centuries of the church's life. When we hear, "The Lord be with you," we're hearing the greeting of our ancestors in the faith.

Who is "the Lord"? For Boaz, it meant God. But for Christians it means Christ. At his Ascension, Jesus promised he would be "with us" (Mt 28:20), as he would be whenever two or three gather in his name (Mt 18:20).

Customarily only priests and deacons greet the assembly in this way. Others should probably just say, "Good morning." The reason has more to do with the reply, in which the assembly entrusts to the priest the role of leadership. The priest who says, "The Lord be with you," has no need to say, "Good morning." He's just done it.

We hear this greeting, or a variation on it, four times at Mass: at the entrance rites, the Gospel, the Eucharistic Prayer, and the blessing. Each time it alerts the assembly that something is about to happen.

Some presiders improvise the saying, "The Lord is with you." Admittedly, the Latin original ("Dominus vobiscum") allows this interpretation, but its meaning is a lot like "Good morning." It doesn't mean so much that it is a good morning, but that we hope you have one.

This ancient greeting, a simple dialogue between priest and people, greets, proclaims Christ, establishes roles, and alerts us that great things will follow.

Copyright (c) 1997 Resource Publications, Inc., 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. Paul Turner, pastor of St. John Regis Parish in Kansas City, Mo., holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome. His e-mail is PaulTu@aol.com.

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

This summer we have an unprecedented number of teens attending programs sponsored by the Office of Youth Ministry. Each program presents a wonderful opportunity in some area for continued growth.

CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: Three teens will be attending C.L.I. at Merrimack College. Our T.L.C. is testimony to the benefits of participation in this week

Two of our teens who have attended previously have signed up for C.L.I.M.B. This is the next step in leadership and spiritual development.

5 teens are planning to participate in GOSPEL ROAD. They will spend a week at Oakhurst retreat house in Worcester. Each day they will travel with teens from other parishes to do service at various sites, returning in the evening for processing and team building.

As I stated before, our numbers are unprecedented – and many parishes that are not in our difficult situation would envy the commitment our teens are willing to make.

Our Youth Program could use any financial assistance you can provide. Each participant will have to pay between $200 and $300 dollars to attend. It was our goal to cover the entire cost but that is not possible with new budget constraints. If you feel you can assist our youth and their families, we would be most appreciative.

Please keep all our teens in your prayers as we journey together to a new place.