The Gospel for this weekend is again from Luke (9:52) and reads: “The villagers rejected him…” Once again, I thank Dick Folger for his thoughts.

Sometimes, in order to reach our goal, we have to pass through hostile territory.

Some of us may remember when we were teenagers and decided to be different and go in our own direction.  It is hard to swim upstream against the powerful currents of our peer groups.  Their demands for conformity are powerful forces.  Those who challenge such conformity find themselves in hostile territory.

Today’s Gospel story takes Jesus on a journey to Jerusalem.  On the way, they pass into the hostile territory of Samaria.  When the disciples who were sent ahead returned from a village where they planned to go, they told Jesus the people there were refusing his entry.  James and John wanted to bring down fire from heaven and destroy the village.  Jesus’ response was not to destroy them.  He chose nonviolence by avoiding confrontation with the hostile village.  Instead, he and his disciples just kept on going toward the next village.

In choosing to follow Jesus, our life journey will surely take us through hostile territory.  Our challenge is to remain gentle of heart and to be steadfast as we follow him.

9:00am Monday, June 28^th                         Alfred Busa

9:00 – Tuesday, June 29^th           Memorial Fund Members

9:00am – Friday, July 2nd           Marie & Dionisio Romano

Offertory for June 19^th & 20^th               $2483.50

Envelope Offerings       $2077.50

Loose Cash                          $  406.00

St. John/St. Hugh                                                  $126.00

Many thanks to the many faith-filled parishioners who continue to support this parish as it journeys towards closing.  We still need to pay salaries and maintenance bills.  Unless we continue to support the parish, our closing date may be effected.

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, 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, 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, Chuck Kiernan, Bill Attaya, Margaret Coughlin, Lea Vetter, Gerry Abegg, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, and Pauline Briggs. 

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

Registration letters and Class Placement Forms were mailed to Religious Education Families from St. Brigid and Sacred Heart on June 14^th.  Enrollment is on a first-come first serve basis - the earlier you register, the more likely you are to receive your first preference.  If you have a child entering First Grade or you are new to the Religious Education Program please call Linda at 781-862-8724

Schedule of Classes

Grades 1-6:

Sunday 8:50-9:50AM

Tuesday 3:45-4:45PM

Tuesday 5:15-6:15PM

Wednesday 3:45-4:45PM

Grades 7 –8

Wednesday 5:30-6:30PM

Grade 9: Sunday 7:00-8:30PM (twice a month)

Grade 10: Monday 7:00-8:30PM (twice a month

Please Note

ALL volunteers must participate in the Virtus Program, “Protecting God’s Children,” and sign a CORI form.

Social Justice Study Group

Sr. Ruth Rosenbaum leads a monthly study group on systemic analysis of the underlying causes of hunger, homelessness and poverty.  Find out how these are related to what we buy, what we use, where we place our funds as investors, and how we live our Catholic faith. Come join us.  The next meeting is at 7:00PM on July 14 in the lower parish center, Sacred Heart Church, East Lexington.

Things to Ponder

A man walking through the park noticed a little sparrow lying on her back.  “Hey, little bird,” he said, “Why are you upside down?”  “I heard the sky is falling,” the sparrow replied.  “And I suppose,” the man laughed, “that your little spindly legs are going to hold it up?”  Responded the bird, “One does what one can.”

Flowers donated this weekend in memory of John Joseph and Helen Spiers Nolan by Louise Nolan

We will have our food pantry collection on July 10/11 weekend due to the 4^th of July holiday.  This month the food will be donated to the Warwick House.

Light of the World

Prayer with our children often begins with a game.  At sunset we turn off the lights and sit close together in a quiet, darkening house.  We hold the younger children close so they won’t get frightened in the dark, and we say, “Let’s see how quiet we can be.”

After a few moments the squirming and giggling begin to fade.  A few minutes more and the silence starts to build. Slowly we find ourselves embraced by an ever-deepening sense of stillness.

As the quiet grows, we feel the hushed amazement of our children as they suddenly realize that our silent room is actually teeming with sound.  They begin to sense neighbors talking, playing, shouting, living. Gradually, fainter sounds begin to claim a place: a factory whistle, the hum of machinery somewhere, a far-off siren.  The longer we listen, the more we hear of the world around us.

We let this life-filled silence build in us until it seems ready to burst.  Then we light our candle, proclaim Jesus Christ “the light of the world,” and begin our prayer, much more receptive, much more aware of our connections to others, than we had been a few minutes before.

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 Brendan Matthews. Art by Steve Erspamer, sm. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

781-861-8385 X21 - email: nychick1@att.net

PLEASE READ THIS EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TEEN!

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.

Blessings and gratitude,

Maureen

Bulletins	Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - June 27, 2004	Home