Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin

It is most difficult for a pastor to stand in the middle of his people when there are two different tasks at hand. On the one had I have to support and sympathize with those who are working on the appeal to the Archbishop to keep us open; while on the other hand, I have to work with the welcoming parish to accomplish a smooth transition.

There is suffering in and among all who love this parish. Saint Paul, in today’s second reading (Colossians 1:24-28) speaks about his sufferings and sees them not as a penalty but as a privilege because it meant a deeper sharing in the saving ministry of Jesus. Paul challenged other followers of the Gospel of Christ to be “hospitable” to God, to Jesus and to the Spirit by making oneself a home for God’s grace.

We are not at that stage in our suffering to see God’s will in all of this. We are hurt and angry. We plead with our God through prayer and we plead with our Archbishop through letters and appeals.

The Appeal Committee keeps you informed about their work and what they want from you. I will keep you informed about the transition.

This past Sunday the Parish Councils from Saint Brigid and Sacred Heart Parishes met to discuss the transition. We spoke about the issues that came from the two staff’s meeting a week earlier. Each parish spoke about the various ministries that need to be integrated and the new ministries Saint Brigid will adopt from Sacred Heart. These two meetings of staffs and Pastoral Councils is a prelude for the meetings of the Transitional Team. The Team, made up of staff members, two from Finance Commission, two from Pastoral Council and five lay people of various age groups.

The Transitional Team’s first meeting is August 15^th and will work together for the next six months. Their task is to bring the people of both parishes together, to heal the wounds of Sacred Heart parishioners, to clarify goals and priorities and to share a vision of the future parish, to find the significant gifts of each parish and to find ways to include everyone’s gifts, visions and dreams, and not the least, to create a liturgical experience for closing and welcoming ceremonies. All of the transitional activities require everyone to be open to change and to participate fully and honestly.

If you have questions or comments you may contact any of the Transition Team members. In addition to the staff the Team includes: Paul Laffey and Kerry Cronin, Robert McNamara and Peter Middleton, Lia McCarthy, John Garrity, Mary Lynn Hedley, Bernard Lannquist and Mary McIver,

Readings for the Week of July 18, 2004

Sunday:    Gn 18:1-10a; Col 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42
Monday:    Mi 6:1-4, 6-8; Mt 12:38-42
Tuesday:   Mi 7:14-15, 18-20; Mt 12:46-50
Wednesday:    Jer 1:1, 4-10; Mt 13:1-9
Thursday: Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13; Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
Friday:           Jer 3:14-17; Mt 13:18-23
Saturday: Jer 7:1-11; Mt 13:24-30

Next Sunday: Gn 18:20-32; Col 2:12-14; Lk 11:1-13

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, 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. Please also remember in your prayers Eleanor Johansson, Frances Foley, aunt of Fran Ludwig and Nick Gryllakis, son of Stella Genaris all of whom died this past week.

Kathleen Heck, Special Assistant for Parish Reconfiguration, will be here this Sunday. Kathleen will attend the 10:00am Liturgy followed by a meeting in the Parish Center. All are welcome to the meeting.

Many thanks to those who donated so generously to our plea for funds for our teens. This week we received donations of $600 towards the registration fees for the three programs. This is an important step in our teens involvement in ministry. The parish planned to subsidize these teens, but due to budget constraints, that will not happen. Each participant will have to pay between $200 and $300 dollars to attend. Please consider donating to this worthy fund even a small amount will help.

Three of our teens will be attending Catholic Leadership Institute (C.L.I.) starting Monday, July 19^th at Merrimack College. C.L.I. is an awesome five-day experience to help to prepare teens

In addition, during the week of August 9^th – 13^th we have 3 young people who will participate on GOSPEL ROAD. This is a program designed for High School teens. The week begins with an experience of team building. The group then will split into “work teams” which will serve others in different ways at various locations. At night they will spend time processing their day and praying together. It is truly a powerful experience for everyone willing to go “on the road” in a week-long program of service to others. Please read Maureen McKeown’s column, YOUTH NEWS, in the last section of the bulletin.

Please know that we are very grateful for the continued support of our faith-filled community.

The Voice of the Faithful will be sponsoring a Mass on the Boston Common on August 15, 2004 at 4:00pm for all the parishes that are scheduled to be closed.

They are also looking for volunteers the last week in July and the first two weeks of August to help with responses to a large mailing they have sent out. You can get more information or volunteer by e-mail to Ann Coursey at amc_votf@hotmail.com

One, Catholic Church—You can travel across the globe and worship in a thousand different places. The tempo of the music or the language you hear may be different. The clothes people wear and the style of worship space may vary, but the celebration of the Eucharist will be the same.

In our one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church the same Christ is blessed, broken and shared.

I admit I made a mistake

You did a good job

What is your opinion?

If you please

Thank you

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

HARBOR CRUISE (Senior High): Forms are available for the Senior High Harbor cruise on MONDAY, AUGUST 2. Details are on the flyers in the parish center or you can print one out on line: oymboston.org. Deadline is Tuesday, July 27.

Our teens are truly an example for all of us during this difficult time. They are enthusiastic and positive about what gifts they can bring to the table and the new opportunities for leadership that await them.

Catholic Leadership Institute Moving Beyond (C.L.I.M.B.) Update: Two of our teens (Sarah Andryauskas and Michael Leelman) spent a week at Merrimack College renewing friendships, building on the skills they developed at C.L.I. and taking advantage of the opportunity for spiritual growth.

This Sunday we will have a special blessing for our 3 teens (Lia McCarthy, Kurt Kugel and Emilie Coakley) who will be attending Catholic Leadership Institute (C.L.I.) starting the next day at Merrimack. In addition, we will extend a blessing to those 3 young people (Stephen Keefe, Alex Laffey and Tori Cimino) who will participate on GOSPEL ROAD in a week-long program of service to others.

All of these teens are to be applauded for their willingness to sacrifice a week of summer vacation so they can continue to live the Gospel message.