Bishop Lennon has accepted our closing date as November 21^st, 2004.  We await the decree of closing from the Archbishop.  Once we have received that decree we have 10 useable days to make our appeal.  The appeal group has been meeting every Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Parish Center.

Meanwhile, we have to move on to all the preparations necessary for closing.  Sunday I met with our Transition Team.  There I spoke to them about the need for much patience, courage and perseverance along with much prayer.  We must overcome cynicism—disillusionment with the institution; adopt sophistication—challenge to share the many gifts of both parishes; overcome the death of our parish—a funeral none of us wanted to go to; tolerance of present imperfection in fear of radical and unknown alternatives.  It is God who is leading us.  We are living in a new age—a new Pentecost—as priestly people we have a golden opportunity to be involved in the heart of this renewal for the church of tomorrow.  How can we help this community of faith to name its sorrow and move toward its future in hope?

There is something bigger here than combining two parishes.  Both communities are very diverse with each other and within each.  What is the meaning we are trying to convey?  That Sacred Heart lost to Saint Brigid?  Or, these are hard times?  Or, the church is in decline!  Or, rather, we are rebuilding a stronger church by pooling our resources and rethinking our mission as the Catholic Community of Lexington.  Therefore, a chief goal of the Team is to create a vision of faith because it is right for the times, right for the organization and right for the people affected by this great change.

If we ask the right question: “What does God want us to do and be in this place and at this time in history?” there should be an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation.

Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In the Ascension, Christ was raised in glory to the right hand of the Father.  In the Assumption, the Blessed Virgin Mary is raised to the same glory, enjoying in advance the destiny reserved for all the just at the resurrection of the dead.  The opening prayer from the liturgy reads: All-powerful and ever-living God, you raised the sinless Virgin Mary, mother of your Son, body and soul to the glory of heaven.  May we see heaven as our final goal and come to share her glory.  Amen.

Offertory for August 7^th & 8^th         $3664.50

Envelope Offerings         $3261.50

Loose Cash                       $  403.00

St. John/St. Hugh                                   $244.00

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, 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, Jeannette Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Rita Mahan, Connie Perrotta, Jackie Sullivan, Jean Babbin, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Marisol O’Brien, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Margaret Wright, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Jorge Loayza, Joseph Brault, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Bill Attaya, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Dorothy Barton and Gerry Dingavin. 

9:00 – Monday, August 16^th                          Miles Reis

9:00 – Tuesday, August 17^th              Patrick Agostino

Transition Team Meetings

Sunday night the Sacred Heart Transition Team will meet with the Transition Team at St. Brigid’s.  This will begin the process of forming a new Catholic Community of Lexington.  Please remember us in your prayers as we begin this journey.  If you have questions or comments during this transition period you may contact any of the Transition Team members.  In addition to the Sacred Heart Staff, the Team includes: Paul Laffey and Kerry Cronin, Robert McNamara, Peter Middleton, Lia McCarthy, John Garrity, Mary Lynne Hedley, Bernard Lannquist and Mary McIver. 

Food for Thought

A grandfather was walking through his yard when he heard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice that sounded like a prayer.  He asked her what she was doing.  The little girl explained, “I’m praying, but I can’t think of exactly the right words.  So I’m just saying all the letters, and God will put them together for me because he knows what I’m thinking.”

--Charles B. Vaughan

Winchester Area Voice of the Faithful

Patricia Hayes, Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Putney, Vermont, will be at St. Eulalia’s Church, 50 Ridge Street, Winchester on Monday, August 23^rd at 7:30pm.  Ms. Hayes’ duties as a Pastoral Associate include administering several parishes in Vermont without a resident priest.  Ms. Hayes will discuss how parishes function in the absence of a priest, and what this portends for the future of our church.

Living the Paschal Mystery

Mary remained with Elizabeth “about three months.”  Mary remains with the Church (with us) always, to be a sign of God’s promises fulfilled.  Her discipleship continues in that she is a sign of hope and mercy.  So it is with us.  One way our own discipleship is expressed is through our being a sign of God’s mercy.

Mercy in the gospel is shown not only in the forgiveness of sins but also in the fulfillment of promises.  Therefore, one important aspect of discipleship is to live in such a way as to witness to God’s promise of mercy being fulfilled.  Practically speaking, this means that we carry ourselves with dignity and bestow that same dignity on others.  No one is beneath us or too “lowly” or insignificant to deserve our attention and respect.  This is easier said than done!

Dying to self means treating the other as one deserving and receiving God’s mercy.  First of all, this means that we don’t judge others.  Our judgments of each other are usually much more unkind than God’s merciful judgment of us!  This also means that we are careful never to speak negatively of others.  Diminishing another surely doesn’t raise them up and ultimately diminishes even ourselves.  Finally, paschal mystery living means that we treat the other as one blessed by God.

Registration letters and Class Placement Forms were mailed to Religious Education Families from St. Brigid’s 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.

Religious Education Position At St. Brigid’s Parish

Because of the increased number of children coming to Religious Education Classes and the addition of Sunday Classes we will need a Secretary to assist at those programs for about 10 hours a week (5 hours on Sunday and 5 hours during the week). This will be a paid position. Those interested should call the Parish Office at 781-862-0335.

Who may be godparents for our baby’s baptism?

Godparents should be both role models and resource persons, individuals who are at ease with the practice of their faith and would normally be considered “active” Catholics. They should be people who are comfortable with answering questions about their personal relation with God as experienced in the Catholic communion, even if they are unsure about all the technicalities. They should be people who are interested in and will continue to support their godchild in the years ahead as they and their godchild develop in their relationships with God and others.

Church law specifies that godparents be at least sixteen years old and themselves have been fully initiated, that is, have received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first communion. It is also assumes that godparents have been asked to serve in this role by the individual to be baptized (or, in the case of infants, by the family or, if they do not know anyone, the local pastor). The other requirements stipulate that parents should not be godparents, nor should anyone whose status in the church is questionable.

The role of the godparent is not merely that of patron—it is that of mentor. And so, sometimes emotional conflicts occur in a family when relatives or close friends who are held in esteem are considered as possible godparents, but are technically not qualified either because they are not Catholics or because they are Catholics who do not practice their faith regularly or whose religious status is “problematic” because of some situation, for example, a civil marriage not blessed by the church.

It is occasionally permitted for a non‑Catholic Christian to be associated as a “Christian witness” to a baptism. Though not officially a godparent, such an individual can still function as a role model for someone who is trying to learn about how a person should follow Christ in our troublesome world. In such situations, another person should be designated as the official godparent, someone who fits into the traditional categories.

Most people are aware of the conflicts that can occur between loyalties based on relationships and friendship and the demands of liturgical and religious authenticity. Not every relative or friend is appropriate to serve as godparent, and not every person who is appropriate as a godparent is close enough to serve in that capacity for the family. Balance is not easy to achieve! In special cases, the advice of the local priest or pastoral minister can be very helpful.

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 Dennis C. Smolarski, sj. Art by Luba Lukova. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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