November 16, 2004

Dear Archbishop Sean,

Just when I think that matters concerning the reconfiguration could not get worse we receive a FAX one week before the closing of Sacred Heart Parish stating that our order to close has been rescinded.  Do you not know that most of our programs are already at Saint Brigid Parish?  Our religious education program and our youth group are functioning at Saint Brigid.  Our Communion ministers, greeters, lectors and social justice teams have already met with each other and are ready to merge.  Our staff has already begun to leave us. Our music minister has another assignment as well as our pastoral associate.  Our youth minister and religious education director will leave on November 21^st, our original closing date, since their programs no longer exist here at Sacred Heart.

Much of our belongings have been given away.  We have shut down our vendors and prepared alternate addresses for mail deliveries.  We have planned our closing liturgy and a prayer service called Music and Memories for the Friday before closing.  Caterers were hired to prepare meals for our parishioners after each of the final Masses.  Why would you stop our count- down at this late date?

I could simply guess there might be only one reason for our delay and that is so you might speak to and listen to those people who are planning a prayer vigil, i.e. remain in the church and parish center after our closing.  If that is the case, please tell me you will come and speak to them.  They are open to your coming and would love to dialogue with you. Please do this soon.

In addition to the FAX rescinding our closing date we received your three- page letter to be given to our people last weekend.  There was a piece that disturbed us greatly.  It was the part that you prayed that the Lord would take you in the midst of all these troubles so burdensome were they to you. I assure you of the prayers of our people.  I ask them not to pass lightly over the prayer in the Mass when we pray for the Pope and our Archbishop.  The prayer goes on to say, “Help us to work together for the coming of your kingdom.”  Be assured that we will be your prayer warriors.  Meanwhile help Sacred Heart to move forward.

Sincerely in Christ,

Offertory for November 13^th & 14^th  $3606.50

Envelope Offerings         $2540.50

Loose Cash                       $1066.00

St. John/St. Hugh                                   $168.00

We have called the envelope company to send our December envelopes to each parishioner who was on the envelope list.  You should receive them shortly.

A special thank you to Sister Mary Lyman for all of her work with the Religious Education program at Sacred Heart.  Thank you also to Maureen McKeown for her exceptional work with the Youth Ministry Program.  She has brought them to the point where they have the leadership qualities to continue and bring much to St. Brigid’s youth program.  Both programs at Sacred Heart Parish grew under their direction.  Todd Theriault will also be leaving for his new position at St. Luke’s on Sunday.  CONGRATULATIONS TODD!  Please join us after the 10:00 Liturgy as we thank them for their years of service to the parish.

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Rosemary Harvey, Regina Jones, Andrea Hynes, Joyce Amos, 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, Andrew Day, Peggy Sue Grow, Mary Serpa, Deborah Miller, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Magda Landman, Elizabeth Conte, Shane McCarthy, Mildred Wood, 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, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Margaret Wright, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Mary Dawson, Jorge Loayza, Joseph Brault, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Bill Attaya, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Laura Mac Aulay, Stella Guarino, Bill Graham, Bob Remeika, Mary Hosford, Jose Rubiero, Robert Devlin, and Dorothy Barton.  Please also pray for Mary Abegg and Helen Taverna both of whom died this past week.

Flowers for this weekend were donated by Louise Nolan and are in memory of the Nolan and Spiers families.

9:00 – Wednesday, Nov. 24^th       Memorial Fund Members

9:00 – Saturday, November 27^th                 Anthony Arena

Our Thanksgiving Liturgy will be held on Wednesday, November 24^th at 7:30.  Please plan to join us in thanksgiving for our Sacred Heart Community.

Christmas Drive For Lakota Children 

Lakota children in Kindergarten through grade 8 would be very grateful for presents.  Gifts in the range of $5 to $10 are suggested.  Ideas include art supplies, sports T-shirts, matchbox cars, books, hairbrushes and barrettes, dolls of color, etc.  Send to: American Horse School, c/o Principal Gloria Kitsopoulos, PO Box660 or 100 Main St. Allen, SD 57714.  Packages must be sent by December 1.

Pennies for Josephine!

Jo Murphy has asked me to remind everyone (and this was about 4 weeks ago, sorry Jo!) that she is still collecting pennies for charity.  Please look in the bottom of all those pocketbooks, the jars in the closet or that cup in the catch all drawer for loose pennies and put them all together and bring them to the parish office or put them into the collection basket and mark them for Jo Murphy.  It’s that season again when people can use every penny that they receive.  Let’s keep the spirit and give generously to those in need.

Lexington Catholic Women’s Club

The Lexington Catholic Women’s Club will host their Annual Christmas Dinner on December 6^th at 6:30 in St. Brigid’s Father Keilty Hall.  We would like to invite the women of the parish to join with us in this celebration.  The cost of $20 will cover a Stuffed Chicken Breast or Beef Bourguignon.  You can pick up a sign up sheet for the dinner at the back of the church or call Jo Ciccarelli at 781-862-3505 or Claire Martin at 781-862-4646.  If you wish to participate in a Yankee Swap, please bring a $5.00 gift with you on that evening.

Lexington Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

The annual Lexington Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held Tuesday, November 23^rd, at the Lexington Methodist Church, 2600 Massachusetts Avenue.  People of many faith traditions will be participating, and all are welcome.  The service is at 8:00pm, and if you wish to participate in the choir, rehearsal is at 7:00pm.  All are welcome to sing in the choir.

Living the Paschal Mystery

The good thief asked, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  This solemnity celebrates Christ as King, his kingdom has come.  We are living in God’s kingdom now.  But we are called not to simply pay homage to our exalted King, but to do as he did.  This means that each day we must live in self-sacrifice because only through the cross is God’s reign at hand.  Living the paschal mystery means living the cross.  Just as the cross was the means to Jesus’ exaltation, so is the cross the means to our own entry into Paradise.  When self-sacrifice seems to swallow us up and we are tempted to choose a self-serving attitude, all we need do is remember that the cross is the door to Paradise.  The only way.

Prison Ministry Christmas Project

For the past two years, the youth of S.H. have had the opportunity to bring a bit of Christmas joy to the children of women currently housed at the Framingham Correctional Facility.  They have done this by "picking an ornament" from a special Christmas tree, and then sponsoring the child whose name/age appeared on it.  As a sponsor they agreed to be mindful of that child, to pray for him/her throughout the Christmas season, and then also to provide a $25 gift that would be given to him/her when Santa arrived at the Christmas party held in mid-December at the prison.  Once again we have been contacted by the Activities Director at this women's facility and have been asked to provide gifts for the many children (aprox. 125) whose mothers have made requests for the December 11th celebration.  Because our parish is currently in this "state of flux", we would like to continue the tradition and provide for these children and such a worthy cause.  But, we need your help!  Since this year we do not have our usual Advent Candle Program, but many have expressed a desire to "reach out," we would like to encourage everyone to "adopt a child."  Special ornaments will be placed on the wall at the side entrance to the church, each with a child's name, age and interest(s).  If you feel that you can help by providing a $25 gift for him/her, please take one and be sure to sign the clipboard (provided) with your name/phone number.  We ask that you wrap each gift, leaving one end of the package open and attach the special ornament.  You will find the ornaments on the wall next week (the First Sunday of Advent) and we ask that all gifts be returned to the stage in the upper hall no later than Dec. 8th (Feast of the Immaculate Conception).  We will gladly accept your generous offer to help sort/wrap/deliver the gifts on Friday evening, Dec. 10th (tentative date).  Contact Jeanne Shanley DiPietro at 978-362-3900 or jeanne-on-wholy-ground@comcast.net.  Thank you!

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