On this feast of Pentecost we relish in the gifts of the Holy Spirit who turned a small group of frightened believers into apostles and missionaries strong enough to become the Catholic Church.
The scripture I reflect on today is from Acts: "How is it that each of us hears them in his native tongue?" This harmony and understanding is in sharp contrast with the Hebrew Scriptures at the Tower of Babel when God changed each one's tongue so that they had to scatter to various parts of the world. Pentecost unites people. We need to call upon that same Spirit to bring harmony within and between the two parishes of Lexington so that we become the Catholic Community of Lexington.
Part of that Babel is the amount of rumors going around both parishes. This is inevitable because of the fear of the unknown and the loss of what has been. I will try my best to tell you what is happening or going to happen as the two parishes dialogue our common future. Sometimes it will be difficult to be definitive about matters because these will be still in discussion and deliberation.
Some of the rumors I am hearing concern a number of items.
"Father Colletti is excited and enthused about a merger, feeling like he has the opportunity of a lifetime before him." Variations on that theme indicate that I want to close Sacred Heart Parish. The truth is that the Pastoral Parish Council and the people of both parishes have to discover how to become the Catholic Community of Lexington using the facilities and resources of both parishes. The outcome will be one of four models: 1) close Sacred Heart; 2) merge Sacred Heart; 3) keep both parishes open under one pastor; 4) a model unknown to us at this time. This may be "an opportunity of a lifetime" but it is the opportunity all of us are engaged in prayerfully and enthusiastically.
"Sacred Heart and Saint Brigid's will combine their finances." I will try to combine each of the commissions and their ministries with people from each parish on each board but the one commission I cannot-under civil and canon law-combine are the Finance Councils. Both parishes are debt free and are currently able to pay their bills. With new staff members-a new choir director and Pastoral Associate-more funds have to be raised through increased offertory and the Grand Annual. A full financial report of both parishes will be made in the fall.
"A lack of communications from and between the parish leadership and parishioners of both parishes is the biggest problem we face." It is true that we need to communicate in a much broader way than we are currently doing. Fear of the unknown is our biggest enemy. I will set up a Communications Commission with people from both parishes in order to report to the people through bulletins, newspapers and newsletters. We will conduct a survey of both parishes to discover the feelings of parishioners and what they perceive to be the present strengths within their parishes and hopes they entertain for the future. We must have open meetings of parishioners to dialogue the many issues facing us as we move through the process of pastoral planning.
The greatest area of contention, at the present moment, is in the religious education program. We have our children attending classes at Saint Brigid Parish. I am not in favor of bringing all our children back for the children have settled into a program that is solid and exciting to them. Saint Brigid started a Sunday program to accommodate our children and many from that parish wanted it also. There are now 16 classes on Sunday. Some people in our parish feel that we need to have Sunday classes here to accommodate families who come to church here on Sunday morning. We can accommodate but a few classes on Sunday. The few would say, "we are not a parish without a religious education program". We do have a religious education program, but the "we" includes St. Brigid.
This is a marriage we are entering into. We can no longer think of ourselves as single. There can be many programs for our young people that will include the use of both churches. Perhaps the Sacred Heart portion in the educational ministry will be with the adults and our lay leaders. I will present the issue to the Religious Education Commission that is made up of people from both parishes.
On this feast of Pentecost we call upon the Spirit who brought about unity and strength to the "mustard seed" church that grew to bring the faith to us. It is up to us now-at this time and place-to make the church grow into one faith community.
This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Marisol O’Brien, Peter Bellini, 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, Rob Morway, Patricia Hassett, Paul McCann, William Francis, Lillian Davenport, James Fontaini, Henri Fradette, William Blair, Agatha Pals, Kath Rodriegas, Nancy Driscoll, Dante DiManna, Margie Levine, Doug Phillips, Andrew Day, Peggy Sue Grow, Mary Serpa, Deborah Miller, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Elizabeth Conte, Shane McCarthy, Mildred Wood, Violet Caldaroni, Frank Cote, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Rita Mahan, Jackie Sullivan, Jean Babbin, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Margaret Wright, Renee Chapman, , Edward Borden, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Jorge Loayza, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Willy Smith, Claire McDonough, Julia Gillis, Laura Mac Aulay, Alyssa Frazer, Bill Graham, Bob Remeika, Edward Semanko, Matthew Gablor, Mary Hosford, Morgan Brady, Willie Smith, Jane Eastham, Joseph Coppola, Betty White, Barbara DeVitte, Bernis Whalen, Linda Whitcomb, Michael Calderoni and Dorothy Barton. Please also pray for Sue Sasso, mother of Helen DiGiamarino, who died this past week.
St. Brigid Parish 8th Annual Golf Classic will be held on Monday, June 13, 2005 at the Windham Country Club in Windham, N. H. beginning at 1:30PM. The purpose of the Tournament is to raise funds to help graduating High School Seniors. Because of the merger this year of the Youth Ministries of Sacred Heart and St. Brigid Parishes, seniors of both parishes will be eligible to apply for scholarship consideration. Golf Flyers are available at all the exits of the Church for those who would like to participate as a player or as a sponsor.
YM SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF ST. BRIGID AND SACRED HEART PARISH ARE AVAILABLE AT ST. BRIGID'S. AND SACRED HEART PARISH OFFICES.
Invitation
The Parish Pastoral Council of St. Brigid Parish cordially invites you to a celebration of the ministry of their pastor, Rev. Eugene P. Curtin as he enters into retirement and anticipates his Golden Anniversary of Ordination. Please join in the Mass of Thanksgiving at 11:30am on Sunday, May 22nd followed by a reception in Keilty Hall.
Readings for the Week Of Sunday, May 15, 2005
| Sunday: | Vigil: Ez 37:1-14/ Rom 8:22-27/ Jn 7:37-39; Day: Acts 2:1-11/ 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 Jn 20:19-23 |
| Monday: | Sir 1:1-10/ Mk 9:14-29 |
| Tuesday: | Sir 2:1-11/ Mk 9:30-37 |
| Wednesday: | Sir 4:11-19/ Mk 9:38-40 |
| Thursday: | Sir 5:1-8/ Mk 9:41-50 |
| Friday: | Sir 6:5-17/ Mk 10:1-12 |
| Saturday: | Sir 17:1-15/ Mk 10:13-16 (346) |
| Next Sunday: | Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9/ 2 Cor 13:11-13/ Jn 3:16-18 |
| 9:00 – Monday, May 16th | Francis & Patrick Sullivan |
| 9:00 - Wednesday, May 18th | Mary Cotter |
| 9:00 – Friday, May 20th | Mary Dawson |
| 9:00 – Saturday, May 21st | Josephine & Peter Crivello |
| Offertory for 5/7 & 5/8 | $4694.00 |
| Envelope Offerings | $4141.00 |
| Loose Cash | $ 552.00 |
| St. John/St. Hugh | $ 484.00 |
2005 Catholic Appeal
Once again, we thank everyone who has participated in the 2005 Catholic Appeal. We have a number of new donors this year – welcome and thank you! Remember, our parish will receive 25 percent of all funds we raise above our goal. So each gift has the potential to increase parish revenue while still supporting the ministries funded by the Catholic Appeal.
May 16th will be Caribbean Night at 7:00pm in the youth room at St. Brigid's. We will have Pirates of the Caribbean on the big screen and a treasure hunt. Sounds Great!
The youth will be going White Water Rafting in June. An information night is planned for June 6th at 7:00pm in the youth room at St. Brigid's Parish. The trip is from June 10th to the 12th.
June 20th will be the last Youth Group meeting at St. Brigid's. The meeting begins at 7:00pm.
Pentecost Sunday
Today will celebrate Pentecost Sunday. There will be a "Tongues of Fire" lunch right after the 10:00am Liturgy at Sacred Heart Parish Center. The donation for the lunch will be $5.00pp/$20 per family.
Jim Keefe and his committee will need help on Sunday also after the 10:00am Liturgy "un-decorating" the church.
Young Adults
Young adults in their 20s and 30s are invited to attend the Summer Gathering for Young Adults at the Skyline Restaurant, Marina Bay, Quincy on Friday, June 10th from 7pm to 11pm. The tickets for this buffet dinner are $25pp. Please call the Family Life Office, 617-746-5820 for reservations.
Ministry to Separated and Divorced
If you have experienced separation or divorce this has been a very difficult time for you and for your family. It is often helpful to talk with others who have shared this experience. The Office of Family Life is sponsoring a coffee hour on the First Sunday mornings of June, July and August. There is no need to register just come and join us. If you have questions, please call Joanne Curry at the Office of Family Life, 617-746-5820
