As we move through the future of unknown opportunities and challenges, we must keep our focus on our relationships (religion) given to us at baptism. We were baptized into Father, Son and Holy Spirit and became children of God. We take on the relationship Jesus has with his Father. We also are baptized into a church and are now called Catholic Christians. We live out these two relationships with God and the believing community in a parish. A parish can have church buildings, geographic boundaries, history, members, priests, staff and liturgies, but unless it is a community of faith it does not live the life of the Spirit. Not every faith community will be a parish but only a faith community can be a vital parish.
The parish is a community of the baptized, those who have committed themselves to follow Jesus Christ as Redeemer. The parish is the Body of Christ in a particular place and at a particular time. The mystery of the life of Christ is expressed through the people who make up the parish.
The parish will focus its life and find its identity in the two great sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist. Every baptism takes place within and before the faith community so that the baptism of each is seen and celebrated as incorporation into the Body of Christ and the ongoing incorporation of all members.
This continuing life of the Body of Christ is energized and fed by the Eucharist. This sacramental mystery is the fundamental sign of our common life in Jesus. It is the sign and cause of our unified life in Christ.
The importance of Baptism and Eucharist lead us to desire to celebrate both sacraments in ways that contribute to the vitality of the Church and to join with all those in our two parishes. Each community will have a strong and active identity that is achieved through collaboration with each other. This union is of one faith, love, and mercy and does not focus solely on uniformity in thought and practice. There is a graced ability to accept each other, live comfortably with ambiguity, and focus on the important things that bring people of faith together rather than separate them.
There should be a joy in what we are about to enter into as the Catholic Community of Lexington. It is a joy that is not based on a lack of problems, challenges, difficulties, disagreements, sorrows, disappointments, and there will be plenty of these. Rather, it is a joy based on faith, a joy that thrives in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. In the end, the only way to explain such a community is to see it as an incarnation of God and the Spirit of life and love.
Readings for the Week Of Sunday, May 22, 2005
| Sunday: | Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9/ 2 Cor 13:11-13/ Jn 3:16-18 |
| Monday: | Sir 17:20-24/ Mk 10:17-27 |
| Tuesday: | Sir 35:1-12/ Mk 10:28-31 |
| Wednesday: | Sir 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17/ Mk 10:32-45 |
| Thursday: | Sir 42:15-25/ Mk 10:46-52 |
| Friday: | Sir 44:1, 9-13/ Mk 11:11-26 |
| Saturday: | Sir 51:12cd-20/ Mk 11:27-33 |
| Next Sunday: | Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a/ 1 Cor 10:16-17/ Jn 6:51-58 |
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, Elenor Lowe, 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 Morgan James Brady, husband of Carole Brady, who died this past week.
BREAD FOR THE WORLD
Thanks to all who took the time to find out about the "Make Hunger History" campaign and wrote letters to their legislators. We sent over 70 letters to Washington (including some from our young people)!! The timing is perfect, as legislation called "The Hunger Free Communities Initiative" will soon be introduced in Congress and will need co-sponsors. We are looking for a few people who are willing to follow hunger issues in Washington and Boston and put notices in the bulletin in order to keep us better informed. For more information about Bread for the World, and the Offering of Letters, visit: www.bread.org. If you would like to help with BFW at Sacred Heart, call Fran Ludwig 781-861-7231.
| 9:00 – Monday, May 23rd | Arvetta Thibeault |
| 9:00 – Tuesday, May 24th | Georgia Sydnor |
| 9:00 - Wednesday, May 25th | William Oliver |
| 9:00 – Saturday, May 28th | Nicholas Sorrentino |
A special thank you to all who made the Tongues of Fire Brunch such a success. It was wonderful to see people from both parishes taking the opportunity to gather together. To the planners, Jim & Ciindy Keefe; cooks and food providers, Edwina Spillane, Leo Casey, Jennifer Charles, Jo Ciccarelli, Caroline Ruocco, Eleanor Thomas, Cindy Bellini, and Frank Bellini; ticket takers, Peter Bourque and Max Laffey; servers, Jo Martinelli, Tori Cimino; cleaners, Joan O'Connor and Shukong Ou, Dan Rapperport and Bob Urban.
2005 Catholic Appeal
Once again, we want to thank everyone who has participated in the 2005 Catholic Appeal. Our parish has raised $9,005 from 18 donors and we are at 15% of our parish goal of $58,300. Within the next few weeks, the Catholic Appeal office will mail out a pledge form to all those past Annual Catholic Appeal donors who have not yet given in 2005. We hope that you will consider a pledge at that time. Together, through Our Faith at Work, we will meet the needs of our Catholic family. Thank you again for your support.
Holy Humor
When Father Murphy approached the boy who was fishing in the park pond, he said, “Young man do you know the parables?” “Yes sir,” the lad quickly replied. “Which do you like the best?” The boy looked up, grinning, replied, “The one where everybody loafs and fishes.”
| Offertory for 5/14& 5/15 | $5895.00 |
| Envelope Offerings | $5399.00 |
| Loose Cash | $ 496.00 |
| St. John/St. Hugh | $ 158.00 |
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
The Marriage Encounter program is an experience for building communication, creating intimacy, self-esteem and enriching the values of marriage, family and faith. This program is for couples that believe they have a good marriage but desire a deeper understanding, a richer communication, a better quality and more spirituality in their marriage. The upcoming dates are June 3rd, July 22 and August 26 weekends. For further details or information, contact 1-800-367-0343.
BOSTON CATHOLIC DIRECTORY
We have a few copies of the Boston Catholic Directory in the Parish Office. The cost of the directory is $25.
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.
There will be a Courtesy Driving Range before the Tournament
A Putting Contest
Contest Holes including
Hole-In-One for a Car!
Red Sox-Yankees Tickets
for July 14, 2005
HOMEBOUND
If a family member, friend or neighbor is unable to participate in our weekend celebration of the Eucharist, please contact the Parish Office at 781-862-4646 so that a member of the Homebound Ministry can contact them and make arrangements for a home visit.
SENIOR DAY OF REFLECTION
Calvary Retreat Center, 59 South Street, Shrewsbury will present a Senior Day of Reflection on May 25th from 10:00am – 2:30pm. The speaker will Father John J. O’Brien, C.P. the topic will be “Aging As A Spiritual Gift”. For more information, please call 1-508-842-8821.
LEXINGTON CATHOLIC WOMEN'S CLUB
The Lexington Catholic Women’s Club is preparing for it’s annual end-of-the-year dinner. Please keep June 6th available on your calendar. All women from St. Brigid and Sacred Heart Parishes are invited to attend. The time and place will be announced in next week’s bulletin. Reservation slips with the choice of meals and cost will be available at both churches next week.
ST. BRIGID'S SODALITY
St. Brigid’s Sodality will hold its annual luncheon on Wednesday, June 1st at the Danversport Yacht Club. The buss will leave St. Brigid’s parking lot at 11:15am and return at 2:30pm. The Luncheon choices are Boneless Chicken or Baked Schrod. The featured entertainment is CBS morning news anchor and star of Reagle Players, Scott Wahle and his singing partner Suzanne McCarthy Lobel. Tickets are $25 per person that includes lunch and the bus transportation. This event is open to all in the new Catholic Community of Lexington. To purchase tickets please call Marie Hill, 781-862-6456, mimi716@rcn.com or Suzie Barry, 781-862-5853, mrbarry@rcn.com . Hurry to sign up for this great luncheon!
