We have been on a Lenten journey to become more like Christ. In the prayers of the faithful at weekend Masses our response has been: “Lord, let us be like you.” Saint Paul in today’s second reading (Phil 3:8-14) speaks of his journey: “I wish to know Christ and the power flowing from his resurrection; likewise to know how to share in his sufferings by being formed into the pattern of his death. Thus do I hope that I may arrive at resurrection from the dead….My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God calls me—life on high in Christ Jesus.”
Some people, this week, were asking me about the Precepts of the Catholic Church. The Precepts describe the minimum actions required of a person who is a practicing Catholic in order to grow in holiness and become more fully the persons God created us to be. These Precepts are to guide us in the spirit of prayer and moral effort to grow in love for God and neighbor.
- “You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation,” requires the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic celebration when the Christian community gathers together.
- “You shall confess your sins at least once a year.” This sacrament continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.
- “You shall humbly receive your God in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.” This Communion guarantees a minimum reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.
- “You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence” to help us acquire a mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.
- “To contribute to the support of the Church” gives us the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his/her abilities.
- “To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage” or any attempt at a marriage without proper dispensation is to be considered invalid.
- “To love God with all one’s heart, soul and strength and to participate in sharing the Good News of God’s love with all people in a spirit of compassion and charity.
Readings for the Week Of Sunday, March 21, 2010
| St. Brigid Church |
| |
| 9:00am | Tuesday March 23rd | Angela Scopa |
| 9:00am | Thursday March 25th | Mildred & Clarence Gordon & James Gordon |
| 9:00am | Saturday March 27th | Christine Martin
Michael Ciccarelli |
| |
| Sacred Heart Church |
| |
| 9:00am | Monday March 22nd | Birthday Mass for Grace Soulard |
| 9:00am | Wednesday March 24th | Philip L. Tropeano |
| 9:00am | Friday March 26th | Joseph Callahan and Mary Callahan |
Please pray for all who are in need of our prayers that God’s healing and comforting presence may be with them, especially Father William Smith, Jen Bombaca, Marianne Slack, Elaine Murphy, Henry Murphy, Bob Kozlowski, Francis Cote, Harry Laye, Deacon Bill Wildes, William McCarthy, Marie Dempsey, Pat White, Mary Whelan, Prudy Bulger, Eleanor Mann, Amy Galehouse Goolkosian, Jane Beauchemin, Luella Theriault, Mary Ellen Connor, Marybeth Morgan, Billy Wedgwood, Gerald McCue, Kathleen Brown, Carol Brady, Brendan Murphy, Kevin Johnson, Ann LaMantia, Christine Griffin, Josephine Siders, Douglas DiVito, Frank Hassett, Mary McGuinnes, Herbert Grossman, Joseph Fremont-Smith, Jewel Douglass, Marjorie Kearns, Claire McKenna, Kathryn Ortolano, Shannon Capriulo, Cathy Larson, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino. Please also remember in your prayers all of our deceased family members and parishioners, especially Evelyn Paratore, John DeRoche and Edward L Finnegan.
Helping Hands Coordinator
Helping Hands coordinator for March is:
is Jeanne Hobbs,
781-248-9722
The Light Is On For You!
On the Wednesdays of Lent from 6:30-7:30pm beginning February 24th, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Brigid Church. Inviting Catholics to experience Christ’s healing love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the major initiatives of Cardinal Seán and the Archdiocese this year. The Archdiocese has set up a website, www.TheLightIsOnForYou.org, to help you prepare. It has videos on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, sheets on how to make a good confession, answers to frequently-asked questions and more. Please make plans to come on Lenten Wednesdays and spread the word of this special outreach of mercy to those you know.
In an effort to increase awareness for A Light is on For You. There is a podcast created by RENEW International to invite people to take advantage of this opportunity. You may access the podcast by clicking on this link: http://www.renewintl.org/rcab.
Easter Ham Donations For Inner City Sister Parishes Requested
As part of our Easter celebration we are again asking parishioners to help provide Easter hams for families at our sister parishes, St. Katharine Drexel (home of the former Roxbury Food Pantry) and St. Patrick’s in Roxbury. Hams will also be needed for shut-ins from the former St. John/St. Hugh parish community and for the Family Aids Ministry. Last year we delivered 140 hams to our sister parish neighbors in Dorchester & Roxbury for Easter. A generous parishioner has offered to provide fresh hams for below wholesale cost of $10 per ham. Please support this special collection by providing a check to Sacred Heart or St. Brigid, in the memo section “Easter Hams" in the regular collection baskets or send to the parish office. All donations will be used to purchase these hams for delivery during Holy Week. Stop & Shop gift cards are also much appreciated. We hope you will help support this special celebration through our food pantry ministry. Thank you for your generosity.
Easter Blessings, The Christian Service Commission.
In Service For Their Country
Lt. John Schiavi, Sgt. Christopher Considine, Timothy Dunbar, Richard Rigley, Chris Cullen, Caitlin R. Battell, Robert McLaughlin, Sean Maddigan, Michelle Leverone, Marissa Leverone, Rev. Paul Passamonti, 1st Lt. Todd Donaldson, Airman Jason Cunha, Pfc. Erik Muskavitch, Mark Zarnecki, Patrick J. Nordahl, Scott and Michael Donahue, CDR Michael P. MacLellan and Captain Brian Geary.
Lord Jesus, watch over our sons and daughters in the service of their country. Give them the courage to serve their country with honor and dignity and grant that when their service is finished they may return to us, sound in mind, body and soul.
Looking For Support During Your Job Search?
Seasoned Human Resources and Marketing pros to lead the Lexington Job Support Group (LJSG) for the Catholic Community of Lexington and our friends. Learn and share job search strategies, resources and networking tips while getting support during your search for that next great opportunity. Meetings are the first and third Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm - 9:00pm at Sacred Heart Parish Center. The next meeting is April 7th . Informal, no need to sign up, come on the evenings you are free with a cup of coffee or supper, and invite a friend. If you have any questions, contact Bob Ludwig at 781-861-7231 or Donna Heuchling at dheuchling (3)
Note: We are sponsoring a special event at Carey Library, April 5th, 7:00 - 9:00 pm - Learn strategies to optimize use of Linked In and other web tools in your job search.
Lectio Divina Group
A Lectio Divina group will meet this Thursday and on the two Thursdays following Holy Thursday at 11:15am for about a half-hour in Room #9 in St. Brigid Parish Center. The group will use this classic form of contemplative prayer to reflect on next Sunday’s gospel reading. Please join us!
All children are invited to join in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, a special weekly presentation and discussion of the day’s scripture readings. After a blessing and dismissal by the priest before the first reading during St. Brigid’s 9:00am Mass, the children proceed downstairs to Keilty Hall to participate in this program. They rejoin the Mass after the homily. All children are invited to join in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, a special weekly presentation and discussion of the day’s scripture readings. After a blessing and dismissal by the priest before the first reading during St. Brigid’s 9:00am Mass, the children proceed downstairs to Keilty Hall to participate in this program. They rejoin the Mass after the homily.
Hospitality
Please join us for hospitality and fellowship at our parishes.
Hospitality at St. Brigid Parish is after the 9:00am Mass in Keilty Hall.
At Sacred Heart Parish the hospitality is after the 10:00am Mass in the parish center.
WINGS
A Mother’s Evolving Prayer
Clare M. Dunsford, PhD, author of the memoir, Spelling Love with an ‘X’: A Mother, a Son, and the Gene That Binds Them, will be the guest speaker at WINGS (Women IN God’s Spirit) this Thursday. In her presentation, A Mother’s Evolving Prayer, Dr. Dunsford will take us on her journey towards acceptance of the genetic condition that challenges her family.
Please join us Thursday, March 25, at 9:30 – 11:15am, in the hall at St. Brigid Parish Center. For transportation, contact Carol Flynn at 781-862-1637; for child care during the session, contact Jane Goubeaux at 781-862-4146. Membership in WINGS is not required to attend this or any WINGS program.
The Lexington Catholic Young Adult Group invites you to our regular Thursday night meetings consisting of Bible study and then food and drinks at a local restaurant. We also invite you to our next Theology on Tap (See date on website). For more information contact Billy Robinson at colecrops(4) or call 781-572-8081. You can also check out our website listed below. It's a great group and we have a lot of fun, we hope you can come!
Resurrection Cantata
HERE IN LEXINGTON! On Friday, March 26th, at 8 p.m. at St. Brigid Church, 2001 Mass Ave., come and see St. Patrick’s Family Players of Watertown perform this musical drama. “Resurrection” is the inspirational story of Simon Peter and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The performance leads us on an unforgettable spiritual journey with St. Peter as he faces his martyrdom. Peter recalls his experiences with Christ as well as those he shared with Mary Magdalene and the disciples as they followed Jesus. In moving song, Peter shows the anguish for his denial of Christ and the joy that comes with the Resurrection and His forgiveness. The St. Patrick’s Family Players is a multi-denominational musical group from Watertown, MA, featuring over 100 performers from ages 4 to 75. The group was founded in 1997 to celebrate the parish’s 150th anniversary, but have been performing the musical ever since. The Players have taken their musical ministry to Ireland and Italy. A freewill donation will be requested. All are invited to Keilty Hall for refreshments after the performance.
Sunday, March 21st
9:00 – CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
11:00 - SCRUTINY
11:15-12:15 – REL. ED. – SH PARISH CENTER
5:00 – SUNG EVENING PRAYER – SB – CHURCH
6:30 – SCOUT TRAINING – SB-PC
Monday, March 22nd
6:00 – PALM BRAIDING – SB - KH
7:15 – CONFIRMATION CLASS – SB –
Tuesday, March 23rd
10:00 – ARISE GROUP MTG. RM.10 – SB – PC
7:15 – CONFIRMATION CLASSES – SH – PC
Wednesday, March 24th
6:30 – 8:00 RECONCILIATION – SB – CHURCH
7:00 – HOMEBOUND MINISTRY WKSP. – SB – L
7:30 – ARISE ROOM #10
Thursday, March 25th
9:00 – WINGS – SB - PC
7:00 – 9:30 BOY SCOUTS – SB – PC
Friday, March 26th
6:30 – ROAD TO RESURRECTION – SB – L
12:10 – FRIDAY LENTEN MASS – SB
EXPOSITION BLESSED SACRAMENT FOLLOWS
7:00 – RESURECTION CANTATA – SB-
Saturday, March 27th
3:30 – CONFESSIONS – SB- CHURCH
YOUTH FUNDRAISER AFTER ALL MASSES
6:00 – SOUP AND CINEMA – SH-PC
Faith & Environment
Soil. Dirt. Earth. We walk on it. Eat from it. Build upon it. Depend upon its fruits. The Judeo-Christian scriptures remind us that we are dirt creatures with the Divine breath blown into us, humbly formed and shaped from dust to which we will return someday. (Genesis, chap. 2 and 3). And yet, we take the rich plentitude of soil for granted. We can’t even imagine the whole universe that inhabits one cubic foot of soil under our feet. We can’t even conceive of the centuries it has taken for top soil to become nutrient rich from rock and rain and shine, capable of growing living things.
Yet we have lost our wonder, our sense of interdependence and respect for this most humble servant we call soil. Humans have abused her, destroyed her and rendered her impotent, taking from her, and giving nothing in return, so soil can continue to provide the very stuff of life we depend upon. We have lost our original vocation of serving the earth with respect and tender care and deep gratitude.
For the complete meditation on St. Francis’ Sister Soil (From Falling in Love with Creation series from the Center for Action and Contemplation) go to: http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/lenten/2010/week4/meditation.php
Why not honor Sister Soil by planting a garden this year? Also the Interfaith Garden in Lexington center is signing up volunteers to help prepare, plant, weed and harvest fresh vegetables for local food pantries. Volunteers from 15 congregations in town will work together on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (and some Sundays) from 4:30 to 6pm. If you are interested in helping for 1-2 days during the season, please call Fran at 781-861-7231 (or e-mail fludwig12(5)). Families welcome.
Faith and Environment Meeting: Thursday March 25, 7:30 PM, St. Brigid Parish Center. Explore the theme of honoring the land through sustainable agriculture. We need help in organizing a May 2 showing of the video FRESH and potluck dinner.
Climate Change Comes to Walden Pond, Sunday, March 21, 7:30 PM, Cary Hall, 1605 Mass. Ave. Professor Richard Primack presents his findings on the effects of a warming climate on the plants and birds of Concord (based on Thoreau’s diaries).
| St. Brigid |
| Offertory for March 13th & 14th |
$ 10,054.00 |
| Envelope Offerings |
$ 8,815.00 |
| Loose Cash |
$ 1,239.00 |
Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 286 have used their envelopes. Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week! To operate the parish our offertory should be $11,730 per week.
To date we have received $156,125.76 in our Grand Annual Collection from 309 parishioners. Our goal this year was $140,000.
2010 Catholic Appeal
We want to thank everyone from St. Brigid Parish who has participated in the 2010 Catholic Appeal. The parish has raised $14,100 from 70 households. These contributions support the many ministries of our Archdiocese and will improve the lives of so many in our faith community. The Appeal is to our Archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to our parish. Cardinal Seán invites every Catholic household to participate. If you have not yet made your gift, please consider making a pledge this weekend. You can pick up information packets with pledge forms in the back of the Church. Please mail your completed pledge/gift in the envelope provided in the information packet. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com or call 617-779-3700. Every gift matters. Thank you!
| Sacred Heart |
| Offertory for March 13th & 14th |
$ 5,895.00 |
| Envelope Offerings |
$ 5,016.00 |
| Loose Cash |
$ 879.00 |
| St. Katharine Drexel |
$ 335.00 |
Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 86 parishioners have used their envelopes this week. Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week! To operate the parish our offertory should be $7,500 per week.
To date we have received a total of $99,016 from 145 parishioners in our Grand Annual Collection. Our goal this year is $313,000.
2010 Catholic Appeal
We want to thank everyone from Sacred Heart Parish who has participated in the 2010 Catholic Appeal. The parish has raised $6717 from 26 households. These contributions support the many ministries of our Archdiocese and will improve the lives of so many in our faith community. The Appeal is to our Archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to our parish. Cardinal Seán invites every Catholic household to participate. If you have not yet made your gift, please consider making a pledge this weekend. You can pick up information packets with pledge forms in the back of the Church. Please mail your completed pledge/gift in the envelope provided in the information packet. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com or call 617-779-3700. Every gift matters. Thank you!
Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!
—Fr. Colletti
Soup and Cinema
Soup and Cinema - the movie for Saturday, March 27th will be Doubt.
Sedar Supper
Wednesday March 24th @ 7:00 PM Keilty Hall St. Brigid Parish we will be having a Seder Supper. Rabbi Jaffe will lead us and educate us in the custom and traditions of the traditional Seder Supper. Please come and join us. We need to have a proper count to have sufficient food for those coming, please sign up via the follow email address: sederstbrigidsacreheart at gmail. Enter your name and how many people are coming. If you do not have email please call 781-863-0319 and leave your name and the number of people coming to the Seder Supper.
The WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB meets on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Room 8, Sacred Heart Parish Center, lower hall. The group’s selection for this month is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women: Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. The Help is a charming, thoughtful novel about women finding their voices, and the truths we see when we have the courage to look unflinchingly into the mirror. For more information, contact or Beverly Good, 781-863-0319, ext 20, or Beverly.Good(1) or Maria Griffin, avempg(4).
Palm Sunday Food Pantry Collection
In lieu of the first Sunday St. Katharine Drexel food pantry collection, we will be hosting a collection on Palm Sunday, March 28th. Please bring your donations of nonperishable food items and Stop & Shop gift cards to Sacred Heart or St. Brigid by 11 am, March 28th. Checks made payable to "St. Katharine Drexel" may be turned into the offertory or to the office.
Life Snipits
What you are is God’s gift to you,
what you do with it is your gift to God
Did You Miss Brigid’s Renovation Presentations?
If you missed last weekend’s after-Mass presentations of St. Brigid’s plans to make the church and Keilty Hall accessible, provide accessible restrooms in the building, and remodel the kitchen and the hall, stop by the Parish Center to see the exterior and interior architectural drawings of this project. The drawings will be on display in the Library all week.
An Invitation From Our Eigth Graders!
Our parishes’ Eighth Graders cordially invite you to join them at their grade-level Mass today, March 21, at the 6:00pm Youthful Mass at Sacred Heart Church.
Holy Humor
A young lady who had returned from a tour through Italy with her father informed a friend that he liked all the Italian cities, but most of all he loved Venice.
"Ah, Venice, to be sure!" said the friend. "I can readily understand that your father would like Venice, with its gondolas, and St. Markses and Michelangelos."
"Oh, no," the young lady interrupted, "it wasn't that. He liked it because he could sit in the hotel and fish from the window."
Megan Chenaille, Director of Youth Ministry
E-mail: Megan Chenaille
781-862-8724
ATTENTION ALL 9th & 10th Grade Students:
The Confirmation Mini-Retreat with Sean Forrest is coming soon! Attendance is required for all Confirmation Students. (there will be no regular classes on the Monday or Tuesday following the retreat)
When: March 28th (Palm Sunday)
Time: 4:00 - 8:00 PM Includes light dinner
Place: Sacred Heart Parish Hall
We are very lucky to have Sean return to us for this retreat. He is a nationally known, award winning speaker and performer. Sean will bring his musical gifts and sense of humor to our teens as part of his Movin' With the Spirit Ministry. You can learn more about it at his website: mwts.org.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Megan Chenaille at 781-862-8724.
Youth Mass
Please join us for our next Youth Mass
THIS Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sacred Heart Church, 6pm
Bring your friends and families!!
Road to Resurrection
Hey kids!! Are you looking for something to help with your prayer life this Lent? Are you seeking a deeper relationship with Christ and others?
Then consider joining us on Friday mornings before school (6:30-7:30am) in the St. Brigid Library for Road to Resurrection, a Scripture Study and Reflection for Middle-School and High School Youth. Breakfast is provided!! We hope you will join us on our journey on the Road to the Resurrection.
Our Friday sessions continue this week on March 26. Just bring yourself and a friend!!
YOUTH Food Fast
Congratulations to all of our High School Youth who participated in the Food Fast this year. By knocking on doors throughout Lexington neighborhoods, they collected over 700lbs of food for local food pantries and by asking friends and family to donate money, raised over $800 for Haiti efforts.
GREAT JOB!!!
Thank you also to all of the adults who helped to make the Fast a success this year. Each and every one of you is a vital part of the formation of our Youth.
Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with any questions or concerns. 
Religious Education Classes at Sacred Heart for
grades 1 – 8 are at 11:15 until 12:15
in the Parish Center.
Religious Education Classes at St. Brigid Parish Center on Tuesdays, for Grades 1, 2 and 3
at 3:45 until 4:45pm.
Grades 4, 5, and 6 are on Wednesdays,
in the Parish Center at 3:45-4:45pm.
Grades 7 and 8 are on Mondays at 5:30 until 6:30pm in the Parish Center
Mass + Adoration = A Perfect Lenten Combination
This Friday and every Friday during Lent, attend Mass at 12:10pm at St. Brigid Church and then stay for some quiet time with the Lord during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration closes at 2:45pm following Benediction.
Lexington Food Pantry
Sacred Heart and St. Brigid
This weekend of March 20th and 21st is the collection of non-perishable food for the Lexington Food Pantry. Items may be left at the food bins at St. Brigid and on the altar at Sacred Heart. Please check the expiration dates. Special requests for this month: Oatmeal, low-sugar cereal, low sodium vegetables, canned fruit in juice or light syrup, peanut butter, meals in a can, chunk white tuna and angel hair pasta. The food pantry also accepts personal care items and paper products. Cash, supermarket gift cards and checks made out to the Lexington Food Pantry and placed in an envelope marked Lexington Food Pantry may be placed in the offertory basket or left at the office. We thank you for your past generosity and support of this endeavor.