Peter was always the disciple who could not stand by and do nothing.  Jesus told the disciples to stay and wait for the Holy Spirit who would teach them everything they needed to know and strengthen them to carry on Jesus’ mission.  Not able to ‘hang around’, Peter simply states, “I’m going fishing”.

They must have forgotten how to fish in the three years they were with Jesus, for now they have caught nothing.  Jesus invites them to “put out into the deep” for a catch.  Peter and his companions trusted Christ’s words and cast the nets. “They hauled ashore the net loaded with sizable fish—one hundred and fifty-three of them!” (John 21:11).

Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte uses the invitation of Jesus “put out into the deep” and addresses it to us.  “These words ring out for us today, and they invite us to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence.”

“Now is the time for each local Church to assess its fervor and find fresh enthusiasm for its spiritual and pastoral responsibilities by reflecting on what the Spirit has been saying to the People of God.”

“To purify our vision for the contemplation of the mystery (of God’s love for us in giving us Jesus), this Jubilee Year has been strongly marked by the request for forgiveness. This is true not only for individuals, who have examined their own lives in order to ask for mercy, but for the entire Church, which has decided to recall the infidelities of so many of her children in the course of history.  Infidelities which have cast a shadow over her countenance as the Bride of Christ.  For a long time we had been preparing ourselves for this examination of conscience, aware that the Church, embracing sinners in her bosom, is at once holy and always in need of being purified.  Looking upon our Crucified Lord, I asked forgiveness in the name of the Church for the sins of all her Children.” 

 

Knowing our own weaknesses and sins, we rely, all the more, on the grace of God.  Just as Jesus called the disciples to be “fishers of men”, unworthy as we may be, he now calls us to be his disciple, follow him and continue his ministry. The disciple can do the work of Christ only if he/she knows Christ and receives his Spirit.

Pope John Paul II continues: “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20).  This assurance, dear brothers and sisters, has accompanied the Church for two thousand years, and has now been renewed in our heart…from it we must gain new impetus in Christian living, making it the force which inspires our journey of faith.  Conscious of the Risen Lord’s presence among us, we ask ourselves today the same question put to Peter in Jerusalem immediately after his Pentecost speech: “What must we do?” (Acts 2:37).  We put the question with trusting optimism, but without underestimating the problems we face.  We are certainly not seduced by the naïve expectation that faced with the great challenges of our time; we shall find some magic formula. No, we shall not be saved by a formula but by a Person, and the assurance which he gives us: I am with you!”

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, Phyllis Lange, Amy Galehouse Goolkosian, Jane Beauchemin, Luella Theriault, Joseph Vaccaro, 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, Joseph Fremont-Smith, Jewel Douglass, Marjorie Kearns, Shannon Capriulo, Cathy Larson, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino.  Please also remember in your prayers all of our deceased family members and parishioners, especially Sister Marie Peter Boyd, sister of Josephine Murphy and Guy E. Brown, Jr.

Helping Hands

Helping Hands for April is Pat Romeo Gilbert,
617-947-4659

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, 7:30 - 9:00 pm at Sacred Heart Parish Center.  The next two meetings are April 21st and May 5th.  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@comcast.net

Do Core Values CHange As We Age?

Join the Rev. Professor Robert M. Randolph, Chaplain at MIT in Cambridge, as he explores how our values influence the choices we make as we grow older.  This program, offered free of charge to the public, is scheduled for Monday, April 26th at 7:00 p.m. at Youville Place Assisted Living Residence, 10 Pelham Road in Lexington.

Life Snipets

A conference is a gathering of people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done.

Vacation Bible School

June 28nd – July 1st   9:00AM – 1:00 PM

We will be traveling to Egypt with Joseph. 
Visiting the Market Place and Pharaoh’s Palace.

We will be feeding the students a snack, they will not be fed lunch.
Please register early so we can make the appropriate arrangements.
Children Ages 4 – 12

Children 12 – 16 May register as Tour Guides (assistants)
Tour Guides will need to attend a training session TBA
Applications are in the Religious Education Office
$75.00 Per Child.  Registration deadline May 2nd

THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF LEXINGTON’S MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP MAY EVENT

6th, 7th and 8th graders (and their friends) are invited to join us for pizza and a trip to Kimball Farms for Ice Cream, Mini Golf & Bumper Boats
Date: Friday May 14th 6 pm, pickup around 9 pm at St. Brigid’s
Place: Saint Brigid’s Center, Lexington and Kimball Farms, Westford

We will be serving pizza at the Saint Brigid’s Parish Hall, followed by a trip to Kimball Farms in Westford for Ice Cream, Mini Golf and Bumper Boats.  Please return the permission slip and check for $23 made out to St. Brigid or Sacred Heart Parish to the parish offices at 2001 Mass Ave, Lexington MA, 02421 by Wednesday May 12th.  For more information please contact Mary Ellen Goodwin at 781- 863-1584 or Megan Chenaille at (781) 862-8724 or Megan.Chenaille@lexingtoncatholic.org.  For a copy of this flyer, and the permission slip, go to the “Religious Education” tab at www.lexingtoncatholic.org, then click on Middle School Fridays.  Join us again in the Fall !

Faith & Environment

 

On-Line Giving is Coming!

Starting May 1, you will be able to contribute to Sacred Heart or St. Brigid on line!  The timing and amount of your weekly contributions, “second collections,” and special monthly donations to St. Katharine Drexel Parish or the St. Vincent de Paul Society can be designated in advance in a secure and confidential system operated by Our Sunday Visitor.  Watch for a letter from Father Colletti outlining the benefits of this giving option to you and to your parish, and how you can make your checks and currency history!

A Mass Celebrating the Life of Marisol Liliana O’Brien will be at Sacred Heart Parish Friday April 30th, at 9:00 AM
A collation will follow in the Parish Center

SPRING WOMEN’S OVERNIGHT RETREAT

Rest, renew and refresh yourself at Craigville Beach on the Cape from 5 p.m. Friday, April 30th to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 1st, 2010.  Celebrate with other women of our community on an overnight retreat designed by our parishioners to help you “come to the waters” and be open to the gifts God has for you!  The planning team includes Sue Foelix, Kathryn O’Meara McKersie, Peggy Barons, Sheilah Dreyer, Maryellen Leelman, Lisa Cimino and Eunice Laffey.  There are ten spaces left; total fee is $125.  Please contact Beverly Good at 781-863-0319, ext. 20 or Mary Peterson at   781-863-0319, ext 30, Beverly.Good@lexingtoncatholic.org; Mary.Peterson55@gmail.com.  Carol Hamblet Adams , a published spiritual writer will be joining us!

J.R.R. TOLKIEN’S TAKE ON THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

He writes: I put before you the one great thing to love on earth, the Blessed Sacrament. There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity and the true way of all your loves on earth and more than that. All are invited to experience the Blessed Sacrament this Friday and every Friday from 12:00 – 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church.  

Sunday, April 18th 

10:00 – SH – BAPTISM INSTRUCTION

Monday, April 19th  

PATRIOTS DAY- OFFICE CLOSED

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT ST. BRIGID KEILTY HALL SPONSORED BY THE BOY SCOUTS BEGINS RIGHT AFTER THE REINACTMENT

Tuesday, April 20th 

NO EVENTS

Wednesday, April 21ST

6:30 – M.A.C.I.  MEETING – ROOM 16

Thursday, April 22ND

7:00 YOUNG ADULT MEETING – SB - LIBRARY

Friday, April 23RD

12:00 – STAFF MEETING – SB - LIBRARY

Saturday, April 24th

9:00 - BOY SCOUT MEETING – SB LIBRARY
5:00 – MASS OF ANNOINTING – SB - CHURCH

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

Earth Day

As many communities and groups celebrate the 40th Earth Day this week, may we reflect deeply on our moral and religious responsibility to care for the environment.  As we enjoy all the signs of the spring renewal of life around us, let us join all creation in praising God.  Then let us live out our gratitude for the gifts of the earth by engaging in actions, habits and public policies that preserve the fruitfulness of the earth.  To better protect both human beings and the whole community of life that God loves, or to find more Catholic teaching, resources, and ways to take action visit the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford website: www.catholicsocialjustice.org.  Sunday, April 18, after the 10 o'clock Mass at Sacred Heart: find out about legislation that will impact the environment and take this opportunity to write to your members of Congress.

Children's Worship

We invite all children 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. We will not have Children’s Liturgy today because Boy Scout Troop 160 is preparing the hall for their annual Patriots’ Day pancake breakfast.  CLW will resume next Sunday, April 25.

Sacred Heart Parish

Offertory for April 10/11                                $ 4241.00
Envelope Offerings                                        $ 3567.00
Loose Cash                                                     $   674.00
St. Katharine Drexel                                      $  205.00

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 136 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.
Fr. Colletti

2010 CATHOLIC APPEAL - CALLED TO LOVE AND SHARE

Thank you to all supporters of the 2010 Catholic Appeal.  Our parish has raised $25,504 from 66 households, reaching 60% percent of our parish goal of $42,500.  If you have not yet pledged, please consider a gift today and help us meet our goal.  Remember, our parish will receive 25 percent of all funds we raise above our goal.  Please remember to make your pledge now even if you plan on fulfilling that pledge later in the year.  You can pick up information packets with pledge forms in the back of the Church to be mailed in, or for more information please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com or call 617-779-3700.  Every gift matters.  Thank you!

St. Brigid Church
9:00am	Tuesday April 20th	Eugene Buckley
9:00am	Thursday April 22nd	Michael Foley
9:00am	Saturday April 24th	Mark McGuire and Francis McGuire Monica Cotter Julianne M. Taylor Joseph Mazzeo Eveyln Paratore Edward P. Ugolini
Sacred Heart Church
9:00am	Monday April 19th	Arnold Colletti
9:00am	Wednesday April 21st	Helen Jenson
9:00am	Friday April 23rd	William & Margaret Brady

 

New “Welcoming” Ministry

Sacred Heart Parish will introduce a new ministry of “Welcoming” to the parish on April 25th with a presentation after the Sunday 10:00 AM liturgy in the Parish Center.  This ministry targets both visitors and potential new parishioners.  It will engage the entire parish to participate in a program to welcome new people to our parish community.  Your role in this can be understood and implemented through this discussion.  Old or new, we will be delighted to welcome you on the 25th.

HELPING HANDS MINISTRY

Helping Hands is a group of volunteers who provide assistance to members of the Catholic Community of Lexington who are in need, such as giving rides to doctor’s appointments, or making meals for the sick.  Volunteer drivers make no minimum time commitment.  They only need to be willing to join an email distribution list for ride requests, and accept only those that fit their schedule.  Volunteer meal makers can respond to requests as they are able.  For more information, please contact Jeanne Hobbs at 781-248-9722 or jeannehobbs@verizon.net.

Holy Humor

Letters from Children to God)

• Dear God: In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation? Jane
• Dear God: I read the Bible. What does 'begat' mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison
• Dear God: Are you really invisible or is that just a trick? Lucy
• Dear God: Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house? Anita
• Dear God: Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? Norma
• Dear God: Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't You just keep the ones You have now? Jane
• Dear God: Who draws the lines around the countries? Nan
• Dear God: I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church.  Is that okay? Neil
• Dear God: What does it mean You are a Jealous God?  I thought You had everything. Jane
• Dear God: Did you really mean "do unto others as they do unto you"? Because if you did, then I'm going to fix my brother. Darla

St. Brigid Parish

Offertory for April 10/11                                $ 8909.00
Envelope Offerings                                        $ 7926.00
Loose Cash                                                     $   983.00

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 244 have used their envelopes.  Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week! 
Fr. Colletti

2010 Catholic Appeal

Thank you to all supporters of the 2010 Catholic Appeal.  Our parish has raised $56,832 from 187 households, reaching 44% percent of our parish goal of $128,500.  If you have not yet pledged, please consider a gift today and help us meet our goal.  Remember, our parish will receive 25 percent of all funds we raise above our goal.  (As we did last year)  Please remember to make your pledge now even if you plan on fulfilling that pledge later in the year.  You can pick up information packets with pledge forms in the back of the Church to be mailed in, or for more information please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com or call 617-779-3700.  Every gift matters.  Thank you!

HOSPITALITY AT ST. BRIGID

We will not have “Hospitality-after-the-9” today (April 18) because Boy Scout Troop 160 is preparing the hall for their annual Patriots’ Day pancake breakfast. Join us next Sunday after the 9:00am Mass! 

LEXINGTON FOOD PANTRY SACRED HEART AND ST. BRIGID

This weekend, April 17th and 18th 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 include: oatmeal and low sugared cereal, low sodium vegetables, canned fruit in juice or light syrup, meals in a can, peanut butter, chunk white tuna and angel hair pasta. The food pantry also accepts personal care items and paper products.  Cash, supermarket gift cards and checks payable to the Lexington Food pantry should be placed in an envelope marked Lexington Food Pantry and put into the offertory basket or left at the office. We thank you for your past generosity and support of this endeavor.

 

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.

Megan Chenaille, Director of Youth Ministry
E-mail: Megan Chenaille
781-862-8724

Youth Mass
Please join us for our next Youth Mass on
Sunday, May2, 2010
Sacred Heart Church, 6pm
Bring your friends and families!!
There will be an ICE CREAM SOCIAL in the Parish Center after the Mass for all High School Students!!

Scholarship Applications
For Graduating High School Seniors
Are now available in the Religious Education Office located at 2001 Mass Ave

Patriots Day BBQ YOUTH Fundraiser

Come and support the Lexington Catholic YOUTH GROUP by stopping by our stand in front of St. Brigid Church during the afternoon parade Monday, April 19th from 12-3pm

St. Eulalia Youth Ministry Yard Sale

The St. Eulalia Youth Ministry Yard Sale will be taking place on May 22nd in Manion Hall, at Saint Eulalia Church, 50 Ridge Street, Winchester, MA. Proceeds will help support a July Catholic Heart Work Camp service trip to Maryland. Over 70 teens will be participating!!  Donate your unwanted furniture, household goods, housewares, small appliances, dishes, pots and pans, glassware, antiques, holiday decorations, sporting goods, bikes, tools, gardening supplies, books, clothing (adults and kids) accessories, shoes, pocketbooks, jewelry and whatever else you think might sell!  Drop-off at St Eulalia’s begins May 4th.  For information and where to bring items, call: Jared Blake at 781-729–8220, Ext. 15. Thank you.

 

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

Journey Together

Weekly Thursday Nights: Weekly Thursday Nights are a time of Faith Study/Discussion (7pm at St Brigid Parish) and then food and drinks at a local restaurant (8:15pm in Lexington Center, walking distance from the church). If you need to show up late that is perfectly fine, simply show up when you can.
Theology on Tap - We have Theology on Tap every 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:30pm at the Bickford’s Bar and Grill in Woburn. The address is 325 Montvale Ave, Woburn MA 01801. It is a great time to socialize, have a drink, and hear about a cool faith topic. Upcoming Schedule:
May 13th: Details coming soon…
June 24th: With Cardinal O’Malley in Lexington!