The Gospel today (John 10:27-30) has Jesus proclaim, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” There is a promise attached to belonging to his flock, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one shall snatch them out of my hand.”

The trouble with these statements lies in the fact that all who reject Jesus as the Christ are not part of his flock.  “The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.”  Jesus spoke plainly to the people that he was the Anointed One of God, the Christ, the Messiah but they still did not believe.  Then he asked them to believe in the works he performed.  Others professed belief in Jesus.  Peter made bold witness, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16 and Mk 8:29).  Martha, the sister of dead Lazarus, likewise declared when Jesus questioned her about his identity, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world” (John 11:27).

In one of the prayers I recite at the death bed of a Catholic I pray that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, may recognize this person as one of his own flock.  We declare that Jesus is the Christ every time we gather together and recite the Creed. This is the faith of the church.  This is the faith to which we belong.  The sad problem is that we may verbally confess the true message about our Shepherd Lord but think, act, and talk with attitudes, actions and words that communicate a totally different message—one that says we really don’t believe all that “stuff” that we just said.

If we really believed, would we not listen to the Good Shepherd who said that “my sheep listen to my voice”? Wouldn’t we strive to remain faithful to our marriage vows; set aside anger, hate and jealousy; seek to reconcile damaged or broken relationships; worship with the community; and energetically tell the Good News about Jesus to one another and to all whom God places in our daily paths?

We may have a long way to go to fully believe and trust in the Lord enough to show forth the works that indicate that we indeed belong to his flock.  We may have the same

 

frustration and anxiety that Saint Paul possessed when he wrote: “I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing” (Rom 7:15-19).  What is the solution to this dilemma of Paul’s and perhaps ours as well? “Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:24).

May we come to know Christ in an even more intimate way so we may hear his voice and follow him.

 

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, Joanna Walsh, Victoria Kilgore, Virginia Tavilla, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino.  Please also remember in your prayers all of our deceased family members and parishioners, especially Thomas Faltz, nephew of Irene Revais, William Savage and Joseph Vaccaro.

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.

Vacation Bible School

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!

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 May 5th and May 19th.   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

An Invitation From Our Third Graders!

Our parishes’ Third Graders invite you to join them at their grade-level Mass at 5:00pm on Saturday, May 1, at St. Brigid Church. Following the Mass, the children will participate in the Sodality’s annual crowning of Mary. This song-filled ceremony will take place in Mary’s Garden behind the church.

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! 

Welcome to New Parishioners

No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church, no matter what your current family or marital situation, no matter what your current personal history, age, background, race, etc., no matter what your own self-image; you are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved and respected here with the Catholic Community in Lexington. . If you are new to Sacred Heart or St. Brigid Parishes, please introduce yourself to either Father Colletti or one of the Pastoral Associates, Beverly Good or Mary Peterson, after Mass or at your convenience.  Also, please contact the Office to register as a member of the parishes

Homebound Parishioners

As always, if you know of anyone who is homebound and unable to get to church, please contact the office so that we can make sure they receive the Eucharist. 

Most of us see the same people week after week at “our” Mass.  If you find that you are not seeing a certain person or people who are always at “your” Mass, please call the office and we will be happy to call and check to see if they are in good health or if they need some help or a visit from our Ministers to the Homebound.

Adoration

Spend some quiet time with the Risen Lord this Friday and every Friday during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 12:00 – 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church.

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

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.

Lexington Food Pantry Volunteers Needed

The annual Post Office Food Drive will be taking place on Saturday, May 8th.  Volunteers are needed at the Lexington Food Pantry located at Church of Our Redeemer on Meriam St. from 12 noon to 6 p.m. to sort, box, and stack donated food items. If you can spare an hour or two, it would be most appreciated.  This is a great opportunity for families to get involved in the pantry.  All are welcome.

Community News

Sunday, April 25th 

11:00 – SB – BAPTISMS
6:00 – ST. BRIGID PPC MTG. – SB – PC
7:00 – JOINT PPC MEETING – SB-PC

Monday, April 26th  

4-6:00 – GRADE 2 RETREAT – SH - PC

Tuesday, April 27th 

7:30 – BOY SCOUT COMM. MTG. – SB - L

Wednesday, April 28TH

7:30 – RELIGIOUS ED COMM.MTG. – SB –L

7:30 – R.C.I.A. MTG. – SH – PC

Thursday, April 29TH  

6:15 – 9:30 BOY SCOUTS –SB – PC
7:00 – YOUNG ADULT GROUP – SB-PC

Friday, April 30TH

7:30 – 2:00 – UNITED VOICES H.S. RETREAT-SB
12:00 – STAFF MEETING – SB - LIBRARY

Saturday, MAY 1ST

7:00 – 12:00PM BOY SCOUT MEETING – SB - PC  
5:00 – GRADE 3 LEVEL MASS– SB - CHURCH

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

Help Needed

A parishioner is looking for a ride Monday-Friday from Lexington to Centre Street in Newton.  Perhaps you work near there or are retired and looking for something to do!  Willing to pay or share in the cost.  If interested/available, please contact Janet at 617-320-0239.

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.

Thank You

On behalf of the hungry school children in our sister parish in Haiti, the St. Brigid - Sacred Heart Haiti Committee would like to thank parishioners, young and old, for their generosity this Lenten Season.

The Religious Education students collected more than $700 in their Lenten boxes.  Parishioners on Holy Thursday donated over $3,000 to support Haitian Relief.  What a wonderful response!

A recent visitor to Fond des Blancs, after visiting the schools we support and meeting with students, shared his reaction to what he saw and heard, "I am haunted by visions of overcrowded classrooms, inadequate supplies, and worst of all, hungry kids."  In response to the growing hunger, the money you donated this Lent will be used to help feed the children of St. Francois Parish Schools. 

Our thanks and the thanks of the parents of Fond des Blancs for your generous hearts.

St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry

May 2nd is the collection date for the St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry. Please remember to bring bags of non-perishable food items for the pantry by 11 am. You can leave food donations at the entrances to both St. Brigid and Sacred Heart or at the altar at Sacred Heart.  Checks, made payable to St. Katharine Drexel, and Stop & Shop gift cards also go a long way to help those in need. Please drop checks and gift cards into the offertory or by the office. Thank you again for your continued support of this vital ministry in Roxbury.

Sacred Heart Parish

Offertory for April 17/18                                $ 5191.00
Envelope Offerings                                        $ 4465.00
Loose Cash                                                     $   726.00
St. Katharine Drexel                                      $  227.00

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 106 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.  Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each 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 $26,179 from 69 households, reaching 61.6% 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 27th	Henry Downs
9:00am	Saturday May 1st	William Hopkins, Rita Thompson, Deceased Members of Cuccinello Family, Walter Ward & Stephen Ward
Sacred Heart Church
9:00am	Friday April 30th	Mirasol O’Brien

 

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.

St. Brigid Parish

Offertory for April 17/18                                $ 9479.00
Envelope Offerings                                        $ 8267.00
Loose Cash                                                     $ 1212.00

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 248 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 $64,032 from 192 households, reaching 49.8% 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 call 617-779-3700 or please visit www.BostonCatholicAppeal.com.  Every gift matters, Thank you!

“Respect for Life”
Life Before Birth
Stem Cell Research
Economic Impact of Roe v. Wade
An Introductory Presentation on the Value of Human Life will be presented on
Wednesday, May 19 at 7:30 pm in Manion Hall,
St. Eulalia’s Parish, 50 Ridge Street, Winchester
Light refreshments will be served.
All are Welcome!
 “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.”
(Matthew 25:40)

Ecological Awareness

Fr. Rayappa A. Kasi, of Vellore, India, will deliver a talk on "Climate Change and the Role of Religion", at St. Patrick Church, Stoneham, on May 10, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited and there is no admission charge.

Fr. Rayappa has been a Catholic priest for 28 years, serving the poor of southern India for most of that time. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and philosophy in India, and a Masters Degree in Theology from the College of Propaganda Fide in Rome.

Fr. Rayappa's talk will last 45 minutes and will be followed by a brief question and answer period. Copies of his book about the environmental crisis, "The Lost Paradise of Happiness", will be available for purchase.

For more information, please contact the St. Patrick Parish rectory at (781) 438-0960.

Holy Humor

Two husbands were discussing their married lives.  Although happily married, they admitted that there were arguments sometimes.  Then Chad said, “I’ve made one great discovery.  I now know how to always have the last word.”

“Wow!” said Sherm, “how did you manage that?”

“It’s easy,” replied Chad.  “My last word is always ‘Yes, Dear.’”

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

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. 

Boston Catholic Television

Daily Mass can be seen LIVE on Catholic TV and Boston’s WBPX, Channel 68, weekdays at 9:30 am, at 7:30 p.m. or midnight (all times Eastern).  You can also celebrate it LIVE or "on demand" here at Catholic TV's web site, www.CatholicTV.com.

Religious Education

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!

Life Snipets

All people smile
In the same language.