Sacred Heart Parish

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Saturday, December 12

4:00 PM Antonio Nicolazzo

Sunday, December 13

9:00 AM Frances and Roland LeBreche

10:30 AM Albert “Mickey” Folkard and Charles Napoli

11:45 AM Parishioners of Sacred Heart

Monday, December 14

12:05 PM Ignatius Maddi

Saturday, December 19

4:00 PM Lewis Manfredi

Sunday, December 20

9:00 AM Parishioners of Sacred Heart

11:45 AM Frances and Charles Gale

CELEBRANTS FOR NEXT WEEKEND’S MASSES

Saturday, December 19

4:00 PM Fr. Connelly

Sunday, December 20

9:00 AM Fr. Connelly

10:30 AM Fr. St. Martin

11:45 AM Fr. Imbelli

CONFESSIONS

Saturday, December 19 – 2:00 to 3:30 PM – Fr. Connelly

READINGS FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

First Reading: Micah 5:1-4a

Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45

ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE

The best preparation a person can make for Christmas is to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our Lady Help of Christians Parish invites us to prepare to receive the Lord with a clean heart by attending a Penance Service to be celebrated on Thursday, December 17, 7:30 PM at Our Lady Help of Christians Church.

FATHER MCCOY

Many of us were saddened by the news of Father McCoy’s death. This is so very true of our “Philippian” brothers and sisters whose pastor he was. On Sunday, the 27th of December, the 9 o’clock Mass will be celebrated as a Month’s Mind Mass for Father McCoy.

OFFERTORY INCOME

Weekend of December 5/6 $5,550

“ARISE IN ACTION”

The theme of the third season of ARISE was “In the Footsteps of Christ,” and conversations focused on how we are called to put Catholic Social Teaching into action. As a follow-on to this, one of the ARISE groups has committed to furnish and decorate a bedroom in Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ “Welcome Home” program. Bridge, which provides a variety of services to street kids in the Boston area, has a Transitional Living Program for homeless young men and women ages 18-24 and a Single Parent Home for young mothers and their children. Clients stay for up to 18 months and learn life skills while they are also going to school and/or working.  Because of budget constraints, Bridge has been unable to furnish the residences, which are in Brighton, as it would wish. The goal of the Welcome Home program is to have private groups "adopt" a room, providing furniture, carpet, window treatments, etc. 

The room that our group has adopted is currently occupied by an 18-year old pregnant high school student. The “make over” work day will be in January, so the task this month is to get the financing together. Any parishioner who would like to support this project should send a check made out to Sacred Heart Parish with a note indicating it is for the Bridge project to Joan Troy in the rectory.

Diane Roberts and Cathy Schneider

GIVING TREE

The “Giving Tree”, located in the gathering space in our upstairs church, is in memory of Roy Monroe, a valued member of the Deaf community throughout Massachusetts. Roy was also a cherished and active member of the Deaf Catholic Community in the Archdiocese of Boston. He did much to help senior citizens as well as deaf youth. Roy was diagnosed with cancer and fought the “good fight” for four years. He also remained cheerful and an example of strong faith in the midst of suffering. This giving tree, in honor of Roy, is a way for us to remember our communion with those who have gone before us, “marked with the sign of faith,” and a way of continuing his efforts to support youth ministry. This year the proceeds of the tree will be divided among the deaf and hearing youth groups of Sacred Heart Parish. Any donation is welcome. Simply put the name of someone you would like to honor, living or deceased, on the paper ornaments and hang them on the tree, and put your donation in the box. May the tree be decorated beautifully to welcome Christ on Christmas Day!

ST. FRANCIS HOUSE

Many thanks to all who helped to fill our shopping cart in November. The items needed for December are instant coffee and tea. Remember that you can bring in these items at any time during the month and leave them in the containers at the Church entrances.

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CATHOLIC CREED

Firmly I believe and truly

God is three and God is one;

And I next acknowledge duly

Manhood taken by the Son.


And I trust and hope most fully

In that manhood crucified;

And I love supremely, solely

Christ who for my sins has died.


And I hold in veneration,

For the love of him alone,

Holy Church as his creation

And her teachings as his own.


Praise and thanks be ever given

With and through the angel host,

To the God of earth and heaven,

Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

The author of the above Creed is Cardinal John Henry Newman. He was a revered 19th Century scholar and churchman. We think of his early years as his Anglican years, and we think of his later years as his Catholic years. His influence on scholarship was profound in his own day. Though he died some sixty years before the Second Vatican Council, his influence on the scholars of the Council was most significant. Perhaps it can be helpful for us in this column to reflect on Newman’s Creed so that we can appreciate the great mysteries we celebrate throughout the liturgical year. Newman first points to the foundational mystery on which all the truths of faith rest, that is, the mystery of our Three-Personed God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Theologians like to call this mystery “a necessary mystery” because we say of God – He always was; he always will be; he must exist. The next mystery is the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. We can call this mystery “a free mystery”, that is, it depends upon the freedom of God, because we can say of the first Christmas – it did not have to take place. Then Newman moves on to the mystery of Redemption and all the wonderful things God has done for us and continues to do for us through his Son and the Holy Spirit. Stanza three is important for us to read and to hear. Newman tells us the reason why he accepts as true the mysteries of faith. It is because faith is a gift that first comes to us from the Church in the Sacrament of Baptism. This is why Newman writes – “And I hold in veneration for the love of Christ alone, Holy Church as God’s creation and her teachings as his own.” We have the great truths of Trinity, Incarnation and Redemption. At the Advent-Christmas Liturgies, it is the Incarnation that stands center-stage.

The English word “incarnation” means “becoming flesh”, “taking on our humanity”. And so we read in John’s Gospel – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Christ Jesus, the very Son of God from all eternity, equal in divinity to the Father and Holy Spirit, at a particular moment in human history took on our humanity without ceasing to be his divine self and became like us in all things except sin. As we reflect on this mystery of faith and seek to grow in understanding, we praise God for his love and goodness as we ask the question – Why the Incarnation? Why did God the Son take on our humanity and enter truly into our human history? The Advent-Christmas Liturgies answer this question in different ways. They speak to us about a wondrous exchange between God and ourselves. For example, listen to the following antiphon – “What wondrous exchange: our Creator, taking on body and soul, in his kindness has been born from the Virgin Mary, and coming forth as Man, He has made us sharers in his divinity.” You and I, of course, do not cease to be our human selves, but now we share in God’s life through the grace and virtues of faith, hope and love.

We can learn a lot from some of the titles we give to the Lord Jesus. We call Him Savior, for we would be lost were it not for him. Who else can take away our two great enemies which are sin and death? We call him Redeemer, but why give him that title if he cannot free us from sin and death? So, if we do not grasp the truth that we are lost apart from Christ, that we never can become what God expects us to become apart from Christ, we will never appreciate Christmas.

Once again a new liturgical season has begun. Once again we are privileged to reflect on the Lord Jesus in his mysteries, in all that he has done and in all that he continues to do for us and for our salvation. We say of the Lord Jesus – Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. As such, he is our mediator. In fact, he is our perfect mediator. As perfectly divine, he is on God’s side of things. As perfectly human, he is on our side. As our mediator, he makes us one with the Father. As the Father’s mediator, he makes the Father one with us. As we reflect on Christ as our mediator, we think of him as truly man, truly the God-Man, and truly God. Augustine’s words can be of great help to us – “He who is God was made man, in taking that which he was not but without losing that which he was. Thus God became Man! Herein you have what is needful to your weakness. And herein you have also what is needful to your holiness of life. May Christ raise you by his ‘Being’ as man; may Christ guide you by his ‘Being’ as the God-Man; may Christ bring you to his ‘Being’ as God!”

Father Connelly

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Lighting the Advent wreath and following an Advent calendar is not just for kids! We all need reminders so as not to forget what is most important! The Advent wreath and Advent calendar help us to keep our minds on the real meaning of Christmas. Christ comes to this world humbly as a tiny baby to live in the manger of our hearts. May the prayers we offer at our Advent wreath and the careful listening of the scripture readings help us and our families to prepare the way for Christ to be born in our hearts and in our home on Christmas day. His love will fill our hearts and bring us true joy that lasts!

Don’t forget to give to our Dorchester neighbors a bag of food:

1 bottle of vegetable oil 1 bag of rice,

1 jar of spaghetti sauce 1 box of pasta,

1 box of cereal 1 jar of peanut butter,

1 jar of jelly 1 can of gravy

1 can of cranberry sauce

1 can each of: peas/carrots/corn

Please drop off food bags in the lower church before Tuesday, December 15th!!!

All Sunday CCD parents please take note that today CCD classes will end at 11:15 am in order for students to attend our Parish Advent Celebration in the MacKenzie Center.

CCD agenda for remainder of the year:

  • Tuesday, December 15: CCD classes will meet as usual.

  • Sunday, December 20 & Tuesday, December 22: CCD classes held as usual.

  • Sunday, Dec. 29 & Tuesday, Dec 31: No CCD classes: Christmas Vacation.

  • Sunday, Jan. 3 & Tuesday, Jan. 5: No CCD classes (Saved for Teacher Workshop)

  • Tuesday, Jan 5th: Teacher’s Workshop in Convent from 7-8:30 pm.

Michelle Solomon, Dir. Of Religious Education

Advent Programming on catholic tv

Throughout the month of December, CatholicTV will feature special Advent programming. This programming will include Vatican events with the Pope, an Advent journey with Father Richard Erikson, Christmas musical programming from Tajci, and Spanish programming. This Advent programming can be viewed at CatholicTV.com without charge and simultaneously on CatholicTV where available.

SIGNINGS

Joyful Expectation is our call.  We are excited.  Christmas is coming.  We are excited for we receive gifts.  Children are good at this naturally.  Children are dependent.  They cannot provide for themselves.  They are at the mercy of others.  Children need good parents.

But really we are all children.  We are all dependent.  Without the Father in Heaven we don't even begin to exist.

The Father gives us all that we have.  He gives us more then we could ever want.  He gives us a friend.  He gives us His Son Jesus.  That is why we are so excited.  That is why we are so happy.  That is why we are so full of joy.  We remember Jesus coming to us in that small and precious way as a baby at Christmas.  Jesus our friend and brother who is God is coming again at Christmas and we are closer now to this Christmas and His coming again in Glory on the last day.  We are closer than ever before!  And so we are filled with joy.

In Christ,

Fr. St. Martin

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

It has been our happy custom here at the Parish to accept donations for Christmas flowers in memory of deceased relatives and friends. Please include the names of those you would like listed in the bulletin. All of the people will be remembered during the Masses on Christmas Day and through Epiphany on Sunday, January 3rd. Checks can be made payable to Sacred Heart Parish and forwarded to the rectory.

CALENDAR NOTES

PARISH ADVENT CELEBRATION:

Sunday, December 13 – 10 AM to 1 PM – Parish Center

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – GRADES 1 TO 5:

Sunday, December 13 – 10:30 to 11:15 AM – Lower Church

BOY SCOUTS:

Monday, December 14 – 7:30 PM – Parish Center

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – Tuesday, December 15:

Grades 1-5: – 4:00 to 5:15 PM – Lower Church

Grades 6-10: – 7:00 to 8:30 PM – Lower Church

LITURGY COMMITTEE MEETING:

Tuesday, December 15 – 7:30 PM - Convent

PRAYER GROUP:

Wednesday, December 16 – 7:30 PM – Convent (Chapel)

ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE:

Thursday, December 17 – 7:30 PM – O.L. Help of Christians

LITURGY, ADORATION AND THE ROSARY:

Saturday, December 19 – 9 AM to 12:30 PM – Lower Church

EXTENDED COFFEE HOUR:

Sunday, December 20 – 10 AM to 1 PM – Parish Center