Sacred Heart Parish
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Saturday, June 5
4:00 PM The English Family
Sunday, June 6
9:00 AM Deceased Members of the Guild of St. Francis
11:45 AM Parishioners of Sacred Heart
Friday, June 11
12:05 PM Patrick Fabrizio
Saturday, June 12
4:00 PM Rosalie Daly
Sunday, June 13
9:00 AM Pasquale Stefano & Fortunatina DeSimone
11:45 AM Parishioners of Sacred Heart
CONFESSIONS
Saturday, June 12 – 2:00 to 3:30 PM – Fr. Connelly
READINGS FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Reading: 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13
Second Reading: Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Gospel Reading: Luke 7:36–8:3
COLLECTION FOR THE CLERGY
Next weekend’s special collection supports the retirement, medical and financial needs of priests of the Archdiocese of Boston. These priests have given their lives to faithfully serve Christ, the Church and you. On behalf of all our priests, thank you in advance for your generosity.
YARD SALE THANKS
Many thanks to all who supported the Knights of Columbus and Guild of St. Francis Yard sale. Whether you donated items or purchased goods, your support is very much appreciated.
ATTENTION GARDENERS
We all enjoy the lovely plants and flowers in full bloom around our property. Barbara Hatem is our wonderful gardener and keeps the flowers watered and nourished. However, Barbara is asking for help with the watering. If you have the time to help her with this task, will you please call her at 617-969-2567?
OFFERTORY AND COMMUNICATION COLLECTIONS
Weekend of May 29/30 $3,839
Communications Collection $ 400
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Our Confirmation II students will attend an all-day retreat on Saturday, June 19 at St. Mary of the Hills Parish in Milton from 10 am-4:45 pm. All students must attend in order to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on October 23, 2010. Please call the Rel. Ed office to confirm that your son/daughter will be attending. We are in need of parents who will help carpool.
I will be sending out registration forms for the upcoming CCD program for 2010-2011 in the next 2 weeks! If you do not receive one and wish to, please contact the Religious Education Office (617-979-4031).
As always we will be in need of faith-filled Religious Education teachers in the fall for both the Sunday and Tuesday programs! We ask that you pray about God’s call for you to respond in some way to the self-sacrificing love of Christ poured out on each one of us. May you look for a way to return His merciful love by serving His Church, perhaps in teaching CCD! Please contact the Religious Education office at any time during the summer to share your gifts. No experience required!
Have a Blessed Summer!
Michelle Solomon
Rel. Ed Director
INTENTIONS OF THE HOLY FATHER FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE
General Intention: That every national and international institution may strive to guarantee respect for human life from conception to natural death.
Mission Intention: That the Churches in Asia, a “little flock” among non-Christian populations, may communicate the Gospel and give joyful witness to their adherence to Christ.
ST. FRANCIS HOUSE
Thank you for your donations during May. The item needed for June is vegetable oil. You may leave your donations at any time in the shopping cart or the bins provided at the church entrances.
LIFT – CATHOLIC WORSHIP FOR A NEW GENERATION
Join us for LIFT – an exciting monthly worship event which includes vibrant praise and worship music, dynamic, challenging speakers and Eucharistic Adoration. On Tuesday, June 8, we welcome Kelly Pease as our guest speaker. The evening runs from 7-9 pm at Fontbonne Academy, 930 Brook Road, Milton. Directions and a downloadable flyer, along with more information about LIFT, can be found at www.lifterhigher.com.
THE CENTRALITY OF WORSHIP
The years 1962-1965 were important years for the Church. They mark the beginning and end of the four sessions of the Second Vatican Council. A glance at the calendar tells us that in another two years we will be celebrating half a century in the post-conciliatory period.
As we all know it was in 1958 that Angelo Roncalli was elected to the Papal Office. Down through the history of the papacy, often times at least, after a long and strong pontificate, or of several strong pontificates, the time comes when perhaps an older person might be elected as the Church comes to grips with its busy agenda at any given time. Pope John, however, was hardly an interim figure. His calling of the Council has been the major issue of all the recent history of the Church.
The first work of the Council focused on the Liturgy. The document on the Liturgy was the first to be promulgated. Since the Council we have seen several changes, both in the Sacramentary and in the Lectionary in an ongoing effort to develop the best English translation of the service of the Liturgy. The Church in English-speaking countries of the world are beginning a process to bring us all up-to-date on a new and revised Sacramentary which is the book on the altar from which the celebrant proclaims the Eucharistic Canon and finds all the various prayers with which we are so familiar and which we have been using day in and day out over the course of several decades.
I mention the document on the Liturgy for a very practical reason. I personally spent five happy years as a student at St. John’s Seminary. I served on the faculty of St. John’s Seminary from 1958-1983 when I came to Sacred Heart Parish – although I continued to teach at the Seminary for eight or nine years after I came to Sacred Heart. I mention this because last week I went back to the Seminary, not to teach but to learn – To learn what? To have an opportunity to study some of the liturgical changes which will be introduced into parish practices on the First Sunday of Advent 2011.
The Council’s document on the Liturgy opens with a paragraph that tells us why the Second Vatican Council was called in the first place. Paragraph 1 reads: “It is the goal of this most sacred Council to intensify the daily growth of Catholics in Christian living; to make more responsive to the requirements of our times those Church observances which are open to adaptation; to nurture whatever can contribute to the unity of all who believe in Christ; and to strengthen those aspects of the Church which can help summon all of mankind into her embrace. Hence the Council has special reasons for judging it a duty to provide for the renewal and fostering of the liturgy.”
Paragraph 2 tells us why the Council focused on the Liturgy at the start of the proceedings. It reads as follows: “For it is through the liturgy, especially the divine Eucharistic Sacrifice, that ‘the work of our redemption is exercised.’ The liturgy is thus the outstanding means by which the faithful can express in their lives, and manifest to others, the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church. It is of the essence of the church that she be both human and divine, visible and yet invisibly endowed, eager to act and yet devoted to contemplation, present in this world and yet not at home in it. She is all these things in such a way that in her the human is directed and subordinated to the divine, the visible likewise to the invisible, action to contemplation, and this present world to that city yet to come, which we seek. Day by day the liturgy builds up those within the Church into the Lord’s holy temple, into a spiritual dwelling for God – an enterprise which will continue until Christ’s full stature is achieved. At the same time the liturgy marvelously fortifies the faithful in their capacity to preach Christ. To outsiders the liturgy thereby reveals the Church as a sign raised above the nations. Under this sign the scattered sons of God are being gathered into one until there is one fold and one shepherd.”
In 1985 our Archbishop at that time, Bernard Law, issued an excellent Pastoral Letter entitled: “A Sunday Liturgy: the Heart of a Parish”. This document has been very helpful in implementing the Council’s renewal of the Liturgy. It has reminded us that from the earliest days of the Church, the gathering of God’s people for worship on the day of the resurrection has been central to the life of the community. In fact, “By a tradition handed down from the apostles which took its origin from the very day of Christ’s resurrection, the Church celebrates the paschal mystery every eighth day; with good reason this, then, bears the name of the Lord’s Day or Sunday. For on this day the faithful are bound to come together into one place so that, by hearing the word of God, and taking part in the Eucharist they may call to mind the passion, the resurrection and the glorification of the Lord Jesus... Hence the Lord’s Day is the original feast day...”
The Sunday liturgy of the Church is its most important activity. It is at the Sunday liturgy that the Church finds its true meaning and is strengthened for its mission. Ultimately, the Sunday liturgy is not important or successful because of our efforts. The Sunday liturgy always remains the work of the Lord. We, His people, by the power of the Spirit, offer with Jesus to the Father all that Jesus has done for us. Every Sunday, it is the assurance that the Lord is in our midst that lifts our spirits. Every Sunday it is the nourishment of the Lord’s body and blood that strengthens us for daily life. Every Sunday it is the celebration of the memorial of the Lord’s death and resurrection that reminds us over and over again of the love of God and thus calls forth our own love. The more we understand and appreciate what the Lord does for us at the Sunday liturgy, the more we can realize why it
is the Church’s most important activity. It is at the Sunday liturgy that the parish discovers its identity as a part of the Church. It is at the Sunday liturgy that the parish derives its strength for its mission. It is at the Sunday liturgy that the parish is brought together and formed into a body united in love for the service of the church.
Father Connelly
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FAMILY PICNIC
The Knights of Columbus will have their annual family picnic/barbeque on Saturday, June 12 from 12 – 4:00 PM in the convent back yard. Catholic men interested in membership in the K of C are invited to attend with their families to learn more about our local chapter.
NORTHEAST CATHOLIC FAMILY CONFERENCE
Please mark your calendars and join us for the Northeast Catholic Family Conference on June 27th from 1 pm – 8 pm at St. Mary's Church in Waltham. The theme of the conference is "Called to Greatness." The day will feature an event with Cardinal Seán, Mass and Adoration, a Marian Procession, workshops for adults, separate teen and children's programs, a family cookout, and inspiring speakers including Leah Darrow, a former contestant on the Reality Television Show, "America's Next Top Model." For more information and registration, please visit www.yHopefamily.org or call Fr. Mike Harrington at 781-956-0548.
SAINT COLUMBKILLE PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL
Saint Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton is now accepting registrations for a limited number of seats in all grades, Pre-K through 8, for the 2010-2011 school year. Our dedicated, outstanding faculty and staff provide an exciting, faith-filled learning environment. Teachers and students benefit from the implementation and use of the newest curriculum materials in all subject areas. All are welcome to visit the school. For more information, or to schedule a visit and tour, please contact the school office at 617-254-3110, or visit info@stcomumbkilleschool.net.
CALENDAR NOTES
GUILD OF ST. FRANCIS COMMUNION BREAKFAST:
Sunday, June 6 – 10 AM to 1 PM – Parish Canter
COFFEE HOUR:
Sunday, June 6 – Following 10:30 AM Mass – Convent DR
BOY SCOUTS:
Monday, June 7 – 7:30 PM – Parish Center
COFFEE HOUR:
Friday, June 11 – Following 9 AM Mass – Parish Center
LITURGY, ADORATION AND THE ROSARY:
Saturday, June 12 – 9 AM to 12:30 PM – Lower Church
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FAMILY PICNIC:
Saturday, June 12 – 12 to 4:00 PM – Convent Backyard
SIGNINGS
Jesus shares with us the strength of His very life and love flowing from His innermost being. This is to say that Jesus gives us His Most Holy Body and Blood. He does this in time as man when Pontius Pilate was in power over Jerusalem many years ago. He does this now and forever by His power as God to make that one act of love transcendent.
In the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar the Holy Spirit working in the Church comes down upon the gifts of bread and wine that we present in accordance with Christ's directives, and these earthly things, already transformed from wheat and grapes, are transformed again, this time by God's hand, into food for the souls of His faithful people.
I think of Mary and how she shared her body and blood with Jesus. He needed her human life as a human woman in order to share in the human life of you and me. Her body became his home in which His body was "knit together." Her blood, flowing from her loving immaculate heart, fed Him through the umbilical cord. Jesus in turn does the same for us. He now connects us through His human nature with His life as God. We are given a share now in His life and love, His body and blood.
What is the umbilical cord for us? The instrument of the Body and Blood we need and long for is the Church. The Church indeed is the womb so to speak with all the needed parts to communicate Christ's divine life to us. The analogy for the Church as communicator of this life divine is of a woman and of Mary.
Mary is the model for the Church. Through maternity we receive Divine life, Christ's Eucharistic life. The Church, our Mother, feeds and nourishes us.
It is within the beauty of the Church and even within the physical walls of the actual buildings that we experience in time and in place the real conception and loving strengthening of Divine life expressed by the mystery of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Through Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit as symbol of Holy Mother Church we receive with delight.
In Christ, Fr. St. Martin
PALESTRINA CHOIR PERFORMANCE
The Irish Pastoral Centre invites you to a special performance of the Palestrina Choir on Sunday, June 20, 6:30 PM at the Mission Church, 1545 Tremont St., Boston. Suggested Donation is $10.00. Proceeds to benefit the programs of the Irish Pastoral Centre, the Irish Cultural Centre and the Irish Immigration Center. Parking available in the lot behind the funeral home or on the street. Call 617-479-7404 if you have questions.