Sacred Heart Parish
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Sunday, May 8
9:00 AM Parishioners of Sacred Heart
11:45 AM Intentions of Josephine Nicolazzo
Monday, May 9
12:05 PM Mary MacDonald
Saturday, May 14
4:00 PM Sheila Werbinski
Sunday, May 15
9:00 AM Parishioners of Sacred Heart
11:45 AM James O’Donaghue
CELEBRANTS FOR NEXT WEEKEND’S MASSES
Saturday, May 14
4:00 PM Fr. Connelly
Sunday, May 15
9:00 AM Fr. Connelly
10:30 AM Fr. St. Martin
11:45 AM Fr. Imbelli
CONFESSIONS
Saturday, May 14 – 2:00 to 3:30 PM – Fr. Connelly
READINGS FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
First Reading: Acts: 2:14a, 36-41
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:20b-25
Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10
SOCIAL JUSTICE FORUM
Plan to join us on Sunday, May 15, at 7:30 PM in the lower Church as we welcome our speakers Gloria White Hammond, Executive Director and Co-Founder of My Sister’s Keeper, and Sarah Cleto Rial, Program Director of My Sister’s Keeper who will focus on SUDAN: Building Pathways to Sustainable Peace. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served after the presentation.
FIRST COMMUNION
Plan ahead. First Communion takes place on Sunday, May 15 at the 9 AM Mass. Reserved seating for the First Communicants and their families will take up the front center and adjoining side aisle; also 2 rows in the center beyond the divide. Unreserved seating is along the elevator window side, pews beyond the divide and chairs in the gathering space.
OFFERTORY INCOME
Weekend of April 30/May 1 $4,209
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Our First Communion students will receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the 1st time on Sunday, May 15th at the 9AM Mass. After Mass, the entire Parish is invited to celebrate with our students and families in the MacKenzie Center with a beautiful brunch prepared by our CCD Mothers! Also, our CCD parents should be reminded to attend the 1st Communion rehearsal on Saturday, May 14th at 1:30-3pm in the upper church. At least one parent must attend!
There will be no Sunday CCD program on the day of 1st Communion. Our CCD program will be ending for the year on Tuesday, May 17 and Sunday, May 22. All families (Sunday & Tuesday programs) are invited to the end of the year Mass held for the lower grades on Tuesday, May 17 at 4pm and for the upper grades at 7pm that same day. There will be a celebration of the completion of the year after Mass.
Hard to believe that our Confirmation students only have two weeks left of classes. Since September, our students have been hard at work preparing for Confirmation. The first semester was spent studying the Theology of Body, a program that speaks to the deepest meaning of why we were created, the purpose of love, sexuality, marriage and the meaning of life. Using a great mix of stories, real-life examples, activities, prayers, and references to the culture that teens understand, Theology of the Body for Teens answers the questions teens have about their own bodies, issues on sexual morality, and how they were uniquely created for greatness.
The second semester offered a variety of speakers who shared in-depth reflections and understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church on a variety of topics including the Sacraments, Christology, Prayer/Religious Life and the Commandments.
Our “Confirmandi” will continue preparation for the Sacrament which will include an all day retreat, a research project to be completed during the summer, letter to the Bishop, and completion of community service hours. It has been a joy to watch these students grow and develop in their knowledge of our beautiful Catholic faith. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
Michelle Solomon Director of Religious Education
Roseann Furbush Confirmation Coordinator
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS YARD SALE
The Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus would like to remind parishioners that they are looking for items for a yard sale to be held on May 21. If you have anything to contribute, please talk to either Bob Terwilliger or Peter Castellanos. All donations accepted.
I’VE BEEN READING
The Catholic Church in the United States is fractured. It exists in a society that is much more fractured, not to mention a world, warring and terrorist, which must be designated by some term much greater than “fractured”. Two articles crossed my desk recently – each one was concerned with some of these fractures. John L. Allen, Jr. writes knowledgeably and measurably on issues about the state of the Church these days. His article is entitled, “Thoughts on Post-Tribal Catholicism”. He begins this way – “Tensions surrounding Catholic identity are very much in the air these days, and when they erupt they’re always a prescription for heartburn. People who regard themselves as authentically Catholic rarely enjoy being told they’re not, or that they’re only selectively so. Likewise, people who believe the faith they treasure is being misrepresented, or distorted, or eviscerated from within, typically get their Irish up.” What are some of the tensions that Allen has in mind? He says, by the way, that the conventional term for such tension is “polarization”, as if everyone is clustered into left and right. Allen suggests that the sociological landscape in this regard is more akin to “tribalization”. As Allen mentions – “We have pro-life Catholics, peace and justice Catholics, liturgical traditionalist Catholics, neo-con Catholics, Church reform Catholics, feminist Catholics and on and on, with each tribe touting its own heroes, attending its own meetings and reading it own journals and blogs.”
The second article I was reading was evidently a talk given by the Cardinal-Archbishop of Washington, under the title “Civil and Christian Discord”. The talk begins as follows – “The preacher’s pulpit, the politician’s podium, and the print and electronic media all bear some responsibility to encourage a far more civil, responsible and respectful approach to national debate and the discussions of issues in our country today.” The polarization is present in both Church and society. It’s important that we heed what these authors are saying. Civil discord in terms of differing views as to what constitutes the common good is a good thing and helpful to our country’s well-being.
The above comments, my comments, do not do justice to the problem at hand as the authors have so wonderfully tried to express it. We all know the negativity, the distrust, the suspicion, that surrounds us in the media, in the country as a whole and in the church. So let us concentrate on the more positive things that perhaps we can accomplish here at Sacred Heart Parish. John Allen makes the observation that what Catholicism needs at this moment is a grass-roots movement to rebuild zones of friendship in the church, zones of trust in the church, zones of love in the church. We all heard on Holy Thursday what all the readings were stressing – unity, unity, unity. Just as the Father and the Lord Jesus are one, so we ourselves must be one. Christ’s Holy Thursday command was that we love one another as Christ has loved us. Mr. Allen is not thinking of formal programs of dialog nor is he fostering a new debating society. Why cannot Sacred Heart Parish become a true zone of friendship?
Listen to the words of St. Ignatius taken from his marvelous little book called The Spiritual Exercises. At the very beginning of his exercises, he places a presupposition. In particular he is thinking about a relationship between the one giving the Exercises and the ones who are doing the exercises. He writes that: “To assure better cooperation between the one who is giving the Exercises and those doing the exercises and to assure more beneficial results for both, it is necessary to suppose that every good Christian is more ready to put a good interpretation on another’s statement than to condemn it as false. If an orthodox construction cannot be put on a proposition, the one who made it should be asked how he understands it. If he is in error, he should be corrected with all kindness. If this does not suffice, all appropriate means should be used to bring him to a correct interpretation and so defend the proposition from error.”
Perhaps we are in the danger of forgetting what the Gospel asks of us as followers of Christ. For example, St Paul writes in Romans – “Your love must be sincere. Detest what is evil, cling to what is good. Love one another with the affection of brothers. Anticipate each other in showing respect.” When we read the Gospel of John, chapters 13 to 17, and reflect how often the Lord Jesus speaks about unity among his followers, we should first of all ask ourselves why the Lord wants us to be one with him and one with our brothers and sisters. The Lord Jesus always says unity is imperative so that the world may know that God has sent him. Did not the Lord say on one occasion the Father and I are one? This is the message our love for one another ought to be expressing. Christ the Lord shared in our humanity. He died on the cross for us to give us a share in his divinity.
There is an old saying Pope John XXIII made mention of at the time of the Second Vatican Council. He urged everyone at the Council to distinguish the things that are essential from the things that are inessential, and so the saying goes: In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, freedom; in all things essential and inessential, charity.
Father Connelly
COMMUNICATIONS COLLECTION
Next week’s special collection supports the Catholic Communication Campaign to develop media programs, projects and resources that promote Gospel values. 50% of the collection supports local communications efforts, such as televised Masses and diocesan newspapers. The other 50% supports development and production of a wide range of national media programming. Please visit www.USCCB.ord/ccc for more information.
SIGNINGS
Parents set up rules for their children. "You must do your homework before you can watch TV or use a video game." This is a common kind of rule. Punishments result from the breaking of such rules. This can make a child angry. Sometimes a child can even feel resentful toward mother and father. I remember when I was a little boy I didn't want to go to bed when it was time. I was three or four and I remember feeling that there was a great injustice. I felt it was not fair. There was a great cry that came out. It was a loud cry that comes easily to people of that age. My parents were like giants. They were not happy that I was putting up such a protest. I wanted to stay up and hang out with them. I didn't want to go to bed. It was typical of us all. Rules sometimes make us feel as though someone is stealing something that is rightfully ours, some freedom we want. Sometimes we cry out against the rules and the rule makers.
In the first reading Peter tells the Jews that are before him about how they broke a rule. There is a rule that you should not kill God. This is what Peter accused the crowd before him of doing. Can you imagine that? That is the worst thing.
But Peter says that God Himself is going to make up for their sin, their rule breaking, free of charge and reward them. That is something no good parent would do. Many find it hard to believe that God is so in love with us that he would behave like that. God is madly in love with us. He is not just just - He is just and so much more. He is mercy.
It is hard for us to understand. It was hard for Christ's disciples walking with Him on the road to Emmaus to understand. But Christ is supernaturally patient with us and He is with us even when we are so stubborn and dejected. Even when we are full of nothing but the worst ugliness for Him, He is love.
It is very hard to believe God is that good but He is.
In Christ,
Fr. St. Martin
CATECHETICAL CERTIFICATE OPEN HOUSE
Come learn more about the Certificate Programs offered by the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John’s Seminary! Two sessions are offered on Saturday, May 14 – 9:30 AM or 1:30 PM – at 149 Washington St., Brighton. Contact miriam.marston@sjs.edu or 617-779-4104 ext. 5 for more information.
SUMMER COURSES AT SAINT JOHN’S SEMINARY
Spread the news! Come learn more about your Catholic faith at the summer courses offered evenings at St. John’s Seminary, 149 Washington St., Brighton beginning on May 24. Register at www.sjs.edu.
GUILD OF ST. FRANCIS COMMUNION BREAKFAST
Save the date of Sunday June 5, 2011 for the Annual Communion Breakfast and Meeting following the 9:00 AM Mass for deceased members of the Guild of St. Francis. Cost will be $15.00 per person and reservations must be made by June 1, 2011. No admittance without a reservation. Checks made payable to the Guild of St. Francis should be mailed to Sally Daly, 138 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA, 02461. Spouses and family members welcomed. For questions and reservations, please call Mary English at 617-332-8656 or Cindy Raymond, 617-517-3722.
SCOUT MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL
Come celebrate with boy Scouts and girl Scouts from all over the Archdiocese of Boston as they gather at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, for Mass at 2:00 PM on Sunday, May 15, to receive their Catholic religious emblems and medals. Over 100 awards swill be presented to Scouts who have earned the Spirit Alive, Marian Medal, I Live My Faith Medal, Pope Pius XII and Ad Altare Dei Medals. Younger scouts who have already received the Family of God Medal, Parvuli Dei Medal or Light of Christ Medal within the past year are welcome to come and receive a certificate for their achievement.
OUR LADY’S ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE
Our Lady’s Academy, 920 Trapelo Rd., Waltham, is having an OPEN HOUSE fro Pre-K through Grade 8 on Tuesday, May 10 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Explore the possibilities of a 21st century Catholic education. For questions, visit the website at www.ourladysacademy.org or call 781-899-0353.
CALENDAR NOTES
COFFEE HOUR:
Sunday, May 8 – 10 AM – Parish Center
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION - Grades 1-5:
Sunday, May 8 – 10:30 to 11:45 AM – Lower Church
BOY SCOUTS:
Monday, May 9 – 7:30 PM – Parish Center
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Tuesday, May 10
Grades 1-5 – 4:00 to 5:15 PM – Lower Church
Grades 6-10 – 7:00 to 8:30 PM – Lower Church
PRAYER GROUP:
Wednesday, May 11 – 7:30 PM – Convent Chapel
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS:
Wednesday, May 11 – 7:30 PM. – Convent Dining Room
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING:
Thursday, May 12 – 7:30 PM – Convent Library
COFFEE HOUR:
Friday, May 13 – Following 9 AM Mass – Parish Center
LITURGY, ADORATION AND THE ROSARY:
Saturday, May 14 – 9 AM to 12:30 PM – Lower Church
FIRST COMMUNION RECEPTION:
Sunday, May 15 – 10 AM – Parish Center