This week America will inaugurate a new president. It is the habit of us all that we examine the plus and minuses of the past president and look ahead with hope and anticipation of the incoming president. We must pray for the new president and his administration.
Almighty and eternal God, assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of the United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides. May he encourage due respect for virtue and religion. May he execute the laws with justice and mercy. May he seek to restrain crime, vice, and immorality.
Let the light of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government. May they seek to preserve peace, promote national happiness, and continue to bring us the blessings of liberty and equality.
In 1978, Solzhenitsyn, the author who wrote The Gulag Archipelago about his life in a Soviet prison camp, was invited to Harvard to receive an honorary degree and give a commencement address. In his speech he gave a thoughtful indictment of Western democracy, not as an enemy, but as a friend with a different vantage point.
He said that the colonial empires built by Western powers left nothing behind but problems. The West had not learned and still believed that it was a model for the world. He believed that the spread of capitalism merely continued that imperial march.
He believed that the West shows contempt for justice. In the West what is right legally, not necessarily what is just, is what matters.
He stated that the press is held unaccountable in the name of journalistic freedom. Thus, freedom of the press has become a form of government by terror.
Spiritual concerns, he continued, have been replaced by the desire to make more money and spend it on useless things. Money guides society. Money has been embraced as a positive good because society has become utterly materialistic and has marginalized God.
God is without meaning in the lives of ordinary individuals and the values by which they live their lives.
Perhaps, we need this most important time in America to examine where our policies are taking us. Who do we think we are in the world and how do we see our mission? How will we ever attain a real value system for our dealings with one another? Do we really want a value-free society where all of our choices are of equal weight? Pray for the new administration and for ourselves.
Almighty and eternal God, we commend to your unbounded mercy all citizens of the United States, that we may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your holy law. May we be preserved in union and that peace which the world cannot give.
Christian Unity
Christ prayed at the Last Supper that there would be one flock and one shepherd. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins Sunday, January 18th and ends with the conversion of Saint Paul on January 25th. We pray: Confirm us in our common faith that we may walk together with you and one another. May the gifts of God unite us in faith, hope and love. Send your blessing upon your church that what we have begun in the Spirit may be brought to completion by your power. To you be glory and honor. Amen
Readings for the Week Of Sunday, January 18, 2009
| St. Brigid Church |
| |
| 9:00am | Tuesday January 20th | Lee Fenochetti |
| 9:00am | Thursday January 22nd | Lucio C. Ruzzier, Sr |
| 8:00am | Saturday January 24th | Grace Kenney |
| |
| Sacred Heart Church |
| |
| 9:00am | Saturday January 24th | Marisol O'Brien (Month's Mind) |
In Service For Their Country
Lt. John Schiavi, Sgt. Christopher Considine, Timothy Dunbar, Richard Rigley, Timothy Busa, Chris Cullen, Caitlin R. Battell, Robert McLaughlin, Sean Maddigan, Rev. Paul Passamonti, Airman Jason Cunha, Mark Zarnecki, Patrick J. Nordahl, Scott and Michael Donahue, Lt. Brian Casey, and 1st Lt. Brian Geary.
We want to welcome home Elizabeth Leyne from Iraq and we thank God she is safe and sound and back with her family!
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.
Martin Luther King Day
The office will be closed on Monday, January 19th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Roe vs Wade
Thursday, January 22nd, is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Roe Vs. Wade (1973)
Helping Hands
Helping Hands for January is
Mary Burnell – 781-862-2023.
Please pray for all who are in need of our prayers that God’s healing and comforting presence may be with them, especially Father Smith, Nancy Grossimon, Bill Kenney, John Harper, Marylou Merry, Josephine Siders, Mary Collins, Philip Johnson, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino. Please also remember all of our deceased relatives and friends especially Karen Muskavitch, Nicolena Galarneau and Laure Harrigan.
Martin Luther King, Jr. March
On Sunday, Jan. 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., residents and community leaders will commemorate and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This year’s interactive, multi-media conversation will center on “What Does the Election of Barak Obama Mean to Me? Personal Perspectives and Reflections of the Past, Present and Future Within the Context of the Historic 2008 Presidential Election.”
The events will start with the traditional community march from the Battle Green to Cary Memorial Hall at 2 p.m. The program will begin there at 2:30 p.m.
You will also have an opportunity to share your hopes and wishes in a book that will be sent to Obama and his family. If you’d like to create a page prior to the CommUNITY Event, make sure your page(s) is no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches.
This program is sponsored by the Lexington MLK Jr. CommUNITY Commemoration Committee and the Lexington Coalition for Racial Equality.
Lexington Food Pantry Collection at St. Brigid and Sacred Heart
The weekend of January 17th and 18th is the collection of non-perishable food items. We thank you for your generous response during the holiday season. The food pantry also accepts non food items such as hygiene items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, deodorant, shampoo, etc.) and paper products (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, napkins, etc.). Food stamps cannot be used for these items. These items may be left in the food bins at the entrances of St. Brigid or on the altar at Sacred Heart. Cash, supermarket gift cards and checks made out to the Lexington Food Pantry are also accepted. These may be placed in an envelope marked Lexington Food Pantry and placed in the offertory basket or dropped off at the parish office. We would like to thank you for your past generosity and support of this endeavor.
Mark Your Calendar Now:
Season Two Of Arise Begins In February
“I would definitely take part again. These were upbeat, insightful, thought-provoking sessions!” “The best part was the sense of community, and our sharing.” “This deepened my prayer life, made me more attentive and recollected during the week.”
These comments came from the participants of last fall’s First Season of ARISE Together in Christ, the Archdiocesan-sponsored program for faith-sharing groups. Plan now to take part in the second season—during Lent. The first sessions will take place the week of February 22nd, (Ash Wednesday is February 25th). New groups will be forming, and we will do our best to honor the wishes of Season One folks who hoped to stay together! Leaders of already-existing small faith groups, please let us know now if you’d like us to order ARISE materials for your group. To get more information about ARISE, please contact pastoral associate Beverly Good at 781-863-0319 or by email.
Pancake Breakfast
The Religious Education staff along with Frank Bellini, has scheduled a pancake breakfast for February 1st at Sacred Heart. Breakfast will be served after both the 7:00am Mass and the 10:00 Mass. Professor Emeritus, John Mahoney from Boston College, will speak on the topic of the importance of religious education for children after the 10:00 Mass.
Faith & Environment
“The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the Lord, over vast waters.” From Ps. 29
For the next few weeks we will address how we affect the oceans; vast but not infinitely capable of absorbing pollution. Remember that everything flows downstream. By being careful about how we dispose of oil, water and other substances we can help keep ocean waters clean. Consider the following suggestions:
- Decrease water use at home, (shorter showers, low flow toilets, disposal of gray water on grass/earth when possible,etc.) Use biodegradable detergents and cleaners. This decreases the volume of water that needs to be treated with harsh chemicals before entering rivers and waterways.
- Don’t dispose of items like medications in the toilet. Even small amounts of these chemicals adversely affect those living in downstream waters. (And we like to eat some of those-like fish and crabs-living downstream!)
- Sweep rather than hose driveways and paths. Water picks up chemicals (like fertilizer or salt) and transports them to local waterways.
And we can add our own ways to conserve our beautiful and vital oceans.
Parish Census Forms
There are Parish Census forms at the doorways of the church. If you are new to the parish or if you have changed your address or phone number since you moved into the parish, please take one of these forms and return it in the basket next week. These forms are for new parishioners only. We will be doing a community wide census of both parishes shortly, but for now completing this form will get you into our data base of parishioners.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
8:45 – 11:00 – RCIA – St. Brigid Library
9:00 Mass - Children’s Liturgy of the Word
11:15 – Religious Education Classes – Sacred Heart
1:00-3:00pm Marriage Prep Team Mtg. –Kielty Hall
7:00pm JOINT PPC MEETING – SH PARISH HALL
Monday, January 19, 2009
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY
7:15 – C.R.E.A. Meeting – SH Parish Center
7:30 – Lectors Meeting – SH Church
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
3:45 - Religious Education – Grades 1-6 - St. Brigid PC
5:30 - Religious Education Grade 7 - St. Brigid PC
7:15 – Confirmation Classes - Sacred Heart PC
Wednesday, January 21 2009
3:45– Religious Education – Grades 1-6 - St. Brigid PC
5:30 – Religious Education – Grade 8 St. Brigid PC
5:15-6:00 – Children’s Choir - Sacred Heart Church
7:00 – Choir Rehearsal - Sacred Heart
Thursday, January 22, 2009
9:30 – WINGS - St. Brigid PC
11:00 – Tai Chi Classes – St. Brigid KH
4:00-5:00 – Youth Choir Rehearsal - St. Brigid Church
7:00 - Young Adult Meeting - St. Brigid
7:00 Youth Leadership Mtg. – Sacred Heart PC
7:30 – Choir Rehearsal - St. Brigid
Friday, January 23, 2009
6:00 – Middle School Event – Pizza and Snow Tubing meet at St. Brigid
Saturday, January 24, 2009
9:00 - Month's Mind Mass for Marisol O'Brien at Sacred Heart
Amnesty letter signing after the 4:00 Mass at SH-PC
Fundraiser!
There will be a fundraiser for the Coughlin Family – Sponsored by Lexington/Bedford Youth Hockey League (LBYH)
Tim, Ita and daughter Maive are members of St Brigid Parish. As you may know, Tim is home now after spending months in the hospital and rehabilitation facilities, due to a serious car accident this past Fall which left him with brain injuries. Tim is doing much better, however, his recovery is really just beginning. He will need months of physical therapy and full-time care. It is unknown at this time when or if he will return to work. Due to their busy schedule, medical bills, supervision and transportation costs, the Coughlin family will experience a financial strain for an indefinite period of time. If you would like to support this event, it will be a way to give back to their family for all of the dedication they have given our community over the years.
The event will be held on Saturday, January 31st at 7:00pm in Heritage Hall, 177 Bedford St., Lexington with a live band, dancing, snacks and appetizers, a silent auction and cash bar. All proceeds will go directly to the Coughlin family. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the parish offices weekdays, Hayden Ice Rink on January 24th from 9:00 until noon or by e-mailing Ann Marie Whalen at whalenannmarie at gmail.
Travel To Greece And Its Islands
A few more seats have opened up for our Greece trip!!! The seats are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please call 781-862-0335/4646 for details. If there is an interest, we will have another presentation by Collette Tours on the trip!
We are planning a trip to Greece and its islands beginning April 23, 2009. This will be a 14 day trip starting in Athens, going to the island of Mykonos for 3 days, then we are off to the island of Santorini for 3 days. We will fly back to Athens to begin exploring classical Greece.
Just a Reminder
One of our Pastoral Associates, either Mary Peterson or Beverly Good, has office hours at Sacred Heart in the Parish Center each weekend. On Saturday from 2:30 until 4:00 and on Sunday following the 7:00am Mass until after hospitality.
Amnesty International Letters
Once again we have the opportunity to assist in the release of prisoners of conscience. Letters will be available to sign after weekend Masses at Sacred Heart on January 24th and 25th and at St Brigid on January 31st and February 1st. As you know the number of letters is what exerts leverage on the governments holding these persons, innocent of any crime, so please plan to do this simple act. Helen Keller said: “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something I can do”. Last year we did about 800 somethings. Let’s make it 1,000 this year.
Perkins School For the Blind
The Perkins School, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA for the blind is offering free evaluations. 6.5 million Americans over the age of 65 experience a decrease in their vision severe enough to affect the way they live, work, and play. Living with a vision loss can still mean living a happy and productive life. Help and hope are available through the services provided by Perkins Strategies for Life: Services for people 55 and Older. Our professionally trained and certified staff will teach people the tips, techniques, and adaptations necessary to allow them to continue to do the things they have always loved to do.
Free evaluation is offered where people live, be it at home, in a nursing home, or assisted living etc. We would be happy to meet with you and/or with individual families to discuss the training available to clients, as well as caregivers and staff, offered by Perkins Strategies for Life. If you are aware of someone who could use a free evaluation, or information about our services contact us at: 617-972-7643 or outreach at perkins dot org. There are flyers with further information on the bulletin boards at the doors of the church.
| St. Brigid |
| Offertory for January 10th & 11th |
$ 5,906.50 |
| Envelope Offerings |
$ 4,966.00 |
| Loose Cash |
$ 940.50 |
| Grand Annual Collection to date |
$108,724.00 |
Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 184 have used their envelopes.
| Sacred Heart |
| Offertory for January 10th & 11th |
$ 4,125.00 |
| Envelope Offerings |
$ 3,698.00 |
| Loose Cash |
$ 427.00 |
| St. Katharine Drexel |
$ 125.00 |
| Grand Annual Collection to date |
$68,052.00 |
Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 75 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.
Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!
—Fr. Colletti
Joanne Messier McCandless has formed a children’s choir at Sacred Heart. The choir is open to all children in grades 3 through 7. Rehearsals are held every Wednesday from 5PM to 5:45PM in the church. We would like to have the children’s choir sing once a month at the 10am Mass during the Preparation. Chaperones will be needed during these rehearsals. Please contact joannemessier at aol or come and see Joanne after the 10am Mass on Sunday.
Joint Parish Pastoral Council
The Joint Parish Pastoral Council will meet on Sunday, January 18th at 7:00pm at Sacred Heart Parish Center
A New Year's Resolution - Adoration!
It’s easy to keep this resolution every Friday during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 12:00 – 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church.
For St. Brigid Parish
New schedules will be made within the next
few weeks for Feb., Mar., Apr. and May.
Please submit any dates that you will be unavailable
to Jean and Dick Horigan at
781-861-8052 or horigans30 at rcn dot com
St. Brigid Youth Choir
Rehearsals for St. Brigid Youth Choir will resume on Thursday, January 22 from 4:00-5:00pm in the music room in the lower level of the Church. We need your voice! If you are in grades 3-8, please consider this important ministry! For more information please contact Bill Grzybowski 781-862-0335.
An Evening in Venice
Dinner/Dance Fundraiser (Adults ONLY)
We are have a dinner/dance to sponsor the YOUTH Scholarship Fund, Work Camp Costs, and other Youth Events (such as guest speakers, like Sean Forrest and community building activities). The date of this event is Saturday, February 28th from 7:00 to ll:00pm in Kielty Hall. We will enjoy a Chicken Florentine dinner, wine, dancing and great fellowship all to support the Youth of our parishes. Tickets are $25 per person will be available in the Religious Education Office after January 25th and after all Masses the weekend of January 24/25
Middle School Fridays Snow Tubing
After a nice break, it's time to get back together again for some winter fun. How about Snow Tubing? Bring your friends on January 23rd. We will meet at St. Brigid's at 6:00pm for pizza. Transportation will be provided to the snow tubing site and back to St. Brigid's. I you have any questions, please contact Megan Chenaille, Youth Minister, at Megan.Chenaille@lexingtoncatholic.org.
Wings’ Speaker This Week: Rabbi Jaffe!
Jewish Forms of Prayer is the title of the next session of WINGS (Women IN God’s Spirit) Winter Series. Lexington’s own Rabbi Howard Jaffe will introduce us to the history and practice of various forms of Jewish prayer and how they may enhance our prayer life. Join us this Thursday, January 22, at 9:30 – 11:15am, in the hall at St. Brigid Parish Center. For transportation, contact Carol Flynn at 781-862-1637. For child care during the session, contact Janet Fraser at 781-862-6853 or jfraser at alum do mit dot edu. Membership in WINGS is not required to attend this or any WINGS program.
Valentine’s Supper
Senior Parishioners of Sacred Heart and St.Brigid Parishes (and their guests) are invited Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 6:00pm (right after the 5pm Mass) in Kielty Hall.) This event is FREE, however please RSVP to the Religious Education office at 781-862-8724 by Wednesday, February 4, 2009 with your name and the number of guests so we know how many people to plan for. Thank you!! (Flyers for the Valentine’s Supper can be found at the exits of the churches.)
Thank You!
Many thanks go to our wonderful choirs in both Sacred Heart and St. Brigid Parishes for sharing their time and talent over the Christmas Season! Thanks to Donna for providing such an elegant worship aid for Christmas!
The Seven Last Words of Christ
On Palm Sunday, April 5, at 2:00pm the choirs of St. Brigid Parish and Sacred Heart Parish will along with other parishes in the area present at St. Brigid Church The Seven Last Words of Christ by Theodore Dubois. This is a large musical work in need of a large choir. Please consider sharing your voice, rehearsals have already begun on this work.
If you are interested and/or would like more information, please contact Bill Grzybowski(St. Brigid Music Director) 781-862-0335 or Joanne Messier McCandless (Sacred Heart Music Director)781-862-4646. By presenting this work, we are hoping to start somewhat of a musical tradition in our Catholic Community.
Holy Humor
The Pope, Billy Graham, and Oral Roberts were in a three-way plane crash over the Pacific Ocean. They all died and went to heaven together.
"Oh, this is terrible," exclaims St. Peter, "I know you guys think we summoned you here, but this is just one of those coincidences that happen. Since we weren't expecting you, your quarters just aren't ready... We can't take you in and we can't send you back...."
Then he got an idea. He picked up the phone, "Lucifer, this is Pete. Hey, I got these three guys up here. They're ours, but we weren't expecting them, and we gotta fix the place up for 'em. I was hoping you could put them up for a while. It'll only be a couple of days. What d'ya say?"
Reluctantly, the Devil agreed.
However, two days later, St. Peter got a call.
"Pete, this is Lu. Hey, you gotta come get these three clowns.
This Pope fellow is forgiving everybody, the Graham guy is saving everybody, and that Oral Roberts has raised enough money to buy air conditioning."
All children are invited 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.
Megan Chenaille, Director of Youth Ministry
E-mail: Megan Chenaille
781-862-8724
Our NEXT Youth Mass is
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sacred Heart Church , 6pm
Hope you and your family can join us!! This Youth Mass will be followed by a mandatory program for the 9th and 10th grade Confirmation students.
Confirmation Classes
9th and 10th grade classes will NOT be held this week, January 19 and 20 due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend. Classes will resume January 26 and 27. See you then!
Your SERVICE is NEEDED (student and adult) at the Valentine’s Supper for the Senior Parishioners of Sacred Heart and St. Brigid Parishes on Saturday, February 7, 2009. Set-up will begin around 4:30pm, the evening usually ends between 8:30 and 9pm. Please plan to be there the whole time. Contact Megan if you can help out!!
Catholic Heart WorkCamp
June 28-July 3rd Providence, RI
For High School students entering 9th thru 12th grades
Meet other Catholics your age from around the country, help others, and grow in your faith. A $75 deposit is required to hold your spot. Please sign up soon! Spaces are limited.
Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with any questions or concerns. 
