The debate on health care reform, in the beginning, continued to focus on the political, technical, and economic repercussions of various proposals. Now the debate has shifted to the moral implications of heath care reform because of the anti-abortion section in the House version.
“Health care is about life and death, who can take their children to the doctor and who cannot, who can afford decent medical coverage and who is left to fend for themselves. Because health care reform has real consequences, decisions must be evaluated through a prism of fundamental ethical principles to see how they will impact the dignity and value of each human life”, writes Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl
We find in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No.2211), “The political community has a duty to honor the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially…in keeping with the country’s institutions, the right to medical care, assistance for the aged, and family benefits.”
The Catholic community lives out the Gospel challenge to heal. We teach that health care is a basic human right, an essential safeguard of human life and dignity. In the United States, the Catholic community serves millions of people through our hospitals, Catholic Charities programs, and parish efforts.
Archbishop Wuerl further states: “Health care reform especially needs to protect those at the beginning of life and at its end—the most vulnerable and the voiceless. It is essential that reform include long-standing and widely supported federal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates and uphold existing conscience protection for health care providers.”
The International Communications Research reported in September of this year: “Americans don’t want abortion funding in health care reform. Sixty percent of those favoring reform oppose—and only 25 percent support—“measures that would require people to pay for abortion coverage with their federal taxes.” And 68 percent do not want abortion coverage in their own policy, whether public or private.”
The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (usccb.org/health care) gives four principles for Health Care Reform. 1) Truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity. 2) Access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants. 3) Pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options. 4) Restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers.
Readings for the Week Of Sunday, November 29, 2009
| St. Brigid Church |
| |
| 9:00am | Tuesday December 1st | Domenic Collentro |
| 9:00am | Thursday December 3rd | The Armstrong Family |
| 9:00am | Saturday December 5th | James M. McLaughlin
Roy Andersen |
| |
| Sacred Heart Church |
| |
| 9:00am | Monday November 30th | Betty Ann Pendergast |
| 9:00am | Wednesday December 2nd | Roslyn Torci |
| 9:00am | Friday December 4th | Claire McDonough |
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, Airman Jason Cunha, Mark Zarnecki, Elizabeth Leyne, 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.
Helping Hands
Helping Hands for the month of November is:
Sandy Podgorski
781-862-0386
This group of volunteers needs a new leader as of the end of November. Please call Edie Martinez at 617-489-3305 if you would like to lead this wonderful group.
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, Father Thomas Nestor, Jen Bombaca, Marianne Slack, Elaine Murphy, Bob Kozlowski, Deacon Bill Wildes, Edward O’Brien, Dorothea Russo, Edward Ronayne, William McCarthy, Marie Dempsey, Pat White, Anita and William Gorham, Mary Whelan, Eleanor Mann, Amy Galehouse Goolkosian, Henry Downes, Gerald McCue, Kathleen Brown, Brendan Murphy, Kevin Johnson, Monica Cotter, Jackie Martinetti, Ann LaMantia, Christine Griffin, Josephine Siders, Douglas DiVito, Mary McGuinnes, Jewel Douglass, Marjorie Kearns, Shannon Capriulo, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino. Please also remember in your prayers all of our deceased family members and parishioners, especially Regina Jones and Betty Peters, sister of Frank Bellini.
New Altar Servers Training
Children of the Catholic Community of Lexington, in grades 4 through 12, are invited to become Altar Servers at Saint Brigid's. This is an important ministry, and a wonderful way for children to become more involved in the liturgy. Training can be arranged at your convenience. For questions or to sign up, please contact Jeanne Hobbs at 781-248-9722, or email JeanneHobbs at Verizon dot Net
Women’s Lunch Place
New Socks are needed for the Women’s Lunch place in Boston, any type of socks will be appreciated—knee socks, ankle socks, white, colored, etc. Please deliver unwrapped socks to the food bins at the doorways of St. Brigid church by the weekend of December 12/13 as we continue this wonderful tradition. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
WINGS Advent Retreat this Thursday
As you begin to prepare your home for Christmas, take some time this Advent season to prepare your heart as well. The WINGS (Women IN God’s Spirit) Advent Mini-Retreat provides a perfect opportunity to do just that. All women are invited!
When: Thursday, December 3
Where: St. Brigid Church; luncheon in the Parish Center
Gathering and check-in: 9:30 – 9:45am
Retreat: 9:45am – Noon
Catered luncheon: 11:30am
Retreat Leader: Father Robert J. Congdon
Donation levels: Angelic $10; Heavenly $15; or Divine $25
To reserve your place at the Retreat, please send your name and donation to the Sacred Heart/St. Brigid Parish Office, 2001 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington 02421, Attn: WINGS, by Monday, November 30. (Check payable to St. Brigid Parish, please.)
For transportation, contact Carol Flynn at 781-862-1637. Membership in WINGS is not required to attend this or any WINGS program.
Faith & Environment
As we draw closer to the celebration of Christ's birth, many of us face the challenge and joy of gift giving. We want to show our loved ones that we care for them, but most people already have "too much stuff." From an environmental point of view, our "stuff" has significant impact on the Earth from the time it is mined or grown, manufactured, transported to stores, and possibly plugged into the time it heads for the incinerator in North Andover (that's where Lexington's trash goes). For some great alternatives, that also better capture the spirit of the season while reducing cost, frenzied trips to the mall, and waste, download the booklet "Simplify the Holidays" at:http://www.newdream.org/holiday/. Another resource is Alternatives for Simple Living: http://www.simpleliving.org/ click on the Simple Living Archives on the left and find the Christmas Packs and Advent/Christmas calendars. This is the group that produces the booklet "Whose Birthday Is It?" If you don't have a computer, a copy of the Simplify the Holidays booklet will be on a bulletin board at the churches.
Food For The Season
As the Christmas season approaches the need is even greater for your help and support of the St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry. Our December collection will be held on the Feast of St. Nicholas, Sunday December 6. In the spirit of the day, please continue your generous donations of boxed and canned foods and check made payable to St. Katharine Drexel. In addition, donations of Stop and Shop gift cards will go a long way this month for those who receive them through the food pantry. Please consider donating an extra gift in gift card form to make this Christmas season special for someone in need. Drop off donations by 11:00am in the bins at the entrances to the churches, on the altar, or in the collection baskets. And remember CCD kids--let's see if we can fill Mr. Begin's toy box with food this month and every month!
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, 7:30pm - 9:00pm at Sacred Heart Parish Center. The next two meetings are December 2nd and December 16th. 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 (3)
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.
We will not have Children’s Liturgy of the Word today. All children are invited to join CLW when it resumes next Sunday, December 6.
December 5th Advent/Antioch
Young Adult Retreat
We are having an Advent/Antioch Day Retreat on December 5th 2009 (a Saturday). It will be great and we hope you can come! Here are the details:
Time: The arrival time will be at 9am and we will have coffee, bagels, and doughnuts. We will start the retreat at 9:30am. The retreat will include a provided lunch (there will be a vegetarian option too) and Mass at 5pm. After Mass we will head to the Chateau Restaurant in Waltham for dinner (we will make reservations).
Place: The retreat will take place at the Espousal Center in Waltham , at 554 Lexington St. Waltham , MA 02452 . The Espousal Center is a Catholic Retreat and Conference Center . It is a beautiful setting and well equipped. It is a great place.
What the Retreat Will Include: This retreat will include Mass, Talks, Discussions, Reflection Time, Social Time, Lunch, Music, Dinner, and more! VIPs include Fr Colletti, Fr Dan, and Fr Mike.
Cost: The cost of this retreat is $25 per person. However if money is an issue please don't let that stop you from coming! If it is a hardship to pay St. Brigid/ Sacred Heart Parish can take care of that, just email me and let me know.
We do need a rough count for the retreat and for dinner at the Chateau afterwards. If you are interested in coming please reply to 781-572-8081 or colecrops(4).
Little Facts
Q: Why are many coin banks shaped like pigs?
A: Long ago dishes and cookware in Europe were made of a dense orange clay called ‘pygg’. When people saved coins in jars made of this clay, the jars became known as ‘pyggy banks.’ When an English potter misunderstood the word, he made a bank that resembled a pig and it caught on!
Q: Why do ships and aircraft in trouble use “mayday’ as their call for help?
A: This comes from the French word m’aidez – meaning ‘help me’—and is pronounced ‘mayday’.
Sunday, November 29th
NO RELIGIOUS ED CLASSES TODAY
12:00 – BAPTISM – SH - CHURCH
Monday, November 30th
5:30 – 6:30 REL. ED. GRADES 7 & 8
7:15 – 8:30 CONFIRMATION CLASSES-SB
7:15 – 9:0PM0 – C.R.E.A. – SH
Tuesday, December 1st
3:45 – 4:45 – REL. ED. – GRADES 1, 2, 3
7:15 – 8:30 CONFIRMATION CLASSES – SH PC
7:30PM - BOY SCOUT MTG. SB – L
Wednesday, December 2nd
3:45 – 4:45 RE GRADES 4, 5, 6
10:00 – 12:00PM – CARLTON WILLARD MTG.-SB-PC
7:30 -9:30PM – R.C.I.A. – SB – L
7:00PM – YOUTH LEADERSHIP – SH - LH
Thursday, December 3rd
9:00 - 10:00AM – F.I.S.H. MTG. – SB – L
9:00 – 10:00AM – W.I.N.G.S. RETREAT – SB –PC
6:00PM – YOUNG ADULT GROUP –SB – L
6:00PM – BOY SCOUTS – SB - PC
Friday, December 4th
NO EVENT TODAY
Saturday, December 5th
9:00AM – 12:00PM –BOY SCOUT MTG. – SB-L
8:30AM – 12:00PM – PINEWOOD DERBY WKSP.-SB-
6:30 – 9:00PM – GIRLS SWIM TEAM BANQUET-SB-KH
Romance Without Regret
Attention: Parents of Teens & Adolescents
Monday, December 7th *St. Brigid Church* 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Romance without Regret
a special presentation for you and your child.
Hook-ups, friends with benefits, safe sex and safer sex is the message our teens are receiving today but there is a better way. Come listen to Jason Evert, award winning author and nationally known speaker talk to our youth about chastity - a lifestyle that brings freedom, respect, peace and romance without regret.
While this is a required class for all Confirmation students, all students Grades 8 - 12 are encouraged to attend. Children should be accompanied by one or both parents.
Women’s Retreat
SAVE THE DATE! A WOMEN’S OVERNIGHT RETREAT IN THE SPRING! Husbands, family members, significant others—here’s your chance to gift your loved one with a refreshing, renewing overnight at Craigville Beach, on the Cape. The dates are Friday, April 30th and Saturday, May 1st, 2010. Supper, breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided, plus reflections, quiet time, music and fun activities! Contact Beverly Good, pastoral associate (Beverly.Good(1) or 781-863-0319, ext. 20) for more details or to reserve your favorite lady a space!
Espousal Retreat Center
Jacqueline M. Sitte, RN, CARN, LADC 1 will be the presenter at a workshop, Daybreak: Finding Peace, Healing, Resilience & Hope in a Turbulent World. It will be held at the Espousal Retreat Center on Sunday, December 6th from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Registration will be at 9:30. For further information please contact 781-209-3120.
| St. Brigid |
| Offertory for November 22nd |
$ 9,945.00 |
| Envelope Offerings |
$ 8,481.00 |
| Loose Cash |
$ 1,464.00 |
Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 235 have used their envelopes.
| Sacred Heart |
| Offertory for November 22nd |
$ 4,407.00 |
| Envelope Offerings |
$ 3,723.00 |
| Loose Cash |
$ 684.00 |
| St. Katharine Drexel |
$ 315.00 |
Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 116 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.
Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!
—Fr. Colletti
Sacred Heart Prison Ministry Continues
For the past several years, Sacred Heart has helped to bring Christmas to the young people whom society forgets - the children of prison inmates. This year we are collecting clothing and a toy for 45 children whose mothers are incarcerated in the South Middlesex Correctional Center in Framingham , MA . Won't you please take an ornament from the ribbons in the Church and bring back a wrapped package by Sunday, December 6th? Remember to sign out your ornament on the clipboards at the front of the church. For more information, please contact Susan Moloney at 781-860-7556 or susan.moloney1(2) or Donna Heuchling at 781-862-2055 or dheuchling(3)
Advent Candles
This weekend at Sacred Heart, Advent Candles are posted on the walls at the entrances to the church. As in previous years, we hope to provide gifts:
- for children at the Family Center in Somerville,
- for families served by the Family AIDS Ministry in Roxbury,
- for inmates in the women’s prison in Framingham,
- and for children of a few families who may otherwise be missed.
We are starting the First Sunday of Advent, and will wrap and deliver gifts the fourth weekend of Advent. This is a tough year for a lot of us, but a very tough year for the clients of these ministries. Gifts costing no more than $25 will be very much appreciated. To participate, please take Candles from the wall, and follow the directions printed on them. Thank you, and God Bless you from those you will help to have a better Christmas.
Advent & Adoration: A Perfect Pair!
Advent is a perfect time to add Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to your weekly routine. You can spend some quiet time with the Lord every Friday from 12:00 – 2:45pm at St. Brigid Church.
CREA
Center for Reflection, Education, and Action
Please join Sister Ruth Rosenbaum, TC, PhD from the center for Reflection, Education and Action as she leads a social justice study group. The topics are current and are in keeping with the CREA mission statement which is as follows--"Believing that the earth is home to all, CREA facilitates analysis of human, social and economic policies from the perspective of their effects on human lives beginning with the lives of those who are poor." This month, the meeting takes place at St. Brigid in the parish library on Monday, November 30th at 7:15pm. All are welcome.
Advent Giving Tree
The Advent Giving Tree is up at St. Brigid! Please stop by to take tags but also to appreciate the wonderful job the religious education teachers and their students - a.k.a. your children did by cutting out hundreds of ornaments for families in need this Christmas season.
Please take take yellow, pink, and green tags first as they need to be collected by Dec.12th for the Roxbury Christmas Party hosted by the St. Brigid and Sacred Heart Youth Group on Dec. 13th.
After you purchase the gift, please wrap it and tape the tag onto the present, or specify amount donated on gift card envelope. Call Hallie Wells at 781-844-9099 with any questions.
The collection of socks and gloves/mittens at the tree will benefit women and children in need at St. Mary’s Parish in Lynn.
Life Snipits
When it comes to giving,
some people stop at nothing.
Layette Gifts Needed
St. Brigid Sodality is continuing a long-standing Christmas tradition of collecting new unwrapped layette gifts such as: receiving blankets, outfits, onesies, diapers etc. to benefit Heart Beat, a Pro-Life program based in Burlington. Donations can be left in the bassinet on the stage in Keilty Hall until Sunday December 13th. Please contact Marie Hill 781-862-6456. Thank you for your support.
Pressing Need
The Linens Group at Saint Brigid has openings for a couple of “hot irons” to fill in the gaps in our ironing schedule. We currently iron once every 16 weeks. Two of our members are no longer able to fulfill this role, so there is an opportunity for someone to step up and contribute to the life of the parish in a quiet “behind the scenes” role. We press 20 – 30 dinner napkin size items a week. If you are interested please call Marie Hill 781-862-6456 or e-mail mimi716(8)
Thanks for Giving
Your generosity to St. Brigid’s annual Thanksgiving food drive for our sister parish, St. Patrick’s of Roxbury, was overwhelming. THANK YOU!!!
Advent Mini Retreat
On Thursday December 10th from 7:30 to 9:00pm in Sacred Heart Church there will be an Advent mini-retreat. Get away from the busyness of the season and come for prayer, quiet reflection, and music.
Advent Speaker Series
Advent Speaker Series entitled "A Look at the Social Justice Work in Our Parish".
On Sunday December 6th representatives from our sister parish St. Katharine Drexel will speak about their AIDS family ministry and food pantry.
On Sunday, December 13th Lee Crivello will show a new video about Fond des Blancs, Haiti and talk about the Haiti Committee's work there.
On Sunday December 20th Sr. Maureen Clark, Catholic Chaplain at MCI Framingham will discuss her work with prisoners. All talks will take place right after the 10:00 a.m. Mass in the hall at Sacred Hear Church. Please join us!
Megan Chenaille, Director of Youth Ministry
E-mail: Megan Chenaille
781-862-8724
High School Youth Christmas Party
With Yankee Swap
Sunday, December 13, 2009
5:00 - 6:30pm
St. Brigid Parish Hall
All 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders are welcome for food, fun and a Yankee Swap!! To participate in the Yankee Swap, please bring a wrapped gift of no more than $15. Hope to see you then!!
Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with any questions or concerns. 
Middle School Fridays are Back!
The 6th, 7th and 8th graders of the Catholic Community of Lexington and their friends are invited to join us on December 11th for a dinner of spaghetti, salad, bread, and pizza. After the dinner the movie "The Nativity Story" will be shown while snacking on popcorn and movie theater size candy!!! The movie will be shown on a big-screen TV at the Sacred Heart Parish Center. The event begins at 6:00 on December 11th. Please sign up by December 9th. Cost is $8 and scholarships are available. For more information contact Mary Ellen Goodwin at tgoodwin99(10).
Future events all begin at 6pm with Pizza and include:
Dec 11 - Nativity Movie - Sacred Heart
Jan 8 - Snow Tubing - Nashoba
Feb 5 - Movie - Sacred Heart
March 19 - Jump On In - Woburn
April 9 - Game night - Sacred Heart
May 14 - Mini Golf
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.
Saint Brigid Parish
Getting Ready for Christmas
Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery, that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. The Church urges us to renew the memory of the great love God has shown us. We enter into the season together as a Church to prepare for our great celebration of our Savior’s Birth. It is a season of Anticipation “prepare, wait, eager, joyful” these adjectives mark the climate which we build towards Christmas “we must prepare for the celebration – we must wait – the eagerness increases – the joyful anticipation of the celebration of Our Lord’s Birth.” Our music and environment reflect this atmosphere in our Church during the Advent season; they are to help us enter into the season more deeply. This year we will be accenting the atmosphere by putting up all the banners in the church and then taking them down one by one as each week draws us closer to Christmas. As the banners are coming down, we will be building up the decorations on the back altar of evergreens and poinsettias. Our procession for Mass will only have the Priest, Book, Cross and Candle for the first two weeks of Advent. The Eucharistic Ministers will be added to the procession for weeks three and four. Our entrance hymn will be the same for all four weeks of Advent. The entrance hymn will be done in a progression of first week flute, second week flute and violin, at the 11:00 the choir will not sing, on week 3 the choir will be added and on week four the adult and children’s choir will sing together, other instruments will be added to weeks three and four. Our music director Bill Grzybowski has chosen an Advent Penitential Rite, which our response will be, “Lord, come and save us!” and “Christ, come and save us!” We pray that your Advent season be one of prayer filled anticipation of our Lord’s birth.
Empty Bowls Dinner
Fri. December 11 @ 6:30 PM Lexington Christian Academy
Empty Bowls Project and dinner is a nationwide service event designed to help raise awareness and money to fight hunger in our communities. Ceramic bowls that have been thrown and glazed by the LCA art students and the members of HOW (Helping Our World) are on sale now for $10.00 each which includes a great soup, salad, and dessert dinner in the dining room of LCA. Contact Chip VanderBrug to purchase tickets @ chip at lca dot edu or 781-937-3073