We are in the year of Saint Luke and will be using his gospel during this liturgical year.  It will do well to remember that Luke’s persistent theme is “the gospel of the poor”.  In the introduction to Luke’s Gospel in The Living Bible: The Way we read, “He (Jesus) lived so we could live—really live—and that’s why he said we can know joy which runs so deep that no disappointment can fully squelch it…so that when our successes and accomplishments disappear like smoke and all we have left is sand in our mouths, we still have what he had, Life.”

Today we are presented with the beatitudes (Luke 6:17-26) and it speaks of God’s rich blessings to our lives.  Luke does not give us the familiar beatitudes we find in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 5:1-12).  Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor and the hungry”.  In the Old Testament, it was clear that the rich and full were blessed.  Their riches and possessions brought pleasures and fullness to their lives.  But Jesus turns all that upside down and inside out.  He says, “Blessed are the hungry.  Woe to the rich.  Woe to the full stomachs.”

Matthew’s beatitudes do not say the same thing that Luke writes about.  Perhaps the contrary-wise “blessed” Jesus speaks about in Luke needed to be watered down or spiritualized—more acceptable.  Jesus’ words are made more palatable when he wrote: “Blessed are the poor…in spirit.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst…for righteousness.  We can all agree with these beatitudes.  Yet, in Luke, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor and hungry.  Woe to those who are rich and full.”  This goes against all common sense.

In Saint James’ Letter (James 5:1-4) we read: “Look here, you rich men, now is the time to cry and groan with anguished grief because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you.  Your wealth is even now rotting away, and your fine clothes are becoming mere moth-eaten rags.  The value of your gold and silver is dropping fast…Listen!  Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. Their cries have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.”

Luke continues this theme in his Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4:32-36), “All the believers were of one heart and mind, and no one felt that what he owned was his own; everyone was sharing…and there was warm fellowship among all the believers, and no poverty-for all who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.”

Compared to the rest of the world, we live in a very wealthy community.  How do we react to Luke’s beatitudes?  Do we want to go with Matthew’s version which is more palatable for our lives?  We sense that something may be terribly wrong with our Christian lives when it comes to money and materialism.  We sense something may be wrong with our Christian lives when we give only 2% of our income to charity.  Deep happiness has to do with invisible qualities like loving family, loving friends, loving God, loving life. Again and again, it has been proven to people in our parish who have visited our sister church in Haiti and Honduras, these people have found genuine happiness.  Love is invisible and happiness always grows best in a garden of love.  You can be poor and still have hearts of love.  Your bellies can be hungry and still have hearts of love.  A primary goal in life is not the accumulation of material possessions but the accumulation of loving relationships with God and neighbors.

 

St. Brigid Church
9:00am	Tuesday February 16th	Margaret & Paul Wright
9:00am	Thursday February 18th	Eugene Buckley
9:00am	Saturday February 20th	Bill Maher
Sacred Heart Church
9:00am	Monday February 15th	Jean Thiel
9:00am	Wednesday February 17th	Helen Jenson
9:00am	Friday February 19th	Anna Konopka

 

Parish Directory Photos

Wanted!

Pictures of Parish Events, Sacraments, Special Occasions, etc.

If you have pictures of events such as sacraments, youth events, dinners, special events or the like that you would be willing to share in our parish directory, please drop them off, clearly labeled with your name, at the parish office by Monday, March 1st.

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, Jen Bombaca, Marianne Slack, Elaine Murphy, Henry Murphy, Bob Kozlowski, Francis Cote, Harry Laye, Rosemary Adamson, Deacon Bill Wildes, William McCarthy, Marie Dempsey, Pat White, Mary Whelan, Prudy Bulger, Eleanor Mann, Amy Galehouse Goolkosian, John Walsh, Jane Beauchemin, Henry Downes, Billy Wedgwood, Gerald McCue, Kathleen Brown, Carol Brady, Brendan Murphy, Kevin Johnson, Ann LaMantia, Christine Griffin, William Porter, Josephine Siders, Douglas DiVito, Mary McGuinnes, Joseph Fremont-Smith, Jewel Douglass, Marjorie Kearns, Shannon Capriulo, Cathy Larson, Olivia Moran and Brianna Cimino.  Please also remember in your prayers all of our deceased family members and parishioners.

Mass + Adoration = A Perfect Lenten Combination

This Friday and every Friday during Lent, attend Mass at 12:10pm at St. Brigid Church and then stay for some quiet time with the Lord during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration closes at 2:45pm following Benediction.

Hospitality

Please join us for hospitality and fellowship at our parishes. 

Hospitality at St. Brigid Parish is after the 9:00am Mass in Keilty Hall.

At Sacred Heart Parish the hospitality is after the 10:00am Mass in the parish center.

Jesus often took time away from the crowds to pray…

The St. Joseph Retreat Center is hosting a directed weekend retreat on March 5-7, 2010, at their beautiful retreat center right on the ocean in Cohasset, Mass.  Why not take some time out this Lent for some quality prayer time in a beautiful location.  For more information call the retreat center:  781-383-6024, or 781-383-6029.  Or visit their website.

Annual Valentine’s Lasagna Dinner

For Senior Parishioners (and their guests) of the Catholic Community in Lexington!!
Sponsored by the Youth Group
Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010
Time: After the 5pm Mass (around 6pm)
Place: Keilty Hall, St. Brigid Parish
Admission is Free
However, we do ask that you RSVP by Wednesday, February 10th to the Religious Ed Office
781-862-8724 so we know how many are coming!!

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 March 3rd and March 10th (Note: NO MEETING on February 17th). 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)

Lenten Regulations

ABSTINENCE:  Catholics over 14 years of age are bound to the obligations of abstinence.  Abstinence is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent.  On days of abstinence, meat may not be used at all.

FAST:  Catholics over 18 and up to the beginning of their sixtieth year are bound to the obligation of fasting.  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the days of fasting.  On these days, only one full meal is allowed.  Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one's needs, but together they should not equal another full meal.  Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed.

Lent is a period of special penitential observance.  Following the instructions of the Holy See, the Bishops of the United States have declared that the obligation to fast and to abstain from meat still binds on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  In this matter, the faithful enjoy freedom in conscience to excuse themselves but, as the Bishops state, "no Catholic Christian will lightly excuse himself from so hallowed an obligation" on these days.  In addition, the tradition of abstinence from meat on the other Fridays of Lent is preserved.  Again, the Bishops express their confidence that "no Catholic Christian will lightly hold himself excused from this penitential practice".

Regarding all the other weekdays of Lent, we strongly recommend participation in daily Mass and the voluntary observance of fasting.  Commendable, particularly during Lent, is generosity to local, national, and world programs of sharing our abundance, the traditional Lenten Devotions, and all the self-denial summed up in Christian concept of 'mortification'.

Children's Living Stations of the Cross

For many years, children in the elementary grades have dramatized the Stations of the Cross in a prayer service at Sacred Heart on the afternoon of Good Friday. If you have a third or fourth grader who is interested in taking part in the dramatization this year, please contact Mary Ellen De Natale at 781 641-4871 or at maryellen at 28coolidge.co m, or contact the Religious Education office. Participation is open to children from both Sacred Heart and St Brigid. Rehearsals will take place at Sacred Heart Church after the 10am mass on four consecutive Sundays beginning March 7. This year, Good Friday falls on April 2.

Women’s Retreat

Spring Women’s Overnight Retreat

Rest, renew, refresh yourself at Craigville Beach on the Cape!

from 5 p.m. Friday, April 30th to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 1st, 2010.

Celebrate with other women of our community
on an overnight retreat designed by our parishioners
      to help you “come to the waters” and be open
     to the gifts God has for you!
Reserve your space now;
Total fee:  $125.
A published spiritual writer
will be joining us!

For more information, contact Beverly Good (Beverly.Good(1) ) , 781-863-0319, X 20) or Mary Peterson (mary.peterson55(7); 781-863-0319, X 30).

Soup and Cinema

The first evening of this year's Lenten Soup and Cinema series will take place in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall on Saturday, February 20th. Soup will be served at 6:00 PM, followed by the film, "The Secret Life of Bees." There will be a discussion after the film, until about 9:30 PM. All are welcome.

We will not have Children’s Liturgy of the Word today. All children are invited to join CLW when it resumes next Sunday, February 21.

Sunday, February 14th   

9:00 – CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD-SB
11:00 - BAPTISM INSTRUCTION AT SB
1:00 – BAPTISMS AT SB

Monday, February 15th

OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED TODAY

NO CLASSES TODAY OR TONIGHT

Tuesday, February 16th

NO CLASSES TODAY OR TONIGHT

11:30 – 2:30 –ALTERNATIVE CARE-SB-KH
7:00 PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL-SB-L

Wednesday, February 17th

ASH WEDNESDAY
9:00- 12:00 – LEXINGTON GARDEN CLUB-SB

Thursday, February 18th  

7:00 – 9:30 BOY SCOUTS – SB – PC

Friday, February 10th

12:10 – FRIDAY LENTEN MASS - SB
EXPOSITION BLESSED SACRAMENT FOLLOWS
7:00 – STATIONS OF THE CROSS - SB

Saturday, February 20TH

2:00-5:00 TAIWANIZE COMM. MTG. – SB-PC
3:30 – CONFESSIONS – SB- CHURCH
6:00 – SOUP AND CINEMA – SH-PC

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Helping Hands Ministry

Helping Hands is a group of volunteers who provide assistance to members of the Catholic Community of Lexington who are in need, such as giving rides to doctors appointments, or making meals for the sick.  Volunteer drivers make no minimum time commitment. They only need to be willing to join an e-mail distribution list for ride requests, and accept only those that fit their schedule.  Volunteer meal makers can respond to requests as they are able.  For more information, please contact Jeanne Hobbs at 781-248-9722 or jeannehobbs(2).

Helping Hands Coordinator

Helping Hands coordinator for February is:
is Judy McDonough, 781-863-0653

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, February 17th
Liturgy Schedule

Mass with the distribution of Ashes:
Wednesday 7:00am - St. Brigid
Wednesday 9:00am - Sacred Heart
Wednesday 7:30pm - Sacred Heart

Prayer Service with the distribution of Ashes only:
Wednesday 4:00pm - St. Brigid

 

St. Brigid
Offertory for February 6th & 7th	$  10,054.52
Envelope Offerings	$    8,974.52
Loose Cash	$    1,080.00

Out of the 548 envelopes we sent to St. Brigid parishioners, 204 have used their envelopes.  Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!  To operate the parish our offertory should be $11,730 per week.
To date we have received $151,750.76 in our Grand Annual Collection from 300 parishioners.    Our goal this year was $140,000.

 

Sacred Heart
Offertory for February 6th & 7th	$   5,321.00
Envelope Offerings	$   4,635.00
Loose Cash	$      686.00
St. Katharine Drexel	$      402.00

Of the 265 envelopes we sent to Sacred Heart parishioners, 114 parishioners have used their envelopes this week.  Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!  To operate the parish our offertory should be $7,500 per week.
To date we have received a total of $96,846 from 135 parishioners in our Grand Annual Collection.  Our goal this year is $313,000.

Thank you to all who so generously contribute to our parishes each week!

—Fr. Colletti

Lexington Food Pantry
Sacred Heart and St. Brigid

The weekend of February 20th and 21st is the collection of non-perishable food for the Lexington Food Pantry. Items may be left at the food bins at St. Brigid and on the altar at Sacred Heart. Please check the expiration dates. Special requests for this month include: oatmeal, low sugar cereal, canned low sodium vegetables especially corn, canned fruit in lite syrup or pear juice especially pineapple, low sodium chicken broth, peanut butter and meals in a can. The food pantry also accepts personal care items and paper products.

Cash, supermarket gift cards and checks made out to the Lexington Food Pantry and placed in an envelope marked Lexington Food Pantry may be placed in the offertory basket or left at the office. We thank you for your past generosity and support of this endeavor.

Just a Little Humor!

A police recruit was asked during the exam, “What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?”  He answered, “Call for backup.”

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, 1st Lt. Todd Donaldson, Airman Jason Cunha, Pfc. Erik Muskavitch, Mark Zarnecki, 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.

Women’s Book Group

The next meeting of the book club will be on Thursday, February 18th, from 7 to 9 p.m., in Room 8 of Sacred Heart’s Parish Center.  The book the group will discuss is Joseph Cardinal Bernadin’s The Gift of Peace.  In the last two months of his life, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin made it his ultimate mission to share his personal reflections and insights as a legacy to those he left behind.  The Gift of Peace reveals the Cardinal's spiritual growth amid a string of traumatic events: a false accusation of sexual abuse; reconciliation a year later with his accuser, who had earlier recanted the charges; a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and surgery; the return of cancer, now in his liver; his decision to discontinue chemotherapy and live his remaining days as fully as possible.  In these pages, Bernardin tells his story openly and honestly, and shares the profound peace he came to at the end of his life.  He accepted his peace as a gift from God, and he in turn now shares that gift with the world.  For more information about the book club, contact Maria Griffin avempg(4) or Beverly Good 781-863-0319, x 20, Beverly.Good(1).

Mark Your Calendar for WINGS!

On March 4, WINGS (Women IN God’s Spirit) will start its Spring Season and celebrate its 5th birthday! The complete six-week spring schedule, featuring inspirational speakers and interesting topics, will be available next week.

Sunday Hospitality at St. Brigid

Hospitality-after-the-9 is on break today. Drop by Keilty Hall next Sunday when we’ll be back.

Invitation to Join Altar Servers

Boys and girls in 4th through 12th grades are invited to contribute to our community by becoming altar servers.  Anyone interested in more information is welcome to join us on Sunday, February 28th immediately following the 9 am Mass in Keilty Hall.  Don’t let a busy schedule be the reason you miss this opportunity.  You can be involved even if you are active.  We check availability prior to scheduling servers.  For more information contact Stephen or Dawn McKenna at dawnforlexington(5) or 781-862-6690.

The Light’s on for you!

On the Wednesdays of Lent from 6:30-7:30pm beginning February 24th, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Brigid Church.  Inviting Catholics to experience Christ’s healing love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the major initiatives of Cardinal Seán and the Archdiocese this year.  The Archdiocese has set up a website, www.TheLightIsOnForYou.org, to help you prepare.  It has videos on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, sheets on how to make a good confession, answers to frequently-asked questions and more.  Please make plans to come on Lenten Wednesdays and spread the word of this special outreach of mercy to those you know.

Workshop on Visiting the Sick

Starting Wednesday, March 3 and running for six weeks (No Class on March 24), a workshop on Pastoral Care to teh SIck and the Homebound will be offered at Saint Brigid in Lexington from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  Kelly Dunn, a Certified Chaplain and former Director of Health Care Ministry for the Archdiocese, presently serving as Coordinator of Nursing HOme Ministry at Holy Family Parish in Concord, will teach the workshop.  The workshop will include a review of communication skills, the basics of pastoral visitation, key illness issues, spiritual needs and concerns, grief, loss, and dying, and care giving issues.  Eucharistic Ministers, pastoral visitors, parish nurses and others are encouraged to attend.  Fee: $40.00 Registration information is available at the Parish 781-863-0319 ext 30 or call 617-746-5843 PRE-REGISTRAION IS REQUIRED.

School Vacation

No Religious Education this week. 
Classes resume February 21st

There are no Confirmation Classes this week or next week. 
Classes will resume March 1st & 2nd

2010 Catholic Women’s Conference

This year’s Boston Catholic Women’s Conference (BCWC) is scheduled for Saturday, February 27, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.  This full-day event, 9:00am – 5:30pm, will feature four inspirational speakers:  Patti Mansfield, Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, Leah Darrow and Sister Olga of the Eucharist.  The BCWC will also include opportunities for Reconciliation, Adoration and Mass with Cardinal Sean O’Malley.

Be part of the Lexington group of women carpooling to the event!  Call in your name and telephone number to the Sacred Heart/St. Brigid Parish Office, 781-862-4646 or -0335, and your interest in driving or being a passenger.  Tickets are $20 ($30 including lunch).  If we have your name, number and payment by Wednesday, February 17 (check payable to Sacred Heart or St. Brigid Parish), we will order your ticket for you and call you with your carpool information (time and location of departure, etc.). 

Please go to the Archdiocese’s web site, www.bostoncatholic.com and click “Events Calendar” for additional information including the speakers’ bios.

Megan Chenaille, Director of Youth Ministry
E-mail: Megan Chenaille
781-862-8724

Road to Resurrection

Hey kids!! Are you looking for something to help with your prayer life this Lent?  Are you seeking a deeper relationship with Christ and others?
Then consider joining us on Friday mornings before school (6:30-7:30am) in the St. Brigid Library for Road to Resurrection, a Scripture Study and Reflection for Middle-School and High School Youth. Breakfast is provided!!  We hope you will join us on our journey on the Road to the Resurrection.
Our first Friday session begins February 19th.  Just bring yourself and a friend!! Other dates (Fridays at 6:30am):  February 26, March 5, March 12, March 19, March 26

YOUTH Food Fast

Mark your calendars:
March 12-13, 2010
Contact Megan if you need a Registration Packet or if you have any questions. 

Youth Mass

Please join us for our next Youth Mass on
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sacred Heart Church , 6pm
Bring your friends and families!!
This Youth Mass will be followed by a Green Party in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day for all our High School Youth in the Parish Center.  Pizza, green treats and a FREE Silent Auction will be available.    

 

 

Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail with any questions or concerns.