Pastors always want more.  They want more disciples and more worshipers and more money.  I suppose this has been the case for centuries.  Here at Sacred Heart, I want more workers in the parish.  Some 300 fellow parishioners do all the work and there certainly is a lot of work to do.  Many of these people have been in position for years.  I would love to make a three-year term for each ministry but I cannot because there is no one to fill his or her position.  People are not waiting in line to sign-up.  We celebrated the feast of the Ascension on Thursday and in the scripture readings for that Mass we learn that Jesus had not finished his mission when he returned to the Father.  He left in order to send the Spirit who would animate the church.  The reason I do not ask for volunteers but disciples is I pray and hope that the Spirit is guiding our people to complete the work of Jesus in this time and in this place.  We write letters, we speak from the pulpit, we tap people on the shoulder and still there is a resistance.  I could call this the urge for un-involvement.  One example I give you: Two years ago the Parish Assembly said that the top priority for this parish was the establishment of a youth ministry.  We hired a youth minister.  I can tell you of the frustration she feels when parents do not come forward to help nor do they send their children to youth activities.  This is just an example of un-involvement.

If this were a Spirit filled church you would be coming to me and asking how you could help.  You would tell me of the gifts you have to share with the community.

The pastor always wants more money. You read the bulletin each week and see how much money is given to the support of the parish.  You see that 90% of the money is given by less that 150 households while 10% is given by the rest of the community of nearly 1,000 families.  People have been giving the same amount of money to the collection over the past two or three years.  We speak of thinking about a percentage giving rather than a dollar amount.  If you were to tithe 5% of your income how would that differ from what you give now?  For some people their contribution is less than a tip one might give a waitress.  The Finance Council is now going over the budget for the coming year.  They tell me that we will be $90,000 in the red.  We will trim the budget the best we can. Like Lexington over-rides we want to keep everything we have.  “Keep Lexington the same,” is the cry yet no one wants to pay for the rising costs of services.

Just as Jesus prayed for his Apostles and disciples before he returned to the Father so do I pray for you.  May the Spirit of Christ enliven your minds and hearts so you may shed the urge for un-involvement.

Offertory for May 24^th & 25^th              $5317.00

From 136 Envelopes:           $4637.00

Loose                                      $ 680.00

St. John/St. Hugh                 $  121.00

9:00 – Monday, June 2^nd                  Mark David Nolan

9:00 – Tuesday, June 3^rd                Charlotte Walters

9:00 – Wednesday, June 4^th                       John Dolan

9:00 – Friday, June 6^th                            Virginia Gray

9:00 – Saturday, June 7^th                             Honora &

  Thomas Sullivan

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Melissa Champagne, Rosemary Harvey, Regina Jones, Andrea Hynes, Joyce Amos, James Reilly, Regina Wingard, Elaine Ring, Erin McMehon, Maria Aguis, George Beck, Dr. Kenneth Spengler, Josephine Murphy, Peter Bugda, Norma Berstein, Camille Michals, Rob Morway, Patricia Hassett, Paul McCann, William Francis, Lillian Davenport, James Fontaini, Henri Fradette, William Blair, Agatha Pals, Richard Gaudet, Kath Rodriegas, Estelle Szalajeski, Nancy Driscoll, Dante DiManna, Margie Levine, Ruth Pike, Doug Phillips, Ralph Tatro, Andrew Day,  Peggy Sue Grow, Mary Serpa, Deborah Miller, Audrey Finn, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Elizabeth Conte, Dave Rissmiller, Violet Calderoni, Alice Hinkle, Ruth McAleer, John McAleer, Monica Cotter, Frank Cote, Kathy Smith, Harold Johnson, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Chrysostom Blanchard, Bea Lingane, Paul Bentley, Connie Perrotta, Gerard Sarno, Marisol O’Brien, Caryl Dundorf, Peter Bellini, Margaret Paladino and Rita Laffey.

The Annual Catholic Appeal

Parishioners Help Maintain Vital Church Services

Once again, we want to thank everyone who has participated in The Annual Catholic Appeal 2003.  Our parish has raised $13,045 from 35 donors, reaching 17% of our parish target of $77,661.  We also have 247 people who gave last year who have not yet given this year.  We hope you decide to contribute again this year.  Again we want to stress that this appeal takes care of the 80 agencies helping the poor of the Archdiocese.

Next weekend, June & 7^th & 8^th we will have our monthly food pantry collection.  This month the food collected will be donated to St. John/St. Hugh food pantry.

Massachusetts Catholic Conference

“MCC-NET ACTION ALERT”:  This summer, please write or email Sen. Robert Havern and Rep Thomas M. Stanley, this area’s legislators.  Urge them to reaffirm marriage as the union between one man and one woman.  Ask them to support H. 3190, the Marriage Affirmation & Protection Amendment when it comes up for a vote in November.  Your legislators need to hear from you!  Include your home address.  Mail letters to:  Hon.____, State

 House, Boston, 02133; Email:

 Rhavern@senate.state.ma.us & Rep ThomasStanley@hou.state.ma.us.

For more information, visit www.macathconf.org, the website of Massachusetts Catholic Conference!

Help Feed The Hungry Volunteers Needed for Project Soup

Join the group of volunteers from the parish who prepare a meal on the third Monday of the month (January, February, April excluded) for a soup kitchen in Somerville.  You will be called upon only two or three times a year, and many assignments require only a purchase and drop off at the Parish Center.  Participate in anyway that you are able.  All schedules can be accommodated.  Sign up now and your first assignment will not be until fall.

Please call Barbara McCarthy at 781-862-4653 for more information.

Seminary Collection

On Pentecost Sunday, June 8^th we will have the annual Seminary Collection.  Pentecost offers us all an opportunity to consider the possibility that the Holy Spirit may be calling some men in our midst to discern a call to ordained priesthood in the Church.  Our two archdiocesan seminaries depend on the generosity of people who value the need for excellent priestly ministry in the Church.  Tuition fees pay only a portion of what it costs to educate a man for priestly ministry.  During the past school year, over 150 candidates for diocesan priesthood were enrolled in our two Boston archdiocesan seminaries.  We need to keep providing these and future candidates with the best available resources.

Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted School

Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted School, 920 Trapelo Road, Waltham, has openings in grades K-8 and will be accepting applications for the September 2003 enrollment.  Please contact the school office at 781-899-0353.

Matignon High School

Matignon High Summer School will be held from June 30^th through July 25^th.  They will provide most major high school courses as well as 7^th and 8^th grade math and reading enrichment courses.  There will also be a computer camp at Matignon this summer for children.  Please call Joe Carabello at 617-876-1212 x 12 for further information. 

Flowers were donated in memory of Mark David Nolan’s anniversary Mass on Monday, June 2nd

by Louise Nolan.

Parish Pastoral Council Elections

Last week we inserted a flyer about the Parish Pastoral Council Elections.  Please take a moment to fill in your name or the name of someone you would like to represent you on the council.  This is an important element in parish life.  Please complete and return the form either in the collection box or to the office.

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

781/861-8385 X21 - email: nychick1@att.net

A TIME FOR PRAYER:  MONDAY, June 2^nd FROM 6:30-7:30 in the Youth Space in the Parish Center.  We would welcome any 6^th –12^th grader who is interested in learning more about how to read scripture and discuss why the message of the Gospel is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago.  The group who is participating is very enthusiastic!  Come and set aside just one hour to listen and talk about how God’s word speaks directly to each of us.  If you would like to read ahead, the group will be reading John’s Gospel for the next several weeks.  Bibles are available or you can bring your own.  Food will be served.  Come and bring a friend.  Any questions, call Maureen.

LION KING is finally coming to Boston (Summer of 2004)!  Tickets are already being reserved by other groups – is there an interest in doing this from Sacred Heart?  Please contact me about details and I will look into this further.  A great evening was had by all who went to Superstar!!

MIDDLE SCHOOL HARBOR CRUISE – Monday,June 28^th :  Deadline for the Middle school Harbor Cruise is here.  Unless we get our reservations in we will not get tickets.  Forms have been sent and are also available at the Parish Center.

CLIMB:  This year Bridgette Trometer and Tori Cimino are returning for another week of leadership training at the CLIMB program at Merrimack College and…

Sarah Andryauskas and Ryan Bell will participate in the July 21 session of C.L.I. for one week .  We applaud their commitment and would welcome a few more teens for C.L.I. (Catholic Leadership Institute.  Next year we will be assured of a leadership team of teens from this group.

PERMISSION SLIPS FOR THE FOLLOWING EVENTS/PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN MAILED.  EXTRAS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE BOX AT THE PARISH CENTER.

HARBOR CRUISES:  MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL

CLI  (CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE)

GOSPEL ROAD

These programs fill up quickly.  Please return your forms ASAP so you don’t miss out.

“CUT THIS COLUMN OUT AND POST IN ON YOUR BULLETIN BOARD”

Bulletins	Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin -June 1, 2003	Home