My mother worked at the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.  One of her tasks was to lay out the instruments for operations.  Each operation had its own set of instruments.  Some of the instruments would be used but not all and yet all had to be at the ready.

We are, each of us, instruments in God’s hands.  We may spend our lives in preparation for later use.  Our job is to be ready.  I cannot believe that God is not calling some of you for specific jobs in the parish.  I know that every one has multiple duties—at home and at work—but there are jobs that need to be filled here in the community of Sacred Heart.

We need people to be on our various commissions—the Worship Commission, the Religious Education Commission, the Youth Commission and most of all, the Parish Pastoral Council.  The PPC is most important in any parish.  Its duty is to be the eyes and ears of the parish.  It is to plan the direction of the parish for the years to come.  When we asked for people to join the PPC no one came forward.  Two people in the parish nominated two other people.

Why do I have to beg?  If we are instruments in God’s hands how fine-honed is our faith?  How ready are our responses?  An instrument is not responsible for how it is used or the outcome.  It is only responsible for being ready.

Today we celebrate the great apostles Peter and Paul who suffered martyrdom.  In the first reading Peter is saved by a miracle set in the context of the church praying fervently to God, thus underscoring the importance and effectiveness of communal prayer.  In the second reading Paul’s death was to be regarded as the “amen” to a long life of valiant and selfless service that had brought praise and honor to God. Both were ready instruments in the hand of God.

9:00 – Monday, June 30^th                  Maria Bartolotti

9:00 – Wednesday, July 2^nd                  Maurice Kilbridge

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from England and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream.  We will celebrate in various ways this special holiday.  Let us not forget the reason we celebrate, “Freedom for All”.

The office will be closed on Friday, July 4^th in celebration of the birth of our nation.

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, Rita Mahan, Paul Bentley, Connie Perrotta, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Marisol O’Brien, Caryl Dundorf, Peter Bellini, and Rita Laffey.  Please also pray for Ruth McArthur who died this past week.

Offertory for June 21^st & 22^nd                   $4960.00

Envelope Offerings       $4562.00

Loose Cash                          $ 398.00

St. John/St. Hugh               $  5.00

Many thanks to all who use the parish envelopes each week.  You are the mainstay of our parish support.  This week we received 155 envelopes from the 639 families that are sent envelopes each month.

The Annual Catholic Appeal Update

Our appreciation goes out to all parishioners who have made a gift to the 2003 Appeal.  To date we have received $26,355 from 74 donors.  We are at 26% of our parish target of $77,661.  If you have not yet given to the Appeal, please consider making a gift and supporting the more than 80 agencies, ministries, and programs that serve two million people in the Archdiocese.  Pledge forms can be found at the doors of the church.

We welcome you to Sacred Heart Parish.  If you are vacationing here or if you are new parishioner, we invite you to join us on the Rectory porch after the 9:00am Mass for coffee and conversation.  New parishioners, please introduce yourself to Father Colletti or any of the staff.  We will make sure you receive the census form so that you may become a part of our parish family.

Saint Agnes School

St. Agnes School has openings in some grades and is continuing to accept registrations for the 2003-2004 school year.  For information, please call 781-643-9031 between 9:00am and 2:00pm.

Next weekend, July 5^th & 6^th we will have our monthly food pantry collection.  This month the food collected will be donated to the Roxbury Food Pantry.

Do You Remember?

Real ice boxes—Candy Cigarettes

Coffee Shops with tableside jukeboxes

Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers—Party Lines—Newsreels before the movie Telephone numbers with a word prefix (Olive 6933)

Howdy Doody—45 RPM Records--S&H Green stamps

P.F. Flyers—Wash tub ringers—Roller skate keys.

One of the oldest saints’ days in Rome, June 29 was dedicated to the memory of the apostles Peter and Paul as early as the fourth century.  This day the church remembers two disciples who differed greatly in style and background, but who shared a tireless energy in spreading the gospel.

Rough-hewn and impulsive Peter left his fishing nets immediately to answer Jesus’ call.  Later, during the passion of Jesus, Peter made his denials just as impulsively, though he had pledged his loyalty to Jesus only that evening.  Receiving Christ’s gracious forgiveness after the resurrection, Peter went on to become the rock-steady and faithful leader of the disciples. Imprisoned three or four times, he eventually was crucified during the reign of Nero.  Legend has it that he was hung on the cross head down because he told the soldiers that he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Christ.

Once Paul, who had been a rigid and violent persecutor of Christians, experienced the love of Christ, he grew meek—though never shy.  He founded many churches and was able to affirm the fledgling communities of believers even while he was admonishing them.  Paul’s writings are the first Christian scriptures; they are older than the gospels.  After many imprisonments, Paul was executed during the reign of Nero.  Since he was a Roman citizen, he was beheaded instead of crucified.

Coastal countries like Chile and Paraguay remember Peter the fisherman with nautical parades.  In Hungary and in rural England, people braid straw from the wheat harvest into crosses and crowns to honor the two martyr saints.

Copyright © 1994, Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1800 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago IL 60622-1101; 1-800-933-1800. Text by Mary Ellen Hynes. Art by Steve Erspamer, SM.

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

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

SCRIPTURE STUDY: A small group of teens have been meeting regularly for several weeks in a relaxed atmosphere to read Scripture (God’s word), reflect on the meaning of the passage in their lives and share a simple meal.  The Gospel of John is their focus.

Now that summer is finally here, they plan to continue their journey on Sunday morning at 11 AM (following the 10 o’clock Mass).  If you have ever thought about why the stories from scripture are still around, or how you might begin to look more closely at those passages you remember from your childhood – or if there is a message here for you – a teen in a community of faith in Lexington in 2003 – then perhaps this is the summer to set aside that time.  Come and see what it’s all about – no obligation, as they say! 

GOSPEL ROAD:  We would still hope to have some participants for Gospel Road in August.  8^th grade or older is eligible.

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?  We have 13 reservations to date.  As soon as we get to 30 – 35, a date will be set.  I know it is difficult to plan this far ahead, but it is the only way we will get a block of tickets.  Please contact me about details and I will look into this further.  A great evening was had by all who went to Superstar!!

CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: 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.  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:  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 29, 2003	Home