In her article Where Do We Go From Here? Paige Byrne Shortal (pbs@fidnet.com) writes of her entrance into the Catholic Church at the age of 21. The church she entered into is described in glowing terms: “It’s the church of disciples: of men and women who take seriously this call to follow Jesus—who pray, sacrifice, live simply, examine their conscience daily, confess their sins, and seek to perfect their lives.

It’s the church of wisdom: of educated and disciplined men and women who seek the truth more than they seek to be right; who think a lot, read a lot, discuss, and read and think some more; who share their wisdom as teachers, counselors, confessors, and spiritual directors with anyone who cares to enter the discipline of seeking to be wise.

It’s the church of justice: of men and women who proclaim that killing anyone is wrong, who heal and caress and touch the untouchable, who don’t take more than their share of the world’s goods, who defend those who have no one else to defend them.

It’s the church of beauty: of music, art, architecture, vesture, gesture. Beauty that is noble in its simplicity and beauty that is almost divine, so breath-taking is the genius of the artists and composers and builders.

It’s the church of charismatic visionaries who inspire others to establish hospitals, schools, orphanages, shelters for abused women, after-school programs for children, hospice care for those who must die, that they may die with dignity, knowing they are worthy and loved and will be missed.

It’s the church of prayer, rollicking, celebratory, can’t-contain-it-if-you-tried praise, and peaceful, quiet contemplation before the altar. Prayer that submits to ritual—ritual one can rest in and that takes over in times of crisis when one is exhausted by tragedy or illness or the complexity of life.

It’s the church of joy. Because this life of wisdom, discipleship, justice, beauty, inspiration and prayer is the most human way to live and joy—even in the midst of suffering—is the reward, the natural consequence of such a life. Joy that is accompanied by tears because one is so very grateful to be alive and to know that God knows.”

These are not the musings of a new Catholic but a longing to see the Church as it was and could be again. Catholics—laity and leaders—need to take Jesus’ call to discipleship more seriously. Following that call is not an option for the baptized. It is a matter of life or death for the individual and for the church.

Readings for the Week of July 6, 2003

Sunday: Ez 2:2-5; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6

Monday: Gn 28:10-22a; Mt 9:18-26

Tuesday: Gn 32:23-33; Mt 9:32-38

Wednesday: Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a; Mt 10:1-7

Thursday: Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5; Mt 10:7-15

Friday: Gn 46:1-7, 28-30; Mt 10:16-23

Saturday: Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a; Mt 10:24-33

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, 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, 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, Peter Bellini, Don Sabat and Rita Laffey. Please also pray for Caryl Dundorf and Alice Hinkle who died this past week.

Many thanks to all who use the parish envelopes each week. You are the mainstay of our parish support. This week we received 146 envelopes from the 639 families that are sent envelopes each month.

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

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 10:00am 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.

Our appreciation goes out to all parishioners who have made a gift to the 2003 Appeal. To date we have received $28,355 from 78 donors. We are at 28% 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.

Is Jesus a carpenter or a prophet for us? How we believe will determine how we project who we are—the body of Christ. People will look at us and see the externals; we are laborers and professionals, town workers and church workers. It took mighty deeds on Jesus’ part to astonish the townspeople in his native place enough to ask the question about his identity. It is only when our own families, friends, and acquaintances into asking similar questions of us: “Who is this person?” “Where did this person get all this?”

We are anointed prophets in baptism. We receive the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We are empowered to do the mightiest of might deeds: be the body of Christ, bringing Christ’s risen presence to our broken world. What will people say of us? We will shock them into taking a second look at our identity only when we live as Jesus did—giving ourselves for others.

We Bow Before You

How do we show reverence and love for Christ when we enter and leave the church? First, we greet each other as we would greet Christ. (“Where two or three of you gather, there I am.”) Then, we bow to the altar.

Why? On this altar we place our bread and wine that becomes Christ’s body and blood: This is the place of sacrifice. At this altar we sit with God to dine in eternity: This is Easter’s banquet table.

The altar of the Most High is this table in our midst—the table of every grace and blessing! And more. The Rite of Dedication of an Altar (#4) says, “Because it is at the altar that the memorial of the Lord is celebrated and his body and blood given to the people, the church’s writers see in the altar a sign of Christ himself—hence they affirm: ‘The altar is Christ.’”

Christ is the Anointed One, baptized, anointed with the Holy Spirit and robed in light. We are Christians, anointed ones, baptized, anointed with chrism and robed in white. Just like Christ, just like us, our altar was washed, anointed and robed. On its dedication day, it was sprinkled with holy water. The bishop rubbed holy chrism into its top, and ministers robed it in a white cloth.

So let’s bow to Christ at the altar before taking our places. And let’s bow again when we depart. Christ the offering. Christ the meal. Christ the altar of sacrifice. Christ the paschal banquet table. Holy Christ, we bow before you!

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

IF YOU ARE A YOUNG ADULT (OR INTERESTED IN YOUNG ADULTS), PLEASE TAKE 60 SECONDS TO READ THIS! THANK YOU.

Last week Tori Cimino and Bridgette Trometer returned from a week-long experience at Merrimack College – C.L.I.M.B., (Catholic Leadership Institute Moving Beyond). They are totally enthusiastic and excited about developing a vital community for youth here at Sacred Heart.

As committed as they are, their goals can be reached only through the participation of their peers. If you want to see things happen, if you have ideas you want to share, if you believe your faith tradition is an important part of your life – now and in the future – please make a commitment to get involved.

Sarah Andryauskas and Ryan Bell will be attending the first tier leadership program (C.L.I.) in July. There are still openings for that week if you can join them.

We need you – you are welcome. Please give thought and prayer to how your gifts can enrich our entire community.

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES: (Training provided!)

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

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - July 6, 2002

Readings for the Week of July 6, 2003

We Bow Before You

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES: (Training provided!)

HARBOR CRUISE: HIGH SCHOOL

Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin -July 6, 2003