Saint Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:26-31) a sentence that sets the theme for the three readings today: “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise.”  God enters into our world through weakness not strength and poverty not material possessions.  The people in the time of Zephaniah (Zeph. 2:3-3:13) thought that a long life, good health and material possessions to be a sign of God’s favor and the opposite would be a curse.  The prophet speaks of a small group called the anawim, the poor and the humble, who are pleasing to God. The gospel (Matt. 5:1-12) links these two readings with the attitudes one must have in order to be a follower of Jesus.

Rev. George Fitzgerald CSP has written: “There are many ways to reflect on the Beatitudes. I like to reflect on our experience as Americans who live in a rich, affluent, and powerful society. In the face of this, the fact is that most of the world is powerless, poor, and at the mercy of rich and powerful nations. Large segments of American society are poor, too, and, like many other people in the world, live at the end of a pointed gun…The media of our culture bombards us hourly with the message that the happy ones are those who are wealthy, wear the right clothes, go to the right schools, and drive the right cars. Living in a nation whose motto is ‘In God We Trust,’ we assume that our values are in line with God. Some of our most cherished values—wealth, power, individuality, independence, are all challenged by Jesus, and sometimes they are the values that get us into deep trouble.”

What would a parish or a family look like if the beatitudes were lived consistently by everyone in it?

. Let us pray, Loving God, you come to me where I am undefended, in my weakness.  May I not hide in my strengths, and so hide from your healing Embracing my wounds as you do, may I then not flee from the wounds of others.

Offertory for January 22^nd & 23^rd            $1376.00

Envelope Offerings                         $1101.00

Loose Cash                                            $ 275.00

St. John/St. Hugh         $ 35.00

Shades of Ireland

We are going to Ireland!  Would you like to join us?  Ten days in Ireland.  Visit Limerick, The Cliffs of Moher, Killarney, a ride in an Irish Jaunting car, the Ring of Kerry, the Blarney Stone and Waterford, the Crystal Factory, Dublin, St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  Stay at the best accommodations, take optional tours, enjoy fun-filled Irish evenings!  Stop by the office and pick up “your” brochure for a great trip with Father Colletti!  We will have a presentation about the Ireland Trip on Saturday, February 5^th at 2:00pm in the Parish Center.  Please come and see the wonderful sites we will visit!

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Rosemary Harvey, Regina Jones, Andrea Hynes, Joyce Amos, Regina Wingard, 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, Kath Rodriegas, Nancy Driscoll, Dante DiManna, Margie Levine, Doug Phillips, Andrew Day, Peggy Sue Grow, Mary Serpa, Deborah Miller, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Elizabeth Conte, Shane McCarthy, Mildred Wood, Violet Caldaroni, Frank Cote, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Rita Mahan, Connie Perrotta, Jackie Sullivan, Jean Babbin, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Marisol O’Brien, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Margaret Wright, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Don Costello, Jorge Loayza, Joseph Brault, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Laura Mac Aulay, Stella Guarino, Bill Graham, Bob Remeika, Edward Semanko, Mary Hosford, Morgan Brady, Jane Eastham, Maureen Manfredi and Dorothy Barton.  Please also remember in your prayers Erma Ciano, who died this past week.

St. Brigid Religious Ed News

First Communion Parent Meeting

There will be a meeting for all parents who have a child who will be receiving the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time on Monday, January 31 at either 10:00AM or 7:00PM in the Parish Center. If it is impossible for one parent to attend, please invite your child’s grandparent, Godparent or another close family relative or friend.

Mardi Gras Celebration

We will be celebrating Mardi Gras on Tuesday, February 8^th from 5:30-7:00 in Keilty Hall. Please see insert in today’s bulletin for more information.

Food Pantry

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

Sacred Heart Honduras Team

Our team: Cindy and Frank Bellini, Bob and Fran Ludwig, Tom and Emilie Coakley, Joan O'Connor, and Sarah Andryauskas, will travel to Guaimaca over February vacation to help Sr. Maria Ceballos in her work.  We need your help!  You can help by providing school supplies, over the counter medications and money for school shoes and construction supplies, etc.  In addition reading glasses (new or gently used) are needed.  For details, please take a flier at the church doors or in the parish hall. 

Sacred Heart Parish Second Annual

Super Bowl Party

We will be hosting a Super Bowl Party on Sunday, February 6^th at 6:00pm (see insert) to benefit the Honduran Mission and Sacred Parish. 

9:00 – Wednesday, Feb. 2^nd -              Charles MacGillivray

9:00 – Friday, Feb. 4^th                               Connie Perrotta

Snowstorms/Snow Shoveling

On Monday morning, after the Blizzard of 2005, I called some young folks to help Father Colletti with the shoveling.  (Our snow blower is broken) Out of the four I called, only Ben Marcal responded, THANK YOU BEN!  This is a plea!!!  If we have another snowstorm, and there is no school in Lexington, or even after school, can you help us?  Not having a permanent maintenance person puts a large burden on those who are still here.  Please call Claire at 781-862-4646 if you have the time to help us.

Bulletins	Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - January 30, 2005	Home