Given our mandate to create one parish from Sacred Heart and Saint Brigid Parishes we know that we are in for multiple changes over this coming year.

Whatever the kinds of change that people encounter, there are certain patterns of response that occur and re-occur.

Ken Blanchard in The Inside Guide, October, 1992 has described seven dynamics of change.

1)     People will feel awkward, ill-at-ease and self-conscious. To ask people to do things differently disrupts their habitual ways of doing things.  People want to get it right, and fear that they will appear inadequate.  I have often told staff that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.  We do not have to wait to be perfect before we begin something new—but we do have to plan ahead.

2)  People initially focus on what they have to give up. Even for positive changes people will concentrate on what they will be losing.  We have to acknowledge that things will never be the same for both parishes.  As we realize this, our response may seem—at times—to be irrational or tentative.

3)     People will feel alone even if everyone else is going through the same change. Everyone feels (or wants to feel) that their situation is unique and special.  Unfortunately, this tends to increase the sense of isolation for people undergoing change.  I hope you know that I understand these feelings and may be going through them myself.  We must rely on each other to avoid the sense of isolation.  We will have to work together and frequently to aid each other through whatever changes occur.

4)   People can handle only so much change. On a personal level too much change can cripple us.  We have to move slowly through these changes.  While some changes are beyond our control, it is important not to pile change upon change upon change.

5)   People are at different levels of readiness for change.  Some people thrive on change and others are ready for change.  Others are not there yet.  I understand that any change will have supporters and people who have difficulty adapting.  There will be people looking forward to giving their advice for change and feel excited about discovering what we shall become and there will be people who have already come to conclusions and want either no change or only a modified change.

6)   If you take the pressure off, people will revert to their old behavior.  People have to realize that we are serious about the project before us.  There is a new course and the course will remain.  We cannot go back. There has to be new vision and new resolve to create the Catholic Community as one in Lexington.

Both faith communities have a history of developing an amazing ability to sense and respond to change.  Their members understand the need for both stability and adaptability.  The communities are “ever the new and ever the same” because they have developed ways of thinking about what must always stay the same and what must always be in transition.

It is the gospel, the “good news,” that always stays the same.  The good news of Jesus Christ as expressed in scripture and through the long tradition of faithful people never changes.  As the history of the Church has taught us, however, the believer must understand this good news and live it in a human and physical environment that constantly changes.  This ongoing incarnation and incorporation will reflect and interact with the world as it is at any specific time.  It is now our time and our turn to reflect Christ’s message in a more imaginative and fruitful way.

Continue to pray for our efforts.  Come and join us in our efforts. “Unless the Lord build the house, those who labor, labor in vain.”

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Marisol O’Brien, Peter Bellini, 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, Jackie Sullivan, Jean Babbin, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Margaret Wright, Renee Chapman, , Edward Borden, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Jorge Loayza, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Willy Smith, Claire McDonough, Julia Gillis, Laura Mac Aulay, Alyssa Frazer, Bill Graham, Bob Remeika, Edward Semanko, Matthew Gablor, Mary Hosford, Morgan Brady, Willie Smith, Jane Eastham, Joseph Coppola, Betty White, Barbara DeVitte, Bernis Whalen, Virgil Kehs, Michael Calderoni and Dorothy Barton.  Please also pray for Elinor Boyle who died this past week.

We would like to welcome any newcomers to our Liturgies this weekend.  Please take a moment to introduce yourself to Father Colletti so that he may encourage you to join with us each week on your faith journey. 

Offertory for April 16^th & 17^th  $4661.00

Envelope Offerings                     $4096.00

Loose Cash                                   $ 565.00

St. John/St. Hugh                       $ 75.00

St. Brigid Parish 8^th Annual Golf Classic will be held on Monday, June 13, 2005 at the Windham Country Club in Windham, N. H. beginning at 1:30PM.  The purpose of the Tournament is to raise funds to help graduating High School Seniors.  Because of the merger this year of the Youth Ministries of Sacred Heart and St. Brigid Parishes, seniors of both parishes will be eligible to apply for scholarship consideration.  Golf Flyers are available at all the exits of the Church for those who would like to participate as a player or as a sponsor. 

THE SCHOLARSHIP FORMS ARE AVAILABLE NOW. PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AT 781-862-4646 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Wings

The next meeting of Women In God’s Spirit (WINGS) is Thursday April 28^th at 9:30 at St. Brigid’s Parish Hall.  Our guest speaker will be Kathryn O’Connell Cleary speaking about “Mothering As a Spiritual Path.”  Please feel free to drop in and enjoy the speaker and learn more about WINGS.

St. Brigid Religious Education News

Bake Sale

Our Sunday 6^th grade classes raised $207. at their bake sale.  All proceed will be donated to the Tsumami Relief Fund.  Thank you to all of our parishioners for their support!

4^th Grade Children Helping Children Flea Market

Our 4^th grade students raised over $400 at their Flea Market!  With this money they purchased items to make welcome bags for the children being served at House of Hope in Lowell.  House of Hope is a shelter for battered women and their children ---great work children!!

First Communion Rehearsal – Friday April 29^th from 6:00-7:15 for those children receiving on Sunday, May 1^st at 11:30 (children should arrive at the church by 11:00)

Small Faith Groups

Small Faith Groups are a program of friendship and interpersonal devotion with a basis in religious and spiritual values.  These groups meet once a month on the average.  The joining of Sacred Heart and St. Brigid Parish into one parish and the formation of a single Catholic Community of Lexington produces the motivation to develop more groups which personalize the faith of those members of each group.  Next week we will have a flyer in the bulletin announcing the training of small group facilitators (group leaders).  The presentation will be on May 22, 2005 from 1:00-4:00pm at the Sacred Heart Parish Center.

Echoes of Faith

Echoes of Faith is an Adult Enrichment Program of Basic Catholic Theology.  St. Brigid will be presenting this program on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:00 in the Library.  The program dates are as follows:

5/3 & 5/10                   I Believe/We Believe

5/17 & 5/24                 Introduction to Scripture

      5/31 & 6/7                   Liturgy & Sacraments

6/14 & 6/21                 Catholic Morality

6/28 & TBA                  Prayer & Spirituality

Come to learn about your faith and the Church we love!  Please register, even if you’re unable to attend every week.

For more information or to register, please call Jaye Russo at 781-862-8724 or Jayerusso@aol.com

These courses will also be counted as part of the Archdiocese of Boston Catechist Certification Program.

Bread for the World

Come join us next Sunday after the 10:00Mass to urge our Congressmen to support Bread for the World’s 2005 campaign and legislations Make Hunger History.  We will urge them to help the U.S. to live up to it’s commitment to cut hunger and food insecurity in half by 2010 and commit to ending both by 2015.

Holy Humor

A Sunday school teacher asked her children, as they were on the way to church, “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?”  One bright little girl replied, “Because people are sleeping.”

Welcome Cards

Please take one of our Welcome Cards if you are new to the Parish.  If you are a veteran parishioner and wish to be in a ministry, know of someone ill, have a new address, phone number or would like to share your e-mail address with us, please use this card to do that as well. 

Bulletins	Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - April 24, 2005	Home