Dear Fellow Parishioners, This Third Sunday of Advent we light the candle of Joy, and many have expressed the joy they receive participating in the Reverse Advent Calendar. “It’s such fun grocery shopping and picking up the items listed on the calendar, knowing that it will help those in need!” As people were placing their bags at the entrances of the church many were commenting on how much food was brought in by others. Another commented, “It is so good to shop for people who are in need instead of buying things for people who have more that the need!” If you haven’t begun participating, it’s not too late to jump in.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, As we begin a new Liturgical Year with the season of Advent, be reminded that our Church is a sanctuary from the stress of all the bombardment of capitalism that takes away from the powerful experience that these four weeks can have towards our inner spiritual journey. Please take the time to make that inner journey, by focusing on each of the Advent Candles. Focus on the times you have received hope through those who have helped you; and open your hearts to bring hope to the people around you who need your help. Live in the present moment!
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Our Pastoral Planning Team (PPT) and Buildings and grounds team are hard at work on many items for our parish. I want to bring two major projects to your attention. They are a works in process: Solar Panels and updating and moving the transformer that is located outside the glass entryway to the hall and church.
Happy Feast Day! It is the Feast of Christ the King; a fitting ending to the liturgical calendar and a fitting beginning to our Thanksgiving celebration for all we are grateful. As we give thanks, we prepare to begin a new liturgical year as we enter the Season of Advent. A word on each would be appropriate so we don’t miss the presence of God’s hand in each of these events
Dear Fellow Parishioners, We are a very generous community when it comes to assisting those in need through donations to our Thrift Shop, the Mustard Seed Meals, St. Gerard’s in Haiti, Veterans, our annual Mission Speaker each summer, serving meals at Trinity Episcopal and more. The response of those interested in providing emergency shelter for the homeless (47 parishioners) has been tremendous. We as a community have a desire to live the Gospel.
There is lots of attention paid to Halloween. I was shocked to read that $9 billion is spent in the U.S. this year alone on costumes, decorations, candy and greeting cards. In the hectic preparation of this event, we often lose the reason behind the existence of Halloween - the two feasts of All Saints and All Souls.
While celebrating all the Masses this past weekend I had an opportunity to watch the Stewardship video three times. I realized that it was only five years ago that we were still “under construction”; still renovating the church and that Deacon Joe was with us at the time and attending all three Masses. Seems like so very long ago.
I wish I had the wisdom and the know-how to help our 455 active families realize how very important it is for us all to activate our Catholic GPS. We set the direction for our future in our practice in the present. It is necessary for all households to Give, Pray, and Serve our parish community.
Several people e-mailed me in response to my letter regarding my experience with the 10:30 Mass on September 29th. Several more talked with me after each of the Masses this weekend. The same bottom-line question was asked, “What can we do?”
On Sunday, September 29th the 10:30 Mass was a nightmare for me personally. I was exhausted before Mass even began. Deacon Tom and I were in the sacristy seven minutes before Mass was to begin and we had one altar server and one reader. Yikes! Trying to get candles lit, organizing how all this will work without the ministers necessary for Sunday worship causes a lot of unnecessary anxiety for me personally as I prepare to lead in worship and preach the word of God.
As Catholics our lives center on the Eucharist, “communion” our common-union with each other. When we are in communion with each other no one lives in isolation but is surrounded by people who “have your back” and walk together in the faith journey of life. By deepening your involvement and participation in our community you will have the opportunity to meet others.
Can you even imagine what it is like to be homeless? Most of us can’t. The thought of living in a tent in the woods, sleeping in a bag or with blankets in some public doorway is difficult to fathom or imagine. Yet there are people in Milford and Hopedale that are in need of emergency shelter.
I am writing while sitting in Milford District Court waiting to be a character witness. I know only one side of this man’s story and can’t imagine how anyone in Hopedale/Milford or Massachusetts, or the U.S. feels to be in these circumstances. Is this Justice? Is this mercy and compassion?
The summer schedule has come to an end, and many activities are about to begin. Before we dust our feet from the 9:30 Mass I just want to talk about the Mass schedule. Some want to have a Mass with everyone together and longer tome together after Mass; others want an earlier Mass so they can get on with their day; you catch the drift. As Catholics we sometimes forget that Mass is about community (communion, our common-union with each other) not about convenience. I have no crystal ball that looks into the future, so I don’t know what our schedule needs will be for Masses down the road. I have no idea how many priests will be able to serve our parish, or how many parishes they will have to serve. What I want us to aware of is that “keeping Holy the Sabbath” as Catholics is not at all about our personal preferences and schedule, it is about gathering with the community.
Over these past many years we have engaged in major undertakings to enhance parish ministries, strive to be an active and vibrant parish in today’s very challenging times—for not just our faith but all faiths and religions. As we embark on a new endeavor, I want to just step back a bit and review where we have been and where we are going in the next to five to seven years.
There is a lot of lively exchange going on and good communication as we conclude this homily series on “Everyday heroes.” I am especially pleased with the questions asked of me from time to time. The feedback is great because we need to be discussing the word of God. It is wonderful to know people are listening and that sometimes I end up pushing people’s buttons and pushing the envelope. The Word of God needs to get under our skin if it is to take root.
This past weekend I spoke about the Gospel call by Jesus to be vigilant and faithful. As Catholics our worship at Mass (keeping Holy the Sabbath) means we are gathered (Two or more gathered in His name) and sent (go into the world and spread the good news!). Through prayer I believe we are called to enhance our presence in the world as faithful and vigilant disciples of Christ.
May 4th seems so very long ago, yet it is only 4 months since Bishop McManus was here to consecrate and dedicate our church and altar. Some of you may notice the white marble cover under the altar. That is where Bishop McManus placed the relics of Saint Gemma Galgani and St. Pius X. In the past the relics were placed on the altar; but since the relics of St. Peter are buried beneath the main altar at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome it has now become the custom to do the same in newly consecrated church settings.
Three words have been key to Catholic Parish life since the revelations of abuse in our church: accountability, ownership and transparency. We have been making great strides in all three areas here at Sacred Heart. Being accountable, transparent and taking ownership are equally important to me as your pastor, that is why in my bulletin letter I sometimes address issues that may not be of a spiritual value, but of a temporal nature. I am careful with the monies we spend as a parish as if it were my own. And let me tell you, I am a careful spender.