Dear Parish Family: As you know, Fr. Bill has taken this week off to catch up on some rest and relaxation. It is well deserved! Covid-19 safety measures and social distancing have presented all Catholic parishes with challenges and we are no different. The uncertainty of the virus and vaccination has altered just about everything that we do as a parish. Like all of you, we have had to adapt to our constantly changing world. It is stressful!
Dear Fellow Parishioners, The deadline for our bulletin to the printer is Wednesdays at 12:00 P.M. so many times there are events that unfold after that time before we gather on the weekend. This week is a cliffhanger of a week as we witness a very different transfer of power in the United States; some say since the Great Depression. I am praying that when we gather on the weekend, we will be able to feel a sense of hope and move to restore unity in our nation. It will not happen in the next 100 days nor even the next four years. We have many issues we need to address as a nation; issues that are deeply rooted.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, It is Ordinary Time in the Church calendar, but we are living in extraordinary times in our nation. It is Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and I am thinking of all my travels throughout our country as I “Walked in the Spirit of MLK.” I visited Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Lorraine Hotel, which is now a museum, the Rosa Parks Museum, the MLK Library and burial site; you get picture. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet people who knew Martin.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Happy New Year everyone! And what strange events are unfolding as we enter this New Year. Several time I have read the words “Navigating the New Year!” When I think of navigating, I tend to think of finding the right way to deal with a difficult or complicated situation. Why should this year be different from any other year? It could be the unknowns, but there are lots of those for all of us in every year. The pandemic certainly plays a part and the political situation sure is complicated. All are out of our hands. Many things will continue to occur here at Sacred Heart in the months ahead.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! I am sure you, like me have been reading some of the “Year-in-review” articles that are out there, and it is not a pretty picture. Many are eager to put 2020 behind us and enter into a new year with hope and promise.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Who is my neighbor? Who is my family? On this Feast of the Holy Family, I thank God for all of you who have answered the call to be neighbor and family to the least, the lost, and the last!
Dear Fellow Parishioners, The words of John the Baptist call us to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. As we do every Advent, we invite all to our Advent Reconciliation Service. Due to Covid-19 we are being very careful and a little creative with our service. We will gather around a firepit in front of the church for our service to be held Monday December 21st at 7:00 P.M. I am inviting everyone to reflect on the one or two items for which you are seeking forgiveness. Write them on a slip of paper. During the service each one will have an opportunity to hand that slip to me, I will read it, toss it into the firepit and absolve you of your sins. We will all be wearing masks and social distancing.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Several people have asked, “And how are you doing in all this?” Others have been attentive to the prayers on the weekend, “Is the Fr. Charlie we prayed for at Mass your friend from Haiti?” And someone made note, “Your homilies have been addressing the larger picture of our nation, and not just individual preparation this Advent.”
Dear Fellow Parishioners, We are having a Covid-19 Advent, so our Giving Tree needs to be virtual. Our partners are looking for the following items. The Daily Food Pantry is looking for gift certificates from Market Basket or Shaws for families in need. St. Vincent de Paul and our twin parish in Haiti, St. Gerard’s need money donations. Catholic Charities are looking for diapers size 3,4,5 or 6 and Baby wipes 80 count. The Mustard Seed is looking for men’s and women’s sweatpants and sweatshirts, as is Riverside Community Center who is also looking for bath towels and twin-size sheets. All this information is on our website at https://sacredhearthopedale.org/virtual-giving-tree so you can sign up. Place the name of the group on the items you are bringing in along with your name and place the items under the tree in the front entry of the church. We need all items brought in by December 15th so we can sort and deliver to each partner.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, How comforting it is to slow down, be still, surrender to the cold of winter and gather these next four weeks around our Advent Wreath. Allow yourself a stress-free month of December in preparation of the birth of Christ anew in your heart, your hearth, your household. Being free of parties, gatherings, shopping, hustle, bustle, harried activity and breathing in the opportunity to really enter the true meaning of the Advent Season, is one of the best gifts we can give, and receive during this pandemic.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, I want to make sure that we as a parish stay open so that all of us can celebrate a healthy and safe Thanksgiving and Christmas. That is going to take the cooperation of all who enter the doors of our church for worship. The pandemic is not abating, it is surging. We are walking through a Covid-19 shadow and so we must be on our guard and walk together, wearing masks and socially distancing. Everyone has been so very cooperative thus far. However, there have been a few questions that I want to address. We are following the rules and regulations posted by the medical experts of our state, and the regulations sent to us by the Office for Worship for the Diocese of Worcester very closely.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, A long Covid-19 winter lies ahead, and again I am focused on ways we can build community safely and make sure there are opportunities to prevent isolation and depression from infecting us during this pandemic. Deacon Tom mentioned many ways in his homily this weekend, I want to share a little more information.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Several people commented on how lucky I am to have such good neighbors who came to MY rescue when Stella was hit. Some went further to say, “How lucky you are to know your neighbors! As I was reflecting on that I realize that we have been socially distancing from others for years, and not just since Covid-19. This happening is made more evident in Robert Putnam’s book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, The Yard Sale was truly a wonderful success thanks to all of you who took the time to go through your homes and donate items that we could sell. The number of items was tremendous, and so were all those who came forward to price things for two weeks as people brought their treasures forward. All hands were on deck at 7:00 A.M. to set everything up in the dark to open at 8:00 and many staffed tables right through till noon. Another crew arrived at Noon and many who worked all day worked together to clean up everything and get items ready for Salvation Army, Big Brothers and Sisters. We made over $3000.00. This doesn’t make up for all the fund raisers and Thrift Shop we hold during the year, but it sure is a huge help to making our expenses!
Dear Fellow Parishioners, I am calling all hands-on deck this weekend! This is commitment weekend for our Annual Stewardship Renewal, and we are trying to fit all the pieces of our Catholic Community puzzle together so that we can navigate this pandemic and keep our doors open! Not only is it our commitment weekend, we are also holding our one major fund raiser, a Yard Sale from 8:00 to Noon this Saturday October 24th. This yard sale is replacing the harvest fest, the Christmas Fair, Italian Night (Mardi Gras); since we cannot gather in our hall to serve meals and enjoy each other’s company.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, This is a very puzzling year for us all as we try to put the pieces together for Faith Formation and build community while social distancing. As I try to get my mind around this, the word “Sabbath” comes to mind. The word comes from the Hebrew Scriptures pertaining to God resting on the seventh day. Under the circumstances we find ourselves with social distancing, Covid-19, and remote learning for school and faith formation, I am asking us all to take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the opportunities for us to deepen our faith as “domestic church.” We need to remember that faith is “caught” not taught. So here are my recommendations:
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Mail-in ballots and in-person voting are all in the news these days. The bottom line is that we all need to practice our civic duty and vote, no matter how we do it. The same is true for all members of the Catholic Community of Sacred Heart during our Annual Stewardship Renewal. We need to know that we are on this faith journey together and will activate our Catholic GPS.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, ISOLATION! We are social beings and covid-19 has prevented us from being together and connecting with other people. I am personally missing my Zumba buddies and my theater friends who gather each month for dinner and a show at the Hanover theater. Others have mentioned bridge clubs, Weight Watcher meetings, athletic clubs, and so much more.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, We are making every attempt to pass on our faith and deepen our understanding of faith through our Faith formation programs and sacramental preparation. I am pleased with the efforts we are making with those of you who are assisting in these areas as we try to navigate learning and formation during covid-19. Many of our Faith Formation programs are aimed at the youth of our parish. Today I would like to speak to adults who may be interested in becoming Catholic, or wish to complete their Sacraments of Initiation, and or Sacramental Marriage. Life happens and some have been baptized Catholic and never had a chance or were not ready to receive their First Communion and or Confirmation. If you are ready at this time you are invited to enter the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). If you are non-Catholic and interested in becoming Catholic, you too are invited to participate in RCIA. Deacon Tom Tierney will set a schedule with all those who are interested so that you can receive these sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. We just need to know who you are, and we will get you started. I am available to assist any couples who were civilly married and have a desire to have their marriage blessed. The Sacrament of Matrimony is inviting the presence of Christ and the community into your relationship and supporting you both in a life-long commitment surrounded by the encouragement and support of our Catholic Community. It is never too late to fully enter into the sacramental life of our Catholic Community. When you are ready please contact us and we will be happy to make the faith journey with you and support you in receiving the life-giving sacramental graces bestowed on us through our faith community. Fr. Bill
Dear Fellow Parishioners, The stress of Covid-19 and all it entails; social distancing, wearing masks, being high risk, another wave coming, and all the information has the potential of leading many into the dangers of isolation. We are the Catholic Community of Sacred Heart and as human beings we are built for community. It is essential for our mental health, sanity and spiritual growth and development that we remain connected, holding each other in love and support and carrying each other during these difficult times.