Sacred Heart Parish Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA and St. John the Baptist Parish Essex, MA Lent Begins on Ash Wednesday March 5th
Sacred Heart, Manchester St. John the Baptist, Essex Sacred Heart Church 62 School St. Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944-1342 Established 1905 St. John the Baptist Church 52 Main St. Essex, MA 01929-1343 Established 1931 We are here to welcome and serve you. No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church. No matter what your current family or marital situation, No matter your personal history, age, background, race, etc., No matter what your self image You are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved and respected in Sacred Heart and St. John the Baptist Parishes. Parish Staff Rev. John W. Gentleman, Pastor jwg41859@comcast.net Jay Caress, Director of Religious Education 978 526-1781 jay.caress@yahoo.com Stephanie O Connell, Youth Ministry stephanierangelym@yahoo.com Chris Moore, Adult Faith Formation Director shsjadultfaith@comcast.net Joseph Sebastian Stella, Music Director & Organist js12is@yahoo.com Darice McIntire, Secretary & Bulletin Editor shsjbulletin@comcast.net Nancy Smith, Business Manager shsjparishes@comcast.net Rectory Hours: Monday Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Website: www.shsjparishes.com Facebook: SacredHeartStJohn 2 Parish Information Sacred Heart Rectory-978-526-1263 St. John the Baptist Rectory-978-768-6284 Parishes Fax 978-526-4335 Liturgy Schedule Saturday Vigil: St. John the Baptist 4:00 pm Sacred Heart 5:30 pm Sunday Masses: Sacred Heart 8:30 am St. John the Baptist 10:00 am Weekday Masses: At Sacred Heart Manchester Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 8:00 am Eucharistic Service Thursday & Friday 8:00 am Rosary: Daily 7:30 am before Mass & Monday 7 pm Adoration Monday 8:30 am to 9:30 am Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays: Sacred Heart First Saturday of the month 12 noon to 12:45 pm St. John the Baptist Second Saturday of the month 12 noon to 12:45 pm Sacrament of Baptism Sacred Heart First Sunday of the month St. John the Baptist Second Sunday of the month Sacraments of Marriage and Anointing of the Sick Please call the Rectory for more information.
Mass Intentions Saturday February 15, 2014 4:00 pm St. John Jeremiah McCarthy 5:30 pm Sacred Heart Ema Gil Wykes Sunday February 16, 2014 8:30 am Sacred Heart Rev. Joseph C. Wilson 10:00 am St. John Helen Porper Saturday February 22, 2014 4:00 pm St. John The People of the Parish 5:30 pm Sacred Heart The People of the Parish Sunday February 23, 2014 8:30 am Sacred Heart The People of the Parish 10:00 am St. John The People of the Parish Lent...What is in it for me? The Light Is On For You! Sacred Heart Church 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday Nights: March 12-19-26 April 2-9-16 SOUP AND STATIONS Please join us on Friday nights during Lent at St. John the Baptist Parish at 6:00 pm for a light supper of soup and bread, then at 7:00 pm, 6 different groups, for the 6 Fridays, from both parishes will be praying different types of the Stations of the Cross. We are also looking for 12 volunteers to make soup for this program and any bread bakers are welcome to donate their bread as well. If you would like to help in any way in praying the Stations of the Cross, making soup or baking bread, please contact Darice at the Parish Office at 978-526- 1263 or email: shsjbulletin@comcast.net. Mass Attendance for the Weekend of February 9, 2014 4:00 pm St. John 67 5:30 pm Sacred Heart 67 8:30 am Sacred Heart 140 10:00 am St. John 115 Please remember in your prayers: All those who have died, especially, Eleanor Bresnahan and those who mourn the loss of a loved one; the sick and the suffering of our community, and for their families and caregivers; those in the military and in service to their community, those who have asked to be remembered in prayer, those who have no one to pray for them, and those who are searching for a faith community. Please pray for those who are unemployed and underemployed. If you would like to have a name or intention added to our prayer circle, please contact the rectory or email the requests to SHSJPrayerCircle@comcast.net. 3 SACRED HEART PARISH OFFERTORY Weekend of February 9, 2014 OCP and MAIL $ 2,182.00 NON-OCP and CASH 662.00 OFFERTORY TOTAL $ 2,844.00 ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH OFFERTORY Weekend of February 9, 2014 OCP and MAIL $ 5,750.00 NON-OCP and CASH 774.00 OFFERTORY TOTAL $ 6,524.00
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Thank you to all who participated in World Marriage Day last weekend. At our celebrations, we invited the couples to renew their vows and to reaffirm their love for each other. There were many years of marriage represented, from couples who were married only a few months up to those who were married over 70 years. Each couple has seen the joy and the difficulties of marriage, but with faith in each other and trust in the love of God they have centered their relationship on Christ's love and have shared with each other the joys and sorrows, their hopes and dreams. May they continue to proclaim the love of God to each other and grow in God's grace. Thank you to those who helped organize and celebrate this special celebration. A few weeks ago, members of each parish's finance council shared the need to both increase participation and the giving level of our Offertory Commitment Program (OCP). It is by your generous and continued support of the parish through the OCP we are able to proclaim the good news of Christ to our community, to invite others to share in the good news of Christ, and to bring the gospel message to the world. I also express a deep gratitude to those to those who begin their participation in the program and to those who raised their level of giving. Like everyone's household, costs continue to increase; the coldness of the winter has escalated our fuel costs, insurance costs for health and property have risen this year and the expense of maintaining and repairing our buildings continues to increase. There are many hopes and dreams we have to continue to see our parishes grow and respond to the needs of preaching the gospel, without your support and generous assistance we cannot make the love of Christ known and our churches places of welcome and inspiration. If you have not returned your OCP information, please do so as soon as convenient or if you need more information it is available at the entrances of the churches. May God bless you for your assistance in proclaiming His love. Our parishes are also in need of additional Liturgical Ministers. This is particularly necessary in the Ministries of Reader and Eucharistic Minister. We are blessed with several dedicated Ministers in these ministries, however, we need to welcome more to assist. If you are interested in learning more about serving your parish in these areas, a meeting will be held on Tuesday Evening, February 25 at 7:00 in Sacred Heart Church. This is a meeting for ministers for both parishes. More information will be in the bulletin next week or please contact Fr. Jack. Peace Fr. Jack Faith Book Reflection on Today s Readings February 16, 2014 Sirach 15: 15-20; 1 Corinthians 2: 6-10; Matthew 5: 17-37 From today s Gospel reading: "Do you think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." Reflection: Through the Law and the prophets God guided the chosen people. Now we, the community of disciples, for whom Jesus gave his life, will give evidence to the Law s fulfillment by the example of our lives. So we ask ourselves: If someone were to ask you, "What is the difference between the Old Law and the New Law?" how would you answer? How would answer this, "How did Jesus fulfill the law and the prophets?" ALTAR SERVER TRAINING FOR SACRED HEART AND ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISHES A new session of Altar Server Training will begin on Monday, February 24th at 3:30 in St. John the Baptist Church. Any student in Grade 4 and up are welcome to join the Altar Server team. This is a wonderful way for our children to become involved with their parish by serving at our Masses. 4
MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION St. John the Baptist Church Tuesday, March 4, 2014 5:30 pm Tickets ~ $6.00 per person $20.00 per family Join us for a Pasta and Meatball Dinner Burning of the Palms and of course King Cake for dessert! Who will find the baby this year in the cake? ASH WEDNESDAY MARCH 5, 2014 Sacred Heart Parish Mass at 8:00 am with Ashes 12 Noon Liturgy of the Word and Ash Distribution St. John the Baptist Parish Mass at 4:00 pm with Ashes Mass at 7:00 pm with Ashes LENT IS JUST AROUD THE CORNER (March 5)!! Be prepared for a Lenten journey, different than before, after all, Lent...what s in it for me?? We will be hosting some interesting talks, a 'mini -mission', and Healing Mass, while trying to help us discover what Lent means to you and for you! Live the Fast Sacred Heart Church March 6, 7:00 pm Come and see what s in it for you...why fasting, why prayer, why almsgiving? Join us during our Lenten journey! 5
ALPHA What am I doing here?? What is God's plan for my life?? We have all the answers along with fun, fellowship, and food!!! Join us for dinner and a movie every Monday evening at St. Johns' Parish Hall, at 6:30PM. It's NEVER too late to join us!! ********************************************************* LENT IS JUST AROUD THE CORNER (March 5)!! Be prepared for a Lenten journey, different than before, after all, Lent...what s in it for me?? We will be hosting some interesting talks, a 'mini -mission', and Healing Mass, while trying to help us discover what Lent means to you and for you!! Join us during our Lenten journey! ******************************************************* Mary s Circle Consider joining this group of faith filled women as we explore the different aspects of our faith and how it connects to us in relevant and familiar ways. We meet every Thursday morning at 11AM in the Sacred Heart rectory. Coffee, Confections, and Conversation are the orders of the day. Call Chris at the parish office for more information. Prayer Shawl Ministry What an awesome response from our parish and beyond!! The shawls are going out to those in need just as fast as they are coming in!! We need more prayer shawls!! Please consider being a part of this ministry. We are always looking for new members; please consider joining us, or making one in the privacy of your home. We have easy to follow patterns. And.if you know anyone who would benefit from having a lot of prayers wrapped around them, please let us know. You may contact Chris at the parish office or Gloria Landy, Jane Shaw, Eleanor Hatcher, or Barbara Stasium. The Prayer Shawl ministry meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 4PM in the Sacred Heart Rectory.. If you cannot join our ministry, please consider donating money, yarn (preferably soft yarn), or gift bags (to distribute them in), all donations are graciously accepted. Ministry to the Homebound and Sick If you are aware of someone ill, homebound, or alone that would like to receive Eucharist, or a short visit from a fellow parishioner, please contact Chris at the Parish Office and we will make arrangements. RCIA Meetings are continuing on Sundays after the 8:30AM Mass at Sacred Heart rectory. Please pass the word if you know anyone who may be interested in becoming Catholic or receiving the rest of their Sacraments of Initiation. Contact Chris at the parish office. Baptism Prep Classes Baptism preparation classes are being held in the Chapel at Sacred Heart Church and is currently offered the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00PM.These classes are designed for parents and godparents of infants. The goal of the class is to help parents become aware of the theological and historical reasons for baptizing your child and the significance of Baptism as a beginning, not an end, to a lifelong commitment. The one hour class explores the purpose of Baptism from both a spiritual and practical standpoint. Parishioners are asked to sign up for the class prior to having their infants baptized. You may sign up at the same time you schedule your baby's baptism. Reservations are suggested. Please contact Chris at the parish office with any questions or concerns. Ministry of Consolation: Our parish has a group of volunteers willing to sit and talk with someone after a loss. Please contact Chris at the parish office to schedule a time to meet. 6