Sacred Heart Parish Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA and St. John the Baptist Parish Essex, MA The Church encourages all Catholics to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation each Lent. Sacred Heart Church will be open on Lenten Wednesdays from 6:308:00 pm. Please take advantage of this opportunity to make a good Lenten confession. Please also reach out to the Catholics you know that have been away from the regular practice of our faith and invite them to seize this chance to begin again. The Archdiocese s website for this initiative, www.thelightisonforyou.org, has great material to help everyone prepare to make a good confession.
Sacred Heart, Manchester St. John the Baptist, Essex 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 First Saturday of the month 12 noon to 12:45 pm St. John the Baptist Church 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 April 12, 2014 4:00 pm St. John The People of the Parish 5:30 pm Sacred Heart Ignazio & Frances Alongi Sunday April 13, 2014 8:30 am Sacred Heart Janet Canty 10:00 am St. John The People of the Parish Thursday April 17, 2014 7:00 pm Sacred Heart Mass of the Lord s Supper Friday April 18, 2014 7:00 pm St. John Passion of the Lord Saturday April 19, 2014 8:00 pm Sacred Heart Easter Vigil Sunday April 20, 2014 8:30 am Sacred Heart Easter Sunday Mass 10:00 am St. John Easter Sunday Mass Rice Bowls Thank you to all who assisted the work of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) this Lenten season, by participating in CRS Rice Bowl Program. Your generosity will assist many who are in need and bring about the change you want to see in the world. Please return them Sunday. Ecumenical Good Friday Service The Manchester Clergy invites you to join in a Good Friday Service at 12:00 on April 18. The service this year will be held at, Manchester-by-the- Sea, MA. Celiac Disease Both parishes have low gluten hosts available for those living with Celiac Disease. These hosts have less than 0.01% gluten. Please see Father Jack before Mass if you need to receive the Body Christ in this form. Soup and Stations Thank you to the various parish groups and ministries that led the Stations of the Cross this year. Thank you to those who provided the soup and bread for our simple dinner. The Knights of Columbus, Masconomo Council 1232 Scholarship application is available to those students graduating from Manchester Essex Regional High School who s Parent/Guardian is a registered Parishioner of or St John the Baptist Church. Two $500.00 scholarships (one male student and one female student) will be awarded. Applications are available online through Naviance on the MERSD.ORG Website or by contacting Laurie Carlson at MERHS Guidance Office. Mass Attendance for the Weekend of April 6, 2014 4:00 pm St. John 84 5:30 pm Sacred Heart 68 8:30 am Sacred Heart 121 10:00 am St. John 115 Please remember in your prayers: All those who have died, and for those who mourn the loss of a loved one; Especially George Lufkin and 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 April 6, 2014 OCP and MAIL $ 3,885.83 NON-OCP and CASH 777.00 OFFERTORY TOTAL $ 4,665.83 ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH OFFERTORY Weekend of April 6, 2014 OCP and MAIL $ 1,935.00 NON-OCP and CASH 852.00 OFFERTORY TOTAL $ 2,787.00
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: Today as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we begin the most solemn time of the Church s year. During Holy Week, we gather to celebrate the central mystery of our faith: the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Sacred Triduum. These three days are our holiest days. All other activities should give way to free us to spend these days in prayer and preparation for the Resurrection. We reflect on the final hours of Christ s life, mediate upon his passion and wait in anticipation of his resurrection. We also renew our Baptismal vows renewing our commitment to Christ. On Holy Thursday night, April 17, at 7:00, we celebrate the Mass of the Lord s Supper, at. During this Mass, we receive the Sacred Oils for Anointing the Catechumens and the Sick and the Sacred Chrism. These oils were blessed by Cardinal Sean at the Chrism Mass on Tuesday of Holy Week and are used during the coming year. We are reminded of our call to service and humility in the Washing of the Feet and celebrate the Institution of the Eucharist. There will be no procession of the Eucharist at the conclusion to the Altar of Reserve as was previously done. In the retranslated Missal, it is eliminated if the celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday is being held in a different church. After Communion the Eucharist will be returned to the Tabernacle, will remain open until 10:00 for those who wish to remain in prayer. On Good Friday, April 18, we will gather at St. John s Church at 7:00, and hear the Passion of Our Lord according to John and for the Adoration of the Cross, the wood of our salvation. The service concludes with Distribution of the Eucharist. During this service, a collection will be taken up for the sacred places in the Holy Land. On Holy Saturday evening, we gather again in as we celebrate the Great Easter Vigil at 8:00. In this celebration we proclaim Christ triumph over death. We begin with the lighting of the Easter Fire, and the blessing of the Easter Candle. It will be lit and brought into the dark church, reminding us that the light of Christ scatters all darkness and we live in the light of his Resurrection. We will hear again the great events of salvation history, we will renew our baptismal promises and hear the good news that Christ is Risen! Mass on Easter Sunday morning will follow the regular Sunday morning schedule. Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 AM at Sacred Heart and at 10:00 at St. John's. As a reminder, there is no Saturday evening Masses at 4:00 or at 5:30. The only Mass on Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil. The collection taken up at the Easter Vigil and on Easter Morning is for the health needs of the active and retired priests of the Archdiocese. Sincerely in Christ, Fr. Jack Faith Book Reflection on Today s Readings Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion Isaiah 50: 4-7 Psalm 22 Philippians 2: 6-11 Matthew 26: 14-27:66 From today s Gospel reading: Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." Reflection: Drinking the cup reminds us that there will be a future time when, with Jesus and one another, we will drink "the fruit of the vine" at the banquet in the kingdom. Things will be complete, someday; but not yet. So, we drink the cup to remember Christ's suffering and promise of a future fulfillment. So we ask ourselves: What is the "cup" of discipleship we are asked to drink from at this point in our lives? What sacrifices does drinking from this cup ask of us? 4
Congratulations and Thank You!!! Sacred Heart Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish have surpassed their 2014 Catholic Appeal goals. I am truly grateful to the parishioners and families that helped us reach our goal. The pledges from Sacred Heart Parish total $50,485 and from St. John's Parish total $13,759. If you have yet to participate in the 2014 Catholic Appeal, please pledge online at www.bostoncatholicappeal.org or complete a pledge form available in the back of the Church. Please note that you may make a pledge payable in monthly installments up until January 31, 2015. Holy Week Schedule Holy Thursday April 17, 2014 7:00 PM Mass of the Lord's Supper CLEGRY FUNDS EASTER COLLECTION Good Friday April 18, 2014 7:00 PM Passion of the Lord Saint John the Baptist Church Holy Saturday April 19, 2014 8:00 PM Great Vigil of Easter Easter Sunday Morning Masses April 20, 2014 8:30 AM St. John the Baptist Church 10:00AM Next week s Easter collection is for our priests. The Clergy Health and Retirement Trust helps care for the health and well-being of our 638 priests, ensuring the highest quality of care and quality of life for the men who have dedicated their lives in service to our Archdiocese of Boston. Our priests have been there for us. Now, it is our turn to help secure the future for them in their time of need. If you wish to give online please visit www.clergyfunds.org to participate in this effort Thank you for helping to keep the promises made care for our priests. A NIGHT OF TASTING St. John the Baptist Parish will be hosting a Night of Tasting to be held at Sacred Heart Parish Hall on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Ticket price is $20.00 per person. This will be an evening with a local Boston Chef, local breweries, Ryan and Wood Distillery and a few other surprises. Please watch the bulletin for more details. Knights of Columbus Easter Ham Fest This Sunday, from 4 pm to 6 pm, the Knights of Columbus will be holding their annual Ham Fest at Sacred Heart Parish Hall. There will be Hams and all of the fixings for you Easter Dinner. The money raised will help fund the 2 scholarships which are given to parish students. 5
Lenten Activities Each Wednesday Evening the Light is on for you, confessions from 6:30-8:00PM Come and see what s in it for you...why fasting, why prayer, why almsgiving? Lenten Mission Our Mission and Healing Mass have ended and heartfelt thanks to those that helped with the services. Some responses after the Mission are: I felt complete peace, I was healed of my addiction, I feel better than I did before I came.with such positive responses we will pursue having more healing Masses in the future. Please feel free to share your experiences with Chris or Fr. Jack. Prayer shawls were blessed and given out after the first night of healing, and many stories were shared regarding the love, blessings, and peace the recipients felt after receiving their shawl. Please let Chris know if you know someone that may like a prayer shawl. Alpha Our 10 week Alpha session is ending and the successful course was shared with about 30 people. Plans are being made for another course to begin in the fall. Please contact Chris if you have any interest in faith sharing, learning what are you doing here? or what is God s plan for your life? Intro Bible Study Introductory bible study sessions will begin April 27th 7:00 pm at St. John s Parish Hall open to all. Please contact Chris if you have any interest. The class will run for next 5 Monday s ending on May 25th. 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. Mary s Circle Please 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. Ministry to the Homebound and Sick A team workshop meeting will be held April 22 at 7:00 pm in Sacred Heart rectory. We will be going over the past schedule and planning a new one. 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 Our RCIA sessions are coming to a close. We will be celebrating a Confirmation at the Easter Vigil. If you know someone who has not received all their Sacraments or might be interested in our Catholic faith, please pass the word or contact Chris at the parish office. Our next formal session will start in the fall; however, arrangements can be made to meet one on one at any time. Baptism Prep Classes Baptism preparation classes are being held in the Chapel at 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