SACRED HEART

N e w t o n

J a n u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 7

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SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday: 2:30 to 3:30pm or anytime by appointment

BAPTISM Ar rangement for this Sacrament of Initiation may be made by contacting the Rectory.

MARRIAGE Ar rangements for Marr iage should be made with the parish priest at least eight months in advance to allow for adequate preparation.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM Grades 1 through 5 - Tuesdays 4:00 to 5:15pm Grades 6 through 10 - Tuesdays 7:00 to 8:30pm

VISITATION TO THE SICK We are eager to help anyone who cannot celebrate Mass with us in Church. If you wish to receive the sacraments of Confession, Communion, or the Anointing of the Sick, please call the Rectory. Please notify us of any hospitalization so that we may help.

MASSES Weekends (Upper Church) Saturday: 4:00pm Sunday: 9:00am, 11:00am in ASL (also Voiced) 12 Noon (Lower Church) Weekdays (Lower Church) Monday—Saturday: 9:00am Saturday following Mass: Rosary, Exposition, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, concluding at 10:30am Holy Days (Upper Church) 7:00am at Our Lady Help of Christians 9:00am at Sacred Heart 12:00 noon at Our Lady Help of Christians 7:30pm at Sacred Heart. This Mass is in both English and ASL Holidays (Lower Church) 9:00am

WEBSITES : www.sholnewton.org www.bostondeafcatholic.org

WELCOME: If you are new in the par ish, please introduce yourself after Mass or at the rectory office. We want to know and serve you.

OFFICE MAILING ADDRESS 1321 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02459

OFFICE HOURS Monday, Tuesday, 9:30am to 5:00pm; Wednesday, Thursday, 8:30am to 3:30pm; Fridays 9:00am to 12:00pm.

PHONE AND E-MAIL Rectory Office 617-969-2248 Pastoral Associate 617-969-4021 Religious Education 617-969-4031 MacKenzie Center 617-332-7220 Fax 617-965-7515 Our Lady Help of Christians 617-527-7560 sacredheart@sholnewton.org jsassani@sholnewton.org dsheehan@sholnewton.org rblaney@sholnewton.org amilik@sholnewton.org mbuckley@sholnewton.org bniemiec@sholnewton.org msolomon@sholnewton.org mbliss@sholnewton.org jenna.kish@bostondeafcatholic.org pmiller@sholnewton.org

STAFF Rev. John Sassani, Pastor: 617-515-1743 Rev. Robert J. Blaney, P. Vicar: 617-527-7560 x212 Rev. Adrian Milik, P. Vicar: 617-527-7560 x224 In Residence: Rev. Michael Hahn In Residence at OLHC: Msgr. Dennis Sheehan Mr. William B. Koffel, Deacon Mrs. Marie Buckley, Pastoral Associate Mr. Brian Niemiec, Pastoral Associate Mr. Michael Bliss, Business Manager Mr. Manny Lim, Interim Director of Music Mrs. Michelle Solomon, Religious Education Director Mrs. Margaret Miller, Administrative Associate Mrs. Marisa Cimino, Activities Coordinator, MacKenzie Center Mr. David Nahabedian, Facilities Manager

PARISH RESOURCES

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OUR COMMUNITY NEWS MASS INTENTIONS Sunday, February 5 9:00am, Parishioners of Sacred Heart Friday, February 10 9:00am, Ryan Owens Saturday, February 11 9:00am, Parishioners of Sacred Heart 4:00pm, Paula Higgins Sunday, February 12 9:00am, Henry, Mary and Paul Brissette 12:00 Noon, Donna Caney CELEBRANTS FOR NEXT WEEK Saturday, February 11, 4:00pm: Fr. Sassani Sunday, February 12, 9:00am: Fr. Sassani 11:00am, Fr. Carey; 12:00 Noon, Msgr. Sheehan SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THIS WEEK Sunday, February 5, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 58: 7-10; Ps. 112: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5; Matthew 5: 13-16 Monday, February 6, Saint Paul Miki and Companions Genesis 1: 1-19; Ps. 104: 1-2a, 5-6, 10 and 12, 24 and 35c; Mark 6:53-56 Tuesday, February 7 Genesis 1:20—2:4a; Ps. 8: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Mark 7:1-13 Wednesday, February 8, St. Jerome; St. Josephine Bakhita Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17; Ps. 104:1-2a, 27-28, 29bc-30; Mark 7:14-23 Thursday, February 9 Genesis 2:18-25; Ps. 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5; Mark 7:24-30 Friday, February 10, Saint Scholastica Genesis 3:1-8; Ps. 32: 1-2, 5, 6, 7; Mark 7:31-37 Saturday, February 11, Our Lady of Lourdes Genesis 3:9-24; Ps. 90: 2, 3-4abc, 5-6, 12-13; Mark 8: 1-10 Sunday, February 12, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sirach 15:15-20; Ps. 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37 CALENDAR NOTES Extended Coffee Hour: Sunday, February 5, 10:00am—1:00pm, Parish Center

Women’s Discussion Group: Sunday, February 5 10:45am, Convent Prayer Group: Wednesday, February 8, 7:30pm, Convent Chapel Knight of Columbus: Wednesday, February 8, 7:30pm, Convent Dining room. Coffee Hour: Friday, February 10, Following 9:00am Mass, Parish Center Collaborative Faith Festival: Friday, February 10, 5:30pm-8:30pm at Our Lady’s; Sunday, February 12, 11:00am-2:00pm at Our Lady’s and 4:00pm-7:00pm at Sacred Heart. Liturgy, Holy Hour, Rosary: Saturday, February 11, 9:00am—10:30am, Lower Church Extended Coffee Hour: Sunday, February 12, 10:00am—1:00pm, Parish Center

2017 CATHOLIC APPEAL

Recently, many of you received a letter from

Cardinal Sean requesting your support of the 2017

Catholic Appeal. Our parish directly benefits from

the 50 ministries supported by the Appeal. If you

have not already done so, please prayerfully consider

making an early pledge. You may mail your pledge

or visit bostoncatholicappeal.org to give online.

Thank you! OFFERTORY INCOME Income for the month of January Envelopes, cash, checks $ 22,323 On Line Giving $ 1,905

Urban Parishes $ 407 Little Sisters of the Poor $ 2,078 Church in Latin America $ 913 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Confirmation students will be attending a retreat on March 18 -19. All consent forms and Sponsor forms are due this week! Our CCD students will celebrate their First Reconciliation on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 12-1:30pm in the lower church. All families are encouraged to share in receiving this Sacrament that has been bought for us through the suffering and death of our Savior. What hope it gives to us to bring that forgiveness and peace into our troubled world!

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There will be no CCD classes on February 21st due to the Winter School vacation.

Michelle Solomon, Director of Religious Ed

COLLABORATIVE FAITH FESTIVAL

Plan to join us for our first Collaborative Faith

Festival, “Three Days That Changed the World” which is for people of all ages. The event

will take place on Friday, February 10th from 5:30-8:30pm at Our Lady’s; Sunday, February 12th from 11:00am—2:00pm at Our Lady’s; Sunday, February

12th from 4:00-7:00pm at Sacred Heart. All are welcome to any session which begins with a simple meal. Registration forms and additional information

are available in the flyer on tables at the entrances to the church.

INCOME TAX ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The parish can provide letters of acknowledgement of charitable contributions for all donations given in the parish envelopes or by bank check. Please contact

the parish office sacredheart@sholnewton.org or 617-969-2248 if you want to receive a donation letter. NEW ADULT FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM Have you ever wondered if there is more to life than this? Does believing in Jesus really change anything in your daily life? Were you ever curious to know how or why people pray or read the Bible? If so, consider coming to Alpha on Tuesday February 21st at 7:00pm for dinner, fellowship, a video presentation, and discussion. Want more information? Contact Brian Romer Niemiec (bniemiec@sholnewton.org). WOMEN’S RETREAT AT ST. MARY’S Coming to St. Mary's in Waltham - a Free Morning Women's Event: Seeking the Peace of Forgiveness. Do you struggle to forgive or do you need to be forgiven? You are not alone. Did you know that forgiveness is only achieved in cooperation with God's grace? Join us Saturday, March 18th from 8:30am to Noon at St. Mary’s 133 School St., Waltham. Offered by BreadboxMedia.com radio host, Allison Gingras. Continental Breakfast served. *Free Will Offering Taken. To reserve your seat visit: www.ReconciledToYou.com or call 508-243-1133.

MEETING CHRIST IN PRAYER Meeting Christ in Prayer is an 8 week guided prayer

experience based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. It calls for a commitment of eight weeks of daily prayer and eight weekly meetings of faith

sharing. The Office of Spiritual Life is offering this program at The Pastoral Center, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree on Wednesday mornings during Lent,

March 8 through April 26, 2017 at 10:30am – 11:45. For further information and to register call: Sister Anne D’Arcy 617-779- 3648 or e-mail:

sdarcy@rcab.org. DAYS OF PRAYER FOR PASTORAL

VISITORS

In collaboration with the Chaplaincy Office, the

Office of Spiritual Life offers Days of Prayer for Pastoral Ministers and Ministers of Communion to the Sick. The Day of Prayer consists of a conference

common prayer, quiet time and time for fellowship. Companions in Christ is offered at Our Lady Help of Christians Church on February 25 from 10-12. To

register, call the Office of Spiritual Life at 617-779-3640 or email: spiritual_development@rcab.org. WINTER WALK The Winter Walk is a new initiative raising funds and awareness to help end homelessness in Boston. Participants will gather in Copley Square and walk 2 miles together on February 12th, 2017 and then gather outside for a community breakfast. All funds raised in this first year will benefit 5 partner organizations: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Pine Street Inn, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Brookview House and Y2Y. You can learn more about the Walk and how to get involved at www.winterwalkboston.org. FIAT Have you ever wondered if God is calling you to be a

religious sister? If so, Fiat is for you. Fiat is a discernment group for single women considering a vocation to religious life in the Catholic Church. The

next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, from 7:00 – 9:00pm at St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine, 1105 Boylston St., Boston. The

topic is: The Various Forms of Consecrated Life. If you are interested in attending, please respond to Sister Marian Batho, CSJ, Delegate for Religious, Sr_Marian_Batho@rcab.org or call 617-746-5637.

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PROJECT RACHEL HEALING RETREAT The Project Rachel ministry of the Archdiocese of

Boston extends a special invitation to women suffering from the pain of a past abortion to attend a Come to the Waters of Healing one-day retreat,

March 4 or May 20. Location is confidential. Limited to ten participants. For more information, contact Project Rachel 508-651-3100 or

help@projectrachelboston.com.

SACRED HEART HISTORY: A Beloved Curate, Part 2 Fr. James Haney’s work involved not only the youthful parishioners but also the adult parishioners and the city itself. Notes from the Diocese indicate that Fr. Haney was in charge of the parish branch of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. The newspaper article referenced last week stated that Fr. Haney also sponsored society and sodality work and founded the Newton Center Catholic Woman’s Club where more than 100 members attended lectures and meetings. And from the reminiscences of former parishioner James Linnehan: “Shortly after Fr. Lee died, we were sent a young, hale and robust Fr. Haney, born and brought up in Roxbury who studied for the priesthood at St. Charles, Maryland. He became very active, not only in the affairs of the parish, but in civic affairs as well, and no one in the entire history of Newton did as much for the Catholic people as did Father Haney. Father Haney was left-handed and what a beautiful wallop he packed in that left arm. He would not tolerate any levity or fooling in Sunday school, or at Mass, and woe betide the boy he caught. Neither was it safe for any boy to roam the streets at night for he was almost certain to run into Father Haney and he would carry the sting of that left hand on his cheek for quite some time….our parish was a very large one and to cover it properly on foot would be impossible and so Father Haney got himself a bicycle and day and night he would be seen peddling here and there all over the parish. As is very often the case, a man of high ideals and strict principles of discipline is very apt to be kindly and generous and such a man was Father Haney. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for any boy or girl in the parish. He watched over us all in the public schools and, if he believed that any of us were being discriminated against, the master of that public school was certain to hear from him. When Fr. Haney came to Newton Center there wasn’t a single Catholic teacher in the Newton schools. Most

of the personnel was imported from Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire and it didn’t seem likely that one of our faith would ever be permitted to teach. He watched over the school curriculum, and any book or teaching method that was inimical to us Catholics was vigorously protested and quickly replaced. It wasn’t long before he was consulted by the master on everything pertaining to school activities and later it became a practice for the superintendent and, even the school committee, to solicit his advice in the plan of studies.” Fr. Haney seems to have had his hand in every pot. Is it any wonder that this priest was so well loved?

FORUM ON NON-VIOLENCE AND JUST PEACE Join Dr. Lisa Sowle Cahill, Professor of Theology at Boston College, for her first-hand reflections on last April's Vatican symposium on Nonviolence and Just Peace, which recommended that the Catholic Church drop its teaching of "Just War Theory." The forum will take place this Sunday, February 5th, 3:00pm at Our Lady's Church, lower halls. See the Collaborative online calendar for a full description.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY If Newton schools are closed or delay opening, there will be no morning Mass celebrated at either SH or OLHC. For weekend information, check TV Channel 5 for possible cancellation. This is for the safety of those who attend Mass and it allows us to clear the parking lot and stairways. If the scheduled Mass has an announced intention, the intention will be rescheduled at the next available Mass. AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEEPEN YOUR FAITH Cursillo is a short course in Christianity, which

offers the participants a vibrant experience of the Christian Life and a method for living as an active member of the Church. The English Cursillo

Weekends for the Archdiocese are being held at the Campion Center, Weston, Massachusetts. The dates for the Cursillo Weekends are:

Women’s Weekend March 2-5, 2017 Men’s Weekend March 30 – April 2, 2017

For information and registration please check the Archdiocesan Cursillo Website:

www.bostoncursillo.org or call Mrs. Mary Ann McLaughlin, at the Office of Spiritual Life at 617-779-3640, or email us at:

spiritual_development@rcab.org.

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SIGNINGS Our faith formation last week was fruitful as we sat down together as brothers and sisters in Christ having a very ‘healthy’ discussion about concerns on the recent political events in our country. Before we came to the discussion table, we were like St. Paul who came upon the Corinthians “in weakness and fear and much trembling” but was anxious to carry out his God-given work well (1 Cor 2:3). We were indeed anxious how we could carry on in the midst of political upheaval. St. Paul was eager to take on an enormous task to preach the Gospel to the Corinthians even in the midst of their societal chaos. However, like how St. Paul endured, we trusted the Holy Spirit to guide us in our faith formation discussion. St. Paul said in his letter, “…with a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God” (1 Cor 2:5). We had obviously seen how the Holy Spirit worked through our deliberation at the end of our faith formation session. We did not leave without benefiting from our discussion as Jesus exhorted his disciples in the Gospel today that their light “must shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16). We need not forget that! We can be the salt of the earth for our brothers and sisters who are feeling hopeless in their sufferings. We can bring hope to them by having our faith rest on the power of God!

In Christ, Fr. Shawn SALT AND LIGHT In the Gospel Reading, Jesus says that Christians are supposed to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. And he has harsh things to say about Christians who are dark and insipid. They’re fit for nothing except being trampled under foot, he says. And you know what he means. When the dark wintry streets are dangerous with ice and snow, the city puts salt on the roads, and all the traffic crunches over it. Given that sort of threat, who wouldn’t want to know what it means to be salt and light for the world? Well, here’s something to notice. Salt and light share a funny characteristic. Each of them is discernible by sense perception—we taste salt, and we see light—but neither of them is usually meant to be a direct or main object of perception. Nobody makes salt for dinner. We put salt on the chicken, but the chicken is the dinner. The chicken tastes better if we salt it; and enjoying the chicken, not the salt, is what we are after. Light is like this, too. We turn on a

light not in order to look at the light, but in order to look at other things by means of the light. The earthly people will savor the goodness of God. So if a Christian is the light of the world, he is enabling the world to see something other than himself. And what Jesus goes on to say makes it clear that this something else is in fact the Lord. A Christian is to let his light shine in such a way that the people of the world glorify God. The worldly people couldn’t glorify God if God were in darkness for them. So a Christian’s life is to shine in such a way that what the people of the world see is the Lord. The image of salt is similar. If a Christian is the salt of the earth, he makes something else appeal to the taste of the people of the earth. And that will be God too. The earthly people will savor the goodness of God when Christians are the salt of the earth. So to be light and salt is to live our lives in such a way that the earthly people and the worldly people are drawn to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) It’s a challenge, isn’t it?

Eleonore Stump

ST. FRANCIS HOUSE Thank you for your donations during the month of January. The item requested for February is hot cereal. You may bring in your donations at any time during the month and place them in bins at the church entrances. FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME We live with dark mornings and early sunsets so the theme of light and darkness in today’s readings is very real for us. Isaiah gives us an antidote, reminding us that performing works of mercy can bring light to the darkness. In the Gospel, “Jesus said to his disciples… You are the light of the world…. your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Are you a disciple? Do your words and actions point people to Jesus and our heavenly Father? Good work! If not, why? What are you going to do to be a light in the darkness this week? WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Let the light of your love shine upon your marriage by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next WWME Weekends are March 17-19, 2017 in South Kingstown, RI and April 22-23, 2017 in Brewster, MA. For more information, call Stephen & Michelle O'Leary at 800-710-9963 or visit us at www.WWMEMA.org.