“We pray, almighty God, that we may always be counted among the members of Christ, in whose Body and Blood we have communion.” Taken from the Prayer after Communion

One faithful parishioner offered a great invitation. Fr. Sean invites all our families to: Consider placing a Christmas candle in a central window in your home, so all may see our unity and solidarity during this time of sheltering in place and stay–at-home advisory. Please continue to pray for those who are sick, isolated from their loved ones and the many generous first responders, health care workers who selflessly care for us and the infirmed.

We were able to start posting Mass via Youtube. To watch, simply Visit us on our website: www.shstm.org and scroll to the bottom videos section or to watch direct subscribe to us by searching on the you tube site: “Sacred Heart/Saint Thomas More Collaborative Braintree & Weymouth.” We will also post the video on our website and hopefully a video message or prayer each few days. Our bulletin is also be posted each week. Blessings and stay safe and healthy, In His Love and Mercy,

Fr. Sean

We will remember this Lent as one “in quarantine.” Social distancing the new norm as daily social interactions are suddenly unavailable to us. Schools are closed. We can’t go out to restaurants. Even public Mass has been suspended to curtail any further spread of this coronavirus. Many people feel alone. Many are scared. And people are thirsting for something good. The Lord appoints shepherds to lead his flock, to be beacons of light in darkness, and to be instruments of hope to his people in times of despair. This Virtual Lenten Retreat with Cardinal Seán is a means for our shepherd to feed us, to comfort us, and to give us the hope we need right now.

Christ, Our Light in the Darkness: A Virtual Retreat with Cardinal Seán O'Malley

Join Cardinal Seán on this five-part retreat, using this opportunity to enter more deeply into Lent and grow in your relationship with Christ. The retreat will air/stream nightly at 7 p.m. on the Archdiocese of Boston’s Facebook page, CatholicTV, and on www.bostoncatholic.org. If you are unable to stream or watch the retreat live, you may also watch it on-demand later. Watch live on CatholicTVLIVE.com, and later on CatholicTV.com/Masses. At www.WatchtheMass.com, viewers can watch the Mass in English every day from Sunday to Friday and the Mass in Spanish every Sunday or www.catholictv.org and by consulting local cable providers or network listings. Cardinal Seán Urges Us To Praying the Rosary in the Absence of Masses.

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Sacred Heart and Saint Thomas More—March 29th 2020—-Fifth Sunday of Lent

Champions has a great solution for busy working families: activities that combine fun and learning, together with the safety

and convenience of a high-quality program right inside your school. Champions offers a

variety of group and individual activities designed to keep your child exploring and

growing. From art, dramatic play, math and science to problem-solving, language, motor

skills and more, we help your child(ren) continue learning and developing essential

life skills whether school is in session or not (except during emergency). Champions is proud to be awarded corporation accredita-tion from AdvanceED, a global leader in

advancing excellence in education through accreditation.

www.discoverchampions.com/our-locations/weymouth/ma/001637

Family Support ~800-246-2154

Pastoral Team

Fr. Sean M. Connor, Pastor

Deacons: Bashan Goppee & Kenneth Ryan

Mary Beth Brady, Pastoral Associate Music & Liturgy, Ext 116

Maureen Simmons, Pastoral Coordinator Lifelong Faith Formation, Ext 114 Carolyn DeLuca Confirmation Coordinator-Youth Minister Virginia Aitken Admin. Assistant, Ext 124 Business Manager KPM OAS Ministries Vicki Dromey, FACTS/Tuition Mgr., Ext 120 Joanne Bibeau Asst. to Pastor and Business Mgr., Ext 115 Daniel McCarthy, Facilities Mgr. Dr. Gretchen Hawley, Principal Sacred Heart School, 781-335-6010

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday thru Friday: 9am - 1pm Reminder offices are closed on Monday

Faculty & Staff Sacraments & Devotions

75 Commercial St., Weymouth, MA 02188 781-335-6010 sacredheartschoolweymouth.org

Open House Schedule: If you’d like to learn more about our school then please visit us at one of our Open Houses—

Sunday, May 17th—10:30am - Noon Thursday, May 21st—6:00pm - 7:00pm

SACRED HEART

Reconciliation: Saturday Afternoon, 3:00pm-3:45pm

Baptism: Baptisms are usually held on 1st Sunday of the month at the 9:30am Mass. Please visit the website to schedule. Catechesis class for the family is required, please call the office to make an appointment and to register.

Marriage: Congratulations! Contact the par ish office at least six months in advance and prior to scheduling your reception.

Sacrament of the Sick: Please see a pr iest at Mass or contact the office to make arrangements for the Sacrament prior to surgery.

Devotions - Adoration & Rosary: The Rosary is prayed every Sunday following the 9:30 mass and Monday at 6:30pm in the Adoration Chapel., and on Friday at 5:30pm in the Chapel. The Novena to our Mother of Perpetual Help is prayed Tuesdays in the Chapel at 6:30pm. Rosary for Life, Wednesdays 1pm in the chapel.

SAINT THOMAS MORE Reconciliation: Saturday Afternoon, 3:00pm- 3:45pm

Baptism: Baptisms are usually held 3rd Sunday of the month at the 8:00am Mass. Please visit the website to schedule. Catechesis class for the family is required, please call the office to make an appointment and to register.

Marriage: Congratulations! Contact the par ish office at least six months in advance and prior to scheduling your reception.

Sacrament of the Sick: Please see a pr iest at Mass or contact the of-fice to make arrangements for the Sacrament prior to surgery.

Devotions - Adoration & Rosary: The Rosary is prayed every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9am in the Chapel.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Thursdays, 2:30pm

Bible Study: Wednesdays, 10:00 –11:30am in the lower church hall.

Collaborative Prayer Group: Grow in Prayer and Praise, Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:00pm in the Chapel.

SHS is a vibrant PreK – Grade 8 school serving the Weymouth/Braintree area and ranks academically among the top Catholic elementary schools in the Boston

Archdiocese. Offering full-day Kindergarten, affordable before and after-school care, engaged school community, enrichment programs and more!

For more information, kindly contact our school. Educating the Whole Person since 1913

Collaborative Office 55 Commercial Street Weymouth, MA 02188

Phone: 781-337-6333 + www.shstm.org

Our school teachers and administration are working tirelessly to provide meaningful learning experiences for your children and to ensure that everything is being done to teach them the skills they

need for next year. Each day, every teacher sends their plan to our Principal, so Dr. Hawley can be connected to every virtual class-room, as they get set up. We will be using zoom.com. There will be a learning curve, please be patient and thank you for all you do.

3

Sacred Heart and Saint Thomas More—March 29th 2020—-Fifth Sunday of Lent

Join the Collaborative parishes throughout Braintree & Weymouth for the Divine Mercy Novena Chaplet

When: 3pm, daily from April 13-17 Where: Chapel at St. Francis Xavier, South Weymouth, please use the lower parking lot. All are lovingly invited. For more information please call, Mary 781-337-1959

Divine Mercy Sunday Braintree/Weymouth Region

Sunday, April 19th

Church of St. Albert the Great, 1140 Washington St.

1pm Sacrament of Reconciliation 2pm Mass 3pm Adoration, The Chaplet, Veneration of The Image and St. Faustina Relic 4pm: Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sacrament accommodated according to priest availability.

During this difficult time, many of the faithful may be

unable to attend Mass.

To help them sanctify their day and to keep walking in the

liturgical rhythm of the Church, we are honored to make our

on-line version of MAGNIFICAT temporarily available to everyone for free.

Please help us spread this message

and share this email and link: www.magnificat.com/free with as many people as you can.

Free temporary access is also available in Spanish:

www.magnificat.com/gratis.

You can help us by inviting others who might be interested in receiving messages.

Ask them to sign-up at www.flocknote.com/boston!

We are grateful to the Augustine Institute for giving all of us in the Archdiocese of Boston free access to FORMED.org for 40 days.

Instructions on how to create a new account can be found on Formed.org.

Please share this with everyone in your parishes and we encourage everyone to begin

by watching The Presence.

PrayMoreNovenas.com Many Novenas to chose from, register and they send you your daily prayers.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly

unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

4

Sacred Heart and Saint Thomas More—March 29th 2020—-Fifth Sunday of Lent

In this unprecedented time when we our churches are closed and we are una-ble to gather to share God’s Word with one another, it may be a time to pray and converse more personally and profoundly with the Lord. It may be time, especially in this season of Lent, to truly pray the Scriptures, God’s Word, the Bible. Before Jesus became the Bread of Life, the Holy Scriptures were the Bread of Life. It was the prophet Amos who proclaimed: "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the LORD.” The Word of God feeds our souls just like the bread that feeds our bodies. Perhaps, as we near Holy Week, we may wish to use this time, not for fam-ine, but for feasting on the Word of the Lord. The life-giving message of God’s Love, contained in the Scriptures, sustains us in good times and bad. Through His Word, God speaks words of hope and love to those who hunger and thirst for eternal life.

The Lectio Divina is an ancient method of praying the Scriptures. The foundation of Lectio Divina is attributed to the theolo-gian Origen in the third century. Origen viewed Scripture as Sacrament, a visible, holy sign of God’s presence among us. He believed all Scripture must be viewed from the perspective of Christ. Origen’s contemporary, Saint Ambrose, as well as Saint Augustine, were credited for using the term “lectio divina” to encourage a “divine reading” of God’s Word. This form of prayer became one of the basic ele-ments of Western monasteries. In the late third century, Saint Benedict had estab-lished a routine for daily life in his monas-tery that included specific times for liturgy,

manual labor, and for a “slow and thought-ful reading of Scripture,” including medita-tion on its meaning. When, during the early twelfth century, Saint Bernard was sent to establish a Cistercian monastery in Clairvaux, he introduced daily prayer us-ing the Lectio Divina method. But, it was Guigo II, a 12th century Car-thusian monk, who named the four steps of Lectio Divina prayer. In his book, The Ladder of Monks, Guigo used Jacob’s vision (Gen 28) of angels bringing our prayers to heaven and God’s answers to earth by means of a ladder to describe these steps: lectio (reading), meditatio (thinking about), oratio (prayer), and contemplatio (stillness in the presence of God). These four steps became a univer-sal guide for praying the Scriptures, but by the nineteenth century it was rarely prac-ticed outside of the monastic life. (NOTE: Some scholars include a fifth step, action. Based on what the Lord has revealed to the reader, s/he should put this revelation into practice.) The Second Vatican Council’s Dogmat-ic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, proclaimed that:"(I)n the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life." (Paragraph 21). Dei Verbum (1965), is a principle document of the Second Vatican Council, that re-emphasized the praying of the Lectio Divina. On the 40th anniversary of Dei Verbum in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI “recalled and recommended” that the practice of Lectio Divina to all Christians. Pope Benedict described Lectio Divina as a “diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer (that) brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart [cf. Dei verbum, n. 25].” Benedict believed that: “If it (Lectio Divina) is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime.” As spring-

time approaches, now is a great time to begin this prayer practice. When using this method of prayer, a moment of preparation should be taken. God’s Word tells us that we must “be still” to know that He is God (Ps 46:10). Once the prayer space has been cleared and the mind calmed, a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten us with His gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, awe and wonder, and reverence so that we may truly hear and respond to God’s Holy Word, because “the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1Cor 2:10), which we, too, hope to receive in this prayer time with the Lord. Jesus promised us that, after His Ascension into heaven, the Spirit, the Advocate, would come and He will “will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you” (John 14:25-26). These moments of preparation will help us be more open to the Spirit’s voice amidst the many voices that clamor for our atten-tion. After this preparation, the “lectio, as slow and gradual reading of the Scriptural passage should be read. The passages used in Lectio Divina are the First Reading and the Gospel of the Day. These can be found easily on www.usccb.org. Some-times, to truly enter into these passages, a second reading may be helpful. In this reading, we are not seeking anything but communion with God. This is not a time to study or analyze these passages. No, we just read it as many times as necessary to make a connection between the two passages. Unlike the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, that asks us to enter into a Gospel passage using our senses to better contemplate God’s Word, the first step of Lectio Divina is to receive the Living Word of God as written so to be in communion with Him. Next, Lectio Divina calls us to mediate on- and seek the meaning of- the passage we have just read. But again, we are not called to dissect what we have read to seek this meaning. Rather, we are to keep our minds open to receive the HOLY SPIRIT’s inspiration for understanding its meaning. (continued on next page)

5

Sacred Heart and Saint Thomas More—March 29th 2020—-Fifth Sunday of Lent

Mass Schedule

The gifts of bread and wine, candles and sanctuary

lamp this week are offered in honor of

For all those suffering

From the COVID-19 Virus And all those who care for the Sick

And for the Souls in Purgatory

St. Thomas More

4pm Sophie McCabe, John McCabe, Edward McCabe & Steven Crear 8:00am Pro Populo

(SH) 9am Monday, Mar 30th Lenten Weekday Herbert McMeekin

(SH) 9am Tuesday, Mar 31st Lenten Weekday Ann Sullivan

(STM) 9am Wednesday, Apr 1st Lenten Weekday For the Sick

(SH) 9am Thursday, Apr 2nd Saint Francis Paola, hermit Zana Assenza (1st Anniversary)

(STM) 9am Friday, Apr 3rd Lenten Weekday For Healthcare workers & First Responders

Sacred Heart

Previously booked Mass Intentions

4pm Margaret & Kathleen Richardson 9:30am Thomas P. Foley, III (2nd) 11:30am Pro Populo

Please pray for:

Peter Aitken Joan Anderson Linda Antoniou Jean & Tony Athas Marianne Bagley Paul Boback Joyce Brancaccio Ruth Campbell Bob Clifford Pat Coleman John Coyle Denise Cremins Tracey Cronin Raeanna Cronin Marianne Crooks Paul Donohoe Joseph & Lee Doyle Bridget Dunn Bill Earle Colman Feeney Francis Finnegan Mary Fleming Jackie Fuller Mary Gallegos Joseph Gavin John Gifford Irene Griffin Cara Holbrook Rosemary Haley Robert Harrington John Hastie Roseanne Hood Paul Hughes Tom Itri Dan Jansen Amber Johnson

Mary Anne K. Esther Keeley John Keeley Anita King James Larson Patricia Lee Doreen Lehane Patricia Lochiatto Theresa MacMillian James Macozek Maura Marino John Mastrangelo Elizabeth Mastropole Richard Francis Maurano Bill McCaffrey Chris McCarthy Robert McDermott John McGrath Theresa McIsaac Paul McNamara Elizabeth Meola Margaret Micele William Morales Daniel Morin Meaghan Morneau Francis Murphy Marjorie Murphy Bob Murray Ellie Nyland Dan O’Brien Marie O’Neil Laura O’Neill Joseph O’Reilly Donna O’Reilly Gina Pappas Richard Pattison Barbara Pugliese

Claire Rice Kenneth Rice Jr. James Roche Dorothy Rocks Bill Romanoff Carolyn Ryan Ginny Salvaggio Antoinetta Sheehan Janet & Robert Shiels Pat Smith Karen Stachelek Sean Sullivan William Twohig Carmella Varraso Leone Walls William Walsh Julie Williams Our young ones: Amelia Driscoll Carly Silva Maeve Wilson Isabella & Arianna Gill Dolan Our little ones: Mark & Ethan Mondello Wil Rooney Quinn Walters Caleb Liam Anthony Delgardo Baby Emma Baby Jacob Baby Lincoln Baby Lucas, Baby Owen Baby Roland Baby William Baby Liam Thomas

Communion Chant

Soul of Christ, Sanctify Me.

Body of Christ, Come and save me.

Blood of Christ, Inebriate me.

Passion of Christ, Strengthen me.

Sunday March 29th

Weekend Of April 5th Palm Sunday

All Masses are offered for The People

(Catechetical Corner continued): This is a difficult step, one which calls us to trust the voice of the Spirit within us. Rather, as we go look back and forth between the two passages between the two passages we seek to know and understand Jesus’ will for us. In this step, we come to see that there is one message clearly given between the two texts (perhaps mercy or obedience). When this connection is made, we pray (oratio). Remembering that prayer is a dialogue, we enter into a conversation with God about what we have come to understand in meditation. We speak to God AND l isten to Him in the silence of our hearts. Finally, this deep silent prayer leads into the fourth movement of Lectio Divina, Contemplatio ("contemplate"), a time to rest in the Lord and feel His loving embrace. Contemplation is the goal of all prayer. "Contemplative prayer is silence, the "symbol of the world to come" or "silent love." In this silence, unbearable to the "outer" man, the Father speaks to us his incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus." In this time when the Eucharist is unavailable to us, consider the words of our Church fathers: “Entering into contemplative prayer (Lectio Divina) is like entering into the Eucharistic liturgy: we gather up the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, abide in the dwelling place of the Lord which we are, awaken our faith in order to enter into the presence of him who awaits us. We let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord who loves us, so as to hand ourselves over to him as an offering to be purified and transformed.” (CCC, 2711).

6

Sacred Heart and Saint Thomas More—March 29th 2020—-Fifth Sunday of Lent

We ask that you prayerfully consider this method for financially supporting

your parishes:

Online Giving, Weekly Envelopes, Auto Bill Pay assure consistent giving and help us to budget and assure that we can

maintain services.

We ask that you consider

mailing in your envelopes and especially during this time of

crisis, when there is no regular collection,

that you please register and support your parish by

using on-line giving

Collaborative Food Pantry: We are grateful for the many donations we receive each week.

If you know of someone in need of food, or if you have any questions about our food pantry kindly call Maureen at the office. Thank you for your generosity!

When you go shopping for your own family, please pick up an extra bag on non-perishables for the food pantry. Our demand is high during this crisis. Consider dropping off gift cards to the office or you may simply drop a bag off inside the doors to the office. You don’t need to interact with anyone,

should you not want to. Should there be no one at the office, we will post days and times when someone will be present so you may continue to drop off for those in need.

Contact the St. Vincent DePaul conference in the parish where you

live for rent and utilities assistance.

Sacred Heart - SVDP (339-205-8029)

St. Thomas More - SVDP (339-987-9624)

Sacred Heart Parish Offertory - Weekend Of March 22, 2020

Mass Mass Count

Amount Given

Percentage in Envelopes

Percentage of Total

Weekend Percentage

4:00 PM 0%

9:30 AM 0%

11:30 AM 0%

Coin ALL

TOTAL at 0 $ -

At Other

Mailed In $ 3,349.00

TOTAL $ 3,349.00 46%

Online $ 3,956.25 54%

TOTAL ALL $ 7,305.25

UTILITIES AND WINTER WOES: $198

St. Thomas More Parish Offertory - Weekend Of March 22, 2020

Mass Mass Count

Amount Given

Percentage in Envelopes

Percentage of Total

Weekend Offertory

Percentage Capacity

4:00 PM 0%

8:00 AM 0%

Coin ALL

TOTAL at 0 $ -

At Other

Mailed In $ 2,611.00

TOTAL $ 2,611.00 72%

Online $ 992.00 28%

TOTAL $ 3,603.00

UTILITIES AND WINTER WOES: $1025