MASS INTENTIONS

Sunday, May 24th – 7th Sunday of Easter-

Summer Schedule Begins

9:30AM.. For the Parish Family (Graduating Seniors Mass)

Monday, May 25^th- Memorial Day

7:30AM… Special Intention

Tuesday, May 26th

9:00AM.. Special Intention

10:30AM..Mass at Draper Place

Wednesday, May 27th

9:00AM..Special Intention

Thursday, May 28th

9:00AM.. Special Intention

Friday, May 29th

9:00AM.. Communion Service with Adoration

Saturday, May 30th

4:00PM..Confessions

5:00PM.. Donald Tonelli requested by Friends

Sunday, May 31st- Pentecost Sunday

9:30AM..Collett Terpak requested by the Siefring family

PARISH SCHEDULE

Sunday, May 24th

Children’s Liturgy of the Word, 9:30AM, Conference room

Coffee and …, 10:30AM, Hall

Bible Study, 7-8:30PM, Hall

Monday, May 25th

Office Closed

Wednesday, May 27th

Mom to Mom, 9:30AM-1:00PM, Hall ( Last Session)

Thursday, May 28th

Thrift Shop, 9:00AM-3:30PM, Thrift Shop rooms

Men’s Prayer Group, 6:30PM-8:00PM, Parish House

Saturday, May 30th

AA, 8:30-9:30AM, Hall

Sunday, May 31st

Children’s Liturgy of the Word, 9:30AM, Conference room

Coffee and …, 10:30AM, Hall

Dear Church,

It is not often that Memorial Day follows on the heels of The Feast of the Ascension, but this year it does and I realized that it gives us a unique opportunity to unpack and connect both events. If your schedule allows you to take time to reflect this long weekend, think about Memorial Day, the day that we honor all those who have gone before us in the context of the Ascension. Let me explain…

The Feast of the Ascension evokes the image of Jesus moving away from His disciples as they remain on earth to do his work. Envision that the only one moving is Jesus, and he is moving up and out of sight. The same thing happens at death. The people we love are moving and leaving us behind to continue on without them. We who are Christian believe they move “up” and out of sight. As our funeral rites state, “In our sight they are dead, but in God’s sight they live forever.”

Like the disciples, when someone we love dies, we can be lost and not know where to turn. Fortunately, the disciples didn’t abandon one another but stayed together in their grief and were empowered by the Holy Spirit to move forward, confident that the one who left, Jesus is with us always.

Our faith tells us that those who we remember on Memorial Day, those who died in service to our country and all those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, are still with us in a new and very wonderful way. We believe, too, in the Communion of Saints who continues to intercede for us. Their spirit is with us as we recall the many ways their lives were woven into the fabric of our lives. We remain in their love and their words remain in out ears.

We never know how long someone will be with us on our journey through life. As I reflect this week on both Memorial Day and Ascension, the James Taylor song “Fire and Rain” has been playing over and over again in my head. It is about the loss of a friend, “But I always thought that I’d see you again.” For us as Christians, we do believe that we will see each other again in a new place and time. In the meantime we have to take advantage of appreciating every moment we have in this journey of faith.

Happy Easter,

Fr. Bill

FAITH FORMATION REGISTRATION! Registration for both, weekly classes and sacramental preparation for 2009-2010 will continue now through June 30th. Registration forms are located on the bulletin board next to the sacristy lounge. If you have any questions please email Pam Chaplin at pchaplin@shchopedale.org.

ANNUAL PARTNERS IN CHARITY APPEAL: To date $36,537.00 has been pledged. We are just $1,463.00 short of our parish goal of $38,000.00.If you have not pledged, please consider doing so. Thank You!

COMMUNION SERVICE WITH ADORATION: The right to life and an end of abortion in the coming years will be a critical time in our Christian World Community. Our Blessed Mother Mary is calling our attention to this destruction of the unborn. Since the beginning of August, we have been praying the rosary on Friday mornings to the Blessed Mother Mary. At this service, Deacon Joe is offering communion, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and the rosary. We want to invite more of you that are available at this time of day to come and join us at 9:00 AM each Friday morning. This will take only 40 minutes of your time. Please consider joining us in prayer.

Electronic Collections: Are you tired of writing your collection checks every week or month? Are you tired of trying to catch up on your collections when you are away from home? We have a solution to your problem! We at Sacred Heart are offering electronic collections through the assistance of Milford National Bank. All you have to do is fill out an Electronic Pay Program Registration Form found at all the entrances of the church and return it to the office. If you have any questions, or need assistance please feel free to contact us in the office.

Mass Attendance 5/16/09-5/17/09

5:00PM	8:30 AM	10:30 AM
124	105	153

Summer Mass Schedule begins this weekend!:

The summer schedule will run from Memorial Day Weekend (May 23/24) through and including Labor Day weekend (September 5/6).

Our Summer Mass schedule is:

Saturday:

Confessions at 4pm

Mass at 5pm

Sunday:

Mass at 9:30am

TABERNACLE VIGIL CANDLE: The Tabernacle candle will burn this week in memory of KATHLEEN BONETTI requested by Brenda and Larry Bonetti.

STEWARDSHIP EMPHASIS: Jesus is the perfect steward — watching carefully over all who have been entrusted to Him by the Father and then sending them all out into the world in service. May I similarly protect and wisely use the gifts entrusted to me!

(From Stewardship By The Book by Sharon Hueckel)

FOOD PANTRY: And the King will say to them in reply, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, You did for me." ~ Matthew 26:40

The Milford Daily Bread Food Pantry is in need of Canned Stews (like Dinty Moore).  Also, we are in desperate need of clean paper and plastic grocery bags.  Please recycle your bags by donating them to the Pantry! Please drop your donation in the bins at the doors of the church. Thank You!

Married Couples:  Like in the gospel today, sometimes our eyes need to be opened to know what God has done for us, and what he wants for us in our marriage.  The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in New England is June 19-21.  For more information call Ralph & Jane Becker at 1-800-710-WWME or visit our webpage at www.wwmeMA.org

TRI-VALLEY, INC.: Is always in need of volunteers to help deliver services to frail seniors and disabled individuals. The following help is needed:

Be a Friendly Visitor or Companion Volunteer providing transport and escort to medical appointments, errands or out for lunch or coffee together. This support makes an important difference in an elder’s day. Please call Jayne at Tri-Valley, Inc. at 1-800-286-6640.

JUNE OPEN HOUSES AT THE VILLA: The Villa at St. Antoine, an assisted living community located at 400 Mendon Rd. in North Smithfield, invites the public to Friday Open Houses at the facility on June 5, 12, 19, & 26 at 2:00pm.  Our beautifully appointed respite/Trial suites are available for viewing at theses times.  Tours of the facility, refreshments and entertainment will be offered. The Villa at St. Antoine is a 76 unit assisted living facility set on the spacious and wooded grounds of the St. Antoine Community in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. The atmosphere at the Villa is of a welcoming French style country residence with a range of supportive services.  For more information call Jean Larkin, Administrator at 401-767-2574.

Readings for the week of 5/24/09-5/31/09

Sunday: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Psalm 103: 1-2,11-12, 19-20; 1John 4:11-16; John 17: 11-19

Monday: Acts 19:1-8; Psalm 68: 2-7; John 16:29-33

Tuesday: Acts 20:17-27; Psalm 68:10-11,20-21; John 17:1-11

Wednesday: Acts 20:28-38; Psalm 68:29-30,33-36; John 17:11-19

Thursday: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11; John 17:20-26

Friday: Acts 25:13-21; Psalm 103:1-2,11-12,19-20; John 21:15-19

Saturday: Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Psalm 11:4,5,7; John 21:20-25

Sunday: Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34; 1Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23

Please pray for those who are ill: