Faith Formation Grades 1-5: Saturday, May 4, First Communion Retreat. First Communion at the 8:30AM Mass on Sunday, May 5. Junior High Youth Program: Next class is THIS SUNDAY April 28. Confirmation Preparation: Next class is THIS SUNDAY April 28.

Certainly, today’s post Easter readings remind us that faith in the Resurrected Christ is the foundation for a new mode of human existence. What may be overlooked in this transformation of Christ’s disciples is the presence of a new boldness. They no longer fear or hesitate to proclaim the new life in Christ. We who may be habituated to simply go along with the false values of our contemporary culture, or perhaps rationalize that its not worth being opposed or even ridiculed by the neo-pagan secularists surrounding us, should consider an examination of our consciences! Are we like the Peter of Christ’s Passion, fearful and cowardly, who when pressed, denied any association with Jesus? Or, are we like the post Resurrection disciples, bold and confident? Which answer we give should tell us a lot about the genuineness of our faith. To quote the image presented by Pope Francis in his exhortation Rejoice and be Glad : “How often we are tempted to keep close to the shore. Yet, the Lord calls us to put out into the deep and let down our nets.” It is never too late to have a change of heart.

Next weekend May 4-5 officially begins our 2019 Bishop’s Appeal. You will receive a mailing this week and a second collection will be taken up for the Appeal begining . Our 2019 Assessment is $69,661.00. In making your gift, please reflect on the positive things that will happen as a result of your mercy and generosity to the Appeal. You may also make your gift online: www.thebishopsappeal.org Every gift no matter the amount makes a difference. Thank you for your continued support.

Your returnable cans and bottles may be collected in coded green “CLINK” bags which then may be deposited at a local Hannaford Market. Credit for your returns is then applied to our school account and all proceeds benefit our school programming. Sacred Heart School coded “CLINK” Bags are available in the school office.

On behalf of the parish and school staff, we would like to wish all of our parishioners and visitors a Blessed Easter. May the Risen Christ fill you with every grace and blessing during this Easter Season. Father Yanas and Father Vaughan

Today we celebrate the greatest of all feasts: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which marks the beginning of a new creation, after death was introduced into the original creation by the sin of Adam and Eve. As a result of Christ’s resurrection as the firstborn of the new creation, a new beginning is offered to the entire human race. This earth-shattering event has nothing to do with the word Easter, which comes from ancient pagan ideas, or with plastic bunny rabbits on the lawn or even color dyed eggs. Rather it is all about a fundamental choice we all must make between two worlds: the old world initiated by the sin of Adam, supplemented by the sins of all the rest of us, or the new world brought about by our Creator becoming man and showing us a new way to live our lives. We celebrate this day, this unique saving event, with the realization that we can’t live in the new creation without God’s ongoing help, yet at the same time with the confidence that He offers that help. Hallelujah!

Sacred Heart’s 22nd Annual Auction: “Sacred Heart’s Royal Renaissance Ball” Our biggest fundraiser event of the year will be held May 11 at the Franklin Terrace on Campbell Avenue, Troy. Invitations are available in the hallway and in the school office. The auction is a fun filled evening of excitement with lots of activity. The silent auction allows people to bid privately on items, the ticket raffle by depositing purchased tickets/chances into a decorated receptacle and the live auction is where people bid publicly on items. There is something for everyone! Thanks to co-chairs Nicole Johnson and Mark Bagnoli and their numerous volunteers for all of their work at bringing this all together. Auction items that have already been gathered include: Golf at The Edison Club, an XBOX, overnight package to the Albany Marriot, Google home mini, 14 bottle wine cooler, Affirm’s Sports Camp, signed photos from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills, tickets to SPAC and so much more!

Please notice the new bookshelf in the back of church. These books and CD’s are from Dynamic Catholic. They are not free… the cost is after you read or listen, you are asked to pass it on to someone else!!

Immediately following Holy Thursday’s Liturgy of the Lords Supper a large group of parishioners, friends and guests participated in Sacred Heart’s annual Pot Luck Supper which was held in the recently refurbished multi-purpose room. Many delicious dishes and sumptuous deserts were in the offing, and a good time was had by all!

In celebration of the Easter Triduum, which begins on the evening of Holy Thursday and concludes with Easter Sunday, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church has erected an illuminated cross to shine over Troy’s Eastside Neighborhood. Though chronologically three days, the Triduum liturgically is one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. The celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil. Triduum liturgical services at Scared Heart Church, located at 310 Spring Avenue, Troy, NY are scheduled as follows: Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Thursday 4/18/19 at 5:30pm (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 10:30pm.) Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion – Friday 4/19/19 at 5:30pm (Stations of the Cross will be held at 3:00pm) Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord – (Easter Vigil: Saturday 4/20/19 at 8:15pm, Easter Sunday Mass: Sunday 4/21/19 at 8am, 9am, and 11:15am) The Illuminated Cross will remain throughout the Easter Season. Special thanks are extended to Mr. Frank Salvaggio, PE for his expertise and craftsmanship in designing, and construction this display.

Please note, the Parish office will be closed beginning on Holy Thursday and will reopen on Tuesday April 23, 2019 at 9:00am

Vatican City, Mar 21, 2017 / 05:57 am – As Christians in the Middle East continue to suffer innumerable hardships this Lenten season, the Vatican has announced that this year’s Good Friday Collection will benefit Christian communities in the Holy Land. The Catholic communities that will benefit from this aid include the Latin Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem, the Franciscan Custody and other jurisdictions, such as the Greek-Melkite, Coptic, Maronite, Syrian, Chaldean, and Armenian churches. Your support and the funds collected will be used to help the parochial schools, hospitals, and community centers in these areas to protect and care for their communities, which often include refugees, asylum-seekers, children, and victims of war, unrest and instability which has been especially hard on Christians living in this part of the world. When you contribute to this Collection, you become an instrument of peace and join with Catholics from around the world in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land!

In a series of fifteen individual reflections on the Passion of Our Lord, each prepared by a member of the Sacred Heart Faith community, are offered for your consideration and contemplation as you prepare for Holy Week, and the celebration of the Risen Lord!

Adoration of the Holy Eucharist will be held on Holy Thursday immediately following Mass until 10:30P.M. If you would like to reserve a time slot, a sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the hallway near the rear of the church.

Pancake Breakfast: A Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast will be held in the cafeteria on THIS Sunday, April 14th 8:00-11:00 am. The meal will include: pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, butter and syrup. Beverages will include: coffee, hot tea, orange/apple juice and milk. The offering is: $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per child (ages 12 and under). This is an EAT-IN ONLY event and pre-orders/payment would be greatly appreciated. We just want to make sure that we have enough food for everyone. Coca Cola Give: Through Coca-Cola Give, you can support Sacred Heart School by donating your Coca-Cola product bottle cap codes. With your help SHS will be able to use donated funds for extra-curricular activities including sports, technology, art and/or school supplies! These bottle caps and codes may be submitted to the school office (There is a bin located in the hallway.) Alternately, you may go to https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools/ on the web and open an account in your name. After establishing an account you may designate “Sacred Heart School – Troy – NY – 12180” as your school for donations. Then simply input your bottle cap codes (or even scan the code with your phone!) Feel free to contact Mrs. Snyder in the school office for additional information. Spring Break: SHS will be closed from April 18th-26th for Spring Break. School resumes Monday, April 29th. Have a blessed Holy Week and Easter!

The Sacred Heart community will have a potluck supper on Holy Thursday in the cafeteria immediately following Mass. If you plan to join us, please fill out the sign-up sheet that is posted on the bulletin board in the hallway near the rear of the church. For more information, please call the rectory. 518-274-1363.

“He remembers his covenant forever; the promise he ordained for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac” (Ps.105: 8-9). In the 105th Psalm, a historical Psalm according to reputable biblical scholars, the Hebrew poet offers a brief and stunning account of salvation history in poetic form. At the heart of this record is a profound sense of God’s fidelity to the chosen people of Israel. God keeps his promises. He will never go back on His word. Hence we have every reason to have confidence in God. “He remembers his covenant forever” Let us ask ourselves if we are faithful to our promises and true to our word. Years ago, one of America’s greatest songwriters, Irving Berlin, composed a song in honor of the woman he planned to marry. The title is “Always”. The lyrics are memorable. “I’ll be loving you always with a love that is true always. When the things you’ve planned need a helping hand, I will understand always”. Words can ring hollow if the speaker is untrustworthy. Such a person inspires neither confidence nor respect. The same cannot be said of the God of Israel. God’s constant fidelity constitutes their reason for prayer and gratitude.

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent Today’s meditative Psalm is not taken from the traditional Book of Psalms, but rather is a Psalm found in the Book of Daniel. Today’s first reading is of the famous story of the faithful three young Jewish men who were thrown into a fiery furnace by their Babylonian conqueror because they refused to worship a pagan idol. It is important to realize that today’s first reading is not continuous, but rather there is a gap left out of some 70 verses between the first part and the final few lines. Today’s reflective Psalm is taken from some 34 of those omitted verses. Daniel is an apocalyptic figure, an ideal hero rather than an historic person. Like all apocalyptic literature it was written at a time of great persecution and danger to the faith. It is meant to encourage believers to remain steadfast, for God will be with them. So, in this story the fidelity of the young men saves them from a horrible death. While under trial, instead of bemoaning their fate, they sing a song of praise to God. Notice that Hebrew great love of repetition. In this case each line begins with the word “Blessed”, and is follow by more or less the same refrain over and over again: “praiseworthy and exalted above all forever” How often in our songs and hymns do we have a refrain which we sing over and over again? Remember, they were singing.

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Once again, one needs to look at the content of the first reading to appreciate why a particular Psalm is chosen as a meditative response. Second Isaiah in today’s reading informs the people that God will deliver them from the suffering of their dispersed captivity by foreign powers. Notice the words Isaiah uses to indicate God’s purpose: “Sing out. O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. For the Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted.” Not surprisingly, therefore, today’s Psalm 147 picks up and elaborates this theme: “The LORD is gracious and merciful… The LORD lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. etc.” Notice the Gospel reading chosen for today. Our biggest affliction is the prospect of death. Jesus promises that we will conquer death through resurrection with him. What we need to bear in mind at all times, is that God always gives us a choice. He won’t comfort us if we persist in rejecting him. Thus, the season of Lent is to focus on where our choices really are.

“I’m forever yours, faithfully.” Eternal words from the iconic 80s rock band, Journey. We know deep in our souls that we were made for a love that is both forever and faithful. We also know how flawed our own abilities are to love as faithfully and eternally as our movies and songs proclaim. By human standards, if we are honest, we are totally undeserving of the free, total, faithful, and fruitful love that we seek. So what do we do when faced with both our poverty to love and the perfect love of God? We groan. We groooooaaannnn! Today’ Psalm says that the Lord looked down from heaven to “hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those prisoners who were doomed to die.” St. Paul in his letter to the Romans writes, ” 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8: 22-23). People who would pray with Pope St. John Paul II would describe how he would groan in prayerful meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. We groan in mourning of our sinful separation from God, and like a woman in labor, await the fruits of the seeds of God’s grace to emerge forth in new lives of virtue and repentance in us.