Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap

Archbishop of Boston

2101 Commonwealth Avenue

Boston, MA 012135-3192

Fax 617 782-8358

June 2, 2004

Dear Archbishop O’Malley:

As a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Lexington, I request that you seriously consider reversing your decision to close Sacred Heart.

I am thirty-six years old and write from the perspective of someone who grew up in Sacred Heart Parish. I consider myself blessed to have been raised in this parish, and strongly believe that my Catholic faith is as deep as it is because of the influence Sacred Heart Parish had on my development.

Sacred Heart is a vibrant faith community and has always been a leader in liturgy and lay participation. I can still remember how proud I was to be an alter server as a female when I was young. I knew that was a special honor and one that not all parishes actively promoted for both boys and girls. This active parish life compelled me to continue my service and participation and I went on to be a Eucharistic Minister and Lector.

I was also so proud of the reorganization of the Parish at its fiftieth anniversary. I continue to be deeply affected by many of the physical changes to our church that symbolize so powerfully the positive experience of worshiping at Sacred Heart. Spending my formative years at Sacred Heart led me to seek attendance at a Catholic college. I attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, where my faith and dedication to social justice grew.

After graduating from college, I lived first in Boston’s North End, then in Belmont, and finally settled in Duxbury. I must say that I have never found another parish as welcoming and as vibrant as Sacred Heart. For this reason, I continue to attend Mass at Sacred Heart as often as I can. I really believe that if I had not had the experience that I did growing up in Sacred Heart, I might not be an active Catholic today. It is a sad reality that many of my friends are no longer practicing Catholics as they do not find church to be a life-giving experience.

In conclusion, please reconsider the closing of Sacred Heart Parish in Lexington. I know the Church faces difficult times, but Sacred Heart is a young and vibrant parish. How is it in any way productive to close the doors on so many other young people who are developing a deep faith connection at Sacred Heart that will likely last a lifetime?

Thank you for your consideration,

Lexington, MA 02421 and