Belmont MA 02478

Dear Arch Bishop Sean O'Malley,

        Sacred Heart Parish in Lexington, one of the greatest places in my life. It is more than just a church to me. I have made friends there, good friends. Not the kind that leave you when you've lost whatever you had, but the kind that stay with you, always. But you're probably saying that they will still be my friends, right. Church or no church, or different church. They will still be you're friend, if they are the good kind. And you're right, so I have to have a better reason. See, the thing is, Sacred Heart is like a second home to me. Where God is the ruler of the house, not my parents, and my neighbors are my siblings. When I was younger I didn't go to church. I didn't know what church was. Then one Sunday I went to some church, I forget which one, and it bored me. My parents were trying to go to church, and we tested a couple. And you know what, we picked Sacred Heart. I was not bored here (I was first intrigued because they had snacks after church), I liked how Father Coletti spoke, it was sometimes funny, and sometimes it was very spiritual. But we picked Sacred Heart not because it was some big fancy church, with big and fancy decorations that you can ooooooo and aaaahhhh at all mass long (although those are nice), but because of the community there. It is a great place, and we love Father Coletti, and all the visiting priests. As I got more involved in the church (mostly on my mother's account) I liked it more. Choir, Lecturing, TLC, it brought a new aspect into my life, a spiritual one. Without Sacred Heart I don't know how I would continue with God, but I will regardless. Because Sacred Heart helped me find God, the bond that I have built with it is too great to give up. I don't know if I will ever like a church more than this one. I know it was our top pick. A first rate church. My second home. Please let me keep it.

With hope,

P.S. I am thirteen years old by the way