LYNN — Amid pageantry, pomp and circumstance, Cardinal Sean O’Malley helped Sacred Heart Church celebrate its 125th anniversary Saturday, concelebrating the 4 p.m. Mass with pastor Rev. Brian Flynn and several other priests and deacons past and present.
Cardinal O’Malley entered the nearly-full church escorted by a group of fourth-degree members of the Knights of Columbus as well as six members from the Knights of Malta. He based his homily on the three readings from the Mass, all of which explored the importance of spreading the faith any way possible, and of the importance of unconditional love for each other.
He also used the occasion of the church’s 125th anniversary to drive the point home.
“We learn discipleship,” he said, “by being a community of believers that speaks the same language.
“Sacred Heart,” he said, “is celebrating 125 years of being a community of believers.”
Cardinal O’Malley also focused on a number of themes central to the church’s teachings in the homily, most notably sacrificing one’s own wealth for the betterment of others, and doing everything possible to avoid occasions of sin. And, perhaps in reference to the continuing issues that affect the church in general, Cardinal O’Malley said, “avoiding the scandalization of children has to be a top priority.”
Sacred Heart is involved in a collaborative with St. Mary’s Church, with Father Flynn the pastor of both. He said he believes it’s the first time the cardinal has been to the church since he has been involved with it, but that Cardinal O’Malley has been to St. Mary’s several times.
Among those on the altar helping to celebrate the Mass was 90-year-old John Hardy, a member of Sacred Heart his entire life and the first-ever deacon at the church.
When asked how Sacred Heart has remained vibrant in today’s times, Hardy said that “years ago, this (the church) was the No. 1 priority for people. I think that’s why it is still here.
“Sacred Heart Church was always the most important thing to its parishioners,” he said, “and I don’t know whether that’s still the case.”
“Times have changed,” his wife, Josephine said. “(Sacred Heart) is where you always got your strength.”
Lynn funeral director David J. Solimine, another lifelong parishioner, sent all four of his children to Sacred Heart School, and both he and his wife, Mary Jane, have been always been heavily involved in the parish.
He thinks the love of the parish is still there. But, he said, you might have to look harder to find it.
“It gets tougher and tougher to shake the trees to find people to help,” he said, but the faithfulness of the people here is still great, and they’re involved in a number of activities.
“Sooner or later,” he says, “people come forward.”
Solimine looked around the school gymnasium, where the post-Mass colation was held, and noted that there were some people he did not recognize.
“I like that,” he said. “I like looking around and asking ‘who’s that person?'” It means new people are getting involved.”
Also participating at Saturday’s Mass were priest-in-residence Fr. Frank Cloherty, weekend assistant Fr. Bob LaBrie, Fr. Joseph Riley, a former priest at Sacred Heart who is now retired; and deacons Richard Field and William Jackson.
