Our parish at work
Fr. Francis O’Brien
Pastor
Fr. Francis (Fran) O’Brien took over as pastor of Sacred Heart in June 2024. With particular attention to music and liturgy, he is working on our transition to a fully independent canonical parish. He led parishioners through a discernment process in which Laudato Si’ was chosen as the focus of the parish.
Fr. Fran has expanded the Finance Council and is working with them to hire a new staff person who will focus on evangelization and communications. In March 2026, he appointed parishioners to serve on a pastoral council and began meeting with this group of appointees over the summer. We look forward to seeing this work continue to develop in the coming year.
Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston in 1985, Fr. Fran has spent all of his priesthood in parish and campus ministry, where, along with his sacramental and parochial duties, he has frequently served as music director and composer.
Lynn Burns
Music Coordinator/Choir Director
Lynn Burns has joined us as the new Director of the Sacred Heart Choir. Lynn has a wealth of experience directing adult and children's choirs, training cantors, developing instrumental ensembles, as well as composing and arranging both choral and instrumental music.
Lynn has served as Director of Music at multiple parishes and has taught music at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, the Boston Conservatory, the Boston University School for the Arts, the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School, and has held positions at public and Catholic schools in the area. She is presently a member of the Arlington Philharmonic, playing 2nd violin and has directed the Lexington Young at Heart Chorus.
Lynn holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from Boston University, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Boston Conservatory, and has pursued graduate studies in Music History at Boston University, Music Education at the New England Conservatory of Music, and theology at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology.
Susie Calisi
Office Manager
Susie has taken on the responsibility of organizing and managing the new offices at Sacred Heart. She also helps prepare weekly bulletins, sets up the calendar, and helps with scheduling events. She has been indispensable in supporting Fr. Fran in day-to-day matters.
Laura Lucke
Business Administrator
Long-term parishioner Laura (Lorie) Lucke serves as Business Administrator for the parish.
Laura received an MS in Industrial Administration (MBA equivalent) in finance and corporate strategy at Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to 30+ years in corporate roles, she has served on the Board of the Handel & Haydn Society for 25 years. She has also completed Archdiocesan training for this position.
Laura has been an active parishioner in a variety of liturgical ministries since her baptism at Sacred Heart in 1985, with a particular emphasis on liturgical ministries and planning our Triduum celebrations. She also volunteered as business administrator for a year before being employed by the parish.
Debbie Cunha
Coordinator of Faith Formation
Long-term parishioner Debbie Cunha serves as the Coordinator of Faith Formation for the parish.
Debbie was married and raised three children within the parish. She has been an active Faith Formation educator with training in innovative approaches to Faith Formation. She has certification in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based approach that introduces complex topics in a child-centered, discovery-based, hands-on way.
Debbie also has a background in child development, elementary education (K-6), teaching, publishing, and editing. With a master’s degree and 17 years as a speech-language pathologist at an elementary school, Debbie now enjoys coordinating faith formation and praises educators' professionalism, flexibility, and kindness.
The Finance Council
The Finance Council consists of parishioners working with Fr. Francis O’Brien to assist with transitioning from a collaborative to an independent parish. They have been focusing on getting the parish on a firm financial footing while addressing its current and longer-term financial needs. Barry Cunha is currently serving as Co-Chair of the Council.
Anita Parillo Shine, Laura Lucke, Barry Cunha, Dan Rapperport, Bob Burbidge (not shown), Neil Hegarty (not shown)