The Church of the Incarnation

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2 The Church of the Incarnation 544 Prospect Street Wethersfield, CT Rev. James M. Moran Pastor Mrs. Noranne Wamester Pastoral Associate Mrs. Audrey Saharek Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Maggie Seaver Coordinator of Middle School Faith Formation Youth Minister Mrs. Teri Aiudi Rectory Office Assistant Faith Formation Secretary Mrs. Theodora Niver Director of Music Vanessa Crowley Lorissa Heath Rosanne Sweeney Gowdy Andrew Russo Heather Picard Gianna Bielenda Cantors Marguerite Heinimann Rectory Assistant Toni Munoz Sacristan Rectory (860) Fax (860) Church Mass Schedule Confessions on Saturdays from 3:45-4:30p.m. Vigil Mass: Saturday at 5:00p.m. Sunday Masses: 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. Daily Mass: (Mon. - Fri.) 9:00 a.m. Recitation of the Rosary before 9:00 a.m. daily Mass Sacrament of Baptism By previous appointment Sundays at 12:30 p.m. in the Baptistry of the Chapel. Weddings Please contact a priest 6-10 months prior. New Parishioners and Faith Formation Registration The Church of the Incarnation welcomes new parishioners. All forms are available at the main entrance of the church. Please mail or place in the collection basket. You may also visit our website for printable forms at: Rectory Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Faith Formation (860) gotellit@aol.com Website address:

3 Page Two Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.February 5, 2017 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH 5:00pm Jennie Cusano SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5TH 8:30am Jim & Bette Boyle & Wenceslaus Lobo 10:30am Deceased members of the Fazio and Brini Families MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH 9:00am For all our deceased parishioners & benefactors TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH 9:00am Raffaele Truilli & Antonio Chiulli WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH 9:00am For all our parishioners THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH 9:00am Anthony & Gladys Gaspic FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH 9:00am Welcome DiCicco SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH 5:00pm Deceased members of the Martino & Bonaquisto Families and John & Terry Sansone SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH 8:30am Agata, Salvatore & Gino Colantonio 10:30am Nicholas & Mary Champ The Sanctuary Candle will burn from 2/6/2017 2/12/2017 in honor of St. Valentine. The Blessed Virgin Mary Candle will burn from 2/6/17-2/12/2017 in memory of Sheila Glynn. Project Baby Love collection this wkd. Disposable diapers & wipes requested! The Women s Club Cooking Team will cook this Monday, February 6th from 1-3 in the kitchen of Fr. Crawford Hall. Employment Support Group: If you are searching for a job, call Ken Mendoza to make an appointment at (860) The second collection next weekend will be the monthly collection. Prayer Shawl Ministry: A prayer shawl, created with yarn and prayers, is the extra hug that someone you know, may need during any trials that may come their way. If you know of a parishioner who may be in need of a prayer shawl call Audrey at (860) No February meeting. Fourth & fifth grade boys & girls interested in becoming Altar Servers at Incarnation are invited to meet with Fr. Moran at 11am, Sat., Feb., 11th in the Church. The meeting will last one hour and will be the 2nd of three consecutive sessions that will prepare those interested in serving at our Eucharistic celebrations. NEW DAY: A program for those who have lost a loved one through death will begin on Monday, February 13th at 1pm in Fr. Crawford Hall. This support group will meet for 8 consecutive weeks. Call Noranne Wamester for more info. At (860)

4 Page Three Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.February 5, 2017 Children s Liturgy of the Word: Sunday, February 5th at the 10:30am mass. We welcome Presiders: Melissa Doyle and Maggie Seaver and our Catechists, Mariana Carcia, Melissa Doyle and Katherine McDonald. Join us for refreshments in Fr. Crawford Hall after Mass. Thanks to the Paruta & Marinelli Families for hosting! Confirmation Retreat: There will be a retreat for all of our young women receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2017 on Sunday, February 5th from 12:30-3pm in Fr. Crawford Hall. The theme of this retreat is Learning to Be: Encountering Jesus in Prayer and Sacraments. Mrs. Noranne Wamester and our wonderful mentors will direct the retreat. Children s Liturgy of the Word Gathering will be held on Wednesday, February 8th at 6:30pm in Fr. Crawford Hall. All presiders and all elementary catechists are invited to come together to renew, refresh and reflect within our spirits about this wonderful ministry. Emerson-Williams Faith Formation Grades K-6 Sat., February 11th from 9am 10:15am. Parish Family Home communities will meet at designated times. Cupcake Collection to benefit The Kid s Café will take place at Incarnation Church the weekend of February 11th & 12th after all Masses. We are asking the communities of Faith Formation, C.L.W., Middle School, Youth Ministry and our Confirmation Candidates to donate 1-2 dozen cupcakes per family. Please deliver to Fr. Crawford Hall after any mass. The cupcakes will be handed out to the children 600+ in number that attend The Kid s Café Program. Youth Ministry: Sunday, February 12th, 6:30-8pm. Join us for a night of sharing and learning, as we explore God's love for us, and our love for Him. Anyone that is attending is invited to bring 1 or 2 dozen unfrosted cupcakes. We will be frosting the cupcakes, and adding them to the collection that will be delivered to the Kid's Cafe Program in Hartford. What a great way to show our love for our neighbors as well. All High School students are encouraged and welcome to attend. Gr. 8: Faith Formation will be on Tues., February 14th & Gr. 7: will be held on Wed., February 15th 6:30-8pm, Fr. Crawford Hall. SNOW CANCELLATIONS: will be announced on WFSB, WVIT & WTIC and also via our website. Please do not call the rectory regarding cancellations. Thank you.

5 Page Four Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.February 5, 2017 A Weekly Bible Study 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 58:7-10 and Matthew 5:13-16 A very familiar passage from the prophet Isaiah reminds us that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The Lord Jesus, the light of the world, has been made manifest to the nations. Our recent liturgical readings have celebrated this great epiphany. But it does not stop there. Those who have witnessed the light are now called to be living manifestations of His light. And if we don t know where to begin, today s first reading gets right down to business! The Lord told our father Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of the sky. We are those descendants who not only walk in the light of faith, but are the very twinkling stars, the points of light for others. Our efforts to be living manifestations of Jesus, the light of the world, should be as numerous as the stars of heaven. Isaiah doesn t waste time enumerating the many tasks to which we, as disciples, are called. And Matthew furthers this theme in Jesus s call that we not hide our lights under a bushel basket. A U.S. president issued a similar call in 1989 when the Thousand Points of Light program was initiated. It was an invitation for individuals to spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good. We do not need reminders of how much our world is submerged in the darkness of poverty, oppression, war, injustice and sinful behaviors. As Christians and citizens we have a mandate to be points of light for others. We need to heed the message of Isaiah and of Jesus to bring the light of healing and understanding to broken hearts and ruptured societies. We do so daily, in small ways, as points of light that shimmer throughout our families and communities: an encouraging word, a simple gesture, a heartfelt embrace, a comforting hand, a listening heart, an act of kindness. Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 5, 2017 Light shines through the darkness for the upright. Psalm 112:4

6 Page Five Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.February 5, 2017 Do you feel The Lord is calling you to be a priest, brother or sister? To explore call Fr. Jeffrey Gubbiotti, Director of Vocations, Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary, Tel. (860) , or via vocations@aohct.org or visit the web at Join us at The Church of the Incarnation the First Friday of the month at 9:30am, Blessed Sacrament Chapel, for Vocations Holy Hour. PRAYER FOR PEACE: Join us at Incarnation Church 30 minutes prior to 9am Daily Mass to pray for peace in our world. We are trying to close out our 2016 Mass Book. If you have any Mass/ Candle Offerings that you wish to make for 2016, please send them in when you can. Thank you! If you will be staying in the hospital for more than a day, please make the hospital staff aware that you are a parishioner of Incarnation. With all of the recent privacy laws it has become exceedingly difficult for priests to locate parishioners in the hospital. You can also let the rectory know that you will be going in. Join The Wethersfield Knights of Columbus for Dinner at Bertucci's restaurant, Berlin Turnpike in Newington. Pick up a flyer & coupon at the church exits to enjoy a family meal & help raise money for the Knights local charities. This is an on going event the last Tuesday of each month. Church of the Incarnation MEN S RETREAT: The parish men s retreat at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford will be February 24, 25, & 26, Join Holy Family s retreat team for a weekend of peace and reflection in an exploration of simplicity. In an age of stress, distraction, and technology, we ll explore the simple and transformative message at the heart of Jesus teaching. Discover how simplicity can shine a light on what is really essential and important in our lives. Be renewed and inspired by the paradox of simplicity and the gift of faith. For info. call John Ewaski at or Bill Carroll at or visit Holy Family s web site at: The Men s Association wants YOU! Our annual membership drive is underway and renewal letters have been mailed to all current members. Applications are at entrances. All men are invited to join! Dues $10 per year. Call Michael White (860) UNICO FAMOUS MACARONI DINNER Please come join your family, friends and neighbors at Wethersfield UNICO s Famous Macaroni Dinner, Sunday, February 12, 2017, 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wethersfield Community Center, Greenfield Street. Adults pay $12.00, and children (12 and under) pay $7.00, for pasta in a secret recipe homemade sauce with meatballs, garlic bread, salad, soda, wine, coffee and ice cream all included. This is Wethersfield UNICO s primary fundraiser for its scholarship program. There will be scholarship applications at the dinner. There is a shuttle service from the State Labor Department for convenient parking. Please come and have a great meal and support UNICO s members in their service above self.

7 Page Six Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.February 5, 2017 THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE As children we sang the lively song This Little Light of Mine. The words, of course, are based on today s Gospel, in which we are called as disciples to be salt and light for the world. Children are uninhibited about sharing their faith. It s only when we grow older that we prefer to hide our light under a bushel basket because our culture tends not to emphasize discipleship. The message in this week s readings is clear: in order to give glory to God through our discipleship, we must show the light of Christ in our words and deeds. Not an easy thing for inhibited adults. Often we may think of salt and light in terms of what we do for others, but it can be just as important not to do something, such as getting angry with the stranger on the road, or telling an offensive joke. TODAY S READINGS First Reading If you share your food with the hungry, provide housing for the homeless, then light shall break forth upon you (Isaiah 58:7-10). Psalm The just man is a light in the darkness to the upright (Psalm 112). Second Reading My message to you, says Paul, was not clever words of wisdom but the proclamation of Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Gospel You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. In your good deeds your light shines before others, leading them to glorify God (Matthew 5:13-16). READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Gn 1:1-19; Ps 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35c; Mk 6:53-56 Tuesday: Gn 1:20 2:4a; Ps 8:4-9; Mk 7:1-13 Wednesday: Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17; Ps 104:1-2a, 27-28, 29bc-30; Mk 7:14-23 Thursday: Gn 2:18-25; Ps 128:1-5; Mk 7:24-30 Friday: Gn 3:1-8; Ps 32:1-2, 5-7; Mk 7:31-37 Saturday: Gn 3:9-24; Ps 90:2-6, 12-13; Mk 8:1-10 Sunday: Sir 15:15-20; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37 [20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37] SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time; World Day for Consecrated Life; Boy Scouting Sunday Monday: St. Paul Miki and Companions Wednesday: St. Jerome Emiliani; St. Josephine Bakhita Friday: St. Scholastica; Saturday: Our Lady of Lourdes; Blessed Virgin Mary; World Day of the Sick TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION When the custom of the stational liturgies was revived in the city of Rome in the early days of the twentieth century, the papal liturgy for Good Friday was appropriately housed in the stational church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, the Holy Cross of Jerusalem. The church is off the tourist track today, but true pilgrims would never miss it. It stands on the grounds of the Sessorian Palace, the home of the Empress St. Helena, mother of Constantine. She dedicated her life to finding the true cross of Christ in Jerusalem, and desired to found a church in Rome for people who could not make the long and dangerous trip to the Holy Land. Eventually, it came to house relics of the cross. When the pope fled the city of Rome for Avignon, the religious institutions of Rome collapsed and the church was abandoned. Centuries later it was given into the care of monks. Amazingly, it concealed a forgotten treasure. In 1492 repairmen took down a brick wall and discovered a niche with the inscription Title of the Cross, and within, an ancient wooden tablet on which was carved the inscription dictated by Pilate for the cross of Christ in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. No one is certain that this is authentic, although its discovery was enough to give the church great prestige among pilgrims. The veneration of the relic of the cross located here was a factor in shaping our restored Holy Week.

8 Page Seven Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.February 5, 2017 OUR YOUTH CORNER Saints Essay St. Lucy When I was thinking about a name to select, I knew I wanted the name to have special meaning and relevance in my life. After research, my decision become clear. I selected St. Lucy ("light"). After reading about her life, immediately I knew there was a connection. Lucy is known for her bravery because of her vows to live her life in defense of Christ. Despite her mothers' attempt to have Lucy marry, she could not be swayed from her vow. Rather Lucy decided to show her mother that Christ would be a better partner. After Lucy's sick mother was cured through her faith, Lucy convinced her mother to give her dowry to the poor and she was allowed to commit her life to God. However the rejected bridegroom was deeply angered and betrayed by Lucy's faith. The governor and his guards in an attempt to retaliate against Lucy, they heaped bundles of wood around her but it wouldn't burn so they finally resorted to their swords, and Lucy met her death. Lucy's legend did not end with her death. According to later accounts, Lucy warned the governor he would be punished. When the governor heard this he ordered the guards to gouge out her eyes; however, in another telling, it was Lucy who removed her eyes in an attempt to discourage a persistent suitor who greatly admired them. When her body was being prepared for burial, they discovered her eyes had been restored. Lucy's name means "light" or "lucid," In paintings, she is often depicted with a golden plate holding her eyes and often holds a palm branch, which is a symbol of victory over evil. I selected St. Lucy because she is the patron saint to the blind. I pray to St Lucy to help my Meemah who has lost her sight due to diabetes. St Lucy, like my Meemah is a woman of strong faith. She has challenges in daily life because of her visual limitations, yet she has made the choice to focus on what she can do. I am fortunate to spend a lot of time with her and have learned that despite obstacles, through faith and trust there is always hope. The young woman who wrote this beautiful essay will be singing the Communion Mediation on Saturday, February 4th at the 5pm Mass. Catholic Relief Services Lenten Program: Operation Rice Bowl. Please take one home. They will soon be available at the entrances.