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 Director of Faith Formation Mrs. Audrey Saharek Pastoral Assistant 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 Mrs. Maggie Seaver Coordinator of Middle School Faith Formation Gr Youth Minister Mrs. Filomena Marinelli Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation Gr. K-6 Sacrament of Baptism By previous appointment by calling the rectory. Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Celebrated in the Baptistry of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Mrs. Teri Aiudi Rectory Office Assistant Faith Formation Secretary Weddings Please contact a priest 6-10 months prior. 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 cincarnation@sbcglobal.net 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 Office (860) gotellit15@gmail.com Website address:

3 Page Three The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph..December 30, 2018 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29TH 5:00pm Virginia & Julian Nesta SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30TH 8:30am Tommaso & Maria Maccarone & Roger & Gisele Cyr 10:30am Anthony W. Melillo MONDAY, DECEMBER 31ST 9:00am Deceased members of the Men s Club & Women s Club 5:30pm James Letizio The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God TUESDAY, JANUARY 1ST 9:00am For all our parishioners 11:00am For all our parishioners WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2ND 9:00am Rose Tedeschi THURSDAY, JANUARY 3RD 9:00am Frederick J. Christie Jr. FRIDAY, JANUARY 4TH 9:00am Sister Betty Burns SATURDAY, JANUARY 5TH 5:00pm Joan Stuer SUNDAY, JANUARY 6TH 8:30am James Duggan 10:30am Donna Hughes The Sanctuary Candle will burn from 12/31/2018 1/6/2019 in memory of Nicholas & Mary Champ. The Blessed Virgin Mary Candle will burn from 12/31/18 1/6/2019 in memory of Grace DeLuca. Our Christmas Environment The Christmas plants which adorn our stained glass windows in the nave of the church are in memory of our deceased parishioners as we observe the 55th Anniversary of the Founding of our Parish. Fr. Moran wishes to thank all parishioners for the cards, prayers, good wishes, and gifts for Christmas and New Years. Fr Moran is most grateful to ALL who work during the year in any capacity from Parish Council members to the youngest Altar Server to make our parish function with such devotion. Thank you to all who helped prepare and decorate the Church so beautifully for Christmas, to all who donated to the special flower collection, and to all choir members/musicians who helped to make our Christmas Masses so moving. Thank you for your Annual Collection donations! Donations will be gratefully received through We are at $98,700 of $100,000 goal. We thank our generous parishioners who donated to our 20th Advent Giving Program Angel Tree: Thank you for your kindness to those less fortunate during the Season of Christmas! A special thank you to Carolyn Carcia & the Carcia Family who have been organizing this special collection for 20 years!! Friday is the First Friday in January. Mass will be celebrated at 9am. There is a Project Baby Love collection next weekend. Disposable diapers & wipes are requested. Thank you to all of our generous parishioners who donate to this wonderful collection all year!

4 Page Four The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph..December 30, 2018 FAITH FORMATION IN ACTION FAITH FORMATION-GRADES 1-6 The Elementary Faith Formation Program is in recess for the Christmas Holidays. Classes will resume on Saturday, January 5, We hope all of our Faith Formation families enjoyed a most Merry and Blessed Christmas. We wish you all a very healthy, happy and faith-filled New Year as you continue to LIGHT THE WAY and spread the Gospel message by your kindness and good deeds! Shine on! All classes are held in Fr. Crawford Hall according to the time/grade level. GRADE 1: Satur day, J anuar y 5th fr om 8:30-9:45 a.m. GRADE 3: Sunday, J anuar y 6th fr om 9:30-10:15 a.m. followed by 10:30 a.m. Mass and Children s Liturgy of the Word. Children from all grade levels are welcomed to participate by carrying the banner and joining in the entrance procession. GRADE 6: Tuesday, January 8 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. GRADE 4: Wednesday, January 9 from 5:00-6:15 p.m. GRADE 5 Wednesday, January 9 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. CHILDREN S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Sunday, January 6, 2019 at the 10:30 am Mass. Our presiders are Filomena Marinelli and Maggie Seaver along with Confirmation Candidate Abby Malerba. The family of Jamie Condon is the host for refreshments. FIRST RECONCILIATION MEETING Parents of Grade 2 students are asked to attend a very important meeting on Monday, January 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in Father Crawford Hall to discuss the Sacrament of Reconciliation which will take place on Saturday, March 23, At least one parent must be in attendance. EVENING OF REFLECTION FOR ADULTS The Evening of Reflection for Parents and All Adults entitled, Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 10, 2019 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Father Crawford Hall followed by refreshments. Presenter is Kelly Henderschedt, Director of Catechetical Education, Archdiocese of Hartford. Amidst the chaos, gift yourself with time and the opportunity to slow down the speed of life and breathe in the grace of the God who loves us. ST. GERARD CENTER FOR LIFE DONATION: We are most proud to announce that the proceeds from the sale of our Holy Family figurines and Advent Calendars allowed us to donate $675 to the St. Gerard Center for Life organization! What a wonderful community outreach from our 3 rd and 4 th Grade Faith Formation students and the Respect Life Committee! Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the sale such a success! KIDS CAFÉ CHRISTMAS DONATION Our Elementary Faith Formation families and our Youth Ministry group participated in our Kids Café Christmas Goodie Bag collection in December. We were able to deliver 543 treatfilled bags for the 600 children who attend Kids Café every day! Thank you for your generosity as we helped put smiles on many little faces! SNOW CANCELLATIONS: will be announced on WFSB, WVIT & WTIC and also via our website. Please do not call the rectory regarding class cancellations. Confirmation 2019: The next gathering for our 9th graders will be Sunday, January 6th from 3:00-6:00pm in Fr. Crawford Hall. We are very proud of the response the kids have shown to the call to be of service to others. They are "Lighting the Way", as they reach out in many ways throughout their home, church, & school communities.

5 Page Five The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph..December 30, 2018 PRAYER CORNER Home Blessing for the Family The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph December 30, 2018 Beloved, we are God s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. 1 John 3:2a Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, we honor your Holy Family this day. We implore you to remain in our home, that we may know you as our guest and honor you as our Head. All: We thank you Heavenly Father, for sending your own incarnate Son, to become part of a family, so that he would experience its joys, challenges and hopes. May we look to this Holy Family as a model of love, kindness and mutual respect. The leader makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each family member. Leader: We ask you, Lord, to protect and watch over this family, so that in the strength of your grace its members may enjoy prosperity, experience loving fellowship, possess the priceless gift of your peace, and, as the Church alive in the home, bear witness in this world to your glory. New Year s Mass Schedule: TUESDAY, JANUARY 1ST, 2019, THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IS A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION THIS YEAR. WE WILL CELEBRATE A VIGIL MASS ON MON- DAY, DECEMBER 31ST AT 5:30PM AND TUESDAY, JANUARY 1ST, 2019 OUR HOLY DAY MASSES WILL BE CELE- BRATED AT 9AM & 11AM. Rectory closed on Tuesday, January 1, Emergency calls only please. Wishing everyone a Happy, Holy, Healthy New Year!! There are still a few remaining Sanctuary and Blessed Virgin Mary Candles for the year If you would like to offer a candle please call Audrey at the rectory at (860) BAPTISM From the website of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops MICHAEL WILLIAM BELLOBUONO

6 Page Six The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph..December 30, 2018 Jesus was born into a Holy Family, not a storybook Family. The Family was Holy, but not without its challenges. Today, pray for families who strive to remain faithful to their commitments in a changing and challenging world. If you are facing the challenge of discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious, call Fr. Michael Casey, Director of Vocations, Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, at phone number (860) , or vocations@aohct.org or visit the web at Please pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate & religious. Vocations Holy Hour: New Time/Day: Vocations Holy Hour and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be at Incarnation every Tuesday from 9:30-10:30am in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. All are welcome as we pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate & religious life. Prayer For Peace held at Incarnation Church 30 minutes prior to 9am Daily Mass. Come, O Holy Spirit, and Renew the Face of the Earth! Legion of Mary mtg. every Monday at 9:45am in Fr. Crawford Hall at Incarnation Church. The object of the Legion of Mary is the Glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer & active cooperation in Mary s and the Church s work. We are blessed to have a beautiful outdoor Nativity Scene. We invite parishioners to take pictures with your family in front of our lovely Nativity Scene. It is located outside in front of the main entrance of church. The Polish Christmas wafers (Oplatek) are available at the rectory while supplies last. Any interest in joining our Incarnation Parish Council? Call Audrey at (860) There are 3 mtgs. per year, usually held in the Chapel at 7pm on Sunday eves. We are updating The Church of the Incarnation parish website. Any committee chairpersons that need to update info. on the website, please call Noranne or Audrey at (860) PLEASE NOTE: As of January 1, 2019 our Saturday Confession time will change. New time for Saturday Confessions will be 3:30-4:15pm. We will begin accepting the Masses, Sanctuary & Blessed Virgin Mary Candles for 2020 on Monday, January 7, 2019 at 10am and not prior to that date. Please keep in mind that our church has a large number of parishioners who remember their loved ones with Memorial Masses/Candles and we request that you limit your Masses to two per household. Thank you! Fr. Moran SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 22, 23, & 24, Join us at our parish Men s Retreat at the Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, West Hartford, CT. Theme this year is: NO ORDINARY PATH... Register at: or Call John Ewaski (860) or Bill Carroll (860) Women s Retreats also available on the website. Join The Wethersfield Knights of Columbus for Dinner at Bertucci's restaurant in Newington. Flyer/coupon at church exits. Enjoy a family meal & help raise money for the Knights charities. If you have reserved a Mass for a loved one, please let the ushers know prior to Mass if you intend to bring up the gifts. Please follow the Cross Bearer down the aisle before communion. Thank you. Attention all parents/guardians: During Mass we request that children would always be accompanied to the restrooms by a parent or adult. If you are leaving Wethersfield for the winter, please notify the rectory so that we can place your envelopes on inactive. When you return, kindly call and we will re-activate them. A huge thank you for the overwhelming response to our Handbell donations. If you would like to see the handbells please see Mrs. Niver in the Choir Loft.

7 Page Seven The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph..December 30, 2018 HOME IS WHERE THE FAMILY IS The idea, dream, and reality of family is so strong and durable that we use it to describe all that is best about human gatherings. We speak of the family of nations, of our church and parish families. The greatest compliment we can pay a friend or gracious host is to say that we feel at home with them, we feel part of the family. Families are the first crucibles in which love is tested and tempered. Jesus himself was one of three people who lived in the shadow of each other. This family, like our own, did not always get it right, but they always tried to. These three amateurs were on holiday, and one of them got lost. Two were worried sick and took great measures to find the third, a boy after all, who was seeking the meaning of his calling. He found his vocation to do his Father s work but he also returned home with his parents. TODAY S READINGS First Reading Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28) or Sirach 3:2-6, Psalm Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord (Psalm 84) or Psalm 128. Second Reading See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God (1 John 3:1-2, 21-24) or Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17]. Gospel The boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. They found him in the temple, in the midst of the teachers (Luke 2:41-52). READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18 Tuesday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:29 3:6; Ps 98:1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34 Friday: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Jn 1:35-42 Saturday: 1 Jn 3:11-21; Ps 100:1b-5; Jn 1:43-51 Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Monday: Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; St. Sylvester I: New Year s Eve Tuesday: The Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; Mary, the Holy Mother of God; World Day of Prayer for Peace; New Year s Day Wednesday: Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen Thursday: The Most Holy Name of Jesus Friday: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; First Friday Saturday: St. John Neumann; First Saturday TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Today s feast is new as feasts go, and it sets us this year in a very modern crisis. Amid conflicting schedules and commitments, a young man, testing the limits, has strayed from his parents and gone off to the big city. Mary and Joseph search frantically, only to find the child Jesus in the temple, conversing with the elders and scholars of the law, who are amazed at his wisdom. In the time of Jesus, the temple was the religious center of Jewish ritual. Outside of Jerusalem, people gathered in the synagogues, centers of learning, for daily prayer and study. Still, everyone longed to journey to the temple to participate in the offerings, and to fulfill certain obligations of the law that could only be done there. On this feast, we catch a glimpse of the family of Jesus: parents dealing with the normal stresses of raising a child, and yet completely grounded in the ways of faith and tradition. There has always been an appreciation in Christianity for the value of pilgrimage the journey to holy places that is a symbol of our life s journey to God, and a sense of connection to important events in our family history. During the Christmas season, many of us undertake pilgrimages to the family homestead for festival meals, to the parishes where we were formed in the faith, or perhaps even to a beautiful manger scene or festival of lights. There are few better days than this in our calendar for spending time with the family, especially on a short pilgrimage to a favorite place. Just make sure that no one gets left behind!

8 Page Eight The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph..December 30, 2018 Please enjoy these lovely pictures of our young parishioners who participated in the Special Nativity Play! The Kids Café (House of Bread) staff in Hartford was so happy to receive over 500 Christmas Goodie Bags for the children who attend and receive a hot meal daily after school.