St. Jerome Church 23 Half Mile Road Norwalk, CT 06851

Transcription

1 St. Jerome Church 23 Half Mile Road Norwalk, CT 06851

2 EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD APRIL 5, 2015 MISSION STATEMENT We the people of St. Jerome Parish, a Roman Catholic community, proclaim our belief in the message and mission of Jesus Christ. As disciples of Jesus we are called to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to work for its values in the local community and beyond. We are committed to: worship, religious education, shared faith and service. We welcome all people with respect, acceptance and support. SABBATH MASSES Saturday 4:00 PM E.S.T. & 4:30 PM D.S.T. Sunday 8:00 AM 9:15 AM Young Childrenʼs Mass 11:00 AM 6:00 PM Teen Mass DAYS OF OBLIGATION Vigil 7:00 PM Holy Day 9:00 AM, 7:00 PM WEEKDAY MASSES Mon-Sat 9:00 AM HOW TO FIND US Parish Website: Parish norwalkstjerome@cs.com REACH reachstjerome@optonline.net Facebook: St. Jerome Norwalk REACH & TOTAL Facebook: REACH St.Jerome REACH & TOTAL Parish Staff PASTORAL STAFF Rev. David Blanchfield, Pastor Rev. Joseph Palacino, Parochial Vicar Rev. Michael Hoag, S.J., Sunday Assistant Deacon Dean Finch deacon.dean.finch@gmail.com PARISH OFFICE Mrs. Pat Florio, Secretary Office Hours, Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (REACH) Mrs. Kathy Coyne, DRE Mrs. Anne Groener Mrs. Natalie Raduazzo Mrs. Kathy Rohr Facebook (REACH St.Jerome) Twitter (@REACHstjerome) YOUTH MINISTRY (TOTAL) Joe and Daniela OʼCallaghan jocallaghan@optonline.net danielaoc@optonline.net MUSIC MINISTRY Mr. Donald Nelson Mrs. Joan McFarland PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON Dan Loch FINANCE COUNCIL Jerry Holdridge ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL West Rocks Road Norwalk, CT Mrs. Linda Dunn, Principal FAITH DIRECT ONLINE GIVING Sign up online at using our church code: CT46, or by mailing a paper enrollment form available in the parish office.

3 HOLY SATURDAY 4/4 9:00 am Morning Prayer 8:00 pm Easter Vigil EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD 4/5 8:00 am John McManamon 10th Ann. 9:30am Howard & Verna Christensen (Christensen family) 11:00 am Michael Errico (Edward & Barbara Bargnato) 12:30 pm Robert Kanzler 11th Ann. 4/6 9:00 am for the intentions of Pat White 4/7 9:00 am Richard Bartolot (Jill L. Carabelli) 4/8 9:00 am Diana Morison (Linda Dunn) 4/9 9:00 am Bill Alvarez (Betty & Steve Fuseck) 4/10 9:00 am Angelina Tucci (100th Bday) (Esty Tucci) 4/11 9:00 am Irene Eula VIGIL FOR SUNDAY 4:30 pm Wally and Ann Regan SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY 4/12 8:00 am for the People 9:15 am Erna Lorenza (Antunes Family) 11:00 am Vincenzo Iannone Jr. 12:30 pm Helen Dube (Helen and Chris Eidt) MASS INTENTIONS 2015 ****There are many available times for Mass intentions. Please drop by or call the Parish Office. Altar Flowers The Altar Flowers for Easter Sunday are in memory of Dorothy Webb given by the Mastrianni family. Altar Flowers may be memorialized for a donation of $50. Please call the Parish Office several months prior to your desired date. Adoration & Silent Prayer Every day between 4:00PM and 5:00PM. Contemplative Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM and Friday morning at 7:00 AM. Come spend some quiet time with the Lord. Widows Support Group Meets at 9:30AM on the first Thursday of the month in the Kevin Eidt Youth Room. Perpetual Novena Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal takes place each Monday following morning Mass Rosary & Divine Mercy Prayers Monday through Saturday after daily Mass Baptisms Every fourth Sunday at 12:15. Please call the parish office to schedule. Required Pre-Baptism Please contact Deacon Dean Finch at to arrange. Class is required for the first child baptized at St. Jerome. Reconciliation One hour before vigil on Saturday. Also Anytime by appointment. During Lent 7:00 PM on Tuesdays. Marriages Please contact the Rectory at least six months in advance. Anointing of the Sick takes place on the first Wednesday of each month, immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass, in the sanctuary. Anyone with an ongoing medical condition or who is seriously ill, anticipating a medical procedure or operation, is welcome to come.

4 Random Thoughts I am writing this on the Monday of Holy week, and yes, it is snowing. A week ago I was having a conversation with a parishioner about the difficulties of this past winter. (I say past, but yes, it is spring and it is snowing.) As we talked in Church, I pointed out to her that amid the snow there were signs of green and so we walked outside to look. So, on Tuesday March 24 th, early in spring, in the midst of snow, hundreds of green shoots were starting to come up and both of us took it as a sign of hope. This Sunday is Easter Sunday and even now the competing weather models, the American and the European, describe the weekend forecast as complicated- that is not good news. My hope is that Easter will always be bright, sunny, and warm, with forsythia everywhere. It is probably not going to work out that way this year. Nonetheless, Easter this year will be a day of hope. In last year s Easter column, I told you why I believe that Jesus is Risen: the tomb was empty; reputable people claimed to have seen the Risen Jesus; and maybe most importantly, in every age since, people claim to have a current experience of Jesus in their lives (that list includes me). This year I have spent a fair amount of time reflecting on the afterlife. My thinking was prompted both by our Bible study starting last fall that focused on the topic and it has been nourished by reading an extraordinary book: ICONS OF HOPE: THE LAST THINGS IN CATHOLIC IMAGINATION, by John Thiel, a world class theologian who teaches at Fairfield University. Thiel reminds us that to understand the afterlife you have to pay close attention to the resurrection stories in the Gospels, especially those in Luke and John. In those appearances, great effort is taken to assure us that the risen body of Jesus is both different and the same as the crucified body. The new glorious body is only recognized by the friends of Jesus when he does something familiar (speak a name, share a meal). It is also not bound by the usual rules of life: it appears and disappears. But at the same time the body carries the wounds of Jesus, and it is not a ghost for Jesus hosts meals and eats with the disciples. Thiel goes on to say that the Risen Jesus not only has a glorified body that points to our future but also that the Risen Jesus does four things that possibly we will all do in the kingdom. Thiel observes that the Risen Jesus keeps his promises; bears the pain of his life without reproach; reconciles failure; and shows himself to be who he is. (pg. 43) Those words give me hope that Easter Sunday is not only the day when we celebrate the theological truth that Jesus is Risen, but also the day when we look to our future. Meanwhile, because of the great gift of the Gospel of John we know that Jesus abides in us here and now. Eternal life has begun on this side of heaven, and Jesus is still at work in the world. Have a blessed Easter and remember that the Easter season goes on for the next 50 days. Amen. Alleluia! THIS WEEK AT ST. JEROME. Sun., 4/5 Mon., 4/6 Tues., 4/7 Wed., 4/8 Thurs.,4/9 Fri., 4/10 Sat., 4/11 Happy Easter!! Women s Scripture & Prayer 9:30 AM Bible Study 9:30 AM Contemplative Prayer 7:00 PM Raising a Modern Day Knight 7:30 PM Women s Scripture & Prayer 7:30 PM Widow s Support Group 9:30 AM REACH Singers Rehearsal 7:30 PM Contemplative Prayer 7:00 AM Men s Ministry 7:00 AM

5 WEEKLY OFFERTORY SUMMARY March 29, 2015 $6,832 March total to date $50,936 March offertory budget $50,250 As always, thank you for your continued generous support of our parish. White Mass The Diocese of Bridgeport's 22nd annual White Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano at 8:30 a.m. in Saint Aloysius Church in New Canaan on April 12. A breakfast will follow at Woodway Country Club in Darien. The Reverend Kevin Fitzgerald S.J., Associate Professor of Bioethics at Georgetown University School of Medicine will speak on Genetics in the 21 st century from a Catholic perspective For all Catholics who care for the sick, both professionals and volunteers, the White Mass is a celebration of their ministry to the sick and an opportunity to rededicate themselves to that ministry. For more information, contact Debbie Charles at or dcharles@diobpt.org $25,000 Tuition Raffle for any school Fairfield College Preparatory School is proud to again present our $25,000 Tuition Raffle. The prize is to be paid directly to any K-12 schools, colleges or universities or the financial institution that holds your school loans. Schools must be located and accredited in the U.S. Only 1,000 tickets will be available at $100 per ticket. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Scholarship Fund at Fairfield Prep. The drawing will be held at the Spring Event on Saturday, May 2, 2015 promptly at 10:30 p.m. at Alumni Hall, Fairfield University Campus. Winning ticket holder does not need to be present to win. For more information please contact the Development Office at (203) or development@fairfieldprep.org DISCOVER LAURELTON Laurelton Hall will host Discover Lauralton on SUNDAY, April, 26th from 1:00 3:30 pm for 5th, 6th & 7th grade girls. Register at by Friday, April 10. For further information, please call TWEET OF THE Life is a precious gift, but we realize this only when we give it to others. SAVE THE DATE Evening on St. Joan of Arc. FRIDAY, MAY 1 st at 7:00 in the parish hall. Movie and discussion. More information to follow. When a woman's CHOICE is LIFE, she finds support at MALTA HOUSE. Help Malta House provide a nurturing home environment to young mothers and their babies. Could you: spend some time in our on-site childcare? become a Mother Mentor? spearhead a collection for our babies' needs? To volunteer: Joan Howard (ext. 13) To tour or donate: Arlene Peterson (ext. 21) Trinity Catholic High School Annual College Night Thursday, April 9, :30-8:30 PM 926 Newfield Ave. Stamford, CT *Held in the Gymnasium Want to help and get more involved in our parish? Meals at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter We are in need of volunteers to help with the monthly service at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter. On the fourth Wednesday every month, St. Jerome volunteers buy, prepare, and serve the mid-day meal. Are you available to help? Call Helen Gaal, volunteer coordinator, at Funeral Reception Support Help prepare and serve a mid-day luncheon for families who are celebrating the loss of a loved one. There are three teams who prep and serve in rotation. Commitment is usually 9 to 12 or 12 to 2:30. Team leaders are Annette Maiberger, Marian Ainsworth, and Francie Mansager. Call Francie Mansager at with questions or to help. Funeral Reception Desserts & Salads Over 65 women contribute a salad or dessert to support our funeral ministry. If you can drop off either the day before or in the morning of a funeral, we could use more help. Each team has a coordinator who will request your contribution in advance of the funeral. We can use more assistance from others.

6 TOTAL NEWS On Good Friday, 45 teens and the TOTAL team presented The Fourteen Steps to the parish of St. Jerome. Thank you, so much, to all those who helped and supported us these last two months with food, physical strength, encouragement, and prayers. We wouldn t have succeeded without you. Congratulations to the teens who participated and helped make this year s presentation a beautiful, prayerful, and memorable evening: Hailey Agostino, Joey Agostino, Devon Barker, Kristen Beaumonte, Brendan Brown, Lauren Buttling, Shannon Buttling, Ryan Cappadona, Alexa Chiappetta, Victoria Chiappetta, Miles Cooper, Brian Denke, Billy Dougherty, Ashley Evans, Bella Ferrante, Grace Ferrante, Connor Fitton, Duncan Fitton, Sara Grant, AJ Hall, Allison Hall, Madeline Hefferan, Gabby Joseph, Jeffrey Joslyn, Carlie LaRochelle, Rachel LaRochelle, Audrey Liao, Elizabeth Markow, Mary Mottolese, James Muldowney, Alyssa Perschino, Kevin Pisacrita, Kyle Pisacrita, Allison Pitasi, Catherine Robinson, Jack Rohr, Christina Ronzitti, Teresa Salamone, Lucie Sullivan, Sean Sullivan, Michael Taylor, Erin Vallerie, Shannon Vallerie, Teague Whalen, Riley Williams DVDs of our presentation are available by preorder for $25. You can pickup an order form at the church or Daniela at at danielaoc@optonline.net. REACH NEWS Today, April 5th.. No classes Happy Easter!! Next Sunday, April 12. No classes Spring Break Classes resume on April 19th. Grades K-6 meet at the 9:15 Mass then class Grades 7 & 8 meet in the evening SAFE ENVIRONMENTS All volunteers 18 and over must be in compliance with the diocesan mandate. We encourage our young families with young children to register for the Protecting God s Children class. It only takes 2.5 hours and you leave with a wealth of information and a plan to protect your children and others. P l e a s e s e e t h e V I R T U S w e b s i t e ( click registration, click view a list of sessions, search Bridgeport, CT (Diocese). ***For those that have taken the VIRTUS class more than 5 years ago, a re-certification is required via an online module. In addition, a new background check is necessary. This can be completed online as well. If you have trouble logging into your account, please contact the REACH office at reachstjerome@optonline.net. THANK YOU FOR THE GENER- OUS RESPONSE TO OUR SPE- CIAL LENTEN FOOD DRIVE! Our "shop the list" food drive pulled in an impressive 2,002 food items, an increase of 300 items from last year. Our local food pantries appreciate all the donations from our parish! The Milk Fund Collection was $50. Special thanks to the two REACH families who stayed to help sort and bag all the food with the dedicated Social Concerns Committee. Also thanks to John Wagner, who shopped for the food with the money donated at the hallway table. This effort, shared by so many parishioners, results in a compassionate support of our poorest neighbors. Jubilee Mass of Wedding Anniversaries The Diocese of Bridgeport will celebrate a Mass commemorating significant wedding anniversaries at Saint Theresa Church, Trumbull, on Sunday, May 17, at 3:00 P.M. Bishop Caggiano will be the Principal Celebrant at this special Mass which will include the renewal of marriage vows and presentation of commemorative certificates. Couples celebrating an anniversary in 2015 which ends in 0 or 5, or anyone celebrating 50+ years are invited to register with their parish by May 8. The next Women s Guild meeting will be held on Monday, April 13th, at 1:00PM in the Church Hall. Please try to attend as we must make plans for our May meeting which will be our annual baby shower for Birthright.