October 28, 2018 ~ The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. BAPTISMS AND WEDDINGS: Please contact the parish office

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1 Holy Trinity Catholic Church 15 Route 37 Center Sherman, CT PARISH MISSION STATEMENT We are Holy Trinity Catholic community of faith. We are a diverse and welcoming community of believers in Jesus Christ. We are energized and empowered by Christ s love, forgiveness and healing. We strive to experience and make Him known to others through joyful worship, heartfelt prayer, formative education, life giving service and supportive fellowship. October 28, 2018 ~ The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Pastor Rev. Richard J. Gemza frgemza@htrccsherman.org Director of Faith Formation Michele Curnan mcurnan@htrccsherman.org Director of Music Rob Brereton rbrereton@htrccsherman.org Parish office parishoffice@htrccsherman.org Web Site Office phone Faith Formation phone WEEKEND MASSES: Sat. vigil 5:00pm, Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am WEEKDAY MASS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 8:00am BAPTISMS AND WEDDINGS: Please contact the parish office SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday 4:15pm or by appointment AUGUST OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday, & Thursday 10am-2pm

2 Holy Trinity Church Dear Parishioners: Sherman, Connecticut Pastor s Corner Saturday, October 27 5:00pm Elizabeth McGrath r/b Christine Fazio Sunday, October 28 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30am Mary Butler r/b Niall & Betty Bresnan 11:00am For Holy Trinity parishioners Monday, October 29 8:00am For the sick of the parish Tuesday, October 30 8:00am Helen & Frank Byrne and the Cleary Family Wednesday, October 31 5:30 Vigil for All Saints Thursday, November 1 8:00am For Holy Trinity Parishioners ALL SAINTS DAY Friday, November 2 8:00am For Joseph Perugini and for health for Antoinette Perugini Saturday, November 3 5:00pm Robert Morvillo r/b Catherine Morvillo Sunday, November 4 8:30am For Holy Trinity parishioners 11:00am Sam Frangipane Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time This weekend's Gospel offers us several thought- and prayerprovoking points for our reflection. When Bartimaeus, hears that Our Lord is passing by, he calls out to Him, begging for His help. When we are in any sort of need, do we call upon Our Lord or do we only turn to Him with "the big stuff"? When Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus, the crowd tries to silence him. Do we allow society/others/our own selves to silence us in asking Our Lord's Help? Bartimaeus persists. He will not be silenced or deterred from getting Jesus attention. Do we show the same persistence in seeking God's Help and Grace or do we ask once or twice and give up? When Jesus restores Bartimaeus sight, He says that Bartimaeus faith has saved him. In Mark s Gospel, the success of Jesus healing is shown as coming about, in part, due to the requesting person's faith. We also see that when faith is absent, Our Lord is unable to heal or to work miracles. Does our own Faith allow Him to help us or do we make it impossible for Him? God bless you, Fr. Gemza Readings for the week of October 28, 2018 Sunday: Jer 31:7-9/Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 [3]/Heb 5:1-6/Mk 10:46-52 Monday: Eph 4:32--5:8/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 [cf. Eph 5:1]/Lk 13:10-17 Tuesday: Eph 5:21-33 or 5:2a, 25-32/Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 [1a]/Lk 13:18-21 Wednesday: Eph 6:1-9/Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14/Lk 13:22-30 Thursday: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 [cf. 6]/1 Jn 3:1-3/Mt 5:1-12a Friday: Wis 3:1-9/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 [1 or 4ab]/Rom 5:5-11 or Rom 6:3-9/Jn 6:37-40 Saturday: Phil 1:18b-26/Ps 42:2, 3, 5cdef/Lk 14:1, 7-11 Next Sunday: Dt 6:2-6/Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 [2]/Heb 7:23-28/ Mk 12:28b-34 PLEASE NOTE: For the next several weeks, we will be distributing catechetical materials related to the celebration of Mass in the Diocese of Bridgeport. These articles will precede the promulgation by Bishop Caggiano of the Revised Liturgical Norms on the first Sunday of Advent. To learn more about the norms, please visit In the meantime, please be sure to take home a copy of this week s article which can be found on the table in the vestibule. Thank you.

3 The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 28, 2018 REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS Amos Munch, Caitlin Pallas, Jack Lago, Theresa Pepe, Nancy Grenier, Michael Norel, Jane Smith, Patricia Boyle, Patricia Repko, Joyce & Bob Kenney, Glenn Hawley, Stephen & Joan Roll, Paula DeSimone, Matthew Hatcher, Alison Thomas, Katie McLaughlin, Tim Cornelis, Kim D Esposito, Sylvia Bunyon, Rich Scampoli,Dominic Fazzone, Irene Sakal William Jayne, Carol Gershkowitz, Paul Hart and for all of their caregivers. The men and women in the Armed Forces, their families and loved ones, and all who protect us. May they be shielded from danger. For Jonathan Seeger, Matthew Frizzell, Rachel Berger, Corey Celik, Megan Meenan, Mark Francis Erhardt, Katie Hogan and Brendan McGrath HOLY TRINITY RELIGIOUS FORMATION Welcome to the Formation Year! Please watch the bulletin for schedule as well as for special Masses with the children. CONFIRMATION SUNDAYS October 28.12:15-1:45 November 4, 11,18.12:15-1:45 Grades 1-4 SUNDAYS October, :45-10:45 November 4, :45-10:45 HOLY TRINITY OFFERTORY Grades 5,6,& 7 TUESDAYS Weekend 10/13-10/14 $2, Weekend 10/20-10/21 $3, Thank you for your continued support. November 6, A....5:15-7:30 November 13, B....5:15-7:30 Sunday Nov am Mass 5,6,7 in A week Tuesday November 20, at 7pm Talk on Reconciliation Please keep the children and their catechist in prayer

4 Holy Trinity Church Sherman, Connecticut ALPINE EUROPE Including the Passion Play of Oberammergau 11 Days: July 13-23, 2020 Hosted by St. Mary Church Fr. Corey V. Piccinino and Fr. Robert L. Wolfe Visiting: Heidelberg, Rhine Valley, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Altotting, Marktl Am Inn, Munich and Rothenberg Including round trip airfare from New York and accommodations at first class hotels, tickets and entrance fees to all events on itinerary. $4,159. FROM NEW YORK (Air/land tour price is $3,689. plus $470. government taxes/airline surcharges FOR A BROCHURE WITH FULL DETAILS, CONTACT OR DETACH AND MAIL TO: St. Mary Church Name 26 Dodgingtown Road Address Bethel, CT City State Zip Code stmaryoffice@comcast.net Tel. MAGNIFICAT A Ministry to Catholic Women invites you to a prayer breakfast on Saturday November 10, 9:30-12:30 at Ethan Allen Hotel 21 Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT 06811, Our speaker is Laila, as she gives her testimony on her conversion back to the Catholic Church. Cost $25 Pre-register by Saturday, November 1 No tickets will be sold at the door. For more information, call Fran Hood or s.m.hood@sbcglobal.net. Invitation available on Bridgeport Diocese Website under Woman s Ministry section, also tickets are available on Eventbrite. St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish in Brookfield is holding their 26th Annual Fall Festival (Craft Fair & Bazaar) on Saturday, November 3rd, 9 am-4 pm with a Preview Night of Friday, November 2nd, 5-8 pm. Almost 40 vendors will be present with many unique items including vendors of crafts, food from Vermont, chocolate, alpaca wool products, jewelry, hand made cards, essential oils, holiday de cor, hand painted signs, team blankets, bibs, knitted and crocheted items, recycled paper jewelry made by women in Uganda, wreaths, landscape paintings, Avon, Christmas ornaments, clothes, bottle lights, direct sales, hand blown glass ornaments, and a local author of Civil War books. St. Marguerite's is located at 138 Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield, CT. For more information, visit or call

5 The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 28, 2018 GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE October 28, th Sunday in Ordinary Time "Son of David, have pity on me!" Has the cry of Bartimaeus ever escaped your lips? Today's Gospel tells the story of a blind man with a difficult lot in life. He made a living by begging coins off passing travelers. When word reaches him that Jesus will be passing by, this is when he begins is shouts for mercy. Jesus hears Bartimaeus' cry and beckons him forward. "What do you want me to do for you?" Last week, Jesus asked a similar question to James and John. Their response was a clutch for fame. Bartimaeus' response is much humbler. "Lord, I want to see." How strange this interaction must have seemed to the onlookers. The man is blind! Of course he wants to see! But Jesus is always teaching us. By asking us what we want, Jesus reveals the dispositions of our hearts. God already knows them, but do we? By asking James and John to name their ambition, their selfishness is exposed to them and to the other disciples. By asking Bartimaeus to name his longing, his faith is exposed to the entire crowd. Jesus invites participation in our own redemption. He doesn't save us without us! Take some time in silent prayer today. Place yourself in this story of Bartimaeus. Imagine yourself there on the dusty, crowded roadside. Jesus is calling you! When you stand before him, his focus is on you and you alone. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asks. Search your heart. How would you respond? What part of your heart is Jesus asking you to expose? He has come to heal and to restore. May we, too, be sent! "Go... your faith has saved you." Everyday Stewardship Everyday Stewardship It was many years ago, but I remember it as if it was yesterday. Before most good basketball players left college early for the NBA draft, the Duke Blue Devils won back-to-back championships in men's basketball. The morning after the second championship, I drove to the campus bookstore in order to be one of the first to purchase commemorative T-shirts: one for me and several more for my parents and wife. A crowd was at the door of the store when I arrived, long before it was open for business. When I finally walked inside, I looked around and saw one shirt in particular I liked. I walked over to it, and as I got close to reaching out to pick it up, a little old lady literally ran into me, spun me around, grabbed the shirt, and shrieked, "It's mine!" As if there was only one shirt in the entire store! Neither of us were entitled to that shirt. In fact, we aren't entitled to much in this life. Rather than searching to get what we think we deserve or trying to beat out others for a better position in this world, our God calls us to focus on helping others to experience the many gifts available to them in this life. We are called to serve instead of be served. Our mission is to sacrifice ourselves and what we desire on this earth for the Kingdom of God. If we are willing to essentially assault someone to get to a T-shirt, what will we do when the stakes are higher? After my initial shock, I wasn't really angry with that lady at Duke. After all, I would like to think that if she simply asked me for it I would have given it to her. At least, I hope I would have. --Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

6 Holy Trinity Church Sherman, Connecticut Dear Friend, The Holy Trinity Catholic Church invites you to become a sponsor at our annual Christmas Fair taking place on November 16 th and 17 th by gifting a service, an item, or making a monetary donation. Last year s fair raised over $6,000, please consider sponsoring our event and helping us to surpass last year s fair. Your donation will help in many ways. We would like to thank you for your time and attention to our request and we hope we can count on your support. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or any further information you may need. Thank you in advance for your kindness just a little goes a long way! Blessings, Angela LeClerc WAYS TO PARTICIPATE Do you have a service or item to donate? Donating a service, item or gift card will help promote your business and we can include it in our silent auction or raffles. Please angleclerc7@gmail.com to coordinate pickup or for more information. Monetary donation Please send a donation in any amount (every little bit helps!) to: Holy Trinity Church c/o Angela LeClerc, Christmas Fair Chair PO Box 97 Sherman, CT 06784

7 The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 28, 2018 Sharing the Gospel If you love and believe in Jesus, you never have to be afraid of dying. One day your body will stop working, but you will live again. Jesus promises to give you a new life. In heaven you will live forever with God. God will always be with you, and he loves you. Prayer God, I can hardly wait to be with you in heaven. Mission for the Week.Each time you see a butterfly, remember that God will give you a new body in heaven, where you will live forever.