The Church of the Incarnation 544 Prospect Street Wethersfield, CT 06109 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. 7-12 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) 529-2533 Fax (860) 721-6595 Church E-Mail 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: www.thechurchoftheincarnation.com Rectory Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Faith Formation Office (860) 529-6765 gotellit15@gmail.com Website address: www.thechurchoftheincarnation.com
Page Three Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe..November 25, 2018 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH 5:00pm Deceased members of the Nesta Family SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH 8:30am Edward & Bertha Bezrutczyk 10:30am Michael & Joan Riccio MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH 9:00am John L., & Angela D Onofrio TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH 9:00am For all our parishioners WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH 9:00am Helen Niemczyk THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH 9:00am Joann Rucci FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH 9:00am Joyce Rucci SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1ST 5:00pm James Noonan SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2ND 8:30am Rita Ware 10:30am Jack Lawlor & the Deceased members of the Murphy & Lawlor Families The Sanctuary Candle will burn from 11/26/2018 12/2/2018 in memory of Vincent Diana. The Blessed Virgin Mary Candle will burn from 11/26/18 12/2/2018 in memory of Steven Procyk. The Church of the Incarnation Parish Family Calendars are available. One per family please. Thank you. Thank you for your donations to the Cath. Campaign for Human Development. Thank you to the Incarnation Social Action Committee for sponsoring the Continental Breakfast after the Parish Mass of Thanksgiving. It is always such a wonderful tradition! Thank you to those who helped with clean up. Thank you for all of your Annual Collection donations. Donations will be gratefully received through 2018. We are at $87,490 of our $100,000 goal. Project Baby Love collection next wkd. December 1st & 2nd. Disposable diapers & wipes are requested. Thank you so much! Incarnation Choir Project: Handbells. Thank you for your overwhelming response to our Handbell Collection! Mrs. Theodora Niver, Director of Music would like to expand our instrumental music program by purchasing handbells to enhance our Chime Choir. This addition would complement our liturgy celebration. Handbells add a new dimension to many parts of the liturgy & help us to glorify God. We invite your support which can be donated to in numerous ways, as a memorial gift to our church in honor of or in memory of or just a donation. All donors names and those honored/ memorialized will be inscribed on an Honor/ Memorial Board which to be displayed in our church. Donations of $50 or greater will have the name of their loved one on a plaque in church. Flyers are available at all church entrances.
Page Four Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe..November 25, 2018 FAITH FORMATION IN ACTION THANKSGIVING DINNER OUTREACH FOR WETHERSFIELD SOCIAL SERVICES In keeping with our long tradition of helping the needy families in our town, we would like to thank all the Elementary Faith Formation Families who gave so generously in support of Wethersfield Social Services and our 35th Annual Thanksgiving Food and Turkey Drive. More than 22 families were able to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner! A special thank you to the teens who so graciously assisted in the collection. Noranne S. Wamester, Pastoral Associate CHILDREN S LITURGY OF THE WORD Children s Liturgy of the Word will take place on Sunday, December 2 at the 10:30 am Mass. Our presiders are Filomena Marinelli and Michael Stefano. FAITH FORMATION (GRADES 1-6) All classes are held in Fr. Crawford Hall according to the me/grade level. GRADE 6 meets on Tuesday, November 27 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. GRADE 4 meets on Wednesday, November 28 from 5:00 6:15 p.m. GRADE 5 meets on Wednesday, November 28 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. GRADE 1 meets on Saturday, December 1 from 8:30-9:45 a.m. GRADE 3 meets on Sunday, December 2 from 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 carry the banner and follow the entrance procession. ALL SAINTS DAY PROJECT This is the last weekend for parishioners to come into Father Crawford Hall after Masses to read about all the various Saints that Faith Formation Students in Grades 4,5, and 6 learned about in their November classes! Don t miss out on our WALL OF SAINTS! PIZZA & MOVIE NIGHT: All Grade 1-6 Faith Formation Students are invited for a free movie night of fun on Friday, December 7th from 6-8:30p.m in Fr. Crawford Hall. We will be showing The Star, a 2017 animated movie about the animals experience of the First Christmas. Included will be Pizza, Popcorn, Desserts, a Nativity Story, and a craft! Please register through your online email form or email lightthewayincarnation@gmail.com This is a drop-off event. This is an opportunity for parents to enjoy the time to shop, dine, relax, etc. EVENING OF REFLECTION FOR PARENTS HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED Due to the snowstorm last week, the Evening of Reflection scheduled for November 15, Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos will be rescheduled for January 2019 with a date to come. 7th & 8th grade Faith Formation : Our next gathering for 8th grade class is Tues. Dec. 4th, and 7th grade class will meet on Wed. Dec. 5th. Class is held from 6:30-8:00 in Fr. Crawford Hall. Confirmation 2019 :The next gathering for our 9th graders will be Sunday, Dec. 9th from 3:00-6:00 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, and school communities.
Page Five Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe..November 25, 2018 A Weekly Bible Study As we conclude our liturgical year, we also bring to a close the second three-year cycle of Bible Study columns. It has been my pleasure to give you a glimpse into the vast treasury of revelation that is Sacred Scripture, where we come to know the Lord and ourselves more deeply. It is my hope that you will continue to explore Sacred Scripture and find it to be an enriching source of knowledge, inspiration, strength and hope. I now offer a closing invitation to embrace the Word more deeply. If a wonder of nature or a marvel of creation caught our eye and moved us deeply we would not hesitate to stop and observe this majestic sight, perhaps even to pause to praise the Lord. We might spend time studying its delicate or awe-inspiring features. Nature has a way of slowing us down, stopping us in our tracks, enabling us to commune with its intricacies. Why not our reading of Sacred Scripture? Sacred Reading or Lectio Divina invites us to pause, ponder and pray. Unlike recreational or informational reading, we allow the Word of God to penetrate slowly our minds, hearts and wills. We invite the Word to speak to us at ever deepening levels. As we engage with the Sacred Word, we read, listen, respond, rest and perhaps begin again in a kind of circular motion. This kind of reading is not so much a process as it is a disposition of the heart. Initially we may be engaging with the printed word, the message of Scripture, but we move gracefully into an encounter with the Word who is God. Reading about the practice of Lectio Divina, two phrases caught my eye: moment of insight and movement of love. The author was describing the flow of this way of prayer that often stops at such moments and leads to such movements. There is a gentleness about these two phrases, as if being tenderly led into the mysterious chambers of the heart where one can gaze upon the Lord s loveliness while also being instructed in the Lord s ways. In these days of overstimulation and lack of reflection, isn t it refreshing for the spirit to be brought back to a place where it can move slowly, deliberately and lovingly through a printed word and be nourished as well as transformed. If any parishioner who is homebound would like a visitation in Holy Communion from a Minister of Holy Communion, call Noranne Wamester, Pastoral Associate at (860) 529-6765. Incarnation Women s Club Annual Christmas Party Thurs., December 6th Wethersfield Country Club 6pm Social, 7pm Dinner Menu: Cheese/Crackers, Salad, Roasted Potatoes, Vegetable Medley, Cheesecake, Coffee/Tea Chicken Francaise $34...Broiled Salmon $34 Petite Filet Mignon..$36 For reservations: Rita Sulick 860-992- 7494..The Past Presidents of the Women s Club look forward to hosting this traditional holiday party. Members/guests are most welcome. See flyer at church entrances for reservation details.
Page Six Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe..November 25, 2018 What is the reason I was born? What is the reason I came into the world? The Lord came into the world to testify to the truth. Am I called to testify to the truth by becoming a priest, or religious? If you believe you are call Fr. Michael Casey, Director of Vocations, Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, at phone number (860) 761-7457, or e- mail vocations@aohct.org or visit the web at www.hartfordpriest.com. 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 and 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 co-operation in Mary s and the Church s work. Join Us! Ho, Ho, Ho, Santa will soon be on his way to Incarnation Church for our 17th Annual Children s Christmas Party next weekend. Sunday, December 2nd.hosted by The Men s Association. Join us in Fr. Crawford Hall after the 10:30am Mass. This event is free! There will be a special Christmas story presentation by Fr. Moran, a magic show, Christmas Music, coloring, a photo with Santa, and many goodies for both the young and old at heart!! Flyers are at the exits. Call John Ewaski at (860) 563-3887 to RSVP. Pictures will be available the weekend of December 8th & 9th after mass in Fr. Crawford Hall. Today we begin our 20th Advent Giving Program.Angel Tree: Flyers are at the exits. Please take an angel home with you this weekend. They can be found at the locations throughout the church. Return your UNWRAPPED gifts WITH YOUR ANGEL ATTACHED no later than Dec., 9th and place them under the Advent Giving Christmas Tree in the Narthex. The gifts must be returned by Dec 9th so that they can be delivered on time. God Bless you for helping those less fortunate during our most Blessed Season of Christmas! Attention all parents/guardians: During Mass we request that children would always be accompanied to the restrooms by a parent or adult. Knights of Columbus Mtgs: Due to Renovations at Christ the King Parish, mtgs. will be on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Sacred Heart Parish Hall in Old Wethersfield until further notice. 4th Degree will meet at 7pm - 3rd Degree will meet at 7:30pm. 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. The Knights will be holding their membership campaign this weekend after all the masses. 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) 529-2533. SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 22, 23, & 24, 2019. 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: www.holyfamilyretreat.org. or Call John Ewaski (860) 306-0509 or Bill Carroll (860) 604-6793. Women s Retreats also available on the website.
Page Seven Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe..November 25, 2018 CHRIST IS KING On the final Sunday of the liturgical year we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. It s easy to understand today s scriptures as events that happened long ago and far away, or predictions that will come true somewhere, some day. But they invite us to claim Christ as our King here and now. Jesus words to Pilate in the Gospel remind us that his kingdom transcends time and place. And the prophecies from Daniel and Revelation give us reason to be faithful to Christ our King right here and right now. By concluding the year with this feast we are proclaiming our faith that Jesus Christ is the one and only King over all seasons, all peoples, and all of creation. No matter what nation we belong to or what language we speak, he has made us into a kingdom (Revelation 1:6) one people united in love and peace for all eternity. TODAY S READINGS First Reading One like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship (Daniel 7:13-14). Psalm The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty (Psalm 93). Second Reading Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead (Revelation 1:5-8). Gospel For this I came into the world, to testify to the truth (John 18:33b-37). TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Although our Puritan forebears at Plymouth Rock were almost a hundred years removed from their Catholic roots, the old liturgical calendar still had an unconscious claim on their hearts. We ve already seen how on Saint Martin s Day, November 11, medieval continental Europe observed a great harvest day of Thanksgiving, with games, dances, parades, and a festive dinner of roast goose. With the goose went ample draughts of Saint Martin s Wine, the first wine of the new harvest. Martinmas celebrated full barns and larders stocked for the winter. Even after the Reformation, the tradition of eating goose on Saint Martin s Day was retained in Holland, and it was there that our Pilgrims encountered this tradition. When Governor Bradford sent four hunters out into the Massachusetts wilderness in the autumn of 1621, they did indeed find some geese and ducks, and were persuaded by the indigenous people to try turkey, too. Just as the liturgical calendar has been tweaked over the years, President Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the third Thursday in November in 1939, probably to extend the Christmas shopping season. The protest was so great that in 1941 the day established by President Lincoln, the last Thursday in November, was restored. If the Pilgrims had known of the Martinmas connection, they might never have celebrated at all! READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5; Ps 24:1bc-4ab, 5-6; Lk 21:1-4 Tuesday: Rv 14:14-19; Ps 96:10-13; Lk 21:5-11 Wednesday: Rv 15:1-4; Ps 98:1-3ab, 7-9; Lk 21:12-19 Thursday: Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a; Ps 100:1b- 5; Lk 21:20-28 Friday: Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 4:18-22 Saturday: Rv 22:1-7; Ps 95:1-7ab; Lk 21:34-36 Sunday: Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5, 8-10, 14; 1 Thes 3:12 4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Monday: Friday: Saturday: Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time St. Andrew Blessed Virgin Mary; First Saturday Christmas Eve this year is Monday, December 24th. Daily Mass will be held at 9am. Christmas Eve Monday Evening, December 24th we will offer a Christmas Eve Vigil Mass at 5pm and a Mass During The Night at 10pm. PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO MIDNIGHT MASS. Tuesday, December 25th, Christmas Morning Masses will be held at 8:30 am & 10:30am. Christmas Confessions will be offered on Saturday, December 22nd from 11-12 noon and from 3:45-4:30pm. Christmas Flowers: In your packet of December collection envelopes you will find an envelope to provide Christmas flowers in memory of loved ones. Kindly return it before Christmas. It is an honor to recognize the following young men who received the distinguished Eagle Scout Award on Sunday, November 11, 2018. Congratulations to : Christian Bahouth, Christopher DiBacco, Zachary DiBacco and Christopher Heavren. Wishing you Congratulations and God s Blessings on this accomplishment. PLEASE NOTE: As of January 1, 2019 our Saturday Confession time will change. New time for Saturday Confessions will be 3:30-4:15pm.
Page Eight Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe..November 25, 2018 Some of our Confirmation 2019 Candidates Volunteering at Foodshare in Hartford on their day off from school, November 7th. Best Advent Ever 'Tis (almost) The Season We prepare for everything we consider important in life. And that includes Christmas. We visit family and friends, bake cookies, decorate our trees and shop for gifts until we are ready to drop. This year, prepare for Christmas in a different way. Join our parish for BEST ADVENT EVER, a free email program from Dynamic Catholic that will help you slow down and focus on what matters most during the busy holiday season. Each day of Advent, you'll receive an email with: Short inspirational videos from Allen Hunt and Dominick Albano with guest appearances from Matthew Kelly. Practical tips for everyday life Real-life stories to encourage you in your faith journey Plus, every Sunday during the program, you'll receive a thought-provoking video reflection that will help you understand how the Gospel relates to your own life. Advent Begins Next Weekend Advent Wreath Lighting Families in the Light As we approach the beautiful season of Advent, we invite our parishioners to participate in the lighting of the Advent wreath during the four weeks of Advent. The poster for the lighting schedule will be placed in the Narthex on the weekend of November 24/25. The Advent wreath is green in color and is a sign of new life. The circle shape reminds is that God's love for us never ends. The Advent candles signify the strong contrast between darkness and light. As the coming of the Christ Child draws closer another candle is lit, each candle dispelling the darkness a little more as we wait with great expectation for the birth of the Christ Child, the Light of the World. Let us together be LIGHT to one another. Again, we welcome you to light our Advent wreath at a Mass of your choice. When it is your time to light the wreath, please tell the celebrant/sacristan prior to mass that you will light it. Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe...November 25, 2018 Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. Revelation 1:5