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 Toni Munoz Sacristan Mrs. Filomena Marinelli Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation Gr. K-6 Mrs. Maggie Seaver Coordinator of Middle School Faith Formation Gr. 7-12 Youth Minister Mrs. Theodora Niver Director of Music Vanessa Crowley..Lorissa Heath Rosanne Sweeney Gowdy.....Andrew Russo Heather Picard...Gianna Bielenda Cantors Mrs. Marguerite Devitt Rectory Office Assistant Marguerite Heinimann Rectory Assistant Mass Schedule Confessions on Saturdays from 3:30-4:15p.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 by calling the rectory. Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Celebrated in the Baptistry of the Blessed Sacrament 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: www.thechurchoftheincarnation.com Rectory Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Rectory Fax Church E-Mail Faith Formation Office Website address: (860) 529-2533 (860) 721-6595 cincarnation@sbcglobal.net (860) 529-6765 www.thechurchoftheincarnation.com gotellit15@gmail.com
Page Three Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time..February 17, 2019 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH 5:00pm Marino Mattioli SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH 8:30am Christopher Barnoski & Charlie & Millie Christadore 10:30am Salvatore Guerrera MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH 9:00am Salvatore, Angel & Grace Chiaramida & the Deceased members of the Valdesi Family TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH 9:00am J. Gerald O Keefe Sr., Genevieve O Keefe, and Thomas O Keefe III WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH 9:00am Lorraine Walmsley & Maryann Walmsley THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST 9:00am For all our parishioners FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND 9:00am Laura Cyr SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD 5:00pm Frank Cusano SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH 8:30am Pasqualina D Appollonio 10:30am Barry Welch & Thomas Trzaski The Sanctuary Candle will burn from 2/18/2019 2/24/2019 in memory of Patricia Sullivan Keegan. The Blessed Virgin Mary Candle will burn from 2/18/19 2/24/2019 in memory of John J. Sugrue. Join us this Sunday, February 17th, 3-4pm, for an inspirational hour of music & reflection at Incarnation Church. Giving it All to God: Give your burdens to God during this peaceful hour of music, reflection, scripture and hope. This hour is presented to us by the musical group 'Still Small Voice.' A reception in Fr. Crawford Hall will follow. Admission is free. All are welcome to just be for an hour. An excerpt from their program; No matter what comes our way during life s journey, God will always be by our side. He is all knowing, all loving, all good! He is your Good, Good Father. And YOU ARE HIS BELOVED CHILD! Rest in the Lord with us, invite God into your heart, and allow Him to speak to you in a Still Small Voice. See flyers at exits. If you would like to assist at the reception, call Noranne Wamester, Pastoral Associate, (860) 529-6765. Thanks. Employment Support Group: Please call Ken at (860) 729-5960 to set up an appt. Men s Club: Meeting Wed., 2/20 at 7pm in the rectory meeting room. Pizza served. House of Bread collection next weekend. Coffee & sugar are requested. Thank you!! Incarnation Parish Soup Supper: Save the Date, Sat., March 24th: This event will follow 5:00pm Mass. Come together to share a simple meal of soup & bread during the season of Lent. Hosted by our Confirmation Candidates and their families.
Page Four Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time..February 17, 2019 FAITH FORMATION (GRADES 1-6) All classes are held in Fr. Crawford Hall according to the time/grade level. NO CLASSES WILL BE HELD FROM FEB. 16-19 DUE TO THE WINTER SCHOOL BREAK. CLASSES WILL RESUME ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20. GRADE 4: Wednesday, February 20 from 5:006:15 p.m. GRADE 5 & 6 meet as a combined class on Wednesday, February 20 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. GRADE 1 meets on Saturday, February 23 from 8:30-9:45 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered for all children in Grades 4, 5, and 6 during their scheduled classes over the next several weeks. GRADE 2 RETREAT: Sunday, March 3 following the 10:30 a.m. Mass and Children s Liturgy of the Word. This is a mandatory Retreat focused on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All children are invited to participate in the Mass. A pizza luncheon will be served for the Grade 2 children from 11:3012:00 p.m. prior to the start of the Retreat. Your cooperation is appreciated. Our Sixth Graders made beautiful Saint Valentine s Cards for patients at Connecticut Children s Medical Center in Hartford. CHILDREN S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Sunday, February 24, 2019 at the 10:30 am Mass. Our presiders will be Christine May and Kathy Stickley along with Confirmation Candidate Joseph Segreto. No refreshments will be served this day due to the Grade 3 Retreat. GRADE 3 RETREAT: Sunday, February 24 following the 10:30 a.m. Mass and Children s Liturgy of the Word. This is a mandatory Retreat focused on the Sacrament of First Holy Eucharist. All children are expected to participate in the Mass. A pizza luncheon will be served for the Grade 3 children from 11:30-12:00 p.m. prior to the start of the Retreat. Your cooperation is appreciated. Snow date is Saturday, March 16 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. GRADE 6 RETREAT: Saturday, March 2nd, 3:00-5:00 p.m. followed by 5:00 p.m. Mass & a Pizza social at 6:00 p.m. in Fr. Crawford Hall. This is a mandatory Retreat. Families are asked to join their children at Mass in the reserved section of the Church and invited to join us for pizza. 7th & 8th grade Faith Formation: Next gathering for our 8th grade class is Tues. Feb. 26th, and our 7th grade class will meet on Wed. Feb. 27th. Class is held from 6:30-8pm in Fr. Crawford Hall. Movie Night: Sunday, Feb. 24th 6:00-8:00 in Fr Crawford Hall. All High School aged kids, including Confirmation Candidates and members of Youth Ministry are invited to come enjoy the movie "I Can Only Imagine" that was in theaters last year. Based on the Christian song with the same title, this movie is a gripping reminder of the power of forgiveness and that no is ever too far from God's love. Join us for the movie and popcorn!!
Page Five Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time..February 17, 2019 PRAYER CORNER World Marriage Day In observance of World Marriage Day on February 10, this column offers a continuation of petitions for married couples. We pray for all married couples that, when their relationship needs mending, they may claim the special graces of forgiveness and healing, with which you have blessed our Sacrament of Matrimony. We pray for all married couples that they may live in awareness of the promises made to each other on their wedding day and the graces that you give them to live out their vows. We pray for all married couples that you may give them the courage and sensitivity, Lord, to openly share their dreams and expectations with each other. We pray for all married couples that you may help them to be accepting of each other's shortcomings and to work through their differences. We pray for all married couples that they may treasure, value and enjoy their sexuality. We pray for all married couples that you may encourage them to be a gift to each other and as a couple a gift to the Church. We pray for all married couples that they may value the sanctity of their marriage and live their lives accordingly. Annual St. Patrick s Dinner Monday, March 11, 2019 Fr. Crawford Hall 6:30pm..$15.00 p. p. Traditional corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, Home-made Irish soda bread, coffee/ dessert. A GREAT Raffle! Call your family & reserve a table. Reservation deadline: Feb 25th Payments due 2/28/2019. Checks payable to: Incarnation Church, flyers at entrances. Please mail checks to Victoria Kalousdian, 154 Griswold Road, Weth., CT. All reservations must be paid for in advance. Thank you! Rice Bowls are available at the entrances. CRS Rice Bowl is a Catholic Relief Services Lenten faith-in-action program for families and faith communities. Thank you for your support which helps Haiti, Iraq, Nicaragua and other needy countries. HOMEFRONT DAY: Christ the King Parish and The Church of the Incarnation join together with this community Service Outreach Program on Saturday, May 4th, 2019. A team leader is needed to direct this program that provides housing repairs for local homeowners needing assistance. If interested please call Pat McGovern at (860) 563 7773 or Audrey Saharek at Incarnation Church at (860) 529-2533. Thank you for your help!!
Page Six Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time..February 17, 2019 What tempts us away from the reign of God? Try this week to live as an example for the young people in your life. Let them see the rewards of living by the Good Spirit. Encourage them in their discernment with your prayers and support. If you wish to serve others as a priest, religious or deacon 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 & 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. Cr awford 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. 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. Incarnation Men s Club will sponsor TWO Bus Trips this year!! One to Yankee Stadium and one to Met s Stadium. Saturday, May 18th is the Yankee s Game and Saturday, June 29th is the New York Met s Game. See two flyers with info. about these games at the entrances. Join us!! The Incarnation Men s Club membership Drive is now taking place. If interested in joining please call Mike White at (860) 667-2099. Membership dues letters will be mailed soon to present members. 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 ORDI- NARY 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. Join The Wethersfield Knights of Columbus for Dinner at Ber tucci's restaurant in Newington. Flyer/coupon at church exits. Enjoy a family meal & help raise money for the Knights charities. Attention parents/guardians: During Mass we request that children would be accompanied to restroom by parent/adult. Cell Phones: We request that all cell phones are turned off during Mass. Thank you very much for understanding! 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.
Page Seven Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time..February 17, 2019 BLESSED When we think of the word Beatitude we think of today s discourse from Luke s Gospel, or the more familiar one from Matthew (which begins Blessed are the poor in spirit... ). Actually, beatitudes occur throughout the prophets and Gospels. Today in Jeremiah (with an echo in the psalm) we hear, Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7). Following his resurrection in John s Gospel, Christ proclaims, Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed (John 20:29). The evangelists placed these sayings throughout the Gospels as short reminders about the characteristics that one will find in a follower of Christ, characteristics that will help spread the Good News in this life and lead to eternal blessings in the next. In Latin, the saints are called the Beati, the Blessed, for they are the ones who lived the blessed life as described by Jesus throughout the Gospels. How blest are we, when we also strive to make our own days a living beatitude! TODAY S READINGS First Reading The one who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted beside the waters (Jeremiah 17:5-8). Psalm Blessed are they who hope in the Lord (Psalm 1). Second Reading Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20). Gospel Blessed are you who are poor, hungry, weeping. Woe to you who are rich, filled, laughing (Luke 6:17, 20-26). READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Gn 4:1-15, 25; Ps 50:1, 8, 16bc-17, 20-26; Mk 8:11-13 Tuesday: Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10; Ps 29:1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b, 9c-10; Mk 8:14-21 Wednesday: Gn 8:6-13, 20-22; Ps 116:12-15, 18-19; Mk 8:22-26 Thursday: Gn 9:1-13; Ps 102:16-21, 29, 22-23; Mk 8:27-33 Friday: 1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16:13-19 Saturday: Heb 11:1-7; Ps 145:2-5, 10-11; Mk 9:2-13 Sunday: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Cor 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Monday: Presidents Day Thursday: St. Peter Damian Friday: Chair of St. Peter the Apostle; Washington s Birthday Saturday: St. Polycarp TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in drawing persons with disabilities into full celebration. Now it is generally accepted that worship places need accommodations such as ramps or elevators, large-print materials for those who are sightimpaired, and perhaps even an assisted hearing system or signing in American Sign Language. American Sign Language is not merely English translated into movement, but a distinct language with its own grammar, syntax (word order), and vocabulary. For this reason, the American Catholic bishops have approved American Sign Language (ASL) as an official language of the liturgy. Celebrating liturgy in our own language (the vernacular) means that liturgy must be accessible to all languages and cultures. The fact that Mass is celebrated this weekend in some places in total silence, but with the full participation of deaf people praising God in the movements of their hands, and sometimes even with a priest who is deaf, is nothing less than the Church being faithful to the image of Jesus, who made the deaf hear and the mute speak. Remember too that deafness is an invisible disability, and that there may well be people in your parish who are quietly yearning for Mass to be signed for them in ASL. Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 17, 2019 Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Luke 6:20 21a We are very grateful to our Incarnation Women s Club Cooking Team who cook once a month in Fr. Crawford Hall for the residents of Saint Elizabeth House in Hartford, which is a part of Mercy Housing & Shelter. This is such a beautiful ministry in our parish who dedicates their time & talent to serving others.
Page Eight Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time..February 17, 2019 We thank Archbishop Leonard P. Blair for his visit to Incarnation Parish last weekend. We are grateful to all who assisted with the Mass and reception welcoming Archbishop Blair. It was a spirit filled experience for all.