ST. JOHN CHURCH, CROMWELL "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard... When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.'" -Mt 20:1,8 Sunday, September 18, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:00 Vigil: Joseph Lastrina, r/b his wife & children 7:30 Jack & Helen Griffith, Michael & Mary Griffith, Joe Griffith, Nell Griffith & Nina Aresco, r/b their family 9:30 All parishioners living and deceased 11:30 Maria Lavado, r/b her family 5:30 Life Teen Mass will resume on October 2nd Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet are prayed daily following mass. Perpetual Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel of Divine Mercy (entrance from lower parking lot). Monday, September 19, Januarius, bp., martyr 9:00 For the health of Claudia Kondracky, r/b her family Tuesday, September 20, Andrew Tim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang & companions, martyrs 9:00 Horace Santavenere, 15 th ann., r/b his wife Olive Wednesday, September 21, Matthew, apostle, evangelist 9:00 Kevin Daly, r/b the Frisk family Thursday, September 22 9:00 Thomas D. Warburon, Jr. r/b Thomas Warburon, III Friday, September 23 9:00 Lucy Starzec, r/b her daughter Saturday, September 24 9:00 Rosa & Emilio Roncailoi, r/b their sons 5:00 Vincent Carnaroli, r/b his wife Sunday, September 25, Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30 Arthur DeFelice, r/b his family 9:30 All parishioners living and deceased 11:30 Julia Bartolotta, r/b St. John Traditional Choir 5:30 Life Teen Mass will resume on October 2nd To Everything There Is A Season and a time for every purpose under heaven a time to be born in the Spirit Cameron Testa Joshua Beaulieu a time to heal Marie Siecienski, Alice Young, John O Callaghan, Rose Spagnulo, Angelo Milardo, Michael Peck, Richard H. Peck, Dominic Serlise, Charles V. Conte, Mary Kelly Brown, Lucy Wanzer, Eugene Cordone, Gino LaBella, Josephine Reck, Caroll Nettis, Bridget Flanagan, Ralph DiDomizio, Sarah Lorenzo, Rose Roberto, Donna Callahan, Mary Jane Fillmore, Kathy Rand, Armand Cook, Joseph Carbonero, Claudia Kondracky, Jeffrey Longueil, Bill Connell, Robert Stetson, Florence McIntyre, Henrietta Bernal, Eva Jablonski, Mary Fritsch, Phyllis Marella, Marian Reimon, Carolyn Record, Bert Beaulieu, Rosalie Pitruzzello, Peter Young, Janis Gianni, Evelyn Maher, Gerald Groeper and infant Benjamin Cantwell. a time to wed I Johanna Spadory & Ted Lucas III Alissa Larrivee & John Ives a time to die and a time of peace Ecclesiastes Thank you for your sacrificial giving. The Franciscan Friars offer wholehearted thanks to all who contributed to the Franciscan Seminary Collection last weekend. This collection assists all of our Franciscan Friars studying for priesthood and ministry. May God bless you a hundredfold. His Excellency, Bishop Cote has announced the Diocesan participation in the National Catholic Collection for Hurricane Katrina Relief. This collection will be taken this weekend, September 17 th & 18 th. Millions of people are in need of assistance and Catholic Charities USA will be among the primary responders. May the Lord bless your generosity and sacrifice for our brothers and sisters who are experiencing loss and suffering. Baptism Instruction Class will be held this Sunday, September 18th at 7:30 p.m. in the Church Proper. Please call the Parish Office to register. Next weekend has been designated Council of Catholic Women Membership Drive Weekend. Annual dues are $4.00. Please place your envelope in the collection basket. Thank you. Our Parish Pastoral Council Meets this Monday, September 19 at 7 PM in the Parish Center Library. and a reception for our 2005 2006 Catechists in the Church Hall following 9:30 Mass this Sunday. This month s hosts are Eucharistic Ministry members and Faith Formation Students. A Catechist's Prayer Catechetical Sunday September 18 th, 2005 Blessed are you, O God of all creation. From the dawning of life you have called me by name. From the waters of my Baptism you set me on the path to this day. In your generosity you have brought me to this time when I am blessed to journey with your children as they come to share in the Body and Blood of your Son. Send the Holy Spirit to guide us on our way in this time of preparation. Help me to remember that it is through your Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that these children will come to you. Amen.
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Office: (860) 635-5156 DRE Dotty King e-mail:faithformationsjc@sbcglobal.net CATECHIST GRADE LEVEL MEETING and new text presentation for grades 7, 8, 9 and 10 will be held on Wednesday, September 21 st at 7:00 p.m. in Room 103 of the Parish Center. Please make every effort to attend this meeting. 2005-2006 CATECHIST (teacher) Needs Grade 6 needs 1 teacher Grade 7 needs 3 teachers Grade 8 needs 1 teacher Please volunteer as soon as possible! Faith Formation Classes for Grades 1-4 will be held on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. at Edna C. Stevens School beginning on October 1st. Grade 5 will be held in the church hall on Mondays from 3:00 4:30 p.m. beginning on Monday October 3 rd. Grade 6 will be held in the church hall on Tuesdays from 3:00 4:30 p.m. beginning on Tuesday October 4 th. Grade 7 will be held in the church hall on Tuesdays from 6:30 7:45 p.m. beginning on Tuesday October 4th. Grade 8 will be held in the church hall on Mondays from 6:30 7:45 p.m. beginning on Monday October 3 rd. Grades 9 & 10 Confirmation Preparation Lifeteen and Traditional Parent/Candidate meeting Sunday October 2 nd 5:30 All parents & candidates attend Lifeteen Mass 6:30 Lifeteen Parents & Candidates meet in the Church Proper 6:30 Traditional Parents & Candidates meet in the church hall. Catechetical Sunday 2005 Stewards of God's Gifts. Catechetical Sunday celebrates those people who continue to build the Church through sharing the gift of faith with others and is cause for a great celebration indeed! In the formal role of catechist or teacher, many people in our Parish give untold hours preparing lessons and extending themselves to nurture the faith of others. What an incredible gift to the Church! Our celebration gives joyful recognition and thanks to these "stewards" for this great gift given to our parish. We pray that God bless them a hundredfold! Faith Formation Late Registration for existing students will be closed as of September 30, 2005. Please register your child before this date. Traditional Choir will meet Thursday evening September 22 nd at 7:00 p.m. to start rehearsals. Singers are needed. ALL voice parts are welcome. The Traditional Choir supports the Assemble. It also does contemporary, Latin, spirituals, gospel and gospel jazz. Choir sings at 11:30 a.m. Mass and occasionally at Saturday Vigil at 5 p.m. Bell Choir will begin if there is an avid desire among the assembly. RINGERS are needed. Bell Choir does solo work as well as ringing with the Traditional Choir. One does not need to sing, to RING. Suitable for any age group that has some musical background. For Christmas, Instrumentalists needed: especially oboe, cello and violins. Please contact Joyce at 633-1575 if you are interested in any of the above.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2005 "THE MASTER IS HERE AND IS ASKING FOR YOU.". John 11:28 OPEN ADORATION HOURS Sunday: Monday: 7 a.m. 8 a.m. 12 noon 1 p.m. 11 a.m. 12 noon Thursday: 3 a.m. 4 a.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. Friday: 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 1 a.m. 2 a.m. Saturday: 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 a.m. 3 a.m. Pray and see if the Lord is asking you to accept one hour with him. You will be blessed. Call Roger at 635-1918 MOST REVEREND MICHAEL R. COTE, D.D. Dear Friends in Christ, Diocese of Norwich Office of the Bishop 201 Broadway Norwich, Connecticut 06360 (860) 887-9294 Catechetical Sunday 2005 The theme for Catechetical Sunday 2005 is Life is Christ, which is taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians, the 2 nd reading for Sunday, September 18. Saint Paul s words remind us still, as they did to the brethren of Philippi, not only how we are to live but also what we are to teach others. This theme richly describes God s abundance of gifts to us in wonderful imagery. The Letter from Saint Paul is full of encouragement and advice. We are told to conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. (1:27) and to keep on doing what we have learned and received. (4:9) We believe that if we live this way, we are living in Christ and teaching others to do the same. In my role as chief catechist for the Diocese of Norwich, I give thanks daily for the gift of each and everyone of you who experience God in your lives and in turn, put your trust in the Lord just as Saint Paul did, and serve as witnesses through the ministry of catechesis. This is why we set aside one Sunday each year to recognize the women and men who have accepted the Church s call to serve as catechists. The word catechist is a derivative of a Greek word that means to echo, or resound. A catechist is one who echoes the Church s teachings to the people. The ministry of teaching in the name of the Church is one of great dignity. The Church recognizes this by formally commissioning Catechists. And although catechists need our support throughout the year, it is only fitting that a special day is set aside to highlight this ministry. We also commend parents and guardians since they are the first catechists in their children s lives. They are the ones who planted the first seeds of faith into their hearts. It is in these Catholic households where faith is passed on to the next generation. The parish community is also responsible for echoing the words of Christ. Saint Paul said, Do nothing out of selfishness (2:3) We can often be tempted to think that our own wants come first, and as such become demands, not requests. We should never think that our Christianity is merely me and Jesus. Our faith calls us to focus outward to others, to see the people who suffer because of our imperfect political and social structures. Catholic social teaching helps us to discover that Christ Is Life for all of God s people, that everyone might be treated with dignity and respect. Saint Paul was in prison when he wrote the words For to me life is Christ (1:21). Paul was focused on one thing only, Christ Jesus. He was, by example, a great disciple. As a people blessed beyond measure, we too should be focused on becoming Christ s disciples. We can begin by seeking ways to be mindful of Christ s life within us. The more we experience God in our lives, the better we will serve as witnesses to God s abundant love. Finally, rejoice in the Lord, always, (4:4) Saint Paul further states, so that we might cultivate an attitude of gratitude. May our growing in faith lead us to recognize and give thanks for the many blessings that come to us in the course of our daily lives. Sincerely yours in Christ, Bishop of Norwich
SEPTEMBER 18, 2005
ST. JOHN CHURCH PARISH POLICIES BAPTISMS: Baptisms are generally not ministered during the Lenten Season. Parents planning to have their baby baptized must receive instruction prior to Baptism. The next instruction is on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 7:30 PM. Please meet in the Church. You must first register with Fr. Raymond (635-5590). SPONSOR CERTIFICATES: A person wishing to be a sponsor for the Sacraments of Baptism or Confirmation must be a practicing Catholic. MARRIAGE: Arrangements for weddings need to be made in person by the parties of the proposed marriage at least one year in advance and prior to setting any date. PLEASE TAKE NOTE: Norms for Marriage in the Diocese of Norwich now require that those planning marriages should contact the priest one year prior to the marriage. SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING is given to those who are seriously ill or about to undergo surgery. Please call the rectory, 635-5590. COMMUNION TO THOSE WHO ARE HOMEBOUND: Special ministers of the Eucharist may bring Communion to the home of those who are homebound. The priests will visit once a month. A Day with Father Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R.: Saturday, 10/1; 10 a.m. 2:30 p.m., Cathedral of St. Patrick, Norwich. Fr. Apostoli is a well-known author and speaker on EWTN Television. Cost per person is $20.00, for students $10. Complimentary lunch is included with the ticket. To order tickets, please go to the Cathedral website at www.stpatnorwich.org for an order form or call 860-887-7804 for additional information. Cromwell Ecumenical Lay School of Theology The Christian Clergy of Cromwell will offer 2 sessions on 4 consecutive Sundays beginning Oct. 23 at Holy Apostles College from 7 a.m. 8:30 p.m.: Praying the Psalms and Understanding Islam. A $5 donation per session is suggested. Child care for grades K-6 will be available if it is known in advance. No registration is necessary. Spiritual Renewal will host a Holy Spirit Breakfast on October 8 th at 9:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Church Hall, Norwich, with Bishop Michael Cote as our guest speaker. Tickets are $12.00 purchased in advance. For further information call 860-887-0702. Diocese of Norwich Stewardship Reflection Day: Saturday, October 15, 9:30 4:00 p.m., St. Mary Star of the Sea Church Hall, New London, CT. Please call our Parish Office (635-5590) to register. Readings for the Week of September 18, 2005 Sunday: Is 55:6-9/ Phil 1:20c-24, 27a/ Mt 20:1-16a Monday: Ezr 1:1-6/ Lk 8:16-18 Tuesday: Ezr 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20/ Lk 8:19-21 Wednesday: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13/Mt 9:9-13 Thursday: Hg 1:1-8/ Lk 9:7-9 Friday: Hg 2:1-9/ Lk 9:18-22 Saturday: Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a/ Lk 9:43b-45 Next Sunday: Ez 18:25-28/ Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5 Mt 21:28-32 TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME